Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreaus Religions Essay -- Frankli

Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau's Religions Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau are by no means religious in any traditional sense of the word. If, however, â€Å"religious† is taken to mean the â€Å"belief in any sort of supreme being...that obliges ethical or moral conduct†, then both Franklin and Thoreau fall into this category. Though the two are strikingly opposite in their manner and social interaction, they are both held to a religious and personal standard. Their individual spiritual beliefs, ethical codes, and their â€Å"quality of life†show that all of their actions and thoughts are held by themselves to a higher standard. Both men have specific beliefs about the existence of God and man’s place in the world. Franklin is a self-proscribed â€Å"deist†, one who believes in God but not church, because of its nature. His attitude was that man runs the church, it’s the beliefs that are important, the praising and honoring of God on a daily basis, not the institution. Throughout the Autobiography, he mentions his prayers and the fact that he enjoyed going to non-formal sermons. He also supported the church monetarily for the benefit of others. Thoreau did none of these things, but he was still a highly spiritual individual. He did not proscribe to any particular religion but did hold the belief in one supreme being who created the universe. He believed that one should have a true experience with the world according to how it was made and that man was endowed with common sense by the creator. He says that humans â€Å"no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven†( Thoreau 25). This is why he believed societ... ...reets of Philadelphia. This is consistent with his religious views. Thoreau on the other hand was anti- machine, almost anti-society. He said that there are â€Å"a thousand [people] hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root† (Thoreau 51). He believed society would be better off not through inventions but if every individual took it upon themselves to find their own true path. Though differing, these two views express the same idea: leading humanity towards what is right. Regardless of their differences, Franklin and Thoreau are focused on a spiritual, humanist, non-shallow viewing of the world. Both don’t just do things because it is the thing to do or out of fear, but because of their beliefs. They feel obliged to a higher conduct because of their religious views of the world, whether â€Å"religious† or not.

Graduation Speech: In Memory of Those Who Did Not Make It :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Good evening and welcome parents, family, community members, friends, the School Board, faculty, and seniors to the County High School Class of 2012 commencement ceremony. It is a great honor to be able to welcome you here today. Class of 2012, you have worked hard for 12 years; tonight we celebrate your achievements - this night is yours. Congratulations! I have heard that some faculty members have coined the term "survivors" with reference to our graduating class. Indeed, we are survivors and I cannot think of a better term to describe us. Throughout the past year, our class has been subjected to several devastating tragedies. The deaths of three of our family members at County High: Joy M., Serik P., and George F. These three members of our family at County High School were each amazing and loving individuals. Their spirit of love lives on and was clearly exhibited by the manner in which the students and faculty pulled together to comfort each other and mourn their deaths. Their families will remain in our thoughts and prayers. As you graduate tonight, I would ask you to remember their love and strive to make it an integral part of your lives. The great Mahatma Gandhi called the love that I believe these three held in their hearts "all embracing ... [a love that] transforms all it touches ... [with] no limit to its power." And, most definitely, their love transformed people's lives. They certainly have inspired me. A wise man simply known to us as Paul wrote of this love as the "most excellent way." Paul wrote, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Ethical Theories Essay

Ethical egoism or egotism (also known as egoism) is the normative ethical arrangement that ethical agents have to do what is in their personal self-interest. It is different from psychological egoism, which declares that persons simply perform in their self-interest. Psychological egoism or egotism is the outlook that individuals are always aggravated by self-interest; even in what appears to be actions of altruism. It states that, when individuals decide to assist others, they do so eventually because of the private benefits that they themselves anticipate to get hold of, directly or indirectly, from acting so. It is indeed a non-normative vision, as it only makes arguments about how things are and not how they should be; it is conversely, linked to numerous other normative shapes of egoism, for instance ethical egoism and rational egoism. (Lundy, 2009). A quarrel for psychological egoism advises is that individuals just do what makes them sense fine, thus making all actions self-centered, for instance, you may help a turtle across a road because if you did not you would be upset about its well-being crossing the road. So in turn to sense good physically, you assist the turtle. The issue with this is it sounds like it is defining a generous person, one that gains contentment from serving others, a