Stress-Relieving Benefits of Watching Cute Animal Videos

Stress-Relieving Benefits of Watching Cute Animal Videos Stress Management Management Techniques Print Stress-Relieving Benefits of Watching Cute Animal Videos By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 21, 2017 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on March 25, 2018 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living dixi/istock There are many types of posts people make on social media, and virtually everyone has seen the most popular categories of posts. There are the political posts, which can be stressful. (In fact, a recent study from the American Psychological Association showed that many of us experience the preponderance of political posts and discussions we encounter to be a significant stressor in our lives.) There are the humble brags, which can be humorous, but also stressful. (Again, this research shows that the social comparison that’s facilitated by social media can be a real source of stress and can make us feel bad about ourselves as we compare our regular lives to the best versions of others’ lives, which make up the majority of some people’s posts.) Discussions can turn into conflicts and many posts can feel stressful to read, even if we don’t realize it at the time. Much of what we spend our time reading on social media can make us feel more stressed and drained rather than less so . And then there are the posts that show pictures or videos of cute animals. This is the type of post that you’d expect your sweet aunt to post, or perhaps your friend who’s an extreme animal lover. This is also one type of post that is often underappreciated and seen as lacking in importance and substance.  However, perhaps we should all be spending more time looking at these uplifting videos.  Some research suggests that they can not only lift our moods but help us build resilience to stress in the long run. If that doesn’t have your attention, it should. The Case for Cute Animal Videos There are several studies that hint at the benefits of viewing pictures of cute animals, and these benefits may be more far-reaching than one would think. While no single study provides a complete picture, a group of studies seems to show a link between cute animal videos and less stress, and possibly greater satisfaction with many areas of life. Consider the following: Animal Photos and Marital Bliss: One study led by James McNulty of Florida State University found that they could improve marital satisfaction with the use of cute animal photos. More specifically, they took 144 couples who had been married for less than five years and had them complete marital satisfaction surveys. Then they asked them to view to view a stream of images three times a week for six weeks. Those in the experimental group always saw a stream of images that included their partner paired with visuals of cute animals or words like, “wonderful,” while the other group saw pictures of their partners paired with neutral objects like buttons. After six weeks, the group with the cute animals paired with their spouses had more positive automatic responses to their spouses. Additionally, they demonstrated more satisfaction with their marriages, and improvements that came to a higher degree than those in the control groups. These findings even surprised the researchers but show ed that there is a real potential benefit to viewing pictures of cute animals and that this can help people to feel more positively about other things (and people) in their lives as well. Mood Lifts and Resilience to Stress: Another series of studies by researcher Barbara Fredrickson found that by lifting one’s moodâ€"something known as “inducing positive effect,” people can broaden the range of options they see in their lives, leading themselves to become more aware of potential resources available to them and to build upon those resources. This process can lead to more positive moods, greater resource-building, and, in essence, an “upward spiral of positivity” that leads to greater resilience to stress, among many other things. (Research has found that many things are linked in this upward spiral, so it’s highly beneficial.) This can all be triggered by virtually anything that gets us into a more positive emotional state, but cute animal visuals seem to fit that bill. Videos Are Great Mood-Changers: Finally, in the world of positive affect-induction (what led to resource-building in Fredrickson’s studies), researchers have been studying which techniques work the best. They’ve found that gratitude journaling can lead to increases in positive affect, as can visualizations of good things happening to us, loving-kindness meditations, and many other things. Positive videos have been found to be one of the strongest good-mood-inducers, however. One review of several studies found that videos had a stronger effect on mood than music or several other mood-induction techniques. This means that videos of things that lift our moodâ€"and cute animal images have been found to do thisâ€"can lead to these “upward positivity spirals” and the life satisfaction and resilience to stress that they bring. This makes them well worth the time it takes to watch them, at least in moderation. Cute Animals Boost Productivity: OK, back to research on animal videos in particular. A Japanese researcher named Hiroshi Nittono found that study participants who looked at pictures of puppies and panda cams, as well as grumpy cat videos, experienced not only mood boosts but increases in their productivity as well. In the study, subjects performed several tasks that required skill and concentration (including the board game, “Operation”) before and after viewing pictures of baby animals, adult animals, and neutral items like food. Those who viewed the cute baby animal pictures performed significantly better than the other two groups after the viewing. It was thought that the rise in productivity was due to a few factors including the mood lift (which fits well with the previous research by Fredrickson), and the fact that the videos helped subjects to narrow their focus. So while the enjoyment you find in viewing videos of cute animals can be its own reward, many people may be reluctant to share these videos because they may seem unimportant compared to more serious or ego-enhancing content we could be putting out there. Some people may feel it’s a waste of time to watch the videos when more important things are happening in the world. But stress management and emotional self-care are very important for our ability to not only function well in our lives but to be resilient enough to be there for each other. That makes this “fluffy” pastime perhaps a little less frivolous. More Mood Boosters In addition to watching videos of cute animals, there are other ways to boost positive affect and let the mood boost give you a life boost. The following have been found (by some of the research mentioned above) to give you a boost in mood as well. You can try these activities in addition to watching animal videos, or sometimes when you have no cute animals handy. You can never find too many mood boosters. Gratitude Journaling: At the beginning of your day, list three things for which you are grateful. You can also do this at the end of the day, listing things that happened that day or people you saw that provoke a sense of gratitude. You can elaborate as much as you like, but even a brief list can help you to feel better about your life and give you a lift in mood that you can carry with you throughout the day.Positive Visualizations: One study had participants spend four