Asceticism - The Joy of Fasting, Flagellation and Self-mutilation Essay

Asceticism - The Joy of Fasting, Flagellation and Self-mutilation In order to achieve a spiritual understanding, people have subjected themselves to extreme self denial through fasting, flagellation and self-mutilation (The Columbia Encyclopedia). This practice of self mortification is known as asceticism. Asceticism has been known to exist since the commencement of recorded religion. This zealous religious practice is associated with many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Derived from the Greek work askesis, asceticism adheres to its definition of exercise, training, and discipline- â€Å"Ascetical practices are human strategies for spiritual living. They have elements of effort and method, deprivation, and voluntary suffering† (Larkin, O. Carm). Practicing ascetics strive for the enhancement of spiritual life as their ultimate goal. Asceticism has been implicated by many of its followers in order to â€Å"produce visions†¦mourn the dead†¦sharpen spiritual awareness†¦or reach accord with a god† (The Columbia Encyclopedia). The self-denying procedure is also a way in which to subdue sin within one’s life and restrain one’s evil inclinations. Asceticism takes many forms. It can be applied broadly as an aspect of all cultures, as social asceticism. The social regulations that control society stress individual control. Without this self-control, society would fail to survive. This method of asceticism is loosely based upon the guidelines of discipline. The more severe forms of asceticism involve those who seek a profound spiritual journey. The drastic measures taken in order to fulfill the idea of self denial ofte... ...re.com/depts/medmuseum/galleryexhibits/artthatheals/12imagesandasceticism.html Mercier, Jacques. Art That Heals: the Image as Medicine in Ethiopia. New York: Prestel Books and the Museum for African Art, 1997. This website is entitled â€Å"Images and Asceticism.† In Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence, Charles Strickland was a character that had an ascetic ideal in his artistic environment. These images display scenes of asceticism and the sufferings that were endured in the practice. http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/installations/spiritual.shtml This website also displays a painting of asceticism as was practiced in India. http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/asceticism.html This website provides a detailed background and history of asceticism. It highlights interesting stories that account for the origination of the religious practice.

Oliver twist - I am going to analyze how Charles Dickens portrayed Essa

Oliver twist - I am going to analyze how Charles Dickens portrayed Oliver's life to show his audience the poverty, sickness and desperation that he saw around him ever since he was young. Oliver twist essay I am going to analyze how Charles Dickens portrayed Oliver's life to show his audience the poverty, sickness and desperation that he saw around him ever since he was young. The fictitious character Oliver twist was born into extreme poverty. As Dickens writes: 'It remained a matter of considerable doubt whether the child would survive to bear any name at all.' Charles Dickens had first hand experience of poverty; his parents were imprisoned for a year for being offenders of the poor laws- they hadn't enough money to support their family and got into debt, which they couldn't pay. So Charles spent most of his time walking around the dirty back streets of London, where he witnessed a great deal of poor people who had been reduced to criminals, prostitutes and beggars who lived surrounded by poverty, disease and abandoned children whose parents were either dead or not able to look after their offspring financially. The vast division in society of lower and upper classes influenced Dickens to write to tell other people what the conditions for the poor were really like. He had to be subtle; he didn't want to alienate his upper class audience. So he wrote a novel, revolving around memorable characters and places to entertain his audience. Dickens knew that people learnt more and were more willing to listen whilst being entertained, so he wrote history as entertainment. Dickens' audience consisted of two groups: the sub-literate who were the poor that attended his readings as they couldn't read, and the... ...e white waist coated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar the interest of this narrative (supposing it to possess any at all), if I ventured to hint just yet, whether the life of Oliver Twist had this violent termination or no. Dickens was uncertain of who Oliver was going to turn out to be until the novel was well established. He was planning the story as he went along, writing each chapter separately instead of planning the whole novel. Overall, Oliver Twist is one of the great novels written with a desire to send a message out to people, and a message that changed people's perspectives of poor life in those times, which I believe is the reason that it is remembered so well to this day. From reading this book I have learnt about the circumstances of those times in a way not possible from reading a textbook. I saw it through a child's eyes.

