Permian Mass Extinction essays

Permian Mass Extinction essays A mass extinction about 250 million years ago, which destroyed almost of the species on Earth, happened very quickly and it is demonstrated in the fossil record by the collapse of one-celled organisms called protests. Something suddenly killed off more than 90 %of all species on earth, and that led to the age of the dinosaurs. Evidence indicates the massive die-off was linked with an abrupt drop in productivity, the rate at which inorganic carbon is turned into organic carbon through processes such as photosynthesis. Terrestrial faunal diversification occurred in the Permian and 90-95% of marine species became extinct. Among terrestrial fauna affected included insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammal-like reptiles. The terrestrial flora was predominately composed of gymnosperms, including conifers. Life in the sea consisted of common groups of brachiopods, bony fish, sharks and fuslinid. Corals and trilobites were also present, but were exceedingly rare. During the Permian period all the worlds land masses joined together into a single super continent named Pangaea. The collision between Laurasia and Siberia-Kazakhstania and China finalized and assembled into Pangaea by the end of Permian. This was the first time since the late Protrusion super continent of Rodina that such a landmass had formed. Pangea was shaped sort of like a giant pacman with the mouth on the east. There was a corresponding large single ocean, called Pathalassa. The body of water enclosed by the pacman mouth constituted a smaller area, the Tethys, which covered much of what is now southern and central Europe. Throughout the Permian, Europe was covered by a very salty inland sea, the Zechstein Sea, which advanced and receded at least twice. This was home to an impoverished fauna, mainly brachiopods and bivalves, which were able to cope with the hyper saline conditions. ...

How to choose between two really good job candidates

How to choose between two really good job candidates As a hiring manager, your reputation is built and bolstered by your ability to source top-tier candidates for positions across your organization. Chances are your performance goals are closely tied to how effective you are at stocking your company’s teams with the best available talent.Sometimes this is a relatively straightforward task, and the perfect candidate comes your way for an open position- all you have to do is get them interested and sell them on the notion of joining your team. Other times, the hiring process is a bit more difficult.Most seasoned hiring managers have encountered nearly every permutation of hiring challenge imaginable- one particularly anxiety-inducing one is when you have what seems to be two â€Å"perfect† candidates who are vying for the same position. Both candidates are well-qualified, have impeccable industry backgrounds and skill sets, come equipped with sterling references, and appear to be great potential fits in all key areas- and y ou’re tasked with deciding who rises from the candidate heap and earns the coveted spot.Here’s a solid method for successfully handling this situation in an effort to best meet your company’s needs.Look beyond the obviousIf you’re facing the choice of having to decide between two great candidates and they both seem equally matched in all the key metrics you typically base your hiring decisions upon, then look beyond the typical. Step back from the situation and think about whether or not a candidate made a positive impression on you in an area that you typically overlook or don’t weigh heavily. If there’s an area of strength that may help one candidate perform on the job- no matter how small- then consider taking into consideration. Traits like personality type and problem-solving style aren’t off-limits, even if they don’t fit into typical evaluation models.hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});Gi ve a testWhen facing two seeming equal candidates, take a step beyond and really put them to the test. Consider giving them an additional work-related task to see who does best. Having the candidates complete a project that mirrors one of the responsibilities that they’ll encounter on the job is not uncommon, and can really help you make a tough decision a little easier.Get a second opinionJust like no person is an island, no employee is alone in a company- and neither are you. There are reasons why many interviews are conducted by multiple people and over several encounters- hiring someone new for a position in your organization is no small decision, and having multiple opinions factor into the final decision can help ensure that the best choice is made. If you haven’t already, have the candidates meet with other key decision-makers in your company and use their opinions to help you work through this difficult situation.Trust your instinctsThe truth is, there is no pe rfect candidate. Despite all the state-of-the-art analytics your company uses to gauge candidates and how well they sold themselves during the interview process, there’s just no surefire way to know for sure how well they’ll do when they’re on the job and hitting the ground running. Don’t forget this when you’re facing a difficult hiring decision, and also don’t forget to trust your well-honed instincts as an experienced hiring manager. Hiring someone new is always a leap of faith- so have a little faith in your ability to choose between two candidates wisely using your experienced eye.Don’t write one candidate off completelyNo matter how difficult it is, at some point you’re going to have to make a decision between two highly qualified candidates. Hopefully, you make the right choice. That said, choosing one candidate above another doesn’t mean it’s necessarily â€Å"goodbye forever† to the losing candidat e. A savvy hiring manager knows that it’s in their company’s long-term benefit to maintain a talent-rich pipeline. That said, do your best to keep all good candidates in your orbit- because you never know when a new position will open up and you’re back on the hunt.

