Psych Unit IV Article Review Essay Example for Free

Psych Unit IV Article Review Essay There are so many different theories out there that try to explain why we act the way we act. How do we explain evil or hateful behavior? I just finished reading the article ‘’Prison Violence: Does brutality come with a badge?’’, written by: Bruce Gross. This article talks about being a prison guard, and how some people act when they enter this career. Would you act differently if you went from the role of the prisoner to the role of the prison guard? There have been many reports of ‘’cruel and unusual’’ punishment that is being administered by prison guards to inmates in prisons. Not only are inmates reporting this abuse, but federal authorities are also recognizing there is a problem. In 2005, the commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons said there were 16,000 allegations of sexual and physical assault that were reported. There are also reports of abuse happening in County jails as well as in prisons. ‘’Inmates have reported being choked, kicked, punched, and hit with objects by single or multiple guards’’, (Gross, 2008). If you look back at our history, it is full of ordinary people who commit terrible acts of violence. Some people have done studies and are trying to understand why people commit these ‘’evil crimes’’. Stanley Milgram is one of those people. He was a Yale University professor, who conducted an experiment in 1961. In this experiment there were ‘’teachers’’ and there were ‘’learners. The teachers were given the power to administer a shock to the learners if they answered a question wrong. It was surprising how much the ‘’teachers’’ in the experiment would shock the ‘’learners’’ and the amount of volts that they would use without protest. Another experiment that was done to test these violent behaviors was known as the Stanford Prison Experiment. In August of 1971, this experiment was started by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo. He put an ad in the paper and found volunteers to play role of ‘’prisoner’’ and the role of ‘’guard’’. He created a prison-like environment in the basement of the psychology building on the Stanford Campus. There was some definite brutality that started to show in the guards during this experiment. Some showed more than others. After only 6 days, the experiment was shut down. One third (1/3) of these ‘’guards’’ showed sadistic behavior. There was a similar study done that was called the BBC Prison Study. This study was also shut down early. ‘’Both of these prison studies demonstrated that under some circumstances, some individuals resist going-with-the flow of group associated brutality’’, (Gross, 2008). Sometimes an individual will behave differently if they know they’re being watched. In the SPE experiment, the participants knew they were being watched by ‘’supervisors’’, and on the BBC experiment, they knew they were being watched by an audience (including family and friends). These factors may have affected the way that either group acted throughout the experiment. I know I would act differently if I knew that my mother was watching me. Some people think it’s the environment that people are in that brings out violence. Well of course it is! If you treat someone like a caged animal, eventually they will start acting like one. If a guard is told to dehumanize a prisoner, then you will probably see violence out of the guards, as well as out of the prisoners. ‘’Violence and extreme behaviors by guards against inmates have many sources’’, (Gross, 2008). In the prison studies that were covered in this article, it didn’t surprise the experimenters that ‘’good people’’ were committing evil acts when they played the role of the guards. They were more surprised and shocked that more people didn’t stand up for what was right. Even if they didn’t agree with what was happening, they just kept their mouth shut, and went with the flow. At the end of the article, Gross says, ‘’Perhaps the adage is true, that real evil exists and flourishe s when good people do nothing’’.

