The Botany of Desire

America. He also explains how human manipulation of the plant has weakened it, so that â€Å"modern apples require more pesticide than any other food crop. † I think the most standing out argument in this chapter is John Chapman insisted planting the apples from seeds although the fruit will taste bitter rather than sweet. He wanted to preserve the apple's wildness. This phenomenon led to the apple wine is permeated in the most American families.However, some apple trees were planted by grafting buds onto young tree stalk to satisfy people's desire for sweetness. The intended audience of the book is people who study in biology and environmental, or anyone wish to learn about how to view the world by using a plant's eye and what is the role of plants in our lives. The author's purpose Is to inform the domestication of the apple and entertain people by using a plant's eye to view the world.In addition, the author persuade grower don't plant the apple only to satisfy the people's desire of sweetness because stripped of the genetic diversity plants rely on to survive disease, the relatively few popular apple varieties grown in monoculture have become increasingly vulnerable to Insects, bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, according to this chapter, â€Å"The next best world, though, Is the one that preserves the quality of wildness itself, It only because It Is upon wildness-of all This opinion Indicates the author don't support the artificial modify.However, he changes his tone. He thinks If there Is no civilization without wildness. He considers the complex relationships between human and natural. The author combines literary, historical, and scientific references to attract audience to ponder, Is the human domesticate nature or contrary. In Pollen's writing, he supports that man and nature will use of each other. The Botany of Desire By Laughing of plants in our lives. The author's purpose is to inform the domestication of the increasingly vulnerable to in sects, bacteria and viruses.Furthermore, according to this chapter, â€Å"The next best world, though, is the one that preserves the quality of wildness itself, it only because it is upon wildness-of all things†(Pollen). This opinion indicates the author don't support the artificial modify. However, he changes his tone. He thinks if there is no civilization without wildness. He considers the complex and scientific references to attract audience to ponder, is the human domesticate

