Violence in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Violence in America - Essay Example Children learn at an early age the easiest and often quickest way to remedy a problem is not to amended the cause directly, but rather, to blame something else as being the cause of the predicament. This paper shall look at the typical causes of violence in America and the social problems associated with them. Lastly, a sociological reasoning and conclusion is made in light of the study. There are several factors associated with effects of violent television including developmental stages, types of socialization, and cognitive priming. Other issues considered to play a part in the effect include the idea of a vulnerable viewer, result of desensitization and the creation of fear. Education that is more public is needed to inform American society of the possible negative effects of violence on television and the methods available to prevent these effects. (Best, 2003) American society is concerned with the negative effects of television as the amount of violent programming is increasing (Anderson, 2005). This concern is reinforced with an increase for television children are watching. On average, children view three hours of television a day (Anderson, 2005). That works out to more than 40 days a year in front of the television. As violent content increases, children are watching more violence during their viewing hours. This makes the effects of violence on television a great concern to parents and American society. Most researchers believe that there is a relationship between violent television and violent behavior (Anderson, 2005). Researchers classify violent behavior as ranging from minor to severe. Minor violence is defined as violence directed at toys while severe violence is the physical aggression involving intent to hurt another person (Lockwood, 2006). Studies by Best have concluded that no such relationship exists between violent television and violent behavior (Best, 2003). Still other studies have not been able to prove, nor disprove, the existence of a relationship among the two. Researchers do tend to agree that television does have a potential to influence behavior as so much time is spent viewing (Lockwood, 2006). A realistic sociological theory, which explains the above scenario, is symbolic interactionism, as studied by Blumer. When a child views a violent scene on television, the scene is stored in their memory along with other ideas. When such ideas are activated, the child's mind is organized in such a manner that it responds to the activated idea in a violent manner because of the set of associations made with the original violent scene. (Blumer, 1962) Some children may be more vulnerable to violent television than others (Best, 2003) this includes children who identify with those portraying violence on television and see them as real, even cartoon characters. These children watch many violent programs with little parental supervision. Desensitization can result from viewing violent television (Best, 2003). This effect is seen in children who show little interest or emotional trouble when they observe real life

The Change in Family Roles in British Society Essay Example for Free

The Change in Family Roles in British Society Essay Family structure and family roles within British society have changed dramatically over the years. This essay will explain the changes in the roles and relationships within the family in the last century. The arrival of the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism can be seen as the main factor which led to the change in family roles and structure in modern times. Michael Young and Peter Willmott in their book The Symmetrical Family suggest that the family in England has gone through four stages: The Pre-industrial family: The family is seen as an organised unit of production; family members worked together as a unit in the manufacture of agricultural items or textiles. The early industrial family: Family members at this stage are employed as wage earners. This kind of family prevailed in the 19th century when wages were low and unemployment was the enemy. The familys economic function was taken over by large scale industry. In response, families extended their network of relationships to include relatives. Women were for the most part responsible for this. There was a central relationship between a mother and her married daughter; by contrast the husband-wife relationship was weak. Women formed an ‘informal trade union’ from which men were excluded. This kind of family may still be found in long established working class areas. The symmetrical family: The nuclear family has become emphasised at the expense of the extended family and the ‘trade union’ of women has been disbanded. The husband is important once again within the family. Husband and wife share decisions, and work together, hence the term ‘symmetrical’. This kind of family emerged in middle classes and spread into working classes. Work is important in shaping the nature of family life. There are five reasons for the rise of the symmetrical family. The increase in male wages and the employment of women, the decrease of male mortality and unemployment rate, the increase in geographical mobility, the economic equality between spouses and finally the better living standards attracting men to their homes and leading to an increase in home entertainment. The Stage 4 asymmetrical family: Young and Wilmott foresee the development of a stage 4 family, which is an extension of their theory of the ‘Principle of Stratified Diffusion’. According to this theory, patterns of living spread down the social structure. Thus families at the bottom of the social order will copy the habits of those at the top. Applying this theory, they note that managing directors’ lives are work centred rather than home-centred. For such men sport, such as golf, is an important area of recreation. The relationship has become asymmetrical again, with the role of the wife being to look after children. Talcott Parsons believed that the extended family of the past, where each member of the family had a duty to perform including children who had to look after the elderly members of their family, served a number of functions in society. These functions have been taken over in industrial societies by specialist institutions such as the social services and schools. According to Parsons, industrialisation led to a move from extended families where fathers had to be the bread winner and mothers had to be the house wife who does not have any rights, and children from age 8 had to be at work helping their parents, to a nuclear family, where mothers and fathers have almost the same roles and rights, and where children become less dependent and have to stay in school to the age of 16. The structure of