Being the Child of a Parent with a Mental Illness

Being the child of a parent who has a mental illness involves considerable risk to the child’s secure attachment and long-term mental health. Parental mental health concerns place children at a significantly greater risk of lower social, psychological and physical health than children in families not affected by mental illness. (Mayberry et al, 2005). Living with a parent suffering from a mental illness can have huge negative effects for the developing child. It has been proven numerous times that there is a genuine link between parental mental illness and its adverse effects for children, e.g. Rutter, 1966, Cleaver et all, 1999. These effects can often manifest themselves as anxiety, self-esteem issues, poor relationships, educational underachievement, and emotional and behavioural problems. It should be noted that an extremely low percentage of mentally unwell parents intentionally abuse their children physically or emotionally. Another interesting facet of the parent-child relationship within the context of mental health, is that oftentimes, the child of a mentally unwell parent can often develop the same mental illness as the parent. Mattejat and Remschmidt wrote that the probability of a particular mental illness is higher when a biological parent has the same condition. The lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia is about 1% in the general population, but more than ten times higher if a parent suffers from the disease. (2008). Within this written piece, it is myShow MoreRelatedMental Illness Affects Numerous Individuals In America,1424 Words   |  6 PagesMental illness affects numerous individuals in America, with nearly 43.8 million adults in America living with a serious illness (Mental health facts in America, n.d). Many of these adults suffering with a mental illness also play the role of a mother, father, or caregiver. According to Costea (2011), â€Å"†¦31% of American women and about 17% of men have a 12-month prevalence of at least one psychiatric disorder, and of those 65% are mothers and 52% are fathers†. However, research focuses on the individualsRead MoreChildren With Mentally Ill Parents930 Words   |  4 PagesRaised by the Mentally Ill To many children, parents are loving caregivers that work around the clock to provide them with the physical and emotional necessities that are essential to a healthy and happy childhood. However, in some unfortunate cases, one or both parents are unable to care for their children. For whatever reason it may be, it is difficult on one or both parents and their children when they are separated, but what if the parents were unfit to take care of their children and theyRead MoreQuestioning The Disorderly1484 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscrimination, such as hate crimes, bullying and unnecessary judgement, than the average straight or cis-gender person, making it more difficult to cope with mental illness and achieve the American Dream. The American Dream is slightly tainted for those in the LGBTQ+ community, and suffering from a mental illness. Being queer and diagnosed with a mental disorder is a fatal mix, many of which don’t survive the curse. These minorities are alienated from society and diagnosed with more than just a disorderRead MoreCorrelation Between Parietal And Adolescent Drug Abuse1578 Words   |  7 Pagesof America. The objective of the experiment is to show the correlation between substance use behaviors of parents and their children’s substance use initiation and other risky behaviors. The experiment is focused on the role of mothers and fathers as a separate study. The surveys that take place through a series of interviews include two people from a selected household, one parent and one child. This topic was of interest to me because I grew up with an alcoholic father. Alcoholism has affected myRead MoreMaking Meaning When A Child Has Mental Illness1222 Words   |  5 Pagesentitled, â€Å"Making Meaning When a Child Has Mental Illness: Four Mothers Share Their Experiences† by Ahmann (2013) is essentially where Ahmann interviews four mothers whose children have been given a mental health diagnosis and she documents in anecdo tal form how each of them were able to cope, and even escape the feelings of grief, isolation, loneliness, helplessness, and depression by reaching out to others and â€Å"making meaning† in their lives by being mentors to other parents who receive a similar diagnosisRead MoreThe Effects Of Depression And Its Effects On Society Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pagesdepressed; however, the earliest signs of depression begin with youngest of the human population. From the day a child is born, the environment, the people, and everything else around them, begins to influence their decisions and impact the way they will live their life. A child is the first naà ¯ve human being to be influenced by external forces. From every experience, to every event, the child participates or does not participate in, influences their thoughts and emotions. Their brain is not quite matureRead MoreSterilization is a complex procedure and has raise debates throughout the world on whether is a1200 Words à ‚  |  5 Pagestheir children and some suggest it violates the basic human rights of the child (Freckelton, 2008). The case study report discussed about the increase of sterilization for children with disability in Australia. The procedures were being done mostly without the authority of the court or tribunal where they play a major role. The involvement of the court or tribunal is necessary as the high court in 1992 announced that parents do not have the right or power to give consent for the sterilization ofRead MoreMental Illness And Mental Health1460 Words   |  6 Pageshaving mental health problems when actually they should be referred to as having a mental illness. Mental health is â€Å"a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community† (Mental health basics). Mental health is something a normal, healthy functioning human being has when everything in their head is in order. A mental illness is theRead MoreThe Art icle Crying Alone With My Child 974 Words   |  4 PagesBipolar disorder is manic depressive illness a disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania(macmillan). 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The Return Nightfall Chapter 19 Free Essays

