National Stepfamily Resource Center Essay Essay Example

National Stepfamily Resource Center Essay Essay The first measure towards blending of a stepfamily is both parents taking a committedness to invariably work at their jobs and non give up when the traveling gets tough. Both of them have to understand the complexness of the state of affairs before acquiring into it. since kids with sensitive heads are traveling to be involved in the procedure. They besides have to see the fiscal portion of the whole trade. good in progress. to forestall struggles at a ulterior clip ( APA Health Center 2004 ) . The biological parent has to convey the thought of get downing a stepfamily to the kid. long before it really becomes a world. We will write a custom essay sample on National Stepfamily Resource Center Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on National Stepfamily Resource Center Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on National Stepfamily Resource Center Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This is to guarantee that the kid is given adequate clip to get by up and go comfy with the new agreement. Before get downing a stepfamily. both spouses have to guarantee that they have sorted out issues from their past matrimonies. They should take equal clip to mend and recover from the old relationship. so that they are emotionally ready to get down another relationship. After all. a bad relationship surely can non seed the seeds for a successful stepfamily. Childs are really susceptible to their environment during their formative old ages. Hence. both parents should exert utmost cautiousness and restraint to forestall the kid from witnessing struggles and statements. in order to be healthy role-models ( Way2Hope ) . Parents should be mentally ready to manage letdowns and maladjustments at foremost. since a stepfamily is surely non designed to be an ideal agreement. The key is to bit by bit construct regard and trust with members of the stepfamily. Children need to be invariably reassured that they were non responsible for the dissolution of the old matrimony with the biological parent. particularly if the cause of separation is the decease of a parent. There needs to be an unfastened communicating channel with the kids in the signifier of little treatments. so that kids are non left stranded with confusions. unreciprocated inquiries and repressed emotions. A parent has to guarantee that stepchild and biological kid are non discriminated and given equal attending. It is indispensable for a parent to speak entirely with the biological kid every bit good as stepchild. so that they can understand each other better. They have to happen ways to link to the kids by organizing new household traditions that take topographic point on a regular footing. One of the facets of a closely-knit household is making things together. which brings in squad spirit and the joy of sharing. Once a household tradition starts to go on on a regular basis. it gives a sense of togetherness to the kids and would be a measure in the right way towards constructing a blended household. Family game darks. monthly field daies. annual holiday and Thanksgiving Day dinner could all really good be good household traditions that could populate on for old ages. possibly even coevalss. Care has to be taken to guarantee that the relationship between the stepchild and biological parent is sustained. since the kid needs attention from the biological parent to see a wholesome childhood ( All About Life Challenges ) . However. kids turning under joint detention of detached parents end up being raised under two families with different regulations and patterns ( National Stepfamily Resource Center ) . Hence. this may take to the kid acquiring assorted messages from both parents and being forced into a province of confusion. Hence. both the biological parent and measure parent have to speak with each other and come to a decision about the methods of training and handling the kid. Even after making these things right. if the kid finds it difficult to accommodate to the blended household. the parents should give it some clip for things to work their manner out of course and be unfastened to the thought of seeking professional aid if needed. Giving kids infinite to do up their ain heads at their ain gait is the key to constructing new relationships with them. For case. it is non just to anticipate a stepchild to turn to a measure parent as â€Å"dad† or â€Å"mom† since their biological parent is non replaceable ( Jaffe et. al 2008 ) . In due class of clip. household bonds would finally turn stronger as the kid additions respect for the measure parent. Mention: All About Life Challenges. Blended Families – Common Sense. Retrieved 9 July 2008. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. allaboutlifechallenges. org/blended-families. htm gt ; APA Health Center. ( 2004 ) . Families: Making Stepfamilies Work. Retrieved 9 July 2008. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. apahelpcenter. org/articles/article. php? id=41 gt ; Jaffe. J. Segal. J. Hutman. S A ; Barston. S. ( 2008. 8 January ) . Blending Families: a Guide for Stepparents. HelpGuide. Retrieved 9 July 2008. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. helpguide. org/mental/blended_families_stepfamilies. htm gt ; National Stepfamily Resource Center. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved 9 July 2008. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. stepfamilies. info/faqs/faqs. php gt ; Way2Hope. Blended Family Problems. Retrieved 9 July 2008. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. way2hope. org/blended_family_problems. htm gt ;

The Israeli †Palestinian conflict

The Israeli – Palestinian conflict Introduction Both Palestine and Israel hold the belief that they both have the rights to the same piece of land . In essence the Palestinians claim the claim that the Jews drove them out of their land. On the other hand, the Jews believe that the land belongs to them. This is based on historical and biblical times. In the current times, leaders from both countries have demonstrated the willingness to have peace. This has been characterized by how close the two sides have come to having a peace deal.