Interagency disaster management Essay Example for Free

Interagency disaster management Essay Introduction: A disaster can be defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of affected society to copy using only its own resources. Disasters are often classified according to their speed of onset (sudden or slow), or according to their cause (natural or man-made). Recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina have exposed the vulnerability of the nation in times of disaster and this has lead to discussions on disaster management. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, severe weather, and wildfires can strike any time. They can build over days or weeks, or strike suddenly without warning. Throughout history, people in various parts of the world have suffered due to the unpredictability of natural disasters. Some disasters can be predicted such as floods in valleys, droughts in areas of low rainfall and oil spills in shipping lanes. There can also be manmade unpredictable disasters such as bioterrorism that involves the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Disaster Management: Disasters are inevitable but the destructive impact of disasters can be substantially reduced by adequate preparation, early warning, and swift, decisive responses. Disaster Management encompasses all aspects of planning for and responding to disasters. It applies to management of both risks and consequences of disasters. However, disasters need to be declared to secure the release of government resources for intervention. Government through its various agencies plays a huge role in such prevention and mitigation. This is done through legislation, through resource allocation and through rational planning and sustainable development. State and local governments are closest to those affected by natural disasters, and have always been the lead in response and recovery. The federal government acts in a supporting role, providing assistance, logistical support, and certain supplies. Local government is responsible for providing for the safety and security of citizens in advance of a hurricane. That means they are in charge of developing emergency plans, determining evacuation routes, providing public transportation for those who can’t self-evacuate, and setting up and stocking local shelters with relief supplies. State government is responsible for mobilizing the National Guard, pre-positioning certain assets and supplies, and setting up the state’s emergency management functions. They are also in charge of requesting federal support though the formal disaster declaration process. Federal government is responsible for meeting those requests from the state – before, during and after the disaster. This includes providing logistical support for search and rescue, providing food, water and ice, establishing disaster centers and processing federal disaster claims, and participating in short and long-term public works projects, such as debris removal and infrastructure rebuilding. National Response Plan: The National Response Plan, published on May 25, 2006, by the DHS, provides an all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the nation to manage domestic disasters. The plan includes best practices and procedures from incident management disciplines—homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, firefighting, public works, public health, responder and recovery worker health and safety, emergency medical services, and the private sector and integrates them into a unified structure. It forms the basis of how the federal government coordinates with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents. The National Response Plan aims to save lives and protect the health and safety of the public, responders, and recovery workers and thereby ensure security of the homeland. The National Response Plan establishes a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents. It forms the basis of how federal departments and agencies will work together and how the federal government will coordinate with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents. It establishes protocols to help protect the nation from terrorist attacks and other natural and manmade hazards; save lives; protect public health, safety, property, and the environment; and reduces adverse psychological consequences and disruptions to civilian life. The Plan identifies police, fire, public health and medical, emergency management, and other personnel as responsible for incident management at the local level. The Plan enables incident response to be handled at the lowest possible organizational and jurisdictional level. The Plan ensures the seamless integration of the federal government when an incident exceeds local or state capabilities. There are some new Coordinating Features in the National Response Plan such as: †¢ Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC): The HSOC serves as the primary national level multi-agency hub for domestic situational awareness and operational coordination. The HSOC also includes DHS components, such as the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), which has primary responsibility for coordinating communications with the Nation’s critical infrastructure during an incident. †¢ National Response Coordination Center (NRCC): The NRCC, a functional component of the HSOC, is a multi-agency center that provides overall federal response coordination. †¢ Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC): At the regional level, the RRCC coordinates regional response efforts and implements local federal program support until a Joint Field Office is established. †¢ Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG): A tailored group of senior federal interagency experts who provide strategic advice to the Secretary of Homeland Security during an actual or potential Incident of National Significance. †¢ Joint Field Office (JFO): A temporary federal facility established locally to provide a central point to coordinate resources in support of state, local, and tribal authorities. †¢ Principal Federal Official (PFO): A PFO may be designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security during a potential or actual Incident of National Significance. While individual federal officials retain their authorities pertaining to specific aspects of incident management, the PFO works in conjunction with these officials to coordinate overall federal incident management efforts. The Department of Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in close coordination with the DHS Office of the Secretary, will maintain the National Response Plan. The Plan will be updated to incorporate new Presidential directives, legislative changes, and procedural changes based on lessons learned from exercises and actual events. The Department of Homeland Security: In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. The department is responsible for providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. According to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 the mission of the Department of Homeland security is to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; and minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States. Biohazards: Biohazards are biological agents or substances that present or may present a hazard to the health or well-being of the worker or the community. Biological agents and substances include infectious and parasitic agents, noninfectious microorganisms, such as some fungi, yeast, algae, plants and plant products, and animals and animal products that cause occupational disease. Generally, biohazards are either infectious microorganisms, toxic biological substances, biological allergens or any combination of the above. Today, biohazards ar also used as weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists – the use of anthrax virus to spread disease, death, fear and panic among the public is a case in point. As such, biohazards not only come under the purview of the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) but also under Department of Homeland Security.

