The politics of globalization of Brazil Essay Example for Free

The politics of globalization of Brazil Essay The world, which started in the form of tribes exchanging barters as trade, entered a modern scenario, and barter soon turned into exchange of gold and then eventually currency. With the period of time, the humble trade transformed into international deals, and which eventually started the age of globalization. The era of globalization brought the world very close, and the trade that seemed much distanced because of the detachment of continents, started commencing on daily basis, and every place in the world has now become reachable in hours. â€Å"Brazil†, one of the highlight of Latin America, has it share of chaos and confusion, but eventually with the course of time, it has dwindled itself in the colors of globalization. Brazil has had a very troublesome past, and after the colonial monarchy, the army crept in leading to numerous coups, which resulted in mass destructions and stumping of the economy. It has been only three decades since there has been proper regime that has been ruling the country, and has been providing a platform for business and trade to prosper in the nation. Brazil with due course of time has joined the trillion dollar economy, and is shaping up to become of the leading economies of the world. With its due course of time, Brazil silently has crept in the list of large economies, and currently it stands as the eight largest economy of the world. Brazil since the early 90’s started accelerating its prospects by splurging into the world economy and opening its huge market to the world. Brazil’s sudden significance to the world market made it entry into the G-20 and also into organizations like ‘Mercosur’ Globalization is just not one huge international trade fair anymore, and it has a lot of politics involved. The level of politics in globalization has different facets and different indicators, and each country with the amount of its strengths and weakness are weighed into the politics of globalization. The facets of politics of globalizations is best explained, when it is revealed that it is nothing much than anger of people in the underdeveloped countries of the world, of what they are seeing as the unfair distribution of wealth, education and resources and the increase in the gaps of the people falling into categories of haves and have-nots (Gail S. Schoettler, P. 1). The politics of globalization of any nation can be best understood on the basis of import prohibitions imposed by that particular nation. In the case of Brazil, it has a serious issue with automobile being imported, as it wants to protect its huge automobile market, which is very evident from the fact that in the year 2005 Brazil manufactured more than 1. 65 million cars only for its domestic consumption (Elisangela Cordeiro). Brazil doesn’t want cars to be imported in the country as it can seriously damage its very own market, posing a threat to its own economy, as automobile is one of the biggest manufacturing sectors in the country of Brazil, and if the ban is lifted for importing automobiles from other nations, then it can have several negative impacts on the Brazilian economy as well as Brazilian labor force. On the other hand Brazil maintains kind of a monopoly, when it comes to its exports, as Brazil is supposed to be the leading exporter of coffee, sugar, beef and orange juice. Brazil’s best example of playing the politics of globalization game, is by understanding the fact, that when the whole world, is trying to impose bans on the production giant China over the unsafe toys filled with lead content, which even includes the World Trade Organization, Brazil has no issue with the unsafe toy and Brazil’s ambassador to China has even made comments openly like â€Å" It’s necessary to avoid simplistic solutions, like championing protectionism, which is an ineffective tool in a globalize world† (Luis Augusto de Castro Neves, Reuters). The reason for this kind of attitude towards China is because Brazil has a huge market in the form of China for its iron ore and its soybeans production. This double standard of not only Brazil but almost all nations in the world of imposing prohibitions for imports, but want free trade scenarios for exports, show the depth of politics of globalization. Brazil on a global scene is moving towards huge figures in terms of trade, and it was estimated in the year 2005 that within a span of four years, Brazil had managed to double its exports from US$58 billion in 2001 to a whopping US$118 billion and within the same estimated period, Brazil has managed to curb its import levies and has managed to control imports from the rest of the world, in their booming economy, and have been able to manage import increase by only 30%, from US$56 billion to US$74 billion. Brazil has been taking the wrath of the United States of America in terms of its trade policies and import prohibitions, but again the politics of globalization can be seen from the fact that how much ever the tiff between these two countries over free trade, America tops the list in both segments of trade, i. e. import as well as export from Brazil. The country supposedly is very actively involved in its productions and manufacturing strengths, especially of automobiles, aircrafts, textiles and footwear. Basically the level of globalization is very different of that of an idealist, and now each country is only trying to protect its interests and actually has no regards for the impact of it callous attitude towards other countries. Brazil fundamentally thriving on its agricultural economy has to suffer because of the conflicts over farm subsidies and agricultural tariffs from the United States of America and other European countries. Brazil considers itself to be one of the developing countries and tries to connect to other developing nations on the basis of monopoly of the developed nations, be it on the basis of agricultural tariffs or import prohibitions. Brazil how much ever shows its dissent for the policies of the west, it tries to rally itself for trade to all the developed nation, and there is a huge hypocrisy, when it comes to trade, as both Brazil and the developed countries, how much ever disagree with each other’s policies, but both will be on one list of top imports and exports. Brazil though being part of the G-20 and Mercosur, was never actively involved, but with periodic trading coordination, Brazil has started taking active part in these institutions as of now, and it was seen that brazil has been participating in injecting a fresh lease and leading the confront from Mercosur on the lines of boosting trade, creating jobs and reducing poverty in Latin America. Brazil with all its highs and lows, is making a special place in this globalize world, though how much ever unpredictable is the entire trading scenario, Brazil is set to carve a niche in midst of all the politics, that the world has to offer in international trade. Work Cited: 1) Gail S. Schoettler, â€Å"Politics of Globalization†, November 2002, University of Colorado at Institute for International Business and Global Executive Forum Center for International Business Education Research, cudenver. edu/International/ /Documents/Politics_of_globalization. pdf 2) Elisangela Cordeiro, â€Å"Despite Crisis, Brazils Auto Industry Should Grow 5% This Year†, Thursday, 30 June 2005, http://www. brazzilmag. com/content/view/3004/54/ 3) â€Å"Brazil ambassador opposes quotas on China imports†, April 19th 2005, Reuters, http://asia. news. yahoo. com/070418/3/30itr. html 4) â€Å"Trade Policies†, U. S library of congress, http://countrystudies. us/brazil/80. htm

A Study And Report On Social Work

