Technology and Interpersonal Relationships Essay

Technology and Interpersonal Relationships - Essay Example The fast-paced life of people today keeps human relationships on a standstill most of the time. The many things that occupy our time – family, school, building a career at work, etc., have made rushing from one place to another and always lacking time for everything common features in most people’s lifestyles. However, the human need to be connected to others is always present, and so people have turned to technology, specifically the internet, or mobile phones to fulfil this need. Family and friends have become more accessible and available in just a click of a button. The internet also offers a myriad of opportunities for meeting more people, relaxing with online games, sharing pictures and videos and an outlet to express innermost thoughts and feelings to share with others. The question of how technology affects interpersonal relationships is becoming a popular issue nowadays. The generation gap between the older people and the younger generation is broadening. Older people are accustomed to candid conversations with eye contact and are usually adept at reading body language and nonverbal gestures. The young people of today are very much into technological communication via texting, internet chatting, tweeting, etc. and are engaged with their mobile phones, Ipods, Ipads and other gadgets. When brought together, the older people may complain that the younger ones are lacking manners because they do not know how to give due attention to their companions. It is as if they live in their own worlds, with their gadgets as their gateway to reach their friends. Michael Bugeja’s book on the Interpersonal Divide meticulously describes how the technological age has affected humankind, most especially its humaneness in interacting with others. What prevail right now in terms of technology are computers, the internet, mobile phones, television, radio and other media paraphernalia. These things physically separate people from each other but provide a way for them to connect using technology. In Chapter 3, Bugeja explains how the proliferation of computer-mediated communication affects our views, expectations and interpersonal relationships. In computer-mediated communication, so many of our personhood becomes filtered that the communication lacks social cues. It then prevents the establishment of strong interpersonal collaboration and trust especially in cyber environments where invisibility is an option. Thus, when people chat online or send text messages, a lot of miscommunication may take place when the received messages are interpreted differently from how the sender meant it. This is because the text do not show people’s tone of voice, facial expression or non-verbal gestures which contribute to the clarity of the message sent. Media and technology saturate the lives of people with so many tasks they can do simultaneously and that makes them feel productive at a faster rate. When they log-out from the virtual world a nd re-join the real world, they may find it difficult to be accustomed to it for some time. The real world has three dimensions- up, down and breadth. It also offers intricate human sensations experienced in person. Bugeja also explains that interpersonal skills become the result of physical formats in the real world such as touch, eye contact, smell,

Expansion and Merger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Expansion and Merger - Essay Example While social regulation is used to attain social goals, for instance, shielding the public's safety and health or upholding a healthy and clean environment. Governments in market economies should institute and defend the right to private property and to the financial gains resulting from the utilization of that property. Gaughan (2010) claims that in defining and implementing property rights and upholding an effectual legal system, governments may create a social environment that permits private markets for the majority of goods and services to task successfully and with extensive, popular support. These elite rights give the proprietors, whether corporations or individuals, exclusive rights to trade or otherwise advertise their products and creations for a given duration. The number of monopolies is essentially small and relates to a small percentage of the economic action in key market economies. It is common for a problem to occur due to industry domination by a few successful fir ms (Halibozek and Kovacich, 2005). There is an actual threat that these corporations may conspire to set high prices and prevent entry by novel, competing firms. To proscribe such monopolies and conspiracy behaviour, and to uphold a more efficient level of antagonism in the economic system, supposed antitrust laws have been enacted in key market economies, including the United States. Governments in market economies have significant responsibility in