Monday, December 30, 2019

Identifying A Culture Or A Group Of People - 1599 Words

Throughout part 4 of the course, we have learned about cultures or groups of people and their place in society. We have seen how they are identified, categorized based on their race or ethnicity, as well as other factors, and how that has affected them and the negative things that have resulted from that. There are many things that can be used to identify a culture or a group of people, as well as an individual. Identification is what distinguishes you from others. For example, when I was helping my tutee, Noorhan, with her application to the University of San Diego, one of the sections asked to fill out her family information. I was confused on why her last name was Albayati, but her dad s last name was Kareem, and her mom s last name was Rajab. I asked her why this was. She said that there was a mistake made when they came to America, but her last name is in fact Albayati, and it is her family name. She said the family name is very important in her culture, and it helps identify he r family to other families and vice versa. We can also see this in My Identity, My Allegiances. For example, the author, Amin Maalout, says that he is different from everyone else because there is no one else out there that has all of the same allegiances as he does. He is trying to show that the combinations of all your allegiances makes you who you are individually. The combination of things such as the language you speak, the clothes you wear, the religion you practice, the food you eat,Show MoreRelatedorganizational behaviour1261 Words   |  6 Pages The exploration of the theories, research and practices that allow a better understanding of human behavior in organizations. Topics include motivation and job satisfaction; decision making; group dynamics; work teams; leadership; communication; power, politics and conflict; organization culture, structure and design; impact of technology; management of work stress; organizational change and development; and career management. Analysis of organizational behavior problems by self assessmentsRead MoreRisks And Opportunities : Scenario Planning1357 Words   |  6 Pagesmethod. This method starts with identifying the issues and the horizon year. Then we identify current trends, (population growth, power shifts, investments levels, etc.), and uncertainties that might influence the concerned issues, and analyze if they could have positive or negative impacts on said issue. After, we create extreme worlds, and add predetermined trends to both scenarios. Then we check for internal consistency, and add inn actions of individuals and groups. Set objectives The objectiveRead MoreEssay on Cultural Influences Of Consumer Behavior1300 Words   |  6 Pageshabits, marketers also need to study the decision and actions of real people. Until recent history the study of consumer behavior was focused on generalized consumer decisions. With over 6.3 billion people, the world is a marketing oyster (Armstrong Kotler, 2005). The trouble or the task that most marketers face is identifying how to sell their product to those people. There are many ways to sell a product, but identifying the buying behavior of the target market and catering to those behaviorsRead MoreCultural Influences of Consumer Behavior Essay examples1291 Words   |  6 Pageshabits, marketers also need to study the decision and actions of real people. Until recent history the study of consumer behavior was focused on generalized consumer decisions. With over 6.3 billion people, the world is a marketing oyster (Armstrong Kotler, 2005). The trouble or the task that most markete rs face is identifying how to sell their product to those people. There are many ways to sell a product, but identifying the buying behavior of the target market and catering to those behaviorsRead MoreEvaluation Of The Refugee Crisis921 Words   |  4 PagesThe Model of Inquire will examine the refugee crisis in Turkey by identifying various possible solutions, analyzing its contextual content, identifying possible barriers as well as identifying necessary resources, identifying its consequences and assessing the overall content. The Model of Inquiry requires us to imagine an action or change that is most likely to lead to better outcomes. Thus, in regards to the article by Angela Charlton and Suzan Frazer, some possible solutions that could allowRead MoreShort Term Wins, Kotter And Cohens Sixth Step On The Change Model Process1578 Words   |  7 Pages(Kotter Cohen, 2002, p. 125). Mr. Zemp created short-term wins by identifying unprofitable projects and rejecting them first. As the project coordinator, he kept information as to the reasons each project was eliminated in order not to waste time in the future revisiting unrealistic projects. There was also an incentive program to reward hard workers not only for identifying high impact projects, but also for identifying projects for elimination. This incentive program built momentum and keptRead MoreThe Poston Biracial Identity Development Model1742 Words   |  7 Pagesracial or ethnic groups. The stages of this model are the personal identity stage, choice of group categorization stage, enmeshment/denial stage, appreciation stage, and the integration stage. The personal identity stage is when an individual is independent of race or ethnicity. When I was in elementary school probably around 5 or 6 years old I showed part in this stage as I was naà ¯ve of the thought that people could be segregated based on race or ethnicity. The choice of group categorization stageRead MoreGender, Religion, Race, Ethnicity And Nationality People s Self Concept850 Words   |  4 Pagesidentifiers. Depending on context some identifiers are more predominant than others, however, these identities enable people the ability to understand and differentiate themselves from others. While all identities are important, a crucial dimension of identity often dismissed as a major contributor to self-individuality is national identity (Baldwin, 157). Partaking in a culture, society or community for a length of time the recognition of nationalism begins to diminish. The constant participationRead MoreGender Is A Complex And Controversial Phenomenon1415 Words   |  6 Pagesdifficult being socialized and identifying with a societies’ definition of â€Å"femaleness† and â€Å"maleness†. Others, however, have a more difficult time. The term â€Å"transgender† refers to particular individua ls whose gender identification does not align with what society would rather regard them as, and are based on the conventional norms and standards of what it means to be â€Å"female/woman† or â€Å"male/man†. There is a distinctive experience for individuals casted as â€Å"trans†. As a group within the United StatesRead MoreBritish Airlines Change 647 Words   |  3 Pagesother big issue came from the poor management system that was set in place at the time. British Airways had a very inflexible, hierarchical management system and it caused constant questions of authority. The new management also had problems in identifying and addressing the needs of their customers. Because the company focused more on keeping track of their various routes and internal control management customer service suffered greatly. This lead to BA customers being unsatisfied.â€Å" I remember going