A Study And Report On Social Work Social work has always been considered as a difficult and complex occupation, with a complicated and perplexing framework. This is due to its different settings accompanying different tasks. An inevitable part of social work is its values and ethics and the questions and debates that surround its structure. Although values can be considered as personal and individualistic, it is also possible for a group with the same beliefs to share the same values, such as social work. It is important to acknowledge that values continually shape our actions and it is of the opinion of Ronnby (1992) â€Å"that someone becomes a social worker because they have the same ethics and values and attach them to the position†. Biestek developed traditional values in the late 50s. (Biestek, 1961). His principles outlined the basics of traditional social work and were constructed of a seven-point scheme. The principles consisted of 1. Individualism.2. Purposeful expression of feelings. 3. Controlled emotional involvement. 4. Acceptance. 5. Non-judgmental attitude 6. User self-determination.7. Confidentiality, Many of Biestek beliefs were very traditional and were criticised for their diversity in their interpretation. Controversies relating to different principles caused many problematic conclusions e.g. individualisation and confidentiality. Individualisation could not be possible in the fast moving modern world, people lose their identity and individualisation is not respected. Confidentiality has its limitations to be enforced e.g. If a user divulges information where someone will be harmed, the social workers duty is to share it as a right to other individuals. It was clear these key issues had to be developed and advanced to help social workers. It was considered that there must be guidance on values and ethics for social workers, as they play a major part in their work Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work was a significant part in the development in education for social workers. It is also acknowledge by (CCETSW, 1998) that it is a necessary part as the title suggest, that social workers must gain an understanding of ethical awareness as part of the professional practice. Skill development gave social workers a range of skills that are needed to ensure that social work is a high quality profession. The CCETSW set out details of a number of competencies that they should be able to cover in their work. It is considered that there are two main ideologies within social work, social justice and personal caring. These were considered to be benefit for social workers as they exercised anti-oppressive practice. They produced a list that social workers had to identify with. This stated that a social worker: . Should be committed to: Respect and value of individuals Promote peoples rights to choice privacy protection and confidentiality, while looking at the rights and demands The right of individuals to make choices Strengths and skill embodied local communities Right of protection for those at risk Social workers should be able to do: Develop awareness of inter-relationship of the process of structural oppression, race, class and gender Understand and counter act the impact of discrimination from poverty, age, disability and sectarianism Demonstrate an awareness of individual and institutional racism Understand gender issues and demonstrate anti-sexism in social work practice Promote policies and practices which are non- discriminatory and anti- oppressive Demonstrating these skills in learning, acknowledge that they had competence in practice. The Central Council for Education in Social Work stated that ‘practice must be founded on, informed by and capable of being judged against a clear value base (CCETSW, 1995). This knowledge base was very important, but it did not give ready-made answers as to how social workers should continue in any particular situation. However it gives lots of insight and clues about situations that social workers may face, it also enabled them to have an appropriate response for any particular predicament. Never the less it is still down to the individual social worker to acquire and expand their knowledge base for practising in social work. The range of skills that can develop from learning will be responsible for an established and high quality in the service that are offered to service users. There are professional ethical standards that are relevant to social workers in practice. These allowed social workers to work at a professional standard and to behave professionally. These standards concern ethical responsibilities to clients, colleagues, social work profession and responsibilities to the broader society. Some of the standards are guidelines for professional conduct, such as the code of ethics for social workers. For social work the code of ethics plays a major role in its training, policy making and its professional literature. These guidelines provide a framework for making sense of the practice in social work. The code of ethics for social workers (BASW 1996) was put in place in 1975 to ensure that social workers had a set of guidelines for professional activities. The primary objective of the Code of Ethics is to make these pragmatic principles clear for the protection of clients and other members of society. Its principal objectives are to ensure that the professional social workers were recognised as a non-bias worker. The code covered two main areas, including principles and practice, The statement of principles covers social workers understanding and identifying of the values and dignity for every human being, irrespective of origin, race, status, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or religious belief. Social workers are expected to prevent and eliminate exploitation and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, political belief, religion, or mental or physical disability. Millerson (1964) argued that the code of ethics could become irrelevant, as it was difficult to use, as it could not be dominated by one specific area within social work. Millerson noted that there were many areas of specialist including child protection, community care, mental health and family therapy, that it becomes more difficult use the code as a principal source of moral guidance. Ethical awareness is a necessary part of the professional practice of any social worker. His or her ability to act ethically is an essential aspect of the quality of the service offered to clients. It has been thought that the code of ethics was set in place to allow social work to be recognised as a professional occupation. Social workers were expected to Identify and interpret the basis and nature of individual, group, community and social problems. Illustrating their ability to recognise professional and personal limitations, and refrain from any behaviour that may damage the profession. The uncertainty of day to day practice brings with it many ethical dilemmas, which are a challenge for many social workers. The complexities of ethical dilemmas arise when a social worker has two or more possible undesirable conclusions that go against their own moral principals, these dilemmas cause a battle because they have to make a choice and they dont know which one is right. Professional service shall assist clients to take responsibility for personal actions and help all clients with equal willingness. Social work is a decision making occupation that can lead to many problems, the feeling of guilt and blame for the outcome of many decisions that they have been involved in. This may cause much stress and strain for social workers in having to make major decisions and choices, but also to take responsibility for any outcomes that may go wrong. This essay has described the value base of social work in its development and education, also looking at its effect and consequences. Learning base work can give possible solution as to how social workers should proceed in a situation; it can also give lots of insights into fields that they have no experience in. The codes of ethics standards were explained and considered it has been argued of its effect and purpose, its usefulness and its guidance for the profession of social workers. How we deal with them will always be a challenging and stimulating process for all social workers. There are many instances in professional social work where simple answers are not available to resolve complex ethical issues. A case study has been discussed and analysed, showing anti-oppressive practice. It is shown that power and oppression of all kinds must be regulated and resisted, we must acknowledge that power and oppression is always present in individuals and within society. In conclusion social work can be a challenging subject and one that will actively push the boundaries of all social workers on a personal level and professional level. It is agreed within social work that ethics, morals and values are all an inescapable part of professional practice and ‘Ethical awareness is a necessary part of practice of any social work (IFSW, 1994). Values and ethics are not simply reasonable matters that we can unravel through logical arguments; they are a combination of thoughts and feelings closely linked to action. There must be distinctions on how to apply social work values and ethics into their professional work, without causing personal conflict. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Moreover, the Social work values emphasises that the social workers should â€Å"identifies and question their own values and prejudices, and their implication of practice;†¦ and they should â€Å"Respect and value uniqueness and adversity†¦.and identify (discrimination), analyse and take action to counter discrimination, racism, disadvantage, inequality and injustice using strategies appropriate to role and context† (CCETSW, paper 30 referred in UB. 2002: 6). Therefore, the social work value gave people a direct power to clients by letting them choosing and decide for themselves and social worker are advised to â€Å"promote opportunities for people to use their own strengths to make decisions for themselves (CCETSW, paper 30 cited in UB. 2002: 4). In other words, social work has widened the concept of ‘freedom and ‘toleration by being considerate for all members of the community, which is now-a-days known as ‘anti-discrimination, freedom of choice and ‘equality. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// There are also issues regarding to social workers practice e.g. practicing in ‘traditional way due to personal prejudices, which has oppressed the clients and has stigmatized the social work itself. Thompson (1997: 11) emphasise that the â€Å"†¦social work practice which does not take account of oppression and discrimination can not be seen as ‘good practice†¦.†. The ‘bad practice is portrayed through the media but the good practice is not awarded and neither praised by media. The social work constantly reviews the policies to encounter prejudices and emphasises high on anti-discriminatory practice. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The concise oxford English dictionary defines â€Å"values† as â€Å"principles or standards of behaviour†. Personal values can very dependent on our social, cultural and religious background. Although being inherent these values can change as we develop and mature and become less dependent on the values that are important to our parents, family and peers. David Howe (1999) advises that â€Å"values are important because they help to guide action† (Study Unit 1, p.18) he also suggests â€Å"values spell debate and trouble† (Study Unit 1, P.18), values can cause conflict and tensions which need to be reflected upon. I come from a large family and lived on a council housing estate where family and neighbours â€Å"looked out† for one another. I have six brothers and one sister and, although we were disciplined, our parents always showed their love for us. Within my immediate and extended family there was a feeling of security in that we all knew we ha d people who cared for us and who would always be there for us no matter what. It was inherent in us to care for each other and I perhaps made the assumption that most families had the same values as ours. I think I considered people who did not have these values to be untrustworthy, unreliable and uncaring and at that time I did not realise that this was a preconceived opinion based on no actual experience. It was not until I started to work in residential childcare that I began to question my prejudices. I realised that not everybody was brought up with the same values as I had been and that my values and beliefs would change and grow through my experiences within my work. I worked with many children and young people from varied cultural, religious, racial and social backgrounds with a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. I saw how little some parents/carers valued their children and how badly they treated them. As parents/carers have such a big influence over a c hilds life this meant that the children themselves had very little self worth or value, with low self- esteem and feelings of social isolation. They found difficulty in forming relationships, having been subjected to various levels of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Through this experience I achieved a greater sympathy and understanding of how peoples life history can affect their future. People have individual life experiences and because of this their values and beliefs are very often different from our own. The speakers on tape one (K111 Side 1 Band I) state that we should â€Å"reflect on our own prejudices and not skip over them and we should be willing to accept others beliefs†. I have learned through experience that we cannot impose our own personal values and opinions on others; we must constantly re-evaluate our thoughts and actions. Ian Parr PI M5564134 K111 TMA02 Page 2 An experience with one of the young people in the Childrens Residential Unit where I worked illustrates how my values have been called into question and reflected upon. The young person had only had contact with his mother, who was white and had never met his father, who was black. His father had a long troubled history involving drug and alcohol abuse. When he was 9 years old, the young person chose to make contact with his father, against the wishes of his mother and siblings, who were born to a different father. They thought that contact would split the family even further and this put a lot of pressure on the young person. The father at first offered consistency but this was short lived and there were problems with his lack of basic parenting skills. To alleviate these problems it was necessary to build a working relationship with the father to improve the lack of support given to the young person. Whilst dealing with these problems it was important to work in a non-judgmental wa y as there were issues that whilst they may have seemed adequate to some, I did not totally agree with. This taught me that it was important to allow the young people choices, and to respect those choices, and to allow them to take control of their lives. Empowering a young person will give them â€Å"more control over their lives, to have a greater voice in institutions, service and situations which affect them†(Bray Preston-Shoot, 1998:48 cited in set book Adams, Dominelli and Payne, p.38) There were also issues surrounding the fathers race. The mother and the siblings were all white and lived in a white environment and this caused some strain between the children. By using positive encouragement and working in an Anti-Oppressive (seeking fundamental change in power structures and exploitative relationships which maintain inequality and oppression)(Bray Preston-Shoot 1995 cited in Study Unit 1, Part A, p.77), Anti-Racist and Anti-Discriminatory (challenging unfairness or inequity)(Bray Preston-Shoot 1995 cited in Study Unit 1, Part A, p.77) way I managed to alleviate some of the problems. This made me reflect on how important a persons culture is to their identity and I have learned not to discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, culture, language, social status and life-style. In â€Å"identifying and questioning my own values and prejudices†(CCETSW 1996 p.18 Aids to Practice Cards) I am constantly re-evaluating my thoughts and actions through reflection. During my past experience I have also become aware that â€Å"our professional values may sometimes conflict with those of organizations for whom we work† (Aids to Practice Card, Valuing). I took care of two young brothers who, when they were placed in the residential care home where I worked, had serious attachment disorders, behavioural problems and mental health issues. My colleagues and I worked closely with them in conjunction with other relevant agencies, which included Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in order to enable them to gain trust and establish relationships with us. The children were thriving in our care and had stopped self-harming but, after two years of working with them, the funding local authority decided, because of lack of funding, to remove the boys from their placement and return them to a facility in their hometown. This was done against their wishes and against the advice of the mental health team. Ian Parr PI M5564134 K111 TMA02 Page 3 The childrens right to choice was disregarded. As social workers are challenged to be advocates for those who are unable to advocate for themselves and â€Å"all the social workers efforts should be directed towards removing the obstacles which enable the service user to take control of their own life†(Aids to Practice card Advocacy Empowerment) the decision was contrary to my personal and professional values and a difficult one to accept. This experience made me reflect that there will be times during my practice when my values will conflict with others but difficult decisions will always have to be made. I hope I can learn from past mistakes within the system and continue to practice