Can Video Games be Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Can Video Games be Art - Essay Example Different critics have argued that generally, games cannot be considered as forms of art. These include film critics such as Roger Ebert and art critics such as Jonathan Jones. The argument of these critics against qualification of video games as art mainly draws from a philosophical point of view (â€Å"The Guardian† WEB). However, the recent criticism of Robert Ebert about video games was countered by the US government, which emphasized that video games are a form of art (Tassi WEB). Regardless of all the controversies surrounding video games and their authenticity as an art form, there are those individuals, who like to identify with video games, and are greatly involved in playing them. Such individuals support video games, and most think of it as a form of art, despite what the critics might say about video games. An example of such individuals is Blissel Tom, a popular author of the book Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter. He is a man that is obsessed with video games, and confesses publicly, how he can spend many hours playing video games. Blissel is convinced that video games is a form of art, and in his book, he refers to video games as an art form. According to him, video games are an important art form. Recently, I met one of my childhood friends, who lives in a different state. I learnt that he has taken up video games seriously, and he loves playing them whenever he is free. I talked with him lengthily about video games, and realized that he is well informed about video games. When we separated back while still young children, my friend had not been exposed to video games, and had never played them. However, several years down the line, he presents himself as an ardent fan of video games, and comes out as being obsessed with video games and being knowledgeable about them. He too considers video games as an art form, since like other art forms; it requires skills and talent to play them. Besides the Federal Government, which has categorized video games under the other traditional art forms, the Smithsonian American Art Museum also considers video games as an art form. Previously, this museum undertook seven consecutive months hosting an exhibition, which they called ‘The Art of Video Games.’ In this exhibition, the museum aimed at celebrating video games as an art form, which has existed in homes for an approximate 40 years (â€Å"Smithsonian American Art Museum† WEB). According to Jewell, video games today have revolutionized, and cannot compare to those of the past decades. She notes that these are an amalgamation of all the different types of the traditional art forms (WEB). These views coincide with Blissel’s views, as all these consider video games as art. According to Blissel (350), video games are an important part of a person’s social life. In his book Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter, Blissel sharply argues against the critics of video games, including those who do not cons ider video games as an art form. In the cultural aspect, Blissel considers video games as important as other art forms in the society, and equal to them in capacity. In his book, Blissel compared video games to traditional art forms such as movies, and novels. In Blissel’s comparison of video games with other traditional art forms, he finds out that video games have both a positive and

Children and Young people Essay Example for Free

Children and Young people Essay Traditionally the legal the legal age of adulthood was 21 but in the past 20-30 years most jurisdictions have lowered this age to 18. Article 1 of the Convention on the rights of the child (CROC) states that anyone under the age of 18 is child. Also the Children and young person’s (care and protection) Act 1998 (NSW) defines a ‘young person as someone aged between 16-18. These definitions are important because laws treat children and young people differently to adults. Before the late 19th century children committing criminal acts were treated in the same way as adult offenders. The concept of an age before which a person could not be held criminally responsible -doli incapax – did not exist, and children as young as seven were convicted of serious criminal offences. There were two significant events in the 1980s that advanced the rights of children and young people internationally and in common law countries. The two events were the signature of the United Nations Convention on the rights of child (CROC) and the Gillick case. The Convention on the rights of the child (1989) sets out a comprehensive set of rights for all children and young people. These rights cover civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority (1985) was a House of Lords decision. The department of health and Social Security has distributed a flyer advising doctors that they could lawfully provide contraception and advice to persons under 16 years old without parents’ consent. The mother of 5 daughters brought and action against the health authority and the DHSS based on her belief that a child under 16 was too young to make such decision without parental consent. The court of appeal allowed Mrs Gillick’s appeal and took the matter to the House of Lords with affirmed the appeal on the basis that 16 years old was capable of consent in medical matters provided that she has sufficient understanding and intelligence to understand fully what is proposed. In other worlds children have the rights and ability to make decisions to affect their lives and they can do so competently as long as they understand the implications of their decisions Children’s have the right to education and is compulsory for children aged 6-15 to attend school under the Education Act 1990(NSW) Under section 22 of this Act, parents must send their children to a government or non-government School registered with the NSW board of studies. There is no minimum legal age limit for young workers according to the office of industrial relations in NSW however if they are under 15 they must receive authorisation from the NSW Department of Education and Training to leave school. Young people in workplace are covered by all the relevant workplace and safety legislation for workers in NSW. The High Court of Australia followed the decision in the Gillick case and stated that once a person has sufficient maturity and intelligence to understand what is proposed she or he is capable of consenting to medical treatment. Parents have the responsibility to seek proper medical cared for their children even if they have religious objections. The children and Young Persons (Care and protection) Act 1998 (NSW) section 174 authorise a medical Practitioner to carry out emergency treatment on a child or young persons without parental consents. Young people do not have the right to leave their parents’ home before 18 however the law would not normally force young people over 16 to stay at home against their wishes. Children and young people are protected from discrimination on the basis of age by the Anti- Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). This act also outlaws discrimination on the basis of sex, race, and sexuality. The Convention of the rights of the child (CROC) is a legal mechanism which has been important in putting the rights of children on the global agenda. Once a nation has signed and ratified a treaty the United Nations committee structure monitors and reports on the extent to which hat nation is complying with its international obligation, the committee’s limitation is that it has no coercive powers. Another legal mechanism is the children’s court. Across NSW there are 13 children’s magistrates siting in seven specialists children’s court there also five children’s registrar appointed under the children’s court Act 1998(NSW) to assist in administration of matters before the court. Trade unions are organisations of workers who act together to maintain their rights to good working condition. The Australian council of trade unions (ACTU) provides information about pay and conditions, health and safety issues, apprentice- ships and training and negotiating employment contracts for young people entering the workforce for the first time. Trade unions are a Non-Legal mechanism for protecting rights of children and young people. The kids Helpline are just one of the many organisations from which children and young people in crisis can seek advice. It is a non-legal mechanism just like trade unions. It offers 24hr free telephone and online counselling. If children and young people come into contact with the criminal justice system, it usually through interaction with a police officer when being arrested or questions about some matter. Seventy eight per cent of the 843 children and young people surveyed said that the police rarely treated young people with sufficient respect. It could be argued that children and young people l on the whole do not have good relationship with the police. Young people are frequently targeted for police intervention for lacking respect or simply for being young and out in the public. Children around the world are exploited and abused where the laws of their countries fail to offer protections to them. There are approximately 250 million child labourers worldwide. In 2007 it was estimated there were as many as 300 000 children and young people involved in armed conflict with up to 100000 of these believed to be in Africa. In countries ravaged by war and famine children lack the protection normally afforded to them within the family. Very recently in Australia children sat in immigration detention centres having broken no laws, as a result of the previous federal governments’ punitive laws relating to asylum seekers. In other countries minors are still being executed for the crimes they have committed The rights on children have come a long way. Australian legislation has established processes and institutions to recognise and protect the important role that children and young people play in out in our society. There is still cause for great concern about the exploitation and abuse of children internationally. The force of international law relies on the domestic measures taken to implement the rights contained in treaties such CROC and the pressure brought to bear by parties not only by treaty based human right committees.