the family has changed for a number of reasons. The first is economic. Because more women are in paid work they become more independent. Before, women used to be house wives and they had no rights at all. The second reason for family change is moral. In the past, people could not have children without being married, to the extent that children born outside marriage were given to their grandparents to look after them, or given to work houses. Nowadays, fewer people seem to subscribe to traditional religious teachings on family and marriage; therefore people are free to make sexual and moral choices without any pressure of society. The third reason for family change is legal. Because of recent family law changes it has become a lot easier to get divorced. Before 1857 a private act of parliament was required to obtain divorce and only wealthy people were able to get divorce because of the cost involved. In the past, child abuse and women battering by their husbands were accepted forms of behaviour and women had no right to complain or to take any legal action against men. The BMA report on Domestic Violence (1998) recorded that, 1 in 4 women every year experience Domestic violence and 1 in 10 women experience domestic violence in their lives. However, in 1990, the home office instructed the police to treat domestic violence the same as any form of violence. In 1961, for the first time, women were able to decide if they want to have children or not and whether to have family or not. Also women’s priorities changed from getting married, looking after the family and having as many children as possible. Nowadays, women’s priorities are totally different; they want to be educated and to have the best career they can possibly have. Previously, women had to cope with their partner, even if they do not get on well together, single parenting was not accepted at all Today the welfare state supports women and their children if a relationship fails. Therefore, single parent families are able to survive on low incomes, which are provided by the state. This may account for the recent increase in single parent families as compared with to those days when divorced women had no support whatsoever from the government. To sum up, the last hundred years have witnessed a tendency towards more equality between men and women in terms of education, employment and legal rights. This has led to better individual conditions for both men and women. However, family life has not necessarily benefitted from the above. Instead, single parent families, with their negative impact on children, have increased dramatically and new less natural alternatives to the nuclear family, such as gay associations, have appeared in society.

Samsung SWOT and PESTEL Analysis

Samsung SWOT and PESTEL Analysis SWOT ANALYSIS Definition This is part of a companys strategic planning process that connects the companys objectives and strategies to tactics and actions carried out by employees. Often SWOT is part of a companys strategic planning process that connects its objectives and strategies to actions and tactics carried out by employees.   To better decide what changes to be made in a company and know where it stands on four key strategic areas it has to use a SWOT analysis. SWOT Basics Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats (SWOT) is an acronym that identifies the four critical elements of this analysis.   Strengths usually explain in detail an analysis of the companys advantages over its competitors. Weaknesses evaluate areas in which the company is at a competitive disadvantage and has a possibility of failure. Opportunities are untapped markets or business developments that the company could venture in and make profit. Threats transverse the external environment that could affect the company, an example being technological, environmental and regulatory factors. Strengths and Weaknesses The main reason for using the SWOT analysis is so as to be able to evaluate and assess a companys strengths and weaknesses. This helps the company understand its main market advantages and areas that competitors could take advantage of.   Companies take advantage of its strengths by using them as marketing messages so as to differentiate them from their competitors.   By understanding their weaknesses companies can decide what areas need improvement and what areas are deeply rooted in the nature of its business. Opportunities By exploring untapped opportunities company leaders are able to consider ways to grow. Any strong company has to look for ways to improve and elevate its growth curve because without growth means failure and lack of utilization of opportunities, therefore, giving an advantage to the competitors. Opportunities are areas that could create more sales and profits to the company, and these can be the inclusion of new and emerging markets, new business and product developments and lastly strategic business partnerships. Threats Though this is not fun at all, companies always need to have an idea of what external threats they may encounter so they can always be prepared and avoid being caught unawares.   Government regulation changes may affect the level of competition or costs companies face. Ways in which a company gets access and uses natural resources can be affected by environmental or conditional changes.   Companies that do not incorporate new technologies are always affected negatively. (Hill and   Westbrook (1997). WHAT IS PESTEL   ANALYSIS AND WHY IT’S USEFUL? So as to be able to achieve maximum results and get to its optimum performance a company has to consider some factors. The Pestel analysis explains these factors in six categories.   POLITICAL These refer to the magnitude of government intervention in the economy.   Most times the foreign policy of a country plays an important role in determining the trade regulations that could either lead to trade restrictions or trade incentives.   A company can be highly affected by specific regulations imposed by the government. ECONOMICAL Future operation of a company/organization is highly affected by economical factors. Also, the cost of imported and exported goods are highly affected by the changes in exchange rates in different regions. The expansion and growth of an organization are highly influenced by the economy since there is a change in cost of capital. (Yà ¼ksel, I. (2012). SOCIAL The macro-environment of the organization is formed by different social factors, cultural and demographic aspects of the Social factors include attributes in ones career, age distribution, growth rate, population, how individuals are conscious about their health and safety. A keen analysis of these factors helps one understand the PESTEL analysis and help organizations understand the dynamics of existing and the availability of potential markets and future customer needs. TECHNOLOGICAL With the speed at which technology is evolving and customers becoming more acquired to it, organizations have no option but to keep up with this pace.   