Management and Leadership development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management and Leadership development - Essay Example In almost all firms, the top management is the trend setter and it has to demonstrate a high level of commitment towards the development of a workforce which is flexible, competitive and proactive (Gloet, 2006; Plessis & Beaver, 2010). When a strategic approach of HRM is implemented, it will ensure that HR is the top most priority. HRM is effectively integrated with the company’s strategy, mission/vision and long-term goals (Blackman, O’Flynn & Mishra, 2010; Lengnick-Hall et al., 2009). Strategic HRM is fostering strategic management thinking on all levels. This allows the leaders to be involved in the strategic planning process (Lepak et al., 2006). It is a mechanism employed by leading organisations for developing a workforce plan and determining the priority objectives to be attained. It also focuses on the course of action that can be taken for successful accomplishment of the desired objectives (Jaakson, Tamm & Hammal, 2011; Tahilaramani, 2010; Way & Johnson, 2005). Hence, with proper implementation of Strategic HRM within an organisation, there would be an enhanced and supportive workplace learning environment that can be cultivated. This will ensure that the company has the capability of responding to HR related issues proactively and proficiently (Singh, Darwish & Anderson, 2012). Currently strategic HRM is a major contributing factor in the organisation’s corporate strategy. Therefore, it is imperative for the top management to ensure a proper link between the desired objectives and competency level of the employees (Caliskan, 2010; Way & Johnson, 2005). The main purpose of Strategic HRM is to help the company develop an effective employee or workforce plan. This will assist it in managing the employees effectively (Allen & Wright, 2006; Martin, Gollan & Grigg, 2011). It emphasises the need of coordinating activities at all levels i.e. corporate,

World Religions Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

World Religions Report - Assignment Example When looking at individual practices as well as the background of Buddhism, one is able to see specific doctrines and teachings that are applied to one’s life. This is furthered with comparisons of other religions, such as Christianity, the secondary religion investigated, to define the various roles and concepts that are formed with religious beliefs. Background of Buddhism Buddhism is an older religion with origins began in India, Burma and China, where it is still widely practiced. The main principle of Buddhism is to find the Middle Path which consists of the Four Noble Truths. The objective is to see how one can move through this lifetime and reach enlightenment of the spirit. This is followed by the Eightfold Path, which is eight different mechanics which one needs to reach the same enlightenment, or nirvana. Wisdom, morality, right views, resolve, speech, action, effort and mindfulness are the Eightfold Path to obtain enlightenment. The result is that one is able to go through a self – transformation on the intellectual, emotional and moral levels, which is what the Buddhists believe to help one move into enlightenment (Keown, 2009). The spread of Buddhism to the West has not only led to the different components of the main mechanics and teachings. This includes two sectors of Buddhism, including Theravada or Mahayana. The Theravada belief is the ancient belief, stating that the teachings are based on the original teachings for enlightenment. The Mahayana practice also has the main techniques and foundation from the ancient practices. However, this has moved into alternative perspectives and techniques based on practice, such as transformative beliefs, practical solutions for today’s needs and an expansion in the meditation techniques (Fowler, 1999). Interview Summary The interview that was conducted occurred after visiting a Buddhist temple at KSA. The outer area of the temple seems like a regular structure building that was used la ter as a temple. The landscaping has a large amount of greenery and is kept to create a sense of invitation in the building. The internal area of the building has the wheel of Buddhism in various areas, the statue of the laughing Buddha and various paintings and icons that are representative of the religion from the East. An assembly hall is located in the internal area as well as several rooms to the side for worship, meeting and to look into the Buddhist literature. These are each well decorated with the Buddhist symbols and signs, the Buddhist statue and other figurines from the East. A program was being held with the doctrines and beliefs that were associated with the temple, combined with several who were visiting. A Buddhist, by the name of Aaron, was found after the program that agreed to taking the interview and which had time to answer the questions that I required (see Appendix A). Aaron was in his mid – 40s and was a frequent member at the Buddhist temple outside o f his main job as a computer programmer. The information was recorded on an iPhone then transferred to paper later. The individual interviewed had been practicing Buddhism for over 15 years with the basis being in Christianity. The pull toward Buddhism began with the individual not feeling a strong enough basis toward the Christian beliefs while wanting more with the foundation of belief. The individual then decided to visit a Buddhist temple in the area to create a different understanding of religion. The origins of the practice are not practiced by family or relatives while creating an individual approach to the idea of reaching enlightenment. However, the individual also noted that practicing Buddhi

The Ruined Maid in the Novel Essay Example for Free