minutes visualizing positive events happening to them. They can either be good things that happened in the past or fantasy events like winning the lottery. The four minutes can be spent imagining in detail how you felt when this happened, or how you would feel. Remember or imagine sensory details, emotions, and what happens next.Loving-Kindness Meditation: This technique has been shown again and again to have many benefits for happiness and a sense of connection. Basically, you imagine feeling positive, peaceful feel ings toward yourself, embracing yourself with positivity. Then you expand the good feelings and extend them toward those in your family and your closest friend. You extend the circle of acquaintances and even enemies until you are thinking about everyone in the world and envisioning positive feelings toward them. There are more specifics you can put into action with practice, but you can learn  the basics. This can take a couple of minutes or 15 to 20, depending on how much time you have.? There are other ways to boost your mood (exercise, seeing a good friend, even enjoying a cup of tea), so experiment away. This is a great list to start with, however, and it’s a great idea to incorporate these things into your daily life. And cute animals can be the first thing you try. How Video Games Can Be Used for Stress Relief

James Langston Hughes And Countee Cullen - 934 Words

James Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were prominent poets. These poets were at the time of the Harlem Renaissance during the 20th century. Hughes and Cullen wrote for others to understand the stories of African-Americans living in the United State. These men had differences in their writing, but one mutual objective. James Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. Hughes began writing poetry when he lived in Lincoln, Illinois. The Weary Blues was his first book of poetry and it was published in 1926. Hughes attended Columbia University and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, which is where he finished his college education. Hughes first novel won the Harmon gold medal for literature in 1930. His novel was called, Not Without Laughter. Hughes died from prostate cancer in New York on May 22, 1967. Countee Cullen was born on March 30, 1903 in Louisville, Kentucky. Cullen was adopted by the Reverend Frederick A. and Carolyn Belle Cullen before 1918. Details on certain aspects of Cullen’s life are unsure. Cullen first went by the name Countee Porter then Countee P. Cullen and eventually stayed at Countee Cullen. Cullen began writing poetry while he attended DeWitt Clinton High School. Cullen’s poem â€Å"I have a Rendezvous with Life† won him his first contest. Cullen attended Phi Beta Kappa from New York University, then earned a master’s degree in English and French from Harvard. Cullen died on January 9, 1946 from high blood pressure and uremicShow MoreRelatedEssay on Journey to the Harlem Renaissance1282 Words   |  6 PagesAmericans. It showed blacks that they were becoming equals in American society. The talents of African Americans soared in art, music, literature and especially poetry. The main writers embodying the Harlem Renaissance were C laude McKay, Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. Claude was born in Jamaica, in 1898. He got his education from his older brother, who â€Å"possessed a library of English novels, poetry and scientific texts.† (Callahan, 784) Claude was a little older when he created his first pieceRead MoreEssay about The Harlem Renaissance1515 Words   |  7 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Harlem Renaissance Poets consist of: James Weldon Johnson, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, Jean (Eugene) Toomer, Langston Hughes, Sterling Brown, Robert Hayden, and Gwendolyn Brooks. These eight poets contributed to modern day poetry in three ways. One: they all wrote marvelous poems that inspired our poets of modern times. Two: they contributed to literature to let us know what went on in there times, and how much we now have changed. And last but not least they all have written poems thatRead MoreThe Modernist Period Of American Literature1155 Words   |  5 Pagesbut also in the arts through music and dance, especially jazz music. Major contributor s to the harlem renaissance who we see writing a great deal about the limitations and expansion of opportunities of race include Langston Hughes through his work â€Å"I, too, Sing America† , Countee Cullen through his work of â€Å"Heritage† and Zora hurston through her work of â€Å"How It Feels to Be Colored Me . We first begin to see a growth and focus on the limitations and the expansion of race in the 1920’s through theRead More Langston Hughes Essay670 Words   |  3 Pages James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was very small, and his father (who found American racism made his desires to be a lawyer impossible) left the family and emigrated to Mexico. Hughes mother moved with her child to Lawrence, Kansas, so she and he could live with his grandmother, Mary Langston. Langston Hughes mother moved to Topeka in 1907, leaving the five-year-old with his grandmother. Langston came from a family of African-AmericanRead MoreRacial Discrimination And The Harlem Renaissance2310 Words   |  10 PagesAmerican poets Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude Mckay were all part of the Harlem Renaissance movement. The setting during this time in 1920’s and 1930’s America post world war one was a time of great economic surplus then depression, and there were many problems with race in America. â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers† by Langston Hughes (Appendix A), â€Å"Incident† by Countee Cullen (Appendix B), â€Å"If We Must Die† by Claude Mckay (Appendix C), and â€Å"I Too, Sing America† also by Langston Hughes (AppendixRead MoreThe New Negro Summary Essay1412 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature. One such writer was James Weldon Johnson; taking on the persona of a black preacher, he was able to greatly impress upon the black community how important it was to have a strong faith in God and in oneself. Catapulting the 1920s artistic movement that created a bulk of the first major literary pieces by African Americans, Johnson was the ancestor of great men and women such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Wallace Thurman, and W.E.B. Du Bois. Langston Hughes is often called the poetRead More Countee Cullen Essay559 Words   |  3 Pages Countee Cullen was a prominent American poet and was known as the â€Å"poster poet† of the 1920 artistic movement called the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance produced the first African American works of literature in the United States. There were many leading figures in the Harlem Renaissance such as James Weldon Johnson, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Wallace Thurman and Arna Bontemps. Cullen was simply an amazing young man who won many poetry contests throughout New York, published two notableRead MoreThe Legacy Of African Americans2320 Words   |  10 Pageswe must first understand the origins of poetry, and learn about some of the notable African American poets of the past who have paved the way. There are many great African American artists that were very talented poets. Artists such as Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Gwendolyn Bennett are just a few African Americans who had a momentous influence on writing and poetry in our culture. The Harlem Renaissance was an era when African Americans embraced their talents and created incredible