The Cable Tv Industry Media Essay

The Cable Tv Industry Media Essay The rapid development in the area of technological innovation that has occurred over the last decades in the telecommunication industry, has led to a thriving growth in the digital entertainment media, shown by the emergence of new sophisticated products and a wide variety of services. This evolution has caused an increment in competition in the cable television industry. The development of these new technologies and the convergence of media and telecommunications have allowed consumers to access a greater number of services. Within this context, streaming sites to watch movies and TV shows over the Internet have become a direct competitor to the powerful business of cable television in the U.S. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the strategies used by major cable TV providers in the U.S. to counter, or even avoid, the emergence of new competitors. These strategies generate controversy because they might pose a risk against free market competition. Two main branches, one in charge of production and the other in charge of the distribution form the Cable TV industry in the U.S. Together they share an estimated $300 billion market value (Arango, 2009). The multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) such as cable television systems, direct-broadcast satellite providers, and wireline video providers give the distribution part of the equation. These companies generate revenues close to $100 billion per year, and it mostly comes from monthly cable subscriptions, additional charges from premium channels, and rental fees from set-top boxes (Shen, 2011). These companies are generally known as Multiple System Operators (MSOs) and include firms such as Time Warner and Comcast. These two providers serve almost half of the demand for cable TV in the U.S. The video programming networks that produce the content consumers watch integrate the second component of the industry. Broadcaster networks such as ABC, NBC, and CBS, that produce their content, make it available on cable TV and over-the-air, form the producers network market. There are also non-broadcasters such as MTV, Comedy Central, and TBS whose content is only available through cable subscriptions (Ammori 2010). As the distribution network, the programming network is a highly concentrated market dominated by a few powerful and prevailing programming networks. These companies mainly derive their revenue from advertising and retransmission fees. Contrasting broadcast television that relies on advertising to originate its revenue, cable networks receive revenue from fees paid by cable operators. For example, Comcast pays closely to $1 billion a year to carry ESPN (Arango, 2010). However, as the costs of pay-TV grow and consumers spending power stays the same, the traditional business model follow by cable providers appears to need a major change. Furthermore, the appearance of new online companies like Netflix and Hulu has put pressure on the cable industry to change their business model. For many years, both systems have harmonized and work together in a model, that now many predicts will eventually decline thanks to the proliferation of internet TV. In an attempt to minimize the effect of this new internet trend and keep the revenue stream and business model of subscription TV, the cable TV providers have discussed the need to prevent the spread of television programs, most of which are now available online free. Consequently, they have discussed the introduction of a new model commonly known as TV Everywhere. The objective of this initiative is to ensure the delivery of the online content as a natural extension of the existing Cable TV model. Through this system, consumers can view programming online only if they identify themselves as cable TV subscriber, that is, only the cable subscribers can view the most popular content through the internet. The agreement reflects the profound concern of the satellite TV, telecommunications companies and cable industry to allow free access to this content, as it could lead to problems similar to those faced by the music industry and the news, which nowadays have to struggle to establish su bscription-based business models. Another argument for the introduction of these barriers lies in the lack of regulation regarding access Internet content, which could push subscribers to cancel their TV service and use only the Web. The main promoters of this campaign have been the cable companies, but satellite and telecommunications companies are joining the fight. Due to fear of violating antitrust law through collusion, the cable television executives have tried to hide their actions by eliminating a paper trail. Their strategy has been to have informal discussions, leaving nothing in writing. According to reports by the New York Times, the electronic media chiefs, including [Time Warner CEO Jeffrey] Bewkes, Jeff Zucker [CEO] of NBC Universal and Philippe P. Dauman [CEO] of Viacom, among others, have been more careful to avoid being accused of collusion. Much of the discussions have been on the phone and in private, one-on-one conversations during industry events. Price is rarely, if ever, discussed, according to executives involved in the discussions (Arango, 2009). The executives have emphasized the importance of finding an industry-wide solution, and this can be achieved only if they collude, as such solution is not in a companys interest unless others agree with one another on the solution. A focal point of a free market economy is that consumers are better off if each company follows its own self-interest rather than colluding with its competitors to raise prices, allocate markets, or otherwise harm consumers and competitors (Ammori, 2010). Stephen B. Burke, the chief operating officer of Comcast, has publicly admitted that if each current operator and programmer merely followed its own self-interest, just like each should do it under the law in a competitive market), then each company would be worse off. As the New York Times reported, the problem is that if each goes in different directions some offering more shows free, others holding them back only for cable subscribers then the economics of the industry could crumble. The industry have come a predictable conflict between two discordant models for broadcast content: cable TV and the Internet. The circumstances seem difficult, and it suggests the possibility facing the prisoners dilemma. Setting it in a simple scenario, broadcasters and cable companies play the role of the prisoners. Thus, given that both cooperate to maintain unlicensed Internet-delivered TV programming off connected-TV sets, they both obtain gains (Frank, 2010). Whereas broadcast gets its large retransmission fees, cable providers get to sell diverse premium services at a substantial profit. However, the