The Neurosis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne Essays - Freudian Psychology

The Neurosis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne The Neurosis of Nathaniel Hawthorne The influence of Freuds theory of the dynamics of human personality extends far beyond the discipline of behavioral science, reaching into areas such as humanities, philosophy, and literature. Freud believed that a work of literature is the external expression of the authors unconscious mind. Therefore, we must treat the work of literature as a dream, then reveal hidden motivations and repressed desires by applying psychoanalytic techniques. In the story Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I will explore the use of symbols and repressed images by the author that are conveyed throughout the story. To understand better the approach of psychoanalytic criticism, we must first define a general concept of the theory behind it. Psychoanalytic theory finds its roots in psychoanalysis, the medical technique developed by Sigmund Freud in 1900. Freud published a book entitled The Interpretation of Dreams that outlined a complete theory of dreams and focused on unconscious mechanisms and their relation to consciousness. Psychoanalysis was born. Although not originally intended to be a school of literary criticism, Freud later began to develop a connection between literature and psychoanalysis. This created a new understanding of the artwork (the literary piece itself), the artist (writers including their writing process), and the audience (readers and their responses). Psychoanalysis is said to have several different meanings. For literary purposes the best definition as described by Robert Mollinger would be a theory of the mind that can serve as an explanatory model for literature(31). Central to Psychoanalysis is the tripartite model. The tripartite model is best described by our textbook Literary Criticism: This model developed by Freud separates the human psyche into three parts, the id, ego, and superego. The id is the source for all psychosexual desires and psychic energy. The id operates on the pleasure principal, demanding immediate satisfaction. The ego is the rational and logical part of the mind. It operates as a balance or regulator to the id. The final part is the superego, an internal censor that allows people to make moral judgments in light of social pressures. (150-151) Between the id, ego, and superego, exists an ever-changing balance is created. When the ego cannot meet the needs of the id and superego, a neurosis is created: It is these unresolved conflicts (i.e. neurosis) that Freud seeks to resolve so the patient can return to normalcy. (Bressler 153) Using this tripartite model is an important element for dream interpretation, which is the basis for my criticism of Young Goodman Brown A psychoanalytic criticism of Young Goodman Brown will view the entire story as a single dream of Nathaniel Hawthornes. Freud believed that dreams stored hidden repressed sexual desires, anger, rage, guilt, and emotions from the unconscious. Therefore, our psyche recreates these repressed feeling and emotions through our dreams. When the critic analyzes the literature as a dream, he then unlocks the hidden messages, repressed desires, and underlying motivations of the author. Central to the story of Goodman Brown is his curious journey with the stranger. Although the reader is never directly told why Brown meets with the stranger, a psychoanalytic criticism lends a different and unique perspective to his travels. On the surface of the story, the meeting of the two men may be simply seen as chance encounter; however, their characters and actions represent far more. Hawthornes writing is very closely related to his conflicts with religion during his life. Central to his struggle in Young Goodman Brown is the conflict with gay and lesbian relationships versus the Puritan church. Hawthorne uses his characters as symbolic images to represent his feeling and thoughts about the religious culture at work during the late 1800s. No different, the stranger Goodman Brown meets in the woods is a projection of Hawthornes conscience through Brown. I hope to demonstrate that Hawthornes conscience has created the character of the stranger through a neurosis produced by his unresolved conflict with gay relationships versus his puritan society beliefs. The stranger represents Hawthornes struggle with sin, his ids primary pleasures, and the close relation between sin and the devil. Within the first few paragraphs of the story, Brown states, what a wretch I am to leave her on such an errand.but no

ESOPs Essays

ESOPs Essays ESOPs Essay ESOPs Essay There are numerous studies being conducted the world over to determine the interaction of several factors. Most of the research has the objective of evaluating the performance after the implementation of some programs. The business community from time to time institutes some programs that are thought to expand the business in one way or another. Various methodologies are available in literature and researchers are always presented with the difficulty of choosing one methodology over another. The varying methodologies are appropriate for different types of research and a clearer understanding of the advantages of one methodology over the other should be well known. This will lead to valid conclusions and enable researchers to make generalizations about the whole population.In 1974, the United States Congress enacted an Act aimed at encouraging employee own stock in the firms in which they worked. This was to be attained by introducing tax measures to encourage employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). These measures have seen the numbers of employee owned companies increase to close to ten thousand from just above 1500 such companies. The numbers of employees owning stock also have increase to over eight million (Rosen Quarrey, 1987). A recent study was aimed at finding how the ESOPs had affected the governance of the companies. The research intended to find if the plan had worked to improve profitability and performance at the companies. The study sought to cool of the debate on whether the enactment of these laws was advantageous.The objective of the study was to identify the whether the ESOP companies had recorded faster growth than the other companies. Another objective was to determine whether the employees vigorously contributed ideas that shaped the company to attain any successes. The study took a sample of 45 ESOP companies and data was collected for five years prior and after implementation of the plan. This study design could be compared to the classical experimental design in which subjects under study are divided into two groups: the experimental or treatment group and the control group. In this case, the treatment group was the companies that had implemented the plan while the control group was the other companies that did not implemented the plan.This classical design setup is the best placed design since it controls against other factors that could affect the results of the study. Due to the long duration under which the study was being conducted, there were many factors that could contribute to the success or failure of the companies. The design used in this study was therefore appropriate sine it incorporated the control group. The design also allowed for the pretest and posttest to be performed on the companies. The data collected was for the duration prior to the implementation of the plan and after. This amounts to applying a treatment to some companies and then observing the results after some t ime. The results are than compared with those of the control group. Chances of other factors being involved are therefore minimized. Internal validity test was thus fulfilled. The study controlled against external factors by comparing with industry growth.The data is the most important part of any research. The data to be collected should be relevant and in line with the set objectives. The data collected for this study was data on sales and employment rates. These were the variables to be tested and they were in line with the study objectives. The analysis of the data showed that the implementation of the plan caused a significant positive effect on the performance of the company. The growth of the companies were traced over the duration before the implementation of the plan and compared with the growth over the five years after the implementation. This comparison showed that the growth rates after the plan implementation was much higher. This was rightly concluded to mean that the plan was responsible for the growth.In the analysis of the data also, the study concluded that there were no other factors that could have contributed to the growth. This was based on the tests carried out on other factors and they did not show significant interactions. On whether the implementation of the plan improved corporate performance, the study showed positive change. The ESOP companies that implemented employee participation plans were found to grow up to four times faster than the other ESOPs that did not have such a plan. This again rightly means that encouraging employee participation cultivates better work attitude leading to success of the company overall.The analysis on the non-ESOP companies indicated mixed results when the employee participation plan was implemented. This led to the conclusion that the participation plan works best when the company has converted to an ESOP. The conclusion is valid. If the participation plan was the contributing factor alone to the success of a company, the non-ESOP companies should have equally shown similar results with those of the ESOP companies. The results should have been uniform. The conclusion that the employees participate more in the company’s decision making is therefore justifiable. The explanation that involving the employee’s decisions in the company’s management creates an enthusiasm that motivates them to work harder also holds true.The researchers identified that the companies that allow their employees to own shares with them have better chances of performing well. The companies that intend to change the attitudes of their employees to motivate them to work harder should therefore consider going the ESOP way. The research also concluded that the employees were more likely to be comfortable with their pay since they know the profits belong to them.The above study was well planned and the objectives were well defined at the onset. The variables to be measured had also been clearly defined. The data that was collected was appropriate in meeting the set objectives. The design used in this study allowed the researchers to control the effects from other factors making the results valid. The interpretations give are also based on the data and are correct.

