The Art Institute Essay Example for Free

The Art Institute Essay My goals in life are not hard to achieve at all. First and foremost, I realize for a goal to be achieved,it will take determination and discipline to achieve it. Walking across that stage is my number one goal. Having the ability to graduate with my friends comes from hardwork and dedication, but I know recieving that high school diploma is just the beginning of my career. Being accepted into the Art of Institute has brought me closer to achieving my goal. My number 1 goal is to own my on Bakery (Moonies Goodies). The institute would help me achieve the basic steps and take responsiblity on moving in the right direction of my career. Art Institute will help me reach my goal in becoming a Pastery chef. Attending this institiute will also give me a step closer to reaching my main goal in my life. I realize that choosing this college was the best college for me because my goal after high school was to attend a culinary college that will offer me the skills I need in business managment, which will bring me closer to owning my own bakery. After researching the Art of Institute online, I knew that the Art Institute will give me the guidance needed to set me on the right path for my goals. To be successful in the commitment to my education will require determination and taking on more responsibilitites in my life. I know that my participation is acquired and will be given. I am looking forward to meeting and making a connection with my instructors, whom will share in a vital part of my career goal achievements. Also, looking forward to working beside peers whom are excited about their goals, such as I. I will attend any event that is being offered by the institute. Goals are challenges and in order for one to be successful, one must achieve the goals that lies within you. Having the ability to train amongst peers, is a dream come true. Thankful that I was accepted into the Art of Institute.

Rapid developments in technology

Rapid developments in technology Global trends and technological development and their effect on strategy and technology on organisations, with a focus on the Sony Corporation. Abstract In recent years there have been rapid developments in technology which have lead to the opening up of a global market. This has brought both opportunities and challenges to enterprises. Enterprises that want to operate globally have to plan appropriate business strategies. When formulating these strategies they have to consider the importance of the domestic and global situation of the enterprise. This study examines the effect of technological progress and global changes, with a particular focus on how they have affected the Sony Corporation. There is a discussion of Sonys business strategies and their strong points and shortcomings. The study ends with suggestions as to how Sony could resolve some of its recent problems. Introduction In recent years the phenomenon of globalization has taken place. This has come about because of rapid progress in technology and communications. Now the world has become one marketplace and goods and services which were available only in one place in the past can now be bought almost anywhere in the world. This has many advantages for industries as it has expanded their market, but it has also brought many challenges. Among the challenges which must be dealt with by companies wishing to enter the globalization are tariffs and international competition, particularly from newly industrializing counties (NICs) such as Malaysia, China and so forth. This has lead to many enterprises formulating global strategies and many of them have achieved success in the global market. However, to succeed in the global market it is not sufficient to have good global strategies; it is also necessary to be able to use these strategies in a balanced manner. The domestic market and the local culture are ke y elements which must be carefully taken into account in global strategies. Many enterprises look to the example of Japanese companies when determining their global strategies, as it is generally considered that their global strategies have been very successful and have permitted them to enter and succeed in many international markets. The principal focus of this study will be the Sony Corporation. There will be a discussion of Sonys management of new technology and globalization. Examples will be given of Sonys global strategies, and the advantages and disadvantages they have encountered due to these strategies will be presented and discussed. Globalization Every firm should understand the implications of globalization in order to develop a global strategy successfully. The term globalization signifies the increased mobility of goods, services, manpower, technology and worldwide. Globalization may be described as a process by which countries all over the world are joined in a worldwide interdependent community. This process is driven by a combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural and political factors. Raskin (2002) defined globalization as the worldwide integration of economical, cultural, political, religious, and social systems. He added that globalization, through the increasing integration of economies and lifestyles worldwide, leads to similarities in production and consumption patterns, and hence cultural homogenization. From an economic perspective, globalization signifies the convergence of prices, products, wages, rates of interest and profits towards standards of developed countries (Ismail, 2003). Similarly, Theodore (1983) argued that the main factors driving economic globalization of the economy are movement of labour force; international trade; movement of capital; integration of financial markets; cross-border transactions; and free movement of international capital. Basic components of globalization are the globalization of markets and the globalization of production. The former signifies a move away from a system in which national markets are separate entities, divided by trade barriers and barriers of distance, time and culture, towards the merging of national markets into a single global market. The latter, globalization of production, refers to a tendency by individual companies to spread their production processes over various locations around the world in order to benefit from differences in cost and quality of elements of production (Hill, 2007). Drivers of globalization The principal driving forces that facilitate or support the extension of globalization are the following. Advances in transportation: A reduction in the cost of transporting goods and services from country to country assists in bringing prices in the country of manufacture nearer to prices in the export market. Developments in transport technology have lead to a reduction in the cost of transport as well as to an improvement in the speed and reliability of transporting both goods and people. This has meant that it has become cost-effective to access new and expanding markets, thus enabling companies to extend their business further than would have been feasible in the past. Technological advances: The huge reduction in the cost of transmitting and communicating information in recent years has played a vital role in the global growth of enterprises. This phenomenon has been called the death of distance, and is particularly noticeable in the growth of trade in knowledge products through the Internet. De-regulation