appearance of internet TV has come to propose the dilemma. In the case of broadcasters, internet TV offers the opportunity to sell programming direct to consumers, at potentially higher margins than through the cable companies. In addition, it allows a more straight control over advanced advertising and interactive capabilities that currently the cable companies are trying to cont rol. Conversely, to cable providers, internet TV gives them the opportunity to gain more advantage in retransmission negotiations by potentially offering content that is free on the Internet for free to their cable customers as well. In most cases, the result of the prisoners dilemma is the desertion of both players, since in terms of game theory the defection strictly dominates over cooperation. Although the situation of Internet TV has not yet predict this result, the benefits of desertion still clearly outweigh the benefits of cooperation. Broadcasters are not likely to get more money from online TV providers that cable companies, and cable companies are not likely to gain enough influence to offset the potential loss of subscribers in case of losing access to popular programming. However, the evolution of Internet TV can lead to broadcasters have to choose between the programming offered on the Internet knowing that people can watch on TV as well, and the loss of a large part of the growing online audience. Distributors, meanwhile, will have to choose between continuing to pay increasing rates of carriage to holdout broadcasting or take their chances with online television. To avoid this step in the dilemma, the distributors are working with broadcasters on the TV Everywhere concept, which lasted subscriber based on conditional access to video on any device. C. Anticompetitive effects of this new strategy On the markets On the consumers V. Conclusion

High-Tech Workers in the Silicon Valley Essay examples -- Essays Paper

Brief History of the Valley The Silicon Valley area became a major manufacturing power after World War II. The Cold War furthered this development, as industries involved in defense, aerospace, steel, oil, automobiles, and so on prospered (Hossfeld 405-406). The high-technology industry began in the laboratories of corporations such as Bell Laboratories, American Telephone and Telegraph, Fairchild Camera and Instrument, and General Electric during this Cold War era (Bacon, â€Å"Organizing†). Employment in California, especially Silicon Valley, grew rapidly between 1950 and 1980 due to technical innovation that characterized the postwar prosperity. Furthermore, federal spending expanded California’s economy, placing it in the front of a high-technology revolution (Hossfeld 405). Politicians such as the former President Clinton and Vice President Gore consider the Silicon Valley the model for the United States industrial growth in the new millennium. While this â€Å"model† has had remarkable products and performance, it also employs underpaid workers in unsafe environments (Siegel 91). Moreover, unlike most manufacturing industries in the United States, the high-tech workers are not organized into unions. Microelectronics and Cell Phones Santa Clara Valley, California, better known as Silicon Valley, is the birthplace and reigning capital of the largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry in the world, microelectronics (Hossfeld 405). Microelectronics is defined as a branch of electronics that deals with the miniaturization of electric circuits and components. This involves computers, processor, cell phones, and many other electronic devices. Cell phones are becoming a part of the microelec... ...ersity of California Press, 1995. - â€Å"Organizing the Valley.† Silicon Valley biz ink. 2003. Silicon Valley Business Ink. 14 Oct. 2003 . - Orr, Andrea. â€Å"Ex-IBM Worker Says He Lost His Sense of Smell.† Yahoo! News. 2003 - Yahoo! Inc. 13 Nov. 2003 . - Siegel, Lenny. â€Å"New Chips in Old Skins: Work and Labor in Silicon Valley.† Global Productions—Labor in the Making of the â€Å"Information Society†. Ed. Gerald Sussman & John A. Lent. New Jersey: Hampton Press Inc., 1998. - â€Å"Silicon Valley Companies.† San Jose/Silicon Valley Websites. 2002 San Jose/Silicon Valley Websites. 13 Nov. 2003 .

Essay --

The image of masculinity was dominant throughout World War One. War was seen as the ultimate â€Å"test of manhood†. War and masculinity were synonymous; war was the ultimate defender of masculinity. This essay examines masculinity through the social, economic and physical changes men experienced in the 1920s to show the ways in which changes to former codes of masculinity were precipitated by war. An extensive amount of research has already been conducted on the issue of masculinity and the cumulative tendency of the scholarship has been to highlight the redefinition of masculinity. Joanna Bourke has made a significant contribution to the study of men and World War One by approaching the interaction between masculinity and World War One through the corporeal body. Similarly, Eric Leed’s 1979 study of combat and identity in wartime presents the idea that men’s experience of the war was dehumanising. Jessica Meyer uses a vast amount of personal narratives to expl ore British servicemen’s relation to the war. Along with these general contributions of masculinity, there have also been more focused studies. For example, Ina Zweinger-Bargielowska looks at the idea of masculinity through the focus of the construction of the ‘British superman’ in which she relates masculinity to physical culture. In order to show that masculinity was the chief casualty of the war the first section will analyse the changes in social relations to show there was a gender war as masculinity was greatly affected by the reversal of gender roles. I will then show how masculinity was economically affected through an examination of unemployment showing the challenge to male identities, especially for disabled men. The third section will move to explore the pressures o... ...ude, this essay has shown that masculinity was the chief casualty of the war. Exploring the social, economic and physical changes men experienced it has become clear that war had the power to make women visible and destabilise masculinity. Men encountered several anxieties centring on the social turmoil that gender roles irreparably distorted. It has become clear that the economic breakdown men faced as a result of their loss of breadwinner status exacerbated the loss of masculinity. Similarly, through an analysis of the physical culture men were involved in during the 1920s it has become clear that masculinity was severely damaged by the war, so much so that men were required to take part in physical activities to achieve a ‘body beautiful’ image which now came to represent masculinity. Ultimately one cannot deny that masculinity was the chief casualty of the war.