within my professional code as described in the course reader, â€Å"will respect their clients as individuals and will seek to ensure that their dignity, rights and responsibility shall be safeguarded† (BASW 1986 Set Book Adams, Dominelli, Payne, p.34) Describe your current understanding of professional social work values and how you have arrived at this understanding. Outline those issues which you find problematic and want to work on during your present placement. Professional social work values as listed in the course material (K111 stage 1 p.20) are part of the core competencies. The K111 aids to practice card (valuing) defines these as â€Å"having a clear set of values which actively informs your social work practice, particularly concerning promoting the intrinsic ‘worth or ‘value of another human being†. These are values that need to be inherent within any professional and indeed hopefully within each worker on a professional and a private basis. My own understanding of professional social work values has changed and evolved over time through my own past experiences. I feel that, fundamentally, respect for other people is the most important value as ultimately you should treat people the way that you would wish to be treated yourself â€Å"There is a long tradition in social work that emphasises the importance of ‘respect for people'(Study Unit 1, Part A, P.76). Bisteck, 1961 (as cited in K111 study unit 1 p.76) listed â€Å"seven principles of casework which included acceptance, self-determination, confidentiality, individualisation and a non-judgemental attitude. These are grouped together under the umbrella of ‘respect for persons†. I feel that I have learned to build on my respect for others through past contact with service users, especially in residential care where the majority of children and young people had little or no self-respect. Valuing something means that we know its worth. â€Å"This is essential in social work precisely because many service users are seen as ‘undeserving by society, or as worthless. Indeed, some service users have this view of themselves†(Aids to Practice Card, Valuing). Treating them as individuals, each with their own identity, and not as part of a homogenous group, helped me to understand how important self-identity, self-awareness and self-worth is. Ian Parr PI M5564134 K111 TMA02 Page 4 I have been able to reflect on this and bring it into my practice. Although I did not necessarily agree with or approve of the values and behaviours of the families of some of the young people it was imperative that I was guided by the ‘values of social work (CCETSW 1996 p.18, Aids to Practice Card, The Values of Social Work) and that I communicated a non-judgmental attitude toward them. Acceptance of others and a belief in the worth and dignity of every human being are values that are conveyed through non-judgmental behaviour. To be able to respect another persons privacy and safeguard confidentiality affirms that persons worth and dignity. I presently work with children from areas that are classed as â€Å"disadvantaged†; these areas have a high transient population from all over the country, including the travelling community. This makes for a wide range of cultures, religions, social status, ethnic minorities and to treat people as individuals and â€Å"respect and value uniqueness and diversity†(Aids to Practice Card, The Values of Social Work) is essential when practising in such diverse social settings. The travellers who I have worked with have views which are very different to my own. They believe that girls do not need to be educated at all and that boys only need formal education until the age of ten. Because this goes against my personal values I sometimes find it difficult to promote peoples right to choice in such situations but I do recognise the need to â€Å"work with individuals and families from backgrounds and cultures of which I may have little direct experience in a way which is sensitive to this diversity† (Study Unit 1, Part A p.19). I try to recognise that changes must come from within the service user and that we cannot impose our standards and values on them. However, I am always conscious of the need to be aware of any child protection issues and the need to â€Å"assist people to increase control of and i mprove the quality of their lives, while recognising that control of behaviour will be required at times in order to protect children and adults from harm†(Study Unit 1, Part A, P.20) I am constantly learning about myself and other people and re-examining my own attitudes and prejudices. The K111 Aids to Practice card Valuing, informs us that â€Å"the assumption is that the values which inform training will come to influence practice† and perhaps more importantly, â€Å"having a set of principles to apply to the practice of ‘valuing the existence and contribution of another human being, of respecting them and upholding their rights and responsibilities, is seen as essential to accountable social work†. The values that are central to social care should affect all aspects of my working practice. My current understanding is that the profession of social work centres on the improvement of quality of life for people and the enhancement of human potential for full, productive participation in society. If we let our own personal values be guided by the â€Å"values of social work†(Aids to Practice Cards, The Values of Social Work) then we woul d allow everyone that we come into contact with to try and develop their full potential whilst also giving them the choice of and responsibility over their own actions. Ian Parr PI M5564134 K111 TMA02 Page 5 References: Adams. R, Dominelli. L, Payne.M, 2nd Edition Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates, Palgrave K111 Social Work Practice Learning, Stage 1, 2002, Aid to Practice Cards, The Open University, Milton Keynes K111 Social Work Practice Learning, Stage 1, 2002, The Open University, Milton Keynes. K111 Social Work Practice Learning, Stage 1, 2002, Tape 1, Bands E-I Pearsall. J, The Concise Oxford English Dictionary (2002), 10th Edition, University Press /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Day 2: Users expectations of social workers The main points that I felt were reiterated during the sessions led by the service users were; an expectation that the partnership with their social worker would possess the positive qualities of any good relationship. The focus was on an open and equal attitude, mutual trust and respect. Empowerment was crucial to the service user as it addresses their feelings of impotence within society; this can be achieved by being informative e.g. sign posting to other agencies for support and empowerment and assisting with direct payments so that service users can make their own decisions regarding their care. I learned that it was the positive qualities of any good relationship that were most appreciated such as a personal and friendly approach; practical offers of practical help i.e. useful phone numbers and keeping to appointment times and agreed timescales and these made the difference between a good working partnership and a poor one. One service user felt that, because she presented as v ery articulate and independent, she had not been offered assistance with filling in forms for direct payments, which highlighted to me that a positive assumption can lead to needs not being met. (193) Day 3: Carers expectations of social workers One of the key things that I learned from the meeting with carers and my own experience within my family was the emotional rollercoaster of the 24hour commitment involved. One of the case studies we looked at during the module highlighted how the focus of support is mainly directed at the service user and the needs of the carer are often overlooked. One point that stood out from one of the lectures was how personality has some influence on what care is appropriate for that person. The example given was a service user whose mental health problems sometimes conflicted with the delivery of care for his physical health problems adding extra stress for the partner and carer. As a family carer myself I identified with how good sign posting from the social worker can assist with the frustrating process of trying to gather knowledge of how and where help can be accessed. I also identified with other carers experiences of the need for the professionals involved with our family members care to respect our family members individuals needs e.g. her religion and her food preferences to maintain dignity. Maintaining good interprofessional relationships was highlighted, to