Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview Essay Example

Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview Paper Politics is an area in society which is accepted as an important aspect of our lives. It governs our country and, as a result, affects how we conduct our everyday affairs. Since the commercial availability of television, politicians have had the opportunity to express party views, promote their manifesto and justify controversial actions. Live interviews have allowed the nation to put forward questions they want answered, significantly progressing the basis on who we decide to vote for to govern our country. These interviews are perhaps most notable on Newsnight, hosted by Jeremy Paxman. Paxman became a presenter of Newsnight in 1989 and has since been a pioneer in the interrogative style used to unnerve his interviewees. This topic is of particular interest due to the nature of the interaction between a representative of the audience (the interviewer) and the politician. In many cases, it is evident that politicians adopt a tactful stance when answering questions in order to prevent perceptions and retain popularity. Interviews often gain entertainment value when questions are put forward that place the interviewee in a difficult stance, and more so when an attempt is made to divert the topic to suit the interviewees position. This is a typical method used in order to gain control of conversation, and power struggles for the ownership of a conversation are regularly detectable. We will write a custom essay sample on Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Studying this topic will allow an analysis of the interviews to be made. This can help determine whether language used conforms to the ideas of theorists such as Tannen, who states that, for men, the world is a competitive place in which conversation and speech must be used to build status or gain the upper hand. Trudgills theories can also be explored; in particular, his belief that men would often use a low prestige pronunciation thereby seeking covert prestige by appearing tough or down to earth. Hypothesis Both Paxman and the political interviewees will display typical male speech to gain dominance and authority over the conversation. Aims The aims will be to: Investigate how male language is used to assert ownership of a conversation Compare my findings with research on male gender language from theorists such as Tannen and Trudgill. Methodology For this investigation, secondary source data was gained in the form of two individual transcripts of Newsnight interviews between Paxman and George Galloway and Theresa May. These were obtained from the internet as opposed to being recorded from live programmes for numerous reasons. Firstly, the recording of transcripts is time consuming, thus meaning it would not have been viable to collect primary data from live programmes. Researching readily available transcripts allowed a range of interviews to be read, meaning the most linguistically interesting extracts could be used. Five possible transcripts were collected, and of that, two were chosen for further analysis. A male politician and female politician were used in order to gauge differences, if any, in the language style used, and whether this had a profound effect on the effectiveness of dominance in conversation. Had two male politicians been selected, it would have been hard to conclude that the language used was typically male as there would be no reference for comparison. Despite the fact that only qualitative data will be used, the analysis that can be made from these sources will be sufficient in meeting the aims and proving or disproving the hypothesis. Quantitative data is largely irrelevant for this investigation. To ensure validity, the transcripts have all been sourced from the reputable news websites. The BBC is the producer of Newsnight, so there is little chance of alteration or manipulation of the transcripts to portray a subjective view. The BBC is also fairly reputable in their political neutrality. This cannot be said for The Telegraph, where Theresa Mays transcript was sourced. However, both Theresa May and The Telegraph hold conservative views and therefore alteration is also unlikely. In terms of the ethicality of the data collected, the participants, being Jeremy Paxman and the three politicians, would have been aware that they were being filmed and broadcasted. Therefore, their consent would have been given at the time they were recorded and quoting extracts from the transcript will be ethical. In order to satisfy my aims, I will explore a variety of qualities that make up the linguistic framework such as the interactional, grammatical, lexic-semantic, syntactical and phonological features. Analysis The first data extract is from a Newsnight interview between Jeremy Paxman and George Galloway on the 5th May 2005. The interview was conducted shortly after George Galloway gained a seat for the left wing political party Respect in Bethnal Green and Bow, replacing Labour MP, Oona King. Paxman initiates conversation by addressing the audience with the clause Were now joined from his count in Bethnal Green and Bow by George Galloway. The contraction were provides unity and sense of cohesion between the interviewer and audience, perhaps done so in order to entice prejudicial bias. The question are you proud of having got rid of the very few black women Parliament is then asked. The adjective proud infers a sense of pleasure or satisfaction over a particular action, which Galloway dismisses immediately with the simple sentence What a preposterous question. This matter of fact statement allows Galloway to gain high ground as it addresses the absurdity of what is essentially an accusation of racism. As a result, a role reversal can be seen. Galloway uses the personal pronoun you to pose a question towards Paxman. This is perhaps the first clear evidence of a battle of ownership of the conversation and conforms to aspects of Tannens theory. She argues that conversation for most men is a primary means to preserve independence, and negotiate and maintain status in a hierarchical social order, opting for a report stance as opposed to a females rapport stance. A battle for social hierarchy can be seen when Paxman avoids answering the question, with the ironic and somewhat hypocritical reply Youre not answering that one?. According to Tannen, competition for status drives men; therefore they are more at ease with conflict. Galloway proves this theory when conflict arises after telling Paxman to move on to [his] next question. The imperative command move acts as an order, thus challenging Paxmans control over the interview. This can be supported with Tannens theory of male language using orders, whilst women would use proposal s to communicate a desire. A bid for higher status can be seen when Galloway states If you ask that question again, Im going, I warn you now. This goes against the norm of interview etiquette in that the interviewer has been challenged. The response Dont try and threaten me Mr Galloway, please reveals numerous techniques in attempt to restore protocol. The verb try suggests Galloway failed in issuing the threat. Furthermore, the use of the title Mr and the politicians surname is excessively formal for use during the middle of the conversation, perhaps done so to assert prestige. This could have also been done in attempt to belittle Galloway, yet this is undermined by the adverb please. This changes the sentence from a command to a request, and the position of the word at the end infers an afterthought from Paxman. Galloway diffuses the intensity of the exchanges by replacing the verb threaten with badger Youre the one whos trying to badger me. The connotation of annoyance from this word infers the severity of the interview is little more than a quarrel to Galloway. This could be a dismissive strategy to highlight Paxmans trivial retaliations. Towards the end of the interview, Jeremy Paxman again insinuates that Galloways motives were to insight racial tensions. At this point, George Galloway deviates from response and again directly confronts the questioning- You are actually conducting one the most even by your standards one of the most absurd interviews I have ever participated in. Use of the parenthesis even by your standards shows Galloway is aware of the language techniques Paxman employs, as if trying to lure the interviewee into giving a desired response. This indicates the demise of the interview as the off topic nature shows a refusal to answer. An attempt to win authority of the conversation is made with the simple sentence I have just won an election. This comes as a declaration of power and popularity, which arguably, portrays Galloway in an egotistical light, yet proves supremacy nevertheless. Paxmans response Im not insulting them, Im not insulting you displays subtle male gender language. The contraction Im leans towards Covert prestige, a theory first introduced by William Labov. The language, despite being inferior to the formal I am, suggests a more secure and less socially aspirational stance, conveying a tough or down to earth message. Peter Trudgills research in the 1970s into language and social class also comes to similar conclusions in regard to covert prestige. The role reversal of questions by the interviewee and answers by the interviewer continues as Galloway asks for congratulations on his victory. Paxmans response is one of obedience, and offers his congratulations, possibly to appease Galloway and regain focus. However, before the next question can be presented, the politician thanks Paxman before removing his microphone and leaving the studio. Due to this, the language used towards the end is perhaps misleading, giving the impression that Galloway successfully used male language to assert dominance. However, the hasty exit infers escaping any more questioning, and consequently, it could be assumed Paxman retained higher ground. The second extract is between BBC Newsnight interviewer Jeremy Paxman and Theresa May in which the home secretary repeatedly refused to disclose whether she knew in advance about George Osbornes child benefit announcement. When Jeremy questions May when was this policy actually cooked up?when did you first learn about [the policy]?, the politician responds Well, you use terms like cooked up as if somehow this was just something that was done on the back of an envelope. Well serves as a hedge word which Robin Lakoff (1975) classified as a key assumption of language used by women. Doing so gives an appearance of weakness yet it could equally be an indication of respect for the other speaker by offering some courtesy. Another key assumption that can be identified in this initial response is the intensifier just. The use of the verb before the adverb something de-intensifies meaning and infers that Paxmans questioning was irrational. The confidence of May is undermined by her inability to express her thoughts as she starts This is, we have been having to make before being interrupted by Paxman. This conforms to the idea of the Dominance Theory, in that in mixed-sex conversations, men are more likely to interrupt than women. In this sense, it is evident that male language has been used to gain an authoritative stance whilst Theresa May appears weak upon initial impression. The interruptions from Paxman continue throughout the interview with the repetition of the question When did you first hear about it?. Mays response deviates from what the interviewer wants by trying to put across the information she desires instead. Whilst answering with Tax and benefit decisions, use of the additional phrase as you well know suggests Paxman is playing a game for entertainment value. In this sense, Theresa may gains an improved stance over the conversation as it is suggested to the audience that Paxman holds no real substance to his questioning. In a tactful reply, Paxman puts questioning on hold by making the conclusive statement So you first heard about it on breakfast television yesterday?. After Mays reply no, interruption and the same questioning is then continued, giving the impression of a futility in Theresas avoidance. Paxman later introduces the same question, beginning with Now. This preposition of time shows Paxmans want of immediacy and quickening of pace. This could perhaps be an impatience developing from the interviewee, which would contradict the belief that he has control over the conversation. Another technique Paxman uses is referring to May as a senior member of government. This choice in mode of address reminds the audience of the politicians position. The connotations of power and intellect are intertwined, and thus failure to answer gives the damaging impression to the audience that she is not fitting for her job. Mays perceived level of intellect is again weakened when Paxman asks for the final time my question is, obviously, did you know in advance. The adverb obviously conveys a demeaning tone, and is used to summarise the theme of the interview. Despite this, Theresa May remains relentless in avoiding to give a direct response. Ownership of the conversation is arguably the interviewers as a result of this, yet Paxmans failure to withdraw the desired information perhaps suggests otherwise. Furthermore, when Paxman states you havent tried to give me a date so far, May seizes upon the opportunity to make a humorous response Oh, youre asking me for a date, Jeremy?. This alteration in level of tone is in recognition of the fact the interview has become trivial, and the laughter that follows from both members indicates a transition to informality. As a result, it can be deduced that possession of authority remains disputed. The interjection of humour does however conflict with Lakoffs belief of a lack of sense of humour from women, and thus the appropriateness of theories can be questioned. Conclusion From the two extracts, there is strong evidence to suggest that the ownership of a conversation is very much determined by the use of typical male speech. In data extract one, between two males, the struggle for dominance is apparent, and both members employ a variety of linguistic techniques in order to do gain high ground. Covert prestige and want of status are both seen which conforms to ideas from theorists such as Tannen and Labov. However, more subtle features such as use of personal pronouns were used in gaining authority. In comparison, extract two between Paxman and May shows a more weighted conclusion towards Paxman in ownership. Theresa May, despite successfully avoiding answering Paxman, showed several weaknesses which can be highlighted in her initial response of the extract. Use of hedging and intensifiers revealed insecurity in her position within the interview, and the inability to confront the repetitive questions suggests a defensive position. Consequently, the findings concur with the hypothesis in that male language is used to assert ownership of a conversation. When two males are in conversation, ownership is hard to distinguish whilst between a male and female, analysis suggests it is generally one sided. Overall, the theories do apply to the analysis that is made, but it is inevitable that language traits from both genders will be seen in all speech, as the humour from Theresa May proved. Evaluation The choice of two extracts allowed me to gain an in depth analysis on the language used in more that once case, thus improving the reliability of my findings and allowing me to establish generalisations. However, the level of analysis was limited in that only one male-male extract and one male-female extract was used. It was my intention to include a mixed gender interview, despite the aims being male language orientated, so the effectiveness of male language in asserting authority could be gauged against a control (female language). Yet the use of two extracts means that generalisations cant realistically be drawn from the findings. Use of a third extract would have allowed me to confirm concordance in analysis making the results more valid. Having said this, it can be assumed that interviewers, in this case Jeremy Paxman, do not always dictate the way an interview is conducted, as politicians deviate from questions posed by stating information that helps their political stance, despite this often being irrelevant. This investigation does help contribute to the idea that men still retain an air of dominance in language use, perhaps suggesting men and women are not on a level playing field in the practice of, in this case, politics. However, due to the limitations in the amount of data used, such an assumption is questionable. The fact that women do play a very large part in politics in modern society poses the question are male language traits adopted by females in order to establish equality, or are other techniques used to earn powerful positions. This would be a possible avenue for future research. Some would say the use of language to express an idea is extraneous, but rather it is the significance and quality of the idea that gains a position of authority.