artworksRead More Langston Hughes Essay1356 Words   |  6 Pages With such great notables as Countee Cullen, Jean Toomer, Zora Neale, and James Johnson, mainstream American now had a unique window into the plight of African Americans all over the country. One individual though stands out as one of the most prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes defined himself by his ability to pursue the true essence of â€Å"black folk† at a time when black identity, culture, or art was considered an oxymoronic concept. Hughes sought to explore the true identityRead MoreReoccurring Themes in the Work of Langston Hughes Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesLangston Hughes is an extremely successful and well known black writer who emerged from the Harlem Renaissance (â€Å"Langston Hughes† 792). He is recognized for his poetry and like many other writers from the Har lem Renaissance, lived most of his life outside of Harlem (â€Å"Langston Hughes† 792). His personal experiences and opinions inspire his writing intricately. Unlike other writers of his time, Hughes expresses his discontent with black oppression and focuses on the hardships of his people. Hughes’

Abortion A Controversial Issue - 882 Words

Every culture and society does not allow or consider abortion as a rightful act, and abortion is a name of destroying human life. Now a days our society faces several types of issues Abortion is one of the complicated issue for both ways health and society that’s why abortion become a very controversial issue that’s become debatable in politics. In addition, these researches will describe the different issues of abortion, such as, legal laws on abortion, restriction of abortions, rate of abortion and consequences of the abortion. Abortion is very serious issue that’s why abortion has become a debatable issue in U.S politics. Recently the republican candidate Donald trump said in the news â€Å"The sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. The party, advocates for a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendmentâ€℠¢s protections apply to unborn children.†(Boguhn 1). Donald trump said in the news the unborn child have the total right to alive and these restrictions have to become part of laws. Additionally, he is also against the legal rights of abortion Trump said legal rights of abortion should change from the U.S laws and make secure and supportive laws for unborn children lives. Moreover, increase the rate of abortion is thoughtful issue. Abortion rate has increased all around the world, but the results of abortion is really harmfulShow MoreRelatedThe Controversial Issue Of Abortion878 Words   |  4 Pagesrecent discussions of abortion, the controversial issue has become whether or not women should be given the right to take their unborn child’s life away. Many believe in all having the right to live while others believe in the right to be given a choice. Women do not want to be given restrictions, they want to be able to have a voice when making decisions. With abortion wo men have a hard time making their decision based upon the judgement others make if the decision of abortion is followed throughRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Issue1256 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion is a very controversial issue. To first start out abortion is the deliberate termination of a woman’s pregnancy, most often performed within the first 22 weeks of pregnancy. People can either be pro-choice or pro-life for abortion. Being pro-choice means that people believe that it is a woman’s choice to get an abortion if they want one. Pro-life means people believe no matter what if a woman is pregnant they should have the baby; no abortion. I intent to explain why women who get pregnantRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Issue Of Abortion Essay2668 Words   |  11 PagesAbortion is terminating a pregnancy before the fetus has been born. Abortion has been and still is very controversial and has had an increasing amount of cases all over the world. In 2000 there were over one million abortions in the United States (Harper, et al., 501). Abortion is one of the most common procedures women undergo. According to the current abortion rates about thirty percent of women will have an abortion by the age of forty-five (Jones and Kavanaugh, 2011). Most abortions are attributedRead MoreThe Controversial Issue Of Abortion1555 Words   |  7 Pagestopic of abortion in the United States has been and remains one of the most controversial issues in western culture and politics. An abortion can be defined as the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it can survive on its own. This comprises two major forms of abortion: spontaneous, which is often referred to as a miscarriage or induced abortion, which is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. The term is commonly used to refer to the induced abortion, and this is the abortion, which hasRead MoreThe Controversial Issue Of Abortion865 Words   |  4 Pages Today, people have the right to voice their thoughts regarding a topic, rather they’re different or alike, creating a new philosophy about it, or supporting the traditional belief. In regards to the topic, Abortion has been a subject of controversial matters. Some believing they have the right to do such an act while others would absolutely disagree. Before supporting such an act or not, we typically take into consideration the goods and bads of the action first. While taking a life might be oneRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Issue911 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion is a controversial issue in many countries all the time and there are always two sides of abortion. Pro-life supporters believe that abortion is immoral, so they argue that it should be illegal because an unborn baby is life. However, they do not figure out that woman who is on the inevitable situation such as infection, rape, or extreme poverty would still have the abortion even though the abortion is illegal. Many women die due to unsafe abortion, which is illegal and performed by uneducatedRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Issue843 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion Abortion has been a very controversial issue in the United States for the past several decades. Many people think that is it morally wrong. To say that something is morally wrong is an opinion. Since everyone’s opinions are different on this topic there have been many court cases and protests against abortion. However there are a lot of people out there that believe that abortion is a rightful decision. My personal opinion on the abortion controversy is that every woman should have theRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Issue989 Words   |  4 Pagesaverage total of abortions performed annually in America (operationrescue.org). Abortion is a very controversial issue in the United States and all across the globe. First, I will discuss the different types of abortion. Next, I will explain when the abortions are performed. Then, I will share some of the laws regarding abortion in the United States. Finally, I will express my views on abortion. Abortion should be illegal in all states. First, I will discuss the various types of abortion. There are threeRead MoreAbortion: a Controversial Issue1159 Words   |  5 PagesAbortion: A Controversial Issue One of the major controversial issues confronting the society today is abortion. I choose abortion as the topic of discussion since it contradicts my values and beliefs. Abortion is the extraction of the human fetus from the mothers womb with an intention to end the life of that fetus prior to its natural birth. The controversy surrounding abortion is whether it should be legalized or not? In my opinion, abortion is morally and ethically wrong because it leadsRead MoreThe Controversial Issue Of Abortions1443 Words   |  6 Pageslooking at them. This includes their reproductive system, which worldwide has caused many controversial issues that will be further looked upon throughout this paper. When the word â€Å"Abortion† is heard, a heated argument often arises between couples, families, governments, and most commonly throughout women’s minds around the world. Over the past hundred years, the topic of abortions has been an ongoing issue. Many people agree to this practice, while others see it as completely absurd. In the past

