Sense of purpose and achieving happiness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sense of purpose and achieving happiness - Essay Example We are endlessly searching to find happiness within the bounds of what is tangible and existent around us,oftentimes limiting ourselves within the confines of material gains, wealth and luxury How we define happiness is contingent with our very own beliefs, values, philosophy, ideals, achievement, preferences and the world around us. Some people associate happiness with the word "contentment," in belief that one can only find true happiness if he is complacent and self-satisfied of who he is and what he have gained. We relentlessly pursuit happiness - in as simple as purchasing a classic novel to pursuing a career in law may all be our goal to attain joy, contentment and thus, happiness in life. As we achieve our primary goals and sufficiently feed ourselves with basic needs and desires, we tend to aim more, work more and achieve the greater good that will ultimately bring satisfaction and pleasant state of consciousness. And on the course of finding happiness, we then realize the th ings that will truly make us happy lies not on luxury but on a deeper sense of purpose for ourselves. We tend to explore more on the other side and look for something that will make our lives worth living. There will come to a point that our views about happiness may change and that we are compelled to create a purpose other that achieving the feeling of happiness. In her online article entitled, Is Happiness Overrated?, Wang explained that "people who focus on living with a sense of purpose as they age are more likely to remain cognitively intact, have better mental health and even live longer than people who focus on achieving feelings of happiness." It apparently suggests that happiness is not limited to extrinsic rewards such as money, work incentives and the like, rather it connotes a deeper sense of achievement and of self-satisfaction way beyond of what we can see and touch. The same idea revolves around a theory of what Aristotle called "eudaimonia." Although this is mistran slated and used interchangeably as happiness, Aristotle interpreted it as a virtue of good spirit, personal well-being as the chief goal of men. He discusses a more robust concept of happiness that is something we can obtain from the inside and not from the outside. It constitutes not only the subjective state of doing and feeling well, but it also corresponds to the idea of being loved and virtuous. His principle helped us establish two distinct characteristics of personality with differing perspectives on the concept of happiness. "Eudaimonic well-being" parallels with people who are living with a sense of purpose - those who would rather opt to go on volunteering, providing elderly care or pursuing further studies that will give a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment (Wang, "Is Happiness Overrated?"). In contrary, the "hedonic well-being" coincides with people who focus on achieving feelings of joy and happiness. These people tend to seek short-term and momentary happiness thr ough status and material gain - purchasing a large LCD flat screen television or driving the latest sports car in town. However, Wang noted that for over the past five to 10 years, psychologists have investigated the unique effects on physical and psychological health of eudaimonic versus hedonic types of happiness. In fact, researchers say that "too much focus on feeling happy can actually lead to feeling less happy" (Wang, â€Å"Is Happiness Overrated†). The conclusion implies the paradox of intentionally searching for happiness and the feeling of being entertained, pleased or elated can eventually stresses you out. This may leave us frustrated if we are not able to realize our goals and meet expectations we have set for ourselves. Moreover, in a study conducted by Alzheimer's Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, they found out that "those reporting a lesser sense of purpose in life were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease compar ed with those reporting

Japan Earthquakes' Effect on Japan's Environemnt Research Paper

Japan Earthquakes' Effect on Japan's Environemnt - Research Paper Example In 2011, Japan recorded the strongest earthquake in the recent past, which later triggered a devastating tsunami along the northern pacific coast. This earthquake, named the Great East Japan earthquake, caused massive losses in Japan. The 9.0 earthquake caused a 124 foot tsunami wave, deaths of close to 20’000 people, and massive destruction of homes. Apart from these losses, the earthquake caused the nuclear accident that occurred in Fukushima Prefecture (LÃ ¼sted 4). The fact that Japan is an earthquake prone country makes it prepare for such happenings. In 2011 earthquake, tsunami early warning signs enabled Japan to take the necessary precautionary measures that helped in saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Unfortunately, the 2011 earthquake struck with massive waves that were of bigger magnitude than it was previously predicted. This was the reason why many people lost their lives, massive property destruction, and severe damage on the environment. The massive losses of lives that are evident in different earthquakes that have struck Japan are mainly due to subsequent effects that follow an earthquake. Majority of these effects are environmental in nature, and their impacts may last for a prolonged period of time (LÃ ¼sted 11).usted 11). What is an earthquake? An earthquake refers to a sudden movement of the earth due to an abrupt release of energy that has piled up over a prolonged period. Numerous studies support that a majority of earth quakes occur along boundaries where plates making the earth’s outer layer meet. Scientists use the knowledge of locations where earthquakes take place and the nature of ruptures they produce to describe the plates boundaries. It is worth noting that a majority of destructive earthquakes are as a result of