What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Essays

What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Essays What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Paper What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Paper he was a normal family man. This was concluded after a long series of psychological tests. How could somebody so normal be responsible for the deaths of so many people? Even the judges had trouble accepting that Eichmann was normal and incapable of telling right from wrong. They preferred to conclude that he was a liar. 9 Eichmann was not alone. He was part of a nation responsible as a whole for racial genocide. He could not have completed his objectives alone, without the help of normal, everyday people. These ordinary people were merely carrying out [orders] given by Hitler10 It is not surprising then that they guilty not of crimes but acts of state11 Brutal acts of murder were objectified. Killing with lethal gases for us seems a heinous crime but for those who carried out such acts during Hitlers regime it was a medical matter12 Arendt deduced from these experiences that evil is the absence of thought the shallowness of the evildoer. For Arendt, thinking amounts to a quest to understand the meaning of our world, the ceaseless and restless activity of questioning that which we encounter internally and externally. The value of thinking is not that it yields conclusive results in the same way that empirical knowledge does, but that it constantly returns to question again and again. This, for Arendt, is the cause of our moral responsibility. It was precisely the failure of this capacity that characterized the banality of Eichmanns inclination to participate in political evil. As Plato said thinking is an activity without which life would not be much. Our lives would become mechanical and determined. We are according to Arendt obliged to question things like justice and love etc The people of Germany had the task of thinking alleviated by their Fuhrer. Hitler had created a culture which seemed legitimate to those living in it. With his clever use of propaganda and symbolism he managed to convince his people of the legitimacy of his ideals and intentions. He used stricking phrases such as: the battle of destiny for the german people13 which created a false image of the Nazi regime. The battle of destiny implies that the war against the Jews was a battle that was destined to happen and was unavoidable. Architecture was another tool used by Hitler to create the symbol of world domination and the Nazi ideology. The Olympic stadium, for example, designed by Walter Marsh, symbolized the self confidence of the masters of the German people. These were a contribution to the mind set that all is under control and therefore officially legal and morally correct. Eichmann epitomised the natural gullibility of human beings in general. He, as did many others did not realize that [he was] being manipulated14 They were not aware that Hitler had conspired to present himself with divine radiance. Albert Speer, Hitlers architect was quoted to have said that he was thinking as a specialist and not as a human being. [He] forgot that humanity is the most important part of life. 15 With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to say that it is better to be out of tune with everyone else than with yourself. Hannah Arendt said in her essay, Thinking and Moral Considerations a Lecture, that within our minds is an original split. We have within us the reflector and the reflected. We in effect witness our own thoughts, thus creating an internal dialogue between me and a certain otherness. It is this dialogue that manifests consciousness and it is extremely important to be friends with this other. Socrates once said that he can be friends with the sufferer of evil but I cannot live with a murderer. This implies that we are internally punished for our external actions, but, only those who know that they are doing wrong will suffer as a result of this internal dialogue. The people who do not suffer are the ones who do not know that they are doing wrong.

Evaluating, Narrating, and Describing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluating, Narrating, and Describing - Essay Example Backgrounder and Significance â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† a short story published in 1892, is about a young, upper-middle class woman who suffers depression within her marriage. Some literary critics said that this is a hyperbolic version of Gilman’s own experiences as a mother and a wife particularly after giving birth to her child in 1887 (Kurrus 68). In addition, during Queen Victoria’s reign, a woman’s role in the home was emphasized. The Queen became the icon of the ideal wife, mother, and woman. Women were expected to be content with domestic role and motherhood, and females are expected not only to fulfill such roles, but also to be entirely happy in doing so. What is interesting to note here is that the story was written over a century ago but the feminist struggle still echoes to this day. Women in the cities may experience some forms of gender equality, but women in the rural areas still live under the shadow of the gender stereotypes set by the society (Veeder 65). Any person, especially woman, who have felt oppression and inequality at some point will be able to sympathize with the story’s main character. ... y decides for almost every activity that the narrator will do, and even if she prefers the prettier but smaller room downstairs, John decides that they should stay in the upper, larger, airy room. In the short story, it is obvious that the narrator does not have any voice in the marriage, and she is expected to obey everything that her husband says. John, the narrator’s brother who is also a doctor, and the other family members also discourage the narrator from writing --- an activity she truly likes. Analysis Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story is laden with irony. Irony is a literary device that utilizes words to deliver different meanings that are usually contrasting each other. This literary device is used to convey the real setting of the short story. At several points in the story, the narrator uses dramatic and verbal irony to refer to her condition, the surroundings, her husband, and their marriage. Taken at face value, the setting of the story looks ideal: t he narrator marries a doctor, stays in a large summer estate with her husband, has a husband who dotes on her, a nanny to take of the newborn, and a sister-in-law who helps in the house chores. The irony in the story, however, emphasizes that these facades are not as ideal as the true setting that they cover. For example, the narrator marries a doctor and she is declared to have a temporary nervous depression. It may look ideal that her comfort is being taken cared for, but on the lines: John is a physician, and PERHAPS--(I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind)--PERHAPS that is one reason I do not get well faster. (p.1) one would immediately realize that there is something wrong in how she is being treated of her medical condition. Another

Islam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islam - Term Paper Example Muhammad (Khalil Lecture 1). However, the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire has significantly contributed to varied changes including the social, political impacts and also military issues throughout history. One of the significant turning points is the birth of the Ottoman, which took place after 1800s following the death of Mohammed; thereby, contributing to emergence of new military and political powers (Khalil Lecture 2). After the death of Muhammad, Islam quickly spread over three continents including the Arab world, which became dominated by Muslim ideologies and religious practices. Mohammed is the greatest Muslim prophet and he was born in Mecca, which is declared a religious sanctuary and this is where Muslims are supposed to make pilgrims while facing this place (Khalil Lecturer 3). The Islam experienced a golden age after the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire and they preserved the Muslim faith, as well as, blended the cultures of classical Rome, Greece and India (Khalil Lecturer 6). The Ottoman Empire is one of the dominant Muslim states, which led to major development changes in the Muslim world. The empire is often regarded as a typical European multicultural empire whose only aim was viewed as promoting the interests of the Arab world. This empire led to varied changes including the evolution of Islamic law especially the Shariah and other ideas laid the foundation of the society, law and political government. Ottoman rulers saw themselves as the protector of the world; therefore, the emphasis of Islam was laid as a protection of religion under this empire something that contributed to conflicting issues with Christianity in Europe. The most crucial obligation for a Muslim leader, under the Muslim law (Shariah) was to uphold the Islamic law; the judges, who are recognized as qadis became the judges of the empire and they oversaw all the necessary laws of the Ottoman Empire, as well as, presided over criminal cases. Esposito (34) attempts to trace the eme rgence and developmental activities that took place due to this dynamic faith, as well as, is impact on the political and historical world (Esposito 34). Esposito attempts to offer historical perspectives to the Islam mysticism, Muslim laws and political ideologies. The great Muslim philosophers provided ideas that explains the basic interpretations of the Muslim dogmatic, as well as, varied movements including Sufism and Shiism. These movements contributed to varied development in the Muslim community for the past centuries including new movements in the political and economic world. The Islamic was laid a strong foundation during the rebirth of Islam but this has not only contributed to significant development but also contributed to varied consequences. The Muslims have struggled to define and adhere to their Islamic way of life beginning from the colonialism to the modern historical world. However, the political issues and construction of dynasties especially the Ottoman Empire led to varied developments changes in areas of law, politics and theology. Moreover, the death of Sultan Suleyman had an immense impact on the historical course of the Ottoman monarchy. The magnificent rule of Suleyman led to transformation of the Muslim world including the significant economic and political changes. For example, many structural designs were constructed including the mosques, fortresses and the splendid architectures.

