The Causes of the Popularity of Video Games Essay Example for Free

The Causes of the Popularity of Video Games Essay Since the introduction of videogames to the public in the 1970s (Herman, et al 2002), it has become a popular form of entertainment, both outside and at home, for children and adults alike. The first successful video game, Pong, was so popular that game machines reportedly broke down due to excessive numbers of quarters inserted into the coin slots (Herman, et al 2002). Through the decades, its appeal never seemed to wane, as more gaming systems are developed and marketed and even more games created and published. The popularity of videogames never ceases to expand, and in the recent years, it has seemed to grow to new heights, attracting even adults who once considered videogames as mere children’s playthings, and females who did not play videogames because they are â€Å"for boys†. Advancements in technology, developments in gameplay and content, and the experience are the factors that the popularity of videogames mostly owes itself to. Technological advancements are on the move, faster than they have been in the past decades. Computers are gaining wider acceptance in the home and in the workplace, aiding in tasks such as writing and research, database management, and even education. Almost every home today has at least one computer under its roof. This increase in usage of computers provided game developers a window to a larger market. This was impossible back then, as computers were generally thought of as belonging to the workplace, and videogames are not meant to be played in offices. As computer technology improves, game developers can create better, more realistic graphics, longer games, and expansive gameplay, which attract even the most casual of computer users. However, PC games generally have a more limited scope in terms of genre and gameplay—most games for PCs are either First-Person Shooters (FPS) or strategy games (examples are Counter-Strike and Warcraft, respectively) Thankfully, due to these same advances in computer technology, electronics firms like Sony and Microsoft are able to develop standalone videogame consoles like the PlayStation and the Xbox, which become faster, better, and more powerful with each incarnation. These consoles compensate for where the PC lacks—it provides an even wider range of games available, and generally perform better as game systems than the PC, and this does much to attract an even larger audience of gamers. Portable game systems like the Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable introduced the idea of games on-the-go, which enables players to take the games out of their homes and bring them practically everywhere—useful in passing the time during road travel or waiting in line, or even during school breaks. These consoles, naturally, are crafted for people always on the move. Technology created an opportunity for videogames to become easily available and more popular. Another factor that helped videogames become a favorite hobby of many people is developments in gameplay, genre, and content. In its early forms, videogames are so simple that they become old in only a matter of days or even hours. The introduction of the high score system alleviated this somewhat, making even games like Pong playable over and over, with the goal of beating the other person’s score. However, even this will prove to be insufficient later on. Developers explored other types of games, and soon a multitude of different games with different play styles were born. Today, there are many games a player can choose from—including from platformers (like the Super Mario games), role-playing games (Diablo, Ultima), strategy games (Warcraft), fighting games (Street Fighter), and even educational games (Brain Age), among many others. These new genres made videogames attractive to different markets of different ages and interests. Even girls, who previously did not play videogames, have become attached to games like Dance Dance Revolution, because of their new, unisex appeal, and its health benefits, due to the game requiring actual physical endurance.. Adults, who used to shun videogames because they were associated with children, now have no excuse to not play videogames because there are games so challenging that only adults can fully appreciate them. There are also games catering specifically to adults nowadays, with additional violence and risquà © themes (Grand Theft Auto). This expansion of gameplay types, genres, and content enabled game companies to pierce through almost every market segment, and each person will most likely find a game suited to his or her own personal skills and interests. The experience of playing videogames is something that cannot be found in many pastimes, and videogames have become popular because of this characteristic. In story-driven games, for instance, gamers are not only treated to a fun, challenging game, they are also presented an engrossing story which rivals even those of best-selling novels. Multiplayer games pit players against each other in matches of skill or reflexes, depending on the game, and there is much enjoyment to be found competing against another player in one’s favorite game. Teamwork, leadership, and situational social interaction, previously found only in team-based sports games, can now be experienced in computer games in the form of multiplayer online role-playing games, where gamers from around the globe form parties striving together to complete an in-game quest or to find a rare item. Videogames provide an enriching, and sometimes even educational, and extremely unique experience, which they will keep coming back to time and again. The popularity of videogames and computer games will never decline, and will perhaps even increase in the future years, because of increasing technological developments, their wide-range appeal, and the sheer experience of playing them. They have made available mind-bending challenges, a great pastime for one or for many, and countless hours of fun and excitement. Works Cited Herman, Leonard, et al. â€Å"The History of Video Games.† Gamespot.5 February 2002. 6 June 2007 http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hov/.

