Aztec Belief System Essay Example for Free

Aztec Belief System EssayThroughout the history of mankind refinements have trusted in the existence of a high power. Although the existence of a higher power doesnt bear as large of an impact on societies like the United States at present, it was the focal point of life in many a(prenominal) civilizations of the past. A great example of a civilization that was extremely reliant on the connection surrounded by valet de chambres and higher powers was the Aztecs. The Aztecs supposed that they were connected to the origination by a sacred energy. They believed this energy was the source of all natural events and if it were unbalanced, they would suffer.In order to maintain the balance, the Aztecs performed ceremonial gifts, billetletting, and other forms of violent cultural behavior. The connection between the Aztecs and the universe is evident among their myths about how human beingss were created. One innovation myth is the story of the goddess Tlaltecutli. In the sto ry Tlaltecutli was ripped apart by the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca and her body parts were apply to create the earth and the other gods. This event ca utilise Tlaltecutli to desire human hearts and she would non be quiet until they were brought to her.Nor would she bear fruit until she had been drenched in human blood. Another creation myth, and the nearly common legend amongst the Aztecs, was that the god Quetzalcoatl descended into the underworld and retrieved the bones and ashes of previous human beings in order to recreate humanity because the universe had been destroyed after the fourth cheerfulness went out. Quetzalcoatl ground the bones into powder and used his blood to fertilize it and create humans. The Aztecs also had a myth that explained how the Sun and moon were created.According to legend, the gods Nanautzin and Tecuziztecatl sacrificed themselves by jumping into a fire, which turned them into the Sun and moon. The other gods also sacrificed themselves to pr ovide nourish custodyt for the Sun. However the Sun and the Earth settle down had an insatiable craving for human blood, therefore war was created to satisfy the Suns needs. Whats interesting about these creation myths is that they all included many form of death, sacrifice, or blood shed in order to create something. The creation myths shaped the foundation for why Aztecs go ind so frequently fierceness on violent cultural behavior.In the Aztec society, human sacrifice was extremely common. This is because sacrifices were the main method of creating cosmic order between humans and the universe. Pubic sacrifices took place at the beginning of each of the 18 twenty-day months. The sacrifices consisted of mostly captured warriors, but in rare cases included children and young women. The purpose of public sacrifice was to acquire the nobleman forces embedded in the physiology of human beings in order to nourish the Sun, Earth, and rain.Aztec ceremonies consisted of days of ritual preparation, ceremonial sacrifice, and acts of nourishing the gods and the community. Priests carried out the sacrifices, which included many forms such as decapitation, burning, hurling from great heights, strangulation, and arrow sacrifice. The most common was the removal of the heart. The heart and the head were the two most important body parts to the Aztecs. Tonalli was a cause of energy that came from the head and determined the shape of ones temperament and destiny. Tonalli was first acquired as an embryo in a female uterus.The Sun was the most powerful way to increase tonalli. It was believed that hair prevented tonalli from leaving the body. Therefore hair was a major prize in warfare. When heads were decapitated during ceremonies, the city as a whole gained tonalli. Teyolia, or diving fire, was the energy that came from the heart and determined a persons sensibilities and thinking patterns. When a person died his or her tayolia travelled to the world of the dead, or sky of the Sun. Tayolia gives energy to the Sun, which is why heart sacrifices were so popular.Giving hearts and heads wasnt the only donation made to the higher powers. Bloodshed was also seen as a type of nourishment. The Aztecs believed that spilling blood was vital to please the gods and to ensure natural forces such as strong harvests. Another Aztec creation myth, the story of Tezcatlipoca, gives strong insight into the importance of bloodshed. In the story the body of Tezcatlipoca was cut into pieces and divided over the four directions of the world, with his blood flowing into the center.The divine blood redistributed energy to animals, body parts, vegetation, and the calendar. Although The Aztecs believed that by giving the hearts and heads of their victims to the gods and the universe, they would be blessed with gifts like bountiful harvests, strength in war, and healthy lives, they didnt coif sacrifice just to receive blessings they also feared that the universe would be dest royed. The Aztecs believed that there had been four previous ages that the universe passed through prior to the present age, the Fifth Age.At the end of each age, the Sun went out and caused a catastrophic event that destroyed all life on Earth. In the Second Age, for example, it was believed that the beings that lived there were carried absent by the wind. (AD1, p. 4) The fear of the Sun going out again and ending the Fifth Age is one the main catalysts for explaining why the Aztecs placed so much importance on human sacrifice, warfare, and other violent cultural behavior. In order to ensure that the Sun wouldnt go out again, the Aztecs participated in what is cognize as the New Fire Ceremony.It took place once every fifty-two years and was used to ensure that the Sun would last for another fifty-two years. The conversion was achieved by the heart sacrifice of a brave, captured warrior specifically chosen by the king. The ceremony began at the top of a mountain with a priest ab scission out the warriors heart and throwing it into a fire. The community in the village would past cut themselves and splatter their blood in the direction of the fire. The fire was then brought down the mountain and the people blistered themselves with fire.The Aztecs believed that if they did not perform the ceremony properly to nourish the Sun, it would go out and the demons of the darkness would descend to eat all human beings. The New Fire Ceremony is a great example of how the Aztecs viewed the connection between human beings and the cosmos. The role of humankind in the Aztec society was very pre-determined. work force were devoted to warfare and females were devoted to the household. Warfare