selfish person most probable would not have been dreadfully worried for the turtle in the first instance. Furthermore, if we glance to the deeper stimulus of the turtle helper’s actions, as the psychological egoists are likely to do and inquire why the individual derives pleasure from serving others in general and the turtle particularly, you will most probable run into the wrapping up that the individual cares about what comes about to others. This line of quarrel is actually a perplexity of the object of aspiration and auxiliary results of the consummation of that need; if once you get wedded you are enormously satisfied, that does not inevitably suggest that you got wedded with the wish for that pleasure in mind, rather the contentment is a purpose of your desire for wedding and would not be otherwise. Ethical egoism is the normative assumption that the encouragement of one’s own good is in accordance with morals, in the strong side, it is held that it is for all time moral to encourage one’s own good and it is by no means moral not to encourage it. In the weak side, it is supposed that even though it is for all time moral to promote one’s own good, it is not inevitably never moral to not. Explicitly, there might be conditions in which the evasion of private interest may be a moral deed. Ethical egoism states that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people do only act in their self-interest. The principle of psychological egoism is non-ethical, supported by the idea that the reason that drives us is the hunt of our own wellbeing, to the barring of anybody else’s, it is just how we are, entirely self centered. Freud (1923) defined ego as â€Å"the mind-ful rationalizing segment of the mind. †, so each action reasoned out has deeds to serve the self. On the contrary, ethical egoists suppose that the moral significance lies in glancing out for yourself and when provoked this way, each action, even serving others, takes you further down the road to attaining your own finest interests. The difference would appear to lie in the entire selfishness of psychological egoism as opposite to the helping of other’s wellbeing while focusing on one’s own, this appears equally beneficial and enhanced for society. It is uncertain whether each theory can be held as a factual ethical philosophy, if the classification of self-centeredness is applied, meaning that we always repudiate to judge others in favor of our own satisfaction, aggravated by our needs only, then facts of misleading notion has shown this to be incorrect. Self-interest portrays an individual who is engrossed in what he perceives to be what serves up his interests best, if applied to ethical egoism, there is proof to knock over this as well, it would require to be a general concept to have the power to stand as a moral assumption and it is not. The proof of altruistic instincts and integrity of concern for others is more general and stronger than either of these two above mentioned theories. It is more probable that we all own elements of self-interest and self-conservation, but are intrinsically willing to help and get by with others in society; nevertheless, it is in our best concerns to do so. (The internet encyclopedia of philosophy, n. d. ). Frequently attacks of self-interest are leveled alongside anyone performing in their own advantage as if no one should be concerned for themselves; I suggest that there is a distinction between self-centeredness and self-interest, self-centeredness is performing in your benefit with no regard and sometimes hurting other individuals. On the contrary, self-interest assists society flourish, self-interest is performing in your benefit but with reflection of others needs. Self-interest for a person, corporation or state is crucial for endurance. Reference Lundy, A. (2009). Psychological and Ethical Egoism. June 30th, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. socyberty. com/Philosophy/Psychological-and-Ethical-Egoism. 508525 The internet encyclopedia of philosophy. (n. d. ). Egoism. June 30th, 2009. Retrieved from: http://www. iep. utm. edu/e/egoism. htm Vita, L. E. (2007). On Selfishness and Self-Interest. June 30th, 2009. Retrieved from: http://ethanleevita. blogspot. com/2007/12/on-selfishness-and-self-interest. html

Scarlet Letter Pearl

Scarlet Letter- pearl Through out the story Pearl was said to be a curse of Hester's adultery but personally I believe she was somewhat of a blessing and a curse. For a child Pearl had amazing intelligence and was able to imagine a multitude of different personas but being as intelligent as she is, is not always a good thing for she knew that she was an outcast and even the imaginary personas she created were not her friends but enemies.The ways in which Pearl was a blessing were for fact that other than Mr. Dimmesdale she was her mother's only companion throughout all the years and the other than Mr. Dimmesdale she could be there all the time not just when they can meet in the forest. Pearl was thought by Hester to be her redemption even if it was too late for herself she wanted the best life for pearl so she would try to do everything for her to Hester, Pearl was the greatest blessing she could have asked for and maybe even more so. he was also a blessing because when Hester and Di mmesdale meet up in the woods she would not acknowledge Hester without the letter on her chest and would not accept a kiss from Dimmesdale because she did not want them hiding in secret any longer and wanted them to come fourth and for them to be a family by asking if they were all going to walk back into town together holding