Do Your Employees Trust You Essay Research free essay sample

Make Your Employees Trust You? Exposition, Research Paper The board 349 Management and Organization Behavior Summer 2000 Application Paper 6 Management.about.com 02/29/00 The Seattle Times, Sept 2, 1997 Make Your Employees Trust You? by Maggie Jackson ( AP ) Comments By F John Reh This article proposes they likely do non. They trust their partners and they even like their occupation for the most bit, yet non the executives. They wear t accept that executives make the best conclusions, especially with regards to judgments made about them. The author presents two requests for you, as a chief to see: Does it tally that your workers wear t trust you? What's more, how would you occur out? The first is the least demanding to answer with a reverberating # 8211 ; YES, it is important extremely much. The two greatest grounds why it undertakings are connected Performance ( theirs and yours ) and Profits. In regards to their open introduction, top open introduction will non be gotten, from any worker who does non swear you. We will compose a custom article test on Do Your Employees Trust You Essay Research or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page In the event that they wear t trust you to do the best conclusions AND trust you to pay special mind to their best inclusions # 8211 ; they believe they need to make it themselves. The clasp they spend making that, or accepting about how to make it, takes off from their creation, their quality, and their innovativeness. ( Chapter 13, pg, 410, Building Trust, Be reasonable and be reliable ) The open introduction of your workers reflects by and large on your ain open introduction, as a chief. All things considered, Management is the capacity to get things done through others. On the off chance that you would t be able to gain top open introduction from your workers, how might you go out to your foreman that you are an extraordinary executive? . ( Chapter 13, pg, 410, Building Trust, Demonstrate affirmation ) Trust is a two way road. On the off chance that your representatives wear t trust you, you likely aren t venturing out to swear them unnecessarily much. You will plug up passing your clasp, and you are shy of that as of now, gaze intoing upward on them. That clasp could be better spent somewhere else, couldn T it? We only reported the clasp squandered by both the chief and the representatives in view of insufficiency of trust. You can mensurate the expense of those slothful hours, however the greater expense is lost development and imagination. Making an occupation decent does non do overall gains ; they are made by improving it. It doesn t undertaking unnecessarily much whether that is by Continuous Improvement or by abrupt change. All that genuinely undertakings is that it occurs. Your adversaries are heading out to happen more current, better, less expensive approaches to make things. In the event that you wear t, you ll lose customers thus lose overall gains. The second request is a little harder to answer, however here are a few proposals: Probably the least difficult approaches to get an answer is to ask direct requests. At the point when you ask a representative a request, really tune in to their answer. It s about like figuring out the real story. On the off chance that they begin to state you something thus stop, that is a sensibly decent outline that they wear t entirely trust you. Ask them how the gathering feels, non them actually. Concentrate on bunch emotions and you will be amazed at what you can larn. ( Chapter 13, pg, 410, Building Trust, Be reasonable, talk your emotions, come clean and be reliable ) Escape your office. The board By Walking Around ( MBWO ) genuinely accomplishes work. Workers will be progressively arranged to approach you in their locale, # 8221 ; and you will hear and see things that neer make it into the examinations that come into your office. Moreover, when your kin see you strolling about, they start to consider you to be an individual, non just as the chief. # 8221 ; It s a group simpler to doubt the foreman than to doubt a man. . ( Chapter 13, pg, 410, Building Trust, Fulfill your guarantees, keep up confirmations and show affirmation ) Trust is earned. It is a passionate bank history between the foreman and their workers. Much the same as any great contributing, this one will pay each piece great.

Personal Essay Samples PDFs - How to Write an Essay Online

Personal Essay Samples PDFs - How to Write an Essay OnlineThere are a number of different types of essay samples PDFs on the internet. However, it is important to ensure that you don't just jump onto any website and use their samples because they may not actually be suitable for your needs. You want to make sure that you get personal essay samples PDFs that will actually work with your needs.The first thing that you should do is to read the documents that the essay samples PDFs come in. Take a look at them closely and identify any spelling or grammar errors that you might have made. If there are any then you should make a note of this before you proceed.Once you have looked at the essay samples PDFs, go through them line by line and make a note of any errors. These could easily make the difference between a good essay and one that fall flat. It is important to make sure that you have made sure that your essay will be grammatically correct.Start off with a blank document that you can use as a template for your essays. It could even be something as simple as a blank Word document, so that you are not forced to write something by yourself. This way you can still work on your own writing skills, and you will be able to do it on your own time without any distractions.Once you have finished working on the essay samples PDFs that you have and that are on your computer, start looking at how you would like to format the documents. Perhaps you would like to use Microsoft Word to work on your documents or maybe you would prefer to use PDF (Portable Document Format). There are hundreds of different formats that you can use, so take a look at them all and choose the one that you like best.In addition to finding personal essay samples PDFs that are compatible with your needs, it is also important to keep in mind that you need to take these documents into consideration when you are preparing to write your essays. As with anything else, the more you are prepared for a subject the better chance you have of succeeding. When you are properly prepared you can put the parts of your essay together quickly and correctly, and it can mean the difference between failure and success.Make sure that when you go through the personal essay samples PDFs you are actually writing something and that you really have something to say. Never go into the final draft of an essay without having outlined the outline of what you would like to say. This is an essential part of writing, so do it properly.After you have completed your outline and you are now prepared to start writing your essay, take advantage of all the great opportunities that are available online. Go through your writing and identify any areas where you may have made mistakes. Fix these up and then you will be ready to write an essay for any purpose.

Abnormal Psychology Over Time

Question: Depict about the Abnormal Psychology Over Time? Answer: 1. Variation from the norm can be characterized as uncommon conduct which is not quite the same as the gauges, conduct which can't be modify in the social orders, measurable irregularities that can't work appropriately, presence of checked mental issues and deviation from the emotional well-being (Boyd N n.d.) In this individual encounters individual pain, that the individual look for help from psychological wellness experts. As far as factual standards, anomaly is characterized as the how normal or uncommon it is found in the populaces, by this definition individuals with serious uneasiness and wretchedness are considered in irregular conduct on the grounds that their conduct is not quite the same as the standards (Oltmanns Emery 2012). As indicated by wakefield, 2010, variation from the norm is characterizes, in the event that it meets the two rules that is because of impairnment in inward component, for example, mental or physical, which prompts a condition that outcomes in powerlessness to play out the regular capacities (that is something inside the individual isn't legitimate which causes trouble in its capacities) and second is the condition hurt the individual which assessed by the standards of the people civilisation. The meaning of strange conduct is remembered for the authority analytic and measurable manual of mental issue which distributed by American mental affiliation and as indicated by this it is characterized as diligent, maladaptive practices that are related with individual pain, for example, sadness and tension or weakness in social working (Oltmanns Emery 2012). In the event that an individual is experiencing issues in the accompanying zone than the person in question is having mental turmoil (Abnormal Psychology after some time, section 1, page no 3). Enduring: if an individual endure mentally than this clarify the variation from the norm. The individual who is hyper and who need all the high is consider under variation from the norm (Abnormal Psychology after some time, section 1, page no 3). Maladapativeness: maladaptive conduct is one which meddles with our prosperity and conduct and capacity to make the most of our work and work and family relationship. This shows of the variation from the norm (Abnormal Psychology after some time, part 1, page no 3). Deviancy: it is characterized as the individual who show diverse conduct and doesn't give any answer for the issue however essentially overstate the things is called unusual conduct (Abnormal Psychology after some time, part 1, page no 3). Infringement of the principles of society: all the way of life have a few standards and social way which one needs to follow, in the event that you dont than it consider as an infringement of the standards of society. Model if a mother suffocates her kid than it would consider as an anomalous conduct and infringement of the standards of the general public (Abnormal Psychology after some time, section 1, page no 3). Nonsensicalness and unconventionality: if begins to shout sitting close by you, it wold be considered as unusual conduct since it was flighty on the grounds that our point of view accepts that an individual can control their conduct and in the event that something against this occurs, at that point it would consider as unreasonable and capricious (Abnormal Psychology after some time, part 1, page no 3). The definition which is considered in demonstrative and factual manual of mental issue (DSM) which distributed by American mental relationship by Wakefield 1992 1997, he proposed the possibility of hurtful issue and arrange hurt as far as social qualities that is enduring, incapable to work and brokenness as failure to perform in light of the fact that some inside instrument neglects to perform as indicated by it Oltmanns Emery 2012 Abnormal Psychology after some time, part 1, page no 5). 2. The universal characterization of sickness (ICD), is the worldwide standard analytic grouping for all dysfunctional behavior and for the most part utilized in UK and Europe. The ICD codes are alphanumeric assignment which are given to each determination and portrayal of side effects on clinical records. These arrangements are created and checked by world wellbeing association (WHO) (OCD-UK, n.d.). ICD is overhauled intermittently and as of now ICD10 is utilized which was created in 1992 and ICD11 will going to come 2015 (OCD-UK, n.d.). The DSM IV-TR is the partner of ICD10, which was created by the Americans and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is distributed by the American Psychiatric Association, which furnishes mental medicinal services experts with authentic meanings of dysfunctional behavior. Be that as it may, in UK, notwithstanding ICD 10 and DSM IV, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is available, which gives clinicians the rules about the psychological sickness (OCD-UK, n.d.). ICD 10 and DSM IV rules about the downturn: The burdensome scene comes in F32 rules which portrays sorrow as mellow, moderate and extreme. They depicted discouragement as a people experiencing discouraged state of mind, loss of intrigue and happiness and decreased intrigue prompts builds fatigability and low movement. Different indications are: decreased focus, less mindful, low confidence and fearlessness, self-destructive goals or self-hurt expectations, upset rest, low craving and cynical about future (World Health Organization n.d.) Mellow burdensome scenes: The person with mellow burdensome issue is typically troubled and discover trouble in accomplishing work, not have any desire to associate with individuals. The person with manifestations which are portrayed in definition and with atleast two different side effects and least span of these side effects is around fourteen days absent a lot of extraordinary in the side effects are considered as analytic rules for mellow burdensome issue (World Health Organization n.d.) Moderate burdensome issue: The discouraged state of mind, loss of intrigue and pleasure and expanded fatigability, if atleast a few side effects are available the individual with four of different indications then the individual is experiencing moderate gloom. These side effects ought to be available for around fourteen days. The individual is likewise experiencing issues in proceeding with social, work and residential exercises. Every one of these conditions are considered in the rules of moderate wretchedness (World Health Organization n.d.). Serious burdensome scenes: In this individual as a rule shows trouble and fomentations, low confidence and fearlessness and blame sentiments are normally noticeable. The intensions of self destruction are likewise present. In the event that individual is experiencing mellow to direct burdensome scenes with four of different indications and with exceptional seriousness which are available from in any event fourteen days however in the event that side effects are extreme than analysis ought to be done after under about fourteen days. During serious burdensome scenes, understanding can't perform social, work, or household exercises. These all comes in analytic rules of extreme burdensome scenes (World Health Organization n.d.). Serious scenes with maniacal side effects: On the off chance that a patients shows extreme burdensome side effects alongside dream, fantasies and burdensome daze (World Health Organization n.d.). 3. Quiet with mental scatters have intellectual, enthusiastic, physical and social issues. As per Dr. Becks subjective models of wretchedness clarified, that these discouraged patients feels negative considerations which are self-created. He examined on discouraged people groups and found that patient had adverse considerations about himself/herself or about world or about future. These programmed emerge of musings are called as comprehensions. The physical side effects related with enthusiastic and psychological reactions are loss of hunger, lazy, upset rest, sleep deprivation and no enthusiasm for work. The passionate reactions which liable to happen in despondency are crying, outrage, dread, sadness, uneasiness and dejection. As these side effects are not seen by average citizens yet liable to influence patients physical and states of mind (Thoolena Riddera 2008). It assessed from the logical writings that around 70-90% patients experienced gloom and nervousness (Spencer 2010). Another significant enthusiastic reaction is misery, as appeared in Oshwambo Namibian and Sesotho South African patient (Van Oers 2013). The social issues, for example, emotional episode, outrage, crying, dejection and these side effects are not perceived by patients yet aims damage to their family. These neuropsychological issues identified with physical, enthusiastic, social and subjective reactions fundamentally influence patients prosperity and personal satisfaction (Weiten 2012). The conduct issues causes sentiment of weariness and disappointment and individual absence of help. (Baqutayan 2012). The passionate reactions are now and then expressive and in some cases non-expressive. The patient with extreme burdensome scenes passionate breakdown, the intensity of evaluation and critical thinking aptitudes are lost. This misfortune is goes under intellectual issues. The psychological reactions are critical thinking abilities, scholarly aptitudes, dynamic force, memory misfortune and separating between right or wrong (Gil, F., 2012). Tolerant experience passionate unrest and grieving after finding. Biochemical clarification recommends that downturn is because of unusual degrees of synapses in the monoamine gathering (noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine). These synapses demonstration at the neurotransmitters or intersections between neurons in the mind. The elements of synapse is to encourage or square apprehensive transmission. Noradrenaline and serotonin have capacities are identified with excitement and rest and increments in serotonin by and large lessen excitement. A hypothesis proposed by Kety 1975, that degree of noradrenaline and dopamine are constrained by serotonin, and low degrees of serotonin causes increment of noradrenaline and dopamine which prompts sadness and significant levels with insanity. The biochemical framework relies upon hereditary factors in this way the hereditary qualities and biochemical clarifications are between connected (Biological clarifications of gloom n.d.). Upper medications