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Filial Piety - 1074 Words

Essay about using ‘filial piety’ as an example, explain how cultural practices/values change Introduction and background: When it comes to filial piety, it should be a complex concept with different meaning and value in distinct period and region. Dating back to the history of filial piety, Chinese Confucian is the most representative pillar which claims: A respect for the parents and ancestors. However, filial piety is not unique for Chinese. East Asia country like Japan and Korea also had the similar concept, which had been highly influenced by Chinese culture. In some religion, Christian and Buddhism introduce some ideas of filial piety. However, the content of filial piety refers to be respect to elders, closed tied with family,†¦show more content†¦In industrial countries, the decision to live alone is often viewed as â€Å"a reflection of an economic demand for privacy or autonomy.†(Becker 1981) In more and more developing countries, elderly parents start to live independent. For example, ZhongShan elder residents became aware of living alone in Post-M ao period. Although they still received food supply by their sons to make a living, they desired for freedom and space in living arrangement. Nevertheless, this ZhongShan pattern was living separately more than living self-sufficiently. Furthermore, in contemporary society, more and more elderly people are economically self-sufficient, and thus have the ability to live alone. They would rather purchase for independent space without children’s support. Political changes help filial piety reforming in its practice. Thanks to aging society, governments devote more efforts to make a faithful guarantee for elders. Political policies become more consummate in welfare provisions for the elderly. Meanwhile, governments and organizations set up some elderly centers to give a community of elderly, and conduct some kinds of activity to enrich elders’ life. Elderly parents begin to have their own business not just circle around children and grandchildren. They have access to socia l resources to rebuild a new lifestyle. For instance, in Japan, the generation of old and oldest-old reach a high levelShow MoreRelatedThe Value Of Filial Piety918 Words   |  4 Pageshas a formal set of values, beliefs, customs, language, etc., which have been passed generations. Confucianism is the most influential philosophy guiding Chinese people living in different centuries. The Confucian-based values including harmony, filial piety, and obligation help shape my personality. The value of harmony: Confucianism emphasizes the importance of building harmonious relationships with others to make the society stable (Kaplan). It means that in every relationship, people should showRead MoreMovie Reflection665 Words   |  3 Pagesis higher than the 70s and 80s. Besides all the changes, the film also reveals the importance of Confucius teaching on filial piety. Even though Ling Ling ran away from home, she still concerned her parents silently. She set a telescope outside of her room that she could observe her parents life (Xiao). As mentioned in Teiser’s â€Å"the spirits of Chinese religion†, filial piety is the foundation of all virtues in China (Teiser). For me, I have arguments with my parents, also received punishments fromRead MoreVirtues Of Filial Piety And Loyalty859 Words   |  4 Pagesinclude Filial Piety (Ã¥ ­  Xiao) and Loyalty (Ã¥ ¿   Zhong). Filial Piety is one of the most important virtues in the discussion of rituals in Confucianism. For example, Ancestor worship is a huge part of the Confucianism practices and rituals. Confucius did acknowledge the existence of spirit and the traditional belief about ghost. Therefore, he believed that people should be respectful to their parents even after their death and that worshiping ancestors is manifesting the virtue of filial piety. To worshipRead More Filial Piety’s Role in Ancient China Essay2270 Words   |  10 PagesIn the 18th century, China was influenced by various teachings of philosophers and beliefs that the society had placed emphasis on. Filial piety (xiao) was a major practice around this period when it was strongly carried inside and outside the household. Filial piety is not only the guiding principle of Chinese ethics but it also played an affirmative role in determining the Chinese lifestyle; it was practiced daily in the family and in other areas such as education, religion and government. ItRead MoreThe Good Earth By Pearl S. Buck1328 Words   |  6 Pagesthe time period that they were written in. Many significant documents written in history have had a vital impact on certain civilizations . An example of this is the Xiao Jing, which is a Chinese treatise that throughly explains the concept of filial piety. The Ch inese strictly adhered to and lived by the rules set forth in the Xiao Jing, therefore these written set of rules greatly the influenced the way of life, behavior, and beliefs of Chinese people. A major point covered in the Xiao Jing isRead MoreAnalysis Of The Of The Bedford Anthology Of World Literature Volume One Through Three944 Words   |  4 Pagespersevere. Sunjata united the territories surrounding his kingdom into the greatest state in Africa, the Mali Empire, in the middle of the thirteenth century. The culture hero, Sunjata, possess the significant virtues of strength, courage, humility, filial piety, and a sense of justice. Sunjata was a king but his journey to become a king was long and fought process. In the story there was this fortune teller but called a soothsayer and he foretold situations that may occur that will hinder him from becomingRead MoreCultural Differences Between Chinese Culture And Western Culture Essay965 Words   |  4 Pageskind of hated her on it. I was so confused why she doesn’t willing to let her mother live with her in consideration of her mother’ age. The expression when her mother left shocked me. â€Å"Is this what Western modernity amounts to societies that feel no filial obligations to their inconvenient elders†? I was thinking. I couldn’t see any shame in her face, even her mother finally understood. When I asked why you didn’t live with parents and support or take care of them, she said she doesn’t have to do soRead MoreThe Analects Books I V I ve Had An Open Mind1522 Words   |  7 Pagesbehavior. The story soon shifts to matters involving family and the government. During this course, with every new religion it seems like they are big on family. Since we are on the topic of family, the text seems to take on the issue of filial piety. Filial piety means refers to the virtue of respect for one s parents or ancestors. Book two focuses more on the matter of government. I say that because at the beginning of book 2 this was stated Let a ruler base his government upon virtuous principlesRead MoreComparison Essay - My Two Brothers732 Words   |  3 Pageshave wronged him. Thu likes book, of course, and literature and philosophy. He likes to walk in the moonlight to think. Thu also enjoys drinking hot tea and singing verses. In short, in our family, Thu is the son who provides a good example of filial piety and tolerance. Thang, on the other hand, does not set a good example of traditional respectful behavior for his brothers and sisters. Unlike Thu, Thang only smiles when he is happy. When he talks to people, he looks at their faces. Because ofRead MoreConfucius Vs Vietnamese Culture1564 Words   |  7 PagesRelationships: Filial Piety and Patriarchal Children are obligated and devoted to older members of the family and to their parents, in the Vietnamese culture. The father, especially has the higher authority and ascendancy over their children. Traditionally, children are expected to show dependability, respect and obedience to their parents, and to care for or live with their parents in old age (Vu, Huy Q. Rook, Karen S. (2013) para. 2). Not only is the Vietnamese culture considered filial piety but it

