Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Bruce Smith is a totally incompetent manager Essay - 1

Bruce Smith is a totally incompetent manager - Essay Example As we move along we will also use other theories and research to substantiate our conclusions. The interpersonal activities of a manager arise out of his status and the formal authority that he has. This category of activities supports the information processing and the decision roles which are the other two activities that manager performs. This is the role in which the manager represents the unit which he heads and becomes the one who symbolizes the unit. Duties must be carried out whether they are social, legal or inspirational. Events must be attended and documents must be signed. There is no evidence in the information provided in the case study to suggest that Bruce might not be fulfilling this role well. In fact his commitment to excellence in the performance of his unit indicates that he fulfills this role very well. This is a decisive role played by a manager particularly with respect to his relationship with subordinates. In the leadership role the manager keeps the subordinates motivated, encouraged and alert. The manager balances the interests of the organization (which he keeps first) with the interests of the employee to ensure effective functioning. I would categorize Bruce as an exceptional leader. ... These are technical skills, human skills and conceptual skills. Peterson & Fleet (2004, pp. 1299) have defined these for us: Technical skills are defined as the understanding of, or proficiency in, specific activities that require the use of specialized tools, methods, processes, procedures, techniques, or knowledge.Human skills are defined as the ability to work cooperatively with others, to communicate effectively, to resolve conflict, and to be a team player.Finally, conceptual skills are defined as the ability to see the organization as a whole or to have a systemic viewpoint Bruce would score highly on technical skills because of his ability to resolve technical issues as indicated by the feedback of his subordinate Stephen Dye who appreciated Bruce's ability to come up with solutions for technical problems like computers or paper or ink. Alex Brown another of Bruce's subordinates has complimented him on his interest in keeping his staff well trained as well as his frankness in giving feedback. Leonard Best tell us about the monthly morning tea awards which is a system that keeps the team motivated and contributes to a good spirit. These soft skills of Bruce give him a high score on human skills which is the second category of skills enumerated by Katz as necessary for managers. The time and energy he devotes to these human activities indicate the high level of priority that he attaches to these activities as well as his belief in the need to keep his team motivated. Liaison: This is the role of the manager which has to do with his networking skills. A positive equation with people with whom there may be no direct working relationship has great rewards and favor result out of these relationships. These kind of networking skills shaping internal and external

Monday, October 28, 2019

Research In Motion Essay Example for Free

Research In Motion Essay Research In Motion (RIM) is most famously knows for its smart phone device Blackberry. Blackberry, when first introduced in 1999, took the corporate market by storm because of its capability of storing and managing e-mails along with other professional tools. Later the introduction of Black Berry Messenger (BBM) was another successful addition and made it famous among the non-corporate user class all around the globe. From its inception to the introduction of Blackberry and until today, RIM has had various challenges in terms of safeguarding its intellectual property and took some steps to counteract those problems which I will be discussing in this paper. 1.What were some of the challenges that RIM faced to protect its intellectual property, and how did RIM handle those challenges? The first challenge for RIM was in 2001 when it claimed that its competitor Glenayre Electronics infringed on its patent and charged dilution, unfair competition, and false advertising (1). As a result RIM sued them over using its patented mailbox integration technique that was exclusive to its Blackberry smartphone device which was later settled in their favor (2). Another lawsuit filed by RIM was against Good Technology in 2002. RIM alleged that Good was infringing on four of its patents. The first is for a method and apparatus to remotely control gateway functions in a wireless data communications network. The second relates to a method and system for loading an application program on a device. The third relates to a method and system for transmitting data files between computers in a wireless data communications environment. And the fourth relates to a mobile device that is optimized for use with thumbs (3). Finally in 2004 Good Technology signed a settlement with RIM under which it will give RIM a lump-sum payment during its current quarter and ongoing quarterly royalties. Further financial details of the agreement were not disclosed (4). Later in 2006, RIM was sued by mobile e-mail provider Visto Corporation that RIM violated four of its patents. The patents in question relate to the accessing and synchronizing of information over a network and are fundamental to the BlackBerry service (5). After a long battle of three years, in 2009 RIM agreed to pay $267.5 million to settle this dispute adding to a costly series of intellectual-property purchases (6). The company spent more than $1 billion in the past two years on intangible assets, such as patents. It booked part of the cost of the Visto settlement, which gave them a lifetime license to some Visto patents and legal possession of others, as an acquisition of intangible assets (6). Another big event was the RIM-Motorolla lawsuits in 2008 when Motorolla filed a lawsuit against RIM for using its patented technology but in reply RIM sued back Motorolla. RIM filed the lawsuit for demanding exorbitant royalties on patents that were essential to RIMs business. Besides being accused of anti-competitive conduct, Motorola was also accused of violating nine different patents and for breaking a 2003 agreement by refusing to agree to new terms beyond January 2008. Adding injury to lawsuit, RIM also claimed that Motorolas licensing fees were due to declining fortunes of its handset business (7). This long battle came to an end when both companies settled out of court. Under the Agreement, Motorola and RIM will benefit from a long-term, intellectual property cross-licensing arrangement involving the parties receiving cross-licenses of various patent rights, including patent rights relating to certain industry standards and certain technologies, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 802.11 and wireless email. In addition, the parties will transfer certain patents to each other (8). 2.What were some of the industry factors that influenced RIM? Industry factors that influenced RIM are Competition, Scale and Future (9). Patents, copyrights and trademarks help a firm safeguard its intellectual assets giving it an edge in the market and enabling to stay competitive in the market. From the lawsuits discussed above, we can see that just in 10 years on inception, RIM had over seven patent related issues for its technology. In technological field, a patent enables a firm to bank on its technology by not allowing other firms to use and produce it. So it enables the firm with the patent to have exclusive right to that technology and have a competitive advantage. When a firm’s technology is successful, patent enables that firm to exploit from it and hence expand their firms scale by securing a larger consumer base leading to a better bright future for the firm. 3.Apply as many TCOs as you can to the RIM. There are quite a few TCOs that can be applied to RIM. Competence Enhancing and Component Innovation applies very well to RIM. Looking at the introduction of Blackberry in 1999, after 14 years we still find them have a strong demand among the smartphone consumer base. So RIM has constantly been improving its blackberry phones keeping them up to date by providing new features that keep the consumer base attracted. Similarly if we look at introduction of features like e-mail service and BBM for blackberry, they are following the component innovation ideology discussed in the course. On the other hand, RIM also follows the concept Network Externalities. BBM can be a good example to support this. Anyone with a blackberry anywhere in the world can send a free message to the other blackberry user using the blackberry network. BBM is actually one of the features’ that has protected Blackberry against I-phone. Tying to BBM, RIM also follows the policy of Trade Secret because no one other than the corporation itself has access to the BBM data. RIM has gone to an extent that recently in India, even the government was not allowed to access the BBM data and after a 19 month service ban the government, RIM finally allowed them to have access but through a different server (10).

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Iago the Conniver in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Iago the Conniver in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   If there were more than one evil presence in Shakespeare’s Othello who had the intensity of Iago, the play would be unbearably pessimistic. Let us examine the character who is unexcelled in his evil ways.    Lily B. Campbell in Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes expounds on the self-centered philosophy of Iago:    To Iago love is merely â€Å"a lust of the blood and a permission of the will†. Self-love, which is in the thinking of   Shakespeare’s day the mother of all vices, is the only love that Iago respects. [. . .] It is thus that the villain is defined. Will is directed to the gaining of ends set by passion and judged by reason. The passion which escapes reason the leads men on to their destruction is the passion which marks the tragic hero. But the passion which sets the ends and has the means judged by reason is the passion which we have already seen is mortal sin. And such is the passion that has brought the judgment and the will into its service in Iago and the other villains. (157)    Is there any doubt as to how vital Iago is to the narrative of the play? Helen Gardner in â€Å"Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune† elaborates on Iago’s exact function and place in the play:    . . . Iago ruins Othello by insinuating into his mind the question, ‘How do you know?’ The tragic experience with which this play is concerned is loss of faith, and Iago is the instrument to bring Othello to this crisis of his being. His task is made possible by his being an old and trusted companion, while husband and wife are virtually strangers, bound only by passion and faith; and by the fact that great joy bewilders, leaving the heart apt to doubt the reality of its joy. The strange and... ...ho Each Other.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Shakespeare: The Pattern in His Carpet. N.p.: n.p., 1970.    Gardner, Helen. â€Å"Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from â€Å"The Noble Moor.† British Academy Lectures, no. 9, 1955.    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"The Engaging Qualities of Othello.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Introduction to The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. N. p.: Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1957.   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Competitive Analysis of Starbucks