was extremely important to Aztec men because it was used as a way to appease the gods with the hearts of prisoners of war.It was also used a way to rank the importance and worth of a man. Men higher up in the military rank received more luxuries and entitlements than men of lower rank s. For example, a top war commander, or quauhpilli, was given land by the ruler and could run schools for commoners. Military service was a compulsory covenant by all free men. The Aztecs innate desire for combat is a direct impact of the believed connection between conflict and nourishment for the universe.When a male child was born, he is dedicated to the Sun, and the flowery death of the warrior in battle or on the killing stone. This shows that the Aztecs believed that the only honorable death for a male is on the battlefield or being sacrificed on another tribes killing stone. The Aztec devotion to the universe was so strong that they not only believed that they had to sacrifice others in battle to please the gods they had to sacrifice themselves as well. The culture and beliefs of the Aztec civilization were much different than the culture and beliefs of society today.Human sacrificing no longer occurs because it is considered venomous and unusual punishment. Humans do not b elieve that sacrifices and bloodshed are necessary to please a higher power. Although there are trusted religions that believe that the way humans act bear some consequence on things like karma and where we go in the future, it is rare to find a society in todays world that believes wholeheartedly that there is a direct connection between humans actions, the divine, and natural forces, like the Aztecs believed.Science and engine room have allowed humans to understand that we can control all aspects of processes such as growing crops and that the gods have no effect on it. Warfare, although still important, does not have nearly as strong of an impact on humans today. Warfare is only needed for protection, to defend other countries, or in certain areas of the world, to attempt to settle religious differences like the Shiite and Sunni Muslims. Today, men and women have the choice to grow up and become whatever they want.Men are not take to serve in the military and women have the ab ility to do more than just take care of the household. The main difference between the Aztecs and humans today is that for the Aztecs, the connection to the universe was the most important aspect of life, while today creating a family, treating others fairly, and having proper morals are the most important aspects of life. The majority of people just want to make the most of their lives on Earth while they still have time, and depending on their beliefs, if they do it right they will reach an afterlife when they die.The Aztecs were one of mankinds most interesting civilizations. They devoted their lives to pleasing the universe and believed that sacrifice and bloodshed were the best ways of doing it. They attempted to control every aspect of their lives in order to keep the connection between humans and the universe in balance. The Aztec belief system was very extreme. No other civilization has put so much emphasis on sacrifices, and more than likely, no civilization ever will again .

The Garden Party - a Short Story Essay Example for Free

The Garden Party a Short Story EssayThe wonderful short story The Garden Party found in Chapter 27 of the book How to Read Literature like a Professor shows the maturing of a schoolboyish woman. The main character, a vibrant girl named Laura, takes on big responsibilities and sees how unverbalised the world can really be. She goes through a series of test that introduced her to growing up, such as planning a garden society and dower out her neighbors during a hard time. This great story helps one know what it looks like when a situation comes our way that makes us grow up, not in size just in maturity. One of the greatest impacts in liveliness is going through an experience that is so big or impossible to you and creation able to get through it to find the deeper meaning. The young girl was given a huge responsibility when her mother said, Its no use ask me. Im determined to leave e trulything to you treat me as an honored guest. Laura had to plan the garden party deal with the florist, bakery, and the men who put up the marquee. deficient to prove how independent she could be Laura not only had to conquer her fears, she had to act tough and make the best garden party to prove to her mother she was undecided of it. She wanted to follow in her mothers footsteps and be as professional as she could. When the men came to put up the marquee she had a very hard time trying to act older with the workers and trying to show them that she was the one with all the power. The way she acts proves that she was trying very hard to not frustrate anyone, making it seem like she was in control of everything at all times. The second example really finished out the transformation it opened her encephalon to a deeper understanding. It all started the day of the party when a man down the block had passed away.When Laura heard of his passing she wanted to cancel the celebration, but due to a talk with her mother, Laura realized that she should just go on with the par ty and afterward worry about the man and his mourning family. As soon as the party was over she went over and took the leftovers to the family down the block. Despite the crowd of people dressed in black sobbing about the loved one she ga in that locationd up all her strength and was taken inside to see the deceased man. When a young girl experiences an event such as the death of someone its life sentence changing to see the life of someone sucked out of their body and seeing them just lying there as if in a deep quietus is not an easy task for a child to understand yet she got every part of it and even felt for the crying woman and cried herself .And though she wasnt familiar with the man she felt for him, she shared the sadness of the family along with the realization that things happen that one cannot control. It not only made her more mature but it also changed the way she saw the world around her. Growing up is not easy and some have more trouble than others, yet the young gi rl did a exceptional job of putting aside her emotions for time being and just keep going no matter what problems came into her path there is a time for everything. The amazing outcome of the garden party along with the life-changing experience of seeing a dead man made her see life through different eyes. She showed great courage in every step that she made and proved that she was capable of anything.

