ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-unit 3, question #2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-unit 3, question #2 - Essay Example Solar panels are made from special materials, which absorb the heat from the sun. For instance, solar panels have black bottoms, which absorbs heat at a faster and more efficient rate. This heat is used to boil the water that is inside a series of tubes within the solar panel technology, and this water basically traps the energy that lies within the heat(Wright, 2008). In simpler terms, solar energy is able to create energy by collecting heat from the sun, converting the heat into energy through the process of boiling water, and stores this hot water/energy in a tank for later use(Wright, 2008). This energy is then used for the same purposes as energy derived from fossil fuels, including heating a person’s home and running appliances. According to Wright, solar energy is an extremely good alternative to fossil fuels. â€Å"Just 40 minutes of sunlight†¦yields the equivalent energy of a year’s expenditure of fossil fuel†(Wright, 2008). Solar panels do not harm the environment like fossils fuels do because, unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is a natural source which does not trap high amounts of carbon within the environment. An added benefit to solar energy is that it will save money on electric bills for those who utilize it. This economic aspect makes it an attractive option for certain people. Solar panels and solar energy have become a lot more popular in recent years as people become more aware of its overall efficiency. In nations such as America, which uses a lot of energy and resources on a daily basis, utilizing renewable energy is a great way to cut down on humanity’s overall footprint on the environment. Although solar panels may be a bit pricey in terms of the setup, it essentially pays for itself in the amount of money saved on energy because of the fact that, as fossil fuels become more scarce, prices will continue to rise, but the Sun’s existence, on the other hand, is guaranteed for thousands of

Clarifying the basic principles of freuds theories

Clarifying the basic principles of freuds theories it is important to be clear about the meanings of certain terms that you may come across and throughout the handout you will find footnotes clarifying certain terms. Firstly though, a word about the terms psychoanalysis and psychodynamics. Psychoanalysis refers to both Freuds original attempt at providing a comprehensive theory of the mind and also to the associated treatment. The term encompasses both Freudian theory and therapy. You will also come across the term psychodynamics. This term is used to denote the approach which began with psychoanalysis but which has now broadened into a much more diverse collection of theories and models developed by other psychologists, all of which nevertheless retain some of the main ideas of Freuds original theory. Sigmund Freud was born in 1856 in Moravia, which was then part of the Austrian Empire and is now in the Czech Republic. He spent most of his life in Vienna, from where he fled, in 1937, when the Nazis invaded. Neither Freud (being Jewish) or his theories were very popular with the Nazis and he escaped to London where he died in 1939. He had wanted to be a research scientist but anti-Semitism forced him to choose a medical career instead and he worked in Vienna as a doctor, specialising in neurological disorders (disorders of the nervous system). He constantly revised and modified his theories right up until his death but much of his psychoanalytic theory was produced between 1900 and 1930. Freud originally attempted to explain the workings of the mind in terms of physiology and neurology (but) quite early on in his treatment of patients with neurological disorders, Freud realised that symptoms which had no organic or bodily basis could imitate the real thing and that they were as real for the patient as if they had been neurologically caused. So he began to search for psychological explanations of these symptoms and ways of treating them. In 1885 he spent a year in Paris learning hypnosis from the neurologist Charcot; he then started using hypnosis with his patients in Vienna. However, he found its effects to be only temporary at best and it did not usually get to the root of the problem; nor was everybody capable of being hypnotised. Meanwhile Breuer, another Viennese doctor, was developing another method of therapy which he called the cathartic method, where patients would talk out their problems. Freud adopted Breuers method and called it free association which became one of the three fundamental tools of psychoanalysis. Freud began his self-analysis during the 1890s and in 1900 published The Interpretation of Dreams, in which he outlined his theory of the mind, followed by The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1904), A Case of Hysteria and Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905). Two of Freuds closest colleagues, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, helped him form the psychoanalytic movement and the first International Psychoanalytic Congress was held in Salzburg in 1908. The Journal of Psychoanalysis was first published in 1909 and, in that year, Freud and Jung made a lecture tour of the USA. (From Gross, R (1996) Psychology, The Science of Mind and Behaviour, page 508) 1.8.2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  FREUDS STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY Freud compared the human personality to an iceberg. The small part that shows above the surface of the water represents conscious experience ; the much larger mass below the water level represents the unconscious a storehouse of impulses, passions, and inaccessible memories that affect our thoughts