About Curleyrs wife In the novel Of Mice and Men - Free Essay Example

Can a victim of loneliness be portrayed as a villain? Why were women in the early 1900rs portrayed as property? In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Curleyrs wife is introduced as a villain for being a girl, although, she is a victim. She is portrayed as a villain because she is too friendly and wants attention from most of the guys on the ranch ,but, is actually a victim of loneliness because she is trapped somewhere she does not want to be. The victim is the one who has to suffer, the one who is harmed and innocent. Curleyrs wife is a victim because she is forced to be on the ranch with no freedom, she is not allowed to talk to anyone, shers treated different because shers a girl. First and foremost, Curleyrs wife is forced to be on the ranch rather than living her dream. She wanted to become an actor. On page 96 of the novel it states, soonrs he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it never got that letter. Everything Curleys wife wants to do is taken from her. In the quote she was saying she wanted to go to hollywood and become famous before she got married with Curley. This is a big part in the novel because it explains what she wanted to achieve in her life. The point is she is not happy and her dreams cant be accomplished. In the novel Curleyrs wife goes on to say, I tell you I aint used to livin like this. I coulda made somethin of myself. (34) Curleyrs wife is saying that she doesnt like the way she is living and because of how she is forced to stay on the ranch she cant do nothing with her life. With her being forced to stay there, shers bored and never has anything to do but is also not allowed to do what she wants. Curleyrs wife be lieved in herself and was so confident she can become a famous actress, and just having that taken from her must really upset her. Being somewhere you dont want to be isnt obviously going to make you happy, but this can also explain why she acts mean and flirts with guys on the ranch. Many things go through her head, but no one seems to care and instead say criticise her. Having your dreams crushed knowing you CANT even accomplish them or ever get to do anything with your life because youre trapped somewhere you dont want to be especially with very strict rules, kind of like jail. Secondly, Curleyrs wife is not allowed to talk to anyone. She is not able to talk to anyone on the ranch, Curley doesnt let her because he knows shers a flirt and doesnt trust her. While she was talking to Lennie she later goes on to state, I get lonely she said you can talk to people but i cant talk to nobody but Curly. else he gets mad. (87) Shers explaining to Lennie how itrs not fair Curley doesnt let her talk to anyone on the ranch, and she is very lonely. Here is when Curleyrs wife is forgetting who she is, she starts off as a sweet young lady to not being able to stand being alone. Shers a victim of loneliness, she suffers not being able to have any communication with world whatsoever. Curleyrs wife is not happy, and this is why she the victim, being trapped somewhere you dont want to be. Not being able to talk to anyone and being able to do what you want. She may have been a flirt but, shers still very young with no experience. She doesnt see what shers doing wrong but itrs not her fault she doesnt get attention from Curley so he shouldnt of been as strict as he was because she needs a lot for the way she has lived. Maybe curleyrs wife was just seeking attention for companionship perhaps at some level. Finally, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Curleyrs wife is easily criticised and suffers from discrimination because she is girl. Curleyrs wifers introduction in the novel made her seem like shers a bad person. She gets talked about badly by Candy. He states, Well she got the eye Well I think Curleyrs married shers a tart.(49) Not only does this start off her character in a bad way by being called a tart, but just Candy being offensive because of the way she dresses. Shers not even given a name, shers just seen as property on the ranch in the novel. Many people on the ranch also see her as just a sex object. Curleyrs wife is has been called a whore, flirt, bitch and even a rat. In the novel John Steinbeck never explains why shers even called half of those names, but back in early 1900rs women were still mistreated and even seen as property. The main reason she is a victim is because she is the only female in the novel, and mistreated by everyone. In conclusion, Curleyrs wife is a victim because she is forced to be on the ranch with no freedom, she is not allowed to talk to anyone, and is very lonely with nothing to do with her. Curleyrs wife is treated different because shers the only girl in the novel. These are the reasons why I feel Curleyrs wife is the victim and not a villain in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

Anger Is A Universal Emotion - 1231 Words

Anger is a universal emotion. It might make you act out and throw something, or it might boil up inside you until you blow up on some innocent person simply asking a question. How every person reacts to anger is different, some people may deal with anger more efficiently than others: like counseling, therapy or by taking medication that mainly focuses on depression or anxiety which fuels anger. People often wonder if they have anger problems and if it’s genetic. Not many know what part of the brain anger comes from, or what triggers it. Red often symbolizes anger, because blood is red and so is fire, both associated with anger. Anger is hard to control, and it may not be your fault for controlling it due to genetics of anger. Thanks to science, studies have given us bits and pieces to the puzzle we have before us concerning anger. Being Raised in an Angry Environment The part of the brain that controls emotions including anger, occur in the amygdala. Science has shown that adolescences use their amygdala’s for decision making more than adults, who use their frontal lobes. The reason people have anger can be from stress, abuse, finances, social or family issues. Factors like substance abuse and being raised by or with people with anger issues can affect ones’ way of dealing with and levels of anger. The Brain and Anger â€Å"Anger naturally triggers the fight/flight response, which mentally and physically prepares the body for survival. During the flight/flight response, theShow MoreRelatedAre Facial Expressions Universal? Essays993 Words   |  4 Pagesupset, or happy? The answer is that from a young age, human beings have learned how to tell someone’s emotional being from his or her facial expressions. Now here is the big question. Are facial expressions universal or cultural? In other words, are they do all cultures and people express emotions on their face the same way or does each culture or ethnicity have its distinct characteristics? Have you ever looked and someone and you thought to yourself, â€Å"That person must be having a bad day.† or â€Å"HeyRead MoreMovie Analysis : Inside Out 972 Words   |  4 Pagesrepresentation of emotions in the preadolescent brain. In creating the film, writer and director Pete Docter consulted Dr. Paul Ekman, a psychological expert on emotion (Kelly, 2015). Earlier in his life, Dr. Ekman concluded that seven universal emotions exist (Kelly 2015). After this meeting, Pete Docter was prepared to create a film that personifies five of these universal emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. The story of Inside Out is told by these five emotions, living inside theRead MoreInvestigation of Human Emotion Essay1121 Words   |  5 PagesInvestigation of Human Emotion A key aspect of human behaviour is the ability to sense and feel emotions. Emotions are defined as phenomena that are perceived by the body that causes a reaction; often these responses have physiological characteristics. This essay will look at the many psychological/ biological theories and ideologies involved in the concept of emotion. Human kind has evolved over the years to accommodate innovations in its biological, physiologicalRead MoreThe Theory Of Anger And Its Effects On The Individual s Welfare1147 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Æ' Sell et al. (2009) address the relationship of anger to the ability to inflict costs and confer benefits during negotiation through bargaining. This is assessed within the recalibrational theory of anger which theorises there is an evolutionarily derived anger system that is used in bargaining to gain favourable outcomes by incentivising others to re-assess the worth they place on the angry individual’s welfare. Welfare Trade Ratios (WTRs) compute how much worth is placed on the welfare of anotherRead More Body Language: Cultural or Universal? Essay1714 Words   |  7 Pagesinnate and thus universal. The nature versus nurture dichotomy inherent in this debate is false; one does not preclude the other’s influence. Rather researchers should seek to address the question how much of nonverbal communication is innate and how much is culturally defined? Are there any true universal nonverbal cues or just universal tendencies modified to suit cultural ideals and constraints ? It is my proposal that of all forms of nonverbal communication the most universal is the communicationRead MoreAnger Is A Type Of Emotion945 Words   |  4 Pagesask the question of â€Å"What anger is?† Today in the 21st century people deal with anger and do not know how to deal with it. Before dealing with anger you would have to know what causes anger and what to do when others deal with anger. According to Think Psychology anger is an emotion is a reaction to an object, event, person or memory (Baird, 194). Anger is a type of emotion, which is experienced with facial expressions. Anger is a type of emotion, which is a primary emotion. Some influences of an emotionalRead MoreWhat Is A Micro Expression?713 Words   |  3 PagesIn 1996 during a study of psychotherapeutic interviews two scientists, Haggard and Isaacs, discovered micro expressions. At this time they called them â€Å"micro momentary expressions†. A micro expression is a brief involuntary expression of concealed emotion. The interesting thing is these expressions can occur deliberately or unconsciously and they only last a fraction of a second. During the study Haggard and Isaacs implied that these micro expressions could not be recognized in real time. Later, PaulRead MoreUses And Detection Of Micro Expressions702 Words   |  3 PagesIn 1996 during a study of psychotherapeutic interviews two scientists, Haggard and Isaacs, discovered micro expressions. At this time they called them â€Å"micro momentary expressions†. A micro expression is a brief involuntary expression of concealed emotion. The interesting thing is these expressions can occur deliberately or unconsciously and they only last a fraction of a second. During the study Haggard and Isaacs implied that these micro expressions weren t recognizable in real time. Later, PaulRead MoreHow Emotions Affect Our Emotions1269 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Elliot, emotions are the mental states or feelings associated with our evaluation of our experiences (Elliot, P412). Emotions affect our daily activities, our sleep, and most of the time our digestive system. Every human being have seven primary emotions that are universal and they are; happiness, disgust, fear, sadness, surprise, anger, and contempt. Despite our culture and races, we all express our facial emotion and expressions the same way. When we talk about, emotions we are also referringRead MoreNegotiation Is Defined As A Discussion Among People Whereby1114 Words   |  5 Pagesconclusion with benefits to all. Emotions can define as feelings and accompanying thoughts which arise due to one’s circumstance, mood or even relationships with others. Emotions are usually universal and cannot be ignored or escaped. Emotions help in fulfilling many important functions, from enhancin g decision making, to motivating actions, to providing people with important information about the surrounding environment .Negotiations usually bring up several emotions which can lead to very severe