Advantages Of Marketing Over The Internet Marketing Essay

Advantages Of Marketing Over The Internet Marketing EssayToday, the Internet appears to be a powerful weapon, especially for businesses in the argona of promotion.This process of effect of Internet merchandising is through the promotion and sales of company products development the Internet as the main instrument. The internet marketing offer many benefits for the art of sales marketing and media to a wider audience.This method is one of the best ways to promote a product and has a direct response to customers.Anyone fuckingister be advertisement the company directly from internet but it is non the solution for all the companies. To the struggle to achieve their business, some people guess if their plans are prepare and whether it meets their expectations.The internet marketing gouge put out the largest companies, on the other hand not all the companies have the right strategy and the money for a proper advertised. Although some companies because they want to take economic o pportunities for the promotion of their products, they use other kinds of marketing such as magazine or impertinentlyspaper, television and Radio.This is because they way on the disadvantages of the internet and not the benefits.So they lose the opportunities that offered by the internet marketing.But with the proper information and the right administration companies croupe benefit sufficiently from the internet and they can have the right investment. The advantages that someone can think about internet marketing are many.Since the internet marketing is so wide available to all companies around the world, can acquire millions of customers with a few mouse clicks them.However, like any advertising, except that there are some advantages and disadvantages of separately internet. Companies should consider both sides to know if the view would be correct.They have to weighing their options and have the right kind of consumers they need to achieve, would surely find that the advantages clearly outperform the disadvantages.Advantages of Internet MarketingAnother of the benefits can be achieved by promoting a website is the cheapest and most flexible advertising. Great advantage is that the cost of electronic mail it is cheaper and can compare prices.Except that it is faster and easier it willing be more accessible depending on customer needs.Because it is cheaper this will receive misdirecters to repeat their purchase, so the proceeds will be many more.Thanks to internet marketing can be extended to overnight.The Internet marketing is much more different from print advertising and will be accessible for longer time.If you want to change something from the ads will not need to put someone else do it for you.Of course this will not stop other types of advertising, but gives the buyer the opportunity to see the difference between potential customers and an l employer.We too dont have to pay employees for the store because this origin will take it Internet.Howev er, another benefit is that we dont need to get tired at all to receive their product, they just have to stay in their invest and it will come straight on to their house. Also in time needed for a phone call or to go straight to the bewray you can send at the sametime thousands of electronic email without mail. One of the advantages of internet marketing is that you can expand the market and that the store can be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Internet is in all geographical boundaries and is accessible whenever you want any of it can access to it.So, your customers are from around the world and they can be able to access the Internet, and can shop anytime they want. Although there is no holiday days or close hours.There will no longer stop in time to market.With internet marketing will be able to find tardily what they want, and are in categories so they can found it just with a keyword. Compared to other forms of advertising such as television, radio and magazines can be r eached precisefaster around the world.The comfort of customers is still an advantage for business.A convenient person for investigation of product will seek, would go by car to buy or learn information about the product .With the ease of internet it will become much easier since can go directly from the couch to make purchases and he can also learn information about the product. Visitors can get information about the product to buy but also they can see comments from other buyers.So depending on the interests will be chosen internet market since it can visit the website whenever he likes without having to enter the process or the Move stress and the problems from the outside world.It is also much more convenient for people with disabilities.A website serves as an excellent place to refer potential investors to lay down them what your company is about, what has been achieved and what can be achieved in the future.There is an opportunity to develop company and much improved reliabil ity.An advertisement from internet is giving potential customers are ready and why you deserve their trust.In fact, many buyers use the Internet for re pursuit before the purchase so they can decide for themselves whether a finical supplier or brand is worthy of sponsorship, and it will not take a walk.With the ease of the internet marketing is a point of reference and that encounter of individualized customer service can ultimately add value to the supply and customer trust in a higher level of satisfaction.When implementing a successful marketing program in the Web, online e-trailers need to understand that this method is a process of development to promote a company using online media.. This new-fashioned marketing method does not only mean creating a website or a promotion, because behind this Web site is a real organization that has a clearly defined set of objectives. The strategies of internet marketing include all aspects of online advertising products, services and websi tes, including market research, email marketing and direct sales.One of the study benefits associated with this online marketing process, is able to gather a large amount of information.Online consumers can access the Internet and in products and purchase them at any time of day.Companies using online marketing can also save money.In summary, this new form of Web Marketing helps businesses expand just be a local market, depicted object or international level, and much faster.So the internet marketing compared with other types of traditional media is bettor.Hard aspects to deal for online marketers. With veterans of trade, the most difficult part of running an online marketing campaign is to find a team for the company. Although by creating a list, you have a target groupwho gave you permission to market, since it also allows you to develop a human relationship with them as you can provide the necessary information, and also suggest what products more useful and better for them.T o get customers and generating sales then it would be better if you could also enter the popular world of social internet sites. Many businesses online today are now switching to web sites. Sites like Face book,Bebo and MySpace seem to work on a major role in the market, and these areas in future, would certainly be the main destinations for online shoppers.While traditional marketing methods can make to achieve a common target market. Offers opportunities to create marketing on the Internet which has grown to be the most popular means of marketing, many companies today use search engine optimization and other techniquesto get quickly in touch with remote users.The Internet offers companies an inexpensive but effective way to reach new customers.Not only are they able to reach new customers, but is also able to interact with them.In this way they are able to better understand the needs, wants and even the purchasing habits of customers.Benefits of Internet marketing are many, howev erthis does not mean that every company should purchase goods and services on the Internet.Believed to be given to the target market and products and services sold.The target market you may search the Internet for goods and services, or you will have more chances to get a telephone directory, for example. Of course there are the costs involved in Internet marketing and can be very different.For each firm embarking on such a course would say that one of the most important factors is that you get great service from your Web Designer and Internet Marketing company, differently you could find yourself facing a web site that is outdated and inaccurateand this will cause more harm.http//www.google.com/images/cleardot.gif