When would a firm choose to operate on a transnational basis? Under what circumstances would a firm use a localization strategy? When would an international strategy be employed? Support your answers with examples. Firms look to operate on a transnational basis primarily to penetrate into foreign markets and expand their business. After tasting success at home, several firms make investments to expand globally in order to attain market share and boost revenues.Transnational companies have coordinating and operation-controlling power in multiple countries, even if they do not own them. General Motors, Ford, and Wal-Mart are amongst the world’s largest transnational companies. Japan, North America, and Western Europe account for about three quarters of the world’s transnational companies. When operations go international, localization strategy takes center-stage for firms. Firms use a localization strategy when they counter differences in management styles and cultural pr actices.Localization strategy is used by firms to adapt and cater to the choices and expectations of foreign customers and quickly occupy new markets. McDonald for instance, which operates in 119 countries, is a good example of a company that maintains its global brand identity successfully by using a localization strategy to adapt to the tastes and temperaments of diverse cultures across the globe. In short, localization strategy helps a firm deliver a unique customer experience that exceeds geographical boundaries.An international strategy is employed by a firm to create value through core competency transfer to a foreign market in which native competitors are not equipped with those competencies. Typically, a firm comes up with an innovative product and introduces it into the foreign market. As the demand for the product increases, the firm begins to export the product. As foreign competitors start production, the firm starts production abroad. The firm then standardizes producti on and relocates it to countries with low cost production opportunities.Xerox and Proctor and Gamble are examples of companies that followed this model and implemented an international strategy. References: http://www. slideshare. net/clemaitre/tn-cs http://www. ibscdc. org/Case%20Studies/Abstracts/Strategy/Corporate%20Strategy/COS0043. htm http://classes. bus. oregonstate. edu/ba447/Gonzalez%20(Winter%2008)/BA%20447%20-%20day%201. ppt How do the 4 Ps of marketing differ in a global business environment? Give examples from your own organization or one you are familiar with.The 4 Ps of marketing, namely: product, price, placement, and promotion vary widely in a global business environment as firms attempt to get their marketing mix just right so that they sell the right products, at the right prices and places, using promotion methods that are most suitable. A global company like Coca-Cola for instance essentially creates a single product and tweaks it differently for different marke ts. The sugar and corn syrup formulas of Coca-Cola are packaged using the contour bottle design with the dynamic ribbon in different shapes and forms.Coca-Cola bottles in some countries come in standard beverage-bottle sizes of those countries, with wording in native language as well. The price of a Coca-Cola varies from market to market due to production costs, ingredient costs, delivery costs, expected profit margins, competition, and so on. Coca-Cola’s product placement varies from country to country based on how the company wants to offer competition in the targeted market. Vending machines are not common in all countries and in US for instance, Coca-Cola is sold by the pallet through warehouse stores; however, in countries like India, such an option does not apply.Coca-Cola has moved away from the idea of sending the same message across globally in the wake of its global promotion strategy failure. Coca-Cola uses customized promotional strategies and regional themes inst ead of universal ones in order to counter varied language and cultural barriers of the global market. References: http://www. thetimes100. co. uk/downloads/theory/marketing_mix_(price,_place,_promotion,_product). pdf http://www. stamfordonline. com. my/courses/dba/dba206/DBA%20206%20Week%2010%20&

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Implications of Public Display of Affection Essay

