Decision making Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Decision making - Research Paper Example The paper uses the two concepts to analyze three mediation efforts in the Arab - Israeli conflict: the Camp David Accords I, Oslo Accords and the Camp David Accords II. In the findings of the research indicate that in all the agreements reviewed, both sides held on to their strengths and privileges to make demands. In areas that either party had weaknesses, they were ready to make risky demands, sometimes at the expense of breaking down the negotiation process. It was therefore conclusive that in mediation in international conflicts, parties use the prospect theory to take decisions on the demands to make. On the other hand, the rational theory is still important. Hence, mediators can only succeed if they guide the parties to the rational choices. Introduction Dealing with interstate conflicts has become a high priority, not only between disputants themselves, but on the global arena as well. The approach and the way by which conflicts are decided to be managed is a crucial issue. â €Å"Mediation is one of the oldest forms of conflict resolution and has been used extensively worldwide by individuals, states and organizations to bring about peaceful resolution to interstate and intrastate conflicts† (Siniver and Thomas, 2011 p2). Typically, mediation involves a third party helping two parties in a conflict to come up with solutions to their disagreements. Mediation aims at promoting a less adversarial method of dealing with conflicts in international relations. Terris and Maoz identify that third party negotiations have been used in 35% of post-World War II militarized disputes (Terris& Maoz 2005 p563). This underscores the importance of mediation as a tool for diplomats to solve conflicts and tensions between nations and states. I see high importance in understanding the perspective role of international mediation as a future conflict resolution tool. Since the demands of each side of the conflict must be heard in mediation, the method with which parties come up with decisions on the demands they put forward is important in determining the success of the process. Thus, each party might need to come up with decisions on the condition to present in the mediation. A simple decision making model involves diagnosis of the problem, search for options and choice, revision through a critical assessment, evaluation of options, choice of a given option and the implementation of choice or demands (Maoz, 2012 p5). The simple decision making model form the basis of the traditional or orthodox negotiation framework known as the Theory of Rationality. The Theory of Rationality is based on an attempt to attain a win-win outcome or the best solution for both parties with the long term interest of the parties. This is steeped in the Expected Utility (EU) Theory, which seeks the best good for the largest numbers of people (Milburn& Isaacs, 1995 p335). However, other theories like the Game Theory which is steeped in probabilities and choices come be u sed to arrive at the rational theory (Coombs& Avrunin, 1998). The Prospect Theory on the other hand, involves an individual negotiating to get the maximum net gains for himself (Bazerman et al, 1985). In other words, each group in the negotiation table will present demands that serves his or her needs best. And as such, we seek the best interests for ourselves. Thus, one must be expected to negotiate for his or her best interest. This makes the Prospect Theory the

Proteins Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Proteins - Lab Report Example However, this method is somewhat expensive and a time consuming. There are various methods of protein quantification such as the Ultra violet Absorbance, Lowry Assay and BCA assay (Mathews, 2000). This experiment employed the Bradford protein assay method in determining of protein. The experiments entail a spectroscopic, analytical procedure used in measuring the concentration of proteins in any solution. The procedure in this method relies on the binding of the dye Coomassie BrilliantBlue G-250 to protein in the sample, in which the dye is proportional to the protein concentration. The bradford dye-binding assay is a colorimetric assay method for measuring protein concentration in solution samples. Much of it involves the binding of Coomassie Brilliant blue to protein. In this case, there is no interference from carbohydrates such as sucrose or from cat ions. However, some of the detergents like sodium dodecyl sulfate, as well as triton x-100 are capable of interfering with the assa y, and the alkaline solutions. In this particular experiment, blank alongside six other test tubes were provided with a certain volume of Bovine albumin standard and the volume of some distilled water. The 1.5 mL of the unknown protein was constituted in the fourth test tube. The absorbance was then found through measuring it with the use of the Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The protein concentration was the computed with the help of the dilution equation. The determination of the unknown protein concentration was achieved through the use of two methods. These were linear regression method and the graphical methods. Quantitative determinations of proteins is the most accurate yet more rapid method for estimating of protein concentration in the field of protein study. The Quantitative determinations of proteins can be titrimetric-elemental, gravimetric or spectroscopic (Stoscheck, 1990). An assay originally described by Bradford has