The Ruined Maid in the Novel Essay For dreariness nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of a certain town and military station, many miles north of Weatherbury, at a later hour on this same snowy evening if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness Both appearances of Fanny Robin have been undercover of night and in darkness which suggests that she has such an element of tragedy about her, she cannot be seen in the light which usually signifies positivity and purity; she has been ruined by something unknown to the reader at the present time. The bell was in the open air, and being overlaid with several inches of muffling snow had lost its voice for the time. The bell represents Fanny Robins and it being in the open air illustrates her vulnerability. Hardy then goes on to reveal that it was overlaid with several inches of muffling snow which signifies Fannys increasing insignificance and decreasing strength as a bell is usually something clearly heard but now it almost cannot be heard at all. It shows how her fate is out of her control just as the weather affecting the bell is unpredictable and uncontrollable. In this chapter Fanny Robin is shown not out of place with her destitute surroundings, even trying to become part of it as her stature is stooped as if she is trying to be as unnoticed as possible. Hardy aids this by again not revealing her identity but by referring to her as a mere form and spot that only seemed human. The throw was the idea of a man conjoined with the execution of a woman. No man who had ever seen bird, rabbit, or squirrel in his childhood, could possibly have thrown with such utter imbecility as was shown here. Here hardy makes it clear that Fanny has lost all notion of what a respectable woman would do as her actions of throwing snow at Sergeant Troys window is likened to that of a mans. However, she still conforms to what would be expected if a woman were to do so by Hardys sexist notion that her throw showed such utter imbecility the blurred spot could not possibly be a man, also signifying her physical weakness. Fannys identity is not even recognised by her lover Troy as he asks What girl are you? which backs up the reputation of a soldier in which one is not entirely devoted to only one woman at a time. The dialogue to follow shows their complete opposite affections for one another; Troy shows how undependable he is and that he does not return the same love for Fanny as she does for him, or even treat it seriously at all. Their difference in character and position in the relationship is demonstrated by hardys use of similes likening both to the setting around them; Fanny being so much like a mere shade upon the earth shows how she is part of an unpredictable and vulnerable substance which is at the mercy of Troy being so much a part of the building signifying his strength in the relationship and knowledge that he can take advantage of Fannys vulnerable state. They are likened so much to these inanimate objects that One would have said the wall was holding a conversation with the snow. Due to her naivety towards Troys true nature, Fanny then asks the question of when they shall be married; a preposterous action of a woman of that period. However, their marriage is thwarted by an explainable misunderstanding and it is not surprising that Troy uses this as an excuse to break off all relations with Fanny leaving her alone and deeper in the poverty for which he is responsible for. Fanny is now truly a ruined maid as both pregnant and unmarried she has no place in any respectable society and so we as the reader are made to feel sympathy and pity for her through Hardys description of the pathos of her circumstance. Page 230 marks a change in Troys nature as he imparts that Fanny has long ago left me I have searched for her everywhere almost suggesting that he regrets his previous actions towards her. In chapter 29 Troy, newly married to Bathsheba, comes across a woman of extreme poverty and sadness of face; undeniably Fanny. This section of the novel evidences Troys altered emotions towards Fanny as he offers her money and agrees to meet her in two days time. Troy also protects her identity to Bathsheba though for whose benefit it is unclear. Chapter 40 marks the start of the quick ultimate downfall of Fanny in contrast to before as we noted her slow demise to ruination over a number of chapters whereas now, when she becomes a significant part of the novel, her end is narrated almost consecutively without much interval. Her extraordinarily strenuous walk to Casterbridge marks the last journey she will take. We are still not told directly that it is Fanny Robin as Hardy still masks her identity and describes her only as the woman but it is easy enough to assume. Her undeniable perseverance shows that she is still naively at the mercy of Troy and his actions towards her have made no real emotional impact on her, even after such a long time. Hardy again uses pathetic fallacy much like in chapter 11 by describing the sky to set the tone in which Fanny is then presented. When the woman awoke it was to find herself in the depths of a moonless and starless night. A heavy unbroken crust of cloud stretched across the sky, shutting out every speck of heaven. Fanny again finds herself in darkness, a recurring theme in the novel although the fact that it is moonless and starless and the cloud is shutting out every speck of heaven sets a more formidable mood than ever associated with Fanny as any possible positive aspect is gone; Hardy again prepares the reader for the dire events to come. When Fanny no longer has the strength to carry herself she leans on a dog which proves ironic that she does not receive any human aid. The dog is extremely significant as it illustrates Fannys final fall in both social status and ruination and she now finds comfort and reassurance from an animal; much like when Gabriel likens himself to his sheepdog in the early chapters marking his own drop in social status. It is then revealed that a man has stoned away the dog symbolising mans attitude towards Fanny as it was a man who reduced her to poverty, left her ruined and then chased away the dog; the only thing that has ever shown her true kindness and compassion. Fanny never makes it to Casterbridge but tragically dies whilst having Troys child in the poor house. Her death is extremely significant and marks her complete transformation into a ruined maid; she dies whilst having an illegitimate child unknown to the father who left her poverty stricken in a world where she is insignificant and alone. Her death also has an almost domino effect as Hardys theme of chance and fate spreads Fannys tragic end onto the other characters leading to the ruination of Bathsheba and Troys marriage. The truth is revealed about Fanny and her child and the blame is not placed on her but on Troy, the sole villain that ruined her. Fannys utterly pitiful situation invokes the sympathy of even hard-headed Bathsheba; showing the intensity of her ruination. Throughout Far From the Madding Crowd, the meetings with Fanny Robin illustrate what happens to a person who unnoticeably falls through the crevices in society, who is neglected and transparent to humanity and so lives a brief life of poverty, ending in tragedy. Hardy uses a constant isolated and distant tone, never directly identifying her, when describing Fanny, portraying the scarcity of attention she receives from others. Due to this it is clear that her ultimate ruination was inevitable from the start.