Nationalism During World War One History Essay

Nationalism During World War One History Essay World War 1, the conflict which submurged the world between 1914 and 1918 left a massive mark on the 20th century, and shaped the world in which we live in today. Never before has nation clashed with one another on such a grand scale. Advances in weaponry allowed for the killing of soldiers of vast numbers. When the war clouds finally cleared, monarchies had fallen apart. New nations were born and the seeds were planted for an even greater conflict to engulf the world. A major contributing factor to the tension between great powers that led to the outbreak of the First World War was called Nationalism. Nationalism led to the outbreak of the War when countries wanted to show themselves as the most powerful and advanced society on the planet. When countries started to get nationalistic, they became to see themselves as superior, as proud, as dominant, became very compulsive as many became too proud of their nations. When the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand came about, thus tr iggered the World War and more and more countries started to get involve. The war changed the world and the society we live in today. During the 19th and 20th century, nationalism had spread itself all over Europe. All powerful nations such as Russia and Germany had strong beliefs towards the concept of supporting their own nation. When Nationalism was brought up, nations believed that their own needs must be met before those of other nations. These strong beliefs came to play a pivotal role as many nationalists became so proud of their nations that later on the nations that they struggled for it to become the richest and most powerful nation of all. The signal of national pride became a massive problem for the Austro-Hungarian Empire while they attempted to maintain order and peace within seize are of Bosnia. This power was put under threat due to the Slavonic peoples detest of the Austro-Hungarians and wanted themselves to be no longer part, and wanted to be a separate nation know today as Yugoslavia. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife was a major outcome of nationalism. The assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian nationalists was an event which was caused by numerous factors which produced widespread shock across Europe. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated on the 28th of June 1914. The assassination occurred during the Archdukes visit to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Archduke was targeted due to the general feeling amongst Serbians that when he would have been appointed the throne, Ferdinand would continue the persecution of Serbs living within the borders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Just moments after the two had been shot; the authorities arrested the killer, Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian student, who was believed to have been linked to the Serbian terrorist organization, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Black Handà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . After two days into the assassination, Austria-Hungary and Germany advise the Serbs that they should open an investigation to find the trail of the assassination . The Austrian government later on saw this as a chance to end the perceived threat from Serbia. Austria-Hungary issued Serbia with many ultimatums after the assassination, but nothing had changed. Afterwards, on the 28 of July, 1914, assured with German support, Austria had declared war on Serbia which swift shock and threat around Europe. Later on, Russia mobilized its armies in Serbiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s defense, which triggered France to join in with the Russians and the French. Germany took this as an act of war against the Austro-Hungarians and mobilized their armies in large numbers on the Western Front. Germany had invaded France through Belgium which their neutrality had been protected by the British. Later on, this was an excuse for the British to enter the war and sent many troops to France. As the British dedicated that no one power should dominate Europe, particularly the coastline facing the British Isles. Germanys actions therefore, drew the British away from its colon ial ambitions and towards attempting to stabilize Europe. Although the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the begging of the World War, Europe has already been awaken up by the groups of nationalists and hatred been spread throughout Europe. On the other hand, many people had different views on how the Great War started. Many believed that the alliance system was the major cause of the World War. The alliance system is a group of nations joined together to support one another whenever backup is needed. Each nation made an agreement to support and help whenever their alliance calls out for help. In 1879, the Dual alliance which was made up of Germany and Austria, made another agreement with Italy, then was named the Triple alliance. France and Britain became allies in 1892, and later on Russia joined in. These three countries joined together and were called the Triple Entente, which was one of the most powerful set of alliance in Europe. Both alliances were very well armed and powerful, and when disagreement occurred within 2 countries, because of the alliance system, a small local war turned into the biggest war that our planet has ever seen. As Belgium was a land-locked country and was surrounded by the two alliances, B ritain agreed to protect it when a nation would declare war on them. After the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria declared war on Serbia. With the alliance system, countries declared war on each other as countries swore to protect their alliance system whenever war was about. To sum up, a small war between two countries spread all over Europe as alliances were made up to protect one another. To summarize, WW1 left a massive mark in the society we live in today. Many people had died from uncontrollable forces which were raging to show off their society. Nationalism triggered the World War as countries tried to show others what they were capable of. When nationalism spread itself around Europe, it angered many as many important figures were assassinated and left a massive mark which angered thousands. Nationalism led to the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand when he selected a Serbian national holiday to parade through Sarajevo, stoking nationalist distaste. When Ferdinand was killed, as a symbol of hatred against Austria and Serbia, since countries were allied within each other, a small local war became the largest and most dangerous war our planet has ever seen. Besides the assassination of the Archduke, there was another major cause which many people believed in. The alliance system gathered societies together swearing that if any help is needed, the other societies that swore to help must do their best to achieve their responsibilities. When two countries clashed into each other, they called in for help and alliances took place shortly after. World War one has left an indulging mark on the 20th century that will never be forgotten , even thousands and million years later on.

Lizzie Borden Essay examples -- Essays Papers

Lizzie Borden On a hot morning on august 4, 1892, Mr. Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby Borden, were brutally murdered. A daughter of the victims, Lizzie Borden was arrested, tried and acquitted of the crime. â€Å" She was a woman of spotless character and reputation, and more than that she was educated, refined and prominently connected with the work of the Christian church in the Fall River†(Gates 2).The town and the country were divided in their opinions of who could commit such horrifying murders. Many theories have been made to explain that day; the finger has been pointed in every direction- even a Chinese Sunday school student of Lizzies. To this day people are unsure as to weather or not Lizzie brutally murdered her parents. Background/Synopsis: The day started off with the usual routine. Mr. And Mrs. Borden made their way downstairs to eat breakfast a little after seven. The next to wake up was Lizzie’s uncle, who had shown up unannounced and with out luggage the evening before so he could visit a friend in the area the next day. The day of the murder he left the house at nine thirty. Prior to that time Lizzie work up, waited for her parents to finish eating and went downstairs herself to eat breakfast. (It had become a custom for her and her sister to avoid eating meals with their father and stepmother.) Not long after this Mrs. Borden asked the maid to wash the windows. She did as she was told and spent the rest of the day going throughout the house. Mr. Borden went out to run some errands then the came home, lay down on the couch and proceeded to take a nap. This was the last time that he was seen alive. (Martins, Michael, and Binette 72) After breakfast Lizzie went outside to the barn to find some metal of some sort so that she could use it on her planned fishing trip that day. In the twenty minutes she spent in the barn her parents were murdered (Martins, Michael, and Binette 78). An autopsy was done on the dinning room table later that day which determined that Mr. Borden was sleeping when he died. The cause of death was â€Å"ten blows to the head with an axe† (Porter 8). Meanwhile upstairs while making the bed, Mrs. Borden was murdered with â€Å"a total of 18 gaping wounds, over 1 of which went through the skull† (Flenn 2). Lizzie was the first to discover her father’s body. The maid, who was resting in her room in the attic, was called... ...Sullivan, Robert. Goodbye Lizzie Borden. Battleboro, Vermont: The Stephen Greene Press, 1974. 2.) Brown, A. R. 1992. Lizzie Borden: The Legend, the Truth, the Final Chapter. 400 p. Dell. 3.) Engstrom, Elizabeth, Lizzie Borden; St. Martins Press, 1997 4.) Flynn, Robert A. 1992. Lizzie Borden & the Mysterious Axe. 30 p. King Philip Publications. 5.) Kent, David. 1992. Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden. Yankee Books. 6.) Martins, Michael & Binette, Dennis A. 1994. Commonwealth of Massachusetts VS. Lizzie A. Borden; The Knowlton Papers, 1892-1893 : A Collection of. 400 p. Fall River Historical Society. 7.) Spiering, Frank, Lizzie: The Story of Lizzie Borden. 8.) Edwin H. Porter. The Fall River Tragedy: A History of the Borden Murders. Fall River: Press of J.D. Munroe, 1893. 9.) "Arrests To Be Made: The Inquiries by Lizzie Borden About Poison Seem Peculiar." New York Times, Saturday, August 6, 1892: 1. 10.) Gates, David. "A New Whack at the Borden Case." Newsweek, June 4, 1984: 12. 11.) The Trial of Lizzie Borden, with a history of the case" by Edmund Pearson