Prejudice, comformity and stereotyping in American History Essay

American History X is a great film that portrays prejudice, stereotyping and conformity. Prejudice is negative attitudes toward others based on their gender, religion, race, or membership in a particular group. Prejudice involves beliefs and emotions that can turn into hatred. Having an opinion or idea about a member of a group without really knowing that individual is a part of prejudice. Some people make judgments about a whole group of people without knowing very much about them. Sometimes people are afraid of those who seem different from them and unfortunately, they express that with name-calling and negative treatment. When people grow up with these ideas, sometimes it’s hard to get rid of them. Like in the movie American History X, a father is sitting at the family dinner table and states his opinion of why he feels certain people of minority groups got their job. This influences how his children feel. Prejudice is a premature judgment, a positive or negative attitude towards a person or group of people, which is not based on objective facts. The prejudgments are usually based on stereotypes, which are shared beliefs about the characteristic traits, attitudes, and behaviors of members of various social groups including the assumption that the members of such groups are usually all alike. As the story line unfolds in American History X, the main character of the story will realize that not all people of a particular race are the same. A prejudgment may be based on an emotional experience we have had with a similar person, sort of our own personal stereotype. Stereotypes also provide us with role expectations. How we expect the other person or group to relate to us and to other people. Our culture has many of ready made stereotypes such as leaders are dominant, arrogant men, housewives are nice but empty headed, teenagers are music crazy and  very smart people are weird. Sometimes a leader or housewife or teenager is somewhat like the stereotype but it is an injustice to automatically assume they all are. Prejudice can be in the form of negative put downs and helps those of us on top feel okay about being there. Prejudice can be a hostile, resentful feeling or dislike for someone or an unfair blaming or degrading of others. Along with prejudice and stereotypes, goes conformity. The more people already agree upon or share a particular idea, the more easily a newcomer will turn to be converted to that idea, and the more difficult it will be for one already converted to reject that idea Summary of The Film The movie starts out through the eyes of Danny Vinyard, who idolizes his older brother Derek. Derek is seeking revenge for his father’s murder and burning a way to vent his rage. His father was a firefighter who was on duty one night putting out a fire at a crack house. His father was shot and killed by black drug addicts while fighting a fire in a crack house in a black neighborhood. He blames all black people for the death of his father. Derek hates anyone who is not a white protestant. Later it is learned that it wasn’t just his father’s death that shaped him, but his father’s conversation at the dinner table one night about racism. Derek finds himself transformed by a philosophy of hate as he turns into a disciple of a radical group of a local white power movement. He becomes a leader in this white supremacy group called the DOC organizing the other white kids in his neighborhood under the rule of a leader of the group named Cameron who stays behind the scene to keep his record clean. The skinheads that rule his group are convincing and are a very bonding group. It is assumed in their  world that that all races stick together and are at undeclared war with all others. They are very much prejudice and all conform to the same stereotype. Despite Derek’s intelligence, his violent actions end in a brutal murder and  ultimately, a prison sentence. One night two black kids attempt to steal Derek’s car, as the result of a playground feud that took place earlier. Derek fires his gun to kill and commits violent actions, which ends up in the death of the two black kids who tried to steal his car. He’s convicted of murder and sent to prison for three years. While in prison, Derek begins to see things in a different way. While in jail he learns some hard truths about life from a fellow inmate and his old high school principal that takes special interest in him. Avery Brooks, the principle ask Derek a powerful question. â€Å"Has any thing you’ve done changed your life?† But, when Derek emerges with a desire to change his attitude, he finds that words are not enough. Three years later, everyone awaits Derek’s return. His mother Doris who prays for his safety, his girlfriend Stacey who longs for his return, and most of all Danny who’s desperate for his brother’s love and guidance, yet is driven by his own increasing white supremacy hatred. Danny who idolizes Derek has stepped into his shoes. Following the crowd of the white supremacy group the DOC. Avery Brooks the high school principle who has helped Derek also tries to help Danny by telling him to write a paper on his brother in hope to make him see things in a different light. Unbeknown to Danny, Derek is a changed man. Fresh from prison, he no longer views hatred as a badge of honor. Ashamed of his past he is now in a race to save Danny and the Vineyard family from the violence he brought down upon them. His mind is open and sees the  error of his ways. Upon reentering the real world, he must now turn his attentions to his younger brother Danny, who is swiftly heading down the same path as his brother. He tells Danny to listen to Avery Brooks the principal of the high school who has made Danny write a paper on Derek. He also tells Danny of the experience he had it jail and how it has changed  him. It is too late and in the end Danny is murdered in school one day by one of the younger brothers of whom Derek had murdered. What is said at the end of the movie seems to sum it up quite well. Hate is baggage. Life is too short to be pissed off all the time. Derek says,† Its always good to end the paper with a quote.† † We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Through passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic cords of memory will swell when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.