Qatar Influence in the World

Qatar Influence in the World Statement of the Research Question The main research question that my thesis will cover is, ‘How does Qatar use soft power to strengthen its global political influence?’ This question will provide an opportunity for me to study the various processes of soft power that Qatar has and/or continues to utilize to strengthen its political influence not only in the Middle East, but also across the world.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Qatar Influence in the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is evident that Qatar has emerged as one of the most influential Middle East countries in the world’s political affairs. This thesis will be a revelation as to how such a country has achieved its current position. Introduction Since 1995, following the takeover of leadership by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani through a peaceful coup d’etat, Qatar has been transformed from a little-known tiny count ry into a major economic and political powerhouse in the Middle East and, in extension, the world (Evans and Grant 42). In the last 18 years, the country’s leadership has been engaged in a protracted effort to transform it into a globally recognized and respected modern state (Brannagan and Grix par. 3). Being the world’s richest country in terms of per capita income, which stood at USD$ 448,246 in 2008, Qatar has managed to achieve tremendous successes in its short history (Hey 42). Its enormous wealth and a leadership that is keen on putting the country ‘on the map’ in the Middle East make it a major political player in the Arab World. Its influence in the world is growing (Beaumont 3). The main question is how such a country can achieve so much within such a short period. According to Brannagan and Grix, Qatar presents a good example of how soft power can be used to propel a nation’s influence in the global political affairs (par. 5). In the last 15 years, the country has invested heavily in building an appealing image to the world without using military or other forms of hard power. This move has allowed the country to gain a substantial political influence (King 16). The country has used its enormous resources to put in place measures of not only making Qatar an important investment destination for many nations and companies, but also as an important economic ally of many other states (Antwi-Boateng 39).Advertising Looking for proposal on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Further, its close and friendly association with western countries such as the US and the United Kingdom has separated the country from the politics of the Middle East, hence creating an appealing image to the world (van Ham 10). Other major areas of focus have been on the creation of an image of the country as a top tourism and sporting destination (Amara par. 3). For a long time, its neighboring rich, populous, and influential neighbors such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran among others have over shadowed the country (Worth 7). Owing to the fact that it was the last Arab country to discover its oil wealth, it is a recent entrant into the politics of the Middle East. So far, it has been successful in its push for becoming a key player in the region. For instance, while the UAE’s Abu Dhabi has been the major tourist and financial hub of the region, Qatar’s Doha has gained a strong footing against the former with an increasingly busy Airport, a key indicator of the country’s connectedness to the world (Brannagan, Mubanga, and Wolff par. 2). Further, its global financial assistance to many countries has also put the country into the league of nations where it provides billions of dollars for humanitarian and development purposes in disadvantaged populations and countries across the world. The country has also invested heav ily in education of its citizens, thus bringing it to the forefront of nations that offer quality education to their citizens. Education is a major factor of power for top nations such as the UK and the US (Joseit par. 1). The current position of Qatar as having a substantial and increasing power and influence in global political affairs has not gone unnoticed. This position has been captured in various researches and articles to this effect. My thesis aims at studying how Qatar has used soft power to create its growing influence and presence in global political affairs. This topic is interesting since the country is succeeding in an area that many other countries have failed. For a long time, to gain political influence in the world affairs, many powerful countries such as Russia, the USA, China, and the UK have used hard power, through military and economic processes (Worth 7).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Qatar Influence in the World specifically f or you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Consequently, the success of Qatar in gaining global political influence without using hard power presents a new approach to the understanding of power and hence the significance of the study (Nye ‘Soft Power’ 96). The thesis will create an understanding of how Qatar uses soft power through four main areas that include foreign aid, cultural institutions, tourism, and sports diplomacy to gain and maintain its global political influence. Relevant Literature A substantial amount of research that has focused on the growing influence of Qatar in the global political affairs is available. However, much of the research focuses on the increasing influence of the Middle East countries on the global political affairs. With some efforts being dedicated to Qatar, it is a clear indication that the use of soft power by the small Middle East country has not gone unnoticed. In addition, the existing research has majorly focus ed on the economy of the country as the main avenue through which it has amassed power in the global political affairs. The first and most relevant research article is titled, ‘The rise of Qatar as a Soft Power and the Challenges’ by Osman Antwi-Boateng. The research is important and relevant to my thesis since it comprehensively covers the various ways through which Qatar exercises its soft power. According to the article, Qatar exercises soft power influence through what it refers to as attraction and ‘carrots’. In terms of attraction, the article points to the strong political stability, close relationship with the US, progressive higher education system, and effective income redistribution policies (Antwi-Boateng 42). The country also uses carrots through the media (Aljazeera Network), sports investments, and foreign aid policy to advance its soft power across the world. In this study, the author explores how Qatar exerts its soft power in its foreign p olicy in addition