Victims of Technology in Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451

We are all victims. We are all victims of being captured into the world of technology. A dysfunctional lifestyle comes to mind when we think of a world without technology. Think about how many opportunities we missed, friends we never met, and lessons we didn’t learn all because we were too busy looking at a screen. The increasing lack of human interactions in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury demonstrates how the rapid abuse of technology will lead to the demise of tradition and a world with little emotion. Everywhere you look you see someone on their phones, blocking themselves from the real world. In Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s wife, Mildred, always goes in the parlor and watches her â€Å"programs†. In the book, the narrator states, â€Å"No matter when he came in, the walls were always talking to Mildred† (44). This quote basically demonstrates how there is little human interaction between Montag and Mildred. Without human interaction, emotion and passion a re almost non-existent. In Fahrenheit 451, Mrs. Phelps explains, â€Å"I plunk the children in school nine days out of ten. I put up with them when they come home three days a month. You heave them into the ‘parlor’ and turn the switch† (96). From this quote, you could derive several different patterns. Mrs. Phelps has no emotion or love to her children as she simply just â€Å"puts up with them†. Also, technology has ruined family traditions and family interactions by simply throwing them in the parlor. In this book, many humans are talkedShow MoreRelatedFahrenheit 451771 Words   |  4 Pagesfree thought and where reading books is viewed as a threat to society and the happiness of its citizens. Ray Bradbury did just this in his novel Fahrenheit 451. Concerned by the rise of technology and the relationship between burning books and burning people, Bradbury sought to highlight the dangerous path that society is on, one that could lead to mindlessness and thoughtlessness. In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury challenges thoughtlessness and promotes freethinking through the construction of his charactersRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Is A Timeless Novel That Shows The Overtaking1386 Words   |  6 PagesFahrenheit 451 is a timeless novel that shows the overtaking of technology and manipulation of censorship. In America, technology has severely affected the way free speech is used and/or viewed. We are given the right to free speech to an extent. We are given free speech while the government has the power of censorship making our words selective and politically correct. This causes outbursts of anger by the public. My purpose is to explain that this novel is important because, the oppression of freedomRead MoreRay Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451 Government Control And Fear1488 Words   |  6 Pagesauthors published his Science-Fiction novel, Fahrenheit 451. Fahrenheit 451 is about a Dystopian culture in which books are forbidden, and burned. Burning the books is a type of censorship, in which the citizens are only permitted to read books that have been preapproved by the government. The conflicts and concerns expressed in Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s speech that give rise to the society and atmosphere created by Ray Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451 is government control and fear. In Senator McCarthy’sRead MoreFahrenheit 451 in Today’s World Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesFahrenheit 451 in Today’s World In the novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the author creates a picture of a society that resembles our present-day society in a variety of ways. Although a society in which government has total control over its citizens seems to be a little extreme, there are definitely clues that can be seen today that suggest that we are headed in the same direction. Some of the resemblances between the society in Fahrenheit 451 and our society today are the governments’Read MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1592 Words   |  7 PagesWhen writing the introduction to Fahrenheit 451, author Neil Gaiman stated that â€Å"ideas--written ideas--are special. They are the way we transmit our stories and our thoughts from one generation to the next. If we lose them, we lose our shared history†. Gaiman is absolutely correct; especially because what he is saying heavily applies to books. Books are a critical aspect in shaping humanity as a whole, they create and share a network of creativ e ideas, history, and overall entertainment; to loseRead MoreThe Social Commentary And Style Within Fahrenheit 4511228 Words   |  5 Pageswear, what to eat, who to marry, when to die, and etc. A society where technology is advanced, such as the speed of cars and the type of trains. A place where laws are strictly taken into place and people follow them without hesitations. There are numerous of ways to make a great dystopian, one of them being style. The style that the author uses reveals what the social commentary is to the readers. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Ally Condie’s Matched, and Wes Ball’s Maze Runner: Scorch Trials, allRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1592 Words   |  7 PagesWhen writing the introduction to Fahrenheit 451, author Neil Gaiman stated that â€Å"ideas--written ideas--are special. They are the way we transmit our stories and our thoughts from one generation to the next. If we lose them, we lose our shared history†. Gaiman is absolutely correct; especially because what he is saying heavily applies to books. Books are a critical aspect in shaping humanity as a whole, they create and share a network of creative ideas, history, and overall entertainment; to loseRead MoreFahrenheit 451: The Future is Now Essay2640 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Communism and Nazism† (Gonzalez 1), a totalitarian society mirroring the world in Bradbury’s novel among other dystopian novels of the time. His