Reading Responses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading Responses - Essay Example The storm ends and Alcee quickly leaves before Bobinot arrives home, worried that his wife will be upset about her son getting wet and dirty from the storm. She says she is just happy to have her family back at home with her and tells her husband nothing of the encounter with Alcee, and he suspects nothing. That night, Alcee sends his wife, Clarisse a letter saying he misses her, but that she and the children should stay in Alabama for another month and enjoy the summer. Clarisse receives the letter and is happy for her husband’s permission to stay in Alabama, where she is enjoying a freedom she hasn’t felt since her days as a single woman. The first thing I noticed was the way the dialog was written. It wasn’t proper English, but instead written so the reader hears the way the characters sound when reading it. For example, when Bobinot tells his son that his mother is home alone during the storm, the sentence is written, â€Å"No; she ent got Sylvie. Sylvie was helpin’ her yistiday† (129) as opposed to proper English of â€Å"No, she doesn’t have Sylvie. Sylvie was helping her yesterday.† Because of this, I can easily hear what the characters sound like. I think that adds a lot to the story and helps us understand where the story takes place – Louisiana.

Language as a Powerful Mind Control Weapon Essay Example for Free

Language as a Powerful Mind Control Weapon Essay Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) is a classic dystopian novel by English author George Orwell. Akin to the latter’s earlier work, Animal Farm (1945), Nineteen Eighty-Four is a cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel’s main character, Winston Smith, is a civil servant tasked with disseminating government propaganda through the forging of records and political literature. Disillusioned with such a mechanistic existence, Smith begins an uprising against the regime – a move which later resulted in his incarceration and torture. The esteem of Nineteen Eighty-Four can be attributed mainly to its frank and vivid portrayal of the perpetuation of the status quo at the expense of individual rights (Gearon 65). Many of the novel’s terminologies and ideas, such as â€Å"doublethink,† â€Å"Orwellian,† â€Å"Newspeak† and â€Å"Big Brother,† eventually acquired secure places in the English language (Trahair 289). At present, some thinkers even use these expressions and concepts to criticize repressive government policies. The term â€Å"Orwellian,† for instance, is currently an idiom that refers to any form of normalcy that closely resembles the Party (Cameron 151). One of Orwell’s major arguments in the novel is that language is the totalitarian government’s most powerful weapon of mind control. Through the usage of deceptive language and propaganda, as well as the modification of language, the Party was able to manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of the citizens of Oceania. Newspeak was the Party’s primary means of misleading the citizens of Oceania (Thomas, Singh, Peccei, Jones and Wareing 39). It was a corrupted form of Standard English (known in the novel as Oldspeak) that reflected the principles of Ingsoc. â€Å"Undesirable† words were eliminated from the lingua franca, while those that were retained were stripped of â€Å"unorthodox† denotations (Ji 1). Consequently, it became impossible to develop other modes of thought in Newspeak (Orwell 144). Newspeak was more than just a language – it was the â€Å"(embodiment) of the totalitarian (mindset) of the Party members† (Gerovitch 12). To accommodate alternate views would increase the possibility of encountering â€Å"heretical† thoughts (Gerovitch 13). It is no longer surprising, therefore, if the Party required all inhabitants of Oceania to use Newspeak – doing so was a very convenient way of indoctrinating them with Ingsoc beliefs. The immense power of language to control the mind is not a fictional phenomenon. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (n. d. ) argued that language determined how human beings perceived their environment (Thomas, Singh, Peccei, Jones and Wareing 39). This assumption is composed of two parts – linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism. Linguistic relativity theorized that the languages of different cultures do not necessarily have equivalent systems of representation. Linguistic determinism, meanwhile, asserted that a language not only reflected certain aspects of reality but also influenced the speaker’s thought process (Thomas, Singh, Peccei, Jones and Wareing 25). It would be fair to say that the premise behind the development and usage of Newspeak was based on the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. In the novel’s appendix, it is revealed that Ingsoc was originally known as English Socialism (Orwell 143). But during the time of English Socialism, people spoke Standard English. Consequently, they were exposed to radical ideas that inspired them to turn against the Party (Ji 1). In retaliation, the Party silenced them through punishment and terror (Ji 1). The Party eventually viewed the period of English Socialism as one that was characterized with violence and lawlessness. Standard English, meanwhile, was regarded as a relic of an anarchic past that must be discarded at all costs. The Party even set a year in which they expected Standard English to be already nonexistent – 2050 (Orwell 143). In the appendix of the novel, Orwell wrote