Data Collection Plan Essay Example for Free

Data Collection Plan Essay Abstract Postoperative Pulmonary complications (PPC) such as atelectasis, impaired gas exchange, pneumonia and acute respiratory failure (ARF) are not uncommon in patients undergoing major surgery and are a leading cause of increased patient morbidity, mortality and increased length of hospital stay (Yoder, Sharma, Hollingsworth, Talavera, Rice, 2013). Healthcare professionals are now expected to give patients verifiably effective treatments by implementing current evidence based practice (EBP). In order to do so, interventions to prevent PPCs must be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of adding incentive spirometry (IS) to traditional postoperative chest physiotherapy (CPT) and respiratory care. Eighty patients between 30 and 50 year old who had undergone surgery participated in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: the intervention group where IS was used in addition to the traditional CPT, and the control group which included only traditional CPT. The results obtained in the investigation indicated that there were significant differences between both groups at the end of the study in terms of PPCs and hospital length of stay (LOS). Conclusion: Addition of IS to postoperative care helped in controlling PPCs. Keywords: postoperative pulmonary complication, incentive spirometer, chest physiotherapy, length of Stay Research Question In postsurgical patients, how does using incentive spirometer, compared to not using incentive spirometer, affect incidence of PPCs and hospital LOS? Hypothesis Because the risk for developing PPCs is not well studied specific numbers of occurrences are difficult to predict. However, it was hypothesized that patients who incorporated IS as part of their postoperative care would have a clinically significant decrease in the occurrence of PPCs and hospital LOS compared to those who did not incorporate IS into their postoperative care. Data Collection A quasi-experimental control trial was conducted from February 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The lead researcher, Adrienne Hinson, collected the data personally. During the four month study, eighty patients ranging in age from 30 to 50 years old who were undergoing surgery where the abdomen or chest was opened were selected randomly from the General Surgery Department at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC. On sampling days, patients meeting the criteria were numbered chronologically based on their surgery time. For eighty consecutive business days, one of the patients was chosen randomly using a random numbers table created on Microsoft Excel. Patients who had recently been diagnosed with or treated for acute pulmonary complications, those who could not be instructed or supervised to assure appropriate use of the IS, and patients whose cooperation or comprehension was lacking were excluded from the study. All appropriate procedures were used to safeguard the rights of study participants. The study was externally reviewed by the hospital’s institutional review board before data collection began. Patients received verbal and written explanations of the study purpose and data collection procedures and after indicating willingness to participate in the study, voluntary informed consent was obtained (See Appendix A). Information included within the informed consent included participant status; participants were told which postoperative activities were routine, and which activities were being evaluated. Participants were informed that the data collected about them would be used for research purposes. The overall goals of the research, to evaluate to addition of IS to postoperative care, was described to patients. Participants were informed about which types of data would be collected, what procedures they would undergo, and how they were selected. The time frame of the commitment was defined as beginning on post-op day one and lasting until their follow up  visit after discharge. Information regarding funding was available to participants. All participants were educated on potential risks and benefits of participation. Finally, patients were assured that their privacy would be protected at all times and that they would be allowed to withdraw from the study at any point during their hospital stay (Polit Beck, 2012). The patients were deliberately placed into one of two experimental groups. Deliberate placement reduces confounding by ensuring the two groups were comparable when age, sex, smoking history, type of surgery and post-operative analgesia were compared. The control group consisted of 40 patients who underwent routine chest physiotherapy (CPT) postoperatively, as recommended by the Clinical Practice Guidelines set forth by The Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (2011). A physiotherapist supervised and assisted the treatment twice a day in the first two postoperative days and once a day from the third to the tenth days. During any session, the patients performed three to five deep breaths interspersed with periods of quiet breathing followed by two or three coughs or huffs with support from a pillow at least 10 times over a 15 minutes period. Additional techniques such as positioning and chest wall percussion were applied if breathing