Tips for Effective Performance Appraisal System

Question: Describe about the Effective Performance Appraisal System? Answer: Introduction: In this given case study there is a lack of performance appraisal system. So, a good and effective performance appraisal is required. Performance appraisal is a process through which, the performance level and ability of an employee can be evaluated. It is required in the future growth and development. It is generally done in a systematic way. The Relationship between strategic and operational plans: Plans are assigned goals of an organization. Without any plan, none of the employees can achieve their goals. Strategic plans help to meet the organizations large-scale goals. On the other side, operational plans holding excellent points for implementing and executing, strategic plans in day-to-day works. Strategic plans cover a long span of time that may be several years. On the other side operational plans have to cover within a year. Strategic plans are stated in a less-detail manner, but operational plans provide excellent details(Kerzner, 2014). Five things that needs to be considered in case of decision making: Relationship- 1) Relationship with managers. 2) Relationship with peers. 3) Relationship with subordinates. Work and life-1) location. 2) Travel. 3) Amount of work. The kind of work-1) autonomy. 2) Type of work. 3) Contribution. 4) Growth opportunity. Company-1) values. 2) Leadership. 3) Industry. Financial consideration-1) base pay. 2) Incentive. Key result area and critical success factors: Key result area refers to the common area of production and result. Critical success factors have very limited number of variables, conditions and characteristics that have a serious impact on the efficiency, effectiveness and viability of a project, program or an organization. Example of KRA or CSF, Role- product manager, Goal- ensuring of quality product. Key result areas: Satisfaction of customers. Managing the new level product. Controlling operational cost. Quality check. Keeping all the records SMART goals: every business required a set of objectives which is very important to focus on the organization. SMART goals can be defined as following: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time scales. Importance of documentation in PMS and risk: Documentation is the process where information about employees performances is recorded. It is important for an interaction between the managers and the employees. Mainly, primary information is recorded in the documentation so that it would not be lost or forgotten. Example when a customer and an employees interaction went badly, feedback is recorded is the employees PMS (Aguinis, 2013). No risk is there for managing all the documentation effectively because HR develops this process by using feedbacks, measure work level, comments and observation. This all are general information which can get help an employee to develop their performance level. Four way of giving informal feedback and two formal feedbacks: Informal feedbacks are as follows: Ongoing- this type of feedback generally comes when the assigned work are in ongoing process. Day to day- when feedback provide as day to day basis. After checking someone- when the feedback coming after checking someone. Immediate feedback- the immediate feedback is generally comes informally (Aguinis, 2014). Formal feedbacks are as follows: Formal coaching sessions- it is a coaching session where HR and employee interact face to face and discuss about the employees progression and also analyze that there is any further support is required or not. Management by objective- MBO help to improve the performance of an organization by defining objectives which are decided both management and employees. Motivate staff through formal performance appraisal and self motivate for future performance: Motivation is the process which helps to encourage employees towards their work. Well execute and well design performance appraisals have a powerful motivational impact. Appraisal provides some benefits which help to motivate employees are as follows: Performance appraisal helps to improve an individual performance. Performance appraisal help to meet the higher-level psychological needs of an individual Performance management helps to increase an individuals overall development. Performance appraisal helps to build a sense of personal value. Performance appraisal gives a check to employees who are performing poorly. Performance appraisal helps to increase the satisfaction level of an individual (Falcone and Tan, 2013). Self motivation helps to improve an individual performance. By judging the past work performance review, an individual can improve their work in future. Performance appraisal help to interact manager and employees face to face and have a conversation regarding employees week areas, which also helps an employee to develop their performance in future (Mattone, 2013). Four different ways of Reward and recognition for an individual performance: Rewards and recognitions are the best way of motivating employees which help to change their work habits and the main behaviors to benefits a business. Types of rewards programs are- Variable pay Bonuses Profit sharing Stock options Types of recognitions programs- Recognize an Employees as a performer of the year or month Banquets or breakfast (Noe, 2013). Advantages and disadvantages of on the job training: In the On-the-Job training methods, skilled co-workers or supervisors instruct employees and they learn the job personal observation and practice. Advantages- This type of training is very economical as there are no additional personnel or facilities. The trainee will know the actual production conditions and requirements, since they work in the real environment with actual equipment. The trainee acquires full knowledge of the rules, regulation, and procedures by watching and doing. Companies with adequate jobs and employees can easily adopt this type of training (Beebe, Mottet and Roach, 2013). Disadvantages- Instruction may not be properly comprehended at times in these types of training. Learners are often distracted by the noise at the office or workplace. This may cause low productivity if the employee fails to develop adequate skills during the training (Mba-mentor.com, 2015). Plans for an individual are who is not able to meet the deadline: Performance Investment Plan (PIP) is taken for those who are underperforming level. The main purpose of PIP is to direct an employee regarding their performance and try to correct their work if any issues affect the business. Steps which help to improve an individual performance are as follows: Explain the performance issues. Establish an expectation level. Establish a fixed timelines. Progress an action plans which includes organizational objectives and goals. Determine a particular method of evaluation. Analysis PIP with the employee(Siddiqui, 2014). Monitor effectiveness of performance investment plan: There are six steps to monitor effectiveness of performance investment plan Collect all the data. Set a baseline for a normal performance. In this step employee receiving an alert, if they deviate from the baseline. Some typical repot appraise from the employee. In this step, data analysis and visualization take place. All data share with the employee after analysis.