dislocation of the earth’s crust. In such situations, the crust exacts its effects by bending and then breaks and snaps to a new position when the prevailing stress exceeds the pressure exerted by rocks (Alexander 47). The earth has three types of plate boundaries. The first boundaries are the spreading zones. In these zones, molten rock material rises up; this leads to the separation of two plates and addition of material along their edges. Spreading zones are most common in oceans. The second types of boundaries are the transform faults, which occur where plates move past each other. Earthquakes that occur along these plates happen at shallow depths, leading to visi ble straight linear patterns. The third types of plates are the subduction zones, which occur in earth’s regions where one plate subducts another plate. This phenomenon pushes the subducted plate downwards into the mantle causing it to melt. Subduction zones form shallow or deep earthquakes, deep ocean trenches, and mountain ranges that have volcanic activities (Alexander 55). Geologists have evidence that supports the idea that earthquakes occur frequently along faults. These regions of the earth show areas of weakness along the earth’s crust. Once an earthquake has occurred along a fault zone, it is unlikely that all stress is relieved from the earth crust. This situation creates a chance for another earthquake to occur in the future. In some cases, earthquakes are likely to strike before, during or after a volcanic activity. In this case, earthquakes are not linked to the occurrence of the volcanic eruptions, but the force associated with the volcanic eruption cause s the earthquakes to happen (Oxlade 35). Seismographs are the

Blades, Inc. Case Essay Example for Free

Blades, Inc. Case Essay Ben Holt, chief financial officer (CFO) of Blades, Inc., has decided to counteract the decreasing demand for Speedos roller blades by exporting this product to Thailand. Furthermore, due to the low cost of rubber and plastic in Southeast Asia, Holt has decided to import some of the components needed to manufacture Speedos from Thailand. Holt feels that importing rubber and plastic components from Thailand will provide Blades with a cost advantage ( the components im-ported from Thailand are about 20 percent cheaper than similar components in the United States). Currently, approximately $ 20 million, or 10 percent, of Blades’ sales are contributed by its sales in Thailand. Only about 4 percent of Blades’ cost of goods sold is attributable to rubber and plastic imported from Thailand. Blades faces little competition in Thailand from other U. S. roller blades manufacturers. Those competitors that export roller blades to Thailand invoice their exports in U. S. dollars. Currently, Blades follows a policy of invoicing in Thai baht ( Thailand’s currency). Ben Holt felt that this strategy would give Blades a competitive advantage since Thai importers can plan more easily when they do not have to worry about paying differing amounts due to currency fluctuations. Furthermore, Blades’ primary customer in Thailand ( a retail store) has committed itself to purchasing a certain amount of Speedos annually if Blades will invoice in baht for a period of 3 years. Blades’ purchases of components from Thai exporters are currently invoiced in Thai baht. Ben Holt is rather content with current arrangements and believes the lack of competitors in Thailand, the quality of Blades’ products, and its approach to pricing will ensure Blades’ position in the Thai roller blade market in the future. Holt also feels that Thai in the Thai roller blade market in the future. Holt also feels that Thai importers will prefer Blades over its competitors because Blades invoices in Thai baht. You, Blades’ financial analyst, have doubts as to Blades’ â€Å"guaranteed† future success. Although you believe Blades’ strategy for its Thai sales and imports are sound, you are concerned about current expectations for the Thai economy. Current forecasts indicate a high level of anticipated inflation, a decreasing level of national income, and a continued depreciation of the Thai baht. In your opinion, all of these future developments could affect Blades financially given the company’s current arrangements with its suppliers and with the Thai importers. Both Thai consumers and firms might adjust their spending habits should certain developments occur. In the past, you have had difficulty convincing Ben Holt that problems could arise in Thailand. Consequently, you have developed a list of questions for yourself, which you plan to present to the company’s CFO after you have answered them. Your questions are listed here: 1. How could a higher level of inflation in Thailand than that of US affect Blades import and export respectively in the following two scenarios? a. In the short term, US$ versus THB hold at fixed exchange rate due to a pegged exchange rate policy. b. In the long run, the Thailand trade deficit causes the pegged exchange

How Does The Media Influence Young Girls Media Essay

How Does The Media Influence Young Girls Media Essay There are many programs and magazines, such as Americas next top model and Seventeen magazine, that are watched and read by many teenage girls. These girls are insecure and want to be popular, handsome and well-liked. The young women are therefore easily influenced by the information they receive from the media. An average teenage girl hides herself using tons of make-up and beautiful clothes, because she is insecure about her outer appearance. Every morning she has to get herself prepared for the day. She decides to skip her breakfast, an extra hour of sleep, or even her first lesson. She takes a shower, puts on enough make-up and dresses herself well. These girls are influenced by the beautiful and perfect women, whose pictures are showed in advertisements and on TV. A variety of programs show us public images of how you should dress, look and act. The young girls wish that they are also perfect, with the perfect dress and with the perfect make-up; so