Matt was knocking at the Bryces’ door, with Elena at his side. Elena had disguised herself by stuffing all her hair into a Virginia Cavaliers baseball cap and wearing wraparound sunglasses from one of Stefan’s drawers. She was also wearing an over-large maroon and navy Pendleton shirt donated by Matt, and a pair of Meredith’s outgrown jeans. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Nightfall Chapter 19 or any similar topic only for you Order Now She felt sure that no one who had known the old Elena Gilbert would ever recognize her, dressed like this. The door opened very slowly to reveal not Mr. or Mrs. Bryce, nor Jim, but Tamra. She was wearing – well, close to nothing. She had on a thong bikini bottom, but it looked handmade, as if she’d cut a regular bikini bottom with scissors – and it was beginning to come apart. On top she had two round decorations made of cardboard with sequins pasted on and a few strands of colored tinsel. On her head she wore a paper crown, which was clearly where she’d gotten the tinsel. She’d made an attempt to glue strands onto the bikini bottoms as well. The result looked like what it was: a child’s attempt to make an outfit for a Las Vegas showgirl or stripper. Matt immediately turned around and stood facing away, but Tami threw herself at him and plastered herself to his back. â€Å"Matt Honey-butt,† she cooed. â€Å"You came back. I knew you would. But why’d you bring this ugly old whore with you? How can we – â€Å" Elena stepped forward, then, because Matt had whirled with his hand up. She was sure that Matt had never struck a female in his life, especially a child, but he was also over-sensitive about one or two subjects. Like her. Elena managed to get between Matt and the surprisingly strong Tamra. She had to hide a smile when contemplating Tami’s costume. After all, only a few days ago, she hadn’t understood the human nakedness taboo at all. Now she got it, but it didn’t seem nearly as important as it once had. People were born with their own perfectly good skins on. There was no real reason, in her mind, to wear false skins over those, unless it was cold or somehow uncomfortable without them. But society said that to be naked was to be wicked. Tami was trying to be wicked, in her own childish way. â€Å"Get your hands off me, you old whore,† Tamra snarled as Elena held her away from Matt, and then she added several rather lengthy expletives. â€Å"Tami, where are your parents? Where’s your brother?† Elena said. She ignored the obscene words – they were just sounds – but saw that Matt had gone white around the lips. â€Å"You apologize to Elena right now! Apologize for talking that way!† he demanded. â€Å"Elena’s a stinking corpse with worms in her eye sockets,† Tamra sang glibly. â€Å"But my friend says she was a whore when she was alive. A real† – a string of four-letter words that made Matt gasp – â€Å"cheap whore.You know. Nothing’s cheaper than something that comes free.† â€Å"Matt, just don’t pay any attention,† Elena said under her breath, and she repeated, â€Å"Where are your parents and Jim?† The answer was littered with more expletives, but it amounted to the story – truthful or not – that Mr. and Mrs. Bryce had gone away on vacation for a few days, and that Jim was with his girlfriend, Isobel. â€Å"Okay, then, I guess I’ll just have to help you get into some more decent clothes,† Elena said. â€Å"First, I think you need a shower to get these Christmas doodads off – â€Å" â€Å"Just try-hy-hy! Just try-hy-hy!† The answer was somewhere between the whinny of a horse and human speech. â€Å"I glued them on with PermaStick!† Tami added and then began giggling on a high and hysterical note. â€Å"Oh, my God – Tamra, do you realize that if there isn’t some solvent for this, you may need surgery?† Tami’s answer was foul. There was also a sudden foul smell. No, not a smell, Elena thought: a choking, gutcurdling stench. â€Å"Oops!† Tami gave that high, glassy giggle again. â€Å"Pardonmoi . At least it’snatural gas.† Matt cleared his throat. â€Å"Elena – I don’t think we should be here. With her folks gone and all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They’re afraid of me,† Tamra giggled. â€Å"Aren’tyou ?† – very suddenly in a voice that had dropped several octaves. Elena looked Tamra in the eye. â€Å"No, I’m not. I just feel sorry for a little girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Matt’s right, I guess. We have to go.† Tami’s whole manner seemed to change. â€Å"I’m so sorry†¦. I didn’t realize I had guests of that caliber. Don’t go, please, Matt.† Then she added in a confidential whisper to Elena, â€Å"Is he any good?† â€Å"What?† Tami nodded at Matt, who immediately turned his back to her. He looked as if he felt a terrible, repulsive fascination for Tami’s ridiculous appearance. â€Å"Him. Is he any good in the sack?† â€Å"Matt, look at this.† Elena held up a small tube of glue. â€Å"I think she actually did PermaStick that stuff to her skin. We have to call Child Protective Services or whatever, because nobody took her to the hospital right away. Whether her parents knew about this behavior or not, they shouldn’t have just left her.† â€Å"I just hopethey’re all right. Her family,† Matt said grimly as they walked out the door, with Tami coolly following them to the car, and shouting lurid details about â€Å"what a good time† they had had, â€Å"the three of them.† Elena glanced at him uneasily from her place in the passenger seat – with no ID or driver’s license, of course, she knew she shouldn’t drive. â€Å"Maybe we’d better take her to the police first. My God, that poor family!† Matt said nothing for a long time. His chin was set, his mouth grim. â€Å"I feel somehow as if I’m responsible. I mean, I knew there was something wrong with her – I should have told her parents then.† â€Å"Now you’re sounding like Stefan. You’re not responsible for everyone you meet.† Matt gave her a grateful glance, and Elena continued, â€Å"In fact I’m going to ask Bonnie and Meredith to do one other thing, which proves you’re not. I’m going to ask them to check on Isobel Saitou, Jim’s girlfriend.You’ve never had any contact with her, but Tami might have.† â€Å"You mean you think she’s got it, too?† â€Å"That’s what I hope Bonnie and Meredith will find out.† Bonnie stopped dead, almost losing her hold on Mrs. Forbes’s feet. â€Å"I am not going into that bedroom.† â€Å"You have to. I can’t manage her alone,† Meredith said. Then she added cajolingly, â€Å"Look, Bonnie, if you go in with me, I’ll tell you a secret.† Bonnie bit her lip. Then she shut her eyes and let Meredith guide her, step by step, farther into this house of horror. She knew where the master bedroom was – after all, she had played here since childhood. All the way down the hall, then turn left. She was surprised when Meredith came to a sudden stop after only a few steps. â€Å"Bonnie.† â€Å"Well? What?† â€Å"I don’t want to frighten you, but – â€Å" This had the immediate effect of terrifying Bonnie. Her eyes snapped open. â€Å"What?What? † Before Meredith could answer she glanced over her shoulder in fear and saw what. Caroline was behind her. But not standing. She was crawling – no, she was scuttling, the way she had on Stefan’s floor. Like a lizard. Her bronze hair, unkempt, hung down over her face. Her elbows and knees stuck out at impossible angles. Bonnie screamed, but the pressure of the house seemed to choke the scream back down her throat. The only effect it had was to make Caroline look up at her with a quick reptilian movement of her head. â€Å"Oh, my God – Caroline, what happened to your face?† Caroline had a black eye. Or rather, a purplish-red eye that was so swollen that Bonnie knew it would have to turn black in time. On her jaw was another purple swelling bruise. Caroline didn’t answer, unless you counted the sibilant hiss she gave while scuttling forward. â€Å"Meredith, run! She’s right behind me!† Meredith quickened her pace, looking frightened – all the more frightening to Bonnie because almost nothing could shake her friend. But as they lurched forward, with Mrs. Forbes bouncing between them, Caroline scuttled right under her mother and into the door of her parents’ room, the master bedroom. â€Å"Meredith, I won’t go in th – † But they were already stumbling through the door. Bonnie shot quick darting glances into every corner. Caroline was nowhere to be seen. â€Å"Maybe she’s in the closet,† Meredith said. â€Å"Now, let me go first and put her head on the far side of the bed. We can adjust her later.† She backed around the bed, almost dragging Bonnie with her, and dumped Mrs. Forbes’s upper torso so that her head rested on pillows. â€Å"Now just pull her and put her legs down on the other side.† â€Å"I can’t do it. I can’t! Caroline’sunder the bed, you know.† â€Å"She can’t be under the bed. There’s only about a five-inch clearance,† Meredith said firmly. â€Å"She’s there! Iknow it. And† – rather fiercely – â€Å"you promised you’d tell me a secret.† â€Å"All right!† Meredith gave a complicit glance through her disheveled dark hair. â€Å"I telegraphed Alaric yesterday. He’s so far out in the boonies that telegraph is the only way to reach him, and it may be days before my message gets to him. I had an idea that we were going to need his advice. I feel bad, asking him to do projects that aren’t for his doctorate, but – â€Å" â€Å"Who cares about his doctorate? Godbless you!† cried Bonnie thankfully. â€Å"You did just right!† â€Å"Then come on and swing Mrs. Forbes’ feet around the bottom of the bed. You can do it if you lean in.† The bed was a California king-size. Mrs. Forbes was lying at an angle across it, like a doll thrown on the floor. But Bonnie halted near the foot of the bed. â€Å"Caroline’s going to grab me.† â€Å"No, she won’t. Come on, Bonnie. Just get Mrs. Forbes’ legs and give one big heave†¦.† â€Å"If I get that close to the bed, she’llgrab me!† â€Å"Why should she?† â€Å"Because she knows what scares me! And now that I’ve said it, shedefinitely will.† â€Å"If she grabs you, I’ll come and kick her in the face.† â€Å"Your leg’s not that long. It would bang on the metal bed-frame thingummy – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, for God’s sake, Bonnie! Just help meheeeeeeere !† The last word was a full-fledged scream. â€Å"Meredith – † began Bonnie, and then she screamed, too. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"She’s grabbing me!† â€Å"She can’t be!She’s grabbingme ! Nobody has arms that long!† â€Å"Or that strong! Bonnie!I can’t make her let go!† â€Å"Neither can I!