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of High School When I think of my past four years of school, I have a lot of memories, more good than bad. I've been trying to think of what I have learned in high school and what has meant the most to me. A lot of people that I have met along the way have left me with pieces of wisdom. I am guilty of having a one-track mind, and sometimes that has hindered me from fully benefiting from all the wisdom I have been given. But, I try my best to see other's reasoning for things and their point of view, though at times I find it very difficult. I am young, and sometimes claim to know it all, but at least I'm honest, right? So, back to what I have learned and tried to apply to my daily life. The Importance of Setting Goals Taking Responsibility for Your Actions Using Mistakes to Build a Bright Future Finding Inspiration in the World Around You Never Giving Up On a Dream The Golden Rule (Do Unto Others ... ) Never Forgetting Your Morals and Beliefs Focussing on the Important Things in Life I know all too well how important it is to set goals. I feel so overwhelmed sometimes when I set goals, but when I have accomplished them, it is such a rewarding feeling, that I strive to set more and always want to beat out my last accomplishment. I love to work hard, because I feel like I am doing everything in my power to be the best I can be. Taking responsibility for your actions can be such a tough thing to do, and pride and lack of energy can sometimes get in the way. Whether it was the time I needed to "fess" up to breaking our TV or paying for my mom's car to get fixed, when I kind of crashed it into another car when I was parking. It sucked to be as ... ... your character, who you are, if you are true to yourself, you will always be respected and looked up to. I have learned that it is really important to make priorities, not others opinions of what is important, but what is important to you. When my grandma and my aunt died within six months of each other I learned that not having the coolest hair, or the nicest clothes didn't really matter, because life's too short to worry about "things." Even though, I like my "things" they aren't that important to me and I would rather have friends or family around than my things, they're not that cool or at least I haven't found anything that is cooler! And if I could leave anyone here with one thing it would be, be true to yourself, and live life to its fullest, have fun, explore new things, and last but not least ... " Do unto others what you would want done unto you."

Nicholas Lezard’s Quote on Atonement Essay

â€Å"†¦the novel is itself the act of atonement that Briony Tallis needs to perform; yet we are very much in the land of the unreliable narrator, where evasion and mendacity both shadow and undermine the story that is told† (Nicholas Lezard). Discuss this criticism of Atonement. When one reaches atonement, it means that they feel forgiven, regardless whether they are actually absolved for an offence or not. In Atonement, a novel of drama, war and romance, the author Ian McEwan characterizes the main character, Briony, as a very self-centered person. McEwan’s novel is self-referential when it is implied that the novel is one Briony wrote in order to reach atonement. Nicholas Lezard, critic for the Guardian, says that Briony’s atonement and ‘the truth’ of her story is weakened by Ian McEwan’s characterization of her as an unreliable person. However, some may argue that the novel Briony wrote was a good way to atone for her crime. In the end of the McEwan’s novel, Briony shows that she believes she had done the best she could have to reach atonement. When talking about the final draft of her novel she says â€Å"I’ve regarded it as my duty to disguise nothing – the names, the places, the exact circumstances – I put it all there as a matter of a historical record† (McEwan 349). This makes the reader believe she is being entirely honest. In addition to this, Briony, being a well-known published writer at the age of 77, decides to use her passion, her talent, to become part of her atonement. Although Briony can’t publish her novel until after the death of Lola and Paul Marshall because of her fear of litigation as well as the power and wealth the couple have and will use to