to how it addresses various challenges in advancing its influence. Antwi-Boateng begins by noting that the country is an exception of its neighbors who are facing political instability or other major hurdles affecting their influence in Middle East and in extension, the world (47). Firstly, in his study, Antwi-Boateng notes the importance of sport as a major source of soft power for Qatar (51). The Study gives an example of the 2006 XV Asian Games that Qatar hosted successfully. Further, the country has successfully bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup (Antwi-Boateng 51). The two events have greatly enhanced the country’s reputation and image, especially in the Middle East and the Muslim World.Advertising Looking for proposal on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, the study highlights the increasing use of football diplomacy and cultural institutions that have been characteristic of Qatar in the last few years. Antwi-Boateng regards Qatar’s sponsorship of Barcelona, a world’s re-known Spanish club as well as its purchase of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a French club, as major steps that the nation has taken to improve its influence through the world’s most popular game (48). The country invested a whooping USD$190 million in Barcelona’s sponsorship and another USD$ 63 Million for acquiring a 70% stake at PSG (Kamrava 540). The study identifies Qatari’s involvement in sporting, especially football, as in line with Nye’s assertion that culture is a major element of soft power (‘Public Diplomacy’ 102). Football provides an opportunity for Qatar to be in popular culture to display its own civilization due to the wide audience that the game receives across the world (Dorsey 4). The stu dy identifies foreign aid as a major aspect through which Qatar has gained and maintained its soft power. According to the study, Qatar is ranked at the 20th place worldwide in terms of the percentage of its population’s giving and first position in the Middle East and Arab Countries (Antwi-Boateng 45). According to the study, foreign aid is linked with positive goodwill, which enhances the country’s reputation among its beneficiaries. This move is in line with Nye’s claim that such efforts lead to legitimate power in the eyes of others (‘Public Diplomacy’ 99). For instance, in 2010-2011, the nation’s development and humanitarian aid amounted to more than USD$ 1 billion (Brannagan and Grix par. 2). Its foreign aid policy has been majorly focused on Arab countries that have been experiencing political instability due to the Arab Spring (Kinninmont 5). For instance, Qatar has advanced a low interest loan of USD$1 billion to Tunisia. It has also offered to employ over 20,000 Tunisians in Qatar while at the same time funding the construction of subsidized houses to the tune of USD$ 37 million (DOHA2012 18). The country has also provided financial support amounting to USD$ 3 billion loan facility to Egypt. Besides, it has also offered humanitarian aid support to many countries, including the US (Ministry of Foreign Affairs par. 2). This study is very relevant and central to my thesis since it comprehensively covers different processes through which Qatar exercises its soft power. By recognizing sporting and foreign aid as major ways of gaining soft power, the paper goes a long way in terms of proving the relevance of my study. Other studies that have also addressed Qatar’s soft power are also relevant to this research. One these researches is titled, ‘Qatar: A First-Hand Account of Soft Power’, by Brannagan, Mubanga, and Wolff. In the study, Brannagan, Mubanga, and Wolff point out the increasing influence in the regional and global political affairs (par. 4). The study identifies the increased efforts of Qatar to become a top tourist destination. Further, there have been more efforts to market the country through its unique culture to the world. The research is also relevant to this study since it covers cultural and tourism aspects through which Qatar seeks to gain influence in regional and global political affairs. Another important study that is relevant to my thesis is, ‘Qatar’s Soft Power Gamble: The FIFA World Cup 2022’ by Paul Brannagan and Jonathan Grix. In the study, the focus is on the growing participation and presence of Qatar in the international sports, and more importantly, its successful bid for hosting 2022 world cup games (QTA par. 2). Hosting such an event will be in line with the nation’s plans of becoming a top tourist destination since it will present a prime opportunity of displaying the country’s culture and attractiveness to billions of spectators across the world (FIFA par. 6). The study will be important for my thesis since it will provide important information and support on the increasing use of sporting and tourism as a means of gaining soft power for the Middle East country. Data In my thesis, I will use both primary and secondary data to address the main research question. There is a considerable amount of data that can be drawn from different secondary sources. For instance, Qatar’s Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics offers a rich source of data and important figures that can support different assertions of my research paper such as foreign aid and investment in sports and tourism. Further, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website also offers significant information on Qatar’s foreign policy and foreign aid, which are both central to my research (par. 3). Owing to the high number of other studies that the research relies on, this study will offer an important platform of accessing and drawing secondary information. Primary data sources will include the use of interviews, surveys, and questions that will be targeted to specific population groups privy to Qatar’s soft power. For instance, interviews will be conducted on people such as lecturers and professors who can offer expert opinion on Qatar’s growing political influence in the Middle East and the world at large. Online survey will also be important in providing important information on the opinions of different populations on Qatar’s growing influence. The primary data is important in incorporating the information that will be obtained through secondary data sources. Outline of the Argument In the last two decades, Qatar has emerged from a little known and less influential nation to a major player in regional and global political affairs. During this time, with a major economic transformation, the country has used different approaches to acquire legitimate power and influ ence over other nations. Of these approaches, military muscle power and economic maneuvers, which have traditionally been the source power for many countries, have not been used by the country. Instead, the