Legal, Social, and Economic Environments of Business Essay

There are several categories that a small business can fall into. Within these businesses there are legal, social and economic environments that effect how the business is run and whether the business is a success or failure. From the cost to run to how the tax return is filed; all three have their advantages and disadvantages. All three also can produce a lucrative income for the right person or people. It is imperative to the business for the owner(s) to choose which path is the best way to go while taking in consideration the pros and cons of each type. Legal, Social, and Economic Environments of Business The idea of a three pronged cord came to me when I noticed how many cords have burned up on my appliances. The third prong on the cord would distribute the current better. My goal is to manufacture and sell my product. Small businesses are what formed our country. From the forming of our governments to starting computer companies in our garages business decisions had to be made. There are three main organizations of small businesses: Sole Proprietor, Partnership, and Corporation.  When opening a business the owner or owners need to know how each organization operates and which would be the best for them. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but every business falls into one category or another. Business Organizations Sole Proprietor: A sole proprietor is a single individual who makes all the decisions in the business. There is no one to run to and ask â€Å"What do you think about this? † It is the most simple of the three types because there are almost no legal requirements. As a sole proprietor there is more freedom to do what the individual wants which makes it much easier to run. Also, the individual can get a tax benefit and there is a lower cost to start (Tavassoli, 2013. Slide 9) Almost anyone can have a small business as a sole proprietor. Although saving some money on the start up and from tax exemptions are a plus, there are some things one has to take into consideration. One is the limited resources because there is no one else around to bounce ideas off of and most people don’t have the business sense to run their own company from the start, unless they’ve had previous experience and knowledge in that field (Tavassoli, 2013. Another is the difficulty of borrowing money. Most banks or investors are hesitant to lend funds to one person because their financial resources are limited. Finally, all the liability of the business is put directly on the individual (Tavassoli, 2013. Slide 9). Whatever happens in the business is solely on the owner and there usually isn’t anyone to fall back on for help. Partnership: The second type of business is a partnership. There is more room for growth in this type of business because now we have an added talent or experience (Tavassoli, 2013). You automatically have someone to get insight on ideas and bring more ideas to the table. There is a better opportunity to borrow money. Now instead of one persons income and assets there are two. Someone is more likely to help finance a partnership than an individual person (Tavassoli, 2013, Slide 10). In addition, the business return flows into the individual/joint return. Just as a sole proprietor, a partnership has unlimited liability. The only difference is now there is more than one person involved so burden is split. In a partnership the owners are responsible for all the debt and expenses of the business (Ebert & Griffin, 2005). Something else to consider is the difficulty to sell a business owned by a partnership. Why is it difficult? Consent is always needed from the other partner. No decision can be legally made without the other partner agreeing. Corporation: The third decision is a Corporation. Companies like Apple, Ford, and Microsoft all fall into corporations. One good thing about a corporation is the stockholders of a corporation have limited liability which means they are only liable for the amount they invested (Tavassoli, 2013. Slide 11) When there are law suits or debts only the corporation loses money. Lenders and investors are most like to provide funding for a legitimate corporation before others. Another thing is there is a better chance to find talent and pool ideas. The opportunity to create more jobs is another plus for being a corporation. With the good comes the bad. In a corporation there are multiple stockholders that have to be answered to when it comes to business decisions (Tavassoli, 2013. ) Theses owners will have their own opinions on how things should be done and which ideas to be taken into action. A corporation can be easily taken over if it is agreed upon by the majority of the owners. The financial reporting requirements are more extensive. Finally, at the corporate level businesses are double taxes not only as a corporation but on the paid dividends to its stockholders (Ebert & Griffin, 2005). After careful consideration I feel a limited partnership is the best choice for my business. A Limited Partnership would allow us to obtain financing in the future, rather than trying to get financing on my own as a sole proprietor. Also, the amount of liability is reduced because we are only liable for the amount of our individual investments. This allows my partner not to have to take an active role in the partnership. A limited partnership agreement is not required but will be put in place to protect each partner (CEC, 2010).

