Thursday, October 31, 2019

Airport Growth Data Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Airport Growth Data - Research Paper Example When compared with international or regional trends, one finds that these have been starkly drawn up with passenger traffic and the volume of flights coming in and going out of an airport. This is the reason why much success is indeed linked up with how airports grow over a period of time and showcase the real basis of national and international traffic (Teck & Wai, 2002). The growth has been consistent because airliners have come up; fleets expanded and overall productivity is being seen across the ranks. This is the reason why many airports are now bringing in more luxuries and facilities for their passengers on a constant basis. Planning essentially plays a very quintessential role at suggesting how successful initiatives are being drawn up within the ranks of the airports in the time and age of today (Pitt & Brown, 2001). This is the reason why many airports are doing their best to accommodate as many passengers and flights as

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Your Brain on fiction and The Mighty Mathematician Youve Never Heard Essay

Your Brain on fiction and The Mighty Mathematician Youve Never Heard Of - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Annie Murphy Paul wrote the first article and it was published on 17 March 2012. It was entitled Your Brain on fiction. Despite, the evolution of digital devices, the fiction that is derived from reading novels is not completely dead. There is a group of individuals who have completely devoted themselves to the understanding of fiction through neuroscience. Annie writes that they have developed brain scans that reveal what happens in the brain when people read detailed information in the books or even articles in the newspaper, evocative character or an emotional exchange between characters in a movie or a book or even a magazine interview. Stories have affected the way people act or even the way they view certain situations in life. It was discovered that some of these stories stimulate the brain in a manner that directs the brain to do certain things in accordance to what it was stimulated to do. Researchers and scientists have always known the Brocaâ₠¬â„¢s area and Wernicke’s area as the regions of the brain responsible for interpreting motor speech and written data respectively. However, it has been noted over the past few years that other brain parts are also stimulated when one reads a book, by so doing making the experience of reading feel very real in the eyes of the reader. According to scientists, there are words such as lavender, perfume or cinnamon that may stimulate the parts of the brain responsible for smelling.... udy, a cognitive scientist Veronique Boulanger, claims that the use of sentences such as â€Å"Terry grasped the object† or â€Å"Peter kicked the ball† stimulated the motor cortex which is responsible for the coordination of the bodily movements. What’s more, the brain seems not to differentiate the experience it gets through reading and real life, this is because the same neurological regions are stimulated in each case. A University Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto stated that the reading produces stimulation of reality. These fictional stories and novels are just are essential in describing life’s social and emotional situation (Dwight 65). Most importantly, Annie wanted to bring out the idea that most of these stimulations that the brain receives have been evident by reading about them in books that have good descriptions of the movements, smells and actions of characters in the books or articles. Another article is The Mighty Math ematician You’ve Never Heard Of, which was written by Natalie Angier and published by the New York Times on March 26, 2012. This article talks about a mathematician who has been almost anonymous for over a decade for a theory that explains so many other theories in physics. Einstein also described her as the most significant and creative female of all time. She invented a theory that unites two very common theories in physics, which include the Theory of symmetry in nature and that of the Universal laws of conservation. Noethers’s theory has been classified as important as that of by Einstein (Theory of relativity). Despite the significance of her works, she has remained unknown to the people. A physicist in Drexel University has carried a research and written about her works. He did a poll that he noted many

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Informal Groups within an Organisation

Informal Groups within an Organisation Abstract Organisations contain formal groups which have been put into place by the organisational management to perform specific tasks in order to further the aims of the organisation. In addition to the formal groups, there are informal groups which can assume an existence in organisations as a result of the mutually shared interests of the individuals who are a part of the organisation. Informal groups exist purely because of mutual interests and have no formal mandate from the organisation. The membership of the informal groups seeks to satisfy some need by belonging to these groups. These needs may include needs for security, knowledge acquisition, informal attempts to shape organisational policy, family, social interaction etc. Leadership position in such groups is freely accorded by the group membership based on qualities that are considered to be critical for the satisfaction of the needs of the moment, with changing needs resulting in changes of leadership. Informal groups in formal o rganisations can be powerful and important because they have the capability of supporting or opposing organisational aims. Organisational managers should attempt to acquaint themselves with the informal groups in their areas of jurisdiction so that informal discussions with these groups may be possible and attempts may be made to change their norms if they prove to be contrary to the organisational aims. Informal groups can be found in any organisational setting including clubs, schools, health care units, industries etc. The motives behind their formation are a part of human nature and it should not be necessary to excessively interfere in the activities of informal groups unless they are proving to be destructive. In this essay, an attempt has been made to take a look at informal groups in organisations with a special emphasis on the informal groups to be found in a hospital ward. 1.1 Introduction Organisations exist in order to perform useful functions or tasks which will generate revenues or provide a service. In order to achieve organisational missions, teams may be established within the organisation which are organised around a set of objectives. A team or a group is, therefore, considered to be a number of people who have been brought together as a result of a desire to perform some function or accomplish a set of objectives. Groups and teams are formally created in order to provide a remedy for the dysfunction of bureaucratic structures that may be present in an organisation. Segmentation in organisations results in large problems being cut into sub – problems which are then cut into even smaller problems. These problems are then allocated to sub – units or components of sub-units which offer inputs to the problems or tasks and the solution to the whole consists of these inputs. Specially created groups within organisations may horizontally cut across exis ting boundaries and functions existing within organisations in an attempt to take advantage of lateral linkages. A management team or group with lateral linkages can therefore be created by the corporate management in order to better manage the organisation. Such groups which have been created as a result of the design