† And then any words were drowned in screaming. After dropping Tami off with the police, driving Elena around the woods known as the Fell’s State Park was†¦well, a walk in the park. Every so often they would stop. Elena would go a few steps into the trees and stand, Calling – however you did that. Then she came back to the Jaguar, looking discouraged. â€Å"I’m not sure that Bonnie wouldn’t be better at this,† she said to Matt. â€Å"If we can brace ourselves to go out at night.† Matt shuddered involuntarily. â€Å"Two nights were enough.† â€Å"Do you know, you never told me your story from that first night. Or at least, not when I could understand words, spoken words.† â€Å"Well, I was driving around like this, except almost on the other side of the Old Wood – near the Lightning-Split Oak area†¦?† â€Å"Right.† â€Å"When right in the middle of the road something appears.† â€Å"A fox?† â€Å"Well, it was red in the headlights, but it wasn’t like any fox I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been driving this road since I could drive.† â€Å"A wolf?† â€Å"Like a werewolf, you mean? But, no – I’ve seen wolves by moonlight and they’re bigger. This was right in between.† â€Å"In other words,† Elena said, narrowing her lapis lazuli eyes, â€Å"a custom-made creature.† â€Å"Maybe. It sure was different from the malach that chewed my arm up.† Elena nodded. Malach could take all sorts of different forms, from what she understood. But they were siblings in one way: they all used Power and they all needed a diet of Power to live. And they could be manipulated by a stronger Power than they had. And they were venomous enemies of humans. â€Å"So all we really know is that we don’t know anything.† â€Å"Right. That was the place back there, where we saw it. It just suddenly appeared in the middle of the – hey!† â€Å"Go right! Righthere !† â€Å"Just like that! It was just like that!† The Jaguar screeched almost to a stop, turning right, not into a ditch but into a small lane that no one would notice unless they were looking directly at it. When the car stopped, they both stared up the lane, breathing hard. Neither had to ask whether the other had seen a reddish creature zip across the road, bigger than a fox but smaller than a wolf. They looked up at the narrow lane. â€Å"The million-dollar question: should we go in?† Matt asked. â€Å"NoKEEP OUT signs – and hardly any houses on this side of the wood. Across the street and down a way there’s the Dunstans’.† â€Å"So we go in?† â€Å"We go in. Just go slowly. It’s later than I thought.† Meredith, of course, was the one to calm down first. â€Å"Allright , Bonnie,† she said. â€Å"Stop it! Now! It’s not going to do any good here!† Bonnie didn’t think shecould stop it. But Meredith had that special look in her dark eyes; the one that meant she was serious. The look she’d had before laying Caroline out on Stefan’s floor. Bonnie made a supreme effort and found that somehow she was able to hold in the next shriek. She looked dumbly at Meredith, feeling her own body shake. â€Å"Good. Good, Bonnie. Now.† Meredith swallowed. â€Å"Pulling doesn’t do any good, either. So I’m going to try†¦peeling her fingers off. If anything happens to me; if I get – pulled under the bed or anything, then yourun , Bonnie. And if you can’t run, then you call Elena and Matt. You call until you get an answer.† Bonnie managed something almost heroic then. She refused to picture Meredith being pulled under the bed. She wouldn’t let herself imagine how that would look as Meredith, struggling, disappeared, or how she would feel, all alone, after that. They’d both left their purses with their mobile phones in the entryway to carry Mrs. Forbes, so Meredith wasn’t saying to call them in any normal sense. She meant Call them. A sudden radical burst of indignation swept through Bonnie. Why did girls carry purses anyway? Even the efficient, reliable Meredith often did it. Of course Meredith’s purses were usually designer handbags that enhanced her outfits and were full of useful things like small notebooks and keychain flashlights, but still†¦a boy would have his mobile phone in his pocket. From now on, I’m wearing a waist pouch, Bonnie thought, feeling as if she were raising a rebel flag for girls everywhere, and for just a moment also feeling her panic recede. Then she saw Meredith stooping, a hunched figure in the dim light, and at the same moment she felt the grip on her own ankle tighten. Despite herself she glanced down, and saw the outline of Caroline’s tanned fingers and long bronze nails against the creamy white of the rug. Panic burst out in her again, full force. She made a choked sound that was a strangled scream, and to her own astonishment she spontaneously hit trance and began to Call. It wasn’t the fact that she was Calling that surprised her. It was what she was saying. Damon! Damon! We’re trapped at Caroline’s house and she’s gone crazy! Help! It flowed out of her like an underwater well that had been suddenly tapped, releasing a geyser. Damon, she’s got me by the ankle – and she won’t let go! If she pulls Meredith under, I don’t know what I’ll do! Help me! Vaguely, because the trance was good and deep, she heard Meredith say, â€Å"Ah-hah! It feels like fingers, but actually it’s a vine. It must be one of those tentacles that Matt told us about. I’m – trying – to break one of the loops – off†¦Ã¢â‚¬  All at once there was a rustling from under the bed. And not just from one place, either, but a massive whipping and shaking that actually bounced the mattress up and down, even with poor little Mrs. Forbes on it. There must be dozens of those insects under there. Damon, it’s thosethings! Lots of them. Oh, God, I think I’m going to faint. And if I faint – and if Caroline pulls me under†¦Oh, please come and help! â€Å"Damn!† Meredith was saying. â€Å"I don’t know how Matt managed to do this. It’s too tight, and – and I think there’s more than one tentacle here.† It’s all over,Bonnie sent in quiet conclusion, feeling herself start to go at the knees.We’re going to die. â€Å"Undoubtedly – that’s the problem with humans. But not justyet ,† a voice said from behind her, and a strong arm went around her, taking up her weight easily. â€Å"Caroline, the fun’s over. I mean it. Letgo!† â€Å"Damon?† Bonnie gasped. â€Å"Damon? You came!† â€Å"All that wailing gets on my nerves. It doesn’t mean – â€Å" But Bonnie wasn’t listening. She wasn’t even thinking. She was still half in trance and not responsible (she decided later) for her own actions. She wasn’therself . It was someone else who went into rapture when the grip on her ankle loosened, and someone else who whirled around in Damon’s grip and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. It was someone else, too, who felt Damon startle, with his arms still around her, and who noticed that he made no attempt to pull away from the kiss. That person also noticed, when at last she leaned back, that Damon’s skin, pale in the dim light, looked almost as if he had flushed. And that was when Meredith straightened up slowly, painfully, from the other side of the bed, which was still jouncing up and down. She hadn’t seen anything of the kiss, and looked at Damon as if she couldn’t believe he was really here. She was at a great disadvantage, and Bonnie knew she knew it. This was one of those situations where anyone else would have been too flustered to speak, or even stammer. But Meredith just took a deep breath and then said quietly, â€Å"Damon. Thank you. Do you think – would it be too much trouble to make the malach let go of me, as well?† Now Damon looked like his old self. He gave a brilliant smile aimed at something no one else could see and said sharply, â€Å"And as for the rest of you down there – heel!† He snapped his fingers. The bed stopped moving instantly. Meredith stepped away, and closed her eyes for a moment in relief. â€Å"Thank you again,† she said, with the dignity of a princess, but fervently. â€Å"And now, do you think you could do anything about Caro – â€Å" â€Å"Right now,† Damon cut in even more roughly than usual, â€Å"I have to run.† He glanced at the Rolex on his wrist. â€Å"It’s past 4:44, and I had an appointment I’m already late for. Come around here and prop up this dizzy bundle. She’s not quite ready to stand by herself.† Meredith hastened to switch places with him. At that point, Bonnie discovered that her legs were no longer wobbling. â€Å"Wait a minute, though,† Meredith said rapidly. â€Å"Elenaneeds to talk to you – desperately – â€Å" But Damon was gone, as if he’d mastered the art of simply disappearing, not even waiting for Bonnie’s thanks. Meredith looked astonished, as if she’d been certain that the mention of Elena’s name would stop him, but Bonnie had something else on her mind. â€Å"Meredith,† Bonnie whispered, putting two fingers to her lips in amazement. â€Å"I kissed him!† â€Å"What?When? â€Å" â€Å"Before you stood up. I – don’t even know how it happened but I did it!† She expected some kind of explosion from Meredith. Instead, Meredith looked at her thoughtfully and murmured, â€Å"Well, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to do, after all. What I don’t understand is why he turned up in the first place.† â€Å"Uh. That was me, too. I Called him. I don’t know how that happened either – â€Å" â€Å"Well, there’s no point in trying to figure it out in here.† Meredith turned toward the bed. â€Å"Caroline, are you coming out of there? Are you going to stand up and have a normal conversation?† There was a menacing and reptilian hiss from under the bed, along with the whipping of tentacles and another noise that Bonnie had never heard before but which terrified her instinctively, like the snapping of giant pincers. â€Å"That’s answer enough for me,† she said, and grabbed Meredith to drag her out of the room. Meredith didn’t need dragging. But for the first time today they heard Caroline’s taunting voice, lifted childishly high. â€Å"Bonnie and Damon sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage; Then there comes a vampire in a baby carriage.† Meredith paused in the hallway. â€Å"Caroline, you know that that isn’t going to help matters. Come out – â€Å" The bed went into a frenzy, bucking and heaving. Bonnie turned and ran, and she knew Meredith was right behind her. They still didn’t manage to outpace the singsong words: â€Å"You’re notmy friends; you’re thewhore’s friends. Just you wait! Just youwait !† Bonnie and Meredith grabbed their purses and left the house. â€Å"What time is it?† Bonnie asked, when they were safely in Meredith’s car. â€Å"Almost five.† â€Å"It seemed like so much longer!† â€Å"I know, but we’ve got hours of daylight left. And, come to that, I have a text message from Elena.† â€Å"About Tami?† â€Å"I’ll tell you about it. But first – † It was one of the few times Bonnie had seen Meredith look awkward. Finally she blurted, â€Å"How was it?† â€Å"How was what?† â€Å"Kissing Damon, you nitwit!† How to cite The Return: Nightfall Chapter 19, Essay examples