Practice Based Self Reflection

Practice Based Self Reflection During placement, I worked for a charitable, voluntary organisation that supports Asylum Seekers who were destitute. For the purpose of this essay, I will utilise a pseudonym for the client, which will be Sam, to ensure that her confidentiality is maintained. Sam has authorised consent and confirmed that I may use her experience as material for this essay. I have chosen to examine this intervention as it is based upon this service users presenting issues upon point of contact. Firstly, I will explain the background of Sams situation, to give you an idea of her story, and outline the agency involvement giving a brief description of the context and setting for their work, which will include relevant legislation and policies. Secondly, I shall discuss a substantial piece of work where I have met Sam on a number of occasions whilst working at the agency and demonstrate my theoretical understanding of critical reflection that took place during this intervention. Finally, I will discuss ho w my own values informed the work I undertook with Sam and will demonstrate critical reflection and the skills applied during this intervention and what I had learnt through this process. Furthermore, I will discuss how this had impacted on my own identity in practice and the effectiveness and the outcomes from this intervention. Sam is a 31-year-old woman who entered the United Kingdom (UK) on a work-visa in May 2009 from South Africa. She is of a South-African ethnicity and has faith in Christianity. She is an intelligent, resourceful woman who has more of an advantage in terms of communicating articulately in English over some of the other clients I have met; who do not acquire the basic English language. This made communication effective and according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2000) it has been stated that Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviours, attitudes and polices that come together in a system or agency or among professionals and enable the system, agency or processionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations (NASW, 2000). Sam entered the UK with leave to remain until May 2010 on her work-visa, with no recourse to public funds, which means that people who are under this bracket are not entitled to receive help from the Government. Furthermore, at point of contact Sam was pregnant and was in receipt of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). SMP is a contributory benefit based upon National Insurance contributions that Sam had prior paid whilst engaged in full-time remunerative employment. As such, it is not classified as a public fund as Sam was therefore at liberty to claim and receive this benefit irrespective of not being a UK citizen. According to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP,2009) SMP is paid for a maximum period of 39 weeks, and unfortunately remaining Social Security benefits and associated support such as Housing and Council tax benefit were not available to her as they are classed as public funds. I was concerned from a safeguarding perspective as to Sams welfare, especially keeping mindful that she was pregnant and that the weekly rate of SMP,  £123.06, would be insufficient for her to meet priority needs such as rent, Council Tax and subsistence/living costs (DWP, 2009). The initial referral came from a caseworker who works for the agency and at the Childrens Centre. The agencies work in partnership. He approached me and raised concerns with safeguarding issues as mentioned above. However, a referral had to be made before the agency would accept Sam as destitute. It was essential that the referral was made as the agencies policies stated that they could only accommodate 4 people at one given time in the houses they owned across the City. The agency I worked for worked across two settings and worked in partnership in the City. It provides short-term respite accommodation for homeless and destitute women and men. Sams circumstances were unique as unlike other residents, she did have a source of financial income, whereas many women did not have a fixed income and had to rely on charitable donations. However, in recognition of the fact that Sam was imminent to give birth and was homeless, the agency agreed to admit her in the short-term in the first inst ance, thus offering her security, shelter, food, water and safety temporarily. In the longer term, she was afforded a short-term licence agreement that ran until the 2nd December 2009. The agency was of the view that Sam would have to explore other avenues of support and accommodation. I advocated this procedure to Sam in a house meeting and found that she had yet to find alternative accommodation. I understood she was pregnant and that she was not sure where to start looking or what resources were available. I went back to the office and explained this to the agency. I researched and made phone calls on how I could advocate further help for Sam and made the support worker and colleagues aware that she was concerned about her well-being and from this knowledge, a panel meeting was arranged and the licence agreement was later extended until the 12th January 2010 due to the birth of Sams daughter. According to Cohen (2004) he states, All persons have a right to well-being, to fulfilment and to as much control over their own lives as is consistent with the rights of others which means that as every human being has fundamental values that they should be treated with respect and as individuals regardless of their circumstances. At point of contact, Sam was destitute, as she had separated from her boyfriend, who resides in Ireland. Sam had been residing as hidden homeless which means that there is no accommodation that she is entitled to reside in or it is not reasonable for her to continue residing in that accommodation (www.crisis.org.uk, 2008). She was living in the City on a friends couch, but had been asked to leave due to objections with the friends landlord and overcrowding. It became apparent that Sam would require her own accommodation to return to following discharge from hospital once her baby had been born, and tenable longer-term accommodation thereafter. I met with S am and built up a good working with her following the referral to the agency. I felt this because Sam would contact me at the office if she had any queries about the house and would ask for me if she wanted help or advice. We negotiated convenient times to attend house meetings and I felt she trusted me as she opened up about her personal experiences such as her experience with her ex-partner. According to Howe (2008) relationship based practice is when relationship-gifted workers are interpersonally skilled and they make the most effective and human practitioners, whether the basis of their practice is behavioural, cognitive, task orientated, psychodynamic or person-centred. Moreover, Trevithick (2003) argues relationship-based practice is at the heart of social work. I felt working with Sam in a crisis intervention enabled me to engage with her as I aimed to reduce her stress by communicating effectively the next steps and open and honest with how long she would be able to reside at the accommodation the agency provided her with. I was genuine with her in terms of stating what the agency could provide her with and what resources were available. For example, Sam needed a pram, so we organised one for her and I reminded the support worker to drop this item off at the house as she had access to a vehicle. I also made her aware of the challenges she may face by living indepe ndently once the Social Services department provide her with an assessment and if accepted, I discussed the benefits that may be available to her, so she was aware of the process. This demonstrated significant levels of emotional intelligence, which means, having self-awareness, emotional resilience, motivation of self and to instil in others. It also recognises the skill to have empathy and sensitivity, to be conscientious and intuitive regarding decision-making and also to know how influences and building up rapport with service users are important (Goleman, 1996,p.2). As cited in the British Journal of Social Work, it also underpins requirements for practitioners to develop and maintain effective working relationships, to be able to reflect on my own background experiences and practice that may have an impact on the relationship (Morrison, 2007, p.2). For example, recognising to self-disclose about my own independency only when it was necessary as I did not want to project or share my own values unnecessary as Sams circumstances were unique to her and I understood that I could empathise with her however, only she would know how she feels in this situation. We discussed her feelings and she stated she was concerned about herself and her daughter, so I reassured her by getting in touch with the caseworker who had made the appointment with the social services for an assessment and to re-confirm when this would be conducted in order to see if she is eligible for the resources available. I explained the procedures to Sam, and she understood. She expres sed her gratitude to myself and the agency. As I met Sam on several occasions at the agency and on the day that she was accommodated into the house. I