Discussion Board 5-1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Discussion Board 5-1 - Essay Example Diagnosis based on a DSM conveys good deal of descriptive information concerning behavioral deficit, deviance or excesses in the person diagnosed with a given mental condition (APA, 2013). The Diagnosis and Statistical Manual (DSM) has great significance for counselors when selecting psychological assessments and tests tools. The names and description of various mental disorders as contained in the DSM enable counselors to understand particular behavioral conditions in client, which guides in selection of proper measurement tool (Cohen, Sturman & Swerdlik, 2013). This has the potential of helping counselors to understand mental conditions and design or select a proper tool. With proper understanding of particular behaviors with reference to particular mental disorders as documented in DSM, counselor are able to know the correct form of test or testing tool and measurement criteria for the identified condition. A DSM also covers biological conditions and relating the conditions to particular mental disorders. This works to enable counselors quickly understand and conduct easy isolation of causes of particular behavioral problems to ensure proper if not accurate diagnosis (Cohen, Sturman & Swerdlik, 2013). With proper isolation of the behaviors, a DSM allows counselors to think of possible tools and strategies to tackle mental cases. The DSM-IV-TR has the ability to enable counselors understand behavioral conditions that have no relationship to any mental disorder. Subsequently, the DSM-IV-TR gives counselors clue of handling conditions that have relation to mental disorders (APA, 2013). The clues provided assists in proper identification of psychological test and assessment tools and criteria to use for a related

Answer the questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Answer the questions - Essay Example Developed countries have adequate education levels, political and economic independence, and freedom of speech. Some of the indicators of development are health, education, leadership, and standards of living. Health is a good measure of development in any country in which the availability of quality health care for all determines whether the country is developed or not. Developed countries have good health facilities for offering health services to all its citizens. Health facilities include well-equipped hospitals, health centres, and maternity facilities for expectant mothers. In developed countries, all citizens can access high-quality health services and acquire good nutrition to live a healthy life. In underdeveloped and developing countries, citizens have a challenge in accessing quality health care and good nutrition. There is a big gap between the rich and the poor in terms of the health facilities they attend. In some cases, the poor go for the traditional medicine while the rich attend good hospitals. The health care facilities are ill-equipped health facilities especially in rural areas. Education is another indicator of development measured by the number of citizens acquiring both the basic and advanced education in a country. Equitable education for all is a measure of development while the disparity in education portrays underdevelopment. In developed countries, quality education is a key priority for the government that receives a high funding. The transition in developed countries from one level of education to the next is high in which technology plays a very important role. In both developing and underdeveloped countries, there is a big disparity in education in which children of the rich attend good schools with all the learning facilities. Children from poor families attend poorly equipped schools

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example for Free

Consumer Behaviour Essay What kind of decision process can you expect in the following cases and why ? (a) Purchase of a greeting card for a close friend. (b) Purchase of an after shave lotion/moisturizer. Ans. Before giving answer to both questions first of all we must know what product involvement and purchase involvement). because meaning of both term determine direction of decision . Purchase involvement As the level of concern for, or interest in, the purchase process triggered by the need to consider a particular purchase. Thus, purchase nvolvement is temporary state of individual or household. It influenced by loat many factors Product involvement involvement of consumer towards particular brand .In process of purchasing a greeting card for close friend involve limited decision making purchase process. Limited decision making process involve few alternative and simple decision rules and a little post purchase evalution Why- limited decision making process occurs in some emotional and situational needs. Purchasing a greeting card for friend also influenced by our emotion and ituation . Situational factor affect in this manner like for what type of occasion we are presenting greeting card to our friend. it may be occasion of birthday, achievement and some other occasion Emotion our friend ship is product of our emotional bonding with some one and emotional attachment always form limited decision making . purchasing of product you always anticipate what would be impression of my card. In limited decision making Use and post purchase of given vary less importance because product ( greeting card )would be use by some another erson who still have not form his expectation abut particular brand. b) Purchase of an after shave lotion/moisturizer- Nominal decision making Purchase shave lotion involve nominal decision making because nominal decision making referred also as a habitual decision making which occur at number of time such as purchasing of lotion also happen number of time in nominal decision process problem is recognized ,internal search provide one solution what type of LOTION you are using previously ,what is your preferred brand and evaluation occurs only when f previous LOTION brand fails to perform . Nominal decision making occur when low purchase and involvement . in case of purchasing of LOTION there is very less purchase involvement because person are more conscious about brand of LOTION. 2. How would knowledge of perception learning help you in designing your marketing program for the following products and services? Justify your answer with reasons. a. Disposable Diapers Designing market programme for Disposable diapers we need to develop and evaluate for Ps of marketing to position product in mind of

Robert Wrights Article the Evolution Of Despair :: essays research papers fc

Robert Wright's Article "The Evolution of Despair" Robert Wright is the science writer for Time Magazine. Because he writes for this popular magazine, he enjoys the attention of many readers who look to him to provide them with the latest news from the scientific community. After reading The Evolution of Despair, an article written by Wright, I came under the impression that he is both reporter and commentator, but not explicitly so. Wright utilizes a variety of rhetorical tools to establish trust and confidence in his readers, thereupon interjecting his own opinions without arousing suspicion. The article's first paragraph is a perfect example of how a writer can establish intimacy with his reader. The following example demonstrates Wright's use of first person and emotional appeal: "Whether burdened by an overwhelming flurry of daily commitments or stifled by a sense of social isolation; whether mired for hours in a sense of life's pointlessness or beset for days by unresolved anxiety; whether deprived by long workweeks from quality time with offspring or drowning in quantity time with them – whatever the source of stress, we at times get the feeling that modern life isn't what we were designed for" (1). Everyone, at some point, has experienced the feelings that Wright describes. And with the pronoun ‘we' Wright tells his readers, ‘Yes, I have been through the same things.' This sort of statement is like a token of good will. The readers feel that Wright understands their plight and thus are more likely to listen to what he has to say. With this trust established, Wright moves on to the task of building confidence in his readers. He lives up to his title of science writer by providing various statistics ("As of 1993, 37% of Americans felt they could trust most people, down from 58% in 1960" (4).) and reporting the findings of numerous professors and scientists ("The anthropo-logist Phillip Walker has studied the bones of more than 5,000 children from hundreds of preindustrial cultures, dating back to 4,000 B.C." (2).). This serves a three-fold purpose: 1) to give credibility to the article, 2) to provide subject matter on which Wright can comment, and 3) to indirectly establish the moral character of Wright. On this last point, explicit endorsement of Wright by these respected authorities is absent and unnecessary. The mere appearance of support from these sources is sufficient enough to suggest the validity of his views. Wright's persuasive approach is a method that an aspiring orator might adopt. Instead of the written word, this article might be presented orally. It is no difficult task to imagine Wright standing before a podium, addressing a