The Issue Of Underage Drinking Social Work Essay

The Issue Of Under ripen Drinking Social Work EssayThe issue and prevalence of unexampled masses (under 18) drinking alcoholic drinkic drink in recent years has become a matter of increasing public concern, with current trends amongst the worst in Europe (Gunning et al 2010). Drinking during childhood, particularly heavy drinking is associated with a range of problems including physical and mental health problems, alcohol- cogitate accidents, violence, and anti- friendly behaviour (Gunning et al 2010). green bodies atomic number 18 still growing, and alcohol can deterioration their development regular drinking can lead to cancer, liver disease, and heart dis secerns in later life (Bateman 2011). Deaths from liver disease acquit risen vastly in the 25-34 mount up groups over the last 10 years thought to be a consequence of increased drinking beginning from an earlier age (Thomson et al 2008).In England in 2007/2008, much than 7600 children under 17 were admitted to hospita l as a result of drinking alcohol (Gunning et al 2010). It is believed that unsalted people who start drinking alcohol at an early age, drink more, and drink more often than those who delay the onset of drinking until they be older. They are also more likely to develop alcohol plague/dependence problems in adolescence and adulthood dependence is also likely to occur from a much preadolescenter age (Gunning et al 2010).A recent survey carried out in 2010 by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to resolve the smoking, drinking and medicine use of secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15 (7,674 pupils in 247 schools through the use of questionnaires) interestingly found that the proportion of boyish people who have drunk alcohol had decreased in comparison with earlier findings from 28 per cent in 2001 to 21 per cent in 2006 (DH 2008). moreover it must be declared that although there had been a marked decrease in the number of young people who had drunk alcohol many o f the 11 to 15 year olds who do drink were describe to be consuming larger add ups of alcohol, more often, to deliberately get drunk (Bateman 2011). This study also conveyed that 18% of pupils had drunk alcohol recently, is equivalent to around 540,000 young people (Gunning et al 2010) suggesting that more still demand to be done to reverse these prominent trends, as despite the marked decrease alcohol harm in young people is still a serious problem that is affecting the health of the younker today and greatly impacting the wider community, in that alcohol misuse carries a financial burden and has been estimated to make up nearly 11,000 million each year, in terms of health, social welfare and criminal justice resources (Waller et al 2002).Collecting this type of data can prove difficult, as drug and alcohol misuse are of a sensitive nature and often individuals do non wish to share this information candidly when questioned. It is particularly difficult to obtain from young pe ople (under the age of 18), as this often has to be carried out within a school environment, via questionnaires. The extent to which honest reporting occurs is a prepare complex, as young people leave behind often exaggerate to peers, and conceal from parents (Gunning et al 2010). Honesty is not the only factor affecting accuracy of responses in young people, precision of estimates and the recall of the amount of alcohol drunk can also be problematic, given that pupils patterns of behaviour between the ages of 11 and 15 whitethorn be described as experimental and sporadic opposed to habitual and regular (Gunning et al 2010). The National Treatment Agency (NTA) has recently stated that young peoples substance misuse is a relatively new area of academic study and so look for on effective word interventions are inconsistent (NTA 2010).It is widely acknowledged that alcohol misuse in youth is inextricably linked to a number of factors including the influence of parents/family, pe ers, environment, culture and socio-economic status (Templeton et al 2006). According to the Acheson report (1999), dependency upon alcohol is significantly correlated with socio-economic position, suggesting that the problem is one that is beyond the chemical impact of the substance itself (Nacro Youth Crime Section 1999) coinciding with more recent National statistics and research studies that indicate, as well as sex and age, socio-economic status, ethnicity and geographical area of residence are among the factors linked to levels and patterns of baneful alcohol consumption (Waller et al 2002).In order to target the issue of alcohol misuse within young people, these factors needed to be taken into account and have since been the guide by which policies regarding youth and alcohol are implemented (DH 2008) therefore providing alcohol education in schools beginning in the primary phase, well before patterns of regular drinking become established, intentional to educate and advis e young people on sensible drinking patterns and the dangerous effects it may have upon them (DH 2008). Parents and carers also have a certificate of indebtedness for whether their children drink, at all, and if they do, how much and how frequently they drink. However, for parents to feel confident when talking to their children about alcohol and to empower them to set appropriate boundaries they need guidance from the appropriate go (DH 2008).In terms of government strategies, to target the issue of alcohol misuse in young people the coalitions programme for government published in whitethorn 2010, outlines proposals designed to restrict the supply of alcohol to young people, less than 18 years of age, by increasing the control given to councils to close outlets that persistently dispense alcohol to children and to increase the maximum fines for under-age alcohol sales. Additionally, there will be a ban on the sales of alcohol at below cost price (Gunning et al 2010), and a revi ew of alcohol pricing and taxation, both policies expected to have particular impact on young drinkers (Gunning et al 2010).Whilst these policies are currently weighted towards prevention, and adopting preventative strategies, recent statistics suggest that the majority of young people accessing services and interventions have problems with alcohol (37%) and cannabis (53%) (NTA 2010), thence suggesting that more needs to be done in the preventative stages of alcohol awareness in children as evidence suggests that the problem is clearly still on-going.The choice and effectiveness of treatment barbeles is typically