country has used other approaches to gain soft power. So far, it has been successful. My thesis will seek to discuss the various approaches of soft power that Qatar has used to gain its political influence in the Middle East and around the globe. These approaches include the use of culture, tourism, foreign aid, and sports. The thesis will discuss each of the above approaches in an attempt to show how they have helped Qatar to gain its influence and prominence in the global political affairs. Frameworks The first framework will be a theoretical structure that will focus on the concept of soft power. Drawing heavily from Joseph Nye’s ‘Public Diplomacy and Soft Power’, the framework will guide the thesis in providing an understanding of what constitutes soft pow er and how Qatar has been successful in gaining political influence through its well-calculated use of various processes of gaining power. Nye’s article comprehensively covers and brings forth the concept of soft power by comparing its effectiveness with the use of hard power (Nye ‘Public Diplomacy’ 102). It is evident that although hard power still dominates what constitutes power in the global political influence, soft power approaches have emerged strongly as an option for many countries that cannot exercise hard power. By utilizing the ideas brought forward in Nye’s article, my thesis will be able to cover the use of soft power by Qatar as it continues to emerge as a major power in the Middle East and in the global political environment. My research will also adopt the conceptual framework, which will focus on how the ideas of my thesis will be organized and presented to answer the main research question. It will also focus on how Qatar frames its appr oaches in order to gain power over other nations across the world. The framework is important since it helps to link the theoretical framework to real life examples of how soft power can be utilized successfully. By covering each of the areas and approaches through which Qatar has exerted its influence globally, the plan will be an important part of the conceptual framework of helping to answer various questions that arise from the process of answering the main research question. Chapter/Section Outline The thesis will begin with a background discussion on Qatar’s past and current status. It will show how it has gained an influential status over the years in the Middle East and beyond. This information will form an important part of the thesis. It will provide the foundation and basis for my research. The background information will include Qatar’s growing economic significance in the Middle East in terms of how it has been able to extend its influence beyond the regio n. The second section of thesis will focus on various ways through which Qatar gains its power and influence in its region and across the world. In this section, the first component to be covered will focus on how Qatar uses foreign aid to attain power and/or exert its influence across the world. The second component will focus on Qatar’s use of cultural institutions, including education and arts to grow its profile as a top education and cultural destination in the world, an achievement that has made it gain considerable power over other nations. The third component of coverage will be tourism and how Qatar, through the Qatar Tourism Authority, has put in place efforts to turn Qatar into a top tourist destination in the Middle East. The last component is the use sport diplomacy that Qatar has adopted to market itself to the world. These strategies include its successful bid to host 2022 World Cup games, its sponsorship of major European clubs such as Barcelona, and its acqui sition of Paris Saint-Germain among many other sporting activities that it has shown interest. Contribution of the Research The paper will contribute to the growing field of knowledge on soft power with Qatar as a good example of its effectiveness. It will be an important knowledge base for future studies that will be focused on Qatar and other nations’ influence on global political affairs using soft power approaches. Amara, Mahfoud. The Pillars of Qatars International Sport Strategy, 2013. Web. e-ir.info/2013/11/29/the-pillars-of-qatars-international-sport-strategy/. Antwi-Boateng, Osman. â€Å"The Rise of Qatar as a Soft Power and the Challenges.† European Scientific Journal 2.1(2013): 39-51. Print. Beaumont, Peter. â€Å"How Qatar is taking on the world.† The Guardian July 20. 2012: 3. Print. Brannagan, Paul, and Jonathan Grix. Qatars Soft Power Gamble: The FIFA World Cup 2022, 2014. Web. e-ir.info/2014/01/18/qatars-soft-power-gamble-the-fifa-world-cup-2022 /. Brannagan, Paul, In’utu Mubanga, and Mads Wolff. Qatar: A First-Hand Account of Soft Power, 2014. Web. e-ir.info/2014/03/20/the-state-of-qatar-a-first-hand-account-of-soft-power/. DOHA2012. Offering a helping hand, Qatar is a good neighbor around the World. Doha: The UN Climate Change Conference, 2012. Print. Dorsey, James. â€Å"Qatars sports-focuses public diplomacy policies backfiring.† Daily News Feb. 10. 2014: 4. Print. Evans, Gareth, and Bruce Grant. Australias Foreign Relations in the World of the 1990s. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1999. Print. FIFA. Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani visits FIFA President in Zurich, 2014. Web. fifa.com/worldcup/qatar2022/news/newsid=2441686/. Hey, Jeanne. Small States in World Politics: Explaining Foreign Policy Behavior. Boulder, CO: Lynne Reinner, 2003. Print. Joseit, David. The Art Effect, 2013. Web. aucegypt.edu/gapp/cairoreview/pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=614. Kamrava, Mehran. Mediation and Qatar i Foreign Policy. Middle East Journal 65.4(2012): 540-556. Print. King, John. National Branding: Coverage and Perceptions of Qatar in Major World Newspapers. Working Paper. Tennessee: East Tennessee State University, 2007. Print. Kinninmont, Jane. â€Å"From football to military might, how Qatar wields global power.† The Guardian February 3. 2013: 5. Print. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Qatar Foreign Aid Over QR3 Billion, 2013. Web. mofa.gov.qa/en/SiteServices/MediaCenter/News/Pages/News20131111082549.aspx. Nye, Joseph. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2004. Print. Nye, Joseph. â€Å"Public Diplomacy and Soft Power.† The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 616.1(2008): 94-109. Print. QTA. A New Chapter of Pioneering Association, 2013. Web. psg.fr/en/News/003001/Article/64010/A-new-chapter-of-a-pioneering-association. van Ham, Peter. The Rise of the Brand State: The Postmodern Political Image and Reputation. Foreign Affairs 80.2(2001): 2-17. Print. Worth, Robert. â€Å"Qatar, Playing All Sides, Is a Nonstop Mediator.† The New York Times July 9. 2008: 7. Print.