The Legacy of Perceptions of Interracial Relationships as Demonstrated

The Legacy of Perceptions of Interracial Relationships as Demonstrated in Late 19th and Early 20th Century Black Literature and Events The history of interracial relationships in America is a painfully loaded issue which is still evolving in the consciousness of the 20th century. Because the first instances of sexual integration occurred under the institution of slavery, our understanding of them is necessarily beset with dominance, violence, and rape. Interracial relationships and the children they produced became another manifestation of power relationships between whites and blacks in our contorted social atmosphere. Even to the present day, interracial relationships are often looked upon as being propelled by impure motives and compounded by the social dynamics that have been inherited in our culture. Literature Events Legacy Literature Francis E.W. Harper's Iola Leroy One of the themes that is addressed by Iola Leroy is that of African Americans that can pass as white, yet reject that selfish option in order to proudly identify themselves as black. Iola Leroy, a light skinned black woman who could pass as white, has the alternative of marrying a wealthy white doctor, Dr. Gresham, and living her life as a white woman. However, although she deeply cares for him, she refuses his offer and the "comfortable" life that could have come with it. In analyzing Iola Leroy and her rejection of Dr. Gresham's proposal, the reader can come to the conclusion that it was Iola who had to deal with inner struggle, whereas Dr. Gresham was able to overlook issues of racial difference as long as Iola would not publicly admit her heritage. Dr. Gresham would have remained unaffected by the conflict she faced if she had chosen t... ...n the end, Angie goes back home to her family and Flip goes back to his wife. Lee makes direct and severe statements about interracial relationships through this film. Essentially, he argues that in the context of modern American society, interracial relationships are motivated by curiosity as a result of historical stigma. The generation just before Angie and Flip projects fear, ignorance, and violence with regard to mixed- race unions, and so the their children's response is a reactionary one. In Lee's view, it is black women that are victimized as a result of interracial relationsahips, whereas the black man realizes his mistake and asks for forgiveness, and the white woman basically persues her life as before the incident occurred. The only real change that occurs is that the latter two have satisfied their curiosity, which was all that was at stake to begin with.

Review of a few good men Essay

A few good men starring Jack Nicholson Tom Cruise and Demi Moore is about ethic in the marines. Many characters in the movie are faced with moral dillemas Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholsons characters are faced with moral dillemas. The movie is about two marines who are accused of murdering there fellow officer, during the incestigation it is discovered that there is a practice called â€Å"code red† this is a unethical and unofficial disciplinary measure by the marine squad when a member goes against the unit. The offender is gagged, beaten, and then they are killed by their fellow officers. The accused put the blame on someone they said was higher up from them. They carried out the â€Å"code red† order because the officer was not living up to the duties and agenda of the marines, and they were following the command of a higher ranking officer than they were. It is later discovered that Colnel Jessup played by Jack Nicholson was the one who gave the order to kill private Santiago. This crime is not only ethically wrong in the marine corps but it is also illegal by law. Lance Corporal Harold dawson and Private Louden Downey, played by Wolfgang Bodison and James Marshall were just following orders when they assulted Private Santiago late at night by stuffing a rag in his mouth and basically suffocating him creating respirtory complications. Santiago had decided that millitary life was not what he wanted and he ended up paying the price for that decision. False discharge papers were created in an attempt to hide the actual code red plan. There are two ethical issues here, of course one is the murder performed byDawson and Downey, the other is the code red order of Jessup and the subsequent cover up. Kaffe is a young trial lawyer who has a lot to prove. His father was a famous lawyer, so in order to be like him Kaffe needs to win all the time , losing is not an option. One of his tactics is to request a plea bargain on many of his cases. Kaffee is acquired to defend Dawson and Downey, however Kaffee knows that the two marines have done something unethical. Kaffee, in fact, despises Dawson and Downey so much that he says they do not deserve the uniforms that they wear. Kaffee has adilemma; his personal feelings concerning people who abuse others who aren’t able to defend themselves get in the way. In short Kaffe does not want to defend these marines.His normal course