Why is media studies an important academic discipline Essay

Why is media studies an important academic discipline - Essay Example The basic field of media studies or media sciences as one might inter relate the two terms is to make sure that there is complete harmony of understanding the different media related regimes when it comes to getting the message to the right people at the right time and in the right capacity. The media contributes to public opinion and provides understanding of the news. The media entertains us, watches government and social institutions, and gives the public information for debate and discussion about local and international affairs. The role of media in the world of today is unparalleled, so much so that it literally overshadows the extent of impact any other field of life or work can have. Media manipulations thus also are quite rampant and would remain in the thick of things until a sense of responsibility and fair play is brought into this scenario. Thus this issue brings to light the task played by the spin doctors with the passage of time. These people are basically biased towards a cause, an event or have a set objective to start with. Media has a huge role to play in any country’s day to day activities and the mannerisms in which it usually deals with the people living in a region or country for that matter. (Curran, 2000) Its role cannot be denied its du e right especially since it can literally make or break the cultural values and traditions of any country. When we speak of media studies, we must remember that it is composed of a number of subsets namely advertising, film, television, print, animation and so on and so forth. Media communications demands a lot of word of mouth approach that essentially takes into consideration the fact that the more people are happy and satisfied with the brand and its related associations, the more they will buy it again and again as well as encourage their near and dear ones to take that step of having the eventual purchase on

Crime And Behavioral Genetics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crime And Behavioral Genetics - Research Paper Example To gain an in depth insight of this hypothesis, this paper will outline an annotated bibliography of three journals: Gou, G. Roettger, M. Cai, T. (2008). The Integration of Genetic Propensities into Socio- Control Models of Delinquency and Violence among Male Youths, American Sociological Review, 73 (4); 543-568; Ferguson, C. J. (2010). Genetic contributions to antisocial personality and behavior: A meta-analytic review from an evolutionary perspective, The Journal of Social Psychology, 150(2), 160-80, and Stone, R. D. (2003). The cloudy crystal ball: Genetics, child abuse, and the perils of predicting behavior. Vanderbilt Law Review, 56(5), 1557-1590 that have delineated the relationship between genes and crime. The annotated bibliography will be aimed at addressing the specific title of how genetics play a role in crime. Gou, G. Roettger, M. Cai, T. (2008). The Integration of Genetic Propensities into Socio- Control Models of Delinquency and Violence among Male Youths. American Soc iological Review, 73 (4), 543-568 As pertains to the author’s background, this journal is work of four authors. Guang Guo was a professor at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill and teaches sociology. He was also a member of the faculty at Carolina Population Center and Carolina Center for Genomic Sciences at the same University. Michel E. Roettger was a PHD candidate at the same University and his thesis statement sought to examine social inequality in relationship to the US criminal justice system. Tianji Cai a PHD holder at the same university was interested in sociological research methods that aimed at addressing how biology interplayed with the society. Intended audience of this journal article was the delinquent civil societies, the parents, the genetics departments and the criminal society. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of genes on violent delinquency by examining three genetic polymorphisms: 40-bp VNTR in the DATI gene, the 30-bp prom oter- region VNTR in the MAOA gene, and the Taq1 polymorphism in the DRD2 gene. Data used was collected from DNA subsample obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The study was based on a population size of 1,100 males whose DNA and measures to control their social behavior was available for incorporation in the study. The results of the study illustrated that there was a positive interaction between DATI, MAOA, and DRD2 and the deliquescent behavior reported among the males involved in the study. An interaction was reported between MAOA gene and DRD2 gene in association with having a family meal. The results illustrated that a weaker socio cultural involvement of the family and the school processes flared up the gene expression in deliquescent individuals. Social issues play a paramount role in the gene expression of the individuals who engaged in deliquescent behavior. Individuals who possessed a 2R allele as evidenced in the MAOA*2 genotype, upon repea t of a grade, they exhibited serous delinquency compared to individuals who did not express the 2R allele gene in their genotype. Repeating a grade and its influence in expression of MAOA*2 was attributed to the interference in the individuals social relationship with his peers, ridicule by his peer. They were also predisposed to feelings of shame, inadequacy, humiliation, and confusion weakening their bonds to social support structures