Benefits of Evidence Based Practice in Nursing

Benefits of Evidence Based Practice in Nursing Assignment: Nursing Evidence based details Table of Contents Part A: Essay References Part A: Essay The health care practices that are evidence based are accessible for many diseases and ill health cases like diabetes, heart failure, Asthma etc. The implementations of the evidence-based safety excercises is not an easy job, and require to form policies which deal with the complication of the health-care system. There is a requirement for the healthcare ways to be evidence based as per the changing environments. The evidence based practice is considerable and very careful in utilization of the existing finest evidences along with the clinical know-how and the norms of the patients to make right decisions in terms of health care. These best evidences comprise of practical evidences as of unsystematic controlled assessments, as of few scientific approaches like descriptive and qualitative study with the implication of details of some previous researches, reports, and opinions of the skilled people. In case there is not much of the research evidence accessible, then the health care decisions can be taken by non research substantiations like, opinions of the experienced people etc. And in case, the ample research results are accessible, then the practice can be as per the substantiation of it along with the skills in nursing and the norms of the patients (Cullen et al.2005) The models for the evidence based practice (EBP) are many in number and have been put to use in various clinical situations. All these models have one or two components which are similar. These can be choice of a theme for the EBP, evaluation and syntheses of evidence, application, and assessment of the influence on the care of the patients and the thoughts regarding the situations in which these practices are exercised. The discovering that happens amid the procedure of making an interpretation of examination into practice is profitable data to catch and input into the process, so others can adjust the confirmation based rule and/or the execution methodologies (Straus, 2000). There is wide acknowledgement of the idea that interdisciplinary joint effort is a vital building square for effective health-care groups. This conviction is grounded in our understanding of how group’s capacity to address complex care needs that change with intense sickness or damage. This general understanding has been accepted in studies that have reported good conclusions connected with effectively executing interdisciplinary models of health-care conveyance in non-discriminating care settings. The brief time spans over which the care needs of basically sick or harmed grown-ups change and the group approach taken by almost all Icus emphatically propose that interdisciplinary cooperation is additionally gainful in this setting. It has been foreseen that those health-care arrangements that productively employ interdisciplinary partnership will be prior to the arc in offering premium care at as small a price as probable. These kinds of institutions will in addition possibly b e superior situated for civilizing teaching and offering a better groundwork for decisive care study in their establishments. Source: Leape, 2005 Steps of advertising reception of EBPs could be seen from the point of view of the individuals who behavior scrutinize or produce knowledge, those who utilize the proof based data in practice, and the individuals who serve as limit spanners to connection learning generators with information clients. These phases of information exchange are seen through the viewpoint of scientists/makers of new learning and start with figuring out what discoveries from the patient security portfolio or individual exploration ventures should be dispersed. Steps of learning move in the AHRQ model speak to three real stages: (1) Information creation and refining- Information creation and refining is leading exploration (with expected variety in preparation for utilization in health care conveyance frameworks) and afterward bundling significant examination discoveries into items that might be put vigorously, for example, particular practice suggestions consequently improving the probability that exploration confirmation will think that its path into practice.37 It is crucial that the learning refining procedure be educated and guided by end clients for examination discoveries to be executed in care conveyance. The criteria utilized within learning refining ought to incorporate viewpoints of the end clients (e.g., transportability to this present reality health care setting, plausibility, volume of confirmation required by health care associations and clinicians), and also customary information era contemplations (e.g., quality of the proof, generalizability). (2) Dispersion and spread- Dispersion and spread includes banding together with expert presumption pioneers and health care associations to scatter learning that can structure the premise of activity (e.g., crucial components for release educating for hospitalized patient with heart disappointment) to potential clients. Dispersal organizations join analysts with mediators that can work as learning representatives and connectors to the professionals and health care conveyance associations. Middle people might be proficient associations, for example, the National Patient Safety Foundation or multidisciplinary information exchange groups, for example, those that are powerful in scattering exploration based malignancy avoidance programs. In this model, scattering associations give a legitimate seal of approbation for new learning and help distinguish persuasive gatherings and groups that can make an interest for application of the proof in practice. Both mass correspondence and focused on dispersal are utilized to achieve groups of onlookers with the expectation that early clients will impact the last adopters of the new usable, confirmation based examination discoveries. Focused on dispersal endeavors must use multifaceted spread procedures, with a stress on channels and media that are best for specific client portions (e.g., attendants, doctors, drug specialists)? (3) Authoritative reception and execution. End client reception, usage, and systematization is the last phase of the information exchange process.37 This stage concentrates on getting associations, groups, and people to receive and reliably utilize proof based exploration discoveries and advancements in ordinary practice. Actualizing and managing EBPs in health care settings includes complex interrelationships among the EBP point (e.g., lessening of pharmaceutical failures), the hierarchical social framework