hands. Although Pearl was a blessing she was sort of a curse in more ways than one. She was always hard for Hester to manage throughout the years because she was a very difficult child to manage being her mother's daughter she was strong willed and very hard headed.Also she was look upon as a curse for even after the letter is removed Pearl will be looked upon as the one remaining emblem to remind every one of the sin of how she was created. she is also looked as a curse for her outbreaks of anger when children would lash out with their tongues she would burst into an outrage scaring off her cruel taunters then she would return to normal and be just as happy a s can be. Pearl was believed to be a curse by most because she was the product of sin and often showed signs of which she was of evil origin.Pearl was not purely evil or a curse because what she wanted was pure even if sometimes she went about it wrong, all she really wanted was for Dimmesdale to admit that he is her father and for them to be a happy family. Pearl is drawn to the scarlet letter on Hester's chest because she believes it is not a sign of sin or crime but one to show that it was her love and not to be ashamed of it that Pearl was not a product of sin but a product of love and affection and wear it proudly till she can show all of them that she and Dimmesdale love each other.Pearl was a blessed curse one in which was made on a sin of act but turned to help both Dimmesdale and Hester realize what it was that they wanted. if you look at one of my favorite quotes â€Å"I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do   with the gift of l ife that determines who you are. â€Å"-Mew-two from Pokemon: the first movie it relates highly to Pearl because does it really matter how she came in to this world she did something no other could do by bringing out both the truth of who the father was and helped them realize they all wanted to be together as a family, that is why Pearl was a blessed curse.

Impacts of Keystone XL Pipeline on Environment

Impacts of Keystone XL Pipeline on EnvironmentIntroductionThe proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline Project ( KXL ) would slit through the heartland of the United States, from the U.S. Canadian outskirt shut to Morgan, Montana, to Steele City, Nebraska. KXL would consist of approximately 876 stat mis of new, 36 inch distance across grapevine, aboard twenty new pump Stationss. To power these pump Stationss, KXL would bespeak about 2,400 kVs and approximately 378 stat mis of new power lines. In enlargement, a 110 wide development right-of-way is required along the proposed grapevine way. A few fragments will compel â€Å" interim workspace scopes † for exceeding development schemes, for illustration, wetland intersections and even directional drilling wholly, an expected 1,206 subdivisions of land of land perturbation. Further, KXL would necessitate 1,226 subdivisions of land for channel stockpiling finishs, railway turnouts, and builder paces, and more than 500 subdivisions of land for development bivouacing countries. ( SPOT, 2015 ) One of the universe ‘s wealthiest woodlands extends crosswise over northern Alberta, doing the Canadian district place to a unbounded exhibit of relocating winged animate beings, assorted wild life, and the First Nations persons who one time flourished with the venue ‘s common copiousness. In any instance in late decennaries, mining organisations have torn up the country and dirtied its Waterss in a journey to concentrate pitch littorals, which yield an overpowering unprocessed crude oil caught in a mixture of sand and Earth. The fuel is grimy ; the extraction and refinement process is significantly dirtier. It ‘s so vitality escalated, truth be told, that tar littorals oil is barely conservative to convey to market. That is the ground the concern is so pressing to build Keystone XL. The proposed $ 7 billion pitch littorals oil grapevine would run 2,000 stat mis over the American heartland, traversing the state ‘s biggest fresh water aquifer to accomplish the Texas Gulf Coast. There, refineries would manage an awaited 830,000 barrels of grimy unsmooth every twenty-four hours, a big part of them headed for abroad markets, with immaterial consequence on U.S. verve liberty or gas costs. BARACK OBAMA used his veto power for merely three measures in his clip in the Oval Office: non precisely any president in late history. His veto of a measure O.K.ing the Keystone Pipeline yesterday proposes that figure will be lifting rapidly. With Republicans now in control of both houses, Mr Obama will be confronted with significantly more picks like this. The legislative issues is basic: the Republicans need to pin down the president into disregarding nevertheless many celebrated ideas ( or if nil else thoughts that Republicans like ) as could be allowed.Economic ViabilityAngels tout the project as a national employments Godhead. The truth is, Keystone XL would probably butcher a larger figure of businesss than it would include. Agring the State Department, it would do 1,950 development businesss for a long clip. Once finish? Thirty-five new immutable American businesss, as indicated by grapevine maker TransCanada. At the same clip wo n't polish tar littorals oil aid fuel the Unit ed States and decrease gas costs? Reconsider. Tar sands diggers need Keystone XL in visible radiation of the fact that it will assist them transport oil abroad to a planetary concern, where their point will convey more hard currency and include one million millions of dollars in annual benefits. That is a losing agreement for everybody – aside from Large