Saturday, December 14, 2019

New Generation of Jails Free Essays

New generation jails â€Å"seek to manage human behavior positively, consistently and fairly.† (Sullivan, 2007, â€Å"Major changes†) Goals include maximizing the interaction between the staff and prisoners, subjecting the latter to more direct and continuous supervision, and enhancing safety for both parties, by making the jail more manageable and organized. The design is based on a philosophy that accused or convicted offenders must be treated in a humane manner while being incarcerated. We will write a custom essay sample on New Generation of Jails or any similar topic only for you Order Now (Allen et. al, 2007, p. 101) New generation jails are constructed using a podular design, where housing areas are divided into smaller and more manageable pods or units. A typical unit contains single occupancy cells to avoid triggering aggressiveness among inmates that may occur when they share a cell. Each unit has a secure control booth where the staff can directly and constantly observe and supervise inmate activity. (Nelson, 1998, â€Å"New Generation Jails†) The houses are designed to imitate a â€Å"normalized environment,† where inmates can enjoy visiting, programming, recreation, and related activities. Carpeting, wood, upholstered furnishings, paint color, and considerable natural light are incorporated into the housing unit to encourage better moods and interaction. Educational facilities, telephones, exercise machines and other recreational equipment are also available. Unlike the traditional prison cell which contained only a bunk, faucet and toilet, cells now have a desk and seat, running water, intercoms, and large windows. (Law Library, 2007, â€Å"Jail structure and design characteristics†) So far, assessment of new generation jails have shown that they help alleviate problems of tension and violence, noise inside the prison, idleness, vandalism, discipline and jail costs. Staff morale, inmate control, and communication/relaying of information have also greatly improved. (Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, 2007, â€Å"The New Generation Direct Supervision Jail.†) New generation jails have been successful in alleviating and minimizing future problems, thanks to the combination of a dedicated and satisfied supervision staff and new facility designs. References Allen, H. E., Latessa, E. J., Ponder, B. S., and Simonsen, C. E. (2007). Corrections in   Ã‚  Ã‚   America: An introduction, eleventh edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. â€Å"Jail structure and design characteristics.† (2007) Law Library – American Law and Legal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Information. Retrieved April 12, 2007 Nelson, W. R. (January 5 1998). â€Å"New generation jails.† Prop1.org Web Domain. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   April 12, 2007, from http://www.prop1.org/legal/prisons/97jails.htm Sullivan, P. M. (March 21, 2007). â€Å"Influencing juvenile justice architecture.† The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Corrections Connections. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.corrections.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=15338 â€Å"The new generation direct supervision jail.† (February 28 2007) Corrections Center of    Northwest Ohio Online. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.ccnoregionaljail.org/newgenerationjail.htm    How to cite New Generation of Jails, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Therapeutic Intervention And Anxiety Disorders †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Therapeutic Intervention And Anxiety Disorders. Answer: Introduction According to the DSM-5 category of Anxiety disorders, Social anxiety disorders are also known as social phobia. It is a type of an anxiety disorder that includes disturbances in an individual when and around social interactions because they are mainly concerned of being uncomfortable and critically judged by others. However, with people suffering from this disorder they are found to be discomfort by experiencing fear as well as anxiety along with some may also experience autonomic arousals that involves nauseas, diaphoresis, apnea, tremors and tachycardia. Moreover, social anxiety disorders can hamper the daily life activities that involve social situations (Iverach and Rapee 2014). They may want to interact with others but their anxiety becomes unbearable and restrains from participating. It can further guide a person to isolation and stagnation of developing any social skills that can further increase the already existing social anxiety. However this is a case report where the theo retical intervention of the chosen case study that of the client named Mr. Piyal who is 30 years old male who is single and living with his mother and his younger brother. This report will further explain the treatment plan, the rationale behind choosing the type of therapies and lastly, evaluating the strength and weakness of the chosen approach. Rationale The client has come up with the presenting complaints that clearly states that he is having difficulty in social situations where he is encountering with an unexplained fear because he thinks that he is being critically observed and scrutinized by the people around him in any social situation. From the last 12years, this client has been facing this difficulty. Moreover, it has been observed from his history of presenting complaints that earlier also he had faced the difficulty of not being able to talk to a person in the presence of others followed by he was use to restrict himself from communication in the fear of being observed by others. In his following days, he not only had to resign from his post of being the prefect but also left his workplace due to his increasing discomforts and limitation in articulating words. As days passed he avoided family gatherings like get together, parties or weddings. Therefore, from the symptoms it is clear that the client is suffering from Social anxiety disorder. Now, if the perspective of psychodynamics is considered for this case then from that outlook social anxiety disorder is assumed part of a wider problem that has emerged during childhood. Researchers supporting the psychodynamic perspective consider social anxiety disorders to be a disorder of childhood onset (Andersson et al. 2012). Thus, from the psychodynamic perspectives social anxiety disorders are the outcome of the early experiences the client had or the attachment he has with his caregiver as well as other essential people in his life. There is no such reliable psychodynamic theory of social anxiety disorder however; many beliefs seem to exist underneath this perspective. Thus, according to the psychodynamic viewpoint it is seem that social anxiety disorder can be an outcome from the following reasons in an individual- It might be the case that the individual may have been in a situation of shame and humiliation evoked by autocratic parents There might be a constant conflict going on in the individual of what he needs to achieve as well as succeed and the inner fear of success There might also be a conflict in the individual where his need for independence and his fear of being rejected or abandoned by the parents Lastly, there might also be a narcissistic fear residing in the individual that he might not make a perfect impression in the eyes of others. Therefore, from the causes and the approach discussed it can be said that the treatment plan for the client should focus mainly on counseling along with which medications can be given to the client (Archer et al. 2012). Fears that is linked with the social anxiety disorder must be overcomes and for that the best therapy is cognitive behavior therapy which should involve the exposure therapy for treating this particular client with social anxiety disorder. Counseling is way much important than medicines to reduce anxiety because here the client can slowly exposed to fear evoking situations and the fear evoking situation gets linked to a response of indifference and relaxation (McLeod 2014). Treatment My role in this case is that of a psychotherapist and the clients role is to follow and get involved in the therapy process that can take weeks, month or years to be cured. However, as a psychotherapist my work will be to assist and treat my client Mr. Piyal who is experiencing discomforts in the areas of psychological and emotional sphere. Thus, as per my roles are concerned I need to help my client to understand their problems and help them make proper changes in his lives. Therefore, with the help of a therapist the client can cope up faster with the feelings and symptoms and modify their patterns of behavior that is contributing to his illness (Dryden and Mytton 2016). The role of the clients who is here for the treatment must possess the following characteristics like- He must be motivated enough to follow the therapist He must be flexible and adaptable with the changes he had to come up with Most importantly he must be honest to the therapist otherwise the treatment will have no positive outcome The client should be consistent with his appointments and should continue his sessions as scheduled by the therapist Must have proper verbal communicative skills so that he can tell his problems clearly Apart from the issues that are earlier stated in the above section, that are the important issues pointed out from the clients presenting complaints there are certain less necessary issues as well that may have affected my client like self-esteem. In this type of disorders individuals are very much low in their self-esteem and found to be depressed as well because of their fear of being with larger group of people which may increase and become unbearable to tackle it and thus, as a result they starts worrying too much about facing such situations again in near future. Apart from this, my clinical eyes suggest that life experiences or social factors also have contributed for my client (Yen et al. 2012). There are many other risk factors prevailing for social anxiety disorders which are as following- Genetics Nurture- might be that the parents were overprotecting Life experiences- might have faced any kind of bullying, rejection or humiliation compared to others or any kind of negative experience individual personality- inborn traits like withdrawn, restrained timid or shy in a new situation demanding ordeal- A negative experience for the very first time in any situation can evoke the stimuli for social anxiety disorder Therapeutic plan Aim of the techniques Timeframe Role of the client and evaluation Ethical considerations Counseling- the type of counseling