(Siddiqui, 2014). Benefits to manage unsatisfactory performance: There are some ways, which helps to benefit to manage unsatisfactory performance: Performance management only focuses on result, not the behavior and activities of an individual. If there is unsatisfactory performance, it will affect on the performance result. Performance management builds a meaningful measurement. It compares the standards and benchmark with the other organization(Successfactors.com, 2015). Steps involve in termination employees: Termination of an employee is the last decision which is taken by an organization. There are six steps which help us to handle termination process effectively: Address to the legal matters. Plan should be prepared before termination meeting. Assess security concerns. Finally conduct a termination meeting(Team, 2014). Conclusion: In the given case study it shows that an effective performance appraisal system is required. It shows that the appraisal system is not fair, so the employees are not aware of their own performance level. So, there a good appraisal system is required which helps to motivate employee and gives a good opportunity in future. References: Aguinis, H. (2013).Performance management. Boston: Pearson. Beebe, S., Mottet, T. and Roach, K. (2013).Training and development. Boston: Pearson. Falcone, P. and Tan, W. (2013).The performance appraisal tool kit. New York: AMACOM, American Management Association. Kerzner, H. (2014).Project management best practices. Hoboken: Wiley. Mattone, J. (2013).Powerful performance management. New York: AMACOM, American Management Association. Mba-mentor.com, (2015).Off the job training methods. [online] Available at: https://www.mba-mentor.com/off-the-job-training-methods [Accessed 21 Feb. 2015]. Noe, R. (2013).Employee training and development. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Siddiqui, M. (2014).Performance Appraisal Alignment in Perspective of Work Performance. Saarbrucken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. Successfactors.com, (2015).Employee Appraisal Systems. [online] Available at: https://www.successfactors.com/en_us/lp/articles/employee-appraisal-systems.html [Accessed 21 Feb. 2015]. Team, B. (2014).What is Performance Appraisal System and what are its objectives? Describe the various sources of errors in the appraisal process. What is the difference between the Performance Appraisal and Performance Management Systems in an organisation? | BMS.co.in. [online] BMS.co.in : Bachelor of Management Studies. Available at: https://www.bms.co.in/what-is-performance-appraisal-system-and-what-are-its-objectives-describe-the-various-sources-of-errors-in-the-appraisal-process-what-is-the-difference-between-the-performance-appraisal-and-perfor/ [Accessed 21 Feb. 2015]. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, (2015).Understanding Performance Management Process and Practices. [online] Available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/performance-management/performance-management-cycle/developing/understanding-performance-management-process-and-practices/ [Accessed 21 Feb. 2015]. Whatishumanresource.com, (2015).On-the-job Methods - what is human resource ?. [online] Available at: https://www.whatishumanresource.com/on-the-job-methods [Accessed 21 Feb. 2015]. Yamamoto, S. (2013).Human interface and the management of information. Berlin: Springer.

Personality profile Elyn Saks Essay Example

Personality profile Elyn Saks Paper Personality profile Elyn Saks BY poltna888 Running head: PERSONALITY PROFLIE OF ELYN SAKS Personality Profile of Elyn Saks Abstract The current personality profile looks at Elyn Saks personality. Elyn Saks is a high- achiever diagnosed with schizophrenia. She began to have the symptoms in the early childhood, but managed to live with them. Currently, she is a professor at University of Southern California Law School and adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. Her personality is analyzed using multiple classical approaches of personality psychology represented by such famous theorists s Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Erik Erickson, Hans Eysenck, Gordon Allport, Burrhus Frederick Skinner, Albert Bandura, and Abraham Maslow. As he main source, her autobiographical book The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness was used (Hyperion, 2007). Theory of Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud is the founder of Psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious aspects of personality, of which a person is unaware. The conscious on the other hand is that which is within our awareness. In 1923 Freud described his constructs of the d, ego, and superego. The id is the most primitive part of our ersonality. It operates according to the pleasure principle and it simply seeks immediate gratification. Freud believed that the unconscious possesses the libido, a flowing, dynamic force. The ego is extremely objective and operates according to the reality principle, dealing with the demands of the environment. We will write a custom essay sample on Personality profile Elyn Saks specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Personality profile Elyn Saks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Personality profile Elyn Saks specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It regulates the flow ot libido and keeps the id in check, thus acting as a control center ot the personality. It is the superego, which represents the values and standards of an individuals personality. The superego is a characteristic of the personality which strives for perfection. Freud placed great importance on the early years of childhood and introduced psychosexual development stages (oral, anal, phallic, a period of latency, and genital). If a child spends more time in a particular stage then he/she ought to, it leads to a fixation or an incomplete development of the personality. A critical event during the first five years of life is the experience of Oedipus and Electra conflicts (boys sexual attraction toward their mothers and girls sexual attraction toward their fathers, correspondingly). Another major aspect of psychoanalysis is the development of defense mechanisms. According to the theory efense mechanisms are used by the ego to protect the person from anxiety. They include repression, reaction formation, denial, projection, displacement, sublimation, regression, and rationalization. Psychoanalysis is also a therapy. It is based on the observation that individuals are often unaware of many of the factors that determine their emotions and behavior. Psychoanalytic treatment demonstrates how these unconscious factors affect current relationships and patterns of behavior, traces them back to their historical origins, shows how they have changed, and helps individuals to deal better with the realities of adult life. Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Sigmund Freuds Theory One of the best theories to analyze Elyn Saks personality is psychoanalytic theory. In her book The Center Cannot Hold, Elyn (2007) claims that her talk therapy, based on psychoanalysis, is as important for her as antipsychotic medication. Moreover, in addition to being a legal professor at the University of South California, she is a research clinical associate at the New Center for Psychoanalysis. Although, Elyn herself prefers Kleinian analysis (a treatment advocating that patients unleash their fantasies during sessions), it found its origin in the work of Sigmund Freud. I will attempt to analyze Elyns personality using several concepts of Freudian theory, such as the structure of the mind, psychosexual development, and defense mechanisms. Also, I will tell why Kleinian analysis worked for Elyn better than Freudian. In my opinion, Elyns id is strongly suppressed by ego and superego. She never let her sexual libido rule her life. Elyn has an exemplary ability to delay gratification. However, there were several occasions when she followed the pleasure principle, which was in her adolescent period (somewhere in genital stage, according to Freud). She tried illegal drugs: marijuana and mescaline, and Elyn learnt what kind of consequences it brings about. After use of mescaline, her hallucinations persisted, and she felt cognitively dysfunctional for a long time. Also, according to update research, use of marijuana in adolescent period can trigger the onset of schizophrenia (Eggan Lewis, 2006). However, in later life, I cannot mention any bright examples of Elyns id acting out. Her ego kept the id in control, and dealt with the problems of real world more than successfully despite the devastating effect of schizophrenia. She did not lose the ability to plan and act in order to achieve any goal. Regardless the burden of the thought disorder, Elyn solved real problems sometimes better than a person without any mental illness. She planned her career, passed her exams and wrote the best papers, as well as managed her finances. I t proves that Elyns ego is very strong. But, in my opinion, ner superego is even stronger and has ascendency over her personality. Elyn strived for the perfection; it mostly reveals in her academic achievement. Her high moral standards include helping others. For example, she volunteered provide advocacy for a mentally etarded patient, in order for him to move from the hospital back into community. One of Elyns most important moral rules, which was instilled from the childhood, is the belief that she must be strong and fght it, as well as that she can take everything under her control. This feature of her superego helps her to cope with the symptoms of schizophrenia: she tried to act normal while psychosis, she ignored everyday hallucinations and kept working in spite of the cognitive symptoms. However, sometimes superego made her fell into a pitfall. Her ideal self wanted her to be in control of everything, including her mental illness. It led her to the false assumption about her ability to live without medication, and subdue schizophrenia independently. Her superego made her experimenting with the tapering and, as a consequence, falling into crisis plenty of times. It took her long years to realize that sometimes we cannot fight it on our own, and tame this aspect of her superego. Looking at Elyns psychosexual development, it is possible to trace her fixation at the oral stage. She fits the definition of a person who seeks interesting experiences (her experiments with drugs) and knowledge (constant reading and academic achievement). Also, she derived pleasure from being close to others. Although, her mental illness hobbles her in social aspect, she always finds friends and connects to them very strongly. For example, after her friends, Kenny and Margie, left the Vanderbilt University, she sobbed for hours, inconsolable, and for weeks afterwards, had no energy, no focus (p. 48). Each separation for her was a tragedy (the most painful one was with her first therapist, Mrs. Jones). Elyn was attached to her family and all her therapists. Also, she reached full happiness, when her dream about the mate came to fruition, and she met her husband Will. In addition to all those attributes of the fixation at oral stage, Elyn smoked for a long time. Among the defense mechanisms, Elyn used denial most vividly. At some point of her life, Elyns ego was threatened to acknowledge that she had the mental illness. She denied the fact that it is permanent and not Just a transient problem. In the same manner, she denied the constant need for medication. Fortunately, her therapists and friends helped her to admit those facts and she coped with the problems successfully without employing the denial defense mechanism. As I have mentioned earlier, for the treatment of schizophrenia, Elyn Saks referred Kleinian psychoanalysis to Freudian one. According to Freud, psychosis is too narcissistic, too inward-looking, to allow the patient to develop a transference relationship with the analyst (intense feelings, beliefs, and attitudes the patient unconsciously recalls from early life and then directs to the analyst), which is crucial for the clients progress (Freud, 1924). In contrast, Melanie Klein believed that people with psychosis could benefit from analysis and that the necessary transference would develop. It was her theory that psychotic individuals are filed with (even driven y) great anxiety, and that the way to provide relief is to focus directly on the deepest sources of that anxiety (Klein, 1975). During the sessions, the patient is given the freedom to reveal all hidden fantasies and pronounce all inappropriate thoughts. For that reason, Elyn, being most ot the time in control ot ner disorganized thoughts and emotions, found help in this type of treatment. In public, she suppressed all the features of her illness, while at the therapists office she was given an opportunity to reduce the tension. Also, in my opinion, her fixation at the oral stage with the affixed o it proneness for dependency and attachment, assisted Elyn in the development of the transference. The Theory of Carl Jung Carl Jung was a founder of analytical psychology (Friedman Schustack, 2003). He is best known for his theories of the collective unconscious, including the concept of archetypes and complexes. Along with Sigmund Freud, Jung pioneered modern theories of the relationships between the conscious and unconscious aspects of mind. But while Freud postulated a psychosexual explanation for human behavior, Jung perceived the primary motivating force to be spiritual in origin. According to Jung, it was from the soul that the complementary drives of differentiation and integration arose, fueling the processes of growth, development, and healing. Mental illness arose when these processes were thwarted. Jung emphasized each persons uniqueness and believed that the goal of life is individuation, the process of coming to know, giving expression to, and harmonizing the various components of the psyche. Also, in his theory distinguished two general attitudes introversion and extraversion; and four functions thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuiting. In addition, Jungs theory incorporates the notion of two opposing archetypes that represent the differences between our outward appearances (persona) and our inner selves (shadow). Other two important archetypes are the animus (the male element of a woman) and anima (the female element of a man). Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Carl Jungs Theory I find it difficult to apply some of Carl Jungs unique concepts, such as complexes and collective unconsciousness, analyzing personality of Elyn Saks. Among archetypes, I would use only two in order to explain Elyns personality. Also, Jungs attitudes and unctions are quite helpful, too. Complexes are unconscious and repressed emotionally-toned symbolic material that is incompatible with consciousness. According to Jung, they can cause constant psychological disturbances, but, with proper intervention, they can become conscious that will greatly reduce their impact (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Applying this notion to Elyns personality, and, particularly, to her diagnosis, the controversial opinions might arouse. On one hand, schizophrenia is proved to be organic disorder of the brain, and, thus, cannot be caused by the complexes (Friedman Schustack, 2003). On the other hand, psychoanalysis based on revealing emotionally charged feeling, thoughts, and ideas that were suppressed into unconsciousness, which Jung defines as complexes, helped Elyn to maintain the balance and cope with her disease (Saks, 2007). The collective unconscious is a large group of archetypes (powerful emotional symbols) (Friedman Schustack, 2003) that are derived from the emotional reactions of our ancestors to continually repeating events. Examples would be the magician, hero, and the trickster. I could not discern any of those archetypes, or similar to them, in he personality of Elyn Saks. Also, I think that Jungs believe that the origin of mental illness is the soul does not explain schizophrenia of Elyn Saks (and of any other person) in any aspect. However, Elyn can be analyzed from the perspective of Jungs attitudes and tunctions. In my opinion, Elyns nature is extroversion . She is in need for sociability, and close people are a source of energy for her. In her adolescent years, previous to the onset of her illness, she enjoyed going out with friends. But, unfortunately, schizophrenia marked her for life as an introvert. She became more eflective and in need for privacy and space, especially when her symptoms begin to appear. Also, in my opinion, among four functions of Jungs theory, thinking and feeling functions are the most developed in Elyns personality. The fact that she graduated with the degree in philosophy from Oxford University proves that she has unquestionable logic (with the exception of while having a psychosis). She sees cause and effect relations in every situation, a quality without which she would not be able to achieve what she did. Elyns feeling function remained intact by schizophrenia as well: she is creative, warm, and intimate. She did not lose the sense of positive and negative values; she was able to create multiple bonds with other people and a happy family. Although Elyns sensing function must have been devastated by her illness, the vivid and exact description of psychosis and disturbed senses in the book The Center Cannot Hold might imply extraordinary sensing function in Elyn. As for intuitive function, I think it was rarely employed in her life: she has always relied on reasoning and Judgment more than on intuition. One of my favorite Jungs archetypes, persona and shadow, are very applicable in description Elyn Saks personality. Moreover, she also identified them in her book, but under different names. Persona, or the mask we present to the world, is designed to make a particular impression on others, while concealing our true nature. Elyns persona is Professor Saks, who represents herself to the society as structured and official high- achiever. One of Elyns shadows (the side of the personality, which she does not consciously display in public) is Lady of Charts, a woman diagnosed with schizophrenia, sometimes pinioned to the hospitals bed, disheveled and emaciated. Another shadow is Elyn, warm, sensitive, and strong women. This shadow is esponsible for keeping Lady of Charts far away in the closet, as well as for discouraging Professor Saks to take everything, including schizophrenia, under total control. During one of the therapeutic sessions, Elyns doctor, encouraged her to transfer Elyn from shadow status to persona status, by disclosing those three sides of her personality and advising to associate her Self with Elyn, more than with any other (Saks, 2003). The Theory of Erik Erikson Erikson was a Neo-Freudian (Friedman Schustack, 2003). He has been described as an ego psychologist studying the stages of development, spanning the entire lifespan. Each of Eriksons stages of psychosocial development is marked by a conflict, for which successful resolution will result in a favorable outcome, for example, trust vs. mistrust, and by an important event that this conflict resolves itself around, for example, meaning of ones life. Favorable outcomes of each stage are sometimes known as virtues (Erikson, 1963). Eriksons research suggests that each individual must learn how to hold both extremes of each specific life-stage challenge in tension with one another, not rejecting one end of the tension or the other. Only when both extremes in a lite-stage challenge are underst nd accepted as botn required and useful, the optimal virtue for that stage can surface (Bukatko Daehler, 2004). The Erikson life-stage virtues, in the order of the stages in which they may be acquired, are: (1) Trust vs. Mistrust, (2) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, (3) Initiative vs. Guilt (4) Industry vs. Inferiority, (5) Identity vs. Role Confusion, (6) Intimacy vs. Isolation, (7) Generatively vs. Stagnation, and (8) Ego Integrity vs. Despair. Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Erik Eriksons Theory I think Erik Eriksons theory of psychosocial development is useful in explaining Elyns ersonality. In my opinion, on the stages she has already gone through, she resolved most of the conflicts successfully. I believe on the first stage, during the first year of life, we can conclude that Elyn developed the trust and hope. She gained confidence and security in the world around her because her parents were loving, hardworking, and more often than not, kind (p. 11). In other words, her caregivers were reliable enough to provide her with the background that helped her trust the people around her (e. g. , her therapists) and not to give up in the battle with her mental illness. On he second stage, which takes place between age one and three, Elyn acquired autonomy and will. Assumingly, her parents did not criticize or overly control her, but rather gave Elyn the opportunity to assert herself by encouraging and supporting her increased independence. Due to this reason, she became more confident and secure in her own ability to survive in the world. She left parents home when she started college, and since then she was able to maintain her independence throughout her life in spite of the difficulties she faced. That developed a remarkable will in her personality, which is indicated in every aspect of her life (e. . , achievement in career, coping with schizophrenia symptoms, ability to delay gratification). On the third stage (age 3-6), Elyn resolved the conflict toward initiative and purpose. It can be inferred from her book that Elyns parents did not control her to the point of being excessive and criticize her own decisions. They were tolerant even to her little quirks (e. g. , aligning shoes Just right, or washing hands several times). As a consequence, Elyn developed a sense of initiative and the ability