protect their names. â€Å"The Marshalls have been active about the courts since the late forties, defending their good names with a most expensive ferocity† (McEwan 349). Her inability to do anything more at this stage of her life makes readers feel sympathy for Briony and want to believe everything that she claims to be true. For these reasons many readers may well believe that Briony had done respectably the best she could have to reach atonement. On the other hand many may agree with Lezard and feel that Briony’s fictional happy ending to her story is a final attempt to evade the guilt she feels. Briony’s medical condition and the fact that she is dying, as a result draws attention away from her desperation to relieve her guilt. â€Å"It is only in this last version that my lovers end well, standing side by side on a South London pavement as I walk away. All the preceding drafts were pitiless† (McEwan 350). This makes the reader question how much more of what actually happened was changed in Briony’s story. Briony even calls herself an â€Å"unreliable witness† (McEwan 338) of the events that occurred which she then wrote about. This also puts the reader in a position to not want to trust anything Briony says. She also says that she likes to think that Robbie and Cecilia’s happy ending wasn’t â€Å"weakness or evasion, but a final act of kindness† (McEwan 351), which contradicts to her claim of having the novel published as a historical record, enforcing to the reader her untrustworthiness. These are a few of the reasons for which Briony can be seen as an unreliable person. Aside from her desperation and lies as a result of her coming closer to death, there are other ways in which McEwan characterizes Briony to be unreliable and wanting to partially avoid blame for her committed crime. Briony, the protagonist, wrote her entire novel with an omniscient 3rd person narrator, which as a result distances Briony from the reader and draws some attention away from her offence. Another effect that this has is that it suggests to the reader that the events that occurred happened exactly as they are described, when that is not the case. Should the novel have been written in 1st person from Briony’s point of view, the reader would have seen Briony as an arrogant and not believed her story so easily. Briony on page 350 then clearly states that she made of part of her story when she says â€Å"When I am dead, and the Marshalls are dead, and the novel is finally published, we will only exist through my inventions† (McEwan). McEwan’s characterization of her as a self-centered and unreliable person is consistent from when Briony is 13 years old up to when she is 77. On page 336, Briony says â€Å"However withered, I still feel myself to be exactly the same person I’ve always been† (McEwan), which to the reader signifies that Briony has not matured as a person and still may think like she did when she was a child, making the same mistakes without realizing them. A clear example of the same mistakes Briony makes as an adult, is how she is jealous of her older cousin at the age of 77, the same feeling she had as a child. On page 341, Briony also says, â€Å"I’ve always been good at not thinking about the things that are really troubling me† (McEwan), which has the same effect of characterizing her as unreliable. Briony tries to do good by trying to atone with the novel she wrote, although on page 340, she says, â€Å"If I really cared so much about the facts, I should have written a different kind of book. But my work was done. There would be no further drafts† (McEwan 340), which then makes it very clear to the reader that Briony’s story cannot be trusted. The entire novel is damaged and cannot be believed as a result of Briony’s unreliability. Although Briony’s attempt to atone may seem justifiable to some, it is more reasonable to say that McEwan’s novel of Atonement is reduced from the story of a girl committing a crime and separating two lovers, down to the fantasy world of Briony Tallis blended in with some facts of events she witnessed. The novel being self-referential when it is revealed that Briony wrote it in order to reach atonement, leaves the reader with a very strong impression of Briony as a very unreliable, self-centered person, which then undermines the entire story.