The Ill-Posed Executive Essays -- Economy Economics Business Essays

The Ill-Posed Executive "The nineteenth-century legal scholar Schultes described public trust rights as 'unalienable.' He explained that 'things which relate to the public good cannot be given, sold, or transferred by the King to another person'" (Cronin and Kennedy 142). More specifically, the "things" Schultes refers to are property common to all citizens of the world including, but by no means limited to, the air, the land, and the water. While the vast majority of humankind would agree in principle with Schultes's concerns, regulations on the use of particular natural bodies understood as public property are no longer strongly enforced. Upholding such rules is simply no longer a conscious priority among busy people. Most of us are concerned with our immediate self-interest both economically and politically, and we tend to ignore long-term environmental injustices unless those infringements affect us directly. Although we are quick to identify and criticize irresponsibility on the parts of violators, our concern rarely compels us to retaliate against wrongdoers and correct the wrongs. Our neglect is being made apparent to us in essays regarding environmental issues. Nearly every author has an opinion on the environmental malpractice of corporations and their representatives, but even these critics fail to offer a strategy for curbing the negligence of business firms. This failure encourages an attitude of hopelessness among the environmentally concerned members of society and reminds us that a long overdue effort to uncover answers is in order. We need go no further than the source of the problem to find a workable solution: Corporations must hold themselves responsible to the public trust. Regardless of the greater p... ...ublic trust will be violated. Works Cited Cronin, John and Robert Kennedy. "King John to General Electric." The Riverkeepers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. Friedman, Milton. "The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits." Cases and Readings in Markets, Ethics and Law. Ed. Bruce S. Buchanan, Robert Boyd Lamb, and Roy C. Smith. Needham Heights: Simon & Schuster, 1994. Hoy, Pat C. "Leadership." Sewanee Review. Vol. C, Num. 3. Summer 1992. Machiavelli, Niccolo. "The Qualities of a Prince." A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford, 1998. Reich, Robert B. "A Shareholder, And a Citizen." The New York Times. 5 November 1999. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "Wal-Mart Reports Record Sales and Earnings for Quarter and Year." 15 February 2000 <http:// www.walmartstores.com/newsstand/ archive/prf_000215_1999_4thqtr. shtml>. The Ill-Posed Executive Essays -- Economy Economics Business Essays The Ill-Posed Executive "The nineteenth-century legal scholar Schultes described public trust rights as 'unalienable.' He explained that 'things which relate to the public good cannot be given, sold, or transferred by the King to another person'" (Cronin and Kennedy 142). More specifically, the "things" Schultes refers to are property common to all citizens of the world including, but by no means limited to, the air, the land, and the water. While the vast majority of humankind would agree in principle with Schultes's concerns, regulations on the use of particular natural bodies understood as public property are no longer strongly enforced. Upholding such rules is simply no longer a conscious priority among busy people. Most of us are concerned with our immediate self-interest both economically and politically, and we tend to ignore long-term environmental injustices unless those infringements affect us directly. Although we are quick to identify and criticize irresponsibility on the parts of violators, our concern rarely compels us to retaliate against wrongdoers and correct the wrongs. Our neglect is being made apparent to us in essays regarding environmental issues. Nearly every author has an opinion on the environmental malpractice of corporations and their representatives, but even these critics fail to offer a strategy for curbing the negligence of business firms. This failure encourages an attitude of hopelessness among the environmentally concerned members of society and reminds us that a long overdue effort to uncover answers is in order. We need go no further than the source of the problem to find a workable solution: Corporations must hold themselves responsible to the public trust. Regardless of the greater p... ...ublic trust will be violated. Works Cited Cronin, John and Robert Kennedy. "King John to General Electric." The Riverkeepers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. Friedman, Milton. "The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits." Cases and Readings in Markets, Ethics and Law. Ed. Bruce S. Buchanan, Robert Boyd Lamb, and Roy C. Smith. Needham Heights: Simon & Schuster, 1994. Hoy, Pat C. "Leadership." Sewanee Review. Vol. C, Num. 3. Summer 1992. Machiavelli, Niccolo. "The Qualities of a Prince." A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford, 1998. Reich, Robert B. "A Shareholder, And a Citizen." The New York Times. 5 November 1999. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "Wal-Mart Reports Record Sales and Earnings for Quarter and Year." 15 February 2000 <http:// www.walmartstores.com/newsstand/ archive/prf_000215_1999_4thqtr. shtml>.