choices and the development processes in an organisation are different from the informal groups which almost always come into existence in organisations if opportunities exist. The informal groups which can come into being within organisations can come about as a result of common interests, desire to learn and share knowledge and achieve specific objectives. These groups can also act to counter organisational function and the imposed standards of management. Standards of the informal groups are the standards of the group members which have not been imposed on them by anyone and certainly not by the organisational management. The leaders of the informal groups in organ isations will have power within the groups which can oppose the formal directives of the organisation or the organisational managers. Hence, it is important to realise that informal groups do exist within organisations and that they have an implicit code of ethics or an unspoken set of standards. In order to positively harness the power of the informal groups, it is important to understand group dynamics and to bring about changes in the informal group norms so as to support the formal organisation. [Arndt 1997]; [Onepine.Info 2005] The terms groups and teams are often used interchangeably and are important concepts in management literature. Groups can be found almost anywhere including schools, work organisations, families, and hospitals as well as in sports clubs. As opposed to a group, a team is expected to have some positive attributes to it. A team will have cohesion, cooperation and teamwork and groups are expected to develop into teams. A team is, therefore, a special type of group which has became sufficiently organised in order to fulfil a mission or a purpose. A group can consist of more then one individuals capable of interacting with each other who are aware of their membership within a group as well as their positive interdependence as they strive to achieve mutual goals. Although members of the group are most likely to have face-to-face interactions most of the time, they can also have interactions over the internet or other media once the group has been formed and members are known to each other. Informal groups will have communication processes which are smoother and less cumbersome then those of the formal organisation. Leadership status is mostly afforded to members who have access to information vital to the functioning of the group or the ability to distribute this information. Whereas formal groups come into existence as a result of organisation design, task allocation and decision making which result in communications and team learning, informal groups are formed as a result of mutually shared interests and are led by members with a strong commitment to the cause. Informal groups can provide a sense of belonging with friendship, support and affiliation along with a sense of identity as well as self esteem for its members. Informal groups can also serve as defence mechanisms for forces that can be too great for a single individual to resist and may also serve as a platform to develop a consensus amongst members about issues which can also be related to the organisation and which may have been regarded as being controversial. The members in an informal group can feel more secure, less anxious and more capable of facing threats such as the cruel behaviour of a supervisor. The leadership of the informal group mostly belongs to the member who is most capable of satisfying the needs of the group and this leadership changes with changing requirements and the ability to cater for the requirements of other members. Because the informal leader does not possess formal powers, therefore, the informal leader can be deposed if this leader cannot adequately satisfy the requirements of the members. Because the cohesiveness of the informal groups can be enhanced in the face of external threats, attempts to force a group to conform to organisational norms can backfire and it may be better to try and neutralise the group leader or to conduct reasonable dialogue. Informal groups can have norms, values and unspoken rules which may be necessary to perpetuate the exis tence of the group and in some groups violations of these rules or norms can carry severe penalties. Although informal groups become important and noticeable because they start to challenge the formal organisation, it must however, be realised that not all informal groups in organisations are harmful and some may in fact be serving a useful purpose such as knowledge sharing, helping members cope, generating ideas or pursuing hobbies. Apart from the work floor, informal groups can also exist as ‘communities of practice’ amongst professionals who are informally sharing knowledge, pursuing design excellence or in other ways controlling and generating knowledge or skills in an organisation. [Accel-Team.com 2005]; [Rupert 2004]; [Fiona 2004] Informal groups in organisations arise as a result of the interpersonal relationships of the members of a formal organisation and there are formal leaders who have authority because of the existence of a formal organisation as well as informal leaders who may be given deference by the employees because they have been able to assist in the satisfaction of some of their needs. Some of the leaders of informal groups or the ‘workers of influence’ can hold rather ordinary positions in the formal organisations but can be a force to be reckoned with because of their leadership of the informal organisation even though this leadership may be temporary or in transition. Without any formal mandate, leadership in the informal group may be based on knowledge, past services, seniority, personality attribute and the art of inducing compliance, a power relationship, the desire for the achievement of a goal or the emerging result of group interactions. Generally, groups do not act becaus e there are leaders but they acquire leaders to help them act. In a fee environment, the leader of the informal group will be the individual who will have a reciprocally rewarding relationship with the rest of the group. However, just like any other leader, the leader of the informal group will have a guiding vision, enthusiasm and a passion for action, integrity, maturity, knowledge, candour, trust, curiosity and daring. The reason why an informal group leader may not have succeeded in the organisation’s formal management structure could be due to a lack of formal qualifications or money and they may be perceived to be belonging to a different ‘class’ which is distinct from the formal managerial core. Power in the informal groups is vested by the peers and informal group leadership has influence over their members as well as the capability to exert an influence over managerial decision making. Hence, an informal organisation exists in parallel to the formal orga nisation and there is informal status that can be conferred on members of the organisation as distinct from the formal status in an organisation [Sandra 2004]; [Onepine.Info 2005] The development of formal as well as informal groups can be described in terms of Tuckman’s five-stage model consisting of the stages of forming or the process of group formation, storming in which individual search and conflicts occur, norming or the normalising of relationships between group members, performing during which peak group activity takes place and adjourning a stage when group members leave and are replaced by others. At the informal group level, where personal relationships are more significant, factors related to sociometry or the science within psychodrama may influence the informal relations between actors apart from considerations related to gain or protection from threats. The basic notion behind sociometry is the flow of feelings which can attract or repel individuals to each other and this is used to explain the inner