Professional Roles and Values Essay

A. Promoting Interdisciplinary Care When nurses promote collaborative interdisciplinary care, they are ensuring the availability and accessibility of quality health care (ANA, 2010). As the nursing supervisor in this clinical setting, I would hold a staff meeting with the family nurse practitioner (FNP), nurse, licensed vocational nurse (LVN), nutritionist, and social worker. I would ask them to speak about their areas of expertise and explain how their knowledge will enhance this clinical team. The nutritionist’s expertise in diet, the social worker’s fluency in Spanish, the LVN’s training in education, and the nurse’s specialization in community health are all attributes that will promote the delivery of quality patient care. In this meeting, I give examples of how the specialized training and resources of these individuals will improve patient care and ease the workload of other staff members. I foster an open discussion and encourage thoughts, feelings, and questions. I also state that i f someone has a question or concern that they do not wish to discuss in front of everyone, they can speak to me in private. B. Delegation and Teamwork As the nurse supervisor, I would use a coaching approach to speak to Ms. W. Coaching provides a safe environment for trying different approaches to new or challenging situations (Robinson-Walker, Detmer, and Schultz, 2011). I would request to have lunch with Ms. W and at this lunch, I begin by praising her work and emphasizing her importance to this clinic. In a light-hearted and non-confrontational way, I say, â€Å"I know how hard you have been working with Ms. R and you must be so frustrated!† I encourage a response by asking, â€Å"Why do you think she is being non-compliant?† I listen to her responses without interrupting and work into the conversation these questions: â€Å"Do you think it’s possible she does not understand English? What do you think about having the social worker speak to her?† The LVN’s expertise in community health and her available resources would also be mentioned. I emphasize that delegating to members of the team will b e in the  best interest of the patient, as well as free up some of Ms. R’s valuable time. B1. Responsibility The Nursing Code of Ethics Provision 2 states that the nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient and it further implies that nurses should actively promote collaborative multi-disciplinary planning (American Nurses Association, 2012). If Ms. W does not have time to follow through with community services that could benefit Ms. R, then Ms. W has a responsibility to refer Ms. R to people who have the knowledge, resources, and time to help her. In addition to the Nursing Code of Ethics, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) states that one of the standards related to the RN scope of practice is that nurses evaluate the patient’s response to nursing care. They do this by evaluating: the patient’s response to interventions, the need for alternative interventions, the need to consult with other team members, and the need to revise the plan of care (NCSBN, 2012). When Ms. W saw that the patient was not compliant, she should have reevaluated her plan of care. Ms. W can delegate to the LVN, who is experienced in prenatal education, and would be able to explain the importance of finishing antibiotic therapy or performing tests that are essential for a healthy pregnancy. If Ms. W is too busy to educate, then she is responsible for finding someone who can. B2. Recommended Resource A resource that would benefit Ms. W in learning more about delegating is the continuing education course given by the ANA, â€Å"Developing Delegation Skills.† This course covers delegation and the associated concepts of accountability, responsibility, and authority (Weydt, 2010). It discusses using nursing judgment and interpersonal relationships during the delegation process and at the courses end, the author speaks about how to develop delegation skills. Learning to properly delegate ultimately improves the quality of patient care. B3. Delegation Opportunities The nurse in this scenario has 4 colleagues in the clinic that she can delegate to: the LVN, nurse, nutritionist, and social worker. Ms. R had recurrent urinary tract infections; the nutritionist can review her food and fluid intake and the LVN can teach prenatal care based on the nutritionist’s evaluation and recommendations. The nurse in the clinic can explore community resources that may be available to assist Ms. R. The social worker, however, is the most important person in these collaborations because it is probable that Ms. R does not understand English and needs an interpreter. The social worker is fluent in Spanish and her presence will not only raise the comfort level of Ms. W, but will assure that she is receiving the required information that is pertinent to her pregnancy. References American Nurses Association. (2012). Code of Ethics for Nursing with Interpretive Statements. Nursing World. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/codeofethics National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2012). NCSBN Model Rules. Retrieved from http://www.ncsbn.org/12_model_rules_090512.pdf Weydt, A. (2010). Developing Delegation Skills. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 15(2). Retrieved from www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/anamarketplace/anaperiodicals/ojin/tableofcontents/vol152010/no2may2010/delegation-skills