Religious Traditions

Religious Tradition Sheila Risner REL/133 November 29, 2010 Matthew Morrison Religious Tradition Religion comes in many forms. What one sect of people believe, will find another believes something totally opposite. There are so many religious rituals and beliefs that is hard for anyone to comprehend all the traditions and worship. The human race is always striving to find a sense of peace and harmony, and are searching for what will give them that feeling and understanding. The Oxford English Dictionary (n. d. ) defines religion as a particular system of faith and worship.It is interesting to note that faith and worship are the two components of religion. Religion has eight elements according to (Molloy, 2010); belief system, community, central myths, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expressions, and sacredness. Each religion has its own belief system and ideas. There are three indigenous religion cultures that will be described; the Igbo, Pueblo people , and the Hawaiian religion. Igdo worship the goddess of the earth and various spirits such as the river, the yam, and the hearth.Igdo people worship the high God Chukwu and Chineke. Igbos believe that each person has a unique spirit and they can control their own fate. No mention of any kind texts they use for instruction, but they do use masks for use in dances and ceremonies. The Igdo believe that the funeral is the most important ritual. They say that they help the deceased inter the spiritual world. The pueblo people believed in the kachinas, and are the guardian spirits, and are believed to be with the people during ceremonial occasions. The mountains, rivers, and lakes are sacred to the Pueblos.The leader is said to live in these areas, along with the souls of the dead. They believe in that their people move upward through colored worlds. Six religious societies are mentioned as; dedicated to the sun, rainmakers, animal deities, war gods, guardian spirits, and priests. The Ha waiian religion believes in the chant called Kumulipo. They worship too many gods on many different islands. The two most important gods were Ku and Lono. Ku was the patron and Lono was the God of peace. Ten days in a lunar month were sacred to the Hawaiians and work was forbidden on those days.The goddess of fire, Pele, was involved the volcano eruptions. These gods were capable of transforming themselves into different shapes. Men and women ate separately. They could not eat pork, coconuts, bananas, and taro. They had a spiritual power called mana, who had to be protected from evil spirits. Public prayer was common. The Apostolic Pentecost may be one religion not heard of much today, but this is the religion I believe. This religion believes in one God named Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the grave to save us from the place called hell.The King James Version of the Bible is the text of reading. They believe in repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit to enter into heaven according to Acts 2:38. The doctrine is according to the apostle’s doctrine in when a person receives the spirit; you will speak in new tongue as the spirit gives the utterance. People accuse this religion that speaking in tongues were for the apostle’s age only, but this has proven to be a myth only. They worship in church with hands lifted in praise. There can be dancing and singing to the God Jesus.The word of God says that a pastor of the church, will lead the church. There is what they call the five-fold ministry. The five-fold ministry is described as pastors, teachers, preachers, evangelists, and prophets, which are used in the ministry. These ministries are sacred to the church and respected as leaders. Conclusion Religion comes in many forms. Most religions of today worship the God of heaven, but as you have seen, many of different sects of people worship other gods such as rivers, mountains, and idols made of stone.It is important to know the belief sy stem, community, central myths, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expressions, and sacredness of any religion because if you ever had the opportunity to visit one of those places, you would know what to respect as sacred to the people. Reference Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Religion (n. d. ). In Oxford English dictionary online. Retrieved November 28, 2010, from http://www. oed. com/

Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality

Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality PSY250 As research into personality progressed, scientists began to look beyond psychoanalysis and trait theories for other explanations into how personality develops. They started to look at the biological factors that influence personality formation (Hans Eysenck, Jeffrey Gray, Sir Francis Galton (genetic study of twins)), the effect of growth needs on personality formation (Abraham Maslow), and the basic aspects of the humanistic personality theory and how it compares to the biological explanation of personality formation (Eric Fromm, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow). These topics will be considered in more detail in the following discussion. Although environment plays a part in personality, genes also make significant contributions. Some genetic disorders, such as Angelman or Williams syndrome are characterized by excessive happiness and friendliness. Biological aspects of a person’s temperament, such as introversion/extroversion, actively, and impulsively, also help shape the personality. Studies of identical twins have shown that twins separated at birth and raised in different environments still share many personality traits. Therefore, we are not simply blank slates totally influenced by what our environment writes on us. Responses to certain environmental stimuli seem to be hard-wired into our nervous system and endocrine systems. Electroencephalograms (EEG) have shown that, at a very basic level, extroverts show less arousal to stimulation then introverts do. Hans Eysenck theorized that because of this low level of arousal, extroverts seek out stimulating circumstances while introverts, who may be receiving too much stimulation from the environment, try to â€Å"get away from it all† by shying away from stimulating environments. Differences in activation of the brain’s hemispheres may also effect personality formation. Greater activation of the right hemisphere, which is believed to have a role in negative emotions, may cause over reaction to negative stimuli. On the other hand, higher