and coughing exercises alone were not effective in clearing excessive or retained pulmonary secretions. Patients were instructed to perform coughing and deep breathing exercises independently every hour while awake. The treatment group consisted of the remaining 40 patients who also followed the same Clinical Practice Guidelines but also received breathing exercise training with IS (Voldyne Volumetric manufactured by Sherwood Medical Company U.S.A.) In addition to the routine chest physiotherapy up to the tenth postoperative day. Application of breathing training with incentive spirometry was applied for five minutes, five times a day (El-Marakby et al., 2013). Monitoring began immediately postoperatively and continued until discharge. Hospital LOS was documented for each patient, along with whether or not the patient developed a PPC within 10 days of surgery. The researcher rounded on each hospitalized patient daily to ensure compliance and to update discharges and PPC diagnoses. In order to determine LOS, participant observation was used as a tool to collect data. LOS was calculated by subtracting day of admission from day of discharge. Date of admission was the date of surgery for all participants. Date of discharge was determined  by the surgical teams, who were blinded to the study and therefore measures are not likely to be influenced by reactivity (Polit Beck, 2012). PPCs were defined as any pulmonary abnormality that produced identifiable disease or dysfunction, was clinically significant, and adversely affected the postoperative clinical course (Hayden, Mayer, Stoller, 1995). Patients were monitored daily for 10 days for the diagnosis of a PPC. Given this definition, PPCs documented included atelectasis, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, and exacerbation of COPD. Along with physical assessment and past history, biophysiological measures were used as data collection tools to aid in the diagnosis of PPCs (See Appendix C). Equipment and lab analysis were readily available and tests for biophysiological measures were completed by the appropriate staff at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Ordering tests and the interpretation of results was fulfilled solely by the healthcare providers as deemed necessary. The researchers were not responsible for diagnosing PPCs, but rather the observation and recording of data. Biophysiological measures for diagnosing acute respiratory failure include a low level of oxygen; a pulse oximetry falling below 80% saturation on room air or when arterial blood gas shows PaO2.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Types, Causes and Treatments

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Types, Causes and Treatments The digestive system plays a huge role in the survival in all living animals and our digestive system, through a series of physical and chemical changes, breaks down the food we eat into molecules that are absorbed and used by the cells in our bodies. Like many things in life, we often take advantage of the systems in our body and do not take proper care of our bodies. We only seem to pay attention to them when something is going wrong. Inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD, is one of many common diseases that affect hundreds of thousands of people in North America every year. Inflammatory bowel disease is not a disease in itself; rather it is a name for a group of similar disorders. The two main types of inflammatory bowel disease are known as Crohns disease and Ulcerative colitis. Both disorders cause parts of the digestive tract (most commonly the large or small intestines) to become inflamed. This paper will outline some details about inflammatory bowel disease including its causes, diagnoses treatment, life style changes made when diagnosed, and some other issues. Causes of IBD Doctors and scientists have been researching the cause, but they are still not certain as to what exactly causes them. It is believed that the inflammation caused by IBD is contributed to by three main factors. These factors are the genes one inherits, ones immune system, and a foreign substance (an antigen) in the environment. It is believed that this foreign substance is either directly causing the inflammation or the antigen triggers the bodys immune system. Once the immune system is triggered it begins to produce inflammation as an attempt to destroy the antigen, but in cases of IBD inflammation can not be controlled. Though the patients immune system begins to defend the body, it does not know how to properly stop at the correct time which may cause extreme damages to the digestive tract due to inflammation and eventually will cause ulcers (sores) 1. Other causes of IBD have to do with ones genetic make up. It is believed that IBD can be linked to ones race, family history and genes. IBD can affect some ethnic groups more than others. IBD was first believed to only affect Caucasians but recent reports have changed that view. There is a rate of 149/100,000 Caucasians that are infected in America, but Jews of European descent living in North America are 4-5 times more likely to contract the disease than people of other ethnicities2. There are also reports of higher cases of IBD in those of African descent, but there are lower infection rates in Asians and Hispanics. Studies also show that 10-20% of people who are affected by IBD will have a family history of having the disease. This means that greatest possible risk to contracting IBD is if someone in your family has been diagnosed with it before. Those who have family members who have been affected are 10 times more likely to be infected and if the infected relative is a brother o r sister, chances of getting IBD increases 30 fold3. Scientists also have come to believe that the NOD2 gene may be linked with IBD Symptoms Inflammatory bowel disease is not curable and will affect patients sporadically through out their lives. Symptoms vary from person to person when it comes to IBD and will flare up and die down at different times in a patients life. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, cramps and rectal bleeding. IBD can also affect ones joints, eyes, and skin and some children who suffer from Crohns may experience delayed growth and sexual development. IBD is a disease that will affect a patient for many years and symptoms will come and go, sometimes more severe than other times. Along with typical symptoms patients may feel other complications as well. Common complications in patients of IBD include intestinal blockages caused by swelling. The blockage will lead to narrower intestinal passages and thicker bowel walls. Medication can be used to remove these blockages, but if they are serious they may need surgery. Nutrional deficiencies may also be a complication often occurring in those who have b een diagnosed with IBD for a very long time. Their bodies will have troubles with absorbing proteins and vitamins, which may lead to a deficiency. Vitamin supplements may be needed in these cases. Sores and ulcers are also a common complication. The ulcers may cause a fistula (a hole that leads from one loop of the intestine to another) to develop. These holes may lead to the bladder, vagina or skin and may become infected. If small enough, fistulas may be treated with drugs, but if serious enough surgery may be required.5 Chrons Disease There are 5 main types of Crohns disease based on the general area that is being affected. The complications and symptoms of Crohns are different depending on what area of the intestines are inflamed. Ileocolitis: This is the most common form of Crohns disease that affects the ileum. The symptoms that come with ileocolitis include pain in middle of the abdomen, cramping, and diarrhea. Ileocolitis can also cause weight loss. Ileitis: This form of Crohns only affects the ileum, but results in the same symptoms as ileocolitis. Gastroduodenal Crohns disease: Occurs in the stomach the duodenum. Symptoms may include loss of appetite, nausea, and weight loss Jejunoilletis: Jejunoiletis causes patchy areas of inflammation in the jejunum. Symptoms include cramps following meals, diarrhea and include pain in the abdominal region that ranges from mild to severe. Crohns colitis: This form of Crohns only affects the colon and causes diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and other diseases around the anus including ulcers.6 Ulcerative Colitis There are also many form of ulcerative colitis, but they have almost the exact same symptom as some forms of Crohns disease. Ulcerative Procitis: The inflammation in located in the rectum and in mild cases, rectal bleeding may be the only symptom. In more serious cases one may feel sudden urges to go to the bathroom and tenesumus which is a term describing painful and ineffective bowel movements. Proctosigmoiditis: Inflammation is located in the rectum and the last section of the colon (sigmoid colon). The symptoms are the same of those that come with ulcerative procitis. Left-sided Colitis: Inflamation in the left side of the colon (rectum, sigmoid colon, and descending colon). Also called limited or distal colitis. The symptoms caused by left-sided colitis are pain on the left side of the abdomen, weightloss and diarreah.7 Diagnosis According to the Crohns Colitis Foundation of Canada by fall of 2008, about 200 000 Canadian8 and according to the Crohns Colitis Foundation of America about 1.4 million Americans9 have been diagnosed with IBD. IBD tends to infect those who are between the ages 15-35 years of age, but is not limited to those few. It can also occur in younger children and people as old as 70. A staggering 10% of those who are affected by IBD are under the age of 18. Because of the high rate of IBD it is important to have the disease properly diagnosed. Inflammatory bowel diseases symptoms are very similar to many other diseases so doctors must be careful when diagnosing the disease and it may take a long time. Some common tests to diagnose IBD include endoscopies examining the colon, the sigmoid colon, esophagus, or the liver and pancreatic duct. Different types of radiology test can be used as well including x-rays, CT scans, MRI, white blood cell scans, and ultrasounds. Sometimes a small piece of tissue from the infected area may be cut out for closer analysis. This can further help doctors diagnose IBD.10 Treatment As of now, there isnt any known cure for IBD. Once a patient is diagnosed IBD it is important to properly treat the disorder in order to keep ones symptoms in check. The most common form of treatment is the usage of medication. There are many types of drugs used to treat patients with IBD. Aminosalicylates are one type of drug used that are meant to subside inflammation caused by IBD and is usually used to treat mild symptoms. Asacol, ® Colazal,. ® Dipentum, ® orPentasa, ® are all examples of aminosalicylates. Corticosteroids, the