Historical perspective of modes of construction of buildings free essay sample

The earliest large-scale buildings for which evidence survives have been found in ancient Mesopotamia. The smaller dwellings only survive in traces of foundations, but the later civilisations built very sizeable structures in the forms of palaces, temples and ziggurats and took particular care to build them out of materials that last, which has ensured that very considerable parts have remained intact. Major technical achievement is evidenced by the construction of great cities such as Uruk and Ur. The Ziggurat of Ur is an outstanding building of the period, despite major reconstruction work. Another fine example is the ziggurat at Chogha Zanbil in modern Iran. MATERIALS The chief building material was the mud brick, formed in wooden moulds. Bricks varied widely in size and format from small bricks that could be lifted in one hand to ones as big as large paving slabs. Rectangular and square bricks were both common. They were laid in virtually every bonding pattern imaginable and used with considerable sophistication. Drawings survive on clay tablets from later periods showing that buildings were set out on brick modules. By 3500 BC, bricks were also being fired and surviving records show a very complex division of labour into separate tasks and trades. Life in general was governed by complex ritual and this extended to rituals for setting-out buildings and moulding the first bricks. Contrary to popular belief the arch was not invented by the Romans, but was used in these civilizations. The later Mesopotamian civilizations, particularly Babylon and thence Susa, developed glazed brickwork to a very high degree, decorating the interiors and exteriors of their buildings with glazed brick reliefs, examples of which survive in the Tehran archaeological museum, the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. CONSTRUCTION IN ANCIENT GREECE The ancient Greeks, like the Egyptians and the Mesopotamians, tended to build most of their common buildings out of mud brick, leaving no record behind them. However very many structures do survive, some of which are in a very good state of repair, although some have been partly reconstructed or re-erected in the modern era. The most dramatic are the Greek Temples. No timber structures survive (roofs, floors etc. ), so our knowledge of how these were put together is purely conjectural. The spans are, in the main, limited and suggest very simple beam and post structures spanning stone walls. Before 650 B. C. E. the now famous ancient Greek temples were built of wood, but after this date began to be built of stone. The process of a timber structure being repeated in stone is called petrification or petrified carpentry. Fire clay was mainly restricted to roofing tiles and associated decorations, but these were quite elaborate. Fired bricks were not commonly employed. Very prominent buildings were roofed in stone tiles, which mimicked the form of their terracotta counterparts. While later cultures tended to construct their stone buildings with thin skins of finished stones over rubble cores, the Greeks tended to build out of large cut blocks, joined with metal cramps. This was a slow, expensive and laborious process which limited the number of buildings that could be constructed. The metal cramps often failed through corrosion. Building structures used a simple beam and column system without vaults or arches, which based strict limits on the spans that could achieved. However, the Greeks did construct Arch Bridges. Greek mathematics was technically advanced and we know for certain that they employed and understood the principles of pulleys, which would have enabled them to build jibs and cranes to lift heavy stonework to the upper parts of buildings. Their surveying skills were exceptional, enabling them to set out the incredibly exact optical corrections of buildings like the Parthenon, although the methods used remain a mystery. Simpler decoration, such as fluting on columns, was simply left until the drums of the columns were cut in place. The ancient Greeks never developed the strong mortars which became an important feature of Roman construction. Design of Assyrian buildings, fortifications and temples Tell Asmar Standing man votive sculpture 2750-2600 B. C The plans of all the Assyrian buildings are rectangular, and we know that long ago, as now, the Eastern architects used this outline almost invariably, and upon it reared some of the most lovely and varied forms ever devised. They gather over the angles by graceful curves, and on the basis of an ordinary square hall carry up a minaret or a dome, an octagon or a circle. That this was sometimes done in Assyria is shown by the sculptures. Slabs from Kouyunjik show domes of varied form, and tower-like structures, each rising from a square base. The resemblance between the ancient form of the dome and those still used in the Assyrian villages is very striking. Whether sloping roofs were used is uncertain. Mr. Bonomi believes that they were, and a few sculptures seem to support his view. Of the private houses nothing, of course, remains; but they are represented on the slabs as being of several stories in height, the ground floor as usual having only a door and no windows. All have flat roofs, and we gather from one of the bas-reliefs, which represents a town on fire, that these roofs were made, just as they now are, with thick layers of earth on strong beams. These roofs are well-nigh fireproof, and the flames are represented as stopped by them, and coming out of the windows. No remains of a window, or, so far as we are aware, of an internal staircase, have been found. In the north wall of Nimroud fifty-eight towers have been traced, and at Kouyunjik there are large remains of three walls, the lower part being of stone, and the upper of sun-dried bricks. At Khorsabad there are the remains of a wall, still 40 feet (12 m) high, built of blocks of stone 3 to 4 feet (1. 2 m) thick, and the evidences wanting as to finishing of these is completely supplied by the sculptures, which show an extraordinary resemblance to medieval works of the same class. Tier upon tier of walls are represented, enclosing a great tower or keep in the centre. The entrances are great arched gateways flanked by square towers. These and the other towers have overhanging parapets just like the mediaeval machicolations, and are finished at top with battlements, remains of which have been found at Nimroud and Kouyunjik, and at Kale Shortage, the supposed capital of Assyria before Nineveh. But in Chaldea there are some enormous masses of ruins, evidently remains of the vast mounds which formed the substructure of their temples. The grandest of all these and the most interesting is the temple of Nuba at Borsippa (now Birs Nimrod), near Babylon, which has been identified as the temple of the Seven Spheres. This was reconstructed by Nebuchadnezzar, as appears by a well-known inscription. Another example is at Muggier, which was 198 feet (60 m) by 133 feet (41 m) at the base, and is even now 70 feet (21 m) high, and it is clear that both it and the Birs were built with diminishing stages, presenting a series of grand platforms, decreasing in length as they ascended, and leaving a comparatively small one at top for the temple cell. This has been found, it is supposed, at the Birs Nimroud, of vitrified brick made in ancient ovens. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Text sources indicate open space planning was a part of the city from the earliest times. The description of Uruk in the Epic of Gilgamesh tells of one third of that city set aside for orchards. Similar planned open space is found at the one fifth enclosure of Nippur. Another important landscape element was the vacant lot (Akkadian: kisubbu) which was used alternatively for agriculture and waste disposal. External to the city, Sumerian irrigation agriculture created some of the first garden forms in history. The garden (sar) was 144 square cubits with a perimeter canal. This form of the enclosed quadrangle was the basis for the later paradise gardens of Persia. In Mesopotamia, the use of fountains date as far back as the 3rd millennium BC. An early example is preserved in a carved Babylonian basin, dating back to circa 3000 B. C. , found at Girsu, Lagash. An ancient Assyrian fountain discovered in the gorge of the Comel River consists of basins cut in solid rock and descending in steps to the stream. The water was led from small conduits. CONSTRUCTION IN ANCIENT EGYPT As opposed to the cultures of ancient Mesopotamia which built in brick, the pharaohs of Egypt built huge structures in stone. The arid climate has preserved much of the ancient buildings. MATERIALS Adobe (sun-baked mud brick) construction was used for ancillary buildings and normal houses in ancient times and is still commonly used in rural Egypt. The hot, dry climate was ideal for mud-brick, which tends to wash away in the rain. The Ramesseum in Thebes, Egypt (Luxor) provides one of the finest examples of mud brick construction. Extensive storehouses with mud-brick vaults also survive, all constructed with sloping courses to avoid the need for formwork. The grandest buildings were constructed in stone, often from massive masonry blocks. The techniques used to move massive blocks used in pyramids and temples have been subject to extensive debate. Some authors have suggested that the larger blocks may not be cut stone but fabricated with concrete. TECHNOLOGY Although the Egyptians achieved extraordinary feats of engineering, they appear to have done so with relatively primitive technology. As far as is known they did not use wheels or pulleys. They transported massive stones over great distances using rollers, ropes and sledges hauled by large numbers of slaves. There are no surviving Egyptian manuals so there has been considerable speculation on how stones were lifted to great heights and obelisks erected. Most theories centre on the use of ramps. OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS The pyramids are chiefly impressive for their enormous size and the staggering manpower that must have been employed in their construction. The largest is the Great Pyramid of Giza which remained the tallest structure in the world for 3800 years (see List of tallest freestanding structures in the world). The engineering problems involved were chiefly to do with the transport of blocks, sometimes over long distances, their movement into location and exact alignment. It is now generally agreed that the skilled building workers were respected and well treated, but undoubtedly very large numbers of labourers were necessary to provide the brute force. The methods used in the construction of the pyramids have been the subject of considerable research and discussion. Pyramids at Giza. In the background from L to R: The Pyramid of Menkaure, The Pyramid of Khafre and The Great Pyramid of Khufu. Egyptian Architecture The first great civilization to emerge around the Mediterranean basin was that of Egypt (c. 3100-2040 BCE). In addition to its own written language, religion and dynastic ruling class, it developed a unique style of Egyptian architecture, largely consisting of massive burial chambers in the form of Pyramids (at Giza) and underground tombs (in the desolate Valley of the Kings, Luxor). Design was monumental but not architecturally complex and employed posts and lintels, rather than arches, although Egyptian expertise in stone had a strong influence on later Greek architecture. Famous examples of Egyptian pyramid architecture include: The Step Pyramid of Djoser (c. 2630 BCE) designed by Imhotep one of the greatest architects of the ancient world and The Great Pyramid at Giza (c. 2550 BCE), also called the Pyramid of Khufu or Pyramid of Cheops. Later, during the Middle and Late Kingdoms (c. 2040-300 CE), the Egyptians constructed a series of palaces at Karnak (eg. Temple of Amon, 1530 BCE onwards). These structures were adorned with a diverse range of artworks few of which survive including murals, panel paintings, sculptures, and metalwork, depicting various Gods, deities, rulers and symbolic animals in the unique Egyptian hieratic style of art, together with hieroglyphic inscriptions. ROMAN CONSTRUCTION In striking contrast to previous cultures, an enormous amount is known about Roman building construction. A very large amount survives, including complete intact buildings like the Pantheon, Rome and very well preserved ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum. We also have the first surviving treatise on architecture by Vitruvius which includes extensive passages on construction techniques. Materials The great Roman breakthrough was the development of hydraulic lime mortar. Previous cultures had used lime mortars but by adding volcanic ash the Romans managed to make a mortar that would harden under water. This provided them with a cheap material for bulk walling. They used brick or stone to build the outer skins of the wall and then filled the cavity with massive amounts of concrete, effectively using the brickwork as permanent shuttering. The concrete, being formed of nothing more than rubble and mortar was cheap and very easy to produce, requiring relatively unskilled labour, enabling the Romans to build on an unprecedented scale. They not only used it for walls but also to form arches, barrel vaults and domes, which they built over huge spans. The Romans developed systems of hollow pots for making their domes and sophisticated heating and ventilation systems for their thermal baths. Glass was commonly used in windows. Organisation of labour The Romans had trade guilds. Most construction was done by slaves or freed men. The use of slave labour undoubtedly cut costs and was one of the reasons for the scale of some of the structures. The Romans placed a considerable emphasis in building their buildings extremely fast, usually within two years. For very large structures the only way this could be achieved was by the application of vast numbers of workers to the task. Technology Vitruvius gives details of many Roman machines. The Romans developed sophisticated timber cranes allowing them to lift considerable weights to great heights. The upper limit of lifting appears to have been about 100 tonnes. Trajans column in Rome contains some of the largest stones ever lifted in a Roman building, and engineers are still uncertain exactly how it was achieved. A list of the longest, highest and deepest Roman structures can be found in the List of ancient architectural records. Roman building ingenuity extended over bridges, aqueducts, and covered amphitheatres. Their sewerage and water-supply works were remarkable and some systems are still in operation today. The only aspect of Roman construction for which very little evidence survives is the form of timber roof structures, none of which seem to have survived intact. Possibly, triangulated roof trusses were built, this being the only conceivable way of constructing the immense spans achieved, the longest exceeding 30 metres. Aqueduct at Segovia, Spain. Roman Architecture Unlike the more creative and intellectual Greeks, the Romans were essentially practical people with a flair for engineering, construction and military matters. In their architecture, as in their art, they borrowed heavily from both the Etruscans (eg. in their use of hydraulics for swamp-clearing and in the construction of arches), and also the Greeks, whom they regarded as their superiors in all visual arts. However, without Roman art with its genius for copying and adapting Greek styles most of the artistic achievements of Greek antiquity would have been lost. Architectural Priorities of Ancient Rome Roman architecture served the needs of the Roman state, which was keen to impress, entertain and cater for a growing population in relatively confined urban areas. Drainage was a common problem, as was security. This, together with Romes growing desire to increase its power and majesty throughout Italy and beyond, required public buildings to be imposing, large-scale and highly functional. This is exemplified by Roman architectural achievements in drainage systems, aqueducts (eg. the aqueduct at Segovia, 100 CE, and over 11 aqueducts in the city of Rome itself, such as Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus), bridges (eg. the Pont du Gard) roads, municipal structures like public baths (eg. the Baths of Caracalla and the Baths of Diocletian), sports facilities and amphitheatres (eg. the Colosseum 72-80 CE), even central heating systems. Numerous temples and theatres were also built. Later, as their empire spread, the Roman architects seized the opportunity to create new towns from scratch, designing urban grid-plans based on two wide streets a north-south axis (the cardo) and an east-west axis (the decumanus). The town centre was located at the intersection of the two roads. They also built upwards; for example, Ostia, a rich port city near Rome, boasted a number of 5-storey apartment blocks. Architectural Advances: Arches Concrete Roman architecture was assisted by major advances in both design and new materials. Design was enhanced through architectural developments in the construction of arches and roof domes. Arches improved the efficiency and capability of bridges and aqueducts (fewer support columns were needed to support the structure), while domed roofs not only permitted the building of larger open areas under cover, but also lent the exterior an impressive appearance of grandeur and majesty, as in several important secular and Christian basilicas, like the Pantheon. Developments in materials were also crucial, as chronicled by the Roman architect Vitruvius (c. 78-10 BCE) in his book De Architectura. This is exemplified by the Roman invention of concrete (opus cementicium), a mixture of lime mortar, sand, water, and stones, in the 3rd century BCE. This exceptionally strong and convenient substitute for stone revolutionized Roman engineering and architecture. As tile-covered concrete began to replace marble as the main building material, architects could be more daring. Buildings were freed from the rectangular Greek design-plan (with its undomed roofs and lines of pillars supporting flat architraves) and became less geometric and more free-flowing. Like their Egyptian and the Greek predecessors, architects in ancient Rome embellished their public buildings with a wide range of artworks, including: Roman sculpture (especially reliefs, statues and busts of the Emperor), fresco murals, and mosaics. Famous Buildings of Ancient Rome Two of the greatest structures of Ancient Rome were the Colosseum (the elliptical Flavian amphitheatre in the centre of Rome) and Trajans Column (a monument to the Emperor Trajan). Situated to the east of the Roman Forum, the Colosseum took 8 years to build, had seating for 50,000 spectators. Historians and archeologists estimate that a staggering 500,000 people and over 1 million wild animals perished in the games at the Colosseum. Trajans Column, located close to the Quirinal Hill, north of the Roman Forum, was finished in 113 CE. It is renowned for its magnificent and highly detailed spiral bas relief sculpture, which circles the shaft of the monument 23 times, and narrates Trajans victory in the Dacian Wars. The shaft itself is made from 20 huge blocks of Carrara marble, each weighing about 40 tons. It stands about 30 metres in height and 4 metres in width. USING RELEVANT SKETCHES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, EXPLAIN HOW PEOPLE ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF THE GLOBE USE BUILDING ENVELOPE TO ACHIEVE INTERNAL COMFORT. A building envelope includes all the components that make up the shell or skin of the building. These components separate the exterior of the building from the interior, and are designed by the project architect or engineers to meet the needs of each individual application. The building envelope may also be defined as the components that separate conditioned areas from unconditioned space. Exterior or unheated living spaces are not included inside the envelope, while any living space that is equipped with heat or air conditioning would be included. The building envelope must be carefully designed with regard to climate, ventilation, and energy consumption within the structure. There are four basic functions of the building envelope. These include adding structural support, controlling moisture and humidity, regulating temperature, and controlling air pressure changes. By serving these different functions, the envelope also affects ventilation and energy use within the building. The envelope is made up of all of the exterior components of the building, including walls, roofing, foundations, windows, and doors. Finish materials like siding and decorative items are not usually considered a part of the envelope. Insulation, building paper, and other components aimed at controlling moisture and airflow are typically included in the building envelope design. Building envelopes are often characterized as tight or loose. A tight envelope is precisely constructed to allow relatively few air leaks. This often requires significant quantities of insulation, caulk, sealants, and energy-efficient windows to create a tight shell for the building. Loosely-constructed envelopes allow air to flow more freely from the exterior to interior spaces. A loose envelope may be created by design, or may be the result of poor construction techniques. Many experts debate the benefits of tight versus loose building envelopes. A tight envelope allows for a high level of control over indoor air quality, energy consumption, temperature, and humidity levels. It leads to fewer drafts and a more comfortable environment for occupants, and often results in less waste in heating and cooling costs. Tightly-designed envelopes also reduce the likelihood of mold or mildew caused by moisture infiltration, which may prolong the life of building components. At the same time, tighter buildings also limit how much natural ventilation can occur, which leads to more extensive mechanical ventilation requirements. A loosely-constructed building envelope allows natural air transfers to occur, which improves indoor air quality and often eliminates the need for mechanical ventilation. At the same time these looser buildings tend to be more drafty and uncomfortable, and can make it difficult to regulate temperature levels. There is an increased chance of moisture-related mold, and higher quantities of heated or cooled air are able to escape through leaks in the envelope. This can increase energy bills and negatively impact the environment by increasing greenhouse gas levels. The building envelope is the area that separates conditioned space from unconditioned space or outside air. In this picture, the building envelope is the area surrounded by the insulation. The code is only concerned with the building envelope.

