Interpersonal Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interpersonal Communication - Essay Example First, I am very opinionated. I do not necessarily have an opinion on every issue, but when I set my opinion on a certain issue, it is most probably because I evaluated the idea carefully and thoroughly. I have always thought that being such, I have the right to force my opinion on other people. I am usually like this with my friends, or those who are around my age bracket. I have no bad intentions in doing so. Usually, I become forceful in talks when I feel like I am doing the other person a favor by correcting his or her mistake. I usually put their opinion on the hot seat, and then point out the areas why that opinion is a mistake. I do it in a matter-of-fact manner that I usually do not care if the other person is getting offended or hurt. I notice that the other person will usually just say yes to me to close the topic, or keep quiet until he or she finds an opportunity to change the subject. Second, I have always believed that when I am right, I need to prove it. Sometimes, I go to lengths such as dissecting the issue just to show the other person that I was right. I do not have an issue in admitting that I am wrong if I am wrong, that is probably why I expect other people to be the same. I usually do this with my parents, especially when I feel that they underestimate my ideas just because I am younger and have lesser experiences than they have.I do not feel, however, like scoring points. ... I do not feel, however, like scoring points. I just want them to realize that there are times when I am right too. However, such conversations would end up either heatedly or with me being forced to shut up, which I do not appreciate. This would make me put a double effort in proving that I am right (usually by bringing up past conversations or arguments) when the next opportunity comes. Third, despite being opinionated and having strong character, I am a very happy person to be with. However, I seem to be very direct, or my sense of humor sometimes offends others who are a bit sensitive. For me, it is usually to break the ice or to encourage a cheerful mood when it gets awkward or dull. I always make it a point to be politically correct, but others still see my sense of humor as insensitive sometimes. While my upbeat personality may draw people to me and make them generally happy to be with me, I want to change some of my communication styles because I do not like offending or hurti ng people unnecessarily, even if they had been unintentional. Research on Self-Analysis of Communication Styles I have recently noticed how easy it is for my conversations with people who are close to me to go around in circles. What starts as a normal conversation would lead to an argument. Looking back to all those times, a big percentage of those arguments were due to trivial matters. I figured out it must have something to do with my communication styles. I remember a famous line that says, â€Å"It is not what you say, but how you say it.† This is the major point of my research regarding interpersonal communication. I believe that what is flawed is not my intention nor my message, but how I express my thoughts. As I have earlier mentioned, I

ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS - Essay Example Moreover, the tax expense figure provided in the consolidated income statement was $10.704mn. (a) The author of the journal article performed a statistical method which involved recalculation of earnings per share after reviewing 489,000 quarterly reports of 22,000 companies. They recalculated EPS to 1/10 of a cent instead of keeping it in penny. By doing so they found out that the occurrence of the three digits including 2, 3, or 4 in this format was significantly low as compared to other digits which raised doubts as each of these digits should have appeared 10% of the time (Thurm, 2010). (c) It has been indicated that adjustments are made to valuation of inventory or they are done in the form of assessment by the companies regarding the proportion of accounts receivables which they expect not to collect and therefore is recorded as bad debts. These are examples of ways in which companies can report higher earnings. It could therefore be stated that these adjustments are subjective to the assessment and consideration of factors by companies and those who are analyzing the accounts. However, if reasonable basis for justifying these estimates are made by companies then such steps are not considered illegal. (d) When companies are required to prepare earnings restatement reports when their previous published financial statements are found to contain errors, omissions, or misstatements. From the article it could be indicated that the authors of the article through their methods found that those companies were informed to restate their earnings or were alleged for accounting violations which had low number of occurrence of digit 4 in the 1/10th place. Such companies could therefore be considered as the ones which are involved in rounding off their earnings figure. (e) From the article it can be understood that the authors are of the view that even a single penny difference in the reported EPS can have impact on the

Green Growth And Developing Countries Economics Essay

Green Growth And Developing Countries Economics Essay This scoping report is to discuss different models of partnership between donors and businesses. By partnership, we refer to an arrangement whereby an individual business (or small group of businesses) works with one or more donors in a joint project or programme to deliver a specific outcome. Alternatively, it could include facilities which are set up to facilitate a number of partnerships between business and donors such as the Business Innovation Facility, or Challenge Fund approaches, or the Business Call to Action. This particular component of the wider scoping output focuses on describing and discussing partnership approaches which have been developed between (multilateral or bilateral) donor agencies and individual businesses, or overarching facilities designed to develop those kinds of partnerships with the specific objective of promoting green or low-carbon investment or innovation by business. We have visited partnerships established in a range of different relevant sectors, including agriculture, energy (inc. energy generation and energy efficiency), forest, disaster reduction, water supply (inc. sanitation), recycling/waste management, green buildings construction, transportation, heavy industry and manufacturing, and some cross-sector issues. The review provides a long list of case studies (attached to this report), drawn from developing countries around the world, showcasing different