Comments on “Cold Cuts” from Truman Capote’s novel ‘In Cold Blood’ Essay

Before commenting on the quotations from the novel I have to clarify that ‘In Cold Blood’ is a fiction based on a true story. This means that the book has several documentary elements and others are fictionals. Capote had to use tools of writing a report, and of traditional fiction as well. As a result, sometimes it is diifficult to separate the realistic parts from the nonrealistic ones, even because of knowing the writer’s long investigation about the murder and its background. Telling the custom of hunters might be a true story but the other half of the quotation is fiction, I guess. By the time of writing the novel Mr. Clutter has been dead, so Capote couldn’t quote from him. But there is a need for the sentence given into his mouth, because by this (â€Å"I’m not as poor as I look†) the readre sees his figure as a very kind, nice, generous person. So, after the murder we feel sorry for him, and it’s easier to understand why the villagers were so shocked because of his death. I’m not sure whether this part is ture or only created by Capote but I think it’s main role is to show Dick’s strangeness and insensitiveness. To kill an innocent dog for no reason (I don’t think that there would every be any reason to kill someone†¦ ) is a metaphor of the also innocent Clutter family. I think that this story might be real because after reading the book the readre feels fear from Dick, he is so evil. But on the other hand the writer forms our opinion about the characters in his novel, as wee see them the way Capote describes them. This quotation is so formal, so distanced, that it sounds a report from the news. I think that this is real and the writer’s aim was to make the novel much realistic. This part is real again because it only gives facts about the murderers. With the help of this we read the novel as a true story. It’s well-known from rhetorics that facts are unquestionable, so they are true. This quotations is a good example of mixing realistic and fictional elements, I think. The garden might have been â€Å"white with sea-fog†, but Mrs. Johnson can only recall what did she really think when she closed the door. I think the writer here used the literary tool of projecting a character’s inner feelings onto the environment, or nature. That might also be ture in the case of the second sentence about the murderers who look like in this picture as two escaping animals. Mentioning Perry’s shorter leg is again used to show that the writer felt sorry for him. In this case the type of the car can be true and even the act of stealing but on the other hand it’s not mentioned in this sentence, only the reader knows the next steps. In my opinion only the writer found out the contex of stealing the Chevrolet (so lighting the cigarette) and mentioning only this but not the act itself. In this description it’s more interesting. Showing Perry’s thoughts before being captured is again a mixture of reality and fiction. As Capote met him on the interviews and in the jail, not during the big travel, he could only collect recalled information which is usually a bit different from reality. I’m not sure whether Perry had really thought that, so I think that the writer here projected on Perry what the villagers or the detectives thought, or wanted to believe in. The perspective is retrospective in this sentence whereas the writer puts them in a present situation. This confession-like sentence from Perry might be true bt on the other hand I think again that the write used this to create Perry’s figure likeable, but on the other hand not saying that he is innocent. I think this uotation might be partly true but I’m not sure that this is what Perry exactly said.

Digital Fortress Chapter 27

On the Crypto floor, the shadows were growing long and faint. Overhead, the automatic lighting gradually increased to compensate. Susan was still at her terminal silently awaiting news from her tracer. It was taking longer than expected. Her mind had been wandering-missing David and willing Greg Hale to go home. Although Hale hadn't budged, thankfully he'd been silent, engrossed in whatever he was doing at his terminal. Susan couldn't care less what Hale was doing, as long as he didn't access the Run-Monitor. He obviously hadn't-sixteen hours would have brought an audible yelp of disbelief. Susan was sipping her third cup of tea when it finally happened-her terminal beeped once. Her pulse quickened. A flashing envelope icon appeared on her monitor announcing the arrival of E-mail. Susan shot a quick glance toward Hale. He was absorbed in his work. She held her breath and double-clicked the envelope. â€Å"North Dakota,† she whispered to herself. â€Å"Let's see who you are.† When the E-mail opened, it was a single line. Susan read it. And then she read it again. DINNER AT ALFREDO'S? 8 PM? Across the room, Hale muffled a chuckle. Susan checked the message header. FROM: [email protected] Susan felt a surge of anger but fought it off. She deleted the message. â€Å"Very mature, Greg.† â€Å"They make a great carpaccio.† Hale smiled. â€Å"What do you say? Afterward we could-â€Å" â€Å"Forget it.† â€Å"Snob.† Hale sighed and turned back to his terminal. That was strike eighty-nine with Susan Fletcher. The brilliant female cryptographer was a constant frustration to him. Hale had often fantasized about having sex with her-pinning her against TRANSLTR's curved hull and taking her right there against the warm black tile. But Susan would have nothing to do with him. In Hale's mind, what made things worse was that she was in love with some university teacher who slaved for hours on end for peanuts. It would be a pity for Susan to dilute her superior gene pool procreating with some geek-particularly when she could have Greg. We'd have perfect children, he thought. â€Å"What are you working on?† Hale asked, trying a different approach. Susan said nothing. â€Å"Some team player you are. Sure I can't have a peek?† Hale stood and started moving around the circle of terminals toward her. Susan sensed that Hale's curiosity had the potential to cause some serious problems today. She made a snap decision. â€Å"It's a diagnostic,† she offered, falling back on the commander's lie. Hale stopped in his tracks. â€Å"Diagnostic?† He sounded doubtful. â€Å"You're spending Saturday running a diagnostic instead of playing with the prof?† â€Å"His name is David.† â€Å"Whatever.† Susan glared at him. â€Å"Haven't you got anything better to do?† â€Å"Are you trying to get rid of me?† Hale pouted. â€Å"Actually, yes.† â€Å"Gee, Sue, I'm hurt.† Susan Fletcher's eyes narrowed. She hated being called Sue. She had nothing against the nickname, but Hale was the only one who'd ever used it. â€Å"Why don't I help you?† Hale offered. He was suddenly circling toward her again. â€Å"I'm great with diagnostics. Besides, I'm dying to see what diagnostic could make the mighty Susan Fletcher come to work on a Saturday.† Susan felt a surge of adrenaline. She glanced down at the tracer on her screen. She knew she couldn't let Hale see it-he'd have too many questions. â€Å"I've got it covered, Greg,† she said. But Hale kept coming. As he circled toward her terminal, Susan knew she had to act fast. Hale was only a few yards away when she made her move. She stood to meet his towering frame, blocking his way. His cologne was overpowering. She looked him straight in the eye. â€Å"I said no.† Hale cocked his head, apparently intrigued by her odd display of secrecy. He playfully stepped closer. Greg Hale was not ready for what happened next. With unwavering cool, Susan pressed a single index finger against his rock-hard chest, stopping his forward motion. Hale halted and stepped back in shock. Apparently Susan Fletcher was serious; she had never touched him before, ever. It wasn't quite what Hale had had in mind for their first contact, but it was a start. He gave her a long puzzled look and slowly returned to his terminal. As he sat back down, one thing became perfectly clear: The lovely Susan Fletcher was working on something important, and it sure as hell wasn't any diagnostic.