† (Lincoln, 1861) Psychological Principles This school of psychology that I believe this film falls under is the school of behaviorism. Behaviorism views observable, measurable behavior rather than internal mental processes as the appropriate subject matter of psychology. Stresses the key roles of learning and the environment in determining behavior. The movie also deals with social psychology. It defines the reasons of why and how we behave and emotions and feeling we have. The why of how we feel, what we do and how we come about the decisions we make. It also affects our attitudes, feelings and emotions that make us who we are and what we do. Attitudes can be formed either positive or negative. When we hear parents, family, friends or teacher express positive or negative attitudes toward certain issues or people, we tend  to adapt the same attitudes as them. This is true in the movie American History X when Derek listened to his father’s conversation at the dinner table about racism. In observational learning, individuals learn by observing the behavior of other and then imitate that behavior. This is true in the film because the  skinheads of the group learn by observing the others and behaving the same way. Observational learning results when people observe the behavior of others and not the consequences. Derek uses stereotype thinking because he believes that all black people are bad and has a lot of hatred because of how his father died. Derek also learns to be part of the neo Nazi group by modeling Cameron the organizer and head of the DOC. A person’s cognitive abilities, physical characteristics, personality, beliefs, attitudes influence both his or her behavior and environment. A person’s behavior can affect his feelings about himself and his attitudes and beliefs about others. Much of a person knows comes from the environmental resources such as television, parents, and books. Environment also affects behavior what a person observes can powerfully influence what he does. But a person’s behavior also contributes to his environment. On the night Danny tells his brother that the black kids are breaking into his car he does not even think about what he is doing. A case of classical conditioning a form of learning that has powerful effects on attitudes likes and dislikes and emotional responses. Conformity involves the changing of one’s attitude, opinions, or behavior to match the attitudes, opinions, or behaviors of others. The pressures to act like other people, sometimes despite our true feelings and desires. In American History X Derek, Danny and all the other skin heads are take on this idea to belong to the neo-nazi group.  The scene in the movie where the skinheads destroy a neighborhood grocery store that is been taken over by a minority group show the skinheads conform to norms. These norms tell us what we should or ought to be thinking, feeling, or doing if we want to fit in with a particular group. Most people conform to norms without much thing about it. Through the whole movie Danny idolizes his brother and there for his ways can also be contributed to social psychology. The presence of others influences the thoughts, feelings and how he behaves. The expectancy theory can also be related to Danny. He feels he is expected to be racist because of the situation his brother is in. Because of the day-to-day expose of his racist feelings and the neo-nazi group he does not think of anything else so he is in constant exposure to negative feelings. While Derek is in jail and comes to realize that all people are not the same that there is good and bad in everyone he changes his attitude and behavior. Cognitive dissonance would come into effect here. Derek becomes aware of his ways and changes his behavior, attitude and reduces the importance of racism in his life. Accuracy of Psychology Portrayed American History X shows prejudice, stereotyping and conformity excellent. It shows how Derek comes about to be prejudice and to have his racial attitude. The movie shows that in the world of the skinhead neo Nazi, slogans replace thought, feeling and mindless hatred that is shocking. The bonding of this group portrays how conformity takes place. Derek’s attitude, behavior and speeches to the other kids persuade them to conform to the group. He makes them see things in his view. It shows how one person can change the thoughts and feeling of someone with a vulnerable mind. The movie also shows a way of breaking the vicious circle of hatred. Between the two parts in the movie, Derek’s fathers conversation at the dinner table expressing prejudice toward a different race and how his father died shows how social learning can come into effect. Children learn from what they hear causing them to be prejudice and to stereotype other people. The neo-nazi group shared beliefs about the characteristics of members of a different racial group. The thinking made them all believe that all they are  all alike. In the end the move tells the shows the truth that prejudice has no intrinsic worth. It only harms those who feel its hurt and ultimately harms those who practice it. Conclusion American History X is a move that takes prejudice, stereotyping and conformity and shows how each one can relate to the other. The film makes you stop and think about your thoughts and emotions on these subjects. Part of the last quote of this move says a lot. That hate is baggage. If we open our minds and see the world as a whole we can then realize that not everyone in the world is the same because of their race, gender or religion or so forth. Being prejudice and stereotyping people only leads to harm. We should not conform to the beliefs of others if we feel differently. We should be who we are and not be persuaded to feel otherwise. American History X in the end shows us that no matter what social group we belong to in society it does not mean that we all have the same characteristics, attitudes or behavior. It just goes to say that as we grow and experience things around us in our environment we tend to conform to the ways of society to form our personality and attitudes. The more we educate our young people and be good role models maybe then and only then can we prevent a situation like American History X form happening. A perfect example of conformity is in the scene which we see the skinheads bonding. They are led by Derek’s brilliant speechmaking and  fueled by drugs, beer, tattoos, and heavy metal and need all insecure people feel to belong to a movement greater then themselves. Together they feel that in their world all races stick together and are at undeclared war with all others My conclusion to this topic is that some people are oblivious to the emotional tones that they generate from their ignorant usage of stereotypical labels. I just think some people do not know it when they label someone and it brings out an emotional tone or negative implication. It’s all just ignorance. Or what people have been taught growing up in a government that strives for being the normal and the best. Learning through unintentional messages, whether through school, games, and especially television. It is time for people to unlearn what they have been taught and start opening their minds about this particular subject. It is the nature of prejudice that is the reason why we have violence in the world. I don’t think Derek would have come to have a change in attitude or behavior had it not been for the experience he had in jail. Coming full circle and realizing the reality that not everyone is the same and just because of your race, religion or gender we all are individuals. Derek was a product of his environment. Having conformed to a group of neo-nazi people who do nothing but see their world and don’t think out side of it. This would be kind of like the saying thinking out of the box. Until his ordeal in jail he had experienced groupthink. A tragedy had to happen in order for a cultural change to take place. References Augustinos, M. (2001). Understanding Prejudice Racism and Social Conflict. Pennsylvania: W.B. Saunder Company. Ruscher, J. B. (2001). Prejudiced communication: A social psychological perspective. New York: Guilford Press. Welkos, R. W. (1998, October 21). The Tin Line Between Fear and Hate. [Online]. Available: http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/club.3036/analysel.htm. Wood, S. , & Wood, E. (1999). The Essential World of Psychology. Maine: Allyn & Bacon