II. Definition of PDA â€Å"Public Display of Affection or PDA as they are called, is the act of two people indulging in an intimate act in public.† [] It is an act that is mostly objectionable to the public. Today, Public Display of Affection is something that most couples indulge in the beginning of their days of physical exploration and discovery. â€Å"PDA is the physical demonstration of affection for another person while in the view of others. Holding hands or kissing in public are commonly considered to be unobjectionable forms of public displays of affection; however, what is considered objectionable depends on the context and social norms. For example, in places such as bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs, more extreme forms of public displays of affection are rarely considered to be objectionable.† [] â€Å"Public display of affection depends on the decision of the couple. Individual and societal views on Public Display of affection vary significantly. Such displays may sometimes be considered to be in bad taste, while in some jurisdictions such displays may even be criminal. Depending on the social values and context, extreme forms of public displays of affection may be considered indecent exposure.† [] Affection is an important part of any relationship. It makes a person feel warm inside when someone of his resemblance or even love lets the person know how he or she feels. This feeling is best expressed behind closed doors. Kisses and physical connection are the tools people use to display their affection. These tools will effectively free their feelings and allow themselves to be close. A. Social views Public display of affection affects people in different ways and one should be mindful of the feelings that can be elicited by ‘carrying on’ in public. When a couple is feeling passionate they may be oblivious to the presence of people around them, but they may accidentally hurt someone. Someone who has just lost a loved one may find their public display of affection heartbreaking; a reminder of someone they can no longer kiss. Someone who has ended a relationship may find it agonizing as a reminder of the one that had gone away. Older people may find it annoying as their generation was more modest and saved serious affection for times when the intimacy could be carried further than just holding hands and kissing. Single people and lonely people will feel similarly as it will remind them of the fact that they are alone. A consideration of the kind of people around the place will save everyone from feelings of resentment or in some cases, embarrassment. We find that the heart of PDA is intolerance and insecurity. In conversations with people about why such sights bother them – or don’t bother them – jealousy is an interesting common factor. Those who are in relationships themselves are rarely bothered by other’s exhibitions of affection, even if they preferred to show their love in private. However, those who are not, especially those who have recently had a break-up, are morbidly horrified by any sight of love between other people. Although holding hands is considered sweet by most people, it is rarely considered acceptable to openly kiss someone passionately in public because it is not polite, and going further than that is illegal and a crime in some places especially in conservative countries like India. B. Psychological views Public Display of Affection (PDA) can either be approved or disapproved. A person’s perspective might be different from someone else’s view on PDA. As our society tends to do what we think other people approve of or disapprove of, for example, an aggressive couple stopped their behavior because it was not approved. Injunctive norms can make a major impact in someone’s behavior and change that certain behavior to create a positive behavioral change. Certain public displays of affection are appropriate in some places than others. For example, in a club more people are likely to see couples showing their affection, in contrast to family-style restaurants. This makes us think that people doing PDA become aggressive and in emotional outburst everytime they are with their partner. Also, the way that people think of PDA differs from each other and their views of doing it also differs from one another, regarding the civil status. III. Causes of PDA Public display of affection or PDA has pros and cons depending on where society one belongs or what culture one is in. Public display of affection may mean that one is proud of the other, but may not be acceptable to society. It may also mean that one is truly in love with the other or one has nothing to hide. He/she may have no fear of being caught by someone else. Public display of affection may convey bad meanings and not good for children to see. They might consider this act as normal and can be done by just anybody. A. Affection on either boyfriend or girlfriend : true love The love practiced by couples through PDA (Public Display of Affection) is merely a factual understanding between couples. It is biologically and psychologically necessary for lovers to express their feeling on their partner the way they are suited to. True love is an urge between a single couple and as long as it necessary, couples must express it to show the partner how much he/she loves this person. That way, the partner would feel that he/she is very special to that someone. But then, expression of true love through PDA must have its limitations. Though expressing love in public is an acceptable fact in our society, partners must realize that displaying their affection in public can cause other people to think of bad remarks about it. â€Å"Love has intrigued people throughout history. Its joys and sorrows have inspired different students of human interaction. Indeed, love is one of the pervasive themes in the art and literature of many cultures. Each of our own lives has been influenced in significant ways by love, beginning with the love we receive as infants and children. Our best and worst moments in life can be tied to a love relationship.† [] According to psychologist Robert Sternberg, there are three components of love using the triangular theory of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment. Different combinations of these three components result in different types of love. For example, a combination of intimacy and commitment results in compassionate love, while a combination of passion and intimacy leads to passionate love. These three components are seen in various combinations to evidence different types of love. According to Sternberg, there are eight types of love formed through the various combinations of the three components of love, they are: Non-love, Liking, Infatuation, Empty Love, Romantic Love, Companionate Love, Fatuous Love, and Consummate Love. The theory characterizes love within the context of interpersonal relationships. 1. Components of love According to Sternberg, the three basic love components differ with respect to a number of properties, including stability and conscious controllability. For example, the intimacy and decision/commitment components are usually fairly stable in close relationships. Once we develop feelings of intimacy for someone and become committed to the relationship we have with that person, these features tend to endure over time. The passion component, however, tends to be less stable and predictable. In addition, although people possess agreat deal of conscious control over the commitment that they make to a relationship, and even some degree of control over their feelings of intimacy, they usually have very little conscious control over the amount of passion that they experience for their partners. a. Passion Passion is the strong feeling of affection to the partner. â€Å"Passion is the motivational component that fuels romantic feelings, physical attraction and the desire for sexual interaction. Passion instills a deep desire to be united with the loved one. In a sense, passion is like an addiction, because its capacity to provide intense stimulation and pleasure can exert a powerful craving in a person.† [] Passion is when a person has physical attraction with someone and the desire to express himself sexually to them. Passion differentiates romantic love from other types of love. It is all about physiological arousal. Passion is the fastest of the three components, but it can be the first to fade in a long-term relationship. The passion component is motivational in nature and consists of the drives that are involved in romantic and physical attraction, sexual consummation, and related phenomena. Although passion takes the form of sexuality in many love relationships, Sternberg suggested that other needs (including the need for affiliation, for dominance over others, and for self-esteem) can contribute to the experience of passion. b. Intimacy Intimacy is the state of having close physical attraction with somebody. Intimacy tends to appreciate the partner. â€Å"Intimacy is the emotional component of love that encompasses the sense of being bonded with another person. It includes feelings of warmth, sharing, and emotional closeness. Intimacy also embraces a willingness to help the other and an openness to sharing private thoughts and feelings with the beloved.† [] Intimacy is the feeling of being close to someone. It happens when a person feels that they are sharing themselves with someone that is considered being intimate. When a person shares a bond with someone, that person gives and receives emotional support. Intimacy is present in many different types of relationships, not just romantic ones. The feelings between best friends could be called intimate but not mean anything sexual at all. The intimacy component of love is primarily emotional in nature and involves feelings of warmth, closeness, connection, and bonding in the love relationship. Signs of intimacy include wanting to promote the welfare of the loved one; experiencing happiness, mutual understanding, and intimate communication with the loved one; having high regard for the loved one; giving and receiving emotional support; being able to count on the loved one in times of need; sharing oneself and one’s possessions with the loved one; and valuing the presence of the loved one in one’s life. c. Commitment Commitment is the component of love which tends to be in the behavioral aspect of a person. â€Å"Commitment is the thinking or cognitive aspect of love. It refers to the conscious decision to love another and to maintain a relationship over despite difficulties that may arise.† [] Decision or commitment has two aspects. The first decision that a person loves another person and would be the short term aspect. The second decision is the commitment to form and maintain a relationship and would be the long term aspect rather. When relationships last a long time, commitment is playing a major role. People tend to choose a partner based on their similarities, attractiveness and whether or not that person would be interested in them. Needless to say, it didn’t work out mainly because the similarity couldn’t withstand the difference in age. The decision/commitment component of love is primarily cognitive in nature and represents both the short-term decision that one individual loves another and the long-term commitment to maintain that love. 1. Types of love Love takes many forms. Love exists between parent and child and between family members. Love between friends, known to the ancient Greeks as philia, involves concern for the other’s well-being. Lovers may experience some other additional types of love, like passionate love and companionate love. A relationship (whether romantic in nature, familial, or casual) may go through any or all of the eight classifications of love. a. Non-love Non-love is the absence of all three of Sternberg’s components of love. â€Å"Non-love does not contain any component of love. Non-love does not contain intimacy, passion, or commitment and is experienced through casual acquaintances such as therapists, teachers, neighbors, etc.† [] Love is the strong feeling of deep affection for somebody. Non-love in this case defines a feeling of emptiness, or in short no love exists at all. Non-love can be experienced during break-ups and with persons having third parties. This can affect someone’s perception of life and will be difficult to recover. b. Liking â€Å"Liking details a relationship based on intimacy, but not passion or commitment. The characteristic of Liking is having close, intimate friendships with no long-term commitment; an example of Liking is developing an intimate friendship with a neighbor, but because commitment and passion are missing if either neighbor moves away, the relationship is not maintained.† [] Liking/friendship in this case is not used in a trivial sense. A psychologist said, particularly Dr. Sternberg, that this intimate liking characterizes true friendships, in which a person feels a bond, warmth, and closeness with another but not intense passion or long-term commitment. c. Infatuation Infatuation is the absence of the two main components of love while existing in the presence of passion. â€Å"Infatuation is a relationship based on passion, with no intimacy or commitment. Infatuation is characterized by passionate attraction on sight, and an example of such would be a one night stand.† [] Infatuation is purely based on a person’s strong feelings of love, hatred, anger, enthusiasm, etc. Romantic relationships often start out as infatuated love and become romantic love as intimacy develops over time. Without developing intimacy or commitment, infatuated love may disappear suddenly. d. Empty love Empty love is love without the feeling and the bonding. This love is commonly seen among short-term unmarried relationships, in which the couple stays only because there is a responsibility. â€Å"Empty Love is a relationship based on commitment, lacking any intimacy or passion. An example of Empty Love is a couple staying in a marriage or relationship for the â€Å"sake of the children.† Empty Love is characterized by a lack of emotional warmth or heat of passion where partners tolerate each other because of a false sense of duty, obligation, or fear of change.† [] Empty love is characterized by commitment without intimacy or passion. Sometimes, a stronger love deteriorates into empty love. In cultures in which arranged marriages are common, relationships may begin as empty love and develop into one of the other forms. e. Romantic love â€Å"Romantic Love is a relationship based on passion and intimacy; however, it lacks commitment. Romantic Love is characterized by a couple who are emotionally and physically drawn to one another without the commitment of a long-term relationship. Romantic lovers look at each other through â€Å"rose colored glasses† not seeing each other’s flaws.† [] Romantic love bonds individuals emotionally through intimacy and physically through passionate arousal, but neither is sustained without commitment. f. Companionate love Companionate love is an intimate, non-passionate type of love that is stronger than friendship because of the element of long-term commitment. Sexual desire is not an element of companionate love. This type of love is often found in marriages in which the passion has gone out of the relationship but a deep affection and commitment remain. The love ideally shared between family members is a form of companionate love, as is the love between close friends who have a platonic but strong friendship. â€Å"Companionate Love is based on intimacy and commitment without the wild fire of passion. Companionate Love is characterized by a committed friendship and shared intimacy; an example of Companionate Love is a marriage whose passion has dwindled or a very close and intimate friendship that has survived through distance, hardship, and time.† [] g. Fatuous love â€Å"Fatuous Love is based on passion and commitment, but lacks intimacy. Fatuous Love is where passion and commitment are combined before true intimacy can develop; an example would be a marriage commitment based on passionate sex which over times loses its passionate nature, and since the couple didn’t share intimate conversations, goals, and dreams, the marriage is ended when it is realized the couple are not a good match.† [] Fatuous love is exemplified in which a commitment is motivated largely by passion without the stabilizing influence of intimacy. h. Consummate love â€Å"Consummate Love involves intimacy, commitment, and passion. Consummate Love is when a couple are perfectly matched in passion, intimacy, and commitment, and it is the ideal that most people try to achieve.† [] Consummate love is the complete form of love, representing an ideal relationship toward which people strive. Of the eight varieties of love, consummate love is theorized to be that love associated with the â€Å"perfect couple†. â€Å"According to Sternberg, such couples will continue to have great sex fifteen years or more into the relationship, they can not imagine themselves happy over the long-term with anyone else, they overcome their few difficulties gracefully, and each delight in the relationship with one other. However, Sternberg cautions that maintaining a consummate love may be even harder than achieving it. He stresses the importance of translating the components of love into action. â€Å"Without expression,† he warns, â€Å"even the greatest of loves can die†. Thus, consummate love may not be permanent. If passion is lost over time, it may change into companionate love.† [] B. Lust Lust is a large physical attraction for an individual, which is sometimes uncontrollable and completely unreasonable. Lust is often confused with love. Looking at someone lustfully invariably involves the powerful inward desire or instinct to share physical intimacy with that person. The inward desire of the mind for intimacy, need not be considered only in terms of excessive and inappropriate desire for sexual intercourse — although this is included.â€Å"Of course, there is no moral difference between sexual intercourse. If intercourse before marriage is sinful — and it is — then sexual gratification before marriage is also sinful. No one is exempt from the temptation to lust. Therefore, we must take every care to avoid harbouring impure thoughts by rejecting them whenever they first enter our minds.† [] â€Å"We must take every care to avoid setting ourselves deliberately into any situation where we know that we will be exposed to this or a similar temptation.†[] Sex drive is the another term for lust. â€Å"The sex drive (libido or lust) is characterized by the craving for sexual gratification; it is often directed toward many partners. In mammals, the sex drive is associated primarily with the estrogens and androgens, particularly testosterone, are central to sexual desire in both men and women. Studies of human sexual arousal show that specific networks of brain activation are associated with the sex drive.† [] Drives lie along a continuum. Some, such as thirst and the need for warmth, can rarely be extinguished until satisfied, while the sex drive and the maternal instinct can be redirected. Falling in love appears to be near the base of this continuum. For example, romantic love is considerably stronger than the sex drive. Since romantic love is a universal and powerful human mating drive, it must have evolved. 1. Sexual arousal In men and women, sexual desire can anticipate arousal. It is an arousal caused by direct genital stimulation. Direct genital stimulation is more powerful and quicker in men than in women. As a result of the reciprocity between desire and arousal and neurobiological overlapping, physiological signs of arousal are already in play. Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are called erotic stimuli, or colloquially known as a turn-on. Sexual arousal usually leads to physiological changes in the aroused person, some of which are pronounced while others are more subtle. â€Å"Given the right context, these may lead to the person desiring physical contact, including kissing, cuddling, and petting of the erogenous zones. This may in turn make the person desire direct sexual stimulation of those parts of their body which would normally be out of bounds, such as breasts, nipples, buttocks and/or genitals, and to sexual activity.† [] When a couple is sexually aroused with each other they tend to do on displaying their affection to their partner. The arousal is due to the rapid increase of the hormones and this is the reason for the strong sensation of the couple to display their affection in more intense than before. These intense affection may result to a more immoral and unethical practice of public display of affection (PDA). 2. Aggresiveness Aggresiveness is marked by combative readiness. Aggression or aggressiveness of any person indulging in PDA means there is a sexual activity he wants to.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sexual aggressiveness has biological, physical and emotional aspects. Biologically, it refers to the reproductive mechanism and the basic biological drive that exists in all species. Emotional aspects deal with the intense personal bonds and emotions generated between sexual partners by a sexual activity. Physical issues around sexuality range from purely medical considerations to concerns about the physiological , psychological and sociological aspects of sexual behavior.† [] The gender of the person is a factor that plays a big role in human aggression. It is evidently seen in males and females, proven by history. a. Men There is evidence that differences in socialization, cognition and personality may help explain gender-based disparity in rates of anti-social, as well as violent behaviors. Gender differences in cognition, socialization, and behavior may exist as early as infancy. Boys are more easily angered and depend more on inputs from their mother’s. Psychologists show that the ways which females and males are socialized affect their development. Males learn to value independence, while females are taught that their self-worth depends on their ability to maintain relationships. b. Women Females are considered less aggressive than males in a relationship. Men usually tend to be the more dominant in a relationship while women usually obey what the males want to do, but in our generation both males and females are considered to be the equal in every relationship. Girls are shielded by moral sense, which directs them away from harming others. The ethical sensitivity may counterbalance the effects of family issues. Females are known to display more self-control than males. Females are more verbally skilled, which is a skill that can help them in dealing with obstacles they may come across without reacting with violence. When girls are aggressive, they are more likely to hide their behavior from adults than males. Girls are expected to form closer relationships with their friends and share feelings, while boys tend to act out on their feelings in inappropriate ways. C. Influential factors 1. Media Most of the influence of the mass media on interpersonal relationships is the powerful influence of advertising. Commercial messages influence how people feel about themselves and their image to others. Commercial messages influence what a person’s expectations are about themselves, about others, about what their lives should be like. For most people, these expectations are usually unrealistic and for some, can be damaging to their self esteem which directly affects how they relate to others. 2. Other couples doing PDA So long as you practice discretion and engage in such activities in a tasteful manner, being affectionate in public should never be offensive to others. Just like a smile or laughter, this expression of happiness can also be contagious. To see other couples holding hands or exchanging a brief kiss in public often makes others get a warm and fuzzy feeling too. Hopefully, they pass it on. Sure, you may hear the occasional â€Å"Get a room† but those comments usually stem from others who are merely jealous of the happiness you two share and are likely to be missing something in their own relationship. 3. Reading of pornographic articles In attempting to support and strengthen relationships, the topic of pornography is one that must be addressed. This article is not to preach or evangelize, nor is it to discuss morality or ethics. It is however important that couples understand the possible ramifications of a phenomenon that may impact their relationship. As unpopular as it may be, this article is an attempt to shed light on what many couples may face as society becomes more accepting of increasingly graphic, stark, and violent pornography. 4. Emotional ties Couples usually have emotional ties between each other. It is a must because a person or a couple is in love. This bring much emotions in the individuals and creates a strong bind to that couple that would made them feel that the person they currently love is the one for them and they would feel 100% that they must be loyal to their partner and show the intimate love they can give to them as long as they felt the same love they are giving to them. This is the point where the PDA (public display of affection) becomes more intimate and intense, this brings to the mind of other people to be unethical and immoral but to the couple doing it PDA is a good presentation of how they partner. It is emotionally tied to them and expressed the love for them. There is nothing bad having emotional ties with your partner, as long as the person is having his limitations, it is good. Having emotional ties means that a couple is really at the peak of their relationship and it is natural to feel it beca use it is a part of being in-love. IV. PDA and relationship Most people say that they hate PDA and can’t stand the ones who indulge in these ‘perverse’ activities. But given an opportunity, no one would mind staring at an intimate sight unless they are being watched back. â€Å"Your partner should become to you someone very special, as the relationship between the both of you develops. But this special relationship can only develop properly and honorably when it is built upon a wholehearted commitment , and upon mutual trust and respect. Mutual trust and respect; however, cannot be engendered and developed apart from complete purity and honour — in body and in mind. Our conduct must always be above reproach.† [] â€Å"This is the basis upon which mutual trust and respect first germinates, and then begins to grow. When we have found the right partner, then this growth will flourish eventually into love: the pure, deep, satisfying and honourable love associated with trust, respect and the wholehearted desire.† [] â€Å"Trust and respect is the foundation the couple must lay, and upon which they must build as they seek to develop a relationship with your partner. This foundation must apply to all stages of courtship — from the first dates, right through to (and including) the period of engagement.† [] A. In a married relationship The exploration route of life that a married relationship takes depends on what the couple wants to experience together during their lifetime. There are some people who want children to enter married relationship while other couples choose to go childless and spend their lifetime traveling to exotic places, enjoying what the world has to offer. This proves that marriage is an â€Å"opener† of a new world, opening the way to mutualism and separates them to the rest. This means PDA is less but relationship is stronger. There are no inappropriate decisions to be made in a married relationship. Living a good life is a decision that is made by two people, and does not need the approval of the rest of the world in order to function properly. There are clergy, and guidance counselors that might be able to help guide a couple on their quest for a good relationship, but the journey starts with the two of them. This means that the couple knows each other fully and the two knows if there’s love binding them or not. Married couples indulging in PDA are only using it to notice that the partner’s presence is there. 1. Without children Married life is fulfilling in itself. Some couples want to have children in their lives, and some don’t. Those who decide not to, have a great oppotunity to live a fulfilled life, loving and providing for their spouse’s needs. Being married without children allows a couple to really get to know themselves in a more intimate level. The time and attention aren’t divided, allowing them to devote themselves more fully to their partner and to the things the couple enjoys together. But also, the couple must also limit their PDAs so that they can focus on all of their work. In a married life without children, a couple has an independent PDA. 2. With children A married relationship is a new setting that the couple find themselves in a new way of looking at life and coming to terms with each other’s perspectives. Getting into married relationship after a thoroughly enjoyable bachelor’s life takes time to settle down. By then, there is a tough decision of when to have kids. Doing PDA even when the couple has their son/daughter is a sort of sweetness in a home. It only makes the relationship stronger and more enjoyable. 3. With grandsons and grandaughters Parents often rely on parents to help raise their children in this confusing and complex world. Grandparents would do well not to squander the opportunity given to them. The PDA in this kind of situation is much more less, lesser than a married life with children. PDA now here is scarce, but the scarcity of your PDA is much more filled with love, with passion. On this peak of your life, being a PDA doer is like commitment, since the time you two got married and has gone strong through the years. â€Å"This proves that the major components of love is passion, commitment, and intimacy.† [] B. In a boyfriend / girlfriend relationship A girlfriend or a boyfriend is an individual with whom one shares a romantic relationship. He/she is your consultant to all things, a shoulder to cry on. Having PDA with your boyfriend /girlfriend is much more free, but liberal. Those couples do it for love, but because of being liberal, they deny the criticisms of people around them, yet, they only accept the compliments. 1. Adolescent relationships One of the most exciting aspects about going to school for an adolescent is also one of the most difficult: the possibility of romantic relationships. Teens may be idealized of a boyfriend or girlfriend as an attractive person with whom they can date, and develop an intimate relationship. Of course it isn’t always as simple as this. Adolescents always have a liberal mind and can do anything for curiosity. While teenage romantic relationships are difficult, they are a necessary part of growing up in our society, as in the process of ending a relationship as a teen. Parents are often concerned with their son/daughter’s reaction to a relationship ending. They are alarmed of the PDA they are doing. The loss of a relationship during adolescence is particularly difficult because of the high probability that these teens will see each other very often, whether they attend the same school or have the same friends. Seeing an ex boyfriend/girlfriend regularly makes the difficult process of moving-on even more difficult. Teens become so distracted that their focus on academics may shift and they may begin to struggle with grades. And teens divert the hurt to a new boyfriend/girlfriend to lessen the pain, and do eye-catching PDAs to hurt their former boyfriend/girlfriend. â€Å"Pain is nature’s way of saying that something was wrong. Pain is therefore our best teacher. Let’s learn from this. Do understand that everything in life doesn’t last forever. Some things will fail, in spite of our best efforts. Look at the other significant relationships in your personal life (siblings, parents, friends, colleagues). Try to enhance these, because some of these may have been neglected when you were high on love.† [] 2. Young adult relationships How young is â€Å"too young† to start a relationship? It depends on the individual’s level of maturity, goals, and beliefs. Very much often the younger we are, the less mature we are due to a lack of life experience. When we are just beginning to figure out who we are, we may not be firmly grounded enough spirituality to form solid romantic attachments, and become more prone to making unwise decisions that can leave us with emotional, physical, psychlogical, and spiritual damage. Being in a relationship puts one in almost constant temptation, especially as emotions begin to develop and the attraction to that person deepens. Young teens (even older teens) are besieged by harmnal and societal pressures that seem at times almost unbearable. Such early relationships make more difficult to avoid damage to the delicate and still-forming self-image, not to mention the problem of resisting temptation. So developing a mutual relation in this age is very hard because temptation to the opposite sex is something like lust. So couples must be cautious of their PDA because PDA tends to be a â€Å"temptation starter†. 3. Adult (Mature) relationships Relationships come in many shapes and sizes, but all of them require maturity to create a lasting emotional bond. Starting a relationship is the easy part, but making it last requires patience and understanding. Learning to overlook mistakes and to look forward into the future are the key elements of a mature relationship. â€Å"Most people think of love as a feeling but love is not much a feeling as a way of being present. It is a kind of being in love with â€Å"love† to discover one’s self. PDA in this relationship is much more understandable and is a first step to mutual relation.† [] C. Third parties A third party is the involvement of a single person to a couple intimately and romantically. Being in a third party is really bad, as if you’re wrecking a relationship. What if you’re on the shoes of the person being cheated on, how would you feel? We also have what we call â€Å"Karma†. Some clever people say that being a third party is also a good thing to make the couple realize that they’re not meant for each other. It’s better if you commit a person who’s not taken, yet just to things legal. PDA is like a law of motion, if there’s any action, there’s equal and opposite reaction. The equal reaction is having a mutual relation while the opposite means break-up. D. Break – up A relationship break-up, simply referred to as breakup, is the termination of a usually intimate relationship by any means other than death. The term is less likely to be applied to a married couple, where a break-up is typically called a separation or divorce. Being in a break-up means the love has gone, died. This means that when you do PDA, your partner is never happy of what you two do and his/her feelings’ filled with no other but lust. The other thinks that his/her love is empty love so he/she decides to end it because the relationship is worthless. It isn’t right to continue. â€Å"After a break-up has passed understand the pain. Do not get into revenge mode, what’s done is done. Do not blame yourself for what has happened. Then, refocus on your life. Look at all the things in your life that you had not focused on while you were in a relationship. Revisit your goals and dreams. Lastly is to celebrate life.† [] E. PDA Interactions Doing PDA means interaction with your partner. This interaction means love. Love emerges from the crisis of intimacy versus isolation, a mature devotion that overcomes basic differences between men and women. To love means to care, to recognize the essential humanity of the other person, to have an active regard for the person’s development. But there are also issues involving PDA. These are issues about private space exposing one’s body on sexual areas to a another person and feeling about trusting another to accept one’s body. PDA is not just the objectivity of the act but is also for the sake of the doer. Public displays of affection are par for the course in every relationship someone is in, so it’s worth learning the rules. Granted, every woman and every relationship is different and will need some fine tuning, but the general limits of what is acceptable and what isn’t will be constant across the board. 1. Acceptable a. Holding hands Two or more people voluntarily hold hands for the purpose of expressing love or to enjoy physical intimacy. In PDA holding hands is a sign to a couple that they are connected to each other for they are in-love. It is the most common form of PDA and it is an acceptable form of affection and considered moral and ethical. Holding hands is the act of grabbing a girlfriend/boyfriend’s hand in public, whether to lead that person in the right direction or just to feel close to the person, and it is just fine in about any setting. It isn’t intimate enough to make the people around the couple squeamish, but it is intimate enough to let someone’s partner see it as a sign of affection and a declaration of two people’s status as a couple. b. Kissing A kiss is the act of pressing one’s lips against the lips or other body parts of another. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. A kiss may be used to express sentiments of love, passion, affection, respect, greeting, friendship, and good luck, among many others. The act of kissing has become a common expression of affection among many cultures worldwide. As a greeting, kissing is most definitely on the â€Å"acceptable† list and is fairly standard in most relationships. Obviously, this extends to personal social situations, and can be bypassed in professional arenas. To keep kisses acceptable, keep them brief and abstain from continued tongue action throughout the course of an outing. c. Hugging A hug is a form of physical intimacy, not necessarily sexual, that usually involves closing or holding the arms around another person or group of persons. The hug is one of the most common human signs of love and affection, along with kissing, unlike some other forms of physical intimacy. Cuddling seems to be an all right option. It gives the closeness that makes the couple feel good without offending too many people around. There are always those who frown on any contact between couples beyond an escort-like arm to a function. But having an arm about another and snuggling close is all right. Cuddling or hugging is harmless and less annoying than other displays of affection.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Everyman And Todays Morality