and behaviour. It is this portion of the mind that Freud sought to explore with the use of free association. Freud also believed that personality was composed of three major systems: the id, the ego and the superego. Each system has its own functions but the three interact to govern behaviour. (a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The id The id is the most primitive part of the personality and the first to develop. It is present in the newborn infant. It is located in the unconscious and it is from the id that the ego and the superego later develop. The id consists of the basic biological impulses (or drives): the need to eat, drink, eliminate wastes, avoid pain and gain sexual pleasure. Freud also believed that aggression was a basic biological drive. The id seeks immediate gratification of these impulses. Like a young child, the id operates on the pleasure principle : it endeavours to avoid pain and obtain pleasure regardless of the external circumstances. (b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ego As the child develops it learns that their impulses cannot always be immediately gratified. Some must be delayed (for example, hunger must wait until someone provides food) and some (for example, hitting someone) may be punished. A new part of the personality, the ego, develops as the young child learns to consider the demands of reality. The ego constitutes our conscious self and obeys the reality principle : It is essentially the part of personality that decides what actions are appropriate and which id impulses will be satisfied in what manner. The ego mediates among the demands of the id, the realities of the world and the demands of the superego. (c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The superego The superego, is the internalised representation of the values and morals of society as taught to the child by the parents and others. It is essentially the individuals conscience. The superego decides whether an action is right or wrong. Initially, parents control a childs behaviour directly by reward and punishment. Through the incorporation of parental standards into the superego, behaviour is brought under self-control. The superego develops in response to parental rewards and punishments. In summary, the id seeks pleasure, the ego tests reality and mediates, the superego constrains and strives for perfection. Not surprisingly, the three components of personality are in constant conflict: the ego postpones the gratification the id wants immediately and the superego battles with both because behaviour often falls short of the moral code it represents. 1.8.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  MANAGING THE CONFLICT In order to deal with this conflict, the ego develops a series of defence mechanisms which allow it to protect itself from the pressures of the id, the real world and the superego. Examples are: Repression burying a memory so thoroughly that it is not recalled at all it never happened. Projection attributing own unwanted bad feelings or ideas to another person. Rationalisation making up a reasonable excuse for unacceptable behaviour and really believing it. Suppression forgetting a shocking event on purpose: (consciously in this case) putting it out of ones mind. Denial refusing to acknowledge something because it is so distressing. Displacement transferring feelings from one person or object to another. Identification imitating someone who is admired and modelling oneself on them. Reaction-Formation consciously substituting the opposite emotion for true feelings about someone/something. Freud believed that conflict is inevitable and all behaviour is a compromise. Conflict is the primary cause of human anxiety and unhappiness. Defence mechanisms are one way we have of dealing with our inner conflict; neurotic symptoms and dreaming are the other major forms of compromise. 1.8.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY Freud believed that the individual, during the first five years of life, progresses through several developmental stages that affect personality. Applying a broad definition of sexuality, he called these periods psychosexual stages. During each stage, the pleasure-seeking impulses of the id focus on, and derive pleasure from, a particular area of the body and on activities connected with that area. Freud called the first year of life the oral stage of psychosexual development. During this period, infants derive pleasure from nursing and sucking; in fact, they will put anything they can reach into their mouth. During the second year of life, the anal stage, as children have their first experience with imposed control in the form of their toilet training. In the phallic stage, from about age 3 to age 6, children focus on their genitals. They observe the differences between males and females and may direct their awakening sexual impulses toward the parent of the opposite sex. It is at this stage that children have to resolve the Oedipus and Electra complexes. A latency period follows the end of the phallic stage, during which children become less concerned with their bodies and turn their attention to the skills needed for coping with the environment. The last stage, the genital stage, occurs during adolescence, during which young people begin to turn their sexual interests toward others and to love in a more mature way. Freud felt that special problems at any stage could arrest (or fixate) development and have a lasting effect on the individuals personality. The libido would remain attached to the activities appropriate for that stage. Thus a person who was weaned very early and did not have enough sucking pleasure might become fixated at the oral stage. As an adult, this person may be excessively dependent on others and overly fond of such oral pleasures as eating, drinking and smoking. Such a person is called an oral personality. The person fixated at the anal stage of psychosexual development may be abnormally concerned with cleanliness, orderliness, and saving. 