that they are attractive to boys and that they look like the girls and women on TV. Well known make-up artists such as Rimmel London and Max Factor present their make-up with skinny girls, who have the perfect skin and the perfect look. So the question is, are they selling the product, the make-up, or are they selling the beautiful woman? The advertisements are indeed selling the product, but they are also selling the image of the ideal woman. They emphasize thinness as part of the females beauty. These women, who are on the covers of the magazines, serve as an example for the teenage girls. They also want to be thin, have big boobs, and a beautiful skin. These images affect the girls own self-image. Not only the models have a great influence on the girls, also the articles written in the popular teenage magazines have a great influence on the young women. The articles explain the girls about the ideal appearance. Articles like How to look attractive to boys and How to achieve the perfect look, hair and face are extremely normal. An article on the website of Seventeen magazine gives you the perfect example of such an article, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾New Makeup Promise to Boost Your Mood!  [1]  This article is about a new make-up that promises to make you happy. It explains about the ingredients, such as Euphoryl, Murumuru Seed Butter and Theobroma Grandiflorum, whatever they are, and I am sure that girls, who read this article, think about buying this make-up, without realising if these ingredients really work! Outer appearance has become very important throughout the years for everyone, because of the media. They emphasize the importance of the physical appearance and that is the way advertisers sell beauty products such as day and night creams and make-up. Women and teenage girls therefore strive to achieve the ideal outer appearance presented by the media. They are not satisfied with their own body and are doing anything to become beautiful. Do you recognize these young women? I bet that almost two third of the teenage girls could be compared to the average teenage girl who has been influenced by the media. These girls are boring and not outstanding. Thus, the media should stop offering false information to young women about the perfect body. The media encourages the girls to have a negative self-image. In fact, a person who is fat and walks like a duck has probably a more beautiful personality than the other girls. Although these girls are not to blame, the media is. (617 words) By writing an opinion column, I wanted to express my opinion about how the media influences young women, because advertisements, commercials, TV programs and magazines are all influencing the teenage girls by giving them false information. An opinion column should not be written in a particular style. As a columnist you are free to write in your own style, although it still has to be worth reading. So my first objective was to write a convincing opinion column that would be easy to read for most people. Therefore I didnt use many difficult words and tried to be convincing by giving the reader important information about the influence of the media. My second objective was to inform the people about the influence of the media on teenage girls. I explained the average, insecure teenage girl who can be easily influenced by beautiful models printed on the cover of the popular teenage magazines. As an example I described a daily morning of an average teenage girl. Every morning she has to get herself prepared for the day (paragraph 2). The girls strive for having the perfect face; therefore they skip their breakfast to prepare for school. To support my opinion about the influence of media I used another example. On the website of Seventeen magazine, an American magazine for teenagers, I found an article that was called: New Makeup Promise to Boost Your Mood! (see stimulus material). This article is about a special make-up that would make the girls happier. Young teenage girls are easily influenced by this text and by the convincing title, because the title makes a certain promise to you. My third objective was to explain what image the advertisements and commercials are selling. I explained the ideal outer appearance and why it has become more popular over the years. They emphasize thinness as part of the females beauty. (paragraph 3) My last objective was to imitate the layout of a newspaper, using columns and an appropriate title. To accomplish this objective I looked at other opinion columns, and imitated the layout of the page. Stimulus material: article New Makeup Promises to Boost Your Mood! January 4, 2011 at 2:58:00 PM by Seventeen Magazine Its no surprise that when youre happy or excited you ace a test, your boyfriend sends over flowers for no reason, your face has a gorgeous glow. (Feeling beautiful = looking beautiful!) But what about a makeup product that produces the same effect? The Happy Booster Glow Mood Boosting Blush and Face Powder by Physicians Formula promises to lift your spirits. Its the first-ever makeup line developed to stimulate happy thoughts through mood-enhancing ingredients, color therapy, aroma therapy, and texture therapy. Basically, it copies the effect of endorphins, aka happy molecules, which produce a sense of well-being. (Your body releases endorphins during exercise, which is what makes you feel great afterward.) Other ingredients include Euphoryl, which is an anti-depressant packed with Omega-3, as well as Murumuru Seed Butter and Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, which make skin feel silky-smooth and appear luminous. Finally, its blend of floral scents refreshes your mood. And how cute is this packaging?! All this happiness is contained in a heart-shaped plastic compact with a pink metallic base. It comes in a face powder (see above), blush, and bronzer, and each is a variety of overlapping different-colored hearts. So, the big question: can you buy happiness? For $11.95-13.95 at select drugstores, you just might come close!