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Israeli – Palestinian conflict specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, a lasting solution has not been developed. It is worth noting that Israel and Palestine have are quite different and unique from each other. This is because each country has got a unique culture and history. In addition, the official languages which are used in these two countries are different. In essenc e, Israel is largely made up of Jews while Palestine is made up of Muslims. Muslims are followers of the Islamic faith. On the other hand, Israel is a very unique country because it is the only Jewish nation in the world. The Israeli – Palestinian conflict is a conflict which dates hundreds of years back. This conflict has not been resolved to this day. Until this day, the clash between these two nations still ranges on. From the biblical history, the region which is currently known as Palestine was once known as Israel. This was during the reign of King Solomon. The Jews and the Arabs who speak the Semitic language have always lived in this region. Thesis The conflict that has existed between the Palestinians and the Israelis has hindered development between the two countries. This is because the suspicion that has been in existence between these two countries has brought to the fore retrogressive aspects which have limited progress. It is also worth mentioning that the hist ory of this conflict has hampered positive relations among the young people from both countries. The Palestinian – Israeli struggle is an archetypical example of an intractable conflict. It is a protracted, violent, and drawn out struggle, wherein generation after generation is socially conditioned to continue fighting. The phenomenon operates as a destructive evolutionary mechanism subject to a general principle: almost every element that benefits the conflicts survives, while whatever operated against it becomes extinct. Indeed, almost every attempt to solve the Palestinian – Israeli struggle has created new problems, which in turn has led to failures and regression. To stop the destructive evolutionary progression, a revolutionary process is required. This paper seeks to establish the fact that cognition has played a major role with regard to exacerbating the problems that are causing the conflict. The effect of the conflict Any unstable political situation within a ny region in any part of the world is associated with negative outcomes within that region. This is because conflict is associated with retarded growth as well as limiting progress within a given setting. In essence, both states have faced hardships following this conflict. The Palestinian economy has stagnated and has been declining following the bottlenecks which have been associated with this conflict.Advertising Looking for proposal on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, the constant state of conflict has brought with it negative impacts on the Israeli society. This has been especially so among the Israeli youth who in many instances have found themselves facing post traumatic stress disorders. This has been brought about by the indiscriminate fear which has resulted from acts of terror. Even more disturbing, however, is that Israeli schoolchildren are among the most violent in t he world, a phenomenon believed to be the result of force being an accepted societal means of dispute resolution. The culture of violence prevalent which is prevalent in Israel has had a dramatic impact on most impressionable members of the community: children. They grow up learning that physical force is an acceptable and even successful means of response in a dispute. An asymmetrical Israeli response to a Palestinian attack surely encourages a youth to a school bully by such rash means as carrying a weapon. The purpose statement The purpose of this study is to establish the causes and the consequences of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. This will shed more light into the mental attitudes that the Palestinians and the Israelis have with regard to each other. In essence, one of the reasons which has brought about this problem is on the basis that there are cases where one does not hold the political views of another thereby bringing about conflict. In essence, this conflic t can be controlled the moment that one is able to understand the causes and the effects of the parties who are under study. In this case, it is worth to mention the fact that our cognitive bearing with regard to a matter such as a perceived historical injustice can have negative implications in the way that people execute challenges. Research questions In order to obtain the findings which a researcher is interested in, it is important to set up the framework of questions which a person is interested in establishing. The question which this study seeks to address include (1) what is the relationship between the conflict and the attitudes of the conflicting parties (2) are there any measures which have been made with regard to establishing the peace process (3) what are the measures which can be made in order to have an impact on the attitudes of the conflicting parties. Theoretical framework There are several theories which are going to be used in this study. In essence, we are goi ng to be using the geopolitical theories. These theories will serve as a guide which shall be used in the attempt to understand the issues which are underlying the conflict between Palestine and Israel. In essence, the Jews were dispersed across the world after they suffered for a long a time. However despite this, they did not lose their identity. They were able to maintain their initial identity and culture. However, upon returning to their land, they forced the Palestine to be displaced. In this case, Friedrich Ratzel’s Organic State Theory is classic with regard to seeking to understand the expansion of Israel’s territory.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Israeli – Palestinian conflict specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This expansion covered some of her neighbors and led to the conquering of majority of the Palestinian lands. This theory expounds on this subject by explaining the fact t hat states were seen as organisms. In this case, the Palestinian state was seen as an organism which occupies territorial space. Based on this fact, states seek an opportunity to extend their territories based on the fact that the vastness of these states depicts the power of these states. Some of the concepts that this theory holds include nationalism and the right to self determination. This can be applied when it comes to understanding the strained relationship between Israel and Palestine. The conflict that exists between these two nations is based on the nationalistic ideology that is held by both nations. That is, both countries believe that they have the right of owning the land which is in contention. In essence, nationalism contends the right of a people within that nation being served by nations which hold similar views or serve their interest. Nationalism has played out clearly on the basis of the fact that both nations have laid hold of the dream to regain their sacred h omeland. Internationally, there are rights which respect a nation or a state’s right to self determination in pursuit to its survival. This determination has been held by both Israel and Palestine thus fueling the conflict. This is as a consequence of the fact that both parties hold the claim that the establishment of the states is based on their ability to recover their land. The second concept is the power urge. This concept is based on the opinion that conflict mostly arises from the states when nations seek to assert the urge to assert their power. This stance has been taken by both Palestine and Israel and has resulted in both parties not arriving at a consensus thus fueling the conflict much further. Literature Review The Jews and the Muslims consider some key cities and towns within the Palestinian territory to be holy cities. During the first century A.D, the Roman Empire took over the area that they came to call Palestine. Essentially, the Romans were pagans and they clashed with the Jews thus forcing them to flee from the area. During the nineteenth century, Britain, France, and the