Cold Mountain Free Essays

On the surface, Cold Mountain is the tale of a man trying to find his way home. However, once looked at in more detail, it is seen as a story of a man looking for faith. From the very first step, Inman’s journey is one of faith, a faith that he has lost in the Civil War and is on the road to recovering. We will write a custom essay sample on Cold Mountain or any similar topic only for you Order Now We know little of Inman’s life prior to his journey, but what we do learn tells us that he was at one point a Christian. In his youth he had been taught, and he believed in, the basics of the Christian faith. Specifically, he believed in heaven, the immortality of soul, and that we are all children of God. Cold Mountain is the story of a man who has undergone a traumatic experience, the likes of which has stolen away from him all optimism and hope for a better tomorrow. However, as Inman plans to step out the window of the hospital and begin his journey home, his faith in God seems to wither away. The horrors of what he has experienced in the war have â€Å"burned away† (page 36) his Christian faith. He no longer believes in the easy answers to the problems of life given by Christians. His faith is further questioned when he meets Veasey, the preacher who has impregnated his lover and who attempts to murder her in order to cover it up. Even after Veasey is discovered and thrown out of town, claiming to be a changed man through God, his life does not show evidence of this. He goes on to rob a store and sleep with a prostitute. Upon these activities, Inman states that many preachers are just like Veasey. They claim to be able to save the worst of sinners, and yet can’t save themselves. This hypocritical lifestyle was a major contributing factor to Inman losing his faith. Inman’s spiritual struggle is not merely a battle with his own inner demons. Inman’s main struggle is with God himself, claiming to feel like an abused child of God. In a conversation with a blind man, he was stunned to discover that no person had put out the man’s eyes. He had been born that way. He then asked himself, â€Å"How did you find someone to hate for a thing that just was? â€Å". (page 82) Throughout this story, we learn that when faced with situations like this Inman blames God. He holds God responsible for the way things are. For example, when Inman travels through the woods and sees a meteor shower, he is convinced that it has been aimed at him. He looks at any unfortunate situation as a deliberate attempt by God to bring him pain. Throughout Cold Mountain, Inman faces many obstacles that question his faith. Having lost it from the beginning, these obstacles only further convince him that God is not now or ever looking out for him. Only after facing all of these obstacles does he finally find redemption in his faith through the trials of life. How to cite Cold Mountain, Essay examples Cold Mountain Free Essays Shakespeare English | Spoken Task Cold Mountain The Feel Of The Air ‘Everything had a name. To live fully in a place all your life, you kept aiming smaller and smaller in attention to detail. ’ â€Å"†¦as Swimmer explained it, the characters of those animals too would transfer to Inman- wheeling grace, soar and stoop, grim single- mindedness. We will write a custom essay sample on Cold Mountain or any similar topic only for you Order Now † Page 18 This passage admits of the intrinsic power of nature to reflect and influence a person, the function of pathetic fallacy and presumably part of ideology of he Cherokee people. Good morning Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, I am the writer of Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier. Firstly I would like to acknowledge you all for being here today and being able to explore Cold Mountain including shaping devices and techniques. I would like to examine the literary constructions in Cold Mountain, in terms of the novel’s journey and landscape structures and to attempt to determine how well these fictionally built environments reflect the internal processes of the two main characters Ada and Inman. In other words, we can connect the external environment with the internal geography to create depth. Cold Mountain is a place of intense elements, it is a place of which all emotions and actions are played out, a place where life and death is held. The novel follows Inman’s journey home from the slaughter he has witnessed in the Civil War. Inman is intelligent, literate and sensitive, although he often appears emotionally reserved. Troubled by the carnage he has witnessed, Inman seeks spiritual solace in the natural world and his memories of Ada. The feel of the air, through, suggested that they were on a ridge and that there was much open air and gravity around them† (Page 372). Inman attempts to retain his hope and his faith in a better world in the face of incomprehensible violence and cruelty. There are some characters in which are more significant in this respect than others and they have more of an actual influence on Inman’s journey. One of these characters is Veasey, the preacher. Veasey is a general negative influence on Inman’s odyssey. Despite Veaseys annoying habits, he saves Inman’s life in the end, therefor even the negative influences that Inman’s experiences on his odyssey, result in a positive outcome. I have used seasonal variation as an allegorical device to reflect the development of the characters, Ada, Inman and Ruby. These characters seem to evolve in connection with nature’s changes and cycles â€Å"The axle of my life† Each character belongs to both the present and the past; each effectively becomes a timeless traveler. Both the men and the women find Cold Mountain covered with traces of an older civilization. Arrowheads, ‘Indian’ trails and stone slabs covered with ancient writing, symbolizing a lost world that time has placed out of reach. As the writer, I use archeological objects to reintroduce the idea of man as a being who leaves only traces of his presence in the world. This chapter in the novel questions whether man evolves or regresses over time, or whether things simply change. ‘It would have been possible to frame the arrow as some relic, a piece of another world, and Ada did something like that. She saw it as an object already numbered among the things that were. (page 412). Even the landscape suggests this duality as pristine snow falls around black trees. Like life itself, the world is filled with stark contrasts. Inman exhibits cunning, bravery and especially endurance as he overcomes all challenges to reach Ada. The climax occurs when Inman, who has survived, being hunted through his travels, finally reaches Ada and finds himself at gunpoint rather than i n an embrace. The climax lingers as Inman and Ada, both considerably changed by their recent circumstances, and become reacquainted and complete their love for each other. This is shown in the small cottage located on Cold Mountain, where Ada and Inman made love. The novel cannot be described as a tragedy though, because Ada ends up with Inman’s child and his love of the idyllic lifestyle on Cold Mountain. After examining the literary constructions in Cold Mountain, in terms of the novel’s journey and landscape structures and attempting to determine how well these fictionally built environments reflect the internal processes of the two main characters Ada and Inman, have reflected and impacted not only on Ada and Inman also the novel, and the view on the readers. The novel not only connects to the external environment but also the internal geography of ourselves. Bibliography | | Internet| Williams, James B. â€Å"Customer Reviews Cold Mountain. † Amazon. com: Customer Reviews: Cold Mountain. 2 June 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. http://www. amazon. com/Cold-Mountain-Charles-Frazier/product-reviews/0802142842 How to cite Cold Mountain, Papers