of action would have been to request a plea bargain. However JoanneGalloway played by Demi Moore, his co-council and superior officer convinces him not to go that route. Kaffe  starts work hard on the case. As time goes on he discovers that Dawson and Downey are really not to blame at all. The problem rests squarely with Jessup. When this discovery is made Kaffe holds colonel Jessup culpable. This puts Kaffe’s name and career at great risk. over time it became very important for Kaffee to vindicate the marines and to bring down Jessup. This in his mind was proper justice and also something true,noble, and outside of himself. He even came to accept that fulfilling his fathers footsteps did not matter. Most civilians would label Jessup’s actions as cruel and cold hearted and vicious. They would view thesituation from a Teleological framework, which means they would be thinking about theconsequences of Jessup’s actions. However, civilians are not marines and therefore do not understand the point of the situation. The point is to adherence to military rules. In fact proper ethical behavior in the case of a marine comes form following therules. This is an example of a deontological framework, or a framework that judges the ethics of an action based on adherence to rules. This is Jessup believes to be the world he lives in, a world, iof rules, not consequences.The turning point in all of this occurred when Santiago died. Jessup lost his mind at this point. He lied to Kaffee by telling him that Santiago was to leave the base. He also said that his chiefs of staff had orders not to abuse Santiago. Because of Kaffee andGalloway’s persistance, Jessup went to prison for his actions.I am not a military person, but have many family and friends that are in the millitary and know how some of the operations and rules work..However, this kind of situation is not possible amongst civilians. Military people have to defend our country’s freedoms and sometimes they have to fight for the freedoms of other countries. In order to do this they have to abide by a particular set of rules so that they are fair in helping other countries have their safety and freedoms as well. I really do not believe that the ethical dilemmas posed by the movie could have been solved any other way. Dawson and Downey may have rejected Jessup’s orders to do a code red on Santiago. They mayhave been fired for this, but in any event the order would have gone to other Marines more willing to carry it out and help their career. It really does not matter because Santiago would experience thecode red no matter what. Fate is what it is and  cannot be changed and in this case it was his time. Kaffee wanted a plea bargain, however due to Galloway’s influence he chose to focus his intellect on the case. I believe that this was a wise decision. It resulted in saving the marines from time in prison and sending Jessup to jail. .Code red orders have probably been given countless times in the past, the reason being that they work. People have a preconcieved notion of what lawyers do, and how they think and act. That they are only out to make a profit. This is a millitary court though they have to uphold to a different set of standards when it comes to the law. There is the law that we know and the law of the millitary. I also think that people watch movies about legalities and justice to try a nd get a better understanding of our world. There are a few different types of millitary branches out there that rule different areas like the navy is usually under water, the army is on land, and the airforce rules the skies. With all these how do we govern laws to fit all categories of the millitary. How do we ensure that they equally enforce these laws and protect all of their enlisters. I read an article about women being assulted by their fellow officers and they hardley ever see and type of punishment or trial for what they did. How is there any ethics there. What lesson is learned, that since they are in the milli tary they can get away with thing. To me I think that millitary should fall under the same circuit of justice as all others. I think that the movie all in all was very good. The actors that portrayed the characters were very believeable, as well as the story line. I think something like that could and maybe even already did happen. You hear a lot now about our soldiers falling victim to friendly fire over seas and it makes you wonder why that really happened. It is a sad reality though. I also like a lot of the actors in the movie like Kevin Bacon, Kieffer Sutherland as well as Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore. I think that with the upcoming holliday it was only fitting to do a movie about the millitary. Many of my family members either have served or still serve in the millitary and I was in the ROTC program in highschool so to me this is a subject that  I am passionate about. Not just on hollidays but everyday I come across a veteran I make sure to thank them. Because wha happened in the movie does not depict the military as a whole and these men and women truly are the superheroes of today.