structures of groups which also have an outer structure. The outer structure of a group may not fulfil the needs of the group members altho ugh such a structure will reflect the decision and responsibility structure of the group and attention should also be placed on relationships of attraction between members without which a group can loose its creative life. In a hospital ward, for instance, the formal structures consist of the nursing supervisors who are in charge of the ward and the doctors, but there is an element of interaction between the patients who are all in the ward because they have a need to get well and be looked after while they try to achieve this aim. There are no formal groups which have been put in place by the administration in a ward, but patients will tend to form informal groups because of their likes and dislikes as well as a need to cope with and survive their experience of ill health and get better. These informal groups will lend support to the members, help them when they need assistance, guide new members and may also take a stand against the formal administration of the ward consisting of the nurses and the doctors on duty if the interests of their members are threatened. [Diana 1996]; [Arndt 1997]; [Nathan 2004] In this essay, an attempt has been made to take a look at perspectives associated with informal groups within organisations and to consider the dynamics of such informal groups. An emphasis has been placed on attempting to understand the dynamics of informal groups by considering the situation in a hospital ward in which patients have been placed because of a joint need to get well and informal groups are formed in order to satisfy the needs of members. 2.1 The Development of Informal Groups in Organisations When creating formal groups in organisations, attempts are, or should be made to bring together individuals who are capable of harmoniously interacting with each other so that the group which has been created to accomplish a task can work at peak efficiency. In informal groups which are created spontaneously and not by an organisational dictate, the self interest of the individual members and a likeness for each other is what keeps the group together. Jacob L. Moreno (1892 – 1974) was the first to attempt to analyse group interactions using psychodrama and sociodrama, which are role playing techniques, in an attempt to analyse interpersonal relations. Members of the group will interact with each other and the behaviour of the group will have a tendency to modify the behaviour of the individual members, as was observed by Kurt Lewin (1890-1947). Most informal groups are controlled through leadership and the group discipline is maintained through internal pressure. In most infor mal groups, there is a respect for the individual and all members can participate in deciding things which are affecting them. However, once rules have been made, disobedience in certain groups can carry heavy penalties. Prison gangs are also a form of a group in which force and terror is used by the informal prison organisation to make members join and the penalty for disobedience can be very heavy. Hence, it is important for formal authorities to ensure that informal groups operating in an organisation are operating in a healthy and constructive manner with any conflict with the established authority lying within manageable and legal limits. Extreme behaviour in a group should be of concern to the law enforcement authorities and the group can no longer be described as an informal group. The humanist philosophy of Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) suggests that individuals are motivated by a dynamic hierarchy of needs including psychological, safety, love, esteem and self-actuali zation, with individuals moving up or down the ladder in order to satisfy their needs as best as possible. These needs of individuals are what keep informal groups together and in a hospital ward situation, the patients form informal groups in order to satisfy these wants. Responsibility, recognition and opportunities for growth along with opportunities for self actualization which cannot be satisfied in the formal organisation because of the specialisation of labour and command / obey directives as well as the control of activities are amongst the reasons why individuals in an organisation may want to join informal groups. According to Douglas McGregor (1906 -64), the average individual does not dislike work and has an acute interest in attempting to present solutions for organisational problems which can also motivate individuals to form informal groups. The strict division of labour in a formal organisation without the participation of the organisational members and the resulting dissatisfaction can also lead to the creation of informal groups in which members can participate and which have the capability to provide stronger inputs to the formal organisational hierarchies. There are many other evolving needs such as those involved with safeguarding the family, the community and the self in a hostile or alien ambiance which can cause individuals to form informal groups. Examples of such tendencies may include groups formed by expatriate workers or their spouses in foreign lands. [Arndt 1997]; [Malcolm 2000]; [Tim 2001]; [Betty 1997] In formal groups, there is a greater emphasis on task or goal-oriented activities which aim to get the job done rather then the maintenance-oriented activities which involve creating a good atmosphere, creating social-relationships and the general happiness as well as a state of well being for the members. The emphasis on task-oriented activities rather then the maintenance-oriented activities, however, does not mean that the maintenance-oriented activities are irrelevant. In fact every group tries to find a balance between the two and in a formal group, neglecting the maintenance-oriented activities can mean that the overall group starts to malfunction or a member who may be quite proficient at doing the job is not much of a success any longer. In an informal group, maintenance-oriented activities can be more important then they are in a formal group, although informal groups do have broad aims behind their creation. [Arndt 1997]; [Thomas 2004] All groups including informal groups exhibit a state of dynamism with new members arriving, getting accepted into the group, coming to terms with their status within the group, contributing and then leaving because they have found new places to go to or have developed new interests. Members must, however, have a reason to become a part of an informal group and most often the reason is that they have to be in the organisation to satisfy their economic wants or have been put into a situation or a place in which joining the local group can be beneficial. As new members of an organisation arrive on the scene, they are exploring and finding meanings in the new environment. Initial social contacts are limited and mostly existing members of the informal group will sound out the new arrivals, offer clarifications and provide support. In the forming stage of the group, dependency is rather high and the group leadership may want to exploit the situation in order to induct new members. In the s torming stage, the new individual member will start to exert their individuality and begin to come to terms with other members of the group and the group’s values as well as mode of operation. Personal conflicts can occur as differences in the roles and personalities of members are resolved. There can be competitions over status and positions as well as roles and responsibilities. A hostile environment can develop with members coming to term with reality. The position and the role of the informal group leaders and hierarchy may be questioned by the new arrivals but a realisation may sink in that there are benefits to be attained by the