society fits the idea of totalitarianism in the fact that it is a â€Å"form of government that theoretically permits no individual freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of the individual’s life to the authority of the government† (Britannica). This can be seen in Fahrenheit 451 in the way people are controlled by the television and in the way firemen dealRead MoreIncreasing Violence in Youth Culture Essay1093 Words   |  5 PagesIncreasing Violence in Youth Culture In Bradbury’s dystopian classic, Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse says â€Å" ‘I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each other’ † (Bradbury 27). Bradbury claims through Fahrenheit 451 that our society is becoming increasingly violent in youth’s culture. Furthermore, common sense seems to dictate that as technology advances violence, increases as well. Although schools are considered to be the safest places for children, media, behavioral problems, and influences insideRead More Analysis of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Essay3557 Words   |  15 PagesAnalysis of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Imagine living in a world where you are not in control of your own thoughts. Imagine living in a world in which all the great thinkers of the past have been blurred from existence. Imagine living in a world where life no longer involves beauty, but instead a controlled system that the government is capable of manipulating. In Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451, such a world is brought to the awareness of the reader through a description of the impacts

Hoffmann Surname Meaning and Family History

The Hoffmann surname originated as a nickname for a farmer who owned his land rather than rented, from the Middle High German Hofman, meaning person working on a farm. The name eventually came to denote a steward (manager) of a manor farm; as such, it was widespread throughout central and eastern Europe, in both German and non-German-speaking countries. Hoffmann is the 10th most common German surname. Surname Origin: German, Jewish Alternate Surname Spellings:  HOFMAN, HOFMANN, HOFFMAN, HOFMANS, HUFFMAN, HUFFMANN, GOFMAN, HAUFFMAN, HOUGHMAN, HUFMAN Famous People with the HOFFMANN  Surname Dustin Hoffman  - Oscar-winning actorAbbie Hoffman  - American political activist; founder of  the Youth International PartyPhilip Seymour Hoffman  - American actor and directorGaby Hoffmann - American film and television actressErnst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann  (E. T. A. Hoffmann) - German Romantic author of fantasy and horrorAlbert Hofmann - Swiss scientist; best known for his discovery of LSDRoald Hoffmann - American theoretical Nobel Prize-winning  chemistFelix Hoffmann - German chemist best-known for inventing aspirin Where is the HOFFMANN Surname Most Common? According to surname distribution from Forebears, the Hoffmann surname is most prevalent in Germany, where it ranks as the 7th most common surname in the nation, but is used by a greater percentage of the population in Luxembourg, where it is the 3rd most common surname. It is also fairly common in Austria (74th), Denmark (116th) and Switzerland (150th). The Hoffman spelling, on the other hand, is most prevalent in the United States, although this spelling is not always derived from the German Hoffmann. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, Hoffmann is found most frequently in southwest Germany, especially the states of Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz, followed by the northeast German states of Brandenburg and Sachsen-Anhalt. The Hofmann spelling of this surname is also found primarily in Germany, but  in the states of Sachsen, Hessen, Bayern and Thuringen, followed by Zurich, Switzerland. Genealogy Resources for the Surname HOFFMANN Meanings of Common German SurnamesUncover the meaning of your German last name with this free guide to the meanings and origins of common German surnames. Hoffmann  Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Hoffmann  family crest or coat of arms for the Hoffmann surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. DistantCousin.com - HOFFMANN  Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Hoffmann. The Hoffmann  Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the Hoffmann  surname from the website of Genealogy Today. ----------------------- References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997 https://www.thoughtco.com/surname-meanings-and-origins-s2-1422408

Essay on Occupational Segregation - 994 Words

Occupational Segregation Since the beginning of time, from all accounts, there has been some form of inequality between genders in society. This has become especially true in the workplace and for some people occupational segregation may be to blame. Occupational segregation is the grouping of similar jobs at similar workplaces. Not to be confused with job segregation which looks at specific jobs within specific workplaces, occupational segregation focuses on the occupation as a whole. An example of an occupation would be middle school teacher. An example of a job would be 7th grade math teacher at Champion Middle School. We use occupation segregation in research because it is more broad and easier to get details. There are over 500†¦show more content†¦Finally, the pay gap is simply the obvious discrepancies between the pay of men and the pay of women, for the same job in many cases. All of these theories have explanations for the gap that seem logical. Each of the three ga ps have several breakdowns of reasons for the gap in promotion, pay and authority and I have pulled out some of the key points. The promotion gap theorizes that the gap is mainly caused by the more advanced training and education of men and the fields that men and women are typically working in. The theory is that women typically find themselves in job markets with little room for advancement. Men typically work in corporate environments with more of a job ladder and available opportunities. The authority gap explains that the gap can be attributed to women