of financial markets: The process of the de-regulation of financial markets has lead to the abolition of capital controls in many countries. Capital markets have opened up in both developed and developing countries, facilitating foreign direct investment and encouraging the flow of money across national borders. Avoidance of import protection: Many enterprises seek to avoid the tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by regional trading blocs in order to gain more competitive access to rapidly-growing economies such as those in the emerging markets. Economies of scale: Many economists take the view that there has been a rise in the estimated minimum efficient scale (MES) related to particular industries. Technological changes, innovation and invention in various markets have been factors contributing to this increase. An increase in the MES means that the domestic market may be considered as not being large enough for the selling needs of these industries, making expansion into overseas markets essential. The effect of globalization on international business In recent years, companies have been required to deal with business issues in an international context due to the move towards globalization and internationalization as well as the nature of competition. The principal aspects of global business environments are the following. The forces of globalization Every aspect of the global business environment is affected by the drivers of globalization. Although globalization increases business opportunities, it also leads to an increase in competition. Companies must be aware of the basic and often sweeping changes in both society and commerce resulting from globalization (Wild, Wild and Han, 2008). National business environment Although globalization has initiated a process of homogenization among different cultures, political systems, economic systems, legal systems, and levels of economic development in different countries, many of these the differences remain marked and enduring. Any enterprise wishing to expand overseas must be aware of these differences, and be able to formulate and implement appropriate policies and strategies to deal with them successfully (Hill, 2006). International business environment The international business environment has both a direct and indirect effect on how firms carry out their operations. As can been seen by the long-term movement to less rigid national borders, no business can remain entirely isolated from occurrences in the international business environment. As globalization processes lead to the increasing interrelation of the flows of trade, investment, companies are required to seek production bases and new markets at the same time. Firms must monitor the international business environment closely to determine the impact it may have on their business activities (Wild, Wild, and Han, 2008). Management of international companies The management of a completely domestic firm is not at all the same as the management of a transnational one, as market rules differ and forms must take these differences into account. Thus, it is national business environments which define the context of managing an international firm (Wild, Wild and Han, 2008). Competitive Advantage in the Global Market In the global marketplace, it is vital for companies to sustain competitive advantage. The term competitive advantage was used first by Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School in the U.S.A. Basically, it means the place a company has in relation to its competitors in the same industry. Firms seek to obtain a competitive advantage and then to sustain it. According to Porter (1998), there are three ways that a firm can do these things. The first way is by cost leadership, which means that a firm will have cost advantage is it can offer the same goods or services as its competitors, but at less cost than them. The second way is differentiation. The differentiation advantage refers to when a company can offer better goods or services than its competitors, but for the same price. This company will then become a leader in the industry. The third way is focus. This means that a company can concentrate on a narrow part of the market, which is known as a market niche, to obtain competit ive advantage. Some of them may focus on cost and some of them may focus on differentiation (Porter, 1998). However, it is not easy for a firm to gain competitive advantage and it is even more difficult to keep it (Passemard and Kleiner, 2000). This is because if a company has a differentiation competitive advantage, soon another company will find how to make the same product with the same quality. If a company has a cost competitive advantage, then other companies will look for ways to make their products as cheap (ibid). However, there are several factors that contribute to a firm obtaining competitive advantage. One of these factors is having good resources. Another factor is having a skilled work force. Countries governments also can affect firms, as taxes vary much from country to country and some governments may offer tax incentives or subsidies to companies (Passemard and Kleiner, 2000). The advent of globalization has offered companies with markets all over the world. This has offered many opportunities to expand, but it has also faced them with challenges. According to Ari (2008), globalization is a process of increasing interconnectedness, integration and interdependence among not just economies but also societies, cultures and political institutions. He adds that a result of globalisation is that the borders between countries lose their significance and can no longer deter trade and communication. Regarding business and economics, globalization means that there is liberalisation of trade and creation of world markets (ibid). However, it also means that global industries are competing with all industries in the world. There are many strategies industries can use to obtain and keep competitive advantage in the global market. According to Porter (1998), companies should make their strategy on a basis of strong analysis of the industrys structure and nationally or internationally there are five forces that they should consider carefully, as follows: The threat from new firms in their industry. The threat of products that could replace their products. The bargaining power of suppliers The bargaining power of customers. Competition between companies in the same sector Segal-Horn (1996) points out that companies must be very careful when they are planning global strategy because some strategies which are effective in one country are not effective in another country. Companies have to decide if they want to have one product and marketing strategy for every country or if they have to adapt their strategy for different countries. Adaptation is more necessary for some industries than for others. For example, requirements of steel are more or less the same globally, but there will be large differences for consumer products and food and drinks. Companies have to consider this very carefully. For example, if they can use the same advertisement all over the world it is much cheaper for them, but the advertisement may not be effective in some countries, so they would lose money (ibid). To make such a strategy it is necessary for companies to have very good information about the country they want to sell their products in, which is called market intelligence (ibid). They