Electric motors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Electric motors - Essay Example (i) DC Motor: This motor uses a DC current. An armature is placed between magnetic poles, known as field poles. Field poles remain stationary and provide the static magnetic field which runs from North Pole to South Pole. The armature is mounted on bearing and there is winding of conduction wire on it. When a DC current is made to pass through the windings on the armature, it becomes an electromagnet and the interaction between the pole magnet and the armature electromagnet forces the armature to turn until North and South poles of the two magnets align. Once this happens direction of the current in the armature windings is reversed to switch the North and South poles using a Commutator and thus the armature keeps on rotating [2]. (ii) AC Motor: It consists of a Stator and a Rotor as shown in Fig. 1 [3]. As implies by the name Stator is the stationary component. It consists of number of magnetic poles arranged in a cylindrical symmetry around the rotating component or the Rotor. As a n AC current passes through the Rotor, it experiences a torque which rotates it and this rotation is coupled to external load through a suitable drive mechanism. Fig. 1: Schematic Diagram Showing Parts of an AC Motor [3] (iii) Servo Motor: It is primarily a DC motor, but is much more refined one. It consists of a sensor to sense position of the shaft and used this as feedback to control speed of the DC motor [4]. Q1. (b) (i) Applications of Motors DC motor: It is much easier to control speed in case of DC motors and therefore, these motors are preferred for applications where speed control is very important. Computer disc drive is one very important application of DC motor. AC motor: It is inexpensive; however, the speed control is not good. One typical application of an AC motor is to drive fans where speed control is not so critical. Servo Motor: It is feedback controlled system and hence it is used for applications which need precise position and speed control. One such applicati on is drive for CNC stage, where control of position and speed is very critical. Q1. (b) (ii) Speed Control DC Motor: In a DC motor the back electromagnetic force and torque is given by the following equations. Back electromagnetic force: E = K?N Torque: T = K?Ia Where: E = electromagnetic force developed at armature terminal (volt) ? = field flux which is directly proportional to field current N = speed in RPM (revolutions per minute) T = electromagnetic torque Ia = armature current K = an equation constan Therefore, speed of DC motors can be controlled by controlling either armature voltage or field current. AC Motor: Control of speed is difficult for AC motors. Speed of a synchronous AC motor is given by the following equation [5]. Ns = 120 f / P Where: f = frequency of the supply frequency P= number of poles It can however, be controlled by using variable frequency drive, because speed of an AC motor can be controlled by controlling frequency of AC supply only. Servo Motor: It i s a DC motor only so speed can be controlled in the same manner as in case of a DC motor. It uses a feedback system to control its speed. Q1. (b) (iii) Two Limitations DC Motor: Power is limited due to difficulty in commutation at high size. This limits application of DC motors for high power applications. Besides, there can be sparks from the commutator especially at higher powers. Therefore, a DC motor cannot be used in hazardous and fire prone areas. AC Motor: Speed control is more difficult. Cannot be