individual as well as the group because the members cannot all leave immediately. Dialogue, facilitation, coaching as well as discovery may take place as the group moves towards normalcy. In the norming stage, a level of understanding between members will develop after the new information and facts have been processed with an acceptance of the differences. Cooperative patterns will start to emerge in the group which are broadly acceptable and members will start discussing issues and making decisions on consensus. Tensions which had existed will start to disappear as group cohesion grows, although feelings of disenchantment may occur as a reaction towards authority of the formal organisation and the group leadership. The group members will try to become independent and adjust the norms of the group to be broadly suited to all and there may be a tendency to attack the group leadership in order to bring in greater democracy. [Arndt 1997]; [Robert 2002] The group will tend to move towards performing in line with its broad aims after the process of normalisation and will carry on with its day to day existence. The group members will have settled into their roles and will be valued for their talents and the contributions that they may be able to make to the group. Ways of improving the situation and enhancing the levels of happiness for all may be pondered on and implemented along with ways to neutralise any threats. Individual members may move towards building up better relationships with others in the group that they like. Excitement may once again enter into the group as a result of new members joining and some old members leaving because they have to move to new places that are located far from the place where a group is functioning. Adjournments from the group may be marked with rituals such as a dinner, a drink or a last conversation, with some members looking back while others looking towards their future. Departure of old memb ers and the induction of new members can move the group into an earlier stage in its dynamics with members coming to terms with new realities, roles and changes in the group composition. Loss of some departed members may be deeply felt and certain new members can be very refreshing, bringing in new ideas and to challenges to the group norms. [Onepine.Info 2005]; [Arndt 1997] 3.1 Sociometry at Work in Informal Group Interactions Interpersonal relationships in a group are important because they enable individuals in a group to perform their function and contribute to the objective of the group. Poor relationships in any group can cause a gulf to develop between the members or the group leaders and between members resulting in poor performance. Members may leave groups in which there are poor interpersonal relations or they may want to keep away from the activities of such groups. In formal groups, absenteeism, sick leave and poor work attitude may be the result of poor interpersonal relationships while an informal group can disintegrate in such a situation. Tele or the two-way flow of feeling, as distinct from empathy or transference which are one-way flow of feelings is the basis of individuals forming relationships and coming together to pursue common aims. Individuals are drawn together spontaneously by common motives in order to achieve certain aims. The forces of mutual attraction can be constantly chang ing within a group with individuals coming closer on the basis of various criteria. Hence, there are likely to be a number of constantly changing sub-groups within a group, with the group being kept together by a stronger common goal. The forces of tele may determine who may be found sitting to whom, the person whose advice is sought on problems and the member who is seen to be providing the leadership in a group. Members in a group may have relationships based on dependency, mutual respect and pairing or indecisive fight or flight type relations with a group’s leadership. The identity of an individual within a group will contain identities from many other groups including identities related to family, profession and place of residence, previous affiliations related to education, employment or membership of clubs as well as any special experiences including those related to culture. Individuals who are thinking of forming stronger affiliations with a group will be asking them selves questions related to inclusion as well as identity, control, influence, power and acceptance as well as intimacy. Attempts will be made to determine what an individual can become in a group, how much influence or control an individual may be able to exercise and if the individual will be liked and respected. Based on the answers to these questions and the alternatives that are likely to be available, the individual will form a relationship with a group. If a member’s expectations related to the group are responded to positively then greater energy is likely to result, alternatively anxiety and preoccupation with the self and a lack of interest may be the result of thwarted expectations. Strong group cohesion is likely if individuals are drawn to each other as a result of more then one factors of common interest which are enduring and not of transitory nature. Cohesion is demonstrated by spontaneity, sincerity and enthusiasm. Observing and analysing the affection, trust and advice networks in a group can assist in the determination of what is going on in a group and who is likely to be able to influence group behaviour and values. Such knowledge can be useful if the formal organisation wants to change the behaviour patterns of an informal group to be less damaging or supportive of the aims of the formal organisation. [Diana 1996]; [Robert 2002]; [John 1998] In a formal organisation, it is the informal networks of working relationships and the informal groups which can have a bearing on productivity and resistance to change. Managers must, therefore, try to keep the informal organisation in mind when implementing change and making decisions. It is important to know the key members of informal groups and have some sort of a dialogue and channels of communication open with them so that discussions based on reason may be initiated if there is a need to change some behaviour patterns. Misunderstandings, a lack of communication and dissatisfaction with some decisions of the formal organisational managers and their way of working can result in the informal network attempting to work in a manner that is contrary to the interests of the formal management and the organisation. Indications that this is happening may manifest itself in the form of apathy, a lack of interest in work and communications with the formal managers. Members of the informa l groups may try to conduct secret discussions in order to try and find a solution and there can be a sense of disillusionment with the organisation. Such wars are usually not healthy either for the organisation or the workers and the formal organisation can try to conduct a dialogue with the informal organisation in order to discus and explain matters which may improve the situation. [Cristiano 2004]; [Diana 1996]; [David 2001]; [John 1998] Some informal groups in an organisation may not have aims which are contrary to the interest of the organisation. Informal groups of professionals who may want to enhance their knowledge, knowledge workers, managers, sports and hobby groups etc can actually greatly benefit the organisational capabilities as well as prestige. Such groups can also assist the organisation by furthering their skills and using these skills to assist organisational aims such as those related to product design, management, marketing, sales etc. The formal organisation may choose to assist such groups within the resources that are available to the organisation. [Kristina 1999]; [Andrew 2004]; [John 1998] In the next section, an attempt is made to study the dynamics of informal groups in a hospital ward. Such a study can be instructive because a hospital ward is likely to be a place where the most idealised informal group formation is possible with there being a possibility of far fewer harsh forces at work in the hospital ward as compared to other settings. 