have to be careful not to miss the differentiation advantage in any country (ibid). To have such information, they must do much market research. Many companies find that it is useful to have a joint venture with a local company in the country because that company already has good information and expertise about the market there. De Toni et al (2008) state that In global industries, competitive advantage derives in large part from the integration and co-ordination on an international scale of various activities. According to Ward et al (1990) companies in a global market should have five competitive priorities, which are cost; delivery performance (dependability and speed); quality; flexibility (product mix and volume); and innovativeness. If companies are looking for cost advantage there can be many benefits to them from globalization. This is because the can choose to buy their supplies from the cheapest supplier in any country in the world and they are not limited to suppliers in their country, as they were in the past before globalization facilitated communication and transport (Ari, 2008). In addition, they can choose to produce their products in a country where labour costs are less than in their country (ibid). Moreover, they can also sell their products through the Internet and reach millions of customers that were impossible for them to reach in the past Sony Corporation Profile Sony was founded in Japan just after the Second World War by Ibuka and Morita and was known initially as the Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Company. At first their business consisted of radio repairs and manufacturing voltmeters in small quantities. However, Ibuka and Morita were interested in innovative electronics products and were also aware of the importance of international markets. They developed Sony into an international brand, expanding their business first into the U.S.A. and then into Europe. The companys name was changed to Sony Corporation in 1958. Currently, the Sony Corporation employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. It is one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and has six operating divisions, which are electronics, games, music, films, financial services and miscellaneous. Sony Electronics is one of worlds foremost makers of electronic products for both the business and individual consumer markets, while its games division produces, among other products, Playstation, and its music division is the second largest such company in the world. Sonys film division produces and distributes films for the cinema as well as for TV and computers and its financial services segment includes savings and loans. Under the miscellaneous division, Sony is involved in advertising and Internet-related business. For the financial year 2007-2008, Sony reported combined annual sales of  ¥8,871.4 billion with a net income of  ¥369.4 billion. Historical background The Sony Corporation has long been in the forefront of technological innovation and has devoted a considerable portion of its budget to research and development (RD) in order to obtain and keep its competitive advantage. Some of Sonys main developments were the following: In 1949 Sony developed a prototype for a magnetic tape recorder prototype in 1949 and introduced paper-based recording tape a year later. In 1955, the company introduced Japans first transistor radio and was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Sony Corporation of America (SONAM) was subsequently set up in the U.S.A. and the worlds first direct-view portable TV was introduced in 1960. Also in that year, Sony Overseas S.A. was set up in Switzerland; while a year later Sony became the first Japanese company to offer shares on the New York Stock Exchange in same year. Further technological innovations followed throughout the 1960s, including worlds smallest and lightest transistor television and the Trinitron colour television. Since then, the Sony Corporation have developed and produced the worlds first personal cassette player, the Sony Walkman, which was introduced in 1979, the worlds first CD player, launched in 1982. More recent innovations include the home-use PC VAIO in 1997, Blu-ray Disc drive Notebook PC in 2006 and the OLED television in 2007. The Sony Corporation also expanded into the mobile telecommunications business in 2001 with the establishment of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, while a year later it acquired one of its rival companies, Aiwa, through a merger. Sonys Global Strategies The World Marketplace In the 1950s Japanese products suffered from a poor reputation. In an effort to overturn this, one of its founders, Mr. Morita, went to the United States travelled to U.S.A to learn from companies there and with a view to introducing his companys products to the American market and beyond. In 1958, having obtained the licensing right to the transistor patent from U.S. company ATT, they developed the worlds smallest transistor radio, which they launched in both Japan and the U.S.A. It was at this point the decision was taken to change the companys name to Sony, as it was short, easy to pronounce and memorable. The intention was to make Sony an internationally recognised brand, and in this they have succeeded, as, according to Richard (2002), Sony has become one of the most widely recognized brands in the world (Richard, A. 2002). Global marketing and operations According to Kikkawa (1995), only nine major Japanese companies Sony; Toyota; Honda, Nippon Steel; Toray; Teijin; Sumitomo Chemical; Shin-Etsu Chemical; and Matsushita. Kikkawa argued that these companies succeeded in the international marketplace by supplying products globally and/or carrying out global operations. Sonys products have been developed to fulfil the requirements of consumers worldwide; therefore, the corporation can offer the same products all over the world. One instance of this is the Sony Playstation, which appeals to consumers in every country in the world. In its ability to anticipate and fulfil the requirements of consumers Sony has gained an advantage over its rivals. The strategy of innovation Masaru Ibuka, one of the founders of the Sony Corporation, stated that the key to Sonys success was never to follow the others. In effect, the companys central strategic advantage in its global strategy has always been continual innovation. Global expansion and market selection As far as global expansion is concerned, Sony has always given careful consideration to operating in markets they considered to be important and where they had reason to believe the companys products would be most in demand (Richard, 2002). This lead to the initial decision to expand first to the United States, where they could market their products while at the same time learning from U.S. technology. The rationale behind this was that it would easier to expand to other markets once they had established a strong brand name in the United States. This in fact proved to be the case and expansion to European markets soon followed, as mentioned previously. Advantages of Global Strategy Reducing costs Sony has used several elements global strategy to its advantage. For instance, every Sony factory is able to produce at full capacity due to Sony products being sold all over the world; this results in a reduction in production costs. In addition, although Sony has numerous product lines, they are standard worldwide. This means that Sony does not have