to lead others and make decisions. On the fourth stage (age 6 to puberty), Elyn developed the sense of ndustry. She was encouraged and reinforced for her accomplishments (e. g. , good grades), especially by her mom: Dad was not a praiser, so he never complimented anyone. But Mom did, and Warren [brother] and I competed for her attention (p. 15). It developed the feeling of confidence in her ability to achieve the goals, which played a crucial role in reaching her full potential. Her industry helped her to acquire the notable competence in different areas: philosophy, law, and mental illness. However, during her adolescent years, Elyn resolved the conflict of the fifth stage toward nfavorable outcome: role confusion. According to Erikson, during this period, adolescents explore possibilities and begin to form their own identity based upon the outcome of their explorations. Elyns explorations that started in Mexico led to the drug use, and her parents did not want her to explore in this direction. After she stated that if she wanted to use pot, she would, and there is not much you can do about it (p. 25), her parents sent her to rehabilitation center. She had to conform. As a result, she had difficulty to answer such questions as Who am l? How do I fit in? Where am I going in life? As a result, took her many years before she settled down in the protessional aspect: tirst sne got ner degree in philosophy, and only atterwards she realized that she wants to go to law school. On the sixth stage, which starts in young adulthood, Elyn acquired the sense of intimacy and love. She developed many long-term close friend relationships. Although, she did not settle down in young adulthood because she still was in school, as soon as she acquired a tenure (middle adulthood), she made a long-term commitment with her husband, Will. Currently, Elyn is on the seventh stage of her psychosocial development. During this stage the measures of accomplishments and failures takes place. I can make the prognosis that Elyn will solve the conflict on this stage toward the favorable outcome, generatively. She has achieved a lot in her career; she is settled in the relationships; she published a book that helped thousands of people; she is still learning a lot (the attendance of the school of psychoanalysis). In my opinion, there are no indications for her settling with stagnation. Similarly, I would predict favorable outcome (Ego- Integrity) on the eight stage of Elyns life. However, she still has it ahead of her. The Theory of Hans Eysenck Eysencks theory is based primarily on physiology and genetics (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Although he is a behaviorist who considers learned habits of great importance, he considers personality differences as growing out of our genetic inheritance. He is, therefore, primarily interested in what is usually called temperament. Eysencks original research found three main dimensions of temperament: neuroticism, extraversion-introversion, and psycoticism. Neuroticism is the factor that Eysenck determined encompassed people who are calm and collected to those who are high strung or nervous. A primary example of this is a persons response to emergencies. Some people are calm and able to deal with things, some are fearful and emotional, and some are terrified by even minor incidence. Eysenck hypothesized that explanation to this might be that neurotic people have a more responsive sympathetic nervous system than others. The introversion-extroversion concept includes the idea that extroverts have a relatively low brain arousal, and so they seek stimulation. Introverts, on the other hand, are thought to have a higher level of central nervous system arousal, and so they tend to shy away from timulating social environments. Psychoticism includes the tendency toward a psychopathology, involving impulsivity and cruelty, tough-mindedness, and shrewdness. High psychoticism does not mean a person is psychotic or doomed to become so. According to Eysenck, he/she exhibits some qualities commonly found among psychotics, and may be more susceptible, given certain environments, to becoming psychotic. The qualities found in high psychoticistic people include certain recklessness, a disregard for common sense or conventions, and a degree of inappropriate emotional expression (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Hans Eysencks Theory In my opinion, only a part of Hans Eysencks Theory explains the personality of Elyn Saks. I would identify her as highly neurotic and introvert, but, perhaps, surprisingly, I am hesitant to call her psychotistic. I think Elyn is definitely neuroticistic and introverted. Eysenck identified that people with obsessive-compulsive disorders and phobias tended to be high on neuroticism and introversion (Eysenck, 1967). He explained it by hypothesizing that highly neuroticistic people over-respond to fearful stimuli. It hey are introverts, they will learn to avoid the situations that cause panic very quickly and very thoroughly, even to the point of becoming panicky at small indications of those situations. In one of her interviews, Elyn confessed: l was fearful. I had some phobias. I had some obsessions. I had some kind of intense fears (Saks, 2008). It is confirmed in her book (Saks, 2007). For example, in the childhood she could not leave her room unless her shoes were all lined up, she could not go to sleep until her books were organized Just so (p. 11), and she had to wash her hand sometimes two or three times. Also, she had some irrational fears (similar to the fear of bogyman) much longer than other children. Evaluating Elyn on the third dimension of Eysencks model, psychoticism, I tend to think of her personality as of non-psychotistic. Although Elyn is schizophrenic and has lots of psychotic episodes, which sometimes include even homicide ideation, it is unjustifiable to call her personality psychoticistic. Eysenck attributes to those people such qualities as impulsivity, cruelty, and tough-mindedness, which are Just the opposite of the Elyns personality most of the time, while she is stable and non-psychotic (Friedman Schustack, 2003). This controversial situation proves once more that our psyche is very complex, and it is difficult to differentiate some of its aspects. The Theory of Gordon Allport Allport is known as a trait psychologist. He argued that some characteristics of human personality are shared (he termed these common traits) and some are peculiar to the individual (he termed those personal dispositions). Personal dispositions that exercise an overwhelming influence on behavior are called cardinal dispositions. Personal dispositions that are the basic building blocks that shape most f our behavior (although they are not as overwhelming as cardinal traits) are called central traits. Central traits are general characteristic found in some degree in every person. An example of a central trait would be honesty (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Gordon Allports Theory Theory of Gordon Allport does a very good Job in explaining Elyns personality due to the fact that Allport concentrated on the uniqueness of personality (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Cardinal disposition of Elyn Saks can probably be assigned to her being a highly functioning person with schizophrenia (Saks, 2007). Her central dispositions are probably constant seeking of knowledge and striving for the control over ones life. Also, such common traits as desire for success and achievement- motivation are explicit in Elyns personality. The Theory of Burrhus Frederick Skinner Skinners concept of operant conditioning assumes that the behavior that is reinforced is more likely to be repeated in the future, and less likely to be repeated if punished. Skinner argued that responses shaped by environmental consequences, taken together, are what we call personality. He emphasized that environment is of rimary importance even in hereditary characteristics. According to Skinner, psychopathology is learned in the same manner as all other behaviors: the adaptive or maladaptive behavior is learned by reinforcement (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Elyn Saks from the Prospective of B. F. Skinners Theory In my opinion, Skinners theory explains some aspects of personality (behavior) of Elyn Saks, while some of the concepts I find not to be applicable. I think Elyns achievement-motivation can be explained by the fact that she was reinforced from the early child by ner parents to attain goals, such as good grades (Saks Also, her desire for control over her life is probably quite conditioned. Her parents, as well as people at rehabilitation center, praised her for being in control. For example, while being a teenager, she lost a lot of weight by controlling her diet. Her parents wanted her to put the weight back on, and they could do it only by challenging her to prove that she is in control (p. 6). After she came back to her normal weight, they stopped reprimanding her, which is the example of negative reinforcement. However, Skinners explanation of psychopathology, in my opinion, does not fit Elyn. Skinner claimed that people with mental problems have either not learned the appropriate response and have a behavioral deficit, or they have learned the wrong response. Thus the treatment for mental illness is to create environmental se ttings that reward desirable behavior (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Although, this approach works quite well for children with cognitive and emotional disabilities, I think it does not in case of schizophrenia. It is widely known that schizophrenia is a brain disorder, not a learned behavior, and general clinical practice, as well as Elyns personal example, proves it. The Theory of Albert Bandura The main concept of Banduras theory is observational learning, or vicarious learning, which is also called modeling because a person forms himself or herself in the image of another. Bandura theorized mechanisms by which people can learn simply by watching others perform a behavior. They learn without performing the behavior themselves and without being directly rewarded or punished for the behavior (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Albert Banduras Theory In my opinion, it is almost impossible to explain Elyn Saks personality by Albert Banduras theory, using the references I possess. None of them provide information about her using a model for any type of Elyns behavior. Describing her childhood, she does not refer to anybody, even her parents, as a role model. I guess she was learning primary through operant conditioning than through observational learning. The Theory of Abraham Maslow Abraham MasloWs name is strongly associated with the hierarchy of needs (Friedman Schustack, 2003). His hierarchy includes: physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization motives. Maslow emphasized the importance of self-actualization, or the innate process by hich one tends to grow spiritual and realize ones potential (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Elyn Saks from the Prospective of Abraham MasloWs Theory From the MasloWs view point, Elyn most likely would be defined as self-actualized person. Self-actualized people tend to be independent, resist social pressures, and freedom-loving, and have a high need for privacy (Friedman Schustack, 2003). Elyn fits all of those definitions, in my opinion. She went through the process of establishing herself as a whole person and developed the abilities to understand herself. As a result, she self-actualized herself in her career. At University of Southern California, she throws herself into writing and spends nearly every waking hour in her crowded office in the law school. Since her arrival at USC, she has been among the schools most productive and respected scholarly writers (University of Southern California Faculty Directory, 2008). Furthermore, the main aspect of her self- actualization is the desire to help other people witn mental illness and their tamilies. During the presentation of her book, she states: l wanted to write this book to give hope to people who suffer from schizophrenia and understanding to people who ont hope this story will help implode the myths that surround mental illness. Moreover, revealing her secret, she realized that her hard-earned career could come crashing down. A colleague suggested that Saks write under a pseudonym. But Elyn refused to that because that would send the wrong message, as she explained (Saks, 2008). Elyn, her colleague reasoned, do you want to be known as a schizophrenic with a Job? And she did have her doubts, because even while properly medicated, she still harbors several irrational thoughts each day, but she manages to dismiss the obsessions. However, she published her book, and now it gets wonderful reviews from prestigious publishers, doctors, as well as patients and their families, whom this book gave a real hope. Summary Elyn R. Saks, training to be a psychoanalyst, specializes in mental health law, criminal law, and children and the law. Her recent research focused on ethical dimensions of psychiatric research and forced treatment of the mentally ill. She also teaches at the Institute of Psychiatry and the Law at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and is an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. In her capacity as associate dean, Dean Saks oversees research and grants at USC Law. Before Joining the USC Law faculty in 1989, Dean Saks was an attorney in Connecticut and instructor at the University of Bridgeport School of Law. She graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University before earning her master of letters from Oxford University and her J. D. from Yale Law School, where she also edited the Yale Law Journal. To analyze her personality, it was beneficial to look at it from the many theoretical perspectives provided by personality psychology. These approaches

Learn the History of the Swastika