Life of Rabindra Nath Tagore Essay Example for Free

Life of Rabindra Nath Tagore Essay Tagores international travels also sharpened his opinion that human divisions were shallow. During a May 1932 visit to a Bedouin encampment in the Iraqi desert, the tribal chief told him that Our prophet has said that a true Muslim is he by whose words and deeds not the least of his brother-men may ever come to any harm Tagore noted in his diary: I was startled into recognizing in his words the voice of essential humanity. [1] In his last decade, Tagore compiled fifteen volumes of writings, including works of prose-poems such as Punashcha (1932), Shes Saptak (1935), and Patraput (1936). He also continued his experimentations by developing prose-songs and dance-dramas, including Chitrangada (1936), Shyama (1939), and Chandalika (1938). He also wrote the novels Dui Bon (1933), Malancha (1934), and Char Adhyay (1934). Tagore also took an interest in science in his last years, writing Visva-Parichay (a collection of essays) in 1937. He wrote on topics ranging from biology to physics, and astronomy; meanwhile, his poetry — containing extensive naturalism — underscored his respect for scientific laws. He also wove the process of science (including narratives of scientists) into many stories contained in such volumes as Se (1937), Tin Sangi (1940), and Galpasalpa (1941). [2] [edit]Illness of 1937-1941 Tagores last four years (1937–1941) were marked by chronic pain and two long periods of illness. These began when Tagore lost consciousness in late 1937; he remained comatose and near death for an extended period. This was followed three years later in late 1940 by a similar spell, from which he never recovered. The poetry Tagore wrote in these twilight years are distinctive for their preoccupation with death; these more profound and mystical experimentations allowed Tagore to be branded a modern poet. 3] After extended suffering,[4] Tagore died on August 7, 1941 (22 Shravan 1348) in an upstairs room of the Jorasanko mansion in which he was raised. [5] This date is still mourned in public functions held across the Bangla-speaking world. The last person to see Tagore alive was Amiya Kumar Sen (brother of Sukumar Sen, the first chief election commissioner); Tagore dictated his last poem to Sen, who wrote it down. Sen later donated the resulting draft to a museum in Kolkata.