offering the economic environment, which the bazaar of private corporations can task most effectively. A Hilbert (2007) states, one such function is to supply a widely conventional, unwavering currency and to uphold the worth of that currency through guidelines that restrict inflation. As a result of elevated unemployment and low inflation, governments increase the availability of money, which decreases interest rates. Lower interest rates motivate investment expenditure by businesses seeking to develop and employ more workers. During l ow unemployment and high inflation, policymakers increase interest rates, thereby decreasing the availability of credit and the supply of money (Hilbert, 2007). Justify the reason for the involvement of government, in the market process, in the U.S. Government intervention in the market process is crucial, since there are key differences in the government’s duty, in the market sectors of the United States economy. The state and local governments are the direct providers of majority (92%) services, and government employees are service providers. In addition, quasi-political government bureaucracies make decisions about the methods of production. Nevertheless, government programs and policies substantially reduce the costs of education and medical care for the end users. Market redistributive considerations and imperfections can explain the government involvement in a market economy. Let us assume that the merger faces some threats and the industry resolves on self-expansion th e probable strategy, describe the complexities that would emerge under the new idea of expansion via capital projects. Identifying the costs of monetary distress, creditors of rising firms call for detailed agreements to guard themselves against possible managerial incompetence and opportunism. These agreements are probably to be particularly limiting for highly-leveraged

Strategically evaluation the airlines based on your choice using the SWOT analysis Essay Example for Free

Strategically evaluation the airlines based on your choice using the SWOT analysis Essay SWOT are meaning of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. First, we discuss the strengths of Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific established in 1946, it’s a long history experience base on Hong Kong. It is a large-scale international airline around the world, includes flights to Asia, Europe, Africa and USA. The services that this airline provides are passenger transport and cargo services to 167 destinations in 42 countries and territories around the world. The Cathay Pacific is a strong financial position from Swire Group and its acquisition of Dragon Air is the market leader in Asia. The Airlines is a strong relationship with Air China and China Government are increased shareholding in Air China, it is a majority shareholding in Air Hong Kong with all cargo carrier services. On the other hand, they well-trained labor force of the high quality service, it around 29,800 employees in the world and the superb team is about 22,000 in Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific is adapting in organizational structure. At last, Cathay Pacific development of online service for its business growth, the passenger can book on the website for operating in many routes easily. {1} It have strong Media Centre and awards, for example, Slogan â€Å"Asia’s world city Hong Kong†, World’s Best Overall Airline, Best first class lounge and most punctual airline between London and Hong Kong. After that, provide the new types A340 of aircrafts for saving energy and efficient operations. Some of the long haul flights are always 100% Full. Second, the weaknesses of the Cathay Pacific are strong labor union and potential strike and negotiations. The environment of Long Haul Equipment, apparently the current A340 and B744 both of them have their weakness, B744 still have a little bit noisy, and A340 have a narrow cabin to affect the comfort. There are low margins and keen price competition. However, it is earning per share under fluctuation and uncertainty. Third, the Opportunities are stable economic growth and increase the needs of traveling in Asia. It development of global travel and tourism industry and air freight and logistics it is because of globalization. There is relaxation of China policy in outbound tour. The expansion of cargo services in new markets (Zhengzhou and Hyderabad). It is planning for a new establishment of {5} Joint Venture business with Shanghai’s 2 international airports. For the people, they can tend to luxury flight experience and passages know Cathay Pacific is safety. Finally, Threats of the Cathay Pacific is high fuel cost, and it is increasing competition from low cost carriers like the HK Airline and Air Asia. It became the economic fluctuation in Europe and USA. {6} It is potential terrorist attack under unstable world political situation.

Does Globalisation Increase Vulnerability?