The Advantages Of Being Physically Attractive Philosophy Essay

The Advantages Of Being Physically Attractive Philosophy Essay Nowadays attractive people rule the world. We see them on television, on the covers of magazines, they are everywhere. They dominate all the fields that include a certain degree of public exposure. What is beautiful is good. This is the stereotype that plays an active role in our lives. Physical attractiveness influences our relationships with other people. It influences social acceptance and the employment process. People consider that less attractive children are more likely to grow up with bad behavior, but if an attractive child grows up with such bad behavior, people perceive this event like an unusual one. On job interviews, attractive people seem to be more efficient. They are good communicators they speak faster and fluently; they enjoy social interactions and exchanges. These people show more confidence and develop more favorable images of them. It is a fact that attractive people tend to be more successful than the less attractive ones. Attractive individuals are more sociable and happier. They tend to be more socially skillful because the favorable expectations of attractive people lead to better social exchanges, more favorable self-images, and better social skills. 2.2. Head Positions Head shaking has its origins in bowing to appear superior. It can be a powerful persuasion tool; you can encourage someone to talk or to make him stop, only by nodding three to four times in certain intervals of time. The speed of nods determines the listeners patience or the lack of it. If the listener is interested in what the speaker is saying he will give a slow deliberate nod. Fast nodding tells us that the listener wants to interfere or he is not interested anymore. Head nodding can be contagious, if someone nods, you will return the nod, even if you dont agree with what he is saying. Head nodding is also an excellent tool to get someones cooperation and agreement; it is an unconscious outward reflection of our inner emotions so when you feel optimistic about something and you feel affirmative your head will start to nod as you speak. Positive emotions cause head nods and it goes the other way around, affirmative head nods can cause positive emotions. If you start to nod intentionally, you will experience those emotions. In different cultures head nodding signifies yes, yes you agree other persons point of view. This is not the case of Bulgaria where positive head nodding means no. In Japan, for example, head nodding doesnt necessarily mean agreement; it can signify yes, I hear you. In other countries, like India, the head movement differs; here people move their head from side to side to signal agreement. There are three basic head position. Head up In this position, the head remains still; the conversation can be slightly punctuated by small nods. Usually, this position takes a person who has neither positive nor negative attitude about what the interlocutor says. If someone lifts the head with the chin jutting forward, he signals arrogance and fearlessness. Anyone who adopts this position is intentionally exposing the throat to gain some height so they can look down their nose. The Head Tilt The head tilt displays the vulnerable necks; it makes a persons look smaller and less threatening. It is believed that this position has its origins in the baby resting its head on his parents shoulder or chest, its submissive meaning is understood by everyone, especially women. Many women use this position in order to get attention from man they fancy because a submissive woman is attractive to most men. It is recommended using head tilt along with head nods during presentation or while delivering a speech because you will appear nonthreatening and the listeners will begin to trust you. Head Down People who have judgmental and negative attitude tend to keep their head down. It shows disapproval or disappointment. Sometimes, conference speakers confront situations when the listeners adopt this position, to make them lift their heads they involve them in action, they invite them to participate into a conversation before their actual presentation. If the method is successfully the next head position of the audience will be the tilt head. 2.3 Eye contact The eyes are the windows of the soul. They are highly expressive region; their movement is allowing various expressions. We keep our eyes open, turn a blind eye to certain events, or we choose not to bat an eye. Our eyes show what we think about a person, how we feel toward him, if we are comfortable or not. Eye contact is one of the most primitive ways of communication, during social interaction all good communicators look at each other in the eye, without the gaze even if it is for several seconds, they dont feel like they are fully into the conversation. Georg Simmel described the phenomenon as a wholly new and unique union between two people and that it represents the most perfect reciprocity in the entire field of human relationship (Simmel). The eye gaze may have a variety of meanings, such as friendship, submission, hate or attraction. The sources of variation are: Point in the conversation: if a person is listening there is more eye contact than the situation where he is speaking. When people speak they tend to look up at the end of the speeches and phrases. Nature of the