Consider Two Theories Of Child Development Psychology Essay

Consider Two Theories Of Child Development Psychology Essay There are many theories taken from the disciplines of sociology, biology and psychology that explain human development from the each disciplines perspective. Baltes (1987) cited in Crawford and Walker (2010), states that human development is multidimensional. Human development is approached from several theoretical perspectives which may be classified as psychoanalytic, learning, cognitive, sociological, biological or ecological theories. Broadly, theories of human life course development can be categorised into three disciplines namely; sociological, biological and psychological. Sociological theories emphasise social and environmental factors as having an impact or influence in human development. Biological theories focus on the physical development, genetic influence, human growth stages and instinct. Biological theorists would argue that human behaviour for example, is genetically determined. On the other hand psychological theories focuses on what goes on in the mind, emotional development, personality development and related behaviours. This school of thought describe human development as stages or phases that individuals go through. According to Crawford and Walker (2010), human development theories can contribute our understanding of people and their situations. Different theoretical approaches lead to different approaches to social work practices. It is important that social workers access apply and critically evaluate these theories when working with children and their families. As a social worker, one should understand the origins, underlying assumptions, strengths and limitations of these theories in practice. The following is a discussion of two theories of child development and their usefulness in safeguarding the welfare of children. Bronfenbrenners theory of bioecological development This is a bioecological theory as defined by Boyd and Bee (2009). It explains human development in terms of relationship between people and their environments as illustrated in the diagram below. ` Adapted from http://edwinchartfellow.wordpress.com/research-project-2/ Case Study: John is 14 years of age and lives is a large deprived housing estate with a reputation for anti-social behavior. He does not attend school and spend most of his time with a gang of older teenagers. He has a history of theft and he misuse substances. He has lived most of his life in the care of relatives. His father Paul and grandfather have criminal records. His father is currently in prison. His mother Eve gave birth to John when she was 16 years and she uses drugs and alcohol. Johns aunt and her husband lives a few miles away and have offered to look after John. They are committed Christians and wish to support John and would like to support him to change his behaviour. According to Bronfenbrenner, human development is influenced by biological, socio-economic-political and cultural environment one grows in. Bronfenbrenner. (1979) bioecological theory states that there are four domains that influence child development and these are biological factors within the child, the family, the immediate surrounding such as school and the community, and the socio-economic environment in the wider world. The contexts of development are like circles within circles. It is therefore imperative that social workers understand the environment that the child grows in to be able to safeguard the welfare of children. The inner circle is the biological context which caters for the childs genetic makeup and development. Such factors may include genetic inheritance, sex/gender and healthy all contributing to an extent in the childs development. The next levels encompass the role of nurture. This viewpoint argues the environment, experiences and the way a child is brought up influences the childs development. Social workers have to take this into account in safeguarding the welfare of children. According to Boyd and Bee (2009), the microsystem relates to variables which children are exposed directly, such as their families, schools, churches, and neighbourhoods. The culture in which the child in born and grows is influenced by the immediate environment. The family values which may include religious upbringing and influences, classroom peers, and neighbourhood has a strong impact on the character and values of an individual. In Johns microsystem, we need to consider the influences of his parents and immediate family members. Parents involvement with the school and the response of the school to their involvement are part of the mesosystem. Shaffer and Kipp (2010), refers to mesostystem as the connections and interrelationships among microsystems such as home, school and peer groups. The childs development is likely to be optimized by strong supportive links between microsystems. For example, the childs ability to learn at school depends on the quality of instructions that his teachers provide and also on the extent in which the parents value, support and co-operate with teachers. On the other hand none supportive links between microsystems can spell disaster (Steinberg, Dornbusch and Brown, 1992 cited by Shaffer and Kipp (2010)). The next level is the exosystem (the socioeconomic). This consists of institutions of culture that indirectly affect the development of children. These include the community, school, parents work place, extended family, neighbourhood, and mass media. The exploration of Johns exosystem leads us to look at the local deprived community associated with anti-social behaviours in which John lives. The macrosystem represents the wider cultural context within which all the other systems are located. This includes the economic, social, cultural, history and laws in which a child grows. This wider context may refer to a country or state a child is brought up. For example, education funding exists in the socioeconomic context. A specific country may strongly believe that children should be educated (cultural context), but the ability to provide universal education can be limited by the countrys wealth (socioeconomic context). The macrosystem in which John lives, include social factors such as the economic and political factors in the country that may impact upon John and his family. Social workers must understand and appreciate that the development of the child encompasses biological, the role of the immediate environment like, parents, siblings, classroom peers and in the wider context involves the extended family, neighbours, and also the socio-economic condition in which the child lives. For example, the development of the unborn child may be affected by the impact of drug use of the mother. Crawford and Walker (2010), states that the Bronfenbrenner approach is based on the principle that the development and behaviours of individuals can be fully understood in the context of the environment in which they live. Attachment theory: Bowlby (1969) defines attachment as; A deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space It does not have to be reciprocal. Furthermore, Bowlby (1969), states that attachment in children is characterised by specific behaviours like seeking to be in touch or proximity with the attachment figure whenever one is threatened or upset. Attachment behaviour in adults is displayed with how they respond to the childs needs. Attachment theory provides understanding to how parent-child relationship emerges and has a bearing in subsequent years. Children need to feel secure in their relationship with adults or care giver. Early relationships are important as they are viewed as having critical role in the childs emotional well-being throughout their life development. Regarding this later life, Payne, 2005 p81 cited by Crawford and Walker (2010), p43 states that; How we are depends on how we experience early relationships. Warmth, mutuality, support, and security are qualities of relationships that tend to produce coherent and well organized later selves. Bowlby believes that child development personality lay in the early years of childhood and that any failure in the early relationships would permanently influence the development of the childs personality. Bowlby (1969) believes that attachment develops through four attachment phases as briefly described below. Pre-attachment phase (birth to 3 months): This is often referred to as indiscriminate attachment phase. A baby can be attached to any care giver. An infant forms attachment to whoever feeds it. Focus on one or more figures (3 to 6 months): Infants learn to distinguish between primary and secondary care givers and would accept care from anyone. Secure based attachment phase (6 to 24 months): True attachment develops in this phase. Infants look to certain care givers for security, protection and comfort. Fears of strangers and unhappiness when separated from attached care giver known as separation anxiety, is a characteristic of this phase. The reciprocal relationship phase (24 months and beyond): In this phase a child becomes increasingly more independent and forms several attachments. These several attachments can include attachments to siblings, grandparents, neighbours and friends. The attachment phases leads to the following types of attachments and social workers need to understand these if they are to effectively work with children and families. Attachment can be described as secure. As long as the care giver is present a securely attached child will play comfortably and react positively to strangers and will become visibly upset when their mothers leave. Attachment can also be described as avoidant. This is for example; a child avoids contact with the mother at reunion after an absence. The child does not show any preference to mother over a stranger. The insecure/ambivalent attachment type is where the child shows little exploration and is wary of strangers. The child gets very upset when separated from the mother. The child may show anger at reunion and resist comfort from the mother and stranger. The last type is the insecure/disorganised attachment which is characterised by confusion, disoriented behaviour. Boyd and Bee (2009), states that social workers should understand that early emotional relationships shape late ones in life. Securely attached children in infancy are later more sociable, positive in their behaviour towards friends and siblings, less dependent on teachers, less aggressive and disruptive, more empathetic and emotionally mature in their interactions in school and outside the home. If attachment is not made between 0-3 years from birth, the child may never form an attachment with anyone. A securely attached child is able to develop resilience, independence, compliance, empathy, control over their feelings, and health self-esteem. Taylor, (2010) argues that for healthy and secure attachment to develop, a child needs to experience both proximity and separation. On the other hand, insecurely attached children tend to have difficulties in establishing relationships, appear indiscriminately friendly to whoever is around, extremely withdrawn and little or no interest in othe r people. Social workers can use attachment theory in assessment of children and families. For example, the social worker can use attachment theory to understand how past experiences relate to present difficulties. Gambie et al (1992) cited by Daniel et al (2010) assumes that a traditional nuclear family provides a superior child rearing environment. The majority emphasis is on a western model of the nuclear family which may not be experienced by children who may be cared for by extended family members who are part of their attachment network. Social workers need to be respectful and sensitive towards varied patterns of care giving and attachments within different communities. The key consideration should be the assessment of whether or not basic needs are being met. The majority of children encountered by social workers working with child safeguarding have difficulties which can be attributed to attachment issues. Attachment theory can therefore offer insight to guide intervention. For childr en in care, attachment theory can help to understand both the impact of separation from important people and the process involved in making new attachments. Conclusion: Dworetzky et al (1989), states that our understanding and knowledge of human development are limited by the fact that no two human beings are ever exactly the same. Because of this, theories of human development will never be 100 per cent or even close to it. Furthermore, Lightfoot et al (2009) states that there is no single theory that can fully explain human development. Social workers work with vulnerable people. Of the two theories described above, each has its own strengths, weaknesses and context in which it is useful. According to Shaffer and Kipp (2010), families are complex social systems that are dynamic. Every family member is constantly developing and their relationships change with time. The complexity nature of family life and its influence on human development can best be described by Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory. Boushel 1994, p.179 cited by Daniel et al (2010) states the following regarding Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory and what social workers need to take into account when safeguarding the welfare of children and families; The framework for assessment of a childs protective environment will need to acknowledge the part played by the state and society in general, the part played by the community within which the child live and the part played by the individual family. The African proverb it takes the whole village to raise a child is true for this theory. This approach recognises that children do not grow up in a vacuum. In the case study above, Johns behaviour has been influenced by the microsystem (family) and also the exosystem (neighbourhood). In assessing Johns needs, the social worker will need to use these aspects of Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory. This approach requires that the child never be assessed in isolation. Daniel et al (2010) argues that the bioecological approach to child development suggests that detailed assessment of all aspects of the childs situation include considerations of all levels that are immediate and of wider impact and is essential to the planning of intervention with children and families by social workers. This theory provides understanding that each lifespan is unique as each individual in influenced by their unique environments. This theory helps in influencing government policies and programs that can b enefit a given community. In the case of Johns environment, resources can be channelled in developing the estate and proving facilities for young people to get busy and occupied. On the other hand, Shaffer and Kipp (2010), argues that bioecological theories are inadequate in giving account of human development. The inner individual level encompasses the role of nature in child development. This viewpoint argues that our genes predetermine who we are and our characteristics are inherited. We have in born biological characteristics that are hereditary from our birth parents at a point of conception. This position suggests that change is not possible and we are what we are and we cannot do anything about it. This argument has the potential to stereotype people which leads to support prejudice and oppressive behaviour and social workers should be aware of this in safeguarding the welfare of children. Despite it being a bioecological theory, it has little to say about specific biological contributions to human development. The emphasis is on the developing person and the constant changing environment. Attachment theory may be important for work with children but its application to adults is less evidenced. Konstantinos and Georgios (2006)s research supports Bowlbys conclusion that cross culturally; attachment has an influence on ones socio-emotional development as well as emotional well-being through life course. There are many limitations that have been cited on attachment theory. Attachment theory does not account for some people who had insecure attachment relationships with their mother but however went on to form secure romantic relationships with their partners in adulthood. Attachment can still occur in adulthood. The attachment approach ignores the temperaments and personalities of individuals. Harris (1998), argues that parents do not shape the personalities and characters of their children. He believes that their peers have more influence in personality and character building than the parents. Take for example, a child whose parents are immigrants. The child can continue to speak the parents native language at home, but at the same time learn new language and speak it without a foreign accent. Harris (1998) argues that children learn these from their peers so as to fit in. Following from above, social workers should understand that parents are not totally responsible for the way the children develop. They can be held responsible to a certain degree, because after all they did give them their genes and therefore do have some influence. However, children rely more on their parents. Another limitation of attachment theory stated by Field (1996) is that the mother is viewed as the primary attachment figure and fails to include the father and siblings who can also be attached to the child at the same time. Another limitation is that attachment is confined to infancy and early childhood as defined by Bowlby. This does not account for attachment that occur in adolescence (first love), adulthood (spouse) and later life. In conclusion, there is no single theory that can fully explain human development. Attachment theory is more suitable for explaining infancy development despite its limitations. On the other hand, Bronfenbrenners bioecological theory is more suitable for explaining child development in their adolescence for they do interact more with the microsystem, exosystem and macrosystem than the infancy do.