Does Globalisation Increase Vulnerability? Globalisation will make our societies more creative and prosperous, but also more vulnerable. Lord Robertson (British politician) Explain and assess this statement. The Washington consensus, made in 1989 is one of the main starting point of the globalization. It creates the free trade, capital market liberalization, deregulation of the market, tax reform, etc. (Barnett, Held, Henderson, Casper 2013). The globalization is not a recent phenomenon. It started during the 15th century with the various voyages did by some explorer as Christophe Colombes and many others to find new trade routes (Osland, 2003). The globalization allows the world to develop and create an interconnected world. Many researchers have defined the globalization since its appearance around 1960. Thus, the most broad-ranging definition of globalisation is the growing interconnectedness and interrelatedness of all aspects of society (Jones, 2010). Moreover, the researchers Kegley and Raymond had defined the globalization as a set of processes that are widening, deepening, and accelerating the interconnectedness among societies. Thus, the globalization involves different types o f connections, like economical connections, political or cultural, between nations and countries (Andreeska, 2015). Its main drivers are political/ regulatory (free trade, WTO, GATT), and technological (increase the flow of goods, capital, people) (Hamilton, Webster, 2015). Various organizations had been created to regulate the globalization such as the WTO (World Trade Organisation), the UN (United Nations), World Bank and International Monetary Fund (Hill Hernà ¡ndez-Requejo, 2012); and some summits are taking place like the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit or the UN summit and many others. The NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson said Globalisation will make our societies more creative and prosperous, but also more vulnerable. The rapid dissemination of technology and information offers entirely new ways of production, but it can also bring the spectre of more states developing weapons of mass destruction. To explain and assess this statement, I will firstly w ill describe the various advantages of the globalization making the different countries creative and prosperous. And in a second part, I will describe the different negatives effects implied by the globalization which made our societies in insecurity and vulnerable. Firstly, many debates have taken place over the globalization and its positive and negative effects. The most important one is the post-Washington consensus debate explaining the fragility of policies concerning liberalize trade and set price right and concerning these recommendations which fail in many countries which do not have proper governances institution (Bigman, 2002). In general, in the debates, the proponents said that the globalization is an opportunity for economic growth and prosperity. Whereas, the opponents said that the globalization is more a threat to the environment, the culture et the prosperity of the countries (Osland, 2003). Many debates over the globalization are still present nowadays. The globalization brings many advantages for the nations and the countries over many aspects of the modern life. One of the main aspect of the globalisation is a worldwide market created thanks to the free trade. It allows to reduce various barriers such as tariffs barriers, but also to promote global economic growth and the ability for countries to create some agreements like South Korea Korus or NAFA (Collins, 2015). A worldwide market increases the access to more goods and services reducing prices (Osland, 2003), to new markets which can increase the profit of some societies, such as China with its rapidly growing market, and to new products such as the petrol in Saudi Arabia (Hamilton, Webster, 2015). With a worldwide market, global companies obtain some production, marketing and research advantages thanks to the access of new goods, services, technologies, etc. (Roman, Manolică, 2012). Thus, a worldwide market without barriers has many advantages such as a more effici ent market, an acceleration of the transactions, an introduction of new markets and a stabilized security for foreign investment (Bran, 2015). Another important aspect of the globalization is the economy growth. The globalization helps developing countries like Asian Tigers (Osland, 2003). Because the globalization allows them to have access to new technologies, education,and to increase their standards of living and their business environment (Roman, Manolică, 2012). The expansion of the global economy gives them a certain economic prosperity that helps them to develop and be competitive with the developed countries (Baek, Shi, 2016). For instance, a recent study for Economic Policy research showed that 30-40% of the world population has benefited from the globalization (Osland, 2003). However, one of the main factor of the economic growth of ancient developing countries is the expansion of capitalism, and sometimes when it is necessary the appearance and imposing of democracy (Bran, 2015). As in the video Globalization is good, Johan Norberg had demonstrated that in Vietnam or in Taiwan the globalization