process that seem to have been more frequently used in this treating a client of social anxiety disorder are- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)- The aim behind particularly choosing this therapy is mainly because it will help the client to first identify his anxiety provoking situations and the anxieties itself that is making the client anxious (Hofmann et al. 2012). At the very beginning, the client can feel uncomfortable in describing his situations that create fear in him but with the following sessions, he will realize that it is an important part of his recovery (Leichsenring et al. 2013). However, there are several CBT therapies that can be used for treating individuals with social anxiety disorders but the selected ones for this particular client is Exposure and Social skill training therapies (Meuret et al. 2012). These two are selected mainly because in the first one the client will be eventually exposed to a feared situation until the fear diminishes. In addition, in the second one the client will be guided to develop those skills that are needed in social situations. Medication- The medicines that can be effective to this client is Benzodiazepines, which is effective in relieving anxiety because they act quickly, and Beta-blockers, which is very much effective in treating with the physical symptoms of anxiety (Bostwick, Casher and Yasugi 2012). For this client this medicine will help reduce this pounding of heart. These sessions will be holding twice a week for six months. The role of the client here remains that apart from being motivated as well as determined that he will be taking all the medicines properly at prescribed time. Moreover, he should be honest while narrating his experiences as well as when doing certain homework as referred by the therapists. He must also be flexible and adaptable in welcoming the changes with an open arm that are coming to his life due to the therapies and medications. Most importantly, the client must be continuing the last scheduled session of counseling so that he can be cured totally. However, during these sessions the client will be given certain homework that by the therapist that they should sincerely perform in the absence of the therapist and report honestly in the next session to his therapist. For exposure theory, the client can be said to go out and eat in public. At the beginning, the therapist himself might accompany him but then he has to go alone and finish his meal. Then for social skill training, the client might have to do rehearsals at home as well as role-playing even in the absence of the therapist to continue his practice to become more comfortable and feel prepared to face any feared social situation. The very first ethical consideration is being trustworthy to the client. This will make the client have the confidence that the therapist will guide them to the right tract and most importantly with confidentiality. As a therapist, he must always show respect to the client. Through this, the client will develop the ability to be self-directing in the therapy as well as in other aspect of his life. From the therapists side the client should get fair and unbiased treatment and the assurance of adequate services needed for him to be cured. This is how the therapist respects the human rights and dignity (Pope and Vasquez 2016). Evaluation and reflection The approaches that are outlined above in the treatment plan are mainly counseling which comprises of the cognitive behavioral therapy along with medication. The strength and weakness of both are discussed below- Strengths of CBT in treating social anxiety CBT is very much instructive in nature thereby the clients learn skills of rational self-counseling. The average number of CBT sessions is very few as compared to other therapies. CBT mainly focuses on how to make the client overcome his anxieties rather than only making him feel better for a shorter time. This therapy gives long-term results to the client because it corrects the cause of the issue. CBT therapies are mainly well structured because it minimize the possibility for which the sessions will not turn into a chat period which will not help much in accomplishing the therapy. Weaknesses of CBT Clients commitment is most important in CBT because a therapist can only guide him but the rest have to be carried out by the client himself. A much of initial time is wasted because the client suffering from Anxiety disorder might feel uncomfortable in confronting their emotions and anxieties. Few critics have stated that because CBT is only focused about the present and specific problems in a client therefore it fail to define the possible mental health conditions that are underlying causes for instance an unhappy childhood. Strength and weaknesses of medication in treating social anxiety disorder There are various types of medications through with social anxiety can be treated from which for this particular client of this report the medicines chosen are the traditional anti-anxiety drug called Benzodiazepineswhich is mainly prescribed for being in a short term use and Beta blockers. Benzodiazepines if taken regularly guides to physical dependence as well as increases the persons tolerance, therefore it makes the person opt for larger doses to get relief. The strength point is that this medicine works quickly and is very impactful when taken during panic attacks or in any immense anxiety episode. It helps the person to slow down both physically and mentally by relaxing the nervous system. Whereas, the common side effects of this medication on people can be blurred vision, headache, stomach upset, confusion, issue related to memory, drowsiness, slurred speech, improper coordination, problem in concentrating and dizziness (DellOsso and Lader 2013). On the other hand, Beta-blocke rs help the person to limit the effects of norepinephrine which is a kind of stress hormone in is a part of the flight or fight response in a person, which in turn control the physical symptoms in anxiety like for this client this medication, is prescribed for pounding heat rate. It is not much effective for decreasing the emotional symptoms of anxiety disorders like worry which the biggest drawback. This medicine is most trustworthy for people with Phobias especially social phobia and performance anxiety. The common side effects of this medication are sleepiness, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and headache (Steg et al. 2012). Conclusion To conclude this report, it can be said that that the client named Mr.Piyal who is of the age of 30years has been presented with the complaints of suffering from an unexplained fear in social situations which made him feel that others are observing and is critically judging him for the last 12years. Due to this his history of illness suggests that he left his job and even avoided family get together, parties and even weddings. Based on his presenting complaints, history of illness along with his mental status examinations it has been found that the client is suffering from Social anxiety disorder. Thus, considering this a treatment plan has been made which stated that counseling and medication could be of great help to this particular client. In the counseling, process the therapy chosen for him is the cognitive behavioral therapy along with medications Benzodiazepines and Beta-blockers. CBT has been chosen because it is a well-structured therapy that focuses on the long-term cure of the client and followed by the medications, which apart from their side effects will help the client to get over his panic or anxious episodes and to help him to get over his physical issues. References American Psychiatric Association, 2013. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). American Psychiatric Pub. Andersson, G., Paxling, B., Roch-Norlund, P., stman, G., Norgren, A., Almlv, J., Georn, L., Breitholtz, E., Dahlin, M., Cuijpers, P. and Carlbring, P., 2012. Internet-based psychodynamic versus cognitive behavioral guided self-help for generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 81(6), pp.344-355. Archer, J., Bower, P., Gilbody, S., Lovell, K., Richards, D., Gask, L., Dickens, C. and Coventry, P., 2012. Collaborative care for depression and anxiety problems. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 10. Bostwick, J.R., Casher, M.I. and Yasugi, S., 2012. Benzodiazepines: A Versatile Clinical Tool; Evidence Supports Their Use for Alcohol Withdrawal, Insomnia, Anxiety Disorders, and Other Conditions. Current Psychiatry, 11(4), p.54. DellOsso, B. and Lader, M., 2013. Do benzodiazepines still deserve a major role in the treatment of psychiatric disorders? A critical reappraisal. European Psychiatry, 28(1), pp.7-20. Dryden, W. and Mytton, J., 2016. Four approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. Routledge. Hofmann, S.G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I.J., Sawyer, A.T. and Fang, A., 2012. The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive therapy and research, 36(5), pp.427-440. Iverach, L. and Rapee, R.M., 2014. Social anxiety disorder and stuttering: Current status and future directions. Journal of fluency disorders, 40, pp.69-82. Leichsenring, F., Salzer, S., Beutel, M.E., Herpertz, S., Hiller, W., Hoyer, J., Huesing, J., Joraschky, P., Nolting, B., Poehlmann, K. and Ritter, V., 2013. Psychodynamic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in social anxiety disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(7), pp.759-767. McLeod, J., 2014. Doing research in counselling and psychotherapy. Sage. Meuret, A.E., Wolitzky-Taylor, K.B., Twohig, M.P. and Craske, M.G., 2012. Coping skills and exposure therapy in panic disorder and agoraphobia: latest advances and future directions. Behavior therapy, 43(2), pp.271-284. Offidani, E., Guidi, J., Tomba, E. and Fava, G.A., 2013. Efficacy and tolerability of benzodiazepines versus antidepressants in anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 82(6), pp.355-362. Pope, K.S. and Vasquez, M.J., 2016. Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical guide. John Wiley Sons. Steg, P.G., Ferrari, R., Ford, I., Greenlaw, N., Tardif, J.C., Tendera, M., Abergel, H., Fox, K.M. and CLARIFY Investigators, 2012. Heart rate and use of beta-blockers in stable outpatients with coronary artery disease. PloS one, 7(5), p.e36284. Yen, J.Y., Yen, C.F., Chen, C.S., Wang, P.W., Chang, Y.H. and Ko, C.H., 2012. Social anxiety in online and real-life interaction and their associated factors. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(1), pp.7-12.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Government Spending & Budget Essays - Fiscal Policy,