Modern System Of Policing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Modern System Of Policing - Essay Example Scholars looked as if they were busy discussing the politics of police reform. Researching of the causes of modern policing was considered in a superficial manner, more often presumed than proved. Cities switched unavoidably to modern policing as a result of increasing degree s of crime and disorder in a period of phenomenal growth as well as intense social change (Schneider 1980 p 54). During the above mentioned period London was plagued via crime as well as the safety of a lot of citizens was doubtful. Pick pocketing, gambling and robbery were ordinary amongst the crimes that took place. An essential factor in Sir Robert Peel's plan was the division of policing as well as the judiciary. Peel believed that police should be accountable for one side of the law, it was called the examination phase (Hurd 2007). Even till today, this idea remains almost unchanged. Until 1829, law enforcement had been dramatically lacking in organization. As London expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries, maintaining law and order had become a priority and also a matter of public concern. The policing system was seen as ineffective and failing dismally to restore and maintain peace and order. Previous systems were i... Overall it was counterproductive and inefficient. Victims of crime became reluctant to prosecute, as did the jury with regards to conviction. In spite of its early plausibility, the concept that the police were formed in the reaction to a crime wave is dull and wrong. Moreover, it is not a very valid o explanation. It presumes that "when crime increases to a particular level it is only a 'natural' social response to make a modern police force. This obliviously is not a clarification but a statement of a natural law apart from this it yields very little proof. We cannot leave out the possibility that the revolts of slave, rebellion, and other such examples of collective violence resulted in the creation of modern police, however we must keep in mind that neither crime nor disorder were not uncommon in the cities of the nineteenth-century, and thus cannot in any way be responsible for a change similar to the development of such a institution. Violent mobs were in power of a lot of parts of London throughout the summer of 1780; however the modern Police did not emerge till 1829. Getting drunk in Public was a severe problem in the early 1775, however a modern police force did not emerge till 1838.3 therefore the crime-and-disorder theory is unsuccessful in providing reasons as to why earlier waves of crime didn't create modern police.Bowling (1999) researched the decrease in the rate of homicide in New York and believes that belligerent policing is only one factor which contributes to the decline of homicide. He states that the most persuasiv e argument for the increase and decrease of murder in New York is the increase and decrease of the crack cocaine sale which, as he believes to be reciprocal. Another reason

How to Criticize Up and Down Your Organization and Make It Pay Off Essay

How to Criticize Up and Down Your Organization and Make It Pay Off - Essay Example That said, Weisinger points out that criticism is necessary for growth. For instance, Weisinger (1989) states that the Romantic period in philosophy, politics and the arts came about because the individuals involved with the Romantic period criticized the neoclassical period, and because criticism of the neoclassical followers had their criticism suppressed. Weisinger (1989) further point out that Louis the XIV suppressed criticism, and the response to this was the American and French revolutions. In other words, when criticism is stifled a cataclysm might develop which changes the status quo. Moreover, Weisinger states that criticism from the likes of Galileo, Darwin and Freud changes societies in general. Criticism is necessary for growth, and criticism cannot be suppressed without consequences. Therefore, according to Weisinger (1989), criticism, being necessary for growth and change, and being necessary to influence, motivate and change behavior, must be expressed in a positive w ay so that the criticism can be accepted and useful, as opposed to simply negative and demoralizing. Weisinger further states that there are barriers to individuals accepting criticism and applying the criticism to their lives to makes themselves, and the organization, better. There are psychological hurdles which must be overcome. Weisinger talks in terms of cognitive appraisal, which means that individuals have a mental framework with which they receive information like criticism, and this framework dictates how the criticism will be processed. The framework is built through classical conditioning – criticism in the past has produced a negative response, so present criticism, even if tactfully presented, will also present the negative response. Moreover, since criticism is often portrayed in the media as negative – such as headlines which link criticism to failure – the mind links the two concepts together. Criticism equals failure. Modeling is another psychol ogical force at work, and this means that how one’s family criticized one another is what is known to the individual. If one’s parents responds to criticism by yelling, making retaliatory comments, or leaving the room, the individual is likely to do the same. The modeling focuses upon how one criticizes, as well as how one reacts to criticism. Operant learning is also a force at work, and this is when an individual does X, he gets the result of Y. A worker responds to criticism with anger, so the supervisor backs off. This reinforces the angry response, so that the worker continues to use this response when criticized. Since criticism is obviously necessary, because there can be no growth and change without it, and individuals are hard-wired either to not accept criticism gracefully or to give criticism in a counter-productive manner, what can be done? This question is the focus of Heidringer’s book and and analysis. The bulk of the analysis is that criticism mu st be redefined in a manner that it is not seen as tearing somebody down, but, rather, giving them information which they can use to improve. This is an important message to myself and my future career growth, not just because it is inevitable that I will be criticized, so I need to know how to handle this criticism and apply it so that it is not negative but positive, but also because it will help me learn how to criticize so that any team that I