played an important role in the development of the country and in reducing the poverty giving some jobs and education (à lvarez, 2014). The globalization also contributes to increase the competitiveness and the creativity of our societies. With the creation of a worldwide market, competitors came from everywhere and not only from the national market, thus increasing the competition between the companies (Bran, 2015). Moreover, some economists emphasize that with trade liberalization, there are more efficient resources and cheap labour cost. Thus, companies are growing and more competitive (Bigman, 2002). Their growth allows them to get the economy of scales benefits with the costs reductions, allowing to maintain the competitiveness (Roman, Manolică, 2012). Furthermore, since the end of the World War II, societies saw major advances in communication and technology with internet creating a global audience (Hill Hernà ¡ndez-Requejo, 2012). This global audience also created global competitor and the rapid technological change contributed to increase the economic performance of the countries to stay competitive. But the competition between companies also leads to this technological change (Roman, Manolică, 2012). To stay competitive in a global market, societies specialized them and became more aware of the new technologies. Thus, they need to examine clearly the market and introduce advanced concepts (Kostovski, Nanevski Gjurcevski, 2016). However, some transnational corporation as General Motors, Walmart or Siemens well understand this new global market. They control most of the worlds investment capital and technology creating them a prominent position. They perfectly understand the functioning of the global market and take advantage on it, for instance, delocalizing their production to developing countries where the labour cost is low (Steger, 2009). Thus, the globalization has many advantages making our societies creative and prosperous. Secondly, the globalization has many disadvantages making our societies vulnerable. Many protests have taken place throughout the world like in Seattle, Washington, France or Indonesia (Bigman, 2002). The demonstration in 1999 in Seattle was aggressive and loud, bring 40 000 protesters together, to protest against wide range of globalizations issues including job losses (Hill Hernà ¡ndez-Requejo, 2012). The globalization makes our societies vulnerable and unsecured. Transworld connections have facilitated the emergence of criminal organizations and illegals economies, and the criminal violences increase (Bran, 2015). Indeed, the criminal violence kills three-quarter of a million people per year (Scholte, 2005). Globalization has created a context for criminal activities such as internet for fraudsters and paedophiles, and the global finance for money laundering. Moreover, the criminal networks evolved with the globalization, allowing the organized crime and the gang to be the largest beneficiary of the globalization. For example, the Colombia-based Cali cartel generates 3$ billion in benefits per year thanks to its network. Another example, the chain of global interconnections allowing the diffusion of the instant broadcast of Ben Ladens speech to a global audience on September 11th (Steger, 2009). However, the globalization also helps to create new agencies and opportunities to com bat crime such as Interpol (Scholte, 2005). The globalization negatively affects the environment like global warming, pollution, deforestation, biodiversity reduction and oceans degradation (Osland, 2003). The increasing demand of products increases the finite resources use, and the pollution level due to the fossil fuel (Bran, 2015). Then, an abusive environment use has dangerous consequences like the rise of sea levels, the air contamination, the destruction of forests and lakes, and the natural resources reduction (Scholte, 2005). For instance, Asian cloud causes premature death, flooding and drought due to increased industrialization and globalization (Osland, 2003). However, political authorities created policies to reduce ecological threats like tax polluter, the promotion of environmentally friendly technologies, and the regulations use to control the pollution amount generated by business (Hamilton, Webster, 2015). Moreover, some global summits on the environment have taken place like Stockholm (1972), Rio de Janeiro (1992), and Johannesburg (2002) to raise the environment problems awareness. Then, the globalization also complicated the health problems due to the easier illness transfer worldwide like HIV/ AIDS which were spread by travellers (Collins, 2015). But it creates new health problems like tobacco, alcohol, asbestos, junk foods, and drugs. However, the globalization helps to find new medicine with the technology and allows the health professionals movement around the world (Scholte, 2005). With the globalization, the business environment becomes more complex with the laws, regulations, cultures, etc. Companies must face global and local competitors. Inefficient organisations cannot survive to this high number of competitors like Lufthansa and France Telecom (Hamilton, Webster, 2015). Furthermore, companies must adapt their products to different markets in terms of behaviour, tradition, expectation