Government Spending & Budget As many Federal departments and agencies lurch into an era of running without funds, the leaders of both parties of Congress are spending less and less time searching for a compromise to balance the budget, and more and more time deciding how to use it to their advantage on the campaign trail. Meanwhile money is easily borrowed to pay for government overhead. In an attempt to change this, on June 29, Congress voted in favor of HConRes67 that called for a 7 year plan to balance the Federal Budget by the year 2002 (Hager 1899). This would be done by incorporating $894 billion in spending cuts by 2002, with a projected 7 year tax cut of $245 billion. If this plan were implemented, in the year 2002, the U.S. Government would have the first balanced budget since 1969. There is doubt by citizens that a balanced budget will become reality. A recent Gallop Poll from January, 1996 showed the budget as the #1 concern among taxpayers, but 4/5 of those interviewed said they doubt the GOP will do the job (Holding 14). Meanwhile, an ABC poll from November reported that over 70% of those polled disapprove of the current performance by Congress, and most blamed politicians for failure to take action (Cloud 3709). These accusations of failure to follow through come with historical proof that Congress and Clinton have failed to compromise and resolve the issue. After all, current budget plans are dependent on somewhat unrealistic predictions of avoiding such catastrophes as recession, national disasters, etc., and include minor loopholes. History has shown that every budget agreement that has failed was too lax. One might remember the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings bill that attempted to balance the budget, but left too many exemptions, and was finally abandoned in 1990 (Weinberger 33). So after a pain-staking trial for GOP Republicans to create, promote, and pass their budget, as promised on campaign trail 94, Clinton rejected the very bill he demanded. This essentially brought the federal budget back to square one. Clinton thought such a demand on Republicans to produce a budget would produce inner-party quarrels and cause the GOP to implode. Instead, they produced a fiscal budget that passed both houses of Congress, only to be stalemated by a stubborn Democratic President Clinton. Meanwhile, Clinton bounced back with a CBO scored plan with lighter, less risky cuts to politically sensitive areas like entitlements. Clinton's plan also saved dollars for education and did not include a tax increase, but most cuts would not take effect until he is out of office, in the year 2001. Although Clinton is sometimes criticized for producing a stalemate in budget talks, the White House points out that the debt has gone down since Clinton took office, with unemployment also falling. Republicans are quick to state that Clinton originally increased taxes in 1993 and cut defense programs, but his overall plan was for an increasing budget without deficit reduction. Startling Facts about the budget: As of 1996, the national debt was at an all time high of $5 trillion dollars, with interest running at a whopping $250 billion per year (Rau M-1). This equals out to an individual responsibility of more than $50,000 per taxpayer. Nearly 90% of that debt has accumulated since 1970, and between 1980 and 1995, the debt grew by 500%. Currently, the debt grows by more than $10,000 per second (Rau M-l), and at current rates, a baby born in 1992 will pay 71% of his or her income in net taxes. At current rates, our government is about to reach its breaking point. If that's not enough to scare a taxpayer, by 2002, 60% of government spending will be for entitlements, and by 2012, these programs are projected to take up all government revenue (Dentzer 32). Not only economic development, but also family income is hurt by debt. With the cost of living going up, it becomes harder to find a job. According to the Concord Coalition, real wages peaked in 1973 and have gone down ever since. If the economy grew as fast as it did in 1950, without a debt, the median family income would be $50,000, compared to the present median