How does Carter portray power throughout the novel Wise Children? Essay

The novel Wise Children, written by Angela Carter, is the memoirs of two song and dance girls, Nora and Dora Chance, following both their trials and tribulations, but also parts of their families. Carter wrote Wise Children once she had discovered she was dying of cancer and suddenly the power to control her life had been taken out of her hands. Throughout the novel, Carter displays the use of power to change the readers perspective on certain things in life, such as when Nora loses her virginity. It is in a back alley with a married man and so could appear seedy and inappropriate, however, Nora chooses this situation, having made clear decisions about how and who with she wants to lose her virginity to, ‘she would have him. ’ Nora has the power in this situation, and it is exactly what she wants. This makes it more acceptable, ‘He was the one she wanted, warts and all. ’ Nora is not taken advantage of or made to do anything she doesn’t want to, and because she has the power and control at the time, what she is doing does not seem as unacceptable as it would if Nora did not seem to entirely understand what she was doing. Dora wants to be in charge of her own identity and her own opinions, and in control of her own life. Irish, who Dora meets in Hollywood, wants to change Dora to what he thinks is right, ‘he kept on insisting on forgiving me when there was nothing to forgive. ’ Dora, in her eyes, was doing nothing wrong, but simply being herself. This was not enough for Irish, he wanted her to be educated to his standards. Irish however controls what Dora learns so he is in charge or what she says and does as much as possible, ‘What he wanted for himself was an infinitely renewable virgin. ’ Irish wants a girl who will listen to what he teaches her and not question him. Dora knows she cannot stay with Irish as he was the control in their relationship, but she does not want him to be in charge of who she is. Dora takes the power, and she chooses to end the relationship. Gengis Khan knows women come to him for fame. Gengis is a very powerful man in Hollywood and he uses this to manipulate and take advantage of people, ‘he was the master/madam of a very peculiar brothel, where all the girls for sale were shadows. ’ The girls Gengis ‘sells’ are on a quest for fame and he uses his great power to use them and sell them with empty promises, ‘Why actresses go down on their knees to me! ’ Gengis uses women for sex to show them who is in control. Gengis keeps a photo of his wife ‘Daisy Duck’ or Delia Delaney in his office, in on display so that anyone that goes into it will see the image. Delia is one of the most famous women in Hollywood, and her fame is because of Gengis. The image is on display so that the women that come to Gengis for fame can see what he could possibly make them if they do what he requests when and how he wants. This is clearly a sordid abuse of his power, however, he knows girls that are desperate for fame will do almost anything if they think it will make them famous. Dora does not let Gengis manipulate her. Gengis wants her to sleep with him however she will not, ‘I’d feel ever so more comfortable if you put your shirt back on Mr Khan. ’ There is a power shift here, as suddenly Dora is taking the power over Gengis, rather than how it ususally is, where Gengis is able to abuse his power over women in Hollywood. Another shift in dominance and power is when Tiffany takes control over her relationship with Tristam. ‘I love you†¦ Forgive me. ’ Here Tiffany takes control, ‘Fat chance. ’ She now has the power in the relationship, knowing she’ll be better off without Tristam. Tiffany does not want to spend her life with Tristam, ‘I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man in the world. ’ She won’t let herself be controlled by Tristam any longer, as she knows he is not going to be a good Father or partner, ‘You’ve not got what it takes to be a father. There’s more to fathering than fucking you know. ’ Tristam does in fact seem very self-centred, he cares mostly about himself and his money and appears to believe that his status gives him power over Tiffany as he has given her a job and he is wealthy. This however is not true as soon Tiffany realises in fact she will be better off without Tristam and knows she can cope alone as it is obvious Tristam only proposed to her as she is having his child and he was desperate to try and appear like he was dealing with the situation correctly, showing a slight feminist edge that appears during the novel. Power is displayed in many ways throughout the novel. Carter often allows the women to take control over the men, although the men in many situations try to take over and change the women, such as Dora and Irish. Irish tries to educate Dora, because he does not think she is intelligent and often thinks the sings she says are wrong, whereas she disagrees. She leaves him because she does not feel she is right for him. She is too strong willed. We could reflect the power struggle to Carter herself as she is losing control over her life and so perhaps this is why she displays power in such ways throughout the novel. Power is often taken away from the men and given to the women throughout the novel as they stand up for themselves and their lives, such as Tiffany and Tristam, when Tiffany will not marry him simply because she is having his child. Carter shows the men in the novel to be flawed throughout the novel, as their grasps on power fail as she dispels the idea of male superiority throughout Wise Children.

Business process management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Business process management - Essay Example Mature organizations on the other hand, produce quality products or services effectively and there is no variation in efficiency and quality. 2b Describe a capability maturity model with which you are familiar. The model can be described in two ways . Mature organizations use objective and statistical basis of judging product quality and analysing problems with the product and process.Managers supervise process by monitoring the quality of the software products and the processes that produce them . Schedules and budgets s are forecasted making use of previous process data available. These forecasts produce realistic estimates of costs, schedules, functionality, product quality. There is not much variation in forecast and actual figures obtained. In general ,the mature organization follows well planned process because all employees understand the importance of quality and hence coordinate well. The second way is used to explain immature organisations.In immature organisation the produ ction process lacks coordination. Some employees produce high quality results and some do not which results in unsatisfactory results. On the other hand a mature is well coordinated and organised. Every employ puts is his best and produces high quality results.

HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HR - Essay Example But, if you try to please everyone by doling out good reports, your seniors might question your judgment and ability to differentiate between good and bad workers. Therefore, most of the initiating officers tend to take the performance appraisal process as a millstone round their necks. 2. Definition Wikipedia (2011) described performance appraisal as a systematic method of evaluating an individual’s on the job performance against pre-determined standards and his/her potential for the future responsibilities usually by his supervisors or managers. 3. Purposes of Performance Appraisal One may count as many as twelve purposes of performance appraisal; however, the most basic is to provide information about job performance. Following are the important purposes of performance appraisal:- 3.1 Basic Purpose. The basic purpose of performance appraisal is to get information about how people are doing their jobs and find the problems affecting the overall performance of individuals (Mu rphy & Margulies 2004). 3.2 Judgmental Purposes In judgmental perspective, performance appraisal may provide a basis for reward allocation, identification of high performance/high potential individuals and low performance/low potential individuals. ... 4. Benefits The process of performance appraisal helps both the managers and the workers by providing employees an opportunity to indicate the direction and level of their ambitions. It induces leaders to take interest in their subordinates’ development which in turn becomes a motivation tool in helping the organization to retain the ambitious and capable personnel instead of losing them to the competitors. It identifies areas where specific training is needed, desired, or available. Performance appraisal can be used as a motivational and encouragement tool for employees who have been trying to perform well (Rao 2004). Performance appraisal is also a means for communicating and documenting dissatisfaction in respect of unacceptable employee performance. It provides a reliable basis for making a myriad of organizational decisions concerning promotions, deputation, rewards, postings at key appointments, etc. 5. Process for Performance Appraisal Since a good report can qualify th e individual for more important responsibilities, more rewarding assignments and promotion to higher ranks, therefore, a development plan should be preferably tailor made for each employee. In general way, a development plan should include the following steps:- 5.1 Analyze Job Duties and Responsibilities Job duties and responsibilities should be clearly spelled out and be available in written form for the benefit of the organization as well as the individual (Elizabeth et al. 2006). 5.2 Establish Standards of Job Performance Standards of performance for each job should be established and known to both initiating officer and the subordinate (Ziagon