and attitude (Roman, Manolică, 2012). The spread of technologies and knowledge makes the competition fierce and feared (Bhagwati, 2004). Moreover, the decreased labour conditions are consequences of the worldwide market creation. To stay competitive, companies relocated their industries (Bran, 2015). But these countries have usually low labour condition like child labour or under-payed jobs (Bigman, 2002). Moreover, these jobs outsourcing create job losses in developed countries (Osland, 2003). According to Robert Scoot of the Economic Policy Institute, China is th e most favoured nation to relocated job with the relocation in China of 3,3 million jobs, including 2,4 million manufacturing jobs (Collins, 2015). All these problems are disadvantages of the globalization and make our societies vulnerable. Finally, the globalization increases the poverty and the gap between rich and poor. In 1870, the worlds 17 richest nations had an average income per capital 2.4 times that all other country. In 1990, the same group was 4.5 times richer (Hill Hernà ¡ndez-Requejo, 2012). This inequality is present in every country due to the gap between skilled and unskilled workers in wages and unemployment rates. Some countries reduced it like Singapore, South Korea, Ireland and Puerto Rico. But it is still present (Osland, 2003). This gap is caused by the developed countries monopole who direct the raw material price making the developing countries dependant on developed countries (Andreeska, 2015). Moreover, the GATT and the WTO benefits were not correctly distributed. Richer countries increased trades and their growth. Whereas, poor countries were marginalized and their economies shrank (Bigman, 2002), thus increasing the gap between poor and rich. This gap is due to the technological change (Ba ek, Shi, 2016), the poor countries government which is usually totalitarian and not liberal, and their important debt burdens (Hill Hernà ¡ndez-Requejo, 2012). All these various globalizations disadvantages make our societies more vulnerable. To conclude, the globalization brings various positive and negative effects to the world and our societies. The main advantages of the globalization are the creation of a worldwide market and free trades increasing the competitivity and the creativity of the societies, the rapid technological changes, and the fact that globalization help to increase the economic growth of developing and developed countries. All these positives impacts make our societies and the world creative and prosperous. However, the globalization brings different negative impacts on the world. The main disadvantages of the globalization are the insecurity, the global environmental threats, the poverty, and the creation of a worldwide market involving a too high number of competitors and the deterioration of the labour conditions. Thus, all these positive and negative impacts make our societies creative and prosperous but also vulnerable, as Lord Robertson said. Moreover, the globalization has still many effects in the political, economic and social sector. At a social level, one of the main effect of the globalization is the uniformization of the cultures. The globalization reduces and destroys the ancient cultures and traditions. There is little by little an uniformization of cultures at a world level. For instance, in every country, the same big companies are present such as McDonalds, KFC, Zara and many others. Nay protestations have taken place over this problem. Bibliography: Books: Bigman, D. (2002) Globalization and the developing countries: Emerging strategies for rural development and poverty alleviation. [eBook], Cabi., Availabe: https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=frlr=id=QKFCo5ajRCcCoi=fndpg=PA27dq=pros+and+cons+of+globalizationots=sr7Ou81_YTsig=XAKtvT00yhzKPseGikyjMb_dAMAredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=pros%20and%20cons%20of%20globalizationf=false [Accessed 15 February 2017] Barnett, Held, A, Henderson, D. Casper (2013), Debating Globalization [eBook]. Oxford: Polity. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. Available: http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hull/reader.action?docID=1180917 [Accessed 16 February 2017] Bhagwati, J. (2004). In defense of globalization: With a new afterword [eBook]. New York: Oxford University Press. Available: https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780198038078 [Accessed 16 February 2017] Jones, A. (2010) Globalization: key thinkers, Vol.1 [Ebook]. Cambridge: Poltity. Available: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yOmjDa0akjkCprintsec=frontcoverdq=Globalization+key+thinkershl=frsa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=Globalization%20key%20thinkersf=false [Acessed 15 February 2017] Steger, M. (2009), Globalization: a very short introduction, [eBook] Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central: http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hull/reader.action?docID=472386 [Accessed 16 February 2017] Hamilton, L., Webster, P. (2015). The international business environment, 3rd edition[eBook]. Oxgord: Oxford University Press.