aspects, (for example, operational structures and qualities, the outer health natures domain), and the individual clinicians.35, 37–39 A mixed bag of techniques for execution incorporate utilizing a change champion as a part of the association who can address potential usage difficulties, guiding/attempting the change in a specific patient care territory of the association, and utilizing multidisciplinary execution groups to support in the commonsense parts of inserting developments into continuous authoritative me thodologies. Changing practice requires significant exertion at both the individual and authoritative level to apply confirmation based data and items in a specific connection. At the point when changes in care are exhibited in the pilot studies and conveyed to other important units in the association, key faculty might then consent to completely receive and manage the change in practice. Once the EBP change is fused into the structure of the association, the change is no more considered an advancement however a customary of care. Application of evidence to every patient Application of evidence to every patient administration is such an argumentative issue, to the point that it merits further elaboration (Titler, Cullen and Ardery, 2002). Once the clinician has found the evidence important to the patients clinical condition, he/ she need to choose about its appropriateness. Measures of treatment viability got from clinical trials are normal measures and because of the unavoidable biologic variability, are certain to change over the populace. Be that as it may it pays to remember that patients selected in clinical trials are prone to be significantly more like one another than they are liable to be different. Thus, significant contrasts in the greatness of impact are impossible (Karthikeyan, 2007). Qualitatively diverse impacts (hurt for some and profit for others) are to a great degree uncommon. In this way, the consequences of clinical trials could be connected at the bedside, to patients extensively like those in clinical trials with the reckoning of profits like that seen in the trials. The vicinity of co-dreariness and expansive contrasts in age from the study populace is a few components, which can genuinely impact the clinicians choice. A related region of significance to individual-patient choice making is the utilization of subgroup dissects. As clinicians, the aftereffects of subgroup dissects hold instinctive engage us. It is calming to recall that, implanted in any clinical trial populace; there are a limitless number of subgroups and subgroup impacts, the vast majority of which are spurious. The genuine trouble is in searching out the genuine subgroup impacts. In assessing subgroup breaks down, the accompanying issues need to be viewed as: (i) Were the dissects pre-specified or were they left upon in the wake of looking at the information, (ii) How expansive are the impacts? (iii) Is the subgroup impact biotically conceivable? (iv) Would it say it is factually not quite the same as whatever is left of the study populace? v) Is there substantiating evidence from different studies? The criteria for tolerating subgroup results need to be stringent on the grounds that, as we called attention to, most are spurious and in fact, not very many subgroup breakdowns have rested the test of time. Nursing division has an important part to play in the plan of evidence-based conveyance of care. EBP just obliges that the clinician be sufficiently acquainted with the evidence-base in his/ her field and have the capacity to unbiasedly evaluate it, so he or she can apply it suitably in practice. Clinicians ought to recognize that EBP is a paramount stage in the advancement of the act of prescription, which endeavors to convey care of consistently high caliber. As the central executors in charge of conveying this care, they ought to instruct and prepare themselves better for this key part. References Cullen L, Greiner J, Greiner J, et al. Excellence in evidence-based practice: an organizational and MICU exemplar. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am 2005;17(2):127-42. Leape LL. Advances in patient safety: from research to implementation. Vol. 3, Implementation issues. AHRQ Publication No. 05-0021-3. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2005. Karthikeyan G. Evidence-based medicine and clinical judgment: an imaginary divide. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007; 49 : 1012. Straus SE, McAlister FA. Evidence-based medicine: a commentary on common criticisms. CMAJ 2000; 163 : 837- 41. Titler MG, Cullen L, Ardery G. Evidence-based practice: an administrative perspective. Reflect Nurs Leadersh 2002;28(2):26-27, 46.

Examples Of Green Technology Methods Environmental Sciences Essay

Examples Of Green Technology Methods Environmental Sciences Essay Green technology is a continuously evolving group of methods of using materials that are being disposed of and recycling them to be used for other things that will not harm the environment. Building materials and landscaping are just a couple of things that can be done with waste materials. Things that can be recycled so that we can reuse them for generating energy to nontoxic cleaning products and other non-harmful things-things that could/can be harmful to our planet, ozone, and environment. We need to find things that we can do to help clean up our environment and planet before we totally destroy what is left of it. By using green technology, we can [meet] the needs of society in ways that will continue indefinitely into the future and without damaging or depleting natural resources. (Green technology, 2010) Examples of green technology are energy, green building, environmentally preferred purchasing, green chemistry, and green nanotechnology. All of these resources can keep our planet clean and we will be able to recycle smartly. We will be able to use, then re-use, as needed. As we build and use, we will be able to tear down what we have built and reuse the waste for other things. According to Green-technology.org, here are the definitions of the examples from above: Energy the development of alternative fuels, new means of generating energy and energy efficiency. Green building encompasses everything from the choice of building materials to where a building is located. Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) government innovation that involves the search for products whose contents and methods of production have the smallest possible impact on the environment and mandates that these be the preferred products for government purchasing. Green-chemistry the invention, design, and application of chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Green nanotechnology the application of green chemistry and green engineering principals in the field of manipulation of materials at the scale of the nanometer (one billionth of a meter). Green energy is the use of alternative energy other than gasoline. One such alternative is ethanol and corn fuels. These burn cleaner than gas and, in todays automobiles these fuels even provide greater fuel mileage. This has been a concern of consumers for a long time. However, in older model cars, these types of fuels do not work and dry out piston rings but car manufacturers are remedying this and designing cars to run on ethanol and corn fuels. This technology is already being used today. Even battery powered cars are on the roads; cars that dont use any type of fuel except battery power. This is another form of green technology. Solar heat and power are another form of energy that is green. Solar heat can be captured to heat water. This type of energy is already being implemented in the world today. Solar panels capture the suns heat and this is used to heat water plus used for power to run lights in homes. Some homes are totally powered by solar panels as are prototype solar cars. Even geothermal energy is used in certain geographical areas of the world to run generators by steam. Wind power also runs many items, including homes that would normally rely on electricity to power lights, appliances, etc. Manyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦fields of wind turbines are being built in areas of the world to take advantage of constant winds to provide economical and sustainable energy. (EzineArticles, 2010, para. 4) Another source of green energy would be the use of a Magnetic Power Generator (MPG). This would produce free energy indefinitely and power a whole house. This device would not cost much to build-not thousands of dollars-and if you are a do it yourself type of person, you could make one for fairly cheap. According to Greendepot.com, Green building practices, as well as the selection of the appropriate building materials, revolve around a few basic principles of science. (Greendepot, 2010). Using recycled materials to build will result in a totally green building with all parts of the building originating from recycled material from the floor to the walls, ceilings, cabinets, and even furniture can be made from recycled material and when old, can be recycled again. Not only can we build from recycled materials but we can do just about anything with those materials from building homes to landscaping. One material that is being used for home building is called Durisol. These are hollow-core blocks [that] are made from mineralized wood shavings and portland cement, stacked into walls then finished with reinforcing steel and concrete. (Greendepot, 2010) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) helps the federal government buy green and uses the governments buying power to stimulate market demand for green products and services. (epa.gov, 2010) It helps agencies within the federal government comply with green requirements and agencies are directed by federal law and such to purchase things with the environment in mind. The EPA created the EPP in 1993 to help meet the already mentioned requirements. Green chemistry reduces or eliminates the use of hazardous substances. It applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, and use (epa.gov, 2010) It reduces or eliminates negative environmental impact and is an effective approach to pollution prevention because it applies solutions to environmental problems and situations. The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry was originally published by Paul Anastas and John Warner in Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice (Oxford University Press: New York, 1998) and provides a guide for chemists to implement Green Technology (epa.org, 2010). The twelve principles are as follows: Prevention Atom Economy Less Hazardous Chemical Synthesis Designing Safer Chemicals Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries Design for Energy Efficiency Use of Reusable Feedstock Reduce Derivatives Catalysis Design for Degradation Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accidental Prevention (Anastas, P.T; Warner, J.C.; Green, 1998) Currently, China is a world leader in the manufacture of solar panels and research into carbon capture, the process of burning coal while not emitting greenhouse gases. This country is providing a model of how countries should foster a green economy.(RONAN McGREEVY.   (2010,  November  13) Nanotechnology is defined as the art and science of manipulating matter at the nanoscale to create new and unique products and materials. (Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, 2010). The nanoscale is the scale of atoms and molecules. As products are made using the nanometer-scale, there is a growing demand for this technology to help clean up the environment by reducing pollution and trying to produce a cleaner environment and economy. It is easier than we may think. Experiments with nanotechnology are happening all the time. Using this nanotechnology, science has been experimenting on all types of things. From using DNA molecules in processes to building nanoscale patterns on silicon chips and other surfaces to print things (versus lithography) to removing arsenic in a solution base and by being able to detect pollutants at the level of parts per billion. (Project on Emerging Technology nano (2007, April 26). Nanotechnology has opened promising routes to improving and lowering the cost of fuel cells and is leaning toward tools for removing toxic and hazardous materials in waste sites. This kind of technology is essential if we are going to clean up our planet and it is a growing technology to be sure and, according to Lux Research, in 2005, more than $30 billion in nanotech products were sold globally. This figure is estimated to grow to $2.6 trillion by the year 2014. Green technology is an every-growing technology to find what is best for our planet and its continued survival and evolution. We cannot continue down the path we started on years and years ago or we will not have a planet that will sustain life. Using green technology will allow us to clean up our rivers, lakes and waterways as well as our environment. Recycling is one way to do this. Not only does this help us use waste materials but it keeps these waste materials out of dumps and landfills. Even appliances are going green. A plug, developed by 2 brothers, called the GreenPlug, plugs into a normal wall outlet, between the wall and the appliance, and stops excess power to the appliance. It stops the flow of unused energy to