New technology makes the old one obsolete and outdated. An organization/company that is not ready to embrace new technology is at a chance of lagging behind its competitors and losing its market value. LEGAL These are factors that affect the behavior of customers and the operation of businesses. Things which may be affected by legal factors are product transportation, profit margins, and viability of certain markets just to mention a few. These factors help in knowing if there are any dangers behind selling certain products like drugs and sharp objects and can also affect how a company stocks their inventory or interacts with the customer. Consumer law is used so as to protect consumers from companies that are involved in fraud and also preserve their rights when in the market. This affects business because they have to put aside resources so as to give detailed information about their products and services.   Employment law is also known as labor law, and it explains how companies’ employees should be treated. This also helps protect children from child labor and also it makes the firing of innocent employees a bit harder. SAMSUNG SWOT ANALYSIS Samsung Electronics Co. Limited is the consumer electronics subsidiary of the Samsung Group, based in Suwon, South Korea. Samsung is popularly known as the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones, smartphones such the highly popular and successful Galaxy as well as other electronic devices like Television sets, LCD panels home theaters, refrigerators and even cooking appliances. Having a great and undisputed manufacturing and marketing expertise, Samsung is regarded as the world’s second largest consumer electronics company the first being Apple,Inc. its American rival. STRENGTHS †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   It is the world’s most successful electronics manufacturer of television sets, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, mobile phones and smartphones and other electronic appliances. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By use of its strategic marketing style Samsung is the world’s number one mobile phones seller with the world’s largest market share of 21.4% in 2015s second quarter. Apple comes second   with 13.9% †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By use of its impressive research and design capabilities, Samsung has been able to create and roll out a payment app with similar capabilities to Apple Pay, in less than a year the Samsung Pay.   Also, the company has been able to incorporate many of the capabilities of both Apple phones and Google Android operating system to its mobile devices. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung not only has strong manufacturing capabilities but also have undisputed marketing strategies that have led to the success of the company. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung has been able to sustain long-standing relationships with retailers in the United States and Europe that have been able to provide a steady sales channel for its products through out the years. WEAKNESSES †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   It is quite clear that Samsung has not been able to match Apple Inc.’s marketing capabilities for smartphones. This is because   Its share of the U.S. smartphone market fell by 2.3% between 2014 and 2015 yet Apple’s share price grew by 34.9%. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some Chinese competitors such as Huawei and Xiaomi are catching up to Samsung in the smartphone market. In the year 2014 and 2015 Huawei’s share grew by 48.1%, and Xiaomi’s share grew by 29.4%. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsungs dependence on customer electronics sales in markets that have limited resource for growth is dangerous. The company depends on these markets an example being the United States and Europe, for much of its revenue. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The public has not accepted the Android operating system in an equal manner like the tech community. This is because many consumers view Android as an inferior product to Apple’s IOS.   Samsung devices use the Google source application system and this is a weakness because it is not preferred by a majority of people.   †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Apple products are viewed as more technology advanced and dependable on than Samsung products by a large number of consumers. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung needs to improve its marketing efforts and standards, so as to be in the same level as Apple. OPPORTUNITIES †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung needs to grow its market for smartphones, tablets and other technological devices in developing regions where consumers are not familiar with PCs.   This is because in 2015 sales of tablets overtook sales of traditional personal computers. An example of these regions is Africa and India. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung should seize the increased demand for tablet and smartphone-based solutions and market some of its products that are not known to many such as Samsung Pay †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The company should venture into new technologies such as wearable tech †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The growth of the middle class in the developing world will increase the market for consumer electronics †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sales channels such as Amazon.com can be used by Samsung to grow its online market THREATS: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung has not been able to outdo Apple. This is because Apple has emerged as the dominant smartphone and tablet brand in some markets, such as the United States. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The growth of Apple’s reputation for quality, reliability, and sophistication is a threat to Samsung because it seems to be lagging behind. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung is most popular for its Galaxy devices. We could even say that it depends on these devices. The problem is, the Google Android operating system, which these devices depend upon, is not as popular with average people as iOS that is in most other devices incuding Apple is. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Key markets for Samsung are North America and the United States.   The declining and stagnating of the middle-class incomes in these areas could reduce consumer buying power and therefore affect Samsungs sales. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samsung is experiencing rivalry from Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei and Xiaomi. This is evident because the capital share of these companies rose and Samsung’s is falling. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If Apple decided to produce more consumer products like home appliances and cameras, Samsung could be greatly affected. Though Samsung has been able to maintain an impressive research, design and manufacturing capabilities, its marketing strategies are questionable. There is a need for the company to revisit and improve its smartphone marketing and design efforts so as to be able to maintain its market share in crucial arenas like the U.S. If the Samsung wants to maintain its position as an industry leader it needs to: 1. New capabilities like Samsung Pay 2.   learn to deal with aggressive Chinese competitors like Huawei and Xioami 3.Compete with Apple’s reputation. PESTLE ANALYSIS OF SAMSUNG INTRODUCTION Samsung is a global company that operates in the market for consumer appliances and gadgets. Samsung is owned by a South Korean family and has global aspirations to expand into newer markets. Since Samsung is not content with operating in some markets in the world, it wants to cover as many countries as possible. This analysis focuses on the external environmental factors that drive the Samsung’s strategy. POLITICAL A large number of markets where Samsung operates have a political environment that is conducive for business. This means that its operations run smoothly and though there might be some minor distractions to its operations in some of the foreign markets like India, Overall it can be concluded that Samsung is operating in markets where the political factors are not harmful. Samsung has faced significant political blows in its home country South Korea because of the country’s tensions with North Korea. Due to this instability, the company has had to take into account this political factor and also the threat of war in the Korean Peninsula. In areas where the political environment is unstable Samsung faces a lot of political pressure. This includes areas in many African and Latin American countries where the political environment is unstable and experiences frequent changes in the governing structures.This is not yet a major cause for worry for the company because it has factored the political instability into its strategic calculations. ECONOMICS Opening up of several markets in the developing world means that Samsung can expand in the global markets. This, therefore, means that economic factors are a critical consideration. The current global economic crisis has affected the purchasing power of customers forcing the company to seek profitable ventures in the emerging markets. The global environment in which   Samsung operates in has a lot of uncertainties and volatilities which means that the company has to keep on adjusting its strategies. Through expansion of Samsung into emerging and developing markets has made it possible for the company to adjust well to the tapering off of the consumer disposable incomes in the developed world. This is the main reason that Samsung has an aggressive push into the emerging markets with hopes that it shall recover all its lost businesses in the developed world. SOCIO-CULTURAL Samsung being a South Korean multinational owned by a family means that despite its global footprint it still operates from the core of a Korean company and culture. This means that among its global operations, adapting itself to local conditions is paramount. Since Samsung is a global company that has had to act locally, therefore adapting a global strategy makes it possible to be productive in emerging markets. Together with this, Samsung has had to tailor its products in markets it operates in so as to cater to their customers whose preference changes so fast.   It is important to note that Samsung operates in a market niche that is strongly influenced by the lifestyle preferences of consumers.   The fact that socio-cultural factors are different in each country; Samsung has had to reorient itself in each market accordingly. TECHNOLOGICAL Samsung is considered to be among the world’s leading innovative companies. Therefore, the company is at an advantage of controlling and making use of the power of technology and driving innovation for sustainable business. This has resulted into an obsessive mission by the company to outdo its rivals and competitors when it comes to technology and innovations. The companys main goal is to be the first to reach the produce devices that are preferred by customers and also be the first products of their kind in the market. LEGAL Due to Samsungs alleged imitation of the Apple’s iPad and iPhone it has had to face substantial penalties and law suits. This affected the company negatively on areas of public perception and consumer approval strategies. From Samsungs experience of having various lawsuits with its competitors, other technology driven companies should know that having an elaborate basis of a design or model is key rather than making a fast move so as to be able to present a product to the consumers that shall, in the end, ruin your reputation. ENVIRONMENTAL Samsung has to be on the lookout when making its products so as to be able to satisfy its customers. When doing this, it has to take into account its social and environmental responsibilities so as to make sure they are both ethical.   Therefore, this means that the company should ensure that it does not compromise on its staff wages or their working conditions for they are all involved in producing the final product. (Grade and Pestel) CONCLUSION As Samsung prepares to expand globally, it has to be sure of what is expected of it. Technology changes so fast and customer preference even faster. Therefore, with this analysis, Samsung has clear guidelines on what to expect in the global consumer landmine. REFERENCES GRADE, G. B. PESTEL Analysis Of The Energizer. Hill, T., & Westbrook, R. (1997). SWOT analysis: its time for a product recall.  Long range planning,  30(1), 46-52. Khan, U. A., Alam, M. N., & Alam, S. (2015). A Critical Analysis of Internal and External Environment of Apple Inc.  International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management,  3(6), 955-961. Kim, M., & Park, J. (2011, February). Demand forecasting and strategies for the successfully deployment of the smart TV in Korea. In  Advanced Communication Technology (ICACT), 2011 13th International Conference on  (pp. 1475-1478). IEEE. King, R. K. (2004). Enhancing SWOT analysis using triz and the bipolar conflict graph: a case study on the Microsoft Corporation.  Proceedings of TRIZCON2004, 6th Annual Altshuller Institute. Yà ¼ksel, I. (2012). Developing a multi-criteria decision making model for PESTEL analysis.  International Journal of Business and Management,  7(24), 52-66.