Management Process and Organizational Behavior Essay

Q.1 â€Å"Today managers need to perform various functions†: Elaborate the statement Managers create and maintain an internal environment, commonly called the organization, sothat others can work efficiently in it. A manager’s job consists of planning, organizing, directing,and controlling the resources of the organization. These resources include people, jobs or positions, technology, facilities and equipment, materials and supplies, information, and money.Managers work in a dynamic environment and must anticipate and adapt to challenges.The manager looks after more than one function. Therefore, managerial practices usedsuccessfully in big firms cannot be blindly used in small-scale units. Basic managerial functionsin large and small business are the same. But the manner in which these functions should becarried out can be different.Managing starts with planning. A manager with a definite and well defined plan has morechances of success than another who tries to start an enterprise without planning. According toKillen† planning is the process of deciding in advance what is to be done‚who is to do it‚how it isto be done and when it is to be done’’. Planning involves thinking and decision and is, therefore,called a logical process. Planning is a continuous process as changes in plans have to be madefrom time to time to take care of changing environment. Many a times, a vague approach isadapted to planning in a small firm. There is a false impression that small firms areuncomplicated and do not require planning. The small-scale manager does not want to engagehis employees in the planning process due to the desire to keep the secrets with him. Personalaccountability for results, lack of expert staff and not having planning skills are other major obstacles to planning in small firms. The owner or manager of a small enterprise is too involvedin day-to-day operation to try planning before commencing actual operation. But they need pre-planning most because small firms have limited resources to conquer their upcoming problemand cannot afford to finance losses that can take place while adjusting to unanticipatedhappenings/changes.An manager needs an enterprise which can achieve the business objectives. During thefunction of organizing he leads human resources to successful completion of the project,arranging the functions and activities into different levels in the organization structure, thusfacilitating the assignments of personnel according to their capabilities, skills and motivation.According to Peter F. Drucker the process of organizing consists of three steps – activitiesanalysis, decisions analysis and relation analysis.(i). Activities Analysis: It consists of the following:a) Determining the main functions for achieving the objectives of the firm.b) Various sub-functions in each major function.c) Amount of work in each major function and its sub-function.d) The position required to perform the activities.(ii) Decisions Analysis: It consists of the following:a) Choosing the basis of departmentalization so that functions could be grouped intospecialized units. Generally, functional departmentation is appropriate for small-scaleunits. Customers, Products and territorie s are other important base of departmentalization.b) Choosing the type of organization structure so that departments are incorporated into aformal structure. MBA Sem-IManagement Process and Organizational Behavior Subject code MB0022 (iii) Relations Analysis: The authority, responsibility and accountability of every position and itsrelationship with other positions are clearly defined. Various positions are manned with personshaving the necessary education, training, experience and other qualifications.To obtain best possible benefit from each employee it is necessary to delegate functions as far-down in the organization as possible. Owners of small firms are often reluctant to delegatingauthority to their employees even though they expect them to do all functions allocated to themthat require authority. For effective completion of tasks, it is necessary that responsibilityaccompanies the necessary authority. In directing a manager has to supervise, guide, lead and motivate people so that they canachieve set targets of performance. In the process of directing his subordinates, a manager ensures that the employees fulfill their tasks according to the set plans. Directing is theexecutive function of management because it is concerned with the execution of plan andpolicies. Directing commences organized action and sets the whole organizational machineryinto action. It is, therefore, the life giving function of an organization. This is the area where themastery of the art and science of management is put to test. An manager’s leadership styledetermines the work atmosphere and culture of the organization. Above all, he must motivateemployees by setting a good example, setting practical targets of performance and providingsatisfactory monetary and non- monetary benefits.In directing a manager has to perform the following tasks:(a) Issuing orders and instructions(b) Supervising workers(c) Motivating i.e. inspiring to work efficiently for set objectives(d) Communicating with employees regarding plans and their implementation.(e) Leadership or influencing the actions or employees. Controlling is the process of ensuring that the organization is moving in the desired directionand that progress is being made to wards the achievement of goals.The answer to a profitable organization is the skill of the owner or manager to controloperations. He has to establish standards of performance, procedures, goals and budgets. Withthese guides, he supervises job progress, workers performance and the financial condition of the business. The controlling function of the owner manager includes:Setting of standards: – Control presumes the existence of standards against which actual resultsare to be evaluated. Standards can not control on their own but they are the targets againstwhich actual performance can be measured. Therefore they should be set clearly andaccurately. They should be precise, adequate, and feasible.Measurement of actual performance: – The actual performance is measured and evaluated incomparison with the set standards. Preferably measurement should be such that variation maybe identified in advance of occurrence and prevented by suitable action. Where work involved isof quantitative nature measurement of performance is not difficult. But when the work is notquantifiable measurement becomes difficult. Periodical reports test checks and audits arehelpful in precise measurement of performance. MBA Sem-IManagement Process and Organizational Behavior Subject code MB0022 Analysis of variances: – Comparison of actual performance with standards will reveal variation.Variations are analysed to identify their cause and their impact on the organization. Correctiveaction can be possible only where the causes of the problem spots have been identified.Clarification may be called for sudden variation.Taking corrective action: – Control means action on the basis of measurement and evaluation of results. Wherever possible self- determining device should be used for bringing back actualresults in line with the standards. Standards should be revised wherever necessary. Other stepsto prevent deviations can be re-organization, improvements in staffing and directions etc. Thereal meaning of control lies in the commencement and follow-up of remedial action. At thisstages control unites with planning.