partnerships adopted between business and donors. In this report, after a brief introduction to the concept of green growth and its relationship with developing countries; as well as a description of the conventional contributions from donors and businesses in a partnership, a framework or typology will be developed to categorise the different types of partnerships. It will go on to analyse and compare primarily their pros and cons, and their potential value and suitability for different development purposes. Green growth and developing countries The most serious problems facing the world today water and food supply crises, extreme volatility in energy and food prices, rising greenhouse gas emissions, severe income disparity and chronic fiscal imbalances either stem from environmental mismanagement or inequality, both. Aside from the chronic fiscal imbalances that mostly concern the developed economies, developing countries are the most vulnerable to all of these risks. The key question if whether (and how) environmental goals can be reconciled with growth and poverty reduction in the developing world. The concept of green growth offers real opportunities for more inclusive growth in developing countries while protecting the environment. Developing countries are the key to achieving global green growth. Although today most developing countries contribute only minor shares to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, their emissions will increase if they follow the same path to economic growth as developed countries have followed. Increasingly developing countries are becoming sources of global economic growth, but accompanied by growing emissions and more intensive use of natural resources. The potential economic and social impacts of environmental degradation are particularly serious for developing countries given their dependence on natural resources for economic growth and their vulnerability to energy, food, water scarcity, climate change and extreme weather risks. All these factors are challenging their ability to develop. Developing countries have the greatest opportunities for capitalising on the synergies between environmental and economic sustainability. A green growth approach is the chance for emerging and developing economies to leapfrog unsustainable and wasteful production and consumption patterns. They can still factor environmental issues into their infrastructure investment decisions and can further develop agriculture and other natural resources in a way that improves livelihoods, creates jobs, and reduces poverty. They are less constrained than developed countries, which are now locked into investment choices and sunk capital from previous decades. Adequate financing and capacity would offer developing economies the opportunity to lay down the infrastructure and networks needed to support a sustainable development path. Collaborations between developed and developing countries are essential in efforts to move towards global green growth. But there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for implementing a green growth strategy. National development strategies must be based on each countrys strengths, bottlenecks and constraints. Developed, emerging and developing countries will face different challenges and opportunities in greening growth, as will countries with differing economic and political circumstances. (OECD, 2012) What is green growth and why it is important for developing countries If the world continues a business as usual approach to meeting the rising global demand for food, energy and infrastructure, the world will exceed its ecological carrying capacity. Volatile commodity prices, uncontrollable pollution, severe damage to human health, and irreversible loss of biodiversity systems will be the consequences of these business-as-usual investment decisions. The concept of green growth reframes the conventional growth model and re-assesses many of the investment decisions in meeting energy, agriculture, water and the resource demands of economic growth. The OECD defines green growth as a means to foster economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies. In this concept, natural capital plays a significant role in ensuring that production and welfare gains are reaped. (OECD, 2012) Some elements of a green growth path to development The overarching goal of green growth is to establish incentives or institutions that increase well-being by: improving resource management so as to boost productivity; encouraging economic activity to take place where it is of best advantage to society over the long-term; finding new ways of meeting the above two objectives, i.e. innovation; Recognising the full value of natural capital as a factor of production along with other commodities and services. Greening the growth path of an economy depends on its policy and institutional settings, level of development, resource endowments and particular environmental pressure points. Policy action requires looking across a very wide range of policies, not just traditionally green policies. Matching green growth policies and poverty reduction objectives will be important for adapting this framework to emerging and developing countries. There are important complementarities between green growth and poverty reduction, which can help to drive progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These include: more efficient water, energy and transport infrastructure; alleviating poor health associated with environmental degradation; and introducing efficient technologies that can reduce costs and increase productivity, while easing environmental pressure. Given the centrality of natural assets in low income countries, green growth policies can reduce vulnerability to environmental risks and increase the livelihood security of the poor. Source: Based on OECD (2011b), Towards Green Growth A summary for policy makers, OECD, Paris. Green growth and sustainable development Sustainable development provides an important context for green growth. Green growth has not been conceived as a replacement for sustainable development, but rather should be considered as a means to achieve it. It is narrower in scope, entailing an operational policy agenda that can help achieve concrete, measurable progress at the interface of the economy and the environment. It provides a strong focus on fostering the necessary conditions for innovation, investment and competition that can give rise to new sources of economic growth, consistent with resilient ecosystems. Green growth strategies need to pay specific attention to many of the social issues and equity concerns that can arise as a direct result of greening the economy both at the national and international level. To achieve this they should be