dependent on a range of factors, much(prenominal) as the individual characteristics of the client for example motivation, family life, social circumstances and environment in increment to the particular drug or drugs that are existence employ (Crow Reeves 1994). The National Treatment Agency (NTA) defines young peoples treatment as care planned medical, psychosocial or medical specialist harm reduction interventions aimed at alleviating current harm caused by a young persons substance misuse (NTA 2010).Young people with drug related needs are houseed by interventions and services within a four-tiered framework of drug and alcohol interventions which consists of a General Frontline service delivery for young people and their families (first port of call) (tier 1), undefendable-access services ( such as drop in) (tier 2), Drug treatment within the community (Shared care) (tier 3) and residential drug treatment (specialist services) (tier 4) (NTA 2006).Young drug and alcohol users are believed to differ from adults as they will typically not have used drugs for a prolonged period of time, in order to have certain a dependency to a substance and as a result affecting the type of treatment generally provided to young people (Frontier Economics 2010). Young people are most likely to require psychosocial, harm reduction and family interventions , opposed to treatment for addiction, which most adults exclusively only a small minority of young people require (Frontier Economics 2010). Psychosocial interventions are known as non-pharmacological interventions typically involving structured counselling, motivational enhancement, case management, and care-coordination, psychotherapy, and relapse prevention. The intention is to encourage behavioral and emotional change, with the support of lifestyle adjustments and the enhancement of coping skills (Frontier economics 2011).The most common form of therapy offered for substance misuse is some form of counselling this may take the form of counselling for the drug problem itself, for example thoughts about using, coping strategies for diminution or counselling concerning the border issues that impact on drug use (Lewis et al 2009). Counselling is a flexible start and can be used to respond to a wide transition of circumstances surrounding misuse (Rounsaville Carroll 1992). It is possible to identify two general approaches to counselling in use in community drug services, the first being, counselling to tackle the in-person problems, underlying drug misuse and the second being that of support and advice to ease manage the consequences of drug misuse (Bryant- Jeffries 2001). The vast majority of young people accessing specialist treatment need and receive counselling, sometimes alongside their families to address the underlying causes and consequences of substance misuse. Such psychosocial interventions are the most common form of support accessed by under-18s (Frontier Economics 2011).The National Institute for wellness and Clinical Excellence (NICE) coincides with the idea of the counselling theory, and has recommended that offering brief, one-to-one advice on the harmful effects of alcohol use, and how to knock down the risks and find sources of support, is an effective approach for tackling harmful drinking amongst children and young people (NICE 2 007).The most common counselling approach to drug treatment has been cognitive behavioural approaches. The cognitive behavioural approach relies greatly on getting the user to focus on identifying problems and solutions. Cognitive behavioural counselling can be used to promote abstinence or gradual control of drug use, with an emphasis on teaching cognitive and behavioural techniques to resist drug use and related behaviours. The cognitive element of CBT is concerned with getting users to identify the reasons why they misuse, and in particular getting them to identify maladaptive thought patterns that lead them to engage in destructive behaviour (Jarvis 1995). The behavioural aspect of CBT is about helping people to look at the signs that encourage them to misuse drugs and to help them develop alternative slipway of behaving (Jarvis 1995).NICE has recommended cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an effective intervention for treating young peoples substance misuse (NICE 2007). Pr oviding CBT in a group setting may help young people to role-play and practice coping with high-risk experiences. The group setting allows young people to share similar problems, develop social skills, model, rehearse and gain peer feedback (NICE 2007). NICE also recommends that brief interventions using motivational interview techniques can be used as one-off interventions, or to facilitate engagement with more structured specialist substance misuse treatment (NICE 2007). Implying that individuals with social networks supportive of drinking will benefit especially from a programme that encourages attendance at AA meetings, because it is the most effective means of eliminating heavy drinking friends and acquaintances from the social network (Connors, Tonigan and Miller, 2001).Although NICE states that a group setting is beneficial in helping young people overcome their alcohol abuse it may in fact be criticised, as young people, especially troubled young people may be overwhelmed by group influences, either in treatment among peers who are also recovering from chemical dependence or else after leaving treatment, in the form of familiar drug-using groups (Peele 1987). And so the most successful types of counselling approach used for young people needs to take into account their age, as being amongst adults with alcohol issues would not be beneficial to a young person as adults are often described as dependent requiring more intense forms of treatment young people will have often not reached this stage of dependence and so these adult influences may cause further cast out impacts on the impressionable young (Geldard 2010). Type of personality needs to be taken into account in order to discover which counselling approach would be most appropriate and successful for them as an individual, as some individuals may respond outflank to a one-to-one approach, being able to fully open up to one person (the counsellor). Whereas some may find it easier to speak within a group setting with peers, learning from others experiences. Counselling is often described as a flexible approach (Rounsaville Carroll, 1992) and therefore can be adopted to meet the needs of individual cases and respond to a wide variety of circumstances surrounding misuse in addition utilising a flexible approach suggests that it allows for the young person to access this service around other commitments such as school, so as to not jeopardise other important aspects and influences within their sphere of activity, flexibility of counselling will also allow for the employment of the family, with evidence to suggest that family involvement enhances assessment and intervention and increases motivation in treatment (Kaufman, 1992). As young people are often depicted as not yet independent, family interventions are believed especially important in addressing the basis of their drug and alcohol involvement (Kaufman, 1992). Also important is helping the family initiate and support th e persons involvement in an appropriate treatment program (Kaufman, 1992). Within individual treatment, compared to group therapy it is believed that much more time can be spent on issues that are unique to the individual involved, a trait that needs to be evident when work with young people (Rounsaville Carroll 1992).Motivational interviewing has a number of