activation of the left hemisphere, thought to play a role in positive emotions, could result in more powerful reactions to positive stimuli. Jeffrey Gray proposed the idea that our nervous systems may be responsible for influencing whether we are more motivated by punishment or reward. Disruption in the function of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin can also effect personality. Will Sheldon expanded on Ernest Kretschmer’s ideas that body type might be connected to certain mental disorders and applied them to the general population. Sheldon developed three body types and associated personality characteristics: mesomorphs – muscular, large-boned; athletic, ectomorphs – slender; studious, and endomorphs – roly-poly; good-natured. Sheldon’s ideas were too simplistic, but it might be possible that certain biological factors could affect both personality and body type. Social influences may affect body type, which may in turn affect how others react. Both aspects can influence personality development. â€Å"A stable personality depends on a healthy, well-functional brain† ( was this supposed to be cited) Certain diseases and disorders can change can change or destroy one’s personality. Strokes damage part of the brain and can cause a dramatic change in personality. Pick’s disease also causes deterioration of the brain. It may cause a marked change in in a person’s beliefs or preferences. Alzheimer’s disease, as the disease becomes advanced, seems to result in total loss of personality. Postpartum depression is triggered by a biological process. Severe, untreated symptoms may include hallucinations, delusions, and persistent disturbing thoughts of suicide, being possessed, or harming the infant. Environmental toxins, such as mercury, and both legal and illegal drugs, including Valium, Prozac, cocaine, and herion, can result in biological changes to the body that may temporarily or permanently alter personality. Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality Theories of personalities have been studied for many decades. The biological and humanistic approaches to personality have both become infamous in studying the science behind personality. Abraham Maslow developed the hierarchy of needs because he did not believe that the conditioning theories adequately portrayed the complexity of human behavior. In analyzing both the biological and humanistic theories, one can see where Maslow may have been right in that assumption. The basic perceptions of humanistic and biological theories vary significantly. There are some basic ideas behind humanistic psychology. Humanists focus on the present rather than looking at the past or toward the future. Well individuals should take responsibility for themself; regardless of the actions and every individual possess inherent worth. Even negative actions do not negate the value of the person. The achievement of personal growth and understanding is the goal of life (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). On the other hand biological theorists believe that genetics can determine a person’s personality. Some concepts state that even if biology plays no direct role in personality, the way a person looks affects how one sees himself/herself and how others interrelate with him/her. This unintended affect controls how a person develops into adulthood. Biological viewpoints teach that intelligence and genes could define a person’s personality. Temperament and mental disorders are thought to be determined by biology. Humanistic theories seem to be generalized, though biological theories are overcomplicated. Although they are wide-ranging opposites in their concepts, together they contain the essence of personality. Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist believed that the people are not controlled by the mechanical forces which include the reinforcement and stimuli forces of behaviorism or some unconscious instinctual impulse of the psychoanalysis. He placed his main focus on what people can really do as opposed to their limitations. His hierarchy of needs has established a major precedence on which human interactions can follow so as to make sure that they achieve productive as well as agreeable outcome. The main essence is to actually prepare people for common existence with themselves and those who are around. The essence of humanistic psychology is usually similar to cognitive psychology as it does acknowledge behavior more than just a stimulus that is determined and hence recognizes perception as the actual essence of actions and behavior (Valiunas, 2012). His hierarchy of needs does represent how exactly growth ought to influence formation of personality. He developed his personality theory in relation to the needs of people. It shows the main influences of human needs to formation of their unique personalities. Maslow contemplates that each trait of human functioning conveys to a complete individual. Maslow consequently referred to these functions as the hierarchy of needs. In his theory Maslow states that there are five key categories of an individual needs. The initial category is physiological needs such as food, water, air, clothing, shelter, and sleep. Previous to realizing or achieving the needs on this level it becomes unfeasible to even consider the next category (Valiunas, 2012). The following category is related to safety, which basically assimilates the need for feeling safe and secured. The third of category in Maslow hierarchy of needs comprises the sense of belonging, needs, and love. It is rational because once an individual is secured then he/she can demand for sense of belonging and love. The next category has to do with self-esteem; it encompasses the need for education, respect, self-competence, and achievement. This is a very important level of needs to an individual’s personality; this level is where an individual focuses his/her energy to feeling proficient, they learn to respect him/her, and to respect others. According to Maslow’s theory, needs impact individual personality in a way that before they hit the highest point of need in the hierarchy one feels discouraged consequently affecting his/her personality. Individuals in the first category do not believe in themselves and be deficient in motivation in life, and tend to implicate different personality compared to those on the highest category of needs. Those on first category of needs will tend to also lack confidence in whatever they do as opposed to those who have achieved self- actualization (Valiunas, 2012). Biological