Learn the History of the Swastika The swastika is an extremely powerful symbol. The Nazis used it to murder millions of people during the Holocaust, but for centuries it had positive meanings. What is the history of the swastika? Does it now represent good or evil? The Oldest Known Symbol The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years. (That even predates the ancient Egyptian symbol, the Ankh!) Artifacts such as pottery and coins from ancient Troy show that the swastika was a commonly used symbol as far back as 1000 BCE. Nigel Hicks / Getty Images During the following thousand years, the image of the swastika was used by many cultures around the world, including in China, Japan, India, and southern Europe. By the Middle Ages, the swastika was a well known, if not commonly used, symbol, but was called by many different names: China - wanEngland - fylfotGermany - HakenkreuzGreece - tetraskelion and gammadionIndia - swastika Though it is not known for exactly how long, Native Americans also have long used the symbol of the swastika. The Original Meaning The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika: su meaning good, asti meaning to be, and ka as a suffix. Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck. Even in the early twentieth century, the swastika was still a symbol with positive connotations. For instance, the swastika was a common decoration that often adorned cigarette cases, postcards, coins, and buildings. During World War I, the swastika could even be found on the shoulder patches of the American 45th Division and on the Finnish air force until after World War II. A Change in Meaning In the 1800s, countries around Germany were growing much larger, forming empires; yet Germany was not a unified country until 1871. To counter the feeling of vulnerability and the stigma of youth, German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika, because it had ancient Aryan/Indian origins, to represent a long Germanic/Aryan history. By the end of the nineteenth century, the swastika could be found on nationalist German volkisch periodicals and was the official emblem of the German Gymnasts League. In the beginning of the twentieth century, the swastika was a common symbol of German nationalism and could be found in a multitude of places such as the emblem for the Wandervogel, a German youth movement; on Joerg Lanz von Liebenfels antisemitic periodical Ostara; on various Freikorps units; and as an emblem of the Thule Society. Hitler and the Nazis Heinrich Hoffmann / Getty Images In 1920, Adolf Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia and flag. For Hitler, the new flag had to be a symbol of our own struggle as well as highly effective as a poster. (Mein Kampf, pg. 495) On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, the red flag with a white circle and black swastika became the official emblem of the Nazi Party. Hulton Archive / Getty Images In Mein Kampf, Hitler described the Nazis new flag: In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the nationalistic idea, in the swastika the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has been and always will be anti-Semitic. (pg. 496-497) Because of the Nazis flag, the swastika soon became a symbol of hate, antisemitism, violence, death, and murder. What Does the Swastika Mean Now? There is a great debate as to what the swastika means now. For 3,000 years, the swastika meant life and good luck. But because of the Nazis, it has also taken on a meaning of death and hate. These conflicting meanings are causing problems in todays society. For Buddhists and Hindus, the swastika is a very religious symbol that is commonly used. Chirag Badlani shares a story about one time when he went to make some photocopies of some Hindu Gods for his temple. While standing in line to pay for the photocopies, some people behind him in line noticed that one of the pictures had a swastika. They called him a Nazi. Unfortunately, the Nazis were so effective at their use of the swastika emblem, that many do not even know any other meaning for the swastika. Can there be two completely opposite meanings for one symbol? Does the Direction of the Swastika Matter? In ancient times, the direction of the swastika was interchangeable, as can be seen on an ancient Chinese silk drawing. Glenn Waters in Japan / Getty Images Some cultures in the past had differentiated between the clockwise swastika and the counter-clockwise sauvastika. In these cultures, the swastika symbolized health and life while the sauvastika took on a mystical meaning of bad-luck or misfortune. Italian summer camp forming group backwards swastika. Â  De Agostini / Foto Studio Leoni / Getty Images But since the Nazis use of the swastika, some people are trying to differentiate the two meanings of the swastika by varying its direction- trying to make the clockwise, Nazi version of the swastika mean hate and death, while the counter-clockwise version would hold the ancient meaning of the symbol, life, and good luck.

Writing You Can Sell on Etsy

Writing You Can Sell on Etsy For many writers, writing is not just a way to pay the bills, but also a craft and an art form. What better way to pay bills more effectively than marketing that craft and art on Etsy, the e-commerce website dedicated to crafters and artists? As a sales platform, Etsy promotes unique craft and vintage items, and good writers can offer a range of products suitable for this marketplace without needing to be experts at handicrafts or antiquing. Written crafts that can be sold on Etsy include: Customized Letters: Letters from Santa are the most popular, but other customized letters from fictional fairies and holiday characters can also sell reasonably well. Offer personalization in each letter and use colorful stationery and fonts for more appeal. Take care to avoid copyrighted items, however, such as mascots or other trademarked characters. Poetry: A thoughtful poem can be an ideal gift when paired with an inspirational or related photograph, and writers can team up with photographers to offer unique items. Other poetry options include customized cards or verses for use with weddings or memorials. Toasts: Like poetry, personalized toasts are ideal crafts that writers are in a unique position to offer. A few detailed questions can offer enough personal insight for a thoughtful and creative toast perfect for a wedding, job promotion, new ba Templates: Writers often create custom newsletter, brochure or other templates for clients, and selling customized templates on Etsy can be lucrative. Theme templates for different types of craft-oriented businesses and offer writing services along with the template for even more sales, but be sure not to offer templates that are already in use Resumes: Resume writing can be big business, and experienced resume writers can offer their craft at reasonable prices through this online marketplace. Just like templates, the resumes should be personalized and finely customized to suit each clients needs, and different general themes can be offered for different sales. Books: Novelists and book authors can take advantage of Etsy Getting started on Etsy does take a financial commitment, just as writing requires you to purchase office supplies, business cards and other equipment. Registering and buying on Etsy are free, but selling items costs $.20 per listing (listings last four months or until the item sells, whichever is first), plus a 3.5% fee on the sales price. Those costs are easy business deductions, however, and can quickly be covered with profits from individual sales. When you make your first sale, the potential profits dont stop with just the one item youve sold. Enclose a business card or promotional bookmark with each package, and include your website or blog information with every listing. Slowly but surely you will build a unique platform for your writing and will advertise your business to an unusual but no less profitable niche of customers and clients.