4.1 Informal Groups in a Hospital Ward Treating and caring for the ill can be a challenging occupation and depending on the nature of the ward being considered, there can be a certain level of tension between the hospital staff and the patients. The nurses in the ward are more directly involved with the patients and come in contact with them far more often. The doctors are the senior managers of the formal hierarchy and remain relatively distant from the action whereas the patients and informal groups made up by the patients is the informal organisation. A children’s ward is the place where there is a minimal level of tension between the formal organisation and informal organisation consisting of the relatives of the sick kids. The kids themselves are too young to be making rational informal groups. Caring for the mentally ill or for adult patients in a depraved economic environment can result in serious frictions being generated between the ward staff and the groups formed by patients. Mentally ill patients can be very demanding while the adult patients may not be receiving the proper care in a depraved hospital because of a lack of resources. The circumstances presented in the novel Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn are instructive in this regard. [Valerie 2000]; [Harborne 1996]; [Sandford 1990]; [Ann 2004] In most hospitals, however, a genuine attempt is made to care for the patients and depending on the formal culture which has been cultivated as a result of the policies of the senior medical staff of the hospital, the relationship between the formal ward organisation and the patients tend to be friendly and cooperative. Informal groups consisting of patients, however, do spring up because there is a need to be helpful and be helped, pass time, converse and help each other to face the common enemy, the illness, as well as any other threats which may present themselves including the attitude of the ward staff. [Harborne 1996]; [Sandford 1990]; [Ann 2004] The arrival of a new patient generates an interest amongst the existing members of the ward and as the new arrival is investigated by the ward patients, the process of the forming of a new group starts. The newly arrived patient in the ward will initially be assisted by the formal ward staff or the nurses and will slowly get to know the other patients. The leaders of the informal patient groups may also express an interest and assist in the resettlement of the newly arrived, gathering information and making an assessment of the new patient. The formal ward administration will know much more about the patient because they will have their particulars and medical records Any factors in common between two patients in the ward including similar medical conditions, close neighbourhoods, cultural experiences or professional background etc will lead to an attraction or tele between two individuals which can assist in the formation of an informal group. An attraction or tele can also exist be tween a patient and a member of the formal organisation such as a nurse if there are any common backgrounds or interests. Norming of the ward takes place when the newly arrived patient starts to fit into the new environment and slowly gets to know the other members. In the storming phase, there may be personality clashes or debates about ward regulations and perhaps attempts to deliberately flout any regulations of the ward such as restrictions on smoking or meeting with others as a result of the attempts by the new members to personalise the ward space. The performing stage occurs with ward members settling down and helping each other while trying to get better. Sub-groups will be constantly formed and re-formed as the process of discovery continues and mutual interests shift. A member who has been through trying times, undergone a painful procedure or an operation may be given extra attention by the group as a whole and especially by those who have a strong attraction or tele with this member. The nursing staff, doctors, the senior medical staff as well as the administrators can judiciously intervene by conducting a dialogue and reasoning to keep the situation in the ward under control in order to maintain healthy relationships amongst the patients as well as between the patients and the ward staff. The ward group is adjourned with the departure of a patient and ritual farewell meetings or exchange of gifts may take place for those who have recovered, while some ritual mourning and remembrance will be present for those who may not have recovered. Informal groups in a ward can act in a protective manner towards their members, the patients, while collectively standing up against threats or the unreasonable behaviour of the ward staff. Occasionally, an informal group of patients may threaten the discipline of the ward and the formal medical staff will have to find ways to bring this group in greater harmony with the aims of the hospital and the ward. [Valerie 2 000]; [John

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Flight Path of Airplanes Over Neighborhoods Essay -- Solutions Pap

The Flight Path of Airplanes Over Neighborhoods The houses can’t be unbuilt, and the airports can’t be torn down.   But maybe the fences can be mended.   –Robbie Sherwood    In the past 10 years, many cities across the country have outgrown the planner’s expectations.   Unfortunately the airports that were built 20 or more years ago, have not grown with the cities.   Phoenix has tripled in size in the past 10 years.   The tripling of air traffic has not had anywhere to go.   The same two runways that have been serving the city since 1935 when the airport was built have been extremely over loaded.   It is not just happening in Phoenix, a few years ago Denver received a new airport to relieve the overflow of traffic from the older Stapelton Airport.  Ã‚   In Irvine California, El Toro Marine Air Base is scheduled to be closed next year, and running into opposition to be converted to civilian use.   The changes in the National Airspac e System (NAS) are always happening, either in the routing of traffic or the airports on the ground. The problem arises when the traffic routes change faster than the airport system does.   As said above, there are some changes that are going on in the system right now.   Ã¢â‚¬Å" To accommodate the growing number of flights operating at Sky Harbor construction of a new third runway is underway.   The 7,800-foot parallel runway is scheduled for completion in spring 1999†(Sky harbor International Airport 4). In Denver the traffic load that was being handled by Stapelton Airport was too high.   When Denver International (DIA) opened in February 1995 it could immediately take three times of the traffic that Stapelton could the week before.          I believe that the airports around the country and specifically in Phoe... ...Harbor International Airport. http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/AVIATION/airports.html   (2 Dec. 1998). â€Å"Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.†Ã‚   List of Airport Tables. http://www.nrdc.org/nrdc/nrdcpro/nrdcpro/foc/phazps.html (2 Dec. 1998). â€Å"Record of Approval: Scottsdale Airport Noise Compatibility Program.† Federal Aviation Administration. http://www.faa.gov/arp/app600/14cfr150/roasdl.html (28   Oct. 1998). â€Å"Scottsdale Airport General Information.†Ã‚   City of Scottsdale Transportation.   http://www.ci.scottsdale.az.us/airport/general_info.asp  Ã‚   (28 Oct. 1998). Sherwood. Robbie. â€Å"Airports Runway to future Bumpy:   Olive Branches offered to  Ã‚   Williams Neighbors.†Ã‚   Arizona Republic.   25 Oct. 1998,   community ed.; EV1+. Sullivan, George.   Personal Interview. 27   Oct. 1998. â€Å"What’s New.† Williams Gateway Airport. http://www.flywga.org/whatsnew.htm (2 Dec. 1998)   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Private and Public Police