topic. Topics of personal matter usually avoid the eye contact. Catholic confessionals and psychiatric couches for example are built in such manner, that the person who talks wouldnt be inhibited by the eye contact. The contact between the priest or the therapist and the individual in both of these locations is reduced; the individual can feel, but not see the presence of the priest or the doctor so when he discuss shameful and embarrassing things those who are listening could not stare at them. Relations between a pair of people. When two people like each other there is more eye contact than usual. The pupils are dilating when you look at a person whom you like more. Besides attraction, the gaze could mean threat, when one is cutting off or averting his gaze this signal could mean appeasement. Cooperation. There is also more direct gaze when two people tend to cooperate rather than competing. In this case, an important role plays the quantity of eye contact; a high level of it usually means that the gazer is interested in the subject. However, combined with other expressions it also means threat. Personality. Depending on ones personality, he could look more or less. Extroverts look more often and for longer than their interlocutors and the introverts. There are also people that avoid the gaze; these are schizophrenic patients, depressed people and autistic children. Distance. It is a certainty that eye contact is reduced when proximity is greater, in busses or elevators, for example it ceases at all. Reducing eye gaze helps us reduce the level of discomfort produced by invading our intimate zone. 2.3.1 The Functions of Eye Contact The meanings of eye contact are various, and beside the hate, joy and domination signals that they could express there are several function that they have as well. These functions are: Information-Seeking. Our social behavior is an open book for others to read, it tells the world who we really are. We are the one that give information so it is important to us to receive a properly feedback. The speech could be a way, but sometimes if you look closely to the others face you can find a lot more than he says, especially if you look at his eyes. At the end of the speech he looks at you to see how the information was received. Signaling that the channel is open. When you communicate and maintain the eye contact the speaker will understand that all your attention is his, and he may proceed further with the conversation. On the other hand, a simple flicker of the eye toward a third person indicates that the channel is closed. Concealment and Exhibitionism. Some people look to get attention and to keep it. These people according to Laing suffer from lack of such feelings like self-regard and ego-identity, they need to be seen so they could be loved and confirmed as a person (Laing). The eye contact is the only they need. Establishment and Recognition of Social Relationship. Argyle explained this function through the example of an A and B person. The eye contact plays a central role in the establishment of their relationship. If there is eye contact between A and B it means that there is attraction. If A wants to dominate B: A will stare at B with the appropriate expression, if B accepts As dominance he will adopt a submissive expression and he will look away; If some people want to see and to be seen some of them dont want to have eye contact at all. They hide communication signals and disguise the gaze by wearing sunglasses. Glasses are also used by blind people they wear tinted glasses to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to look a person in the eye whenever it is necessary. Mirrored glasses stay between traffic policeman and the drivers, by avoiding the eye contact policemen can reduce the possibility of an argument; the nervous drivers can be put off a confrontation if they are not seeing the officers eye but, forced to see their own. 2.4 Facial Expressions The interest in human expression of emotion dates from more than a century ago when Charles Darwin published his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Darwin believed that humans emotional expressions are defined by our evolution; therefore he couldnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t understand the human emotions without understanding the emotional expressions of animals. Darwin returned to fundamentals, he built his theory of emotional expressions in animals, in infants and children, and in adults from different countries. Although everybody read his book, it hadnt much impact on the scientific community over years. Only recently the scientists agreed that Darwins ideas, his theoretical interpretations and forecasts are the premise of current knowledge in the field of humans facial expressions. Scientists relate facial expressions with emotions they represent. Many anthropologists like Margaret Mead believed that the cultures of the world control these emotions. Paul Ekman on the contrary proved that facial expressions have natural origins therefore, they are universal. Surprise Something unexpected triggers this emotion; it is the shortest one and it takes two or three seconds. It could last if the surprises continue. It is not a surprise when you have time to think if you are surprised or not, because this emotion feels like an explosion. A surprised individual will raise the eyebrows so that the skin below will be more visible than usual. He will have wrinkles on his forehead; wrinkles that everyone shows except young children. The individual will also have the mouth opened; his lips will be smooth and relaxed. His mouth may be partly open or widely open it depends on how intense was the surprise. The raised eyebrows, the relaxed open mouth can occur in combination with other expressions like neutral face, but it will no longer signify surprise, but doubt, fascination, or an astonishing moment. Anger Anger is the most dangerous emotion of all. When you are angry you can say things or worse do things that later you will regret. When you are angry you are not yourself, your blood pressure increases, the veins on your neck and forehead become more visible, your muscles tense and you may move slightly toward the offender. This emotion may be developed step by step, from a simple irritation, to rage or fury, it can be accumulated or it may occur suddenly. Angers appearance can be determined when there are significant changes on the face. The angry person has his inner corners of the eyebrows lowered and drawn together. His eyelids are tense and his eyes look like he stares. The mouth has two basic types: The lip-pressed-against-lip mouth: it occurs when someone is starting some form of violence or when a person is trying to control his verbal anger; he presses the lips to prevent saying something unpleasant. The open-mouthed anger happens when someone is expressing anger or when this person yells during a speech. 