Psychosis Portrayed in the Media

Impact of Media’s Portrayal of Psychotic Illness on Viewers Introduction Psychotic disorders are the more serious form of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. Many multidimensional factors have contributed to the social stigma of psychotic mental illness, deeming it a social problem. According to Landsberg and Rock (2010), stigma and discrimination impacts policy and program response to the issue, causing limitations on our financing. As a result, there is a deficiency of resources provided by macro and micro level systems for individuals battling with the illness despite a recent shift in society’s perception. Programs such as National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Recovery Movement have been trying to increase public understanding of the illness, advocate for government resources, and emphasize supportive networks such as family, friends, and mental health providers (Hertz, 2010). Unfortunately, the complexity of this illness and lack of thorough understanding continues to reinforce and sustain the stigma. Additionally, individuals discharged into the community from institutions have not been well supported by micro-level services. As a result, many commit crimes and end up in jail. Landsberg and Rock (2010) found that many seriously mentally ill patients are in nursing homes, homeless shelters, and jails because of unmet needs. Community mental health centers have more patients than staff can handle (Hertz, 2010). In spite of various attempts, the mental health system is comprised of programs that â€Å"don’t work†, leaving many seriously ill individuals without proper care (Landsberg and Rock, 2010, pg. 258). These wide ranges of factors contribute to viewing serious mental illness as a social problem that is stigmatized as well. In terms of social stigma, there are several misconceptions. Hertz (2010) found that the public misperceives people with psychotic illness as homicidal. The truth of research indicates that these individuals are more frequently victims of crime perpetrated by others, or, tragically, by their own hands (Hertz, 2010). Unfortunately, the daunting ways in which symptoms may manifest prevent people from establishing any positive associations with such illness. The media portrays psychotic disorders through different perspectives, ultimately sending mixed messages to audiences about the nature and prospects of the illness. Landsberg and Rock (2010) stated that movies often picture the mentally ill as violent, negatively affecting our society’s willingness to enact needed changes and fund programs. The movies A Beautiful Mind, K-PAX, and The Soloist each portray a character living with a psychotic disorder, particularly Schizophrenia, who also demonstrates strength and resilience in their struggles. The intent of this paper is to discuss characteristics of psychotic illness, critically analyze these movies and their message to audiences, and assess accuracy within their portrayals. Brief History of Mental Illness as a Social Problem There are conflicting ideologies in terms of how to approach serious mental illness in the United States. While some adopt a â€Å"survival of the fittest† perspective and believe affected individuals shouldn’t receive assistance, others act as committed advocates for programs to service them. When looking at the recent history of mental health, several attempts at revolutionizing systems were made, and always seem to only partially work. As a result, more systems that partially work were created. The 1950’s through the 1970’s emphasized inpatient hospitalization for psychotic patients without much chance for their self-determination and self-empowerment. Solutions were very problem-focused, and patients received their treatment of insulin shock therapy. Socially, there seemed to be more emphasis on regarding anyone with a psychotic illness as â€Å"crazy†, and therefore someone to stay away from. The deinstitutionalization movement in the 1970’s and the creation of managed care was an attempt to steer away from â€Å"putting people away†. As a result, many hospitals were shut down. The problem with this system was the lack of funds allocated towards community-based services. Now that the patient’s length of stay at hospitals significantly decreased, patients have been discharged into the streets, and left to their own devices. While many have been receiving adequate services, many are not receiving proper care and result in committing crimes, engaging in other illegal activity, becoming homeless, or just functioning on a very low level. Hertz (2010) stated that the waiting lists for residual programs for the chronically mentally ill are months, if not years long. This implies the staggering amount of people not receiving proper aftercare. A true solution is yet to be discovered. Background on Psychotic Disorders with an Emphasis on Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is currently affecting nearly 2. 5 million people living in the United States, and 29 million people worldwide (Hertz, 2010). The typical beginning of this illness is during adolescence or early adulthood. Hertz (2010) reported that the onset can be gradual, starting with odd beliefs and mannerisms, while other onsets are acute with a sudden psychotic break. These research findings imply the complexity in how symptoms manifest, and pose a challenge for practitioners to pinpoint and potentially diagnosis. There exists a social misconception regarding psychotic disorders. Psychotic symptoms may appear in disorders other than Schizophrenia, and the presence of psychotic symptoms doesn’t necessarily indicate diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Hertz (2010) stated that withdrawal from reality marks psychosis, containing two major symptoms: delusions and hallucinations. Schizophrenia is particularly characterized as a thought disorder which builds on these symptoms to include impaired cognitive functioning such as â€Å"loose associations of ideas/thoughts and disturbance of affect† (Hertz, 2010, p. 285). There are several types of schizophrenia, and is defined by positive and negative symptoms which indicate the existence or deficiency of functioning. Hepworth, Rooney, and Larsen (2010) found that positive symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and catatonic behavior. According to Hepworth, Rooney, and Larsen (2010), negative symptoms include flattened affect, restricted speech, and limited initiation of goal-directed behavior. The causes of psychotic disorders are ultimately unknown, and many different theories emphasize different contributing factors. According to Hertz (2010), genetics, heredity, and neuro chemistry determine varying degrees of predisposition to developing psychosis. This research finding implies that environmental and social stressors play a role as well. A Beautiful Mind John Nash is the main character in A Beautiful Mind who is predominantly battling with the paranoid subtype of schizophrenia. The movie follows the life of mathematician John Nash who is responsible for creating several ingenious theories such as game theory still used in economics today. He attended Ivy League Princeton University in the 1940’s after which he became a calculus professor at MIT five years later. Falling in love with one of his students, Mr. John Nash started a family and continued working on theories and concepts as a product of his mastermind. Gradually throughout the course of Mr. Nash’s academic and intellectual achievements, the movie directed attention to the display and effect of his psychotic illness. Several aspects of Mr. Nash’s psychotic symptoms were portrayed through different characters and plot points. His college roommate Charles, Charles’s niece Marcee, and Department of Defense agent William Parcher were three characters that were eventually revealed as part of his visual and auditory hallucinations. Agent Parcher also marked