Validity Of The Concept Of Codependency Sociology Essay

Validity Of The Concept Of Codependency Sociology Essay Early discourse regarding chemical dependency gave rise to the enigmatic concept of codependency. Codependency quickly became diagnosed in the form of a personality disorder, a disease and a family addiction. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting the concept of codependency as an official diagnosis. Feminist criticism has further contributed to the reduction in popularity of the disease model. The following literature review will provide an overview of the concept of codependency. It will outline various definitions of codependency found within the literature. These will then be compared with feminist alternatives to the concept of codependency such as connectedness and overresponsibility. Traditional codependency treatment is heavily influenced by proponents of the concept that alcoholism is a disease and this literature review aims to investigate those treatments. Central to the codependency debate is the lack of empirical evidence to support any one definition for the condition. This allows sceptics to question the validity of the concept of codependency. This review of codependency literature thoroughly explores the studies conducted in combination with any scholarly critiques of those studies. As the majority of studies were conducted during the 1990s, the inclusion criteria for this review are not constrained to contemporary literature. There is a remarkable lack of research into the link between same-sex relationships and codependency. For the purposes of this literature review, and in keeping with the studies conducted on heterosexual married relationships, the codependent will be referred to as she and the addicted partner will be referred to as he. Definitions of Codependency The codependency model construes characteristics associated most commonly with women, e.g. caring, nurturing, sustaining relationships, in an entirely pathological way and urges women to self-define on this basis. The search for an agreed definition of codependency is the subject of much disagreement, despite many definitions being proposed within the literature. According to a study by Dear, no one definition has been empirically derived (2002: 47). The definition of codependency depends on what situation is being described and on the motivation of the person using the term. In treatment terms, codependency is considered one of the most frequently diagnosed concepts despite inadequate research into the model. In 1991, a review of codependency literature for a core meaning of codependency found six different definitions (in Harkness and Cotrell, 1997: 473-474). An emotional, psychological, and behavioural condition; An obsession with interpersonal control; Learned self-defeating behaviours; Suffering connected with attending to others; An addictive disease; A preoccupation with others characterised by extreme dependency. According to Lyon and Greenberg, 96% of the general population in the United States has met the loose conditions for codependency at one time or another (1991: 436). It could be argued that everyone who is around an addicted person is considered a codependent. Below are a few definitions and symptoms derived from codependency literature. Codependency as a Relational and Behavioural Concept: This is an example of dependence on addictive behaviours and a need for approval from others to find safety, self-worth, and identity (Anderson, 1994: 678). The term represents any individual involved in a dysfunctional or abusive relationship (Lyon and Greenberg, 1991: 436). This definition applies when a person displays an excessive dependence on other people for approval and identity. Dear outlined other relational or behavioural codependent traits (2002: 47). These included the impulse to accommodate the needs of others ahead of ones individual needs; participation in self-destructive interpersonal behaviours such as care-taking (taking responsibility for controlling another persons conduct); and rescuing (taking responsibility for the consequences of another persons irresponsible actions). Codependency as a Diagnostic Entity: This perspective diagnoses codependency as a primary disease which manifests itself in every member of an addictive family. Codependency has been defined by scholars as pathological behaviour, and it is considered to be worse than the addicted persons disease of addiction (George et al: 1999: 39; Schaef, 1986). Within this perspective, codependency is a curable diagnostic entity comprised of a predictable beginning, course, and outcome. Proponents of the diagnostic entity concept claim that a learned predisposition to enter into addictive relationships develops in childhood. Cermak in Anderson (1994: 677) contends that codependency is eligible for addition as a personality disorder to the Axis II Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R). He further states that a dependent personality disorder illustrates many features of codependency. Codependency from a Family Systems Perspective: This is a pattern of coping which advances because of prolonged exposure to a dysfunctional family. Dysfunctional family rules cause difficulties in expressing thoughts and feelings openly (Lyon and Greenberg, 1991: 436). This perspective contends that enhanced family functioning needs the resolution of the addicts problem as well as treatment for the family members codependency (Dear, 2002: 47). The family systems approach reflects a pattern of chronic and pathological behaviour allegedly caused by having a parent or partner who suffers from addiction (George et al, 1999: 39). The term codependent originated in the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program. It was then extended to groups such as Al-Anon, CoDA and Al-Ateen. The word codependent interchanged with the terms co-alcoholic and co-addict to label a family member or anyone who is negatively entangled with an addicted person (Lyon and Greenberg, 1991: 435). The Adult Children of Alcoholics movement adopted the concept of codependency in the 1980s. They extended the application of codependency to anyone who grew up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional family. Codependency from a Psychodynamic Perspective: From a psychodynamic perspective, codependency is construed to be a maladaptive way of relating to others. It is characterised by an intense certainty in individual powerlessness and the dominance of others, and a shortage of open expression of feelings. Other indications are extreme efforts to obtain a sense of purpose, identity and appreciation of self. Cullen and Carr expand this further by including a desire for fulfilment through engaging in personally destructive care-taking relationships (1999: 506) which involve high levels of denial, inflexibility, and numerous attempts to control the relationship (Zelvin, 1999: 14). Codependency from a Feminist Perspective: When the codependency concept first emerged, it described psychological, emotional, and behavioural problems displayed by the partners, and consequently the children, of alcoholics who unintentionally enabled continuance of the drinking problem rather than facilitating recovery. It replaced the less comprehensive terms co-alcoholic and enabler (Cullen and Carr: 1999: 505). On a socio-political level, feminist scholars regard codependency as yet another instrument in the oppression of women which fosters a denial of male responsibility (Anderson, 1994: 679). This position asserts that when men are noticeably impaired, their female partners must also be labelled sick or pathological to retain the balance of power in the relationship. Lyon and Greenberg highlight some of the symptoms located in codependency literature (1991: 436) which include: extreme and unbalanced interpersonal relationships; inability to endure being alone, combined with frantic efforts to avoid this; constant and chronic feelings of boredom and worthlessness; treating ones individual needs as subordinate to the needs of another; overpowering desire for approval and affection; external referencing; dishonesty and denial; low self-worth. Irrespective of whether one truly possesses the qualities of alleged codependency, self-labelling promotes that one take on the characteristics of the label. It encourages examination of ones own behaviour and experiences as suggestive of these traits, and to engage in conduct which is consistent with the label. George et al. proposed that legitimate psychological trauma or pathology may progress because of social stigmatisation and the negative stereotypes connected with the label of codependency (1999: 40-46). The codependency label tends to oversimplify multifaceted scenarios; it prevents change and growth; and it denies the uniqueness of a person. As individuals identify themselves with a label, they can assume that treatment centres know everything about their family, know about everything that is wrong with them, and know how to bring effective treatment. The codependent label is demoralising for the individual because it implants a fixed and negative understanding of the self and treatment. Krestan and Bepko claim that codependency should be renamed overresponsibility and recognised as a positive impulse gone awry (quoted in Anderson, 1994: 682). Overresponsibility for others combined with underresponsibility for the self characterises codependent behaviour. Zelvin contends that codependency must be reassessed as a sequence of problematic efforts to connect instead of a failure to separate (1999: 9). The feminist perspective thus offers alternatives to the traditional concept of codependency, and this literature review will discuss overresponsibility and connectedness with reference to the definitions of codependency outlined above. Extension of the Disease Concept of Alcoholism to Codependency The disease model concept has been intensely and cyclically debated for several hundred years. In the 1940s, the disease concept staged a comeback suggesting that alcohol itself was not responsible for any problematic drinking issues. The concept was rapidly adopted by the medical profession, popularised and then spread from America around the world. (Edwards, 2000: 96-98). Codependency was popularised in the same way with no scientific validation. Edwards summarised the effects of the alcoholic disease concept (2000: 101-102). If alcoholism is considered to be a disease, alcohol itself is not the problem. Instead, the unfortunate few were predisposed to contracting the disease. This concept initiated the two population theory which viewed alcoholism as an isolated disease which divided drinkers into two categories; alcoholics and social drinkers (Butler: 2002: 37). The disease concept legitimised medical and clinical treatment. Insurance companies would now pay claims if alcoholism was diagnosed as a disease. Once a funding system was put in place which ensured a constant flow of alcoholic patients, it can hardly be coincidence that hospitals became advocates of the disease concept. AA had become a common treatment method since its inception in the 1930s. This style of treatment then extended to codependency with groups such as Al-Anon being formed in the wake of the disease concept. The founder of AA, Bill Wilson, stated we did not wish to get in wrong with the medical profession by pronouncing alcoholism a disease entity. Therefore we always called it an illness or a malady (quoted in Kurtz, unpublished). The Oxford English Dictionary describes the term malady as a disease. Whether Wilsons comment aimed to intentionally mislead or not, it shows that AAs stance on the disease concept is as contentious as the disease concept itself. The disease concept ensured that alcoholics now became the good guys and could be welcomed back into society. Alcoholism was no longer considered a moral problem and alcoholics were no longer considered weak or deviant; it was not their fault an uncontrollable disease had engulfed them. In other words, the disease model excuses men from their alcoholism and their corresponding underresponsibility in a relationship. The disease concept of codependency reinforces this belief by claiming that women are sicker than men inflicted with the disease of alcoholism. Women are deemed pathological for reacting with the culturally conditioned feminine response of becoming the over-functioning person in a relationship with an under-functioning person. All of Jellineks data (the main proponent of the disease concept of alcoholism) was based on information obtained from a small group of AA members, of which he eliminated all questionnaires filled out by women because their responses differed immensely from the mens (Fingarette: 1988: 18-19). From a critical standpoint, Jellineks research was inadequate in proving the disease concept of alcoholism. In the 1970s, Edwards and Gross proposed the concept of an Alcohol Dependence Syndrome which resulted in a new worldwide Public Health Approach (1976: 1058). This has dismantled the disease concept of alcoholism. It is not a disease; rather, it is a development of severe dependence. Once the concept was dismantled, treatment for alcoholism changed from a predominantly clinical response to a social, community-based response. By disproving the disease concept of alcoholism, this casts doubt on the context in which the disease concept of codependency developed. Application of the Disease Concept to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder The codependency model is frequently used with families having one or more chemically dependent or otherwise addicted individuals (Cooper, 1995: 272). Cooper broadened the population and applied this model to families having one or more members with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and emphasised how families become enablers through no fault of their own. Cooper observed the detrimental impact codependency has on their lives, calling relational codependency a dysfunctional behaviour (1995: 272). Cooper notes that OCD, like chemical addictions, is all encompassing. Family members become inextricably bound to the suffering individuals illness; this manifests in divorce, separation, chemical abuse, and academic problems for younger family members. Family members demonstrate codependency of those with OCD in a myriad of ways, most often succumbing to the affected individuals requests for rituals. The rituals are often lengthy and time-consuming and significantly disrupt family life (Cooper, 1995: 272). For the purposes of her study, Cooper acknowledged that codependency was multidimensional, pathological, stress-induced, and, most significantly, a disease. The family dynamics of codependency are the neglect of personal needs, being out of touch with ones own experience, and having a high tolerance for extremely inappropriate behaviour (Cooper, 1995: 272). Additional elements of Coopers disease model are feelings of helplessness, shame, depression, and anger. Disease Model Versus Feminist Perspective of Overresponsibility Asserting that codependency is a disease removes the likelihood that the codependent woman will pursue other, potentially more empowering methods of remedying her situation (Peled and Sacks, 2008: 390). According to Anderson, the casual diagnosis of codependency as a disease is harmful to those with other, valid disorders, as they are likely to place all or most of their issues under the umbrella of codependency (1994: 678). The disease model articulated by Schaef asserts that