Victor Frankenstein Essay example -- Literary Analysis, Mary Shelley

The wise Uncle Ben once told Peter Parker, â€Å"remember, with great power. Comes great responsibility.† There is no greater power than that acquired by the infamous Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein when he discovers the secret to creating life. Shelley’s Frankenstein is a tale of creation that depicts acts of human conception and discovery. The Oxford English Dictionary defines creation as â€Å"the action or process of bringing something into existence from nothing by divine or natural agency; the fact of being so created.† It defies the natural order of things and creates a world of its own. The multiple acts of creation and discovery bring upon a certain set of responsibilities and implications as depicted by David Collings who analyzes the responsibilities that come as a result of these acts in his essay â€Å"The Monster and the Maternal Thing: Mary Shelley’s Critique of Ideology†. The main act of creation is evident through Victor Frankenstein’s creation of the Being which is depicted most prominently in the novel. However, there are multiple other acts of creation and discovery that may not be apparent at first sight. One of the most important being, Victor’s discovery of the knowledge required to create life. Apart from initially creating the Being, Victor also plays a critical role in the Being’s evolution into a raging and vengeful creature. Perhaps above all other acts of creation and discovery is Victor’s personal creation of himself into a monster. As stated by Collings most of these acts of creation on Victor’s part are subconsciously brought upon because of their lack of a maternal figure but also in part because of his desire for fame and glory. However, he is blinded by his motives and forgets that with his... ...eatures. Victor Frankenstein is given this power when he discovers the secret to reanimating dead remains, by which he creates the Being we have all come to call Frankenstein. In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley depicts this amazing power and the change it causes in not only Victor’s life but in the world. Along the way the young Victor Frankenstein creates more than what he initially believed but his greed and vanity shield him from recognizing the responsibilities and implications that arise, all of which are analyzed the by David Collings in his essay â€Å"The Monster and the Maternal Thing: Mary Shelley’s Critique of Ideology.† As Uncle Ben once told Peter Parker â€Å"remember, with great power. Comes great responsibility.† Victor acquired great power but disregarded all responsibilities that resulted out of his creations, therefore creating himself as a monster.

Qualia, Robots and Complementarity of Subject and Object :: Philosophy Papers

Qualia, Robots and Complementarity of Subject and Object Jackson claims that a person who sees colors for the first time by this very fact acquires a certain knowledge which she or he could not have learned in a black and white world. This argument can be generalized to other secondary qualities. I argue that this claim is indefensible without implicit recourse to the first-person experience; also Nagel’s "what it is like" argument is polemically weak. Hence, we have no argument able to dismiss physicalism by consideration of first-person qualia (contra Jackson); however, it does not force us to endorse qualia-reductionism. In the second part of my paper I defend non-reductionism in a different way. Following Nagel and Harman, I try to avoid criticisms usually presented against Nagel, seeing subjectivity and objectivity as two complementary structures of the subjective and objective element of our language. I refer to classical German philosophy, phenomenology and Marxist dialectics which have developed a complementary approach cruc ial in the reductionist/anti-reductionist controversy in the philosophy of mind. "Opinion says hot and cold, but the reality is atoms and empty space." Democritus Jackson’s Black and White Mary (1) case illustrates an argument that our first-person experience of qualia provides knowledge not accessible through third-person means. This argument seems suspicious: if ‘knowledge’, by definition, needs to be grasped in third-person terms, it is inconceivable how an exclusively first-person experience may give us knowledge. Harman (92) develops complementarity of subjective and objective aspects within his functionalism of concepts. This notion needs to be extended to epistemic complementarity. I refer to Classical German Philosophy, Phenomenology and Marxism which have developed a complementary approach crucial in the reductionist anti-reductionist controversy in philosophy of mind. I. The Knowledge Argument As Jackson (86) emphasizes in his polemics with Churchland (85) the main point of the case of Black and White Mary is not that Mary cannot ‘imagine’ what it is like to sense red but that "she would not know" (2) how red things look. I accept this argument, but not the next step. Jackson argues: "But if physicalism is true she would know; and no great powers of imagination would be called for." (3) There are two versions of physicalism: the first, against which Jackson has something to say, maintains that every instance of knowledge can be couched in third-person language. (4) But the assumption that physical information is solely what "you can tell" is not a necessary condition of physicalism. Qualia, Robots and Complementarity of Subject and Object :: Philosophy Papers Qualia, Robots and Complementarity of Subject and Object Jackson claims that a person who sees colors for the first time by this very fact acquires a certain knowledge which she or he could not have learned in a black and white world. This argument can be generalized to other secondary qualities. I argue that this claim is indefensible without implicit recourse to the first-person experience; also Nagel’s "what it is like" argument is polemically weak. Hence, we have no argument able to dismiss physicalism by consideration of first-person qualia (contra Jackson); however, it does not force us to endorse qualia-reductionism. In the second part of my paper I defend non-reductionism in a different way. Following Nagel