Nursing in Perspectives

Nursing is a profound profession which requires professional skills and knowledge, high level of expertise and managerial skills. Following Parker & Clare (2006): â€Å"Critical thinking is a vital skill to have as a nurse. Nurses are engaged in providing care to people who have a right to high quality professional conduct and health services (p296).Applied to nursing profession, critical thinking aims to improve healthcare services through new methods and self-developed professional skills of nurses. Critical thinking combines the ability to meet the requirement of a new age and respond effectively to technological innovations and scientific discoveries. Changing economic environment and globalization process has a great impact on the nursing science, and compel to specify concepts of management and its fields. During the last decades, the definitions of critical thinking in nursing have been changes. For instance, Ennis & Milman in 1985 defined critical thinking in nursing as â€Å"reasonable, reflective thinking focused on what to believe or do† (Critical Thinking in Nursing 2007). In five years, McPeck, (1990) defined it as: â€Å"the propensity to engage in an activity with reflective skepticism† (Critical Thinking in Nursing 2007). Monitoring was an important method that helped to search for new trends in nursing. Today, nurses take into account internal and external factors that influence a patient. The most recent explanation of critical thinking is proposed by the University of New Mexico (2007): â€Å"nursing utilizes critical thinking as diagnostic reasoning and professional or clinical judgment. Critical thinking in nursing is based on a triggering event or situation, a starting point, scaffolds, processes, and outcomes that make up a continuous or iterative feedback loop† (Critical Thinking in Nursing 2007). In modern world, critical thinking in nursing is a broad concept with include advanced knowledge and discovering, creativity and passion, authenticity and ability to foresee coming changes. Critical thinking in nursing aims to extend traditional nursing roles in order to keep abreast of time and rapidly changing technology. Daniels (2004) underlines that it may be exercised as an attribute of position or because of personal knowledge or wisdom. Modern nurses see themselves more as conservators and regulators of the exist ­ing order of affairs with which they identify, and from which they gain rewards. Critical thinking helps to create a sense of identity which does not depend upon membership or work roles. On the one hand, nursing gendered identity and cultural identity has a great impact on their skills and ability to deliver high quality service. Many problems associated with the relationships between people of different cultures stem from variations in norms and values. Modern society is marked by cultural diversity problems which influence healthcare services and service delivery. Critical thinking is crucial for culturally competent nurse because it helps to communicate with diverse clients and meet their needs. For instance, Hindus and Asians share specific beliefs as for parts of the body and health, and in this case a nurse should take into account cultural and religious practices of these patients. Following Dreher and Macnaughton (2002): â€Å"the health care system has nested the accountability for cultural competency with the clinician who provides direct services to individuals, where the application of cultural information is likely to be least useful† (p181). For a nurse, the key advantages of convergence are that ideas and techniques developed in one cultural or national setting may be transferred to another and used effectively. These variables shape the values and hence the behavior of people (Potter & Perry, 2005). Critical thinking determines the quality of decisions and actions of a nurse. A higher level of professional autonomy and shared governance should be seen as the main features of critical thinking. Critical thinking is exercised through greater knowledge and exper ­tise. It may also be based on the per ­sonal qualities of the nurse and the manner in which authority is exercised. In contrast to traditional theories of nursing leadership, nursing expert power is based on new knowledge about technology and critical thinking used in nursing profession. Critical thinking is based on credibility and clear evidence of knowledge or expertise; for example, the expert knowledge of ‘functional' specialists. Stone (2000) states that if the information is satisfactorily ascertained from secondary sources, the nurse opts to complete this component of the assessment by relying on past records. Documentary data obtained from patients' records is often termed ‘secondary' because the information has originally been collected by other people and for other purposes. Thus, critical thinking determines further actions and behavior patterns which support clinical and service development. In several decades ago, nurses were limited by strict rules and tasks which prevented them to respond effectively to changing environment (Potter & Perry 2005). Today, technology and information technology demands critical thinking and decision making in nursing (Sharp, 2000). Also, there is a great shift in organizational values and personal traits of the nurses. Changing social environment influences human values and conflicts with human dignity and importance (Sullivan & Decker, 2005). The balance of power has undoubtedly shifted to nurses who have more choice over how to conducts relationships with their administration, colleagues and patients. Critical thinking in nursing is aimed to improve influences on the environment and determine perspectives of further development on the macro- and micro- level. In this situation, to be an effective and professional nurse, it is necessary to exercise the role of critical thinker based on advanced knowledge and expertise (Durgahee, 2003). A common view is that the job of the nurse requires the ability of critical thinking and that leadership is in effect a sub-set of management. In terms of critical thinking, there is a need to be flexible and be ready to innovate and to adopt new technologies as they come along. The way in which healthcare organization has to employ the latest technology can be an important determinant of its competitive advantage. For instance, increased role of computers and technological solutions require new skills and decision making practices in medicine. For instance, if technology does not work properly and it threatens life of a patient, a nurse should react accordingly to the situation and replace it with alternative solution (Kozier et al 2004). Critics (Sullivan & Decker, 2005) admit that three decades ago nurses were not ready and prepared to apply critical thinking to their work and this led to high death rates caused by technology failure. Healthcare is one of the main industries responsible for exceptional service quality and interpersonal communication. Service quality is determined by technological processes and innovations in its field. Critical thinking has speeded up health delivery processes, transformed working practices and increased the efficiency of healthcare services. Interestingly, it is in the technological environment that it is some ­times possible for large healthcare organizations to actually exert influence rather than be the recipients of it. Respect and personal worth of every patient are the core human-related factors employed by the nurses (Garrison 2004). Nursing staff is responsible for communication and interaction with the patients. For this reason, nurses should be flexible to respond effectively to changing environment and customers groups. As a result, high degree of autonomy cannot be effectively used by all nursing staff. Healthcare organizations start to apply ‘critical thinking’ into practice seeing it as a high level of specialist practice and competitive advantage in healthcare services. Also, critical thinking in nursing is concerned with those activities involved in recruiting of professional staff, training, and development within the healthcare infrastructure, namely the systems of planning, finance, medical service control, etc. which are crucially important to an strategic capability in all healthcare activities (Potter & Perry, 2005). Today, a special attention is given to proper function of medical staff and empowerment which helps to improve efficiency of medical practice. Critical thinking is one of the main requirements in modern service learning. In learning, â€Å"critical thinking [is] a reasoning process reflecting on ideas, actions, and decisions in clinical experience by the nursing student and others (Anaya et al 2003, p99). The advantages of critical thinking in nursing are fast response to changing conditions and environment and ability to apply recent technologies into practice. It increases confidence of nurses and level of healthcare services. Using critical thinking approach, nurses are able to shift the situation using these new creative approaches based on advanced relationships and inquiry. Also, it is strongly influenced by resources outside the healthcare organization which are an integral part of the chain of activities between the healthcare service design and the level of medial treatment (Sharp, 2000). Change is a threat to routine and their role in healthcare management. It is also true that many nurses do not know what their role is, and in recent years attempts have been made to clarify individual roles. Critical thinking is ‘a vital skill’ for nurses because it determines the style of management and leadership. Critical thinking can be interpreted as a response to the need to meet heightened customer expectations and face intensi ­fied technology solutions. Critical thinking encourages nurses to adopt a positive attitude and have personal involvement in service delivery. Also, it allows healthcare organization to expose nursing staff to new forms of service and management. Critical thinking is constructed on a rational basis and allows nurses respond to patients’ needs in an appropriate manner. For a modern nurse, it is crucial to be accountable to patients' families, and close friends who come to visit them. References 1.   Anaya, A., Doheny, M.O., Panthofer, N., Sedlak, C.A. (2003). Critical Thinking in Students' Service-Learning Experiences. College Teaching, 51 (3), 99-104. 2. Critical Thinking in Nursing The University of New Mexico (2007). Retrieved 31 May 2007, from   http://hsc.unm.edu/consg/conct/whatis.shtml 3.   Daniels, R. (2004). Nursing Fundamentals: Caring and Clinical Decision Making, Thomas Learning, Oregon. 4. Dreher, N., Macnaughton, N. (2002). Cultural competency in nursing: foundation or fallacy? Nursing Outlook, Sep-Oct; 50 (5):181-6. 5.   Durgahee, T. (2003). Higher level practice: degree of specialist practice? Nurse Education Today. Apr; 23 (3), 191-201. 6. Garrison, D.R., Morgan, D.H., Johnson, J.G. (2004). Thriving in chaos: Educating the nurse leaders of the future. Nursing Leadership Forum. Fall; 9 (1), 23-27. 7. Kozier B., Erb G., Berman A. & Snyder S. (2004). Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice, New Jersey, Pearson Education Inc. 8. Potter, P. & Perry, A. (2005). Fundamentals of Nursing. Elsevier PTE LTD, Singapore. 9.   Sharp, Nancy. (April 2000). The 21st century belongs to nurse practitioners. Nurse Practitioner, p. 56 10. Sullivan, E.J., Decker, Ph. J. (2005). Effective leadership & Management in Nursing 6th ed. Pearson Hall.   

Construction industry studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Construction industry studies - Essay Example ion to instruct all employees the importance and worth of all these factors for the purpose of improving performance and increasing organizational productivity. Every company or organization has got some legal responsibilities to ensure the health and safety of all employees working in the company and to protect the organizational environment. Its up to the management of any company to make sure that all potential risks to the health and safety of the employees are assessed on time and controlled properly. The management needs to be aware of its roles and responsibilities regarding the issue of health and safety. Hitshopi (2009) asserts that â€Å"No matter where you are working, whether it is in a bookshop or at a large warehouse, it is vital for all employees to have some basic health and safety training†. It is the legal responsibility of the management and the employees to look after health and safety at workplace together. Those construction industries which pay great attention to the health and safety at work become able to promote a very safe and healthy workplace environment. It is important to know that poor health and safety management at any company leads to illness of employees, accidents at the workplace, and significant costs for the company. Proper health and safety management practices prove to be a key to success for any company because when the workplace environment of the company is safer and healthier, employees work with more dedication and pay more concentration to their work rather than worrying about health and safety aspects. Some basic responsibilities of the employees of any company include: Another important issue regarding organizational success is quality which is the ongoing process of building and sustaining relationships between the company and its customers by providing the customers with quality products. A product, process or service that is reliable, and that performs its intended and proposed function perfectly with no faults

TEXTBOOK CJ2012 FAGIN-Select 5 of the following Essay

TEXTBOOK CJ2012 FAGIN-Select 5 of the following - Essay Example Thus, the concept of general deterrence is based on the premise that the fear of punishment will act as a deterrent for people from committing crimes. Besides, deterrence also relies on the idea that the punishment awarded to a person who commits a crime discourages others from committing a crime. On the other hand, specific deterrence, also known as special deterrence focuses on the principle of avoiding recidivism by the criminal. Thus, the punishment awarded for the crime is specific to the person who commits the crime. Specific deterrence further encompasses the tenet that the harsher the punishment is, the lesser is the chance of the offender to recidivate. Thus, the theory of specific deterrence attempts to prevent crimes by inflicting a specific punishment on the offender to remove in the tendency in him or her to commit such offences in the future. This will also serve as a warning to others so that they also will not commit such crimes. Determinate Sentencing and Indetermina te Sentencing The Bureau of Justice Assistance, US Department of Justice, defines determinate sentencing as â€Å"sentences of incarceration in which an offender is given a fixed term that may be reduced by fixed time or earned time† (National Assessment of Structured Sentencing xi). On the other hand, indeterminate sentencing is â€Å"sentences in which an administrative agency, generally a parole board, has the authority to release an offender and determine whether an offender’s parole will be revoked for violations of the conditions of release† (xi). The system of indeterminate sentencing has several inherent problems such as offering discretion to jail authorities and parole officers the time of stay of an offender under the sentence and the length of sentencing tended to depend on individual criminals and not on the crimes. On the other hand, determinate sentencing, a system introduced after the â€Å"sentencing reforms of the late 1970s† replaced th e parole release concept with a â€Å"fixed (flat) sentence that could be reduced by a significant good time provision† (14). Thus, convicts under the determinate system are mandated for a specific period of incarceration as opposed to indeterminate sentencing where they were released on parole. Determinate sentencing relies on just deserts concepts rooted in the â€Å"utilitarian or crime control model† and the length of incarceration depends on the gravity of crime 915). Thus, the concept of determinate sentencing encompasses a mandatory minimum incarceration, depending on the offence committed, whereas indeterminate system involves release of the convict on parole, without having to under a prison sentence. The Difference between Legal Insanity and Incompetence to Stand Trial The criminal justice system takes into the account the mental competency of an offender, at the time of committing a crime, before awarding a punishment to him or her to determine whether the p erson has been mentally competent to understand the consequences of his or her action. Thus, courts reserve the right to declare an offender â€Å"not guilty by reason of insanity if at the time of the offence, because of a mental disease or defect, he or she did not understand the nature, character, and consequence of the act, was unable to distinguish right from wrong† (Warren et al 381). On the other hand, a person can be considered for acquittal on the grounds of his lack of â€Å"