Monday, November 25, 2019

Teenage Drinking Essay

Teenage Drinking Essay Free Online Research Papers Although there has been a decrease in the percent of high school seniors that have used alcohol but still eighty percent of high school seniors have used alcohol. (The setting of adolescent alcohol and drug use. 1) Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says â€Å"During a typical weekend, an average of one teenager each hour is in a car crash. Just about fifty percent of those crashes involve alcohol (1). A study was conducted with 449 juniors and seniors attending two Midwestern high schools between the ages of sixteen to nineteen. The study came across at all the different settings where adolescents use alcohol and drugs. They also looked at the emphasis gender and peer groups had on the place where consumption of alcohol and drugs occurs and settings where it is most likely to take place (Teenage Drinking in America. 1). Does the setting affect the use of alcohol and drugs by adolescents? Is that setting determined by what kind of an individual you are (i.e. jock, outcast, preps, and geeks)? Alcohol consumption differs universally between male and female but also across different age groups and of social status (Teenage Drinking in America. 2). 81% of boys and 83% of girls admitted to ever using alcohol in their lifetime. On the other hand 46% of boys and 41% of girls admitted to ever using marijuana in their lifetime (6). Social crowd association has been extremely foretelling of drug and alcohol use in adolescence (3). As anticipated the group that they called the â€Å"toughies† was related to a greater substance use than any other group (6). Brown says crowds are â€Å"reputation based collectives of similarly stereotyped individuals who may or may not spend time together (3).† Females were found to most likely report using alcohol at family parties and to a certain extent in their homes than male alcohol users (9). Drinking while driving, before school events, and on streets were more common than at home with parents and or guardians (3). According to MADD, the vast majority of young people (79%) say that being drunk is appealing because it feels good. Amongst the many other reasons given are relaxation and escape. Some teenagers use alcohol as an outlet for all the stress and problems in their life (The setting of adolescent alcohol and drug use. 1). Even though the numbers might be decreasing, the problem still remains. The misconception that alcohol is not a risky drug is only going to continue to increase the numbers of teenagers using alcohol (2). The social morays have changed to be acceptant of teenage drinking. Possibly this is one of the main reasons why alcohol use often turns into alcohol abuse at such an early age (1). Research Papers on Teenage Drinking EssayThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayHip-Hop is ArtStandardized TestingResearch Process Part One

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Discuss the ethical issues in the Monsanto case Essay

Discuss the ethical issues in the Monsanto case - Essay Example Most cases, the company owned up its failures and strived to clean up in its attempt to safeguard its stakeholder interests. In its attempt to balance the stakeholder interests, Monsanto has often disregarded a number of ethical issues mostly in health, environmental and moral issues as the discussion below portrays. The company has a poor reputation owing to the number of scandals arising from the unethical techniques it employs in its operations. The debate around the suitability of genetically modified foods continues to jeopardize the activities of the company and its profitability given the fact that the company prides itself in the sale of such products. Genetically modified foods present a number of advantages to the society. Genetically modified substances mature faster and are resistant to both drought and pests. As such, genetic modification of foods is among the surest ways of enhancing the global food security (Gillam, 2009). Such arguments continue to enhance the profitability of the company since the company presents the answer to some of the world’s greatest concern. Food insecurity in Africa is of a major concern. Through consistent research on genetic modification of agricultural products, the company promises to develop plant and animal species that can help improve food security in the continent. While such beliefs continue to improve investor confidence on the company, Monsanto must continue employing ethical practices in order to safeguard the safety of the substances it develops. The company must address all the major concerns and doubts that people have on the safety and suitability of the genetically modified foods (Fraedrich, Ferrell & Ferrell, 2012). Another equally important ethical concern is environmental degradation. Global warming is a real threat to the safety of the earth. As such, the company must enhance the safety of its operations with the view to protecting the environment from such of the pollutant its produces. In

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector Assignment

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector - Assignment Example and literacy skills among the learners, educators must create a conducive environment that creates conditions for learning (Avis, Fisher & Thompson, 2009). Since learners are of varying backgrounds ranging from cultural to socio-economic backgrounds, educators must provide adequate support to the learners so as to attain the set standards. Additionally, Avis, Fisher & Thompson (2009), say that teaching numeracy and literacy skills is a complex process, and it is the role of the teachers to come up with methods that will suit the multilingual learners. This involves selecting resources and planning instructions so as to meet the high and low order skills in language learning (Avis, Fisher & Thompson, 2009). For teaching literacy and numeracy classes to be productive, educators must develop deep understanding of the main concepts and principles in literacy and numeracy. Avis, Fisher & Thompson (2009), emphasize on synthesizing, explaining, analyzing, evaluating and hypothesizing in the course of teaching multilingual learners. From the lessons I have been keen on, lessons plans presented by the centre, printed materials and articles, motivation of the learners cannot be ignored (Avis, Fisher & Thompson, 2009). In an event whereby the learners are motivated, they tend to engage in the learning tasks. Teachers can motivate the learners by creating a favourable learning environment through modelling, and in turn the learners take risks in engaging in class activities, so as to learn these skills. Since effectual learning of numeracy and literacy skills is based on evidence based research, educational systems must devise literacy and numeracy programs using reliable techniques (Avis, Fisher & Thompson, 2009). Teachers must always assess and evaluate the programs, so as to understand if the learners acquire the information taught in the classroom setting. Lastly, the educators must inculcate a culture of continuity in the learning process if numeracy and literacy