having less experience in authoritative roles so it’s harder to get that responsibility. The authority gap also states that women or people of color would have a harder time getting respect from their employees. Lastly the pay gap points out that the difference in pay can be attributed to the education and training of the employee. Facts reveal however, only one third of pay gaps show a significant difference in education or training. One thing I agree with is the fact that occupational segregation clearly exists and I don’t approve the idea of it. Unfortunately I just don’t feel that eliminating occupationalShow MoreRelatedThe Structural Inequality Between Men And Women875 Words   |  4 Pagesoccurrences in a women’s life, they are treated as an illness or something that will affect their work. They are automatically penalized for being able to conceive children, and are therefore unable to achieve equality. In addition to the occupational segregation of genders, the inequality continues in occupations where men and women work together. Women who have the same education, training, experience, skills and knowledge as men will get paid less for doing the same job. A major issue when discussingRead MoreRacial Segregation : Segregation And Segregation Essay1142 Words   |  5 PagesRacial Segregation â€Å"Segregation is that which is forced upon an inferior by a superior. Separation is done voluntarily by two equals.† This is an important and powerful quote said by the late Malcolm X. From 1849-1950 segregation took place for a little over a century. Just 4 years after that, in Brown v. Board of Education the supreme court outlawed segregation in public schools. This was the starting point in putting an end to segregation nationwide. However, is segregation really abolished? OrRead MoreCape Town Is South Africa1659 Words   |  7 Pagesnations largest city. This capital city is known for is breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture. However, Cape Town is home to a conflicted history in which is still evident in it’s urban fabric today. Apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial segregation created an immense divide in the populations of Cape Town. Not only was this divide social, but it was physical as well. Communities were segregated by race into varyin g townships. While this injustice was ended nearly two decades ago, inequalityRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Self Segregation Essay1256 Words   |  6 Pages Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Segregation Hadar Mustafa FAM12 Jun6, 2015 Racial segregation was one of the most controversial and pressing issues of the 20th century. Prior to the abolishment of this legislation, various countries, including America, practiced this racist policy. However, while the country has long banned segregation, there are nonetheless certain groups, both religious and ethnic groups, today that chose to exclude themselves voluntarily from the societyRead MoreWhat Can Educators Do For African Americans?815 Words   |  4 Pagesinadequately maintained. This substandard education contributed to feelings of inferiority, lowered self-esteem, and lowered self-concept in African American children, and resulted in decreased occupational opportunities for them as adults. On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was illegal. Still today the history of Brown v. Board of Education impacts all African Americans today. For the vast majority of African American students, desegregation has had a detrimentalRead MoreThe Complexities And Processes Of Racial Housing Discrimination877 Words   |  4 Pagesqualitative and quantitative data comprised of over 750 verified housing discrimination cases (Roscigno, p. 162). Citing the U.S. Census, it is found that Blacks, compared to Hispanics and Asians, continue to experience high levels of residential segregation. This is done through discriminatory practices, whether they be by exclusionary or non-exclusionary methods. Even after the passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1988, discrimination against Blacks and Hispanics decreased somewhat, though African AmericansRead MoreThe Young Man Of A Slave, Jarvius Cotton1230 Words   |  5 Pagespre civil rights era and simultaneously in a present day unequal democracy. The suppositions, arguments, and defenses of such struggles have been rationalized in terms of support of radicalized racial discrimination and exclusion in many occupational and social forms of contribution to social life. However, despite, having undoubtedly changed and evolved, the outcomes have remained predominantly static. One of the most visible and easily felt underpinnings of this reality is illustratedRead MoreGroup Research Project: Education and Occupations1901 Words   |  8 Pagesprohibit equal opportunity among students of different races. The facts to support this acquisition are placed in the following categories: ongoing racial segregation, unequal school resources, unequal academic opportunities, differential teacher quality, and differential discipline. Ongoing racial segregation reveals the educational segregation of African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans specifically. It is shown that areas, mostly urban, with higher rates of crime and mischievous behaviorRead MoreAnalysis Of Kaffir Boy : The True Story Of A Black Youth Essay1534 Words   |  7 Pagesoutnumbered the white populace. Therefore, many Afrikaners felt they did not have enough opportunities to compete for labor against the industries. Moreover, Saul Dubow stated â€Å"It has often been claimed that, as a result of colonial conquest and racial segregation, 87 per cent of South Africa’s land came to be owned by whites, who only constituted around 15 per cent of the population.† A system that blocked the black African population from taking jobs from the whites, seemed like a beneficial tactic forRead MoreAfrican Americans From The United States1727 Words   |  7 Pagesnot empower antebellum African Americans to rise and fall by their own merits when so many other avenues of socioeconomic advancement remained closed to them (194). Literacy mattered little in a society that restricted black people s access to occupational opportunities. After the Civil War and during the Reconstruction Period, African Americans began to exercise some of the rights of citizenship. They made great sacrifices in efforts to educate themselves and their children, and education became