The KMT lose the war more than the CCP winning it :: essays research papers

The question asks if the CCP really won the war because of tactics and skill or if the KMT lost the war not because the CCP beat them but if they brought their loss upon themselves. As the CCP and KMT were preparing to fight, the majority of people perceived that the KMT would win the war easily. After all, America was prepared to pour billions of dollars into funding the KMT in order for them to win the war. With America on their side the KMT had a powerful American-trained and American-equipped army of three million men. They held all the big cities, all the main railway lines, and some of the richest provinces. Money was abundant and they had large stocks of weapons. In comparison, the CCP were nothing. They held only countryside areas, no air force, no navy and an army of only one million men. They did not have the backing of a single foreign country. I think that the KMT could easily have won the war but instead lost it. The KMT had always been very cowardly. Their cowardice was shown during the Japanese Invasion, when they moved west to Chongqing. This isolated themselves from main cities and could be seen as them isolating their people. The relocation showed that they were unwilling to fight against Japan for their country and therefore unprepared to fight any war. However, America made sure that the KMT were airlifted out of Chongqing and into key cities to stop the CCP from gaining more land. The KMT were did not plan well in advance and could not handle the money that was meant to benefit them properly. The rapid inflation of the currency was causing great hardship for many civilians in the KMT-held cities. As money lost its value, many workers went on strike, hungry crowds stormed shops, riots broke out and public order collapsed. This was very bad for the KMT as people stopped supporting the KMT and went over to the communist party’s side. Another example of the KMT not thinking ahead can be seen during the Japanese invasion. During this time, they never gained support from the peasants which made up most of China. Instead, they bullied them by imposing high taxes on them which made them even more unpopular with them. So instead of gaining supporters they lost what were potential supporters.

Essay --

Experiment 02: Synthesis and characterisation of Benzocaine Introduction Benzocaine is described and used in the industry as local external anaesthetic; it is constructed of a white crystalline powder. The advantage of anaesthetics such as benzocaine is the action can be reversible where the use is followed by a completed recovery of the tissue with no potential permanent damage being caused. Aim The purpose of conducting this experiment was to synthesise and characterise for the preparation of benzocaine via a fishcer esterification reaction by the means of amino benzoic acid alongside ethanol. The product was also precipitated from a solution in order to gain a pH of 8.The secondary aim was to esterify the reaction in an equilibrium reaction catalysed via the addition of acid shown below: Experimental Reactants used: 4- Aminobenzoic used: 3.03g (0.018 moles) Ensure gloves are worn at all times when handling strong acids and bases within the experiment of the preparation of benzocaine. 4-aminobenzoic acid (3.0g, 0.022 moles) was suspended into a dry round-bottomed flask (100cm3) followed by methylated sprits (20 cm3). Taking extra care the concentrated sulphuric acid of (3.0 cm3, 0.031 moles) was added. Immediately after the condenser was fitted on, and the components in the flask were swirled gently to mix components. It should be ensured that the reactants of the concentrated sulphuric acid and the 4-aminobenzoic acid were not clustered in the ground glass joint between the condenser itself and the flask. In order to heat the mixture to a boiling point, a heating mantle was used and then further left for gently refluxing for a constituent time of forty minutes. After the duration of the consistent forty minutes the rou... ...rivate and taking into account there boiling point and volatility the Gc retention time will increase, in accordance to the chain going up, so in this case the pentyl derivative would go first then the butyl derivative. Conclusion The percentage yield gained was 70% from the Fischer Esterification reaction, which evaluates to be a good production of yield produced as the reaction is known to be reversible where conditions such as the concentration of the reactants, pressure and temperature could affect the extent of the reaction from performing. These white crystalline crystals were tested for impurity by conducting a melting point analysis and taking spectrospic data such as the IR spectra, HNMR and CNMR to confirm the identification of the product. These spectrospic methods and melting point analysis confirmed the white crystalline crystals were benzocaine.

