The Behavior of Cult Leaders and Members Explained by using Psychologic

This essay will examine and describe the behavior of cult leaders and cult members by using and applying psychological principles. I will specifically highlight the behavior of Jim Jones and his followers and explain what factors that caused them to believe wholeheartedly in the doctrine of Jim Jones. I will also explain what psychological tactics were used to influence his believers to be participants in mass suicide and the psychological factors that contributed to the belief that this was their only option. What is a cult? According to (Pratkanis & Aronson, 2001,p.307) the term cult is used to described to describe a pattern of social relations within a group† and that cults can be â€Å"centered on a range of issues, including race, politics, therapy, self-help as well as spirituality and religion.† Another distinctive feature of cults or new religious moments are that they have â€Å"distinctive religious rituals and beliefs related to its god or a person, they also practice isolation from the surrounding culture and have a charismatic leader† (Myers, 2011, p.197). Cults are by no means new phenomena; they have been around since before the beginning of written history. Some of the earliest cults were recorded by the ancient Mesopotamian, Greek and Egyptian civilizations. There were also early Christian cults, such as the Essenes and the Gnostics. There are also the examples of modern cults, such as The Children of God, Heaven’s Gate and the Branch Davidians. In addition to cults, there are also modern new age organizations and movements. These groups tread a fine line between being an authentic religious organization and have some of the same characteristics of being a cult. In these types of organizations; it is often di... ...al psychological principals for his own purposes. I firmly believe that in the very end Jones used the power of informational social influence to gain obedience and conformity. This was the decisive factor that caused his followers to drink the cyanide laced Kool- aide and commit what Jones called a â€Å"revolutionary suicide.† Works Cited The Ford Foundation. (96-10). PBS,The American Experience . Jonestown the Life and Death of Peoples Temple. Retrieved 4/6/2012, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/jonestown-california/. Myers, D. G. (2002). Exploring psychology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Myers, D. G. (2012). Exploring social psychology (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Pratkanis, A. (2002). Age of propaganda: the everyday use and abuse of persuasion. New York: W.H. Freeman.

Advantages & Disadvantages of the Internet in Education Essay

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8109434_advantages-disadvantages-internet-education.html Nearly every classroom in America’s schools can access the Internet, a number that grew from 35 percent in 1994, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Some teachers use the Internet with every assignment while others take a different approach. As with any education technique, classroom Internet usage comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8109434_advantages-disadvantages-internet-education.html Information A major advantage of the Internet is the ability to access all types of information from library resources all over the world, including magazines, books, newspapers and journal publications, instantaneously. This information increases the learning potential by providing students with the latest information. It also expands the resources of a smaller library tremendously. Students using search engines can find information quicker and more tailored to their specific needs. As a disadvantage, educators may consider this information overload. With all of the information available to students, they may find it difficult to choose which information is most important to a topic and also when to stop looking. In addition, the validity of Internet sources varies considerably from website to website, which means students can very easily acquire inaccurate or out-dated information online. Online Education An online education provides students with the convenience of going to class and completing assignments on their own timetable. Students can take classes from a college or university nowhere near their home and get an education experience not available to them locally. Students who travel with a job can take a class in a house, hotel room or coffee shop. Students save on housing, gas money and travel expenses. However, an online education means face-to-face instruction does not exist, nor does the ability to get instant  feedback on class assignments in many situations. They also can’t hear questions from other students (or ask questions themselves), which often can give clarification to a student struggling with the concepts of the material. Sponsored Links $0.01 Web Hosting Scalable, Secure Web Hosting. Try Our Award-Winning Service Now! www.hostgator.com/1Penny Virtual Field Trips An advantage of a classroom Internet connection allows students to take a virtual field trip without ever leaving their school building. Students studying the animals of Africa, the Great Wall of China or the Egyptian pyramids, for example, never have to get on a plane. For schools struggling with budgets and for schools in rural locations, going to an online museum or virtual zoo gives them a unique opportunity they might not otherwise have without Internet access. Disadvantages of this experience mean students can’t ask questions of the zookeeper or touch a snake at a zoo. They can’t take pictures or create memories with their classmates. For younger children, a field trip can teach them how to behave in public and respect adults; since virtual field trips don’t leave the classroom, they only learn to respect their teacher. Social Skills The Internet allows students to meet people from all over the world at the click of a button. Suddenly doing a tenth grade literature project on Irish literature with the help of students in Ireland makes the project more interesting and thus a huge advantage. Artists studying Italian architecture can email experts in Italy about the vast amount of artwork. While these opportunities provide great details and resources, they also can damage social skills. Students who reply primarily on the Internet for information and interaction don’t talk to people in person as much; rather they just email back and forth. This can make it hard to develop listening skills, especially when interviewing someone, or to acquire appropriate social skills for face-to-face interactions. Advantages and disadvantages of school children using the Internet for  research Introduction Discuss the Advantages and disadvantages of school children using the Internet for research Over the last decade computers have been used more than ever before. The emergence of the Internet during the 1990’s allowed educational research materials to be made available through websites. Many people now use the Internet as a primary source of information for their work however there are many sides to this argument and there are doubts whether this is advisable in all cases. There are both advantages and disadvantages of school children using the Internet for research purposes, these advantages are: * The fact that the Internet is an easy tool to use and, once the child has learnt how to use the web; they can use search engines to find almost anything. †¦read more. Middle * There is a great deal of software available to stop unwanted sites, viruses or ads coming up, so the child could be trusted to use the internet without being in danger as long as they bear in mind that privacy is important and as long as they do not disclose personal information over the web. * You can get Current, topical information, such as news from around the world as the Internet is constantly being updated. * Also, there are many sites, which help children to study through the use of different media such as online Learning. Disadvantages include the fact that:: * Anyone can publish a web page to support his or her own intents and purposes. †¦read more. Conclusion some relevant information * Not all information is on the Internet and so the subject that the particular student may be researching may have more to it than is shown. * There can be many people such as hackers etc. who are trying to access your computer whilst you are on a particular site. This is important to remember when using the Internet for anything. In conclusion, I would say that the Internet is very useful to schoolchildren (like myself) in terms of its research potential but one must be aware of its limitations and should follow sensible practise in using it safely and wisely. However certain points must be remembered to ensure that the research produced is true and realistic. †¦read more. The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Internet section. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet Can you imagine a life without the internet? Hasn’t it revolutionized and eased up our life in many ways? Read on to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the internet. By Ashwini Ambekar | Wednesday, October 22, 2008 PRINT ARTICLE Modern life and business has become easier and the world markets have shrunk thanks to the immense contribution of the internet technology to communication and information sharing. However this internet technology was not created overnight. In its initial stages of creation it facilitated communication within certain specific network stations through a central mainframe method. Eventually internet operations wherein multiple networks could be connected together was made possible. From here on internet service providers that were privately owned allowed for expansion and use of this technology and it has had a tremendous impact all over the world. The Internet not only allows for ease in communication through email but also ensures easy availability of information, images, and products among other things. Every day the internet continues to provide a new facility, something new that is immensely convenient and that makes life easier for many people. However this internet like any other technology is also like a Pandora’s Box and contains some unwanted elements or disadvantages. Following are the advantages and disadvantages of the internet. Advantages of the Internet The internet has opened up new avenues for communication. Email facility has allowed people to communicate with minimum wastage of time. It is now possible to send a message to any part of the world through a simple email address and the message is delivered in a matter of seconds. This has allowed businesses to expand and communicate with their vendors and customers located all over the world in record time. Personal communication has also become easier thanks to email. Chat rooms, video conferencing are some of the latest additions in this technology and these have allowed people to chat in real time irrespective of the location of the parties involved. The intranet allows for people within an organization to easily communicate and share information. The greatest advantage of this phenomenal creation is that it is easy to understand and simple to use. Information has been made available easily because of this wonderful technology. Search engines, websites dedicated to different subjects and large amount of articles and papers are available for perusal in a matter of few seconds. Forums on a number of sites allow people to discuss and share their thoughts and information with others located at different places all over the world. Whether this information is about the latest news happenings in the world or information about your favorite celebrity, everything is available at your fingertips. A huge cache of data is available on the internet on every single subject. With this storehouse of information people can not only increase their knowledge bank but can do so without wasting their time through traditional means such as visiting libraries and conducting exhaustive research. This is particularly relevant for students who can use this wealth of information for their school projects and also to learn new things about the subjects they are interested in. In fact this internet is a boon for many schools and universities that are now able to assign projects and work to the students and follow their progress which can be easily posted on the school/ university int ernal websites. Online education has grown at a very fast pace since internet allows the development and use of innovative tools for imparting education. The internet has also revolutionized the entertainment industry. You no longer need to go to a cinema hall to watch your favorite movie. You now have companies offering their services wherein you can just download or order your favorite movie and watch it with a fast internet connection. Likewise you can download your favorite music or other important software in a matter of few minutes. There are a number of shareware programs that allow you to share and download your favorite music and videos.The internet also allows people from different cultures and backgrounds to connect with each other. Internet gaming is a huge business and allows enthusiastic gamers to compete against each other in games even when they are located far apart. Likewise dating has also  allowed people to find their prospective soul mates. Shopping has also got a complete makeover thanks to the contribution of the internet. You have many websites selling a variety of products of products online and one just needs to select or bid for the desired product and entire financial transactions can be conducted through the internet. E commerce has got a facelift because of the internet and entire global business deals can be conducted over the internet. Transfer of money is also no longer a time consuming job and with just a click of a button you can easily transfer funds to anyplace you wish. Some of these services of course come at a price. A variety of other services are also available through the internet including booking of tickets whether they are for traveling, hotel reservations or for your favorite movies. Medical support and guidance is also available through the internet and there are many websites catering to this and a horde of other services. Disadvantages of the Internet While the internet has made life easier for people in many ways it is also reflecting an uglier side to its existence through a number of problems that it has thrown up for its users. With a large amount of information freely available on the internet theft and misuse of this information is a likely possibility. Time and again you see cases of people using someone else’s information and research and passing it off as their own. Another problem or disadvantage of the internet is that it has allowed a great deal of anonymity to a large number of people who may access the different websites, forums and chat rooms available. This has allowed perverted individuals to at times take advantage of innocent people and abuse their trust. Since business dealings and financial transactions have become easier because of the internet another problem that has arisen is that people can now misuse your private information including financial details such as the credit card number. There have been cases of financial frauds and other problems that people have experienced following misuse of such sensitive information. Some unscrupulous individuals have been successful in creating viruses and links that once clicked can automatically transmit your personal email addresses and other details to certain parties and even your bank account details in some extreme cases. The case where funds are withdrawn or where sensitive data are obtained is called phishing. One of the biggest problems that the  internet has created is that of spamming. Spamming refers to the activity wherein unwanted emails and other links are sent in bulk to people. These emails may pertain to advertising or random bulk emails and these may contain viruses that may corrupt the system and even if they don’t cause any harm these can be plain annoying. The internet has also given birth to viruses that can wreck havoc in the system and cause a lot of damage. Many websites are notorious for sending adware, viruses and also other malicious software that can slow the computer and in some cases even harm it considerably. The internet is particularly attractive for a child since it has so much to offer in terms of entertainment. However pornography is a serious threat in today’s world and this can cause a lot of problems in terms of emotional and mental well being of the child. There are practically millions of pornographic sites and without supervision a child can easily fall into the trap of accessing such sites. Even though a number of informative sites are available there is also a darker side to the internet with the availability of a large number of other problematic sites that can cause serious effects on a child during these impressionable ages. Even though the internet has in many ways brought the world closer together it has in many other ways caused a lot of damage to relationships and growth of individuals. This is because the internet can have a huge addictive pull and people are at times known to surf the internet for up to 15 or 16 hours a day. Chat rooms and forums or other ways of interactivity cannot really replace real life socializing and if that takes place internet can be quite detrimental.