Marketing Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing Communication - Essay Example The four departments are aerospace, electronic systems, technical systems and information systems. The aerospace department creates revenue of approximately $ 10 billion annually and it has a workforce of about 23000 employees who are highly skilled individuals in their areas of expertise (Northrop, 2012). The department is a major supplier of American manned and unmanned defense aircrafts, space systems and technological knowhow in the security sector involving aviation.Examples of air defense mechanism created by the company involve the global hawk aircrafts and the F-35 lighting 11 jets. The electronic systems department is responsible for the provision of advanced electronic system for commercial and civil use, and military defense. The company has the ability to supply highly innovative and complex electronic defense machineries in marine systems, airspace management, navigation, and precision and communication systems. The company also provides electronic logistical support to government institutions and commercial organizations. ... department provides services in the modernization of existing military, communication and civil infrastructure to various government agencies, civil organizations and federal agencies. The company has competitors who are equally innovative and financially superior. Its major competitors are General Dynamics Cooperation, Lockheed Martin Cooperation and the Boeing Company. Compared to its three major competitors, Northrop Grumman is performing poorly, both in terms of its share value and revenue generating capabilities (Nasdaq, 2012). For example, the net income of Boeing Company as of June 2012 amounted to $ 4.35 billion, as compared to Northrop which stood at $ 2.10 billion, a difference of $ 2.25 billion. General Dynamics made $ 2.5 billion while Lockheed Martin made $ 2.78 billion. These figures are higher than the profitability of Northrop Grumman.In terms of their share prices, Northrop Grumman performs dismally (Nasdaq, 2012). The current value of Northrop Grumman share price st ands at $ 59.3; this is far below the share price of Boeing which currently trades at $ 72.58, a difference of $13.28. The share prices of its two other competitors are higher with Lockheed Martin share price trading at $ 83.37 and that of general dynamics trading at $ 64.13 (Nasdaq, 2012). The share values are an indicator of how well the company is perceived by the society and of its economic performance. The low share price of Northrop as compared to its competitors is an indication that the company economic performance is far below that of its competitors. There are various opportunities presentable to the company for expansion of its services and profitability. The present war on terror presents the company with an opportunity to develop high technology weapons that can be used to

P&G Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

P&G - Essay Example Case Study: Procter & Gamble – Vizir Launch Case summary Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) corporate policies and organizational practices, both at home in the USA and globally, form the backdrop to this case involving critical decisions on introducing Vizir – a heavy duty liquid detergent (HDL) – in Europe. Although the test marketing results of a few months are encouraging, they may not guarantee the product success in view of the competition and local market conditions. The underlying point is that for a marketer, competition is as important as consumer acceptance (Kotler, 2006, pp. 168-189). In pushing through Vizir either in Germany or in the entire European market, P&G had to assess the threats from competition, risks of high investment in promotion and its impact on profitability of operations, and changes to its established organizational practices. Tools Porter’s Five Force analysis is one appropriate tool that helps us to understand threats from co mpetition (Porter, 2004). These are segment rivalry from existing competitors, potential new entrants, substitute products, bargaining power of buyers/suppliers. In a related way, the market matrix consisting of entry and exit barriers vs.

Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management Essay

Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management - Essay Example It is the detailed report of how, when, where, who and why of a business. â€Å"In most cases, a business plan is created to explain and illustrate the vision you have for your business, and to persuade others to help you achieve that vision.† (Bellissim, 2003) Topfer (2011) states that starting a business without enough planning is like setting a journey without deciding on the destination. In most cases, small businesses simply ignore the process of business planning. Time is one of the main restricting factors that make them do so. But irrespective of the size of the business, it is always beneficial to have a clearly charted out plan. Business plans are required not only for planning the future of the business but also for the availing financing options. All financial institutions assist with the capital requirement of the company only after a careful study of the prospects of the business. Such an analysis is possible only with the help of a detailed business plan.  "The great thing about a  business  plan  is that it can provide a reference point for you to return to at any point during the project.† (Topfer, 2011) This paper will critically analyse the steps involved in a business plan. Each stage is critically analysed in terms of what should be included in each step. Also, the contribution of each step to the overall plan is dealt in detail. The intention of the assignment is to develop a clear understanding of the requirements for setting up and running a successful business venture. Charting out the plan may sound easier but it requires a proper understanding of the prospective business and the prevailing market conditions. Elements Idea Generation: Idea generation is the first and foremost step in a business plan. Idea generation can be defined as â€Å"the  process  of creating, developing, and communicating ideas  which are  abstract,  concrete, or visual. The process includes the process of constructing through the idea, innovating the  concept, developing the process, and bringing the concept to reality.† (Business Dictionary, 2011) Idea generation is in fact a raw process. The process involves generation of multiple ideas in the minds of the prospective entrepreneur. The person may screen and reach at a more favourable idea. Such ideas are generally in a raw format without much technical analysis being done on it. Idea generation is very important because idea is the stone that is being polished at the various stages of a business plan. An idea arises mostly from the personal interests of the entrepreneur. It will be something that is related to the behavioural and professional nature of the entrepreneur. For instance a medical professional might develop an idea for surgical equipment retailing, a good cook might think of opening a restaurant and the like. It is always better to carry out an idea that interests us most. It is as good as a business firm diversifying into a related product line. If we are familiar with the idea, it is easier for us to manage it. Therefore, the first question an aspiring entrepreneur should ask is what interests them most and is there an opportunity lying in the market for the same. This thought can give rise to more specific ideas. Strategic Objectives: Strategic objectives or just objectives refer to the purposes of carrying out the business. It is the major goals of the business. It is the focal point of all the activities of the business. The strategic objectives of a business are usually encompassed in the terms Vision and Mission. Vision is the purpose and Mission is the action to be taken to achieve the purpose. â€Å"Most of strategic objectives are directed toward generating greater profits and returns for the owners of the business, others are directed at customers