Mr. Nash’s delusional thinking when he invited him to crack a special code of their enemy at the Pentagon. Throughout the movie, viewers periodically see Mr. Nash involved with Parcher in various assignments that appeared prestigious and extremely intellectual. In the beginning of the movie, Charles’s character was designed for audiences to believe he was real, given the strong and realistic friendship that transpired between him and Mr. Nash. However, as the years went by and Marcee stayed the same age, Mr. Nash realized she was a figment of his imagination. Mr. Nash’s delusions have put his family in danger on numerous occasions. He nearly allowed his son to drown while bathing him, and accidentally knocked his wife Alicia over when agent Parcher told him to kill her. After Alicia had enough of his behavior, she called the psychiatric hospital where he was admitted to receive insulin shock therapy, a common treatment for psychosis in the 1950’s. After agreeing to take anti-psychotic medications, Mr. Nash was released from the hospital. Unfortunately, he ended up stockpiling the medication without aking them, resulting in relapse of his psychotic symptoms. Lesser and Pope (2010) stated that psychotropic medications are effective in ceasing or reducing psychotic symptoms but often have unpleasant side effects. Mr. Nash’s detrimental side effects included reduction in intellectual abilities, and impairments to his relationship with his wife. Ultimately, Mr. Nash has learned to manage his symptoms and live with his illn ess. The message this movie hopefully sends out to viewers is that serious mental illness can affect bright and well educated people, and that recovery is possible. Moreover, the movie encourages viewers to realize that even individuals with serious mental illness can excel in certain areas of life, if not reaching levels of genius. While the media, as previously stated, typically portrays individuals with mental illness as violent antagonists, Mr. Nash is portrayed as a protagonist despite his mild violence during psychotic episodes. Viewers likely feel compassion for him and want to see him win his battles. The movie accurately portrayed environmental stressors that may cause unpredictable emotional breakdowns. Mr. Nash’s character was portrayed as getting frustrated and angry when he thought he couldn’t fulfill the duties agent Parcher has assigned him. He was worried that the Russians are after him, and felt pressure to crack the code that never existed. Moreover, when he was admitted to the hospital, he perceived doctors to be Russian spies, a reasonable portrayal of paranoid schizophrenia. Luckily, Mr. Nash trained himself to transcend his symptoms by acknowledging, followed by ignoring, their existence. While it has been stated that the real John Nash only experienced auditory hallucinations, A Beautiful Mind seemed to incorporate visual hallucinations for entertainment purposes, inaccurately portraying and exaggerating Mr. Nash’s illness. However, accuracy was shown through the many psychotic breakdowns Mr. Nash experienced, demonstrating emotional and physical breakdowns. Although he put his wife and child in danger on numerous occasions, Alicia served as his main support system. Hertz (2010) stated that supportive networks are a critical variable in determining the quality of life of people with Schizophrenia. In fact, it is arguable that in this movie, Mr. Nash demonstrated more resilience and strength than is realistically common in the United States for people with psychotic illness. Not everyone has access to the kind of support he did given his prestigious status as a mathematician. Additionally, he had the support of his loving wife who never abandoned him and seemed to be the main source of his resilience. K-PAX Prot is the main character in K-PAX who demonstrates delusional thinking as part of his psychosis. As previously discussed, he didn’t necessarily have Schizophrenia. Prot was admitted to the hospital after claiming to be an alien from a planet called K-PAX. As psychiatrist Mark Powell begins to treat Prot, he learns of his excelling intellect in the subject of astronomy. Stunned by this wisdom, Mark introduced Prot to some astro-physicists who were puzzled by his recollection of traveling from a different planet by a means of light travel. Prot and Mike’s relationship grew stronger with each treatment session, and Prot revealed his knowledge of life on planet K-PAX. Prot also had a positive influence on other patients in the hospital who believed he was from a different planet. Prot began to display erratic emotional breakdowns that were indicative of his psychosis. He had an episode during some of his sessions with Mark, as well as in front of Mike’s family when he was invited over for dinner. Prot began to repeatedly mention that he is going back to planet K-PAX on July 27th. Mark started to make connections between what triggers lead to Prot’s hysteria. Additionally, he used regressive hypnosis to discover the significance of the date July 27th, suspecting he suffered from significant loss. He learned that Prot has attempted suicide after his family was killed on July 27th. When that date finally came, Prot was found catatonic, and the ending of the movie was open to interpretation. This movie sends several messages to viewers. One of them includes the strong impact trauma may have on individuals. Prot attempted suicide without success after his family was killed, marking the onset of his delusions. Hertz (2010) found that suicide attempts are a common and often overlooked occurrence within psychotic symptoms, and often occur during the first psychotic episode when the individual feels bewildered and out of control. His feelings of bewilderment were likely caused by seeing his family get killed, a realistic reaction to such a tragic occurrence. K-PAX hopefully teaches audiences to realize that many of the severely mentally ill individuals could have experienced significant loss in their lives that was out of their control, leading to their illness. There was nothing substantial provided in the beginning of the movie which aroused sympathy for Prot’s character. It is arguable that audiences could have perceived all his discussions about travelling from another planet as him â€Å"joking† around with authorities. He wore black sunglasses, and seriously spoke about life on another planet. However, as the movie showed several emotional breakdowns, it was evident that he has experienced significant psychological trauma of loss. Hertz (2010) stated that psychotic symptoms are often triggered by a significant loss, and environmental stressors can trigger neuro chemical events in the brain. The movie accurately portrayed the concept of surrounding triggers. For instance, Prot was reminded of the tragedy when the sprinklers came on at Mike’s house, causing flashbacks of his trauma. Assessing accuracy of his intense reaction is difficult, for, each individual reacts to triggers to varying degrees. His particular reaction involved crying and an appearance of deep sadness. The Soloist Nathaniel Ayres is the main character in The Soloist who is portrayed to struggle with Paranoid Schizophrenia as his psychotic disorder. The movie follows the life of Anthony Ayres, a man who became homeless as a result of his illness. Journalist Steve Lopez was desperately seeking material for a story to meet a deadline. One day he heard someone playing the cello so beautifully that he felt compelled to follow the music. As a result, he met a homeless man named Nathaniel who claimed to have attended Julliard for his musical talents. Steve tested his word by calling the school, only to find out that Nathaniel has indeed attended Julliard, but has dropped out after his second year. Steve ended up writing his story on Nathaniel. As their friendship progressed, Steve became more interested in Nathaniel’s safety, and wanted him to receive treatment. Flashbacks to