Occupation Safety and Health Concern

Question: Discuss about the Occupation Safety and Health Concern. Answer: Introduction Noise is a common occupational hazard in major working places. Noise and unwanted sound are commonly ignored, but extreme exposure to noise contributes to safety concerns of workers in an organization. Despite the levels of noise being subjective towards the receiver, there are levels of noise that are intolerable for human life. A call for reduction of noise levels in factories and other working places is inevitable. Despite numerous attempts by business and firms to minimize the noise they produce, the general levels of noise in the current plants and workplace, cannot be defined to be safe for occupational health. The need to worry about noise in major workplaces is characterized by the number of victims of the noise pollution. As per occupation safety and health (OSH) report, About 10 million workers in Australia are exposed to noise, whose levels can only be described as hazardous (Johnstone 2008, p. 57). Noise refers to any sound that is above the required parameters denoted by occupation safety and health (OSH). According to the draft regulations by Australian government: management of noise and prevention of hearing loss, noise is described as a sound that has the potential of causing harm to the safety and health of a person (Timmins, Granger 2010, p. 42). Occupation health and safety seeks to establish a conducive environment for working with employees. The body has tried much to achieve its objectives through regulations to establish a noise-free working environment. However, a distinction line has to be drawn in differentiating environmental and occupational noise. Whereas, environmental noise refers to sound generated by the nature forces such as wind, occupational noise refers to sound generated due to human activities. For the case of environmental noise, there are rare cases of health-related problems, whereas much occurred as a result of occupation noise. Historical development in occupation healthy and safety of noise concern The problem of noise leading to deteriorating health conditions can be tracked throughout history of mankind. Additionally, some developments have been noted over the past few years in attempt to solve these problems. The earliest recognition of noise as a health problem is denoted in (23- 79 AD) in literature work (Natural History), which found relationship between Nile cataracts and ill effects of people due noise of falling water. Further cases of noise have been also established in ancient Rome, where carts were barred from the cities as the noise produced was too much to be on the streets in 1974 (Johnstone 2008, p 29). The conditions were considered to be unhealthy hence the establishment of the regulations. (Tadesse et al 2012, p 65) further explains how the coppersmith works in industries lead to disease of workers (1633-1714) in major smith industries. Furthermore, the rise of industrialization in major industries during the 19th century was another dark era that leads to aw areness of the problem. As denoted by (Kurmis 2007, p 129), major incidences of noise-inducing hearing loss were reported in major hospitalization, a report that made countries cautious on how the noise can be reduced in those upcoming industries. During that time, Australia had reported hearing loss incidences for more than 35% of workers in major industries. On the other hand, there were calls about how some of the innovations, can be compromised due to escalating cases of hearing-loss among people. Despite mush awareness about the hazards, little was done on how the noise would have been minimized. The earliest attempt concerning noise in major factories was engineered in 1886 by Thomas Barr. Thomas Barr was interested in how the noise in major noise producing machines can be reduced through scientific analysis. He incorporated a noise reducing device in Scottish boilers. The device was to half the amount of noise generated by then steam boilers. The model established at this time needed to be changed since key component functions had to be compromised. In addition to that, Gottstein and Kayser established breakthrough studies in the development of the current knowledge about the noise-induced loss of hearing (Wilson 2013, p 7). Between 1899 and 1972, George Von Beseky engineered discovery of traveling wave through which sound is analyzed and communicated. The discovery was instrumental in establishing means of noise reduction. Further discovery concerning noise and hearing loss has also been conducted since the 20th century. The study has been conducted to establish the degree and extent of illness that might occur due to noise exposure. One of the notable events dated in 1970 when a proposal was brought forward about a concept of emission of energy. According to this concept brought forward by Burns and Robinson, an equal amount of energy dispersed translates to equivalent hearing impairment in spite of distribution of time of exposure. The concept was later adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health in estimating the level of damage due to exposure to noise. The concept has been developed by OHS standards in an estimation of Noise induce hearing impairment. (Timmins 2010) affirms that even the modern regulations tabulate noise levels through the normalized shift of 8 hours. Impact of noise on health and safety of workers Auditory effects Noise damage to employees cannot be underestimated. Hearing damage due to loud sound affects millions of people developing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and its corresponding disorders which include tinnitus, hyperacusis, and diplacusis. All of these disorders are irreversible. Hearing loss is a condition which exhibits in either as conductive, as sensorineural or a combination of both. Conductive hearing impairment is a condition that causes an even distribution of sound waves due to the interference of sound waves through the inner ear (Sataloff 2009). The problem may be caused by internal bleeding of the ear that may not be necessarily caused by work-related problems. On the other hand, sensorineural impairment is a permanent condition that results due to repetitively exposure to noise. Occupational noise exposure is a noteworthy cause of sensorineural hearing impairment. At this point, the nerves becomes lacks the sensitivity to sound at higher and lower frequencies. These tw o types of hearing impairment