The Labeling Theory And Stigmatisation Essay - 1259 Words

The second case study that will be discussed is Dean Eastmond and how this will be relevant to the labelling theory and stigmatisation. Eastmond was 16 years-old at the time, invited his friend to his parent’s home to grab a quick lunch or to chat for an hour or so. However, Eastmond realised the friend he thought was friendly, became too distant. Unfortunately, Eastmond was raped and initially at the time, Eastmond was a closet homosexual. This was his first sexual experience and his virginity was taken. The perpetrator is anonymous and got away with the crime. Eastmond did not report his rape case, because he felt that victims are not taken seriously and he thought that he would ‘be viewed as a criminal’, and feared to be labelled as a homosexual (BBC and Kelsey, 2016). Male rape victims are less likely to report their crime for various reasons. According to Nicholas Groth and Ann Burgess (1980), male rape myths stems from the traditional viewpoint of masculinity that most men are supposed to be strong, dominant and heterosexual. Thus, leading victims to believe that men cannot be raped and the effect of sexual assault should be miniscule for a man than it is for a woman (Carpenter, 2009; Groth and Burgess, 1980: p. 808). In accordance to Gillian Mezey and Michael King (1989), male rape victims that do report their crime are treated differently by the police and they find themselves being completely ignored, questioned as criminals, or being ridiculed. Many males who doShow MoreRelatedLabelling Perspectives Within The 1960 s And 1970 S1626 Words   |  7 Pagesemployment (Visher, Debus-Sherrill, Yahner, 2011). This essay will provide a history into labelling perspectives and discuss key features of the theory through contemporary examples, while outlining main strengths and limitations of the theory. This essay will argue how labelling perspectives can be detrimental to individuals experiencing the stigmatisation of labelling. Labelling perspectives and its theorists focus on individuals who have been deemed as criminals and labeled by society (TannenbaumRead MoreStereotyping986 Words   |  4 Pagesincident of stereotyping, and this incident is applied to theories relating to stereotyping. Finally, comments are given on the effectiveness of the theories of stereotyping. â€Å"Stereotyping is a form of pre judgement that is as prevalent in todays society as it was 2000 years ago. It is a social attitude that has stood the test of time and received much attention by social psychologists and philosophers alike. Many approaches to, or theories of stereotyping have thus been raised. This essay evaluatesRead MoreMental Health Issues: What ´s Stigma? 3355 Words   |  13 PagesPhelan (2001) which informs us that stigma is allowed to unfold when labelling, stereotyping, discrimination, separation and status loss are acted upon a person where a power differential is evident. This intersectional process of stigmatisation driven by the interpretative theory as outlined by Link and Phelan (2001) has yielded negative social consequences for people with disabilities (Green et al 2005, Jones et al 1998). It has been reported that stigmatised groups have limited chances in the areasRead MoreDeterminants of Violence in the Greek Football League a Case Study of Paok Fc Supporters13608 Words   |  55 Pagesin Greece these days, in order to institute measures for confrontation of football hooliganism. The previous minister of sports Mr Lianis tried to implement the British model of hooliganism elimination –expensive tickets, denial of entrance and stigmatisation of fans that in the past showed aggressive behaviour, severe financial penalties for football clubs that directly or indirectly tolerate these groups of supporters- but these measures where ineffective. Violent incidents still continued to occur

Positive Behavior Support Plan

Question: Discuss about the Positive Behavior Support Plan. Answer: Introduction From the case study, we see that Stephen is more of an outdoor person that an indoor one. This is shown by the fact that he enjoys all physical sports activities with examples of dirty biking and the NRL games in general. He also depicts sensitiveness to social and well-being of others. Sociable depicts a scenario in which a person is able and willing to relate to others despite their economic, religion, tribe and social status. The study case shows that Stephen is quick to offer assistance to the teachers and youngers students whenever the need arises. The theme of sociability is also shown by the fact that he works well with peer partners (Luiselli et al. 2005). The case study also depicts that despite the fact that he is sociable, this is only limited to the selected few as he has few friend only of whom share his interest. Intelligence has not been one of Stephens strong points. Intelligence can be described as an act of any person to obtain and exercise the skills and knowledge that they have to learn with no apparent difficulties. We are told that Stephen has difficulty in interpretation, selection of relevant details from given information, problem-solving, a problem with creating a sequence of ideas and abstract thinking. This all point to the fact that his intelligence capacity is below average. Brook also has extensive moral decay behavior. A phrase used to describe a fall in the moral behavior of a person. This is depicted by the fact that he engages in serious problematic behaviors such as kicking, hitting and spitting to fellow students. The fact that he swears and yells at other students shows that he is arrogant and can engage i n any activity and fold a blind eye on the consequences. This is in fact shown when he recruits other students to refuse to do work and leave the classroom after which he usually leaves the classroom abruptly and wanders around the school grounds (Sarafino, 2001). An Operational Definition of the Target Behavior The targeted behavior to be worked in Stephen is moral decay. Stephen has a moral decay by the fact that he fails to uphold virtues in his practices. The fact that he spits, kicks and hits other students shows that he is morally unstable. He also does lack morals when he calls at other students and his teachers and disrupts the normal studying environment. After which he just walks out and wonders about the school grounds. Stephen shows excessive pride and offensive displays of superiority. In cases where he yells and swears to other students, the teaching staff and disrupts learning progress by poking and calling to other students his teachers shows that he doesn't care about the learning process and he is capable of doing worse. Arrogance is also depicted when he prides himself on not doing school work and tries to recruit other students refusing to work with him. After which he leaves the classroom and wanders around the school compound (Carr et al. 2008). Overview of the strategies to support the implementation of the plan within the School Setting To foster the implementation of behavioral change in Stephen, strategies have to be put in place by the teacher to aid in his change. This will help Stephen in behavior modification and also bring peace in harmony and the school and the school setting. The support plan for Stephen's behavior should be carefully selected to suit his particular behavior. There should be the concept of openness in an attempt to make him speak and explain why he does the things he does. Is it peer pressure, lack of interest or just boredom. Several posts of problem-solving technique should be put in place, and the best that suits him should be applied. Then there is the evaluation of the results to see if the solution put in place is bearing any fruits(Abraham, Michie, 2008). These will include steps such as; Seeking of information; in this step the I will focus my attention on listening to Stephen. This indeed will give me a clue as to why Stephen behaves the way he does. It will also provide an opportunity for us to bond. And this bonding is important as it creates trust between the two. And whenever there is trust there is openness. Hence the willingness to share. I should be prepared with a set of questions to ask Stephen. This test the understanding of Stephen to such context as good morals behavior, his take on being nice to others, knowing whether inflicting pain to others makes him happy and whether he has a belief in religion and societal, cultural practices that fuel the practice of good behavior (Sugai, Horner, 2002). Actual problem solving; in this step, I will try and devise a means to change his thinking and help him work towards a positive behavior practice. I will understand what makes him behave the way he does, provide him with the possible shot coming he will encounter if he is to get a bad recommendation for his behavior and provide him with a working plan for his behavior that he can use to help him improve. Trying out a solution; this is by suggesting the various techniques he sees that would fit with his behavior modification. And encouraging him to practice them so that he can attain the best. Evaluation; I would encourage him to continuously evaluate himself by recording daily events in a diary. By so doing he could have a reference to his progress and see where he went wrong and when and try never to do it again in case a similar challenge presents itself to him again (Bambara, Knoster, 2009). Completed Positive Behaviour Support Plan The support plan should include the following steps; Seeking of Information Seeking information is mainly where we create a rapport with Stephen and try to make him open up. This will help us understand why he does the things that he do from his point of view. That will help me understand the source of the problem and a better way to help him. The following guideline will make me achieve the above. Creating Stephens Confidence My first step in problem solving will aim at winning Stephen's trust in me. I will engage him in conversation. Inform him of his strong personality of helping the younger students and the teachers when the need arises. This will act as a pacesetter for Stephen's problem-solving process. I will develop his mind and psychologically people who have trust in their psychologist are more willing to open up to the compared to when there are fear and enmity between them. An incidence of just dropping a bombshell on them of their bad behavior will make them shy away from confidence as opposed to softly speaking and understanding the causal agent. Listening and Recording of Information In this step, I will mainly focus on listening to Stephen's point of view when it comes to the behavior he has been displaying. Helped by a set of questions I had prepared I will determine his take on his behavior and compare the will good quality behavior. I will also compare his behavior to one of his fellow students and determine what he thinks about his/her character and whether it is possible for him to enumerate the same. Actual Problem-Solving In the actual problem-solving step process would be efficient for Stephen to help him solve his problems. These are; Proper Understanding the Problem Here I will encourage Stephen to explain to me why he is doing all that he does. I will try and figure out what is his point of view when it comes to discipline and following of the school rules and regulations. I will want to see what are his interest and because he is so much into outdoor activities how can I incorporate the two to make classroom environment more appealing to his as the field experience. I will also let Stephen describe the problem in his words and since I have experience in problem-solving some factors leads to this kind of behavior like peer pressure, unsettled issues in the family, media influence among others (Sugai et al. 2000). Description of Possible Barriers in Future In this stage, I will inform Stephen that despite the fact that he is so good in outdoors activities his behavior may be a hindrance to his success in future. I could introduce an example of a hindrance such as a bad recommendation letter from the headteacher stating his poor relationship with fellow students and teachers. This could kill his dream as a player and may lead to loss of a potential job in any sporting club. I will encourage Stephen to verbalize these impediments because it acts as a major stepping stone to behavioral change for the best (Metzler et al. 2001). Identification of a Solution Upon initializing the problem itself and the various causes and effect its can have to him in future, I would let him name some solution he can come up with to solve his problem. I could also introduce several problems solving techniques and let him choose what best suits him (Hetzroni, 2003). Trying out a Solution After Stephen has selected a working solution that he thinks will work better for him, I will encourage him to keep a record of his progress. This should be kept up to date with the challenges he faced and the solutions he made either good or bad. He should practice honesty while doing this and keep precise documentation on his progress. I would also encourage him to work through a certain selected strategy until he can see a change in his behavior (McAtee et al. 2004). Evaluation of the Results To measure the progress in his behavioral change, he should look back at the decisions he made over certain stimuli. He should have a close look at the diary he had been keeping for clarity as it contains all events he has been through. He should assess whether he is making any progress with the process or just none. He should also devise a means to scale his outcome based on the decision he made to represent it graphically and see whether he is making progress or not. He should get the data in his diary as below. No: of Days Positive Behavior Score Negative Behavior score 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 2 2 4 3 3 5 3 2 6 3 5 7 4 2 8 4 1 9 5 3 10 6 2 11 6 5 12 8 4 13 7 3 14 9 3 15 10 2 16 9 4 17 8 1 18 9 5 19 8 3 20 9 2 21 8 2 22 8 3 23 9 4 24 10 2 25 10 3 26 9 1 27 10 2 28 9 4 29 10 2 30 10 3 The graphical representation of his progress should be based on whether there is an improvement a deterioration or just nothing is happening. The following graph represents an example of a positive behavioral change (Miltenberger, 2011). In this incidence, he should keep up and continue using the behavioral modification strategy as it is bearing good results. He could also modify it when need arises in case he is faced upon by a stimulus that requires his undivided attention towards making a choice regarding the ethical beliefs (Sanetti et al. 2007). A negative behavioral change represents no change in the original behavior of a subject. In the case of the diary score the graph produced does not show an improvement of his behavior towards the best then he should totally abandon the technique and adopt another that will bear more fruits. A negative behavioral graph shown below shows that there is little or no progress whatsoever and the little high score that Stephen scored is from his initial good behavior of helping younger students and teachers when the need arises (Martin, Pear, 2015). Conclusion Stephen is a good student. The fact that he helps his fellow students and pupils shows that he still has some good in himself. And the fact that he is a good team player and loves outdoor activities proves that he is a social person. With proper implementation of the behavior modification support plan such as the understanding why he does the bad things and the adoption of a practical behavioral change plan will make him have a positive improvement in his behaviors, and this will have a positive impact not only on the outdoor activities nut also in class and in relation to his fellow students who really don't share his interests (Kraemer et al. 2008). Reference Abraham, C., Michie, S. (2008). A taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions. Health Psychology, 27(3), 379. Bambara, L. M., Knoster, T. P. (2009). Designing positive behavior supports plans. American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 444 North Capitol Street NW Suite 846, Washington, DC 20001. Carr, E. G., Ladd, M. V., Schulte, C. F. (2008). Validation of the Contextual Assessment Inventory for problem behavior. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 10(2), 91-104. Hetzroni, O. E. (2003). A positive behavior support: a preliminary evaluation of a schoolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ wide plan for implementing AAC in a school for students with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(3), 283-296. Kraemer, B. R., Cook, C. R., Browning-Wright, D., Mayer, G. R., Wallace, M. D. (2008). Effects of training on the use of the behavior support plan quality evaluation guide with autism educators a preliminary investigation examining positive behavior support plans. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 10(3), 179-189. Luiselli, J. K., Putnam, R. F., Handler, M. W., Feinberg, A. B. (2005). Wholeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ school positive behavior supports effects on student discipline problems and academic performance. Educational Psychology, 25(2-3), 183-198. Martin, G., Pear, J. J. (2015). Behavior modification: What it is and how to do it. Psychology Press. McAtee, M., Carr, E. G., Schulte, C., Dunlap, G. (2004). A Contextual Assessment Inventory for Problem Behavior Initial Development. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 6(3), 148-165. McClean, B., Grey, I. (2012). A component analysis of positive behavior supports plans. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(3), 221-231. Metzler, C. W., Biglan, A., Rusby, J. C., Sprague, J. R. (2001). Evaluation of a comprehensive behavior management program to improve school-wide positive behavior support. Education and Treatment of Children, 448-479. Miltenberger, R. G. (2011). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures. Cengage Learning. Sanetti, L. M. H., Luiselli, J. K., Handler, M. W. (2007). Effects of verbal and graphic performance feedback on behavior support plan implementation in a public elementary school. Behavior Modification, 31(4), 454-465. Sarafino, E. P. (2001). Behavior modification. John Wiley Sons, Inc. Sugai, G., Horner, R. (2002). The evolution of discipline practices: School-wide positive behavior supports. Child Family Behavior Therapy, 24(1-2), 23-50. Sugai, G., Horner, R. H., Dunlap, G., Hieneman, M., Lewis, T. J., Nelson, C. M., ... Turnbull, H. R. (2000). Applying positive behavior support and functional behavioral assessment in schools. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2(3), 131-143.