Gatorade †Marketing Project Essay

The Gatorade Company makes the world’s leading sports drink. In part, this is due to its ubiquitous marketing strategies that can be seen almost everywhere. Gatorade is the official sports drink of the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL and MLS. It is also the official sports drink of the NFL and has become part of a famous tradition, the â€Å"Gatorade Dunk† where the winning athletes of the Super Bowl empty the Gatorade cooler over the coach. Gatorade has also been advertised by some of the greatest athletes in history; from Serena Williams, to Peyton Manning, to Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, to probably the most famous endorser in NBA great Michael Jordan. Gatorade makes several products including the G series which consists of pre-game, thirst quencher and post-game beverages. There is also the G Series Pro which consists mainly of sports nutrition products. Then there is G Natural which contains more natural ingredients. The Gatorade Company also makes Propel Fitness Water. The Gatorade Company was not always such a large company nor was it created by an existing beverage corporation. It was created as a necessity by the team in which it’s named after: The University of Florida Gators. Gatorade was created in 1965 by a team of five scientists led by Dr. Robert Cade. The beverage was created to improve the athletic performance of the university’s football team. When more than a dozen of the players had fallen sick due to dehydration from the intense heat and training, the scientists researched dehydration and what the body loses during immense activity. They found out that sugars, salts and minerals were required to hydrate the human body after immense physical activity; water alone was not enough. They created an electrolyte-carbohydrate drink and supplied it to the athletes. The results were phenomenal. The Gators were able to outperform their rivals, especially in the latter half of the game where exhaustion seemed to cripple their opponents. The Gators went on to win their first Champion ship and soon after Gatorade was adopted by other sports teams. Supplying the beverage became more and more difficult for the scientists as demand increased, and after failed attempts to commercialize it, Stokely-Van Camp acquired U. S. rights to the drink and Gatorade Inc. was incorporated in Florida in 1967. After much success, the coach of the Florida Gators suggested the winning formula to the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were impressed and used throughout the entire season culminating with a Super Bowl victory. Much of the growth of the Gatorade Company occurred when it was acquired by Quaker Oats, which bought Stokely-Van Camp for $220 million in 1983. It was under Quaker Oats that Michael Jordan, who was arguably the most famous and fast rising athlete at the time, became the celebrity spokesperson for the company. Sales skyrocketed and Gatorade was once again the leader as the sports drink market grew to $1 billion by 1994. Also during its ownership by Quaker Oats, the product went global. It was and continues to be sold in numerous countries and several continents successfully. It also expanded its product line to include more flavor varieties. Towards the end of the 1990’s the sports drink market grew to $2 billion. With its consistent success, Gatorade continued to launch new products including Propel Fitness Water. In 2000, PepsiCo, a multinational corporation focusing on beverages and snacks, acquired Quaker Oats for $13 billion. It bought over Quaker Oats primarily for the Gatorade brand, which is still one of the corporation’s largest and most successful divisions. Gatorade continued to grow because it renewed its contract with Michael Jordan, campaigned its â€Å"Is it n you? † ad, and also signed a host of new celebrity athletes. Today, Gatorade has over a dozen plants where it manufactures the products it sells and is still the leader in today’s $3 billion dollar sports drink market. Target Market Description The original target market for Gatorade was sports teams. In fact, it was originally only sold to sports teams. It spread from the Gators football team to other Gators teams such as basketball. It then spread to other college sports teams until finally it reached professional teams in the NFL. It spread team to team until it became the official sports drink of the NFL in 1983 and was used by over 70 divisions and college teams. Sales trends increased with the same rapid pace. In the early 1980’s Gatorade led the $200 million sports drink market. Net sales were recorded at $90 million in 1982 and grew exponentially in the following years. By the mid 1980’s net sales were recorded at $170 million. During the latter half of the 1980’s Gatorade marketed its famous â€Å"Gatorade is Thirst Aid for that deep down body thirst,† this along with televised adds, strategic placing of the product on sidelines during big games and a growing sports drink market raised net sales to nearly $900 million by the end of the decade. The demographics of the Gatorade G Series target market: * Traditionally active males, aged 18 to 25. They can be students, just starting their careers, or well established. * They grew up idolizing many different sports athletes and teams, which still have an influence. * They make a very wide variety of incomes because Gatorade is inexpensive. It could be anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000. * Education could vary also, most have at least high school level education and some have college or above experiences. * These types of consumers may also be interested in other sport-related clothing and accessories. They may be interested in terms such as jerseys, hats, shoes or anything that will show off their allegiance to a team, sport or player. * The G Series’ core target is the 13- to 17-year-old high-school athlete, while G Series Pro’s target is the 16- to 24-year-old who is in the business of being athletic, whether as an elite athlete or personal trainer. A more detailed look at the MRI report gives a great glimpse into the target market for the sports drink industry. As highlighted in the index, 18-24 year olds are the core target market. With an index of 174, that means 74% of that age range are more likely to drink sports drinks. Moving further up the age range, 18-49 year adults provide a tremendous opportunity for this market. As highlighted by their percent down (which indicates the percent of those persons out of everyone that consumes a variable), 78. 2% of the total population that drank sports drinks were of that age group. Capturing the teen consumer has been identified as a priority for the brand, with the CMO of Gatorade, Ms. Robb-O’Hagan, conceding that teens thought the brand was dated. Last year’s shift to G was meant to grab their attention. With that accomplished, she said, the brand has been working with teens to test and promote the new products. Through May, a mobile locker room is making its way to high schools, showcasing the G Series products. â€Å"What we’re focusing on this year, from a marketing standpoint, is making sure that the high-school athlete understands the G Series, understands the three-part series,† Mrs. Robb-O’Hagan said. â€Å"If we land that strongly with the teen consumers, we have a lot of opportunity. A Reporter Report is complete with explanations of key numbers. Please note that all the numbers are based on the 2009 Fall MRI study, and that the projected numbers (000) are expressed in thousands. (Appendix A). Market Trends and Macro Forces According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, the sports drink industry has actually shrunk in sales by 12. 3% from 2009. Considering that Gatorade holds over a 70% market share of the entire sports drink market, they saw losses in gallons produced by 15. 5% in that same year. In a more local look at the market, from 1986 to 2009, the geometric growth of the industry in America has been 11. 62%. However, considering the great growth for the first 19 years of its existence from 1986 to 2005 of 14. 3%, this number might be misleading. A more accurate picture can be painted by using the last 5 years, letting the state of the economy be fully reflected in growth. In this new scenario, the growth is at -. 27%. Gatorade markets not only to the athlete, but to the casual drinker as well: construction workers, restaurants, and families for dinnertime. Sales records for the sports drink brands for the year 2009 and 2010 are available in the Appendix B. Market Trends Changing Needs Gatorade being a sports drink primarily focuses on the needs of the athletes. The researchers believe that the athletes are looking for pre and post workout drinks. â€Å"The average consumer is already consuming during the before-and-after occasion,† said Sarah Robb-O’Hagan, chief marketing officer at Gatorade. â€Å"Different consumers have different nutritional needs on game day vs. training days. What we’ve seen as we’ve developed these products is different consumers mixing and matching their own regime to meet their needs. † In addition, in order to build long term brand loyalty Gatorade is focusing on target high school students between the ages of 13-17 years. â€Å"What we’re focusing on this year, from a marketing standpoint, is making sure that the high-school athlete understands the G Series, understands the three-part series,† she said. â€Å"If we land that strongly with the teen consumers, we have a lot of opportunity. What are also sparking the changing needs in this market trend are consumers increasingly focusing on their health. They are conscious about the effects of beverages on their own bodies. According to Mintel, a consumer packaged goods monitoring service, some of the product areas with the highest growth were in the sports and meal replacement categories, which place a greater emphasis on nutrition. More beverage companies are focusing their attention on adding new nutritional benefits to their new products, promoting a product’s ability to enhance sports performance. As the consumers are growing increasingly conscious about the contents of the sports drinks and the needs of the athletes are changing, so is the change in formulations of sports drinks. It is getting even more complicated. Sports nutrition companies are looking at low glycemic sugars as functional sugar systems to enhance endurance in certain products. These include newer functional sweeteners, such as isomaltulose and trehalose. Gatorade has risen to this challenge of balancing innovation with market needs. Beverage World selected Gatorade as the Winner for Brand Reinvention when it released the G-Series which includes the three products: Prime, Perform and Recover for before, during and after work out respectively. Macro Forces There are many macro forces that affect the sports drink industry. Among the most toxic is the current state of the economy. As we have discussed earlier, the poor spending power of consumers has shifted demand to less expensive alternatives, such as water or vitamin infused drinks. As the recession begins to lag into the next year, the sports drink industry can expect sales volume to remain at current levels. Given that the U6 rate (the most comprehensive form of unemployment that combines both unemployed and underemployed) is at 17%, discretionary income will continue to be a hindrance on this industry. While our competitor analysis is fully developed in the coming sections, it should be pointed out now that competition plays a significant role in this industry’s macro forces. Currently, there are two main competitors, Gatorade and Powerade, or Pepsi and Coke, respectively. Unfortunately there is no room for consolidation in this domestic saturated market, so the competitive battles that spur between the two eat away at costs and sales. A recent example comes from a lawsuit between these two companies. An article in the Beverage Industry relating to the industry issues reported a clash between Coca-Cola’s Powerade and Pepsi-Cola’s Gatorade on a lawsuit over brand advertising. At issue was a Powerade Option ad that featured a â€Å"drag race† between horse-drawn carts, one of which was carrying 10 bales of hay and the other 50. The message was that 10-calorie Option allowed the 10-bale horse to win the race over the 50-calorie competitor. The lawsuit argued the ad sent the message that Powerade was more effective as a sports drink, as well as containing fewer calories. The matter was resolved in a matter of days, with Coca-Cola agreeing to modify the ad. Such trivial pursuits between the two are costly to the industry and companies themselves. In addition to the direct competitors, sports drinks are facing increased competition from bottled water like Vitamin Water and coconut water and nutritional drinks like skimmed milk and chocolate milk for hydration and nutrition. Coconut water, skimmed milk and chocolate milk are easy to produce and provide natural health benefits compared to the artificial electrolytes in popular sports drinks like Gatorade. While health concerns have had positive effects on the industry, there are also some negatives as well. A new study done by researchers at The University of Iowa suggests that the sports drink Gatorade erodes teeth faster than a carbonated soft drink. â€Å"I don’t think everybody realizes how erosive these things are, especially Gatorade and Red Bull,† Leslie A. Ehlen, a student at the University of Iowa – School of Dentistry tells WebMD. â€Å"People need to be aware that all sorts of beverages can be causing dental erosion. † Of course, this leads right back to another macro force in regulator procedures. Although in know will health issues like this loom over the industry’s ability to sell their products, the F. D. A (food and drug administration) can certainly dampen sales volumes if need be. The F. D. A has recently banned production of Four Loko as it the combination of caffeine and alcohol mix is extremely dangerous.