the appliance thus saving on energy and power. The GreenPlug helps appliances cut down on the amount of energy that they consume and it will add to the life of older appliances as well. There are hopes that green technology can jump-start the economy which has been failing and struggling. By implementing green technology, it is going to be the next global job and wealth creation engine. (McNally, S., 2009) But green technology has a long way to go before it can become a key in the economy. It has not been around long enough to make an effect as yet. Green technology is still so new that it is going to take a long while before it will put any kind of dent in the recession we are currently in. It is going to take a lot of initiative on the parts of companies; both small and large. Green technology will more than likely come first to the health and transportation sector as both are made more efficient by governments. The economic downturn makes companies more susceptible to change and change, like green technology, will probably be embraced quickly because of the openness for change that is currently felt all over the world. There are so many ways that we have already begun to use this technology. The postal service in Key West, Florida, for example, has begun using electric delivery carts instead of automobiles. Not only the postal service but other government agencies as well are trying to make transportation eco-friendly. Other areas are seeing solar power as an alternative to electricity. There are solar powered homes, businesses, and just recently, electronics are becoming solar powered. Like the worlds first solar powered keyboard made my Logitech. It is also wireless which means it can be completely recharged just by putting it in the sun or any other light source. Every part of the keyboard, including the packaging, is recyclable making the first green keyboard. As we continue to evolve, so does the world around us. In order for this world and planet to get cleaned up, we need to keep experimenting with the things that will ultimately make this world cleaner and better. All the cleaning up in the world makes no difference if we do not have a plan to turn green and make things eco-friendly. We will always have some sort of solid waste but even some of that can be turned into something that is usable and reusable. Even sewage can be used as a means of a heat source. Cleaning up our planet is of the utmost importance and finding new way to do that can be done. Recycling and e-cycling need to be important and we need to pursue and continue to pursue every avenue until this planet goes totally green. That is our future; our goal. Social awareness about the need for cleaner, environmentally-friendly products and services is crucial if we are to clean up our environment. Academically, green technology needs to be taught to our children as well as learning about it ourselves. It should be mandatory that our children be taught; not only our elementary children but college students as well. The industrial segment needs to be pushed forward to come out with more environment-friendly production and consumption processes. Various incentives need to be given to the industrial sector, which is ready to innovate and implement green technology. (Green technology is the future at large.  (2010,  November  14). Businesses need to man up and do their part as well by going green and having their employees do the same and give incentives for doing so. We all have to start somewhere and the big and small businesses need to do their part too. By recycling products that we use every day, we come closer to turning our environment green and cleaning up our world. Other countries need to know this technology and need to implement it. Without the technology, we will inevitably end up destroying ourselves and our planet. Going green with green technology is the only viable conclusion.

Gain Sharing :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Gain Sharing Employers are often faced with the challenge of looking for ways to boost productivity and profitability while at the same time, motivating employees to accomplish organizational goals. For many employers, variable pay plans have risen to meet this challenge. A variable pay plan ties pay increases to increased performance and productivity. One of the more popular group variable pay plans is called gain sharing. Under gain sharing pay programs, both the employer and the employee benefit from increased productivity. Therefore, gain sharing has often been referred to as a win-win pay program since it is an incentive strategy that ties pay to productivity. Gain sharing is a type of incentive plan designed to increase productivity by linking pay directly to specific improvements in a company’s performance. Gain sharing is used primarily when quantitative levels of production are important measures of business success. Gains are shared with unit/department employees on a monthly, qu arterly, semiannual or annual basis according to some predetermined formula calculated on the value of gains of production over labor and other costs. The plan lets employees reap some of the rewards of their efforts through teamwork and cooperation and by working smarter and harder. Gain sharing plans offer the following:  · Directly ties pay to some important measure of company performance  · Results in productivity improvements when installed  · Appropriate for all groups of employees  · Improves communications and teamwork among employees  · Increases employee awareness of "the big picture"  · Improves job satisfaction and employee relations  · Increases employee participation through involvement in the system Gain sharing pay programs have the following disadvantages:  · Time consuming to design, implement and administer  · Requires employee orientation, education and training  · Accurate and timely production and cost data must be available  · If not already in place, gain sharing requires a shift to participative management and employee involvement Once you decide to add a gain sharing plan to your company you must pick the type of plan you wish to implement into your company. The following is a description of different types of plans a company could implement. A Value Added Plan is the cost of materials and services is subtracted from sales to determine a value added figure. Employee costs are then compared to this figure to arrive at a value added index. This index is compared to value added for future periods to determine if there has been an improvement in productivity. To the extent that employee costs are less than would be the case by applying a value added index to a value added, there is a productivity gain to be shared.