the onset of Nathaniel’s Schizophrenia were portrayed to answer Steve’s questions as to why he is no longer in Julliard and living in a shelter. In response to the published story, readers responded with sympathy, and one woman even sent Nathaniel a Cello. Eventually, Steve convinced Nathaniel to perform in front of an audience which triggered his auditory hallucinations. The end of the movie displayed Nathaniel continuing to struggle with his illness, but no longer living in a shelter, marking progress. His friendship with Steve and his music seem to help manage his symptoms, according to psychiatrists Steve has consulted with. In addition to serious mental illness, The Soloist portrays another social problem that is stigmatized: homelessness. Hertz (2010) estimated that 60% of people with schizophrenia live in poverty, and 1 in 20 ends up homeless. The movie portrays Nathaniel as someone who has been exposed to treatments such as medications and shock therapy, and doesn’t want anything to do with them. It seemed as though he felt he belonged in a shelter as opposed to an apartment where his symptoms emerge. The message of this film is for audiences to realize that homeless people aren’t necessarily â€Å"lazy†, or â€Å"can’t get a job†. Conversely, they may have suffered from symptoms which inevitably led to that lifestyle. Through flashbacks, Nathaniel was portrayed as a productive and gifted member of society who attended a prestigious musical institution, and tried to start his young adult life living in an apartment. Unfortunately, he was overpowered by his auditory hallucinations, making him paranoid and scared. Hopefully audiences will reorient their mentality and not disregard homeless individuals as those that haven’t worked hard enough to attain a job and a place to live. Some of them have truly been overpowered by persistent mental illness. In terms of accuracy, The Soloist fairly portrayed the possible impact of stressors in the environment that trigger psychotic episodes. For Nathaniel, the pressure of performing well in front of an audience triggered â€Å"voices† which led him to run away. Additionally, unless an individual is medicated, it is rare for psychotic symptoms to not emerge. In the movie, Nathaniel was not receiving treatment at the time he became friends with Steve, and it was shown through his inability to have coherent conversations with him. Furthermore, he was unable to hold on to an apartment, and even felt comforted by the city street noises. His physical appearance was also unkempt and very colorful, reasonably displaying what someone with this disorder could potentially look like. Comparisons and Contrasts between Films There are several similarities and differences in the way media portrayed these characters suffering from serious mental illness. While the etiology, symptoms, and course of their disorders slightly differed, they all share a strong support system which provided them self-determination and potential for growth, similar to the goals of the Recovery Movement. Hertz (2010) stated that the presence of someone who believes in their recovery increase recovery rates. Mr. John Nash had the privilege of a supportive wife. Realistically, it may be an exception that an affected individual is a coveted professor with a family by his side assisting his struggles. Prot developed a relationship with his Psychiatrist. It is rare, if not unethical, for a patient’s psychiatrist to invite them into their home and introduce them to family members. More importantly, it seems rare for a psychiatrist to invest so much emotional effort into one particular case, especially one that is middle aged and has been in the practice for so long. Nathaniel formed a strong friendship with journalist Steve Lopez. Most severely mentally ill homeless individuals are not â€Å"discovered† by someone who decides to believe in them; most, as previously discussed, are underserved and not receiving proper treatment and care. While the storylines were touching and enlightening, they are very rare. These situations seem to be an exception rather than the rule, making the character portrayals inaccurate in terms of exaggerating the levels of support. Another important similarity accurately portraying psychotic disorders is the fact that there is no known cure. None of the characters were â€Å"cured† by the end of the movie, but rather found their own ways of coping with symptoms. The ultimate message was moderately accurate when showing psychotic mental illness; every single case should be viewed individually despite the one set of guidelines for diagnosis provided in the DSM-IV. Research has been clear about one thing: psychotic disorders remain etiologically perplexing and challenging to treat (Hertz, 2010). As a result, it is fairly easy for media to â€Å"play around† with psychotic illness through characters, since there is ultimately no absolute truth to reference, and thereby deem â€Å"inaccurate†. Since symptoms are a product of the person’s psyche, there seem to be no limits as to how creative psychotic symptoms and reactions may become. Interestingly, all three characters in the films are men. Research found that more men than women are given the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (Hertz, 2010). Also, each movie emphasizes a different aspect of psychotic illness. A Beautiful Mind focuses on illness affecting a genius mind; K-PAX signifies the impact of a traumatic loss, and The Soloist show how symptoms can lead to homelessness. Conclusion According to Lesser and Pope (2010), psychiatry critic Thomas Szasz believed that the diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses was socially constructed, vary culture to culture, and is society’s way of labeling individuals when their behavior breaks social rules. Nonetheless, the use of the DSM system prevails in the United States, and many individuals â€Å"labeled† under its guidelines are in need of services, reinforcing mental illness as a social problem. The deinstitutionalization movement in the 1970’s as an attempt to serve the severely mentally ill has created a new array of social problems given the lack of funding anticipated for these goals. Hertz (2010) presented that the sickest people in our society are â€Å"lost in the cracks† as they are discharged from institutions to poor and inadequate aftercare. The media provides several portrayals of serious mental illness. The three movies chosen for discussion (A Beautiful Mind, K-PAX, and The Soloist) ultimately portray the strength and resilience possible even for the most seriously mentally ill individuals, when provided with emotional and social resources. Implicitly, hope is not lost, and Hertz (2010) proposed a solution to make a shift in our priorities: making a commitment to even the most disturbed members of our society. As demonstrated in the three films, two of which were based on real life people and events, individuals with even the most serious of mental illness can show strength and resilience. References Berzoff, J. , Melano Flanagan, L. , & Hertz, P. (2008). Chapter 13: The psychoses, with a special emphasis on schizophrenia (pp. 281-310). Inside out and outside in: Psychodynamic clinical theory and psychopathology in contemporary multicultural contexts (2nd ed. ). New York: Jason Aronson. Hepworth, D. , Rooney, R. & Larsen, J. 2010). Chapter 9: Assessment: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Environmental Factors. (pp. 199-226). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills (8th ed. ). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Landsberg, G. , & Rock, M. (2010). Chapter 9: Mental Health. Social policy and social work: The context of social work practice. New York, NY: Pearson. Lesser, J. G. , & Pope, D. S. (2010). Chapter 17: Chronic illness and disability. (pp. 437-464). Human Behavior in the Social En vironment: Theory and Practice. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