codependency has a predictable onset, course, and outcome (1986: 7), but she offers insignificant empirical evidence to support this contention. The evidence that supports the disease model focuses on wives or partners of chemically dependent men. The social mechanisms of medicalisation, however, are inordinately harmful, effectively controlling women by framing the forms of female resilience as illness (Peled and Sacks, 2008: 391). More importantly, the disease model of codependency ignores the so-called codependent person as an individual, failing to acknowledge his or her personal and subjective experiences. There is a complex web of experiences, interpersonal processes, and psychological dynamics that inform womens self-perceptions as being partners of addicted men. In their qualitative study of women living with alcoholic partners, Peled and Sacks discovered certain dominant themes from the results. These were the strength shown by the women; the acknowledgement that their husbands issues were deviant and problematic; and their reluctance to display a victim mentality, even when they are consistently abused by their husbands (2008: 391). This suggests that women who are widely perceived as codependent have much more pressing issues than their codependency. They do not admit being victims of domestic violence. A common theme in the womens experiences was a normative upbringing, courtship, and marriage that evolved into a relationship with a problematic partner. Though the study did outwardly confirm the tendency for codependent women to feel overly responsible for others whilst taking comparatively less responsibility for their own health and wellness, the feminist critique of the overresponsible and underresponsible paradigm is largely confirmed by this study (Peled and Sacks, 2008: 392). The women were clearly socialised to value the needs of others over their own needs, feeling excessive guilt when investing time or energy in self-care. Given these social norms, women who are in a relationship with an ill or needy partner will inevitably fall into a codependent diagnosis. The disease model of codependency frames ignorance of self-care as automatic and unrecognised yet the results of this study were glaringly inconsistent with that assertion. The participants universally demonstrated awareness of their neglect of personal needs. The researchers recommended that the codependent diagnosis be dismantled. Noting that the participants too often believed they were merely an instrument in their husbands addiction, a belief facilitated by codependency theories, Peled and Sacks called for greater emphasis on personal experience and empowerment when counselling women living with alcoholic partners (2008: 395). The goal of treatment, the authors assert, should be geared toward helping women find other paths toward self-fulfilment, beyond the provision of service to others. Sharpe and Taylor conducted a study of how identity variables such as self-esteem and peer relations relate to intimacy issues such as love and codependency in college women who are or have been victims of domestic violence (1999: 165). The researchers acknowledge how socially constructed ideas of romance (and the feminine role within that romance) promote selfless devotion to the partner that can be considered codependent. The conditions fostered by a disparity between ones self-identity and the achievement of intimacy are also labelled codependent. Aligning closely with the Peled and Sacks study, these results demonstrate that strength and personal identity are dominant themes in socially embedded female personalities that could easily receive a codependent diagnosis. This counters the disease model of codependency that highlights the affected person as being unable to define themselves in the absence of their partner. Relational Concept of Codependency and the Feminist Application of Connectedness Gender roles are significantly influential in the relational model of codependency, though they are only modestly recognised in the empirical literature supporting the relational theories. Aside from feminist criticism of the relational model, studies have asserted that the relational model largely ignores the human need for connections (Townsend and McWhirter, 2005: 191). In short, when individuals do not meet their needs for lasting, functional, social connections, there is a negative impact on the health and wellness of these people, with their entire worldviews being shaped by an absence of interpersonal connection. The resulting separation results in a partial or total lack of social supports. This lack of social support produces numerous negative consequences for the disconnected individual. The relational model construes interpersonal connections as facilitators of codependency (Anderson, 1994: 677). Townsend and McWhirter conducted a thorough review of over five hundred studies dating after 1984 containing the word connections in an effort to discredit the notion that human beings aim ultimately to be independent, self-sufficient, and, by extension, socially disconnected (2005: 191). Thus, interdependence and communality are positive notions within human developmental literature but become less so during the young adult and later life stages. Townsend and McWhirter identified that crucial components of psychological health are the sense of well-being and safety that stems from interpersonal connections, motivation to operate within the boundaries of a relationship, an increased awareness of self-worth stemming from connections, and the desire for additional connections (2005: 192). From a cultural perspective, Western discourse places considerably more emphasis on individual autonomy, countering the notion that connectedness is integral to development after childhood. Townsend and McWhirter contend that by definition, codependency has been characterised as a risk factor for individuals and their network of relationships because it suggests that too much connection, or association, with others is psychologically damaging (2005: 192). The disease model and Cermaks attempt to include codependency in the DSM-III-R essentially links interpersonal connections to addictions (quoted in Anderson, 1994: 677). Codependency literature closely links connectedness with dysfunction. The loss of connectedness, however, is detrimental to psychological health, rendering relational constructs of codependency not only potentially invalid but also harmful. Significant research by Townsend and McWhirter (2005) indicates that those experiencing bereavement benefit from relational networks. Ironically, the codependent interpersonal connections facilitate healing. Connectedness is defined by a number of interlinked variables, including embeddedness, engagement, companionship, and attachment, all of which emerge to varying degrees in codependency literature. The most empirically valid definition of connectedness reflects active involvement with another person, group, or environment (Ibid: 195). This involvement, used positively, should promote comfort, well-being, and the reduction of anxiety. While codependency is rarely framed as positive, it remains that the active connection is the same in connectedness and codependency discourse. Gender Roles and the Feminist Application of Connectedness The manner in which the relational literature highlights codependent behaviours as addictions and disease is particularly problematic as these are the same behaviours that are assets in developing interpersonal connections (Townsend and McWhirter 2005: 193). Codependent behaviours are just that; they are behaviours more indicative of gender-related subordination roles in relationships than they are indicative of a disease. The ignorance of gender roles as a significant informant of codependent behaviours is one of the deepest flaws in the relational codependent literature, as most of the empirical evidence relates to male-female relationships, with the man being chemically dependent and the woman enabling his behaviour through codependent behaviours. The role played by power differentials in the relational literature is a significant one, with far too little credence afforded to the lack of power had by women in heterosexual relationships. Discussion of gender equality, patriarchy, and a long history of oppression are notably absent from the literature supporting codependency as relational and disease-related (Anderson, 1994: 681). The notion of the separate self is dominated by a Western male perspective, challenging the validity of connection-cultivating behaviours. There are fundamental differences in the way women and men engage in their interpersonal relationships. Townsend and McWhirter assert that the central principle in female socialisation is relational connections (2005: 195). This principle is comparatively minimal in influencing male socialisation. Conceivably, women tend to both be more connected to others and value that connection more so than men. Overresponsibility and Too Many Definitions of Codependency The overresponsibility and underresponsibility paradigm is significant with respect to connectedness as it frames flawed attempts at connection as the prime culprit in birthing codependency; this is in contrast to the literature that condemns over-connectedness as the foremost catalyst for codependency (Zelvin, 1999: 9). Using a sample of seventy-six male and female undergraduates, Cretser and Lombardo investigated the level of codependency between students having an alcoholic parent and those who did not (1999: 629). They hypothesised that children of alcoholics would have a notably higher level of codependency. This hypothesis was glaringly unconfirmed by the study. The participants who had alcoholic parents received lower codependency scores than those with non-alcoholic parents (Cretser and Lombardo 1999: 629). These findings are significant in that much of the codependency literature centres on the dysfunction of the relationships marked by the condition. Cretser and Lombardo acknowledged that codependency is thought to originate in dysfunctional families in which children overcompensate for parental inadequacies. They become overresponsible for others and underresponsible for themselves, and consequently develop an excessive sensitivity toward the needs of others (1999: 629). Their research findings parallel the previously reviewed literature that cites how a large percentage of the population meets the criteria for codependency (Cretser and Lombardo 1999: 629; Lyon and Greenberg, 1991: 436). In contrast to the feminist debate regarding codependency, the researchers found that there was no significant variation in codependency according to gender and age. While they use their findings to accuse college counsellors of recognising symptoms of codependency in all students, their findings could also warn of the over-diagnosis of codependency. Anderson, in her 1994 article entitled A Critical Analysis of the Concept of Codependency, contends that the sheer number of diagnoses of codependency precludes the integrity of the codependency diagnosis. The entire Irish nation could be accused of exhibiting codependent traits for being overresponsible in bailing out the underresponsible banks and thus eligible for codependency treatment. It is alarming that an entire nation should qualify for treatment on the basis of such contentious and over-inclusive symptoms. The Cretser and Lombardo study supports Andersons assertion that codependency is over-diagnosed to the point of invalidity, as even the children of alcoholics the population who comes only a close second to women in abusive relationships in terms of meeting codependency criteria do not demonstrate a significantly higher incidence of the condition. An alternative study focusing on the children of alcoholics highlighted how the codependency model, specifically the disease model, emphasises how children are developmentally impeded from achieving appropriate and normative social functioning due to their parents addiction (Sher, 1997: 247). Theoretically, the need to take care of parents during childhood fosters codependency later in life, manifesting most frequently as denial, depression, hyper vigilance, and other seemingly fragmented characteristics. Sher questions the validity of the concept of codependency and states that studies tend to have serious methodological limitations, examine only a narrow aspect of purported codependent characteristics, and fail to demonstrate whether the concept of codependency has additional explanatory value (1997: 247). Shers conclusions align closely with Andersons assertion that women who are deemed codependent are merely applying normative coping behaviours to their situation (1994: 680). Fischer and Wampler stress that children of alcoholics consistently emerge as strong individuals who are labelled resilient (1994: 469). This is merely a reflection of the limited knowledge regarding the range of forces influencing a childs socialisation and informing his or her experience. For instance, Ferrari and Olivette (1993: 963) studied the hypothesis of a link between authoritarian parenting styles and the onset of codependency during adulthood. They concluded that no such link existed. Asher and Brissett wrote the first research-based article on codependency in 1988. The researchers claimed to have proven a link between two common dimensions of codependency from the responses of women in their study namely notions of care-taking and pleasing others, and affliction by association with a chemically dependent person. Arguably, the behaviours of care-taking and pleasing others should be attributed to external causes, such as the patriarchal hierarchy that places women in the position of subordination. From this feminist perspective, their study does not prove conclusively that care-taking and pleasing others are symptoms of the codependency concept. The second common feature of codependency, namely the affliction by association with a chemically dependent person is simply a reflection of the sample used in the study. Contrary to how the researchers interpreted these results, this does not prove a link between codependency and partners of alcoholics. The women had to be married to an alcoholic for inclusion in this study, and meeting that criterion does not conclusively link the two. Undoubtedly, family systems are comprised of intertwined individuals through which one persons behaviour affects all other family members to a certain degree. The literature suggests, however, that countless factors influence the system. Simple predictions of codependency are insufficient in addressing all issues in families dealing with disorders, addictions, or any other source of obstacles to which the codependency definition is so quickly applied. By extension, the recovery process for codependent families presents a range of problems. Feminist Critique of Codependency as a Psychodynamic Concept The feminist perspective of codependency has become the most popular framework for highlighting the flaws in the codependency movement. Behaviours that are widely perceived as codependent are indicative of a subordinate role in a relationship (Herndon, 2001: 13). Women play the subordinate role most often in patriarchal cultures. Socially encouraged female conduct is then deemed codependent. Passivity, compliance, lack of initiative, and a fear of asserting oneself are all integral to the codependent disease model and characterise the individual playing the subordinate role in a relationship. The traditional, psy