Demonic Possession :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Demonic Possession Belief in the possibility of demonic possession has waned since the advent of sophisticated medical knowledge. What had previously been considered to be examples of control of an individual by a spirit or devil are now commonly accepted as numerous forms of mental illness, easily explained by nervous system activity. If all types of behavior (including emotional states and cognitive states) are produced and mediated solely by the brain, there leaves no potential for such a phenomenon as demonic possession to exist and such cases would clearly be instances of various illnesses. However, neuroscience has not yet been able to explain all of the characteristics common to purported cases of demonic possession ((1). A possessed individual is typically characterized by having strange physical ailments or disfigurements; verbal outbursts, mostly obscene or sacrilegious in nature; violent behavior and vulgar behavior; bodily spasms and contortions; ability to speak languages never before studied; self-mutilation; "superhuman" abilities such as psychic abilities, abnormal strength, or an ability to perform behaviors out of the realm of human possibility such as levitation; cessation of normal bodily functions for periods of time, including breathing and heart beat; and a pronounced revulsion to symbols, places, people, objects, and ceremonies having any religious context. Other phenomena associated with the presence of a demon include an acrid stench; marked decrease in the temperature of the room which a possessed individual occupies; writing appearing out of nowhere; sounds and voices arising from nowhere; and objects moving on their own and destruction of objects in the room, without anyone havin g laid a hand upon them ((2), (3). Despite the striking quality of this description, the expansion of the fields of medicine and psychology has led to diagnoses other than demonic possession for individuals who present circumstances similar to those mentioned above. These sorts of cases are now readily explained in terms of abnormal functioning in the brain and nervous system. There are various disorders which may mimic demonic possession; these include schizophrenia (and other periods of psychosis), dissociative identity disorder, and Tourette syndrome ((4). Schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, affective flattening or inappropriate emotional responses, avolition, and alogia. General psychotic episodes, such as might accompany mood disorders, can also closely simulate a state of demonic possession by hallucinations or delusions. The delusions can be ones of thought insertion, thought broadcasting, delusions of guilt, delusions of grandeur, such as being God (or a demon), or delusions that God (or a demon) is speaking to the person and giving commands for a special mission (5).

Facilitate the Counselling Process Essay

DECLARATION I declare that this assessment is my own work, based on my own personal research/study . I also declare that this assessment, nor parts of it, has not been previously submitted for any other unit/module or course, and that I have not copied in part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of another student and/or persons. I have read the ACAP Student Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct Policy and understand its implications. I also declare, if this is a practical skills assessment, that a Client/Interviewee Consent Form has been read and signed by both parties, and where applicable parental consent has been obtained. Part 1. 1. Briefly describe how you could support Vara to work with her uncertainty and difficulties about making the right choices for her future. As Vara’s counsellor I think I could support Vara by helping her find a bit more clarity in her life. She seems to be at a point in her life when she wants to implement some changes, but she is still somewhat unsure of what she wants. I would start with open and respectful questions, giving Vara an opportunity to think further afield than her current situation. As Vara is still somewhat unsure of her goals, I would use a broad approach to explore some of Vara’s resistances and past experiences. So that she could identify what her strengths are, and the resources that she may have available to her. Once Vara has identified what some of her goals may be, I could use the SMART technique with Vara. I believe that this technique would be beneficial to Vara’s counselling, as she could then identify if the goals she has chosen are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. 2. Briefly describe three interventions you could use to support Vara to gain clarity and understanding and make the appropriate changes in her life. Three interventions I could use to support Vara in gaining some understanding and clarity, to make the appropriate changes in her life are. Behavioural interventions, cognitive interventions, and interactional (systemic) interventions. I believe behavioural interventions would be beneficial for Vara. She has stated that over the years she has acted ‘the dutiful wife’ to placate her husband. Using a behavioural intervention can help Vara develop new behaviours in regards to her relationship with her husband Alec. She could role play new behaviours in counselling to gain some confidence. Cognitive interventions, deal more with the thoughts, beliefs and attitudes that Vara has towards herself and her husband Alec. Using this intervention can help Vara think differently about her current situation. Vara has stated that she is ‘fed up and wants to end the marriage’ but she is afraid to voice this to her husband, as she is worried about what his reaction may be. Vara is also experiencing feelings of anxiety in regards to how she will cope on her own. In counselling I think it would be helpful for Vara to identify her strengths, so that she can feel more confident.  Interactional (systemic) interventions deal with relationship patterns with other people, tasks or situations. Using this intervention will help Vara identify that her relationship with Alec has formed a pattern. Her role in the relationship is to placate Alec and act ‘the dutiful wife’. While Alec’s role is to be in control, he is the ‘traditional’ male and expects Vara to tend to his every need. Vara could use role play in counselling to try a different pattern of behaviour. 