Private and Public 1. Relationship between Private and Public Police Lillie Johnson CJS 250 Gregg Herchek April 11, 2010 Private and Public 2. Abstract In my paper I will be discussing the relationship between private and public police, I will tell you how the conflict regard the definition of the public and private space and how it influence the relationship between the two, and I will tell you ways to maintain or improve the relationship between public and private police. Public and Private 3. In the relationship between private and public police, private police are different. Private officers do not work for us; but they do offer their services for corporations, they basically focus on the corporation that hired them. Private police has three times more than public police does. The private police care less about the due process, civil rights, and the public safety. â€Å"Private police dwells on the protection, immediate deterrence, and commercial enforcement†. Private Security and the Law, 2004). â€Å"Private police have become the most fast growing industries† (Zielinski, n. d. ). Businesses and corporations must hire their own private guards. Private police may be used in certain situations where the public police may have the skills to carry out the job. For example in New York, the private police from the agency went to a place and the private police paid for services, then they brought about affidavits explaining what they had do ne. After that was done then this was a cause focusing on the place to close. Being that these polices was not being honest and they did not represent themselves in the way they should have they was prosecuted for illegal acts. Public police are employed through local towns while private police works for companies. On the other hand, the public police are sometime charged with protecting the citizens and the cities and they have jurisdictions. Now you have a few public police that will overstep their bounds, but I believe only if they feel threaten, but if not then the headquarters are responsible to the public. In each city, public and private police has different ways of relating. Public police help members of communities to help bring about complaints against the private security, but I believe this is only done if something is done wrong. Public police was established back in colonial times and succeeded until the eighteen hundreds. The public police are considered local, state, or federal and their duties are the safety and welfare of the public. Private police has the right to carry a gun, and they also have the right to search and arrest anyone whom they feel has committed a crime†. (Cramer, 2010). Majority of the communities feel that the private police cares more about trying to please their employer than protecting the public, but I believe that they are only doing what they was trained to do. It is certain quality that only allows the private police to do so much. To the average citizens private officers looks like a real police but they do not have the powers to do what a r eal police do. Public police comes with a lot of work, they are trying to protect and serve. I do believe it is hard trying to keep criminals off the streets without enough of force; they can not be everywhere at one time. Private police has the same authority as the city police. Private and Public 4. Conclusions I believe ways to maintain or improve the relationship is to have public meetings where all the force are there and discuss the ways they are similar and how each of them have certain responsibilities. In the article from what I understand private and public police are presented with what is called, â€Å"us versus them† mentality and both are doing their best to protect us no matter if they are private or public police, they are doing what they was trained to do. I also believe that once the public and private police have their meetings they should have one for the community, listen to their views and become their friends and they will probably feel safe calling them if needed. Then the private and public police will know how and what to do to help the community, this to me I believe will help make more room for improvements. Public and Private 4. References Cramer, M. (2010). Police Lend Ear to Worried Tenants. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from Http://www. boston. com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/01/html Http://web-mit. edu/gtmarx/www/private. html Schneier, B. (2007). Schneier on Security. Retrieved from Http://www. schneier. com/private-police. html Zielinski, M. (n. d. ) Armed and Dangerous: Private Police on the March. Convert Action Quarterly. Retrieved from Http://mediafilter. org/caq/CAQ54p. police. html

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Basic concepts of psychodynamic psychotherapy

In the essay, â€Å"Basic concepts of psychodynamic psychotherapy† I have delved deep into the concept psychodynamic psychotherapists. Who are they? What is their role and how they help emotionally disturbed patients. Freud was the first to formulate the concept psychodynamic psychotherapy and then with the passage of time, many types of therapies have been conceived.It is based on the simple concept that we all are emotionally related to each other and these emotions may from time to time create disturbances in our daily lives, which we are unable to find out.Therapists help us to find these problems and give the solutions. But there are certain problems too in the treatment process in the various concepts of Psychodynamic psychotherapy. These problems can arise due to transference, counter-transference, defense and resistance. All in all, this essay will be beneficial for all the people concerned and students of psychotherapy. Introduction: Psychodynamic psychotherapy involv es patients to understand their emotional turmoil and effectively deals with them.It is a therapy provided to the young adults to help them deal with the emotional problems arising out of the depression and anxiety caused due to the relationship problems either with family, peers, friends, or professors. It is a method of verbal communication enabling patients to get relief from emotional pains. People go for psychodynamic psychotherapy for number of reasons like prolonged sadness, anxiety, sexual frustration, physical symptoms without any basis, continuous feelings of isolation and loneliness, and an ardent desire to achieve more success in work and love.People ask for therapist, as they cannot solve the resolution in the time of their difficulties in their own way. The roots of the concepts psychodynamic psychotherapy had arisen out of the theories and techniques of psychoanalysis. As said by Nancy McWilliams, â€Å"Psychoanalytic therapists, including psychoanalysis, are approac hes to helping people that derive ultimately from the ideas of Sigmund Freud and his collaborators and his followers†. (McWilliams, 2004, p. 1)The overall theme of the psychodynamic approach of helping people is based on the simpler premises that the more we are honest with ourselves, the more we have chances of living a better, satisfied and useful life. Psychoanalytical and clinical writing espouses from within our unconscious level those aspects that we have not realized or are not evident and if we are aware of these disavowed aspects, we will get relief from emotional pain and also from the time and energy spent to keep ourselves at unconscious level.Michael Guy Thompson and the inheritors of Rieff argued that psychoanalysis as a field has adorned an ethic of honesty as a means