implemented in parallel with initiatives centring on the broader social pillar of sustainable development. The goal for many developing economies is to achieve diversified and sustainable growth over time, which leads to poverty reduction, increased well-being and major improvements in the quality of life of its citizens. This is achieved by taking into account the full value of natural capital and recognising its essential role in economic growth. A green growth model promotes a cost-effective and resource efficient way of guiding sustainable production and consumption choices. Put simply, green growth will help developing countries to achieve sustainable development. (OECD, 2012) Green growth benefits for developing countries Many developing countries face different and more difficult policy choices than developed countries in defining and implementing green growth strategies. Choosing not to bring more land under cultivation because of the high environmental costs will be difficult for a country with high levels of rural poverty. Though, options for increasing the productivity of existing cultivated land should be explored. Evidently, systems to pay poor countries for ecosystem services and increase the economic and welfare benefit accruing to them and their citizens from maintaining environmental assets will be critical for the political feasibility of green growth strategies. Emerging evidence has reiterated that green growth activities can offer both short term and longer term benefits and opportunities to developing countries. Payment for ecosystems services in Costa Rica, sustainable natural resource extraction in Azerbaijan, social enterprise to promote organic waste treatment in Bangladesh have de monstrated the economic opportunities from investing in natural resources and promoting sectoral sustainability. In the short run, green growth policies are most likely to deliver local benefits in improved environmental management through sustainable waste treatment, better access to water and energy and more desirable health outcomes from controlled pollution. However, these short run benefits should be examined against the immediate costs of identified policies. Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies will trigger higher energy price which will burden both consumers and producers; air pollution controls will affect competitiveness and the prospects of specific sectors, potentially threatening jobs; providing fewer incentives for agricultural fertiliser usage to boost soil productivity and promote sustainable agriculture could decrease the income of many small-scale poor farmers. There are certainly trade-offs in the policy implications although the scale varies according to the nature of the economy and the implementation of the green growth measures. In many cases the poor are potential losers as a result of shifting to green growth. In some cases, powerful actors, including political parties, unions, and the private sector face disadvantages from shifting away from their countrys current development plan. Hence, the short-term benefits can become more visible if appropriate and targeted social complementary policies are implemented hand in hand with green growth measures. In the longer run, the recognised infrastructure deficits to support economic activities are considerable, but there is potential for technology leapfrogging and climate-resilient implementation. Severe shortages of electricity supply and high urbanisation rates demand more efficient energy and public transportation systems in cities. There may be potential job creation, for instance, through sustainable management of natural resources which could on one hand release the tension of urban migration given most of these opportunities are available in rural areas; on the other hand to preserve local livelihoods from environmental impacts, in particular of climate change. (OECD, 2012) Green growth: what can it bring developing countries? Economic benefits Increased GDP production of green goods and services Increased revenue from pricing ecosystem services (or their reduction prevented) Economic diversification, i.e. improved management of economic risks and reduced vulnerability Innovation, access and uptake of green technologies, i.e. improved market confidence Environmental benefits Increased productivity and efficiency of natural resource use Natural capital used within ecological limits Reduced adverse environmental impact and improved natural hazard/risk management Social benefits Increased livelihood opportunities, income and/or quality of life, notably of the poor Decent jobs that benefit poor people created and sustained Enhanced social, human and knowledge capital Reduced inequality

Johnny got his gun :: essays research papers

When you think about it, no one likes war it is a horrible thing. The book Johnny Got his Gun defiantly proved that point, in the sense that it can leave you as a helpless human, or even kill you. If you win a war the outcome of it may be good for you but just think if you are in the position where you may not be able to move talk or even know if you are awake or asleep because your whole face has been ripped off by the shrapnel of the apposing enemy. If that isn’t torture than I don’t know what is! After reading Johnny Got his Gun, you will see the downside to the war and not just the great outcome that the public hears. Johnny Got his Gun should be read by all so they can once see the horrible part of war. You wouldn’t know it but the government hides the brutality of war very well. For instance in Johnny Got his Gun he really wanted to show the public what it was like to be a victim of the war. To do this he uses Morse code with his head to communicate to the nurse to tell them that he wants to show the public his body and what war does, but the nurses can’t because it is against the regulations of the government because they don’t want people to feel bad for him and get mad at the government for forcing him into the war through the draft. This is just one reason there are many other reasons why we should try to prevent war as much as possible. Johnny Got his Gun really brings you into the shoes of what it would be like to be a helpless war victim knowing that the rest of your life is destroyed due to war casualties. Getting the rest of your life destroyed for something you didn’t want to do in the first place just seem really out of place for our society today. The hardships that he goes through seems like hell, not knowing if you are asleep or awake, not being able to move at all, barely begin able to breath, not begin able to drink or eat, and most of all wanting to kill yourself just because you are so depressed of being a nobody, and not being able to do anything but lie in bed.