Turkish Empire controlled most of the Arabian region. The Turks controlled Palestine, from 1517 to 1917. It was during this time that the Jews who had been forced out this region began to return. During this Ottoman Empire, the Jews and the Arabs lived together in peace.Advertising Looking for proposal on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The story of the Israeli Palestinian conflict is rooted in the last decades of the Ottoman Turkish rule over Palestine. The ottomans ruled over Palestinians for hundreds of years. During the last decades of their rule they attempted to bring change to their reign instead of prolonging their stay. Although they had different ethnic backgrounds their common Islamic faith held them together thus their coexisted well with their counterparts. Consequently, this held the region together in stability. The common unity of the Muslim faith between the Turks and the Arabs was continually being challenged due to the foreign infiltration. Eventually, this led to rivalries and contests that existed between this empire and the European rivalries. The Ottoman Empire began to fall in the early twentieth century. During the First World War, the British and the Arabs fought together and defeated the Turks in Palestine. From 1920 until 1948, the British took over the control of Palestine. They worked on a plan to rule Palestine until Palestinians could rule themselves. Following this defeat, the British promised the Palestinians independence now that they had helped them to defeat the Turks. Despite this promise, the then foreign secretary Balfour Arthur had drafted a declaration for the Jews promising them to establish a homeland for them. Application of the theory Looking at the map, one cannot fail but realize or notice that the map of the Israel state has been changed a lot with time. From a geographical perspective, the nation of Israel is found right at the center of the Arab states. These states have been aggressive to the Israel states thus Israel feels insecure. This is because the Arab states have depicted the notion of taking back what was once their land that belonged to their sister state, Palestine. Due to this, there have been many wars which have been fought against Israel. Unfortunately for the Arabs they have lost these battles. This has confirmed that they Isr aeli army is well equipped to defend her boarders from any state which might try to take her land. According to Ratzel’s organic state theory, Israel ate up other states in order to set herself up as a sovereign state in the 1940s. However, the subject of land rages on. This is because as the populations of both states grow, there is a constant need for each state to put up measures to ensure that she is able to meet the needs of her population. Analysis In the process of analyzing this information, the researcher shall use analytical techniques in order to draw deductions from the information gathered. This is because working on this kind of project requires the researcher to be equipped with the relevant skills in analyzing information and data based on the critical thinking ability. This is because people process the information about what they go through based on the way that the information is understood as well as the way the information was obtained in the previous tim es. In this case, the information that seems to be true, or hold the views and ideas that we have is preferred by a person. The cognitive aspect ensures that people are able to go through the motions of the world without asking too many questions about the circumstances that they might be facing at a given point in time. Thus in this study, the researcher will seek to establish some of the cognitive frameworks which are held by the citizens in these conflicting states. In this approach, the assumptions which shall be arrived at will require the review of the current analytic line as they exist in the present, articulate the beliefs which are held by the opposing parties and then challenge the assumptions which are held by these parties. This will enable the analyst or researcher to be in a better position to stand by a fact which is prevailing. Thus the information gathered shall portray what is the cognitive framework of the parties involved in conflict. Conclusion The Israel †“ Palestinian conflict is a conflict which is rooted between two peoples. In this case we have the Jews and the Palestinian Arabs. These two people claim the ownership of the land under dispute. They are both fighting for this land in order to be able to obtain some form of liberation from the challenges that each state is facing. In the past, the United Nations has failed to act as an arbiter in this conflict. Consequently, this has led to the worsening of the ties and the escalation of the conflict between these two states. The vague detractions which have been established have also not borne any fruits from the conflict which is raging on. This strained relationship between these two states has caused this region to be in a state of recurrent conflict. The effects have been felt in both states. In this case, Palestine has faced economic hardships that have prevented her from economic growth. On the other hand, Israel has faced persistent threats from her neighbors, thus they ar e always living in fear. It is worth to mention that these states of affairs have aggravated the perception that people have towards or with regard to this conflict. Most people have cognitively accepted this state of affairs as the natural way of life. On the other hand, the probability of reaching an amicable position has been compromised due to the fact that these parties have held each other in utter suspicion. This has led to the belief that nothing good can be obtained from any peace talks which are being held. Thus it is important to first address the mentalities which are held by both parties so that one can be able to work towards establishing lasting peace in this region. Bibliography Abunimah, Ali. One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2007. Dershowitz, Alan. The Case for Peace:How the Arab-Israeli Conflict Can be Resolved. New York: John Wiley Sons, 2006. Fraser, T. G. The Arab-Israeli conflict. New York: Palg rave Macmillan, 2008. Gelvin, James L. The Israel-Palestine Conflict:One Hundred Years of War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 2005. Gunderson, Cory Gideon. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict. New York: ABDO, 2003. Kershner, Isabel. Barrier:the seam of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Ler, Gregory. Israels Rising Economy and its Drawbacks- Causes, Consequences and Remedies. Nordesten: GRIN Verlag, 2008. Milton-Edwards, Beverley. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict:a peoples war. New York: Taylor Francis, 2009. Nitzan, Jonathan, and Bichler Shimshon. The global political economy of Israel. London: Pluto Press, 2002. Ross, Dennis. The missing peace:the inside story of the fight for Middle East peace. London: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005. Said, Edward W. The End of the Peace Process:Oslo and After. New Jersey: Vintage Books, 2001. Smith, Charles D. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict. New Jersey: Bedford/St. Martins, 2007.