The U.S. Trade Deficit Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The U.S. Trade Deficit - Research Paper Example Its GDP is almost a quarter of the global GDP combined. In addition, its military budget is as much as the entire globe’s defense spending combined. As per the UN 2010 estimates, the U.S has a population of close to 318 million and the largest city in New York to Washington DC as the capital. The main language spoken is English while the major religion is Christianity. The U.S Dollar is the monetary unity or the denomination. The American business environment expects etiquette, professionalism, and efficiency when conducting business. The political environment of the U.S has been stable for a long time. The country is headed by the Democratic Party, which has been leading the country since 2009 through the current President Barrack Obama who was elected in 2008. By 2008, the country was facing its worst economic crisis since the 1930 depression as the cost of living had skyrocketed towards the end of President Bush’s administration. American political environment is cha racterized by federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and representative democracy. The American legal environment comprises of laws that businesses are required to follow for the interest of the environment and the American population. The government shows more seriousness in the environmental policy, which seeks to ensure that activities are, regulated so as to reduce the impact on the environment. There are many laws and bodies that enforce them such as the Environmental Protection Agency that controls ideas such as disposal of hazardous waste. The U.S economic environment has been recovering since the recent economic crisis that hit the country towards the second half of the last decade. According to the IMF, although the recovery has been moderate, the underlying fundamentals have experienced gradual improvements. The country has seen a modest growth rate of 2.2% throughout the 2012 financial year.  

'The Lisbon Treaty has replaced the old European Union with the new Essay

'The Lisbon Treaty has replaced the old European Union with the new European Union.' (Sch_tze, 2012). Criticall - Essay Example Thus it critically evaluates the statement based on an overview of how it came into being, followed by a review of its four structures to demonstrate to the extent and ways it represents a new way forward. It also reviews how the treaty seeks to increase the effectiveness of the new EU compared to the old EU through more qualified majority voting, institutional changes and co-decision procedure. In addition, it offers an analysis of how the democratic values and the roles of the national parliaments are strengthened compared to the old European Union1. Further analysis includes improvement of citizen’s rights and political changes that signify a change from the old system. Section A: The Lisbon Treaty has replaced the â€Å"old† European Union with the â€Å"new† European Union’ Background of the Treaty of Lisbon The Lisbon Treaty seeks to rectify the structure and the function of the old European Union, which justifies the statement that it has replaced t he â€Å"old† European Union with the â€Å"new† European Union2. Also known as the Lisbon Treaty (LT), it comprises an international agreement that seeks to amend or revise the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome, the two treaties that make up the European Union’s (EU’s) constitution3. ... Upon the expansion of EU to comprise 27 member states, it was necessary that amendments be made on the way Europe’s institutions function and how they make decisions. It was further agreed that the treaty shift focus on modernizing European Union, which also justifies the statement that it replaced the old order5. The Lisbon Treaty’s objectives are categorized into four primary areas6, namely to create more transparent and democratic Europe, to promote citizen rights, to build a more efficient Europe and to reposition Europe as a key figure on the global scene7. Shift in decision-making process The Lisbon Treaty transformed the decision-making process of the EU8, thus implying a change from the old system enabling it to work more effectively. First, it seeks to render the EU a stronger yet more coherent say with the creation of a new position of the President of the European Council who chairs the activities of the heads of governments of the member states9. This way, h e works towards facilitating consensus as well ensuring the continuity of the policy. The LT has therefore increased the significance of the Presidency as a decisive organ in the policy-making process10. The president can today mediate between the actors during negotiations while at the same juncture pushing the process towards a favorable direction. He also guides the strategy direction of policy-making. In addition, the LT has created changes to the European Union’s internal decision-making apparatus. The changes are intended to rationalize the process and make it less vulnerable gridlocks by a single member-state. The treaty further attempts to address issues on the democratic transparency and

Effect of Videogames on health and socially Essay

Effect of Videogames on health and socially - Essay Example In any case, it is impossible to isolate videogames completely from human life in this era of advanced science and technology. This paper analyses how videogames affect the human health and the society. According to Anderson (2003), videogames are an excellent tool for teachers to stimulate learning among the students. At the same time, violent video games have the potential to cause immense social problems. Videogames are a double edged sword. Teachers can teach difficult lessons with the help of videogames so that the students get more insights about difficult topics. For example, while teaching subjects such as physics and chemistry, teachers can make use of videogames. Imagine a case in which a teacher is teaching missile technology in a physics class. There are plenty of videogames available in the market in which fight using missiles or guns is the major theme. Such videogames can be used effectively by a teacher to teach the topics related to the operations of a missile. In short, videogames have the potential to cultivate positive effects in a society since it has the ability to stimulate or enhance the learning process. Kim et al (2010) pointed that â€Å"excessive playing of video games may result in impaired academic performance. Videogames have the ability to cultivate a kind of addiction among teenagers. Majority of the videogames are organized in such a way that each player should cross many difficult levels before reaching the target. When a teenager fails to overcome a particular difficulty level, he may spend more and more time in front of the computers or mobile phones for solving the puzzles created by the videogames. Thus he may not get enough time to spend for academic studies. Thus his studies can be negatively influenced by the addiction generated towards videogames. Teachers and parents are of the view that children who spent more time for playing videogames may spent little time for doing their home works, assignments or

Data analysiis and literature review Assignment

Data analysiis and literature review - Assignment Example The research does not establish a relationship between the salaries of the executives and the years spent in the company (Curwin, 2002). The data obtained in the research clearly indicates a variance in the relationship between the salaries of the executives and the years spent in the company. In some cases, the executives have spent quite a long duration in the company but their salary falls under the average level. The time spent in the company can have use in the determination of the salaries of the executives in the case where the other economic factors about the company are kept constant. The time spent in the company is also utilized in determining a company’s executive salaries given that the executive has the relevant experience in the general operations of the company. In addition, the companies can pay their executives based on the duration spent in the company given that the company’s performance reflects on its returns (Morris, 2003). Company’s executive’s salaries are determined based on their performance as well as the company’s performance. An executive salary is determined by the performance of the company in terms of the returns and fulfillment of its objectives. For example, an executive who have spent many years in the company and has implemented several effective policies in the departments they have been working. The executive who has been performing exemplarily in the finance department for many years can be rewarded based on their performance. On the other hand, the executives’ salaries are determined by the performance of the company based on returns and ability to reward their executives (Wright, 2000, p.600). When an executive is imported from another company to boost the performance of failing company, they accept reduced the salary with the expectation of a salary review after the company’s performance improves. Moreover, an executive who has been working to enhance the company’s performance