second type of drug which is usually used in moderate to severe cases, are given to patients to suppress ones immune system. Prednisone and methylprednisolone are the types of corticosteroids and they can be dangerous because they may cause some long-term side effects. The third type of drug used to treat IBD are immune modifiers. These are used to heal fistulas in the intestinal tract and to help reduce ones dosage of corticosteroids. Azathioprine (Imuran ®), 6-MP (Purinethol ®), and methotrexateImmune modifiers are some examples of this. Just like many other diseases IBD can also be treated with the use of Antibiotics. Antibiotics like metronidazole, ampicillin, and ciprofloxacin, are just a few of the types that can be used. Also biological therapies can be used to treat IBD. There are many types and each serves a different purpose. For example Inflixmiab (Remicade ®) is a drug made of 75 percent human, 25 percent mouse protein and is an antibody. This antibodies function is to block ones immune system. This blockage stops the immune system from making a chemical called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a chemical that is made by the bodys immune system to intensify inflammation within the body. By stopping the immune system from making TNF-alpha, inflammation caused by IBD can be prevented.11 Eventually medicine will not be enough to control the symptoms of IBD. 66%-75% of people diagnosed with Crohns will eventually need surgery in their lives. Surgery may be needed to repair a fistula, clear blockage in the intestines, or to remove a section of the intestines. In cases of IBD, surgerys main function is to try and keep as much as the bowels intact and helps patients live a high quality life.12 Societal issues and Life Style Changes Along with proper medication certain lifestyle changes can be made in order to reduce ones symptoms and improve overall health. Special care should be taken to make sure one is receiving a healthy diet. Often those who are diagnosed with IBD have a loss of appetite because of nausea which may lead to an improper amount of food intake. The disease also increases the amount of calories needed by the body. Also IBD causes diarrhea and is linked to problems with absorption of protein, fat, carbohydrates and water. All of these take away essential nutrients from the body and proper nutrition can help return those nutrients to the body. Also when experiencing some of the symptoms of IBD one should avoid eating any high-fiber and spicy foods because they may cause even more discomfort.13 Inflammatory bowel disease is very common among people in North America and because of this people may feel emotionally stressed when they find out they are diagnosed with IBD. This is a major societal issue because of how common IBD is. People may struggle to cope with the chronic pain accompanied with IBD. It will begin to really affect ones quality of life. Ones physical and emotional well being, self-esteem, and ability to function in social groups may be affected. Patients who are diagnosed with IBD should try to receive emotional support from their families and doctors. Though psychiatric help is not mandatory it may also be a good idea to talk to a therapist. Stress plays a role in IBD. One should try reducing stress to help avoid a flare in their symptoms. Regular Exercise, yoga, and listening to music are just a few ways to relieve stress.14 Environmental Issues Researches do not know why, but IBD is more common in areas that are more developed. Cases of IBD are usually found in the U.S. and Europe. IBD is more common in northern climate and in urban areas, rather than southern climates and rural areas.15 Societal Issues As previously stated Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis do not have a known cure and are a life long disease. IBD is treated with numerous types of medications and surgery. The problem with this is that those who are uninsured and are diagnosed with IBD must pay thousands of dollars over the courses of their life in order to pay for medicine and surgery. In fact reports from the market research firm GlobalData states that in 2008 $1.4 billion in revenue was made from sales of medication related to Crohns That number is expected to go up to $2.1 billion by 2015.16 Ethical Issues There have been cases where people with Crohns have received stem-cell transplantation. One boy was diagnosed with Crohns disease when he was 13 and had received regular treatment for Crohns. He eventually developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma when he was 20 and received a stem cell transplantation to fight the lymphoma.. He did not receive the stem cell for his Crohns, but for 7 years after the transplantation he did not have any symptoms for Crohns17.This raises a question whether or not stem cell research should be used to treat IBD. Stem cell research has raised many debates on how ethical it is. There have been many debates whether or not stem cell research should be allowed or not. Conclusion There currently is not a cure for IBD, but those who have been diagnosed should be aware of symptoms, causes, and the all the possible things they can do to improve their lives. Research is being done and scientists have been working hard to try and improve treatment for IBD and eventually find the cure. People who have been diagnosed will face some challenges, but they should go on to live long healthy and happy lives.