lead to chronic hearing loss and acute hearing loss. The chronic hearing loss is a condition that develops with time, mainly due to exposure to high levels of noise. The incident doesnt occur at once, but rather through a process, where the sensitivity of the ear is reduced gradually. With time, the hearing becomes a nightmare, and the process of recovery becomes impossible. The hearing may be recovered if given a sufficiently long break. On the contrary, hair cells of the inner ear die thus resulting in a permanent hearing loss. Sliwinska-Kowalska and Davis (2012) retaliates that further exposure to noise worsens the situation. The conditions are triggered by non-stop exposure to noise without taking a time to rest. The acute hearing loss is a condition characterized by long-term exposure to noise. At this point, the ear reaches its metabolic fatigue due to direct structural damage to the hair cells. This may be attained through long time exposure to high levels of noise or even high single event such as gunshot or explosions. The damage in the ear is such that the ear cannot be modified through any medical treatment. Tinnitus is another notable effect of high levels of noise. Williams et al. (2007) describes it as a condition that causes one to hear ringing sounds even long time even after the exposure. The condition is a real disturbance to the body since the brain interprets the condition it as a sound. The intensity and time of these mentioned ringing vary according to the intensity of the noise before. Non auditory effects Apart from auditory effects due to exposure to noise, there are other adverse health conditions that do occur. These include physiological effects and work- related tension and pressure. Take for instance, air conditioning equipment that has to run day in day out. The sound produced yields annoyance, nervousness and piled up tension. Though the reaction differs, there is likelihood of development of ill conditions such as headache, backache, increased blood pressure, ulcers and higher stress hormone generation (Nelson et al 2015, p 34). The conditions are a clear indication of stresses which may eventually cause occupational stresses. In long term, a worker may be vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases. Physiological problems always translate to work performance problems. Due to stress and other accompanied problems, it becomes a task for the employees to complete simple tasks. The productivity rate and commitment towards the company goals and objectives is thus minimized. Lower produ ctivity and high rates of error must be are obviously anticipated. A company that invests in noise reduction mechanisms pays off since high productivity and error- free goods shall be produced. Noise levels accelerate level of injuries in an organization. The occupational safety of employees depends hugely on the personal performance (Verbeek et al 2009, p 17). When an employee is confused in addition to increased levels of stress and tension, there is likelihood of injuries. Additionally, a falling object or even a huge bang may fail to be noticed due to availability of noise in environment. Control Measures The need to control the level of noise in companies is justified by the levels of damages caused by the high levels of noise in industries. Noise not only causes auditory problems but also other physiological problems. Some of these conditions as noted above are irreversible, causing a reason for concern. These problems would have been avoided if organizations and companies that produce noise implement new tactics of ensuring less risky practices. Practices that can reduce the hazard include noise monitoring, surveillance in the workplace, audio metric installation, proper employee training, hearing protectors and appropriate record keeping. Surveillance in the workplace is the first step initiated by an organization in the process of minimizing noise hazard. According to health and safety Act in that accompany noise regulations require the noise hazards in any particular industry identified and controlled (Timmins, P., and Granger, 2010). The process of identifying and controlling noise stipulate that the employers should take all the probable actions towards protecting their employees. The initial actions should be inclined towards identifying the hazard. In large companies, it might be sophisticated to determine whether there is the existence of noise hazard. It is worth noting that assessment must be carried out to detect the presence of difficulty in communication, ringing in the ears, and muffled hearing among others. If any of these details is obtained, it can be deduced that there is noise hazard in the working place. Proper scheduling of operations involving noise should be carried out. Proper scheduling involves minimizing the time of operation to reduce exposure time, changing of shifts to facilitate alternative exposure to noise while also minimizing the number of persons present during the noisy operations (Tadesse 2012). Through such, an organization shall be able to rotate all staff without making one employee undergo a repetitive exposure of noise. Noise control mechanisms are arrayed in organizations to reduce the impact of noise to the employees. Strategies involve active noise control methods and passive noise control strategies. Williams et al. (2007, p 432) elaborate that while active involves running operations to counter the noise initially produced, passive noise control are control methods which reduce the intensity of the noise. Passive noise control methods are common in industries and include absorption of sound. The sound produced is produced through thick walls and special tools that just fit for the purpose. Additionally, decreasing body burdens of noise by work practices ensures that the level of noise produced is minimized. In fulfillment of that obligation, they must ensure; noise control at the source, isolating and even insulating processes that cause excessive noise. That can be done through increasing the distance between the source of noise and the person to be exposed and placing barriers between the sou rce and the person to be exposed Employee training is another important aspect in the prevention of the hazard. Training involves creating awareness to the employees about the necessary safety mechanism. Workers should be educated about the importance of keeping safe from noise hazard areas. Additionally, the employees need to be trained on how to carry out operations in a way that reduces noise in the working environment. Lastly, the employees need to understand the necessity of wearing the safety muffs for noise protection. Through that, the risks would be minimized as some hazards happen due to lack of necessary information. Conclusion In conclusion, biological surveillance involves conducting health screening of individuals at the workplace. The main objective of conducting a hearing surveillance is to monitor the effectiveness of control measures that has been put in place in the workplace. Additionally, it seeks to identify the people with the problem and how to prevent it from developing. The process of conducting a hearing surveillance is a biological examination of all the employees. The examination provides solutions to the company on whether the average level of noise can be considered harmful or not.High levels of noise in any workplace are hazardous to the welfare of employee. Historical record shows that noise was denoted to be a healthy concern as early as 79 AD. The issue came out strongly during the industrialization period. At this time, noise was