Independence in the tasks of daily living Essay Example for Free

Independence in the tasks of daily living Essay Outcome1-understand principles for supporting independence in the tasks of daily living-Individuals can benefit from being as indepenent as possible in the tasks of daily living as it depicts that people having the same level of choice, control and freedom in their daily lives as any other person. Each of the three main political parties expressed their approval of the Independent Living Strategy published in 2008, which sets out actions aimed at improving the choice and control disabled people have over the services they need to live their daily lives. The aims of the strategy are that: * disabled people (including older disabled people) who need support to go about their daily lives will have greater choice and control over how support is provided; and *disabled people (including older disabled people) will have greater access to housing, education, employment, leisure and transport opportunities and to participation in family and community life. In June 2010, the Government stated that it was looking at further ways of taking the Independent Living Strategy forward. Active participation promotes independence in the tasks of daily living as this gives the client the confidence and independence needed to complete tasks by themselves without the support of others. Daily living tasks may affect those depending on their culture or background, as what someone may have been brought up believing, may not necessarily be accepted as the general view of society within Great Britain in these current times. I would identify suitable opportunities for an individual to learn or practice skills for daily living by providing a wide range of activities. I would observe/monitor their skills to identify what they can/cant do, and also listen to them and ask any questions about what they would like to do. It is important to clarify the role and responsibilities for providing support in order to ensure that all codes of conduct, professional boundaries and legalities are upheld. Outcome 2-be able to establish what support is required for daily living tasks- Establish what support is required for daily living tasks In order to access information regarding an individuals support plan I would request this from my line manager using all organisational policies and procedures and adhering to all Acts of Parliament. In order to clarify with the individual and others the requirements for supporting an individuals independence in daily living tasks I would ask the individual concerned what they would, and how they would like to achieve independence, as well as following any care plans and discussing with others any information that the client may have passed onto them with regards to how they would like to achieve this. In order to access any additional guidance in order to resolve any difficulties or concerns about support for daily living tasks I would contact my line manager via telephone or in person, whilst accessing any care plans and referring the situation to my line manager if there had been any disputes between myself and the client. Outcome 3 – be able to provide support for planning and preparing meals- In order to support the client to plan meals that contribute to a healthy diet that reflect the individuals culture and preferences I would clarify with the individual any foods they can or cant eat depending on culture and medical conditions and what they prefer to eat, whilst following any current guidelines for healthy eating. I would actively support them in the preparation of the food by encouraging them to prepare it themselves following all health and safety policies and referring the client to any cook books etc. I would encourage the client to store food safely by discussing and referring  them to any food safety policies i.e. basic food hygiene, as well as actively supporting them in the initial storing of the food. Outcome 4- Be able to provide support for buying and using household and personal items- Different ways of buying household and personal items include using the internet and shopping in person. In order to identify household and personal items that are needed for the client I would discuss with, and if necessary supervise the client whilst they decided and tooks notes, depending on what they currently had in the house and therefore did or didnt need. In order to support clients to buy items in the way they preferred I would discuss with and accompany the client whilst either shopping on the internet or in person etc. In order to support the client to store and use items safely I would discuss with and refer them to any health and safety instructions that may come with or be noted on the products. Outcome 5- To be able to provide support for keeping the home clean and secure- I would support the individual to keep their home clean in a way that supports active participation and safety by observing and discussing with them any issues that they may have, then referring them to any policies issued to the general public or organisations, and actively supporting them whilst they implemented these policies. I would supervise and describe different security risks to the client, whilst encouraging them to take notes as to what these are and describing to them ways to implement any concerns that either myself or the client had, I would also advise my line manager as to what these risks are so that any actions could be securely documented. Some of these risks could include leaving doors and windows open or unlocked, or by allowing people into their home without asking for I.D etc. I would support the individual to use agreed security measures by referring  them to any leaflets or policies that had been issued either externally or internally by an agreed and secure source, and promoting active participation in the implementation of these security measures. Outcome 6- Be able to identify and respond to changes needed in support for daily living tasks- In order to record any changes in the individuals circumstances that might affect the type or level of support that is required I would discuss these with the client and my line manager whilst recording these in the individuals care plan. I would adapt support in agreed ways of working to address concerns, changes or increased independence by discussing with the client and my manager what these may be. I would also takes notes and implement any changes in the individuals care plan.