factors are related to some extent with the Maslow’s hierarchy of personality because biological factors for example brains, heredity and physical characteristics are needed during the growth level. There are two biological factors that influence the formation of personality of an individual, heredity and environment factor. Inheritance of a trait is pertinent to individual's personality (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Basically, individuals inherit a propensity towards a definite structure and propensity to function in definite ways, thus influencing the individual personality development. On the environmental factor, the contact between the mother and a child for biological fulfillment play an important function in personality growth. Care and love enhance a sense of protection and security. Humanistic theories of personality do represent an affirmative view of human behavior. Personality is usually defined as the organized as well as the dynamic set of various characteristics which are possessed by people and which influences their cognitions, behavior as well as their motivations (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Humanistic psychology does emphasize that people do have a free will and do play active role in the determining of how exactly they tend to behave. Humanistic psychology usually focuses on the subjective experience of individuals as opposed to definitive and forced factors which determine behavior. Maslow does believe that all people who are interested in growing ought to move towards the self-actualization level of happiness and satisfaction. The psychological perspectives on expansion of personality do remain influential which comprises of humanistic perspective, isodynamic and existential perspectives, and cognitive, sociocultural and behavioral perspective (Valiunas, 2012). There are many factors that determine our personality. Some of these factors are either humanistic or biological. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and humanistic personality’s theory play a major role in the formation of one’s personality and so are the biological factors. Though humanistic and biological theories are opposites, they do comprise of the main essence of personality and the blend between these two theories creates effective results. While humanistic and biological theories have many differences and fewer similarities, both theories try to address the issues of personality and try to give a better understanding of personality traits. Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality PSY250 As research into personality progressed, scientists began to look beyond psychoanalysis and trait theories for other explanations into how personality develops. They started to look at the biological factors that influence personality formation (Hans Eysenck, Jeffrey Gray, Sir Francis Galton (genetic study of twins)), the effect of growth needs on personality formation (Abraham Maslow), and the basic aspects of the humanistic personality theory and how it compares to the biological explanation of personality formation (Eric Fromm, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow). These topics will be considered in more detail in the following discussion. Although environment plays a part in personality, genes also make significant contributions. Some genetic disorders, such as Angelman or Williams syndrome are characterized by excessive happiness and friendliness. Biological aspects of a person’s temperament, such as introversion/extroversion, actively, and impulsively, also help shape the personality. Studies of identical twins have shown that twins separated at birth and raised in different environments still share many personality traits. Therefore, we are not simply blank slates totally influenced by what our environment writes on us. Responses to certain environmental stimuli seem to be hard-wired into our nervous system and endocrine systems. Electroencephalograms (EEG) have shown that, at a very basic level, extroverts show less arousal to stimulation then introverts do. Hans Eysenck theorized that because of this low level of arousal, extroverts seek out stimulating circumstances while introverts, who may be receiving too much stimulation from the environment, try to â€Å"get away from it all† by shying away from stimulating environments. Differences in activation of the brain’s hemispheres may also effect personality formation. Greater activation of the right hemisphere, which is believed to have a role in negative emotions, may cause over reaction to negative stimuli. On the other hand, higher activation of the left hemisphere, thought to play a role in positive emotions, could result in more powerful reactions to positive stimuli. Jeffrey Gray proposed the idea that our nervous systems may be responsible for influencing whether we are more motivated by punishment or reward. Disruption in the function of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin can also effect personality. Will Sheldon expanded on Ernest Kretschmer’s ideas that body type might be connected to certain mental disorders and applied them to the general population. Sheldon developed three body types and associated personality characteristics: mesomorphs – muscular, large-boned; athletic, ectomorphs – slender; studious, and endomorphs – roly-poly; good-natured. Sheldon’s ideas were too simplistic, but it might be possible that certain biological factors could affect both personality and body type. Social influences may affect body type, which may in turn affect how others react. Both aspects can influence personality development. â€Å"A stable personality depends on a healthy, well-functional brain† ( was this supposed to be cited) Certain diseases and disorders can change can change or destroy one’s personality. Strokes damage part of the brain and can cause a dramatic change in personality. Pick’s disease also causes deterioration of the brain. It may cause a marked change in in a person’s beliefs or preferences. Alzheimer’s disease, as the disease becomes advanced, seems to result in total loss of personality. Postpartum depression is triggered by a biological process. Severe, untreated symptoms may include hallucinations, delusions, and persistent disturbing thoughts of suicide, being possessed, or harming the infant. Environmental toxins, such as mercury, and both legal and illegal drugs, including Valium, Prozac, cocaine, and herion, can result in biological changes to the body that may temporarily or permanently alter personality.