The Annual Cycle of Eudyptula Minor, Its Phases and Major Effects :: Penugins Animals Wildlife Essays Expository

The Annual Cycle of Eudyptula Minor, Its Phases and Major Effects Abstract The Eudyptula minor, the smallest member of the penguin family, is an indigenous species of Australia, located on the southeastern coast. Little penguins follow an annual energetics cycle. The Little penguins go through periods of fasting which occur while incubating and molting. During the rest of the year, E. minor forage for numerous fish types. Foraging behavior relies on the aerobic diving limit as well as the amount of sunlight present. Fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans provide all the nutrients E. minor needs although one species might not be enough. Some prey types fulfill only partial daily requirements of the Little penguin’s diet. Introduction Australia is home to a numerous variety of flightless birds like emus and cassowaries. A unique member of the penguin family, Eudyptula minor can be found on the southeastern coast of Australia. The locals have given these penguins numerous names such as: Little penguin, Little Blue penguin, Blue penguin, and Fairy penguin. Unlike their arctic cousins, E. minor have adapted to a much warmer climate. The Little penguins have maintained the penguin species’ exceptional swimming abilities, and are able to stay out to sea for great periods of time. While out to sea the Little penguins must eat almost constantly to keep up their energy in order to maintain metabolism and energy levels. On shore during times of molting and egg incubation, the penguins can fast for many days. Little penguins have an annual energetics cycle that is affected by seasonal changes and during times of fasting and re-feeding. E. minor has a preferred choice of food and using information taken from s tudying captive Little penguins’ nutritional requirements can be determined. Life History The smallest member of the penguin family, the Little penguin at adulthood stands at 35 cm tall and weighs between 1-1.5 kg. As the alternative name Blue penguin indicates, adult E. minor have blue feathers on its dorsal side and white feathers on its ventral side. Females lay two eggs in a nest burrowed into a rocky shore or in dense vegetation. Many nests are now being made by scientists so that the threat of predators as well as other unfortunate circumstances that would cause an early death to the chicks or to the parents is reduced (Dann et al. The Annual Cycle of Eudyptula Minor, Its Phases and Major Effects :: Penugins Animals Wildlife Essays Expository The Annual Cycle of Eudyptula Minor, Its Phases and Major Effects Abstract The Eudyptula minor, the smallest member of the penguin family, is an indigenous species of Australia, located on the southeastern coast. Little penguins follow an annual energetics cycle. The Little penguins go through periods of fasting which occur while incubating and molting. During the rest of the year, E. minor forage for numerous fish types. Foraging behavior relies on the aerobic diving limit as well as the amount of sunlight present. Fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans provide all the nutrients E. minor needs although one species might not be enough. Some prey types fulfill only partial daily requirements of the Little penguin’s diet. Introduction Australia is home to a numerous variety of flightless birds like emus and cassowaries. A unique member of the penguin family, Eudyptula minor can be found on the southeastern coast of Australia. The locals have given these penguins numerous names such as: Little penguin, Little Blue penguin, Blue penguin, and Fairy penguin. Unlike their arctic cousins, E. minor have adapted to a much warmer climate. The Little penguins have maintained the penguin species’ exceptional swimming abilities, and are able to stay out to sea for great periods of time. While out to sea the Little penguins must eat almost constantly to keep up their energy in order to maintain metabolism and energy levels. On shore during times of molting and egg incubation, the penguins can fast for many days. Little penguins have an annual energetics cycle that is affected by seasonal changes and during times of fasting and re-feeding. E. minor has a preferred choice of food and using information taken from s tudying captive Little penguins’ nutritional requirements can be determined. Life History The smallest member of the penguin family, the Little penguin at adulthood stands at 35 cm tall and weighs between 1-1.5 kg. As the alternative name Blue penguin indicates, adult E. minor have blue feathers on its dorsal side and white feathers on its ventral side. Females lay two eggs in a nest burrowed into a rocky shore or in dense vegetation. Many nests are now being made by scientists so that the threat of predators as well as other unfortunate circumstances that would cause an early death to the chicks or to the parents is reduced (Dann et al.