Adv Top in Enterprise Analysis Essay

1. What is the main thrust of the strategy that AOL has been pursuing? In 1999, the major problem facing the â€Å"AOL Anywhere† strategy was how high-speed, broadband technologies would impact the company’s future growth. If AOL were to remain dominant against its competitors, it, too, would have to offer broadband access. Indeed, the emergence of broadband was the motivation behind the AOL/Time Warner merger, which was announced on January 10, 2000. The merged company became a formidable presence in the Internet, media, and entertainment fields. 2. What appear to be the strengths of this strategy? Do you think AOL’s strategy is proactive or reactive, and why? One of the strengths of the strategy is that the company was able to expand into the next level of the media venues that the world was achieving. The strategy was a reactive one, AOL needed to make major changes to adapt the new technologies in the new worldly age. 3. Telecommunication capacities are doubling every six months. What are the implications of this for AOL’s strategy? What are the implications of this for IT and other functional managers in most firms today? The merger for AOL did cause some implications for the company, one was expense, AOL would have needed to hire new employees that were skilled in the new areas of the company and create a new division for the company to keep and manage the new areas. 4. Research reveals that office automation as an issue has been declining in importance for IT executives. What might this mean in terms of strategic information systems? Strategic information systems (SIS) are information systems whose unique functions or specific applications shape an organization’s competitive strategy and provide it with competitive advantage. Office automation in the IT system is not an easy accomplishment, systems are used constancy with no breaks by far more personal across a company, the process needs to be monitored and watch. 5. The six strategic thrusts we presented are not mutually exclusive. Discuss the implications of this fact. * Differentiation, Cost, Innovation, Growth, Alliance and Time these six strategies have their good and bad aspects for the company. The good points are that the strategies can help the company meet its goals; the bad points are working against the company if the goals are not meet in their set dates and times. 6. De-regulation has encouraged new entrants into the airline industry. Given the enormous advantages of competitors who own reservation systems, how can new entrants overcome barriers to entry? By sharing the technology with other companies who wanted to be in the airline business, Sable shared the technology for the reservation system. They also became the company that managed, updated and maintained new technologies for the system. 7. Discuss the role that IT managers play within a firm as it seeks to improve its competitive posture. What contributions can they make, and in what areas must they take the lead? IT manager keep their departments in the lead by including all department from IT as well as other areas from within the company. They will also attend seminars for new technologies that are coming out onto the market, I know in previous companies that the managers would attend these seminars for this very purpose, they also will upgrade their systems such as workstations every three years and major server systems every 5 – 10 years depending on its rate of use by the company. These timelines will usually keep the company in the completive edge since they will need to know what other companies are using and if they are happy with the technology. 8. What are the implications of new wireless technology such as Satellite TV, Web-enabled cell phones, and other handheld devices to the financial industry? One such implication is that new technologies are a risk for any company to take, especially early on in the development and test stages. Apple for instance knows this very well, The took a chance when they introduced the iPhone to the world. They could have had a disaster on their hands if they had not played the part correctly. 9. Discuss the importance of telecommunications to the Federal Express’ strategy. Telecommunications in the federal express industry is very important, it has allowed the industry to have the companies and the customers to work together and make the ability more efficient. Telecommunications systems enhance information flow between organizational entities, bridging the gap in space and time. 10. What is the significance of new economy e-business systems? Give some examples of the impact of telecommunications on internal business systems. Although expensive, the importance has provided the companies that use the internet for some of the services are more attractive to customers. Some of the features enabled the customers to make orders and ship their packages themselves online, this helps the company with scheduling because then they can determine a particular place and time for the customer to bring the packages to them to be processed. 11. How might firms seeking international competitive advantage rely on information technology? What strategic thrusts might they employ? Recognizing the immense importance of e-business, many firms are rapidly building infrastructures, re-engineering business practices, and developing partnerships with suppliers, distributors, and others as they adopt new technology. Case Study 2 1. Use on-line library databases to identify articles in trade publications that provide case studies of ERP implementations. These articles may provide some insight into each of these questions: a. How widespread is the use of ERP across certain industries? ERP systems help organizations deal with the supply chain, receiving, inventory management, customer order management, production planning, shipping, accounting, human resource management, and other business functions. b. What are the benefits reported from implementing ERP? Organizations have a business justification for implementing ERP systems. The business benefits of ERP include improved accessibility of information; real time access to data benefits the organization, improved cycle time for orders, decreased financial close time, and reduced operating costs, and lowered inventory levels. c. What are its limitations? One of the limitations is time, most ERP plans need years to full implement and show the true level of success. 2. Research and learn about the implementation of ERP. Use trade publications and on-line library databases (e.g., ABI Inform, ProQuest, First Search, Wilson Select Plus, available through your library) to conduct a search for articles. d. Find a success story of ERP implementation. What factors contributed to the success of this implementation? Some of successes in the case studies that I read have to do with the proper planning and the timeline goals of the business plan. e. Find a story of problems encountered with an ERP implementation. What factors contributed to the encountered obstacles? One common factor that I notice was the human obstacle, companies needed to rely on a good staff to make the company run smoothly and grow. The ERP implementation time line takes years to complete, and as long as the company has the staff it does succeed.

Mystical Experience as an Expression of the Idealizing Self object Need †Theology Paper