Monday, November 18, 2019

Digital Image Creation for Interactive Media Assignment

Digital Image Creation for Interactive Media - Assignment Example color, gradients, layers, object, brushes, history, actions, size, resolution; layers, e.g. copying, saving, arranging; flattening; colour selection, e.g. foreground, background, color swatch, eyedropper Advanced tools: effects, e.g. layer effects, filters, channels; image adjustments, e.g. brightness and contrast, hue and saturation, color balance, gradients, transparency, invert; masks; paths, e.g. vector paths, converting text to paths; image slicing 2. To publish gave a name to City Guide Monthly type. The Publication Name is not the same as the Name of the Folio. The Folio Name was visible on web client of Folio producer and Name of publication then was visible on the viewer. 4. Selected the (the Link URL found in the menu, and put address in the field of URL previously used). The URL was http://www.bikeworks.org/. I then deselected the Shared Hyperlink Destination. Selected OK. (Ayoub) 5. In the panel of Folio Builder, clicked twice on the Layout of the Landscape to see the document of Enjoy_h.indd. I copied and pasted object of the hyperlink from the vertical file (‘Enjoy-v.indd’) file to the horizontal file (‘Enjoy_h.indd file’) (Ayoub). I then shifted this object to the log of â€Å"D.I.Y. Meet† . 1. In the horizontal file, selected the File > Place, browsed the CityGuide_Folio > Enjoy Article > Folder links, and clicked twice on the image â€Å"cycling_432x234.mpg† (Ayoub) and shifted this movie file in the right most corner. 2. On the panel of the Media (Window > Interactive > Media), select Chose Poster pop-up menu image. Clicked twice on the Folio of City Guide image â€Å"cyclist.jpg† so that Enjoy Article > Links folder† (Ayoub) In conclusion, the creation of this interactive media was a success as the result was what was expected. The various tools employed in graphics design were applied in the right manner to give the intended