Depiction of Old Age in Greeting Cards Essay Example for Free

Depiction of Old Age in Greeting Cards Essay The stereotyping of adults is intimately etched in the culture of America and is reinforced by television and newspapers. Pop culture portrays children and old people together as though they have personality characteristics in common. In greeting cards, old people are given the personalities, dress, physical problems, playthings, and activities of children. Popular culture portrays children and old people together as though they have personality characteristics in common. The aspect most commonly depicted in greeting cards is the notion of second childhood. Pop culture portrays old people and kids in the same manner and implies similar characteristics. Greeting cards usually depict the senile in kids apparel. Obviously, the association of old people with children degrades their social status and steals the gray power movement of adults that has an effect on political and social upheavals. The medias effort, especially greeting card companies, must be assessed in order shrug off the degrading portrayal of old age (Schoeni, 2005). Old-age disability rates among all major socioeconomic and demographic groups declined over the past two decades, but the magnitude of the fall was larger for those who have Higher income, has more years of education, is married, and is younger. As a result, Disparities in disability have increased. The causes of these developments are unknown, While the potential ramifications for social and personal well-being is substantial. People ages 65 and older, minority and socio-economically disadvantaged populations are much more likely than other groups to experience disability and the physical, cognitive, and sensory limitations that underlie it ( Schoeni, 2005). Psychology of Aging The psychology of ageing encompasses a variety of approaches and experimental traditions which, while complementing the clinical sciences, nevertheless remain rooted in the psychology of human development. Two of these ‘experimental traditions’ provide the focus for this contribution: speed of performance and intellectual performance. Superficially representing the ‘physical’ and the ‘mental’, and closely related to the most enduring stereotypes of ageing, speed and intellectual performance are among the longest studied of all phenomena in experimental psychology. Understanding how these two aspects of functioning interrelate and change with normal ageing provides useful insights into psychological adaptation across the lifespan, and helps to identify opportunities for constructive intervention (Morgan, 2004). Finitude and its Various Effects Death is the one certainty all people face in their lives. Although the timing and nature of this death is uncertain, as people age their death becomes more imminent. What sense can be made of this at a societal and individual level? Within Western society, death engenders complex personal responses and as a result we find it hard to address the needs of people as they face dying and death. People hold different meanings for this transition, from life to death, and these different constructions shape the way in which the transition from life to death is perceived, managed and experienced by older people. This influences the process of dying, the priorities older people express, the places where they experience their dying and the planning they may wish to engage with around their own end of life ( Hurlock, 1980). With this in mind, the image of old people who are depicted in greeting cards are ridiculed in a way. These themes in greeting cards imply that old people are useless and not wise at all, and all of them are leaning towards the path of death and retirement. In an article in the magazine Psychology Today, it is explained the relation of greeting cards and old people: â€Å"If greeting cards are band-aids for broken relationships, then it may be time for their makers to find some better adhesives. The nations purveyors of social expression have no formal mechanism for tapping the national mood or figuring out the relationship needs of Americans. Industry giants Hallmark and Gibson admit that the greetings they proffer are not the result of a very scientific process. In fact, they rely more on a random blast of staffer intuition than on national surveys, focus groups, or mall interviews. † (Psychology Today, 1992) Greeting card companies hire all types of people from grandparents to young single parents, people who can relate to other people and can express their sentiments by sharing them through greeting cards. Companies refrain from hiring â€Å"psychology people†. Consumer requests and follow-up surveys indicated that people were looking for a way to support those freeing themselves of dependency. But Hallmark never consulted a staff psychologist. Thats because, like other card companies, it doesnt have one-even though its business is devoted to deciphering the American psyche (Psychology Today, 1992). Old Age in Different Psychological Perspectives Physical Grandparents depicted in greeting cards are usually presented as the normal senile and wrinkly individuals that they are. These people are in the verge of death and it is manifested physically. The Elderly is usually shown being hugged by kids as a sign of respect for their wisdom (Hurlock, 1980). Cognitive The cognitive skills and abilities of people who are in the stage of old age are in constant depletion due to the fact that their sensory system is hampered by the frequent use during their prime. Old people have a hard time catching up with the spontaneity of younger people (Hurlock, 1980). Psychological Perhaps that is because as older adults we can often look back on our lives with happiness and are content, feeling fulfilled with a deep sense that life has meaning and weve made a contribution to life, a feeling Erik Erikson calls integrity. Our strength h comes from a wisdom that the world is very large and we now have a detached concern for the whole of life, accepting death as the completion of life. A result of a triad of biological, psychological, and social factors that may be controlled, and thus the possibility of a decline in the prevalence of old age depression (Hurlock, 1980). Social The Disengagement theory suggests that withdrawal is a mutual process norm and societal expectations allow more reflection and freedom. People can become more reflective about their lives and can become less constrained by social roles. People become more discerning about relationships, which can help them adjust to increasing frequency of serious illness and death among their peers. Disengagement is not an automatic, universal process for all people in late adulthood. Meaning that the disengagement theory is subjective and does not apply to all old people ( Hurlock, 1980). Reference Morgan,K. (1992). Psychological aspects of ageing. Psychiatry. Volume 3. Issue 12. Pages 8-10 Hurlock,E. 1980. Developmental Stages in early childhood and adolescence. Developmental Psychology: A Lifespan Approach. Fifth Edition. New York. Schoeni,R. (2005). Socio-Economic and Demographic Disparities in Trends in Old-Age Disability. Trends Working Paper Series. Psychology Today Staff. (1992. ) Sending your very best. Psychology today. 1992.

Definition Of Culture By Hofstede Cultural Studies Essay

Definition Of Culture By Hofstede Cultural Studies Essay -Introduction Globalization of a companys hiring process becomes quite critical when it has to deal with external barriers; especially the ones relating to culture. It becomes equally challenging for an employee coming from a different cultural background to adjust in the new country and simultaneously adapt to their culture. However, in this world of instantaneous communication and global interactions, an international perspective can make ones business as well as an individuals career significantly more competitive. In order to have a good experience in the new environment and keeping away from depression one has to learn about the ways of interacting with the culture. This can be done by understanding a few aspects of the culture in the country one is going to. Each culture comes with its own personality, own way of doing things, ways of acting, ways of communicating with the world. Coming from one culture and moving to another, one can often pick out intriguing similarities and disheartening d ifferences. Hence, every culture is unique and depending on it, various behavioural patterns can be observed. In order to facilitate our understanding about the extent of how dynamic a culture is, Hofstedes cultural theory can be used. In the following research, a link will be established between Hofstedes cultural dimensions and how I will use these observations in order to adjust myself culturally to the new environment so that I do not have cross-cultural problems living in Japan for the next five years. Additionally a comparison between my culture (Indian) and Japanese culture will also be discussed. Definition of Culture by Hofstede Culture is the collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one human group from those of another. Culture in this sense is a system of collectively held values.- Geert Hofstede (Hofstede, 1991) Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions Power Distance: it is the degree of inequality that is expected and accepted in a given society by subordinates. It relates to power, status, authority that you command from individuals in a given context. For the most part, often the less powerful members are dominated by more powerful members and that dimension is accepted by the less powerful and expected by the most powerful. The societies with high power distance deal with autocratic style of management while the democratic style of management is observed within societies with less power distance. Uncertainty Avoidance: is the degree of risk that is accepted by people in any given society. It is the level to which the members of a society feel uncertain or ambiguous about a particular situation. The societies that avoid uncertainties are often the underdeveloped and the developing ones; whereas the developed societies are more tolerant towards uncertainties. Individualism/Collectivism: a society where everyone is expected to take care of themselves is an individualistic one. Here, me, I is more important as against we, us in collectivist societies. The attachment between people in individualistic societies is very insecurely defined. Society may have a tendency to be materialistic. Individual work is greatly appreciated rather than team work in collectivist societies. Extended families influenced by religion are a peculiar feature of collectivism. Masculinity/Feminism: the degree of difference that is observed between men and women describes this dimension. Societies driven by power, status, competitive depict masculinity, whereas, feminism illustrates values of modesty and concern. The former tends to be less emotional and expressive than latter. Long term orientation/Short term orientation: Long term relates to rewarding responsibility with an intention in mind. However, short term relates to respect for tradition and values. The former is more perseverant and the latter imparts sense security and protects ones reputation. (Hofstede, 1991) Differences between Japanese and Indian Culture according to Hofstede (Hofstede, 2003) Both these cultures instil collectivistic traits. In such cultures the actions of the individual are influenced by various concepts such as the opinion of ones family, extended family, neighbours, work group and other such wider social networks that one has some affiliation toward. The Power Distance Index of India in comparison with Japan is comparatively higher. India is a diverse country with a combination of various cultures and wealth in this country is unequally distributed and hence, there are different types of classes with uneven disposable income. This depicts why the power distance is quite high. On the other hand, Japan is a mildly hierarchical society. Japanese are always conscious of their hierarchical position in any social setting and act accordingly. However, Japan is quite developed and the fact that equality prevails makes the power distance lower than India and uncertainty avoidance higher. Moreover, the absence of corruption, low level of inflation and other econ omic factors make its uncertainty avoidance higher. Comparatively, India is quite corrupt and people are only concerned with making more and more money regardless of the overall growth. People in India generally do not feel driven and compelled to take action-initiatives and comfortably settle into established rolls and routines without questioning whereas the Japanese do not settle for anything less and are very competitive in nature making them more masculine. India is masculine too, but mostly in terms of visual display of success and power. On the contrary, Japanese are very modest and show the strength of power only when necessary. Japan is also a very fast growing economy and the people a very determined to create a living for them expressing why it is long term oriented. The idea behind it is that the companies are not here to make money every quarter for the shareholders, but to serve the stake holders and society at large for many generations to come. India is also long ter m oriented but comparatively lesser than Japan as Indian society has great tolerance for religious views and this culture typically forgives lack of punctuality where nothing is planned from start. (Hofstede, 2003) Dealing with Cultural Shock Living abroad and experiencing all the newness of the society combined with absence of people who can support might cause a degree of anxiety. This type of anxiety is called cultural shock and everyone deals with some degree of it during this stage. Basically it can be divided into four phases. Once familiar with these stages one will be better able to combat it and the willingness to adapt will increase. However, not everybody goes through all these stages or sometimes it is possible to experience these in different order. These stages are: The Honeymoon Stage   This occurs in the first few days of you arriving in your host country.   In this stage everything seems exciting and new. The focus is on the sense of success in being in the new culture; curiosity and interest in the novelty of the new surroundings; and an appreciation and anticipation of the opportunities to be found in the new culture. Most people feel energetic and enthusiastic during this stage. The Cultural Shock Stage In this stage, the primary focus is on the differences between ones home culture and the new culture and the conflicts that arise due to these differences,  including having to use a foreign language, not being sure how to interact with people in authority, not having a clear idea of how to make friends with people from different cultures, finding that food and eating customs are different, religious practices are different, and experiencing either the country is laid back or very fast paced. The Recovery Stage After having spent some time in the new culture, people begin to resolve some of the conflicts they may have experienced and also begin to regain a sense of appreciation that they might have experienced in the first stage. They have learned more about the new culture and are able to have a better understanding of external and internal resources that help in managing demands and conflicts that might arise. Feelings typical of this stage are a mixture of the first two stages. The Adaptation Stage This stage consists of people developing a realistic understanding of the similarities and differences between their home cultures and the new culture, so that they have clearer ideas about what they like and dislike in each. Many people move in the direction of becoming bicultural i.e. being able to value and appreciate the aspects of both cultures that they wish retain or include in their lives. This stage may be characterized by a sense of confidence, maturity, flexibility and tolerance. The Reverse Culture Shock- This is an often unexpected part of the cultural adaptation process. Based on the above stages, people eventually become relatively comfortable with the new culture, and are able to learn and incorporate new attitudes and behaviour that allows them to function better in the new culture. However, when this person returns to their home culture (especially if they have not been back for a while), they may sometimes find that the changes in themselves as well as in the home culture while they were away may create the need for an entirely new adjustment process which can be similar to the process described above. This can be especially confusing if the person is expecting to fit in effortlessly into their home culture and neither the person nor members of the home culture are sensitive to the possibility of reverse culture shock. (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2007)   Adapting to the Japanese Culture Having being transferred to a new country can be very challenging yet fun filled task since one has to start to adjust to a new environment that has never been experienced before. All the more, experiencing a new culture has its own set of problems like cultural shock, communication issues, etc. According to me, the only way to overcome a situation like this is to adapt to the place as soon as possible, as they say When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  I will further mention a few aspects of the local culture that I would wish to observe and understand in order to avoid problems of cross-cultural communication. Adjusting in the new environment culturally will make one familiar to the people, the language and will be lot easier to feel the essence of the place. In this situation, I will rid my mind of the stereotypes I ever perceived about Japan or Japanese people, since this is the first step to willingly accept and respect any culture. I will also try to befriend my colleagues at work and stay with them for a while instead of staying at hotels. Reason being, one gets to understand the true culture of the place only when they live with a family rather living alone. This will provide me emotional support while staying away from my family. Joining gym or any other ways of socially connecting to people would be a good idea here. Moreover, since I belong to a collectivistic society myself, it would be easier for me to trust and exchange ideas with groups of people. With this dimension being quite common in both our cultures, I might feel comfortable understanding the Japanese culture. Also in t his era of the world it is quite easy to stay in touch with family and friends back home through internet facilities providing video calling at cheap rates. Communication is the key here so I emphasize on being an active listener and participating in discussions both at work and leisure time that will let them know about the background of my culture as well. I would definitely involve communicating in Japanese in my routine; that will help me communicate with the locals there. English is not the official language of Japan so it will be wrong on my part to assume that they have clearly understood what I am trying to communicate. Hence, it will be better to listen and understand them. This will build their trust and confidence in me, and avoid misunderstandings at the same time. In situations where I am not able to express myself to a local, I would talk by actions or slow down my speed of language so that my words are clearly understood. I would watch TV and read newspapers to obtain information about the locals and their culture. Working in the IT Company will provide me with an opportunity of making friends where I believe I will be accepted keeping in mind the sense of equality that people in Japan have, according to Hofstede. I would be able to create a good rapport with my seniors too. I may not be as competitive as other Japanese employees in my peer group with regards to my background but I will try to come up to their level and be as competitive as them. However, I may have issues when trying to work since most of them rely on try and tested methods of doing work and no one really wants to bring any change in their environment. As for me, I can adjust to their style but I am more used to prioritizing my tasks according to the situation that comes up rather than planning everything right from start till the end and foresee any circumstances that may interfere with the planning like the Japanese do. In addition, leaving Hofstedes theory aside, there are other grounds on which both these cultures are dissimilar and interaction will be an issue in the beginning. If considering rituals, etiquettes, food, sense of humour, routine, etc., both these cultures are different. In India rituals are given a lot of importance but only to the extent of religion, we do not tend to go as far as having opening and closing ceremonies for each year of schooling as the Japanese do. For Japanese, competition is very important as that shows how one would lead his life later on, however, in India, there is competition but it isnt healthy considering our high level of ignorance at other levels for example caste, creed, sex, etc. As far as etiquettes are concerned, Indians these days might forget to greet others in the traditional style of saying Namaste while pressing palms together and fingers pointing upwards. They might say Hello and greet others since we have been influenced a lot by western cultur e for about two decades or so, whereas Japanese would bow down in order to greet. Another aspect of the local culture that is different but I would absolutely love to observe is the food that they have to offer. I cannot expect the spicy kind of food that I am brought up eating; instead I will have to develop a taste that is less spicy than Indian food. Consequently, spending more time with the locals will make me accustomed to their culture and lifestyle. After working through the day I might as well tour the local places so that I can roam without the help of maps. Furthermore, the environment plays a role in the adaptation of a culture. The level to which a community is ready to accept strangers into their environment is quite important. If a community is not open to new comers, that could hinder a persons ability to adapt in such host culture. Some environments are more accepting of some individual and less accepting of others. However, as per the facts presented about Japan above, it seems that I being an Indian would not go through much of a struggle to adapt as long as I respect them, their culture and stay at par and polite with them.