The Problem of Monopolies

Monopolies develop according to the definite monopoly market structure which is discussed by economists as opposite to the competitive market because only one seller controls the industry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem of Monopolies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A company can be described as a pure monopoly when it is a single seller of certain products or services within the market, when it is a price maker, the barriers to entry are high, and there are no close substitutes for products. The development of a monopoly within the industry creates conditions which can characterize the imperfect competition based on the absence of the other sellers. Moreover, the lack of the substitutes is observed, and the company becomes a monopoly within the market (McConnell, Brue, Flynn, 2012). Microsoft is the leading producer of operating systems for personal computers and different types of software in the USA. This leading position is often discussed as an attempt to receive the status of a monopoly within the market in order to gain the high economic profits typical for monopolies oriented to innovations. The recent situation in the market of the computer software is rather controversial. It can be explained basing on the idea that Microsoft tried to gain the market power several years ago. Microsoft took the leading position within the industry in the 1990s when the most successful variants of the Windows operating system for personal computers were worked out. Moreover, the company presented the effective applications software, and the majority of the personal computers’ users began to utilize the Windows operating system. Microsoft Office and Outlook also became popular with the users due to the fact the possible alternatives could not be discussed as the appropriate substitutes for the products and services provided by Microsoft. For instance, the operating system Microso ft Windows 95 was effectively utilized by over than 80% users in the USA because their computers were Intel based (Bittlingmayer Hazlett, 2000). Thus, the situation was discussed by the government as critical because of Microsoft’s possibility to develop into the monopoly with maintaining the control over the market. Microsoft had to change strategies of presenting the products and attracting the buyers after the investigations conducted in 1994 and 1997 in order to address the government’s requirements. The advantages of Microsoft are in the fact the company regularly presents the technologically innovative products which have no substitutes within the market because of their high quality and originality. From this point, Microsoft’s strategy is based on the active usage of the technological development’s results.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, the company is regulated with references to the effective strategic marketing techniques in order to attract more customers (Bittlingmayer Hazlett, 2000). According to these points, Microsoft supports its leading position and contributes to developing the controversial question of monopolization of the market. Thus, the leading position of Microsoft depends on the high standards and quality of the products. The market occupied by the company is so expanded that there are significant barriers to entry which are the company’s ownership, peculiarities of pricing, and legal aspects. As a result, customers have no access to any relevant alternative products (McConnell, Brue, Flynn, 2012). Today, the activity of Microsoft in developing the operating systems should be discussed with references to such competitors as the producers of iOS for Apple and Linux Operating System. Limiting the possibilities for the competitors’ entries into the market, monopolies contro l the industry and develop monopoly pricing, maximizing the profits. Moreover, these processes are associated with the factor of a downward sloping demand curve which is typical for monopolies. From this point, monopolies are not discussed by economists as the effective way for a company to develop within the industry (Kahn, 1999; Krugman Wells, 2009). Nevertheless, not all the monopolies are bad. For instance, a natural monopoly does not influence the progress of the market negatively because it depends on the system of the fixed costs. Moreover, not all the monopolies are bad because of the definite support provided by the government. That is why, government monopolies can be discussed as good monopolies or legal monopolies. However, the government can regulate and control not many monopolies. The U.S. Postal Service is the legal monopoly developed in the country because the activity of the company is controlled by the government, and the specific functions can be realized only b y the U.S. Postal Service (Krugman Wells, 2009). It is possible to conclude that monopolies challenge the principle of the perfect competition and can be discussed as the negative factor for the industry and market’s development. Nevertheless, such types of monopolies as natural monopolies based on the large economies of scale and constant marginal costs which can be less than average ones and legal monopolies which are characterized by the government’s control should not be discussed as absolutely negative structures because they develop according to the specific principles. Economists agree that the main disadvantages of monopolies are associated with the characteristics of pure monopolies when only one company is a seller within the market with the possibilities to control it and provide the barriers to entry. Furthermore, the monopoly market structure provokes the growth of prices which are often higher than the prices within the competitive markets.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem of Monopolies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Bittlingmayer, G., Hazlett, T. W. (2000). DOS Kapital: Has antitrust action against Microsoft created value in the computer industry? Journal of Financial Economics, 55, 329-359. Kahn, A. E. (1999). The economics of regulation: Principles and institutions. USA: The MIT Press. Krugman, P., Wells, R. (2009). Economics. USA: Worth Publishers. McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., Flynn, S. M. (2012). Economics. USA: McGraw-Hill. This essay on The Problem of Monopolies was written and submitted by user Charlee Knox to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

25 Essay Topics for American Government Classes

25 Essay Topics for American Government Classes If you are a teacher searching for essay topics to assign to your U.S. government or civics class or looking for ideas, do not fret. It is easy to integrate debates and discussions into the classroom environment. These topic suggestions provide a wealth of ideas for written assignments such as  position papers, compare and contrast essays  and  argumentative essays. Scan the following 25 question topics and ideas to find just the right one. Youll soon be reading interesting papers from your students after they grapple with these challenging and important issues. 25 Topics Compare and contrast what is a direct democracy versus representative democracy.  React to the following statement: Democratic decision-making should be extended to all areas of life including schools, the workplace, and the government.  Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Explain how these led to the Great Compromise.  Pick one thing about the U.S. Constitution including its amendments that you think should be changed. What  modifications would you make? Explain your reasons for making this change.What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he said, The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants? Do you think that this statement still applies to todays world?  Compare and contrast mandates and conditions of aid regarding the federal governments relationship with states. For example, how has FEMA delivered support to states and commonwealths which have experienced natural disasters?Should individual states have mor e or less power compared to the federal government when implementing laws dealing with topics such as legalization of marijuana  and abortion?   Outline a program that would get more people to vote in presidential elections or local elections.What are the dangers of gerrymandering when it comes to voting and presidential elections?Compare and contrast the major political parties in the United States. What platforms did they use in the last presidential election? What policies are they preparing for upcoming midterm elections?Why would voters choose to vote for a third party, even though they know that their candidate has virtually no chance of winning?  Describe the major sources of money that are donated to political campaigns. Check out the Federal Election Regulatory Commissions website for information.Should corporations be treated as individuals regarding being allowed to donate to political campaigns?  Ã‚  Look at the recent Citizens United ruling.  Defend your answer.  Explain the role of social media in connecting interest groups that have grown stronger as the major political parties have grown weaker.  Exp lain why the media has been called the fourth branch of government. Include your opinion on whether this is an accurate portrayal. Compare and contrast the campaigns of Senate and  House of Representatives candidates.Should term limits be instituted for members of Congress? Explain your answer.Should members of Congress vote their conscience or follow the will of the people who elected them into office? Explain your answer.Explain how executive orders have been used by presidents throughout the history of the U.S. What is the number of executive orders issued by the current president?In your opinion, which of the three branches has the most power? Defend your answer.Which of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment do you consider the most important? Explain your answer.  Should a school be required to get a warrant before searching a students property? Defend your answer.  Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail? What kind of campaign could be run to see it passed?Explain how the 14th Amendment has affected civil liberties in the United States from the time of its passage at the end of the Civil War.D o you think that the federal government has enough, too much or just the right amount of power? Defend your answer.