In the medieval morality play Everyman, the underlying theme is â€Å"all thing faileth, Save God alone.†(231, l. 841) This theme was meant to be a spiritual lesson to teach people a better way to live their lives. At the time the play was written, it applied very strongly, as clinging to other worldly goods and relationships was a trend of the time. However, things have really not changed much in our current society. The lessons learned in Everyman apply as strongly today as they did during medieval times. One common theme culture teaches us to cling to today is beauty. From the time we are born, we are presented with images of others (especially women) who are admired for nothing more than their looks. Examples of people like this would include models, many actresses, and singers. In many of these cases we are taught that their beauty is something we should strive for, forgetting all else along the way. What is often overlooked is the beauty cannot last forever - even if it does not disappear until death, it is not something we can keep with us forever. This is demonstrated in the play when the character Everyman calls upon Beauty, who comes with him to his grave. As he asks her to come with him, she answers â€Å"I cross out all this; adieu, by Saint John! I take my cap in my lap, and am gone.†(230, ll. 800-801) At this point, she abandons Everyman. Culture today also teaches us to rely heavily on material goods. In an age where technology is growing quickly, society has many new â€Å"toys† and trinkets being thrown at it constantly. Be it a new model car, a cellular phone or faster Internet access, it is being advertised as something every person absolutely must have. Of course, in order to buy all these things, there is yet another â€Å"must have† which is constantly stressed as being important - money. Money, today, is looked at as being the ultimate cure for any problems life may bring. This is not a new idea. After being ... Free Essays on Everyman And Today's Morality Free Essays on Everyman And Today's Morality In the medieval morality play Everyman, the underlying theme is â€Å"all thing faileth, Save God alone.†(231, l. 841) This theme was meant to be a spiritual lesson to teach people a better way to live their lives. At the time the play was written, it applied very strongly, as clinging to other worldly goods and relationships was a trend of the time. However, things have really not changed much in our current society. The lessons learned in Everyman apply as strongly today as they did during medieval times. One common theme culture teaches us to cling to today is beauty. From the time we are born, we are presented with images of others (especially women) who are admired for nothing more than their looks. Examples of people like this would include models, many actresses, and singers. In many of these cases we are taught that their beauty is something we should strive for, forgetting all else along the way. What is often overlooked is the beauty cannot last forever - even if it does not disappear until death, it is not something we can keep with us forever. This is demonstrated in the play when the character Everyman calls upon Beauty, who comes with him to his grave. As he asks her to come with him, she answers â€Å"I cross out all this; adieu, by Saint John! I take my cap in my lap, and am gone.†(230, ll. 800-801) At this point, she abandons Everyman. Culture today also teaches us to rely heavily on material goods. In an age where technology is growing quickly, society has many new â€Å"toys† and trinkets being thrown at it constantly. Be it a new model car, a cellular phone or faster Internet access, it is being advertised as something every person absolutely must have. Of course, in order to buy all these things, there is yet another â€Å"must have† which is constantly stressed as being important - money. Money, today, is looked at as being the ultimate cure for any problems life may bring. This is not a new idea. After being ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Planters and Puritans essays