the expense of producing several versions of a single product to suit various markets. Worldwide recognition As Sonys products are known, sold and serviced all over the world, brand recognition among consumers is extremely high. This results in increased sales, as consumers feel secure about purchasing Sony products. Enhancing competitive advantage In addition, in recent years Sony has been an enthusiastic participant in the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign, making efforts to produce energy-efficient products. The corporation is also involved social and environmental concerns through its active and high-profile Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. These activities have contributed greatly to Sonys ability to increase their competitive advantage over its rivals. Sonys CSR programme Sony developed their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in the awareness that the corporations business has direct and indirect effects on society and the environment in which their business is conducted. The programme is concerned with the interests of all the corporations stakeholders, such as shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, business partners, and local communities. This has contributed to the improvement of Sonys corporate value. The European Commission awarded Sony a Sustainable Energy Europe Award in early 2007, in acknowledgement of Sonys efforts towards increasing the energy efficiency of its products and its participation in the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign. By 2007, Sony had modified all their TV sets to consume less energy than the market average. This was a result of their research and development and lead to Sony TV sets increasing their market share. In this way, consumers can be satisfied that their television viewing is consuming a good deal less energy than previously, other stakeholders such as shareholders and suppliers are satisfied by the increase in sales of Sony TVs and electricity consumption also decreases. Another element in Sonys CSR programme is its improvement of its system for its employees to take leave to look after their children. Sony modified this system in the spring of 2007, with the aim establishing a working environment in which taking child care leave was facilitated. They also attempted to encourage fathers to become more involved in caring for their children. This modification has lead to an enhancement of the work-home life balance of Sony employees. It can be seen from these examples that Sony has made use of the advantages of globalization in its CSR programme to achieve a competitive advantage over its rivals. Disadvantages of Global Strategy While global strategy offers many advantages for international enterprises, it also brings with it certain disadvantages. These consist mainly of costs related to greater coordination, reporting requirements, and added staff. In addition, international enterprises must be careful to avoid the pitfall of allowing over centralization to lead to a reduction in the quality of management in any country, as this can result in quality toward individual country can be reduced due to which damaging the motivation and drive of local employees. There is also a risk inherent in offering standardised products, as such products may prove to be less appropriate in some countries than in others. Similarly, use of standardised marketing strategies may not always be successful, as, without cultural adaptation, certain strategies may be inappropriate in specific countries. Finally, the over-use of global strategies may also result in unnecessary or inefficient expenditure. In the case of Sony, a considerable portion of the corporations budget is spent on in RD to fulfil international requirements and this may have led Sony to over-diversify. In order to compete with global competitors, Sony has a finger in every pie, so to speak, and this may have led the corporation to stray too far from its core competency which is electronics product expertise. Moreover, the possibility exists that over-diversification may result in clouding consumers perceptions of the brand. Currently, Sony is facing a challenge to its market supremacy from the Samsung Company. In contrast to Sony, Samsungs global strategy consists of limiting its diversification and focusing its resources on a small number of dominant businesses. This strategy has so far proved very successful for Samsung. Recommendations Although the Sony Corporation has succeeded in building one of the most widely recognised brand names in the world, its market dominance appears to be based on increasingly unsteady ground. This is indicated by the fact that Sonys net profit for the third quarter of 2006 fell by 94% to  ¥1.7 billion, compared to  ¥28.5 billion for the same period in 2005 (Benson, 2006). This dramatic fall in profits may be attributed to the crucial strategic concerns confronting Sony. Sonys manufacturing process is in need of restructuring, as the quality of some Sony products has declined. This has resulted in damage to their reputation and a consequent decrease in the competitiveness of their products. For instance, Forbes magazine reported in October 2006 that 9.6 million Sony laptop batteries has had to be recalled as they were prone to overheating and were therefore dangerous. In addition, Japanese consumers expressed their dissatisfaction with the new system of the Sony PS3 (Wonova, 2006). It would appear from these examples that Sonys quality control system is not always as efficient as it should be. Apart from quality control issues, Sony has shown itself unable to respond rapidly and effectively to changes in market demand and its competitive advantage is therefore compromised. One example of this is the delay in the European launch of PS3 because of manufacturing problems (BBC, 2006). Sony was unable to satisfy the market demand, leaving the way open for rivals in the field such as Nintendo and Microsoft to increase their market share. Moreover, Sony did not respond as quickly as certain other television manufacturers to the increasing demand fro plasma television and therefore allowed their competitors to gain a head start on them in this market. Mintzberg et al. (1999) pointed out that the first mover may gain advantages in building distribution channels, in tying up specialized suppliers or in gaining the attention of customers, adding that the first product of a class to engage in mass advertising tends to impress itself more deeply in peoples minds than the second, third or fourth. Hence, Sony forfeited its competitive advantage and a considerable part of the market share in the games and television market. It is evident that Sonys operational strategy is deficient and requires improvement. In order to address these issues, Sony is putting into practice strategies from both the inside out resource-based perspective (Hamel and Prahalad, 1990; Barney, 1991) and outside in positioning perspective (Porter, 1980; Mintzberg et al., 1998), also known as the market-based perspective (Finlay, 2000). It has been suggested that combining these perspectives can optimise an enterprises capabilities and result in achieving and maintaining greater competitive advantages (Finlay, 2000; Thompson and Strickland, 2003; Johnson et al. 2005; Lynch, 2006). According to Hatch (1997) competitive strategy necessitates the exploitation of a companys existing internal and external firm specific