began to analyse her situation in greater detail because we needed to get her involved in the decision-making process. This means that service users are informed and involved in the decision that are made in partnership (OSullivan, 2005,p 135-136) and the effective way to do this, was to hold house meetings and discuss her accommodation situation in a comfortable setting. Saleebey, (2006,p.108) informed my practice in this intervention as he supports an empowering approach to social work practice as it focuses on clients strengths and potential rather than on the disadvantages and the misfortunes of their circumstances. He also recognises that the social worker is viewed as the expert and that service users are viewed as the victim of their own disadvantage. However, as his strengths perspective challenges the traditional anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice it ident ifies aspects of structural inequalities as the significant element of clients situations. Furthermore, Saleeby (2006, p.108) states the strengths perspective challenges clients to acknowledge that the social worker will represent them in the assessment and the intervention process as the social worker is viewed as the expert, however it also attempts to work in partnership with service users to support and gain services to meet their identified needs. The strengths perspective also focuses on the resilience of service users and aims to provide strategies to empower and promote positive outcomes for them. Furthermore, Beresford (2000, p.108) argues this perspective as viewing the service user in a one-dimensional aspect, which reduces their identity to essential categories such as elderly, disabled or black service users, thus resulting in the support of universal services to meet their needs. He also argues that service users and oppressed groups should be involved in the design and delivery of their services to meet their identified needs and that service users voices sh ould be used in structure of theory and practice. I felt that the strengths perspective engages with Sams circumstances as the agency and I were the expert in providing the assessments and advice for Sam and worked in partnership with her to find her a possible outcome because the caseworker had contacted the Social Services and had an assessment booked in for her. He informed me about this and I contacted Sam and made her aware of the appointment and the assessment procedures. Criticise the above and get evidence to state that another theorist states the su is the expert. Concerning critical reflection, it is an integral part of social work as it is a route to provide efficient performance and enhances social work expertise (Adams, et al,. 2002, p. 1). They also critique that it enables social workers to question the knowledge and involvement with clients. During this intervention with Sam there were many occasions that professionals and I had to critically analyse Sams circumstances in order to develop a plan of action that would meet her identified needs such as creating opportunities for her to take herself and her baby to groups so she could interact with other mothers at the Children Centre. Put in values/reflect on self/what I learnt from this process/impact on own identity Furthermore, I had arranged appointments for her to seek assistance with her receiving help and advice in relation to her visa options with a caseworker who worked for the partnership agency. The partner agency dealt with all persons from abroad and people who required legal advice regarding their visas. The outcome was that she should return South Africa and then re-apply on another work-visa and or commence work again in the UK and then apply for the visa to be extended. Sam did not want to take up any of these options, as she did not have the money to leave her new born in a child care facility. She also stated she did not want to return to South Africa because her parents were not aware that she had a baby and because she is of a strict religious background. She stated that her parents were likely to arrange her marriage to an old man that she had said no to on several occasions when she was living in South Africa. It seemed her parents had power and control over her life. Put in power and anti-oppressive practice theories hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Values, non-judgemental, empathic I discussed and arranging convenient house meetings to discuss her options in taking the next step. Therefore, I asked her to contact Right Move estate agents and private property owners to see if she can find herself long-term accommodation for her and her daughter. Adams et al (2002, p.1) states critical reflection can sometimes be transformed in our own understanding, thus changing the part of the situation by enabling the client and the professional to reflect on what has occurred. For instance regarding Sam, she did not want to call and arrange appointments because she stated when she initially looked for a room in a house share, that the landlord of the property stated that the tenants already residing in the house did not want a mother with a baby living at the property. Therefore, this disempowered her in seeking other properties. At the house meeting, after Sam and I had further discussions we looked online for flats and we found several studio flats she could rent. She did not want to make the phone calls, so in order to empower and enable her in doing this herself for today and future reference. I made the first phone call and then handed her the telephone as she did not have credits on her phone and encouraged her to query about the properties in the same manner I had done. She queried the availability of these properties, however after finding that the landlord wanted a deposit, one as to Sam could not afford, the only solution was to seek refuge from the Neighbourhood Office and present herself homeless. She would then be put up in a shelter. I learnt that this process was going to be challenging and more reflection on this matter would be necessary. What is more, critical reflection can be deconstructed and reconstructed to give us access in advancing our practice. Therefore, this continuous process provides good practice and development. Yip (2005) encourages social work students to undergo self-reflection as it is a process for self-observation, self-evaluation, self-dialogue and self-analysis. Furthermore, he states, under the appropriate conditions social workers can reflect constructively which, results in enhancement. Whereas, he also critics on the basis that if social workers were under inappropriate conditions such as lack of supervisory sessions, hostile environments, then social workers would not be able to reflect constructively and this can create problems for the professional and personal development of the social worker. However, Schon, (1983) describes reflective practice as a non technical, non rational process which means that he is keen to make sense of the relationship between professional knowledge and practice by knowing-in-action. This is when thinking is understood in what we do, also he states reflective in action is where thinking is conscious but does not interrupt or actions and reflection on action is where thinking takes place after the event in order to understand our actions, predominantly in why we acted and what we learnt from this action. Eraut (1995) critiques Schons theory as he states that a practitioner cannot reflect in action as you leave the space, if not physically, certainly cognitively Furthermore, Fook and Gardener (2007,p364) argue that critical reflection is the reflective practice which focuses on the power dimensions of assumptive thinking and therefore how practice might change social situations. Although, Ixer (1999, p.513) argues this concept of critical reflecti on and argues whether social work programmes should be assessing reflection at all. Overall, reflecting on this intervention allowed me to assess and analyse Sams situation thoroughly because of her uniqueness to the agency as she had no recourse to public funds, which made it challenging in assisting her find her own solution. However, communicating effectively and working in partnership with her and the agency employees empowered Sam in coming up with a resolution for her to follow through. As social work, values have unique contributions to social work practice and assessing critically ensures that social work perspective and social work values contribute fully to the provisions of care. Furthermore, the ability of social work will depend on more than knowledge and skills; it is also about recognising practice that is mutually required in negotiating work with various organisations and professionals. Moreover, the ability to effectively communicate and contribute will also depend on the self-esteem and the status of the social worker. In addition to this, being able to effectively research and apply effective education will be found more reliably in the ability to improve the quality of the service users and carers experience of assessment and its outcomes. This is because professional competence in assessment requires critical analysis of self in practice and these development of skills and knowledge base are required to become an emotionally capable, objective practitioner.