Speech bruce dawe Essay Example

Speech bruce dawe Essay The underdog. These concepts are all key to the Australian experience. These are only some of the values that define Australians. After the war, poets like Banjo Patterson, were trying to lift peoples spirits, as one of the best ways to escape from reality is through literature. This was one of the best times for Australian poets as people wanted a way out, some alternate universe where everything ends in a happily ever after. One of the later toes, Bruce Dade saw this and reflected this in his poems, Life-cycle and homogeneousness. He did this by portraying a man in homogeneousness, who retreats to his garden, taking all his worries with him. One constant in a world of variables, Dade writes. There are many reasons for a man to retreat to his garden one of these reasons is because the world is changing to fast, as it did when the war took place. This is also shown in Life-cycle as Dade writes, They will not grow old as those from more northern States grow old, for them it will always be three- quarter- mime with the scores level and the wind advantage in the final term. We will write a custom essay sample on Speech bruce dawe specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Speech bruce dawe specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Speech bruce dawe specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By this I believe he is referring to the whole if you support this team you will not grow old, in other words sport is Just another way to cheat death. One of the main themes is the Australians see themselves as the Little Guy. The person who nobody expects to become anybody important in life. As depicted in The Man from Snowy River. A stripling on a small and weedy beast, a racehorse undersized. However the man from Snowy River does the unexpected When they reached the mountains summit, even Clan took a pull. The hidden ground was full of wombat holes, and any slip was death. But the man from Snowy River let the pony have its head. He raced down the mountain like a torrent down its bed. While the others stood and watched in very fear. And he ran him single- handedly. He turned their heads for home. Australia as a country is Just that, proven when Australia became independent of the United Kingdom in 1901. After that in 1931 they officially became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. These myths made it so. How well to quote Joseph Gobbles If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State. Rarely in todays roll, would you see a situation where the under-dogs rises from the ashes of defeat, not backing down, till the final breath, where the people will undergo hardships to get the Job done. The reality of it all is much different; as most people will complain or procrastinate, do anything to delay the Job. These are however the story lines that inspire Australians to be more than they are. This is the main reason why these poems are important. Not because they remind people of their past. No, because they inspire our whole nation, to be the best they can be.

Whats an Excellent ACT Score

What's an Excellent ACT Score SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips This article would be a pretty short one if there were a singleanswer to the question of what qualifies as an excellent ACT score. Like most things in life, however, what you might consider an excellent score depends on your perspective. In this post, I’ll talk about different ways to understand what counts as excellent test performance. I’ll start off with excellent scores in relation to the general population before discussing more nuanced comparisons: what does it mean to have an excellent score when considering your peer group performance, your target schools, and your own strengths and weaknesses? A Note Before We Get Started: Percentiles Percentiles are the best mathematical way to understand score performance because they help us understand how people perform in relation to each other. Before I talk about excellent ACT scores, I'll give you a (brief) crash course in percentile scores. First, percentile scores are different from percent scores. A percent score tells you what portion of anexam you got correct, whereas percentile score tells you how you did on the exam compared to everyone else who took it. For example,a percent score of 60% means got 60% of the questions right, whereas a percentile score of 60% means you scored better than 60% of the students who took the exam. Percentile scores are more meaningful than percentages when we talk about ACT scores because what’s important is how you score when compared to other students. For example,if you take a difficult test in a large class and only receive a 70%, you might assume you scored poorly. But if everyone else in your class scored lower than a 70%,you would have a 99th percentile score. This information would significantly change the perception of your performance. Now that you have an understanding of percentiles, we can start talking about what it means to have an excellent ACT score. Excellent ACT Scores for the General US Population We're starting with a big crowd and working our way down. It’s hard to get a handle on what ACT scores actually mean without some good, general info about population performance. Who can make intuitive sense out of an exam score without some contextual information? First, you should know that the ACT is scored out of 36 points. The lowest possible composite score is 1.The average national composite score is 21 points. The top 25% of scorers - people with 75th-99th percentile scores- get composite ACT scores of 24 and above. Thebottom 25% of test-takersget composite scores of 16 and below. You may very well have your own ideas about what a reasonable â€Å"excellent score† cutoff should be. For the general population, scores of 24 and above (so, scores that are higher than those of 75% of the population) could reasonably be considered excellent. Here are some other important percentile cutoffs and the corresponding ACT scores for quick reference: 10th percentile composite scores →13-14 25th percentile composite scores→16-17 50th percentile composite scores→21 75th percentile composite scores→24 90th percentile composite scores→28 Excellent ACT Scores for Your Peer Group To get a more nuanced understanding of what an excellent ACT score is, the next step would be to consider the scores of your peers- namely, people in the same geographical area or at the same high school. We’re narrowing down the comparison group here from the entire nation to people who are more similar to you in terms of educational background and opportunities.Here’s how to figure out how to get information on what your peers are scoring: Aggregated High School Information - A school report with ACT score informationshould give you an idea of how your peers tend to score. If you live in a mandatory testing state, you may be able to find this information just by googling "[Your High School Name] ACT score report." If you don’t know where to get this info or if it’s just not available, check in with your guidance counselor to see if shehas insighton the typical ACT score range for your high school. Classmate Information or Word of Mouth - Ifyou can’t get solidinformation on general school performance, you may just want to ask around to see how your peers tend to score. This is a delicate topic, so be respectful and don’t push the subject if someone’s uncomfortable discussing it. Ifyou want a more competitive score range, check in with honor students- they tend to score higher on the ACTs. Once you get information on general school or peerperformance: Consider whether this score distribution matches up with the national average, or if it's higher/lower than expected. If your school/classmates scores are higher/lower than the national average, you can use this info to adjust parametersand expectationsfor your own scores. For example,if most of your peers are scoring above average (21), you might have to score above the national 75th percentile (24) to stand out as â€Å"excellent† among your peers. Excellent ACT Scores for Your Target Colleges We're narrowing in on what's important: excellent ACT scores for the schools you have in your sights. Your ACT score doesn’t have to be perfect (or even necessarily excellent) for you to get into your target schools. They just have to be good enough to get you accepted- after that, they really don’t matter too much.If you have a list of target schools, you can easily figure out what would constitute an excellent ACT score for each particular school. Here’s how to do it: Google â€Å"[name of school] PrepScholar admissions requirements.† On the admissions page, look for the 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores. This will give you an idea of what â€Å"low† (25th percentile) and â€Å"excellent† (75th percentile) ACT scores are for students who attend that particular college. If you want an excellent ACT score for a particular college, aim for that 75thpercentile score. Now, there's some flexibility with this - keep in mind that 75% of students at any college are accepted with scores lower than the 75th percentile cutoff. If your ACT is in the top 25% of scores for schools that you’re considering, you may want to consider applying to some more competitive schools. Schools with higher average ACT scorestend to have more ambitiousstudents and more challenging courses. A high-ranking school also sends a better signal to grad schools and employers. Ultimately, it's a good strategy to apply to several target, reach, and safety schools- knowing schools' ACT score ranges will help you figure out which ones will best fit within this strategy. Excellent ACT Scores for Yourself This is perhaps the most important consideration with the most practical implications. Given your goals, strengths, and weaknesses, what’s considered an excellent ACT score for you personally? There are quite a few factors to take into account here: Whether you're a â€Å"good† test-taker or ananxious test-taker Your innate skill setfor each ACT section Your educational opportunities- some students may not have a strong background in all ACT content Your resources- some students may have access to prep courses, tutors, or extra help, whereas others may not It’s important to set a realistic but challenging goal in order to meet your full potential. If you set too low of a goal, you cheat yourself out of the opportunity to attend better colleges. If you settoo high of a goal, you may feel unnecessarilydemotivated and frustrated. So where do you begin figuring out what an excellent ACT score means for you? Here's how to do it: Get a baseline score. Take a practice test after familiarizing yourself with the ACT for about 10 hours of prep. You might consider this baseline your low score cutoff- after all, you did get this score with pretty minimal study time. Reach your own score potential. Know that whatever you scored on your baseline, there will be significant room for improvement with good prep. Many students reach a score max (an excellent personalscore) after about 40-80 hours of studying. This score maximum is generally 3-4 points higher than baseline, although it's definitely possible to increase your score more than that. How Do You Get an Excellent ACT Score? Now comes the real work: getting the scores that you want! There are three key components to earning an excellent score, however you define it: a solid timeline, a concrete goal, and a smart study plan. Timeline The amount of time you have to prep will directly affect your study timeline. Read our guide on how long you should study for the ACT. Goal Score Work towards a concrete goal after making a list of target, reach, and safety schools. Get instructions on how to set a goal score in our ACT score guide. Want a beyond-excellent ACT score? We have a guide for that too. Study Plan Now that you have a study timeline and goal score in place, you'll need a smart study plan. This plan will, of course, depend on when you're taking the test. Don't have a lot of time? Read our last-minute tipsand strategies, or our 10-day study plan. Have a bit more time on your hands? Read our study schedule for students who have one year or more to prepare. What's Next? If you're still deciding whether to take the SAT or the ACT, you might be wondering which one will get you the best scores. Read more about how to decide which test is the best fit for you. Looking for more info on the SAT? Read about what counts as anexcellent or bad SAT score. Disappointed with your ACT scores? Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Entrepreneurship Assignment 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Entrepreneurship 2 - Assignment Example Entrepreneurship not only provides for one’s own self but creates jobs for a few other people as well. Entrepreneurship is connected with undertaking innovations or the introduction of new products or finance and business expertise. Entrepreneurship not only includes setting up of a business but its continuous growth and diversification. An entrepreneur keeps looking for a prospect that provides challenge. Through entrepreneurship products are converted into goods of real economic value. Entrepreneurship may involve establishment of new enterprises or could only be a revitalization of a mature organization in the result of a recent development. It’s the job of an entrepreneur to seek chances which make him capable of employing his energies in enterprising ventures. He gathers all the resources, assembles them in a nice shape and makes a product worthy of finishing. It’s the responsibility of the entrepreneur to bring improvement to existing ideas and sell them accordingly. Entrepreneurs have to lookout for market changes and create an opportunity for themselves by utilizing the shift in market demands. It is said that the most opportune moment for a moneymaker is when a nation is destroying or building itself. It is therefore from the process of change that the most occasions come from. Entrepreneurship is based on knowledge and is carried out after a sufficient amount of research. It caters socio-economic, psychological, technological, and legal occurrences and works in response to the swing they create in market trends. It delves deeper into marketing theories and change its strategies with the shift in events. Resources such as capital, human talent and technology are sorted and put to use in their most efficient combination at the most beneficial moments. Such arrangements are a specialty of entrepreneurs because they are moderate risk-takers. Therefore to minimize the risk factor a lot of market research is conducted when a new