American Memory of the Second World War Versus American's Experience Essay

American Memory of the Second World War Versus American's Experience of the Second World War - Essay Example Yet the fact remains that the liberation of Jews and other such interests where not America’s primary concern in entering World War II. Despite the fact that we knew the extermination of Jews was ongoing, we largely stayed aloof from the conflict for some time, only entering reluctantly when attacked by Japan in 1941. Much of our national memory remembers the European front of the Second World War more than the Pacific front – this is where the liberation of concentration camps happened, and where the war’s principle villain, Adolf Hitler, lived and was slain. But the fact is, most of the Second World War was the Pacific front for America. We entered the Second World War on December 8th, 1941, after the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor (Roosevelt 187). From this point until D-Day in 1944, America fought exclusively a battle of self-defense turned offense against the Japanese in the Pacific, island hopping towards the eventual goal of reclaiming the Philippines and defeating the Japanese. We only entered into war with Germany because of an entanglement of alliances, where the Germans and Japanese had a mutual defense pact. This is not to say that Roosevelt was not eager to enter the Second World War, but rather than the American people were very reticent, and only entered due to an unprovoked attack, not out of some kind of humanitarian gesture. Some argue that we had only an incomplete understanding of the extermination happening in Germany, and that if we had known more fully action would have been swifter. But as of December 28, 1942, reporters already had firm numbers about the millions who were being slaughtered or shipped to concentration camps (Fry 194). The numbers reported were entirely insufficient to explore the horror being exacted: â€Å"In the city of Riga, Latvia, 8,000 Jews were killed in a single night† or â€Å"in the ghetto of Warsaw, in which 550,000 Jews once dwelt, there are today fewer than 50,000† (Fry 194). And reporters also knew that this massacre, or at least a pattern of violence, murder and intimidation, was ongoing for years before this. The reporter Varian Fry indicating that he learned as of â€Å"1938† that â€Å"the Nazi leaders openly encouraged burning of synagogues, the pillage of Jewish homes, and the murder of their inhabitants† (Fry 194). So either reporters were doing a miserable job communicating their knowledge to the public, or else the American public was simply not overly concerned with the wholesale massacre of the Jews in Europe. America did play an important role in World War II – but it was a reluctant one – the war America fought was mostly in the pacific, with only a year of combat actually on European soil. And though the heroism of American soldiers who risked their lives in the freeing of concentration camps must be commended, it is important to record documents such as these, and remember what actually occurred during t he Second World War – America stayed neutral far after most of the world had entered the fray, and far after it had become apparent

Inerrancy and Infallibility of the Bible Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Inerrancy and Infallibility of the Bible - Essay Example Also, there are some who are only nominally members of these faiths, and although they may or may not have a faith in God, their belief in the truth of the scriptures may be incomplete or absent. Others are prepared to accept general truths such as that Jesus was a good man, but would find it much more difficult to accept that he was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world. There are many misapprehensions. Many people believe that the Bible was written in a chronological way, but upon examination, this assumption falls flat. The epistles, especially those of Paul, for instance, were written down before the dates of the Gospels, yet follow them in modern Bibles. The minor prophets such as Malachi and Zephaniah are simply gathered together in order of size, rather than any chronological order. 1 When it comes to early books of the Bible it must be remembered that stories would have in the first instance been passed on by oral tradition i.e. passed on a word by word down the gene rations. Abraham did not carry stone tablets out of Ur. His story was written down much later. This does not take away or add to their validity as historical documents. According to the introduction to the Book of Genesis by Youngblood2, within the last 200 years Bible scholars have managed to distinguish 4 different threads within Genesis i.e. document U which include Yahweh , the personal name of God; E, Elohim , a generic name for god, D for a Deuteronomic source, and P for a priestly source. These scholars believe that the documents date from the 10th to the 5th century BC. So some later writer has brought together many different sources into a coherent whole. Thesis The Bible is not a history or scientific text and does not claim to be so. It is inspired by an infallible God, ( 2 Timothy 3 v 16)3 but put together by man, who is fallible. But because it is said to be inspired by God, as far as points necessary for salvation and man’s relationship with God the Bible is inf allible. Method This thesis will be explored by considering various Biblical passages as well as certain historical instances. The Bible Record. On this topic, Paul, writing in Ist Corinthians, one of the earlier New Testament documents, said:- We have not received the spirit of the World but the Spirit which is from God, that we may understand what God has given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.4 Not all the words in the Bible were recorded in written form immediately after the events they record. For instance Matthew 28 v 12 and 13 record how the Sanhedrin paid off the guard, instructing them to say that the disciples had stolen the body. The evangelist then adds in v 15 ‘This story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.’5 i.e. thus indicating a passage of sometime before the story was recorded. Nor was everything known recorded in the books now contained within the canon of scripture. After describing himself as an eye-witness to events by saying that he testifies to the things recorded John goes on to say:- Jesus did many other things as well.

Consequences Of Cell Phone Use While Driving English Language Essay

Consequences Of Cell Phone Use While Driving English Language Essay Cell phone use while driving should be illegal everywhere because 1) it causes major distraction, 2) it can cause harm to the driver and others near the driver, and 3) it shows negative influence on young people. In more ways than one, using a cell phone while driving has been proven to be a dangerous thing for people to do. The cases of fatal automobile accidents, related to cell phone use while driving, have risen dramatically over the past few years. The majority of these accidents are younger people, usually 25 years of age and younger. A new study confirms that the reaction time of cell phone users slows dramatically, increasing the risk of accidents and tying up traffic in general, and when young adults use cell phones while driving, theyre as bad as sleepy septuagenarians (Britt). David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah says if you put a 20-year-old behind the wheel with a cell phone, their reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver who is not using a cell phone. Its like instantly aging a large number of drivers (Britt). The use of a cell phone while driving causes more negative incidents than positive incidents. It causes road rage from other drivers, traffic jams, minor accidents and even fatal accidents: According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the journals publisher, cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. . . . Drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower to react to brake lights, the new study found. In a minor bright note, they also kept a 12 percent greater following distance. But they also took 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked. That frustrates everyone. . . . Once drivers on cell phones hit the brakes, it takes them longer to get back into