produced all over by the machines, made at that time. Various studies have been conducted on how the noise risk can be minimized with useful contributions from Gottstein and Kayser. Health hazards of noise are countless. They range from simple and relatively small ill conditions to huge acute conditions. Auditory effects include noise induced hearing loss (NHIL) accompanied with its corresponding disorders. On the other hand, the physiological problems such as stress and high blood pressure pile up. The remedies towards solving these problems include surveillance, passive noise control actions and proper employee training. List of References Chu, C., Breucker, G., Harris, N., Stitzel, A., Gan, X., Gu, X. and Dwyer, S., 2009. Health-promoting workplacesinternational settings development.Health Promotion International,15(2), pp.155-167. Gunderson, E., Moline, J. and Catalano, P., 2006. Risks of developing noiseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ induced hearing loss in employees of urban music clubs.American journal of industrial medicine,31(1), pp.75-79. Johnstone, R., 2008. Harmonising occupational health and safety regulation in Australia: The first report of the national OHS review.Journal of applied law and policy, (2008), pp.35-58. Johnstone, R., Quinlan, M. and McNamara, M., 2011. OHS inspectors and psychosocial risk factors: Evidence from Australia.Safety Science,49(4), pp.547-557. Kurmis, A. and Apps, S., 2007. Occupationally-acquired noise-induced hearing loss: a senseless workplace hazard.International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health,20(2), pp.127-136. Nelson, D.I., Nelson, R.Y., Conchaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Barrientos, M. and Fingerhut, M., 2015. The global burden of occupational noiseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ induced hearing loss.American journal of industrial medicine,48(6), pp.446-458. Sataloff, R.T. and Sataloff, J. eds., 2009.Occupational hearing loss. CRC Press. Sliwinska-Kowalska, M. and Davis, A., 2012. Noise-induced hearing loss.Noise and Health,14(61), p.274. Tadesse, T. and Admassu, M., 2012. Occupational Health and Safety.Lecture Notes. Gondar, University of Gondar August. Thurston, F.E., 2013. The worker's ear: A history of noiseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ induced hearing loss.American journal of industrial medicine,56(3), pp.367-377. Timmins, P. and Granger, O., 2010.Occupational noise-induced hearing loss in Australia: Overcoming barriers to effective noise control and hearing loss prevention. Safe Work Australia. Verbeek, J.H., Kateman, E., Morata, T.C., Dreschler, W. and Sorgdrager, B., 2009. Interventions to prevent occupational noise induced hearing loss.The Cochrane Library. Williams, W., Purdy, S.C., Storey, L., Nakhla, M. and Boon, G., 2007. Towards more effective methods for changing perceptions of noise in the workplace.Safety science,45(4), pp.431-447. Williams, W., Purdy, S.C., Storey, L., Nakhla, M. and Boon, G., 2007. Towards more effective methods for changing perceptions of noise in the workplace.Safety science,45(4), pp.431-447. Wilson, J., 2013. Deafness in developing countries: approaches to a global program of prevention.Archives of otolaryngology,111(1), pp.2-9.

Aphra Behns Oroonoko Essays

Aphra Behns Oroonoko Essays Aphra Behns Oroonoko Paper Aphra Behns Oroonoko Paper Essay Topic: Literature This extract, from Aphra Behns controversial Oroonoko, presents the princes reaction to his capture after a slave uprising is foiled and he is apprehended. Since Behn is writing in a third person narrative, something which can be limiting, I will be discussing the way in which in she exposes his mental agony through use of linguistic devices, punctuation and structure. I will also be contemplating how Behns use of binary opposites and narrative, which are developed throughout the novel, entwine and unite to reveal a deeper meaning with in the text. The portrayal of this emotional experience is developed in a number of ways and builds an engrossing portrait of his volatile mental state. It also confirms a number of moral themes which Behn has highlighted throughout the novel. One aspect which is initially striking, is the extracts structure. The whole item is made up of two sections, each of which is constructed from one complex compound sentence. Each sentence is extensive and includes several semicolons. Behn begins each paragraph with an introductory statement. In the first, this is as follows: Caesar told him, there was no Faith in the White Men, or the Gods they Adord. She then uses the punctuation to create a list of why this is so; be it because of their Principles so false or that they profess[ed] so much (and) perform[ed] so little. In doing this Behn is able to do two things. Firstly, Oroonokos anti-Christian thought (he could never be reconcild with our notions of the trinity1) come to an explosive release, with the reader experiencing the extent of his views for the first time. This outpour is important as Behn has only allowed glimpses of him from a removed perspective it creates a new depth of closeness, which makes his capture all the more distressing. Behn is also able to give the reader a sense of Oroonokos mental state. The list-like structure of the paragraph and the pauses suggested by the punctuation seem to slow the thought process down. This creates a sense of a calm outrage and disgust which is slightly disconcerting. Interestingly, Behn makes it clear that he is angrier with the slaves. In this second paragraph there are numerous, highly derogatory adjectives and phrases used to describe them. Behn separates these using commas; this gives the impression that they are being said in quick succession, and suggest the character is feeling more inflamed here: Dogs, treacherous cowardly, fit for such masters. It is clear he feels the blame is with them and he cannot forgive their cowardice. Behn uses a number of important linguistic devices to heighten and reinforce Oroonokos emotional state here. She juxtaposes plosives and frictives through out the exerpt, placing soft sibilance and hard consonants in close proximity. This is particularly present in the second paragraph as he says Slaves, poor, wretched Rogues, fit to be used as Christians Tools. The repeated s and f sounds slow the sentence down. This combined with the hard r, d, ch and t sounds, which cut the languid frictives short creates the sense that he is spitting the words out. She also includes alliteration and repitition of plosive p, r and w sounds throughout the extract: People professed performed, wretched Rogue, one word. Bhen also uses enjambment to stress the extent of Oroonokos distrust of Christians: ternally on his guard, and / never to eat or drink with Christians. The enjambment breaks up the line at and which really highlights the word never. These devices are important and act in furthring the rage and repugnance felt by Oroonoko towards his Christian friends and his slave army. Another aspect to which I have paid close attention is Behns use of capital letters. She has capitalized a number words throughout the excerpt, ma ny of which stand within sentences. This suggests that she has put certain emphasis on them and wishes the reader to take note. Many of the words have certain moral or ideological associations which, in the context, cannot be ignored: Faith, Gods, Principals, Honour, Action. Above, I have selected words which hold positive connotations, however there are also those which suggest the opposite: Rashness, Rogues, Weapons, White Men, Masters and Christians. They can, in