Economic Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Economic Critique - Essay Example In principle, they would push the excess or extra tax to the customers and buyers of their products and services. Conventionally, the increase in princes due to increased taxation implies that the level of goods demanded would reduce since the people would not be in any position to buy. The law of equilibrium demands that for the markets or economy to clear, then demand ought to be equal to supply of goods or services. If the demand would reduce then the supply would also reduce in equal proportion. In the recent past, the Obama administration and the government at large has been pushing for a change in the fiscal policy relating to reduction in general taxes levied to the people especially those of the poor classes. This move or fiscal move is expansionary in nature. This is the situation where the government seeks to reduce the level of taxes that is levied to people especially the poor people in move aimed at cushioning them against the hard economic times of the current day and age. John Keynes as a pioneer economist and thinker advocated for the expansionary policy where the government reduces the taxes levied on the citizens to cushion them during inflation or times of economic anomie. In the field of economics, this expansionary move is taken and aimed at reducing the budget surplus and get the economy back to recovery path. On the contrary, the classical view is slightly different relative to the above position and stance. The classical economists are of the opinion that the expansionary moves and policies are completely unnecessary and would create an unnecessary disturbance on the economy. This is so because the classical economists believe that there are necessary and appropriate mechanisms in the market or economy which would correct and clear the market and economy on their own. This is to say that the market has

Identity and diversity Essay Example for Free

Identity and diversity Essay Identity is a complex and diverse issue. As much as society, the media and academics try to debate its definition it is difficult to capture fully its meaning. According to Kroger (2000) identity is â€Å"a subjective feeling of self-sameness and continuity over time†. If research to date has shown anything it is that there are a number of ways to examine identity in psychology. Of the three Identity theorists available to us it is the Social Constructionist theory that has transformed the way we view and research identity today. It has provided us with an epistemological viewpoint that brings with it new methods of conducting identity research. This essay illustrates some of the strengths and weaknesses of this approach. The Social Constructionist approach has many strengths but its greatest is that it contributes epistemologically to the psychological study of human experiences. It suggests that any one environmental condition can produce many ‘knowledges’. (Willig, 2001) It highlights the central role of historical context, culture and language in the formation of a persons identity. The Social Constructionist theory views the person as embedded in society, continuously constructing multiple, diverse identities from a variety of social interactions. (Phoenix, 2007) Research by Keith, 1994 on ‘people with disabilities’ has shown that the individual differences within groups of people with the same impairment did not produce a single identity. To the contrary it showed that there is no â€Å"disabled† identity but instead multiple and diverse identity’s. â€Å"I am not my disability, I’m me†. (Keith, 1994) This research complements the psychosocial research by Erikson’s where the importance of community and social interaction in the formation of identity was first identified. However, psychosocial theory only sees the person as being affected by society (Phoenix, 2007). Both the Social Constructionists and the psychosocial theorists use qualitative research methodologies, the aim of which is to understand ‘what it is like’ to experience different human experiences. Using a qualitative research methodology means the researcher is primarily concerned with meaning. (Willig, 2001) One of the strengths of the Social Constructionist approach is that it has broadened the focus from mental processes to include how we understand meaning through language and social relations. It suggests that identities are not ‘natural’ and that ‘realities’ are constructed by people in their everyday social interactions. Therefore, Social Constructionist  researchers have shown how identities are constructed differently depending on which culture is being examined. People living in collectivist societies like Japan and China responded based on their relationships to other people, â€Å"I am a student at Beijing University†. In contrast respondents from individualists’ cultures answered more personally â€Å"I am a student†. (Smith and Bond, 1998) On the other hand psychosocial theorists use methodologies based on introspection and neglect large scale social identities. They view personal and social aspects as different and focus on the personal aspects. (Phoenix, 2007) Clearly, language is a crucial aspect of socially constructed knowledge. Social Constructionists researchers emphasise the central role that language plays in the construction of meaning. (Willing, 2001) â€Å"Conversation is to be thought of as creating a social world just as causality generates a physical one.† (Harre, 1983, p65 as cited in Pasupathi, 2001). The Social Constructionists viewpoint is that the same thing can be understood in a number of different ways, depending on the way people choose to tell their stories. A further strength of the Social Constructionist approach is that it provides the researcher with meaning and language based methods, namely, discourse analysis. This hermeneutic approach treats participants as ‘meaning producers’ and allows the researcher to examine the aspects of identity formation that are fluid and changing from setting to setting. (Phoenix, 2007). The study of ‘life as a disabled child’ shows evidence of both rejecting being in a disabled category and also using their disability to gain privilege â€Å"Can we go early, Miss, ‘cos we are disabled. (Watson et al, 2000) Research carried out by psychosocial researchers use methods grounded in introspection and psychoanalysis. These researchers view language as a tool that can be used to describe inner experiences. They use research methods like clinical studies, ethnography and naturalistic observations all of which provide data that looks inward into the conscious mind and therefore has limitations in its methods of analysis. (Phoenix, 2007). The language used is therefore not analysed for meaning making, instead it is used to understand the viewpoints of individuals and to look for commonalities that substantiate the researcher claims. Although the Social Constructionist approach contributes greatly to the study of identity formation, it does have limitations. This approach also represents a  relativist ontology, as it emphasises the diversity of interpretations that can be applied to research data. (Willig, 2001) As the approach focuses on the subjectivity of data and uses symbolic analysis it cannot be used to make predictions about events. â€Å"..My main preoccupation seemed to be desperately trying to deny the awareness of my difference which had started on that day†. (Micheline Mason, in Campling, 1981, pp. 23-4) Research by Erikson would suggest that this experience suggests a cause-effect relationship. The young girls ‘sudden awareness of the effect of her disability on her future. Erikson called this process â€Å"normative crisis†. Erikson research uses analysis techniques that look for understanding of the viewpoints of particular individuals. In contrast Social Constructionist analyses data from an outsider viewpoint that acknowledges the insiders viewpoint â€Å"but does not privilege it†. (Phoenix, 2007). Clearly, the Social Constructionist approach contributes greatly to the study of identity. It offers psychological research an epistemological stance and new research methods that are unique and enrich psychological research. The Social Constructionist theory is that our everyday social relations create new ‘knowledges’ that are unique to the individual and their cultural context is a dramatic insight to the study of identity. The approach is further strengthened by the view that language is a crucial part of socially constructed knowledge. The very conversations we have create multiple meanings depending on the way people choose to tell our stories. One of the weaknesses of this approach is that it is difficult to analyse and research cannot be extrapolated to the population as a whole.