the normal flow of traffic. The net result is they are impeding the overall flow of traffic. (Britt) Now, after looking into more research, it seems that cell phone use while driving is more dangerous than most people make it out to be; teenagers seem to be the worst at this. The cell phone has many applications on them now days and some are more distracting than others. For example, a young girl is driving down the road at 55 miles per hour and her cell phone rings. She reaches across the car to grab it, takes a quick look at the screen to see who it is, looks back up and sees she is about to rear end another vehicle. Even though her reaction time is slowed from normal, she slams the breaks on just in time to avoid a major collision. Only minor damage is done to both vehicles and luckily no one is hurt. This young girl only took a quick look off the road, but still put herself and others in danger. Now, another young girl is driving down a road, in a school zone, doing only 15 miles per hour and her cell phone goes off as well, only hers is a text message from her boyfriend. She lo oks down at the screen, eyes off the road, same as girl number one, only her eyes are off the road for a longer period of time. She takes time to read the text, only to briefly look at the road, and looks back at the screen to send a text message back. With one hand on the wheel, one hand on the cell phone, texting, and her eyes on the cell phone, she hits a young child and her mother walking across the street. This accident just so happens to be a fatal one. Next, let us talk about hands free cell phones. People may and probably will argue these are not dangerous or distracting at all, but in fact, they are just as distracting. Whether a person is texting or just talking, their concentration is broken. People think that if they are just talking and listening, with eyes still on the road, not taking them off, that they are just as alert as a driver not talking on a cell phone. According to Strayer and his colleagues, those people are wrong. This is what Strayer and his colleagues found: In 2001, they found that even hands-free cell phone use distracted drivers. In 2003, they revealed a reason: Drivers look but do not see, because they are distracted by the conversation. The scientists also found previously that chatty motorists are less adept than drunken drivers with blood alcohol levels exceeding 0.08. (Britt) A man named Arthur Kramer, who led an Illinois study, stated these words: With younger adults, everything got worse, . . . . Both young adults and older adults tended to show deficits in performance. They made more errors in detecting important changes and they took longer to react to the changes' (Britt). It was documented by Robert Roy Britt, the publisher of this article, that the impaired reactions involved seconds, not just fractions of a second, so stopping distances increased by car-lengths. A study, done by Strayer, showed the following results: The latest study used high-tech simulators. It included people aged 18 to 25 and another group aged 65 to 74. Elderly drivers were slower to react when talking on the phone, too. The simulations uncovered a twofold increase in the number of rear-end collisions by drivers using cell phones. Older drivers seem to be more cautious overall, however. Older drivers were slightly less likely to get into accidents than younger drivers, Strayer said. They tend to have a greater following distance. Their reactions are impaired, but they are driving so cautiously they were less likely to smash into somebody. But in real life, he added, older drivers are significantly more likely to be rear-ended because of their slow speed. (Britt) Not only is it a problem with the younger people using cell phones while driving, but older people as well. Even though, the older people had better reaction time, it is still dangerous, regardless. No matter how cautious a person is, a distraction is a distraction. It takes away from the important things that need to be focused on and still poses threats and dangers to all those involved. Okay, let us focus on texting while driving. As said before, texting while driving takes a lot more concentration than just simply talking. Not only does it take a persons mental concentration away, but physical concentration as well, also known as the eye site. It takes more time to text someone than it does to simply answer a call. People are killed in fatal accidents due to the use of cell phones while driving and the rise in numbers is just ridiculous. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a young girls mother was killed, while driving, but she was not the person using the cell phone, the other driver was. A story, done on this accident, by Doug Warner from News 9, seems to have touched some peoples hearts: Jennifer Smiths mother was killed at a northwest Oklahoma City intersection less than a year ago. You never know how irreplaceable your mother is and how much of you your mother is. The day your mother passes away, youll never be the same, Smith said. Linda Doyle would have turned 62 this past Sunday. But on September 3, 2008, she was hit and killed on Northwest Expressway by a driver who was distracted by his cell phone. Every day I want to yell at people and tell them to put the phone down, Smith said. Now Lindas smiling face is on billboards across the country including one along Interstate 40 near downtown, which towers above drivers who continue to risk Death by Cell Phone. Awareness is always the best approach up front to see if you can get people to change habits, but some youre not going to get to, said David Koeneke with the National Safety Council. Koeneke said the billboards arent the perfect solution but are certainly a step in educating the public to the dangers of mixing cell phones and driving. Smith, who often returns to her native Oklahoma City, hopes to help warn Oklahoma drivers and make a difference in the state by sharing the facts, like how texting and driving is considered worse than drunk driving. I dont want to be on the road with 100 million drunk drivers, Smith said. Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas have all passed some level of cell phone restrictions. Missouri and Oklahoma have not. Smith said she isnt sure what Oklahoma is waiting on. In Oklahoma, I know all the bills have been thrown out or squashed, and Im just hoping when they see the neighboring states are doing this, that theyll jump on board, Smith said. It seems like you have to hear the horror stories before changes will be made, Im afraid. Horror stories like Linda Doyles death by a cell phone. My mother is gone and Im only 35, Smith said. Chris Hill, who caused the crash, never served a day in jail, but he said he now lives with a heavy burden for the rest of his life. Right then, I was screaming, witnesses coming up holding me up because I couldnt handle it. I knew what had happened. I knew right then I had killed her, Hill said. After reading a story like this, one would think it would convince more people to take more caution with using cell phones while driving. Sadly, it does not really do anything. People will show sympathy and say things referring to how awful it is that something like that happened, but just as soon as it is all said and done, the majority of them are already back on the road . . . using their cell phones while they are driving. In addition to the previous statements, what other things are said about cell phone use while driving. For instance, the cell phone use, or as some call it, multi-tasking, has been referred to as aggressive driving. Dr. Leon James says this about it: There is a tendency to think that multi-tasking while driving is the cause of driver inattention or distraction. This belief leads to demands for new laws that restrict or ban the use of in-car communication devices such as phones and computers. But the correct argument is that multi-tasking can lead to driver distraction when drivers havent properly trained themselves to use the new car gadgets. This is true for older devices like the familiar radio and CD as well as the new, like GPS, phones, and e-mail. So its true that multi-tasking becomes the occasion for drivers to make more mistakes, when they fail to train themselves properly. This increased training is a joint responsibility of the individual driver and the