maintain cohesion and continuity of care and to be prepared to advocate on behalf of the carer and service user. (217) Day 4: Cultural competence Cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and economic differences impact on how individuals and groups access and use health, education, and social services. They can also present barriers to working in partnership in health care interventions particularly when practitioners stereotype, misinterpret, make faulty assumptions, or mishandle with insensitivity their encounters with individuals and groups viewed as different in terms of their backgrounds and experiences. Adopting an anti-oppressive approach by admitting and reflecting on personal biases, stereotypes, and prejudices is the starting point of developing cultural competence, the next stage is to be sensitive to cultural norms, attitudes, and beliefs; in fact valuing the diversity of cultural difference. Other important ways in which you may become more culturally competent and avoid potential pitfalls would be in learning verbal and nonverbal cues of other cultures, becoming more comfortable in cross-cultural situations by assessing wha t works and what does not. By assessing how the beliefs and behaviours of the cultural group affect the service user, their interaction with services offered, learning to negotiate between the persons beliefs and practices and the culture of your profession, cultural competence can be achieved. I am valuing the opportunities this course is affording me in developing my cultural awareness by learning from and with people from a variety of different cultural and social backgrounds. (214) Day 5: Social workers use of power and authority My concerns about using professional authority are about finding myself in situations that require careful judgement due to the consequences for both service user and myself because of my own actions or non-actions. I can ensure that I acquire up-to-date knowledge of the values and principles of the British Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics for Social Work and work by them at all times. Other sources of help in verifying that I was not using the powers and authority invested in me appropriately would be talking to line managers, referring to the General Social Care Council codes of practice and referring to the National Occupational Standards for Social Work. Other ways of seeking assistance would be to discuss dilemmas and reflect upon similar case studies weighing up the consequences of certain courses of action. Seeking help from other professionals and agencies may give a fresh perspective, however, it is a case of balancing personal and professional judgement in the c ontext of codes and guidelines of the profession and treading the thin line between safe holding and violation. (178) PART 2 The personal impact of the learning that took place on the topic of cultural competence was that it gave me greater understanding of how everybody differed in their own individual perceptions of their culture, background and religion. This realisation has increased my self-awareness of my own cultural identity and how that has shaped my own values and opinions. I am aware that in society we often group people according to their cultural background, based on appearance or religion, when what real

Musculosketal Systems and Physiology of Exercise

Musculosketal Systems and Physiology of Exercise The growth of the skeleton determines the growth and proportion of the body, the skeleton begins to form 6 weeks after fertilisation, bone growth goes through rapid growth through adolescents however genrally the skeleton does not stop growing up to the age of 25. Ossification is the formation of bone. The process of calcification – the deposition of calcium salts-occurs during ossification, but it can also occur in other tissues. When calcification occurs in tissues other than bone, the result is a calcified tissue (calcified cartilage) that does not resemble bone. Two major forms of ossification exist: endochondral and intramembranous. In endochondral ossification, bone replaces existing cartilage. In intramembranous ossification, bone develops directly from mesenchyme or fibrous connective tissue. (fundamentals of A and P) Word count 119 The human skeleton consists of 206 bone. When together the skeletal system provides the framework which all other tissues and organs attach giving the body shape. The skeletal system is divided into two parts the axial which is made up of the spine, skull, ribs and sternum. The appendicularskeleton which is made up of the pelvis, arm and leg bones. The skeleton has 5 main functions. Shape- The shape of the bone structure changes as the body grows. The skeletal system determines the height and width of a person, body shape is heredity. The three main body shapes are ectomorphs (tall and thin), mesomorphs (short and muscular), endomorphs (apple shape) Support- the skeleton provides support to the body and keeps the internal organs in place. The vertebral column allows someone to stand erect. The pelvis and leg bones are strong enough to carry the weight of the whole body. Movement- The bones are held together by ligaments. Tendons attach the muscles to the bones. Combined the muscular and skeletal system carry out movement, when muscles contract bones move. Protection- The skeleton protects vital organs from damage. The skull houses the brain, while the vertebral column protects the spinal cord which controls all bodily functions through communication with the brain. The thorax and sternum protect the heart and lungs. (livestrong.com) Words 280 The Pivot joint- In a pivot joint, the rounded or pointed surface of one bone articulates with a ring formed partly by another bone and partly by a ligament. A pivot joint is monoaxial because it allows rotation around its own longitudinal axis only. Ball and socket- Consists of a bonelike surface of one bone fitting into a cuplike depression of another bone. Examples of functional ball and socket are the shoulders. Hinge Joint- The convex surface of one bone fits into the concave surface of another bone. Hinge joints are in the knee, elbow, ankle and interphalangeal joints. Ellipsoid Joint- The convex oval-shaped projection of one bone fits into the oval shaped depression of another bone. Examples are the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints. Saddle Joint- The articular surface of one bone is saddle shaped and the articular surface of the other bone fits into the saddle as a rider would sit. The most common saddle joint is the trapezius Gliding Joint- The articulating surfaces of bones in a planar joint are flat or slightly curved. Some examples are the intertarsal joints between tarsal bones at the ankle joints. Sternocostal joints sternum ends of the costal cartilages at the tips of the second through seventh pairs of ribs. Gliding joints primarly permit side to side and back to back movements. (words 220) The bones at a synovial joint are covered by articular cartilage, which is typically hyaline cartilage and occasionally fibrocartilage. The cartilage covers the surface of the bones with a smooth surface but does not bind them together. Articular cartilage reduces friction between bones in the joint during movement and helps to absorb shock. Articular capsule- A sleeve like capsule l surrounds a synovial joint, encloses the synovial cavity, and unites the articulating bones. This is composed of two layers, an outer fibrous capsule and an inner synovial membrane. The FC, usually consists of dense, irregular connective tissue that attaches to the periosteal of the articulating bones. The flexibility of the FC permits considerable movement at a joints while tensile strength helps prevent bones from dislocating. The fibres of some FC’s are arranged in parrelel bundles that adapted for resisting strains (ligaments). The mechanical structure of ligaments helps to hold bones together in a SJ. The SM, is composed of areolar connective tissue. Synovail Fluid- The SM secretes SF, which forms a thin film over the surfaces within the articular capsule. This clear/yellow fluid consists of hydrochloric acid and interstitial fluid filtered from blood plasma. The functions of this fluid are reducing friction by lubricating the joint and supplying nutrients to and removing metabolic wastes within articular cartilage. (Grabowski and tortora 2003) (220 words) TAQ 2 Three layers of connective tissue are part of each muscle; epimysium, perimysium and endomysium. The entire muscle is surrounded by epimysium a dense layer of collagen fibres. The epimysium separates