Mystical Experience as an Expression of the Idealizing Self object Need – Theology Paper Free Online Research Papers Mystical Experience as an Expression of the Idealizing Self object Need Theology Paper As the other in the religious conversion is perfect and infallible, the experience of merger achieves the felt quality of perfection rendering the transformed self perfect as well. The merger with God may offer the opportunity for a relationship that circumvents the demands of relationships with separate others who have wishes and needs of their own. (Ullman, 1989, p.147.) Introductory Comments about Religion and Psychology Throughout history human beings have reported experiences interpreted variously as spiritual, transcendent, religious, or mystical. Karen Armstrong (1993) called this an arresting characteristic of the human mind and a fact of life (p. xxi). Rudolph Otto (1923) referred to homo religiosus as a way of describing this uniquely human interest in the divine. Rolland challenged Freud about his omission of this aspect of religious experience in Future of an Illusion (1927). Freuds response was dismissive on two counts: first and most interesting, he had not experienced this oceanic feeling, and secondly, he thought it could be understood as a regressive phenomenon originating in infantile maternal longings. Laski (1961) wrote about the rare joy and feeling of contact with ultimate meaning of transcendent origin in ecstatic experiences. These experiences were not restricted to particular religious triggers. Maslow (1964; 1966) investigated peak experiences of contact with th e holy or sacred, the beauty of nature, and feelings of harmony with the universe. These were not rare and exotic experiences, but rather the pinnacle of his need hierarchy. And most recently, Jeffrey Rubin (1996; 1997) describes non-self-centered subjectivity: . . . a psychological-spiritual phenomenon that is implicated in a range of adaptive contexts . . . It is something many people have experienced, for example, creating art, participating in athletics or religious experiences, or in love. It is characterized by heightened attentiveness, focus, and clarity, attunement to the other as well as to self, non-self-preoccupied exercise of agency, a sense of unity and timelessness, and non-self-annulling immersion in whatever one is doing in the present (1997, p. 80) For the purpose of this chapter, I have chosen to delimit this range of experiences to particular kinds of mystical experiences in which there is an element of what Evelyn Underhill (1912) called the unitive feeling what is psychologically called a merger experience. Ellwood (1999) regards mysticism as an interpretive category and defines it as: . . . experience in a religious context that is immediately or subsequently interpreted by the experiencer as a direct, unmediated encounter with ultimate divine reality. This experience engenders a deep sense of unity and suggests that during the experience the experiencer was living on a level of being other than the ordinary. (p. 39) The attempt to understand mysticism psychologically has a history as long as psychology itself beginning with the French psychopathology tradition, continuing into German studies in psychology of religion, and on to the American psychologists of religion working at the turn of the twentieth century. James Leuba, a member of the Clark school (a program in religious psychology founded by G. Stanley Hall in the late 1800s), was convinced that religious experience lacked a transcendent object and could be explained entirely by psycho-physiological processes. He was perhaps the only American at the time to take such a strict point of view. There were many apologists. Henri Delacroix (1908) thought mystics possess a special aptitude for a rich subconscious life and that the stages of a mystics life represent new and creative existence. While not exactly an apologist, Theodore Flournoy (1903a), Swiss psychologist and friend of William James, suggested the principle of the exclusion of the transcendent as necessary for a genuine psychology of religion. He argued psychologists are not in a position to affirm or reject the independent existence of a religious object and should confine themselves to observation and understanding. The Gifford Lectures of 1901-1902 resulted in the premier psychology of religion at the time, William James The Varieties of Religious Experience. James assumed the same stance toward the religious object as Flournoy, and so have many others since. In psychoanalytic circles, Rizzutos Birth of the Living God (1979) has already become classic. She explains her position:This book is exclusively a clinical, psychoanalytical study of postulated superhuman beings as experienced by those who do and do not believe in them Questions about the actual existence of God do not pertain here. My method enables me to deal only with psychic experiences. Those among my patients who believe are unshakeable in their conviction that God is a very live person. To understand them I must accept that belief as a reality to them. (1979, pp. 3-4) More recent psychoanalytic treatments of religion, notably those of Jones (1991) and Rubin (1996; 1997) have called for a mutually (if not reciprocal) influencing relationship. Psychoanalysis is challenged by religion to examine its own idolatries, values, self-care ethic, and pathologizing tendencies. Religion is challenged to examine its uncritical self-idealization and the ways in which its practices and beliefs may promote or sustain psychopathology. Wulff calls for the principle of inclusion of the transcendent to give transcendence the prominence it deserves without reifying it or identifying it with any one tradition or set of symbols (1997, p. 645). Self psychology represents an example of a moderate position in its interpretation of religion, and suggests in contrast to the previous positions, that religious experience, belief and practice may be understood as an expression of the state of the self and its particular life-long needs for a sense of being special, a need for the experience of alikeness, and a need for affiliation with the admired. These selfobject needs for mirroring, twinship, and idealization may all be operative in mystical experiences and in experiences of the divine, as well as in adherence to particular religious beliefs and practices. Self Psychology with its developmental trajectories for each selfobject need, recognizes that the mere presence of religion does not automatically convey the meaning, function, or derivation of the experience within the personality. Clinicians countertransference or confusion about how to deal with the material, often results in religion being pathologized or ignored. Her ein lies the relevance of Meissners (1984) observation that many religious people are very anxious about exploring the unconscious dimensions of their faith, lest it be psychologized away, and the relevance of Kohuts observation that the insights of the psychology of the self enable us to shed our intolerant attitude toward religion . . . (1978). This chapter will explore certain aspects of mystical experience as an expression of the idealizing selfobject need. Kohuts developmental continuum of idealization will be reviewed with attention to optimal developmental experience and to expressions of pathological (or archaic) forms of idealization. The cases of Mr. X and Mr. U in Restoration (1977) and the implications of the idealizing selfobject need for a psychology of mystical/religious/spiritual experience are considered. The chapter concludes with the clinical vignette of Mr. S, the mystical experience he reported in light of the selfobject needs expressed inside and outside the treatment, and a series of questions for. The Idealizing Selfobject Need and Its Relation to Religious Experience In discussing the selfobject functions of religion, Kohut gave more attention to idealization than to mirroring or twinship. In some ways, idealization has the most obvious link to religion with its fundamental desire to merge with or affiliate oneself with the calming perfection and omnipotence of the selfobject. The object of mystical experience is often described with reference to power and perfection. The need or motivation for idealizing selfobject experience derives from the childs experience of the loss of his or her original sense of narcissistic perfection. The idealizing need reflects one strategy to the problem of recovering a sense of perfection. The self attempts to merge or affiliate with the perfect other sharing in the others perfection, thereby protecting oneself from an empty and depleted sense of a defective self. A more technical definition is offered in Analysis of the Self (1971):It is the state in which, after being exposed to the disturbance of the psycho logical equilibrium of primary narcissism, the psyche saves a part of the lost experience of global narcissistic perfection by assigning it to an archaic, rudimentary (transitional) self-object, the idealized parental imago. (p. 37) The idealizing experience and related inevitable disappointments in life (optimal frustrations) result in the internalization of basic values and ideals. In addition, the earliest merger experiences provide the foundation for development of the capacity to calm and soothe oneself, to manage anxiety without undue difficulty, to regulate inner tension. Eating disorders, substance abuse, compulsive sexual activity, and perhaps delinquent behavior are all evidence, at least in part, of a deficit in the capacity to soothe oneself, and by inference, of an early disturbance in the experience of the idealized selfobject. The Developmental Continuum of the Idealizing Need The earliest point on the developmental trajectory of the idealizing selfobject need is experienced by the infant as a merger with the stable, calm, non-anxious, powerful, wise, protective selfobject that possesses the qualities the self lacks (Wolf, 1988, p. 55). Kohut (1971) described the experience of the child feeling bereft and insignificant without constant union with the selfobject who possesses these idealized qualities. Development progresses toward being able to recognize details of the environment more clearly; and beyond being able to love and hate (Kohut, 1971, p.38). The later, or more mature end of the continuum is illustrated by the capacity to be sustained by and to feel secure in the empathic resonance (rather than merger) with the idealized selfobject. The calming functions and ideals of the selfobject have been internalized and assimilated, becoming psychological structures within the self. Imperfections are observed in (reality) without resorting to splittin g defenses in which everything is either all good or all bad. The self learns to recognize and accept that the ideal is not ideal (Kohut in Elson, 1987, p. 81). Merger with the idealized selfobject and the requirement of perfection in the other gradually give way to a clearer and more realistic sense of the surround. This occurs through a process of de-idealization and transmuting internalization in which the child experiences incremental disappointments in an empathic environment and becomes increasingly realistic about the idealized parent imago. Kohut suggested, for example, that the experience of a childs undetected lie by the parents introduces the fact that the parents are not omniscient. Kohut also speculated that a maturational readiness to perform the function, as well as some withdrawal of the function by the selfobject would enhance the more mature development of the idealizing need (Kohut in Elson, 1987, p.98). To summarize, the developmental trajectory of the idealized selfobject experience begins in a merger with the perfect other in an effort to manage tension regulation and feelings of insignificance and imperfection. In the oedipal phase, acceptance of the childs idealizing needs plays a crucial role in superego formation and in the formation of gender identity. In adolescence and young adulthood, more advanced cognitive development permits the recognition of parental shortcomings. Often, idealization needs are directed to the peer group and popular culture until the adolescent and young adult have internalized his or her own set of ideals, values, and goals. Wolf noted the adolescents own values consist of partly parental, partly cultural, and partly a critique of both (1988, p. 58). In old age, there is a need to idealize community and to be confirmed as an especially valuable guide and model for the communitys ideals (Wolf, 1988, p. 60). Effects of Developmentally Inadequate Idealization Experience Generally speaking, insufficient empathy for the childs idealizing needs results in the continuation of archaic expressions of idealization into adulthood. Insufficient empathy may be characterized by a rejection of the childs idealizations, or by sudden loss of or extensive disappointment in the idealized selfobject, such as may occur in situations of divorce, substance abuse, domestic violence, or death. Wolf described the ideal-hungry personality as being able to experience him or herself worthwhile only by finding selfobjects to whom they can look up and by whom they can feel accepted (Wolf, 1988, p. 73). It is worth noting here that Ullman (1989) observed many converts were struggling with feelings of unworthiness and low-self-esteem prior to their religious or spiritual experiences. Excessive frustration in infancy and early childhood may result in difficulty sleeping (self-soothing) and difficulty managing anxiety. Traumatic disappointment up to and through the oedipal phase seriously interferes with the capacity to assume functions related to positive idealizing experiences (i.e., structuralization) and may result in a kind of developmental fixation, a renewed insistence on, and search for, an external object of perfection (Kohut, 1971, p. 44). There can be gross identification with the lost parent rather than an internalizing of structure (identification as a counter to the experience of mourning, Freud, 1917 E). In Restoration of the Self (1977), Kohut discussed the case of Mr. U in which there was significant failed maternal empathy and the development of a fetish. An attempt to idealize the father followed. The idealizing function the mother might have allowed Mr. U, as an infant, was a merger with her strength and calmness, thus assisting him to develop a capacity for self-soothing. Instead he resorted to stroking his own skin and the soft selfobject surrogates of his fetish. The turn to the father at this juncture is considered a secondary idealization. The father rejected Mr. Us attempts to use him as an idealized parent imago and therefore Mr. U had no opportunity to obtain self-soothing structures through this potential merger, nor any opportunity to incrementally experience de-idealizations allowing integration of the selfobjects shortcomings. This resulted in two opposite responses to the disappointment: 1) Mr. U became despairing and hopeless about an unreachable ideal, and 2 ) the ideal was regarded as worthless; he became superior to it (Kohut, 1977, pp. 56-57). The archaic grandiose self was reactivated in response to the injury of being rebuffed by the idealized parent imago. Kohuts further notation has relevance for understanding the function of religious experience. Mr. U created,. . . a psychological situation of merger with a nonhuman selfobject that he totally controlled, and thereby deprived himself of the opportunity to experience the structure-building optimal failures of a human selfobject. (1977, p.56) In a similar vein, Kohut (1984) revisited this notion of creating substitute selfobjects through visual imagery when there seemed to be no plausible selfobjects in ones environment. Specifically, he suggested a self psychology refinement of the concept of regression-in-service-of-the-ego and spoke of a positive evaluation of the capacity to conjure up the presence of individuals [in order] to carry out acts of supreme courage (Kohut, 1984, p. 76). He had in mind martyred resisters to the Nazis. In noting the selfobject transference in the treatment situation as a new edition of the relation between the self and selfobject in early life, Kohut reported several cases with religious preoccupations. In one case he was treating (during the early stages of his self psychology theory development), Kohut consistently refused the patients idealization. She became deeply religious and continued the unresolved idealizing transference in an intense religious experience (Kohut in Elson, 1987, p. 77). Regarding his work with a young man whose idealized father died when he was nine years old, and who expressed interest in the figures of Gandhi, Jesus, and Martin Luther King, Kohut concluded, There is a shift from the attempt to regain a lost personified strong ideal to a religious-like drifting attitude toward the world (Kohut in Elson, 1987, p. 286). It was Kohuts experience that when a treatment ended with an incompletely analyzed idealizing transference, the patient often became preoccupied with religion or broad religious attitudes. Kohut explicitly said he was not adverse to religion, but that in some patients he felt the religious interest was psychologically obligatory and not freely chosen. In one case, the religious interest was maintained all the time against reality resulting in a pollyannaish attitude that everyone was good, an attitude that mitigated against a more needed realism in the patients job and his hiring practices (Kohut in Elson, 1987, p. 287). In Restoration (1977), the case of Mr. X illustrates again the pathological implications of an inadequate idealized parent imago. He presented himself to Kohut with an interest in joining the Peace Corps and with a Christ-identification, both of which Kohut came to regard as the carriers of an archaic grandiose self. One aspect of his difficulties had been the mothers interference with Mr. Xs idealization of his father. The structural defects that resulted were dealt with by concretized erotic enactments. For example, Mr. X. would feel suffused with idealized masculine strength when he imagined himself crossing his penis with the penis of the priest as he was receiving the Host. Kohut understood it necessary to shift Mr. X from an addictive erotic representation to a reactivation in the transference of Mr. Xs relation to his father, the idealized selfobject. This required shedding the Christ-identification his mother had fostered in her Bible reading to him and simultaneously di sengaging the father-surrogate, God, which had represented his mothers unconscious imago of her own father (1977, p. 218). While Kohut theorized the possibility that participating in religion or spirituality could meet appropriate selfobject needs, it is clear that he also viewed involvement in things religious as potentially serving pathological or defensive functions within the personality. Implications for Religious Belief and Experience The developmental fate of the idealized parent imago, whether mature or archaically vulnerable to narcissistic injury, may find expression in some form of spirituality. Whether in particular theological beliefs or in varieties of religious experience, the need to affiliate with perfection can often be observed in both the characterizations of the divine as well as in the emotional longings which precede many conversion experiences. Ullman (1989) interviewed converts to Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, and the Bahai faith and concluded that the religious realities of these converts consisted primarily of the promise of unconditional love and protection by a figure perceived as infallible, rather than in an ideological search for the truth (p. 191). Kohut introduced the consideration of mystical experience and nature religion in his discussion of archaic idealizing needs and the concept of fuzzy idealism. He noted two expressions of fuzzy idealism in religious experience. The first related to what he called vague religious preoccupations which lacked focus upon a clearly delimited admired figure (1971, p. 85). As noted above, idealizing transferences deflected by the therapist that remain unengaged in the treatment sometimes resulted in the patients turn to religion or spirituality. The predisposition for such a turn related to early developmental disruptions in the idealized selfobject experience. Secondly, the early loss of or traumatic disappointment in an idealized figure sometimes resulted later in an interest in nature religion or philosophy (e.g., Thoreaus work). The appeal of these experiences is the absence of a human being experienced as selfobject who may disappoint again. The fuzziness of these idealizations p rotects the believer from a certain form of narcissistic injury while at the same time providing a needed experience of idealization. Kohut also observed the not infrequent presence of a tendency to mystical merger experiences in archaic expressions of the idealizing selfobject need. The dynamic of merger was the key focus for Kohut and suggested to him a response to earlier developmental expressions of this selfobject need. It is significant to note that he discussed both healthy and pathological forms of merger. Healthy merger must be initiated from the mature aspect of the personality, should not be the only automatic response to stress, should be controlled and controllable, should be a choice, and should be capable