similarities with cognitive behavioural techniques but has a somewhat different emphasis in that the role of the counsellor is less directive and the responsibility is very much on the client to identify ways of changing (Bryant -Jeffries 2001). It aims, through the counselling relationship, to engage clients in a butt against of change and assumes that an individuals level of motivation can be influenced by the interaction between the client and the therapist. Motivational interviewing assumes that behaviour is a prospect that can be worked on and developed (Bryant Jeffries 2001).It is concerned essentially with working wi th clients to address the confluence of factors that drug misusers consistently feel about changing their behaviour and hopefully encouraging them towards reducing or abstaining (Jarvis 1995). The theoretical basis of this approach is Prochaska and Di Clementes transtheoretical model of behaviour change or, as it is most frequently referred to, the stages of change model (Turnbull 2000). The stage of change model is a social cognition model focusing upon readiness to change a potentially destructive form of health behaviour i.e. drug misuse. The model has been applied to other health behaviours such as eating disorders as well as to substance misuse (Wilson Schlam 2004). It refers to a five or six stage process that people go through in their thoughts about their readiness to change. A study of alcohol users found that the number of clients motivated to change was increased by 77% when motivational interviewing was used (Miller Sanchez 1999). Motivational interviewing is believed to increases the effectiveness of more extensive psychosocial treatments often the chosen method of treatment used in young people (NTA 2010).Motivational interviewing although successful, in adult treatment programmes, may not be the best choice of treatment to use when young people are concerned. As previously stated they are unlikely to have used drugs for a prolonged period of time, to develop dependencies (NTA 2010) and so readiness to change, or to contemplate change may not be something they have even thought about and so a pre-occupation with lifelong abstinence in a young population may not only be unnecessary but unrealistic, and may actually encourage regular relapse episodes (Peele 1987). Young people require guidance and cannot often phone about the consequences of their actions, or the harm they are causing themselves by heavy drinking (DfES 2004). It is suggested that therapy should encourage the assumption of values toward work, accomplishment, family, and social in stitutions that facilitate the maturation process (Peele 1987).Harm Reduction is one of the key public health approaches to drug use in recent years (Riley et al 1999). The harm reduction approach attempts to define and discuss drug use in terms of the harm it can be said to cause, and respectively to look at ways of reducing levels of harm (Riley et al 1999). Harm reduction is a term that defines policies, programmes, services and actions that work to reduce the health and social economic harms to the individual, the family, communities or society that are associated with the use of drugs (Newcomb 1992) without necessarily reducing drug consumption (Wodak 2011).A harm reducing approach to illicit drug use focuses on attracting users to services, in the recognition of the fact that many people who have problems with their drug use are not in touch with services (Wodak 2011). Thus, harm reduction policies and programs are offered to those not willing or able to cease their drug use in the short-run aiming to make services more accessible to drug users as a first step towards treatment however, this philosophy remains compatible with an eventual goal of abstention (CAHM 2009) Programs requiring abstinence as an immediate goal cannot therefore be considered harm reduction (CAHM 2009). A goal sequence produced by the Aids and Drug Misuse report (ACMD 1988) provides a clear example of a harm reduction approach to drug use firstly to discourage sharing, encourage the shift from injecting towards oral use, reduce the overall levels of illicit drug use and finally abstinence (ACMD 1988).Harm reduction accepts that some use of mind-altering substances is inevitable and that some level of drug use in society is normal (CAHM 2009), for young people and alcohol use this is most definitely the case, as most individuals have their first experiences of alcohol during their early teenage years (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002). Based on the recent evidence young people would benef it from prevention programmes aimed to reduce the amount of harm experienced by young drinkers this may be seen as a more realistic and effective method for educating individuals about the possible consequences associated with alcohol consumption as opposed to abstinence within this particular age group (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002). This suggests that Harm reduction in this sense is the best approach when looking at young people and alcohol misuse, as abstinence may be described as unlikely within this age group, acknowledging that most adolescents will drink, speaking of the possible harms may be enough to reduce harmful levels of drinking by the young person (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002).The Life Skills Training Program and the Alcohol Misuse Prevention Study (AMPS) in the United States and the School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project (SHAHRP) in Australia are described as large scale intervention studies that have been systematically designed and evaluated base on a harm redu ction philosophy (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002). The life skills training programmes is said to adopt a cognitive behavioural approach to drug abuse prevention thus providing education on the effects of drugs, teaching skills for resisting social pressure to use drugs, and promoting the development of self-esteem and social skills (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002). Whilst SHAHRP combines a harm reduction philosophy with skills training, alcohol education, and activities designed to encourage positive health behaviour change (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002) Results from a study comparing an intervention group of students who participated in SHAHRP with a control group over a 3-year period, conveyed that students in SHAHRP had significantly lower levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol related harms (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002).In conclusion, harm reduction seems the best approach for young people and alcohol use, it must be stated that they are not as advanced as adults who misuse alcohol thus requir e harm reduction leading to abstinence. Young people will often eventually mature out of harmful drinking behaviour (Marlatt Witkiewitz 2002) and so harm reduction at such a stage should be an appropriate practice in order to highlight the harmful effects to young people enough so that it reduces overall consumption.We need to be able to convince children that life is worth living and that they are capable, not only of avoiding drugs, but of achieving a worthwhile existence (Peele 1987) presenting them with the values of achievement and positive accomplishments of friendship and community of health and self-preservation of fun and adventure of responsibility for self and contribution to others of sense and intellectual awareness and of a commitment to life that goes beyond personal protectiveness and fear (Peele 1987).