the muscle from surrounding tissues and organs. It is connected to the deep fascia, a dense connective tissue layer. The connective tissue fibres of the perimysium divide the skeletal muscle into a series of compartments, each containing a bundle of fibres called a fascicle. Possessing collagen and elastic fibres, the perimysium contains blood vessels and nerves that maintain blood flow and innervate the muscle fibres within the fascicles. Each fascicle receives branches of these blood vessels and nerves. At each end of the muscle, the collagen fibres of the perimysium, perimysium and endomysium come together to form a bundle known as the tendon or aponeurosis. Tendons and aponeurosis usually attach skeletal muscles to bones. Where they contact the bone, the collagen fibres extend into t he bone matrix, providing a firm attachment. Any contraction of the muscle will exert a pull on the attached bone. Muscle contraction huge quantities of energy. An extensive vascular network delivers the necessary oxygen and nutrients and carries away metabolic wastes generated by active skeletal muscles. (Martini2006) words 200 The primary cell types of tendons are the tenoblasts and tenocytes. Tenocytes are mature tendon cells that are found throughout the tendon structure, connected to collagen fibres. Tenocytes are mature tendon cells that are found throughout the tendon structure. Tendon tissue is the tissue which connects muscles to bones. Tendons are the connective tissues that transmit the mechanical force of muscle contraction to the bones; the tendon is firmly connected to muscle fibres at one end and components of the one at its other end. The tendons are the strongest amongst the soft tissues. They require great strength is necessary for withstanding the stresses generating muscular contraction. A tendon is composed of dense fibrous connective tissue made up primary fibres are bunched together into subfasicles. Multiple secondary fibre bundles form tertiary fibre bundles, groups of which in turn form the tendon unit. Primary, secondary and tertiary bundles are surrounded by a sheath of connective tissue (endotenon) which facilitates the gliding of bundles against one another during movement. (Britannica.com) (words 160) Skeletal muscle adaptations to extend to underwater time despite selective vasoconstriction include elevated myoglobin concentration, high acid buffering ability and high aerobic and anaerobic enzyme activities. Because cardiac muscle is perfused during dives, it will rely less heavily on MB and anaerobic pathways to support contractile activity even before birth, it may be more physiolically mature at birth and develop faster than skeletal muscles. (jeb.biologists.org) The energy for muscle contraction comes from ATP, which in turn comes from the metabolism of glucose and fatty acids. But not much ATP is stored in the muscles that just a few twitches could quickly exhaust the supply. Creatine phosphate cannot be used directly to power muscle contraction but phosphate can transfer its phosphate group to ADP to form ATP: Creatine phosphate + ADP += creatine + ATP. Two types of skeletal muscle Red (Slow twitch) White (Fast twitch). Red has a rich blood supply, numerous mitochondria and myglobin, that forms a loose combination with oxygen and stores it in the muscle. Although it contracts rather slowly it is capable of long term activity without fatigue. White Muscle has a limited blood supply, few mitochondria and a low myoglobin content. It depends entirely on anaerobic breakdown of glycogen for its energy supply is capable of very strong rapid contractions for a short period of time. Because these fibres have fewer mitochondria and capillaries than red fibres, their ability to resynthesize ATP through oxidative phosphorylation is limited and they fatigue rapidly. Muscle fibre types also differ between the sexes. Women tend to have more red fibres and less white fibres so a female will have less strength than a male but has more endurance. Men with more white fibre depend more on storing carbohydrate for fuel, therefore they have less endurance. Smooth muscle has some differences to skeletal muscles they are a pplied slowly and smoothly- contractions of the digestive system can occasionally rapid. In smooth muscle Ca ions activate the myosin, through two intermediate enzymes before the ATP becomes involved. Although smooth muscle contraction is slow it is efficient it uses 10% of the ATP required by skeletal muscle to produce the same strength contraction. Cardiac muscle is unique to the heart. It is able to beat incessantly because it never maintains a contraction. It contracts and promptly relaxes and the relaxation period is twice as long as its contraction period. The relaxation periods and contraction periods are strictly programmed; the muscle rests, then it must contract before it can rest again. Cardiac muscle is unlike smooth or skeletal muscle, it cannot rely on anaerobic metabolic pathways to provide its energy; it must never fail to get all the oxygen it needs. Cardiac muscle is the muscle in our bodies that is unable, except in disease states, to achieve a state of sustained contraction. (biog1445.org) (Martini 2006) Words 506 TAQ 3 The Impact of exercise on the Cardiovascular system: At rest the average cardiac output is 5.8 litres per minute, this changes significantly during exercise, the pattern of blood distribution changes. Light exercise: before you begin to exercise, the heart rate will increases slightly because of the rise in sympathetic activity. Extensive vasodilation occurs as the rate of oxygen consumption in skeletal muscles increases. Peripheral resistance drops, the blood flow through the capillaries increases and blood enters the venous system at a fast rate. The venus return increases as skeletal muscle contractions squeeze blood along the peripheral veins and increased breathing rate pulls blood into the venae cavae via respiratory pump. Cardiac output rises, primarily in response to the rise Respiratory System As the cardiac output rises the blood flow to the lungs ( pulmonary perfusion) increases. The oxygen diffusing capacity a measurement of the rate the avelor air into the blood increases during maximal exercise because more pulmonary capillaries become perfused. There becomes a greater surface area available for diffusion of oxygen into the pulmonary blood capillaries. During vigorous exercise, oxygen consumption and pulmonary ventilation both increase dramatically. With moderate exercise the increase is due to an increase in the depth of ventilation rather than the increased breathing rate. The abrupt increase in ventilation at the beginning of exercise is due to neural changes that send impulses to inspiratory area. The gradual increase in ventilation is due to chemical and physical changes in the blood stream Decreased hypophosphite due to increased oxygen Slightly increased Pc02 due to CO2 production contracting muscle fibres Increased temperature, due to the release of more heat as more oxygen is utilized. Smoking lowers respiratory effiency during exercise even with moderate exercise because several factors effect the respiratory system Nicotine constricts terminal bronchioles Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin reducing oxygen carrying capability Irritants in smoke cause muscus secretion to increase Muscular People with a higher proportion of fast glycolytic fibres often participate in activities which require periods of intense activity such as weight lifting. People with higher percentages of slow oxidative fibres are better at activities that require endurance ( long distance running). The total number of skeletal muscle fibres do not increase, the characteristics can alter to some extent. Aerobic exercises cause gradual transformation of FG fibres into FOG fibres. The transformed muscle fibres show slight increases in diameter. Exercise require great strengths for short periods of time to produce an increase in the size and strength of FG fibres. The increase is due to increased synthesis of thick and thin filaments. The result of muscle enlargement is evidence by the buldging muslces of body builders. Anabolic steroids are hormones similar to testosterone which increase muscles and strength during exercise. The large doses required have damging effects such as aggression, heart dise ase, kidney damage and stunted growth. Skeleton Bones have the ability to alter their strength in response to changes in mechanical stress. When placed under stress the bone tissue adapts by becoming stronger through increased deposition of mineral salts and