Planters and Puritans essays Puritans and Planters are the two original groups that founded this country. This paper will examine the similarities and differences between them and todays society. The Puritan society was highly concerned with education. Like today, it was a cornerstone of their society. They believed that everyone, even women, should be able to read and write. One example of this is the literature written by Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson. Another way in which Americans are similar to the Puritans is their self-righteous attitude. Americans have a habit of thinking they are superior to everyone else, which could have stemmed from the Puritan attitude. The reason the Puritans came to America was to avoid religious persecution. While they may not have tolerated other religions like we do today, they did abide other Christian denominations. The Planters, on the other hand, were more concerned with making money and being successful, what some people might call the American dream. John Smiths The New World is a prime example of this desire for wealth. Smith makes extreme exaggerations and simply boldfaced lies to lure more people to the new world in order to make more money. Early Planters were also lazy according to A History of the Dividing Line by William Byrd. Many modern Americans share this attribute, expecting things to be handed to them. Their attitude about religion is also similar to ours, which is, while religion is important it should not be all consuming. Once again religion is a factor. The Puritans believed that God was responsible for anything and everything that took place as illustrated in William Bradfords Of Plymouth Plantation. On the voyage from England, God kills the sailor, fixes the ship, and saves the man from drowning. Today, most Americans, if they believe in God at all, believe that He does not determine every little detail of everyday life. Puritans had a strong family structure that wh ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Trent Affair in the Civil War