Carnival Competition and Swot

COMPETITION Carnival Corporation is part of different industries and sectors: on one hand we have the cruise industry, which is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. Carnival is the largest cruise operator in the world, so it’s the most important player of the cruise industry. On the other hand the company is also part of a bigger sector: Hotels, Resorts and Cruise Lines, in which the competition list grows, having hotels and motels and the largest segment with 92. 4% share of the sector’s value. As a company Carnival has 11 brands distributed among the segments of the cruise ship industry.These segments are based on class, average price and number of passengers per ship. The mass-market segment also known as contemporary consists of 45 ships, an average of 2,400 passengers and a price of $114. 87. As company Carnival has the largest share of this segment with two different brands, Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises with 21 and 2 ships respectively, a share of 52%. Royal Caribbean, has 9 ships and a total of 21% of share in this segment, the company has a total of 40 ships that are operated under five different brands.Norwegian Cruise Line takes third place in the segment with a share of 18% and a total of nine ships, it is jointly owned by Star Cruises, the dominating company in the Asia-Pacific Market. Norwegian is known for its Freestyle Cruising concept, with little requirements. MSC Cruises is fourth with four out of a total of 12 ships, and a share of 9%, it sails throughout the Mediterranean and offers a wide range of itineraries in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, South America, among others.Carnival also plays an important role in the also known as premium segment, consists of 54 ships, an average of 2,390 passengers and a price of $167. 50; with four brands and a share of 54%, a total of 28 ships. Princess Cruises, holds 26%; Costa Cruises, 18%; Holland America Line, 8%, and Carnival Cruise Lines, only o ne ship and a share of 2%. Second places goes to Royal Caribbean and three of its brands, Celebrity Cruises, 18%; Royal Caribbean International, 14% and Pullmantur with 3% and two ships.MSC Cruises is third with only 6 cruises and 11% of share. As part of the Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines sector, Carnival’s competition increases. The rivalry level is high thanks to the dependence of intense characteristics of the sector capital, management, marketing, personnel, energy, maintenance, and technology, affect the final result. Worldwide the sector reached a value of $623. 2 billion in 2011 with a growth of 8. 2%. Hotels and motels is the largest segment of the sector, it accounts for 92. % of the total value, followed by cruise lines with 4. 7%, and resorts with 2. 9%. Even though Carnival Corporation is part of a smaller segment, it still is the leading player in the sector, generating 2. 5% share of the total value. Competing with Marriot International who holds 2%, a diversif ied hospitality company with a broad portfolio of hotels, lodging facilities, corporate housing properties and timeshare properties under various brand names.Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriot, Renaissance Hotels, The Ritz Carlton, among others, are part of the portfolio that recorded revenues of $12,317 million during the financial year ended December 2011. Accor comes in third place with a share of 1. 4%, French hotel group, which operates in over 91 countries with 4,426 hotels ranging from economy to luxury, some of its brands includes, Motel 6 and Sofitel Hotels and Resorts. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide holds 0. 9%, with 1,103 properties in nearly 100 countries.Westin Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts and W Hotels, are among the diverse portfolio that recorded revenues of $5,624 million. Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the largest cruise and vacation companies in the world, operating through four segments: North America, Europe, Australia and Asia cruise brands. The company is the most important player in both the Cruise Industry and in the Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines sector, in a market where buyers and consumers are price sensitive and willing to switch to a new player if a better offer is presented. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths:Carnival has the largest fleet and passenger capacity in the cruise industry, being the largest operator in the world operating 99 cruise ships, 2. 4 the number of ships of its closest competitor Royal Caribbean. Being the worlds largest cruise operator enhances the company’s bargaining power with suppliers, which results in large economies of scale and significant cost advantage over competitors. The large portfolio of widely recognizes brands, which cater to different lifestyles and budgets, also targeted to different cultures and demographic groups addressing people’s diverse entertainment and preferences.The company has a solid marketing strategy that communicates the value proposition of each bra nd to the target audience intended. Having as the main theme ‘Fun Ships’. Investing heavily in print and television media, to project itself as the ultimate entertainment destination. In addition to advertising, Carnival uses different methods to encourage new customers and travel agents with discounts and commissions, this aggressive marketing and promotion techniques highlights the different brands in a highly competitive industry and sector.Weaknesses: Even though Carnival is the leading provider of cruise vacations in the majority of the largest markets, it shows and overdependence on the North America region because it’s the originator of most of the company’s revenues. Creating vulnerability to the economic situations and uncertainties of the American economy. Opportunities: As an industry there is an opportunity to further penetrate into the European cruise market.Although the cruise industry has grown significantly over the past decades it still oc cupies a very small proportion of the global vacation market, 4. 