Analysis of Management base off of the book Who Moved My Cheese by Essay

Analysis of Management base off of the book Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson - Essay Example Changes are unique and specific depending on the diversity of the workplaces; however, they display some degree of similarity with regard to how they are implemented. For any firm to run, it has to undergo some changes. The changes may be both internal and external, and they occur along its life line aimed at various reasons of prosperity. As a result, the necessities for the changes are numerous. Firstly, internal change assists in maximizing the opportunities presented by the proposed change. This is achievable and is usually guided by the laid down procedure that presents the innovation. Also, it helps identify and overcome impediments that overburden a given enterprise which directly brings down the outcome for which the organization is set. Change could also be done to minimize the disruption to programs and services. This is especially where there is no clear definition of roles in a workplace. In most cases, this leads to the duplication of duties; hence, inefficiency in servi ce delivery (Mayle & Salman, 2009). External changes usually arise from the authorities, and they do not necessarily aim at improving the conditions at the work place. However, these changes have to be dealt with to ensure a good working environment. When these changes come about, it is the duty of the management to know how to deal with them. The management is, therefore, involved in various ways with this regard. This is because it has to ensure that it balances the changes being introduced and the interests of the people executing them (Spencer, 1998). Hence, its role is double edged; first to ensure that the change is executed as well as solve any dispute or resistance arising from the given change. The management of these changes can only be successful if the manager applies appropriate managerial styles. The management’s first mandate is overseeing of the enactment of changes and using various management styles. Furthermore, management styles evolve with time; hence, th ey can be classified as old and new. However, they all serve the purpose intended. The first approach is organizational development (OD). This is an approach which recognizes the reality of post-modern organization. This internal change approach enhances the separation of roles brought about by the intended change; hence, increased efficiency (Mayle & Salman, 2009). The Integrated Strategic Approach (ISC) as another method. This is change management method where participation is encouraged. This is such that all employees are involved in the analysis, planning and implementation process. Therefore, this means that they work together towards creating shared ownership, as well as improving coordination and integration of all work stations. This change .management approach fits well because it faces less resilience since it creates an environment where every worker feels as part of the system (Beerel, 2009). Trans-organizational development (TD) is another approach which is emerging. T his approach has been brought about by the realization that everything is interdependent and organizations are part of a bigger system. TD is a form of planned change that enables organizations to collaborate with each other in resource and risk sharing. This is especially in cases of external changes that cut across various organizations. Spencer (1998) suggests that organizations should approach change less

The Evolution of Hester’s Scarlet Letter Essay Example for Free

The Evolution of Hester’s Scarlet Letter Essay In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, the protagonist, Hester Prynne, is forced to publically wear her sin on her sleeve. She committed adultery, which was a sin that was highly chastised by the Puritan society. The Scarlet Letter that Hester wore first symbolized the burden and humiliation that accompanied the sin. Throughout the novel however, the meaning of the letter changed to parallel Hester’s own development into a strong, independent woman. The letter starts out as a symbol of shame. A public trial in the presence of her fellow New England citizens forced Hester to wear this shameful letter. As Hester was standing on the pillory, her punishment for committing adultery was to display the â€Å"mark of shame upon her bosom† for all to see (Pg 58). The Scarlet Letter diminished Hester’s image by subjecting her to public humiliation, which affected her emotionally and mentally. Puritan women at the pillory claimed that the Scarlet Letter could possibly be hidden on the outside by physically covering it, but â€Å" the pain of it will be always in [Hester’s] heart† (Pg 49). Hester had to endure belittlement and harassment at the hands the disappointed Puritan mob. Even the Puritan children, â€Å"the most intolerant brood that ever lived,† made disparaging remarks about her (Pg 83) because they â€Å"scorned [Hester and Pearl] in their hearts†(Pg 84). Hester was forced to the bottom of the social ladder if even children can get away with making fun of an elder without fear of punishment in such a rigid society. The various tragic events exacerbated the guilt that Hester felt. This is demonstrated when she told her husband, Chillingsworth, that it was her fault for committing adultery to conceal the identity of the person with whom she committed the sin. She hid the identity of Pearl’s father because the constant humiliation and rebuke that she had to endure led her to believe that her sin was completely her burden to bear. Hester knew that â€Å"her deed had been evil† (Pg 80) because Pearl acts out in a hostile and sinful manner. Pearl has grown to become a walking embodiment of the Scarlet Letter. Consequently, Hester felt overwhelming guilty. However, as the novel progresses Hester’s attitude towards the Scarlet Letter changes and the meaning of the letter goes through a metamorphosis that would help Hester wear the letter with pride. When Hester no longer saw the Scarlet Letter as a symbol of shame, it represented her freedom from the letter’s hold over her as she wore the letter with pride. Though she could have easily been defeated and sunken into despair, she persisted through the hardships. She became a productive member of society by sewing miraculous materials, which allowed the people’s perception of her to change. This can be interpreted as a change in meaning of the Scarlet Letter. Before, it had stood for adultery, but eventually people recognized it as a symbol of â€Å"her many good deeds† (Pg 142). The changes in the letter, both physically and symbolically, reflected the perception that people had of Hester. Hester transformed into a â€Å"powerful peculiar,† an individual who was â€Å"so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick† (Pg 142). Despite her initial difficult circumstances, Hester turned around her life. As Hester experienced her transformation, she showed resentment towards her punishment. She knew that there were others in the community who committed sins, some even greater than hers, but these atrocities went unpunished. Consequently, Hester’s changing attitude revealed that while she saw her act as a sin, she felt that her punishment was unjustified due to the hypocrisy that was prevalent within the society. Hester realized that the persecution against her was unfair given the hypocritical standards of the society and that other people should perhaps wear their own Scarlet Letter for the sins that they have committed. Her path to redemption instilled the confidence in her to believe that she was not inferior to others; if others were not going to own up to their own mistakes, she was not required to do so either. She was no longer sorry for what she had done because while she faced the consequences head-on, others were cowardly concealing their sins in order to evade public humiliation and punishment. Due to the double standard in society, Hester decided that the act was not as evil as it was made out to be by society. She told Dimmesdale that â€Å"what [they] did had a consecration of its own† (Pg 170). The Scarlet Letter was supposed to remind Hester and the townspeople of her sin, but â€Å"the Scarlet Letter had not done its office† (Pg 145). The meaning of the Scarlet Letter that Hester wore changed throughout the novel to parallel Hester’s own path to enlightenment and freedom from societal pressure. The metamorphosis of Hester’s image and the change in her inner thoughts represented how she overcame the burden of the Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter was an embodiment of Hester’s life.