Michael Porters Analysis Of Starbucks Essay -- essays research papers

Michael Porter, a Harvard Professor introduces his ideology of the Five Forces model that shapes the competition in the industry. Each force is interrelated and therefore leads into the other to show the elements directly involved in the further success or ultimate success of the firm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. throughout its existence since 1971, with its great management team, innovative style of thinking and strong will to succeed in compliance with its mission and vision statements has and continues to overcome its barriers by recognizing such strategic planning as those included in Porter’s five forces model. The model includes such components as Barriers to Entry, Supplier and Buyer Power, Threat of Substitutions, and most importantly the Industry Competitors. Starbucks throughout its existence has addressed each and every one of Porters forces with a positive edge that has greatly contributed to the success of the company. Starbucks took many risks and spent capital that it really did not have. To build a corporation based on intuition and a trip to Italy has undoubtedly paid off in the long run which is evident throughout the year that Starbucks has been in operation. Howard Schultz, CEO and founder of the company, has stuck to his con viction not to â€Å"sacrifice long-term integrity and values for short-term profit.† He knew if he played his cards right and stuck to his guns it would only be a matter of time that Starbucks would become the world largest coffee industry in the world. He wanted the company to become and international outlet for coffee consumers which not only included men and woman but also addresses the needs and wants of those of all ages and nationalities, children, students and any other category of people that have and interest in Starbucks diverse product line. With constant dedication to the company’s vision and mission statement and believing in the value of market share and name recognition and how critical they are to the success of the company, he was able to achieve his goal within a few years. During this time of course he has been able to open a total of 1,100 stores and continues to do so until this day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. continues to address the issues introduced in Porter’s Five-Force Model as such:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New Entrants (Barriers to Entry i... ...mployees). Starbucks also only acquires companies that comply with the ethical beliefs and standards set forth by the company because it is believed that this is the only way a company merger can survive or be successful in the long-term. When a foreign company does not comply with the standards set forth by them, Starbucks reacts instantaneously. An example of such an instance was in 1995 when they reacted to the neglectful treatment of the workers in Guatemala who were earning less than $3.00 a day, by enforcing a code of minimal working conditions and pay for foreign subcontractors. The company’s guidelines call for overseas suppliers to pay wages and benefits that â€Å"address the basic needs of workers and their families† and to only allow child labor when it does not interrupt required education (58-11).† Starbucks can be considered a trendsetter not only in products but also in the area of work ethics by sticking to its mission of the company and apply ing it whether working domestic or foreign. Starbucks is socially responsible and responsive to not only the issues affecting the company and the employees but also to that of the community through which they are able to exist. Michael Porters Analysis Of Starbucks Essay -- essays research papers Michael Porter, a Harvard Professor introduces his ideology of the Five Forces model that shapes the competition in the industry. Each force is interrelated and therefore leads into the other to show the elements directly involved in the further success or ultimate success of the firm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. throughout its existence since 1971, with its great management team, innovative style of thinking and strong will to succeed in compliance with its mission and vision statements has and continues to overcome its barriers by recognizing such strategic planning as those included in Porter’s five forces model. The model includes such components as Barriers to Entry, Supplier and Buyer Power, Threat of Substitutions, and most importantly the Industry Competitors. Starbucks throughout its existence has addressed each and every one of Porters forces with a positive edge that has greatly contributed to the success of the company. Starbucks took many risks and spent capital that it really did not have. To build a corporation based on intuition and a trip to Italy has undoubtedly paid off in the long run which is evident throughout the year that Starbucks has been in operation. Howard Schultz, CEO and founder of the company, has stuck to his con viction not to â€Å"sacrifice long-term integrity and values for short-term profit.† He knew if he played his cards right and stuck to his guns it would only be a matter of time that Starbucks would become the world largest coffee industry in the world. He wanted the company to become and international outlet for coffee consumers which not only included men and woman but also addresses the needs and wants of those of all ages and nationalities, children, students and any other category of people that have and interest in Starbucks diverse product line. With constant dedication to the company’s vision and mission statement and believing in the value of market share and name recognition and how critical they are to the success of the company, he was able to achieve his goal within a few years. During this time of course he has been able to open a total of 1,100 stores and continues to do so until this day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. continues to address the issues introduced in Porter’s Five-Force Model as such:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New Entrants (Barriers to Entry i... ...mployees). Starbucks also only acquires companies that comply with the ethical beliefs and standards set forth by the company because it is believed that this is the only way a company merger can survive or be successful in the long-term. When a foreign company does not comply with the standards set forth by them, Starbucks reacts instantaneously. An example of such an instance was in 1995 when they reacted to the neglectful treatment of the workers in Guatemala who were earning less than $3.00 a day, by enforcing a code of minimal working conditions and pay for foreign subcontractors. The company’s guidelines call for overseas suppliers to pay wages and benefits that â€Å"address the basic needs of workers and their families† and to only allow child labor when it does not interrupt required education (58-11).† Starbucks can be considered a trendsetter not only in products but also in the area of work ethics by sticking to its mission of the company and apply ing it whether working domestic or foreign. Starbucks is socially responsible and responsive to not only the issues affecting the company and the employees but also to that of the community through which they are able to exist.