to achieve therapeutic goals. Thomas Szasz in 2003 defined psychoanalysis as a â€Å"moral dialogue, not a medical treatment. † (McWilliams, 2004, p. 2) Since decades therapists have personi fied themselves as most honest in their personal analysis with the patients and also fostering the achievements as a result of the same. (McWilliams, 2004) There are differences in the goals of therapy depending on the methods of treatment that could be either expressive or supportive.Expressive therapy enables the patients to relieve themselves from symptoms through the development of awareness of feelings and thoughts. The therapy is based on the concept that difficulties, which are experienced by the adults have their emergence in childhood; children neither possess the ability of making suitable choices for themselves nor they have an independence to follow the same and the methods that are developed in the childhood are no longer effective during adulthood.With counselling, adults get to know the ineffective ways they had been adopting and today’s ways of adoption to come out of the various problems and hurdles. Another is supportive therapy, more relevant to give patien t immediate relief. Therapist adopts this approach with the previous level of functioning of a person and helps him to strengthen the ways already been adopted by him. While many patients can get benefited from one treatment but in several cases, other therapies may also be involved like family therapy, couple therapy, or group therapy, which could be separately given and also in combination.Concepts of Psychodynamic psychotherapy Psychodynamic psychotherapy provides a unique model for the mental functioning involving five key concepts, and these are: â€Å"Unconscious processes in the mental level; Transference; Counter-transference; Defense and resistance; and the past repeating itself in the present. † (Yager, Mellman & Rubin, 2005, p. 340) 1. Unconscious processes in the mental level â€Å"Unconscious is an adjectival description of areas of mental experience not available to normal awareness†. (McGrath & Margison, 2000) It is the part of the mental process about w hich we are not aware of.There could be different levels of unconscious mental activity including our inability to realize what is going on in our mind and secondly partial awareness. Most of the Freud’s writings were based on this unconscious level of mind, which is â€Å"a reservoir that contained dynamically repressed contents that were kept out of awareness because they created conflict. † (Gabbard, 2004, p. 3) Freud’s earlier attempts were his efforts to bring out to surface the unconscious part of our mind for easily identifying the problem and understanding it in a better way.Freud formulated what is known as the topographical model and the structural model. The topographical model describes the parts of the mind that functions at various levels of consciousness and creates awareness of the same. It reveals and studies the quality that is playing its part in the mental processes rather than function it is playing. On the other hand is the structural model , which delves into the three important parts of the personality i. e.id, ego and superego and they perform motivational, interactive and executive functions. In the structural model, ego is shown as different from aggressive and sexual drives. Freud explains that, â€Å"The conscious part of the ego involves that part of the mind, which performs the function of decision making, integration of perceptual data, and the mental calculation whereas the unconscious part of the ego involves defense mechanisms that are designed to counteract the power instinctual derives harbored in the id†. (Gabbard, 2004, p.4) Sexuality and aggression are drives requiring deep level defensive efforts from the ego to prevent them from becoming intrusive to the person’s functioning. According to Freud, unconsciousness continues to create an influence on our behavior even though we are unaware about it. For e. g. during one of the clinical trials, I studied the patient’s problem on his communication process. I assumed that the patient’s verbal and nonverbal communication to us was unconsciously organized, and consciously as well as unconsciously had certain meaning.This meant from his speech and non-verbal behavior, I had to find out the central conflict patient was undergoing through unwillingly organized thoughts, feelings and behaviors in his relation to the persons he was concerned. When I listened to the patient, certain portion of this conflicting tendency in his mental power was quite visible. This could be in the form of phrases, images, nonverbal behaviors etc. These signs help in interpreting the root cause of the problem. After the thorough investigation of the verbal phrase, I interpreted that his focal conflict was related to his phallic competitive wishes.But it was not clear whether his phallic conflicts were regressive arising from his struggle or he went to an extent of powerful regression towards the sadistic tendency. In other words, it w as not clear that his difficulty with phallic competitive feelings toward males had arisen from his feeling of jealousy or looking at them as rivals or his anxiety had arisen due to the sad feelings and his impulses. But one thing that I found was he often felt very anxious and often had a great feeling of anxiety over the affects and that could be created on his impulses by the people he thinks to be rivals.Psychotherapeutic acts like a friend, and as said by must act like a therapeutic distance or therapeutic neutrality; never treating with any personal desires yet always maintaining the relationship with the patient focusing on the treatment process. 2. Transference Second concept is transference, involving the relationship client feels towards his psychotherapist. It is very natural for the client to experience the feeling of transference, also known as the transference reactions. These feelings are no less than in-depth feelings of love or hate.Jacques Lacan, a psychoanalyst ex plains that this love means having a belief or faith in the other, in other words, the other person has knowledge you don’t have. (Wright, 1998) This intense belief on the part of the client can cause problem that should be solved during the process psychotherapeutic treatment. For e. g. these feelings could be mixed feelings of love and hate that can arise out of the relationship problems with parents and they look at therapist with these mixed feelings. In such a situation, there is a need to realize that psychotherapist is only trying to reduce these feelings.A patient also begins to feel that the psychotherapist has a personal ability to come out of the sense of inner worthlessness and there can be fondness and even sexual attraction with the psychotherapist. This happens as the therapeutic cure comes from the emotional feeling and removes emotional emptiness. It is said if transference is not handled carefully it can lead to disaster consequence. For e. g. many patients have their lives ruined because psychotherapists play with the patients erotic feelings in a personal way and fail to make the client understand that it is the medical treatment.In many cases transference can also make you frighten putting a stop to the treatment prematurely. For e. g. it was October 18th 2000, I had one patient in my clinic that most of the time got into the fits of anxiety and depression. I lovingly asked him several questions and during the process, I found he had an odd problem with his parents. He acknowledged the fact that his parents loved him but at the same time was always had a feeling of insecurity, anger and confusion towards his parents thinking they didn’t love him as much as they loved their other children.The first thing about him that came to my mind was he had a craving for love and it was love he needed the most. He