Tragedy of Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest Essay

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil is the world largest rainforest with over 30 million different species of plants, animals and insects. The rainforest used to cover of the earths surface but today only covers . This is mainly because some parts of the forest are being rapidly deforested because the forest is so useful to so many people. Deforestation provides benefits for many different companies which wish to make large amounts of money. Also Brazil owes large amount of Depts. and so the government believe that by developing the forest it will help to contribute towards the payment of these depts. Nevertheless it causes many problems for the ecosystems of the forest and the world.†¦show more content†¦Ã‚ · Leaving the forest for the tribes who have lived in the forest for thousands of years. One of the developments that have taken place in the Amazon is mining. Large amounts of minerals such as iron ore, gold, copper, bauxite and other minerals can be found in the grounds of the rainforest. People in the developed counties buy these raw materials for many purposes such as car manufacturing. The mining helps people to improve their living standards as there are many jobs created in the mines. Because more jobs are created the people will have much more spare money which they can spend in shops, restaurants, banks e.t.c. This will cause a multiplier effect as more people will be spending more money and so more jobs will be created such as waitress. Because labour is cheap the employers will not have to pay the workers much money and so there will be more workers. The people who get this job think it is a good way to develop the rainforest as they earn a lot more money than they were earning which helps them improve their living standards. The mining also helps Brazil become more developed as it strengths the economy of Brazil. The minerals can be sold to different countries which will bring income. Also the foreign companies which own mines in the rainforest would have to pay tax. The money from this would contribute towards developing the country. TheShow MoreRelatedDeforestation of Our Rainforests931 Words   |  4 PagesThe most destructive and harmful tragedy that our rainforests, specifically the Amazon, suffer from is deforestation. Deforestation is the clearing or destruction of land throughout forests. Unfortunately, human beings are the number one cause of deforestation throughout the world. The reason if this is simply because we use the wood mainly for things like hydroelectric dams that power communities, palm oil for its biofuel resourcefulness, and the mining for diamond and gold. Another reason wouldRead MoreWhat Effect Does Deforestation Have On The World?1553 Words   |  7 PagesWhat effect does deforestation have on the world? Many people believe that deforestation has a negative impact on the world because it stops carbon dioxide in take (how trees take carbon dioxide from air to purify the oxygen), causes soil erosion and destroys habitats for many species, however many do not as it supplies jobs for thousands of people, it helps environments in particular places and frees land for grazing animals and houses. Firstly, it allows thousands of people to have jobs to earnRead MoreGlobal Warming and the Effect on Plant Diversity2318 Words   |  10 Pagesbecoming one of the many worldwide dilemmas facing our planet. The rapid rate of deforestation is reaching disastrous limits as the demands for resources far exceed supplies. Rainforests provide a home to many species of plants, both known and unknown. Our dependencies on tropical plants are vast ranging from the daily essentials of food and shelter, to cures for cancer and possibly AIDS. As destruction of the rainforest continues, the effects on plants are immense through the loss of genetic diversityRead MoreThe Deforestation Of The Amazon Rainforest1574 Words   |  7 Pages A real life example of a social dilemma is the deforestation of the amazon rainforest. In the early 2000’s rapid industrialisation, immense scales of agriculture and other economic activities led to 20% of the territory being destroyed. The scale of dest ruction particularly, within Brazil was so large; NASA released an image confirming the effects were detectable from space, (Winter, 2014) Many of the contributing parties to the problem included, developers, subsistence farmers, cattle-ranchersRead MoreCriticizing and Resistence of Science Today Essay2402 Words   |  10 Pagesbelievers and environmental activists. During the twentieth century, science has been the cause of various catastrophic events, and tragedy. The failure of science on the environment on more than a few number occasions has made it subject to immeasurable criticisms and has influenced the formation of a series of resistance groups. An example of such failure is deforestation or open tree felling. There are several consequences surrounding this issue including most importantly the loss of biodiversityRead MoreEssay about Definition of Sustainability and a Good Structure of It3277 Words   |  14 Pagesdeteriorating and the climate is changing. We are consuming so much, and so quickly, that we are already living far beyond the earths capacity to support us. And yet, nearly a sixth of our fellow humans go to bed hungry each day: both an unnecessary tragedy and a source of social and political unrest. Meanwhile, our globalized world is more interconnected and volatile than ever, making us all more vulnerable. While sustainability is about the future of our society, for todays industries and businessesRead MoreEnvironmental Degradation9511 Words   |  39 Pageshabitat fragmentation occurred like the tropical rainforests were subjected to a loss of amphibian diversity and when drier climate prevailed there occurred a loss of reptile diversity.Human activities like creating agricultural lands, lands for development of infrastructure and pollution results in collapse of the habitats .The form of habitat destruction which occurs in deserts is known as desertification,which occurs in forests are known as deforestation,which occurs in coastal areas are known as coral