Hadith: Islam and Islamic Community Essay

The Islamic faith began with one man and his spiritual encounters with god and his angel Gabriel. Muhammad, the Prophet, as he is referred to by his followers, is considered to be the last prophet sent by god to interact with human beings on earth. Due to his importance and his influence over the people of his time his words and actions have been collected, over a mass number of years into a book referred to as, The Hadith. The Hadith, is second in line of importance in the Islamic community only behind the Qur’an. The term, Hadith, has been interpreted to mean talk or speech due to the innards of the book being collections of the words and actions of Muhammad (Bentley, 211). During its creation years numerous pieces, referred to as canons, were collected and studied by scholars to prove legitimacy. As it grew the canons were proved either to be accurate or false of authenticity. However, with its completion the Hadith serves as more than just religious guidelines as it sheds light upon social, political, economical, and cultural aspects of the Islamic community similar to works of other faiths and philosophical views. In the early years of many religions government seemed to be greatly influenced by the beliefs and traditions of its people. In the Islamic community Muhammad paved a path for Muslims that not only constructed the foundation of the faith, but also called the attention of government officials to follow and practice the ways of Islam. Before Muhammad’s death he chose no successor to take the role of a religious leader. This may be due to the fact that he was deemed â€Å"the seal of the prophets,† no other human being would have the role of a prophet bequeathed upon them. Within a year after his death the Islamic community saw it important, to at the very least, place one person in as somewhat of a substitute for Muhammad. This person was dubbed a caliph (deputy). The role of a caliph besides being the head of the Islamic state included many other aspects. He took on the role as head of military and a chief judge. This is just one spot where it is evident that the religion took on a larger role than just a stream of spiritual beliefs. In a reading pertaining to Muhammad and his words about the peoples’ role under their rulers he stresses the importance of obedience, â€Å"Obedience is the duty of a Muslim man† (Reilly, 290). The words attributed to Muhammad in this section are a part of the Hadith and break through a singular religious subject. They marry quite a few aspects together, such as: religion, politics, and social order. â€Å"Do not revile the Sultan, for he is God’s shadow on God’s earth† (Reilly, 290). By Muhammad saying that it is the duty of a Muslim man to obey his rulers he is implying, very strongly, that these leaders follow the same spiritual path as the people and that it unites them as a community. A community consists of a cornucopia of factors and a few of them being shared religious belief, government (or a basic code of conduct), and unity. An individual is considered to be a part of the Muslim community if he or she has accepted the Islamic faith (Bentley, 205). Within the collection of the Forty Hadith Qudsi many deal with the proper way in which Islamic people were to handle social and economic situations. One in particular pertains to the order in which one may handle an issue of debt. This pulls in a human’s sense of humane economics. In Hadith 12 Muhammad is quoted as he relayed a message from Allah, â€Å"We are worthier that you of that. Let him off.† What is being demonstrated in this canon is that an individual that finds himself in a debt of another and incapable of repaying said debt may be let off due to good character. If the one in debt has proved himself to a be a person of upstanding character then he should be viewed as a man who is in need of a certain charity for he has done nothing to cross the man in which he owes. Good character and an absence of greed were seen to be crucial in dealing with social and economic situations. The hand of religion has once again been spotted molding the world in which these people live cultivating a society where faith and societal structure are one in the same. In some aspects the Hadith spells out similar messages to Muslims like the Bible does for Christians. Fearing god is a theme in which both religions share. This fear is not a sensation that one would feel in the presence of danger, but rather it describes a lifestyle of consequence. God, in both religions, is seen as a judge, one who holds the fate of each individual in his hands. To live the life that has been preached by religious leaders is the path to follow to reach a heavenly paradise after a human’s departure from the physical world. This lifestyle which the people of both religions are to follow created a domino effect into a cultural standard. The scripts of both these religions hold many similarities. The following examples exemplify a communal guideline to form a structured and righteous community, a culture. Hadith 23 reads: â€Å"Where are those who love one another through My glory? Today I shall give them shade in My shade, it being a day when there is no shade but My shade.† The ninth commandment in the Holy Bible reads: â€Å"Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.† Religion has a strong arm in the molding of a culture. For the devoted followers of a faith the words of guidance, like the ones above, become an imbedded character trait within a person and in the all the ones of the same faith. And by the following of these codes one has this earlier discussed sense of fear that their god is going to reward them or punish them for not falling in accordance. The words conveyed to them are moral imperatives. The potency in which this faith has on its people has been carried through the centuries with an immense sense of pride. Islam is one of the largest religions on earth and like others it remains interweaved in the cultural societies of many countries. It does not hold a structure like the caste system which the religion of Hinduism does, but rather it still to this day has influence in many military forces and daily structures of multiple nations. The implementation of faiths with such monumental scriptures and even just ideas areas of the world have been molded and brought reality to its beginning preachers. For those looking solely at the surface of multiple religious etiquettes the similarities may be overlooked and the faiths and ideas may be seen as nothing but different. However, many of these religions and ideas are closely related. Confucianism, a socio-philosophical system, and the faiths of Islam and Hinduism can be seen as holding some of the same characteristics. Like stated before Islam and Hinduism differ in their societal structures, but still have formed faiths that mold cultures together by standards, found in readings of the Gita, Hadith, and other pieces of literature, that have survived through long periods of time and continue to thrive. The aims of many of these faiths and systems share in common beliefs. Confucianism aims to cultivate a society in which people can live and assume their personal responsibilities to manufacture a peaceful society. Like the Analects of Confucianism, Muhammad has constructed a framework through the Hadith implementing ethics and morality for the public. This too is similar to the words of the Gita in the Hindu faith. Krishna portrays, somewhat abstract at times, a set of guidelines for the followers of Hinduism. Religion has the power to mold the essence of human behavior and create unity amongst a mass number of people sharing in the same belief. When the words and doings of its most respected leaders are noted more than just a set of beliefs can be understood. A framework to a lifestyle can be comprehended and practiced by those following and believing in its meaning creating a community of people living and interacting with each other painting a society by standards in which to live. The Hadith has done just this in the Islamic community, a culture of people has been molded and its life will be watered by its words and the impact which it has had and continues to have on its people. Work Cited Patton, Laurie L. trans. The Bhagavad Gita. London: Penguin Group, 2008. Print. Bentley, Jerry H., Herbert F. Ziegler, and Heather E. Streets. Traditions & Encounters: A Brief Global History. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2006. Print. Forty Hadith Qudsi. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