Euthanasia Informative Essay

The Controversy of Euthanasia One of the biggest and most controversial topics throughout society today is the act of euthanasia in humans. In the medical field, euthanasia is commonly known as assisted suicide that is essentially for terminally ill patients only. When thinking about euthanasia, Americans tend to relate it towards the rights for animals, but in this specific example I will focus on the controversial topic of legalization on behalf of people who are professionally diagnosed with a life-threatening diseases. This will not include minorities under the age of eighteen or the elderly over the age of sixty.Thus when looking at the data in today’s society, euthanasia is clearly defined as taking action of ending a person’s life to relieve persistent and relentless pain. As of today, the majority of our nations population believes that euthanasia is immoral. Although euthanasia is illegal in the United States currently, some citizens argue in defense of dying p eaceful with dignity rather then suffer in a hospital bed for months on end. After several decades of consideration, euthanasia is extremely difficult task to break down due to both disagreements within the choice for and against this practice.For instance, the term ‘euthanasia’ comes from the Greek words eu meaning god, and thanatos meaning death (Manning 2). Euthanasia can also be referred to as ‘mercy killing’ or the practice of assisting someone the aid of death whether it may be legal or illegal, depending on a country's jurisdiction. In other countries it is legal, like Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and Albania. Most of the United Kingdom, since 2009, declared legalization in all hospitals for medical euthanasia under the condition that a patient is suffering from chronic pain along with an incurable disease (Mattlin).The specific classification of euthanasia within legal jurisdiction becomes more complex when looking at what is considered fair and what is unjust. During the 1300s suicide or helping an individual commit suicide was considered as a criminal act. The idea of ‘mercy killing’ was not supported by the superiority of rising Christianity. In the United States of America, the first law against assisted killing, known as ‘anti-euthanasia’ was passed in 1828, New York. Euthanasia, like induced abortion, had been a major subject for deliberation since then. Within several decades euthanasia as divided into two main subgenres known as active-voluntary and passive-voluntary euthanasia (Manning 3). Voluntary is a medical classification of dying with consent from a patient within a reasonable amount of time before the termination process. Involuntary euthanasia is rarely seen today and is very uncommon due to new technologic advances in security and medical forensic sciences. In voluntary euthanasia, can although be simply defined as dying without consent (Nitschke). Under the English influence during the 15th century, active and passive euthanasia was categorized underneath voluntary medical practices.This is demonstrated in the process of the patient’s death. For example, active euthanasia is to end a person's life by use of drugs, whether by oneself or with the aid of a physician, when passive euthanasia is taking a persons life by not taking helping the patient survive during a ‘DNR’ circumstance, medically known as ‘do not resuscitate’ when need. Also passive termination can include withdrawing water, food, drugs, medical or surgical procedures needed in order to maintain life while sick (Manning 3). Read more about Dramatic CriticismVoluntary euthanasia is so controversial when it comes to the active practices because in the United States, residents have a legal right to freedom of speech and self-opinion. When opinions collide, we cannot simply justify both parties on equal terms under the federal laws of the U. S Constitution. In Washington, Montana and Oregon, it is legal for active euthanasia to occur if a medical practice agrees with their sick client. Since legalizations in 2009, statistics display that Oregon’s medical practices have little to no evidence on patients who had documented uncontrollable pain.All of the patients who requested assisted suicide cited psychological and social concerns as their primary reasons. According to the Health Division, this clearly does not give the United States court system any proof of dramatic circumstances in the use of active euthanasia. Ben Mattlin, who is a known to be a famous author in the medical and legal standpoints o f society, wrote â€Å"Suicide by? Not So Fast,† in November 1, 2010. Mattlin expresses, â€Å"My job as a physician is to ensure that people can see their inherent dignity reflected in they way they are cared for† (Mattlin).He debates the issues on how ‘active euthanization’ it is not ratified enough to become nationally acceptable due to the evidence of no complications found within the state of Oregon. Mattlin powerfully expresses that actively having the option to end ones life is unjust and should not be made legal. Given the concluding data made in the state of Oregon, He believes that a person should not be able to make a decision for them or for another on the act of terminating a life. Therefore, he persuasively projects the reasoning of why a human life, disabled or frail, should not have to choose death to become dignified.Voluntary euthanasia may be looked down upon within active medical practices, although in some cases, the view of passive eu thanasia is morally acceptable. For instance, within common life-threating illnesses, a patient will take extreme measures into there own hands. When given a negative diagnosis, a sick patient pleads to end their life, in order to not go through more pain and suffering. In most states, with the exception of Washington, Montana and Oregon, a certified doctor must refuse to let the individual die and save their life no matter what.Despite the emotional or physical pain a person endures, a doctor must remain positive and push treatment on their sick patient. A man named Derek Humphrey reasonably argues that, â€Å"In this century, medicine has made tremendous strides towards keeping us healthy and living longer, for which we are all grateful. But modern medicine has not entirely solved the problem of terminal pain, and it certainly never will be able to answer the very personal question of an individual person's quality of life† (Humphrey 34). He claims his pro-euthanasia though ts through his groundbreaking novel about assisted suicide, called The Final Exit.Humphrey declares it is not right to say active euthanasia is ‘wrong’ in the sense of how passive euthanasia is morally adequate. He pushes his thoughts further by explaining that passive euthanasia is used in day-to-day cases and there is not anything we as individual citizens can do about it. This is because a doctor cannot force a terminally patient treatment if they aren’t willing to stay positive nor corporate. On a legal standpoint, Humphrey argues and debates the reasons of why active euthanasia is wrong due to the fact that many individuals refuse burdensome medical treatment in order as a legal and safe