Essay on the Role of the Gods in Homers Iliad :: Iliad essays

The Role of the Gods in Homer's Iliad        Ã‚   If one holds the contemporary view of the Christian God then it may be difficult to comprehend the actions and motivation of the Greek deities. The Christian God does not tend to take such an active role in the affairs of people's lives, where, on the other hand, "the Greeks regarded direct involvement by the gods as a daily, uncontrollable part of life"(Guthrie 17). Needless to say, divine intervention was a major variable in the equation of Homer's Iliad. The gods picked who they would favor for different reasons, except Zeus.   As the symbol of supreme authority and justice, he makes judgment calls as to the other gods' involvement in the war, remains impartial, and doesn't seem to get caught up in picking favorites. Even when his own son, Sarpedon, was about to die, Zeus chose to let the outcome go unaltered. On the other hand, Zeus's wife, Hera, displayed the more typical actions of a god. After Paris, a Trojan, judged Aphrodite the fairest over Hera, and, after her daughter Hebe was replaced as cupbearer to the gods by a young Trojan boy, she was quite resentful towards Troy and its people. Obviously, she sided with the Greeks and would stop at nothing to express her will. Scheming and manipulating, she even dared to trick her husband, King of the Gods. Hera, along with Athena, who was also passed over by Paris, is seen as the chief divine aid to the Greeks. Being the god of the sea, Poseidon was another strong supporter of the ocean-faring Greeks. Whenever Zeus turned his back, Poseidon tried to help the Greeks in the fight. Poseidon felt that he was somewhat Zeus's equal, as his brother, but recognizing Zeus's authority and experience, he looked to Zeus as an elder. There were also Gods who favored the Trojan side of the conflict. Both Apollo and Artemis, twin brother and sister, gave aid to the city of Troy. Although Artemis takes a rather minor role, Apollo, perhaps angered by Agamemmnon's refusal to ransom Khryseis, the daughter of one of his priests, and was constantly changing the course of the war in favor of the Trojans. Responsible for sending plague to the Greeks, Apollo was the first god to make an appearance in the Iliad. Also, mainly because Apollo and Artemis were on the Trojan side, their mother, Leto, also helped the Trojans.

The Nature of Contagious Yawning

Report title: Contagious yawning Introduction Yawning in general Yawning is a common act in all humans from birth and is one of the best examples of a fixed action pattern; once a yawn begins it becomes unstoppable. It also occurs in the same way each time. Several theories have been proposed to explain its existence in everyday life. There has been no definitive way of explaining why yawning occurs. Communication, physiology and arousal will be discussed. Firstly, communication is proposed as a primary reason for yawning, by Guggisberg, Mathis, Herrmann & Hess (2007). They attribute yawning to vigilance and suggest that unconscious communication occurs to synchronise a group and show vigilance. Baenninger (1987) also suggest that yawning helps to maintain attention levels and it may have evolved to promote vigilance and further suggest that it could communicate drowsiness or illness to a group. Another theory suggests a physiological link, whereby the yawn maintains mental efficiency by regulating the brain temperature through a cooling mechanism (Palagi, Leone, Mancici & Ferarri, 2009). However, a study by Gallup & Gallup jr. (2008) has shown inconclusive results for this theory. Another theory suggests that yawning is due to arousal. Matikainen and Elo (2007) report that yawning increases arousal and helps the individual to waken up. They suggest that it is due to connections between the mouth and the neck which when stretched stimulates the carotid body responsible for oxygen homeostasis. However, research by Guiggisberg et al (2007) found opposing research and their results showed that arousal levels decreased after yawns. It is clear that further research needs to be conducted to find the causes of yawns, and it has been shown that there is possibly more than one answer for this problem. However conclusive evidence for any theory is yet to be found. Contagious yawning Seeing, hearing or even thinking about another person yawning can trigger a yawn, contagious yawns occur in 40-60% of human adults but its primary reason and function is still unknown. Some advancement nevertheless, has been made to explain its cause. The advance in research into contagious yawning has come from the discovery of mirror neurons (Arnott, Singhal & Goodale, 2009). These are cells which are located in the posterior inferior frontal gyrus (pIGF) and are active when an individual sees another perform and action. They activate in the same was as they do when an individual performs the task themselves. It is proposed that mirror neurons enable individuals to understand others experiences and emotional states. This research therefore suggests that seeing or hearing a yawn activates this area of the brain and so initiates a yawning action. It has also been proposed that as mirror neurons help to understand emotional states, it is closely linked with empathy. This means that contagious yawning could be linked to empathy too. Contagious yawning and empathy This study has been conducted to assess the relationship between contagious yawning and empathy. Previous research highlights a strong relationship. Arnott et al (2009) investigated empathy and auditory contagious yawning and their results show a positive correlation between the two with more yawns elicited by those who scored higher on the empathy scale given. The relationship was modest but still significant below . 