the Party’s ultimate dream – a society wherein everyone accepted the official ideology even without the threat of punishment and terror (Ji 1). This was only possible, however, if they had no access to subversive ideas. It must be noted that in the context of the novel, Standard English was regarded as the source of dissident concepts. The Party therefore realized that Standard English must be replaced with a singular and specially contrived language – Newspeak. When people spoke, heard, read and wrote only in Newspeak, they could be kept under control even without outright state persecution (Ji 1). Newspeak was the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism. In the year 1984 there was not as yet anyone who used Newspeak as his sole means of communication, either in speech or writing. The leading articles in The Times were written in it, but this was a tour de force which could only be carried out by a specialist. It was expected that Newspeak would have finally superseded Oldspeak (or Standard English, as we should call it) by about the year 2050. (143) The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the (worldview) and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible. It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought – that is, a thought diverging from the principles of Ingsoc – should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words. Its vocabulary was so constructed as to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express, while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods. This was done partly by the invention of new words, but chiefly by eliminating undesirable words and by stripping such words as remained of unorthodox meanings, and so far as possible of all secondary meanings whatever. To give a single example. The word free still existed in Newspeak, but it could only be used in such statements as â€Å"This dog is free from lice† or â€Å"This field is free from weeds. † It could not be used in its old sense of â€Å"politically free† or â€Å"intellectually free† since political and intellectual freedom no longer existed even as concepts, and were therefore of necessity nameless. (144) A person growing up with Newspeak as his sole language would no more know that equal had once had the secondary meaning of â€Å"politically equal,† or that free had once meant â€Å"intellectually free,† than for instance, a person who had never heard of chess would be aware of the secondary meanings attaching to queen and rook. There would be many crimes and errors which it would be beyond his power to commit, simply because they were nameless and therefore unimaginable. (148-149) This ambition, however, was not without serious consequences. The individual rights of the people of Oceania were severely violated. They constantly lived in fear of government reprisal – landscapes across London were bombarded with posters of â€Å"Big Brother† with the caption â€Å"Big Brother is Watching You† (Orwell 1). Two-way television sets – telescreens – were installed in all homes and public establishments in order to monitor the populace for any sign of subversive activity (thoughtcrime). Worse, the Party encouraged everyone to spy on one another. Even children were ordered to report their parents to the authorities (Thought Police) if they caught them committing a thoughtcrime. Winston Smith was among those who paid the ultimate price. Upon his arrest, he was taken to the Ministry of Love, where he was subjected to electroshock torture. Winston was afterwards taken to the infamous Room 101, where a prisoner was tortured by being exposed to his or her greatest fear. Winston’s primal fear was rats – he was therefore tortured by having a wire cage full of starving rats brought near to his face. Petrified, Winston finally accepts Party ideology and was later released as a brainwashed individual. Sadly, it is obvious that Orwell’s warning in Nineteen Eighty-Four went unheeded. At present, there are still so many societies wherein people are stripped of their basic rights and liberties. What is more saddening is that some of the parties who are guilty of this wrongdoing are actually claiming that they are staunch advocates of freedom, justice and equality. They use elaborate propaganda to proclaim their â€Å"advocacy† while acting in a completely opposite manner. The Party used language in order to keep the people of Oceania silent, ignorant and oppressed. In doing so, the former proved that evil prospers where good is silent. Orwell, on the other hand, used words in order to expose and fight this atrocity. In doing so, he proved that the pen is mightier than the sword. Works Cited Cameron, Deborah. Verbal Hygiene. New York: Routledge, 1995. Gearon, Liam. Freedom of Expression and Human Rights: Historical, Literary and Political Contexts. Eastbourne: Sussex Academic Press, 2006. Gerovitch, Slava. From Newspeak to Cyberspeak: A History of Soviet Cybernetics. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004. Ji, Fengyuan. Linguistic Engineering: Language and Politics in Mao’s China. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2004. Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. n. p. : n. d. Thomas, Linda, Ishtla Singh, Jean Stilwell Peccei, Jason Jones, and Shan Wareing. Language, Society and Power: An Introduction. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2004. Trahair, R. C. S. Utopia and Utopians: A Historical Dictionary. Santa Barbara: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999.