102 Causality and Research Professor Ramos Blog

102 Causality and Research Causality Quick Write Any questions on the Causal Analysis essay? Causality Causality: the relationship of cause and effect You should identify the types of causal relationships on your charts (you might use different types of arrows, different colors, or simply labels to show what kind of cause is being mapped). Necessary Cause: any factor that must be in place for something to occur. Sufficient Cause: is a condition that always produces the effect in question. Precipitating Cause: the proverbial straw that breaks a camel’s back. Proximate Cause: nearby and often easy to spot. Remote Cause: may act at some distance from an event but be closely tied to it. Reciprocal Cause: you have a reciprocal situation when a cause leads to an effect that, in turn, strengthens the cause. Contributing Factors: add to the causes to bring about the effect. Document Cause and Effect Take a picture of a cause and an effect. Share both on Twitter or Instagram. Combine them if you can. You can locate them online or outside. Label the causal relationship. Tag it with #ramosclass Why is society so fascinated with serial killers? Asking Why Why College Students Aren’t Voting What is the question   you are exploring? Use why, how, and what if to come up with your question. Why do we have some many school shootings? Why did Harvey Weinstein get away with it for so long? Using Sources What are the ways you can use sources in your essay? Explain Provide information Examples Credibility Quotes Research data Ideas! Quote Sandwich One of the most important skills you can learn in academic writing is how to incorporate sources. To help remember this, we will use the metaphor of the quotation sandwich. The Quote Sandwich. Introduce the Quote, Quote, explain the quote. Do not drive by quote. When you quote or use a source you have to explain it and use it. The quote sandwich is why you cannot start or end a paragraph with a quote.

On Hitlers Mountain Book Review Essays

On Hitlers Mountain Book Review Essays On Hitlers Mountain Book Review Paper On Hitlers Mountain Book Review Paper On Hitlers Mountain shared the personal account of Irmgard Hunt, a Geman girl, which grew up on the same mountain that was Adolf Hitlers alpine retreat. She narrated her own and her familys story from how they lived through many important historical moments in German history. From how the great depression negatively affected her grandparents household to how the Nazi ideals put up a division between her own family. She shared anecdotes that she experienced herself growing up in the German society. At first, she did not know any better but as she grew older, he formulated her own opinions of what was going on politically in Germany during the Nazi era. She made clear historical connections of the events that were occurring at those specific times. Hunt also showed how ordinary German civilians dealt with the eminent, totalitarian power of the Nazi regimen. Not everyone that was subdued and brainwashed into following this communist party believed or agreed with its teachings and ideals. Hunt allowed the reader to have a personal connection to the horrible and inhumane ways the Nazi party operated. In her candid and honest ccount of events, she does not apologize or try to conceal the facts and atrocities that the German government caused to Jews, civilians from countries they invaded and even to their own people. The purpose of Hunts writing was to bring awareness about hardships that German people themselves faced and endured. It seemed as if she was trying to show that the Jews and other foreign civilians were not the only victims of events as the Great Depression, the war and the emergence of the Nazi era. For instance, she described the lack of resources and poverty her family suffered during the Great Depression when six days wages could not buy a single loaf of bread. She also talked about how her grandmother in order to bring some food to the table had to resort to picking in the trash or hiding left over crumbs of bread that she collected from her work (Hunt, 22). This not only showed the amount of extreme poverty and high unemployment that existed but that Germans were desperate for change. This was the time when Hitler emerged as a leader promising better living conditions and prosperity to his people. However, the way he achieved this was hrough imposing his presence on the domestic lives of the population, their thoughts and memories through the use of brain washing and propaganda. They controlled and dictated the everyday details of family decisions: their education, the books and the news they read, and how we greeted one another (Hunt, 41). Anyone that opposed or got in the way of the Nazi partys agenda was sent to concentration camps. People that were accused of conspiracy or opposition had an unfortunate fate. Everything seemed to be going somewhat well for a while according to how Hunts family was doing. But things suddenly changed. One of the Nazi partys goals was to keep the German population as pure as possible. They aimed for physical perfection. Blonde, blue-eyed, well built, intelligent individuals that would strengthen the race. This led to anti-Semitism, racism and segregation against anyone that did not fit that mold. Just like any social outcasts, those that were not of pure German heritage were sent to concentration camps in an effort for Germany to do a racial cleanse of its population. Any deformity that a ivilian would have, too, would result in their demise. In fact, Hitlers euthanasia program was implemented and kept secret from the general public. In 1939, three months after Hunts birthday, Hitler invaded Poland. This was the beginning of war. Men were drafted to fght and it hit home when Hunters father was called to serve in the military. Just like many other families in Germany, women were left alone to take care of the house and children. The most horrible news was to know that a loved one had died. This struck a core for Hunt when she found out that her father passed away. What was disturbing was the way someones death was an act that needed to be praised and bring pride. When Hunts teacher, Faulein Star, ordered her to stand in front of the class to share her familys tragedy was cold and heartless. It was then that Hunt started realizing even more if these sacrifices were worth making for the Fuhrer. The brainwashing of Nazi ideals began at a really early age at school. The curriculum did not include anything like political education but it was more targeted to share news about the war, or have a local Nazi to indoctrinate the class Hunt, 120). As part of the curriculum, training on how to operate gas masks, preparedness training and survival skills. It seemed as if any kind of intellectual knowledge and power were unacceptable in Hitlers eyes as they could endanger his plans since the German population would create thoughts of their own instead of following everything he said blindly. Hunt hated school as it was as close to a concentration camp that she felt she was in. When invasion into Germany occurred following World War II, Hunt described the aftermath wish such detail. Hitlers mountain was taken over and bombed. Yet, German officials still promised that they would carry their mandate to completion and that all the lives sacrificed were in worth dying for. However, amidst the take over, Hitler committed suicide in what it was considered a heroic death. Many felt betrayed but such act that all they were hoping for was that Hitlers death would act as catalyst to end any more lives being sacrificed. At this point, all that there was left to do was to flee and hide from Russian forces. Fortunately, later one American forces ame to the rescue of many Germans and captives in concentration camps. In conclusion, Hunt made many historical events become more personal seeing how it affected her family first hand and how she was able to survive such turmoil period of war. I appreciated having pictures throughout the book made it possible to put faces to the people she talked about as well as other places that were part of her narrative. Her story was a testimony of perseverance, hope and close family ties despite turbulent times. The end of the Nazi era allowed for the birth of new ideas and a new civilization.