Family Conflict And Triangulation Analysis

Family Conflict And Triangulation Analysis The purpose of this article is to illustrate the importance of boundary setting during parental conflict. Often children are incorporated both voluntarily and involuntarily in dyadic confrontations that involve the parents. This research shows the long term and short term effects on both the parent and child psychologically and physiologically. Boundary setting is important for the growth, development and current maintenance of a family. Involving children in arguments is not only detrimental to the parents marital relationship, but also damaging to the parent-child relationship. This paper illustrates cause and effect consequences of triangulation. Family Conflict and Triangulation Familial conflict is inevitable. A multitude of quantitative and qualitative data has been accumulated in order to improve familial relationships. Numerous studies and focus groups spotlighted adolescents and their parents to find more data on triangulation and its negative effects on families. According to Franck and Buehler (2007), a triangulation study was conducted on 506 teens and their mothers. The study focused on conflict properties, cognitive appraisals of threat and blame, emotional insecurity, and triangulation to determine the possibility of a direct relationship between adolescent behavior problems, marital distress, and maternal depression (Franck and Buehler 2007). After thorough research, it was found that marital hostility and distress were associated with adolescent behavioral problems and familial stressors (Franck Buehler 2007). This paper will focus on parental and child triangulation and its effect on both the adolescent and the adult. Triangulation can be defined in a multitude of ways. Some may use the term mathematically, while others use it psychologically. Fosco and Grych (2008) broadly described the psychological term for triangulation as the involvement of a third person in a dyadic conflict. Triangulation is not possible with two people; it has to involve at least three people triangulate the conversation and ensure one or more of the parties agrees with his or her opinion. Buehler and Welsh (2009) stated that triangulation occurs when two people in a family bring a third party to dissolve stress, anxiety or tension that exists between them. Often feuding parents might involve their children in the conflict to gang up on the other parent. A more in-depth definition that better describes the target group focused on in this paper illustrates a family and child triangulation as childrens direct participation in parental disagreements and their subjective sense of feeling caught in the middle (Fosco and Grych, 2008). Due to ignorance, some parents may be unaware that they are involved in triangulation. Some statements a child might say if he or she is involved in a triangulation situation are My parents make me feel caught in the middle when they argue my mom always asks if I notice how my dad starts the fights mom and dad always ask me questions when they are in the middle of an argument after an argument with mom, dad always comes to me and explains his point of view I hate it when mom and dad involve and ask me questions when they are arguing. Parents should be more cognizant of accidentally or purposely involving children in marital disputes because it can be detrimental to the child. Efforts to better understand the impact of interparental disagreements on children have identified a number of factors that may elude to the fact that exposure to continual hostile and poorly resolved conflict can cause adjustment problems. (Fosco and Grych 2008). Behavior issues may become more frequent when boundaries are not set between parental arguments and children. According to Fosco and Grych (2008), appraisals reflect childrens opinions on parental conflict. Parental conflict can be detrimental to the childs well-being or the functioning of the family unit; therefore, the child may hold himself or herself responsible and believe that the disagreement was caused by his or her conduct. Parents who involve children in marital confrontations fail to realize how detrimental involvement can be to their child. Specifically, appraisals of threat and self-blame, emotional reactivity and distress, and triangulation into parental discrepancies each have been made known to play a key ro le in the relationship involving parental discord and child maladjustment, thereby making the child feel responsible for ending or resolving the conflict. (Fosco and Grych 2008). The effects of parental triangulation on the child can cause long term damage. According to Buehler and Welsh (2009) Parental conflict and tension are proposed to induce emotional arousal in children, triggering emotional and physiological responses. Involving children in arguments can be both mentally and physically exhausting for the child. Families that show patterns of triangulation have emotional, and physiological, responses that tend to have difficulty differentiating when not to turn off than in families with better boundary maintenance (Buehler and Welsh 2009). Often parents will include the child in arguments forcing the child to choose a side. Franck and Buehler focused on triangulation that occurs when parents bring a child into an argument by using the child as a messenger or buffer between the parents; as a confidante or counselor about issues with the other parent, the child is forced to ally against the other parent during marital disputes. By allowing children to get involved in domestic disputes, not only is the child negatively affected, but the involvement is also detrimental to the marriage. Triangulation amplifies adolescences risk for disruptive behavior because this process impedes with numerous prospective strategies that have been found to shield youths from the potential harmful effects of marital hostility (Franck and Buehler 2007). Research shows that repeated exposure to parental conflict can affect a childs experience, expression and control of emotion (Fosco and Grych 2008). Children subjected to constant triangulation can experience major emotional tribulations as well. It was found through trauma theories that recurring exposure to affectively disturbing events undermines a childs ability to regulate his or her emotions (Fosco and Grych 2008). When a child is unable to regulate his or her emotions it becomes difficult for them to maintain control. With this information, it can be concluded that a child from an argumentative family may display a greater sensitivity to his or her parents conflicts (Fosco and Grych 2008). Children who are exposed to tumultuous relationships and constant triangulation by parents are not as thoroughly researched as other topics that have been researched that involve family conflict. Beuhler and Welsh (2009) stated Triangulation into parents disputes has received much less empirical attention than has verbal and physical interparental aggression; however, some evidence exists that triangulation places youth at risk for adjustment problems, particularly internalizing problems such as anxiety, depressive symptoms, and social withdrawal (2009). Triangulation does not just occur during an argument between parents with a child present. It also occurs long term when a child is made a confidante. Franck and Buehler (2007) found that when