capabilities and the cultivation of new capabilities. Sony should determine appropriate methods for managing external changes in the constantly shifting business environment, and also determine how to make full use of their existing capabilities and resources to respond effectively to this environment. Mor eover, Sony must be attentive to potential threats in the future and put in place the mechanisms required to neutralise these. Conclusion It can be seen that globalization brings both advantages and disadvantages for businesses. On one hand, they can sell their products in almost any country in the world, while progress in communication and transport means that they can choose cheaper suppliers and make their products in countries where labour costs are lower. On the other hand, it brings disadvantages in that they also have competitors from all over the world. Appropriate planning and implementation of global strategies within the constantly evolving environment of technology can provide enterprises with opportunities for survival and expansion in an increasingly competitive market. However, inappropriate global strategies which are not well-conceived or well-implemented can result in losses. Several factors could contribute to such losses including increased costs due to additional staff and insufficient attention to the requirements of the local market. It is vital that enterprises find an appropriate balance between over-globalisation and under-globalisation, although there are no precise guidelines for determining such a balance. Among the keys to obtaining and sustaining competitive advantage in a global market is careful planning and strategy, which includes obtaining detailed information about the target country and focusing on cost or differentiation advantage . References Ari, A. (2008). Globalisation. Online at http://www.geocities.com/anil.ari_global/index.html# Accessed on 10th August, 2009 Barney, J. B. (1991), Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage, Journal of Management, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 99-120. Barney, J. B. (2001), Is the resource-based view a useful perspective for strategic management research? Yes, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 41-56. De Toni, A., Filippini, R. and Forza R. (1999). Interational Journal of Operations and Production Management. Vol.12, No. 4, pp. 718 Passemard, D. and Kleiner, B.H. (2000) Competitive Advantage in Global Industries. Management Research News. Vol. 23, Issue 7/8, pp.111-117 Finlay, P. (2000), Strategic Management: An introduction to business and corporate strategy, Prentice Hall. Hamel, G. and Prahalad, C.K. (1990), Capabilities-Based Competition, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 70, No. 3. Hamel, G. and Prahalad, C.K. (1994), Competing for the future, Harvard Business School Press. Hatch, M.J. (1997), Organization Theory: Modern Symbolic and Postmodern Perspectives, Oxford University Press. Hill, C.W.L. (2007), International business: competing in the global marketplace, Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Johnson, G. (2005), Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall. Kikkawa, T. (1995), Growth in cluster of entrepreneurs: The case of Honda Motor and Sony Lynch, R. (2006), Corporate Strategy, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall.<

Theories of domestic violence

Theories of domestic violence There are many different theories as to the causes of domestic violence (abuse). These include psychological theories that consider personality traits and mental characteristics of the offender, as well as social theories which consider external factors in the offenders environment, such as stress, social learning and drug and alcohol abuse. Psychological theories focus on personality traits and mental characteristics of the offender. According to this theoretical approach, characteristics associated with individuals who abuse their partners include low self-esteem, isolation from social support, a manipulative nature, and a desire for power and control (Suman Kakar 1998). These individuals are likely to be unwilling to take responsibility for their own actions, have extreme feelings of jealousy and possessiveness, be overly dependent on the victim, and/or have certain mental or psychological disorders. An important aspect in the psychological theory is power and control. In some relationships, violence arises out of a perceived need for power and control. This is where the abuser may use violence as a strategy to gain or maintain power and control over the victim. Abusers may feel the need to control their partner because of difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions, or when they feel inferior to the other partner in education and socioeconomic background. For instance, in our society today, women have moved away from being just a housewife and taken up the role as a career woman. No longer are women staying home and tending to the house while men go out and work. In fact, a lot of women have taken over jobs that were previously held my men (women politicians). This has brought about a power struggle in the family which often leads to domestic disputes and abuse: Some men with very traditional beliefs still think they have the right to control women, and that women are not equal to men, while women on the other hand, are vying for power and control. Stress may be increased when a person is living in a family situation, with increased pressures. Social stresses, due to inadequate finances or other such problems in a family may further increase tensions. Violence is not always caused by stress, but may be one way that some (but not all) people respond to stress. Families and couples in poverty may be more likely to experience domestic violence, due to increased stress and conflicts about finances and other aspects. Some speculate that poverty may hinder a mans ability to live up to his idea of successful manhood, thus he fears losing honor and respect. As a result of him not being able to economically support his wife, and maintain control, he may turn to violence as ways to express masculinity. Social learning theory suggests that people learn from observing and modeling after others behaviour. With positive reinforcement, the behavior continues. If one observes violent behavior, one is more likely to imitate it. If there are no negative consequences (e.g. victim accepts the violence, with submission), then the behaviour will likely continue. Oftentimes, violence is transmitted from generation to generation in a cyclical manner. According to Faith St Catherine of the Womens Resource and Outreach centre in Jamaica, there is a culture of abuse, especially among the inner city poor Studies have found that nearly one half of abusive men grew up in homes where their father or step father was an abuser. An environment where violence is either taught, by example, or accepted as normal will imprint upon a childs psyche. For instance, a young boy may see his father come home from work drunk and angry, screaming at his mother. He watches his mother attempt to please and placate his f athers drunken behaviour. The young boy is being taught that violence gets results. He is developing his own ideas about what makes a man. http://books.google.com/books?hl=enlr=id=BPT0HelrVcMCoi=fndpg=PA201dq=Social+theories+of+Domestic+Violenceots=9iVvl8_Tprsig=C9P8UBogyad2RePEnpeTk5JYs7Y#v=onepageq=f=false Drug and/or