7%. With more opportunity to further penetrate the European cruise market, especially in Western European countries where the trend is moving in favor of cruise vacations. In addition a changed in demographics has been seen, with a growth in population of over 65. Marking the importance of the general trend where the majority of cruising passengers ranged from 45 to 65 years. Threats:New tax regulations announced by the United States, as a measure to address offshore tax avoidance, Carnival Corporation would be affected because it is incorporated in Panama and Carnival plc in the UK, so its exempt from taxation earnings because they come from operations of a ship documented under the laws of a foreign country. As cruise line company it also pays minimal corporation tax because it holds overseas status. Around 48% of the company’s revenues are generated from non-US regions and are reported in US Dollars, as a res ult there is a large dependence on the fluctuations of the dollar against all other major currencies.

An Analysis on the Interaction of the Different aspects on Human Development

Abstract The growing up process or the human developmental process has been an interesting topic of research in the field of Psychology. Great psychologists and sociologists have already provided up of the different theories and hypotheses about growing up. However, the application of these theories may not that easy for us to understand. Therefore this paper shall describe, compare, and contrast the developmental theories according to the psychodynamic, cognitive, learning, and humanistic perspectives.An Analysis on the Interaction of the Different aspects on Human Development  on the Overall Development of a Child Development or the growing-up process is the most crucial part of a person’s life. It is the time when changes in the cognitive, emotional, and biological aspects occur. Hence, this is the stage when a person needs utmost attention and guidance. This area has been a topic of interest for researchers for several years which led to the birth of Developmental Psycho logy as a separate field of study. Developmental psychology aims to grasp and provide a better understanding of the idea and significance of growing up in reaching a person’s full potential.To explain the process of human development, various theories were proposed by several psychologists. Hence, this paper aims to describe, compare, and contrast the developmental theories according to the psychodynamic, cognitive, learning, and humanistic perspectives. Psychodynamic Perspective Freud’s Psychosexual Theory There are various theories in studying the development in human life cycle. The first one is the Psychodynamic perspective. In this theory, the names Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson hover among the others.Freud’s theory attempts to explain human development through what he calls the psychosexual stages. According to his theory, sexuality starts at a very early stage in a person’s life. Each stage is identified according to the specific pleasure source a child has on that stage. In case that a pleasure urge is not gratified, it may eventually lead to various fixations later in a person’s life (Institute of Human Thermodynamics [IoHT], 2005). Freud enumerates the different psychosexual stages as follows: Table 1 – The Psychosexual Stages Stage Pleasure source Conflict/Fixation Oral  (birth-18months)Mouth Oral Fixation- excessive eating, drinking, smoking, and biting of nails Anal (2-4 years) Anus Anal fixation o Anal retentiveness- too much orderliness/ cleanliness o Anal repulsiveness- messy Phallic (4-5 years) Genitals Oedipus (boys) or Electra (girls) complex, Castration Anxiety, Penis Envy Latency (6-puberty) Repressed sexual urges Genital (puberty onward) Physical sexual changes reawaken repressed needs. Social rules Freud also emphasized the effects of the Id, Ego, and Superego in the developmental process of a child. The id is the pleasure seeking part of individuals.This is the source of biological needs and drives. On the other hand, the superego is oftentimes in conflict with the id because it consists of the moral part of individuals, and it is more popularly described as the voice of the conscience. Finally, the ego operates under reality, and it is further described by Freud as the conscious mind which contains one’s thoughts, judgments, and memories (IoHT, 2005). In summary, the three main concepts of Freud’s psychosexual theory are: (1) pleasure and fixation; (2) sexuality at an early age; and (3) id, ego, and superego.Pleasure and fixation deals about the pleasure sources of an individual per stage and the fixation that may come if that certain pleasure will not be gratified. Sexuality at an early age on the other hand talks about the sexual pleasures an individual experiences during the early periods of life, which