Breach Of Confidentiality: The Legal Implications When You Are Seeking :: essays research papers

Breach of Confidentiality: The Legal Implications When You Are Seeking Therapy Abnormal Psychology 204 November 2, 1996 Breach of Confidentiality: The legal Implications when You are seeking Therapy I. The need for confidentiality in therapy A. Establish trust B. A patients bill of rights Thesis: The duty to warn has created an ethical dilemma for psychological professionals. II. Therapists face a moral problem B. Requirement by law to breach confidentiality C. Exceptions for breaching confidentiality D. Prediction of violence E. Impact on client I. The future outlook for therapy A. Conflicting views between the legal and psychological professions People are afraid to admit to themselves and others that they need to help to resolve their psychological problems. This is due to the social stigma which society attaches to people, when they seek assistance from a mental health professional. Consequently it is very difficult for any person to establish a trusting relationship with their therapist, because they fear, that the therapist might reveal their most personal information and emotions to others. Health professionals therefore created the patients bill of rights to install confidence between clients and therapists. The patient has a right to every consideration of privacy concerning his own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his care must have the permission of the patient to be present. The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his care should be treated as confidential. ( Edge, 63 ) This bill of rights enables clients to disclose all personal information without fears. To fully confide in the therapist is essential to the success of the therapy. On the other hand, the therapist is legally obliged to breach this trust when necessary. The duty to warn has created an ethical dilemma for psychological professionals. The duty to warn is based on a court ruling in 1974. Tatiana Tarasoff was killed by Prosenjit Poddar. Prior to the killing Poddar had told his therapist that he would kill Tatiana upon her return from Brazil. The psychologist tried to have Poddar committed, but since the psychiatrist overseeing this case failed to take action, Poddar was never committed nor was Tarasoff warned about Poddars intentions to kill her. This failure resulted in Tatianas death. The Supreme Court therefore ruled that the psychologist had a duty to warn people which could possibly become harmed ( Bourne, 195-196 ). This policy, to warn endangered people, insures that therapists must breach there confidentiality for specific reasons only. These few exceptions are: Harm Principle: "When the practitioner can foresee a danger to an individual who

Self-Concept :: Psychology, Gender Difference

Before stepping onto the topic of the way we see ourselves, we first have to try to fully understand the definition of self-concept. The classification of self-concept is defined in many different ways by various researchers and practitioners over years. According to Purkey and William (1988), the popularity and attention of self-concept has been raising since decades of ignorance. Self-concept is mainly regarded as the realisation of our own existence; who we are, what is our purpose and how we fit into the society. Self-concept can be defined in a very complex manner. For example, it can be explained as a cognitive representation of oneself that gives coherence and meaning to one’s experience, including one’s relations to other people. It organises past experiences and plays an important role in assisting us to recognise and interpret relevant stimuli in the social environment (Hewstone, Stroebe & Jonas, 2008). Nonetheless, self-concept can also be clarified as simple as a statement where Fromm (1956) describe as â€Å"life being aware of itself.† After understanding the notion self-concept, we then can proceed to use different approaches to search a suitable answer to the question of â€Å"Why do we ‘see’ ourselves in the way that we do?†. In an experiment done by Montemayor and Eisen (1977), children were studied and questioned for their existence. When the children in the experiment were asked â€Å"Who am I?†, the most common answer given are descriptive and are usually about their appearance. For example, â€Å"I have brown eyes, I have brown hair and et cetera†. Children tend to mainly focus on the description of physical features of their body, address, procession and play activities; kids’ self-concept is more concrete as well as less abstract. In comparison, teenagers were observed and were asked the same question. As teenagers with wider knowledge of their existence, they will probably come up with more profound words and not only focus on the physical parts of body but somehow personal beliefs, motivation and interpersonal characteristics. For example, â€Å"I am a human being. I am a moody person, etc†. Consequently, adolescence’s answers seem to be more abstract but less c oncrete. By asking this question to both childhood and adolescence, significant increase can be seen in self-conceptions and categorised in followings: occupational rule; existential, individuating; ideological and belief reference; the sense of self- determination; the sense of unity; interpersonal style; and physical style (Montemayor & Eisen, 1977). The experiment has proven that aging does massively affect the way of seeing ourselves in everyone.