[Accessed 18 February 2017] Hill, C. W., Hernà ¡ndez-Requejo, W. (2012). Global business today, 7th edition [eBook]. Toronto, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson [Accessed 18 February 2017] Scholte, J. A. (2005). Globalization: A critical introduction, 2nd edition [eBook]. Palgrave Macmillan.[Accessed 18 February 2017] Academic Articles: Baek, I., Shi, Q. (2016). Impact of Economic Globalization on Income Inequality: Developed Economies vs Emerging Economies. Global Economy Journal, 16(1), 49-61. Available online: http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.kedgebs.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9b2dc053-07f5-4c96-81a5-a94c12431268%40sessionmgr4010vid=0hid=4202 [Accessed 17 February 2017] Andreeska, I. (2015). The effect f globalization to the world poverty and economic inequality. Journal of Sustainable Development, (1857-8519),5,13, pp. 5-15. Available online: http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.kedgebs.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ebb2637e-e521-4f3e-bdc9-6144e0ecd4ff%40sessionmgr4009vid=1hid=4202 [Accessed 18 February 2017] Bran, F. (2015). GLOBALIZATION OF ECONOMY-PREMISES AND EFFECTS. USV Annals of Economics Public Administration. Available online: http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.kedgebs.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d916a67c-bf3d-402b-bae3-12f6c307bc81%40sessionmgr4009vid=1hid=4202 [Accessed 17 February 2017] Osland, J. S. (2003). Broadening the debate the pros and cons of globalization. Journal of Management Inquiry, 12(2), 137-154. Available online: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1056492603012002005 [Accessed 17 February 2017] Kostovski,N., Nanevski, B. Gjurcevski, M. (2016) Opportunities and threats of globalization and need for improved competiveness of small and medium sized businesses in Republic of Macedonia. Journal of Sustainble Development, (1857-8519), 6 15, pp. 40-55, Available online: http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.kedgebs.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=758f2257-f214-41d4-96e6-65cede773942%40sessionmgr4008vid=1hid=4108 [Accessed 18 February 2017] Roman, T., Manolică, A. (2012). Globalisation-advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of the manufacturer. CES Working Papers, (4), 747-757. Available online: http://www.ceswp.uaic.ro/articles/CESWP2012_IV4_MAN.pdf [Accessed 18 February 2017] Website: Collins, M. (2015) The Pros And Cons Of Globalization. Forbes, 6 May [Online]. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/05/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization/#393f3fe62170 [Accessed 19 February 2017] Video: à lvarez, F. (2014) [Documentary] Globalization is Good by Johan Norberg [Video]. Available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne5LM2U-I5o [Accessed 20 February 2017]

Roman Pantomime :: essays research papers

In assessment of the origins and nature of pantomime in ancient Rome, one will clearly see that the latter two factors are wide and varied. This is due to the collaborative nature of the art as a whole. With a close examination of archaeological, textual and representational evidence one will gain a precise understanding of how the origins, nature and type of audience of the pantomime are interrelated. One will additionally gain inisight into the widespread popularity of pantomime despite a general dislike towards drama in ancient Rome. Before one can begin to consider the origins of Roman pantomime, one must have a clear understanding of the nature of pantomime. This is due to the fact that the nature of the art is in most cases, directly related to its origins. Once the nature of the art has been established, one will clearly see the connection between the latter and it’s origins. The term pantomime, which was, introduced by the Italian Greeks referrs to the actor. The mimer of everything. The pantomime was considered a solo performer who wore a mask, and expressed himself through dance, but did not sing. Rather, a musical group or chorus accompanied the pantomime. This type of performance is usually likened to a ballet enactment with a mythical theme. The pantomime usually tended to appeal to higher tastes with its mythical themes but as Grimal implies, could also be comic and erotic. In his discussion of pantomime, Lucian of Samosata (ca. 125 – 180) notes that the pantomime represents the orator and the composer of declamations. Lucian claims that the success of the pantomime depends upon his skillful adadptation of language to character. It is considered that the pantomime had incredible versitality to show forth human character and passion in all their varieties. These qualities of the pantomime were praised by Lesbonax of Mytilene who called pantomimes ‘manual philosophers.’ Futher evidence of the versatility of the pantomime in showing emotion and character can be seen in the words of Timocrates: I know not what truth there may be in Plato’s analysis of the soul into the three elements of spirit, appetite and reason: but each of the three is admirably illustrated by the pantomime; he shows us the angry man, he shows us the lover, and he shows us every passion under the control of reason†¦ The pantomime was not only skillful in portraying human character, but additionally in embracing many other skills into a single embodiment.