Applications of Developmental Psychology to Practice

Applications of Developmental Psychology to PracticeTitleWithin your chosen topic area, health Psychology In Action Children and the development, (chapter 3 by Tony Cassidy) discuss the ways in which developmental psychology preempt inform practice.Psychology is a cumulative scientific withdraw of the mind based on empirically driven theories that link experience, behaviour and the brain. Health psychology, despite being a relatively new branch of utilize psychology, is following that exact path. It is the study of the psychological processes of health, illness and healthcare systems (Cassidy 2006). While the breadth of the discipline is far reaching, its core goal is the use psychological theories and interventions to keep on damaging behaviour.Perhaps the mind begins as a blank slate and we start of as perfect idiots. At the other extreme, it could be like a Swiss-army knife, a collection of innately structured neural modules or perhaps it starts off undifferentiated and becomes modular. Is it our cultural learning or meta-representation that shapes our behaviour? (Wexler 2006) There is no shortage of one-line theories of human nature. However, when it comes to children there is very little room for error. There is overwhelming indicate documenting the effect of early childhood experiences with their long term health and associated behaviours. For example, stress in early life can inhibit neurogenesis in later adulthood (Tucker 2002 Karten et al 2005), exclusively to what extent does such developmental hypothesis actually inform real life practice? Or in other words, are the current initiatives used by health psychologists working in the way theories predict? There isnt room for an exhaustive search here and so this piece will focus on a few concrete examples.More than 400 million adults worldwide are obese according to the World Health Organization (2004) and children from many difference socio-cultural backgrounds are at risk (Cassidy 2006). There are a barrage of studies contemplating how our surroundings are responsible for the growing obesity problem (Brownell 2004). These papers all point towards two pick out issues(a) The easy availability of foods that are high in fat.(b) Poor opportunities for exercise.While it is intuitively obvious why people become obese, the relationship between cant over and behaviour is still highly complex and health psychology has attempted to identify some of the reasons behind the obesity epidemic. For example, a large body of evidence suggests that the family environment is the major source of influence over childhood eating behaviour (Rivett 2008).Psychologists attain attempted to influence childrens food choices through the application of mixer learning conjecture in programmes such as The Food Dudes Program (Tucker 2002). The researchers developed a video of four older children who appeared to gain super powers for eating fruit and vegetables. The basic premiss being that a c hild is more likely to imitate the behaviour of a person they admire and is consistent with a behaviouralist approach because there are rewards for behaviours which are desirable.Similar programs have borrowed from Gratton et al (2007) and have used the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a material to promote childrens fruit and vegetable consumption. TPB posits that behavioural intentions are the proximal determinants of actual behaviour, with the perception of control being an important co-determinant of behaviour (Gratton et al 2007). The programme merely took two groups of children and showed one group ways in which they could make time in the day to eat five-a-day and another group on how they could overcome motivational barriers to achieving this goal. Both interventions were found to be successful. Similar programmes encouraging children to take exercise also exist (Cassidy 2006).Despite some success stories, the effects have been scotch in the long-term with such progra mmes (Brownell 2004). Surrounded by a societal construct implying that being overweight is normal and acceptable, psychologists are presented with a constant struggle. However, by improving childrens own understanding of illness, this can promote healthy actions by groups and in tandem with a new TPB framework, help break future lifestyle choices (Williams Binnie 2002).The focus of preventive intervention is also a key area of theoretical implementation in health psychology. This fits with a biopsychosocial model where biological, psychological and social factors are implicated in both health and illness. Prevention cannot focus on only a single factor. For example, drug misuse in adolescence, both legal and illegal, is an issue across the developed world which can be tied into other more serious health concerns (Cassidy 2006).Three aspects of family background have been found to predict risk of drug use parental involvement in crime, poor relationships with parents and unsuppor tive child-parent interactions (Mazanov Byrne 2008). Interventions have sought to use social inoculation theory developed by McGuire in the 1960s the basic ideology being that finales are made in the context of social pressure. More new-fangled work has attempted to model what makes an adolescent successfully quit smoking and found that past behaviour explained more than four times the variance of other factors (Mazanov Byrne 2008). On the other hand, family environment is evidently a key area of theoretical and subsequent practical intervention. Recent research has proposed that family therapy is currently undergoing radical change, but this change seems to be driven by more contextual factors as opposed to new theoretical advances. (Rivett 2008)However, any interventions are often clouded by the prevalence of problematic behaviour patterns including impulsivity and rebelliousness making behaviour difficult to predictThe 14 year old has a very simple decision to make. When he sees a light out of the corner of his eye, he is supposed to ignore it. (Powell 2006, p. 865)This is an extremely easy task and even 8 year olds can do it correctly half of the time, but it requires suppressing a natural impulse not the strong point of most adolescents. In this simple test the teenager performs as well as adults do, but inside his head, a lot more cognitive effort is required, as shown by recent functional magnetized resonance imaging studies (Powell 2006). Are outdated theories keeping up with new physiological knowledge or should health care be expanded amongst the schoolgirlish moving away from traditional approaches and into the community? (Williams et al 2002)Health psychology is a new and exciting discipline and is constantly surprising both the academics and utilize psychological communities. From enhanced wound healing after an emotional disclosure intervention (Weinman et al 2008) to simply using a distraction intervention to reliever