Facial Recognition Technology for Identification

Facial Recognition Technology for Identification Abstract Facial recognition is a crucial factor of everyday identification processes: human beings recognize and evaluate each other by means of the face. Whenever driving licences, identity and membership cards are checked or wherever access is controlled by security staff, the identity is verified by looking into somebodys face. Thus, unlike other biometric features, e.g. the fingerprint or iris recognition, facial recognition is a transparent procedure well-known to human beings. However, especially in the context of the international fight against terrorism it has become obvious that the traditional way of identifying individuals is insufficient. There are certain limits to the natural recognition process carried out by human beings: The recognition performance is not only impaired by difficulties with the recognition of people from other ethnic origin or deceptions due to a different hair-do or beards, but also by subjective impression based on a persons outward. The requirement of successful personal identification in access control and in other cases leads to using the results of biometrics. Biometrics Face recognition is a passive, non-invasive method for verifying the identity of a person, Offers the benefits of its unique facial technology in the form of customized overall solutions for the areas of access control, border control, ID-Management, search for criminals and video surveillance Face recognition has come to be an active research area with numerous applications in recent years. In this thesis, a variety of approaches for face recognition are reviewed first. These approaches are classified according to basic tasks i-e Face Detect, face Normalization, and Face recognition. Then, an implementation of the face recognition method, the Eigenface recognition approach is presented in detail as well as other face recognitions methods i-e Local Feature Analysis, Neural Networks and Automatic face processing are discussed in general. Introduction Ever since the birth of first mankind, human beings have continually been seeking for personal possessions. From the very basics of food and clothes, to cars, houses, and the more recent substantial property of data and information, it is becoming increasingly important that such valuable assets be sheltered by means of security control. Throughout history, the types of technologies used on the access control systems are countless. From the traditional systems such as security guards checking personal IDs to the very fundamentals of keypads and locks and password or entry code, the focus now has moved to the more advance technologies, particularly in todays multifaceted society. Organisations are continuously seeking for a more secure, suitable and economical way of property protection. The problem associated with traditional mechanisms is that the possessions could be lost, stolen, forgotten, or misplaced. Furthermore, once in control of the identifying possession, any other unauthorised person could abuse the privileges of the authorised user. Therefore there is a need of another approach to properly differentiate the correct (right) person from an impostor by positive identification of the person seeking access. Biometrics is one rising development in the field of access control system that provides true identification. Although the word biometrics sound very new and high tech, it is in fact the oldest form of identification known to man. Since the dawn of man, a persons face and voice was used to identify him/her. Before the digital age, a hand written signature was the only method used by a person to assert a unique form of identification that was difficult to copy. Popular biometric systems in use today include fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, voice recognition, and facial recognition systems. These systems are in practice in different organizations like banks, airports, social services offices, blood banks and other highly sensitive organizations. Biometric system offers the most accurate authentication solution and convenience. Biometrics systems can be integrated into any application that requires security, access control, and identification or verification of people. With biometric security, we can dispense with the key, the password, the PIN code; the access-enabler is human beings not something he/she know, or something in his/her possession. Chapter 02 This part of the dissertation provides the general overview of biometrics. Definitions such as Automatic, Physiological and Behavioural characteristics are also discussed as well as different types of biometric systems i.e. one-to-one and one-to-many. General Biometrics Base systems model, how it works and Multimodal Biometrics systems are also discussed in detail. In the last section of this chapter, a comprehensive overview of the right approach in selection of different technologies for an origination in terms of business objective, user acceptance, FFR, FAR, organisational environments, cost and a comparison of all biometrics are also presented. Chapter 03 Different types of biometric technologies are described in this chapter i.e. finger prints, iris and retina, voice, biometric signature and how these technologies work and the main features of these technologies with the help of diagrams. Chapter 04 This chapter is one of the most important chapters which explain the general back ground of face recognition technology and how face recognition works. It gives a brief discussion of how verification and identification is achieved with the help of face recognition system. Actual techniques involved during face verification and identification i.e. faces detection, face normalisation and face recognition are also discussed in detail. Steps involved during the face detection i.e. coarse detection phase and refined search phase are discussed as well as how Normalisation is achieved through different steps i.e. lighting normalisation, scaling normalisation, rotation normalisation and background subtraction. Face recognition and methods of face recognition i.e. Eigenfaces, feature analysis, neural network and automatic face processing are discussed in this presentation. Chapter 05 In this chapter of my dissertation, a proposed model of face recognition system for attendance of university students is discussed. The specification of the system is also compiled after the extensive study of face recognition products of different Vendors. Chapter 06 This final chapter of my dissertation contains the conclusion, future work and issues involved with face recognition system. A review of the biometrics technology Biometrics: An overview In todays networked and digital world the role of system security has a vital importance. In originations a large number of professional people are involved in one form of electronic transaction or another. Securing a companys digital assets and identities is a necessity for financial success. Ignoring IT security increases the risk of losses for any company moving through this electronic world. Logging on to a system by entering user ID and password is very simple but its simplicity makes serious security problems. There are, however, people who use easy guess passwords or leave written passwords near to their computer. In this situation there is no way to confirm that the person is logged on the system using his/her ID and password or some one else, nothing can prevent someone else from accessing sensitive material. Its like a passport system that doesnt require a photograph. In addition, time consuming tasks behind the management of user ID and passwords divert already insufficient resources from other important responsibilities. Establishing an accurate identity is the main focus of the information systems security in recent years and great efforts are made in this field. Two types of identification systems are in use now today. In one type identification system flawed identity checking results in unnecessary duplication, fraud and client disruption, resulting costs and risks. While in other type of identification system an accurate identification procedure and effectiveness may be undermined by unpopularity resulting falsification and evasion. Chapter2 Three conventional forms of identification are in use. Origination ID or smart cards. The use of passwords or Personal Identification Numbers, mother name, place of birth, home address etc. The third form of identification is to identify something unique about a person, such as fingerprints, voice recognition, hand geometry, face structure, iris and retina. This third form of identification is known as Biometrics. Biometrics is a branch of science in which we study, what makes us biologically unique. It is also referred to the science and application of statistical analysis of biological characteristics (Physiological/ Behavioural). In security terms, Biometrics refers to technologies that analyse human characteristics for security purposes. Therefore Biometrics technologies are concerned with the physical parts of the human or personal trait of human being. There are different definitions of security base biometrics that have been circulating for a numbers of years. According to Ashbourn, an expert in Biometrics, Biometrics is a measurable physiological and / or behavioural trait that can be captured and subsequently compared with another instance at the time of verification). [1] The Biometrics Consortium states Biometrics is automated methods of recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioural characteristic. [2] The international Biometrics Group defines biometrics as the automated use of physiological or behavioural characteristics to determine or verify identity [3] Physiological characteristics are fingerprint, Hand geometry, iris pattern ,retinal, ear shape and facial scans etc Behavioural characteristics are voice pattern, key strokes, signature etc. As mentioned, biometric technologies are anxious with the physical parts of the human or personal mannerism of human beings. The word automatics basically means that biometrics technology must recognise to identify /verify human characteristics rapidly and automatically, in real time. Unique physiological characteristics or behavioural mannerisms are examined in biometrics verification for an individuals identity. Physiological characteristics are essentially unchangeable such as hand geometry, iris pattern , palm prints, face structure and vane shape etc .while behavioural characteristic such as ones signature, voice or keystroke dynamics are changeable and these behavioural characteristics can change over time. They are both controllable and less controllable actions. The initial sample of the biometrics template, which is stored in the data base during the Enrolment, must be updated each time it is used. Although behaviour characteristics based biometrics is less costly and less intimidating to users, physiological characteristics have a tendency to offer greater accuracy and security. In any case, both techniques grant an extensively higher level of identification and verification as compare to smart cards or passwords technologies. A password or personal identification number (PIN) is not unique for an individual ,it can be stolen ,forgotten or lost, while a biometric characteristic is unique to each individual; it can be used to prevent fraud or theft. It cannot be lost, stolen or forgotten. There already many places such as research laboratories, defence (military) installations, VIP offices, day care centres and cash points where access is guarded by biometrics base authentication system. The following biometric identifiers currently obtainable or under development are fingerprints, body aroma, ear shape, face recognition, keystroke dynamics, palm print, retinal scan, iris pattern, signature, DNA, vein check and voice pattern. Biometrics-based Systems A biometric based system is a system that in some way uses physical characteristics or personal traits of a human being. These systems are not only, mainly used for security, but also use for encryption. Encryption The processes of translating a message (plaintext), with the help of software, into a programmed message/encoded text (Cipher text), called Encryption. This is usually accomplished using a secret key and a cryptographic code. [4] Type of Biometrics-based Systems There are two types of Biometrics-based systems. One-to-one systems (Verification system) One-to-many systems (Identification System) One-to-one system (verification) This type of biometric system works on the base of one to one matching and authentication principles where the system asks and attempts to answer the question Am I who I claim to be? At first a biometric sample of a person is provided to the system and then the system matches this sample to the previously stored template during the enrolment mode for that person. The system then decides whether that is the person who claims the identity. After a successful matching of the fresh sample with the stored template, the system authenticates the person. These types of systems are also referred to as verification systems. The verification system is a fast response system because it minimises the use of resources and time by providing biometrics sample/ information to the system which specifies the stored template in the data base for that person. [5] One-to-many system (identification) This type of biometrics system works on the base of one to many recognition principles. The system attempts to answer the question, Who am I? The basic purpose of this system to identify a persons identity by performing matches against all biometrics templates stored in a data base or a data library. A person does not claim his/her identity to the system; instead the person just gives the system some biometric data. The system then performs to match this data to all templates previously stored in the database and decides whether a match can be made. It is not necessary that the system responds with the persons name, it could be the persons ID or other unique identity. These types of systems are referred to as identification systems [6]. Identification systems have a slow response as compared to verification systems. This is because they require much more powerful resources due to the fact that more comparisons are required by identification systems. The biometrics identification system also prevents a person from registering twice on the system and ensures that a person is not already present in a data base. This type of system can be used in a large scale public benefits organisation, such as being used at banks where a person would try opening a second account on another name. This system can also be used with immigration where a person could try to enter the country on false documents. General Biometrics Base Authentication System Model A general biometrics base authentication system model consists of three major components, hardware, software and interface. Hardware is used to capture the biometrics information and software is used to maintain and manage it while an interface with application system that will use the result to confirm an individuals identity. The system operates in two different modes: Enrolment mode Authentication mode Enrolment mode: In this mode a users biometrics data is provided to a system, which stores this users biometric sample in a database or data library as a template. Hardware such as a biometrics