government. Multi-tasking behind the wheel is a matter of degree and all drivers are responsible for determining when they need additional self-training activities. When drivers overstep this line, they become socially and legally responsible. Drivers who allow themselves to be distracted by their multi-tasking activities are increasing the risk factor for themselves and imposing that dangerous limit on otherspassengers, other drivers, pedestrians. This increased risk to which others are subjected is thus similar to other driver behavior that are considered aggressive and illegal: going through red lights, failing to yield, exceeding safe speed limits, reckless weaving, drinking and driving, driving sleepy or drowsy, road rage, etc. Even though Dr. Leon James believes this: But the correct argument is that multi-tasking can lead to driver distraction when drivers havent properly trained themselves to use the new car gadgets, the so-called multi-tasking should still become illegal. No matter how well-trained a person thinks they are at multi-tasking while driving, their concentration is still broken and taken away from the road. As soon as a person takes their eyes off the road to answer a call or respond to a text, they are automatically putting their lives and everyone elses lives around them, in danger. How many people are going to have to be seriously injured or even killed before people start to realize how dangerous cell phone use while driving actually is? People run red lights, break speed limits and go all over the road when intoxicated. The same things happen when people use cell phones behind the wheel, so what exactly is the difference? The majority of automobile accidents, mainly during the daytime, are caused by the distraction of the cell phone. Jennifer Claerr published an article in May of 2007 about the dangers and effects of cell phone use behind the wheel. Jennifer found this: A recent study has shown that while dialing was found to be the most common cause of crashes (one has to take his eyes off the road to dial) the simple act of talking on a cell phone, even on a headset, was a proven distraction and caused accidents. Cell phone users are four times more likely than non-cell phone users to be involved in an accident. In these studies, the conversation itself was as distracting as dialing or calling up messages. People who talk on a cell phone while driving develop an extremely narrow focus, and become unaware of many of the things happening around them on the road. (Claerr) After taking a look at just this excerpt, it should make people think. There have been many people that have been either cut off, been hit, or have been close to being hit by a driver using a cell phone. Claerr expresses another opinion of her own that most people should most definitely agree with: A lot of advocates of cell phone use while driving cite that some studies have shown the total number of accidents and fatalities from cell phone use is small. However, they miss the point. Cell phone use while driving is a totally unnecessary activity, and if even only one fatality is caused by it, the practice is unacceptable. As a result of people using cell phones while driving, kids, parents, and people of all ages are being hurt and even killed. How do people expect to drive safely when their attention is focused on other things besides the road and other drivers around them? As a result, many people are hurt badly and even killed, on a daily basis because of the distractions caused by cell phones use while driving. How many fatalities are going to happen before people realize how dangerous their habits can be? How many children are going to have to lose their parents, or for that matter, how many parents are going to have to lose their children before this danger can be stopped? No one will ever know the answer. All that can be done, as of now, is to try the best ways that can be done.

How skilful communication influence patients’ health behaviours

Abstract This essay analyses how skilful communication can influence the health behaviours of the patients. It looks at the importance of communication in healthcare and the different models of communication available to the healthcare personnel. These professionals need to decide on the model to use in order to ensure that they persuade the patients to change their health decisions by adhering to all the recommendations given to them Introduction Effective communication between healthcare personnel and the patients is important in clinical function as well as building a therapeutic relationship between them and the patients. Much of the dissatisfaction registered by patients and their failure to change their health behaviours are as a result of the breakdown of their relationship with the health care providers (Bryan 2009, p.75). However, many doctors often tend to overestimate their ability to effectively communicate with the patients thereby exacerbating the problem. Skilful communication and interpersonal skills encompasses the ability of healthcare professionals to gather information and use it to advise the patients appropriately with a view of influencing their health behaviours (Webb 2011, p. 57). This essay covers how skilful communication influences the health behaviour of patients. Healthcare Communication Communication is an important clinical skill that is very essential to clinical competence. The components of communication include non-verbal behaviours, listening and attending skills. All healthcare professionals need to understand the basic anatomy and physiology of communication (Bryan 2009, p. 66). They need to understand the variables that affect reception, processing and expression. A good comprehension of communication on delivery of healthcare is important in influencing health behaviour of the patients. They also need to understand the multicultural context in which the communication process occurs because it affects the manner in which the patients perceive the disseminated information. This should be in tandem with a good comprehension of therapeutic responses as they are significant in care management, increasing patient awareness and capacity for self-care and personal health management (Van 2009, p. 101). Models of Healthcare Communication Human beings often respond to illness and health differently, for instance some may choose to ignore or deny health threats while others face the threats by collecting the necessary information and acting accordingly and appropriately (Muller 2001, p. 88). There are different models designed to help understand the ways in which healthcare professionals interact with particular health outcomes. All these models contribute towards the successful understanding of communication in healthcare. These models are as follows: the therapeutic model, king’s interactive model, the developmental model, health belief model, health belief model for compliance, and the model for participative decision making (Jones & Jenkins 2007, p. 18). ). The therapeutic model puts emphasis on the importance of relationships in assisting the patients to adjust to their current conditions and take positive measures aimed at improving their health. The model emphasises on dyadic communication and the level of success is dependent on respect, trust, genuineness and non-judgemental attitude (Eisenberg 2012, p. 45).The healthy belief model explains how healthy people seek to avoid illnesses by outlining the nature of people’s preventative healthcare. The model is designed to indicate how personal health behaviours are influenced by perceived threats and benefits. It emphasises on perceptions and beliefs that can be modified to result in changed health behaviour. In this model communication is perceived as an essential tool for influencing the behaviour of the patients. The health belief model for compliance is an expansion of the health belief model and it includes the beliefs of patients that are already suffering from illnesses and have to comply with treatment. It aims at predicting compliance of patients to treatment to assist healthcare professionals in designing interventions to suit the needs of individual patients (Hugman 2009, p. 33). The King’s interaction model explains the communication between a nurse and a patient. It incorporates transactional aspects of human communication and the need for feedback. The