Childhood obesity in the United States

Childhood obesity in the United States and internationally has become a wide spread public health catastrophe. Over the years childhood obesity has increased at a rapid pace. This paper will show the results of the data collection method, the data analysis procedure, and the conclusion of how to apply the background and methodology of the research process with the problems in health care, and apply the emphasis on childhood obesity. Data Collection: The data collection method was appropriate for this study because children were involved and the research was based on previous studies already performed.The collection method used was a reviewed and detailed â€Å"search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Academic Search Premier data bases was carried out for the time period 1999-2011† (Karnik & Kaneka, 2012, p. 1). Key words for this search were â€Å"calorie imbalance, childhood obesity, interventions, physical activity, and policy changing† (Karnik & Kaneka, 2012, p. 1). The subj ects researched were children, the appropriate actions to be taken were parental consent and supervision; the identities of the children remained anonymous throughout the studies.Based on the outcomes of the research, there was no harm or negativity to the children participating in the research project. The concealment of the children was the main concern for the study, this way the children would not undergo the prejudices and abuse for developing an overweight condition, eating an unhealthy diet, and not exercising. There was no communication of individual names, or identifying factor of the children researched. Data Analysis Procedure:The provisions and procedures are appropriate for the type of study conducted and the results received from the research answered the hypothesis that the researchers were considering. The study was centered on preset criteria and questions. The qualitative data is based on numerical facts, which were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) according to Karnik & Kaneka (2012) the report stated the following: In the years 2007-2008 there were an estimated 16. 9% of adolescents and children aged in groups of 2-19 that were over weight.The total number of childhood obesity cases for children in preschool between the ages of 2-5 for boys and girls increased from 5. 0% to 10% between the years of 1976-1980. In the years 2007-2008 childhood obesity increased from 6. 5% to 19. 6% in children who were 6-11 years old. With the data that was collected during the same time period for adolescents aged 12-19 years old obesity increased from 5. 0% to 18. 1% (Karnik & Kaneka, 2012, p. 2). The non-statistical methods of review and the studying of social phenomena have qualitative research concerned.The research is appealing to a primary method in which subjects and groups appear through analysis of information gathered by techniques for example, case studies, observations, interviews, and videotapes. Sample s are typically small and are often nominated intentionally. Descriptions must be detailed when they are of qualitative research and are the perspective of all research members as a way of examining certain problems and issues under study (McCroy, 2013). In this qualitative research the article consists of the information found in relation to genetics, behavior, environmental factors, and interventions.Genetic factors may affect the metabolism, through altering fat, energy consumption, and energy disbursement. Hereditary traits may cause childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can be caused by behavioral issues. The food and drinks that children are ingesting cause more energy, and is not being used in the correct way. With the larger portions of food that children are eating which are high in glucose, and carbohydrates, the energy consumption is higher than the energy expenditure. This can lead to weight gain in children and cause childhood obesity (Karnik & Kaneka, 2012).Children who are not physically active are prone to obesity. The energy that is gained needs to be properly balanced with the energy used (Karnik & Kaneka, 2012). There is a realization that many teens and children are absence of the necessary quantity of some physical activity; therefore the calories are not being used properly, which can lead to obesity. In Iran there was a mixed-methods study which went to prove that there is a shortage of safe places that has easy access for children to get the physical activity they need.The inactive lifestyle may be caused because there are no facilities, for example, safe sidewalks, parks, and paths to ride bicycles on. The main barriers for these adolescents were the unsupportive families. It is seen that inactive lifestyles are a big part of childhood obesity. Children today spend a lot of time sitting and playing video games, watching television, and using their computers. Children tend to eat more goodies while they sit watching television and playin g video games and are spending more and more time with no physical activity.These developmental issues are a brutal cycle. Children are more prone to an inactive lifestyle because of watching television, consuming larger portions of food that are more energy-dense, and with a lack of physical activity, this has caused a rise in childhood obesity. Television advertisements show foods that are high in sugar; this leads children to make the wrong choices when it comes to eating healthy, and can lead to weight gain and childhood obesity. Environmental factors have a huge impact on children, school, home and the community is some of these influences.Parents who interact with their children have a huge influence when it comes to their child’s food choices and can inspire them to live a healthier life style. A huge amount of children’s time is spent in school; schools can help to offer healthy food choices and more physical activity to help promote a healthier lifestyle. With the lack of availability and affordability of healthy food it can affect a child’s nutrition. Conclusion: The provisions and procedures are appropriate for the type of study conducted and the results received from the research answered the hypothesis that the researchers were considering.The study was centered on preset criteria and questions. Childhood obesity can be resolved through prevention, education, and supportable interventions associated to living a healthy lifestyle with the proper nutrition habits and physical activity. Childhood obesity can be decreased with encouragement from the children’s parents. There needs to be an implementation of schools and governmental monitoring of the success or failure of the interventions. If interventions are not working then there should be a reevaluation of intervention to prevent childhood obesity.