How the Medical Model of Psychopathology Free Essays

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION DEFINITION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA THE MEDICAL MODEL * POSSIBLE MEDICAL CAUSES FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA * SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA * DISCUSSION OF THE DSM-IV-TR THE FAMILY SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION In this assignment I will show how the medical model of Psychopathology and the family systems model reflect linear and circular causality respectively by referring to the causes of Schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA Schizophrenia is characterised by a broad spectrum of cognitive and emotional dysfunctions that include delusions and hallucinations, disorganized speech and behaviour and inappropriate emotions. It disrupts social, occupational and recreational functioning and almost every other aspect of daily functioning. We will write a custom essay sample on How the Medical Model of Psychopathology or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is usually chronic with a high relapse rate and recovery from Schizophrenia is rare. MEDICAL MODEL The DSM-IV-TR is based on the medical model. The basic assumption is that psychological disorders are diseases and are treated as such. In his definition of the medical model, Blaney (1975) stated that mental disorders are in fact organic diseases. He further explained that the visible evidences of disorders are merely manifestations of an underlying condition. According to him, the individual has no responsibility for his/her behaviour. The medical/biological model reflects a linear view of the causes of Psychopathology. Linear causality means that a particular cause (or more than one cause in combination) leads to a specific effect (e. g. a virus causes an illness). Thus, from this perspective, event A causes event B (A - B) in a linear (unidirectional) fashion. In this linear way of thinking, our reality is considered to be separate from us. We are thus seen as reacting to our reality rather than creating it (Becvar, 2003). Possible medical causes for Schizophrenia: Genetic influences – Inherited tendency (multiple genes) are responsible for making some individuals vulnerable to Schizophrenia * Neurotransmitter imbalances – This refers to brain chemistry such as abnormalities in the dopamine and glutamate systems * Developmental disruptions such as prenatal / birth complications – A viral infection during pregnancy o r a birth injury can affect a child’s brain cells. * Brain structure – Research by Eve Johnstone (Johnstone et al, 1976) showed, by using computed tomography (CT), that there is an enlargement of the lateral ventricles in some patients with chronic Schizophrenia. Psychological stressors have also been named as a possible medical cause. Symptoms of Schizophrenia Positive symptoms: Delusions are false personal beliefs that are firmly and consistently held despite disconfirming evidence or logic, for instance: delusions of grandeur or persecution. Perceptual distortions (hallucinations) e. g. hearing voices, seeing people or objects and smelling peculiar odours. It is important to remember when diagnosing a patient that hallucinations aren’t pathognomonic. Disorganized thought and speech as a symptom comes through when communicating with the Schizophrenic person. The individual may jump from topic to topic, talk illogically or reply tangentially to questions. Disorganized motor disturbances such as extreme activity levels, strange gestures and grimaces, catatonic immobility, waxy flexibility and peculiar body movements and posture. More examples of behavioural problems are bad personal hygiene, inappropriate dress and affect. Negative symptoms would be to not show emotional expression (flat affect), avolition (an inability to become goal-orientated or to take action) and alogia (a lack of meaningful speech). DSM-IV-TR DSM-IV-TR recommends that clinicians examine and evaluate the individual’s mental state with regard to five factors (axes). Axes I, II and III addresses the individual’s present mental and medical condition. Axes IV and V provide additional information about the person’s life situation and functioning. The DSM-IV-TR is based on a prototypical approach. Axis I – Clinical syndromes and other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention Axis II – Personality disorders and Mental retardation Axis III – General Medical conditions Axis IV – Psychosocial and Environmental problems Axis V – Global Assessment of Functioning When using the medical model, the focus is always on the individual. If an individual has a possible psychological disorder, they need to be assessed clinically. This is done by systematically evaluating and measuring the individual’s psychological, biological and social factors. This can be done by interviewing the individual and taking an informal mental status exam of the ‘patient’. This can be followed by psychological tests, personality inventories and neuropsychological testing. Before a diagnosis can be made and before one can classify anything on Axis I, it is imperative to determine that the above factors (psychological, biological and social factors) meet all the criteria for a specific psychological disorder. The DSM-IV-TR distinguishes 5 types of Schizophrenia – paranoid, disorganised, catatonic, undifferentiated and residual Schizophrenia. The DSM-IV-TR criteria for Schizophrenia needs to be met before one can diagnose an individual as Schizophrenic on Axis I. Taken from Sue et al (2006) the DSM-IV-TR criteria for Schizophrenia are as follows: A. At least two of the following symptoms