3. Identify and briefly describe how you could help Vara identify and use her unknown strengths. I could help Vara identify her unknown strengths, buy asking open respectful questions. During Vara’s counselling I could help her identify her past achievements. Before she married Alec and came to Australia, she worked as a teacher. This type of profession is suited to someone who has strength of character. Vara has also gone out and found herself a part time job, and is saving her money, so she is more than capable of supporting herself financially. Vara has raised three children who all seem to be doing well in their lives. Vara has the support of her two close friends, Julie and Maria. I would ask Vara to identify, when in her past she has overcome adversity, what were some of the strategies she used, that were successful in making changes. 4. Briefly describe two micro-skills you could use to clarify Vara’s feelings about her situations. Two micro-skills I would use to help Vara clarify her feelings about her situation are Reflection of feelings and reflection of content and feelings. Reflection of feelings will ensure that Vara knows, I have understood how she is feeling about her situation and that I can empathise with her. This micro-skill is useful for helping Vara gain some clarity about her feelings. For example, when Vara describes how she is feeling about ending her marriage, I could say something like this, ‘you’re feeling fed up’. Another example would be when she talks about whether she should leave her husband is, ‘you’re feeling anxious’ and ‘you’re feeling conflicted’. Reflection of content and feelings is another micro-skill I would find useful for Vara. Reflection of content and feelings is different to reflection of feelings,  as it combines paraphrasing and reflection of feelings. Again the aim of this skill is for Vara to have some clarity concerning her feelings about her situation. For example when Vara describes how she is feeling about ending her marriage, I could say something like this, ‘you’re feeling fed up with your relationship’. When Vara talks about whether she should leave her husband, I could say, ‘you’re feeling anxious about whether you will manage on your own’ and ‘you’re feeling conflicted about ending the relationship with Alec as you still love him’. Part 2. 5. Explain how will you monitor and review Vara’s and your own perceptions of the counselling process to ensure it remains of value. In regards to Vara’s resistance to take any of the steps she had decided on in earlier sessions. I would ask some open questions to determine why Vara is resistant to taking the steps she decided on. I could ask her ‘what stopped you from taking these steps’. It is more than likely that the steps Vara decided on taking may have been too ambitious for her at this time. As Vara has only had six counselling sessions, she may need to take a step back, and explore her issues a bit more. I would try to help Vara recognise that she is in control of her life and ultimately she is the best judge of her readiness to change. In regards to monitoring myself during the counselling process, I would be having regular sessions with my supervisor. This will help me identify any blind spots I may have in the counselling sessions with Vara. If I felt stuck with Vara, having a supervisor will ensure that I have access to advice from an experienced counsellor. Supervision is essential for my own wellbeing and for Vara’s as well. 6. Briefly describe how you would respond to this disruption in the counselling process. I would respond to Vara’s concerns by saying something like this, ‘although you have been seeing me for six weeks now, I am hearing that you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty, in regards to the effectiveness of counselling. It might be worthwhile to explore the option of seeking some other type of help’. I would not want to pressure Vara into  continuing with counselling, if she really felt that it was not helping her. I would let her know that if she ever decides to resume counselling with me, I would be more than happy to see her again.

Machiavelli, Plato, Aristotle Essay

Machiavelli in his book â€Å"The Prince† seems to sap the very foundations of morality and stops at nothing short of capsizing the entire edifice of religion. His thoughts resonate with a loathing of true virtue and propagate corrupted politics. Actually, today the term Machiavellianism is used to refer to the use of deceitfulness to advance one’s goals or desires. In ‘The Prince†, Machiavelli breaks from the classical view of virtue as represented by his philosophic predecessors Plato and Aristotle. Whereas his predecessors held virtue in an ideal environment (idealism), Machiavelli defined virtue in a real environment where one is judged by his actions and not by the way his actions ought to be (realism). According to Plato and Aristotle good life only exists in total virtue where a person will be most happy. Plato places emphasis on the extinction of personal desires through love so that one can achieve happiness (Barker, 1959). Aristotle on the other hand believes that an ideal or perfect state brings out the virtue in all men. A person will gain happiness when all their actions and goals are virtuous. This implies that according to Aristotle happiness is a group goal and not an individual goal (Barker, 1959). Plato equally in bringing out the essence of love which must be shared among people suggests that happiness is a group goal. However, virtue in the Machiavellian sense seems to lack a moral tone. By virtue, he alludes to personal qualities needed for the achievement of one’s own ends (Machiavelli, 1998). His view seems to be directed at self interests and not a common goal. In pursuing personal interests, one is not careful about the means by which he does so and therefore is not bound by a moral imperative. In â€Å"The Prince† Machiavelli describes two types of principalities. One is hereditary and the other is acquired. He observes that though no virtue is required to attain a hereditary principality, it takes virtue to acquire and maintain a new principality. The basis of his views does not entirely contradict the classical view on morality, however, he goes on further to illustrate and make allowances