Persuasive essay †Love Essay

Love is a beautiful thing. It makes people happy. It can change a person, and show someone things that they never knew about themselves. It lifts one up, knowing there is always someone who will stand by their side through anything. It brings people together, and makes the world a better place. Some people may disagree; they might think love is just a fantasy. Either way, it is a fantasy that everyone deserves to dream of and experience in all its glory, whether straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. However, not all people are so accepting of love when it is not in the form that they are familiar with, or is not demonstrated in ways that they think are proper. This can be easily seen in society’s treatment of non-heterosexuals, especially in the cases of marriage laws, bullying by teens and young adults, and general homophobic attitudes in our culture. It is important that these situations be changed so that each and every person has the same rights and is not hars hly and wrongly judged because of the sex of the person that they love. When thinking of the word â€Å"marriage,† what comes to mind? Is it long white dresses and dapper tuxedos, or a towering cake and beautiful flowers? Do sappy love songs and the first dance come to mind? Some imagine a fairytale come true, with a horse and carriage whisking the happy couple away from the church in which they nervously exchanged vows? No matter what comes to mind, most people can agree that marriage is happy, and wonderful, and beautiful. But for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, community across America, marriage is but a distant dream. Same-sex marriages are allowed in very few states and under limited circumstances. Not only is this unconstitutional, because the American constitution gives everyone the same rights despite their sexuality, but it is simply prejudiced. A gay couple that just got married in New York today does not affect the government or society; however some people cannot accept this and feel the need to ban non-heterosexu als from marriage because they feel that it corrupts the institution of marriage. Yes, the legal definition of marriage includes that it is between one man and one woman. This definition is not fair. Marriage should be about powerful love and support, despite the genders of the two recipients. Minnesota republican Wheelock Whitney, who ran for governor and senator in past years, wrote an editorial on his support for gay marriage in the Star Tribune last month. He said: â€Å"Gay men and lesbians are among the most talented people out there. Needless  and hurtful laws [banning same-sex marriage] drive them away. They also drive away innovative people of any sexual orientation who simply want to live in a place that respects and celebrates the diversity of life.† He continued by saying: â€Å"my happiness has never depended on depriving others of their happiness. My marriage has never needed the exclusion of others from marriage. I am not threatened by seeing others find love and celebrate it.† Gays are normal people just like anyone else, who struggle with their identities and live in search of success, love, and happiness. Prejudiced laws banning same-sex marriage needlessly keep these people from natural human desires. No damage is done to society by letti ng same-sex couple marry and lead more content, loving lives. If anything, it makes our country a better, happier place. While adult non-heterosexuals are regularly discriminated against via their denied access from legal marriage, those much younger face constant discrimination and bullying from their peers. More and more so these days stories arise of kids who were bullied for their sexuality and felt no hope that things would get better, so they chose to end their lives. No one deserves to experience that kind of hatred, especially a child. In an article by Make Beats Not Beatdowns, a music-oriented organization dedicated to fighting bullying, it was reported that in the year 2007, almost 9 out of 10 LGBT teens were verbally harassed at school strictly because of their sexual orientation. About 44% of LGBT teens were physically harassed, and 22% were physically assaulted. The worst part is that two-thirds of these kids and teens never reported the incidents (â€Å"Bullying & Homosexuality†). Kids and teens often make fun of gays without even realizing the harsh degree of what they are saying or doing, and they do not understand how badly their words and actions can hurt. This is why almost a quarter of LGBT teens think about or even attempt suicide each year, a percentage four t imes higher than that of heterosexual teens. People should never feel the need to take their lives because other people do not approve of the people they love, but unfortunately, young gays feel this need on a regular basis. Perhaps the reason young people are so inclined to be prejudiced towards gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people is because of the negative ideas that society gives them. For example, it is overwhelmingly common to hear someone refer to something bad or insulting as â€Å"gay.