and Harman, I try to avoid criticisms usually presented against Nagel, seeing subjectivity and objectivity as two complementary structures of the subjective and objective element of our language. I refer to classical German philosophy, phenomenology and Marxist dialectics which have developed a complementary approach cruc ial in the reductionist/anti-reductionist controversy in the philosophy of mind. "Opinion says hot and cold, but the reality is atoms and empty space." Democritus Jackson’s Black and White Mary (1) case illustrates an argument that our first-person experience of qualia provides knowledge not accessible through third-person means. This argument seems suspicious: if ‘knowledge’, by definition, needs to be grasped in third-person terms, it is inconceivable how an exclusively first-person experience may give us knowledge. Harman (92) develops complementarity of subjective and objective aspects within his functionalism of concepts. This notion needs to be extended to epistemic complementarity. I refer to Classical German Philosophy, Phenomenology and Marxism which have developed a complementary approach crucial in the reductionist anti-reductionist controversy in philosophy of mind. I. The Knowledge Argument As Jackson (86) emphasizes in his polemics with Churchland (85) the main point of the case of Black and White Mary is not that Mary cannot ‘imagine’ what it is like to sense red but that "she would not know" (2) how red things look. I accept this argument, but not the next step. Jackson argues: "But if physicalism is true she would know; and no great powers of imagination would be called for." (3) There are two versions of physicalism: the first, against which Jackson has something to say, maintains that every instance of knowledge can be couched in third-person language. (4) But the assumption that physical information is solely what "you can tell" is not a necessary condition of physicalism.

Discuss Theories of Communication

P2: Discuss theories of communication. Part A The communication cycle is a commonly used theory of communication. It was first developed by Charles Berner in 1965; it was then modified by Michael Argyle, who was a social psychologist, in 1972. The concept of a ‘communication cycle’ makes it clear that, in order to have effective communication, it must be a two way process. As well as transferring messages to others in a definite, clear way, health care professionals must be able to respond to the verbal feedback as well as the non-verbal feedback.So, effective communication has to involve effort from both participators (both the sender as well as the receiver) in the communication. The communication cycle has six stages. Stage one is when ideas occur, this makes us think and assess the situation that we are in before we start to communicate. We need to think about what we are trying to say, and how to say this in a clear, effective way. Stage two is when the message is c oded and here we have to be aware of the different methods that we can use to send our message.We should try and consider the most effective communication method depending on the situation and the person with whom we will be communicating. Stage three is when the message gets sent. We need to make sure that we have chosen the most effective method of communication, and that we have used this communication method in the most correct way. We should not try and rush the message being sent because that could cause misunderstanding between the two people who are communicating. Stage four is whenever the message gets perceived by the receiver.The service user has to make sense of the message given to them. As health care professionals, we should be aware of the potential difficulties and be aware of how to take steps in order to lessen these difficulties. Stage five is when the message gets decoded. The service user tries to make meaning of what you have just communicated to them. Here, w e have to clarify and check out how much of the information is being understood. This clarification should be carried out on a continual basis, not just at the end of the conversation.Finally, stage six is whenever the message gets understood, and then the receiver of the message then becomes the sender of the new message in the form of feedback. You must allow plenty of time for feedback, remembering that it will be both verbal and nonverbal; this involves listening with your eyes, ears and body language. Part B Mrs Hedges is a resident in a nursing home. Recently, her hearing has declined and she now relies on a hearing aid to enable communication. Three weeks ago, Mrs Hedge’s granddaughter was involved in an accident and since been in hospital.Her family have been reluctant to tell Mrs Hedges of her granddaughter’s condition as they do not want to upset her. Mrs Hedges was used to seeing her granddaughter on a regular basis; she often popped in on her own to spend t ime with her granny. Mrs Hedges has started to worry about her granddaughter and the family have asked that you help them break the news. . â€Å"A relationship without communication will definitely fail. If you attempt to have a relationship without communication, both people involved in the relationship will have different goals and objectives. ANGEL, G, 2010. Title [The importance of the communication cycle]. [16. 10. 