option of dying anyways.In addition, Derek Humphrey states that actively killing oneself is just the same as asking for physical medical assistance in order to take the life of someone with a fatally ill disease (Humphrey 16). Both active and passive voluntary euthanasia is so debatable due to medical realities shown in historical studies. For example, a man, commonly known as â€Å"Dr. Death†, or Jack Kevorkian, was an American pathologist, and euthanasia activist who is best known for publicly championing the aid of life-threatening patient's, on rights to die through physician-assisted suicide.On March 26, 1999, Dr. Kevorkian was charged with second-degree murder due to the clear statements and legal documentation of ending at least 130 of his patients to death in order to prove a point in his battling court case. After his conviction, Jack Kevorkian declares, on live television, â€Å"dying is not a crime† (Robinson). Soon following the dramatic loss in court, Kevorkian is constrained by reporters who publicly announce the federal reasons as to why he was sentenced to prison with second-degree murder by the court. Citizens of the U.S soon discover that sixty percent of the patients who committed suicide, with Dr. Jack Kevorkian's, hel p were not terminally ill, and thirteen had not complained of uncontrollable pain. The reports further emphasized that Kevorkian's counseling was too brief when deciding to euthanize a life. The public became officially aware of the horrid behind ‘Dr. Death’. The nineteen patients died within less than twenty-four hours after first meeting Kevorkian and evidence was found that he did not, in fact, preform a psychiatric exam in the nineteen cases he chose (Robinson).On behalf of Kevorkian’s terminated patients, five of individuals had severe histories of depression and Kevorkian was properly aware. Despite knowing the history of Kevorkians five individuals who were hopeless for reasons their medical condition, he still decided to illegall take their life. Due to his dramatic example, legalizing active euthanasia is legally unjustified. Having verification of accurate physiological testing by a set of different medical doctors and multiple agreement forms from the severely ill person who is mentally capable of making decisions.Ben Mattlin, a graduated from Harvard University and born with spinal muscular atrophy, believes it is impossible to keep track and verify euthanasia (Mattlin). Thus concluding, not all of Dr. Kevorkian’s patients were eligible for the active treatment of euthanasia. Criticism still arises within the U. S on the unanswered questions of what the real difference is between citizens who are terminally ill physically or who are extremely ill mentally (Mattlin). All people should have equal rights and opportunities to live, or to choose not to go on living.Euthanasia activist clearly state in medical defense, according to Michael Manning’s historical timeline on euthanasia, that it is possible for someone who has just has become disabled, from a life-threating illness, may in fact feel depressed and will ask for death as an ulterior motive (Manning 1). Which is why, if legalized, standardization must be propose d towards the system of euthanasia that includes psychological support and assessment before the patient's wish is granted. Technological advances are progressing each and every day and the arguments of past history are unfair to completely rule out legalization of active euthanasia.For instances, Jack Kevorkian argues with the press during the 1990’s, â€Å"The time has come to take a historic step at least in the controlled circumstances I laid out. There's no danger; it's minimal. It's a little experiment. You have absolute control. Try it. If it doesn't work, we quit. Where's the damage† (Humphrey 43). Many relaxing care experts argue that there is no need for euthanasia, as with modern day medications and care, most terminal patients can be made comfortable until they die naturally, though that is not always the case (Nordqvist).Thus, Humphrey describes the importance of respecting the choice of others with disabling and painful illness. He states that the only wa y the patient can be helped with further treatment is by ‘clouding’ their intelligence to the point that they are no longer themselves. Many people find this more acceptable than the alternative of voluntary euthanasia, but half of our nation believes it’s not right and unfair, just like Derek Humphrey. Although euthanasia is illegal in the United States currently, some citizens argue in defense of dying peaceful with dignity rather then suffer in a hospital bed for months on end.The act of voluntary euthanasia has been debated for several decades and is an extremely difficult task to break down due to both disagreeing sides. Assisted voluntary euthanasia, or active euthanasia, is when a patient intentionally brings about his or her own death with the help of a physician. Active euthanasia is very complex to many people against the legalization because of their religious, cultural or ethical beliefs. Although several individuals argue in favor of active voluntary euthanasia because of their beliefs that everyone should have the right to choose when to die peacefully and painlessly within medical circumstance.In conclusion, taking both controversial sides for and against euthanasia to court is not the answer and cannot be passed by the United States legislation as easily a thought because there are so many facts to consider. With many years of deliberation from both parties, euthanasia may soon be declared illegal or legal with the help of more medical advancement in the future. Works Cited Humphrey, Derek. â€Å"Biography, Information and Resources of Derek Humphrey. † Derek Humphry – Biography, Information and Resources – Derekhumphry. com. Final Exit Network, 2 Sept. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2013. lt;http://www. derekhumphry. com;. Manning, Michael. â€Å"Historical Timeline – Euthanasia. † Euthanasia – ProCon. org. Web. ;http://euthanasia. procon. org/view. resource. php? resourceID=000130;. Mattlin, B en, comp. â€Å"The Debate About Assisted Suicide. † The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. Mattlin, Ben. â€Å"Suicide by Choice? Not So Fast.. † The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. Miller, Mike. â€Å"Dr. Death, Jack Kevorkian, Dies at 83. † Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 03 June 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. ;http://www. reuters. om/article/2011/06/03/us-kevorkian-idUSTRE7523JP20110603;. Nitschke, Philip. â€Å"Assisted Suicide/ Voluntary Euthanasia. † Exit International. ABC Compass, Exit International, 10 Jan. 2010. Web. 26 Mar. 2013. ;http://www. exitinternational. net/;. Nordqvist, Christian. â€Å"What Is Euthanasia (assisted Suicide)? † Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 19 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. ProCon. org. â€Å"Top 10 Pros and Cons. † ProCon. org. 18 May 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. Robinson, Bryan. â€Å"Kevorkian Sentenced to 10 to 25 Years for Murder . † Court TV News. Courtroom Television Network LLC, 13 Apr.