William Henry Harrison essays

William Henry Harrison essays Born to Irish immigrants on March 15, 1767, Andrew Jackson was to become the first "rags to riches" President the country had ever seen. He grew up in South Carolina and fought in the Revolutionary War at only thirteen. His entire immediate family, parents and siblings, died as a cause of the war, whether it was being killed in battle or death from disease. He went on to serve two terms as the seventh President of the U.S., leaving behind a legacy of administrative policy and even his own democratic philosophy. The Second Bank of the United States was founded in Philadelphia in 1816. It was mainly a Republican project and a response to the expiration of the First U.S. Bank's charter. It was created as a safe place for federal funds, and because state banks were seen as insufficient for handling financial needs. Currency differed by state, counterfeit money was everywhere, and state banks often issued notes without any gold or silver, the only trusted currency, to back them up. The bank was not met everywhere on friendly terms. Maryland, in an effort to destroy the Baltimore branch, passed laws to heavily tax it, but the Supreme Court removed those laws, strengthening the central federal power. The Second Bank's charter expired during Jackson's administration in 1836. Most people were distrustful of the bank, as it had enormous power to ruin state banks and was basically unresponsive to the people's needs. It had powerful political influence also, and was completely controlled by one man, the President Nicholas Biddle. The rechartering was scheduled by the bank-influenced Congress to coincide with the 1832 Presidential campaign and election, in which Jackson would be running for a second term. The purpose was to gather up public pressure to have him pass the charter in order to gain reelection. However, Jackson was a bit more principled than that, and vetoed the bill. Congress was unable to override his veto. ...