of tolerating delay (Kohut in Elson, 1987). In contrast, pathological merger experiences in adulthood are a response to the inadequately fulfilled, phase appropriate merger needs of childhood. Kohut noted that in actual behavior, though there is a longing for an intense archaic merger experience, the more typical protective response is a strict avoidance of circumstances and experiences that mi ght provoke a feared regression and a loss of control. In psychology of religion studies, there is basic agreement as to the major characteristics of mystical experience regardless of era or tradition (James, 1902; Underhill, 1911; Leuba, 1925; Otto, 1923; Stace, 1961; Hood, 1975, 1977, 1978; Ellwood 1999). James concluded The Varieties with an observation about mysticism: personal religious experience has its root and centre in mystical states of consciousness (p.292). He had suggested four marks that justify the name of mystical: 1) ineffability the experience is difficult to articulate (p. 292); 2) noetic quality new states and depths of insight which are ususally authoritative for the individual (p. 293); 3) transiency the experience lasts no more than one-two hours; 4) passivity . . . the mystic feels as if his [or her] own will were in abeyance, and indeed sometimes as if he [or she] were grasped and held by a superior power. (p. 293) An additional characteristic discussed is union. This overcoming of all the usual barriers between the individual and the Absolute is the great mystic achievement. In mystic states we both become one with the Absolute and we become aware of our oneness (1902, p. 321). Following a review of the literature, Ellwood concluded, . . . what the pattern finally says is simply that there is a direction toward union in the serious spiritual life. While common motifs may appear, no two advances toward union are the same (1999, p. 175). A few brief quotations illustrate this characteristic longing for union. From Catherine of Sienna, a thirteenth century mystic: My me is God (in Flinders, 1993). From Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, about her conversion to Roman Catholicism: . . . but I wanted to be poor, chaste, and obedient. I wanted to die in order to live, to put off the old man and put on the Christ. I loved, in other words, and like all women in love, I wanted to be united to my love (1952/1981, p. 149). Thomas Merton, a 20th century priest and theologian, wrote poignantly of the longing to close the distance he felt between himself and God: My God it is the gap and the distance that kills me. That is the only reason why I desire solitude to be lost to all created things, to die to them and the knowledge of them . . . For I knew it was only by leaving them that I could come to you (1948, p. 461).The experience of union or merger in mystical experience is a controversial topic in r eligious and psychological circles. Merton (1966) suggested regressive features in mystical experience are not uncommon and are even necessary to attain the earlier stages of the experience, but that deeper experiences should be beyond regressive elements. Though Mertons attitude seems open, the rejection of regressive elements in deeper, presumably more mature kinds of mystical experience suggests an equating of regression with pathology. Traditional psychoanalysis has regarded mystical experience as a regression to the narcissistic state of the infant. However, as noted earlier, Kohut recognized the narcissistic dimensions of religious experience, allowing for both archaic and mature transformations of narcissism. Self psychology brings a more complex psychological understanding to these phenomena. It appreciates how the seeking of union or merger may manifest as a psychologically regressive phenomenon, but may be in the service of the ego in utilizing religious experience to realize the nuclear program of ambitions and the actualization of certain ideals (e.g., Gandhi or Day). Or, in mystical experiences, the merger may assuage the narcissistic vulnerability of possible re-traumatization with idealizing selfobjects. As Ullman noted (1989), merger with God protects from the demands of other relationships at greater risk for disappointment and thus the possibility of increased awareness of ones imperfections. Clinical Vignette In the clinical setting it is sometimes difficult to clearly separate specific selfobject needs from one another, and in this case there are significant mirroring needs as well as the idealizing focus of this chapter. Mr. S was a single, 28 yr. old graduate student, who sought psychotherapy for a long-standing problems with anxiety. In the second hour, he reported a life-changing event that he regarded as a mystical experience. I saw him intensively for one and a half years until an external situation necessitated a move out of state. He traced the beginning of his anxiety back to seventh grade when he began wondering about the nature of the universe. Was it predominantly benevolent or not? What was real? How did he know that this life was not just a part of a dream God might be having? What was the meaning of life?. He suffered much internal anguish and in the face of being unable to resolve these questions, put them aside. In the tenth grade, Mr. S experienced another expression of anxiety in the form of an obsession about his own mortality (the father was also afraid of death and hyper-vigilant about safety and contagion). At age 22, Mr. S suffered the most intense and nearly debilitating outbreak of anxiety yet, related to beginning a practicuum following college. He was aware of panic about doing a good job. The intensity of these attacks gradually abated, though he continued to experience a fairly consistent internal sense of dis-ease and anxiety that eluded his understanding. Family History Mr. S was the youngest child in his family and throughout the therapy, Mr. S said relatively little about his siblings or his parents. Mother died several years previous to the treatment after a protracted illness that began while Mr. S was in high school. The anxiety attacks had begun shortly after she left the family home requiring institutional care. Mothers illness and death were understood as connected in a significant way to Mr. Ss feelings that he should be doing something important with his life, perhaps as a way of redeeming her suffering. He thought this feeling had motivated him earlier to pursue leadership positions and to initiate charitable activities. Mr. S reported some fairly nominal involvement in mainstream Protestantism during his childhood. He recalled that in fourth grad, he was interested in god and the Devil for three or four months, and then had little or no interest in religion for another ten years. He was confirmed in eighth grade, but said it had meant nothing to him. He described himself as an agnostic who wanted to believe, but experienced himself in his early twenties as being frightened about closing his eyes to pray. He made a few efforts to attend retreat weekends and to do some reading in psychology and religion, but found these too emotionally taxing, at least until he had a life-changing conversion experience. The Religious Experience In the second session and with a great deal of hesitance about my response, Mr. S related a very significant experience, the details of which were more fully disclosed over the following months. He had been out with his girlfriend and was driving them back to her house. They had not been getting along very well and were in the midst of an argument when she turned to him and said, You are so self-centered. Before Mr. S could respond, he felt something coming into him and had to pull the car over because he could not concentrate on driving. He felt pervaded with an unconditional love that he had never before experienced, a sort of cosmic orgasm. He experience adoration for the Godhead and a presence within him. Mr. S felt that God had communicated with him and, in effect, had reassured him about the benevolent nature of the universe. There was nothing for him to fear. He described a vague visual element toward the end of this experience that seemed to be something like a slowl y swirling galaxy. The most intense part of the experience lasted about an hour. Mr. S was left convinced of the reality of God and that his life pursuit should be related in some way to disseminating the truth he had learned. This experience was a critical turning point for Mr. S. Subsequently, he felt a greater tolerance for his anxiety and felt that it had diminished. An earlier sense of needing to do something important with his life in a public arena was reinforced, as well as, confirming a sense of being special. More specifically, Mr. S seemed to identify himself with figures like Martin Luther and Abraham Lincoln in that perhaps like them, his internal suffering was a necessary preparation in order to do great things. Discussion Mr. Ss reactions to the therapeutic relationship seemed to follow Kohuts description of how persons with narcissistic personality disorders respond to empathic breaks, that is, instead of relying on the empathic connection with the therapist, there is a return to archaic selfobject relations. Following a feeling of greater attunement from the therapist, Mr. S would often come to the next session feeling disgruntled about therapy and feeling he expected answers from the therapist which only he could find. Only God could really understand him and I regarded this as regression to an archaic merger. Mr. Ss experiences of anxiety, the function of his religious experience, the confusion he felt about his ambition and his experience of grandiosity are difficulties illustrative of the various disturbances of a narcissistic personality disorder. He demonstrated aspects of a mirroring transference within the therapy (as evidenced by his soliciting my admiration, his vulnerability to mis-attunements, and his identifications with historically great figures). Also present was an extra-therapeutic dimension of an idealizing transference to certain male figures and to his experience of the divine. There were disturbances in at least two sectors of the self, the grandiose-exhibitionistic self and the idealized parental imago. The extent of Mr. Ss anxiety lead to the conclusion that there was a defect in the structure of the self, specifically, a deficiency in the calming structures which serve the self-soothing function of the idealized pole of the self. Kohut (1984) suggested that suc h a defect derived from either a congenital propensity to experience excessive anxiety and/or failure of empathic responses from selfobjects early in life. It can be inferred that Mr. S did indeed experience a failure of idealized maternal and paternal selfobject omnipotent calming, resulting in an adequate capacity for self-soothing. Though his anxieties had manifested in a number of ways, fundamentally it seemed that a disintegration anxiety had been stimulated early in life, a fear of destruction of the self based upon the unavailability of empathic selfobjects. This was related to mothers illness and death, and the loss of selfobject functions that she may have provided and the reactive feelings of being destined to do something great that immediately preceded her death. The emergence of archaic grandiosity could be understood as a defense against the impending loss, against the helplessness he felt as he watched his mothers condition deteriorate, against the demise of the preconscious wish in his dreams to rescue her in order to restore himself, and a retreat from the disappointment in his fathers inability to save the mother. Mr. S felt he needed to be God for himself. A vertical split was observed in his conscious fear of becoming a hamburger-flipping misfit in contrast to his feelings of being destined for great things. Healing these splits then became the underpinning for further psychological development. Mr. Ss experience contained classic mystical characteristics in the difficulty of articulating the experience; the new insight of a truth; transiency (the experience lasted about an hour); and passivity the experience came upon him. The experience may have served, initially, as a defense against a narcissistic injury and the potential fragmentation Mr. S experienced when his girlfriend made the observation of his self-centeredness. The exposure of his archaic grandiosity may have been threatened. The experience also functioned as a merger with a transcendently experienced, omnipotent and calm, idealized selfobject. This experience, and the return to it through less intense experiences of prayer and meditation for relief from anxiety, contained a schizoid quality in its avoidance of human intimacy. It may also have served as a creative adaptation through which Mr. S discovered a new selfobject and attempted to remobilize arrested development in the idealized sectors of his perso nality. The religious dimension of Mr. Ss life was not without its conflicts that expressed disturbances in the spheres of ambition and ideals. Mr. S reported having a great deal of resistance to praying and wondered why, since, There was no other feeling like it. During prayer, Mr. S observed that he had to become aware of himself as human, with difficulties and anxieties; that God was God, and he was not. On the other hand, it was during these times when Mr. S felt best about himself, when he was most real about himself. He felt okay, happy, joyful, and calm with an increased sense of self-esteem. Conclusion This chapter reviewed Kohuts concept of the idealizing selfobject need, its definitions and functions, and its developmental trajectories. The need to affiliate with perfection as a solution to the loss of ones own sense of perfection is especially relevant to a psychological understanding of mystical experience. Certain forms of mysticism function as a form of fuzzy idealism in which disappointment in the experience of human selfobjects is avoided by appealing to a vague sense of perfection. Union or merger dimensions were recognized as an aspect of mysticism, but one that does not automatically assume pathological meaning. The clinical vignette of Mr. S considered the adaptive functions of his religious experience in the consequent lessening of anxiety in his life, as well as how the experience served a protective function against the exposure of archaic grandiosity. A number of questions arise from these explorations. Does a developmental view necessarily have to imply that a merger experience is regressive in a pathological way? Postmodern perspectives challenge these linear models and the maturity morality implicit in them. Can psychological structure be accrued through experiences with a sacred other? Based on perception of the divine as empathic, are experiences of transmuting internalization possible (e.g., unanswered prayer as an optimal frustration)? Might God be viewed as a substitute selfobject created out of the absence of suitable selfobjects in ones environment (see Bacals notion of a fantasy self-object and A. Ornsteins concept of the curative fantasy)? How can the experience of self-transcendence from a self psychology perspective be understood? Are there reciprocal dimensions of influence between the spiritual experience and the therapeutic experience? How does the work in the transference affect ones spiritual experience and how might a spiritual experience affect the working through of a transference? What gender differences may be present in these experiences? Self psychology provides a helpful theoretical framework not only for a psychology of religion, but also for assisting the therapist/analyst in the clinical situation by suggesting a way to understand connections between selfobject needs, the transference, its genetic origins and developmental fate, and the relation of all this to the nature of a patients spiritual experience. Kohuts approach undeniably includes an empathic and therapeutic understanding of things spiritual and offers a deeper grasp of the role and function of this aspect of human experience. Unwittingly, he is very much in concert with that most famous psychologist of religion, William James who a century ago suggested that, To the medical mind these ecstasies signify nothing but suggested and imitated hypnoid states, on an intellectual basis of superstition, and a corporal one of degeneration and hysteria. Undoubtedly these pathological conditions have existed in many and possibly in all cases, but that tells us nothing about the value for knowledge of the consciousness which they induce. To pass a spiritual judgement upon these states, we must not content ourselves with superficial medical talk, but inquire into their fruits. (1902, p. 317) REFERENCES Armstrong, K. 1993. A history of God: the 4000 year quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Day, D. 1952. The long loneliness: An autobiography. San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers (1982). Delacroix, H. 1908. Etudes dhistoire et de psychologie du mysticisme. Les Grand mystiques chretiens. Paris: Felix Alcan. Ellwood, R. S. 1999. Mysticism and religion. Second edition. New York: Seven Bridges Press. Flinders, C.L. 1993. Enduring grace: Living portraits of seven women mystics. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. Flournoy, T. 1903a. Les principesde la psychologie religieuse. Archives de psychologie, 2, 33-57. Freud, S. 1917E. Mourning and melancholia. In Freud: General psychological theory, pp. 164-179. New York: collier Books, 1963. ______. 1927. The future of an illusion. In The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud (24 vols.). Vol. 21, 1961, pp. 1-56. Translated from the German under the general editorship of J. Strachey. London: Hogarth Press, 1953-1974. Goldberg, C. 1996. The privileged position of religion in the clinical dialogue. Clinical social work journal, 24, 125-136. Hood, R. 1975. The construction and preliminary validation of a measure of reported mystical experience of transcendence. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 12, 441-448. ______. 1977. Differential triggering of mystical experience as a function of self-actualization. Review of religious research, 18, 264-270. ______. 1978. Anticipatory set and setting: Stress incongruities as elicitors of mystical experience in solitary nature situations. Journal for the scientific study of religion, 17, 279-287. James, W. 1902. The varieties of religious experience. New York: Longmans Green. Jones, J. 1991. Contemporary psychoanalysis and religion: Transference and transcendence. New Haven: Yale University Press. Kohut, H. 1971. The analysis of the self: A systematic approach in psychoanalytic treatment of narcissistic personality disorders. New York: International Universities Press, Inc. ______. 1977. Restoration of the self. New York: International Universities Press, Inc. ______. 1978. The search for the self: Selected writings of Heniz Kohut: 1978-1981, Vols. I and II. Edited by Paul Ornstein. Madison, Connecticut: International Universities Press, Inc. ______. 1984. How does analysis cure? Chicago: University Press of Chicago. ______. 1987. The Kohut seminars on self psychology and psychotherapy with adolescents and young adults. Edited by Miriam Elson. New York: W.W. Norton and Co. Laski, M. 1961. Ecstasy: A study of some secular and religious experiences. London: Cresset Press. Leuba, J. 1925. The psychology of religious mysticism. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Maslow, A.H. 1964. Religion, values, and peak experiences. Columbus: Ohio State University Press. ______. 1968. Toward a psychology of being. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Meissner, W. 1984. Psychoanalysis and religious experience. New Haven: Yale University Press. Merton, T. 1948. The seven storey mountain. New York: Octagon books, 1978, second printing, 1983. ______. 1966. Comments on Prince and Savages Mystical states and the concept of religion. In the R. M. Bucke memorial society newsletter. Otto, R. 1917. The idea of the holy: An inquiry into the non-rational factor in the idea of the divine and its relation to the rational. Translated by J. W. Harvey. London: Oxford University Press, 1923. Rizzuto, A. 1979. Birth of the living God: A psychoanalytic study. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Rubin, J.B. Psychotherapy and Buddhism: Toward an integration. New York: Plenum. ______. 1997. Psychoanalysis is self-centered. In Soul on the couch: Spirituality, religion, and morality in contemporary psychoanalysis. Edited by C. Spezzano and G.J. Garguilo. Hillsdale, New Jersey: The Analytic Press, pp. 79-108. Stace, W. T. 1960. The teachings of the mystics. New York: New American Library. Ullman, C. 1989. The transformed self: The psychology of religious conversion. New York: Plenum. Underhill, E. 1911. Mysticism. London: Methuen and Co. Wolf, E. S. 1988. Treating the self: Elements of clinical self psychology. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Wulff, D.M. 1997. Psychology of religion: Classic and contemporary. Second Edition. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Inc. Research Papers on Mystical Experience as an Expression of the Idealizing Self object Need - Theology PaperThree Concepts of PsychodynamicAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionMind TravelEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Assess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Genetic Engineering