Freud explain to be the major source of all our frustrations as we grow old. Lastly he also talks the id, ago and superego which, for Freud, are the ce ntral controllers of our behavior. Freud’s psychosexual theory is similar to other developmental theories in several ways. First, it summarizes the developmental process into stages.Second, like other theories, this theory also talks about a child’s needs and the importance of gratification. Finally, it associates consciousness as a factor in each stage. However, the psychosexual theory appears to be different from other psychosexual theory in various ways. One of its unique features is that it deals with sexuality in the early years of a child’s development. Another distinct characteristic of this theory is that it does not involve other emotional and external factors. Lastly, it does not include other areas of growth aside from the sexual development.Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory Erikson’s theory deals with personality development. In this theory, Erikson summarized the Psychosocial Development of a person into eight different stages. The 1) trus t vs. mistrust, 2) autonomy vs. shame, 3) initiative vs. guilt, 4) industry vs. inferiority, 5) identity vs. role confusion, 6) intimacy vs. isolation, 7) generativity vs. stagnation and 8) integrity vs. despair. In each stage, a person deals with a crisis based on physiological development and the demands from the parents, guardians, or the society (Clifton & Davis, 1995).In summary, the three main concepts of Erikson’s personality development theory are: (1) a person’s search for an identity, which answers the question of why an individual goes through the different psychosocial development stages; (2) psychosocial crisis, which talks about the social and personal difficulties and problems that a person experiences whenever he or she was not able to overcome a psychosocial stage successfully; and (3) the ego psychology in agreement with Freud’s ego concept, which explains that the ego primarily controls the way a person acts and socializes.Erikson’s psy chosocial theory appears to be similar to other developmental theories in numerous ways. First, like other theories, it summarizes the developmental process into stages. Second, it talks about a child’s needs and the importance of gratification as well. Last, the psychosocial theory associates the effects of the social environment with a child’s development. However, some features of the psychosocial theory make it distinct from the other developmental theories. One of these features is that it believes that the ego is of utmost importance.Another characteristic of this theory that sets it apart from the others is that it believes that both social and sexual factors play an important role in personality development. Finally, it also deals with mental health. Cognitive Developmental Theory The most renowned proponent of the Cognitive Development Theory is Jean Piaget. In this theory, he points out that cognitive development is a process where a child’s knowledge and awareness of his/her surroundings is a function of experience and time.Piaget claims that children have this so-called â€Å"reflexes† at birth which control their behavior (Huitt & Hummer, 2003). These reflexes are then replaced with constructed schemes. He described the processes as Assimilation and Accommodation. Assimilation pertains to the process of using or transforming the environment so that it can be placed in a pre-existing cognitive structure (Huitt & Hummer, 2003).On the other hand, accommodation is the process of changing cognitive structures in order to accept something from the environment. Piaget further simplified his theory by enumerating what he called the stages of cognitive development: 1) Sensorimotor stage (infancy); 2) Pre-operational stage (toddler and early childhood); 3) Concrete Operational stage (elementary and early adolescence); and 4) formal operational stage (adolescence and adulthood) (Preisser, 1997).In summary, the three main concepts of Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental theory are: (1) reflexes and schemas are the main factors of a person’s behavior; (2) assimilation and accommodation, where assimilation is the process of using or transforming the environment so that it can be placed in preexisting cognitive structures, while accomodation is the process of changing cognitive structures in order to accept something from the environment (Huitt & Hummer, 2003); and (3) constructivist learning, which explains that the learning is mostly dependent on the learner and the teacher.It is the learner who interacts with his or her environment and thus gains an understanding of its features and characteristics (Thanasoulas, 2003). Some traits of Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory are similar to other developmental theories include the following: (1) it summarizes the developmental process into stages; (2) it talks about a child’s needs and the importance of gratification; and (3) it emphasizes the role of the parents/guardians in a child’s development. However, certain characteristics of this theory make it unique and different from other developmental theories.These characteristics are as follows: (1) it focuses on mental development only; (2) it looks at the cognitive development not just as a series of several stages but also as a process as a whole; and (3) it does not look at the other factors, such as the social and emotional aspect of a child’s