Ww1 Causes of

Who or what was to blame for World War One: Did two bullets lead to twenty million deaths When one talks about the World Wars Germany often springs to mind and is was supposedly the root cause for the First World War and even The Second World War, but was it the sole force of Germany alone or was some larger being behind this whole â€Å"setup† in which at least 20 million deaths. Let me set the scene for you and let us embark on a journey that will reach into the realm of horrific torture, an accidental assassination and the source o number of deaths equal to almost a third of the population living in the UK currently. But before I show you these plans of evil. A new country is formed in 1871; it is a day to remember, as this country will be the fundamental reason for over 10 million deaths for the years to come. Germany is formed; Britain has built up an empire stretching from America to the edge of India. Germany, being born quite late is immensely jealous of Britain and builds up an army of 2 million foot soldiers. Now it aspires to have the greatest war-fleet in the whole of Europe. But it still will be no match for the British navy. So Germany forms an alliance. Whilst the forming of alliances is materializing Germany and Britain are having a massive arms race triggered by the German’s building naval giants in factories around the whole country, many of these battleships include Dreadnoughts. Britain senses this as an immediate threat to her lands and starts building even more naval vessels. By 1914 Britain had 29 Dreadnoughts and Germany had 14. Meanwhile France has been fighting with Prussia (German state) and lost Alsace-Lorraine, a wealthy town with a varied range of abundant resources, and wants revenge. France is also in league with Britain and later is thinking about using the sheer size of the British Navy to it’s own advantage. Austria-Hungary snatched lands in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 as a part of expanding their empire and becoming great again. However in Russia the Tsar of Russia is becoming less and less popular with most of the population and was facing food cuts and terrible poverty. This forced Russia to think about taking lands in The Mediterranean and near the Black Sea, which was basically a large chunk out of the Ottoman Empire. When in 1908 Austria-Hungary took control over Bosnia Herzegovina, which was a huge mistake. The population in Bosnia-Herzegovina were composed of Slavs and they wanted to be reunited with Serbia (another Slavic country) to get revenge on Austria-Hungary. This situation is exacerbated by Russia having, not only, a huge army; but also having a large influence in the Slavic countries. This connection with an unknown enemy would influence the war effort greatly and raise morale. In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish province of Bosnia. This angered Serbians who felt the province should be theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia, allied to Serbia, mobilised its forces. Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary mobilised its forces and prepared to threaten Russia. War was avoided when Russia backed down. There was, however, war in the Balkans between 1911 and 1912 when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area. The states then fought each other over which area should belong to which state. Austria-Hungary then intervened and forced Serbia to give up some of its acquisitions. Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high. The only method of beating a country in a war that is bigger and greater than you was to make an alliance with another country. This meant you could lead a joint attack with the combined number of legions of both countries. The two countries are united against the one. Such was the power of an alliance. The alliances formed in the World War One were the Triple Alliance (also known as The Central Powers) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia). The idea was that the two sides would cancel each other out and Europe would be at peace. These alliances created more tension between the major powers. Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy felt threatened and surrounded by the Triple Entente. Russia was worried about Austria’s intentions towards the Balkans. A massive arms race began between Germany and Britain, with each country competing to have the biggest army and navy in Europe. In addition to this there were two crisis’ over Morocco, at the Algeciras Conference in 1906 Germany was outnumbered and had to withdraw, because of: British, Italian, Russian and Spanish support for France taking control of Morocco’s police and banks. The still fuming Germany sent a Dreadnought called â€Å"The Panther† to try and force France in stopping their invasion. Britain disagreed and sent a whole squad of warships. In this situation Germany was forced to back-down to the sheer force of the British navy. The German’s hatred for the British grew and grew. This evidence proves that the alliances formed were not for peace and prosperity, but War and destruction. Britain and Germany were forced to build ships on the account of invasion or protection. But mainly security. This didn’t do Germany any good when Italy switched sides and became part of the Entente. Militarism means that the army and military forces are given a high profile by the government. The growing European divide had led to an arms race between the main countries. The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for mastery of the seas. The British had introduced the ‘Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships. The German, Von Schlieffen also drew up a plan of action that involved attacking France through Belgium if Russia made an attack on Germany. The map below shows how the plan was to work. Germany would attack Belgium and defeat them within six weeks; this would gain them an access in France. Germany would then attack France from the Franco-German border and then send over 100,000 troops to outflank them, therefore occupying France. After this complicated manoeuvre was completed Germany would be free to attack Russia on its own. As you can see in this plan, Britain plays no part in this war. That was the main reason everything went wrong Russia mobilized its armies within six days and led an assault on Germany. Belgium put up fierce resistance and everything was in shambles. But after all this tension was rising when did the war break out? Or more importantly how did war break out. If we look at the dates and figures (seen below) we will easily see that in over eight days a mass war breaks out between Europe and nearly every other continent. For a country to go to war it would have to consider many things, for example: the cost of war, the casualties and suspected death rates. Communications weren’t easy. There were no long distance calls and no e-mails. Not enough technology to start a ar in no less than ten days. No, it must have been planned. A breakthrough for all the tension arrived, the pin in the balloon breezed in. A murder. Of royalty. June 28 The Assassination in Sarajevo: of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, who is killed along with his wife, Archduchess Sophie. Details July 23 Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia. Serbian r esponse is seen as unsatisfactory. Details July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia mobilizes. The Great War begins. July 31 Germany enjoins Russia to stop mobilizing. Russia says mobilization is against Austria-Hungary only. August 1 Germany declares war on Russia and mobilizes. Italy declares its neutrality. Germany and the Ottoman Empire sign a secret alliance treaty. August 2 Germany invades Luxembourg. Details August 3 Belgium refuses German ultimatum. Germany declares war on France. German troops enter Russia. August 4 Germany invades Belgium to outflank the French army. Britain protests the violation of Belgian neutrality, guaranteed by a treaty; German Chancellor replies that the treaty is just a chiffon de papier (a scrap of paper). The United Kingdom declares war on Germany. August 5 Montenegro declares war on Austria-Hungary. The Ottoman Empire closes the Dardanelles. August 5–August 16 The Germans besiege and then capture the fortresses of Liege, Belgium. Details August 6 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. Serbia declares war on Germany. Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic a respected leader of the Austro-Hungarian Military Intelligence masterminded a plan to get rid of the Archduke (heir to the Austrian throne) Franz Ferdinand. The colonel (CODENAME: Apis) wanted a militaristic Austria, so he formed a terrorist group of low-lying peasants and trained them to be assassins. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on 28 June 1914, set in train a series of diplomatic events that led inexorably to the outbreak of war in Europe at the end of July 1914. Ferdinand – and his wife Sophie – were killed by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip while on a formal visit to Sarajevo. Princip shot Ferdinand at point blank range while the latter was travelling in his car from a town hall reception; having earlier that day already survived one assassination attempt. The leaders of the world leapt for a chance to vie which each other, to gain power, land and money. World War One, unlike World War Two had a variety of reasons for bloodshed and massacre. Mainly the rising of tension and the exclusion of Germany in treaties and the colonization of Morocco and the Algeciras conference. Ultimately all the tension funnelled out into a World War.