Ethical Issues of Deception in Psychological Research Essay

In psychological studies, ethical issues associated with deception have always the major concern area. It is largely been viewed as something which in long will cause effect on participants’ willingness to be a part of any psychological research. The controversy associated with this issue has itself led to many researches to ascertain the positivity and negativity associated with the use of deception in psychological research. The findings of those researches have been contradictory. Some researcher has indicated that use of deception has a very negative impact on participant’s perception of researchers and hence reduces the possibility of its further participation in the ongoing project as well as any other research in future (Tuffin, 2005) While on the other hand there are evidences that deception has positive effect and participants have reported that they actually enjoyed being deceived and showed positive participation in the researches in which they are being deceived and feel more benefited than those without deception. Hence it becomes more evident that deception has basically no effect on participants and neither reduces nor increases their willingness in taking part in any future researches irrespective of those requiring deception or not (Lefkowitz, 2003). The above mentioned two contradictory preferences related to deception actually gives a picture which shows that the people have no clear meaning of deception and it varies from person to person i.e., they have different interceptions of what it actually means. This reinforces the need for further research and hence underscores the requirement for an expanded investigation to figure out the possible effects of deception in a prospective participant and the psychological study. The beginning of this new research could be initiated through a controlled environment when some of the participants and informed about the use of deception while some are not informed. The final objective is to ascertain the actual impact of deception when both researchers as well the participants have better understanding of deception (O’Donohue, 2003). References: O’Donohue, W. (2003) Handbook of Professional Ethics for Psychology. Sage Publication Ltd.,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   London. UK Lefkowitz, J (2003) Ethics and values in industrial-organizational Psychology. Lawrence  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Erlbaum Associates, Inc., Mahwas, NJ Tuffin, K (2005) Understanding Critical Social Psychology. Sage Publication Ltd., London. UK

Fords Advertising Strategy in India Research Paper

Fords Advertising Strategy in India - Research Paper Example The Indian economy is growing at a rate of 10% since the last 5 years (Uppal, et al, 2009). Apart from the growing middle class, India also features a strong upper class leading it to the fourth largest country with the highest number of billionaires. This makes India a lucrative market for high-end and premium brands as well. Besides being on the road of economic improvement, India also is a democratic state which encourages foreign direct investment. After a long isolation from international trade, India finally has opened its gates for foreign brands which leave a huge opportunity of the international giant corporations to capture their share of the market (Uppal, et al, 2009). As mentioned above, the high income earners of the country along with the growing middle class constitutes a high overall spending power and this fact makes it one of the most lucrative markets in South Asia and the whole world. In contrast to having a strong appeal to international businesses, India does h ave some factors which put a negative impact on its business environment. One of the problems which India faces is unimpressive law enforcement by the Indian judiciary. This is prevalent predominantly because of resource limitations and long procedures fashioned by corruption. However, in order to keep the consumers safe and to increase their confidence, exclusive courts catering to consumer needs and concerns have begun to be set up (Uppal et al, 2009). The elements which Ford must take care of while designing and executing its advertisements is the target segment which must targeted. As mentioned above, India has a growing economy with majority of a middle class and a high proportion of youth, the brands must be appropriately positioned in order to get the most business out of a segment. This means that a premium brand for example Mustang must not be positioned amongst the middle class as it will not be feasible for the company in terms of revenue. Therefore, considering the busin ess environment of India, the advertisements must have relevance to the lifestyle of the market. This suggests that if the target market does not drink, the advertisement must not show any reference to drinking otherwise, the brand will not have any receptive and relevance to the target market. Besides this, the idea of an advertisement must be in line with the culture and expectations of the audience. In order to be generally acceptable and receptive to the audience, the advertisement must clearly portray the true depiction of the lifestyle of the target market. Be it the fashion, models, lifestyle, language etc, every element of the ad must have a relevance to the target market else the brand will not be accepted and will not sell. 2. India’s Advertising Industry India’s advertising industry is on the boom. From being a small scale business to a fully fledged industry, the Indian advertisement has become a world in itself. It is now considered as one of the major ind ustries of the tertiary sector of India with worth $6.4 billion. Apart from the traditional print and electronic media, the advertising industry of India is registering enormous growth of the social media. The internet is increasingly becoming an important tool for businesses to sell their product and for the advertisers to market their brands. The fact that the internet has become a marketplace itself has been well adopted by the Indian adverti

Levis Advertising Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Levis Advertising Analysis - Research Paper Example The advertisement illustrates a young buyer, with a less-dapper appearance, engaging in environmental connection by crawling through mountainous grasslands, clearly enjoying the experience with natural lifestyle. Using Levi’s Jeans as the appropriate clothing for this type of activity, it illustrates how the brand attempts to connect to naturalism, spontaneity, and in some degree rejection of urban lifestyle. Levi’s is working as the catalyst product to help youths who are either frustrated with urbanism and the fast-paced lifestyle of large city living or to remind consumers that Levi’s is the most appropriate brand for natural living because of its rich history during a historical period of development in the nation. Levi’s relies heavily on its brand equity for its very long history of product achievements and brand preference, which is illustrated by the type of consumer that most largely uses Levi’s products. People who are in their 20s and early 30s are experiencing what psychologists refer to as a quarter-life crisis, growing more frustrated with mundane and mediocre lifestyles (Macrae 1). Levi’s understands its buyer market preferences, those who get proverbially lost in the shadows of society in large urban environments with high populations and extremely diverse lifestyles associated with music, entertainment and outward socialization. Thus, Levi’s attempts to illustrate that it can serve as a motivator for individuals who want to break free from this mundane living and reconnect with their individualism, traditionalism, and natural preferences.