production of collagen fibres. Another effect of stress is to increase the production of calcitonin. Without mechanical stress, the bones are unable to remodel normally because bone resorption outstrips bone formation. Removal mechanical stress weakens the bones through demineralisation and decreased collagen fibres. The most common of mechanical stress on the bones is from the the pull of skeletal muscles and the pull of gravity. The bones of an athletic person become thicker and stronger, weight bearing activities help build and retain bone mass. Astronauts and people which have fractured bones can lose up to 1% of bone mass per week. Words 560 (tortora grabowski 2003) TAQ 4 Osteoarthritis This is a degenerative non- inflammatory disease where over a period of time the cartilage is gradually lost. This will result in painful and restricted movement of the affected joints. This disease is a result of aging, irritation of the joints. This disease is the cause of disability in the elderly. The articular cartilage becomes thinner because its renewal does not keep in unison with its repair. Eventually the bony articular surfaces come in contact and the bones beings to degenerate. Some abnormal bone repair does take place and the articular surfaces become misshapen. Chronic inflammation develops with the effusion into the joints, due to the irritation caused by the tissue debris not removed by phagocytes. In some cases there is abnormal outgrowth of the cartilage at the edges of the bones which becomes ossified. Primary Osteoarthritis- Is the most common type, the cause of this disease is unknown. The changes may be due to acceleration of the normal aging process within the joints which have had excessive use over the years due to plenty of physical activity. This usually begins to develop in the late stage of middle age and affects large weight bearing joints; the hips, knees, cervical and lumbar spine. In most cases of primary osteoarthritis only affects one joint. Secondary osteoarthritis- This tends to occur in the joints where the cartilage has already been damaged due to Congential deformity of bones such as dislocation Trauma, intracapsular fracture of the bone and injury to intracapsuel structures. Other conditions, inflammatory diseases, haemophilia following repeated haemorrhages into the joints, peripheral nerve lesions, gout, acromegaly, diabetic neuropathy. Osteoarthritis of the spine This condition is more common within the elderly. Degenerative changes cause narrowing of intervertebral discs and osteophytes may develop around the margins of joints of the vertebral column, commonly in the cervical region. This may cause damage to the nervous system, varying from compression of the individual spinal nerves to spinal cord injury ( the main cause of paralysis). (340) (Grabowski and tortora 2003) Cruciate Knee This is where the ligament in the knee is torn which may result in reconstructive surgery. The anterior cruciate ligament is a tough band of tissue joining the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee joint. (nhs.com). This condition tends to affect people which are more athletic. The cruciate ligaments are found inside the knee joint. They cross each other to form an x with the anterior cruciate ligament in front and the posterior cruciate ligament in the back and forth motion of the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, it prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur and this provides rotational stability for the knee. There are 3 different grades of sprains which occur to the knee Grade 1 sprain is where the ligament has been slightly stretched and the knee is still stable. This will result in discomfort whilst walking and inability to participate in strenuous activity. Grade 2 This stretches the ligament to the point where it becomes loose. This is often referred to as a partial tear. Grade 3 This is referred to as a complete tear of the ligament. The ligament has been split in two pieces and the knee joint is unstable. The cruciate anterior is often injured by stopping suddenly, changing direction instantly, slowing down whilst running, landing from jumping incorrectly, direct collision’s in contacts sports such as football and rugby. When the anterior cruciate is injured often the patient will hear a popping sound and will feel their knee giving way underneath them. The most common symptoms are; The knee will swell within 24 hours. The pain and swelling may resolve naturally. However if the patient choses to attempt returning back to sports they may cause further damage to the meniscus of the knee. Loss of a range of movement in the knee Tenderness along the joint line When a person does not have the adequate muscles strength coordination or balance to quickly react to the demands of sports there is an increased risk for a serious knee injury. Glute weakness and instability lead to excessive strain being placed on the ALC. (coreperformance.com) Words 365 (orthoinfo.aaos.org) References Martini F.H, 2006, Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, seventh edition, San Fracisco, Pearson education.inc Grabowski Sandra.Tortora Gerard, 2003, Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, tenth edition, Hoboken, John Wiley and sons,inc Waugh.A,Grant. A.2001, Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in health and illness, ninth edition,London, Harcourt Publishers Tortora Gerard, Grabowski Sandra, principle of Anotomy and physiology. New York. Harper Collins college. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00549 (9/10/2014) http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/587180/tendon-organ (15/05/2015) http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/virtualbrain/Brainstem/01pyramid.html (26/05/2015) http://www.biog1445.org/demo/10/muscles.html#smooth (1/06/2015) http://www.livestrong.com/article/115165-function-skeleton (1/06/2015) http:www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/injury-pain/acl-injuries.html (2/06/2015)

Biblical Essay: Analysis of Pauls Letter To The Galatians

Biblical Essay: Analysis of Paul's Letter To The Galatians When Paul attended the Jerusalem Conference in 48 or 49, a decision was made that gentiles would be allowed to become Christians without becoming Jews first (ie. have a circumcision, and follow the Jewish Laws). Paul, being the one that defended the gentile's right to be Christians, became the apostle to the gentiles. Why would Paul, a Jew, want to be an apostle to gentiles? According to him, Jesus appeared to him in AD 32 or 36, and told him to preach the good news to the gentiles (Gal 1:16). Paul uses scripture to explain why gentiles should not be required to be circumcised, or obey Jewish Law; however, there are no direct quotes in scripture that say this. One would wonder why Paul, someone who grew-up in a "good" Jewish family, would not follow in the footsteps of Jewish Christian Missionaries, and require Christian converts to become Jews first. He certainly had to fight to have his belief accepted! In my opinion, Paul tried to follow the example of the original apostles (who knew Jesus) by "converting the multitudes." I think Paul understood human nature better than the other apostles preaching circumcision to the gentiles. Perhaps he thought that gentiles would accept Christianity more easily if it was natural to their lifestyle --I'm sure that the thought of circumcision, and strict dietary laws scared gentiles from Christianity! It seems that the "Judaziers" preached a God that was hard to please. Paul's major problem confronted in his letter to the Galatians is the preachings of the Judaziers. Apparently, men who preach circumcision and the Law had been trying to "pervert" the Galatians, and change their belief... ...is area is full of rules/laws for the Galatians to live by. Of course, he justifies that Christians live by these laws because they "Walk in the Spirit of Christ." (Gal 5:16) If Christians are to "imitate" Jesus' actions & morals, then why should they decide to follow some, and not others? This is more evidence of Peter trying to create a "convenient" religion. The problem of acceptance of Jewish Law, I believe, is the fundamental split in Christianity. It can still be seen today: Catholicism represents Paul's view of Christianity, while Seventh Day Adventist Christians keep Jewish Law. However, if Paul had preached the Law, I don't believe that Christianity would even be present today (especially among the gentiles). He did much to advance Christianity; however, Gentile Christianity became a religion of Paul, rather than a religion of Jesus.