Friday, November 15, 2019

Relevance of mindfulness to developing interpersonal skills

Relevance of mindfulness to developing interpersonal skills Mindfulness as a psychological concept can be conceptualised as a present centred, non elaborative and non judgemental awareness in which all of the individuals sensations, feelings and thoughts that are present in their field of attention is taken account of and accepted (Bishop et al, 2004). Hargie (2006) states that behaviour that an individual pursues consciously can be said to be mindful, while automatic behaviour must be defined as mindless. Bishop et al go on to state that Mindfulness in contemporary psychology has been adopted as an approach for increasing awareness and responding skilfully to mental processes that contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive behaviour. (p.230). they suggest that operationalising the concept requires that the definition have two components, and that previous definitions do not adequately capture the nature of the concept. The first requires the individual to regulate their attentional mechanisms so that they focus on immediate and present experience, which will allow them to recognise internal events that occur in the present. This necessarily involves the individuals conscious awareness of their own feelings and thoughts as well as their surroundings. A result of this can be metacognitive abilities that allow them to control their powers of concentration. The second component of their definition of mindfulness requires the individual to adopt a certain kind of orientation towards their experience as they occur immediately, which will be characterised by openness, curiosity and acceptance. This orientation component requires the individual to accept their mindstream, to maintain a curious and open attitude, and to think in terms of different categories. Wiemann, Greene and Burleson (2003) note that within the context of interpersonal encounters, mindfulness implies increased attention to each individuals characteristics in new encounters. They suggest that this is particularly important in intercultural settings bec ause in these, it is more important to try to be prepared for unexpected behaviour from others. This essay will consider the relationship between mindfulness and interpersonal behaviour, including relationships as well as whether mindfulness can help people to improve their interpersonal skills. With regard to the relationship between mindfulness and interpersonal behaviour, Brown, Ryan and Creswell (2007) point out that research into the influence of mindfulness has only begun relatively recently, and has also focused largely on how it can enhance romantic relationships. For example, Welwood (1996) proposed that mindfulness encourages connection, closeness and attunement in these kinds of relationships. Goleman (2006) found that it can increase the individuals ability to pay attention to the content of their partners communication and also to be aware of their non-verbal behaviour and affective tone. Brown et al conclude that this scholarship suggests that mindfulness may promote interaction styles that support healthy relationship functioning and enhance overall relationship quality. (p. 225). Barnes et al (2007) used the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (Carlson Brown, 2005; Brown Ryan, 2003), a self-report measure of mindfulness, to look at the relationship between mi ndfulness and relationship satisfaction. They found that increased mindfulness on the scale predicted increased satisfaction in relationships as well as more capacity to respond to relationship stress in a constructive manner. The study was carried out in a sample of dating couples who were not distressed. One possible criticism is that the study relied on self report and there was a danger of participants responding to face validity in some of the questions. These concerns were addressed to a certain extent in a second study, using a paradigm of conflict discussion. The authors found that scores on the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale predicted lower scores of emotional stress to conflict. This effect in turn was explained by the fact that they experienced less emotional stress in advance of the discussion, indicating that mindfulness actually helps protect the couple from stress, and does not just have a simple buffering effect. Objective raters also found that mindfulness wa s associated with better quality of communication, which is consistent with Tickle Degnan and Rosenthals (1990) finding that sustained attention in social exchanges is essential for rapport to be established. More generally, Baer et al (2006) fount that there was a positive association between mindfulness and aspects of emotional intelligence, which are related to improved social skills (see also Brown Ryan, 2003). This can lead to better perspective taking, response patterns that are cooperative and increased satisfaction in marital partners (Schutte et al, 2001). Brown and Kasser (2005; see also Brown Ryan, 2003; 2004) found that mindfulness as measured by the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale had a positive association with, or even predicted, a sense of interpersonal closeness and relatedness. This suggests that mindfulness plays a role in supporting social connections, which can be considered a fundamental psychological need (Deci Ryan, 1991). However, this proposition m ust be tested and confirmed by further research. Furthermore, incipient intervention studies also support the notion that mindfulness has a beneficial role in relationships. Carson et al (2004) adapted the extant Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programme (Kabat Zinn, 1982) to a couples based intervention, which was named Mindfulness Based Relationship Enhancement. They found that, compared to control couples, those who undertook the intervention showed significantly increased partner acceptance, autonomy, and relationship satisfaction, and significantly reduces relationship and personal distress. These results held both post-test and at a follow up carried out three months later. All couples in the study were non distressed. This indicates that increased mindfulness can lead to positive outcome in terms of interpersonal behaviour. Burgoon, Berger and Waldron (2000)argue that in order to properly consider how mindfulness can help to address social issues, it is necessary to specify the features that characterise the communication context, the individuals communicating, or the messages being communicated that have the potential to increase mindfulness. Langer (1978) and subsequent authors (e.g. Hewes Graham, 1989; Schul Burnstein, 1998) have identified a number of situations that prompt individuals to exhibit more thoughtful behaviour. These include new situations, new formats for communication, and situations that are uninvolving. Waldron (1997) went on to study conversations and found that some of the proposed mindfulness prompts were indeed manifested therein. Conversations that included this kind of behaviour had associated patterns of behaviour that included more questioning, longer turns taken in the conversation, calls for evidence to be given and more interruption, which all indicate that efforts are b eing made to take control of the situation. However, it should be noted that this approach may not necessarily be considered the best for systematically examining the use of mindfulness prompts due to the fairly small number of conversations that were recorded. Dekeyser et al (2008) also looked at the relationship between mindfulness and interpersonal performance and feelings. Firstly, they looked at the factor structure and reliability of a mindfulness measure, the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (Baer et al, 2004), which is also based on self report. They used a sample of Psychology students and parents, all of whom spoke Dutch. They were able to replicate Baer et als finding in terms of the four factors that underlie mindfulness, which are characterised as Describe, Observe, Accept without Judgement and Act with Awareness. These were invariant through the samples tested, and all of these aspects of mindfulness displayed positive associations with self expression during a variety of social situations. Additionally, an increased tendency towards mindful observation was correlated with higher levels of empathy. The other factors of acting with awareness, acceptance without judgement and mindful description were correlated with more accurate description and identification of emotions and feelings, lowered social anxiety, increased body satisfaction and lowered contagion of distress. Thus, this study indicates that several factors, many of which are highly personal in nature, are associated with aspects of mindfulness. This further strengthens the notion that high levels of mindfulness are associated with a number of positive psychological outcomes, although the nature of this relationship is not clear. It must be remembered that correlation in no way infers causation and it is possible that mindfulness exerts more of a moderating or mediating effect. Furthermore, mindfulness may have some clinical applications, such as the relatively recent use of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, which is a treatment programme that was originally devised in order to help to manage chronic pain (Kabat Zinn, Lipworth et al, 1987; Kabat Zinn, Lipworth Burney, 1985). The treatment programme is presently used in order to help to reduce the psychological morbidity that comes along with chronic illnesses, as well as in the treatment of behavioural and emotional disorders (Kabat Zinn, 1998). Bishop (2002) has pointed out that the use of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction has increased in terms of popularity despite the fact that there has been no rigorous scientific evaluation of the treatment programme. However, clinical trials have begun to be carried out. Reibel, Greenson et al (2001) found significant reductions of psychological morbidity in patients with a medical illness using the programme (see also Carlson, Ursuliak et al, 2001; Speca, Carlso n et al, 2000). Williams, Kolar et al (2001) also found that Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction helped to increase individuals psychological well being and mitigate stress in samples that were not clinical (see also Shapiro, Schwartz Bonner, 1998; Astin, 1997). In conclusion, the nature of mindfulness is complex and appears to have two separate but interconnected components; attention and orientation. Mindfulness is related to interpersonal behaviour because it can promote styles of interaction that lead to improved social behaviour and can also have a positive influence on relationships with others. Indeed, the research indicates that mindfulness can have a protective capacity against social stress, although how it does this is not yet clear. Furthermore, early research indicates that interventions that encourage mindfulness can not only reduce stress following illness, but can also have positive impacts on interpersonal relationships. Although the field is relatively young, research is showing more and more positive aspects of mindfulness for interpersonal skills and behaviour. One possible future direction for research would be the development of a more objective way of measuring mindfulness. At present, most studies rely on self-report, which is influenced by the participants concept of themselves. Exploratory studies looking for other indices of mindfulness, perhaps using galvanic skin response, event related potentials or functional magnetic resonance imaging may be of use.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Patron-Artist Relations in the Renaissance :: essays research papers fc

Patron-Artist Relations in the Renaissance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The subject of artist-patron relations has been a touchy one since the beginning of the phenomenon. Nowadays it does not take such great precedence, as the artist leans more toward a personal, individual type of art typical of freelance. Serious commissions exist only in public art and architecture, where the needs and feelings of a large group are considered. Artist and patron must work out a compromise as to what is acceptable and also respects the aims of the artist. The patron in this case generally has the last word, as demonstrated by Richard Serra’s â€Å"Tilted Arc† controversy in the mid-80s where the artist’s piece was actually removed from its site because of public objection. However, nowadays the artist is insured against such damages, which was not the case in the beginning of the Renaissance, when artists were just starting to make a name for themselves. At this time, artists still depended greatly on patronage for a living and fought to distinguish themselves from the guild system. They still succumbed to religious guidelines and subject matter which generally limited their exploration of more personal means of expression, but with the rise of secular art collectors such as the Medici, we see a more modern artist-patron relationship emerging. By so distinguishing themselves in their field, patrons gave them certain leeway in commissions. Patrons and artists worked together, the patron outlining material, size, and general subject matter, but leaving aesthetic decisions concerning composition up to the best judgment of the artist--- the master--- himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although there is evidence of a lord-servant type of relationship between the patron and artist in several documents--- Domenico Venenziano writes to a lead Florentine patron, speaking of his â€Å"low condition† and how â€Å"duty-bound† he is to the patron ; Matteo de’ Pasti writes to his patron about specific details concerning the subject matter of a work, referring to himself as the patron’s â€Å"least servant† who wishes to obey his â€Å"master† ; Fra Filippo Lippi writes to Cosimo de’ Medici that he is â€Å"here entirely to be a slave to you† --- one must remember that Italy was still working out final kinks in a new middle-class-minded capitalist system, and dredges of the medieval system of feudalism still influenced aristocratic patrons. The artist could be building up trust and good relations so that he may be referred to other commissions and