Oil. ( Council, 2015 )Impacts on EnvironmentIn the Biological Assessment, the Department recognizes that KXL ‘s effects on recorded species incorporate expanded human coaction ; environment discontinuity, alteration, and bad luck ; decreased reproducing accomplishment because of disturbance and quiver ; and the devising of obstructors to motion. The most prompt effects would come about because of land exasperation connected with development exercisings. Constructing these 875 stat mis of new grapevine would compel a 110 wide development right-of manner through critical natural life home ground. Further, vehicular action along the grapevine class would increase. In sum, KXL will trouble oneself about 16,300 subdivisions of land. ( Council, 2015 ) Surveies demonstrate that pitch littorals grapevines are more powerless against interruptions than those conveying conventional rough in position of the oil ‘s destructive nature and the chemicals of import to do it gone through the funnels. Regardless of the concern ‘ great well-being instances, we to boot know from late spills and resulting authorities scrutinies that its interruption find models are non really impressive and its spill ordinance and clean-up modus operandis missing. ( D.K. , 2015 ) A grapevine spill would sabotage the country and H2O supply of precisely 110,000 farms and spreads in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska that created more than $ 40 billion value of nutriment in 2012. In those three provinces entirely, the grapevine would traverse 1,073 watercourses, lakes, and watercourses, integrating the Yellowstone River in Montana and the Platte River in Nebraska, alongside a immense figure of subdivisions of land of wetlands. It would likewise run inside a stat mi of more than 3,000 Wellss that give imbibing and lacrimation system H2O in those provinces. ( SPOT, 2014 ) Due to its salty creative activity, excavation and refinement pitch sands oil petitions a mammoth step of verve – significantly more than ordinary rough. Cornerstone XL would increase tar sands creative activity, compeling much more verve and doing more outstanding C taint: the similitude Americans driving an impossible 60 billion extra stat mis systematically. NASA research worker James Hansen gauges that the staying pitch littorals shops contain double the step of C taint discharged by the whole world-wide oil industry – in all of world ‘s history. â€Å" In the event that Canada returns and we do n't make anything, † Hansen wrote in a New York Times publication, â€Å" it will be amusement over for the ambiance. † ( SPOT, 2014 ) There are contentions that the grapevine will be a biological calamity to boot exaggerate things. Unquestionably, the extraction of Canadian oil from pitch littorals in Alberta includes echt natural adulteration, and constructing the grapevine will in fact aid to back up this by conveying down the disbursals of transporting such mussy oil. Be that as it may the oil is by and large efficaciously being removed, and rather a spot of it is being taken to market via train. More too bad, trains, non at all similar grapevines, have an disposition sometimes to bust up and split into fires. In 2013, more oil was spilled from rail cars in the United States than in the past four decennaries joined. Without whatever other activity to maintain the abuse of Canadian oil, a grapevine might at any rate better guarantee the extricated oil and the country through which it is transported. ( Publications, 2015 ) At this minute when ambiance activity is more sincere than any other clip in recent memory, piecing this grapevine would be a venture into a past instead than a motion into a clean verve hereafter. Cornerstone XL would talk to a long draw responsibility to the development of hazardous pitch littorals oil when we have to be seting resources into sheltered, renewable wellheads of verve. ( Digest, 2015 ) The whooping Crane is one of America ‘s most noteworthy and jeopardized species ; merely around 214 stayed in the natural state in 2005. The thin, ephemeral winged animal dwells merely in North America and voyages 2,400 stat mis from Texas to focal Canada every twelvemonth. The electrical overseas telegrams for KXL would slit specifically through the whooping Crane ‘s staying 170-mile broad motion passageway, and in Nebraska, about the whole grapevine class will be built inside this passageway. The issue with the project is that it has turned into a political unfavorable judgment. Although it’s non comparable to more built-in issues, for illustration, migration alteration, or making battling the Islamic State, this one is reasonably unsophisticated and the separating lines are clear. Republicans can accordingly use it to carry the president for his collected inability to do employments, without raging anyone or demoing up the clefts in their degage alliance.Plants CitedCouncil, National Resources Defence.Keystone Grapevine. 2015. Article. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/ & gt ; . D.K, The Economist.Keystone xl and president veto. 25 Februaury 2015. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/02/keystone-xl-and-presidents-veto & gt ; . Digest, Congressional. â€Å" Environmental Analysis of the Keystone XL Project Potential for Oil Spills From the. †Congressional Digest( 2015 ) . Publications, ACS.Environmental Science and Technology. 2015. pdf. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //pubs.acs.org/doi/ipdf/10.1021/es303238z & gt ; . SPOT, Burd L. & A ; RESTO. â€Å" The Keystone XL Pipeline: Improper Reliance on Weak. †Journal Of Environmental Law And( 2014 ) . Document.