Buyers Behaviour Virgin Atlantic Essay Example for Free

Buyers Behaviour Virgin Atlantic Essay Originally it was called British Atlantic Airways, later changed to Virgin Atlantic Airways. The first flight was from Gatwick to Netwark on the 22nd of June 1984 (Virgin Atlantic, 2012). The company launched a ? 6 m advertising campaign in 2010, which was James Bond themed (Guardian, 2010). The new advertisement helped the company recover from the recession. Now I will examine how exactly it was achieved and what methods were used to obtain the best performance of the advertisement. 2) Target Market. Market segmentation is a way of separating the consumers into different sections by their shared needs and personalities (Leon. G, 2010, p. 28). The needs and values depend from person to person according to his culture (Leon. G, 2010, p. 366). The VALS (values and lifestyles) segmentation system clearly shows the type of audience this commercial is aiming at (Leon. G, pp. 84). This system divides consumers into eight distinctive subcategories, which consist of: thinkers, achievers, experiencers, believers, strivers and makers. The subcategories this advertisement will appeal to are: innovators because they are receptive to new technologies and who can experience the innovated technologies at a Virgin Atlantic flight; achievers because they are goal oriented consumers who like to display success to their piers, which they can display by flying Virgin Atlantic as it is high class airlines; experiencers because they like to spend their income on fashion, socializing and entertainment which Virgin Atlantic offers through great service, food, entertainment and their flights are considered as ‘trendy’. The social comparison theory states that the consumer with higher purchase ability tends to have a higher status; this is a proof why achievers like to spend on luxurious products and services (Leon. G, 2010, p. 338). This commercial appeals to all the five effective target-marketing segments (Leon. G, 2010, p. 73). It is identifiable as it clearly distinguishes the shared needs, age and gender of the consumer. The consumer is a businessman or career orientated workingwoman who prefers high-class service. The age would appeal to Generation Y that is born from 1980 and on wards (Leon. G, 2010, p. 410). The Generation Y spends 150 billion annually and is into innovation and luxury while Generation X is considered as ‘sophisticated’ group. Virgin Atlantic Airways allows children ages 5 and above to travel or should be accompanied by an adult (16+). Pets are accepted if they accompany a disabled person (Virgin Atlantic, 2012). 3) Service offered. The marketing mix shows what kind of service/product is offered by dividing the elements to: product, price, place and promotion (Leon. G, 2010, p. 58). The service being offered is not just a flight from one destination to another; it is an experience at a high-class level of the Virgin Atlantic flight where the costumer will be served at a high class, with security, entertainment and with maximum comfort. It is a high-involvement purchase, which requires considerate thought and cognitive process, as the price is high (Leon. G, 2010, p. 231). The flight can be purchased online or at a flight ticket office. The company offers promotion such as: flying club card, ticket sales and discount codes/vouchers (Virgin Atlantic, 2012). The price and quality relationship the company has is low- price tickets in comparison with their competitors and with a high-class service. 4) Seasonality. The time of placing the advertisement is very important, as there are competing companies to take into consideration. The order effect research has shown that the advertisements presented first (primacy effect) and last (regency effect) has a greater effect on the consumer (Leon. G, 2010, p. 302). The release date was 26 October 2010, which was a great push to recovery from recession. British Airways and American Airlines are the biggest competitors. American Airlines released their commercial in May 2010, which had a primacy effect where as Virgin Atlantic Airlines gained a regency effect. The James Bond 007 Blood Stone video game was released on 5th of November 2010(IMDB, 2010). This shows that the commercial was released 10 days before the release date of the game. This strategy used by Virgin Atlantic is a very clever marketing move, as their advertisement is James Bond themed and during that period of time all sorts of media (TV, newspapers, online, word of mouth and billboards) had James Bond game advertisements. Virgin Airlines got increased attention to their advertisement by publishing their advertisement at time coinciding with Blood Stone’s release. 5) Positioning the commercial. The advertisement is transmitting through mass media as well as through new (non traditional) media (Leon. G, 2010, pp. 294-296). The commercial is played on TV where it addresses wide range of consumers (i. e. via mass media) and through YouTube where it is addressable and interactive, while response – measurable. It was also played during the flights on the Virgin Atlantic TV channel where it exclusively targets its audience (i. e. via target media). 6) Reason for the commercial. The consumer behavior consists of searching for, purchasing, using, evaluating, disposing of products and services that in their belief will fulfill their wants (Leon. G, 2010, p. 23). The commercial was created in order to persuade and make aware the audience of the fact that the service being offered by the airlines is luxurious, entertaining and high-class, to convince that this kind of service will satisfy there needs. ) Perception. â€Å"Perception is defined as the process by which an individual selects, organizes, and interprets stimuli into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world. †(Leon. G, 2010, p. 175) This advertisement appeals to emotional motives, which are affection, status and pride in this case (Leon. G, 2010, p. 110). The advertisements mood is sexually charged and is putting the buyer into a state of excitement by: James Bond themed music and graphics, illustrations of high-class adventure and good-looking actors in the commercial. Abraham Maslow created the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which identifies the five basic levels of human needs (Maslow, 1987). The advert is aiming to satisfy all the five needs of the potential consumer. Egoistic needs will be satisfied during the flight on these airlines, as it is illustrated as a prestigious flight. Egoistic needs include the need of good reputation, status and recognition from others, which advert convinces that the consumer will have, if he/she chooses Virgin Atlantic Airways. Need of Self-Actualization will be satisfies as shown in the advert, by flying on this flight the customer will feel self-actualized by getting high-class service which he/she deserved or earned themselves. Social Needs are to be satisfied by communication with good-looking staff. The Virgin Atlantic cabin crew was voted as the most attractive staff in the whole world by the surveys of travelers (Daily mail, 2011). Richard Branson has always stated that the appearance of the flight crew must be important in order make the customers enjoy a memorable flight. Cabin staff of Virgin Atlantic Airlines are told that: ‘You’ll be the face of the airline. As such, your grooming should always be immaculate – even after a long, tiring flight’ (Daily mail, 2011). As flying on an airplane has a small risk of security, the advert is aiming to convince that their flight is safe and is a pleasant experience where there is nothing to worry about. Physiological needs will be satisfied by the high-class food and beverage service that would be offered during the flight by good-looking staff. Air and shelter will also be present, as the designed with up to date technology. This commercial is aimed at visual consumers that prefer and take information better through visual images or messages as sources of information (Leon. G, 2010, p. 147). While watching the Virgin Atlantic advertisement repetitively on TV or Online passive learning is occurring and it changes the consumer’s attitude regarding the product (Leon. G, 2010, p. 232). The theme message delivered through this advert is: ‘Your airline’s either got it or it hasn’t’. There is a message resonance in the wording, which adds a bit of humor to it and will make the viewer remember the commercial (Leon. G, 2010, p. 301). The theme message has comparative advertising technique to it where Virgin makes the viewer compare their airlines to Virgin Atlantic (Leon. G, 2010, p. 303). The sexiness in advertising is present in order to grab the attention of the viewer (Leon. G, 2010, p. 308). The hostesses are wearing short dresses in red color and the man who is passing the security check hasn’t got underwear on. Virgin is trying to show that their flights are ‘sexy’. This technique tries to show the security the airlines provide (angel like). The flight team is very good looking and is walking with self-assurance, which adds confidence to the image of the company. The runway lines and the red carpet represents the luxurious service. | | Transition from the safety demonstration to the airplane saloon is done without editing cuts, which is very eye-catching. | | The shot of people sitting around of a pool of martini and playing with the olive, which represents entertainment, beverage and luxury the airlines offer to their customers. 9) Buying process. â€Å"The consumer decision making can be viewed as three distinct but interlocking stages: the input stage, the process stage and the output stage†(Leon. G, 2010, p. 36). This advertisement is designed in order to influence the input and process stage in order to make the consumer come to the output stage. This advert influences and increases the consumer’s recognition of the service ne ed. The information is delivered to the consumers through the marketing efforts of the commercial, which will influence not only media but also word of mouth marketing. The Psychoanalytical Theory of Personality created by Sigmund Freud explains the drivers of the output stage (Leon. G, 2010, pp. 137-139). According to Freud’s theory this commercial will affect superego and id to make the purchase. The superego will be gratified when purchasing this service because he/she will become socially and fashionably acceptable, as Virgin Atlantic flight is ‘trendy’. Id will be gratified if the consumer will make the purchase because the airlines offer the basic requirements such as food, shelter and security. The consumer will make a trial or a repeat purchase when buying this service (Leon. G, 2010, p. 497). The consumer might be new to the company or be a frequent loyal customer. 10) Involvement levels and risk perception. Involvement is a very important factor in how much attention is paid to the message sent to the viewer and how it is understood. There are different ways to measure the involvement of the viewer. There are two ways of involvement, high-risk and low-risk purchases. The higher the risk, the higher the involvement and research will be. The flight purchase is a low-involvement product and consumers prefer congruent context of the message delivered (Leon. G, 2010, p. 293). The mood of the consumer is very important, if he/she is in a bad mood, the content of the commercial might cause a bad reaction of the viewer. Psychological noise may be distracting the viewer from the commercial and the advertisement has contrast in the imagery in order to keep the viewers attention. 11) Conclusion. The advertisement created by the Virgin Atlantic airlines in my opinion was successful . The James Bond theme imageries and soundtrack had a great impact on the effectiveness of the commercial. Every time the consumer will watch James Bond movie or play a James Bond game, the commercial will subconsciously come to their mind and the other way around. The time it was released was perfect, as they needed a push to get out from the recession. The commercial had a bit too much sex advertisement in it, which may led to worse effect tan could have achieved and made the competitors (American Airlines) stand out more, as they had a touching TV commercial that gave gratitude to the men in uniform, veterans and their families. Sexual advertising may distract the consumer’s attention from the message content being sent. This technique may have a little influence on the buyers purchasing intentions and a risk of spoiling the image of the company. This advert is targeting businessman, but there is the family audience with children and generation X, which they are risking of loosing. The commercial is based mostly on emotions and only in one short scene the viewer can see the seats with the monitors. The saloons, seats and the exact food of Virgin Atlantic Airlines are not shown, but they are very important to be shown, as the consumer wants to see the comfort he/she will have during the flight. The fact that the advertisement shows a man being tucked into a cloud and not airplane seat could make an impression that the airlines are hiding something and their seats are not good enough to be shown in the advertisement. This advertisement could have been improved by focusing the viewer’s attention much more on the design of the saloon, comfortable seats and delicious food. Nonetheless, overall this was a very well executed and effective advertisement with successfully reached hearts and minds of customer. Buyers Behaviour Virgin Atlantic. (2018, Oct 18).

Euro Crisis in terms of the Greek Debt Issue Research Paper

Euro Crisis in terms of the Greek Debt Issue - Research Paper Example This aspect caught the government of Greece unawares because the expenditure that had been made on the defense equipments was so high meaning that the rest of the country’s economy had been under budgeted. The major economic sources that comprised of tourism and the shipping industry were adversely affected by the economic deterioration that had hit all parts of the world. Lack of monetary fund to plan and budget for the governmental and non-governments needs arose in 2010. This caused the government of Greece to request for a loan in late April in the year 2010 from the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) so that it could be able to cater for its needs and the needs of its citizens. Researchers announced few days after the issuing of the loan that the Greek government could not be able to repay the loan thus the investors that have invested in the Greek government and companies risked losing almost half of their investments. This announcement caused fear amon g the investors, existing and willing investors, and they withdrew from their original plans to avoid further losses. Effects of the crisis of Greece The Greek government had to introduce drastic measures that led to the infliction of high economic standards to the citizens of Greece in May that year. The high cost of living and low-income rates due to high taxes and other governmental requirements made the Greek citizens to have a series of peaceful protests, which later turned into social instability and riots in Greece. The International Monetary Fund in conjunction with European Union intervened and added an additional loan to the Greek government in 2011 on condition that it could regulate the flow of money and economy (James, 2001). In addition, Greece was supposed to come up with a structure of repaying the loan. This structure was to be produced by the Greek government and agreed upon by the International Monetary Fund, European Union and the Greek government. The European U nion gave pressure to the prime minister of Greece due to the improper management and governance during his regime and threatened to withdrawal part of the loan that they were supposed to process for the Greek government. This led to George Papandreou step down to give room for an election of a new and focused regime to cover for the damages caused and give room for more external and internal donations and loans. The resigning of the prime minister caused or led to the release of the percent of the loan that had remained and the appointment of an interim prime minister to take control of the debt repayment and proper use of allocated funds. Scholars and economic analysts has been following up the case of the Greek economic break down and that of the European Union and are suggesting a possible break through for the European nations. The economic analysts are suggesting that the Greek government should stop using Euros and bring back its former currency, drachma, as its currency unti l it stabilizes. However, this would result in a political and economical instability and deterioration (Drazen, 2011). Some scholars argue that the reintroduction of the drachma would result to a more than 50% fall in its value if Greece chose to drop the use of Euro. This would mean that that the Greek government would suffer from high rates of inflation and there are possibilities of riots, military coups and war. In order to avoid this outcome, the