Free Essays on Gatsby - American Dream

The â€Å"American Dream† is best defined as an ideal lifestyle for anyone. Americans find comfort and warmth in three major prospects of life; money, power, and popularity. These are the three main aspects of the â€Å"American Dream†. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is the story about Jay Gatsby’s assessment of the American Dream by achieving money, power, and popularity through corrupt and unlawful means. Although Jay Gatsby went about his success through ways that were both illegal and unconstitutional, he still achieved the kind of money one would need to piece together the â€Å"American Dream†. Even though Gatsby did manage to accumulate the kind of wealth he has through corrupt ways, it didn’t seem to effect him the least bit throughout the novel. He seems to live a completely carefree lifestyle, as if the weight of his actions are some how justified through his success. Throughout the novel Jay is very frivolous with his money. For example, his extravagant parties with the entertainment, food, and booze that he supplied. To be able to afford the kind of luxuries that Jay has, is definitely a sign that he has the wealth of someone who has achieved the â€Å"American Dream†. And not only did he have the money to show for it, he also had the power. The kind of power possessed by Jay Gatsby is almost unimaginable for most Americans. He was able to achieve his power through his money and illegal actions. He had the power to anything he wished at any time he wished. He could make himself available or unavailable at anytime. Although it is never directly stated in the novel, it can be ascertained that he was part of a click of people that were involved heavily with the mob. However there is not a single instance during the novel that shows any abuse of Gatsby’s illegally acquired power. Gatsby upholds an image of power alone. With his massive mansion among the miniscule houses around his esta... Free Essays on Gatsby - American Dream Free Essays on Gatsby - American Dream The â€Å"American Dream† is best defined as an ideal lifestyle for anyone. Americans find comfort and warmth in three major prospects of life; money, power, and popularity. These are the three main aspects of the â€Å"American Dream†. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is the story about Jay Gatsby’s assessment of the American Dream by achieving money, power, and popularity through corrupt and unlawful means. Although Jay Gatsby went about his success through ways that were both illegal and unconstitutional, he still achieved the kind of money one would need to piece together the â€Å"American Dream†. Even though Gatsby did manage to accumulate the kind of wealth he has through corrupt ways, it didn’t seem to effect him the least bit throughout the novel. He seems to live a completely carefree lifestyle, as if the weight of his actions are some how justified through his success. Throughout the novel Jay is very frivolous with his money. For example, his extravagant parties with the entertainment, food, and booze that he supplied. To be able to afford the kind of luxuries that Jay has, is definitely a sign that he has the wealth of someone who has achieved the â€Å"American Dream†. And not only did he have the money to show for it, he also had the power. The kind of power possessed by Jay Gatsby is almost unimaginable for most Americans. He was able to achieve his power through his money and illegal actions. He had the power to anything he wished at any time he wished. He could make himself available or unavailable at anytime. Although it is never directly stated in the novel, it can be ascertained that he was part of a click of people that were involved heavily with the mob. However there is not a single instance during the novel that shows any abuse of Gatsby’s illegally acquired power. Gatsby upholds an image of power alone. With his massive mansion among the miniscule houses around his esta...