1.8.5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  MODIFICATIONS OF FREUDS THEORIES Later psychoanalysts felt that Freud placed too much emphasis on the instinctive and biological aspects of personality and failed to recognise that people are products of the society in which they live. The neo-Freudians including Alfred Adler, Erich Fromm, Karen Horney, Carl Jung and Harry Stack Sullivan, considered personality to be shaped more by the people, society, and culture surrounding the individual than by biological needs. They placed less emphasis on the controlling power of the unconscious, believing that people are more rational in their planing and decisions than Freud thought. 1.8.6  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PSYCHOANALYTIC THERAPY The aim of psychoanalytic therapy is to bring about a fundamental change in the patients personality so that he is released from his neurotic disorders. Freud believed that neurosis was caused by the repression of disturbing feelings and emotions associated with conflicts established in early childhood. These conflicts result from the impulses of the id or the strictures of an over demanding superego. He assumed that the patients ego was too weak to cope with such conflicts and defended itself by repressing them into the unconscious. However, conflicts do not go away; they find expression through the symptoms and neurotic behaviour of the patients. The aims of psychoanalysis are to remove the infantile conflict from the unconscious and help the patient deal with it at a conscious level. Psychoanalytic therapy normally has two stages: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the release of repression, thereby allowing the conflict to enter consciousness, and, 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the redirection of the emotional energy (libido) associated with the repression thereby allowing the patients ego to gain control of the conflict. Freud developed various techniques for getting round the controlling forces of the defence mechanisms to reveal the unconscious material which is trying to gain expression. One of the original methods employed by Freud was hypnosis, but as has already been mentioned, he found this technique unsatisfactory and soon began using free association. Later Carl Jung, one of Freuds students developed a similar technique known as word association , and both methods are still widely used in present-day psychoanalysis. Another technique for getting at unconscious material is the interpretation of dreams . Another route into the unconscious is via the errors of everyday life, so-called Freudian slips. Present day psychoanalysts also regard certain physiological cues such as posture, blushing or pallor and changes in the timbre of the patients voice as important expressions of unconscious motives and feelings. 1.8.7  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AN EVALUATION OF THE PSYCHOANALYTIC   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  APPROACH Psychoanalytic theory has had an enormous impact on psychological and philosophical conceptions of human nature. Freuds major contributions are his recognition that unconscious needs and conflicts motivate much of out behaviour and his emphasis on the importance of early childhood experiences in personality development. His emphasis on sexual factors led to an awareness of their role in adjustment problems. But Freud made his observations during the Victorian period when sexual standards were very strict; so it is understandable that many of his patients conflicts centred on their sexual desires. Today, feelings of guilt about sex are much less frequent, yet the incidence of mental illness remains about the same. Sexual conflicts are not the only cause of personality disturbances and may not even be a major cause. Some critics also point out that Freuds theory of personality is based almost entirely on his observations of emotionally disturbed patients and may not be an appropriate of the normal, healthy personality. In addition, many of Freuds ideas were decidedly sexist. For example, his theory that female psychosexual development is shaped by penis envy and feelings of unworthiness due to the lack of such equipment is certainly inadequate in view of our current awareness of the role that social factors play in gender identification. It was probably not her brothers penis that a little girl during the Victorian era envied but his greater independence power and social status. Although psychoanalysis has exerted a powerful influence on our thinking about human nature, it has been seriously questioned as a scientific theory. Freuds constructs are ambiguous and difficult to define. He does not specify, for example, what behaviours indicate that a child is fixated at the anal stage of psychosexual development and what behaviours indicate that he or she is not fixated. For any body of theory to be accepted as a valid scientific perspective, its consequences must be statable. The hypothesis that fixation at the anal stage can lead to stinginess (or to the opposite, generosity) is evidently not refutable; whatever the outcome, the theory can account for it. To that extent the psychoanalytic approach fails to meet the criteria of a scientific theory. Because some important aspects of psychoanalytic theory cannot be proven experimentally, some psychologists claim that it has no value either as psychology or as science (Eysenck 1972). However, many others claim that experimental validity is an inappropriate yardstick for evaluating psychodynamic theory and that the theory is verified in practice in the analyst-patient interview.