readers/ scanners, cameras are used to capture biometrics sample. This stored template is then labelled with a user identity e.g. name, identification number etc. The way biometrics operate Some biometric base authentication systems may need a number of biometrics samples in order to build a profile of the biometric characteristics. These exclusive characteristics are then extracted and changed in to mathematical code by the system. Which is then stored in to the biometric system as a biometric template for the person who enrolled? The template is store in the memory storage of the system, or in computer database, smart card or barcode. A threshold is set in to the biometrics base authentication system according to the level of security [7], (a high threshold is set for high level of security) To secure the template to the person, a trigger or other mean of securing such as personal identification number, or a smart card that store the template which read by a card reader during the authentication mode, are use in biometrics. In some biometrics system when ever a person interacts with the system a new biometrics sample is provide to the system which is compared to the template. If this new sample and stored template is match (the score of new match if exceed from the set threshold then access is granted to that person). As both physical and behavioural characteristics are inconsistent with time, this change may be due to the age of the person, general health condition, working and environmental conditions and time pressures etc. the biometric base authentication system must allow for these delicate changes, in this case before a match is recorded a threshold *1 is set. This can take the form of an accuracy score *2. The comparison between the template and new sample must exceed this set threshold. If it not exceeds the system will not record the match and will not identify the person. This use of a threshold gives biometric technologies a significant advantage over passwords, PINs and ID badges. The use of a threshold affords a tremendous degree of flexibility and if the comparison between the new biometric sample and the template exceeds the stated threshold, identity will be confirmed. Threshold:-a predefine number, often controlled by system administer, which establish the degree of correlation necessary for a comparison to be deemed a match. Score: A number indicating the degree of similarity or correlation of a biometrics match Capture, extraction, comparison and match/non match are the four stages use by all biometric authentication systems. Capture A physical or behavioural sample is captured by the system during enrolment. Extraction unique data is extracted from the sample and a template is created. Comparison the template is then compared with a new sample. Multimodal Biometric System In some environments a signal biometrics identifier base system such as finger scan, face scan or iris scan etc often not able to meet the desired performance requirement of the organization. Different biometrics base identification system such as face recognition, finger print verification and vice verification, is integrated and worked as a single biometrics base identification system. Multimodal biometrics base identification system is use to over come the limitation of the single identifier biometrics base identification system. Initial experimental results reveal that the identity established by such an integrated system is more reliable than the identity established by a signal biometrics identifier base system. [8] Selecting the Right Approach In Different Environment Different biometrics base authentication systems are used. To choose the right approach to biometrics authentication it is necessary to understand the requirement of the organisation, the application of the biometrics system, and characteristics of the biometrics devices itself. Following factors are also important to choose a biometrics base authentication system, which most devices cant store raw fingerprints and that fingerprints cant be reconstructed based on the data stored within these systems. Intrusiveness is another factor affecting user acceptance of some devices, particularly iris and retinal scanning systems. [9] Business objective of the organisation The most important aspect to consider when selecting a biometrics base authentication system is the organisation business objectives. The choice biometrics system must meet or exceed organisational business objectives as well as sustain organisation in the coming years. Business objective is the bottom line where organisation starts and end. User acceptances Some biometrics, such as fingerprints, may be apparent as an assault of personal privacy. The system must not associate with other govt agencies biometrics (finger print) recognition system that most devices cant store raw fingerprints and that fingerprints cant be reconstructed based on the data stored within these systems. General intrusiveness can be another factor affecting user acceptance of some devices, particularly iris and retinal scanning systems. Following are the errors of biometrics base authentication system. False acceptance rate (FAR) False acceptance rate (FAR) is a system error. It is the rate at which an interloper can be recognized as a valid user. In one -to-one match during user verification, false acceptance is based on fake attempts, not on the total number of attempts by valid users. If FAR is 1%, it means one out of 100 users trying to break into the system will be successful [10]. FARs become more critical when you attempt to identify users based on biometrics, instead of simply trying to verify a person with a one-to-one or one-to-few operation False reject rate (FRR) False reject rate (FRR) is another type of error of biometrics system. It is the rate at which a valid user is rejected from the system. Consider a finger print recognition system; unfortunately, the conditions under which the original sample was collected can never be exactly duplicated when the user submits subsequence biometrics information to be compared. False reject rate may occur due to following variations. Rotation and Translation because of different positioning of the finger on the finger print device. Downward pressure on the surface of the input device which changes the scale of input device. Non-permanent or semi-permanent distortions like skin disease, scars, sweat, etc To over come FRR it is essential that all biometrics base authentication systems have a threshold value in order to allow for minor differences. With out threshold value FRR occurs and valid users will be probably rejected by system. If the threshold value is too high FAR occur [9]. It is there for necessary to find a proper threshold value. Organisational environments As stated it is important to consider the organisational environment when selecting biometrics base authentication system. Users with wet, dirty or dry hand have experienced problems with finger and palm recognition system. People using gloves generally cant use these systems. Face recognition system cant be easily be used in medical environments where hood and masks are used by users. Cost The direct cost of the system (hardware and software) is the initial considerations. Due to the improvement of features and functionality the over all cost of biometrics system reduces. It not only reduces fraud and eliminating problems associated with stolen or forgotten passwords but also reduces the help desk role. Summary The subject of this chapter is biometrics, which is defined as a method of verifying an individuals identity based on measurement of the individuals physical feature(s) or repeatable action(s) where those features and/or actions are both unique to that individual and measurable. A biometrics system which consists of enrolment mode and authentication mode, unique physiological characteristics or behavioural mannerisms are examined in biometrics verification for an individuals identity. All biometric systems essentially operate in a similar way in a four-stage process that is automated and computerized which are Capture, Extraction, Comparison and Match/non-match. Biometrics system one-to-one is based on one to one matching and authentication principles and is mainly used for verification purposes, while biometrics system one to many works on the principles of one-to-many recognition and is used for identification. Multimodal biometrics base identification system is used to over come the limitation of the signal identifier biometrics base identification system in which different biometrics base identification system such as face recognition, finger print verification and vice verification, is integrated and worked as a single biometrics base identification system. Methodologies of Biometrics Authentication An overview As stated, different biometric systems are use in different organisations according to their requirements. The most common biometrics system in use today includes fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, and voice recognition and face recognition systems. There are also other biometric systems available like retina recognition, vein pattern recognition, signature and DNA matching systems. These systems are not as widely used yet for various reasons. These biometrics systems can be integrated into any application that requires security, access control and identification or verification of people. With biometric security we can dispense with the key, the password and the PIN code; the access-enabler is a person, not something person know or something in his /her possession. Biometrics systems secured resources are based on who a person is. Biometrics systems also minimise the risk that is associated with less advanced technologies while at the same time offering a higher level of security and convenience. Fingerprint Recognition System Fingerprints are one of the human physiological characteristics that do not change throughout someones life. Even identical twins have different fingerprint patterns. The chance of identical twins to have the same fingerprint is less than one in a billion. Fingerprint recognition is generally considered the most practical system for its reliability, non-intrusive interfaces, and cost-effectiveness. In recent years, fingerprints have rallied significant support as the biometric technology that will probably be most widely used in the future. In addition to general security and access control applications, fingerprint verifiers are installed at different organisations such as, defence/military organisations health care, banking and finance, application services providers, immigration, law enforcement etc. The fingerprints strength is its acceptance, convenience and reliability. It takes little time and effort for somebody using a fingerprint identification device to have his or her fingerprint scanned. Studies have also found that using fingerprints as an identification source is the least intrusive of all biometric techniques. [15] Verification of fingerprints is also fast and reliable. Users experience fewer errors in matching when they use fingerprints versus many other biometric methods. In addition, a fingerprint identification device can require very little space on a desktop or in a machine. Several companies have produced capture units smaller than a deck of cards. One of the biggest fears of fingerprint technology is the theft of fingerprints. Skeptics point out that latent or residual prints left on the glass of a fingerprint scanner may be copied. However, a good fingerprint identification device only detects live fingers and will not acknowledge fingerprint copies. [12] Main Feature of Finger print verification system Analysis of minutia points i.e. finger image ridge (verification) endings, bifurcations or branches made by ridges. One of the most commercially successful biometric technologies. Important for applications where it is necessary to verify the identity of those who gain access. How fingerprint recognition system works In biometrics systems fingerprint recognition system is the fastest verification /identification (One-to-One / One-to-Many) system as shown in figure 3, 4, 5. Like other biometrics recognition systems it performs fingerprint recognition with the help of specialised hardware. This specialised hardware is supported by the conventional computer hardware and special software. All biometrics systems operate in two modes, enrolment mode and authentication mode (as discussed in the previous chapter). A sample of the fingerprint of a live person is provided to the system which is then converted into mathematical code (Template) and stored for the enrolee into the database. In the first step of the authentication process, a fingerprint impression is provided to the system. The system takes a digital image (input image figure 3:1:1 below) using different techniques including scanner, optical, and ultrasound or semiconductor chip technologies. The digital image of the fingerprint includes several unique features in terms of ridge bifurcations and ridge endings, collectively referred to as minutiae. [22] In the next step the system uses an automatic feature extraction algorithm to locate these features in the fingerprint image, as shown in Figure 3:1:2. Each of these features is commonly represented by its location (x, y, and z) and the ridge direction at that location; however the feature extraction stage may miss some minutiae and may generate spurious minutiae due to sensor noise and other variability in the imaging process. The elasticity of the human skin also affects the feature extraction process. [33] In the final stage, a final decision of match and non match is made on the bases of similarity between the two sets of features after compensating for the rotation, conversion and dimension. This similarity is often expressed as a score. A decision threshold is first selected. If the score is below the threshold, the fingerprints are determined not to match; if the score is above the threshold, a correct match is declared an authentication is granted to the person. Iris and Retina Recognition System Biometrics which analyse the intricate and unique characteristics of the eye can be divided into two different fields, Iris and Retina. Iris and retinal scans both deal with the human eye. They are done in an extremely different way as compared to other biometrics technology. Iris Recogniton System Iris recognition biometrics base authentication systems have unique characteristics and features of the human iris used to verify the identity of an individual. The iris is the area of the eye where the pigmented or colour circle, usually brown or blue, rings the dark pupil of the eye. It consists of over 400 unique distinguishing characteristics that can be quantified and used for an individual identity. However, only about 260 of those characteristics are captured in a live iris identification process [25]. Iris are composed before birth and, except in the event of an injury to the eyeball, remain unchanged throughout an individuals lifetime. Eyeglasses and contact lenses present no problems to the quality of the image and the iris recognition /scan systems test for a live eye by checking for the normal continuous fluctuation in the pupil size. As Iris patterns are extremely complex and unique they carry an astonishing amount of information. The fact that an individuals right and l eft eye are different and that patterns are easy to capture, it establishes iris recognition