model regards the trust between the nurse and the patient as vital in the effectiveness of the communication process. The model for participative decision making for patient doctor interaction postulates that when clients don’t get enough information from doctors or when there are communication barriers then they are likely to reject the treatment or decrease compliance (Eisenberg 2012, p.24). Therefore, the patients are supposed to be fully informed on their conditions and all the available options for treatment. The development model for health communication focuses on the communication occurring within the various relationships in healthcare settings. Its emphasis is on how different factors and contexts influence the interactions between different individuals in health communication. All the participants have their own pers pectives based on their individual beliefs and values. These perspectives influence the choice of the participants to interact with the others and as such healthcare personnel must always have this in mind (Hugman 2009, p.71). Importance of Skilful Communication as an Aspect of Care In an attempt to show the importance of communication in healthcare delivery, it is apparent that communication and healthcare delivery are indivisible. Delivery of healthcare to the patients encompasses more than just the administration of drugs. Healthcare delivery has moved from the task oriented practice it was in the past towards a therapeutic process that involves a wide range of roles focused on the health of the individual patients, their health and wellbeing (Tamparo & Lindh 2008, p. 69). The therapeutic effect of good communication between healthcare professionals and patients on healthcare delivery cannot be ignored. Provision of social support to the patients reassures them and can even lower blood pressure. Patients regard the health professionals who communicate effectively at an emotional level as warm, caring and empathetic. This enables the patients to engender trust in them and encourages them to disclose worries and concerns that they would have otherwise not have disclosed. In addition to this, useful and informative communication between the healthcare professionals and the patients encourages them to take more interest in their condition, ask pertinent questions and develop greater understanding and self-care (Jones & Jenkins 2007, p.38). It is this interest and understanding of the importance of self-care that drives the patients to positively change their health behaviours. This happens especially when the patients are allowed to ask questions and are involved in treatment decisions. The patients also experience benefits when the health professionals provide a good environment, give accurate information, use therapeutic communication and encourage positive motivation (Nemeth 2008, p. 93). Therefore good communication in the relationship between healthcare professionals and patients is an important tool for therapeutic intervention as well as good care. Basic communication skills alone are not sufficient to create and sustain successful therapeutic relationship between the patients and the healthcare providers. Successful therapeutic relationships are made up of shared perceptions and feelings on the nature of the problem, objectives of treatment and psychological support. Interpersonal skills develop from the basic communication between the doctors, nurses and other carers with the patients. Appropriate communication should be centred on both the carers and the patients as both sides are important in building and sustaining interpersonal relationships. The ultimate goal of any communication between the medical personnel and the patients is always to improve the health of the patients and medical care. Good communication skills are required for developing a high quality, effective and safe healthcare delivery. The skills are important for gathering information, diagnosis, treatment and educating the patients (Nemeth 2008, p.55). Eff ective communication benefits both the doctors and the patients because they are part of the treatment process. Previous studies on communication between the patients and doctors and nurses demonstrate that many patients are discontented even when the doctors and nurses consider it sufficient or excellent (Pilnick et al 2010, p 47). This implies that doctors and nurses often tend to overestimate their communication abilities. Patient surveys consistently indicate that the want the communication between them and the healthcare personnel to be improved (Tamparo & Lindh 2008, p.88). In the past most of the medical personnel considered disclosing bad news to patients as inhumane and detrimental to their medical condition. However, medical practice has now evolved from paternalism to individualism and is now characterised by shared decision making and communication that is centred on the patients. Effective communication between the doctors and the patients is very important in clinical function because it plays a central role in healthcare delivery. Perhaps the most significant importance of communication in influencing health behaviour of the patients stems from the fact that the nature of health care is changing from treatment of illnesses to management of chronic disease as more and more people are now living with survivable chronic illnesses (Van 2009, p.74). This implies that the healthcare professionals need to encourage the patients to take good care of their health. For instance the patients living with diabetes are required to manage their blood sugar levels. Quality of life is more important to healthcare as patients are now living longer with chronic illnesses like cancer and bipolar disorders. Therefore treatment choice is now more dependent on the individual patients and must suit their preferences, values and expectations. Conclusion Communication is an important tool that healthcare personnel can use to pass useful information to the patients. Well educated patients and their families need to be informed to make important health decisions in order to attain the aims of managed healthcare. Healthcare professionals need to disseminate relevant and persuasive information to the patients to help them change their health behaviours. They can rely on the models of healthcare communication to communicate to the patients based on their individual characteristics. References Bryan, K. (2009). Communication in healthcare. Oxford [England: Peter Lang. Eisenberg, A. M. (2012). Prescriptive communication for the healthcare provider. S.l.: Trafford On Demand Pub. Hugman, B. (2009). Healthcare communication. London: Pharmaceutical Press. Jones, R., & Jenkins, F. (2007). Key topics in healthcare management: Understanding the big picture. Oxford: Radcliffe. Muller, P. (2001). Healthcare communication: A rhetorical handbook. San Jose: Writers Club Press. Nemeth, C. P. (2008). Improving healthcare team communication: Building on lessons from aviation and aerospace. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. Pilnick, A., Hindmarsh, J., & Gill, V. T. (2010). Communication in Healthcare Settings: Policy, Participation and New Technologies. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Tamparo, C. D., & Lindh, W. Q. (2008). Therapeutic communications for health care. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning. Van, S. G. M. (2009). Communication skills for the health care professional: Concepts, practice, and evidence. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Webb, L. (2011). Nursing: Communication skills in practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Caffeine and its effects on the human body Essay