was fourteen years old boy with smart and innocent boyish look in his face, with black and blonde hair. So my initial step of treatment started by getting emotionally close to the patient, and I initiated to give the parental care he craved for, understand his differences with his parents and try not to repeat the same mistakes what he felt his parents were doing.Slowly, his signs of depression began to reduce and he felt more relaxed and tension free. My more and more closeness with him created a situation of transference, as I soon realized he was not able to spend even few minutes of his time without calling me or having a talk with me. He was now looking at me as his saviour and parents. I soon realized this would create a more problem if I leave him, as he could feel sadder and get into more depression. I then called his parents, discussed problem with them and explained them the importance and real meaning of love.Love means not just fulfilling the responsibilities but also coming close to your child, keeping your hands on his head and saying, â€Å"I am with you. † These are magical words bes t than the medicine that can reduce the emotional pains and can trigger the self-confidence and faith in others and oneself. I gave his parents some tips to follow and soon they realized it. This was the beginning of new life for my patient as he felt more relaxed, happy and relieved from all the pains and I slowly and slowly made him realize I was only his doctor and had to go.3. Counter-transference Counter transference is a reverse of the transference. This is described for the reactions and the emotional and unconscious reactions that can be felt by psychotherapist for his client. If these feelings are taken personally then psychotherapist can get into angry bout, abusive, spiteful, indifferent, or even seductive and if the counter-transference gets very deep and intense, then psychotherapist has to stop the treatment himself and get his patient referred to someone else for client’s protection.Counter-transference should be distinguished from the feelings he generated dur ing the process of treatment, because these feeling are used for treatment. At this point we can say that feelings generated by psychotherapists could be good as well as bad as both the extremity of the emotional feelings can have adverse effect on both the psychotherapist as well as on the part of patient. With the patient I mentioned above, I also began to feel emotional closeness but I controlled my emotions and with some careful analysis of the situation and adopting the balanced approach I dealt with him.4. Defense and resistance Yet another therapeutic concept needs to be undertaken is defense and resistance. Freud defines resistance as â€Å"whatever interrupts the progress of analytic work, like getting late, missing a session, or avoiding a particular issue†. (Fink, 1997, 230) Simply defense and resistance occurs owing to the fear and fear we have to face and relinquish from the anger of the victim. In other words, the treatment task is very complex and frightening a nd there is often the fear of facing the anger of a patient and overcoming an inclination to lie to yourself.Nonetheless Lacan said resistance should be distinguished from defense, and gave the statement that â€Å"there is no other resistance to analysis than that of the analyst himself. † (Fink, 1997, p. 225) For e. g. if the psychotherapist makes interpretation or makes intervention, which seemed to be not proper clinically, the client can be defensive and that can cause interruption in the work of therapists. In other words client will only get into the process of treatment when he himself feels comfortable about. The psychotherapist must feel the awareness of the fact that to what extent of the treatment process client is willing to go.Attempts to forcefully get client deep into the treatment process without getting him emotionally prepared can result in the client getting away from the treatment itself. In my case during the initial visit of the client, he showed reluct ance in the treatment process. He often came late from the time schedule and felt hesitant in disclosing. I assured him the best of my treatment and with great patience and slight conversations slowly yet steadily made him come closer to the treatment process. Then I was comfortable with me and he too was finding comfort in the treatment.5. The past repeating itself in the present In the psychodynamic language, it implies the past experiences of the patient continue to haunt him in the present. This happens with most of the suicidal patients – the past horrible experiences of the patients may continue to haunt him in his unconscious level. This may cause resistance on the part of the patient and treatment may suffer. In the clinical words, the transference to the clinician may have a major impact on the treatment, and counter – transference may also occur in subsequent time duration.(Gabbard & Allison, 2006) During the treatment period, practitioners have to face this situation and have to look into the patient’s past to bring out the root cause of his present situation and formulate this phase also. This process of integration of the past with the present is very painful thing for patients and in severe cases they can get emotionally disturbed, more depressive, anxious and can be aggressive, but nonetheless it is a temporary phase. I still remember she was nineteen years old and had gone into deep depression.When I asked about her past life, she entered into deeper state of depression and got completely silent and saddened and scared. I tried to relive her and promised not to ask about her past. She then slowly recovered herself, came back to normal and then after few days told me about her past. The treatment psychodynamic psychotherapy is all about the treatment of caring and love. In number of upheavals in our life, we need someone who can listen to us and care for us and here psychotherapist role starts. They listen to us and strive t o give us good hearing and relieve us from emotional pains.But, finally it is you only who is a healer and psychotherapist is only a guide who can take you on a self-guiding path. . Reference List Busch, F. N. & Milrod,B. L. 2008. Panic-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Psychiatric Times. 25 (2). Corradi, R. B. (2006). Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Core Conceptual Model and Its Application. Journal of American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 34:93-116. Fink, B. 1997. A Clinical Introduction to Lacanian Psychoanalysis: Theory and Technique Harvard University Press. Gabard, G. O. & Allison, S. (2006). Psychodynamic Treatment.In Robert I. Simon, Robert E. Hales (Eds. ) The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Suicide Assessment and Management: assessing the unpredictable. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. , 221-234. Gabbard, G. O. (2004) Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Basic Text. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. McGrath, G. & Margi son, F. (2000) An Introduction to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: BASIC PSYCHODYNAMIC CONCEPTS I. Retrieved on September 25, 2008 from W. W. W: http://www. geocities. com/nwidp/course/basic1. htmMcWilliams, N. (2004) Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide. New York: Guilford Press. Shervin, H. , Bond, J. A. & Brakel, L. A. W. 1996. Conscious and Unconscious Processes: Psychodynamic, Cognitive, and Neurophysiological Convergences. New York: Guilford Press Wright, Elizabeth. 1998. Psychoanalytic Criticism: A Reappraisal. London & New York: Routledge. Yager,J. Mellman,L. & Rubin, E. 2005. The RRC Mandate for Residency Programs to Demonstrate Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Competency Among Residents: A Debate. Academic Psychiatry, 29:4, p. 339-349.