Customers and Customer Value Essay

†¢Marketing involves: 1.Managing profitable customer relationships 2.Awareness – attracting/retaining customers 3.Increasing a customer’s willingness to pay †¢Breadth and Depth of Marketing Market: people with desire and ability to buy a specific product All organizations market and people market themselves †¢Dating, PEY oIdeas and values are marketed Buyers may be different than end customer (B2B, B2C) Social Marketing: influence behavior of individuals, benefit to individuals or society not marketer †¢Anti-smoking †¢Consumer Behaviour (B2C/B2B) Heart of marketing satisfying needs and wants of consumers better than competition oValue is only what is perceived by consumer Customer’s see solutions for delivering customer value, not in terms of attributes †¢Fundamental Principles of Marketing oWhat are drivers of customer value? Their benefits/costs †¢Consumers Who are the competitors that satisfy the similar needs †¢The competitors Offer a product/service whose attributes deliver the value as good as or better than the competitors †¢The Company †¢Methods of Discovering customer behavior Needs: Psychological deprivation (food, shelter) Wants: Needs shaped by culture and the individual (burger vs. Tofu) oQualitative research Quantitative Research Feedback Competitive intelligence Socio-economic trends Consumer purchase decision process †¢Buyers may skip a stage depending on how involved they are in the purchase: oHigh involvement if product is: †¢Expensive †¢Serious personal consequences †¢Reflects social image High involvement results in consideration of †¢More brands †¢More product attributes †¢More information sources †¢More time spent searching High involvement †¢Provide education about category and info on product Low involvement †¢Buyers react to price, convenience and familiarity †¢The Marketing Process Identify Consumer Needs & Wants †¢Needs: Psychological deprivation (food, shelter, etc.) †¢Wants: Needs shaped by culture and the individual (burgers vs. tofu) oSegment, Target and Position (STP) †¢Segmentation and Targeting – Who to Serve †¢Choose which customers to serve †¢Positioning – How to Serve †¢Identify key benefits of offering, points of difference with rivals oDevelop and Execute a Marketing program based on the Marketing Mix (4 Ps) †¢Product †¢Features, brand name, packaging, service, warranty †¢Place †¢Outlets, channels, coverage, transportation †¢Price †¢List price, rebates, discounts, payment period †¢Promotion †¢Advertising, sales promotion, merchandising, personal selling, publicity †¢How to Position yourself with customers †¢Market leader Encourage habitual purchase, keep quality high, reinforcing ads, avoid stock outs †¢Challengers Encourage variety seeking Encourage trial (coupons), try something new ads Build Profitable Customer Relationships †¢Basic Relationships (low-margin customers) vs. Full Relationships (key / dominant customers) †¢Frequency marketing programs †¢Rewards, encourage customers to spend more †¢Club marketing programs †¢Offer members discounts for being member †¢Customer Satisfaction †¢Satisfied customers are loyal (migrate rate of 5%) †¢Refer company to others (tell average of 3 others) †¢Less price sensitive †¢Customer Dissatisfaction †¢Migrate at 40% †¢Don’t complain (96% never report back) †¢Tell average of 11 people about problems oManage Product Portfolio †¢Should you keep all your products? †¢Should market them all the same way? †¢Can you increase the products in your portfolio? †¢BCG Growth Share Matrix †¢Market Growth Rate (y-axis) vs. Relative Market Share (x-axis) †¢High – High: Stars †¢Low – High: Cash Cows †¢High – Low: Question Marks †¢Low – Low: Dogs MarketsProducts CurrentNew CurrentMarket Penetration -Selling more products in existing marketsProduct Development -Selling new products in existing markets NewMarket Development -Selling existing products in new markets (geographic or new segments)Diversification -Selling a new product in new markets How your product portfolio could be expanded Tim Horton’s: MarketsProducts CurrentNew CurrentMarket Penetration -High density in geographic area -Heavy advertising -High demand to be franchisors -Regularly upgrades facilitiesProduct Development -Bagels and cappuccino -Sandwiches, wraps, soups NewMarket Development -Expansion to campuses -TimShop (online) -Expansion into U.S.Diversification -Partnered with U.S.-based Cold Stone Creamery Lecture 7 †¢5 steps of STP oGroup potential buyers into segments †¢Geographic, demographic, psychographic, behavioral †¢How do organizational buyers differ †¢Demand for your product is derived from demand of buyers product †¢Fate tied to buyers fate †¢Common to have Few dominant customers and long term relationships Provide competitive bids Have multiple people involved in the purchase †¢To increase likelihood of B2B success †¢Understand the purchasing organization’s needs †¢Understand the organization buying process oRight bidding list, who is influential and who to pay attention to oGroup products to be sold into categories †¢Multiple products with some common trait (often consumer type) †¢Useful where multi consumer type, each with own needs, but not one product to meet all needs †¢Business vs commercial aircraft Develop Market/product grid and estimate size of market Select Target Markets †¢Expected Financial Performance †¢Size and growth, purchasing power, profits †¢Competitive Position †¢Competitive in segment now and over time †¢Accessibility †¢Segment can be reached and served at reasonable price †¢Fit with the Organization †¢You can deliver an effective marketing program oTake marketing actions to reach target market †¢4 P’s †¢Product positioning Head-to-head or Differentiation †¢Challenges in repositioning To change how consumers view an offering relative to competition oHuge advertising costs to change beliefs of people Consumers may be confused about what your brand stands for oConsumers may not buy your claim Why reposition †¢Reacting to competition †¢New Balance vs. Nike †¢Reaching new market †¢Chocolate milk for adults †¢Catching a rising trend †¢Health trends †¢Changing the value added †¢Trade down or up Lecture 8 †¢First P in 4 Ps (â€Å"Product†) †¢Hard to do well o90% of new products fail in first year oCommon among successes †¢Uniquely, superior point of difference †¢Has to work well, has to be valued in the market Lecture 9 Pricing and Channels †¢2 Ps: Price and Place †¢Price The money exchanged for ownership of goods/services Prices involves perception of value and will vary †¢Cheaper price for equivalent quality has higher value †¢Higher price can signal quality (watches, cars) †¢There is a tradition of getting stuff for free or very cheap over internet that is hard to change (vs. by phone or TV) †¢Pricing matters a lot Affects customers’ view Discussion starts with pricing, †¢Goes more generally to marketing than strategy †¢Why change your price? Demand, cost, competition †¢How will people react People place premium on option, if feel getting less, will be dissatisfied and feel violated †¢Market mix over product life cycle for price (in order of 4 stages) oSkimming penetration, gain market share, defend market, stay profitable †¢Factors affecting pricing decisions oInternal Factors †¢Marketing objectives †¢Marketing mix strategies †¢Costs †¢Organizational considerations External Factors †¢Demand †¢Competition, resellers †¢Economy †¢Government †¢Steps in setting prices Identify pricing constraints and objectives †¢Constraints †¢Demand, stage in product life cycle, single vs product line, cost of producing, marketing, changing prices, Competitive market and competitors †¢Objectives †¢Profit or just survival †¢Sales and or market share (revenue, unit volume) †¢Social responsibility Estimate demand and revenue †¢All else being equal, as price falls, demand increase †¢Except for †¢Luxury goods †¢Demands also affected by oPrice and availability Income levels Changing buyer tastes and preferences †¢Marketing Managers want to know â€Å"price elasticity† of demand †¢% change in quantity demanded relative to % change in price oSlope of demand curve Elastic demand †¢Slight decrease in price, steep increase in demand †¢Substitutes usually (no alternatives usually non elastic) oEstimate Cost, volume, profit relationships †¢Total cost = total fixed cost + total variable costs †¢Break-even analysis (sales equal costs): †¢Determines profitability at different levels of sales †¢BEP = Total fixed cost / (unit price – unit variable cost) oSelect an approximate price level †¢Pricing based on demand †¢skimming pricing – high price when hungry initial buyers are not price sensitive †¢penetration pricing – low price to attract buyers (wii) †¢prestige pricing – signal quality with the price †¢price lining – set of prices through a product line (ex. bauer 70, 80, 90, apx) †¢odd-even pricing – prices ending in .99 seem lower †¢target pricing – when a specific price to buyer is a goal †¢bundle pricing – price for a package of multiple products †¢yield management pricing – match demand and supply dynamically to customize prices †¢Pricing based on cost †¢standard mark-up – add a fixed percentage to the cost of all similar items †¢cost-plus pricing – add a mark-up to the cost (consulting) †¢experience curve pricing – lower the price as your own costs come down the learning curve †¢Pricing based on profit (little role for demand and competition) †¢target profit pricing †¢target return-on-sales pricing †¢target return-on-investment pricing †¢Pricing based on the competition †¢Customary pricing (ie. Swatch, chocolate bars) (all the same) †¢price above, at or below similar products †¢Loss leader pricing – sell something at a discount to get people into your store oSet up the list (quoted) price †¢One price for all flexible pricing †¢Must be consistent with all products in product line †¢Must be legal †¢Must be consistent with client perceptions of product †¢Needs to avoid price-cutting by competitors †¢Price cut only when you can win (rare) †¢Have cost or tech advantage over rivals oMake adjustments to the price †¢Discounts †¢Quantity, BOGO †¢Seasonal †¢Functional/Trade †¢Cash †¢Allowances †¢Trade in allowance for buyers †¢Promotional allowance †¢EDLP (no need to wait for sales) †¢Geographical Adjustments †¢Transportation/shipping costs and whether buy or seller pays †¢Market mix over product life cycle (Place/channels) Limited, build, selective, more intensive distribution, fewer selective †¢Channel Individuals or firms that help get the product/service to the end user †¢B2C directly, or use intermediary, such as future shop (less contacts) oRetailers are channels (but so are distributors and resellers) †¢Benefits of direct channels (producer to seller) Greater control Lower variable cost Direct contact Quicker response to changes No need to look for middleman Internet makes direct distribution easy †¢Benefits of indirect channels Fewer contacts to manage Can match product assortment with customers Less need for producer to have a sales presence Allows multiple channels for same product †¢Apple through site, apple store, BestBuy Leverage a channel partner with existing customer relations oLower fixed cost (no sales team) †¢Conflicts between channel partners Vertical conflict †¢Issues in chain (producer to retailer) Horizontal Conflict †¢Issues at same level (retailer to retailer) †¢Challenges of moving from indirect to direct May lose distribution (disintermediation) Buyer loyalty to retailer not product Extra costs involved (e-tail, shipping, sales, customer services) †¢Factors in choosing a channel Business environment Characteristics of your customers †¢Who, what, where Characteristics of your product (complex or evangelize) †¢Ice-cream vs. jets Characteristics of your company (B2B, global, languages) What channels and intermediaries are most profitable Lecture 10 †¢4th P, Promotions †¢The communication process oSee chart in lecture notes by Chris †¢The promotional mix What communication tools are available †¢Advertising †¢Vary Expensive (variable_, provides reasons to buy products †¢Control over channel of message †¢Large numbers see message †¢Hard to determine response †¢Personal selling †¢Face-to-face †¢Very expensive (fixed cost) †¢Control over message (sales people can differ( †¢Targeted receivers †¢Immediate responses †¢Public relations †¢Unpaid, non-personal communication, from third party †¢Little control over message †¢Highly credible, not seen as self-serving †¢Hard to know responses †¢Sales promotion †¢Samples, coupons, rebates †¢76% of marketing expenditures for packaged goods †¢Short run (decline in advertising efficiency) †¢Control over message (not building loyalty) †¢Immediate Response †¢Direct marketing †¢Over phone, or internet †¢Mass or micro, becomes annoying (telemarketers) †¢Control over message †¢Targeted received †¢Immediate responses †¢Developing the promotional mix In product life cycle: to inform, to persuade, to remind Product characteristics †¢Level of complexity †¢More complex, more personal selling †¢Potential Risk (financial, social, physical) †¢Greater risk, more personal selling †¢Ancillary services (service/ support required post sale) †¢Advertising establishes reputation †¢Direct marketing can describe customization †¢Personal selling builds buyer confidence and provides evidence of customer service oKnow your target market †¢Who is buyer and what is buying behaviour †¢Place of purchase, reason, how big is market (mass or custom, first time or repeat oDecision stage of buyer †¢See chart in Chris’ lecture notes oChannel strategy †¢Push (want channel to sell it, target channel not end consumer) †¢Push product through channel with goal of getting channel members to push it to customers †¢Direct promotional mix to channel members to gain cooperation †¢Personal selling and sales promotions play major roles †¢Pull (channel users want to get it from you, targeted at end consumer more) †¢Product is pulled through channels †¢Direct promotional mix at ultimate consumers to encourage them to demand product †¢Mainly advertising and direct marketing to reach end consumers †¢Developing, executing and evaluating the integrated marketing communications program oCoordinates all promotional activities to provide a consistent message across all touch points oKnow target audience and how to market to them oIMC Program 3 stages †¢Planning Stage †¢Awareness, interest, evaluation, trial †¢Set budget based off o% of sales Competitive parity All you can afford †¢Design promotion, schedule it †¢Implementation †¢Execute the promotion plan †¢Carry out promotion †¢Control †¢Post-test the promotion †¢Make needed changes Evaluating IMC †¢Important to measure ROI †¢How many views, traffic to site, coupon redemption rate †¢Can occur during both implementation and control Lecture 11 †¢Three options/Modes for exploiting your new product or technology oLicensing †¢When to consider †¢When you don’t have the resources to bring it to market and don’t want to develop them †¢When you want to get the technology to market fast (win standards race) †¢When you want to stop other firms from R&D and patenting †¢Risks †¢Beneficial only while you have technological advantage Create a standard Stay at leading edge †¢Requires strong IP protection †¢Dependent on others for market success †¢May lock you into something when market is still emerging oPartnering (selling a component) †¢When to consider †¢When you don’t have the resources to bring it to market †¢When you want to get the technology to market fast †¢When credible partners can be identified and their endorsement sends a signal †¢When you are strategically important to partner †¢Risks †¢Larger, more established firms can take advantage (price/terms) †¢Partner can deskill you †¢Dependent on partner Market success and access to info and management †¢Partner can become disinterested oDIY (Do it yourself) †¢When to consider †¢Can bring it to market yourself or want to develop capabilities †¢When you have resources to do it †¢Understand requirements and behaviour of end consumer †¢Want to brand it with your name †¢You have clout with your ecosystem of players †¢Risks †¢Bleeding edge- rivals learn from your mistakes †¢Effort spent on marketing and distribution makes you lag in R&D †¢Lose nimbleness and speed †¢Understand market (buyers, competition and overall market (size and growth) †¢Want to devise an entry strategy to leverage advantages oEmphasize speed for lead time †¢Product, technology, people, partners, locations †¢Set up intangible entry barriers rather than relying only on proprietary advantage like patents oEmphasize selective focus †¢Clearly defined target market †¢Clearly defined partners, channels, suppliers Plus allow for experimentation †¢Adaptable and liquid resources & capabilities (rent, borrow or share) Decision depends on †¢Where you see future of company †¢Stability of industry †¢Value to other players †¢Potential for IP protection †¢Becoming a platform leader Industry platform is foundation technology or service that is essential for a broader, interdependent ecosystem of business †¢Requires innovations to be useful †¢No longer under full control of originator, may contain propriety elements oNeed to decide if you are going to purse a product or platform strategy oAchieving platform status requires specific decisions that govern †¢Technology evolution †¢Product and systems design †¢Business relationships within ecosystem oMany companies don’t succeed as they fail to tackle both: †¢Technology †¢Designing right interfaces, architecture, disclosing IP †¢Business †¢Making key complements, introducing incentives, defeat competing platforms oPlatform potential †¢Must satisfy two prerequisite conditions †¢Perform at least one essential function within system of use or solve an essential tech problem in an industry †¢Should be easy to connect to or build upon to expand system of use as well as allow new or even unintended end users Google is coring in internet search. Linus in web server operating systems for tipping. †¢Intellectual Property Protection Legal right granted by a government that allows inventor to preclude others from using the same invention for a maximum of 20 years oNeed to demonstrate that invention is †¢Novel †¢Not Obvious †¢Useful †¢Secret when the patent application is filed Benefits †¢Blocks others from using invention †¢Raises the cost of imitation by rivals †¢Helps to raise capital by signaling a competitive advantage †¢Helps in negotiating rights oLimitations †¢Requires disclosure of the invention in all countries †¢Monopoly is temporary †¢Rivals can often work around †¢Long, complex, costly to defend †¢Can be irrelevant if technology moves quickly Lecture 12: Business Start Up †¢Entrepreneurship Approaches †¢Causal Logic (start with goals expect return) †¢Evaluate opportunities on measurable market demand & competition †¢Select option with highest expected return †¢Specify resources needed to get the outcome you want †¢Most often used in developed, familiar products/markets †¢Means-Based (start with means avoid loss) †¢Evaluate alternatives based on given set of means + low cost experiments †¢Select option based on affordable loss rather than expected return †¢Obtain pre-commitments with customers, suppliers †¢Most often used in uncertain products / markets †¢Dealing with Uncertainty †¢Entrepreneurs pick a comfortable level of risk and push to increase return oBankers pick a desired level of return and push to reduce risk