Deception in Psychological research Essay

Deception in psychological research usually entails tricking people so that the researchers can get the answers they need or ascertain why things happen the way they do. There are many controversial topics in psychology and all of them seek to explain the things in our environment and people’s behavior. One of these controversial topics is hypnosis usage under cognitive psychology. Hypnosis is a good way of assisting in repressed memories. It has assisted many people in therapeutic procedures but its effectiveness is sometimes questionable by others. Hypnosis as a way of facilitating repressed memories Hypnosis is a form of Recovered Memory Therapy that helps a person with memory relapse to recall information that they cannot remember. A person does not necessarily mean that someone is asleep. Therefore it is a state between being awake and asleep. Trances serve as an example of hypnotic functions. Though they serve similar purposes, trances need to be differentiated from hypnosis because they are done deliberately as used in clinical procedures to help people with memory loss or lapses to regain them. The sympathetic nervous system controls arousals while the parasympathetic nervous system relaxation. These two systems do not function at the same time. When people are in the hypnotic state, they give up their consciousness and accept the inner truth (Richard, 1998). A person can undergo a deep trance where a person or the hypnotist facilitates the process or a lighter trance referred to as self hypnosis which individuals can create by themselves. This is where a person creates their own visual memory via meditation, listening to soft music or some other ways while maintaining a certain level of consciousness. Negative hypnosis occurs when people are easily influenced by what others say and the things they are exposed to. If people are told that they are not able to do certain things and they believe in such comments, then there is a likely hood that they will not accomplish they thing they have been discouraged. This is what constitutes the negative hypnotic state. Therefore, hypnosis is about expectations. If a person has positive expectations, then they can achieve any thing that they set for themselves but if they are negative, they are more likely to fail at whatever they decide on. Health care practitioners can therefore enhance the well being of their patients by assisting them in increasing their positive expectations. Hypnosis is important in helping sick with psychogenic amnesia or people who have lost their blocked certain memories as a result of traumatic experiences. It has been seen to work well for such patients. Research has shown some cases like child sexual as well as physical abuse can be forgotten. Likewise, evidence of recovery of the memories has also been shown (APA, 2001). At first, when the memory is being got, it presents itself in bits and pieces therefore more sessions with the person have to be conducted so as to help in recovering the memory. Traumatic memories often present themselves in a different manner than ordinary experiences. This is because this form of extreme information can interfere with other brain functions. Studies have suggested that traumatic memories that have been recalled are just as accurate as the traumatic memories that have been forgotten. Case study To examine whether hypnosis is an effective way of facilitating repressed memories, a study was conducted by Widom and Morris in 1998. The study included 23 adults; 12 females and 11 males who had been exposed to childhood abuse experiences and had repressed memory lapse in over 15 years. This group underwent hypnotic therapy for a period of three months (Widom & Morris, 1998). From the study, it was seen that the there is a difference in the way of recalling events between the women and the men. The women were willing to share the little pieces of information that they could recall but the men were not. This influenced the hypnotic procedures because little memory was collected on most of the males as compared to the women. As the sessions progressed, there were slight improvements in memory and this can be attributed to the intense impact of the traumatic experiences on the victims as was seem from those who managed to get some of their memory back. At the end of the study period, 53% of the women and 42% of the men had recovered their memory and were satisfied that it as true. A quarter of those studied who managed to get their memory back had rejected their results saying that they may be false while the remaining never really got their memory back but said that so far they were pleased with their lives and would not engage in any other tests. From the study, we can say that hypnosis does work and can help people regain the memory they have lost. As the process was underway, most of the patients had a positive change in their personality as they said that they were more engaged in community activities as they were encouraged by the test takers. At the end of the study period, approximately half of the patients had got their memory back and this shows that if the procedures are done well and for a longer period, then people with previous traumatic incidents that need recovery can gain their memory