development. Learning Perspective: Social Learning Theory Among other theorists, Albert Bandura is considered as the leading proponent of this theory. According to J. E. Ormrod (1999), Social Learning Theory keeps its focus on the learning that occurs within a social context.This is means that people tend to learn through observation and modeling. This theory also proposes that learning is still possible to occur even without a change in behavior. This is because according to social psychologists, a person can learn through observation alone, and this may not manifest in one’s actions. The theory also states that learning becomes possible through cognition; that is, prediction of future rewards or punishments has a great effect on how a person behaves (Ormrod, 1999).In summary, the three main concepts of Bandura’s Social Learning theory are: (1) learning through observation and modeling, where people learn easily through observation and imitating another individual’s behavior; (2) cognition as a major factor of learning, which refers to an individual’s knowledge absorption, analysis, and processing; and (3) self-efficacy, which refers to how people feel, think, motivate themselves, and behave. Such beliefs produce these diverse effects through four major processes (Bandura, 1994).Bandura’s Social Learning appears to be similar to other theories as it: (1) focuses on mental and learning process; (2) emphasize the role of parents/guardians in a childâ€⠄¢s development; and (3) mentions about the significance of reinforcements in learning. However, this theory also differs from other theory because it: (1) emphasizes on modeling as a form of learning; (2) deals with self-efficacy; and (3) centers on the stages of the learning process rather than on the development process as a whole.Humanistic Perspective: Self Actualization and Hierarchy of Needs This theory is proposed by Carl Rogers. He explained through this theory that just like animals, plants, and other organisms, human beings have that natural urge to thrive and survive (Boeree, 2007). This theory also emphasizes the importance of positive regard and positive self-regard in the process of growing up which, he says, may eventually lead a person to accomplish his or her full potential and worth—the full functionality of a person.In summary, the three main concepts of Rogers’ Personality theory are: (1) self actualization which is concerned with the awareness or realization of one’s identity which helps to draw his/her utmost capabilities and potentials; (2) positive self-regard, which, just like self esteem and self confidence, helps build up an individual’s trust in his/herself that s/he can do anything that s/he endeavors; and (3) fully functioning person—a person who achieved self actualization and consistently has positive self-regard. Rogers’ Personality theory has characteristics that are similar to other developmental theories.These similarities include the following: (1) it sees people only as good, healthy, well, or ill; (2) it perceives mental health as a normal progression in life; and (3) it is person-centered (Boeree, 2007; Pescitelli, 1996). However, this theory has features that make it different from other developmental theories. These features include: (1) it is relatively simple; (2) it looks at cognitive development, not as a series of several stages but also as a process as a whole; and (3) i t does not take into consideration other factors such as the social and emotional aspect of a child’s development.Importance of Understanding the Developmental Theories in Helping Children Reach Their Potential All new born children need and deserve the attention, love, and support from their parents. However, the support and the care do not actually stop at that period of life; rather, it has only just begun. The most important period when a child needs proper care and guidance is during his/her early years. It is during this time when various factors, both internal (e. g. , thought processes) and external (e. g. , family), shape the personality of the child and what s/he can become (Day, 2008).It is also during this stage that children find their identity—who they want to be in the society and how they want to be treated as a person. In this development process, the cognitive, physical, and emotional aspects of a child are interrelated in a way that each one affects the child’s overall development in various ways. The cognitive aspect of a child’s development is directly connected to the other two since it is the mental processes which govern the rest of an individual’s activities and behavior.The physical aspect on the other hand is important to be developed properly since the physical capacities and limitations of an individual depend to that. Lastly, the emotional aspect also poses significance in a child’s development since this will determine how strong and how weak shall this person be in dealing with personal and social emotional issues in the future. Thus, the parents cannot just focus on one aspect of development; rather, these three aspects must be taken into consideration and must be given proper attention.In addition to this, a growing child is more vulnerable and more fragile compared to adults. For this reason, children must receive proper guidance in order for them to become good and useful members of the society. Through the theories discussed in this paper, it can be concluded that a child’s development is never as simple as gaining height and weight. It is not as plain