Contextualising Disability and Immigration in Britain

Contextualising Disability and Immigration in Britain 1. Contextualising disability in modern Britain is a problematic task. The principal challenge of any contextualisation is perhaps the question of whose contextualization is the most apt one. Answering this question and the position taken as a result is also arguably a critical tension within the issue of disability. This then hinges upon whether we contextualize disability from a point of view centred on society generally in modern Britain or whether we contextualize it from the viewpoint of those living with disabilities in modern Britain, (Barnes, 2006). This then highlights the issue as to whether disability is problematic for British society itself or whether it is in actuality British society is disabling itself for those it counts as living within disabilities. We can also contextualize disability in modern Britain in the very sense of its modernity by reflecting on the development of care, policy and legislation for disability, seeing it in a progressive light as a gradual deepe ning of respect and civil society values towards the disabled in Britain. Yet has the success of increased legislation towards the disabled in society gone any way towards combating the problems raised and highlighted by the disability rights movement for example. Perhaps in some ways this question can be answered positively in that legally many forms of discrimination against those living with disabilities has been placed on an equal footing with other kinds of discrimination such as that to do with race and racism. But has a legal countering of discrimination been enough to counter what many might count as socially embedded negative values and attitudes towards the disabled in modern Britain. In many instances activists within the disabled rights movement have argued that this has not occurred. This contextualisation returns us then to the issue noted above in that while legal and political measures have been taken to protect and enable disabled persons to live more active and fuller lives in particular settings socially in terms of British society questions can be asked as to how successful these attitudes have been diffused. As an illustration of this in examining the statistics of those who are disabled and working as opposed to those who are disabled and living on benefits highlights in many ways the inability of disabled persons to secure employment even where they are legally entitled to be considered on the same basis as those who are not disabled, (Kemp, 2006). Contextualising disability then is an interesting task as it centres as such on definitions, attitudes and reactions to the incidence of disability and how those with disability are treated by and perceived by British society in a wider and more general sense. Disability then when we contextualize it in this manner becomes a matter of respective perspectives on the issues that are play within the area of disability. For those then within the disability rights movement for example it is British society itself which is disabling in terms of restricting those living with disability from leading full and active lives. In terms of societal responses then the legal and political measures which have been pursued can be seen as responses to these criticisms. Yet the effectiveness of these can continually be questioned in terms of their impact. Similarly an often occluded aspect of disability in modern British society is the emphasis legally on physical as opposed to mental disabilities. A cl aim that can also be levelled at the disability rights movement itself at times. This can be seen in the fact that much of the legislation has focused on the concerns of those living with physical disabilities to the detriment of those living with mental disabilities, (Borsay, 2005). What this points towards in terms of a contextualization of disability in modern Britain is a failure of particular perspectives to be heard at all in the face of certain perspectives seeing a sustained debate on which version is the more correct one to be used in examining the issue of disability. 2. A contextualization of immigration in modern Britain is in many critical ways a contextualization of modern Britain itself. This can be seen in a number of key ways, such as for example the historical impacts of immigration on the makeup and composition of modern Britain. It can also be located in some of the more current socially problematic issues such as the role of Britain in the European Union, terrorism and the decline of the primacy of the welfare state. These are however broad claims and as such then how does a contextualization of immigration become relevant to the themes outlined above? Perhaps the clearest way a contextualisation of immigration points to these themes is by the manner in which immigration is discursively as an issue by society. As such then it can be argued that the discourse of immigration in Foucauldian terms points towards a complexity of issues that reflects, intersects and interacts with a set of much broader discourses within British society. Not only this but importantly but in terms of this wider social discourse on immigration what is not perceived or what is not discussed has immediate relevance also for the themes mentioned above, (Block, 2006). As such immigration can be seen as a contested issue and its contextualization as such offers insights into critical debates within modern Britain. An example of this can be seen in the recent debates over the economic benefits of immigration which are made against the backdrop of the expansion of the EU. Here there has been a shift from the unrestricted access of inhabitants of the first accession countries such as Poland to living and working in Britain to one of restrictions for newer accession countries such as Romania. Similarly debates over multiculturalism in the wake of recent terrorist acts have seen immigration being contested in the sense of how well do newer immigrants, and in particular Muslim immigrants integrate into British society. Likewise a final aspect of the contested nature of immigration is their partaking of the use of various public services in Britain. Arguments are made that immigration causes strains on public services such as the NHS, housing, education a nd other aspects of the welfare state, (Dustmann, 2005). Each of these issues are importantly social and political discourses themselves also. A contextualisation of immigration then needs to consider whether immigration is a feature of these discourses or whether they are a feature of immigration itself. Arguably the most suitable approach is to see a contextualisation of immigration as a mix between both of the extremes outlined above to see it as a contested discourse. Dissecting these contestations of immigration then is arguably the principal method to contextualizing immigration in modern Britain. It is an issue as such that is a mirror and a lens reflecting and providing insights into what are major transformational debates in modern Britain. Indeed the greater immigration is perceived or is in actuality occurring then the greater these debates are played out in the media, political circles and within national and local settings, (Cohen, 2001). There is a need then to situate immigration discursively within a framework which recognizes the multiplicity of discourses which are at play or are extolled in relation to the issue of immigration. It is a discourse containing many images and symbols about particular aspects of modern British society which are seen as problematic. Conte xtualising immigration then as a result necessitates a contextualisation of many disparate aspects of British society. References Barnes, C. (2006) Independent Futures: Creating User-Led Disability Services in a Disabling Society, Bristol, Policy Block, D. (2006) Multilingual Identities in a Global City: London Stories, Basingstoke, Macmillan Borsay, A. (2005) Disability and Social Policy in Britain since 1750: A History of Exclusion, Basingstoke, Macmillan Cohen, S. (2001) Immigration Controls, The Family and the Welfare State, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Dustmann, C. (2005) Immigration, Jobs and Wages: Theory, Evidence and Opinion, London, Center for Economic Policy Research Kemp, P. A. (2006) Sick Societies? , Geneva, International Social Security Association