Hybird Cars Essay -- Gasoline Electric Hybrid Automobiles

A hybrid vehicle uses multiple propulsion systems to provide motive power. This most commonly refers to gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, which use gasoline (petrol) to power internal-combustion engines (ICEs), and electric batteries to power electric motors. Modern mass-produced hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, recharge their batteries by capturing kinetic energy via regenerative braking. As well, when cruising or idling, some of the output of the combustion engine is fed to a generator (merely the electric motor(s) running in generator mode[1]) which produces electricity to charge the batteries. This contrasts with all-electric cars which use batteries charged by an external source such as the grid, or a range extending trailer. Nearly all hybrids still require gasoline as their sole fuel source though diesel and other fuels such as ethanol or plant based oils have also seen occasional use. The term hybrid when used in relation with cars also has other uses. Prior to its modern meaning of hybrid propulsion, the word hybrid was used in the United States to mean a vehicle of mixed national origin; generally, a European car fitted with American mechanical components. This meaning has fallen out of use. In the import scene, hybrid was often used to describe an engine swap, such as the common Honda B16 engine into a Honda Civic. Some have also referred to flexible-fuel vehicles as hybrids because they can use a mixture of different fuels Ââ€" typically gasoline and ethanol alcohol fuel. A more recent working prototype was built by Herman Wouk's brother Victor Wouk (known as the Godfather of the Hybrid[2]) into a 1972 Buick Skylark provided by GM for the 1970 Federal Clean Car Incentive Program, but the program was killed by the... ... as a 2007 model. It will be built in Kentucky, USA. Also, Nissan announced the release of the Altima hybrid (technology supplied by Toyota) around 2007. An R.L. Polk survey of 2003 model year cars showed that hybrid car registrations in the United States rose to 43,435 cars, a 25.8 % increase from 2002 numbers. California, the nation's most populous state at one-eighth of the total population, had the most hybrid cars registered: 11,425. The proportionally high number may be partially due to the state's higher gasoline prices and stricter emissions rules, which hybrids generally have little trouble passing. Honda, which offers Insight, Civic and Accord hybrids, sold 26,773 hybrids in the first 11 months of 2004. Toyota has sold a cumulative 306,862 hybrids between 1997 and Nov. 2004 and Honda has sold a total of 81,867 hybrids between 1999 and November 2004.[6]

Incremental and Radical Innovation

In recent years, the importance of innovation in business cannot be emphasized too much. Along with rapid economic development, the cooperation having innovative ability enables them to own a place in this competitive society. In order to achieve the goal of survival, the firms need to understand the different types of innovation from incremental innovation and radical innovation for those firms who guarantee with the product quality, the lower cost and increasing profits.Following this essay, the difference between incremental and radical innovation are the distinctness of change level of technology and the difference of effectiveness. Following this essay, the effectiveness of two different types of innovation and an example of each types would be explanatory. Innovation can be used in invention or improvement of products, production process, organization and staff creativity. According to the change level of technology , there are different types of innovation, one is incremental innovation and the other is radical innovation.Utilizing which types of innovation depends on what kind of conditions does a cooperation faces. Different consequence would be reached while adopting these two types on innovative system. To begin with, the definition of incremental innovation is ‘doing what we do but better' (Tidd, Bessant, 2009, p. 27). It usually bases on improvement or boost the existing technology, products or process for maintaining the competitiveness of specific market. Adopting incremental innovation could results in enormous cost saving through upgrading or improving old products or service. Stamm,2003,p260) . In terms of reduction of inefficiencies and waste, which could benefit company from saving money, resources or time. Also this effectiveness from incremental innovation could benefit not only cooperation, but also customers. For example, a famous US airplane company – American Airlines Incorporated (AA). In 1986, when AA had faced a downtur n trend with profits, they cut a significant cost on their on board meal. (Maynard 2005). Their crew found out that 72% of passengers do not use olive in their salad catering from airplane.The price of salad was included five items, if they change their ingredients of food without olive, it can save $500,000 cost annual year. Since this incremental innovation had reduced the operating cost significantly, increasingly amenities had been cut for less spending such as playing cards, postcards and some toys for children. Although this type of innovation cannot bring new income directly, it does not mean it cannot save a enormous money. Compared with incremental innovation which means doing what we do better, the radical innovation refers to do something different. (Tidd, Bessant, 2009, p. 7) Radical innovation is the revolutionary change in technology or market. To make a breakthrough on the limitation of current technology and production capability , which could strengthen and sustain a firm's leadership in the market. Moreover, a radical innovation could change current competitive condition, creating a new market and making more opportunities for much benefits and profitability . For example a light emitting diode-LED which is a major device in current life. (It would be finished next time) These two different types of innovation are used in different conditions.Incremental innovation is generally a short-term innovation. On the other hand, radical innovation would continue more longer, usually over 10 years, referring to an high risk investment. Furthermore, radical innovation requires ability of high level of technology innovation, which means it need a relative large expense of investment rather than that of incremental innovation. (Ten3 Business e-Coach 2004) To sum up, in this changing commercial environment, each company should keep learning and carrying out knowledge of innovation to achieve their commitments with profits growth.