The Trent Affair in the Civil War Trent Affair - Background: As the secession crisis progressed in early 1861, the departing states came together to form the new Confederate States of America. In February, Jefferson Davis was elected president and began working to achieve foreign recognition for the Confederacy. That month, he dispatched William Lowndes Yancey, Pierre Rost, and Ambrose Dudley Mann to Europe with orders to explain the Confederate position and endeavor to obtain support from Britain and France. Having just learned of the attack on Fort Sumter, the commissioners met with British Foreign Secretary Lord Russell on May 3. In the course of the meeting, they explained the Confederacys position and emphasized the importance of Southern cotton to British textile mills. Following the meeting, Russell recommended to Queen Victoria that Britain issue a declaration of neutrality in regard to the American Civil War. This was done on May 13. The declaration was immediately protested by the American ambassador, Charles Francis Adams, as it conveyed a recognition of belligerency. This afforded Confederate ships the same privileges given American ships in neutral ports and was seen as the first step toward diplomatic recognition. Though the British communicated with the Confederates through back channels during the summer, Russell rebuffed Yanceys request for a meeting shortly after the Southern victory at the First Battle of Bull Run. Writing on August 24, Russell informed him that the British government considered the conflict an internal matter and that its position would not alter unless battlefield developments or a move towards a peaceful settlement required it to change. Frustrated by a lack of progress, Davis decided to send two new commissioners to Britain. Trent Affair - Mason Slidell: For the mission, Davis chose James Mason, a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Slidell, who had served as an American negotiator during the Mexican-American War. The two men were to emphasize the Confederacys strengthened position and the potential commercial benefits of trade between Britain, France, and the South. Traveling to Charleston, SC, Mason and Slidell intended to embark aboard CSS Nashville (2 guns) for the voyage to Britain. As Nashville appeared unable to evade the Union blockade, they instead boarded the smaller steamer Theodora. Using side channels, the steamer was able to evade the Union ships and arrived at Nassau, Bahamas. Finding they had missed their connection to St. Thomas, where they had planned to board a ship for Britain, the commissioners elected to travel to Cuba with the hope of catching a British mail packet. Forced to wait three weeks, they finally boarded the paddle steamer RMS Trent. Aware of the Confederate mission, Union Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles directed Flag Officer Samuel Du Pont to send a warship in pursuit of Nashville, which ultimately did sail, with goal of intercepting Mason and Slidell. Trent Affair - Wilkes Takes Action: On October 13, USS San Jacinto (6) arrived at St. Thomas after a patrol in African waters. Though under orders to head north for an attack against Port Royal, SC, its commander, Captain Charles Wilkes, elected to sail for Cienfuegos, Cuba after learning that CSS Sumter (5) was in the area. Arriving off Cuba, Wilkes learned that Mason and Slidell would be sailing aboard Trent on November 7. Though a well-known explorer, Wilkes had a reputation for insubordination and impulsive action. Seeing an opportunity, he took San Jacinto to the Bahama Channel with the goal of intercepting Trent. Discussing the legality of stopping the British ship, Wilkes and his executive officer, Lieutenant Donald Fairfax, consulted legal references and decided that Mason and Slidell could be considered contraband which would allow their removal from a neutral ship. On November 8, Trent was spotted and was brought to after San Jacinto fired two warning shots. Boarding the British ship, Fairfax had orders to remove Slidell, Mason, and their secretaries, as well as to take possession of Trent as a prize. Though he sent the Confederate agents across to San Jacinto, Fairfax convinced Wilkes not to make a prize of Trent. Somewhat uncertain of the legality of their actions, Fairfax reached this conclusion as San Jacinto lacked sufficient sailors to provide a prize crew and he did not wish to inconvenience the other passengers. Unfortunately, international law required that any ship carrying contraband be brought to port for adjudication. Departing the scene, Wilkes sailed for Hampton Roads. Arriving he received orders to take Mason and Slidell to Fort Warren in Boston, MA. Delivering the prisoners, Wilkes was hailed as a hero and banquets were given in his honor. Trent Affair - International Reaction: Though Wilkes was feted and initially praised by leaders in Washington, some questioned the legality of his actions. Welles was pleased with the capture, but expressed concern that Trent was not brought to a prize court. As November passed, many in the North began to realize that Wilkes actions may have been excessive and lacked legal precedent. Others commented that Mason and Slidells removal was similar to the impressment practiced by the Royal Navy which had contributed to War of 1812. As a result, public opinion began to swing towards releasing the men in order to avoid trouble with Britain. News of the Trent Affair reached London on November 27 and immediately incited public outrage. Angered, the government of Lord Palmerston viewed the incident as a violation of maritime law. As a possible war loomed between the United States and Britain, Adams and Secretary of State William Seward worked with Russell to diffuse the crisis with the former clearly stating that Wilkes acted without orders. Demanding the release of the Confederate commissioners and an apology, the British began reinforcing their military position in Canada. Meeting with his cabinet on December 25, President Abraham Lincoln listened as Seward outlined a possible solution which would appease the British but also preserve support at home. Seward stated that while stopping Trent had been consistent with international law, the failure to take it port was a severe error on the part of Wilkes. As such, the Confederates should be released â€Å"to do to the British nation just what we have always insisted all nations ought to do to us.† This position was accepted by Lincoln and two days later was presented to the British ambassador, Lord Lyons. Though Sewards statement offered no apology, it was viewed favorably in London and the crisis passed. Trent Affair - Aftermath: Released from Fort Warren, Mason, Slidell, and their secretaries embarked aboard HMS Rinaldo (17) for St. Thomas before traveling on to Britain. Though viewed as a diplomatic victory by the British, the Trent Affair showed American resolve to defend itself while also complying with international law. The crisis also worked to slow the European drive to offer the Confederacy diplomatic recognition. Though the threat of recognition and international intervention continued to loom through 1862, it receded following the Battle of Antietam and Emancipation Proclamation. With the focus of the war shifted to eliminating slavery, European nations were less enthusiastic about establishing an official connection with the South. Selected Sources US State Department: Trent AffairCivil War: The Trent Affair Library of Congress: Trent Affair

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Nonverbal Observation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nonverbal Observation - Essay Example It became apparent almost immediately that this couple were in a romantic relationship, and somewhere after the earliest stages of it but still in an early period. Their body language suggested a great deal of closeness – rather than sitting directly opposite each other, as most people do when conversing over coffee, they sat at ninety degree angles from each other around a small circular table. This led to them being constantly in what people normally consider their personal space, and their legs and arms brushed and touched against each other frequently. One of the most telling cues of their relationship status was eye contact – despite sitting very close to each other, to the degree that looking directly at one another would be somewhat uncomfortable, they both did so for long periods of time, straining their necks to make eye contact. People who are not romantically involved are often very uncomfortable with continual eye contact of this sort, so this implies they w ere in a romantic relationship, and people who had been in a romantic relationship for a long time might make less of an effort to make eye contact constantly, being more comfortable and less needy than those who are in the earlier stages of them. They also displayed an interesting communication dynamic in terms of who dominated the conversation. It was apparent that the man did most of the talking, and often accompanied his speeches with large arm gestures, movements and so on. This would seem to imply that he was the dominant of the pair, but on closer inspection I think he was performing for his partner, as she would often laugh at what he was doing. I believe this implies that he was trying to impress her by telling her humorous stories, and performing for

Information Technology in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Information Technology in Business - Essay Example It can make employees more comfortable and happy, which in turn yields better results in productivity. It might also be able to conserve on time and resources by making work easier and faster. It is one of the most beneficial creations of the new century, which has taken human life into a new era of technological advancement, into a world where new possibilities are achievable and business experiences a new perspective, which is easier to handle, yet gives you better results, definitely a worthy option to be considered worth applying and thus executing a better corporate position and get endless business opportunities. Information management is one of the fastest growing areas of experimentation these days, with new areas being explored everyday and new evolutions and revolutions taking place in very short lapses of time. (C Kenneth Allard, 2004) The paper talks about the implications of information technology for businesses in order to achieve competitive advantage over other competent business rivals. Further more; it talks about different aspects of IT, the reasons why IT is not the only thing to be considered and finally, the different implications of IT and some examples of the systems that can be used to achieve competitive advantage. Competitive advantage is basically a hold of a particular firm over the industry. It is an advantage that a company has over others due to a particular service that only this particular firm provides or any system that is integrated only in this particular firm etc. In order to maintain its competitive advantage, a company should keep a close watch over its potential competitors in order to minimize the risk of losing its competitive advantage for not being aware enough. It is a position of a firm in the world of business, a space that it enjoys being better than its competitors in a particular area or a general environment. But, no matter how much the competitively advantaged the firm is, its never unbeatable; not even in the cases of a monopoly. The competitive advantage only lasts till the competitors don't have that particular advancement. The moment they do, the competitive advantage is gone. Thus, to conserve the competitive advantage, a firm must keep on updating its status and looking up for more opportunities of advantage. IT & Competitive Advantage: It is one of the biggest factors that help a firm in achieving competitive advantage. It has so many aspects attached to it that one aspect or the other is bound to provide competitive advantage. Nicholas G (2004) described that the only thing that is needed is the eye to look for it and the mind to implement it in a unique, personalized and customized way so that it is integrated in the firm and is hard for the competitors to achieve and thus ensures the possibility of long lived competitive advantage instead of a short lived one. IT assists Business Growth: The organizations and companies are under constant pressure of competition. First this competition was just with the local industries, organizations and companies, but as the world is coming closer and closer every day and is turning into a global village, the circle of competition has grown from local

Friday, October 18, 2019

Family Violence across the Lifespan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Family Violence across the Lifespan - Essay Example My reading of this chapter has benefited me a lot. I have learned that ethnic minorities should be treated with care to avoid oppressing them. Professionally, this knowledge will help me interact well with such people. Such activities will promote the ethnic diversity in various communities. In the same token, the knowledge will assist in providing professional support to women who go through battering in their homes. Most importantly, I will comfortably offer assistance to my battered sister who is suffering in her marriage in a foreign country. The discussion on domestic violence is grave to the world as it will provide guidelines for the formulation of appropriate legislations to protect women from issues of forced early marriages, rape, and domestic violence among other atrocities women are subjected to by males in the communities. The chapter depicts that family violence affects all professions across the board. It will also serve to enlighten both men and women of the c role women play in our societies. Lawmakers will apply this research to enhance the place of a girl child in the society as well as defend the rights of the homosexuals to salvage them from the aggression of the majority who demean them because of their sexual orientations. In the recent past, homosexuality and equality have elicited heated debates, activists calling for better treatment of such minorities in the communities. Additionally, the knowledge will help societies overcome the extremism we are experiencing today and the massive influx of homos exuals in the communities.