2.4.3 Fear Fear is the innate emotion induced by a certain threat or sense of danger. We learn how to avoid the possibility of harm by analyzing what occurs around us. However we canà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t anticipate everything and even it can be prevented we still fear any events or ideas that seems dangerous. Fear is a sudden emotion just like surprise, you cant pause a moment to think if you are afraid or not, it occurs immediately something harms you and you are afraid. Unlike surprise fear is a terrible experience even a mild fear is unpleasant ant it is the most traumatic of all emotions. Another difference between fear and surprise consist of its duration. Fear if it is unexpected it can have short duration but it can also occur gradually, you can know very well the fear-inspiring event and still be afraid of it. During fear there are distinctive appearances in the three areas of the face. The eyebrows appear raised and straightened with the inner corners drawn together, there are also wrinkles but not on the entire forehead. When the brows are held in the fear position the meaning of the expression is either worry or controlled fear. Fear eyebrows are joined by fear eyes and fear mouth. Eyes during fear are tense, the upper eyelid is raised the lower eyelid is also tense. In both fear and surprise the upper eyelid is raised but these emotions differ in regard to the lower eyelid which in surprise is relaxed and in fear is tense and raised. In fear the mouth also may be opened the difference between surprise and fear are the lips in surprise they are relax, but in fear they are tense and also may be drawn back. 2.4.4 Disgust and Contempt Disgust is an emotion of aversion. There are many things that may cause this aversion, the taste of something that you dont like, the smell of it sometimes even the thought could cause disgust. Not only the tastes or the smell can bring someone disgust but also the actions and the appearance of another person. Some people feel disgust when looking a deformed or an ugly person. You may be disgusted by what a person does for example if that someone is torturing an animal. Even if the emotion of disgust is universal, the things that one person thinks disgusting are not universally. What in one culture is disgusting in another culture may seem attractive and the other way around. These kinds of things are not the exactly in the same culture or in the same family. A disgusted person has lowered eyebrows and raised cheeks. However, the important clues that show disgust happen in the nose and mouth area. The upper lip may be raised, and the nose has wrinkles. Disgust may range from a slight form of disgust to an extreme one. The difference between these forms is that in the slight type, the wrinkles on the nose and raised lip are less pronounced. A close form of disgust is the contempt facial expression. This emotion is triggered by other peoples actions not smells, food or touches. Contempts appearance consists of a closed mouth with corners a little bit raised, and lips pressing each other. 2.4.5 Happiness Happiness is a positive emotion that everyone wants to experience. We like when we are happy, it feels so good that we search it, and we try to build our lives around this emotion. Most of the people think that the signal of happiness is the smile. It is not quite true. Sometimes, behind a smile there is pain hiding or even fear. Smiling in these cases, you make the unpleasant situations more comfortable for you. Happiness intensity is determined by the position of the lip; this position is always accompanied by deepening the region between the lips and the nose also by more pronounced lines under the lower eyelid. The intensity of happiness varies from a simple smile to an abroad one from ear to ear. The extreme form of happiness is laughter with tears. 2.4.6 Sadness Sadness means suffering. People when are sad have a distinct way of showing it, they dont cry they dont yell they just suffer in silence. Anything can make a person sad but in the most of cases what triggers this feeling is the loss of somebody. Sadness appearance has distinctive clues in each area of the face. A sad person will lower his face; the inner corners his eyebrows are will be raised. The inner corner of the upper eyelid is drawn up, and the lower eyelid may appear raised. The corners of the lips are drawn down, or the lips appear to tremble. (Ekman and Friesen p121) All the emotions mentioned above can blend with each other creating more ways to express our feelings, to underline or punctuate something in a conversation. It is known that people learn to control their facial expressions and sometimes you can be misled. Gestures Hands arms and even legs can produce a variety of signals. These signals are used either to help you improve your interaction skills or to negotiate. As we grow up our signals become more subtle and less obvious and that is making them harder to read. There is a debate among the researchers wherever some gestures are genetic or they are learned. The conclusion they got is that gestures are learned and they are culturally determined. The open palm Hands have been an important tool in human evolution and it is believed that there are more connection between the brain and the hand than between the brain and any over part of the body. If you try to see if a person is honest or not, an important thing is to look at palm displays. The open palm was associated with truth and honesty throughout history. In ancient times open palms used to show that there are no weapons concealed and