More Answers to Questions About Apostrophes

More Answers to Questions About Apostrophes More Answers to Questions About Apostrophes More Answers to Questions About Apostrophes By Mark Nichol 1. In a reference to the amount of medication provided to an outpatient, I read â€Å"three days’ supply for acute or chronic noncancer pain; seven days for cancer pain or palliative care.† Should days be singular in this expression, or plural? I can’t decide whether it applies to three individual days, one at a time, or a single amount dispensed for three days. And in the second phrase, supply is implied after â€Å"seven days.† Should days after seven also have an apostrophe? â€Å"Three days’ supply† is equivalent to â€Å"a supply for three days,† and the supply essentially â€Å"belongs† to the unit of time, not to the segments of time that constitute that unit, so the construction should be in plural-possessive form, as shown. Also, yes, â€Å"seven days† is an elided form of â€Å"seven days’ supply, with the repetition of supply implied, but the apostrophe should not also be omitted. However, the elided form â€Å"seven days’† is still awkward, and I recommend using the full phrase: â€Å"seven days’ supply.† I also advise replacing the semicolon with a comma and or. 2. Are the apostrophes in this sentence correct?: â€Å"The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’s 2006 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses revealed that nearly 15 percent of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses happened in the retail trade sector.† Yes, they’re correct, but the use of two consecutive apostrophized proper names followed by the title of a survey is cumbersome. I recommend relaxing the sentence somewhat to â€Å"The US Department of Labor’s 2006 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, conducted by the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, revealed that nearly 15 percent of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses happened in the retail trade sector.† There are still two apostrophes, but at a distance from each other, and one of the proper names is also removed from the long train of capitalized words, and the awkward form Statistics’s is avoided. 3. Please settle a disagreement. A friend told me that adding an apostrophe and an s to Joe and Jane in the following sentence is wrong, but I think it’s correct: â€Å"Many celebrities, instead of marrying other famous people, choose to settle down with average Joe’s and Jane’s.† With rare exceptions (such as in the saying â€Å"Mind your p’s and q’s†), an apostrophe should not be employed when creating a plural form, and pluralizing a proper noun is not one of those cases. Simply add an s to each name: â€Å"Many celebrities, instead of marrying other famous people, choose to settle down with average Joes and Janes.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Farther vs. FurtherCapitalization Rules for Names of Historical Periods and MovementsApostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns

Hunting Trip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hunting Trip - Essay Example According to the study unlike him, Kelvin had no reservations about exciting the bear, before he could tell him to calm down so as not to draw the animal’s attention, he was bounding past him into the forest and the bear could not have been more exited as it burst through the undergrowth looking way bigger and meaner than it had when it was half hidden. "I followed Kelvin, who was by now running at full tilt and screaming his head off, I had heard that the best way to survive an animal attack was to have friend who wasn’t as fast as you were. If that was true, Kelvin had nothing to fear since I was naturally slower than him, I could hear the bear grunting a several feet behind me but I could have sworn it was inches. I slipped and fell and for a fraction of the scariest second of my life, I was sure the bear would catch up and rip me into shreds; however I sprang up almost as fast as I had fallen and kept running. Spurred by fear, I accelerated and the race was on, for the bear it was about lunch but for us it was our lives we were running for, at that moment I was so scared that I was sweating through every pore on my skin and something in my mind was telling me this was the end. Nevertheless, I felt (or thought I felt) adrenaline coursing through my veins and I run harder than ever before. I kept running into low hanging branches that my friend had brushed aside in his haste and some of them smacked me right in the face as they swung back after he had pushed them away. I was however too scared to feel the pain, many tore into my face living deep scratches which I only noticed much later. This was not how I had planned my day; I had been persuaded by my friends, Kelvin and Fred to join them in a hunting â€Å"expedition† they made it sound like we would be reliving Mungo Park’s exploration into Africa although I knew at best we would scare a few rabbits. Still, against my better judgment I acquiesced and we agreed to meet at Kelvin' s place on Saturday at 7 Am. I borrowed an on old hunting rifle which my dad swore could take out an elephant from 200 yards, from experience, it was unstable and the scope was faulty such that the easiest way to guarantee you do not shoot something would be to aim at it. When I got to the rendezvous, I found Kelvin, Fred and another guy called Alex who was introduced to me as Fred’s cousin, we set off for the reservation with high hopes of bagging a few rabbits by lunch time. Two hours later, the only significant thing that had happened was that all or phones lost their signals and we had to navigate using Kelvins rusty compass."  

5 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

5 - Assignment Example There was no element of destiny in this whole gamut of things, as this was simply a planned invasion. The invasion and intervention of US repeated in about â€Å"26 states with approximately 6.6 million deaths since then† (Sullivan, 8). The nations which fell victims to American invasions include â€Å"Guatemala, Iran, Cuba, Lebanon, Laos, South Vietnam, Cambodia, Chile, Libya, Somalia† and many more. Such an enormous destructive power can never be simply justified using the excuse of destiny. The next major war fought by US after Spanish-American war was the Second World War in which the world saw the cruelest weapon in human history, being used- the atom bomb. US masterminded and commanded the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, a killing spree in which millions died. In Vietnam war, even the majority of people at home hated American government for using chemical weapons and sacrificing many an American youths’ lives on the alter of the war (Sullivan, 75). When 9/11 happened, it was the culmination of a process that started almost half a century back, when to defeat Soviet Union and to diminish its powers, America had promoted Islamic fundamentalists including Osama Bin Laden (Sullivan, 155). Afghan war was only a preamble after which America invaded Iraq as well (Sullivan, 155, 41, 148). The WMDs that America searched for in Iraq were never to be found. America being the largest manufacturer of modern weaponry in the world, all these violent interventions that US made in the world as a nation, was in tune with its mercantile interests and policies. This is the hidden agenda even behind the so-called ‘war on terrorism’ that is being fought even