Mental Health and Social Inclusion

Title: An examination of social exclusion policy and its effect on adults of a working age with serious mental health problems To begin, this essay will briefly define the term social exclusion and its historical background. It will then move on to the political history of social exclusion in the United Kingdom. Particularly the essay will focus on the reasons behind unemployment, and the resulting effect of excluding people from society.The policies around employment and the benefit system will be discussed in some detail, and their consequences on working age adults, including those with serious long term mental health issues. The French socialist government termed the phrase ‘social exclusion’ in the 1980’s; it was used to define a group of people living on the edge of society whom did not have access to the system of social insurance (Room, 1995 citied in Percy-Smith 2000). The concept of social exclusion has been defined in many different ways since then.The European commission defines social exclusion as referring to the â€Å"multiple and changing factors resulting in people being excluded from the normal exchanges, practices and rights of modern society† (Commission of the European Communities, 1993 quoted in Percy-Smith 2000 p. 3). This was a move away from using the term underclass in the UK, which was not an acceptable phrase to some, as it was more related to poverty (Lavallette et al, 2001). The term social exclusion pointed at a much more complicated problem rather than just money, if you were excluded something or someone was excluding you and that could be sorted out.Although for some this new phrase just represented a ‘new’ form of the word poverty (Room, 1995 citied in Lavallette). In the UK the New Labour government set up the interdepartmental social exclusion unit in 1997 (Percy-Smith, 2000). Its aims were to â€Å"to find joined-up solutions to the joined-up problems of social exclusion† (No10 Website, 2004). The social exclusion task force works within a number of government departments such as work and pension, children school and family and the ministry of justice (No10 Website, 2004)The social exclusion unit published a series of reports in 1997 that criticised the way both central and local government had failed deprived groups and areas (Batty, 2002). It found that deprived area’s had fewer basic services such as GP surgeries and that little effort had been made to reintegrate some who had been excluded through unemployment (Batty, 2002). Unemployment is seen as one of the main causes of social exclusion (Percy-Smith, 2000). Being unemployed can have serious effects on a person’s confidence, sense of purpose and motivation (Percy-Smith, 2000).The person who works is seen as a full citizen, paying tax and contributing to society (Baldock et al, 1999). Unemployment can also be linked to mental health; a person is twice as likely to suffer from depressio n if they are not working. (Department of health, 1999). The period since the 1960’s saw a distinct decline in the British manufacturing industry leading to a shift in the type of work available, the service sector and office based jobs replaced the manual jobs and altered the pattern of demand in the labour market. Baldock et al, 1999) The unemployment rate for semi skilled / unskilled workers if four times that compared to managerial / professional workers (Percy-Smith, 2000). Those people who live in area’s with low demand for low skilled workers are highly likely to be unemployed for a very long time, leading to a near permanence in exclusion from the labour market (Percy-Smith, 2000). Welfare to work policies were the answer from the Labour government in 1997, `They set out plans to encourage people back into the labour market.Labour came up with the New Deal family of policies. These where aimed at specific groups. For example young people, adults and new deal fo r people with a disability (Percy-Smith, 2000). One of the results of this policy was to create Job centre plus from a merger of the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency. (Hoben, no date given) The Tories previously had set up the job seekers allowance, which had changed the Insurance-based unemployment benefit. (Baldock et al, 1999).With this allowance you had to prove you were actively seeking employment or you would not get your allowance. People who became unemployed would have to go for an initial interview where an adviser prepares an action plan, then short interviews are conducted every two weeks to review the claimants success at gaining new employment and to look at new job vacancies (Percy-Smith, 2000). New deal gateway is aimed at 18 – 24 year olds who had been out of work for 6 months. This offers subsidised work experience within the voluntary sector or with an employer with a ? 0 a week incentive. Also full time education/training is offered to those who did not have sufficient qualifications up the recognized NVQ level two. Young people also have an allocated personal advisor who offers assistance around job seeking, careers advice and in some circumstances drugs/homelessness advice (Percy-Smith, 2000). Anyone who refuses to take up these incentives will have their benefit cut. As Gordon Brown put it (the then Chancellor of the Exchequer) there will be no option â€Å"to stay at home in bed and watch television† (Baldock et al, 1999 p149).For people aged twenty five and above who have been on job seekers allowance for over six months then become eligible for a different set of measures, before becoming eligible for the ‘New Deal’. This is called ‘restart’. Work trials are offered as well as help with interview techniques and CV’s writing skills. After twelve months if the individual has not found work they attend a five-day ‘job plan workshop’ to assess the individuals job prospe cts. This happens again at eighteen months. If after two years they are still unemployed this is when ‘New Deal’ applies. New Deal’ offers training grants as well as an employment credit similar to that of the new deal gateway of sixty pounds a week and the benefit of a personal advisor. The budget for this was ? 