therefore there is no threat. Nowadays different kinds of oaths are taken in this way by placing the palm over the heart, in courts when somebody testifies the right palm is held up for the member of the court to see while in the left hand is the Bible. There are three main palm gestures: the submissive palm position, the palm is facing up and it is used as a non-threatening gesture if you ask something from a person he will not feel the pressure of the request like in a superior situation. You will gain authority if you turn the palm to face downwards, the person whom you addressed the request will feel it like an order. The third gesture and the most irritating is that in which the palm is closed into a fist except the pointed finger, with whom the speaker creates a negative effect on other people he beats them into submission. Rubbing the palms together This gesture is the way in which people communicate their positive expectations. Before the dice are threw the thrower rubs them between palms, it signals his positive expectation of wining. Also a positive expectation signals a waiter at the end of the evening when he is asking anything else, sir while rubbing his palms, this usually is the non-verbal sign of a tip. However when a person rubs his palms while he is expecting the bus in freezing winter it means that his hand are cold not that he is expecting the bus. It is all about the context in which these gestures are made. Hands clenched together. This gesture seems to be a confidence one because people are smiling and sound happy when using it. The research showed however that behind that smile the person is holding back a negative attitude and therefore it is a gesture of frustration. The person may hold his hands clenched in three main positions: hand clenched in front of the face, resting on the desk or on the lap when seated. Steepling hands All gestures come in groups that are called clusters. This gesture represents an exception. It can be used in isolation from other gestures by people who use minimal or restricted body language. When it used it signals confident attitude. The gesture has two versions: the raised steeple used when the steepler is doing the talking and the lowered steeple when he is listening. The Mouth Guard This is a gesture learned from childhood and it is as obvious as it was then. The hand covers the entire mouth and the thumb is presses the cheek. What is happening is that the brain automatically tries to block deceitful words. As we grow up we try to disguise it by giving a fake cough or to minimize this gesture, instead of hand slapping over the mouth the finger rub around it. Folded Arms Folded arm gesture stands for a barrier against threatening situations. When a person has a nervous, negative or defensive attitude, he will fold his arms firmly on his chest, a strong signal that he feels threatened. (Pease) The researchers have found that the person who folds his arms has not only a negative attitude toward the speaker but he also is paying less attention to what is being sad. Many people said that they fold their arms because it is cozy. Any gesture will feel comfortable when you have the corresponding attitude; that is if you have a negative, defensive or nervous attitude, the folded arms position will feel good. (Pease) Standard arm-cross gesture This is a gesture that signifies the same universally negative attitude that people have in public events, meetings where they are surrounded by strangers; they have their both arms folded across the chest, it feels like an attempt to block an unfavorable situation. Beside the negative attitude this gesture also means that the person who folds his arms may disagree with what the speaker says. To bring this person into a more open position you have to make him unfold his arms and reach forward. Sometimes this gesture comes in cluster with clenched fists, clenched teeth, it indicates a hostile attitude and it makes possible a verbal or even a physical attack. To make the arm barrier less obvious people disguise their arm-cross gestures. These people dont want for other to know their insecurity or nervousness so their instead of folding their arms or grasping the other arm they just touch some of their personal objects like; handbags, bracelets watches everything near the arm. The standard leg-cross position Arms are not the only body part that can be used to form a barrier between you and the world. In most of European countries in Australian and New Zeeland cultures the right leg is neatly crossed over the left one. It is a gesture that shouldnt be read out of context because people use it when they sit for a long time in uncomfortable chairs or when it is freezing outside. Leg-cross positions may indicate that a defensive attitude exists but not so negative and obvious like arm-crossed gesture. Used together these gestures indicate that the person is not paying attention that he is withdrawn from the conversation. The same meaning of negative attitude has the ankle lock gesture. This gesture is different in male and female version. In male version it appears together with clenched fists placed on the knees or with hands grasping the chairs arms. In womens case the knees are held together, the hands are resting side by side or one on the top of the other on the upper legs. When individuals start to feel comfortable in a certain group they start to open up through a set o movements. This set has five stages: Stage: the arms and legs are crossed in the defensive position. Stage: the feet are placed in a neutral position. Stage: the arm that is folded on top comes out and the palm is flashed during the conversation. Stage: arms unfold and they can be placed either in pockets or on the hips. Stage: the person is leaning forward to the speaker whom he finds interesting and not a stranger anymore. It is important to know that all kind of gestures or facial examples should be considered in the context that they occur, because it is really easy to misread a signal. If for example a man has a soft handshake you most likely will be tented to accuse him of having a weak character, not taking into consideration that he may be a surgeon or a musician and he has to be delicate with his hands in order to protect them.