Strategies of a Non-Native Translator :: Free Essays Online

Strategies of a Non-Native Translator Non-native speakers of the target language are strongly discouraged from translating literature. I believe this is a very sensible recommendation, for regardless of individual abilities, it is often the case that the texts translated by such translators do not flow well. To be more exact, when I read translated works by non-native speakers, including my own, I often detect a matter-of-fact, straightforward tone, rather too serious, if not downright annoying to read, instead of the subtleties and elegance of the flow exhibited by many native translators. Of course, there are not only disadvantages in being a non-native translator. The non-native translator may grasp the original text better than the native translator, and be more aware of cultural and social implications hidden in the text. However, the main issue is the output. How do you transform the original text into its equivalent in the target language? I have been working as a freelance translator, of both literary and non-lit erary works, for the past 10 years, but this question hangs over me every time I begin to translate. I ventured into this unattainable arena, fully aware of the problems I faced. At first, there was something about challenging the impossible, but I also believed there was still a need for translators like myself in the field of translating Korean literature into English, for no other reason than that not much has been translated and there were not enough translators around to introduce Korean literature and culture to the world. I believe, though, that non-native speakers are at best transitional figures, who will fade into the shadows when more and more native speakers of English with good Korean language skills emerge. My goal is very modest by literary standards, but very ambitious for a non-native speaker. My goal is to render my translations as readable as possible. The best response I have ever received for my literary translation was that it was â€Å"very readable.† I was very pleased with that praise. I know that as a non-native translator I can never attain a highe r plateau. Once I attended a translation seminar in Korea, where most participants were Korean professors of foreign languages. They insisted that the importance of the act of the translation lies in introducing the unfamiliar to an audience, rather than making foreign literature readable. When I raised the question of stilted texts

Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu Essay

John Locke- 1. John Locke was one of the greatest philosophers in Europe at the end of the seventeenth century. Locke grew up and lived through one of the most extraordinary centuries of English political and intellectual history. The collapse of the Protectorate after the death of Cromwell was followed by the Restoration of Charles II — the return of the monarchy, the House of Lords and the Anglican Church. 2. Born 1632, died 1704. Locke’s chief work while living at Lord Ashley’s residence, Exeter House, in 1668 was his work as secretary of the Board of Trade and Plantations and Secretary to the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas. 3. John Locke is known for the â€Å"Two Treatises of Government. † 4. One quote from John Locke is â€Å"To prejudge other men’s notions before we have looked into them is not to show their darkness but to put out our own eyes. † 5. During the remaining years of his life Locke oversaw four more editions of the Essay and engaged in controversies over the Essay most notably in a series of published letters with Edward Stilling fleet, Bishop of Worcester. In a similar way, Locke defended the Letter Concerning Toleration against a series of attacks. He wrote The Reasonableness of Christianity and Some Thoughts on Education during this period as well. Citation 1: Uzgalis, William, â€Å"John Locke†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed. ), URL = . Citation 2 (quote): John Locke. BrainyQuote. com, Xplore Inc, 2011. http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/quotes/j/johnlocke143294. html, accessed October 28, 2011. Baron De Montesquieu- 1. He was educated at the Oratorian College de Juilly, received a law degree from the University of Bordeaux in 1708, and went to Paris to continue his legal studies. On the death of his father in 1713 he returned to La Brede to manage the estates he inherited, and in 1715 he married Jeanne de Lartigue, a practicing Protestant, with whom he had a son and two daughters. In 1716 he inherited from his uncle the title Baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu and the office of President a Mortier in the Parlement of Bordeaux, which was at the time chiefly a judicial and administrative body. For the next eleven years he presided over the Tournelle, the Parlement’s criminal division, in which capacity he heard legal proceedings, supervised prisons, and administered various punishments including torture. 2. He was born January 19, 1689 and died in 1755 of fever. He lived in Paris for a period of time. 3. Montesquieu’s two most important works are the Persian Letters and The Spirit of the Laws. 4. One quote from Montesquieu is â€Å"A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century. † 5. On his return to France in 1731, troubled by failing eyesight, Montesquieu returned to La Brede and began work on his masterpiece, The Spirit of the Laws. During this time he also wrote Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and of their Decline, which he published anonymously in 1734. In this book he tried to work out the application of his views to the particular case of Rome, and in so doing to discourage the use of Rome as a model for contemporary governments Citation 1: Bok, Hilary, â€Å"Baron de Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed. ), URL = . Citation 2: Baron de Montesquieu. BrainyQuote. com, Xplore Inc, 2011. http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/authors/b/baron_de_montesquieu. html, accessed October 28, 2011.

Classical Conditioning and Pros and Cons of Punishment Essay

Classical conditioning is a form of behavioral learning and was first introduced when Ivan Pavlov came upon a study when he was studying the psychology of digestion in dogs. He noticed that the dogs would not just begin salivating when the meat powder was introduced, but also when the person responsible for feeding would enter the room or heard there footsteps. Classical conditioning is when two stimuli are presented in close succession repeatedly, until the response given to one becomes associated with the other. An example of this was when Pavlov introduced the bell right before he brought the dogs food that is unconditioned stimulus, it would cause an automatic reaction or unconditioned response. The bell would be the conditioned stimulus or neutral stimulus. When paired together, the unconditional stimulus and the conditional stimulus would cause conditioned response. There are many ways to apply classical conditioning to everyday life. Here I will show you how it can be used in teaching your dog to sit. When my son was small he wanted a dog and I would always watch him play with his dog call Casper. I would watch my son try to put Casper in the front of his 2 seat car and try to strap him down but Casper will always try to bit him. I had too but a muzzle over Casper’s mouth so he wouldn’t bit my son. Then my son will ride around the compound and pretended Casper was his best friend or sometimes his baby brother. After checking myself, I realize I was punishing and innocent dog was brutal and violent action which was not really necessary. I decided to teach Casper some tricks so I bought a clicker to start Casper on his training course. The first trick we thought our dog was to sit. From then on, every time my son tell the dog to sit I would click the clicker twice. Soon as Casper sat I would give him a treat, a small piece of beef treat. We would practice this over and over until eventually all I had to do was make two click of the clicker and Casper would sit. Casper after a while would stare at me waiting on the treat. In this situation, the click of the clicker is the neutral stimulus which by itself meant nothing to the dog. However, when the neutral stimulus comes to be paired with something, the beef treat, it caused the dog to react and in this case to sit. The treat is the unconditioned stimulus and the reaction is unconditioned because no prior learning was required. However, when we  paired the click of the clicker with the beef treat it then triggers a reaction in the dog to sit. This now changes the neutral stimulus, the click, into a conditioned stimulus and since Casper now sits at the click it also changes the reaction into a conditioned response. After learning this my son used the same procedure only this time one click was used to teach the dog to come. Now my son doesn’t have to strap Casper in the seat anymore. My son just have to sit in his car and Casper will run after the car and jump into it at sit for himself. Conclusion it is through Pavlov’s discovery of classical conditioning that one can rationalize how a person acquires involuntary reactions to a particular stimu lus. Animals as well as humans can be taught to react to certain activities in a particular way. Just as my scenario of teaching my dog to sit with a clicker. As this paper proves by my own scenario of teaching my dog to sit that classical conditioning is still used today in our everyday lives. To teach a dog the meaning of the click, a treat is given immediately after clicking. Once the dog learns the positive effects of the clicking sound, the clicker itself acts as a conditioned reinforcement. Now Casper seem to run after my son without even hearing the click of the clicker but just a mare rolling on the wheels of his little car. As I have learned about the pros and cons of punishment in my own person training of my dog it don’t have to be always brutal when teaching but rather enhancing what a dog already know with operant condition. Sometimes if we use too much force it my turn a dog into and aggressive and dangerous animal or the dog might become more obedient to its master.