Inconsistent Terminology for Emerging Technologies :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Inconsistent Terminology for Emerging Technologies Emerging technologies affect not only the computing world but other worlds as well. In the past ten years the English language has expanded to include new terms such as blog and instant messaging. Unfortunately, not all new words are reviewed and approved by a central source and often common terminology fragments into different styles and usage. Perhaps the word web site best typifies this behavior. Although a web site is hardly new in terms of technology, publications have been rife with inconsistent usage. However, of the various permutations, the etymology of web site is the most practical. Most traditional sources such as the American Psychological Association Style Guide seem to skirt the issue altogether with a list that includes Web and e-mail, but not site. Or, when electronic sources are cited, they are listed as being found â€Å"on-line† (APA). While traditional style guides have often outlined best practices for grammar and terminology, only a few published style guides are dedicated to the forum of the World Wide Web. One of the oldest web-dedicated style guides, the Yale Style Guide, makes no direct reference to the usage of the term web site, but consistently refers to it as Web site. Additionally, Gerry McGovern’s Web Content Style Guide adheres to the one-word usage of website. However, the same book curiously advises two different usages of the word web. The use of a capitalized Web is recommended when the word is used on its own to refer to the World Wide Web (example; The Web has grown immensely in popularity.). The second use is a lowercase web, when the word is used as an adjective, such as web users (McGovern 2002). A brief look at online web dictionaries and terminology guides may indicate that Web site is the most popular term. Webopaedia uses the Web site as an entry, as well as NetLingo. But when turning to the experts of the Web, such as Jakob Nielsen, one will discover that Nielsen voices stong opinions about web usability standards but goes against the grain in his use of the term website. In 1997, Wired magazine launched a short-lived companion site to its published handbook WiredStyle with the following explanation for its use of Web site: "Web" is a proper noun, and so deserves its initial cap. When using "Web" as a modifier, we keep the cap and strongly resist the urge to close "Web" up with other nouns.

Building & Maintaining Customer Relationships Essay

Company Overview Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retailer company, which has operated on the market since 1962. The existence of such type of stores on the market becomes urgent.   This phenomenon can be easily explained by the lowering standards of living and economic slowdowns. The company was found in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas (Wal-Mart, 2005). Its founder, Sam Walton opened the first distribution center in 1970, which was a starting point for further expansion, and in two years it was included in the list on the New York Stock Exchange. Today, none of the discount retailers is more popular than Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart merchandises a wide range of goods from tables to combs. Wal-Mart is the leader of the full-line discounters, with many stores cov ­ering 120,000 square feet (or more) of floor space; food accounts for about a third of floor space and sales (Wal-Mart Home Page, 2006). Acquisition Strategy Wal-Mart uses acquisition strategy as the main tool to access and penetrate new markets around the globe and expend nationally. The first wave of acquisitions took place at the end of 1970s when Wal-Mart acquired 16 Mohr-Value stores in Michigan and Illinois (1977), Hutcheson Shoe Company (1978), Woolco stores (1983), Grand Central Stores (1985), Supersaver (1988). Acquisition policy has been undoubtedly the most radical growth strategy open to management in that it represents a deliberate attempt to change the nature of the business (Is Wal-Mart Good for America, 2004). Executives at Wal-Mart spent most of 1990 trying to expand the brand’s customer base, and results have been promising. With hindsight, however, it is clear that Wal-Mart paid too much for the acquisitions. As noted previously, Wal-Mart is currently in the midst of its own financial retrenchment. Acquisition policy occurs when the new business is related in some way to the old one. The opening up of the market and the resultant increased competition has widened the perspective of the planning framework with profound implications for Wal-Mart. During