The Golden Lily Chapter 17

ADRIAN'S CAR DROVE LIKE A DREAM. When I got behind the wheel, I nearly forgot to check for any pursuit. In fact, I nearly forgot that I was supposed to be taking us to Wolfe's and showing Adrian how to use a stick shift. Instead, I was caught up in the way the engine hummed around us and in the scent of the leather. Leaving his neighborhood, I had to restrain myself from flooring it in the crowded streets of downtown Palm Springs. This was a car screaming to be let loose on the open road. I had admired Brayden's Mustang, but I worshipped this one. â€Å"I feel like I've just crashed someone's date,† Adrian remarked, once we were getting on the highway. No one had tailed us out of downtown, making me feel much safer. â€Å"Like I'm intruding on you two. If you want to drop me off somewhere, I'll understand.† â€Å"Huh?† I'd been paying careful attention to the way the car built up to higher speeds, both through sound and feel. The Mustang was in stunning shape. People often have the idea that classic cars are expensive. They are – if they're in good condition. Most aren't. When something's sat around for years without care, it inevitably falls apart, which is why so many older cars are fixer-uppers. Not Adrian's. This had been maintained and restored throughout the years and had probably never left the state of California – meaning it hadn't faced harsh winters. That all added up to a high price tag, making it that much more ludicrous that Adrian had bought something he couldn't drive. I groaned. â€Å"I'm sorry†¦ I don't know what I was thinking.† Well, I kind of knew. I'd been wondering what my odds of a ticket would be if I broke the speed limit to see how fast we could go. â€Å"I should've been walking you through this as soon as I started the car. I promise I will when we leave Wolfe's, all the steps. For now, I guess we can recap the basics. This is the clutch†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Adrian didn't seem annoyed by my neglect. If anything, he looked amused and simply listened to my explanations with a small, quiet smile on his face. Wolfe looked just as disreputable as he had last time, complete with the eye patch and what I suspected were the same Bermuda shorts as before. I hoped he'd done laundry since then. Despite his appearance, he was ready to go when our class assembled and seemed competent in his subject matter. Although he reminded us again about the importance of avoiding conflicts and being aware of one's surroundings, he quickly moved past those points and focused on actually practicing more physical ways of protecting oneself. Considering how much Adrian had complained last time about the â€Å"boring† safety talk, I figured he'd be excited that we were pretty much jumping right into some action. Instead, that amused look from the car vanished, and he grew increasingly tense as Wolfe explained what he wanted us to do in our partnered practice sessions. When the time actually came to practice, Adrian looked blatantly unhappy. â€Å"What's the matter?† I asked. I suddenly remembered last time, when Adrian had freaked out over my â€Å"attack.† Maybe he hadn't really expected he'd have to work here. â€Å"Come on, these are simple. You won't get dirty.† Even when teaching more combative actions, Wolfe was still an advocate of keeping things fast and simple. We weren't trying to learn to beat someone up. These maneuvers were effective means of distracting an assailant so that we could escape. Most were done with the dummies, since we could hardly try to stick fingers in each other's eyes. Adrian went through those motions diligently, if silently. It was working directly with me that he seemed to have a problem with. Wolfe noticed it too as he made his rounds. â€Å"Come on, boy! She can't try to escape if you don't try to hold her. She's not going to hurt you, and you won't hurt her.† The maneuver in question was actually one that would've been helpful the night I'd been grabbed in the alley. So, I was eager to practice it and frustrated that Adrian kept only halfheartedly helping. He was supposed to put an arm around my torso and attempt to cover my mouth. Unfortunately, his efforts were so weak and his hold so loose that I didn't need any special techniques to escape. I could have simply walked right out of his arms. With Wolfe there, Adrian made a slightly better showing as an assailant but immediately resorted to his former ways once we were alone. â€Å"Let's switch,† I said at last, nearly wanting to pull my hair out. â€Å"You try to escape me. Make up for last time.† I couldn't believe that Adrian's sluggish attitude had turned out to be the problem here. I'd expected the hang-up would be me not wanting to touch a vampire, but it didn't bother me at all. I wasn't thinking of him as a vampire. He was Adrian, and my partner in this class. I needed him to learn the move. It was all very pragmatic. If I didn't know better, I'd almost say that Adrian was afraid to touch me, which made no sense. Moroi didn't have those hang-ups. Was something wrong with me? Why wouldn't Adrian touch me? â€Å"What's going on?† I demanded, once we were in the car and headed back to the city. â€Å"I get that you're not an athlete, but what happened in there?† Adrian refused to meet my eyes and instead stared pointedly out the window. â€Å"I don't think this is really my thing. I was all about playing action hero before, but now†¦ I don't know. This is a bad idea. It's more work than I thought.† There was a flippant, dismissive tone in his voice that I hadn't heard in a while. â€Å"What happened to you finishing things you started?† I asked. â€Å"You told me you had changed.† â€Å"That was for art,† said Adrian quickly. â€Å"I'm still in those classes, aren't I? I didn't jump ship on those. I just don't want to do this one anymore. Don't worry. Now that I've got more money, I'll pay you back the class fee. You won't be out anything.† â€Å"That doesn't matter,† I argued. â€Å"It's still a waste! Especially since what Wolfe's showing us isn't really that difficult. We're not ripping ourselves apart like Eddie and Angeline would. Why is this so hard for you to stick with and learn?† My earlier self-doubt returned. â€Å"Do you just not want to work with me? Is there†¦ is there something wrong with me?† â€Å"No! Of course not. Absolutely not,† said Adrian. In my periphery, I saw him finally look at me. â€Å"Maybe there are only so many things I can learn at once. I mean, I'm supposed to also be learning to drive a stick shift. Not that I see that happening.† I wanted to slap myself on the forehead. In my frustration over class, I'd completely forgotten again about showing Adrian how to drive. I felt like an idiot, even though I was still mad at him for giving up on Wolfe. I checked the time. I had things to do tonight at Amberwood but felt obligated to make up for my shoddy teaching. â€Å"We'll practice once we're back in your neighborhood,† I promised. â€Å"We'll start slow, and I'll show you everything you need to do. I might even let you try driving around the block tonight if you seem like you're paying attention to the lesson.† The transformation in Adrian was remarkable. He went from sullen and uncomfortable to cheerful and energetic. I couldn't figure it out. Sure, I found cars and driving fascinating, but technically speaking, there was a lot more detail to learn about manual transmission than there was in Wolfe's evasive techniques. Why were those difficult for him, but the clutch was easy? I stuck around for about an hour when we got back. To his credit, Adrian paid attention to every word I said, although his results were inconsistent whenever I quizzed him or actually let him try something. Sometimes he'd respond like a pro. Other times, he'd seem totally lost on things I could have sworn he'd picked up. By the end of the hour, I felt safe enough with him driving the car at low speeds on empty streets. He was a long way from the highway or stop-and-go traffic of a busy city. â€Å"Looks like we've got more lessons in our future,† I told him when we finished. I'd parked the car behind his building, and we were walking back toward the main entrance and Latte. â€Å"Do not take that car beyond a half-mile radius. I checked the odometer. I'll know.† â€Å"Noted,† he said, still wearing that smirky smile. â€Å"When's the next lesson? You want to come back tomorrow night?† â€Å"Can't,† I said. â€Å"I'm going out with Brayden.† I was surprised at how much I was looking forward to it. Not only did I want to make things up to him after the dance, but I also just wanted a dose of normality – well, at least the kind of normality Brayden and I had together. Plus, things with Adrian were feeling really weird†¦ â€Å"Oh.† Adrian's smile fell. â€Å"Well. I understand. I mean, love and romance and all that.† â€Å"We're going to the textile museum,† I said. â€Å"It's cool, though I'm not sure how much love and romance there'll really be there.† Adrian nearly came to a halt. â€Å"There's a textile museum here? What do people do there?† â€Å"Well, they look at†¦ um, textiles. There's actually a great exhibit on – † I stopped as we reached the front of the building. There, behind Latte, was a familiar car, the rental that Sonya and Dimitri were using. I looked questioningly at Adrian. â€Å"Were you expecting them tonight?† â€Å"No,† he said, resuming his walk to the door. â€Å"They've got a key, though, so I suppose they can make themselves at home anytime. They do it a lot, actually. He eats my food, and she uses my hair stuff.† I followed him. â€Å"Hopefully it's just Dimitri.† After our recent revelations about the hunters, Sonya was pretty much under house arrest. Or so I thought. When we walked into the apartment, she was sitting on the couch. No Dimitri in sight. She glanced up at us from her laptop. â€Å"Thank goodness you're here,† she said, directing her words to me. â€Å"Jill said you two were out and I was hoping to catch you.† Something told me no good would come out of her wanting to â€Å"catch† me, but I had greater concerns. â€Å"What are you doing here?† I asked, half-expecting hunters to come through the door. â€Å"You're supposed to be at Clarence's until you leave town.† â€Å"Day after tomorrow,† she confirmed. She stood; eyes alight with whatever had driven her here. â€Å"But I needed to talk to you now – face-to-face.† â€Å"I would've come to you,† I protested. â€Å"It's not safe for you to be out.† â€Å"I'm fine,† she said. â€Å"I made sure I wasn't followed. This was too important.† She was breathless and excited. More important than being caught by wannabe vampire hunters? Debatable. Adrian crossed his arms and looked surprisingly disapproving. â€Å"Well, it's too late now. What's going on?† â€Å"We got the results back from Sydney's blood,† explained Sonya. My heart stopped. No, I thought. No, no, no. â€Å"Just like with Dimitri's blood, nothing physiological showed up,† she said. â€Å"Nothing unusual with proteins, antibodies, or anything like that.† Relief poured through me. I'd been right. Nothing special about me, no inexplicable properties. And yet†¦ at the same time, I felt a tiny pang of regret. I wasn't the one who would fix everything. â€Å"We sent it to a Moroi lab this time, not an Alchemist one,† Sonya continued. â€Å"One of the researchers – an earth user – felt a hum of earth magic. Just like how Adrian and I felt spirit in Dimitri's blood. The technician had other types of magic users examine your sample, and all four basic elements were detected.† That panic returned. She had me on an emotional roller coaster, one that left me nauseous. â€Å"Magic†¦ in my blood?† A moment later, I understood. â€Å"Of course there is,† I said slowly. I touched my cheek. â€Å"The tattoo has vampire blood and magic in it. That's what it is. There are different degrees of charms in it from different users. That would show up in my blood.† I shivered. Even with a logical explanation, it was a scary thing accepting that there was magic in my blood. Ms. Terwilliger's spells were still anathema to me, but at least there was some comfort in knowing they drew magic from outside of me. But knowing I had something internal? That was terrifying. And yet, I couldn't be surprised at this finding, not with the tattoo. Sonya nodded along. â€Å"Yes, of course. But there must be something about that combination that's repulsive to Strigoi. It may be the key to all of our work!† To my surprise, Adrian took a few steps toward me, and there was a tension in his stance that was fiercely protective. â€Å"So you know Alchemist blood has magic in it,† he said. â€Å"That's no surprise. Case closed. What do you want from her now?† â€Å"Another sample to start,† said Sonya eagerly. â€Å"There's none left in the original vial I took, once all the testing was done. I know this sounds strange, but it'd also be useful if a Moroi could†¦ well, taste your blood and see if it has the same repulsive quality as it did to Strigoi. Fresh blood would be ideal, but even I'm not deluded enough to ask you to submit to a feeding. We should simply be able to use your sample and – â€Å" â€Å"No,† I said. I stumbled backward, horrified. â€Å"Absolutely not. Whether it's from a neck or a vial, there's no way I'm giving my blood for anyone to taste. Do you know how wrong that is? I know you do it all the time with feeders, but I'm not one of them. I should never have given you the first sample. You don't need me for any of this. Spirit's the key. Lee's proof that former Strigoi are the ones you need to examine.† Sonya wasn't cowed by my outburst. She pushed forward, though her tone was gentler. â€Å"I understand your fear, but think of the applications! If something in your blood makes you resistant to Strigoi, then you could save countless lives.† â€Å"Alchemists aren't resistant,† I said. â€Å"That tattoo isn't protecting us, if that's what you're getting at. Do you think that in all our history, there haven't been Alchemists who were turned Strigoi?† â€Å"Well, of course,† she said. Her words were hesitant, encouraging me. â€Å"So, the magic you sensed in me is irrelevant. It's just the tattoo. All Alchemists have it. Maybe ours tastes bad, but Alchemist blood has nothing to do with Strigoi turning. It still happens to us.† I was rambling but didn't care. Sonya grew perplexed, her mind running through the implications of this news. â€Å"But do all Alchemists have bad-tasting blood? If so, how would a Strigoi be able to drain them?† â€Å"Maybe it varies by person,† I said. â€Å"Or maybe some Strigoi are tougher than others. I don't know. Regardless, we aren't the ones to focus on.† â€Å"Unless there's just something special about you,† mused Sonya. No. I didn't want that. I didn't want to be scrutinized, locked behind glass like Keith. I couldn't be. I prayed she wouldn't see how scared I was. â€Å"There's plenty that's special about her,† said Adrian dryly. â€Å"But her blood's not up for dispute. Why are you pushing this again after last time?† Sonya glared at Adrian. â€Å"I'm not doing this for selfish reasons, you know that! I want to save our people. I want to save all our people. I don't want to see any new Strigoi added to the world. No one should live like that.† A haunted look shone in her eyes, as a memory seized her. â€Å"That kind of bloodlust and complete lack of empathy for any other living creature†¦ no one can imagine what it's like. You're hollow. A walking nightmare, and yet†¦ you just don't care†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Funny attitude,† said Adrian, â€Å"seeing as you purposely chose to become one.† Sonya paled, and I felt torn. I appreciated Adrian's defense but also pitied Sonya. She'd explained to me in the past about how spirit's instability – the same instability Adrian feared – had driven her to turning Strigoi. Looking back at her decision, she regretted it more than anything else in her life. She would've submitted herself for punishment, but no court knew how to handle her situation. â€Å"Doing that was a mistake,† she said coldly. â€Å"One I've learned from – which is why I'm so anxious to save others from that fate.† â€Å"Well, then find a way to do it without dragging Sydney into it! You know how she feels about us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Adrian faltered as he glanced at me, and I was surprised to almost detect bitterness in his voice. â€Å"You know how the Alchemists feel. Keep involving her, and you'll get her in trouble with them. And if you're so convinced they've got the answers, ask them for volunteers and do experiments that way.