Why Is Testing Stage of Sdlc so Important?

Why is the testing stage of systems development so important? November 2012 Introduction †¢ Systems Development Lifecycle †¢ Types of SDLC †¢ Stages of SDLC †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Waterfall method Testing Programme Testing Acceptance Testing Limitations of Testing Case Study 1: University of Salford Case Study 2: Knight Capital Group Summary Conclusion References Systems Development Lifecycle †¢ Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is the process of developing information systems through various stages from identifying initial requirements through analysis, design, testing, mplementation and maintenance. †¢ Many different models but each generally consists of a series of defined steps or stages. Laudon & Laudon (2006) Types of SDLC †¢ Waterfall †¢ Fountain †¢ Spiral †¢ Rapid prototyping †¢ Incremental Bocij et al (2006) Waterfall †¢ One of the oldest, best known †¢ Li near sequential set of phases †¢ Review at end of each phase before moving on to the next †¢ Logical chain of events, e. g. programming cannot begin until specification completed †¢ Many different versions †¢ Many critics – does not work? Laplante & Neill (2004) Dennis et al (2008) Stages of SDLCVary according to the methodology used but usually some variation of the waterfall method which has Galin (2004) served as a framework for others. †¢ Systems analysis – identify problems & establish requirements †¢ Systems Design – create design specifications †¢ Programming – translate design specification into code †¢ Testing †¢ Conversion – plan conversion, train users †¢ Production & Maintenance – operate, evaluate and modify the system Laudon & Laudon (2006) Testing Why test? System should be tested to ensure that it meets the requirements laid out at the start of the process. Develop a test plan †¢ Involve users as well as developers †¢ Simulate data and test system processes e. g. entering a new record, inserting incorrect data Laudon & Laudon (2006) Test Plan Test Number Purpose of Test Test Data Expected Result Actual Result 1 Test the validation rule on the â€Å"Date of Birth† field to ensure that valid dates of birth can be entered. 15/02/1988 Accepted Accepted 2 Test the validation rule on the Date of Birth field to ensure that a date in the future cannot be entered. 14/10/2013 Rejected Accepted Adapted from: Laudon & Laudon (2006) Testing 2 basic phases of testing: programme testing – ensures that the programmes work as expected in controlled environment †¢ acceptance testing – ensures users are able to use the system and that it operates as expected when in use. Laudon & Laudon (2006) Programme Testing 3 phases †¢ unit testing – individual modules of the system are tested for any potential errors in the code. †¢ integration testing – to check the modules work together as expected †¢ complete system testing – see how all the components will work under various conditions Bocij et al (2006) Acceptance Testing User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by actual end users of the ystem to determine how well it meets their expectations and requirements. †¢ alpha testing – using simulated data †¢ beta testing – using actual data – final stage before implementation Bocij et al (2006) Acceptance Testing †¢ Security testing – whether security policies have been implemented as intended †¢ Recovery testing – how the system reacts when it has been forced to fail †¢ Performance testing – in different environments †¢ Stress testing – attempts to â€Å"break† the system by not following guidelines. Looks at how the system performs under heavy demand. Bocij et al (2006) Limitations of Testing Impossible to guarantee that once a system is tested it will work exactly as expected †¢ Too many factors to carry out exhaustive testing †¢ It is often given insufficient importance and other stages overrun at the expense of testing †¢ Cannot rule out unforeseen problems further down the line BUT: Gives a good idea, identifies major errors Morris (2005), Bocij et al (2006) Case Study 1 – Careers Service †¢ New system to manage Careers Service appointments, workshops and events †¢ Alpha testing revealed few errors which were resolved †¢ Beta testing revealed significant issues re: student status, ducation details, appointment booking abilities †¢ Issues were resolved and pilot system launched †¢ Phased implementation. Testing continues†¦ Case Study 2 – Knight Capital Group †¢ Trading US equities electronically (high frequency trading) †¢ Dormant software from a legacy system inadvertently reactivated †¢ Multiplied stock trades by 10 00 †¢ 45 minute delay in shutting down the system †¢ Proper testing and â€Å"appropriate market simulations† †¢ Estimated $440M loss Detterman (2012), Ruhle, Harper and Mehta (2012) Summary †¢ Defined SDLC †¢ Types & Stages of SDLC †¢ Types of Testing †¢ Limitations of Testing Case studies demonstrate importance of thorough testing Conclusion †¢ Testing reveals any errors and incompatibilities †¢ Essential to ensure they can be corrected before implementation †¢ Testing is a continual process. There needs to be a cut off point before implementation but it can (and should) continue †¢ Testing is critical because it is the only way to determine whether the system operates to requirements and actually works! Laudon & Laudon (2006), Cervone (2007) References Cervone, H. F. (2007),†The system development life cycle and digital library development†, O CLC Systems & Services, Vol. 3 Iss: 4 pp. 348–352 [online ]. Available from: [Accessed 12 November 2012] Dennis, A. , Wixom, B. H. & Roth, R. M. (2008) Systems Analysis and Design, 4th Edn, Oxford: Wiley Detterman, E. (2012) â€Å"Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Case Study – Result = $440m Loss. † Solid Logic Technology. 12 August 2012 [online]. Available from: [Accessed 11 November 2012] Galin, D. (2004) Software Quality Assurance: from theory to implementation. Harlow: Pearson Education Laplante, P. A. & Neill, C. J. (2004), â€Å"The Demise of the Waterfall Model Is Imminent† and Other Urban Myths†, ACM Queue, Vol 1, No. 10 [onliine].Available from: [Accessed 12 November 2012] Laudon, K. C. and Laudon, J. P. (2006) Essentials of Management Information Systems: Organization and Technology in the Networked Enterprise, ninth ed. , New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Morris, S. , (2005) â€Å"Software Development Cycle†, Tessella Support Services plc, available at < http://www. tessella. com/wp-content/uploads /2008/05/softwaredevelopmentcycle. p df> [accessed 12 November 2012] Ruhle, S. Harper, C. & Mehta, N. (2012) Knight Trading Loss Said to Be Linked to Dormant Software. Bloomberg. 14 August 2012. [online] Available from: {Accessed 01-11-2012]

Ploace Of Peace Essays - Fruit Of The Holy Spirit, Nonviolence

Ploace Of Peace Essays - Fruit Of The Holy Spirit, Nonviolence Ploace Of Peace Beyond the trees, far from the sky Is a place where life goes by, Without a sniffle,tear,or lie. A place of ease, a place of peace. Where love is great and care is strong. While spending all day in a beautiful song. Someday I hope I go there, Where everthing is so alive. And I shall have no worries About someone having to die. This is my place of peace in my mind.