Total Quality Management Master Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Total Quality Management Master - Case Study Example Given the nature of their responsibilities and the means available to the police department in general, discharge of police functions is found to be more problematic than any other public services. However, it can reasonably be stated that with a proper assessment of the capabilities and readiness TQM can be applied even to the police department to ensure satisfied service to the public. Implementation of TQM in public service departments has always been a difficult and cumbersome process; but the continuing pressures for transparency, accountability and service expectations, TQM requires increased management attention for effecting improvements. Based on the assessment of eight concepts of TQM, this paper critically analyzes the readiness of the Abu Dhabi Police Department for the implementation of TQM approach as part of the strategic planning initiative of the department to improve the performance of the department. Keeping the maintenance of security and stability as the main goal the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters has framed its strategic initiatives for excelling in its performance. The strategic priorities include (i) effective controlling of the crime, (ii) increasing the confidence of the community in police and public safety services, (iii) maintaining security and safety in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, (iv) making commuting through the roads safer, (v) improving the performance of the staff of the department by implementing the best international practices and (vi) providing all policing operations with functional support (Abu Dhabi Police Strategic Plan, 2008). The responsibility for improving meeting these strategic priorities and improving the performance has been entrusted with the Strategic Management and Performance Improvement Department reporting directly to the Commander General of Abu Dhabi Police. Unlike many of the other police forces in the world, the aim of Abu Dhabi Police does not stop with achieving peace by reducing crime. The Department embarks upon much deeper and broader concept of performance, which is more visionary in nature. Therefore the objective of Strategic Management and Performance Improvement Department is to transform the Abu Dhabi Policemen from the conventional symbol of watcher and guardian to the a non-traditional image of the comprehensive employee. This calls for a critical assessment of the readiness of the department for implementing a TQM approach so that the Department can contribute more to the maintenance of peace, tradition and justice in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Total Quality Management "Total Quality Management (TQM) is a set of management practices throughout the organization geared to ensure the organization consistently meets or exceeds customer requirements. TQM places strong focus on process measurement and controls as means of continuous improvement." (Free Management Library) In the TQM approach, all members of an organization are expected to participate in improving the processes. TQM also facilitates improvements in products, services and the culture in the working environment (ASQ). Edward Deming has

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Ethics in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethics in Business - Essay Example Darren had a meeting with his boss Sam Freeman’s client, Fredrick Stigler, the owner of different art galleries. He wanted Darren to convince the people of the Puna tribe to weave baskets for them in new and different patterns. They patterns which the Puna tribe was weaving were by being followed by them for the last couple of years. That is not only their art but also a reflection of their culture and historical events. Keeping in mind the relevant facts related to the situation and business ethics we can understand the psychological chaos faced by Darren. As Darren had developed affection with Puna tribe it was difficult for him to take any brutal decision which was not in their favor. Darren had graduated in anthropology which was another reason for his growing attachment to this cultural and historical tribe. He knew that most downfalls of society and communities would be because the societies would weaken themselves. He knew that if he only thought about the business and profits then it would be brutal and an unethical decision for Puna tribes as they might incur losses. Darren also knew that in this big contract of Fredrick Stigler the tribe would earn a lot of money but it wouldn’t do any good to their cultural values. If they would weave the baskets according to Fredrick Stigler’s demand, it would be difficult for them to follow the new patterns as the baskets they make now are the patterns that they have been following for the past many years. Keeping in mind the ethical issues in the world of business dealing, and being a dealer in this contract itself, Darren has to communicate between two parties, which are Fredrick Stigler and the Puna tribe. He has to negotiate with both parties and has to take a decision which is good and ethical for both. In corporate world business ethics is about being fair and even handed in the deals. The business is about the profit and making great deals. But when ethics and aesthetics both

Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4

Research Proposal - Essay Example In the world of medical practice and health care, there are many complex issues than ordinarily meet the eye. The provision of care facilities involves issues to patient and subsequently to the relatives is very important. A very important tool for making sure that this has happened is the correct use of counseling. These are integral to both the well-being of both the patient and the health care provider. This paper shall endeavor to dwell upon certain areas of influence in the same realm, and help institute certain working parameters for professionals. Centuries ago, while the science of medical care was in its technical evolution stage, the prime area of reference was only the administration of health care. However, in today’s world, where the scientific world has come of age in its standing vis-Ã  -vis disease care and prevention, subsidiary issues have emerged that are considered to be of prime importance in the domain of health care. The changes in society and life all around the world have brought about considerable changes in the lifestyles of humanity. Similarly, the profession of health care has seen its development through the ages, and many additional factors like counseling concerns need to be understood better. Ethical science has always found it difficult to decide, about the extent of the information being provided to the patient. Essentially, if one would put oneself in he shoes of the patient, then one would like to receive every bit of information that is related to the medical condition. However, when one looks at the issue from the perspective of the clinician, then the need can be appreciated of withholding some information from the client, for the latter’s benefit. Where does the line of morality and ethics come here, and from where the jurisdiction of science starts, is the focus of this research. There are and always have been two

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Ethics in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethics in Business - Essay Example Darren had a meeting with his boss Sam Freeman’s client, Fredrick Stigler, the owner of different art galleries. He wanted Darren to convince the people of the Puna tribe to weave baskets for them in new and different patterns. They patterns which the Puna tribe was weaving were by being followed by them for the last couple of years. That is not only their art but also a reflection of their culture and historical events. Keeping in mind the relevant facts related to the situation and business ethics we can understand the psychological chaos faced by Darren. As Darren had developed affection with Puna tribe it was difficult for him to take any brutal decision which was not in their favor. Darren had graduated in anthropology which was another reason for his growing attachment to this cultural and historical tribe. He knew that most downfalls of society and communities would be because the societies would weaken themselves. He knew that if he only thought about the business and profits then it would be brutal and an unethical decision for Puna tribes as they might incur losses. Darren also knew that in this big contract of Fredrick Stigler the tribe would earn a lot of money but it wouldn’t do any good to their cultural values. If they would weave the baskets according to Fredrick Stigler’s demand, it would be difficult for them to follow the new patterns as the baskets they make now are the patterns that they have been following for the past many years. Keeping in mind the ethical issues in the world of business dealing, and being a dealer in this contract itself, Darren has to communicate between two parties, which are Fredrick Stigler and the Puna tribe. He has to negotiate with both parties and has to take a decision which is good and ethical for both. In corporate world business ethics is about being fair and even handed in the deals. The business is about the profit and making great deals. But when ethics and aesthetics both

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Profit Maximization Theories Applicable to Firm - Micro economics Term Paper

Profit Maximization Theories Applicable to Firm - Micro economics - Term Paper Example In accounting a negative difference implies a loss, whereas a positive one implies a profit. Mathematically, calculating profit shall be: Total revenue is the total value expected and received by a firm from the sales of its goods and services. Total revenue on the other consists of all factors of production and other operational considerations. In economics, there are other types of costs that come into play, for instance, opportunity cost, and not specifically those costs that involve explicit monetary payments. The accounting profit implies the monetary values reported in the books, whereas the economic profit includes other factors such as the non quantifiable opportunity costs, implicit and explicit resources employed. Firms face certain constrains in the process of maximizing their profits. The main constraints face by profit maximizing firms include: technology, prices of factors of production and the demand for a firms product. According to Hall and Marc (201), a firm’s total revenue is the total inflow of receipts from selling output. Theoretically firms can be grouped from two extremes; perfectly competitive firm and monopoly, each facing different demand curves. The concept of demand is closely related to the understanding of profit maximization. A perfectly competitive firm has a horizontal demand curve implying high elasticity. A monopolist demand curve on the other hand faces the whole market demand curve, which is highly inelastic. Understanding the concept of profit maximization, graphical and mathematical analysis becomes imperative. If an assumption of perfect market is made for a profit maximization firm. Where p is the unit price for each product from the organization and q is the total number of quantities sold by the firm. Conventionally, small q are used instead of the capitalized version, Q as it is used to imply the whole market. From figure 1, an increase in

Monday, October 14, 2019

Biome Essay Example for Free

Biome Essay The African Savanna biome is a tropical grassland in Africa between latitude 15Â ° North and 30 degrees S and longitude 15 degrees W and 40Â ° West. It covers Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote Divore, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa. Around 2 million large plant-eating mammals live in the savanna. There are 45 species of mammals, almost 500 species of birds, and 55 species of acacia in the Serengeti Plains. There are animals such as lions, African wildcats, klipspringer, steenbok, Burchells zebra, African Savanna monitor, and puff adders. They have the largest diversity of hoofed animals in the world including antelopes, wildebeest, buffalos, zebras, and rhinoceros. Fire, ground water, water table, soils moisture retention, landforms (plateau, mountain, valley) and their slope ( 3% to 10%), soil temperate, days of cloud cover versus days of sun for amount of sunlight and it influence, first last frost dates for growing season. Focus on the limiting factors of the air supply, precipitation, soil types, light.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Arguments of Christopher Browning versus Daniel John Goldhagen Regardin