Habits and Traits of Bess Beetles

Habits and Traits of Bess Beetles Bess beetles live together in family groups, with males and females sharing parenting duties. They go by quite a few common names: bessbugs, patent leather beetles, horn beetles, Betsy beetles, and peg beetles. Bess beetles belong to the family Passalidae and share certain habits and traits. Physical Characteristics Bess beetles can be quite large, measuring up to 70 or 80 mm in length. Theyre shiny and black, which is why some people refer to them as patent leather beetles. Youll notice a pronounced gap between the deeply grooved elytra and the pronotum. A single groove divides the pronotum in two. To distinguish bess beetles from other similar beetle families, youll also need to examine the head, mouthparts, and antennae. The bess beetles head will be narrower than the pronotum, and the mouthparts project forward. The antennae have 10 segments, and are not elbowed. They terminate in a 3-segmented club. Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum:Â  ArthropodaClass:Â  InsectaOrder:Â  ColeopteraFamily:Â  Passalidae Diet Both adults and larvae feed on decaying wood. Both male and female bess beetles prepare the food by chewing it before feeding it to their young. Adults and larvae also feed on adult feces, which is predigested by microorganisms that break down cellulose. Life Cycle Bess beetles undergo complete metamorphosis. Adults mate within the tunnel system they excavate in a rotting log. The female lays her eggs in a nest made of masticated wood. Bess beetle larvae prepare to pupate about two months after eclosure from the egg. With the help of adults, the larvae constructs a pupal case made from frass. The larva works from the inside, and the adults from the outside. Adult bess beetles may live for over two years. Special Adaptations and Defenses Kids often like bess beetles because they squeak when you disturb them. Adult bess beetles stridulate by rubbing the undersides of their wings across their abdomens. Larvae can talk, too. Bess beetles have a remarkably complex language, making 14 distinct sounds. Home Range Entomologists list over 500 species of bess beetles worldwide, most living in the tropics. Just two species inhabit the U.S.

What You Need to Know About Susan B. Anthony

What You Need to Know About Susan B. Anthony Working closely with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony was a primary organizer, speaker, and writer for the 19th century womens rights movement in the United States, especially the first phases of the long struggle for womens vote, the womens suffrage movement or woman suffrage movement. Susan B. Anthony Biography To learn more about the life of Susan B. Anthony, consult the biography of Anthony on this site: Susan B. Anthony Fun Facts 13 Surprising Facts About Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony Pictures In this gallery are pictures of Susan B. Anthony and several related to her life. Susan B. Anthony Pictures Susan B. Anthonys Contributions to History Susan B. Anthonys work with the womens suffrage movement is an integral part of that movements history, as she and Stanton were central to that work. General accounts of the suffrage movement for the last half of the 19th century and first few years of the 20th century thus are excellent resources about Susan B. Anthonys contributions to history: The Long Road to Suffrage - a description of the woman suffrage movement from Seneca Falls to 1920 Womens Suffrage Events - a timeline of events in the history of the womens suffrage movement in America, starting with Susan B. Anthonys stand in 1837 for equal pay for women teachers. One particular incident which featured Susan B. Anthony was her attempt to vote and subsequent trial for that offense.   The trial is considered a landmark in American womens history: United States v. Susan B. Anthony National Woman Suffrage Association: Susan B. Anthony (with Elizabeth Cady Stanton) headed up this wing of the split womens suffrage movement, 1869 - 1890. Susan B. Anthony Quotes This collection of Susan B. Anthony quotes will give a flavor of her speeches and writings: Susan B. Anthony Quotes About Susan B. Anthony - Contemporary Accounts Contemporary sources writings from the time someone was alive may not include some of the analysis which historians later developed about particular individuals, but they do provide us with personal details about a persons life, and a perspective on how that individual was perceived while she was alive.   This site includes several contemporary sources about Susan B. Anthony: In these excerpts from The History of Woman Suffrage Volume 1, Elizabeth Cady Stanton describes Susan B. Anthonys entrance into the new movement for womens rights, the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two women:Reminiscences by Elizabeth Cady StantonIn Reminiscences of Famous Women, Harriet Townsend described her own memory of Susan B. Anthony:Susan B. Anthony by Harriet A. TownsendWhen Susan B. Anthony died in 1906, she was well-known for her work in the womens suffrage movement.   This contemporary obituary says a lot about how she was known and how the media and general public thought of her at the time of her death:Susan B. Anthony Obituary - 1906 Susan B. Anthony in Context To understand Susan B. Anthonys contribution to the womens suffrage movement, these additional resources may be helpful: Timelines: Womens Suffrage Events - a timeline of events in the history of the womens suffrage movement in America, starting with Susan B. Anthonys stand in 1837 for equal pay for women teachers. American Woman Suffrage Timeline - Winning the Vote - a timeline of the state-by-state legal changes on the long road to the vote for American womenOverviews: The Long Road to Suffrage - a description of the woman suffrage movement from Seneca Falls to 1920Key Events in the Womens Suffrage Movement Seneca Falls Womens Rights Convention - 1848 - Though Susan B. Anthony did not attend this event, it was key in initiating the active movement for the vote that Anthony participated in for the rest of her life. Womens Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment: this amendment to the constitution split the womens suffrage movement, and later served as a basis for winning womens rights Suffrage Turning Points 1913 - 1917: the March on Washington in 1913 through the reintroduction of the Susan B. Anthony am endment August 26, 1920 - after Susan B. Anthonys death, the womens suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution finally was ratified, including women as full voting citizens Related Individuals Elizabeth Cady Stanton - Stanton and Anthony were friends and cooperated closely in their work in the womens suffrage movement.   Womens Suffrage Biographies - find biographies and other resources of other key activists in the womens suffrage movementMore articles and other resources about the womens suffrage movement: Womens Suffrage - what you need to know about the womens suffrage movement Test Your Knowledge Check out how much you know about the womens suffrage movement with this online quiz: Womens Suffrage Quiz Susan B. Anthony - in Print, in Films The following list includes books by Susan B. Anthony (some with recent analysis and commentary by editors), books about Susan B. Anthony, and books for children and young adults about Susan B. Anthony: Susan B. Anthony Books In 1999, a documentary on Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and their suffrage work premiered. Not for Ourselves Alone