this period of time, Wal-Mart acquired Western Merchandisers, Inc and McLane Company of Temple (1990),   28 units from The Wholesale Club, Inc (1991). During 1990s, Wal-Mart has used acquisition strategy to expand internationally and acquired 122 Woolco stores in Canada (1994), opened new stores in Puerto-Rico (1992) and penetrates Korean and Chinese markets through joint venture strategy, and entered German market in acquiring Wertkauf (1998) and Interspar (1999). For instance, acquisition with Woolco stores allowed Wal-Mart to subject to a complex regulate framework whereas others are less so (Watch Out Europe: Here Comes Wal-Mart, 1999). Still, even if it is possible to predict the needs of customer there are some threats and new opportunities, which should be taken into consideration (Oliva, n.d.). There are no specific regulations governing the goals and structures of the industry, there is no constitutional restrictions or legislative mandate that restricts acquisition (Bianco, Zellner, 2003). In October 09 2006.Black Agenda Radio reported that Wal-Mart was going to enter Australian market making its first acquisition in Australia this year. They announced that Wal-Mart made investments in Brazilian retail chain Sonae and Central American Retail Holding Company (CARHCO). Also, â€Å"On 28 July 2006, Wal-Mart announced it will exit the German retail market by selling its 85 â€Å"Supercenters† to retailer Metro AG on the back of pre-tax losses of approximately U.S. $1 billion on its German operations† (Wal-Mart’s Germany Exit, 2006). So, acquisition strategy employed by Wal-Mart provides the buyer with quick growth as well as access to existing brand suppliers, distributors, and goods. Retention Strategy Unlike the transactional, functionally-orientated approach, relationship marketing in food retailing industry is a cross-functional process concerned with balancing marketing efforts among key markets. To create a winning customer retention strategy, Wal-Mart expends its product lines and improves its customer services. For instance, Wal-Mart implemented RFDI solutions and handheld computers linked to in-store computers which helped to transform its business worldwide (RFID to Transform, 2004). The strength of retention strategy is that it is on average as dependent on reliable information technology as any other businesses. They care more about reliable service and confidence than about the lowest price. The company implemented IT supply chain solutions and Internet facilities in order to meet customers’ needs and requirements. A critical issue within the customer market domain in the USA is to ensure that customer retention as well as customer acqui ­sition is emphasized. Recognition of the significant link between customer retention and profitability is leading to new and better strategies for strengthening customer satisfaction and loyalty (RFID to Transform Real-Time, 2004). Branding, advertising, promotion, and additional services to customers and product innovation strengthen the company’s image (Sell Your Product, †¦ 2004). In-Store Checkout TV Channels are introduced in different locations around the country aimed improve customer service and engage customers in buying process. This strategy decreases time and efforts that customers must expend to learn about the products. Wal-Mart reduces prices seasonally in order to attract new customers and benefit existing buyers. Wal-Mart’s customers evaluate an item of a given specification in terms of its total expected costs, i.e. acquisition price plus any necessary additional expenses associated with an item: it can be installation, running and maintenance costs, all discounted to the present time in order to take account of cash flows over a period of time. In the same way the cost of a transport movement or service may be expressed in terms of the original price of acquisition plus any additional and necessary costs or expenses (Brown Quintin, 2000). It is possible to distinguish two aspects of costs: price and expenses. Trying to provide customer service an organization considers these two measurements. In evaluating an organization, customers consider or respond to these two measurements. Mobile computing and increased staffing for weekends help to overcome retention and improve customer service (The Big Secret Is Continue†¦ 2006). Strengths and Weaknesses of Wal-Mart’s Acquisition and Retention The main strength of Wal-Mart acquisition and retention strategies is that they improve company’s position on the market; they are customer-oriented and help Wal-Mart to expend internationally. Also, the management team of Wal-Mart takes into consideration that direct Investment