back. About 25% of the individuals said that they usually kept to them selves and this can be a contributing factor as they do not trust the therapists to help them recover the memory. Various studies have also shown that events in a person’s life influence their behavior as well as interpersonal relations with others. From the above case, the unwillingness of some clients to share basic information limited the process. Some of those who refused said that as much as they wanted to get their memories back, said that it would probably affect them in a negative way. If they did, the numbers would have definitely increased. â€Å"There is conflict between the in formation a person wants to know and what they would like to forget all together. Some people may remember too much too little and this may be good or bad depending on the context they are presented (Herman, 1995). † Nowadays, some people feel that there are not enough scientific research studies to back up the credibility of the various research memories. Others continue to say that one cannot completely tell whether the results got are true or of they are based on what the hypnotist has been telling them. Even when the patient who agrees that the memory that they got was false, their condition can be worse when they suffer Post traumatic Stress Disorder. Some fear the use of hypnotic procedures on children because it would affect them psychologically and this is not helping in improving their situation. †This kind of therapy confuses the mind as a person cannot tell the difference between what is real and imaginative and this has further contributed to the destruction of families (Rivera, 1993). † In addition, they can deny certain memories because of guilt, the need to protect their families or may be reacting according to the stress levels they have been exposed to. The False Memory syndrome Association says that they have a lot of cases that are taken to court have shown that that some therapists are liars as they implant false memories on their patients (Thierry & Spence, 2004). With the increase in such cases, some judges refuse getting evidence that has been recovered through hypnotic procedures. â€Å"Such methods of treatment have therefore also not been fully accepted in science as well as psychology (Schacter, 1996). † In 1997, according to the U. S bureau of Justice statistics report on a survey of female inmates in jail, it was found that 36% of them had been abused when they were young and one third of them has been raped they were imprisoned. And further 16 case studies on child abused individuals for comparison was undertaken and it showed that about 15% of them were abused as children. This shows that as much as the experiences can be traumatic, not all of them are forgotten and if, they have been suppressed by the individual but they can be retrieved if proper therapy is used. Individuals can recollect a few things and these bits are necessary in the formation of the bigger picture. The few loopholes in research should not be a foundation for dismissing hypnosis in retrieving repressed memories. People have had serious accidents and this form of therapy has helped some who medication did not help in regaining their memories back. Hypnosis therapy is a powerful mechanism as it enables people to regain memories that they thought they could never regain as well as achieve certain goals they have set for themselves. â€Å"This power and acceptance of hypnosis as a form of therapy is due to the fact that it deals with capabilities which appear to be beyond normal activities (Hopper& van der Kolk, 2001). † Moreover, it gives people power to discover their inner being and stop actions such as smoking, drinking and other forms if addictions. Hypnosis also serves as a motivation for people’s engagement in physical activities and aids in reducing stress. This kind of therapy is helping in treating illnesses and certain disorders (De Vos & Louw, 2008). Hypnosis is also used as a form of therapy in children as a form of helping in changing their behavior and assisting in improving their health. In addition, hypnosis enhances personality enrichment by improving people’s self esteems, self confidence such that they get the courage to speak out in public when initially they could not. â€Å"Weight loss motivation, healthy eating and exercise, better sleep for people with seeing disorders, controlling anger, and controlling peoples fears among other things (Thierry & Spence, 2004). † Reliability and Validity of Research The study was reliable because the results indicated the specific responses of the individuals and since the study sample was small, it was easier to monitor individual progress. This would not have been the case if it were a larger number. Those individuals who were found out to have been sexually abused when they were young said that that was a possibility and most knew the individuals further proving that the results were reliable and valid. In addition, the individuals all showed up for the sessions as required therefore the lack of memory recovery could not be attributed to not attending the sessions. On top of these, no form of biasness was seen as the procedures were made as standard as possible and all variables that needed to be controlled were checked. Conclusion Hypnosis