Criminal Profiling: Peter Sutcliffe

Criminal Profiling: Peter Sutcliffe Criminal Profiling: Peter Sutcliff One other aspect we can all discuss which is relatively new, is the work of psychologists in helping the police in catching a killer, it is known as criminal profiling or offender profiling, which can be traced back to 1888 when ‘Thomas Bond gave a detailed description on Jack the Ripper’ (Cross) it was later used by the FBI in America. Following the case of The Yorkshire Ripper it began to be used in Britain by the police force in other cases of catching other criminals and serial killers. The Yorkshire Rippers profile could have looked similar to the points below; 1, Has local knowledge of where the crimes are committed 2, Lives within the vicinities of the crime scenes 3, is likely to be somewhat of a loner 4, Could be married or living alone 5, if married, may spend time away from home on a regular basis 6, is disorganised 7, Sadistic 8, Religious 9, has a grudge against prostitutes 10, Is probably in a job, but of no skill Discuss the various theories of crime in relation to your chosen criminal In order to complete this discussion the chosen criminal shall be Peter William Sutcliff aka The Yorkshire Ripper, who during the time span of July 1975 and January 1981, claimed the lives of thirteen women, and attacked seven more. Most of Sutcliff’s victims were prostitutes and he committed the crimes within the vicinities of Leeds and the North of England. He used a variety of methods to kill and attack his victims, and an array of weapons. The methods used to kill and attack his victims included stabbing, strangulation, and bashing and the weapons he used consisted of an array of knives, a hammer, a hacksaw and a Ball-pein hammer, which later became his signature. Peter William Sutcliff was the first born of six children to Kathleen a quiet and solid catholic woman and John a man whom had an appetite for life ‘Murder case book vol 1’. It was his mother Kathleen that provided stability and security and gave him round the clock care following his birth due to the fact he was a small and weak baby. Peter grew up to be fond of his mother, more so than his father and it is reported that ‘he would hide behind her skirt on many occasion (murder case book vol 1). During his school years Peter was bullied by other children and would regularly play truant, his grades were of a poor standard and he left school at the age of fifteen without qualifications, he embarked on a variety of jobs, all of which he was unable to hold down due to the constant lateness of his arrival at work, one job which Peter had, and had held for three years was a post as a grave digger at Bingley Cemetery, during his early adult life he was regarded as being somewhat of a loner, deep and introvert ( murder case book vol 1) and would be the subject of ridicule by his family. Peter took an interest in body building at this time and would spend hours alone training, at this time he also met his future wife Sonia in a local pub when he was with his work colleagues, they had a relationship which lasted for eight years before finally In 1974. In 1969 John, Peter’s father discovered that Kathleen his wife was having an affair with a local policeman and he arranged for the whole family to confront her about it, Peter was devastated; it was later that year that he carried out an attack on a prostitute in Bradford following a row with her about a  £10 note. He hit her on the head with a stone in a sock while out in the red light district, of which he was a frequent visitor t. In 1971 Sonia his then girlfriend had a mental breakdown and at this time she reported to her psychiatrist that she had â€Å"heard the voice of God† Wicked beyond belief, she was diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, following her recovery she and Peter went on to marry in 1974, in less than a year of marriage Peter had carried out an attack on a woman, only to attack other women a short time later, and in October of 1975 claimed the life of his victim, a person identified as Wilma McCann aged twenty-eight, in Leeds, she be came the first in the long reign of terror that Peter William Sutcliff held. In order to discuss the various theories of crime that could account for Sutcliff’s behaviour one will examine the various theories which have evolved over the the past twelve decades beginning with the works of Cesare Comboso 1876, he was an Italian biologist who had an interest in crime (class notes) he reported that following this study , of similar facial features in criminals such as cold-glassy blood shot eyes, thick curly hair, strong jaws, long ears and thin lips, Lombrosos findings had no scientific evidence in support of his theories, he used correlation to identify his subjects in his study therefore we must dismiss this as being inconclusive, another theory of crime was also put forward using the same basis as Lombrosos by William Sheldon in 1949, who identified three body types, endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectromorphic, his study was based on 400 men in rehabilitation, the majority were found to be of a mesomorphic type, muscular, tough and strong. From both of t hese theories we are able to reflect the appearance of Sutcliff with cold glassy eyes and thick curly hair. Sutcliff also had a mesomorphic body shape; therefore we must keep an open mind of these particular theories. Possible explanation of the two studies could be chromosomes, some men in prisons have been found to have an extra Y in making them XYY but according to Jacob’s (class notes) it could be associated with them being more aggressive. There has been no scientific evidence to prove that there is a criminal gene but that is not to say that one does not exists. Another theory put forward in order to explain crime was (Eysneck Eysneck 1970) ‘the criminal is a neurotic extrovert (someone who scores high on both N E) N is linked to crime through anxiety, the high E score is stimulus-hungry, engaging in thrill enhancing behaviour and is more difficult to . The EPL questionnaires Eysneck Eysneck used also found that high P scorers also were established as being aggressive, uncaring, troublesome, inhumane, insensitive to others needs and feelings, tend not to experience guilt, prefer strange and unusual things and appear foolhardy! Although we have no knowledge of a questionnaire being completed by Sutcliff, one