involves sev ­eral distinct forms. Ranging from a sales/marketing subsidiary through to a fully operational manufacturing unit producing the same products as the domestic plant, investment includes product specific manufacturing units, plants producing components and facilities which simply assemble products in the end-user market (Davison, Smith, 2005). At the very beginning the strengths included high potential to growth and profitability of the company, and professional management team, customer loyalty and excellent service. It is targeted at the customers, which buy discounted and unpackaged goods from manufactures at extremely low prices (The Ever-Expanding Empire, 2004). For Wal-Mart, acquisition and retention strategies help to save millions of dollars on advertising and market penetration. Wal-Mart plans on a combination of forecasting and budgeting systems can only work if the future is going to be the same as the present or the past. Wal-Mart will succeed in redu ­cing costs in the next few years of the decade by international acquisition strategies. The main weaknesses include negative attitude of foreign competitors and strict government regulations restricted foreign ownership in some countries. For instance, in 2002 Wal-Mart’s attempts to buy Supermercados Amigo in Puerto Rico were blocked in order to prevent anti-competition policies and foreign dominance of Wal-Mart. Also, Wal-Mart has made attempts to acquire Ahold’s operations in Argentina, Brazil and Peru. Another weakness of Wal-Mart is comparatively low wages which increase dissatisfaction with its policies (Is Wal-Mart Good for America, 2004). This situation negatively affects company’s image and causes critics in press. Changes in legislation and international regulations can weaken Wal-Mart’s global presence and limits its acquisition plans. For instance, the end of 1990s was marked by the changes on the European market which altered many of the parameters of competition and thus enforced a period of reassessment and adaptation (Person of the Week, 2006). Recommendations Taking into account current acquisition and retention strategies and activities, the best collusions for Wal-Mart are planning for com ­petitiveness and are actively involved in re-investing profits in new critical assets. Wal-Mart may choose to concentrate on its core strengths and rationalize its portfolio, focus its activities on a particular geographic area or centre on a particular user segment. Wal-Mart, as a result of being able to adapt to changing competitive demands, is likely to survive in the long term. The changes can be incremental or major in their nature, but each type provides specific advantages to deliver customer satisfaction. It is possible to conclude that effective international and national marketing depends upon effective marketing system employed by a company. The company needs better management facilities outside the USA to control and monitor performance around the world. For Wal-Mart acquisition should be key market-entry strategy that entails purchasing multiple existing outlets in a foreign and domestic market. CRM (customer relationship management) can be seen as one of the main tool to improve current service and attract potential target audience. Maintenance of high standards is a key factor to improve customer service. References Bianco, A., Zellner, W. â€Å"Is Wal-Mart too powerful?† Business Week, October 6, 2003, p.5. The Big Secret Is Continue to Do What You Do Best. Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), November 28, 2005, p. 3. Black Agenda Radio. Wal-Mart’s siege in Chicago. KPFK, October 09, 2006. Brown, R., St Quintin, R.E. Distribution Sector Faces Major Impact. The Birmingham Post (England), February 17, 2000, p. 41. Davison, J., Smith, S.E. (2005). â€Å"Wal-Mart Finds Dominance Harder to Achieve in Europe†. 2 Sept. Gartner Research. Available at: gartner.com/resources/ 130800/130826/walmart_finds_d.pdf The Ever-Expanding Empire; after Wal-Mart Chief Talks to Key Men in Europe He Has a Big Message for His Shareholders. The Evening Standard (London, England), May 27, 2004, p. 40. Is Wal-Mart Good for America? TV program Online Nov 16, 2004. Available at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/ 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oliva, S.M. Price Check on Antitrust: WalMart’s Acquisition of Britain’s Safeway PLC. Capitalism Magazine. Available at: http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=2394 Person of the Week. Braun and Dolores Hummel. ABC’s World News Tonight. Monday, October 09, 2006. RFID to Transform Real-Time Business across Industries; SAP Exec Says Technology Has a Big Future Business Impact. Manila Bulletin August 30, 2004, p. 4 Sell Your Product the Wal-Mart Way. Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), September 13, 2004, p. 3. Wal Mart. 2005. May, 21. Available at: http://www.datamonitor.com/~e923bef8274740fc8a14e76a70d51687~/companies/company/?pid=8046847E-B325-4AF0-BC79-48100850E764 Watch Out Europe: Here Comes Wal-Mart. Business Week Online. June 28, 1999. Available at: http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_26/b3635129.htm Wal-Mart Home Page. 2006. Available at: http://www.walmartstores.com/wmstore/wmstores/HomePage.jsp Wal-Mart’s Germany Exit Reflects on Its Market Entry Strategy. 2006. Gartner. Available at: http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=142370   

Leadership and Employee Relations

As a leader have been described as having the patience of a Saint and that I encourage free thinking. Turnover has been low for me as It was for the supervisor before me was the same type. While staff relations are not quite harmonious, they will support each other when needed. I find it difficult sometime because I have come to the conclusion not everyone has a natural desire to work hard for what they want. This makes It confusing to understand those who do not give 100% to achieve the job goals.This will be a study of how to improve employee relations. Improving employee relations can be done by bringing morale up through effective and open communication. The supervisors ability to address concerns and to follow up on those concerns; and by setting the example will give the employee a feeling of worth. It is also important for the supervisor to show support for better or worse the employee's actions.Delegating tasks Is not by Itself empowerment but giving guidance and encouragemen t and the willingness to support the employee whether the outcome was ideal or not (Weiss, Suppose, Volvo. 72 Issue 9). It is important to give employees praise and recognition for the work that they do, people like to hear when they are doing a good Job. When the only recognition heard is the pointing out of errors It brings down morale and people's work start to suffer. This writer also states that actively listening with feedback not only clarifies what is being said but also shows empathy.Motivation can be difficult but some ways that may help is: to make sure employees have all the tools available to do a good job, recognize those employees who do a great Job, being friendly and enthusiastic can ester a better atmosphere, get input from employees to find better ways to complete a job, act quickly on complaints, avoid favoritism, and most important is for the supervisor to spend time in the workplace (Weiss, Suppose, Volvo. 72 Issue 9). The manager working side by side with the employees shows an Interest In what they do and the manager shows firsthand experience In the department.I notable ten development AT poor employee relations rater taking ten position AT supervisor. The department had gone for 6 months without a supervisor and then I as promoted to the post. We had been working as a team to fill in the slack with the loss of our supervisor, pulling extra shifts, doing inventory, making orders, and creating schedules. Even though I had said thank you to them after receiving the posting it was not what they were looking for. As I had been one of the ones filling in on extra duties, what they wanted to hear was some acknowledgement or thank you for doing so much for so long.It never came, now I believe if it were it would not make things better as it has been over a year now. This is what has sold me on paving praise and acknowledgment when it is due. There have been studies to support this, when employees are poled on what is important in their Job be sides pay and chances to rise, they feel the need for praise and acknowledgement (Assonance, Octoroon, Volvo. 44 Issue 2). Some of the most successful businesses are those who offer employee perks and recognition as individuals. Fell-Pro of Cookie, Illinois has never had a labor dispute or a work stoppage in 68 years.They attribute that to giving their employees extras and the recognition of each as an individual. Besides the normal financial extras that can come from a company, they have monetary recognition such as posting on an electric sign board of birthdays, anniversaries and congratulations for all to see (Articulation, Jug, Volvo. 75 Issue 7,). Recognition is a big part of morale which has a direct effect on employee relations. Unhappy employees make unhappy workplaces and that is bad for the employee and the business. Low morale starts people looking for new Jobs, someplace that is more pleasant to work.