Final two pages Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Final two pages - Assignment Example Composition entailed the application of the visual elements to produce a frame that is consistent with the entire continuity. The story is about a student who attends a school in which he has to sit for the entry examinations. He failed the first exam, which forced him to create a pill that shall assist in mutation and the development of a photographic memory. This would allow the student to memorize the contents of the entire book in order to correctly answer the examination questions. As a result, the student manages to attain an A grade in the examination, leading to his admission in the school. The film further expounds on the concept and applications of mutation in academics and other fields. This exposes the negative aspects of mutations in the real world that people use in their fields. The materials and methods I used to create the visuals and narrative involved lighting, characters, tables, pictures and figures. It was appropriate to use the images in order to make the audience become interactive with the topic. The sub-titles were used to guide the audience and emphasized on the illustration of plot development. It is apparent that the materials enable the audience to relate to the topic for easy understanding of the different terms. For instance, the pictures had to be accurate for the message to be easily conveyed without causing confusions. The mutation topic requires the real usage of concepts since it is a biological process that people experience. The message of the film is that mutation is the solution of evolution. This implies that if it can be controlled, then a better human race can be developed. Mutation has enabled the production of things that people use for various purposes and this needs control. This message of the film is significant in order to educate people on how mutation contributes to evolution. The process and viewing of the film informed my understanding of cell biology since it deepened my

Theodore Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz” (999) Essay Example for Free

Theodore Roethke, â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† (999) Essay Theodore Roethke (1948) My Papas Waltz The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not simple. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mothers countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt. Summary A man recounts the childhood memories of his father coming home from work and dancing with him. They dance wildly; make a mess of the kitchen. Her mother does not approve. Next the father puts him to bed with the child tightly holding on to him. Paraphrase The smell of whisky on your mouth was strong enough to make a child like me giddy. However it did not stop me from keeping a tight grip on you as this type of rowdy dancing was not easy. We danced wildly till the utensils glide from the mantelpiece. My mother did not approve of our behavior and glared at us. The hand which supported my wrist had one knuckle tattered. Each time you put a wrong step, my right ear rubbed the hard surface of your belt. You hit me occasionally on my head with your palm which was covered with solid mud. Afterwards you dance me to my bed while I kept a firm hold on your shirt. Short Decision Part After reading the poem Theodore Roethke’s â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz†, for the second time I understood that the poem is a narration of the happy childhood memories of the author. The very title of the poem, â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz†, where the child mentions his father as ‘papa’ confirms the fact that the child has great affection for his father. The sentence ‘The whisky on your breath could mean that his father enjoys a drink before going to bed. The word ‘death’ means that the son enjoys but this rowdy dance is not easy so the son holds tightly to his father to avoid falling. When their wild dance made the kitchen untidy, his mother only frowned. Her silence shows that it is just a harmless dance between father and son. The sentence ‘You beat time on my head’ means that his father affectionately beat on his head with the rhythm of the dance.   I think that the last two lines, where the child tells that the father dancingly moved towards the his bed and put him to sleep, yet the child does not loosen his hold on his father’s shirt confirms that there is great and love and affection between the father and son. Reference Theodore Roethke, My Papas Waltz. 3 October 2007. http://gawow.com/roethke/poems/43.html

Television Soap Operas and Moral Debate :: Philosophy Research Papers

Television Soap Operas and Moral Debate ABSTRACT: This paper proposes that we should aim to refine talk about issues in soap opera as a means of developing moral reasoning skills. I begin with a report of work at schools in New Jersey over 1996-97, during which excerpts of a popular soap opera, 'Party of Five,' were used as the basis of a rigorous philosophical discussion of moral behavior. I then turn to the distinctive role of soap opera as a locus of moral discussion, with an example of a Mexicana telenovela. I suggest that children are already engaged in moral debate about soap operas and are eager to develop a more rigorous critical framework for the debate. I argue that children appreciate the opportunity to flesh out the school yard gossip about soap operas with a philosophically sophisticated discussion. My approach draws on the work of Matthew Lipman in philosophy for children, Neil Postman's critique of television, and David Buckingham's analysis of children's responses to television. The paper proposes that we aim to refine talk about issues in soap opera as a means of developing moral reasoning skills. It begins with a report of work at schools in New Jersey over 1996-7, during which excerpts of a popular soap opera, 'Party of Five' were used as the basis of a rigorous philosophical discussion of moral behaviour. The paper then turns to the distinctive role of soap opera as a locus of moral discussion, with an example of a Mexican telenovela. I suggest that children are already engaged in moral debate about soap operas and are eager to develop a more rigorous critical framework for the debate. My argument is that children appreciate the opportunity to flesh out the school yard gossip about soap operas with a philosophically sophisticated discussion. The approach draws on the work of Matthew Lipman in Philosophy for Children, Neil Postman's critique of television and David Buckingham's analysis of children's responses to television. PARTY OF FIVE Claudia: No, uh ah, no way. Charlie: Claudia Claudia: No, forget it. That's, that is a terrible thing to do. Julia: Yeah, it is. It is, but how else, Claude, I mean, how else are we going to get him here? Claudia: I don't know, but that? No, you can't tell him that. You can't have him get in his car and drive all the way over here thinking that. You don't think this is the cruelest thing you could do to a person, I mean you're actually OK with this ?

Project Base Learning in the classroom Essay

Project based learning in classroom is a great departure from that of the conventional classroom learning method. The conventional learning is teacher centric and the students learn directly from their teacher. On the other hand, the project based learning is student centric while the teacher has only the role of a facilitator. Today’s world is more advanced in technology hence more complex. There are a lot of opportunities as well as various problems. Only those who can successfully handle such complex tasks can succeed in the modern life. The student needs to be prepared to face such things in their future life. And the project based learning in the classroom itself gives them a glimpse of challenges lying ahead and types of life surviving skills that needed to face them. In this method, the students are given challenging tasks, individually or in a group, which they need to carry out, using the concepts and principles they learned from the text books and their own common sense and creative thinking. Most of the tasks given to the students are related to real life situations. The basic idea behind using such real life situations is that it will make the student competent enough to construct solutions for such situations in the real life as when they arise. Project based learning method allows the students to decide themselves the course of actions in order to achieve the objective of the task or solve the given problem. They ask themselves the questions that need to be answered to produce the required answers. They themselves find out the answers and the ways to meet the set objectives. Their inherent qualities like leadership skills, problem solving skills and communication skills etc are forced to develop during this process. They also learn to think in a group which is essential in modern work culture. Unlike the passive role they played in the teacher centric learning method, the students are leaning things by actually doing it and experiencing the thrill as well as the difficulties of such learning. They get a chance to apply the knowledge they acquired from the text books on to the real life situations. The students direct themselves and this instills in them a sense of responsibility and their motivational levels will go up. The utilization of technology such as computer and internet etc give them a real clue about their immense utility. They get to experience the pride that is associated with the achievement of goals and they are ready for more. The teacher, who is also the facilitator, finally assesses the findings or suggestions submitted by the students and give his feedback. The feedback is very much important for the students and will help them make good the shortcoming and move forward. This way they horn their skills in every area of leaning and by the time they finish the schooling, they are ready to take on the numerous challenges that the life throws at them.

An Irregular Warfare Strategy for Somalia Essay

Introduction The use of Irregular Warfare has been ongoing for years around the world. Irregular warfare is described as a violent struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant populations. I will discuss where the U.S. may apply military force in conjunction with other means of national power to stabilize the nation of Somalia. I will also discuss why it would be considered as an Irregular Warfare environment. Body Somalia gained its independence from British control in 1960, where the British relinquished control and gave Somalia to the United Nations. Somalia was governed by civilians until 1969; after which the military rebellion by General Muhammed Siad Barre took place. General Muhammed Siad Barre was a military tyranny that was in command of Somalia and it’s military. His tyranny lasted over 2 decades. During the 1970s the United States government communicated with General Barre and donated over 100 million dollars to help stabilize the Somali economy. The United States knew it was within there best interest to keep General Barre in power of Somalia for a while. The United States also knew that by the late 1980s the Somali economy would be unable to sustain itself and foreign aid would be withdrawn. After the collapse of Somalia’s economy, the United States revolted against General Barre’s oppressive regime. Different warlords of Somalia fought together against Genera l Barre, ending his power and forcing him to flee the country. The United States maintained the tyranny by supporting General Barre and his dictatorship because they had an agenda. They then used their power of the situation to overthrow General Barre in the end. In 1991 The United Somali Congress (USC) was formed and a temporary president was appointed to govern the nation. With dissention within the USC they were later over thrown by  the Islamic Courts Union. The Islamic Courts Union had the support of the people because they offered services such as schools and health care. They also took on the responsibility of law enforcement which was paid for by local businesses to lower and maintain the crime rate within the area. The Islamic Courts Union took on the responsibility of halting robberies and drug dealing, as well as stopping the showing of what it claims to be pornographic films in local movie houses. The Islamic Courts Union also addressed problems throughout the region by establishing community services and security which in turn help them to gain the trust of the local residents. Local warlords became concerned over the growing power of the Islamic Courts Union. The Warlords decided to join together to create the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter Terrorism (ARPCT. The Islamic Courts Union lost their power over Mogadishu in 2006, when they were defeated and forced to Kismayo, which is in the southern part of the country. Conflicts within the nation of Somalia were sometimes planned as a means to an end. Whereby the United States Government supported a certain regime before they used their power to gain control of the situation and overthrow the tyrant. In other cases the use of national power was used such as the Islamic Courts Union to gain control over Somalia by implementing logical line of operations by providing the people their needs and services to gain their trust. In these situations it would be considered as an irregular warfare environment, because they were violent struggles for power within the nation. Conclusion The use of power can cause conflict within nations and among nations; however, being able to manage conflict can bring about some form of peace within and with nations. This essay discussed some examples of Irregular Warfare and how it played a part in Somalia. It also discussed some examples of Irregular Warfare that was used throughout the history of the Somalia conflict. References Irregular Warfare (IW) Joint Operating Concept (JOC). (2007). http://marshallfoundation.org/documents/IrregularWarfare.pdf Somalia Civil War. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war /somalia.htm>. The National Counterterrorism Center. (2014). http://www.nctc.gov/site /groups/al_shabaab.html