Abnormal Psychology Critique

Sheila Laine Dela Paz Date submitted : January 30, 2012 ABSTRACT This study sought to understand how functional status, impairment level, and use of assistive devices change over 3 years for older adults with depressive symptoms. I further explored factors that predict change in severity of depressive symptoms. During 3 years, participants experienced ncreased physical disability, a decline in severity of depressive symptoms, and an increase in the total number of assistive devices owned. A significant number of older adults will experience a decrease in depressive symptoms over 3 years, despite an increase in physical disability. They also will obtain more assistive devices as they age. The specific issue that stands out in the journal is relative to the various changes in impairment level, functional status and use of some suggested assistive devices that could be used by older people who suffer symptoms of depression. I do very much agree how the author ouched the subject and expl ained depression among the older people. There is nothing from the journal article that I disagree about. The points presented by the author about the existence of this feeling of depression among the older people are true and satisfactory. The second journal that I have, Suicide In Older Adults : Nursing Assessment Of Suicide by Linda Garand, PhD, APRN, BC, Ann M. Mitchell, PhD, RN, AHN, BC, Ann Dietrick, MSN, APRN, BC, Sophia P. Hijjawi, BSN, RN, and Di Pan, BSN, RN, is somewhat parallel to my first journal. This second article talks about suicide in older adults. It is being discussed here that suicide and attempted suicide is associated with depression, psychosis and substance abuse among younger individuals, yet among older adults, depression and co morbid medical conditions play important contributory roles. Same as what was being talked about in the first article. The issue that attracts my attention is on the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in older adults and lays a foundation for understanding the role of risk factors in the prevention of suicide. Just like in the first article, the issue focuses more on depression on older adults. It has been proven that the older adults are the one that easily get depressed than the younger ones. Just as no single factor is universally causal, no single intervention will prevent all suicides. The multi-dimensionality of suicide presents great challenges, but also has important implications for prevention. Suicide in late life must be understood as a complex combination of interactive effects in which mood disorders take a central role. Our ability to more precisely target preventive interventions will hinge on a better understanding of those relationships. Until then, urses and others must be diligent in the identification of older adults at risk for suicide. Subgroups of older adults at high risk for suicide include those with depressive illnesses, previous suicide attempts, physical illnesses, and those who are socially isolated. Therefore I can say, that major depression is the most common diagnosis in older adults (of both sexes) who attempt or complete suicide. This stud y used data from Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging Consumer Assessment Study, a longitudinal study of coping strategies of elders with disabilities. Seventy-three participants with depressive symptoms were interviewed at baseline and 3 years later. I believe that the author used the most appropriate method because they have come about with good results. And thus, there is no other appropriate or suitable way to test the depressive symptoms of older people than having a study or conducting a survey on a rehabilitation center. For me, application through conducting tests would be the best idea to prove whether the issue is correct or not. The journal article fully and clearly explains what depression is all about that affects the lder people. It is notable that depression happens to some people more especially the old ones who are said to be prone to the disorder. Upon relating the topic to my course, such situation is under the field of Abnormal Psychology. The field is of great importance to students taking up Psychology course like me who would desire to pursue the field of Clinical Psychology. As depression is common and could happen to everyone, this study is applicable to all. Through it, we shall have a clear idea of the appropriate way to do if ever we meet or experience a feeling of depression. Above all things, this will be a great help to me who would really like to be a successful Clinical Psychologist in the future. REFERENCES Mann, William C. , et al. â€Å"Changes in impairment level, functional status, and use of assistive devices by older people with depressive symptoms. †Ã‚  AJOT: American Journal of Occupational Therapy  62. 1 (2008): 9+. InfoTrac Custom 100 Titles. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. Document URL http://find. galegroup. com/gtx/infomark. do? source=galesrcprod=SP00prodId=SPJ. SP00u serGroupName=phmtctabID=T002docId=A208219498type=retrievecontentSet=IAC- Documentsversion=1. 0 Agree, E. , Freedman, V. (2003). A comparison of assistive technology and personal care in alleviating disability and unmet need. Gerontologist, 43, 335-344. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed. ). Washington, DC: Author. Bergner, M. , Bobbitt, R. , Pollard, W. , Martin, D. , Gilson, B. (1976). The Sickness Impact Profile: Validation of a health status measure. Medical Care, 14, 57-67. Bradburn, N. (1969). The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago: Aldine. Center for Functional Assessment Research. 1990). Guide for use of the Uniform Data Set for Medical Rehabilitation (Version 3. 1). Buffalo, NY: Author. Chen, T. Y. , Mann, W. C. , Tomita, M. , Nochajski, S. (2000). Caregiver involvement in the use of assistive devices by frail older persons. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 20, 179- 199. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. (2004). Older Americans 2004: K ey indicators of well-being. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office. Fillenbaum, G. G. (1988). Multidimensional functional assessment of older adults: The Duke Older American Resources and Services procedures. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. Fillenbaum, G. G. , Smyer, M. A. (1981). The development, validity, and reliability of the OARS Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 428-434. Folstein, M. , Folstein, S. E. , McHugh, P. (1975). â€Å"Mini-Mental State†: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 189- 198. Gilson, B. S. , Gilson, J. S. , Bergner, M. , Bobbit, R. A. , Kressel, S. , Pollard, W. E. , et al. (1975). The Sickness Impact Profile: Development of an outcome measure of health care. American Journal of Public Health, 65, 1304-1325. Hamilton, B. , Granger, C. , Sherwin, F. , Zielenzy, M. , Tashman, J. (1987). A uniform national data system for medical rehabilitation. In M. Fuhrer (Ed. ), Rehabilitation outcomes: Analysis and measurement (pp. 137-147). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes. Hamilton, M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurologic Neurosurgical Psychiatry, 23, 56-62. Hoenig, H. , Taylor, D. , Sloan, F. (2003). Does assistive technology substitute for personal assistance among the disabled elderly? American Journal of Public Health, 93, 330-337. Kruskal, W. , Wallis, W. (1952). Use of ranks in one-criterion variance analysis. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 47, 583-621. Lebowitz, B. , Pearson, J. , Schneider, L. , Reynolds, C. , Alexopoulos, G. , Bruce, M. , et al. (1997). Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late life. Journal of the American Medical Association, 278, 1186-1190. Lenze, E. , Schulz, R. , Matire, L. , Zdaniuk, B. , Glass, T. , Kop, W. , et al. (2005). The course of functional decline in older people with persistently elevated depressive symptoms: Longitudinal findings from the cardiovascular health study. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 53, 569-575. Lubin, B. (1967). Manual for the Depression Adjective Check Lists. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service. Mann, W. , Llanes, C. , Justiss, M. , Tomita, M. (2004). Frail older adults’ self-report of their most important assistive device. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation, and Health, 24, 4-12. Mann, W. , Ottenbacher, K. , Fraas, L. , Tomita, M. , ; Granger, C. (1999). Effectiveness of assistive technology and environmental interventions in maintaining independence and reducing home care costs for the frail elderly. Archives of Family Medicine, 8, 210-217. Noel, P. , Williams, J. , Unutzer, J. , Worchel, J. , Lee, S. , Cornell, J. , et al. (2004). Depression and comorbid illness in elderly primary care patients: Impact on multiple domains of health status and well-being. Annals of Family Medicine, 2, 555-562. Ottenbacher, K. , Mann, W. , Granger, C. , Tomita, M. , Hurren, D. , ; Charvat, B. (1994). Inter- rater agreement and stability of functional assessment in the community-based elderly. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 75, 1297-1301. Pollak, N. , Rheult, W. , ; Stoecker, J. 1996). Reliability and validity of the FIM for persons aged 80 years and above from a multilevel continuing care retirement community. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 77, 1056-1061. Pollard, W. , Bobbitt, R. , Bergner, M. , Martin, D. , ; Gilson, B. (1976). The Sickness Impact Profile: Reliability of a health status measure. Medical Care, 14, 146-155. Pollock, B. , ; Reynolds, C. (2000). Depression late in life. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 17, 3-5. Pollock, B. , ; Weksler, M. (2000). Clinical update: How to recognize and treat depression in older persons. Geriatrics, 55, 67-7 . Raccio-Robak, N. , McErlean, M. , Fabacher, D. , Milano, P. , ; Verdile, V. (2002). Socioeconomic and health status differences between depressed and non-depressed elders. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 20, 71-73. Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401. Radloff, L. , ; Locke, B. (Eds. ). (1986). The community mental health assessment survey and the CES-D scale. In M. M. Weissman, J. K. Myers, ; C. E. Ross (Eds. , Community surveys of psychiatric disorders (pp. 177-189). Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press. Raskin, A. , Schulterbrandt, J. , Reatig, N. , ; McKeon, J. (1969). Replication of factors of psychopathology in interview, ward behavior, and self-report ratings of hospitalized depressives. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 148, 87-96. Roelands, M. , Van Oost, P. , Buysse, A. , ; Depoorter, A. (2002). Awareness among communit y- dwelling elderly of assistive devices for mobility and self-care and attitudes towards their use. Social Science and Medicine, 54, 1441-1451. Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, ; National Institute of Mental Health. (1994). Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General— Executive summary: Chapter 5–Depression in older adults. Rockville, MD: Authors. Retrieved February 13, 2003, from http://mentalhealth. org/features/surgeongeneralreport/chapter5/sec3. asp Schiller, J. , Bernadel, L. (2004). Summary health statistics for the U. S. opulation: National Health Interview Survey, 2002. Vital Health Statistics, 10(220) 1-101. Tomita, M. , Mann, W. , Fraas, L. (2004). Predictors of the use of assistive devices that address physical impairments among community-based frail elders. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 23, 141-155. Verbrugge, L. , Sevak, P. (2002). Use, type, and efficacy of assistance for disability. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychologi cal Sciences and Social Sciences, 57B, S366-S37 . Wechsler, D. (1955). Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Psychological Corporation. Westfall, P. , ; Young, S. (1993). Resampling-based multiple testing: Examples and methods for p-value adjustment. New York: Wiley. Wilcoxon, F. (1945). Individual comparisons by ranking methods. Biometrics, 1, 80-83. William C. Mann, OTR, PhD, is Chairperson and Distinguished Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, P. O. Box 100164, Gainesville, FL 32610-0164; wmann@phhp. ufl. edu Jessica L. Johnson, MA, OTR/L, is Research Assistant, RERC-Tech-Aging, Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program, University of Florida, Gainesville. Lisa G. Lynch, MHS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist and Owner, Creative Therapy Works, Inc. , Lake Worth, FL. Michael D. Justiss, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Machiko Tomita, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Samuel S. Wu, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, University of Florida, Gainesville. Abnormal Psychology Critique Sheila Laine Dela Paz Date submitted : January 30, 2012 ABSTRACT This study sought to understand how functional status, impairment level, and use of assistive devices change over 3 years for older adults with depressive symptoms. I further explored factors that predict change in severity of depressive symptoms. During 3 years, participants experienced ncreased physical disability, a decline in severity of depressive symptoms, and an increase in the total number of assistive devices owned. A significant number of older adults will experience a decrease in depressive symptoms over 3 years, despite an increase in physical disability. They also will obtain more assistive devices as they age. The specific issue that stands out in the journal is relative to the various changes in impairment level, functional status and use of some suggested assistive devices that could be used by older people who suffer symptoms of depression. I do very much agree how the author