could give incidents that have occurred and situations that have taken place to reflect yet again with this theory. In September 1969 Sutcliff was arrested and charged with going equipped for theft ‘with a hammer’, while working in the cemetery he was reported by a work mate to have a macabre sense of humour, ‘he would lie down on a slab pretending to be a corpse with a shroud over him and make groaning noises’ (Murder case book ) also he would boast to workmate that he had stolen various items of jewellery from corpses ( wicked beyond belief) also following the job he was given at TWH Clark as a lorry driver, he posed for a publicity poster and wrote his own strange epitaph to accompany it, it read â€Å"In this truck is a man whose if unleashed would rock the nation, whose dynamic energy would overpower those around him. Better let him sleep? (Wicked beyond belief), and finally the crimes he committed such as stabbing a victim with a screw driver in her vagina and then going home to his wife as if nothing had ever happened. Another explanation to describe Sutcliff’s behaviour is frauds tripartite derision of the personality, the most primitive part which consists of basic biological impulses or drives, the source of psychic energy or libido which operates on the pleasure principle, // and to avoid pain regardless of external circumstances it is known as the ID, followed by the ego which is the rational part or controlling self it operates on the reality principle, holding back the impulses of the ID until they can be satisfied in society in socially approved was, and finally the superego which represents the of the values and morals of society, it is the conscience that controls the expression of the ID’s impulses through moral scruples , thus being Sutcliff’s need to attack and kill his victims and gaining satisfaction and sexual gratification in doing so while being marries to Sonia and showing concern by ‘ collecting her from work in order for her to be safe, in case she w ould be attacked by The Ripper’ (wicked beyond belief) he was never looked upon by his wife as being nothing but a normal and caring husband, he showed no guilt or remorse for his actions and following the arrest for his crimes ( all of which his wife was oblivious to) gave her an account of his actions and told her that he would ‘pretend to be mentally ill and get 10 years in a loony bin’ (wicked beyond belief). Another theory can be attachment as a cause, Bowbly (1963 and 1973) his maternal deprivation hypothesis was used to explain the harmful effects of growing up in institutions, according to Bowbly short term deprivation produces distress. Deprivation produces long-term development retardation such as affectionless psychopath. Gross ( ) Given that Peter was the first born and he was cared for by his mother throughout his early life, the suggestion that a child needs a constant primary care-giver for the first two and a half to three years of his life to become stable and able to thrive to not conditional in this instance ‘Mothers love in infancy is as important for mental health as vitamins and proteins for physical health. Bowbly (1951). One other theory of crime that can be a large deciding outcome of a conviction can be the state of one’s mind when the crime was committed, such as schizophrenia, Paranoid schizophrenia is an illness that affects the thought process of the brain, so the suffer may not be able to think logically, often there are hallucinations, which may be in the way of voices, visions, and the sensation of being touched, delusions are also common, schizophrenia can happen following an episode of stress, breakdown or disastrous life changing event (mental health volunteer notes). In the case against Sutcliff ( there was a conflict between Dr Hugo Milme, Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Dr Terrence Kay psychiatrist who diagnosed him and the Attorney General Sir Michael Havers, who believed that Sutcliff was not suffering from schizophrenia, but was telling lies). He claimed that from the age of 20 years old he had been following instructions from God, he had heard his voice, and it told him to clean th e streets of prostitutes, (Murder case book Vol 1). In order to establish the differences between a person suffering from a mental illness and a psychopath (see handout 1) are they mad or just bad. We must take on board as much information about the individual we are dealing with, which did not appear to be the case for Sutcliff. Although Sutcliff is now incarcerated in Brood moor Mental Institution, he was originally incarcerated in Parkhurst Prison, but following an attack by another inmate in March 1984 when he lost sight in one eye and needed countless stitches, his original testimony to appear mad finally became a reality. In order to conclude this discussion one must look at various events which happened to Sutcliff, of which might account for his behaviour and give an insight as to why he committed the crimes he did. As Peter was close to his mother her embarking on an affair with a policeman left him devastated, could it be that he associated this with the attack he first made in 1969 on a prostitute in Bradford following the row over money or was it the fact that the man in question was a policeman, Peter as a child was brought up as a catholic who’s views on sex might have been the cause for him to attack prostitutes, what made his family ridicule him, his relationship with his siblings could that have had an effect on him, always lonely, possible jealousy of no longer having his mother all to himself, the fact he was bullied in school could all of these given him drive and ambition and he wanted to prove something, give himself status. Why was it that although he was warned and it was repo rted by his wife Sonia that they had a normal sex life, what made him leave traces of semen on their bodies and expose them but not have intercourse with them, but not engaging in intercourse could be seen as possibly something that means procreation, he had no children of his own. No reason for this has been reported, maybe they didn’t want them or were unable to have them or was he a psychopath and given the fact that he had seen Sonia suffering with schizophrenia gave him the excuse and reasoning for his behaviour should he ever be caught. Whatever the case Peter William Sutcliff, aka The Yorkshire Ripper was indeed wicked beyond belief.