for evil, and this is what brings about the contradiction. For example Machiavelli states, â€Å"When a new territory does not share the same language and culture as the prince’s original territory, the prince must have the wisdom and ability to assimilate the new territory† (Machiavelli, 1998). This view wholly concurs with Plato’s on the need for wisdom as a virtue. On ability however, Machiavelli alludes to the use of force or violent means which defies views on classical morality. In the same chapter, he goes on to say that a prince ought to protect his weaker neighbors and prevent the powerful ones from gaining more power. The virtue of courage here echoes the principle virtues as outlined by Plato, courage being one of them. However, Machiavelli encourages the prince not to hesitate in using force to enforce this (Machiavelli, 1998). This goes against the grain of conventional virtue as it encourages people in power to use whatever means, even ruthless, to preserve their power. Machiavelli suggests two ways by which a private citizen can become a prince, either by fortune or by ability. Among those who became princes through ability, Machiavelli cites Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Francesco Sforza among others. He gives the example of Borgia who inherited power and later lost it to dissuade princes from depending on fortune but rather to use their abilities to attain success. He makes it clear that virtue or ability is more related to statecraft and less related to morality. In undermining morality, he allows for the use of force to gain and preserve power. He says â€Å"A prince who comes to power by evil means is said to have neither fortune nor ability. Such a prince may gain power, but not glory† (Machiavelli, 1998). By â€Å"evil means,† he refers to the use cruelty in proper and improper ways. He explains that if cruelty is utilized to achieve a necessary goal, then it is proper. However, if it is used to achieve no purpose but to instill f ear into the citizens, it is improper. Consequently, the proper use of force according to Machiavelli is a virtue. This contradicts the virtue of moderation as outlined by Plato which puts restrictions on the use of extreme means such as the use of force to achieve goals. One can infer that Plato would advocate for diplomacy rather than force if a prince aimed at achieving allegiance from his subjects. According to Plato, good life is only attained through perfect love which comes about by a submersion of personal desire. According to Machiavelli, â€Å"a prince does not have to be loved by the people, though still he must not be hated† (Machiavelli, 1998). He goes further to explain that history has revealed that men who were not loved but feared were more effective leaders. A ruler who brings mayhem to his state because of his imprudent kindness should not be considered a good leader. For Machiavelli, the virtue a prince should pursue is â€Å"fear from his subjects and not love (Machiavelli, 1998). Such a prince, he explains, will be able to sustain the morale of his subjects, which takes both wisdom and courage. Therefore according to Machiavelli the prince is better of being feared than loved which contradicts the earlier views of Plato, who placed a great emphasis on the pursuit of love as a major virtue. In chapter eighteen of â€Å"The Prince† Machiavelli argues that total honesty is only practical in an ideal world. However, since the world is characterized by dishonest men, a prince cannot be expected to keep all his pledges. Therefore he should endeavor to use deception to his benefit. Machiavelli uses the analogy of the fox and the lion to encourage the prince to be both cunning and courageous. He explains that whereas â€Å"the fox can recognize snares but cannot drive away wolves, the lion can drive away wolves but cannot recognize snares† (Machiavelli, 1998).In this he means that a prince does not need to possess good qualities but should just appear to possess them, since subjects are only interested in outward appearances if they lead to a favorable end. It is from this view that the term ‘Machiavellianism† has been coined to in today’s usage to mean the use of cunningness to achieve undue advantage over one’s subjects. In comparison to the classical view of virtue, Machiavelli’s view lacks a moral sense. Machiavelli’s work on the prince has received wide criticism from a large front including the Catholic Church. As the devil’s advocate, he seems to break away from the conventional virtues of his predecessors Plato and Aristotle openly deriding the church and its fundamentals. Whereas Plato and Aristotle relate living virtuously to godliness, Machiavelli’s virtue involves lying and subordinating atrocious means to practical ends. Realism, which Machiavelli subscribed to, has been defined as a cynical view to politics devoted to furthering personal interests with no regard to moral or religious structures (Schaub, 1998). This view implies that a prince can be at odds with the moral virtue, a contradiction to the classical concept of virtue postulated by both Plato and Aristotle. At a glance of Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince†, we largely infer that he goes all out to ill advice the prince against the classical virtues of his predecessors. He seems to herald the triumph of evil over good. However, taking a critical look at the work, one cannot help but notice gaps and disjunctions in the text. For example the characters he picks to illustrate his case. In showing the proper and effective use of cruelty in chapter seventeen, he uses Hannibal and compares him to Scipio as compassionate and therefore ineffective. This is violently at odds with the truth and is ironic at the same time because Scipio accused of compassion defeats Hannibal at the battle of Zama (Machiavelli, 1998). Also, Machiavelli writes in Italian and not Latin, the language of the scholars of whom the princes are. This leaves the question as to who exactly was his target audience. Was he really advising the princes who already knew how to be cruel or was it the subjects, and if the subjects then for what purpose. Therefore, just as much as we have illustrated how Machiavelli strays from the classical virtue, it rests upon the attentive reader to ingest and make a personal judgment as to what Machiavelli really intended to put across.