Feeding Problems and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Research Paper

Feeding Problems and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Research Paper Feeding Problems and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Research Paper Evidence Based Practice Articles on Autism and Feeding Problems Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by different forms of difficulties such as verbal and non-verbal communication, repetitive behaviors, and social interactions (Freedman, 2008 p.4). The condition is a learning disorder, and it depicts a development issue in the brain. Children with autism and autistic spectrum disorder find it hard to interact with other children of their age, and when in school, teachers, and other pupils consider the autistic children as â€Å"difficult†. However, autism can be managed very well. Children with autism need nursing care to bring out the best from them. According to a research conducted by Marcus Autism Center, children with autism are at risk of poor feeding and feeding disorder (Woodruff Health Sciences Center , 2013 para.1). It is notable that proper and healthy meals help children to develop mentally by socializing during meals, but autistic children do not experience that. Good nursing practice are needed to ensure that autism does not affect feeding and health of a child. Children with Autism at Considerable Risk of Nutritional Deficits and Feeding Problems The Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine and the Marcus Autism Center were the first institutions to conduct a research on the issue (Woodruff Health Sciences Center, 2013). First of all, it is not clear what causes autism. It may be genetic since the condition runs in families. Scientists have conducted several other researches to determine the brain sections that lead to the condition (Woodruff Health Sciences Center, 2013). The investigation carried out involved using all peer reviewed articles written on autism and feeding problems. A meta-analysis of the peer reviewed articles was conducted by researchers from Emory University and Marcus Autism Center. From the research, they noted that most children diagnosed with the condition have a lower intake of calcium and protein, and also have a high number of other nutritional problems (Woodruff Health Sciences Center , 2013). Some of the feeding problems that children with autism experience include allergies for many food products. Therefore, the nurses should monitor the feeding habits of children, and ensure that the children eat food which is full of nutritional value (Woodruff Health Sciences Center, 2013). Secondly, autistic children also suffer from pica, a condition in which they eat nonfood materials, which is also a feeding and behavioral deficiency that nurses must observe and restrain. The peer reviewed literature meta-analysis did not indicate that feeding disorders in autistic children resulted from the fact that they had a diet with only a few types of food. However, the Marcus Autism Centre researchers subtly indicated that parents of autistic children complained that few foods make up the diets of their autistic children (Woodruff Health Sciences Center , 2013). As a result of this meta-analysis conducted by researchers from Emory University and Marcus Autism Centre, nurses and caregivers of autistic children now have a chance to make the diets of children right by ensuring that they give supplementary nutrients such as proteins and calcium in the form of tablets or injections. The information is essential in making long-term decisions on the management plan for autistic children and the management of other health issues which they have. Another significant impact of the Emory University and Marcus Autism Center research is that the nurses dealing with autistic children can develop a guideline on how to cope with the condition of those children who suffer from autism. Elimination diet has traditionally been used by nurses in coping with the adverse reactions which autistic children have to some types of food, but now it is clear that utilizing the elimination diet strategy could have a malnutrition potential for those involved (Brown-Guttovz, 2008 p.29). This is what drives the nursing community helping the autistic people to determine the best way of dealing with the feeding disorders. The Emory and Marcus Autism Center research was unique and it aimed at improving nursing process for the autistic children. Early Feeding Problems that Indicate Autism Early diagnosis of any condition is beneficial because it helps in determining the right strategies of coping and managing the impacts of the condition. Researchers at the University of Bristol in England noted that children who have feeding disorders are most likely to be autistic (Neale, 2010 Para. 5). This opens a primary method for early diagnosis of ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) which would help in nursing of such children especially in managing their diet and nutrition. According to the study conducted by Golding and his colleagues, children with autism are selective on the food they eat and accept solid foods way later as compared to those who do not suffer from the condition. They are also not easy to feed, and nurses or parents have to struggle to feed them (Land, 2001 p.10). They are slow feeders and accept very few varied diets. Diagnosis should not be entirely dedicated to the feeding habits; hence, the discovery that children are pervasive food refusers or slow feeders, and other factors such as their speech, attention and behaviors should also be scrutinized to determine if they could be suffering from autism (Neale, 2010 para.8). To come to that conclusion, the researchers asked parents to fill questionnaires with information on feeding and dietary habits of their children at different stages in life starting with 6 to 54 weeks, and when the children were at the age of 7, their heights were measured (Neale, 2010 para.8). The information collected from the questionnaires was compared with the information collected on children who have ASD and those who did not have. The patterns of feeding were identified the characteristic of resistance towards change exhibited by autistic children and, hence, found to be very important in early diagnosis of the condition for easy management. SWEAA – A Self-Report Questionnaire Targeting Eating Disturbances within the Autism Spectrum Children with ASD are sometimes thought to be fussy eaters. In many cases, caregivers and parents withhold food from fussy eaters so that they can eat when hungry. With children suffering from ASD, this strategy is dangerous (Karlsson, Rà ¥stam, Wentz, 2013 p.2225). Wentz et.al developed a self reliant questionnaire which people filled to determine how their eating habits were affected by autism. This questionnaire is useful for teenagers and young adults who have autistic spectrum. However, the young adults must have an IQ of over 70 or have no potential for diagnosis of intellectual disability (Karlsson, Rà ¥stam, Wentz, 2013 p.2225). The Swedish Eating Assessment for Autism spectrum disorders (SWEAA) research conducted by Wentz et.al showed that people with ASD prefer food of certain colors and taste. They were also unable to eat because of the inability to eat certain foods and cut at the foods with the utensils provided (Lesinskiene, PÃ… «ras, Kajokiene, Senina, 2002). Thirdly, the traditional setup of the eating place in which there was a sense of sociability was a challenge for people with autism because most of them prefer to do things on their own, but not in a place where there are other people. This indicated that people with ASD could suffer from different other disorders especially related to allergies and phobias, and the best way to handle such cases is by ensuring that these people are well understood (Pinto-Martin, Souders, Giarelli, Levy, 2005 p.164). Secondly, the SWEAA questionnaire is very essential because it helps in knowing the types of foods that the autistic individual does not naturally take so that substitutes are made available for the individual, and the nutritional balance in the body is maintained (Spurgeon, 1967 p.1416). It is quite unhealthy to withhold food for an autistic individual because such an individual may get malnutrition. John 2004 Reflective Model Johns model of reflection is based on five main questions. The cue questions enable an individual to break an issue into several stages including the process, outcomes and experience. In the determination of nursing issues, Johns reflection model was utilized. The breakdown of its application is shown in the discussion below. Description of the Experience At this stage, the knowledge of how autism is manifested in individuals is very important. The investigations conducted all focused on the feeding problems associated with the autistic children and the implications which these children might get from the feeding problems. Children with such conditions also have great potential to lack good social skills, especially those which are acquired during meals. Parents and caregivers of children with this condition understand better how the children behave with food. It was noted that children with ASD usually accepted solid food later in life as compared to their peers. Autistic children are also choosy on the foods they take (Neale, 2010 para.4). The research conducted by Jean Golding and her colleagues also indicated that some were slow eaters, while others were quite troublesome during feeding (Neale, 2010 para.2). In the Emory University and Marcus Autism Center research, an analysis of case recorded about autism and feeding problems were subjected to meta-analysis to come to a conclusion. In the Jean Golding research, parents and caregivers were asked to fill questionnaires which were used in the determination of the impact of autism on feeding, and the SWEAA study involved young adults and teens with ASD. The teens and young adults were required to fill in the questionnaires on their own (Karlsson, Rà ¥stam, Wentz, 2013 p.2226). The information collected from the three empirical researches was subjected to scrutiny and compared to that of feeding behaviors of people without ASD and the difference noted. The Goals and Objectives of the Researches All three researches, the Emory University and Marcus Autism Centre, the Jean Golding headed Bristol University research and SWEAA study, had one main goal and objective which they wanted to achieve. The goal was to determine the extent of feeding problems associated with autism and the consequences they have on health and nutrition of people suffering from the condition, and hence, and secondly, to determine the best nursing strategy which would impacts of autism to the people diagnosed with the condition. It is necessary to keep in mind that they all suffer allergies towards some food, they have a dislike for foods of certain colors, and more importantly, they suffer a low intake of calcium and proteins. These are some of the issues which nurses consider to define the relevant supplements or alternative feeding which can be used. Influencing Factors Age is one of the most important factors influencing the study. If feeding disorders are discovered early, they can be used to diagnose the condition early. Early diagnosis leads to early intervention for children with ASD, including offering substitutes and food supplements in their diet to ensure that the feeding disorders do not affect their health. Secondly, it is notable that early diagnosis of any condition offers the best chance for effective management, and hence, it is beneficial in nursing. Good nursing practice requires the individual to have a guideline for management. What Could Have Been Improved The articles selected for these assignments are all articles which deal with feeding disorders among the autistic children. However, although they are empirical and they give detailed information on the consequences of the disorders among the autistic, it is worth noting that they do not have mathematical representation, which could be essential for quantification. This would have been appropriate and quite beneficial for the study. Research Outcomes There are many issues that an individual can learn from the exercise. First of all, children with autism are not difficult to feed simply because they want to be rebellious, but because they have allergies for some foods. ASD affects some functions of the brain which cause autistic people to be choosy at what they eat or to have repetitive behavior. It is, however, not certain why children with autism have some allergic reactions to some foods since there is not direct connection of the brain functions with the diet. Secondly, it is important to develop a diet which can help in substituting the foods which the autistic children do not like, because it would be even harder to nurse the autistic children if they are in bad health. Lastly, some of the traditional strategies used in managing choosy children cannot be applied to children with autism, and hence, it is important for parents to enlist the help of professional nurses with knowledge and experience in handling such children. If food is denied to force them to eat it when hungry, they may still not take it because they do not refuse to take on their volition, but as a direct response from the brain triggered by color of food, smell or taste as a result of brain function. Conclusion The study involves analyzing three empirical researches on a learning disorder in regards to nursing. The condition chosen is autism, which is a learning disorder and quite challenging in nursing. Three studies have been analyzed and a John 2004 model of reflection used on the three studies. The intention is to help in further understanding of autism and its implications in nursing. If you need a custom research paper written by a professional academic writer dont miss your chance to contact .