The Pit and the Pendulum :: Pit and the Pendulum Essays

The Pit and the Pendulum "The place where you die is where you become young again." The accused in "The Pit and the Pendulum" is obviously being persecuted. For what religion or practice we do not know. For what crime it is not said. The prisoner does not even question his guilt or innocence. The accused in this story, to whom Poe does not give a name, is subjected to three life threatening situations. Poe, along with other English Romantics believed that being born was actually coming to the end of another existence. With this in consideration could the tomb in which the prisoner was confined be thought of as a womb? Could then the pit be considered a tunnel that leads to a New World? Poe utilizes one of the most common and universal phobias in "The Pit and the Pendulum," which is the darkness. Imagine you are condemned to death and wake to find that you cannot see your hand two inches from your face. Darkness commonly evokes feelings of anxiety, but under these circumstances I would think absolute terror. The tomb is dark, and only by an accident does the accused escape the pit and certain death. The victim searched for a rock in order to estimate the depths, which he just avoided. As the masonry hit the water far below, a light burst into his vault and a door swiftly shut. The slamming door was his first awareness that he was being monitored constantly; his torturers were adjusting his torments to his abilities at avoiding disaster. The prisoner wakes only to realize that he is strapped onto a board and bound by a "surcingle". The word he uses is significant; it can apply to the binding of saddle on a horse, or to the binding of a priest's cassock. He perceived himself as bound like an animal by the belt of a priest, symbolically bound to the demented will of his prison-masters. Far above his bound body, on the ceiling of the chamber, was the figure of Time holding what appeared to be a scythe. Upon closer examination what appeared to be a scythe was a giant, razor sharp pendulum making a slow and deadly descent. One could interpret the figure of Time as the character's realization that his time is running out. I think Poe's introduction of the figure of Time suggests to all of us that we have only the time that is given us.

Violent Video Games: A Bad Choice for Parents and Children Essay

Violent Video Games: A Bad Choice for Parents and Children A twelve year old boy named Paul sits about three feet from the fifty-two inch screen television with his eyes fixated on his character, a humanlike fox. He is able to use his game controller without looking away from the television. He sits erect and is so focused on what he is doing that he is unaware of everything that is going on around him. Occasionally he will yell out "Die! Die, sucker!" Just then his five year old brother, Skyler, stops beside him. Skyler exclaims with a smile, "What are you playing?" followed by, "Can I play?" The violence has caught his eye. Paul replies, "Sure, but I need to show you how to work the controller." He continues explaining, "This is Star Fox Adventure and see this red thing moving. That is your fox's sight box. What you see in the box is what the fox sees. You aim it at things and you push this 'A' button to make the fox shoot rockets at things and blow them up." Skyler begins to get really excited, laughing and shouting, "T hat's cool!" It did not take Skyler very long to become engulfed by Paul's Nintendo GameCube system to the point of being totally unaware of all the other children running around him. This scene quickly brought to my mind a question: Are video game systems good or bad for children within these age groups? A parent should get educated on this issue before choosing to buy one of many video systems. Parents should be concerned about the effects on their children. Despite the therapists and psychologists who have said that video games can be used as positive teaching tools (Salamander 2), I see that children of all ages, races and genders become addicted to the violence and tech... ...ay Violate Children's Health." http://lists/.essential.org/pepermail/commercial-alert/2001/000079.html. 3 Nov. 2002. Salamander. "Violence and Video Games." Game Zero Magazine. <www. gamezero.com/team-0/articles/features/violenc_92/> 3 Nov. 2002. Stern, Michael and Jane. "Nintendo." Encyclopedia of Pop Culture. New York: Harper, 1992. "Video Games=Good, and Study Proves It!" 2001. Nintendo Village. http://www.nintendo/village.com/press/releases/archives/pr3.asp> 3 Nov. 2002. "Video Games and Their Effect on Youth." <www.bishops.ntc.nf.ca/ct3200/students02/andrewb/term%202%20project.html.> 3 Nov. 2002. Willis, Susan. "Growing Up With TV and Turtles." Rev. of Playing With Power in Movies, Television and Video Games: From Muppet Babies to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, by Marsha Kinder. Berkeley. Un. of California Press, 1991.