alcohol abuse may be a precursor to domestic violence. Substance abuse leads to out-of-control behaviour. A drunk or high person will be less likely to control his or her violent impulses. However some have argued that abusers use drug and alcohol as an excuse for their action. Yet, alcohol is an important risk factor for partner abuse. According to University of the West Indies professor and gender expert in Trinidad, Rhoda Reddock: in Trinidad, many of the most gruesome murders and sexual violence are linked to mental disease brought about by drug and alcohol addiction, respectively. Since alcohol decreases control and raises the potential for acting on impulse, it is not surprising that some feel it can be a catalyst for abuse. Often a person is able to maintain control of violent emotions when he is sober, but after a few drinks, he becomes abusive. The alcohol has dulled his wits and diminished his ability to control his temper. In the Caribbean or more specifically in Barbados, domestic violence is becoming more and more apparent in the society. Domestic violence is seldom reported in the island, hence why the true incidence of domestic violence is unknown. In November of 2005, according to The World Health Organization (WHO) one woman in every three (3) women are reported to be sexually abused during childhood or adolescence. The study revealed that the most common forms of violence is meted out by loved ones. As mentioned earlier, domestic violence is also known to be closely linked with drug and alcohol abuse. According to Tessa Chaderton-Shaw , manager, of the National Council of Substance Abuse (NCSA), There are many cross-cutting issues with substance abuse and domestic violence She also stated that, It can lead to isolation, shame, guilt, initial denial, loss of support, low self-esteem and a potential for criminal involvement. People then became more aware of Domestic Violence in the country, and th e awareness has constantly been growing. Even the Barbados Police Force has taken domestic violence under more serious consideration and had devised a strategic plan to address domestic violence and reduce its occurrence, according to Sergeant David Wiltshire. Wiltshire said that officers were sent to the United States and England for training to respond to domestic violence issues. References Theories http://social.jrank.org/pages/210/Domestic-Violence-Causes-Domestic-Violence.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence#Psychological http://wost201h_domviol.tripod.com/groupactionproject/id4.html Suman Kakar Criminal Justice Approaches to Domestic Violence (1998). Rhoda Reddock Faith St Catherine http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/AllWoman/html/20061203T000000-0500_116180_OBS_CARIBBEAN_FACES_DOMESTIC_VIOLENCE_CHALLENGE_.asp Barbados Domestic Violence http://archive.nationnews.com/archive_results.php?mode=allwordsIncludeStories=1numPer=20start=0keyword=Domestic+ViolencesmartText

Free Essay: A Closer Reading of Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

A Closer Reading of Young Goodman Brown Last year, in my final year of high school, we were assigned to read Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown."Â   At the time, I didn't read the story too closely and I missed much of the symbolism. However, upon reading it this semester, I now appreciate it much more because it brings the reader through a roller coaster of emotions and forces him to think introspectively. When it starts off, I felt suspense; his wife's urging him not to go set off emergency flashers in my mind. I could feel in my bones that something bad was going to happen. Once he had begun his "journey," the setting of that journey was once again pretty creepy. "He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind" (376). I was fearful for Young Goodman Brown, and I was hoping that he would get to return to his wife, aptly named Faith. The fact that her name was Faith seemed symbolic to me. I made a mental note to analyze after I had finished reading, why Hawthorne had named her Faith. The surreal characteristics of the path and the forest he was in, only added to the suspense when he met his companion. Based on the description of this traveler, I came to the assumption that this was Young Goodman Brown in the future. I'm not really sure if that assumption is valid or not, but that was my initial response. I think it's interesting that my initial response is a supernatural one: a Back to the Future kind of response, where a person meets himself or herself in the future. This story gave me a creepy feeling, like a good horror story. The suspense of not knowing what was going to happen next, while all the while expecting something dramatic, quickened my heartbeat. Young Goodman Brown then meets his catechism teacher, which is symbolic of a person he assumed was very pious and automatically going to go to Heaven. It seemed to me that this story is all about hypocrisy, and how even the most pious-seeming people still have skeletons in their closet. This was later evidenced again when he finally got to the "altar" in the middle of the forest and he sees the spectacle. Free Essay: A Closer Reading of Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB A Closer Reading of Young Goodman Brown Last year, in my final year of high school, we were assigned to read Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown."Â   At the time, I didn't read the story too closely and I missed much of the symbolism. However, upon reading it this semester, I now appreciate it much more because it brings the reader through a roller coaster of emotions and forces him to think introspectively. When it starts off, I felt suspense; his wife's urging him not to go set off emergency flashers in my mind. I could feel in my bones that something bad was going to happen. Once he had begun his "journey," the setting of that journey was once again pretty creepy. "He had taken a dreary road, darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest, which barely stood aside to let the narrow path creep through, and closed immediately behind" (376). I was fearful for Young Goodman Brown, and I was hoping that he would get to return to his wife, aptly named Faith. The fact that her name was Faith seemed symbolic to me. I made a mental note to analyze after I had finished reading, why Hawthorne had named her Faith. The surreal characteristics of the path and the forest he was in, only added to the suspense when he met his companion. Based on the description of this traveler, I came to the assumption that this was Young Goodman Brown in the future. I'm not really sure if that assumption is valid or not, but that was my initial response. I think it's interesting that my initial response is a supernatural one: a Back to the Future kind of response, where a person meets himself or herself in the future. This story gave me a creepy feeling, like a good horror story. The suspense of not knowing what was going to happen next, while all the while expecting something dramatic, quickened my heartbeat. Young Goodman Brown then meets his catechism teacher, which is symbolic of a person he assumed was very pious and automatically going to go to Heaven. It seemed to me that this story is all about hypocrisy, and how even the most pious-seeming people still have skeletons in their closet. This was later evidenced again when he finally got to the "altar" in the middle of the forest and he sees the spectacle.