12]. Available from World Wide Web : <http://www. helium. com/items/1746915-communication-cycle> The importance of the communication cycle cannot and should not be underestimated. Below, I am going to discuss why I think it is important to follow the communication cycle and why it is important for effective communication. The sender should be aware that the person with whom they will be communicating is hard of hearing, and are wearing a hearing aid.The dispatcher of the communication should be able to select the most effective form of communication in order to communicate the message at hand. The sender must think about how to communicate the message in a sensitive way that the receiver will understand. The communicator should be on the same level as the receiver of the communication; this allows the receiver (Mrs Hedges) to read facial expression and, if possible, lip read. Being on the same level as the receiver of the communication, also allows them to focus and listen more efficiently.The speaker must thoroughly think through what he or she is going to say, and the method in which they want to say it. They must evaluate and decide whether to use verbal or nonverbal communication, or a mix of the two. If they have chosen verbal communication, they must figure out a way to communicate in a non-patronising way that will still be as effective. If nonverbal communication is chosen, the correct method of nonverbal communication should be chosen. Effective communication must happen in order to meet Mrs Hedges’ needs, to help her fe el re assured, safe and secure.In this particular case, I think that a mixture of both verbal and nonverbal communication is requisite. Using speech along with caring and reassuring touch will be effective in making Mrs Hedges feel cared for and safe. The communicator should speak in a normal fashion that Mrs Hedges will not find condescending, but that you speak in a slightly slower pace than usual; this makes your speech clearer. Communicate the message to Mrs Hedges at a time when she is least likely to be tired, as when you are tired, your hearing is decreased anyway.Verbal communication is so important, especially when delivering such a delicate message, so make sure to use simple, short sentences, and make sure that MRs Hedges has understood, you could do this by asking questions such as ‘are you following me? ’ or ‘Do you have any questions, Mrs Hedges? ’. If she hasn’t understood the message, refrain from repeating the same sentence over agai n, instead the sender of the message should try re-phrasing the sentence. Nonverbally, facial expression and hand movements, body language and touch are vital.If Mrs Hedges gets upset, it is important that the communicator re assures her by caring gestures, such as gentle, friendly touch, the carer could put their hand on Mrs Hedge’s shoulder, to comfort her. The carer must be able to communicate effectively to Mrs Hedges so that Mrs Hedges fully understands the message. This is also important as it is useful to know how to effectively communicate so that Mrs Hedges’ needs are met and that she feels safe, secure and re-assured. This will also help her feel valued, and her self-esteem will be boosted by default as the communication is 100% effective.Part C Another theory of communication is Tuckman’s theory of group development. First developed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965, it is one of the more well-known group/team development theories and has been the basis of man y other ideas since its birth. Tuckman’s theory focuses on the way that a team tackles a task from the initial formation of the team right the way through to the completion of the given project. Tuckman’s theory is relevant in particular to team building challenges as each individual phase can affect the completion of the task at hand.Basically, Tuckman's model explains that, as the team develops maturity and ability, the relationships within the team get more established, and the leader changes his or her leadership style, according to the developmental stage of the group. In this group development cycle, there are four main stages although later on, Tuckman added a fifth stage to the cycle (although this is not used by everybody). The first stage, forming, is the stage where the group is put together for the first time, and where all the group members meet one another for the first time, so naturally, this is the most awkward stage of the developmental cycle.The grou p is thought to be at the â€Å"honeymoon stage†- the group members are all naturally shy, and are all aware of their feelings and the feelings of others. In this stage, there is a high dependence on the leader by most of the team members, for guidance and direction. There is little agreement between team members on the aims and purposes of the team, other than what is given by the team leader. Individual roles and responsibilities of team members are somewhat unclear.The leader should be prepared as the team members will have a lot of questions to ask, and the leader will have to be confident so that the team members can feel confident too, and also they will have a sense of security. The second stage, storming, is the stage where the most conflict occurs. The team will begin to gain comfort with one another, and so the team will start to address the task suggesting possible ideas, and different ideas may compete for the favour of the group, and if this is badly managed, it can result in being very destructive for the team.This phase is described as the ‘make or break’ moments for the team, as in the team relationships will either me made or broken. In this stage, it is essential that the team has a strong facilitative leadership in this phase. There is a stronger clarity of purpose, but plenty of uncertainties persist. Cliques and factions form and there might be power struggles within the group. The third stage, Norming, is where the team begins to ‘find their feet’ a bit more.The norming phase is a gradual move towards harmonious team-working. The team becomes more united and begins to agree on rules, purposes, values and aims on which they all agree to operate. In an ideal world, teams will begin to trust themselves more and each member will begin to value the contribution of other team members. In this phase, you will find that the team leader is able to take a step back as individual members become more comfortable with each other and so take on greater responsibility.A potential risk during the norming stage is that the team will become complacent and will lose their creative edge or the motivation that brought them to the team in the first place. The group on a whole is able to make larger decisions, and smaller decisions get delegated to individual team members, adding to the harmony of the group. Outside of the ‘team environment’ the team members may engage in social activities together. The fourth stage, performing, is when the team members are working at their optimum level as a united body.The group can be described as being in ‘flow’ – all of the team members are contributing equally to the team and as a result of this; the team is making excellent progress. When