250 million for the three years between 1999 and 2002 (Percy-Smith, 2000) It can be argued that jobseekers allowance forces people back to work or forces them to appear to be looking for work in a desperate attempt to keep their benefit. It can be seen as punitive (Percy-Smith, 2000) and with no option to opt out, and it does not actually increase the amount of jobs available.Without the creation of a sufficient number of jobs, people may lose their benefit, though not through lack of trying (Baldock et al, 1999). Also critics have commented on the cost of the new deal strategy with some say this money could be better used creating more jobs. (Percy-Smit h, 2000) Other arguments against new deal look at the timescale difference between the young people and adult services, it cost a lot less to intervene early when someone becomes unemployed so why wait for two years in the case of the adult new deal. (Percy-Smith, 2000).The new deal policy has been quite effective, particularly at getting young people back into the labour market. However, for people with long term significant mental health problems finding paid work can be very difficult. (Layard, 2005) If social exclusion can be linked to unemployment then for people with mental health issues they are excluded by default, with not only unemployment but with the social stigma associated with their mental health difficulties (Layard, 2005). â€Å"There are now more mentally ill people on incapacity benefit than there are unemployed people on jobseekers allowance† (Layard, 2005 p1).Evidence suggests that work can be very therapeutic for people with mental health problems, but i t seems doctors are sceptical about their patients finding and holding down jobs. (Layard, 2005) The problem gets worse the longer the person is on benefits, and as time passes social isolation increases and motivation decreases (Layard, 2005). Ninety percent of people on incapacity benefit say they would like to return to work but would find it very hard to find a job that pays as much as the benefit they receive (Layard, 2005).However, it has been an underlying trend in welfare policy that low paid work should always be the better option than state handouts. This goes way back to the poor law of 1832 where the workhouse provided the last option for very poor families, providing food and shelter for the exchange of labour. For most of those who lived in these workhouses life expectancy significantly dropped upon entering these desperate places (Higginbotham, 2008). In current times, however, sacrificing benefits and returning to work may mean a compromise in quality of life.People receiving incapacity benefit may also claim housing benefit, council tax benefit, free prescriptions and discretionary loans from the social fund to buy large more expensive items (Alcock, 2003). With all this help in place it is quite easy to see why people with a mental illness are unlikely to want to go back to full time employment and run the risk of losing money. This is known as the benefit trap. There is another problem, people who have been on benefits for a long time lack the right qualifications to join the labour market (Dummigan, 2007), increasing social exclusion.If a mentally ill person wanted to find a job but had little or no skills, the choices are very narrow normally leading to a low wage job, again making it unlikely for the individual to want to come off his/her benefits (Dummigan, 2007). The government has tried to rectify this problem by offering further incentives to get people back to work, such as disability tax credits that offer a tax break should some on e find work but there is limited awareness of the financial incentives to return to work (Percy-Smith, 2000).Pathways to work is a recent government initiative with the aim of getting the recipients of incapacity benefit back to work, the claimant will have to take a personal capability assessment which is used to determine whether or not the person is eligable for the benefit, but will focus on â€Å"what the customer can do rather than what they cant† (Department of work and pensions, 2007).A mandatory work focused interview will also take place eight weeks after making the intial claim followed by a screening tool to establish who will have to have more work focused interviews and those who will be exempt from further manditory participation (Department of work and pensions, 2007). Pathways to work will offer a range of programmes to support the â€Å"customer† in preparing for work with a fourty pounds a week incentive or credit for twelve months if their salary is below fifteen thousand pounds a year (Department of work and pensions, 2007).Pathways to work is currently operating in fourty percent of the country. In an interesting move, the remaining sixty percent of pathway to work providers will be from the public sector leading to critism that the government is privatising the welfare system. The government's chief welfare to work adviser, David Freud, said recently: â€Å"I worked out that it is economically rational to spend up to sixty thousand pounds on getting the average person on incapacity benefit into work, somebody will see a gap in the market and make their fortune. † (Quoted in Vaux, 2008).Some voluntary sector organizations have criticized the rather aggressive approach taken by the public sector organizations in winning the contracts, and feel