fact, be grouped into a number of contrasting concepts, such as: moral or immoral, strength and weakness, good and bad, right and wrong. These paradoxes are significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, they act in enhancing the moral weight of what is taking place. They are there to highlight notions of injustice and immorality present in the very nature of the slave trade and are mirrored in the treatment of Oroonoko throughout the novel and within the extract: They fed him with promises and delayd him. The word fed suggests some sort of falsehood or trickery is being performed, that he is a unknowingly being fed lies. They say they respect him yet treat him like a fool. The concepts featured in this extract are also important as they come to mirror Oroonoko himself a character who is constructed almost entirely through Behns use of binary opposition. He is set up as the Royal slave from the very beginning. This is furthered through out the novel as he becomes a friend and foe. He agrees with European value systems (coupled with his Roman features) yet is, fundamentally, African. He is civilised yet savage, a noble and a rebel. He is not a symbol of ethnic superiority by any means but is set up as a model of absolute virtue, isolated in a politically and socially corrupt environment2. It is through him that Behn is able to project the moral messages which pervades the narrative, and this extract. Behn claims in the foreword of the novel that she herself was an eye witenss to a great part, of what you will find set down. The truth in this claim has been the centre of heated debate since its publication, with some even going on to argue that she paved the way for the modern realist genre3.. Regardless of whether her truth claim is genuine or not, it has a particular affect on the reader. We are generally inclined to have a greater level empathy with a characters plight if we believe it to be true (here I use believe in the sense that we are making belief possible as a reader, who is reading). This is certainly true in Oroonoko and plays an important part in the novels structure, which is centred around binary opposition and the unreliable narrator. Through out Oroonoko Behn employs a third person narrative. Whilst this can be liberating for a writer, enabling complex plots and point of view changes, it can also be extremely limiting to other key aspects of a novel. It could be argued that Behn has created and unreliable narrator, whos gender and status with in the novel render her unable to tell the story objectively. It is clear that she enjoys Oroonokos company and revels in the attention he gives her: my self hed call Great Mistress indeed my word would go a great way with him. It is also true that her sympathies lie with him throughout, particularly as Oroonoko is betrayed to slavery: Some have commended this act, as brave, in the Captain; but I will spare my sense of it. Despite this, she is unable to call him a friend. She creates almost hyperbolic descriptions of the Royal slave throughout and often associates him with words that connote the artistic: his skin, a perfect ebony, his eyes and teeth eing like snow. Such admiration cannot be present in a mutual friendship, as she appears to see him as an object of desire. Being white and the daughter of a governor she colludes in his enslavement, threatening him with confinement if he should give them reason to Fear him. He is also dangerous. Because of this she is unable to truly understand and accept Oroonoko. This is where Behns use of the third tense becomes truly important. Because of this, the reader is at a removed perspective, and is therefore unable to reconcile Oroonokos true feelings with the events that take place. The depth of his character suffers as result and Behn must employ binary opposites to make up for this. Behn was clearly a gifted woman and writer who, as Felix Shelling said, catered habitually to the lowest and most depraved of human inclinations. Whilst I have never read her other works, this is clearly the case in Oroonoko. She uses numerous devices throughout the novel to suggest a deeper moral message, all of which culminates in the extract I have focused on in this essay. Her masterful grasp on narrative technique and linguistic devices, have enabled Behn to convey a genre bending tale of romance, travel and tradgedy. She creates an unreliable narrator, who we begin to question and powerfully reveals the paradoxical nature of the slave trade through a simple system of binary opposties. Behn creates a dewy ecosphere in the readers mind which dares us to question the British way of life in the seventeenth century; Religion and Imperialism. It is these aspects which enable us to decipher her tale as a profoundly important one, one which questions the moral code concerning slavery and those who perpetuate it.

Implicit Association Test

Implicit Association Test Free Online Research Papers The results of the IAT (data suggest little or no association between White American and Native American with foreign and American). I am happy with the results it says I have little or no association between the White and Native American. I think the test produced very valid results. The test did however make me feel a little uncomfortable for some reason I guess maybe because it was meant to be about different subjects I am just not used to categorizing. I answered the questions on the test fast and got 2 red x’s. I am thinking that my results are pretty accurate. I liked taking the test and think I may go back and take a couple more just to see what my results might be with other subjects. I think it is very difficult to measure prejudice especially since individuals can be influenced unconsciously. I know I have been guilty of stereotyping people because of the way they were dressed. This made me feel guilty but I really thought they might steal something I had in the back of my truck. That made it easy for me to imagine how someone who is prejudice feels about a whole race. It is not a great feeling but sometimes it just feels automatic like maybe we learned these behaviors from watching television. Some families even teach kids to be prejudice I know this from experience. The person who is prejudice has to make his or her own decision and pick if they want to live with prejudice or not. Even if a person seems that they are not prejudice they can always be a timid bigot like chapter 2 explained. I do not think there is a really accurate way of measuring race. Sociologist use lots of different measurement to try to calculate prejudice. Since prejudice is hard to calculate they have to go off of national surveys or labor force records. Sociologist have also made their own means to try to measure prejudice like the Authoritarian Personality Theory the author of this theory says they have isolated the characteristics of the Authoritarian Personality Theory. This theory has a psychological construct of a personality type likely to be prejudice and use other as scapegoats. The Bogardus Scale measures social distance towards other racial or ethnic groups. This scale seems to be very accurate since they actually ask the people how willing they would be to interact with different racial and ethnic groups. Research Papers on Implicit Association TestResearch Process Part OneEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XStandardized TestingThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThree Concepts of PsychodynamicComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCapital PunishmentMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males