I think of a good team working together as one, I think of the metaphor of a human body; every part of the human body is required for the body to work properly and at optimum level, and this is the same as a team working together. In this stage of group development, each group member can help the other members out by giving them advice, instruction and constructive criticism where necessary.Teams that are performing at optimum level are identified by high independence levels and motivation is evident as well as each team member being highly competent and knowledgeable in the aims they want to achieve, and the main ideas of their team project. Decision making within the team is done as one entity and each team member has a high level of respect for each individual team member. †¦PART D†¦ (TO BE DONE NEXT WEEK) http://www. teambuilding. co. uk/Forming_Storming_Norming_Performing. html http://www. businessballs. com/tuckmanformingstormingnormingperforming. htm Discuss Theories of Communication P2: Discuss theories of communication. Part A The communication cycle is a commonly used theory of communication. It was first developed by Charles Berner in 1965; it was then modified by Michael Argyle, who was a social psychologist, in 1972. The concept of a ‘communication cycle’ makes it clear that, in order to have effective communication, it must be a two way process. As well as transferring messages to others in a definite, clear way, health care professionals must be able to respond to the verbal feedback as well as the non-verbal feedback.So, effective communication has to involve effort from both participators (both the sender as well as the receiver) in the communication. The communication cycle has six stages. Stage one is when ideas occur, this makes us think and assess the situation that we are in before we start to communicate. We need to think about what we are trying to say, and how to say this in a clear, effective way. Stage two is when the message is c oded and here we have to be aware of the different methods that we can use to send our message.We should try and consider the most effective communication method depending on the situation and the person with whom we will be communicating. Stage three is when the message gets sent. We need to make sure that we have chosen the most effective method of communication, and that we have used this communication method in the most correct way. We should not try and rush the message being sent because that could cause misunderstanding between the two people who are communicating. Stage four is whenever the message gets perceived by the receiver.The service user has to make sense of the message given to them. As health care professionals, we should be aware of the potential difficulties and be aware of how to take steps in order to lessen these difficulties. Stage five is when the message gets decoded. The service user tries to make meaning of what you have just communicated to them. Here, w e have to clarify and check out how much of the information is being understood. This clarification should be carried out on a continual basis, not just at the end of the conversation.Finally, stage six is whenever the message gets understood, and then the receiver of the message then becomes the sender of the new message in the form of feedback. You must allow plenty of time for feedback, remembering that it will be both verbal and nonverbal; this involves listening with your eyes, ears and body language. Part B Mrs Hedges is a resident in a nursing home. Recently, her hearing has declined and she now relies on a hearing aid to enable communication. Three weeks ago, Mrs Hedge’s granddaughter was involved in an accident and since been in hospital.Her family have been reluctant to tell Mrs Hedges of her granddaughter’s condition as they do not want to upset her. Mrs Hedges was used to seeing her granddaughter on a regular basis; she often popped in on her own to spend t ime with her granny. Mrs Hedges has started to worry about her granddaughter and the family have asked that you help them break the news. . â€Å"A relationship without communication will definitely fail. If you attempt to have a relationship without communication, both people involved in the relationship will have different goals and objectives. ANGEL, G, 2010. Title [The importance of the communication cycle]. [16. 10. 12]. Available from World Wide Web : <http://www. helium. com/items/1746915-communication-cycle> The importance of the communication cycle cannot and should not be underestimated. Below, I am going to discuss why I think it is important to follow the communication cycle and why it is important for effective communication. The sender should be aware that the person with whom they will be communicating is hard of hearing, and are wearing a hearing aid.The dispatcher of the communication should be able to select the most effective form of communication in order to communicate the message at hand. The sender must think about how to communicate the message in a sensitive way that the receiver will understand. The communicator should be on the same level as the receiver of the communication; this allows the receiver (Mrs Hedges) to read facial expression and, if possible, lip read. Being on the same level as the receiver of the communication, also allows them to focus and listen more efficiently.The speaker must thoroughly think through what he or she is going to say, and the method in which they want to say it. They must evaluate and decide whether to use verbal or nonverbal communication, or a mix of the two. If they have chosen verbal communication, they must figure out a way to communicate in a non-patronising way that will still be as effective. If nonverbal communication is chosen, the correct method of nonverbal communication should be chosen. Effective communication must happen in order to meet Mrs Hedges’ needs, to help her fe el re assured, safe and secure.In this particular case, I think that a mixture of both verbal and nonverbal communication is requisite. Using speech along with caring and reassuring touch will be effective in making Mrs Hedges feel cared for and safe. The communicator should speak in a normal fashion that Mrs Hedges will not find condescending, but