Holiday Depression

Tara Heubel Eng 101 Section 1130 Essay 2 Final draft Tis the Season For most people the holiday season is a very happy time. It is a time for laughter and rejoicing. It is during the holiday season that we begin to see and hear from loved ones that may not always be in touch. Friends and family from everywhere begin to make contact during this time of year in hopes to send merry wishes for the year and year to come. However not all people are overcome with the â€Å"holiday spirit,† but are rather plagued with the feeling of sadness and loneliness. This small group of people struggle through the holiday season. There are many different variables that may lead to this frustration during this time of year. No matter what the reason may be for feeling so down, the fact remains that for these individuals the holidays cause serious depression. With all the celebrating that takes place during the holidays host and hostesses may just be the most underrated people working hard to make the holiday celebration a great success! Unless you are the yearly host of a holiday get together, you really have no idea about the burden and stress that can be placed on the person who is coordinating the celebration. There are people to invite, food to purchase and prepare, decorations to hang, presents to wrap, and an atmosphere to set. The host of the party is usually preparing for the main event several months ahead of time, that is if he or she is smart, to be sure that nothing is forgotten. After all, there won’t be another party like this one till next year. If the party goes well it will be talked about all year long and people will be excited to return for future celebrations! This is ideally what every host is hoping to achieve. The perfect celebration! Every year the media portrays holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years as even bigger and bigger events. They run an unlimited amount of advertisements portraying perfect celebrations with the perfect decorations and the perfect meal. Every home is filled with laughing faces and happy hearts. It is as if you have stepped right into a Norman Rockwell painting! People are compelled to be wearing the perfect outfit. They hope to give and to receive the perfect gift. They anticipate eating the perfect holiday feast with all the wonderful side dishes and rows of lavish desserts, pies, and cookies! It should not go unmentioned that all this striving for perfection is the perfect recipe for holiday depression and stress. With all this emphasis placed on the perfect celebration; God forbid you make a mistake! Lets just think about it for a second, have you ever been to the grocery store or any shopping environment for that matter during the holidays? It is nothing short of mass chaos! There are gangs of last minute shoppers and frustrated consumers tearing through what is left of seasonal or holiday items. To be such a supposed jolly time of year, there are many, many angry people shopping. With everyone feeling the stress of this time of year it seems to bring out a darker side of us in the form of what I like to call â€Å"shopping rage. † People are frantically searching for last minute gift ideas or perhaps they just realized they had forgotten something detrimental for their feast or decor. Another popular reason for spending hours of wasted stress filled time is due to finding the right attire to model during the get together. This outfit rarely gets worn ever again after the four or five hours you’ve had it on it ends up in the back of the closet never to be seen again. This is of course after you have spent three hours finding it, trying on several combinations of red, green, black, and gold. Making sure to match and pull together every last article of clothing from the jewelry to the shoes and everything in between. About One hundred and fifty dollars later you have the perfect outfit that you will never wear again! Wanting things to work out perfectly, becomes an obsession for the individual who is burdened with the responsibility of executing the most memorable celebration. Only in a perfect world does everything always work out as planned. In this world however, there are just too many opportunities for something not to work out as planned so mistakes and accidents should be expected. Not everyone is able to accept this truth though. Some people end up spending so much time worrying about doing everything so right that they end up missing out on the â€Å"good stuff† like the time spent with loved ones. These people spend the whole holiday depressed and stressed out about meeting out materialistic cultures ideal standards for the holiday celebrations. With all the celebrating and gift giving, and decorating and throwing parties and preparing grand meals, and everything else that is associated with the holidays does anyone ever stop to ponder the incre`dible amount of money that is dumped by the millions every year into generating the â€Å"holiday season? I am sure it comes as no surprise that most people save all year long just to be prepared for this time of year. Everywhere you look during this time of year there are advertisements, one after another, urging people to spend, spend, SPEND! These ads always seem to suggest that if you don’t have an over the top lavish party that is even bigger and better than the last, then you have failed as a human to do what was expected of you during the holidays. There is truly something lost in all this misinterpreted meaning of the holidays. I mean when did celebrating time with the ones you love become such â€Å"BIG BUSINESS? † For far too many people the holiday season brings about serious depression caused by the inability for these people to afford the ridiculous things that they feel must be purchased in order to have a â€Å"proper† celebration especially if they have children. Parents always want their kids to have the best of the best and they want to buy them whatever gift it is that they have wanted and asked for all year long! However, people who don’t have enough money to get these things are struck with a great deal of depression. These same people may not have enough money to purchase everything society says we need for an extravagant meal or over the top decorations and parties. For all of these things have nothing at all to do with the true meaning of the holidays, still somehow far too much importance has been placed on materialistic things. No matter what the reason may be for a person felling the strain of holiday blues weighing them down, the fact remains that the holiday season can cause a great deal of sadness and depression for many different people.