Business and Project Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business and Project Management - Coursework Example In alignment to the intention of the brand, the statistical report regarding the market share of motorcycle manufacturers in the UK also appear in favour [4]. A close evaluation of the brands’ performance reports revealed about its positive growth figures in the present market scenario. If seen from the statistical perspective, one can say that this brand has successfully attained a growth figure of 12 per cent in terms of product and service sale by the end of 2012. Justification regarding this aspect can be provided depending on the fact that each of these growth reports was released by the ‘Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’. In an associate manner the sales figure attained by Vauxhall Motors during the period of 2013, hiked the previous year sales figure by 1.93 per cent. The financial year (2013) of this brand was accompanied with the release of multiple new models of commercial cars and passenger vans [6]. However, despite the slight drop in the sales figures of 2014 (11.14%), still Vauxhall Motors succeeded in turning the UK as its fourth largest profitable market. In addition, implementation of innovation within the provision of financial and comprehensive customer services have further helped in terms of boosting up the sales figures of 2014. Taking reference of all these aspects, one can easily say that Vauxhall Motors will have a profitable business opportunity in context to plunging its feet in the heavy two wheeler segment [6]. However, within the forwarding initiative Vauxhall Motors will have to make significant amount of investments to determine its potential and expertise of penetrating the over flooded two wheeler manufacturing and distribution segment within the UK. Likewise, the brand will also have to strategise and formulate effective marketing and customer convincement techniques in order to turn its heavy motorcycle manufacturing initiative into a success [6]. In addition, one

Postmodernism in Preciousness, Endgame, and The Simpsons Essay

Postmodernism in Preciousness, Endgame, and The Simpsons - Essay Example Lispector allowed the reader to be a part of the text in stating in the beginning of the chapter that: â€Å"And within the mist there was something precious. Which do not extend itself, did not compromise itself nor contaminate itself. Which was intense like a jewel. Herself† (102). Another textual example in the chapter is when Lispector described the reality after the character passed through her imaginative scenes. She described it as: â€Å"When suddenly everything became unimportant and more rapid and light, where her face revealed freckles, her hair fell over her eyes, and where she was treated like a boy† (105). The character disappeared, and the reader became a part of the text as the character’s environment became real again. Lastly, the presence of the reader appeared as she â€Å"dressed hastily and downed her coffee in one gulp. She opened the front door. And then she no longer hurried† (107). This is a manifestation of the duality of silence in Lispector’s work, which is a character of a postmodernist literary artist. This dual structure is a character of her fiction that adds tension to the texts while creating the contextual silence on her works (Fitz 421). In relation to playwrights, postmodernism can be defined as the manner of standing out from the current rules. In this manner, the playwright, along with the artist, works without following the rules because they create the rules while creating the piece per se (Counsell and Wolf 55). It deviates from the usual realism and is considered as an important part of the pre-World War II plays that manifest metaplays. With this on hand, one of the best examples of postmodernist play is the Endgame written by Samuel Beckett. According to Keshavarz, as a postmodernist play, the characters in the Endgame represent a natural form of sadness (140). He presents a modern status of a person who fears and leans on a goddess with bitterness, doubt and indifference. On the ot her hand, it represents the modernity of a selfless person who lacks the stability of his identity but still manifests social awareness. On the part of the audience, Beckett deviates the ideas and views of the audience from the formal work of dram and injecting postmodernism by bringing the audience in the middle of reality and real-play. He believes in the notion of metatheater that the world is a stage. In this manner, the audiences become characters of the play while experiencing the experience of the characters that they have chosen to be. It can be inferred that postmodernism, in the light of the Endgame, tries to eliminate the potential characters of modernism that alienates reality from theater, or vice versa. Therefore, the Endgame eliminates the rules of basic drama and theater and allows rebuilds it in a manner that the play can be grasp juxtaposition with life itself. The postmodernism manner in the Endgame can also be considered as a literary strategy by Beckett by destr oying the irony of a parody (Keshavaraz 140-142; Rahimipoor and Edoyan 102). In the light of television shows, one of the most popular and long-running postmodern shows is The Simpsons. One of the most explicit characteristics of