Physics of the Ear Essay -- Term Papers Research

Physics of the Ear The ear is an extraordinary human organ that many people take for granted until it doesn’t function. It is the only device that allows the human to hear sounds in their environment. The ear is made up of many parts that distinguish various sounds through different means. The ear anatomy and physiology along with how sound waves are transmitted into meaningful sounds will help one understand how hearing loss occurs. The ear is made up of three areas: the outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear is very important for collecting sound waves. It is made up of the pinna and the ear canal. The pinna, the actual physical outward appearance of the ear, receives sound waves and begins to funnel them into the ear canal. The ear canal is also known as the auditory meatus which is basically a convoluted tube. The next part of the ear, the tympanic membrane, is the beginning of the middle ear. The ear drum is crucial in the ability to hear. The tympanic membrane leads to a chain of small bones known as the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and the stapes (stirrup). The stapes is ended with the footplate, a bone that looks like a stirrup. This area is known as the middle ear or the tympanic cavity. Located at the bottom of this area is the Eustachian tube which leads down to the throat. Its main purpose is to maintain the equalization of pressure between the tympanic cavity and the atmosphere as the air in the cavity is absorbed by the cells of its surface. The next area is the inner ear. This area contains many important structures to the hearing process. It begins with the oval window which is struck by the footplate of the Stapes. The cochlea is the area where most sound is transmitted from waves into impulses. W... ... environment. In order to do that we must know the anatomy of our ear and how it functions. An important function is how the sound wave is transmitted into meaningful information through means of frequency, amplitude, and location. By understanding how the ear functions people are able to understand and prevent hearing loss. WORKS CITED David, Edward E. Jr., John K. Pierce, and William A. Van Bergeijk. Waves, and the Ear. NY: Anchor Books. 1960. p- 34-50 Kirkpatrick, Larry D. and Gerald F. Wheeler. Physics: A World View, 4th ed. Orlando, FL. Harcourt College Publishers: 2001. p- 365-71 Littler, T.S. The Physics of the Ear, v3. NY: Macmillan Company. 1965. P- 1-9 Pickles, James O. An Intro to the Physiology of Hearing. NY: Academic Press. 1982. p- 264- 79 Sataloff, Joseph. Hearing Loss. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company. 1980 P- 67; 75; 175-77;

Book that has had the most influence

What Is the book that has had the most Influence on you and how has It Influenced you? Author Nowadays, in century of information technologies people don't pay much attention to books, especially to fiction. This is a big issue, since some literature stories can be more useful, than TV programs or social network conversations. People of any age and any nationality can find some new sense in well known, but undeservedly forgotten novels and who knows how it could change their future.Many years ago, hen I was a little curious child, I found in our family library Arthur Cowan Doyle novel collection, and began to read his famous detective stories about Sherlock Holmes. It's hard to imagine, but being 10 years old ordinary pupil, I stopped playing football with my neighborhood friends and watch animated cartoons for few weeks. All my free time was devoted to these knotty stories. Moreover, I tried to solve some problems by myself and forecast next Sherlock steps with great elation.With gr eat egret I finished last adventure and understood that current logical task was really final. Everyone can ask me, how detective stories, without some hidden philosophical sense and educational thoughts could make great influence on little child. And I should give an unexpected answer. From that time I became interested in mathematics and in other exact sciences. I was very successful in different logical tasks and considered to dedicate my life to IT and math.And who knows, maybe that old fall evening, when I first found Sherlock Holmes story – was crucial point in my life. Looking back through years, I understand that it is never too late to discover world, get new knowledge, and as result change yourself. Generally speaking – reading Is a perfect Instrument to rich all these alms. People shouldn't forget about books because with every new read sentence reader becomes more Intelligent and erudite. So don't waste your time for unimportant things, do your best to make this world more beautiful.