Psychoanalytic Approaches to Personality :: Psychoanalysis Psychology Freud essays

The area of psychology with perhaps the most controversial history, due to it’s complete lacking of empirical evidence, psychoanalysis, has it’s origins in the teachings of Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis is a form of therapy developed by Freud in the early 1900’s, involving intense examinations into one’s childhood, thought to be the origins of most psychopathology which surfaced during adulthood. Ideas about the subconscious, which saw the human mind as being in continuous internal conflict with itself, and theories that all actions are symbolic, for â€Å"there are no accidents†, were also major themes of the psychoanalytic approach. Successful therapy was a long-term and costly process, which most people during that time, with the exception of the wealthy, could not afford. Sigmund Freud’s main contribution to this new field of studying personality was in the area of the understanding the unconscious, an aspect of the mind to which, he claimed, we did not have ready access to, but was the source of our actions and behavior. Freud believed the human mind was divided into three parts: the id, ego, and super-ego. The id is man’s (generic meaning, referring to both sexes) instinctual, primitive, and hedonistic urges for pure pleasure, which the id was bent on experiencing, without regard to any consequences. The super-ego is man’s senses of morality, first brought on by experiences with authoritative figures and parents, which basically hold ideas of what is right and wrong, and is almost a direct paradox to the id. The ego, which can be seen as the mediator between the id and the super-ego, takes into account the activities of the external world, and attempts to invoke some balance among all three parts of the mind, with failure resulting in neurosis of some kind. Freud’s â€Å"Lecture III† provides, what I believe to be another important theory in understanding personality from this perspective, stemming from his notion of parapraxes, or unintentional acts that are actually unconsciously intentional. Such is the case with the familiar â€Å"Freudian slip†, where something is said which is actually a distortion or paradox of what is actually meant. This goes along with what are called symbolic acts, which are actions we take that, although we insist they have no meaning, or were accidental in nature, are actually intentional. For example, the act of forgetting is, according to Freud, a kind of intentional defense mechanism, that we unconsciously use to repress memories, or put things out of our minds. Although much of Freud’s work has been highly criticized by many of his detractors, there are certain aspects of his theories which I find quite important to the study of

Thematic Essay on Diary of Anne Frank

The Diary of A Young Girl, written over a two-year period, tells about the life of a young girl named Anne Frank who is also the author, while she and her family are in hiding in Holland. They are staying in a secret attic of the office building where Mr. Frank used to work in order to escape from the Nazis during World War II. During their stay in the annex, they are supported by several people in the office building, who risk their own lives to insure the secrecy of the Jewish hideout and to provide them with food and basic supplies. Throughout the time Anne spends hiding in the annex she develops maturity and gains respect from the people around her. I would say that the theme of this book is adolescence. I think the theme of this book is adolescence because Anne writes in her diary about how she has become more of a women since moving into the annex. She also develops adolescence by being able to see what she did not see in a person before. For example she is asked by Mrs. Van Daan if she could ever picture Peter as a brother, instantly she reacts with disgust like a child. Later on in the book though she begins to develop feelings for Peter, stronger than a brother. She begins to confide in him, and ask him questions about sex. She also writes her father a letter describing her feelings for Peter. Throughout the 2 years Anne spends hiding in the Annex her child self, develops into a mature being, but not yet an adult making the theme of this story adolescence. In The Diary of A Young Girl, Anne Frank, who is our author of the diary writes many entries describing the relationship between her and her Mother. She feels that she does not fit in with her mother, who she thinks is very sentimental. On a diary entry dated October 3, 1942 (page 51) Anne writes â€Å"I simply can’t stand mother, and I have to force myself not to snap at her all the time, and to stay calm, when I’d rather slap her across the face, I don’t love her, I can imagine mother dying some day. † This diary entry written by Anne clearly shows the strong dislike she had towards her mother. Because Anne is a child and not mature enough she feels that when her mother tells her she did not do something right, and to do it again, Anne takes it personal and gets very frustrated. Her mom constantly does this and it makes Anne furious causing her to hate her mother at an unbelievable level. Later on