therapy usage is acceptable in society has it has helped a lot of people in more than one way especially in facilitating repressed memories. After all, the main goal of the procedure is to assist in the well being of a person. These form of therapy needs to be supported in increasing its evidentiary weight such that these memories can be used as evidence in the courts of law. Clinicians as well as psychotherapists therefore need to be skilled in this area for them to be able to properly guide the procedure so that the clients can get true memories which are part o their whole being and without them they are not complete. References American Psychological Association (APA) 2001. Understanding Child Sexual Abuse Rivera, Joseph. â€Å"‘Trauma searches’ plant the seed of imagined misery,† The Sacramento Bee, May 18, 1993. Herman, J. L. (1995). Crime and memory. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 23, 5-17. H. M. De Vos and D. A. Louw (2008). Hypnosis-induced mental training programmes as a strategy to improve the self-concept of students Vol. 57, No. 2, Higher education journal 2008 Hopper, J. W. , & van der Kolk, B. A. (2001). Retrieving, Assessing, and Classifying Traumatic Memories. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma, 4, 33-71; and Freyd, J. F. , & DePrince, A. P. (Editors). Trauma and Cognitive Science (pp. 33-71). Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press. Richard, S. C. July 1, (1998). The magic of hypnosis: is it child’s play? The Journal of Psychology Schacter, Daniel L. (1996). Searching for Memory – the brain, the mind, and the past. New York, Basic Books. Thierry, KL, Spence MJ (2004). Contemporary hypnosis Widom, C. S. & Morris, S. (1998). Adult recollections of childhood victimization: Childhood sexual abuse. Psychological Assessment, 8, 412-421.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events English Literature Essay

A Series Of Unfortunate Events English Literature Essay â€Å"Although he said he was the executor, Violet felt like Mr. Poe was the executioner.† The Bad Beginning is the first book in the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events written by Lemony Snicket. The Bad Beginning marks a tragic start to the series with the Baudelaire children becoming Baudelaire orphan to the series of unfortunate events that is to follow. The story began with the Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus and Sunny) playing by the beach when the executor of their parents’ affairs, Mr. Poe, suddenly appears and tells them that their parents perished in a horrible fire. Depressed and lonely, the children who were now orphans were told that they would live with their closest relative, a man by the name of Count Olaf. Count Olaf treats the children poorly and forced them to perform chores every single day whilst cooking up a plan to steal their fortune. The Baudelaires soon come to realize this and made an attempt to find out about his plan. Count Olafâ €™s plan of marrying Violet during the play The marvelous marriage in order to obtain the Baudelaire fortune was known to the three Baudelaires. In an attempt to continue his plans, Count Olaf threatens to take the life of Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire, by dropping her from a 30 ft tower should the other two â€Å"misbehaves†. In a desperate attempt to escape this horrible fate violet signed the paper with her left hand instead of her right and waited to reveal this secret only after Count Olaf have released Sunny. However, Count Olaf escapes and vows revenge on the children. In the story, the main protagonists, the Baudelaire children, are a very talented bunch of children. Violet, who had â€Å"a real knack for inventing and building†, constructed a grappling hook from dirty cloths and a curtain rod. Klaus, â€Å"the middle child and the only twelve† have â€Å"read a great many books and had retained a lot of the information from his readings†. Su nny, who was only a baby, likes to bite things and is tiny in size. â€Å"What she lacked in size, however, she made up for with the size and sharpness of her teeth.† Count Olaf, whose name sounds like that of a vampire, is the main antagonist. He is a villain that tries to take the Baudelaire fortune. He is best characterized by the following thought from violet; â€Å"The really frightening thing about Count Olaf, she realized, was that he was very smart after all. He wasn’t merely an unsavory drunken brute, but an unsavory, clever drunken brute.† The Bad Beginning focuses clearly on one pessimistic theme; the theme of this novel is that the world can be tough and cruel, often getting worse as time progresses. The story first starts with Mr. Poe informing the children about the loss of their parents and gets worse with the introduction of Count Olaf as the Baudelaire orphan’s new guardian. The Baudelaire’s luck then gets even worse when Count Ola f becomes hell-bent on taking their fortune. Then the story reaches its climax (ironically the part with the Baudelaire orphans in the worst situation possible) when Count Olaf threatens to kill Sunny Baudelaire. Finally, at the end of the novel, even when Count Olaf’s plot has been revealed, he still manages to escape with all his assistants from the authorities vowing revenge against the Baudelaires.