In Jean Paul Sartre’s novel Nausea

In Jean Paul Sartre’s novel Nausea, the origin of Roquentin’s nausea is shown to be the essence by which things are named and which acts as a faà §ade over the more genuine nature of their existence. Throughout his experience, Roquentin realizes that much of what is touted as important in life is really non-essential. In fact, he finds that the deepest mysteries are hidden by a more frivolous veneer of plurality, to which people give names based on their attributes.These plural objects he finds himself disgusted with—beginning with the stone he held in his hand at his moment of epiphany. This nausea that is experienced by Roquentin is in direct contrast to individuality, because at root he believes that all comes down to existence. People and objects exist; that is all that can and should be said about them. All their other attributes are merely decoys blinding people to the real truth about themselves and their world. Therefore, any individualism is a mere illu sion, and further claims made by persons concerning ideologies are simply efforts at distracting oneself from the confounding mystery of existence.Roquentin’s nausea manifests itself as a reaction to the nominal nature of objects. This idea of naming objects (nouns) is one that distracts the mind from the fact that the object is there, in existence, without any real explanation as to why it exists. Roquentin says, â€Å"Everywhere, now, there are objects like this glass of beer on the table there. When I see it, I feel like saying: ‘Enough!’† (Sartre, 8). In fact, this is the way his nausea reacts to all attributes of objects, including color, taste, and other features by which people describe them.The apprehension of an object as a â€Å"blue book,† for instance, explains away the existence of the object and prevents one from marveling at the fact that it exists at all. This kind of â€Å"apprehension† can occur most readily when a thing can be seen, and this explains why Roquentin’s nausea occurs only in the light. The light, according to the reasoning put forth by Roquentin, is where an object’s existence becomes obscured. In the dark (or even in the mind of a subject who thinks of the object) the subconscious is likely to think of the thing only in terms of its being â€Å"there†Ã¢â‚¬â€that is, being in existence. However, in the light, the senses are apt to pick up such things as shape, color, and text. These peripheral things are mere distractions–frivolities that serve to concoct a reason for the things existence and to divert the mind from the profound fact of the thing.In the same way, Roquentin’s nausea rises against personalities of his and past eras, and this can be seen as a method of criticizing any tendency toward individualism. This can be seen as he views certain paintings and portraits of personalities. It can also be seen in his nauseated reaction to such persons as the Self-Taught Man and others, whose past lives he comes to dismiss as being non-existent like all things past. These people, he argues, have succumbed to an illusion of past glory and exploits, and from this have come to deny their own existence by promoting their essence.In contrast, Roquentin views such historical personalities as Robespierre, Lenin, and Cromwell all as one (Sartre, 69). This proceeds from the idea (noted earlier) that the attributes of a given thing act as a glare that prevents the viewing of the more important fact of existence which lies beyond the glare. Following this reasoning, then anything or anyone that seeks to make a name for himself and denies his/her oneness with the inexplicable existence of the universe acts futilely.The work that Roquentin constructs around the marquis Rollebon is described as conjecture rather than reality. In fact, the only reality that Roquentin acknowledges is the present. This underlines the concept within the novel that de bunks individualism, as Roquentin’s mining of the past to create the marquis can only create a false version of the man. This is further demonstrated in the fact that the marquis’ life is recreated only through retelling his actions or describing his features. Yet, these are both examples of the things that nauseate Roquentin—the very attributes that distract from the mystery of the marquis’ existence.In fact, Roquentin says of Rollebon, â€Å"He is a bubble of fog and desire, he is pale as death in the glass, Rollebon is dead,† (Sartre, 102). The significance of this is that, through Roquentin’s book, these attributes attempt to mask the fact that Rollebon is dead and therefore no longer in existence. It is existence that is important. Non-existence equals unimportance, regardless of ones attributes and exploits. Therefore, Roquentin ceases to continue writing Robellon’s history. This idea can be further generalized to all persons wh o somehow become distinct from all others in existence (whether by naming at birth or subsequent celebrity) as this is all meaningless.The nausea experienced by Roquentin is also a reaction to human beings’ tendency to generalize ideas and form them into ideologies. His reaction to Self-Taught Man’s socialism highlights the movement as a frivolous regard for â€Å"brothers,† â€Å"sisters,† â€Å"fellow humans† and â€Å"mankind† which in reality are names and attributes that merely mask a more homogeneous existence that is common to all that are in the world. This existence unites man with animal and with inanimate objects, and any attempt to individualize or distinguish those things around which ideologies are formed is fruitless.Roquentin also refers to what he terms â€Å"contingency.† He writes, â€Å"The essential thing is contingency. I mean that one cannot define existence as necessity† (Sartre, 131). This hints at the idea that any particular reason concocted by the human mind that points toward the need for a thing’s existence is beside the point of existence, which is by no means essential. In Roquentin’s conception, therefore, such explanations are non-essential. The only thing that matters is that a thing exists at all, and not ideologies that explain why it exists.The nausea that is experienced by Roquentin exists as a result of his growing disgust with the nominalization of the homogeneous world. He experiences a vertiginous reaction to the illumination of individual objects, which highlights the thing’s attributes. Yet it is these attributes that most prevent the apprehension of their profound existence, as they offer an illusory reason for the thing’s otherwise inexplicable presence in the world.This represents a form of individualism that Roquentin believes is a faà §ade, as all things (persons, objects, animals, etc.) are one in existence. This idea, which i s the origin of Roquentin’s nausea, presents therefore an argument against individualism. It also presents a similar argument against ideology, as these so-called universal concepts are based on beliefs about (or on attributes of) particular things—and these attributes in reality do not exist.Work CitedSartre, Jean Paul. Nausea. New York: New Directions Publishing Corporation.