that the voluntary sector would be in a better position to deliver the contracts (Vaux, 2008). Mind charity has criticized the pathways to work initiative stating it â€Å"place s all the emphasis on the individual to find work†, yet, it said  there  was no obligation on employers to actively recruit people with mental health problems. It would also seem that if you disclose to an employer that you have a mental health problem you are more likely to be sacked before your sane colleagues.Also there is a lack of support in the work place for mental health sufferers, which lead to higher sickness rate, which in turn puts off employers recruiting future pathways to work employees (Lombard, 2008). In the recent action plan on social exclusion â€Å"Reaching out† the government recognizes the need for encouragement in the workplace for recruiting people with mental health issues and supports employer based anti-stigma campaigns. It also states that the government alone cannot address social exclusion, and that the wider community has a role to play.But most of all, the individual must want progress for themselves and those around them (Reaching O ut, 2008). In the last five years mental health services have improved greatly (Layard, 2005) Better treatment and early intervention have empowered people to control their own lives, but though these services have improved the medical condition, mentally ill people still suffer from exclusion from society. The association with dependency that being on benefits brings leads to a segregation (Percy-Smith, 2000). In conclusion, social exclusion is a far reaching problem and not an easy task to overcome.Evidence suggests that the government still identifies the problem with unemployment and poverty, and has taken a great deal of measures in providing policies that aim to get people back into the work place. Unfortunately for some, as has been shown, work is not always a viable or the best option, and people who fall under this category may stay on the boundaries of society due to no fault of their own, or be forced into working at the detriment of their health. The changes around the i ncapacity benefit rules may leave some people worse off than when on benefits and this may increase the chances of a relapse in mental ealth issues, which in turn will make them less employable, continuing the cycle of social exclusion. As we enter another recession and unemployment rises again, this is likely to be a huge focus, and the government will have to rethink existing policies around unemployment. Those who are recently unemployed must be given sufficient support to regain employment to avoid falling into the benefit trap in order to avoid the danger of becoming socially excluded. Bibliography Alcock, P (2003) Social policy in Britain, Basingstoke, PalgraveBaldock J, Manning N, Miller S & Vickerstaff S (1999) Social Policy. Oxford University press, Oxford Lavalette,M & Pratt A (2001) Social Policy a conceptual and theoretical introduction. Sage publications London Percy-Smith, J (2000) Policy responses to social exclusion. Open university press. Oxford Batty, D (2002) Soci al exclusion: the issue explained (Online), available at http://www. guardian. co. uk/society/2002/jan/15/socialexclusion1 (accessed on 28/10/08) Department for work and pensions, (2008) Pathways to work process. (Online) Available at http://www. dwp. gov. k/welfarereform/pathways_process. asp (accessed on 5/12/08) Department of health, (1999) National service framework for mental health, modern standards and service models. (Online) available at http://www. dh. gov. uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4009598 (accessed on 1/12/08) Dummigan, G (2007) The benefit trap. (Online) available at http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/6403329. stm (accessed on 4/12/08) Higginbotham, P (2008) Poor laws (Online) available from http://www. workhouses. org. uk(accessed on 4/12/08)Hoban,M & Thomas, J (No date given) DW response to welfare to work – discussion paper. (Online) available at http://www. voicefromthewheelchair. co. uk/ pages/dw-response-to-welfare-to-work (accessed on 1/12/08) Layard, R (2005) Mental health: Britain’s biggest social problem? (Online) Available from http://cep. lse. ac. uk/textonly/research/mentalhealth/RL414d. pdf (accessed on 1/12/08) Lombard, D (2008) The replacement of incapacity benefit. (Online), available at http://www. communitycare. co. uk/Articles/2008/10/27/109795/incapacity-benefit-reform-will-leave-some-disabled-people-worse-off. tml (accessed on 5/12/08) Reaching out, (2006) An action plan on social exclusion (Online), available from http://www. cabinetoffice. gov. uk/media/cabinetoffice/social_exclusion_task_force/assets/reaching_out/chapter1. pdf (accessed on 28/10/08) Social exclusion trends show success (2004) Online, available from http://www. number10. gov. uk/page5544 (accessed on 28/10/08) Vaux, G (2008). Pathways to work, to help those unfit for work. 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Morally responsible group member