A Medieval Joke essays

A Medieval Joke essays Earlier in the semester an assignment was given to respond to less serious treatments dealing with the medieval period. In Ellis Peters A Morbid Taste for Bones and Monty Pythons Holy Grail themes such as Good versus Evil, feudalism, and the belief in myths and magic were discussed. However there are other themes that are found in two other more serious treatments of the medieval period. In Judith M. Bennetts A Medieval Life, which tells the story of Cecilia Penifader of Brigstock and her family; and Carolly Ericksons The Medieval Vision, a collection of various essays regarding the medieval period. In these works the themes of religion and rituals, the role of women, and the role of Lords will be discussed. In Bennetts A Medieval Life, religion and rituals are things that played a large part in the lives of the people during this time. First, Cecilias religious world was strikingly homogeneous; she might have heard stories about Jews or heretics, but the world in which she lived offered no alternative religious practices. Coming from a small community as Cecilia did, there was no room for choice in what to believe in. Cecilia lived in a controlled setting. Her beliefs were forced upon her, if her beliefs were to wander she would be considered a heretic, and would have been killed. All that she knew of religion was learned through word of mouth and from watching services. Lent was an example of a holiday ritual that they celebrated. The Final week of Lent was Holy Week. On the last Sunday before Easter, the Penifaders brought branches to be blessed, a celebration of spring growth that also remembered the palms strewn before Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. From this excerpt, it is obvious that Lent is celebrated much the same way now as it was back then. However, they did not end the week long ritual with the hunting for Easter baskets. People who lived in the Medi...

Microsoft Word Shortcuts and Commands

Microsoft Word Shortcuts and Commands There are many shortcuts for common functions in Microsoft Word. These shortcuts or commands can come in handy when typing a report or term paper, or even a letter. It is a good idea to try some of these functions before you actually begin a project. Once you become familiar with the way they work, you may become hooked on shortcuts. Executing Shortcuts Before you can use shortcuts commands, its important to understand a few requirements. If the shortcut involves a section of text (words you have typed), you will need to highlight the text before typing the command. For instance, to bold a word or words, you must highlight them first. For other commands, you may only need to place the cursor at a specific place. For instance, if you want to insert a footnote, place the cursor in the relevant position. The commands below are sectioned into groups by alphabetical order to make it easier to find the ones you need. Bold Through Italics Boldfacing  a word or group of words is one of the handiest shortcut commands in Microsoft Word. Other commands, such as centering text, creating a hanging indent, or even calling for help can be useful shortcuts to know. The latter command- calling for help by pressing the F1 key- brings up a printed helpfile to the right of your document, which even includes its own search function. (The last section of this article contains instructions for the search command.) Function Shortcut Bold CTRL + B Center a paragraph CTRL + E Copy CTRL + C Create a hanging indent CTRL + T Decrease the font size by 1 point CTRL + [ Double-space lines CTRL + 2 Hanging Indent CTRL + T Help F1 Increase the font size by 1 point CTRL + ] Indent a paragraph from the left CTRL + M Indent CTRL + M Insert a footnote ALT + CTRL + F Insert an endnote ALT + CTRL + D Italic CTRL + I Justify Through Single-Space Lines Justifying a paragraph will make it flush left and flush right rather than ragged-right, which is the default in Word. But, you can also left-align a paragraph, create a page break, and even mark a table of contents or index entry, as the shortcut commands in this section show. Function Shortcut Justify a paragraph CTRL + J Left-align a paragraph CTRL + L Mark a table of contents entry ALT + SHIFT + O Mark an index entry ALT + SHIFT + X Page Break CTRL + ENTER Print CTRL + P Remove a paragraph indent from the left CTRL + SHIFT + M Remove paragraph formatting CTRL + Q Right-align a paragraph CTRL + R Save CTRL + S Search CTRL = F Select All CTRL + A Shrink Font One Point CTRL + [ Single-space lines CTRL + 1 Subscripts Through Undo If youre writing a science paper, you might need to place certain letters or numbers in subscript, such as in  H20, the chemical formula for water. The subscript shortcut makes it easy to do this, but you can also create a superscript with a shortcut command. And, if you make a mistake, correcting it is only a CTRL Z away. Function Shortcut To type a Subscript CTRL + = To type a Superscript CTRL + SHIFT + = Thesaurus SHIFT + F7 Remove Hanging Indent CTRL + SHIFT + T Remove Indent CTRL + SHIFT + M Underline CTRL + U Undo CTRL + Z

Factors Affecting a Childs Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Factors Affecting a Childs Learning - Essay Example According to Barbara McCombs, â€Å"almost everything that teachers do in the classroom has a either positive or negative motivational influence on the students.† (Kelly, 2006) When teaching a lesson, the teacher has to consider the factors such as the size of the classroom or the number of students enrolled in the class, the type of learning materials, the depth of the subject matter, and the time allocated for the lesson. The 2001 Scottish School Census reported that the average size of a composite class for primary schools should be 20.6 pupils in each class. It is equally important that these students should belong to the same age. (Wilson, 2003) Teachers interact more effectively with students in smaller classes and it takes a lesser time to manage each student’s routines. (Hargreaves, et al., 1997) Interaction between teachers and the students are important to children in kindergarten up to the third grade. It gives the teacher more time to focus of a child’s reading, writing, and math performance at an early stage of education. Students would carry this educational practice as they go through their remaining academic careers. (Hargreaves, et al., 1997) Therefore, the long-term benefit of reducing classroom students is to make each student’s learning capabilities more successful. Teachers should choose suitable learning materials based on the student-centred approach and other factors such as age, depth of the subject matter, students capacity to absorb the lecture, time frame, etc.

Eaarth by Bill McKibben - A New Devastated Planet Essay

Eaarth by Bill McKibben - A New Devastated Planet - Essay Example It should be noted that the author has a particular reason for adding another ‘a’ in the spelling, i.e. he considers that humans are not living on the planet Earth. Humans have over-populated the planet with increased global warming and testing nuclear bombs on earth. It is the pollution and industrial sweep that have actually made the frozen tips of mountains to melt down, causing increased sea levels leading to floods. There are many other reasons behind the global warming that have actually led the author to think of a title which has an additional ‘a’. (McKibben). The philosophy behind the entitlement of the book is not an illusion. The need of the hour is to address the climate change that is taking place with fast pace. It should be noted that Bill McKibben has also noted the fact in his work that it is already too late to make change, because the greatest damage that is likely to place is already underway. Humans have avoided the consequences a great deal, which is resulted in the present situation (McKibben). Bill McKibben has already been writing for many newspapers including The New York Times and Mother Jones etc. The subject matter of his writing has always been environment and nature. His first book was published in 1989 which remarkably educated people about climate change and its basics. His first book about climate change was more like an encyclopedia that was translated in many languages and published throughout the world. Despite the renounce of his book, the attitude towards climate change by major countries of the world remains avoidable. In other words it could be said that the book written on the subject of environment has been a part of encyclopedia but none actually tried to act on it (McKibben). It seems that Bill McKibben blames the bigger industries for the oil spills and ruining the marine life. There are many instances of his writing pieces that show anguish concern against the multinational organizations. According to his book Eaarth, it was noted that there are many oil companies that have marked increased profits within the time period of three years. This shows that companies are more interested to make maximum profits without having any considerations of the environment (McKibben). The philosophy of Bill McKibben is not any different than that of other environmentalists, such as John Muir and Edward Abby, but the approach is far effective than others. If we compare the written pieces of John Muir and Bill McKibben, it comes to understanding that John has rather discussed the beautiful scenarios of the planet E,arth whereas Bill McKibben shows the changing aspects of the environment that will not let the beautiful scenarios to remain seeable for the future generations (Muir). Readers of the essays by John Muir would surely understand the beauty of different parts of the world. The book takes the readers to the adventurous and beautiful ride to the world. But it should be noted tha t the climate change taking place in the world is deadly and can cause a number of fatalities such as volcanoes, tsunami, hurricanes and spread of deadly diseases which have already increased its toll (Muir). The philosophy of Bill McKibben is not just based upon writing implications but also practical intervening. Bill