lasting for at least one month in the active phase: delusions; hallucinations; disorganized speech; grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour; negative symptoms (exception: only one symptom if it involves bizarre delusions or if hallucinations involve a running commentary on the person or two or more voices talking with each other). B. During the course of the disturbance, functioning in one or more areas such as work, social relations and self-care has deteriorated markedly from premorbid levels. C. Signs of the disorder must be present for at least 6 months. D. Schizoaffective and mood disorders with psychotic features must be ruled out. E. The disturbance is not substance-induced or caused by organic factors. The medical model subscribes to linear causality. It is thus based on a cause-effect relationship as mentioned previously. Schizophrenia as a disorder can be used to illustrate linear causality within the medical model. One or more of the causes of Schizophrenia (i. e. genes) causes the individual to become schizophrenic (cause) and then the individual is diagnosed as Schizophrenic because he/she displays certain symptoms (effect) such as hallucinations, voices talking etc. Thus, cause-effect (A causes B) = linear causality. Let’s say our ‘patient’ meets the DSM-IV-TR criteria to be classified on Axis I as Schizophrenic. As a Schizophrenic, the individual will probably show certain behaviour such as difficulty in maintaining social relationships which could lead to social isolation, experiencing problems with his/her primary support group, education, occupation, housing, health care and economic problems. These problems will be indicated on Axis IV of the DSM-IV-TR as they are psychosocial and environmental problems. These problems will most probably affect the individual’s psychological, social and occupational functioning. The patient will be given a rating for the level of functioning at the time of the evaluation. This rating is displayed on Axis V of the DSM-IV-TR – the Global Assessment of Functioning which is used to report the clinician’s judgement of the individual’s overall level of functioning and carrying out activities of daily living. This information is useful in planning treatment and measuring its impact, and in predicting outcome. A 100-point scale is used for the rating in which 1 indicates severe impairment in functioning and 100 indicates superior functioning with no symptoms. FAMILY SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE The family systems model is based on cybernetics (circular thinking). Circular causality places emphasis on reciprocity, recursion and shared responsibility. A and B exist in the context of a relationship in which each influences the other and both are equally cause and effect of each others’ behaviour (Becvar et al, 2003). Thus, circular causality means that two or more elements reciprocally cause each other (A causes B and B causes A). So where the medical model makes use of linear causality, the language of systems theory is based on the notion of circularity (A and B mutually influence each other). The contrast between linear and circular causality has to do with the direction of cause. Linear causality = A - B. Circular causality = A B. Example of circular causality: A teenager (A) with Schizophrenia begins to withdraw socially as she has difficulty forming relationships. Her sister (B) starts mocking her because she has no friends and isn’t popular. Because her sister (B) mocks her and breaks her self-confidence even more, the teenager (A) withdraws even more and becomes even more isolated (even within her own family system because her sister is ‘against’ her as well). A loop forms (circular causality) where A causes B and B causes A and so on. Thus, the one ‘feeds’ the other. There are a few systems concepts that are important to the systems theory. Boundaries are formed by a system’s rules and it is these rules that distinguish a system from other systems. These boundaries (rules) are invisible but do exist and are inferred from the repeated patterns of behaviour of a system, it is what makes each family unique. It delineates individuals and subsystems and also defines the amount and kind of contact allowable between members of a family. The ideal boundaries for a family to have are clear boundaries as they are firm yet flexible. Feedback occurs in systems theory and also emphasis the circular causality in the theory. Feedback is the process whereby information about past behaviours is fed back into the system in a circular manner. There is positive and negative feedback, but it must be understood that both processes may refer to something that is good and/ or bad. Positive feedback acknowledges that a change has occurred and has been accepted by the system (error-activated process). Negative feedback indicates that the status quo is being maintained (stability). When working with a Schizophrenic patient, systems theorists see the Schizophrenia as symptomatic of family disturbance. Thus, the symptom of Schizophrenia is not abnormal in a dysfunctional context. Actually, the maintenance of a system is associated with complex reciprocal feedback mechanisms with and between systems (Becvar 2003). So, every symptom has a function in the system. In a Schizophrenic person’s family system, his Schizophrenia (the symptom) helps maintain the system, as all the blame for the dysfunction of the family falls to the Schizophrenic family member. The other members do not look to their own dysfunctions and issues. It is clear then that the dysfunctional pattern the family is carrying out, is maintained by the Schizophrenic family member who is targeted as the only problem or reason for the problems in the system. This way of doing things gives the family a dysfunctional homeostasis, which refers to the tendency of the family to regulate its internal environment. CONCLUSION I believe that both the medical model and the family systems perspective can contribute towards an accurate and successful diagnosis and treatment process for the Schizophrenic individual. REFERENCES * Barlow, D. H. , Durand, V. M. (2005). Abnormal Psychology: An integrated approach. (4th ed. ). Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning * Becvar, D. S. Becvar, R. J. (2003). Family therapy: A systemic integration. (5th ed. ). Boston: Allyn Bacon. * Blaney, P. H. (1975). Implications of the medical model and its alternatives. American Journal of Psychiatry, 132, p. 911-914. * Johnstone, E. C. , Crow, T. J. , Frith, C. D. , Hurhard, J. Kreel, L. (1976). Cerebral ventricular size and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Lancet, ii, p. 924-926. * Sue, D. , Sue, D. , Sue, S. (2006). Understanding abnormal behaviour. (8th ed. ). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. How to cite How the Medical Model of Psychopathology, Essay examples