Utopia for the Twentieth Century :: Philosophy Marxism Essays

Utopia for the Twentieth Century There are many utopias. No one has ever seen them except in imagination, and yet they are real enough, for they have influenced our destiny over the centuries. ----- Alain Martineau The socio-political philosophy of Marx and Engels emphasizes both the capacity as well as the inevitability of oppressed peoples to take up arms in a desperate effort to do away with conditions which do not correspond to their true material and psychological needs. This is the process by which the fulfillment of Marx's species-being may eventually become a reality --- a struggle which will annihilate those circumstances which produce a great deal of misery, ending them through conflict. As one of the most successful political theories of the twentieth century in terms of the widespread influence it has had for over a hundred years now, Marxist doctrines translated into political practices have themselves contributed toward a considerable amount of human suffering, as the examples of the Bolshevik and Khmer Rouge revolutions demonstrate. While there is a great deal of justified criticism against labeling these revolutions as being authentically Marxist, the fact remains that to a larg e extent, many of the violent tactical formulas which were considered justifiable by Marx and Engels have been translated and adopted by twentieth century political movements, quite often with the result that an oppressive order is exchanged for another order which in turn becomes equally oppressive. This may be due, in part, to the fact that the tactics which Marx believed were necessary to liberate humanity and usher in utopian conditions were prescribed for the framework and social conditions of the nineteenth century Industrial Revolution in western Europe. Undoubtedly, the transition from the previous century to the present has brought with it unprecedented changes in levels of technology, economic and social conditions, political structures, environmental crises --- as well as a transformation within our individual and social consciousness themselves --- which have never before been witnessed by humanity. If Marxism is to continue to hold promise for our effort to liberate ourselves from undesirable social conditions, there is a need to adapt it so that it may address the peculiarities of the twentieth century, those which Marx himself could not have seen. Additionally, the humanist and utopian ideals of Marx and Engels, such as freedom from bondage as well as social harmon y, ought to be preserved and promoted. The contributions of twentieth-century Marxists are invaluable to us for this reason.