Definition of family Essay

The definition of a family according to the U. S. Census Bureau is that a family consists of a householder and any other person living in the same household. However, the people living in the family should be related to the householder either by birth, marriage, or by adoption. The people in a family who are related to the householder are termed as his family members. However, in some houses there might also be people living in a family who might be unrelated to the householder, therefore they are not to be included in the householder’s family while the census is being carried out and thus, the number of family households is equal to the number of families, but the family households may include more members than do families. Therefore, the crux of this would be that all the households do not contain families as they might be unrelated as well. Functions of a family Basically the two functions of a family are: †¢ Economic functions †¢ Political functions Other than these two major categories, a family has a number of functions after doing which a family can be really termed as a family in a true sense and these are mentioned below. One of the most important functions is reproduction of babies and once a child is born, it is the duty of the householder to look after the children, take care of them, monitor that day to day activities, supervise them on certain things, interact with them and provide them with all the necessities and love it would require to make them good grown ups. As it is not just necessary to give birth to the baby, however they should also be taken care of so that they survive to become adult members of the society. Two persons basically tie the knot of marriage in order to legitimize their sexual relationship and this ensures the offspring is healthy. The household head is supposed to provide economics support to the family as well as to fulfill the love, emotional, security needs of the family. In the end, I would also add that the family is looked upon in the society with respect and they have a certain position in the society than those individuals just living together without marriage. (Schwartz & Scott, 2007). As mentioned above, a family consists of the household member who is basically responsible for his family members. However, to define my family I would say that my family does not fulfill the definition of the family mentioned above. This is because the fathers are usually the ones who are said to be the household heads and they are responsible of taking care of the family members. I am only the child in my family and my parents were divorced when I was four years old. I am living with my Mom right now and the rest of my family is living in China. Most of the family functions that I mentioned above are not actually applicable to my family. This is because my parents had an unhappy marriage and this thing gave me a lot of bad experiences. The first function of the family is to ensure that the baby grows as an adult of a society. In my case, however I did become an adult but it was just my mother who took care of me and looked after all my needs. A father is always necessary to make a family more strong as the responsibilities of a father are different than ones of a mother but in my case, my mother was my mother as well as my father. She was the one who was responsible for each and every activity of mine. It is believed that a family is economically supported mostly by the fathers, however as my mother had a divorce with my father, she was the one who had to support my needs all by herself. And I think that my family did not manage things well. The divorce of my parents at the time when I was just four was a shock for me as for a family to survive well; both the mother as well as the father has to be there so that they might fulfill their own set of responsibilities and ensure that the family is living happily. However, this was not the case for my family as the divorce between my parents made things worse for me. Although my mother did all she could do for me but still the presence of the father is essential for a family to prosper well. Thus, according to me, my family did not address the functions of a family well as it was an unhappy and irresponsible family. The fundamental purpose of each family is to fulfill the requirements and the functions of a family. It is vital for each family to fulfill their responsibilities as this not just affects the family alone but the society and the environment as well and it also affects the people around you. No one likes to be friends with the families who are not well settled in a way that the parents might have conflicts amongst each other or they might not want to live with each other and this would create lots of problems for their children. Therefore, for a country to prosper well it is essential that the families living there are happy and contended. The functions of the family highlight the responsibilities the household head has with reference to their family. Therefore, its informative nature helps to think about families in terms of the functions it fulfills. Reference Schwartz, M. A. & Scott, B. M. (2007). Marriages and families: Diversity and change. 5th Edn. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.