Over 90% of Americans consume caffeine every day of the year. Caffeine is the ingredient that makes the public crave coffee, soda, chocolate and many other caffeine-carrying products. Americans consume about 45 million pounds of caffeine each year. In the United States, coffee drinkers drink an average of 2.6 cups per day. Total caffeine intake for coffee drinkers was 363.5 mg per day – this includes caffeine from coffee and other sources like soft drinks, food and drugs. Non-coffee drinkers get plenty of caffeine as well: former coffee drinkers get about 107 mg per day and people who have never had coffee get about 91 mg per day. Many facts are known about caffeine, such as its composition, effect on the human body, and origin; however, there are many long term effects that are currently being studied in order to discover how harmful this substance truly is. [Caffeine- Neuroscience for Kids] Caffeine occurs naturally from the coffee tree indigenous to Ethiopia, and it may have been used as early as 850 AD in Upper Egypt, though it is considered a legend. Coffee is the seed of a cherry from the tree of the genus Coffea. The tree yields about one kilogram of coffee per year. There are over 25 different species of coffee, the three main ones being Robusta, Libaria, and Arabica. The Ethiopians mixed crushed dried coffee beans with rolled fat balls used as food on journeys. Its cultivation and use as a beverage occurred in Arabia. By the early 16th century, the beverage was well-established in the Islamic world. Through cultural diffusion, coffee was a fashionable drug of the 17th and 18th centuries. From thereon, coffee’s popularity grew tremendously. America owes its present day coffee habits to the Boston tea party of 1773, which made coffee’s availability easier. [Owen, Daniel] Caffeine is an organic substance medically known as trimethylxanthine, and its chemical formula is C8H10N4O2. Caffeine is an alkaloid. There are numerous alkaloids. These compounds have different biochemical effects, and are present in different ratios in different plant sources. These compounds are very similar and differ only by the presence of methyl groups in two positions of the chemical structure. They are easily oxidized to uric acid and other methyluric acids, which are also similar in chemical structure  .Pure caffeine is odorless and has a bitter taste. This chemical is a useful cardiac stimulant and mild diuretic substance, or increases urine production. Many people take advantage of its energizing sensation; hence, it has become the world’s most widely used drug. Caffeine increases dopamine levels, like cocaine and heroin but to a lower extent. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in specific parts of the brain that can activate pleasure sensations. Because caffeine be longs to the xanthine chemical group, it interferes with the production of adenosine in the brain. Xanthenes are yellow crystalline organic compounds that are soluble in ether and are used as a fungicide and in organic synthesis. Adenosine is a naturally occurring xanthine used as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Adenosine binding to the brain causes slowing down of the nerve cells and drowsiness. Caffeine is very similar to adenosine, since they are from the xanthine chemical group. Caffeine interferes with the binding of adenosine because nerve cells recognize the intruding caffeine as adenosine. When caffeine binds to the receptors, nerve cells speed up. Caffeine causes the brain’s blood vessels to constrict because it blocks the adenosine’s ability to open them up. When the caffeine blocks the adenosine, neurons start firing at an accelerated pace. Henceforth, the brain’s signals help to other body parts, causing them to react. The pituitary gland reacts to the signals of excessive neural activity and sees it as an emergency. It then releases hormones that stimulate the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands then produce adrenaline thought out the body, Adrenaline is a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress and it stimulates autonomic nerve action. Adrenaline causes: dilation of the pupils, expansion of respiratory tubes, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, tightening of muscles in order to make them ready for action, a release of sugar by the liver into the bloodstream for extra sugar, and increase blood flow to muscles. The euphoric feeling induced by caffeine makes the chemical addictive to its consumers. [â€Å"Caffeine,† Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2004] Caffeine, like any other drug, is addictive. The long term effects of caffeine are unhealthy as they change the natural chemistry of the brain, primarily sleep. Adenosine is important to deep sleep because it causes proper reactions in the brain during sleep, yet caffeine interrupts its  function. The half-life of caffeine in a human body is about six hours long, meaning that for six hours the consumer’s body and brain will be in an accelerated state. This can tire the body, especially the heart, which has to keep up in speed to pump the necessary blood throughout the body. After months of use, a person who consumes caffeine may develop a dependency on the drug because his/her body has grown accustomed to being stimulated by the foreign substance. Withdrawal symptoms are common among caffeine consumers, which is a body’s way to ask for caffeine. Headaches, stomach cramps, irritation, and depression are common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. These symptoms can occur within 24 hours after the last dose of caffeine. In huge doses, caffeine is lethal. A fatal dose of caffeine has been calculated to be more than 10 grams (about 170 mg/kg body weight) – this is the same as drinking 80 to 100 cups of coffee in rapid succession. Like many other chemicals, caffeine is deadly in large doses. [Caffeine- Neuroscience for Kids] There are many harmful effects which caffeine is blamed for, but there is no solid proof of most of the accusations. Pediatricians and Nutritionists argue that caffeine is harmful to developing individuals, mainly children and adolescents. They think that by using caffeine, the developing individuals are upsetting the normal and natural balances of neurochemistry. Withdrawal shows that there has been a disturbance in the brain since the brain rewires itself to crave the caffeine. In addition, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found the effects of caffeine on pregnant women. The equivalent of one to three cups of coffee increases the risk of miscarriage of pregnant women by 30%. Consumption of three to five cups increases the risk by 40%. The study was directed by Dr. Sven Cnattilgils involved 562 women between six to twelve weeks of pregnancy. After the publication of the study in 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the March of Dime, which finds r esearch on birth defects, have advised pregnant women to avoid caffeine. There were several other studies made with regard to infertility in women between 1987 and 1990 by the Centers for Disease Control and Harvard University. They found that caffeine had little or no influence in infertility. Caffeine has also been linked to calcium loss in bones, yet its effects are not strong enough to be  considered dangerous by the FDA. Aside from the negative aspects of caffeine, the drug is used in prescription and nonprescription drugs because it boosts their power. Aspirin and other painkillers contain caffeine to improve its effectiveness. Furthermore, a study by the Journal of the American Medical association suggests that consuming caffeine may help prevent Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’ disease is a progressive nervous disease happening most often after the age of 50, associated with the destruction of brain cells that produce dopamine and characterized by weakness, muscular tremor, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis. Apparently, caffeine reduces the neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, which can kill neurons under certain conditions the same way it reduces adenosine. Caffeine also increases the levels of dopamine in the body, which are destroyed by Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine can also be used to treat asthma attacks as it stimulates the production of adrenaline, causing the respiratory muscles to expand. [Cherniske, Stephen & Weinberg,B.A] In summary, caffeine is the world’s most widely used drug for a reason. It triggers pleasure areas in the brain that cause its user feelings of elation. However, using caffeine in excess or for a prolonged amount of time can be hazardous to health by causing problems such as birth defects, miscarriages, and the body’s dependence. Though there are no concrete studies on the neurological effects of caffeine, many doctors and scientists agree that caffeine is not as safe as it appears. They recommend that consumers be careful of how much caffeine they are using or possibly abusing, since health is too precious to ignore.