Advertising media industry Essay Example for Free

Advertising media industry Essay ? I am student in a work placement agency called STG Media Corporation, a company which dedicates their mission and vision in providing accountable advertising solutions. In my 7 week placement here in the corporation, I learned a lot and discovered that nothing beats on-hand experience in working. Week One (provide date) It was a week of anticipation, stress and learning. How does one person deal with work placement? The first day was dedicated with meeting the executive staff, the working staff, and introduction to what the company is. STG Media Corp. is an interesting work placement agency. I learned about the company through one of my friends and I thought that working for a media company will be so great; little did I know that it is a lot difficult. The first thing that came up in my mind when STG Media Corp. was mentioned is that it is just an advertising company. But it is different. The company details their service in the concept of accountable advertising, in which they refine print advertising media in context of the 21st century need. As a communication student, this was beginning to worry me. After the primary day of introduction, I get to know more about the company and the thought that it is not the conventional type of advertising agency made me overwhelmed with the job and the condition in the work place. This week, I was designated to the Print Media Research, print Media Planning and Market Analysis of one of the company’s client. The company of a branded sports drink is asking STG Media Corp. to help them with the advertising promotion in one of the new products they will launch in about 5 months time. The first thing I did was to interview the sports drink company representative about the nature of their company. I went to their office was so anxious to do the interview that I forgot to bring my recorder, which is considered as one of the great mistakes before doing an interview, coming unprepared. But the good thing is, I did the interview well. I was given the set questions of STG Media Corp., questions that are required to be asked to the client, and throughout the interview, I inserted some of the questions I thought myself to be able to get a good amount of fact for the company. As inexperienced as I am in working for the company, one of the greatest skill I learned is to communicate effectively and luckily I am able to do that with this interview. During the week, one of the great challenges I faced was inputting the vital information of the company’s client to their database called the Print Media Buying System. The PMBS which is the company’s own database generates detailed market research, analysis reports accounting for all aspects such as demographic information, buying trends and other print media recommendations. I really asked for help this time as since I was not acquainted with the kind of technology they used in the particular system. But later I got the hang of it and was commended for a job well done in collecting information from the client. Week 2 (provide date) Before the work placement began, I was told that I will be working full time in one of the company’s venture with a famous sports drink brand. I thought that would be easy since I don’t have to do all the other work, but the challenged I soon found out during the second week is that the process of STG Media Corp. as an advertising consultant is a process to which many steps are taken. This week I am part of the Creative Team designated by the company to help the sports drink brand. Although I must be clear that I was just a part of the team, doing menial job that the professionals are tasked to do. I learned one great thing about the print media industry, 75% of advertisement fail because of weak creative and non-compelling ad copy. It’s true that one of the strengths of a great brand is not just with its quality, but through rigorous and effective advertising that they create. Before working here, I thought that companies only advertise for the sake of advertising, but companies do take this strategy very seriously. On the third day of this week, I was asked to look at one print ad for five seconds during one of the meetings of the Creative Team. They asked me questions rigorously, whether it be based on the appearance or the content. I answered them frankly and mention the things that I would personally think about the ad if I was just a normal consumer looking at the advertisement. Several times, the Team will press and argue their points with me, but all was attributed to presenting a better advertisement for the client. During this week, as unprofessional to assume the role of being a advertiser consultant, I was placed in the position of the consumer, the Team’s viewpoint on the things they realize about the brand and how they can effectively approach working for the client. I really felt like my ideas were respected and included to the Creative Team’s analysis of the product. This week, I also was comfortable with the workplace. I am familiar with the different employees and get to have small talks with them through several breaks. Its interesting how some of them had assumed I am part of the Creative Team when in fact; I am just a student on work placement. Advertising media industry. (2017, May 26).

Predicting Child Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Predicting Child Abuse - Essay Example Predicting child abuse requires a multisided approach and more study is needed to establish causal relationships, though with proper and thorough evaluation of indicators and risk factors, as many as 75% of the child abuse that occurs within the first two years of birth may be identifiable at birth (Epstein, 2001). Risk factors that indicate increased incidence of abuse can be child factors, family factors, and social and environmental factors. (NCCANI, 2005) Family factors include poverty, substance abuse, history of domestic violence, and level of parental competency. Children who reside in a single parent home without the support of the absent parent are at greater risk than those that reside with two married parents (Bethea, 1999). Single parenting contributes to the likelihood that the child will be in a socio-economic disadvantaged situation which correlates to increased rates of abuse. Care must be taken when evaluating the effects of poverty on the risk factors for abuse. Outside influences associated with poverty may have a greater influence than the economic disadvantage itself. ... This may be directly related to the diminished mental capacity of the parent while intoxicated, or it may be a reflection of other factors. Parents who have previously been victims of child abuse have a greater risk of becoming a victimizer. This same set of parents also has an increased risk of alcohol and drug use. Substance dependency by the father may create negative attitudes toward the pregnancy and signal that the child is at greater risk (Epstein, 2001). Substance abuse is also correlated in homes that have a history of mental problems, inadequate parenting skills, and previous trauma. Research directly linking substance and alcohol abuse to child abuse is inconclusive and few studies have been undertaken to establish this link (NCCANI, 2005). However, when taken into context with other risk factors, it can be useful as an indication for risk. Other factors that signal an increased risk of abuse by the family are involvement with probation or jail, age of the mother, and number of small children in the home. Positive family factors that reduce the risk of abuse should also be evaluated. A stable home environment with two married parents, household rules, and prenatal education are indicators that reduce the risk of child abuse occurring in the home (WHO, 2006). When measuring risk it is important to consider the child's role in abuse. Younger children are more likely to experience neglect and physical abuse while older children are at greater risk for sexual abuse (NCCANI, 2005). Evaluation of the child's condition can also aid in predicting a situation that poses a greater risk for abuse. Premature birth, handicaps, attention disorders, and behavior problems correlate to an

Economic Considerations, and not Justice, should be the Basis of Tort Essay

Economic Considerations, and not Justice, should be the Basis of Tort Law - Essay Example A tort is a common law that deals with resultant interactions between people. It is a civil wrong that mainly ensure the behaviors of an individual does not affect the well-being of another individual. A tort may not encompass an illegal activity, but it concentrates on the harm or loss an individual gets because of another individual action. It, therefore, helps people maintain their previous positions and status they enjoyed before the occurrence of the tort act. In a tort law, the tortfeasor is liable to reinstate the breach of an individual natural position through compensation mainly by monetary terms1. Various debates have prevailed on the intentions of tort law whether to restore justice or ensures people gain previous economic conditions. This is because tort suits make victims transfer problems to other people gaining previous positions while at the same time enduring justice. In as much as torts act as a form of justice, it basis should be economic considerations as justice remain relative through diverse societies. As opposed to common law, this guarantees punishment for the offender upon approval of offense; torts focus on judgment of liability. Concurrently, liability gets paid through economic means that cover compensatory damages to relieve the plaintiff. It is also significant to note that tort does not make judgments based on claims as opposed to criminal laws, which allow claims with support of evidence2. This, therefore, proves torts to be focusing on economic rejuvenation rather than ensuring justice for the offended parties. In an art, shell the argument attempt to reveal the intention of tarts laws, whether to ensure economic fairness of justice. Notably the economic discourse is coming into the forefront of tort law. As a result, many scholars have done proficient research on the arena to establish and gather evidence of the same. From the past, torts remain confused with the aspect of justice while, in real terms, they help restore econo mic lose suffered by the offended victims. They, therefore, are consequential economic loss experiences because of negligence causing a physical injury3. Coincidentally, confusion regarding tort based on justice rather than economic loss also arises due to strict liability accorded to torts. It, however, is essential to note that a difference regarding the economic nature of torts arises due to the strict liability characterized by tort laws. Consequently, torts are not diffusible by excuse or ordinary prudence a factor that approves torts to be focusing on economic justification. Therefore, in as much as torts act as a form of justice the main reason existing behind the action of torts remains economic reactivation4. Various theories can explain the reason why torts consider economic perspectives rather that justice. Deterrence theory, for instance, works on the basis that, for every action, there is equal and opposite reaction. Judging by the principles, deterrence theory ensures people who commit varied offenses remain responsible for their action through limiting future similar actions. From the perspective of this theory, torts subject people to reimbursement of the offended not to ensure justice, but ensure economic stability of the affected5. Consider a person affected by the actions a surrounding industry, which pollutes the immediate environments spreading diseases. The industry is responsible for spreading of diseases, therefore, is responsible for