What do groups need in order for them to attain efficiency and productivity? Well, there are a lot of things that could contribute for the attainment of efficiency and productivity. The following are the possible key factors that could contribute for any group to have the optimal level of efficiency and productivity. Sense of responsibility is one of the few aspects in the personality of each and every one of us that must be inculcated in our minds for it encompasses almost all of the positive characteristics that we do in the workplace or even in our everyday activity. Especially working in groups, responsibility calls for doing at least your part or role in the group, with this, effectiveness and efficiency is not far from being experienced by the group. Moreover, when we say responsibility in the workplace it dies not only pertains to self responsibility but also the responsibility of one member to its co-members and the entire group as a whole. By thinking the welfare of each and every member of the group, it would be beneficial to them since they were already going to attain the optimal productivity level that they could reach. Teamwork is another important factor in achieving the highest productivity of any group. Through teamwork, each member uses the ability of their co-members in order for them to come up with an output that is of good quality and condition as compared to when they did not have any teamwork at all. Having teamwork would also picture the kind of personality that each member of the group or organization has. Members of a group that has teamwork have the personality of accepting their own limitation and depend on the skills of their teammate for them to finish their task. Teamwork is very hard to develop in the work palace especially in an organization that has a diversity of culture and personality. This requires great period of time to be developed and only through constant working together is the only way to build up teamwork. It cannot exist in an instant, and cannot be rushed. This is the reason why teamwork is seldom to occur in various organizations and groups that have diverse members. Another factor that contributes to the attainment of optimal productivity and efficiency is the cooperation of every team members is the cooperative orientation of every group members. When we speak of a cooperative orientation we are talking to an individual that is dependent to skills of other members of the group to attain success, productivity and efficiency. Cooperation is attained if the members work hand in hand with their team members and together perform the jobs that they are assigned to them. A person that is a cooperative oriented one is more productive, efficient and successful among the type of person that have already mentioned above for they have the ability to help one another and reinforce the identities of other group members as well as open for the influence of their group members. In short they are open not only to finish their job but also to learn from one another since they are willing to be influenced by their other team members (Suleiman, 2004). There are still other factors that can be raised to support the said claim that cooperative individuals are the most successful and productive one among the characteristics that have mentioned above like, they could also detect and correct the errors in reasoning that they have committed along the way. Moreover, they could also think clearly since they are relaxed from the set up that they have- that they have their own uniqueness inside of them. Everyone is appreciated and these motivate them from performing good in every task that were assigned to them. Transfer of messages is also not a problem to a group that is a cooperative one for they can interpret the messages accurately since they have already this â€Å"special closeness† to one another due to the appreciation of each and every members of the group. Furthermore, cooperative persons take the entire task as a challenge and not as a burden. This promotes for the person to strive hard in order to come up with the best result that they could as compared to a person who treats tasks as a burden who only give what is enough to accomplish the job assigned to them. Cooperative individuals also have good working relationship with one another since they value the significance of one another and accept the limitations that they have. What group members must not develop is the sense of being individualistic for it only promotes self interest and attains less productivity and efficiency. Individualists rely only to their own skills and believing that it would be enough to finish the task that is assigned to the group. They are always after their personal agendas and welfare. They care less on the condition of the entire group and what is the most important to them is to improve their condition regardless of what might happened to the organization if they remain into their kind of mentality. People who are individualistic do not have any notion of appreciating the significance of other member so the group and this eventually lead to miscommunication and affects the intern relationship of the group members. If this left untreated internal conflict might rise and the entire group and organization will be perished at the end of the day. Based from the given sets of possible characteristics of a person must posses in order for them to be morally responsible group member it is a must for them to keep in mind that it is important for the members of the group to aim for the welfare of the entire group and to appreciate the significance of their group members in order for them to build good working relationship with one another and to set harmonious working environment to make them relax and comfortable in working to the organization. The more the individuals value the importance of striving for their best the more they become closer in attaining success. At this point, I just want to stress out that individualisms must be avoided by most of us especially when working in groups. This can only be appropriate in an organization where people work individually or the nature of their job needs to rely only to their own skills like writing and painting. More or less, we still should develop the sense of cooperating with one another for it is the best way of achieving things. REFERENCES Suleiman, R. (2004). Contemporary psychological research on social dilemmas. Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press.