Tsotsi Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tsotsi - Movie Review Example With its plot having been set to develop in South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg’s Alexandra slum, the film presents Tsotsi, a youthful street urchin as the protagonist. Having often times resorted to stealing as a means to earning a living, Tsotsi one day steals a car, not knowing that a baby is in its backseat. The Theme of the Film There are several themes in this film. First and foremost, there is the theme of redemption which begins to play out immediately Tsotsi is stranded with the baby he had inadvertently stolen. The theme of poverty and criminality and the interrelationship between these two is also revisited in the movie, since Tsotsi is pushed into a life of crime because of poverty. The same poverty constrains Tsotsi from being a law abiding citizen, and makes him a brutal criminal instead, though he knows that robbery in itself is wrong. Likewise, Tsotsi’s friends- Butcher, Aap and Boston have been compelled to live in the streets and to dabble with crime by poverty. The existence of street gangs is also spurred on by poverty. At an instance, Butcher and Aap are almost shifting their loyalty from Tsotsi’s gang to a richer rival. ... Particularly, at a given point, Tsotsi attempts to raise money for Boston’s exams, albeit this is done through robbery. Conversely, the same concept of fatherhood plays out subtly in the film’s climax, and thereby shaping its conclusion. As Tsotsi hands over the child to Pumla’s husband John, John plays a fatherly role to Tsotsi by attempting to dissuade the police from shooting Tsotsi. Whether the Film Conveys Any Messages That Will Make A Difference In Americans’ Ordinary Life The film conveys messages that can change American lifestyles for the better. This is because the movie addresses themes such as fatherhood, poverty, criminality and redemption. By considering fatherhood in light of this film, American parents must take stock of their roles towards their children. Likewise, by considering poverty and criminality, America has a chance to address the disproportionate distribution of economic values among racial and class lines, and racial profiling. The theme of redemption on the other hand reminds every American citizen of his personal responsibility towards the law and the state. The outlaw is reminded in his conscience that no matter how far he thinks he may have sunk in crime, he can still change for the better. Nevertheless, the problem with America is that instead of taking the film’s themes into its life system, it is likely to pass Tsotsi as just another literary piece that lacks the clearest quality of originality. This is because, in Tsotsi, Americans are likely to see a sequel of Tony Montana of Al Pacino. America has also watched similar movies such as Raoul Walsh’s Regeneration, where an orphan becomes a leader of a gang, but is eventually succored by a woman of noble intent and

ALL STATE INSURANCE COMPANY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ALL STATE INSURANCE COMPANY - Essay Example That is why goals must, simultaneously with being challenging, be possible to reach. Unrealistic goals can only be counterproductive. How can goals serve as an unifying force in organizations? Having goals put in front of all people in the organization makes them all equal regardless of their particular position within the structure. Managers and regular employees alike, are challenged to meet certain expectations. Most importantly, the role of goal setting is to provide a challenge. Without a clear, specific and reachable goals organization members are more likely to a) work slower, b) perform poorly and c) lack interest in changing a) and b). If we compare model of goal setting offered in the textbook and one in place at Allstate Corporation we find that they are similar in many aspects. By placing the simplified version of the model developed by Locke and Latham side by side with the description of Allstate’s particular example, the first observation is that many key words from the former are clearly repeated in the latter. Allstate has been working on developing goals for decades now and it is clear that they came a long way in that regard. Key words, such are feedback, goal clarity, direction, rewards and satisfaction are integrated masterfully in Allstate’s goal setting program, making it very effective and, also, still innovative. Two components that contribute to this effectiveness are the fact that 40,000 employees of Allstate are evaluated in terms of performance on regular basis. This makes the challenge a constant in the process, not only a one time thing. The other interesting aspect comes from t he fact that company’s executives and managers draw a large portion of their compensation (25%) from Allstate’s Diversity Index. That way they are committed in implementation of the program. Allstate recognized the importance of mediators and moderators in goal setting schema and keeps making them accountable for programs success. Diversity Index