Hemingway And nada :: essays research papers

Hemingway and "Nada" In "The light of the world" written by Ernest Hemingway Steve Ketchel, a boxer symbolizes a Jesus figure for a woman called Alice. Alice, a 350 pound, unpleasant prostitute struggles with her current life. Her central being focuses at the belief that she had a sexual relationship with Steve Ketchel. This wishful illusion arises from a complex she has because of her ugly and unpleasant appearance. Nick Adams, the main Hemingway character, believes that Alice, although she has really given up her life, still has the chance to change and live a happy life. Steven K. Hoffman would call this belief Alice has "nada". Nada is a term used in Hemingways story "A clean well lighted place". Steven K. Hoffman interpreted the word in an Essay he wrote. The word nada translated to English, basically means "nothing". But further it means much more than the simple word nothing. Nada from the point of Alice's view means that there is nothing behind of her belief. That means that her life is not based on a concrete belief. She does not believe in any religion; her religion is Ketchel. That arises from her place in society. In society she is ranked very low. A prostitute has nothing to say in our society. And since she is that low she cant set her goals higher. Her goals could be the goals Jesus talks about. Her goal in life was and still is to sleep with more and more guys. Back to nada it means that she has nothing; nothing to believe in and nothing to live for. Alice lives in an illusion. It seems that she suppresses the fact that she is a fat prostitute. How much lower can you get? She suppresses her problems with her dreams and illusions. The most important belief is that she had a sexual relationship with Ketchel. That is her main belief. For a normal American, Jesus would the most important belief. Ketchel gives her the strength to withstand her complexes. Ketchel in other words symbolizes Jesus. That is of course very sad. When comparing Jesus with Ketchel, you will not find any connecting. Ketchel is just a popular boxer among her friends and she knows nothing more of him. For her Ketchel is more than just a man to have sex with. As said, for her Ketchel is Jesus. "There was never a man like that.", said Alice. Alice did not succeed in her life. Not that it is over, but till now she did not make herself happy. She is unhappy, she is a prostitute and the most