parents get upset they have a tendency to bring children into the argument by making them messengers between the parents. Triangulation can be caused by a number of different reasons. Martial conflict and depression have been named to be some of the main reasons triangulation occurs. Parents involved in domestic disputes have a tendency to want a witness to validate their argument. Counselors, friends, family members, and children have been known to get pulled in to the dispute. Scholars found data proving that parents that involve people in their domestic disputes may be depressed (Frank and Beuhler 2007). Parents feel validated when loved ones and friends side with them in the domestic dispute. Frank and Beuhler (2007), searched even deeper and found that a mothers depression is more closely related to internalizing disruptive behaviors in children than fathers. Frank and Beuhler (2007) felt that a fathers depression is more closely related to poor cognitive functioning in his children than internalizing problem behaviors. Studies show that triangulation affects both the parent and the childs relationships in a negative way. One of the mechanisms by which marital conflict becomes a risk factor is the triangulation of the child or adolescent into parental disputes such that youth feel caught in the middle and torn between divided loyalties (Buehler and Welsh 2009). During an argument, parents feel that their point is more validated if the child agrees with them. Unfortunately, the long term affects of adolescent affirmation during parental altercations are detrimental to the marital relationship. Although their involvement in a parental disagreement may be effective in deflecting attention from problems in the marriage, it may intensify the impact of parental conflict on childrens functioning by making them the target of parental anger or disrupting their relationship with one or both parents (Fosco and Grych 2008). Studies show that it is pertinent that the children be left out of parental conflict. It is clear that triangulation of adolescents also is harmful to adolescents in married families. Thus, clinicians and others who work with families need to assist parents with keeping marital problems within the martial dyad. Adolescent children need to be left out or blocked from parents marital issues; Parents need to improve their ability to cope with and handle the anxiety associated with martial conflict in ways that do not involve their children (Buehler and Welsh 2009). In addition to disrupting marital stability, triangulation can cause long term issues in the growth and development of the family. Fosco and Grych (2008) stated that when children perceive conflict as a threat to themselves or the family, they tend to worry about the stability of the family relationship. Running a family requires order, with no stability, there is no foundation; and with no foundation it tends to be less order. Parents should lead by example when teaching children. Often children mimic their parents and learn from observations. Parents who frequently resort to triangulation as a means of managing their disputes may be less prone to teaching or modeling adaptive conflict resolution to their children (Fosco And Grych 2008). Avoiding the involvement of children can be very difficult for some parents. Not only does triangulation temporarily diffuse marital arguments, but it can also allude to the vindication or validation of a parents actions. Fosco and Grych (2008) found information proving that triangulation could shape the impact of parental discord in children. When the child feels caught in the middle and observes that the attention of the argument is deflected from the parents and reverted to them, they may make a habit of involving themselves and marital disputes. If disruptive behavior is effective at distracting attention from marital problems, children may develop more stable patterns of acting out in stressful circumstances. Triangulation can occur both consciously and subconsciously. Unfortunately, if in the familial setting boundaries are not in place, detrimental repercussions can occur. Triangulation can occur in many different forms. Whether it includes the parent and child, grandparent and grandchild or siblings and parent, an unconstructive outcome is almost inevitable. The need to want to be right and acquire support is human nature and understandable. However, when you engage children in tumultuous relationships and put them in the middle of altercations, serious repercussions may occur for the child and adult. Rather than involving relatives and friends in conflict, it is important that families seek out counseling to secure the growth and stability of the family structure. Therapists can utilize a number of different techniques and or approaches to help families partaking in triangulation. Due to the difference of upbringing, social, cultural, and economic levels, it is best that the counselor incorporate an integrative approach to families who are involved in a triangulation conflict. An integrative approach incorporates all of all the approaches. It allows the therapist to utilize the best fitting approach for the client to obtain optimal results. Conflict is inevitable and felt to be manifest, but if familial conflict involves triangulation it is sure to end unconstructively.

diary of anne frank :: essays research papers

*New Buddy* The book I read is called The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank The book is a true story about a thirteen year old girl who receives a diary on her thirteenth birthday. The book is a short autobiography In her diary Anne tells Kitty (her pretend friend) everything that happens in her life. The interesting factor in the book is that the time of Anne’s preteen years is the time of the rise of Hitler who oppressed the Jews. Anne’s family is forced into hiding into a secret apartment on top of a factory store in which one of the Frank’s friends works. Meep, the friend brings food up to the Franks. Anne and her family stay in hiding for four years. Just when the Franks are almost ready to leave a man working in the factory rats the Franks out to the Nazis. Anne’s diary begins on her thirteenth birthday and ends shortly after her fifteenth .In the book she writes of her friendships with other girls and her performance in school. The school Anne goes to is called the Lycelium for Jews. Anne also has a sister. Her name is Margot. Margot is 17 years old and very mature. Anne gets along well with her sister. Her father comes from a wealthy family. Anne gets along nicely with him. Anne’s mother is not spoken of too much in the book., mostly because she does not have a good relationship with her. When Hitler was first taking power the Jews were forced into all Jewish schools. It was there that Anne met a good friend. Her name was Joy. Anne and Joy became friends but only for a short while before Anne was forced into hiding. Anne and her family hid from the Nazi’s for two and a half years. The Franks stayed with three other people. They had a woman named Meep bring food to them. The rise of Hitler grew worse as the years passed. The Nazis were then taking Jews to camps where they would kill them. The Franks got into many arguments with the people in the house and Anne was between it all. During this time Anne was beginning to like one of the boys she was staying with in the house.