as learning to write and read better through the days spent in school.In the process, the parents and the child’s environment actually mold him/her into a person who can reach his/her greatest potentials. If parents neglect or fail in this obligation, issues and problems may arise regarding a child’s attitude, behavior, and capabilities later on when s/he grows as an adult. Hence, just like a butterfly’s metamorphosis, parents want their children to grow with the most beautiful and strongest wings possible; that is, through understanding these developmental theories. References Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York: Academic Press. (Reprinted in H. Friedman [Ed.], Encyclopedia of Mental Health. San Diego: Academic Press, 1998) Boeree, C.G. (2007). Carl Rogers 1902-1987. Personality Theories. Retrieved October 16, 2008 from http://www.social-psychology.de/do/pt_rogers.pdf Clifton, A. and Davis, D., Psychosocial Theory: Erikson, Haverford College. Retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/erikson.stages.html Day, A. (2008). Why understanding your child’s personality is so important. Helium. Retrieved October 16, 2008 from http://www.helium.com/items/942762-why-understanding-your-childs-personality-is-so-important Institute of Human Thermodynamics. (2005, December 26). Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory and Thermodynamics [1873-1923]. Retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://www.humanthermodynamics.com/Freud.html Huitt, W., & Hummel, J. (2003). Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/piaget.html Ormrod, J.E. (1999). Human Learning (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Pescitelli, D. (1996). An Analysis of Carl Rogers’ Theory of Personality.Telford Hypnotherapy. Retrieved October 16, 2008 from http://www.telfordhypnotherapy.co.uk/An%20Analysis%20of%20Carl%20Rogers.doc Preisser, G. (1997). Theories and research. Developmental Psychology Student Net Letter, Mesa Community College. Retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d46/psy/dev/Fall98/Theories/theories.html Thanasoulas, D. (2003). Constructivist Learning. Center for Southeast Asian Studies Northern Illinois University. Retrieved October 18, 2008 from http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Teachers_Page/Language_Learning_Articles/constructivist_learning.htm Syque. (2008). Freud’s psychosexual stage theory. Changing Minds. Retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://changingminds.org/explanations/learning/freud_stage.htm   

Simple Conjugations of Guérir (to Cure) in French

Simple Conjugations of Guà ©rir (to Cure) in French The action of healing is described in French by using the verb  guà ©rir. Literally meaning to cure, to heal, or to recover, it is a useful addition to your French vocabulary. Now, you just need to understand how to conjugate it. A quick lesson will demonstrate the simplest forms. Conjugating the French Verb  Guà ©rir Guà ©rir  is a  regular -IR verb, meaning it follows a relatively common conjugation pattern. When you learn the endings for this verb, they can be applied to many others, including  grandir  (to grow) and  grossir  (to grow fat). As with any French verb conjugation, begin by identifying the verb stem. For  guà ©rir, this is  guà ©r-. To this, a variety of infinitive endings is added to match the subject pronoun with the present, future, or imperfect past tense. For example, I am healing is je guà ©ris and we will cure is nous guà ©rirons. Subject Present Future Imperfect je guà ©ris guà ©rirai guà ©rissais tu guà ©ris guà ©riras guà ©rissais il guà ©rit guà ©rira guà ©rissait nous guà ©rissons guà ©rirons guà ©rissions vous guà ©rissez guà ©rirez guà ©rissiez ils guà ©rissent guà ©riront guà ©rissaient The Present Participle of  Guà ©rir Add -ant  to the verb stem of  guà ©rir  to create the  present participle  guà ©rissant. It is a verb, though, in certain contexts, it can also be used as an adjective, gerund, or noun. The Past Participle and Passà © Composà © The  past participle  of  guà ©rir  is  guà ©ri. This is used along with a conjugate of the auxiliary verb  avoir  to create a common past tense in French known as the  passà © composà ©. Its rather easy to construct: I recovered becomes jai guà ©ri and we have cured is nous avons guà ©ri. More Simple  Guà ©rir  Conjugations to Learn When the action of healing, curing, or recovering is somehow questionable or uncertain, you can use the subjunctive verb mood. In a similar fashion, if the action is dependent on something else also occurring, then the conditional verb form may be used. Those two are great for casual conversation, though the passà © simple and the imperfect subjunctive are literary forms. While you may not use these yourself, its a sound idea to be able to associate them with  guà ©rir. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Passà © Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je guà ©risse guà ©rirais guà ©ris guà ©risse tu guà ©risses guà ©rirais guà ©ris guà ©risses il guà ©risse guà ©rirait guà ©rit guà ©rà ®t nous guà ©rissions guà ©ririons guà ©rà ®mes guà ©rissions vous guà ©rissiez guà ©ririez guà ©rà ®tes guà ©rissiez ils guà ©rissent guà ©riraient guà ©rirent guà ©rissent To express  guà ©rir  in short requests and demands, the imperative verb mood is used. For this, theres no need to include the subject pronoun, so tu guà ©ris can be simplified to guà ©ris. Imperative (tu) guà ©ris (nous) guà ©rissons (vous) guà ©rissez