Arguments of Christopher Browning versus Daniel John Goldhagen Regarding The German View of the Holocaust The arguments of Christopher Browning and Daniel John Goldhagen contrast greatly based on the underlining meaning of the Holocaust to ordinary Germans. Why did ordinary citizens participate in the process of mass murder? Christopher Browning examines the history of a battalion of the Order Police who participated in mass shootings and deportations. He debunks the idea that these ordinary men were simply coerced to kill but stops short of Goldhagen's simplistic thesis. Browning uncovers the fact that Major Trapp offered at one time to excuse anyone from the task of killing who was "not up to it." Despite this offer, most of the men chose to kill anyway. Browning's traces how these murderers gradually became less "squeamish" about the killing process and delves into explanations of how and why people could behave in such a manner. Goldhagen's book however, has the merit of opening up a new perspective on ways of viewing the Holocaust, and it is the first to raise crucial questions about the extent to which eliminationist anti-Semitism was present among the German population as a whole. Using extensive testimonies from the perpetrators themselves, it offers a chilling insight into the mental and cognitive structures of hundreds of Germans directly involved in the killing operations. Anti-Semitism plays a primary factor in the argument from Goldhagen, as it is within his belief that anti-Semitism "more or less governed the ideational life of civil society" in pre-Nazi Germany . Goldhagen stated that a "Demonological anti-Semitism, of the virulent racial variety, was the common structure of the perpetrators' cognit... ...d in is own home. He was found by Soviet men in his home and taken to Siberia, because he was too young, in their point of view, to not be a member of the Nazi party. This is a man that Goldhagen cannot say is a fanatic anti-Semite and because of his own story to me I cannot deem the entire German population to be Goldhagen's 'ordinary Germans'. It is not an easy debate and will probably never be one but I would hope that someone could see that we cannot say something about an entire population. We would have to look at each member individually and then I am sure that we would find that some were those 'ordinary men', that Browning believed and some were the 'ordinary Germans' that Goldhagen believed in. Bibliography: Browning, Christopher R., Ordinary Men. Harper Perennial,New York, 1993 Goldhagen, Daniel Jonah. Random House, Inc. New York, 1996

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Understanding Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Essay -- Health,

It is important to understand the terms that are associated with intellectual disabilities. The first term is disability. Disability is an individual performing which includes physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual mental illness impairments, and various types of chronic diseases. The next term involves intelligence. This term is the ability to think logically, reason out problems, prepare, understand difficult ideas, examine intellectually, and the ability to determine quickly and or acquire from experience. Third term is adaptive behavior. Adaptive behavior is the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that all individuals learn in order to perform in their everyday lives. An example of conceptual skills is idea of numbers. Following rules are an example of social skills. Practical skills involve the use of money in society (â€Å"Assessment Psychology,† (n.d.). Understanding Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Research reveals that currently approximately one million United States students that have disabilities are between the ages of 3 through 21. Therefore, these special needs students are eligible for special services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, only 34 percent of students have intellectual disabilities and 40 percent of the students are with multiple disabilities. In the 2007 through 2008 school year 56 percent autism students graduated with a regular high school diploma (Lewis, 2011). Therefore, in this essay the definition, characteristics, and causes of intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, autism, severe disabilities, and deaf-blindness will be discussed. The first definition, characteristic and cause discussed... ...uccessfully in society. As stated by IDEA all students are required to be educated in the setting that will meet his or her needs. Students that have severe and multiple disabilities can be involved in general education classes. However, if the student cannot function in a special education and or regular education classroom settings they will be placed in a residential home and or institution. Deaf blindness according to IDEA is not included in the special education program. â€Å"Despite the challenges their disabilities impose on their lives these students exhibit warmth, persistence, determination, cheerfulness, a sense of humor, sociability and various other desirable traits† (Heward, 2009, p. 458). Therefore, teachers find it a pleasure to teach these students. Teachers also look forward to observing their progress in school, home, and community settings.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Physchological Effects of Alcholism

The Psychological Effects of Alcoholism There are many people who live a life that is painful and which they want to escape from. Due to this people will often turn to alcohol and abuse the privilege. When people think of the effects of alcohol, they think about the physical effects it has on the body. What is discussed less frequently, but in some cases equally damaging, is the effect alcohol takes on the mind. Alcoholism will take you on a one way road to failure, which leads to losing a career, family, and most importantly one’s self. Initially, alcohol will increase a person’s confidence. At social gatherings, a person will initiate more conversations, tell funny jokes and feel a sense of acceptance. Unfortunately this is all in their mind; what’s funny to them might really be rude and obnoxious to a sober person. An intoxicated person won’t see how their acting because the alcohol triggers the short release of dopamine. Consequently, the brain will rely on the alcohol to release dopamine for feelings of pleasure and happiness. After continued use of alcohol a person will more often make poor judgment. During their impaired state under the influence, they are likely to lie to people they care about, steal or engage in other destructive mental behavior. While intoxicated, your mind will trick you into believing that your actions are not that bad, leading to a carefree attitude. As a result, a person will have to pay the consequences in jail, the hospital or in a grave. Another downside of an alcoholic is the increased aggression. Violent, aggressive behavior is common among male and sometimes females. The loss of inhibitions, along with the destruction of brain cells caused by drinking can create abusive behavior in alcoholics. As a result, spousal abuse and street fighting are often triggered. There are more shelters opening up for women who are victims of spousal abuse. Often times the abuser will only strike their loved one when intoxicated. Most importantly, alcoholism affects your family and loved ones; the alcoholic is not the only one that gets emotionally scared. An alcoholic doesn’t realize the hurtful words they say, stay in the minds of their children and family. A child’s mind absorbs every detail and growing up in a verbally abusive environment can stunt their development. They have a good chance of growing up with learning and anger management issues.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Betty Parris

The character Betty Parris plays an important role in the story of the Crucible. As one of the girls who danced in the forest she is part of the play’s central conflict. She is the cause of the townspeople blaming witchcraft in the first place and she is also part of the reason that most of the characters are killed by the end of the fourth act. Through her actions over the course of the play, Betty is shown to be fearful, easily-manipulated, and an attention-seeker. In the Crucible, one of Betty’s main characteristics is her fearfulness.When her father catches her in the woods, she immediately faints to avoid any punishment and continues to pretend to be in a coma for a while after. Abigail convinces Reverend Parris that â€Å"Betty was frightened and then she fainted† (pg. 833) but it seems like what really happened was she was clever enough to avoid being reprimanded. She is also fearful of Abigail. After Betty wakes up, Abigail tells her that Reverend Parris knows everything and this causes her to â€Å"springs off the bed, and rush across room to window† (pg. 837) because she is afraid of what might happen.She is harassed and struck by Abigail after talking about Abigail’s charm to kill Goody Proctor and this causes her to submit to Abigail’s demands that no one speaks of what she did in the forest. Her fear of Abigail leads to her joining Abigail and the other girls throughout the rest of the play even though she seems to resent them. Another main characteristic of Betty is her tendency to be easily-manipulated. As one of the members of the group of girls who danced in the woods, she becomes a part of Abigail’s web of lies and deceit.At first she resists Abigail until Abigail threatens to come to her â€Å"in the black of some terrible night† (pg. 837) if she says anything about the charm. After that, she follows Abigail and the rest of the girls as they condemn the people of the town as well as when they lie in the courthouse and pretend to see Mary’s spirit attacking them. She follows Abigail’s every action and mimics anything that she does. This lets her lead Betty to do horrible things to people just because Betty is unable to stand up to Abigail.In the Crucible, Betty is also shown to be an attention-seeker. As a younger girl, she has the natural need for people to pay attention to her. This need is further amplified by her lack of mother, which leaves her fewer people to entertain her. When she is thought to be unconscious, many people come from all over town to visit her. Among these people is Mercy Lewis who claims to have wanted â€Å"to see how Betty is† (pg. 836). This may be another reason that Betty joins Abigail and the other girls in their escapades.She just needs the attention that the townspeople give them for condemning all the witches. One thing that shows Betty’s attention-seeking is when the psalm can be heard outside of the bedr oom, Betty â€Å"claps her ear suddenly, and whines loudly† (pg. 839). This action convinces everyone that Betty cannot hear the Lord’s name and the others mark it as a sign of witchcraft. Another example of this trait is shown when all the other girls are shouting out names in Parris’ house. When Betty begins to convict people with them, she stands on top of her bed as she does it.Even though Abigail and the other girls are all doing the same thing, Betty still wants the attention and so to stand apart from the others she puts herself on a higher pedestal to be seen. Through her fainting in the woods, to her participation in Abigail’s convictions, Betty Parris is shown to be fearful, easily-manipulated, and an attention-seeker. Her role in the Crucible is an important one that drives the plot and is the cause for anyone thinking witchcraft is involved in the first place.