Activity Based Costing Analysis

Question: Discuss about theActivity Based Costing Analysis. Answer: Introduction Activity based costing is a technique which makes costing of products and services more accurate. It guides the management of the organization about understanding and evaluating about allocation of resources in an organization value chain process. It was introduced in early 1980s, according to Corrigan in 1996, approximately 41% of the organizations were currently using this technique at that time and 33% of the corporations were believed in adopting such practices in near future. This system is usually used in organization where previous system is either not evaluating cost accurately or the organizations which are highly conscious about cost. Traditionally this method was only presumed for manufacturing companies, but now it has been used in each type or organization. However this analysis is not preferred for small manufacturing companies, because it is very difficult for them to identify and evaluate the whole activity cost. Apart from this, it requires more monitoring control at each level. The benefit of this is, it has provided more techniques to trace errors. By this, it has enabled the organization to make more accurate decisions based on costing (Chandra Pramanik, 2012). The assignment gives an overview of activity based costing. The assignment considers this analysis by considering Chysler Corporation. Following are the organizations which gave advanced implementations from ABC analysis like Caterpillar, Marmon keystone, Charles schwab company, Northeastern utilities and Chrysler Corporation (Innes, Mitchell Sinclair, 2000). Uses of Activity Based Costing by Organizations ABC analysis has many uses in an organization. The method of cost structure is a considerable process that is used to understand by a customer to know about the ability of company to compete in the market. It is highly preferred method of costing in organization because, it helps to identify the true and full cost of the processes involves in making the output. It ensures transparency in managing process of organization. Apart from that it helps to identify the non value adding processes, any wastage. According to cooper in 1991, the increasing cost and diversification of costs is the main reason for adopting and implementing activity based costing (Fei Isa, 2010). The main objective of adopting activity based costing is to come over the loop holes of traditional based costing. In traditional method of accounting the business overheads such as lighting, marketing and heating expenses were charged under direct cost of that particular process. Activity based costing indicates proper cost of the product or service. Besides this it also give a better presentation of the organizations financial statements (Fadzil Rababah, 2012). The use of ABC techniques has reduced the cost of the products and services, at the same time it has enabled the company managers to focus on maximization on shareholders wealth. By tracing non valued added inventories, it has enabled the company to spend its resources and energy on those inventories which can lead to positive return. It has to be ensured by the corporation before introducing activity based costing in their organization, the consent of all the managers must be taken, as they are the only one who will make the laborers understands about the technique. Experiences of the Organizations that have used Activity Based Costing Experiences can be identified by the differences in the organizations who have implemented the activity based costing. The difference can be noticed in their financial performances. It was identified the improvement in the behavior and organizational factors of that particular organization. These factors can be termed as improvement in support from top management, adequate training and development courses. According to Anderson in 1995, factors that may influence activity based costing are context specific. That is there are many other factors that can influence the implementation of activity based costing such as stages of implementation of ABC, technical factors and environmental factors of specific organizations. These are the factors that influence the success of activity based costing implementation. Besides this, the respective method requires a lot of data to be collected, hence it is faced by many big corporations like in china, and they took a longer time period for collecti ng the data. It has also been observed in china, that companies which are indulged in intangibles, it seems very difficult to gauge the overhead costing and taking measures to reduce the cost (Rbabah, 2013). Chrysler Corporation which is an American car manufacturer, have adopted ABC analysis in their costing method. The experience they have observed is that the implementation of ABC analysis has enabled the company in saving million of dollars. The corporation has introduced this system in early 1991s. The analysis helped the company in calculating the correct cost of parts used. It was the only first company who make implement activity based costing technique to meet the resistance made by its managers. Hence the company firstly made ready the managers for implementing this technique and after that to make understand to laborers various seminars have been organized by the company. Activity