Fodor’s Misconstrual of Wittgenstein in the Language of Thought :: Philosophy Essays

Fodor’s Misconstrual of Wittgenstein in the Language of Thought In his book, The Language of Thought, Jerry Fodor claims that i) Wittgenstein’s private language argument is not in fact against Fodor’s theory, and ii) Wittgenstein’s private language argument â€Å"isn’t really any good† (70). In this paper I hope to show that Fodor’s second claim is patently false. In aid of this I will consider Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations (243-363), Jerry Fodor's The Language of Thought (55-97), as well as Anthony Kenny’s Wittgenstein (178-202). First I shall summarize Wittgenstein’s argument; then I will examine Fodor’s response and explain why it is fallacious. In my view, Fodor is wrong because he takes Wittgenstein to be a verificationist, and also because he makes a false analogy between people and computers. Anthony Kenny, in his book Wittgenstein, provides a concise summary and penetrating interpretation of Wittgenstein’s so-called â€Å"private language argument† (henceforth â€Å"PLA†). According to Kenny, the basic agenda of the PLA can be summed up in a quotation from Wittgenstein’s Tractatus: "Scepticism is not irrefutable, but obviously nonsensical, when it tries to raise doubts where no questions can be asked. For doubt only can exist where a question exists, a question only where an answer exists, and an answer only where something can be said." (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, 6.51) In making his argument, Wittgenstein addresses the belief that the knowledge we have of our own experiences can be expressed to ourselves or others, and that this expression does not assume acquaintance with the external world or other minds. Logically entailed by these beliefs is the idea that there is a private language in which words derive their meani ng by being linked with private experiences. In other words, a subject forms â€Å"internal ostensive definitions.† This means simply that the subject is exposed to and attends to an experience and associates it with a word. For Wittgenstein, this view is mistaken: experience is not private, and words do not acquire meaning by bare ostensive definition. Wittgenstein takes â€Å"private language† to mean a language in which words refer to the immediate private sensations of the speaker in this manner of private ostensive definitions. If a speaker has a certain sensation, she does not necessarily know that sensation only from her own case.

Degradation of Moral Values in Indian Society Essay

Human beings enjoy the maximum freedom and power for governing their habitat and environment. This power sometimes enables them to misuse the resources Materialism has led us to a degradation in our moral values. India is the most ancient civilization. Vedas were written in India. Buddha got divine knowledge here. We are proud of our rich cultural heritage but today we have forgotten those ideals, values and principles which were so dear to our ancestors. Take for example, the concept of joint family. Today, no young couple prefers a joint family. We do not want to be grateful to our parents. Rather, we want to disown them. The next most prominent degradation in our moral values reflects itself in the form of corruption. In India, corruption is prevalent at all the levels and the irony is that even if we accuse that they are guilty, they remain supreme. These developments are not good for the national economy and the moral conditioning of our younger generations. The free market economics has added fuel to the fire. When we find that everybody is corrupt. So, we waste no time in becoming the part of this corrupt system. Another steep decline in moral values manifests itself in the form of our poor educational system and teaching methodologies. In fact, the poor educational system in all the parts of the nation has led to poor moral values in the society The students do not respect their teachers. Copying during the examinations is a common practice. Best of the brains are drained to the West because the offers are tempting- and nobody misses the opportunity if offered once. Further, in Indian society, respect for elders is taking a backseat in the name of modernization. Our cultural values have taught us to respect our parents and help them during the times of their helplessness. However, the growth of nuclear families has led to complete ignorance of parents and elders. We never approve of such a deformed social and cultural chaos in our nation that was known for her warmth and family  traditions for over several hundred centuries. Criminals should be banned from politics and should be treated with an iron hand if they try to disturb the democratic norms laid down by our Constitution†¦ The Election Commission has done well by forbidding candidates with criminal records from fighting elections. In our schools, the traditional Indian values must be taught and reinforced. Schools can change the face of our society. The concept of joint families must be promoted among the young couples. This concept would enable them to take fruitful guidance from their elders. Education should be imparted according to Western norms. However, Indian values must also be enforced so that our children remain in touch with their roots.