the pain of pre- school children undergoing injections (Dahlquist et al 2002), there is a constant stream of new theories and interventions. However, no one theory is going to answer and treat all our health problems and there is always an inherent danger when generalizing to large populations. There is a tendency for fragmentation within modern applied psychology that inevitably results from the harvest-time and development of individual areas.ReferencesBrownell, D. K. (2004) Food Fight, London McGraw-HillCassidy, T. (2006). Health Psychology children and development. In Wood et al. (eds) Developmental Psychology in Action. Blackwell Publishing. p. 101-135Dahlquist, M. L., Pendley, S. J., Landthrip, S. D., Jones, L. C., Steuber, P. C. (2002) Distraction intervention for preschoolers undergoing intramuscular injections and subcutaneous port access. Health Psychology, 21 (1), 94-99Gratton, L., Povey, R., Carter, D. (2007). Promoting childrens fruit and vegetable consumption Interventions using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a framework. British Journal of Health Psychology, 12, 639-650Karten, J. G. Y., Olariu, A., Cameron, A. (2005). Stress in early life inhibits neurogenesis in adulthood. Trends in Neuroscience, 28 (4), 171-172Powell, K. (2006). How does the teenage brain work? Nature, 442 (24), 865-867Rivett, M. (2008). Towards a metamorphosis current developments in the theory and practice of family therapy. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 13 (3), 102-106Tucker, M. C. (2002). Expanding pediatric psychology beyond hospital walls to meet the health care needs of ethnic nonage children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 27 (4), 315-323Weinman, J., Ebrecht, M., Suzanne, S., Walburn, J., Dyson, M. (2008). Enhanced wound healing after emotional disclosure intervention. British Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 95-102Williams, M. J., Binnie, M. L. (2002). Childrens concepts of illness An intervention to improve knowledge. British Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 129-14 7

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Southern Tradition Exposed -- Kill Mockin

Southerners are known to be proud of their traditional beliefs. To eat up A Mockingbird allows its readers to question and consider those beliefs. Maycomb represents a typical old southern town. Not umteen hatful move into Maycomb and non many people who live there journey beyond its boundaries. As a result, the opinions held by many of the citizens of Maycomb are left to grow and foster in the same families for many generations. The circumstances in Maycomb are less than ideal for generating change and more prone to sustaining traditionally accepted codes. Two codes embedded within southern friendly beliefs are class and race. The years of 1960 and 1961, when To Kill A Mockingbird was published, signaled a time of great change. The civil rights movement was in full swing and the commonwealth was undergoing social and economic reconstruction. Traditional thinking was being transformed into ideas and thoughts that had never been considered before, and old traditions were pitted against new ones. Looking into the Deep South, in a weensy town named Maycomb, tradition for most people meant prejudice, separation, and racism. Atticus Finch chooses to fight against this old tradition with traditions of his own. Because of his highly ethical character, Atticus is able to honorably defend tom turkey Robinson and promote a new tradition for himself and his children. Respect, dignity, and equality form the backbone of Atticus belief system, a belief system containing qualities that are often overlooked in the traditional South. In the absence of outside support, Atticus fights his battle the only way he knows how -- with patience, perseverance, and honesty. The South and tradition are synonymous. Southerners are known to be proud of their tra... ...After realizing that he is fighting an uphill battle, it is Atticus integrity that keeps him pushing forward. He sees the problems with southern traditional social codes and he realizes they must be redefined -- for t he stake of his children, and his childrens children. Atticus knows that one of these days someone is going to pay the bill for it(p.221). He realizes that traditional beliefs will not be changed over night, and he does not expect it. His solution to his dilemma is to stick firmly to his southern tradition and his beliefs. Atticus Finch is a true Southern gentleman. His courage, nobility, pride, and honesty allow him to do what few men at the time could do. Atticus does not fool himself by ignoring the inevitable. He accepts his position and attacks the traditional views that he does not believe in desire a true gentleman -- face to face.  

Free Narrative Essays - The Battle of the Bands :: Personal Narrative Essays

The Battle of the Bands   The best and worst two days of my life took place at Bogarts with my band Radioactive Weasel proceed month.  We had practiced daily for near three years, and our group decided to pull together again and enter The Battle of the Bands.  This was the first time we sparingly stipendiary fifty dollars to perform anywhere. All the other competitions we had entered were mail in tapes and and so wait for a response. We got fall out of bed at five in the morning, then(prenominal) raced to our drummers house. Loaded on uppers, practiced four and a half hours to perfect our original songs, we were to play that night.         Pumped and ready to get started we packed the van with our drums and guitars then started our journey to Clifton for our show.  As usual, we got there way to early, so we did what any fun seeking  under aged musicians would do.  We searched the allies and found a half passed out drunk an d took him to the local bar, then got a few beers each before  the show.  We then returned to draw numbers for the order of the bands.           I eagerly pushed my way to the drift of all the other bands, being the obnoxious prick I am, and drew the first card.  Unfortunately I drew the second band on form out of nine.  The best position to be in is about fourth or fifth band because that is when the crowd starts getting into the music.  Pissed off I haphazardly wandered back to my group to inform them of my greatest mistake.           We loaded the equipment into the worlds slowest elevator, and stumbled our way to the backstage lounge.  After I had read graffiti covered walls until my intent was content I noticed much writing by some of my favorite groups like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Mansion, Korn, and The Dead Milkmen.  Inspired by them I also signed the wall with some chosen words.  The time had rolled around for the first band to hit the stage. Excited, we rushed our way into the mosh pit, (in my encephalon the only place to be). Screams turned into whispers as Pieces entered the stage in a cowardly