Lab report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Lab Report Example However, severe malfunction of the heart and the nervous system can be caused by significant excess of the elements in the body. Abnormally high or low levels of sodium or potassium can be caused by excess use of diuretic drugs, poor diet or impaired kidney function. These conditions may lead to nausea, seizures, lethargy, irregular heartbeat, coma and even death in severe cases. Although cases of deliberate poisoning using sodium and potassium, they are readily and widely available in a salt form. Potassium chloride solution can be administered through intravenous injection and have been used in euthanasia and political assassinations. Sodium and potassium levels can be monitored using flame photometry. The analytical technique is a simple form of atomic spectroscopy that depends on the atomic emission process. The solution of the sample is drawn into a flame which is sufficiently hot to cause atomization and electronic excitation of certain elements. They emit visible radiation at wavelengths that are specific to that element as the atoms return to their ground state. The radiation is isolated by an appropriate filter and converted to an electrical current that is proportional to the intensity of the emitted radiation therefore determining the concentration of the element. Flame photometers are relatively cheap and portable but can only determine alkaline and alkaline earth metals such as sodium, potassium, lithium barium and lithium (Chawla, 2003). This experiment is aimed to measure the concentrations of sodium and potassium by use of flame photometry in a range of samples in connection to fictitious criminal investigation. An 18 month old infant, Master Nathaniel Carbuncle, was admitted to a hospital intensive care unit suffering from nausea and fatigue, a slow heartbeat and weak pulse. The child was found to have an abnormal blood electrolyte

5000 words report for a business plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

5000 words report for a business plan - Essay Example This includes both a secondary as well as primary research of the markets. Based on this, the plan has been set out. A through plan including the finances, human resources, operations and also the management has been developed. The appendix includes the forecasted financial statements of the company as well. Galleries and art exhibitions have a wide appeal to all age groups and especially to those in the 35-44 age groups, in Australia. There are a total of 160 art galleries in Australia as of June 2004. Most of these are located in New South Wales. The distribution of galleries is as follows, a) New South Wales – 31.1%, b) Victoria – 21.5%, c) Queensland – 17.5%. These form the most famous states in Australia in terms of the art market. Australia has become a dynamic country in today’s art market and stands just behind UK and it is one of the dominant forces in the worlds contemporary art market. With financial objectivity fast replacing the anecdotal concerns of art, major Australian banks and pension funds are gearing up to invest between one percent and three percent of their value in artworks as a hedging measure. For all the above, our company has decided to take the challenge and penetrate the art market and establish a strong foothold in the industry and gain a major market share of this highly profitable sector. â€Å"Our mission is to maintain our reputation as an energetic, outgoing and accessible art gallery in Australia that inspire, interest and sell art work to an increasingly diverse audience and collectors. Not only do we have classified ourselves as a gallery but also as a brand in selling out artwork and products. We aim to acquire, collect and present to our customer the finest works of art available on the market scene in a variety of media and concepts as well as supplying art materials to our customers.† â€Å"Our vision is to expand our business into promoting a

High school Essay Example for Free

High school Essay I’m one of this people that will take every single opportunity from every chance I take, so I can make the whole journey worth it. Becoming a Global Intern is a one life opportunity that can change your whole life to better. This will allow you to see new directions, new point views, new experiences. It’s a way for you to get to see the world, to explore it, to meet different cultures, which can help you build your own personality and even make you a better person. Since I was in Elementary School I wanted to go to the United States. Finally, in 2012, there I was, realizing my dream. After that, I realized that it wasn’t only the USA that passionate me, it was the feeling of traveling, the feeling of exploring somewhere new, being able to learn new things, to be free, to have more knowledge. And that’s what I want for my life, I want to be able to get to know every single spot on this world, I want to learn new languages, and help those people around the world. I also have this huge desire to go to a college aboard, it’d be something that I could never experience in my own country. One of my dream professions is to become a doctor, because when you help a patient, you are not only helping their life, you’re saving their families happiness. When you’re helping a kid in their last few days to smile, this is an unique feeling, in this way I look up for this beautiful career. However, since I was little I wanted to become an actress, I’m addicted to movies, especially those that bring hope in your life, those that have a message after all. It’s a way I can express myself, I can play a role every day and this makes me learn different subjects. Three years ago, you would give up hope in this world, but there are still people that are trying to make a difference, trying to help it to survive. There were and there are many influent people and I want to become one of them. Becoming a global intern will be my chance to find myself and to do what I love most and I truly hope that it becomes reality because you can only find out what is possible if you never give up.