in Anne’s diary though the theme adolescence is developed when Anne reads through her diary and is shocked at how negatively she wrote of her mother in past entries. On Page 155 in her entry of December 24, 1943 she wrote â€Å"Do you know what I’ve come up with? In order to give me the feeling of calling my mother something that sounds like â€Å"Mom,† I often call her â€Å"Momsy. Sometimes I wish I could honor her by removing the â€Å"s. † In this entry it clearly shows us Anne has more respect towards her mother now and has matured significantly. She regrets all the horrible things she ever said about her mother, and is able to see that it was not her mother that was really the problem but her maturity, and she realizes this because of her adolescence. Anne thinks she has grown wiser since then and now understands her mother bette r. She sees herself as an adolescent now. Another way the theme is developed in this is story is how Anne’s feelings change towards Peter, a boy who is also staying in the annex with his family and the Frank family. In Anne’s diary she writes an entry on September 25, 1942 (page 40) describing Peter’s personality, â€Å"They asked me in a typically grown-up way whether I could ever learn to love peter like a brother, since he loves me like a sister. â€Å"Oh, no! † I said, but what I was thinking was, â€Å"Oh, ugh! † Just imagine! I added that Peter’s a bit stiff, perhaps because he’s shy. Boys who aren’t used to being around girls are like that. In this entry she writes about Peter in a childish way, she says with disgust that she could never see Peter as a brother, and of course she would say it that way because her personality and attitude is still like one of a child. The theme adolescence is developed because her feelings towards Peter change. Earlier in her diar y entries she wrote how Peter is nervous around girls because he is not used to being around them, and she goes on about how immature and foolish he is. But they soon begin to talk like adults and open up to each other. Anne soon then confides in him, and begins to see he is not who she thought he was. She is more mature around him, and treats him with great respect because she likes the personality she gets from him. She transitions from a child to a mature teenager, her maturity is greatly because of the time she spends with Peter. Anne’s adolescence is also due to appreciating what she has in life. In a diary entry on November 27, 1943 (page 149) Anne writes about a dream she has about an old school mate, Hanneli. She writes about the dream and how it akes her thankful for what she has. In the dream Anne pictures Hanneli dressed in rags, her face thin and, worn, and she is begging Anne to rescue her, in the dream Hanneli is at a concentration camp. In this dream Anne can not help Hanneli, she can only stand by and watch while other people suffer and die. Anne realizes that there are millions of Jews who do not have the advantages she has, she could be at a concentration camp starving and d oing hard labor work, or even dead. But instead she is safe and warm with her family, who she before could not get along with. Anne greatly matures after all of this, she is able to see that she was such a child before who thought greatly of herself. She hated doing work around the house, and complained constantly about her mother. But after this dream she knows that she should have worried about other things, like the war. Anne leaves her childish acts and complaints behind and becomes a mature young adult! The best theme for this book is clearly adolescence. A young girl hiding in an Annex writing in her diary for 2 years can definitely develop a sense of maturity even with no contact of the outside world what so ever. Just because Anne is stuck hiding in an Annex and not able to go outside, she has plenty to do, to pass the time. She writes her feelings and thoughts in her diary, and writes meaningful events that talk about her adolescence. Her adolescence is greatly due to her appreciating what she has in life, because it makes her realize that not everyone has the advantages she has and that her complaints and hate towards many things are things that are less to even think about, she should not think about herself too much. Also changing her thoughts and opinions develops her maturity as well. She does not get along well with her mother or Peter, but she soon is able to confide in them and love and appreciate them. I think that Anne’s adolescence throughout the book is a very good thing. She is still very young when she does mature, and not many people at that age have the maturity that she gains. I appreciate the fact that Anne is able to mend the relationship with her and her mother. I know how it feels to have someone constantly nag at you and it is very hard to forgive someone, and I respect and honor that Anne was able to love her mom in the end of it all. I think everyone has a little bit of Anne in them, people regret things they do and say in life, and although it is a mistake it helps them to look back and learn from it, and gain a sense of maturity. It is a very good thing, and although Anne did not survive the war we can all learn from this book and appreciate life as it is now!