Deception in Research A Critical Analysis

Deception in Research A Critical Analysis Introduction The Stanford prison experiment was a psychological research on the impacts of being a prison guard or a prisoner. As the name suggests, the test was carried out at Stanford University between August 14 and August 20, 1971. It was conducted by a group of renowned researchers in the psychology field, led by Phillip Zimbardo. The latter was a well known professor of psychology.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Deception in Research: A Critical Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The research was funded by the US Office of Naval Research. The research attracted the interest of both the Marine Corps and the US Navy. It was conducted to investigate, and possibly explain, the discrepancies between the prisoners and the military guards. Zimbardo and his research team came with a hypothesis to conduct the study. The scholars hypothesized that the intrinsic personality traits of the prisoners and the guards w ere the key source of abusive behavior in prison. Consequences of Deception There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of deception in research. The costs and benefits of deception can be traced in the Zimbardo’s study. According to the scholars, the prisoners had internalized their responsibilities, although some indicated that they would acknowledge â€Å"parole† even if it would entail forfeiting their pay. The prisoners, however, acted to the contrary. They continued to participate in the study even after their requests for parole rejected. Zimbardo held that the prisoners did not have any reasons for continuous contribution in the research after losing all their monetary compensation. But they did continue with their contribution, possibly because they had internalized the ‘prisoner’ identity. Zimbardo noted that, out of the more than fifty individuals who had participated in the experiment, only one person questioned its m orality (Zimbardo, 1973). The results of the study indicated the obedience and impersonality of the individuals when presented with a legitimizing ideology. The results also addressed the issue of institutional and social support. The scholars used two theories in the study. The first was applied cognitive dissension theory (Nier, 2010). The second was the power of influence theory. The outcome of the research supported the situational attribution of behavior. The results refuted the dispositional attribution (Nier, 2010). The actions of the participants were attributed to the situation. Individual personalities did not play a significant role in this case. The findings of this research were compatible with those made in Milgram’s study.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the latter experiment, ordinary individuals obeyed orders to administer distressing and hazardou s electric shocks to another individual (Haney Banks, 1973).  After the research, there were uprisings in some penitentiary facilities. They included Attica and San Quentin correctional institutions (Haney Banks, 1973). The uprising raised concerns over the methodology adopted in the study and findings made. The prisoners and the guards embraced their respective obligations, something that was not anticipated. The parties went beyond what the researchers had projected. The situation gave rise to dangerous and psychologically destructive conditions in the prisons. A third of the prison guards were believed to have displayed authentic sadistic behavior (Zimbardo, 2007). The lead researcher was forced to admit the fact that he had inactively allowed for immoral actions, which were conducted under his watch. The scholar concluded that both the guards and the prisoners were engrossed in their obligations. He also realized that he had immersed himself too deeply his own study. As a re sult, he was forced to terminate it. The Stanford prison study was widely regarded as an alarming academic undertaking. It bared the participants to the risks associated with the exposure of the dark side of human nature (Fiske, 2010). What If Deception was not used? The findings of the study may have been significantly different if the researchers had not used deception at all. Some critics of the study hold that the participants were just involved in role-playing. To this end, the participants were structuring their behavior depending on how they were expected to act. They were believed to reproduce their acts according to the stereotypes revolving around the behavior of guards and prisoners. Such behaviors could not have been exhibited if the researchers did not engage in deception.  The experiment came out as an examination of the impacts of oppressive leadership. Because of this, several ambitious guards changed their behavior to match the patterns that the scholars were tryi ng to deduce (Zimbardo, 1973). The change in behavior was one of the major impacts of using deception in the study. Furthermore, the study was condemned on environmental validity basis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Deception in Research: A Critical Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Several conditions established in the study were subjective. The conditions were not connected to real-life situations. A case in point is the blindfolding of new prisoners. The prisoners were prohibited from wearing underwear or looking out of the window. Conclusion In summary, the study (which was intended to establish whether or not the intrinsic personality traits of prisoners and guards were the key sources of abusive behavior in prison) did not get the desired results. The main reason for this was the use of deception. The results obtained were not in line with what the researchers had anticipated. The researchers conduct ed the study under unfavorable conditions. If deception had not been used, then both prisoners and guards would have behaved as anticipated. Therefore, the use of deception in social-psychological research produces undesired results. References Fiske, S.T. (2010). Social beings: Core motives in social psychology. London: Wiley. Haney, C., Banks, W. C. (1973). Interpersonal dynamics in a simulated prison. International Journal of Criminology and Penology, 1, 69-97. Nier, J. (2010). Taking sides: Clashing views in social psychology. London: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Zimbardo, P. (1973). The mind is a formidable jailer: A Pirandellian prison. New York: Free Press.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Zimbardo, P. (2007). The Lucifer effect: Understanding how good people turn evil. New York: Random House.

Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Essays

Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Essays Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Essay Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Essay The goal of socialism is to minimize people’s suffering through public control of industry and social services; socialism rejects class-based society (TheFreeDictionary, 2010). Socialism promises prosperity, equality, and security to the people. However, in many cases socialism has brought poverty, misery, and tyranny to the people; equality is achieved in the sense that everyone is equal in misery (Perry, 1995, June). Key characteristics of the socialist system in Sweden and Russia are described in this paper, and advantages and disadvantages of the system are discussed. In 1917 the Russian Revolution overthrew the czarist regime that ruled the Russian Empire. The new leaders created the Soviet Union and attempted to establish a socialist state based on the writings of Karl Marx. However, Marx did not explain how the socialist system would function. Without a blueprint for establishing the socialist system, the leaders of the new regime of Russia struggled to invent one. Under its socialist system, the government of Russia declared its ownership of most businesses and forced peasants to turn over a share of their output to the government. This â€Å"war communism† allowed the government to take control of production and distribution of goods (Rittenberg Tregarthen, 2009, April). The new government replaced elected officials with its own, â€Å"took over† land, banks, insurance companies, and large factories. The new regime destroyed the pre-revolutionary legal structure of the Russian economy. The program of â€Å"war communism† devastated the economy and the people lived in poverty, tyranny, and misery. In 1921 Soviet communist leader Vladimir Lenin restored the legal basis necessary for the Russian economy to function, and he ordered that the government draft and enact a civil code based on western European civil law (Maggs, 2010). Russia and Sweden are socialist countries governed by European civil law. Socialism is an economic system that exists in environments where resources are plentiful, or populations are extremely small. Advantages of socialism include (Free, 1995): Socialism provides every member with survival needs, creating a stable social environment. Members who cannot participate economically because of disabilities, age, or illness are provided with survival needs by the government. Mandatory paid sick leave for an indefinite amount of time (Cooper, 2009, April 23). Unemployment rates low because of active labor market policies – including subsidized employment, training, and job search assistance (Card, Kluve, Weber, 2009, February). Providing members with à ¢â‚¬Å"cradle to grave† benefits includes free universal health care, dental care, free education, and child-care; however, these benefits are not â€Å"free. Sweden, commonly known as a â€Å"welfare state† levies a 57% income tax on its workers to pay for these benefits (Cooper, 2009, April 23). Although Swedish hospitals rank among the best in the world, waiting times are also the longest in Europe. In August 2007, approximately 33,000 people had been waiting more than three months for surgery or other major treatments. Waiting times for emergency care in the overcrowded hospitals was approximately four hours. Medical resources in Sweden are strained by the continued rising demand. More than 5% of Swedes are at least 80 and receiving pensions, and the overall population of Sweden has increased by 9% in the past 20 years (Magnusson, 2008, January 24). Swedes receive 80% of their salary while on sick leave. Abuse of sick leave is rampart, and at any given time at least 10% of Swedes are on sick leave. Over three-fifths of these workers tell pollsters they take leave when they have no health issues (Cooper, 2009, April 23). In 2006 Sweden had an official unemployment rate of 6% mainly because of active labor market policies. The government provides training to the unemployed, assist with job search, and sometimes creates jobs in the public sector for the unemployed (Cooper, 2009, April 23). However, this â€Å"coddling† from the government creates a lack of incentives for workers to work harder and to â€Å"fend† for their selves. The socialistic system provides no inherent incentive to participate; therefore, this makes the socialism internally unstable. The lack of incentives tends to make the socialistic system non-competitive, making them externally unstable (Free, 1995). References Card, D. Kluve, J. , Weber, A. (2009, February). Active labor market policy evaluations: a meta- analysis. Retrieved on September 7, 2010 from the Website operationspaix. net/sites/politiquessociales. net/IMG/pdf/dp4002. pdf. Cooper, R. (2009, April 23). Jon Stewart: socialism is awesome. Retrieved on September 8, 2010 from the Website http://blog. heritage. org/2009/04/23/jon-stewart-socialism-is-awesome/. Free, R. (1995). Economics. Retrieved on September 7, 2010 from the Website http://graphcomp. com/home/bfree/opinions/economy. html. Maggs, P. (2010). Soviet law. Retrieved on September 9, 2010 from the Website britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/557116/Soviet-law. Perry M. , (1995, June). Why socialism failed. Retrieved on September 7, 2010 from the Website thefreemanonline. org/featured/why-socialims-failed/#. Rittenberg, L. Tregarthen, T. (2009, April). Principles of microeconomics. Retrieved on September 7, 2010 from the Website flatworldknowledge. com /node/28416 #web-28416. TheFreeDictionary. (2010). Socialism. Retrieved on September 7, 2010 from the Website http://legal-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/Socialism.