that you speak in a slightly slower pace than usual; this makes your speech clearer. Communicate the message to Mrs Hedges at a time when she is least likely to be tired, as when you are tired, your hearing is decreased anyway.Verbal communication is so important, especially when delivering such a delicate message, so make sure to use simple, short sentences, and make sure that MRs Hedges has understood, you could do this by asking questions such as ‘are you following me? ’ or ‘Do you have any questions, Mrs Hedges? ’. If she hasn’t understood the message, refrain from repeating the same sentence over agai n, instead the sender of the message should try re-phrasing the sentence. Nonverbally, facial expression and hand movements, body language and touch are vital.If Mrs Hedges gets upset, it is important that the communicator re assures her by caring gestures, such as gentle, friendly touch, the carer could put their hand on Mrs Hedge’s shoulder, to comfort her. The carer must be able to communicate effectively to Mrs Hedges so that Mrs Hedges fully understands the message. This is also important as it is useful to know how to effectively communicate so that Mrs Hedges’ needs are met and that she feels safe, secure and re-assured. This will also help her feel valued, and her self-esteem will be boosted by default as the communication is 100% effective.Part C Another theory of communication is Tuckman’s theory of group development. First developed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965, it is one of the more well-known group/team development theories and has been the basis of man y other ideas since its birth. Tuckman’s theory focuses on the way that a team tackles a task from the initial formation of the team right the way through to the completion of the given project. Tuckman’s theory is relevant in particular to team building challenges as each individual phase can affect the completion of the task at hand.Basically, Tuckman's model explains that, as the team develops maturity and ability, the relationships within the team get more established, and the leader changes his or her leadership style, according to the developmental stage of the group. In this group development cycle, there are four main stages although later on, Tuckman added a fifth stage to the cycle (although this is not used by everybody). The first stage, forming, is the stage where the group is put together for the first time, and where all the group members meet one another for the first time, so naturally, this is the most awkward stage of the developmental cycle.The grou p is thought to be at the â€Å"honeymoon stage†- the group members are all naturally shy, and are all aware of their feelings and the feelings of others. In this stage, there is a high dependence on the leader by most of the team members, for guidance and direction. There is little agreement between team members on the aims and purposes of the team, other than what is given by the team leader. Individual roles and responsibilities of team members are somewhat unclear.The leader should be prepared as the team members will have a lot of questions to ask, and the leader will have to be confident so that the team members can feel confident too, and also they will have a sense of security. The second stage, storming, is the stage where the most conflict occurs. The team will begin to gain comfort with one another, and so the team will start to address the task suggesting possible ideas, and different ideas may compete for the favour of the group, and if this is badly managed, it can result in being very destructive for the team.This phase is described as the ‘make or break’ moments for the team, as in the team relationships will either me made or broken. In this stage, it is essential that the team has a strong facilitative leadership in this phase. There is a stronger clarity of purpose, but plenty of uncertainties persist. Cliques and factions form and there might be power struggles within the group. The third stage, Norming, is where the team begins to ‘find their feet’ a bit more.The norming phase is a gradual move towards harmonious team-working. The team becomes more united and begins to agree on rules, purposes, values and aims on which they all agree to operate. In an ideal world, teams will begin to trust themselves more and each member will begin to value the contribution of other team members. In this phase, you will find that the team leader is able to take a step back as individual members become more comfortable with each other and so take on greater responsibility.A potential risk during the norming stage is that the team will become complacent and will lose their creative edge or the motivation that brought them to the team in the first place. The group on a whole is able to make larger decisions, and smaller decisions get delegated to individual team members, adding to the harmony of the group. Outside of the ‘team environment’ the team members may engage in social activities together. The fourth stage, performing, is when the team members are working at their optimum level as a united body.The group can be described as being in ‘flow’ – all of the team members are contributing equally to the team and as a result of this; the team is making excellent progress. When I think of a good team working together as one, I think of the metaphor of a human body; every part of the human body is required for the body to work properly and at optimum level, and this is the same as a team working together. In this stage of group development, each group member can help the other members out by giving them advice, instruction and constructive criticism where necessary.Teams that are performing at optimum level are identified by high independence levels and motivation is evident as well as each team member being highly competent and knowledgeable in the aims they want to achieve, and the main ideas of their team project. Decision making within the team is done as one entity and each team member has a high level of respect for each individual team member. †¦PART D†¦ (TO BE DONE NEXT WEEK) http://www. teambuilding. co. uk/Forming_Storming_Norming_Performing. html http://www. businessballs. com/tuckmanformingstormingnormingperforming. htm