† â€Å"You’re not coming to the party tonight? That’s so gay.† Or â€Å"You’re  in math club? You’re so gay.† Gay should never be used as a synonym for â€Å"bad,† â€Å"stupid,† â€Å"lame,† or â€Å"weird.† People would not call someone â€Å"black† because he or she is not going to a party, so why is it okay to call that person â€Å"gay?† In an article for Evanston Patch, Boston University freshman Eric Linder, who is openly gay, said: à ¢â‚¬Å"I have friends who still use gay slurs and make no effort to stop. I know that they don’t mean anything by it, but it does bother me when people use it† (â€Å"Gay Slurs†). This is such a common form of prejudice that people do not even realize they are doing it, but that does not make it okay. It is hurtful and wrong, and people should be made more aware of how disrespectful it sounds. In addition, some people claim to think non-heterosexuals and heterosexuals are equals, yet they snicker or laugh when they see a non-heterosexual couple holding hands or sharing a kiss. People think it is funny, or even disgusting. It is understandable to find it out of the ordinary, because to some people, it is. But to non-heterosexuals, it is simply a part of their lives, and should not be mocked by others. There was once a time when interracial couples would be laughed at in a similar manner, but society changed over time and interracial couples are no longer looked at in that way. It is obviously time for society to make another adjustment t o encompass non-heterosexuals couples as well. No matter how one looks at it, non-heterosexuals are treated differently than heterosexuals, despite some of society’s efforts to promote gay rights. They do not deserve this unfair treatment that is evident in marriage laws, bullying, and the general attitude of our culture. Fortunately, our culture is changing, slowly but surely, and hopefully one day lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people will have the same rights as straight people. Those who oppose gay marriage often play the religious card. Let’s not forget that the bible was once used to enforce segregation, but that isn’t practiced anymore. Jay Michaelson states in his article â€Å"Ten Reason Why Gay Rights Is a Religious Issue† the bible actually enforces equality for the LGBT community. He wrote, â€Å"OPPONENTS OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE REMIND US THAT IN Genesis, â€Å"it’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.† But â€Å"Adam and Eve† is the solution to a problem: the existential crisis of aloneness.† He goes on to say that God loves us and doesn’t want to harm ourselves, but the suicide rate among day teens is about six times more of heterosexual teens. People often get asked why a straight person is so  passionate about this topic, and the answer to that question is because everyone should have the same rights. Who a person loves should have nothing to do with how they are treated. If one of the women i n this room fell in love with a girl, would she be supported? Or ostracized? If your brother came out tomorrow, in the years ahead would you support his desire to get married to his boyfriend? Or would you disapprove? The only way for homophobia and the opposition of rights for non-heterosexuals to stop is if you can answer these questions with true compassion, and with the understanding that everyone, no matter their sexuality, deserves to be loved and respected. Works Cited Graham, Jordan. â€Å"Gay Slurs and Heteronormativity at ETHS – Evanston, IL Patch.† Evanston Patch. N.p., 19 Oct. 2011. Web. 03 May 2013. . Make Beats Not Beatdowns. â€Å"Facts & Statistics.† Bully Facts & Statistics. N.p., 2010. Web. 03 May 2013. . Michaelson, Jay. â€Å"Ten Reasons Why Gay Rights Is A Religious Issue.† Tikkun 25.4 (2010): 34-70. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 May 2013. Whitney, Wheelock. â€Å"Why I Reject the Marriage Amendment.† StarTribune. N.p., 2011. Web. 03 May 2013. .