05. Also Periol & Monaca (2006) point out that contagious yawning doesn’t occur in species that cant recognise themselves in the mirror, nor can infants under two, suggesting that sense of self is required which is a key element to understanding others. Other research has shown that those with autistic spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia are unable to yawn contagiously as much as controls and that this is due to lack of empathy (Haker & Rossler, 2008). The premise of this study is to add to current research by expanding on Arnott et al’s research, by using visual stimuli. This study will test further the relationship between empathy and contagious yawning as this seems to be the area with most evidence. If the pilot data suggests a trend consistent with the current data then it will suggest further research and a full study should be conducted, however if the results gained show little evidence for a relationship then it will be suggested that other areas of contagious yawning should be looked into in more depth to find its possible cause. Hypotheses 1a) Contagious yawning is elicited from visual stimuli a) Higher amounts of contagious yawning will be present in those with higher levels of empathy. Null hypotheses 1b) Visual stimuli does not elicit contagious yawning 2b) There is no difference in amount of contagious yawning and level of empathy. Method 30 Stirling University students took part. This experiment was a between participants design. Independent variable is number of yawns produced in each condition. Dependant variable is empathy score The experiment consisted of two parts. To begin, each participant was required to complete the interpersonal reactivity index questionnaire to determine empathy levels. From this the participants were classified as empathetic or non empathetic and form the two experimental groups (mean was calculated and sample split above and below the mean). After the empathy questionnaire was completed, the experimental phase began which contained two conditions, firstly a yawning condition (test phase) whereby participants were shown a slide show of 15 yawning faces each slide lasting 10seconds. Within the time period the participant was required to focus on each face and rate how many times the face made them feel like yawning or actually yawn. Secondly, participants were given a neutral condition whereby a similar slide show was given but with 15 neutral expressions. This was given as a control for the test phase so that condition effects could be tested for. If a similar frequency of yawn was observed in both phases then the yawns wouldn’t be classed as contagious, and attributed to boredom rather than condition. The two phases were reversed for half the participants for counterbalancing and also to aid understanding of when contagious yawning had occurred- neutral phase was not always last which may have indicated boredom, so results are more reliable. The analysis was in two parts firstly, the frequency of yawning was compared in each condition to determine if visual stimuli induced contagious yawning in the test phase compared to the neutral. Secondly, the analyses compared empathetic participants with non empathetic participants to test if empathy was related to contagious yawning. Examples of stimuli: Neutral phase Yawning phase [pic] [pic] All images contained a full face and expressions were face on to the participant in attempt to maintain validity for each phase. Results | Hypothesis 1 Contagious yawning is elicited from visual stimuli Tests of normality showed that there was significance for yawning and so parametric tests were conducted. Graph 1 shows that there was a higher amount of yawns produced in the yawning condition than the neutral condition and the Wilcoxon test shows there was significantly different result. Z= -2. 722, p. 006 Graph 1 Total amount of yawing produced in each condition [pic] The significant difference found between yawning in the yawn condition and the neutral condition shows that contagious yawning occurred to visual stimuli, and the null hypothesis can be rejected. Therefore further analyses can be conducted into empathy and contagious yawning. Hypothesis 2 Higher amounts of contagious yawning will be present in those with higher levels of empathy. Graph 2 shows the relationship between the amount of yawns produced and empathy scores. Those with high empathy scores (62+) yawned more in the yawning condition compared to those with low empathy scores. However, the graph also shows similar amounts of yawning between empathy groups in the neutral condition. Graph 2 Total amount of yawning produced in each condition, split by empathy score. [pic] Due to small sample size and the data having an abnormal distribution a spearman’s rho test for correlation was conducted. It showed no significant relationship between empathy score and number of yawns produced in each condition, p= . 27 with a correlation of . 259, in neutral condition and p=. 686, with a correlation of . 96 in the yawn condition. Therefore the null hypothesis has to be accepted. Discussion Previous research has suggested that contagious yawning is due to empathy and a higher level of empathy suggests the individual is more likely to contagiously yawn. This study aimed to determine if this was found with visual stimuli in the form of consecutive images of individuals yawning on a screen. The study tested to see if contagious yawning could be induced by images and compared the results to number of yawns produced by images of neural expressions in the same format. The study also aimed to contribute to the existing knowledge on the relationship between empathy and contagious yawning. Due to the small sample size and the test for normality showing that there wasn’t a normal distribution of the data, the statistics performed were limited, and are not generalisable to the overall population. The results show that there was a significant difference between the two conditions and more yawns were produced in the yawning condition compared to the neutral. The study was conducted in a way that yawns produced by boredom could be controlled for. If it was the case that yawns were produced due to boredom then a similar frequency would be observed in both conditions especially as the conditions were counterbalanced. The results were highly significant (p=. 