“Edward Scissorhands” by Tim Burton Essay

What type of and what journeys are undertaken in the film Edward Scissor hands by Tim Burton? The movie takes place in an entirely artificial world, where a Gothic castle crouches on a mountain top high above a story book suburb with a goofy neighbourhood where all of the houses are shades of pastels and all of the inhabitants seem to be emotional clones of the jetsons. Edward’s Journey The main character, Edward goes on a major journey. From the beginning of the film we see scenes depicting how it feels if you are different and are amongst people who fit neatly into societies accepted roles. Edward is looking for love and understanding, which is something that you long for. He has been taken from his comfort zone to a more populated and somewhat scary environment. Edwards journey is learning how to trust, and how to fully understand that people with differences are sometimes better off alone. Taken from his comfort zone and being put into a busy and noisy neighbourhood, Edward realises that there is going to be major changes in his life in order for him to adapt to his new environment and new ways of living. He is an outcast, trying to find his place in a world in which he does not belong. He has significant differences in his appearance to the everyday person with 5 fingers and toes, instead he has sharp scissors as hands and an ashen white complexion. Burton uses this as a prop for discrimination, and that’s exactly what Edward gets. He knows he is different physically but wants to show people that he can love and he does have feelings and its whats on the inside of a person that really counts, and this is what Kim saw in Edward. Whilst Edward helps Pegg chop the lettuce for the barbeque, he see’s Pegg open a can of bettroot. He experiences a flash back that takes the ausience on a journey through an old lab or factory. The inventorappears and marvels at his cookie machine. He picks up a cookie in the shape of a heart and  holds it up to the chest of a robbot that has scissors for hands and is chopping lettuce. This shows Edwards inner journey so far, having been giving feelings and a heart. Burton gives the suggestionthat these inner qualities are more important than hands. Edwards Inventor died before he gave Edward his hands. When Edward see’s a photo of Kim his eyes light up with intense feelings. Upon meeting Kim, it was evident that their would be a connection between the two characters, and a romantic journey would soon be on the way. Kim’s Journey Kim is Pegg Boggs daughter who is going out with a dead beat called Jim. Kim acted as most teenagers would if they came home to find that there was a strange young man with scissors for hands sleeping in their bed. At first she makes fun of Edward and uses him unwillingly to break into her obnoxious boyfriend’s house. Soon after this event Kim begins to see Edwards beauty and uniqueness in comparison to the people she is surrounded by everyday. Kim goes on a an inner journey of self discovery and learns a valuable lesson of life in general, that being that it doesn’t matter if the person is back white or blue you accept them for who they are on the inside, and that’s all that matters. She has full acceptance of differences and believes in Edward. The Community However the Neighbourhood’s journey is motivated by how they can use Edward Physically. They learn to accept him because he can be useful to them. At First they were unsure, but when they saw him as an object for their own fulfilment, they were quick to accept his peculiar yet useful appearance There is one character in the film who lives next door to the Boggs family, She is a very religious women and tries to get the neighbourhood to watch out for Edward, and that he is a message sent from Satan, and he is no good.  At First this didn’t seem to worry the neighbourhood, but perhaps on the inside they were very cautious of his difference to the norm society. But not everyone shares sypathethies and some bad guys are determined to abuse the naive and innocent Edward. Suddenly, after the burglary, rumours spread like wildfire and suddenly once again, everyone is staying away from the lonely young man. Yet only Kim has faith What Obstacles or challenges do some of the characters undergo or face during their journeys. Edward The first challenge or obstacle for Edward is really at the beginning of the film when he is in the car with Pegg. It is obvious that Edward has never been outside his castle, he is fascinated by the surroundings of the town, he tries to look closer but hits his head on the window, not realising its their. It is soon recognised by the viewer just how much Edward has been out of contact with the rest of the world, something that would soon be changing. Dealing with the fact that his inventor died Edward was forced to move on with his life living totally by himself with scissors for hands and no real friends. He had to live with the fact that he was an invention that was never quite finished and he would never change, a task within itself being hard to deal with. This for him would have been hard to deal with but he used his time sculpting plants into animals and maintaining a beautiful garden, whilst in the winter when it would snow, Edward would carve ice sculptures with his gift and talent using his scissors. Edward has to face the community at a big neighbourhood barbecue where he is confronted with many different people and their attitudes. He was put on the spot to see all of these people with normal lives compared to him only meeting one person in his life†¦and that being his inventor, Edward only ever knew one other human, so meeting new people was quiet a large task for him. He had to watch the girl that he was falling in love with, get tormented by her boyfriend, but did things for her that were morally wrong, but did it out of the goodness of his heart. Edward knows that Jim is not good for Kim, but doesn’t try to stop her from being with him, instead he uses his somewhat peculiar charm to win her over, which he himself never thought was possible. Another challenge that Edward faces is that of which when he is confronted by Pegg Boggs at the start of the film. She decides to go to the castle, where no one else has ever been just to see if she could sell some Avon. She finds Edward and her first impression is that she tries to leave†¦but he says, † wait†. She stops, looks at him, and then applies some treatment to his face. He is scared when she touches him, but then just stands there. Its this trusts that started Edward on his journey to believing in others. Eating dinner was another challenge Edward faced at the dinner table. Everyone would watch as he tries to grasp a pea in the clamp of the scissors but no success. It would be even harder with Kevin (Kim’s brother) watching him all the time. It made him feel different and in a sense not included. Poor Edward yet again was made to feel as an individual. Kim When Edward first arrived Kim was not too sure about him, and her boyfriend didn’t like him either. She would go out with her boyfriend and come home and look at Edward, on the inside she knew she liked him, but didn’t know if it was physically possible. She was faced with a serious challenge when her boyfriend asked her to get Edward to join into the robbery. She knew it was morally wrong but did it to keep her boyfriend happy. Yet when Edward gets stuck inside the house, Kim try’s to get Jim to help but Jim is so obnoxious he quickly drives away. She knows in her heart that she needs to get Edward out, and knows he is scared. However the next day, when Edward gets home from gaol, He says that he did  not dob her in, and when she asks why he says that † I did it because you asked me to†. So Kim really feels for Edward, he has a gentle spirit, and it is clearly portrayed through his personality. What Discoveries or changes are made? Edward One of Edwards’s major discoveries is just how different he is compared to the rest of neighbourhood and society. When he actually gets out and sees’s what life is like outside his own home, he discovers that he is the only one with such a significant difference. And discovers that people with such physical differences are often discriminated against for being unique in there own personal way. Although this makes him upset, he chooses for it not to affect him. The neighbourhood