ouched the subject and expl ained depression among the older people. There is nothing from the journal article that I disagree about. The points presented by the author about the existence of this feeling of depression among the older people are true and satisfactory. The second journal that I have, Suicide In Older Adults : Nursing Assessment Of Suicide by Linda Garand, PhD, APRN, BC, Ann M. Mitchell, PhD, RN, AHN, BC, Ann Dietrick, MSN, APRN, BC, Sophia P. Hijjawi, BSN, RN, and Di Pan, BSN, RN, is somewhat parallel to my first journal. This second article talks about suicide in older adults. It is being discussed here that suicide and attempted suicide is associated with depression, psychosis and substance abuse among younger individuals, yet among older adults, depression and co morbid medical conditions play important contributory roles. Same as what was being talked about in the first article. The issue that attracts my attention is on the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in older adults and lays a foundation for understanding the role of risk factors in the prevention of suicide. Just like in the first article, the issue focuses more on depression on older adults. It has been proven that the older adults are the one that easily get depressed than the younger ones. Just as no single factor is universally causal, no single intervention will prevent all suicides. The multi-dimensionality of suicide presents great challenges, but also has important implications for prevention. Suicide in late life must be understood as a complex combination of interactive effects in which mood disorders take a central role. Our ability to more precisely target preventive interventions will hinge on a better understanding of those relationships. Until then, urses and others must be diligent in the identification of older adults at risk for suicide. Subgroups of older adults at high risk for suicide include those with depressive illnesses, previous suicide attempts, physical illnesses, and those who are socially isolated. Therefore I can say, that major depression is the most common diagnosis in older adults (of both sexes) who attempt or complete suicide. This stud y used data from Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging Consumer Assessment Study, a longitudinal study of coping strategies of elders with disabilities. Seventy-three participants with depressive symptoms were interviewed at baseline and 3 years later. I believe that the author used the most appropriate method because they have come about with good results. And thus, there is no other appropriate or suitable way to test the depressive symptoms of older people than having a study or conducting a survey on a rehabilitation center. For me, application through conducting tests would be the best idea to prove whether the issue is correct or not. The journal article fully and clearly explains what depression is all about that affects the lder people. It is notable that depression happens to some people more especially the old ones who are said to be prone to the disorder. Upon relating the topic to my course, such situation is under the field of Abnormal Psychology. The field is of great importance to students taking up Psychology course like me who would desire to pursue the field of Clinical Psychology. As depression is common and could happen to everyone, this study is applicable to all. Through it, we shall have a clear idea of the appropriate way to do if ever we meet or experience a feeling of depression. Above all things, this will be a great help to me who would really like to be a successful Clinical Psychologist in the future. REFERENCES Mann, William C. , et al. â€Å"Changes in impairment level, functional status, and use of assistive devices by older people with depressive symptoms. †Ã‚  AJOT: American Journal of Occupational Therapy  62. 1 (2008): 9+. InfoTrac Custom 100 Titles. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. Document URL http://find. galegroup. com/gtx/infomark. do? source=galesrcprod=SP00prodId=SPJ. SP00u serGroupName=phmtctabID=T002docId=A208219498type=retrievecontentSet=IAC- Documentsversion=1. 0 Agree, E. , Freedman, V. (2003). A comparison of assistive technology and personal care in alleviating disability and unmet need. Gerontologist, 43, 335-344. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed. ). Washington, DC: Author. Bergner, M. , Bobbitt, R. , Pollard, W. , Martin, D. , Gilson, B. (1976). The Sickness Impact Profile: Validation of a health status measure. Medical Care, 14, 57-67. Bradburn, N. (1969). The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago: Aldine. Center for Functional Assessment Research. 1990). Guide for use of the Uniform Data Set for Medical Rehabilitation (Version 3. 1). Buffalo, NY: Author. Chen, T. Y. , Mann, W. C. , Tomita, M. , Nochajski, S. (2000). Caregiver involvement in the use of assistive devices by frail older persons. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 20, 179- 199. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. (2004). Older Americans 2004: K ey indicators of well-being. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office. Fillenbaum, G. G. (1988). Multidimensional functional assessment of older adults: The Duke Older American Resources and Services procedures. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. Fillenbaum, G. G. , Smyer, M. A. (1981). The development, validity, and reliability of the OARS Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 428-434. Folstein, M. , Folstein, S. E. , McHugh, P. (1975). â€Å"Mini-Mental State†: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 189- 198. Gilson, B. S. , Gilson, J. S. , Bergner, M. , Bobbit, R. A. , Kressel, S. , Pollard, W. E. , et al. (1975). The Sickness Impact Profile: Development of an outcome measure of health care. American Journal of Public Health, 65, 1304-1325. Hamilton, B. , Granger, C. , Sherwin, F. , Zielenzy, M. , Tashman, J. (1987). A uniform national data system for medical rehabilitation. In M. Fuhrer (Ed. ), Rehabilitation outcomes: Analysis and measurement (pp. 137-147). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes. Hamilton, M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurologic Neurosurgical Psychiatry, 23, 56-62. Hoenig, H. , Taylor, D. , Sloan, F. (2003). Does assistive technology substitute for personal assistance among the disabled elderly? American Journal of Public Health, 93, 330-337. Kruskal, W. , Wallis, W. (1952). Use of ranks in one-criterion variance analysis. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 47, 583-621. Lebowitz, B. , Pearson, J. , Schneider, L. , Reynolds, C. , Alexopoulos, G. , Bruce, M. , et al. (1997). Diagnosis and treatment of depression in late life. Journal of the American Medical Association, 278, 1186-1190. Lenze, E. , Schulz, R. , Matire, L. , Zdaniuk, B. , Glass, T. , Kop, W. , et al. (2005). The course of functional decline in older people with persistently elevated depressive symptoms: Longitudinal findings from the cardiovascular health study. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 53, 569-575. Lubin, B. (1967). Manual for the Depression Adjective Check Lists. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service. Mann, W. , Llanes, C. , Justiss, M. , Tomita, M. (2004). Frail older adults’ self-report of their most important assistive device. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research: Occupation, Participation, and Health, 24, 4-12. Mann, W. , Ottenbacher, K. , Fraas, L. , Tomita, M. , ; Granger, C. (1999). Effectiveness of assistive technology and environmental interventions in maintaining independence and reducing home care costs for the frail elderly. Archives of Family Medicine, 8, 210-217. Noel, P. , Williams, J. , Unutzer, J. , Worchel, J. , Lee, S. , Cornell, J. , et al. (2004). Depression and comorbid illness in elderly primary care patients: Impact on multiple domains of health status and well-being. Annals of Family Medicine, 2, 555-562. Ottenbacher, K. , Mann, W. , Granger, C. , Tomita, M. , Hurren, D. , ; Charvat, B. (1994). Inter- rater agreement and stability of functional assessment in the community-based elderly. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 75, 1297-1301. Pollak, N. , Rheult, W. , ; Stoecker, J. 1996). Reliability and validity of the FIM for persons aged 80 years and above from a multilevel continuing care retirement community. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 77, 1056-1061. Pollard, W. , Bobbitt, R. , Bergner, M. , Martin, D. , ; Gilson, B. (1976). The Sickness Impact Profile: Reliability of a health status measure. Medical Care, 14, 146-155. Pollock, B. , ; Reynolds, C. (2000). Depression late in life. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 17, 3-5. Pollock, B. , ; Weksler, M. (2000). Clinical update: How to recognize and treat depression in older persons. Geriatrics, 55, 67-7 . Raccio-Robak, N. , McErlean, M. , Fabacher, D. , Milano, P. , ; Verdile, V. (2002). Socioeconomic and health status differences between depressed and non-depressed elders. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 20, 71-73. Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401. Radloff, L. , ; Locke, B. (Eds. ). (1986). The community mental health assessment survey and the CES-D scale. In M. M. Weissman, J. K. Myers, ; C. E. Ross (Eds. , Community surveys of psychiatric disorders (pp. 177-189). Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press. Raskin, A. , Schulterbrandt, J. , Reatig, N. , ; McKeon, J. (1969). Replication of factors of psychopathology in interview, ward behavior, and self-report ratings of hospitalized depressives. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 148, 87-96. Roelands, M. , Van Oost, P. , Buysse, A. , ; Depoorter, A. (2002). Awareness among communit y- dwelling elderly of assistive devices for mobility and self-care and attitudes towards their use. Social Science and Medicine, 54, 1441-1451. Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, ; National Institute of Mental Health. (1994). Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General— Executive summary: Chapter 5–Depression in older adults. Rockville, MD: Authors. Retrieved February 13, 2003, from http://mentalhealth. org/features/surgeongeneralreport/chapter5/sec3. asp Schiller, J. , Bernadel, L. (2004). Summary health statistics for the U. S. opulation: National Health Interview Survey, 2002. Vital Health Statistics, 10(220) 1-101. Tomita, M. , Mann, W. , Fraas, L. (2004). Predictors of the use of assistive devices that address physical impairments among community-based frail elders. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 23, 141-155. Verbrugge, L. , Sevak, P. (2002). Use, type, and efficacy of assistance for disability. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychologi cal Sciences and Social Sciences, 57B, S366-S37 . Wechsler, D. (1955). Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Psychological Corporation. Westfall, P. , ; Young, S. (1993). Resampling-based multiple testing: Examples and methods for p-value adjustment. New York: Wiley. Wilcoxon, F. (1945). Individual comparisons by ranking methods. Biometrics, 1, 80-83. William C. Mann, OTR, PhD, is Chairperson and Distinguished Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, P. O. Box 100164, Gainesville, FL 32610-0164; wmann@phhp. ufl. edu Jessica L. Johnson, MA, OTR/L, is Research Assistant, RERC-Tech-Aging, Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program, University of Florida, Gainesville. Lisa G. Lynch, MHS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist and Owner, Creative Therapy Works, Inc. , Lake Worth, FL. Michael D. Justiss, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Machiko Tomita, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Samuel S. Wu, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Democracy Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy Today - Essay Example Before I go on into this paper, I want to make it clear that it is not my intent to "bash" President Bush but in order to look at whether democracy is still working, we have to look at the highest office because that is where the laws and programs for the country are started. Since President Bush took office, the state of the nation has changed drastically and it has put the American people in a state of shock. There are many factors that have contributed to the demise of our democratic system. In a sense, covertly, things began to change after 9/11 and the bombing of the World Trade Center. This put the United States "on alert" and plans were made to find the people who had assaulted the country. Although no one ever took real responsibility for that act, most people attributed the attack to Osama Ben Laden. The United States never really found him nor made him responsible for this attack. Depending on who you talk to about this situation, the Bush Administration knew about this or they did not. According to Michael Moores video, "Fahrenheit 9/11" information is presented that says that President Bush knew about the attack. Whether he did or didnt, it set off some challenges in the country that eventually went to the War in Iraq. The President went against the judgment of the United Nations and went to War in the guise of finding Sad am Hussein. We found Sadam, he was executed and six yea rs later we are still fighting the War under the guise that it is protecting our freedom in America. However, according to the video, "Why We Fight," by Eugene Jarecki, we are fighting over oil, not for freedom. These are all matters that the American people are upset about but they are not sure what to do. I bring these events together because life as we know it began to change with these events and others. President Bush was elected twice under circumstances that the American people suspected were not on the "up and