Othello :: essays research papers fc

Elliot, T.S. Ã’The Hero Cheering Himself Up.Ó Shakespeare and the Stoicism of Seneca. ED. Leonard F. Dean, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1961. 153-155   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In T.S. ElliotÕs essay, Ã’The Hero Cheering Himself Up,Ó he takes the viewpoint that Othello is both influenced by and influences Seneca, the Roman philosopher and author of tragedies. Ã’It is not the Attitude of Seneca; but i is derived from SenecaÓ(153). He also compares Shakespeare to other authors such as Chapman and Marston, who he says were quite influenced by Seneca. The main thing that he says they have in common is the way that the heroes of their plays are dramaticized at the height of the tragedy. He does, however, state that it is his opinion that Shakespeare does this much better. He works it in to fit naturally with the human nature of his characters. Elliot states that the final speech of Othello is the most Ã’terrible exposure of human weakness- of universal weaknessÓ(153. He says that this speech is usually read quite superficially, but when one looks deeper, he can see that Othello is trying to cheer himself up. He wants to escape reality and think only of himself. He does this because thinking good of yourself, in ElliotÕs opinion, is one of the easiest things to do. Elliot also compares the death of Othello to the deaths of some ShakespeareÕs other heroes- mainly Antony and Coriolanus. H believes that these deaths were also strongly influenced by Seneca. Gray, Garry Ã’IagoÕs MetamorphosisÓ Iago. Ed. Harold Bloom, Chelsea House, 1992. 212-218   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Garry GrayÕs essay, Ã’IagoÕs Metamorphosis,Ó is based on the belief that society does not allow for or encourage personal individualization. He states that ShakespeareÕs Othello is concerned with this issue. This is mainly expressed through the character of Iago. he goes through a metamorphosis in the play. He starts out being socially dominated, and ends up being in a state of total psychological freedom. GrayÕs opinion is that this allows him the opportunity to victimize and exploit others. Gray also believes that Shakespeare is attempting to express his own opinion that one has to conform to a socially accepted behavior in order to attain a goal, such as when Iago wanted a promotion. Gray points out, however, that conforming to these socially accepted rules for behavior does not always result in achievement of a goal. He therefore believes that the reason for IagoÕs metamorphosis was bitterness and frustration.

Diagnostic and Statistics Manual for Mental Disorders Essay

Although Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and homosexuality has been in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for many years, I was personally unaware of the controversy that surrounded it. I realized that I needed to educate myself in the issues and changes that have occurred in the DSM regarding GID and homosexuality over the years. The APA is in the process of revising its DSM and part of that process has been to create a Work Group on Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders (WGSGSID). The Work Group is one of 13 groups participating in the DSM-V revision process (Drescher, 2010). There has been a high level of concern from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in regards to the status of the category of GID in the DSM (Drescher, 2010). Activists argued that it is wrong to label expressions of gender variances as symptoms of a mental disorder. Advocates for the removal of the GID compare it to the removal of homosexuality in 1973 (Drescher, 2010). According to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, people experiencing â€Å"strong cross-gender identification and a persistent discomfort with their sex or a sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex† were diagnosed with transexualism in the DSM-III. In 1994, the DSM IV changed that diagnosis to GID. (Drescher, 2010). Removing GID from the DSM would be a major step in destigmatizing the lives of transgendered people, however it would come at a price and this will be reviewed in this paper. Individuals that identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered do not believe that they have a disorder and are mentally ill. The inclusion of gender nonconformity among disorders creates stigma for transgendered individuals in society. In 1973, homosexuality was declassified in the DSM (second edition), however, transgender identity and expression still remains. In this paper I will discuss issues of gender identity, how they are defined in the DSM, and the controversy that surrounds them. History of Gender Identity Disorder (Transgender) I’ve always learned that to understand the issues of today we must look at history. And so we don’t repeat the misfortunes of yesterday we must learn from them. So, for this section I have researched a brief history of Gender Identity Disorder and how it became a psychiatric classification. Under diagnostic codes in the DSM, transvestic fetishism, formerly transvestism, (TF) means to wear the clothing of the opposite sex. This term was created and used by Magnus Hirshfeld in 1910. Transsexualism, also termed by Hirchfeld in 1923, first appeared in the DSM-III (1980) as a diagnostic category. Currently in the DSM, heterosexual men can be diagnosed with TF if they meet only two criteria: they have sexual fantasies about cross-dressing and those fantasies cause â€Å"impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas. † DSM Manual The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) development timeline began almost ten years ago with a series of meetings and conferences that summarized the findings that had accumulated in the scientific literature since the publication of DSM-IV and then developed research agendas for DSM-5 (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010). There are no restraints on the amount of change that can occur in formulating the DSM-5, provided that the changes are based on sound research findings and will enhance its clinical usefulness (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010). The DSM-5 Task Force is composed of workgroup chairs and professionals from other stakeholder groups including APA governance representatives. There is a consumer representative on the task force and the members of the task force are diverse in ethnic and racial groups and gender. There are 13 workgroups, and the workgroups focus on specific diagnostic areas (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010). The taskforce and workgroups are composed of 163 members, 39 of whom are from outside the United States. Thirty percent of the members are female, 18% are non-Caucasian, and there is a diversity of disciplines represented. There is a DSM-5 Web site, www. dsm5. org, which contains Task Force meeting summaries, workgroup progress summaries, the names of the members of the taskforces and workgroups and their disclosure information (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010) . There has been a subworkgroup formed to work on the Gender Identity Disorder. Four topics were nominated by the group to discuss: general issues, the differences and similarities between homosexuality and GID with regard to the DSM; and specific research literature of the criteria for GID in adolescents and adults (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010) . One of the first things that the subgroup did was distribute a short survey amongst transgender organizations. The survey was designed to help the group learn what transgender organizations, not only in the United States and Europe but also worldwide, were thinking about various hot topics in gender identity. They were interested in suggestions for possible reconstruction of the diagnosis if it were to remain a diagnosis in the DSM-5 (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010) . More than 50% of respondents believed that GID should not stay in the DSM. Political and educational transgender organizations were very much in favor of removing GID from the DSM. The political groups had the highest percentages (75%) favoring removal of the diagnosis, followed by the educational groups (70%) (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010) . The DSM is a political document—a social construction—shaped more by sociocultural influences than the demands of practicing professionals in the field of mental health (Conner-Greene, 2006). The DSM has become a profoundly powerful book in terms of the health insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and even the courts (Conner-Greene, 2006). Problems with the Current Diagnostic Criteria for GID Some reasons given for deleting GID from the DSM included: (1) concerns that the diagnosis inappropriately pathologized an aspect of one’s identity; (2) the conviction that the diagnosis is stigmatizing and that this is a major cause of distress; (3) the potential use of the diagnosis as a discriminatory tool, resulting in, for example, exclusion from military service or healthcare services; and finally (4) the belief that GID is a neurological or brain phenomenon, not a mental disorder (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010). Support of Keeping the GID Diagnosis in the DSM The most important reason cited for allowing the diagnosis to persist was insurance reimbursement and legal advocacy. Some members and advocates of the trans community expressed concern that deleting GID from the DSM-V would lead third party payers to deny access to care for those transgender adults already having issues with inadequate private and public sources of healthcare (Drescher, 2010). Some argued that keeping the diagnosis of GID in the DSM would make it harder to misdiagnose transgender individuals with other mental illnesses. Others suggested that it would be easier for family and friends to accept a transgender person’s identity if this identity had an official place somewhere (Narrow & Cohen-Kettenis, 2010). Retention of the GID diagnoses would eventually lead to putting the diagnosis of â€Å"homosexuality† back into the manual (Drescher, 2010). I personally do not see this ocurring, however, it is not inconceivable. Clinical efforts with gender variant children aimed at getting them to reject their felt gender identity and to accept their natal sex were unscientific, unethical, and misguided. Activists labeled such efforts as a form of reparative therapy (Drescher, 2010). Definitions of Conditions in the DSM Transsexualism The second half of the twentieth century saw the development within the psychological and medical communities of a transsexual model and procedures for identifying, describing, and treating individuals who sought sex reassignment. This model viewed transsexualism as a form of mental illness characterized by a pervasive and ongoing wish to be a member of the other sex (Denny, 2004). The 1990s, however, brought an increasing awareness among researchers and clinicians that genital sex reassignment surgery (SRS) is not uniformly desired or sought by all persons who dress and behave as members of the other sex on a full-time basis (Denny, 2004). Therapists Role in Transgendered Issues There is a world of difference when both the therapist and the patient believe the patient to be mentally ill and in crisis, and when both the therapist and the client believe the client to be healthy and self-actualized and contemplating a life-altering decision (Denny, 2004). There is evidence that is reasonably strong that psychotherapeutic interventions are not particularly successful with transgendered individuals (Zucker, 2008). The empirical evidence from adulthood suggests that gender dysphoria is best treated through hormonal and surgical interventions, particularly in carefully evaluated patients (Zucker, 2008). Today’s client is likely to be educated about transgender issues, to know his or her options, and to have a broad-based support system. The therapist can and should provide factual information, help the client understand the available options, and make necessary referrals. This can prove difficult to a therapist unfamiliar with the transgender model, hence it is important to be educated in this area (Denny, 2004). Psychiatrists and other caregivers should be careful not to confuse their personal beliefs about gender with the clinical needs of the patients they are treating. Therapists should know that despite nonsurgical lifestyle options now open to transgendered people, transsexuals tend to view SRS as the treatment of choice (Denny, 2004). In most communities, there are not enough such specialists available to allow for two different roles needed of specialists: one who is the therapist and one (or two, in the case of surgery recommendations) who is the evaluator. Thus, clinicians often find themselves in dual roles of therapist and evaluator. This frustrates many clinicians who worry that clients will withhold information that would aid in the therapeutic process for fear that it will jeopardize their chances of acquiring letters of recommendation (Griffin, 2011).