National Influenza Immunization Program - The Swine Flu of 1976 Essay

In 1976, due to an outbreak of influenza at Fort Dix, New Jersey, the United States set a precedent in immunology by attempting to vaccinate the entire population of the country against the possibility of a swine-type Influenza A epidemic. While a great many people were successfully immunized in a very short period of time, the National Influenza Immunization Program (NIIP) quickly became recognized as a failure, one reason being that the feared epidemic never surfaced at all. But this massive undertaking deserves more analysis than just a simple repudiation. For example, all evidence linked to the pathology, microbiology, and historical cycle of influenza and the outbreak at Fort Dix suggests that the reactions of the scientists and other personnel involved in the NIIP were correct. However, one must also acknowledge the many complications and misjudgments that plagued the program after its initiation, from biological difficulties, logistical problems, to tensions with the media. Th e swine flu is a historical event that needs to be evaluated, regarding both its successes and its failures, so that lessons can be learned for future immunization programs. While influenza, or the "flu", is not commonly recognized as an extremely lethal disease, the pathology of influenza, and especially of the kind found at Fort Dix, does suggest that an immunization program was a reasonable course to take in 1976. In the public's mind, influenza is often not seen as a specific disease, using interchangeable names for it like "flu", "gripe", and "virus". (Silverstein: 1) However, influenza is very different from an everyday low fever or "stomach flu". It is a respiratory infection, connected with a fever, coughing, and muscle aches, which often la... ...d be held responsible for not creating a more adaptable program that could deal with these occurrences. The NIIP must be evaluated for its drawbacks and its successes, so that people will not just see this as an unfortunate historical event, but can use it to help further immunization and disease-fighting programs in the future.    Works Cited The "Flu". Online. 17 Feb. 1999. Available: www.ultranet.com/~jkimball/BiologyPages/I/Influenza.html Laitlin, Elissa A. and Elise M. Pelletier. "The Influenza A/New Jersey(Swine Flu) Vaccine and Guillain-Barrà ©acute; Syndrome: The Arguments for Causal Association." Drugs and Devices Line, 1997. Online. 15 Feb. 1999. Available: www.hsph.harvard.edu/Organizations/ddil/swieflu.html Silverstein, Arthur M. Pure Politics and Impure Science: The Swine Flu Affair. Baltimore and London: The John Hopkins University Press, 1981.

How Tension and Suspense Essay

There are many different ways in which HG Wells builds up tension and suspense in ‘The Red Room’. One way in which he does this is through the use of language. One of the main effective uses of language in ‘The Red Room’ is the use of personification; â€Å"made the shadows cower and quiver†. The shadow embeds fear into the reader, as they wonder if the shadow is alive, which creates tension as the reader wonders what will happen next. Furthermore, the fact that the phrase makes it seem that the shadows are scared of something, and the reader would normally associate shadows with blackness and fear, makes the reader feel uneasy and heightens tension. It is almost as if fear is afraid of fear itself. The setting of the story also creates tension and suspense; â€Å"the great red room of Lorraine Castle, in which the young duke died†. The fact that it is set in a castle is not only typical of a gothic genre, but it builds suspense by saying; â€Å"in which the young duke died†. This makes the reader feel that death is imminent. It heightens tension as it makes the reader feel as if the narrator will die at the end of the story. Dialogue is also used by the author to create tension. At first the narrator is sceptical and doubtful about the red room and its alleged supernatural powers; â€Å"I can assure you †¦ that it will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me†. His arrogant behaviour creates uneasiness in the reader’s mind as it is typical in a Gothic story for the smug, non-believer to be the first victim of the story. However, as the story continues, we see that there is very little dialogue in the later parts of the story. Conversely, the fact that the story is written in the first person compensates for the lack of dialogue in the later parts of the story. We can also see that where there is dialogue, it is the narrator speaking to himself; â€Å"‘Steady on! ‘ I said. ‘These candles are wanted'†. This creates tension as it makes it seem as though the narrator is reassuring himself that nothing bad is going to happen to him. Tension is also affected by sentence structure. H. G. Wells uses short sentences to build up pace when leading to a climax in the story; â€Å"I stood rigid for half a minute perhaps†. The fact that short sentences have been used, adds pace to the story which forces the reader to read on, creating tension. Furthermore, another way of creating tension is by using commas in long sentences; â€Å"The three of them made me feel uncomfortable, with their gaunt silences, their bent carriage, their evident unfriendliness to me and one another. â€Å"Commas have been used to compel the reader along to the end of the sentence, thus generating tension. Moreover, in areas where the author wants to reduce tension, after a climax preparing them for another tension point, the author uses long, descriptive passages; â€Å"A bronze group stood upon the landing, hidden from me by the corner of the wall†. This descriptive passage is an effective way to relieve tension and prepare the reader for another climax point. Another way in which the author creates tension and suspense is by withholding information. Immediately, we can see that the story begins mid-scene which creates suspense as it ambiguous and leaves the reader wanting to find out more; â€Å"I can assure you,†. We can also see this in the ending of the story. The ending of this story is an anticlimax as it does not provide all of the answers that are put in the readers mind throughout the story, which leaves the ending of the story open to speculation. Furthermore, the fact that we do not find out any of the names of the characters heightens tension from the start; â€Å"the old woman†, â€Å"the man with the shade†. This also creates suspense as ambiguity is created in the readers mind. The author also creates suspense and tension through describing the characters negatively; â€Å"the man with the withered arm†. The negative description of characters creates ambiguity, causes the reader to speculate and generates a completely negative, hazy image in the readers mind. It is also is emotionally troublesome for the reader. This creates tension for the reader as the reader is left with an uncomfortable feeling.