Positive Psychology in the Workplace

Positive Psychology in the Workplace Sandie Tharp University of Charleston English II Nada Najjar March 30th, 2013 Positive Psychology in the Workplace It has been proven that positive psychology in the workplace can improve and enhance workplace satisfaction because employees are more confident and are better able to manage stress and adversity. Employees that are happier with their work environment are typically more motivated and are more likely to pursue growth and development. Job satisfaction is an engine that drives organizations to success and keeps turnover rate to a minimum.An article from Harvard Business Review states that â€Å"a decade of research proves that happiness raises nearly every business and educational outcome: raising sales by 37%, productivity by 31%, and accuracy on tasks by 19%, as well as a myriad of health and quality of life improvements† (2011, Archor). Additionally, the author Archor asks if there is anything that a company can do to affect em ployee happiness and should a company invest resources into happiness. One avenue to happiness is using training as a tool that can be used to help employees to learn to manage stress.The first step is explaining the goal of the organization and how the employee contributes to that goal. Clear goals and expectations set out the mile post marking the marathon, by having clearly marked points of achievement for individuals or teams giving them a clear map to their success. It’s the manager’s responsibility to verify the goals of the team members, identify the common goal, and verify that they are in alignment with the organization goals. The King James Version of the Bible states â€Å"train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it† (Proverbs. 2:6- King James Version). On the job training is the adult equivalent to raising a child. Putting subordinates on the path of success by providing the focus of the organizational ins tead of having the employee assuming or guessing about what to do causing stress and uncertainty. The economics of happiness in the workplace means that happy employees can help achieve organizational goals more easily because they are ready to give their best. Companies like Google and DreamWorks empower employees to use creative freedom in every day decision making.Google was a company that had to come up with a quick plan to reduce the turnover rate of their women employees because the turnover rate was affecting Google’s bottom line. In response, Google implemented a 5 month paid maternity plan, which gave new mothers the ability to take all the time upfront or to divide the time as needed. This new incentive plan reduced turnover by 50 percent among women and cost the firm no more than hiring a new employee. Google’s President Laszlo Bock, states â€Å"that if you factor in the savings in recruitment costs, granting mothers five months of leave doesn’t cos t Google any more money† (2013,Manjool).The new maternity policy that Google has implemented exemplifies why Google has become one of the best employers in the world, taking a major cause of employee turnover from a crippling weakness to a world class strength. Carolinas Healthcare is a system that contains 32 affiliated hospitals in North and South Carolina and is one of the leading healthcare systems in the southeast; Carolinas Healthcare employs over 44,000 employees. Managing such a large number of employees would be a challenge for any organization, but CHS has stepped up to the plate and has met that challenge and is leading the way for positive work environment.During a recent employee survey conducted by Morehead and Associates, CHS ranked in the 90th percentile in the national ranking of employee satisfaction. Carolinas Healthcare System already has a reputation of being â€Å"An Employer of Choice,† recognized by the JD Power and Associates in 2011† (201 2,Tarwater). This recognition has helped attracted top doctors and other medical professionals from all over the world. CHS concentrates on growth and expansion which helps generate excitement throughout the organization. Carolinas HealthCare System ecognizes that the employees are its most valuable asset and is dedicated to the growth and contentment of its employees. CHS recognizes that encouraging employees to continue educational growth will result in higher functioning, more competent workforce. Currently CHS offers an educational plan that reimburses employees for covered educational expenses and flexible scheduling around educational opportunities. Like Google with its maternity benefit, CHS has recognized that employees need and desire a clear path to growth and addresses this need with the educational assistance plan.Many organizations recognize the value of multiple bottom lines beyond monetary profit. Today the focus is on providing an environment based on positive intera ctions, outcomes and sustainability of the workforce. Organizations have come to realize that emotional intelligence and understanding is what allows employees to create positive interactions with customers and co-workers. According to Psych Central â€Å"research has shown that employees who are fully engaged in the work they do, and who have a sense of intrinsic motivation, are likely to perform better and a have better work outcomes† (2011, Wilner).To achieve these outcomes it is up to the organization to involve the employees and allow them to uncover their individual gifts and have the independence to use them for the common goals. Allowing employees to be involved gives them accountability for the success of the organization and a sense of pride, happiness and fulfillment. Positive psychology in the workplace can improve and enhance workplace satisfaction and have a positive impact on the organization’s bottom line. Companies like Google and Carolinas Healthcare understand the importance of a positive work environment.Both have provided pathways to fulfillment, whether through providing enhancement programs or through fostering positive interaction. Firms must continually look for avenues to promote growth, fulfillment and ultimately employee satisfaction if they are continue to improve the bottom line. It has been said that cheaper isn’t better; better is better. Today a better work force is cheaper than a cheap one. By continuing to harvest the fruits of a cohesive team built over time, an organization creates synergies that have a much greater return than the firm invests to create them. References Archor, S. (2011). â€Å"The Happiness Dividend†.Retrieved from http://blogs. hbr. org/cs/2011/06/the_happiness_dividend. html Bible – King James Version (1997). Proverbs 22:6. Hendrickson Publishers: Peabody. MA. Manjool, F. (2013). â€Å"Here's How Google Became Such A Great Place To Work. Retrieved from http://www. huf fingtonpost. com/2013/01/22/working-at-google_n_2526889. html Tarwater, M. (2012). â€Å"Employee Satisfaction†. Retrieved from www. carolinashealthcare. org Wilner, J. (2011). â€Å"5 Ways Positive Psychology can Improve the Workplace†. Retrieved from http://blogs. psychcentral. com/positive-psychology/2011/11/5-ways-positive-psychology-can-improve-the-workplace/