The Procrastination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Procrastination - Essay Example I pulled myself together, stopped crying, and asked my counselor what it was that I could do. She told me that this late in the school year, it was almost impossible to do anything to earn that extra credit and that I must come during the summer and do an elective of some sort. Upon hearing this, I felt a couple of things simultaneously; anger, I was angry at my counselor for giving me this news so late in the school year, I mean, I had already bought my graduation dress. Furthermore, I felt frustrated and helpless that I would be spending the summer in school while my friends traveled and visited their universities and had final parties and farewells, this thought depressed me immensely. Just as I was about to get up and leave, I remembered my second cousin who had a similar dilemma before her graduation, 3 years ago. I immediately talked it out with my counselor and we decided that I would stay after school for some History classes and teach my peers who needed help. I happily taug ht my friends Ashley and Chelsea for the next 4 weeks and redeemed my counselor’s confidence and that one stubborn credit. Right now, when I look back at that time, I realize that it has made me who I am today. It influenced me in ways I did not understand them. Today, as the owner of a successful company, I still carry that lesson with me to this day. In addition, every time I get complacent or am tempted to procrastinate some work, I remind myself that this same procrastination almost cost me my education and career.

Sustainability Written Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sustainability Written Report - Essay Example Originally, geothermal energy was used in hot springs as early as Paleolithic times according to a study made by Cataldi (1993) about the history of hot springs before the Modern Period. Technically, the first geothermal energy harnessed lighted a few light bulbs. The following accounts relate how the world recognized geothermal energy: On July 4, 1904, Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the world’s first geothermal generator at the Larderello dry steam field in Italy. Merely a couple of years later, this invention was deployed commercially and used to operate drilling equipment. Soon the small town of Larderello was using geothermal power for all its electricity requirements. (History of Geothermal Energy, http://www.economywatch.com) Because of the said event, it is no wonder that Italy maintained the position as being a top producer of geothermal energy for many decades. New Zealand followed suit only fifty-years later. The United States took the risk and invested in the Geys ers Geothermal Field in California which is currently the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world. This location has five power plants and Chevron Corporation spearheads in providing geothermal energy to millions of American homes. Uses of Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy has many useful purposes, with electricity generation as its most widely-known use. Bioeconomicfuel.com cites the 5 different uses of geothermal energy (Stern, 2009): 1. Industrial and Agricultural Uses A good example of which is the role of geothermal energy in drying up timber. In New Zealand, the â€Å"Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill uses geothermal steam in heat exchangers to heat kiln air to 140?C for timber drying†( Stewart, 2009). Aside from timber, crops can also be dehydrated using geothermal energy which makes this type of energy very useful for agriculture. 2. Food Processing The food processing industry can harness the heat from geothermal energy for sterilization process as well as dryi ng. In India, Chandrasekharam (2001) published a paper that advocated the use of geothermal energy in food processing since India’s topography is viable for this type of food processing. However, the United States had already applied that concept way back in 1978 when it opened the geothermal food processing plant in Brady Hot Springs, Nevada. In fact, â€Å"More than 25 million pounds of dehydrated onion and garlic are now being processed annually in Nevada â€Å"(nrel.gov, Oct 2001). This fact just attests to the huge capacity of geothermal energy in providing clean energy at a lesser cost. 3. Electricity Generation The Geothermal Energy Market Report shows that in 2005 alone, the top ten countries used 97% of geothermal energy for electricity generation purpose (refer to Appendix A). According to the International Energy Agency, â€Å"geothermal energy currently supplies less than 1% of the world's total energy demand†. Nevertheless, it has an enormous potential t o mitigate climate changes by reducing the use of carbon fossil fuels. It is a considerable source of renewable energy. In the case of Philippines, (which is second to the United States in using geothermal energy), it has a potential to become one of the world’s largest producer of geothermal energy. Currently, geothermal energy supplies 27% of the country’s electricity (www.philippines. hvu.nl). During the World Geothermal Congress in 2000, it was declared that the â€Å"