006) showing that yawns can be attributed to contagious yawning and not boredom, therefore the null hypothesis could be rejected and the hypothesis that yawning stimuli induces contagious yawning can be accepted. This contributes to the body of research on contagious yawning especially as Arnott et al (2009) has already shown contagious yawning can be elicited to auditory stimuli. This study, compared empathy scores with frequency of yawns in each condition to determine a relationship between the two as proposed by Haker & Rossler (2008), as well as in the study by Arnott et al. This study used the interpersonal reactivity index questionnaire to determine levels of empathy and the mean score was calculated in order to form two experimental groups of high and low empathy. This was only to test for a trend and is understood that due to the abnormal distribution of scores in the data, any results cannot be generalised, as the two experimental groups for empathy are not normally distributed. The results shown in graph 2, clearly show no difference between frequency of yawns and level of empathy especially in the neutral condition where the frequency of yawns for each empathy group are virtually the same. A slight difference is seen in the yawning condition and at a glance looks to suggest that higher empathy scores result in more yawns produced however with a closer look at the frequencies, it is clear that there is only a difference of one or two yawns and the statistical analysis shows no significant difference between empathy and yawns in both conditions. However it should be noted that the correlation conducted cannot be relied on too heavily due to the small sample size and so it can still be concluded that the graph shows a possible trend that for high empathy individuals, contagious yawning is more common. Especially as the graph shows a difference in similarity of empathy group based on condition (neutral shows no difference at all whereas yawn condition shows slight difference) Even though significance is not met and for this study the null hypothesis has to be accepted, the nature of the data and tests performed show that the results are not conclusive and trends can still be relied upon. There are however many limitations to this study. Clearly, with the study being a pilot for future research, the sample size was low and so generalisable results could not be hoped for however methodological improvements could be made to make trends found more reliable. Firstly, only one measure of empathy was used and so empathy scores were only based on specific answers to questions. Arnott et al used several in their study giving a better indication of empathy however due to the small scale of the study and limitations on resources meant only one could be found. The power point slides contained many faces and it was difficult to find yawning faces which looked like yawns and not open mouthed expressions, conveying a yawn through an image was much more complex than anticipated. Another point to consider was the nature of how the study was portrayed, the emphasis on yawning was placed from the beginning and so as one participant remarked he knew it was about yawning so he was thinking about it a lot in the first condition so even thought he was looking at neutral faces, he yawned as he was thinking about it. This shows how contagious yawning can be and how our results can be skewed. For further research, better conditions must be met and participants told of the premise of the study after two conditions had been undertaken. The self report table given to the participants during the study whereby they noted how many times they yawned or felt like yawning may need to include other contagious acts like laughing, to avoid yawns being induced by thinking. This would mean that further studies into contagious yawning would require more expressions to test the participant and so they don’t constantly think about how much they are yawning. Either that or possibly use a camera to record yawns so the participants focus is consistently on the stimuli. Conclusion The results show that visual stimuli can induce contagious yawning and so can aid further research when creating a method of testing yawning. The results obtained from empathy and contagious yawning although in significant, still suggest a trend and so could be further studied if more participant were used and a better methodology was introduced. The pilot study has shown the possibility of a link between contagious yawning and empathy and so needs to be further investigated. Bibliography Arnott, S. R. , Singhal, A. , Goodale, M. A. (2009), An investigation of auditory contagious yawning, Cognitive, Affective & Behavioural Neuroscience 9 (3) 335-342 Baenninger, R. (1987). Some comparative aspects of yawning in Betta splendens, Homo sapiens, Panthera leo, and Papio sphinx. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 101, 349-354. Gallup, A. C. , Gallup, G. G, Jr (2008) Yawning and thermoregulation. Physiology and Behaviour 95 10-16. Guggisberg, A. G. ,Mathis, J. , Herrmann, U. S. , Hess, C. W (2007). The functional relationship between yawning and vigilance. Behavioural brain research  179 (1) 159-66. Haker, H. & Rossler, W. (2009) Empathy in schizophrenia: impaired resonance. European Archive of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 259, 352-361. Palagi, E. , Leone, A. , Mancini, G. , Ferrari, P. F. , (2009). Contagious yawning in gelada baboons as a possible expression of empathy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106 (46) 19262-7. Perriol, M. P. & Monaca, C. (2006) One person yawning sets off everyone else. Journal of Neurological Neurosurgical Psychiatry. 77) 3 3 Matikainen, J. , Elo, H (2008). Does yawning increase arousal through mechanical stimulation of the carotid body? Medical Hypotheses 70 488–492 | | |[pic] | | | | | Top of Form ———————– Condition Mean number of yawns Mean number of yawns

A Silent Death Elie Wiesels Night - 614 Words

â€Å"A silent death, suffocation. No way to scream, to call for help† ( Wiesel 94). Elie Wiesel and many other Jews were put in freight cars and and thought that their lives were over. The jews couldn’t have anyone help them, even when they were calling out for help. Elie wrote a novel called Night, he wrote from his own experience that he had when he was a child. He thought that once he got out of the freight car that it would be the end of the road. At the concentration camps jews could not talk, they had to do everything that Hitler’s men said. While the Holocaust was going on Jews were changing their emotions and how they were acting and working in the camps. When Jews were in the concentration camps they worked non-stop, the Nazis pushed them to keep working hard. The Jews were beaten badly and they got very little food to eat or clothes to wear. If Jews did not do what they were told or talk when not suppose to the Nazis would find a way to punish them. 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