accepts him in a perverse and freakish way, the people seeing him as a curiosity. He soon becomes popular for his gift of cutting hedges into pieces of beautiful art and arousing the dormant passions of spiteful housewives. Kim Kim discovers that it doesn’t matter what a person looks like, or what they do in their life, its what they have on the inside that counts. Edward has a pure gentle and kind heart and is willing to love her with all his soul. She realises that a persons emotions build their character more than their handsome looks. By the end of the Film, when she pretends Edward has died, On the inside Kim knows that there has been a spiritual change in her life. She no longer judges people by their appearance, but furthermore the content of their character. What techniques does the composer use to convey meaning? And what are the effects of those techniques? Tim Burton has always been a guarantor for visionary movie making a very strong visually driven direction. This style makes him a very  distinguishable director but at the same time makes him very unique as well. Burton always gives the material a spin that is unique and interesting, no matter how banal the subject may appear at first. With this film, however, he created a romantic drama with serious undertones, very serious and dark, to the point that the film’s opening almost plays like a classic horror film. Successful satire has to have a place to stand, and a target to aim at. The entire world of Edward Scissorhands is satire, and so, Edward inhabits it, rather than taking an aim at it. Even if he lived in a more hospitable world, however, it is hard to tell what satirical comment Edward would have to make, because the movie makes an abrupt switch in his character about two thirds of the way through. Until then he has been a gentle goofy soul, a quixotic outsider. Like all good fairy-tale fables, this one has a moral. People who are different are going to have a difficult time in this world. It’s an easy moral for almost anybody to relate to since almost everybody has felt different at one time or another, especially in one’s youth. What teenager hasn’t longed to be the Student Body President, the quarterback of the football team, the captain of the cheerleading squad, the straight-A scholar, the popular, gorgeous or handsome kid as the case may be, instead of the middling nerd, the undesirable, the social reject we’ve sometimes felt we were? But for Burton that isn’t enough. He also piles on layers of slight, superficial satire. He pokes fun at middle-class suburban living middle-class values, small-town hypocrisy, small-mindedness, gossiping, and backbiting. One of the most striking aspects of the film is its visual style. From the character of Edward, to the looming castle and the peculiar small town suburbia, everything is stylised to extremes. The neighbourhoods are all painted in bright pastel colours with houses that are as uniform as the attitudes of its inhabitants, and Edwards’s artistry only furthers the impression of a completely artificial world. His trademark use of miniatures is in full force with the long shots of the town and mansion. His camera work is smooth and flowing, and the film has a wonderful sense of humour The film certainly does not fall flat of a narrative even though all its focus is on the visuals. Although since it is a rather traditional outsider story, told in a very different way one could argue the plot is rather predictable. The presentation, the pacing and emotional impact created by the film is just as powerful and makes â€Å"Edward Scissorhands† a beautifully enchanting modern day fairy tale with a social subtext. It has a somewhat cyclic nature. Flash backs show Edwards inner journey. In one particular flashback Edward sees his inventor contemplating giving Edward feelings and emotions with significance to a heart shaped cookie. It’s in this flash back that suggests these inner qualities are more important than hands. The colour of these flash backs being black and white play a significant part in the movie. The black and white tones of these flashbacks emphasises the time change of the rather dark idea of a person being constructed scientifically, but still the most important part is his feelings. There are many shots where misenscene’s are used. Like when Kim and Edward hug. This frame shows them in a close up, emphasising this new love The whole film indicates an inner journey is taking place from the establishment shots in which the camera pans over the mountain and the village indicating to the audience of the unique contrast. The music used by Danny Elfman compliments every shot made. From the beginning when the camera pans over the mountain there is heavy tones of dark mysterious music, but when then put to contrast to the neighbourhood there is soft calm music and birds chirping. Its these contrast that help set the scenes in the film. Edward Scissorhands presents this outlandishly strange premise, but with a gentleness worthy of Edward himself, Burton demonstrates how Edward is just an extreme metaphor for the gangliness and isolation experienced by most  adolescents. Kim is a popular beauty-queen among her school set, but she isn’t any happier than Edward is. Besides, she doesn’t even seem to have a special trait or reliably unique skill, at least her new brother of sorts can cut hair, clip hedges, and provide excellent show-and-tell material for her younger brother. The film opens with a loving grandmother offering to explain to her adorable granddaughter where snow comes from, and then turns into a dark and disturbing parable of loneliness, nonconformity, and the tyranny of small minds. Edward Scissorhands, is a deeply touching movie, it isn’t overtly a Christmas movie, but it does touch on the grimmer side of the religion that currently dominates the much more ancient tradition of a midwinter celebration. The appropriately over-the-top performances from much of the cast and the overly bright fakeness of the world their characters inhabit might make it easy for some to dismiss Edward Scissorhands as fluff fantasy with nothing of importance to offer, but Johnny Depp won’t let that happen. Regardless of the oddity of his character, Depp keeps the film rooted in reality — whatever motive you attribute to the neighbours, the profound affect that their mass rejection of Edward has on him is undeniably, recognisably true. Edward is heartbreakingly poignant. His sudden rage, which he expresses by ripping his scissors across wallpaper and drapes, is all the more startling because he has been so courteous with his sharp edges before. His â€Å"fingers† snap and twitch when he’s nervous, which is often — not equipped with the verbal skills to defend himself, his despair radiates wordlessly. Even Edward’s humorous moments — as when he encounters the one piece of furniture to which he’s a serious danger: a waterbed — Depp imbues with a touch of pathos. How does â€Å"Edward Scissorhands† relate to the core text â€Å"My Place†? Pegg Boggs and Sally Morgan share a similar personality trait. Both characters have big hearts and kind souls. In â€Å"Edward Scissorhands† Pegg strives to help Edward deal with his differences. Just like Sally who tries  to get her grandmother to talk and accept her true identity. Both characters try to get their close ones to accept themselves for who they are, and to know that its what’s on the inside of a person that really matters, not what they look like. Sally excepts that Nan has been brought up in a different era and accepts this different, just like Pegg accepts Edward and his situation. However â€Å"My Place† and â€Å"Edward Scissorhands† involve completely different journeys in the sense that Morgan’s is a true account and autobiography of her real family and Tim Burtons film is a fantasy. This contrast shows that scissors for hands is a symbol illustration that is used to point out the discrimination felt by people who are actually physically different, just like Nan and Gladys who were discriminated against for their aboriginality. After Edward’s inventor died, he stayed living in the big house alone. This hiding away is parallel to Nan and Gladys hiding their Aboriginality. However both Sally and Pegg bring out the inner beauty of these people with differences and give them the sense of security and reassurance that they were both once unable to feel.