costing method requires more resources as compare to the traditional accounting method, as there are three levels of inventories. It need be continuously observed the particular inventories level. That is if one inventory is not utilizing in an effective manner, than it need to be shifted to another inventory level (Mahal Hossain, 2015). Chrysler required conducting training and development programs, changing in management structure, to making the management understand about the activity based accounting. Chrysler also conducted various seminars to make the employees communicate and understand the concept and uses of activity based costing. It was being observed by Chrysler that after implementing activity based costing in their organization it has made improvements in better effective product costing, better cost control management, effective allocation of overheads, more accurate cost information, tracing of non value added materials, and non effective materials. If activity based costing s treated as the independent variable then, return on assets, return on equity, gross profit margin, net profit margin are considered as dependent variables (Chea, 2011). Chrysler Corporation after implementing activity based costing technique had higher overhead cost as some percentage of its total product cost. Apart from this the production processes made difficult for the companies who have implemented ABC techniques. Impact on Organization that have Implementing ABC Analysis The impact on Chrysler by implementing the activity based costing is that the true cost estimated in the activity based costing was as 30 times as compare to the traditional costing method. Hence the impact of this new costing method had on Chrysler Company was that it has started outsourcing that particular products or services. Because of the threats and challenges consist in ABC analysis is that, 70% failure rate was experienced in the U.S. based companies. The impact on Chryslers financial management was that they need to establish a process in which changes in the assumptions and operations were required. Besides this it has enabled for Chrysler to easily allocate the indirect cost in accounting. Apart from that the most important thing is it does not follow the compliances of GAAP (generally accepted accounting principle). Hence the company implementing the activity based costing analysis is required to maintain two costing methods that is one is for the internal use of the corporation as ABC analysis, and another costing method is used for the compliance of GAAP. Apart from that more resources are required in ABC analysis as compare to traditional costing method. That is in ABC analysis it need to be analyzed continuously that class A inventory are utilized as per the standards set or not. And if these are not used as per the standards then these inventories need to be shifted to other class inventory (Hroot, Mssadeh, Amireh, 2015). Bob Lutz, who is the president at Chrysler, he acted as a spokesperson during the seminar conducted. He created an environment in which ABC implementers presented their respective views regarding the productivity. After all this learning seminars, a considerable amount of success was observed in the performance of the company. This had make mangers more relaxed after the success observed in the operations. Every region has different accounting system and costing variables hence, it cannot be adopted universally same, due to this it was very difficult for the company to set pricing standards. Conclusion It is concluded that to make implementation successful of activity based accounting change in management structure, increased in communication, improved training and development for the managers and laborers need to be required. The dependent variables (operations and financial structure) got affected due to the implementation of independent variables (activity based costing). Apart from this implementation of this method caused an impact on product and services costing, that is as some of the products costs are taken at below cost, while some of the products were taken at above cost. Hence this has resulted into the company in outsourcing the particular product which was taken at above cost. It was the views of the managers that after the implementation of activity based costing it leads to improvement in the organizational performances as compare to the traditionally used costing method. Hence it can be concluded that apart from the benefits of activity based costing there are some major disadvantages also, which has make difficult for the small companies to adopt this practice. References Chandra, N Pramanik,A,K. (2012). Application of activity based costing in manufacturing companies in Bangladesh: A survey based study. The USV annals of economics and public administration. Vol 12. Issue 1(15) Chea,A,C.(2011). Activity-based costing system in the service sector: A strategic approach for enhancing managerial decision making and competitiveness. International journal of business and management, Vol 6th, No. 11th Fadzil,F,H,B Rababah,A. (2012). Management accounting change: ABC adoption and implementation. Journal of accounting and auditing: research practice Fei,Z,Y Isa,C,R. (2010). Factors influencing activity-based costing success: A research framework. International journal of trade, economics and finance, Vol.1st, No.2nd Hroot,Y,A,K. Mssadeh,A,A,D. Amireh,M,S,L. (2015). The effect of activity- based costing on companies financial performance: A study among Jordanian industrial shareholding companies. European journal of business and management. Vol 7th, No. 35th. Innes,J. Mitchell,F Sinclair,D.(2000). Activity-based costing in the U.K.s largest companies: a comparison of 1994 and 1999 survey results. Management accounting research Mahal,I Hossain,M,A. (2015). Activity- based costing (ABC)- an effective tool for better management. Research journal of finance and accounting, Vol 6th, No. 4th Rbabah,A.(2013). The influence of company characteristics factors to activity based costing system implementation. Journal of education and vocational research. Vol 4th, No 2nd