† â€Å"I'd help with that,† I offered. â€Å"Getting authorized subjects for you. I'd talk to my superiors. They'd like to see an end to Strigoi as much as you.† When Sonya didn't answer right away, Adrian guessed why. â€Å"She knows they'd say no, Sage. That's why she's appealing to you directly and why they didn't send your blood to an Alchemist lab.† â€Å"Why can't you both see how important this is?† asked Sonya, a desperate longing to do good in her eyes. It made me feel guilty and conflicted. â€Å"I do,† said Adrian. â€Å"You think I don't want to see every single one of those bastard Strigoi wiped from the face of the earth? I do! But not at the cost of forcing people to do things they don't want to.† Sonya gave him a long, level look. â€Å"I think you're letting your personal feelings interfere with this. Your emotions are going to ruin our research.† He smiled. â€Å"Well, then. Be glad you'll be free of me in two days.† Sonya glanced between the two of us, looked like she was about to protest, and then thought better of it. Without another word she left, her face defeated. Again, I felt torn. In theory, I knew she was right†¦ but my gut just couldn't agree. â€Å"I didn't mean to upset her,† I said at last. Adrian's face showed no sympathy. â€Å"She shouldn't have upset you. She knows how you feel.† I still felt a little bad, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that if I gave this, I'd be asked to give more and more. I recalled the day Eddie and Dimitri had been coated in spirit magic. No way could I risk getting involved to that level. I was already pushing my limits too far. â€Å"I know†¦ but it's hard,† I said. â€Å"I like Sonya. I gave her the first vial, so I can see why she thought the second would be easy.† â€Å"Doesn't matter,† he said. â€Å"No is no.† â€Å"I really will mention it to the Alchemists,† I said. â€Å"Maybe they'll want to help.† I didn't think I'd get in too much trouble for the first vial. The Alchemists endorsed the initial experiments after all, and I'd probably get points for standing up to vampire peer pressure for the other sample. He shrugged. â€Å"If they do, great. If not, it's not your responsibility.† â€Å"Well, thanks for gallantly coming to my defense again,† I teased. â€Å"Maybe you'd be more into Wolfe's training if you got to protect someone else instead of yourself?† The earlier smile returned. â€Å"I just don't like seeing people bullied, that's all.† â€Å"But you should come back to Wolfe with me,† I urged. â€Å"You need a chance to try to get at me.† Like that, he was serious again. He looked away. â€Å"I don't know, Sage. We'll see. For now, we'll just focus on the driving – when you can get away from your boyfriend, of course.† I left shortly after that, still confused about his weird behavior. Was that some of spirit's crazy effects on the mind? One minute, he was brave and defensive. The next, he was down and obstinate. Maybe there was a pattern or some type of reasoning behind it all, but it was beyond my analytical abilities. Back at Amberwood, I immediately headed for the library to get a book for my English class. Ms. Terwilliger had lightened up on my usual work so that I could â€Å"devote more time† to crafting her spells. Since her independent study – which was supposed to be my easy elective – took up more time than my other classes, it was refreshing to focus on something else for a change. As I was leaving the British Lit section, I caught sight of Jill and Eddie studying together at a table. That wasn't weird, exactly. What was weird was that Micah wasn't with them. â€Å"Hey, guys,† I said, slipping into a seat. â€Å"Hard at work?† â€Å"Do you know how weird it is to be repeating my senior year?† asked Eddie. â€Å"I can't even blow it off either. I have to get decent grades to stay here.† I grinned. â€Å"Hey, all knowledge is worth having.† He tapped the papers in front of him. â€Å"Yeah? You got any knowledge on the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in fiction?† â€Å"Edith Wharton,† I said automatically. He scrawled something onto his paper, and I turned to Jill. â€Å"How are things with you? Where's Micah?† Jill had her chin propped in her hand and was gazing at me with the weirdest look. It was almost†¦ dreamy. It took her a few moments to snap out of her daze and respond. The dreamy look became embarrassed and then dismayed. She glanced down at her book. â€Å"Sorry. I was just thinking how good you look in taupe. What did you ask?† â€Å"Micah?† I prompted. â€Å"Oh. Right. He's got†¦ stuff to do.† I was pretty sure that was the shortest explanation she'd ever given me. I tried to remember what I'd last heard on their status. â€Å"You guys patched things up, right?† â€Å"Yeah. I guess. He understood about Thanksgiving.† She brightened. â€Å"Hey, Eddie and I were talking about that. Do you think we could all have a big family-style Thanksgiving at Clarence's? Do you think he'd mind? We could all help, and it'd be lots of fun. I mean, aside from the cover, we really are like a family. Eddie says he can make the turkey.† â€Å"I think Clarence would love that,† I said, happy to see her cheery again. Then, I replayed her words. I turned to Eddie incredulously. â€Å"You know how to make a turkey? How would you have learned that?† From what I knew, most dhampirs stayed nearly year-round at their schools from an early age. Not a lot of culinary time. â€Å"Hey,† he said, straight-faced. â€Å"All knowledge is worth having.† Jill laughed. â€Å"He wouldn't tell me either.† â€Å"You know, Angeline claims she can cook,† said Eddie. â€Å"We were talking about it at breakfast. She says she knows about cooking turkey too, so if we tag-team, we can pull it off. Of course, she'll probably want to hunt and kill her own.† â€Å"Probably,† I said. It was amazing that he was talking about working with her on anything. It was even amazing that he could speak about her fondly, without a grimace. I was beginning to think more and more that her display at the assembly had been a good thing. We didn't need animosity in this group. â€Å"Well, I got what I came for, so I'm heading back. I'll see you in the morning.† â€Å"See you,† said Eddie. Jill said nothing, and when I glanced over, I saw that she was watching me again with that weird, enraptured look. She sighed happily. â€Å"Adrian had a great time with you at your class tonight, you know.† I nearly rolled my eyes. â€Å"The bond leaves no secrets. He didn't always seem to be having a good time.† â€Å"No, he really did,† she assured me. A dopey smile crossed her features. â€Å"He loves that you love the car more than he does and thinks it's awesome you're getting so good in your defense class. Not that that's a surprise. You're always so good at everything, and you don't even realize it. You don't even realize half the things you do – like how you watch out for others and never even think about yourself.† Even Eddie looked a little astonished by that. He and I exchanged puzzled looks. â€Å"Well,† I said awkwardly, really unsure how to handle this Sydney lovefest. I decided escape was my best option. â€Å"Thanks. I'll see you later and – hey. Where'd you get that?† â€Å"Huh?† she asked, blinking out of her enraptured haze. Jill was wearing a silk scarf painted in rich jewel tones, almost reminding me of a peacock's tail. It also reminded me of something else, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. â€Å"The scarf. I've seen it before.† â€Å"Oh.† She ran her fingers over the smooth material. â€Å"Lia gave it to me.† â€Å"What? When did you see her?† â€Å"She stopped by the dorm yesterday to give the dresses back again. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd want to return them.† â€Å"I do,† I said adamantly. Jill sighed. â€Å"Come on, let's just keep them. They're so pretty. And you know she'll just bring them back anyway.† â€Å"We'll deal with that later. Tell me about the scarf.† â€Å"It's no big deal. She was trying to pitch me on this scarf collection – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah, she told me too. How she could make it so no one recognized you.† I shook my head, feeling a surprising amount of anger. Was nothing under my control anymore? â€Å"I can't believe she went behind my back! Please tell me you didn't sneak off with her to do a photo shoot.† â€Å"No, no,† said Jill quickly. â€Å"Of course not. But you don't think†¦ I mean, you don't think there's any way she could pull it off? Hide me?† I tried to keep my tone gentle. After all, I was mad at Lia, not Jill. â€Å"Maybe. Maybe not. You know we can't take the chance.† Jill nodded, face sad. â€Å"Yeah.† I left feeling annoyed and was so distracted that I nearly ran into Trey. When he didn't respond to my greeting, I realized he was even more distracted than I was. There was a haunted look in his eyes, and he seemed exhausted. â€Å"You okay?† I asked. He managed a weak smile. â€Å"Yeah, yeah. Just feeling the pressure of everything. Nothing I can't handle. What about you? Don't they usually have to throw you out of this place? Or did you finally get tired of being here for eight hours?† â€Å"I just needed one book,† I said. â€Å"And I was actually only here ten minutes. I was out most of the night.† The smile fell, replaced by a frown. â€Å"Out with Brayden?† â€Å"That's tomorrow. I had, um, family stuff tonight.† The frown deepened. â€Å"You go out a lot, Melbourne. You have a lot of friends outside school.† â€Å"Not that many,† I said. â€Å"I'm not living a party lifestyle, if that's what you're getting at.† â€Å"Yeah, well. Be careful. I've heard about some scary stuff going on out there.† I remembered him being concerned for Jill too. I usually kept up on all the local news and had heard nothing alarming recently. â€Å"What, is there a crime ring in Palm Springs I should know about?† â€Å"Just be careful,† he said. We started to part ways, and then I called to him, â€Å"Trey? I know it's your own business, but whatever's going on†¦ if you want to talk, I'm here.† It was a huge concession for me, seeing as I wasn't always the most socially adept person. Trey gave me a wistful smile. â€Å"Noted.† I was kind of reeling as I went back to my dorm. Adrian, Jill, Trey. I suppose if you counted Eddie and Angeline getting along, everyone in my life was behaving weirdly. All part of the job, I thought. As soon as I was back in my room, I called Donna Stanton with the Alchemists. I never could be sure what time zone she was in, so I wasn't too concerned about the late hour. She answered right away and didn't sound tired, which I took as a good sign. She hadn't responded to my e-mail about the Warriors, and I was anxious for news. They posed too big a threat to us to be ignored. â€Å"Miss Sage,† she said. â€Å"I was planning on calling you soon. I trust everything's okay with the Dragomir girl?† â€Å"Jill? Yeah, she's fine. I wanted to check in on some other things. You got the info I sent you about the Warriors of Light?† Stanton sighed. â€Å"That's what I was going to call you about. Have you had any more runins?† â€Å"No. And they don't seem to have been following us anymore either. Maybe they gave up.† â€Å"Unlikely.† Her next words took a long time to get out. â€Å"Not from what we've observed in the past.† I froze, momentarily speechless. â€Å"In the past? Do you mean†¦ you've run into them before? I was hoping they were just some†¦ I don't know. A crazy, localized group.† â€Å"Unfortunately, no. We've encountered them before. Sporadically, mind you. But they pop up everywhere.† I was still in disbelief. â€Å"But I was always taught that any hunters had disappeared centuries ago. Why has no one ever talked about this?† â€Å"Honestly?† asked Stanton. â€Å"Most Alchemists don't know. We want to run an efficient organization, one that deals with the vampire problem in an organized, peaceful way. There are some people in our group who might want to take more extreme action. It's best then if the existence of our radical offshoot is kept secret. I wouldn't have even told you, but with all the contact you're having, you need to be prepared.† â€Å"Offshoot†¦ then they are related to Alchemists!† I was sickened. â€Å"Not for a very long time.† She sounded equally disgusted. â€Å"There's almost no resemblance anymore. They're reckless and savage. The only reason we let them be is because they usually just go after Strigoi. This situation with Sonya Karp is more difficult. She hasn't had any more threats?† â€Å"No. I just saw her tonight†¦ which brings up the other reason I called†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gave Stanton a rundown of the various blood experiments, including my own donation. I painted it in very scientific terms, how it had seemed useful as extra data. I then made sure to sound properly appalled by the second request – which wasn't that difficult. â€Å"Absolutely not,† said Stanton. No hesitation. Often, Alchemist decisions went through chains of command, even with someone as high up as her. It was a sign of how much this went against Alchemist beliefs that she didn't even have to consult anyone. â€Å"Human control-blood is one thing. The rest she's suggesting is out of the question. I will not allow humans to be used in these experiments, especially when the evidence clearly shows the former Strigoi need to be the focus – not us. Besides, for all we know, this is some ploy on the Moroi part to get more of our blood for personal reasons.† I didn't believe that last part at all and tried to find a tactful way of saying so. â€Å"Sonya seems to sincerely believe this would help protect against Strigoi. She just doesn't seem to grasp how we feel about it.† â€Å"Of course she wouldn't,† said Stanton dismissively. â€Å"None of them do.† She and I returned our focus to the vampire hunters. The Alchemists were doing some investigating on any sightings in the area. She didn't want me to do any active investigation myself, but I was to report in immediately if any other information came my way. She was assuming the Warriors of Light were operating nearby, and once she found out where, the Alchemists would â€Å"deal with them.† I wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but her tone made me shiver. As she'd pointed out earlier, we weren't a particularly aggressive group†¦ though we were excellent at getting rid of problems. â€Å"Oh,† I said, just as we were wrapping up. â€Å"Did you ever find out anything about Marcus Finch?† I'd tried locating Clarence's mysterious human, who'd helped against the hunters, but had found nothing. I'd hoped Stanton might have more connections. â€Å"No. But we'll keep looking.† A slight pause. â€Å"Miss Sage†¦ I can't emphasize enough how pleased we are with the work you're doing. You've run into a few more complications than any of us expected, yet you handle them all efficiently and properly. Even your conduct with the Moroi is outstanding. A weaker person might have yielded to Karp's request. You refused and contacted me. I'm so proud I took the chance on you.† I felt a tightening in my chest. So proud. I couldn't remember the last time someone had said they were proud of me. Well, my mother did a lot, but no one tied to my work among the Alchemists did. For most of my life, I'd hoped my father would say he was proud. I'd finally given up on expecting that. Stanton was hardly a parental figure, but her words triggered happiness in me I hadn't known was waiting to come out. â€Å"Thank you, ma'am,† I said, when I could finally speak. â€Å"Keep it up,† she said. â€Å"When I can, I'll get you out of that place and into a position that doesn't involve so much contact with them.† And like that, my world came crashing down. I suddenly felt guilty. She really had given me a chance, and now I was deceiving her. I was hardly like Liam, ready to sell my soul to the Strigoi, but I also wasn't staying objective with my charges. Driving lessons. Thanksgiving. What would Stanton say if she knew about that? I was a sham, reaping glory I didn't deserve. If I was truly a dedicated Alchemist, I'd change my life here. I'd stop all extraneous activities with Jill and the others. I wouldn't even attend Amberwood – I'd accept the offer of outside accommodations. I'd only come here and see the gang when I absolutely was required to. If I could do those things, then I'd truly be a good Alchemist. And, I realized, I'd also be terribly, awfully lonely. â€Å"Thank you, ma'am,† I said. It was the only response I could give.