Short answer Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Short answer - Assignment Example very important to study cultural variations in the prevalent pressures of globalization and how the changing dynamics of the world are impacting culture. I have a Chinese friend, whose mother scolds him frequently and he listens quietly, that lies in contrast with the way I am and I feel it is the cultural difference between the two of us that makes him revere elders comparatively more. Generalized reciprocity refers to giving something such as a gift to someone without expecting a gift in return. Balanced reciprocity on the other hand refers to giving someone a gift while having the expectation of a return gift which may not necessarily be of the same value. While the first two forms of reciprocity have relationship building as a goal, negative reciprocity is largely motivated by self-interest. It refers to exchange of things with the expectation of gaining personally by the exchange (Uhl-Bien & Maslyn, 2003). Since anthropology deals with studying human interactions, studying reciprocity becomes an imperative. When I was a child I used to give my friends gifts on their birthdays with the expectation of getting return gifts on my birthday, which can be an example of balanced reciprocity. Over the years the family structures have evolved from extended to nuclear families, particularly in the Asian countries. In an extended family system property and income is joint in a family comprising of brothers, sisters, parents who may choose to live together under a roof or separately. In the nuclear family structure a man lives alone with his wife and children with no shared income and property with the rest of his family (Bahadur & Dhawan, 2008). Since the study of anthropology entails studying the changing social and cultural landscape, thus studying the family structures is but a part of anthropology. My Chinese friend told me that in China there exists an extended family system where all members of a family live together which seems so different than how families in

In-depth analysis research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

In-depth analysis - Research Paper Example However, there are concerns that his conservative media appearances are not desirable. This may have ethical implications to stakeholders and the public because they seem not to have adequate avenues to engage with their Governor. The second news item is titled â€Å"Super PAC cash plays big role in Nebraska Senate race.† This item illustrates political interplays that take place towards election of a state senator. It is agreeable that the position of Senator has some responsibilities; a fact that informs various stakeholders’ decision to support a certain candidate who they feel will perform his mandate effectively. However, financial support by various stakeholders may have ethical implications as the ultimate winner of the Senate elections may be tempted to make decisions based on the some of the wishes of his â€Å"supporters† which may not be in the interest of the other stakeholders. The third item is titled â€Å"New GOP super PAC aimed at attracting you th vote.† These items shows the desire of the Republicans to attract the youth vote as part of its agenda to address the high unemployment that has disillusioned the youths over the years (The Center for Public Integrity, 2012). ... The agency is non partisan and it is dedicated to producing investigative journalism on public concern issues. It operates in the political context which is conducive which enables it undertake its objectives effectively and with little or no political challenges at all. Internal agency leaders and political leaders have influenced the success of the agency in the following three ways. The first way is through the non-partisan approach that the internal agency leaders have adopted in the running of the agency’s activities which has enabled it to encounter minimal criticisms regarding partisanship. The second way is by operating its investigative journalism activities by putting the interest of the public first and adhering to integrity and honesty principles in its activities (The Center for Public Integrity, 2012). This has enabled it gain credibility from the public thus making it successful. The third way is through the political leaders; they have had faith on the agency a nd very few have raised pertinent concerns regarding the agency and its activities. Also, internal agency leaders have greatly influenced the success of the agency in the sense that the agency focuses on the abuses of power, duty dereliction by powerful private and public institutions thereby winning public support. Legal Decisions Ideally, the power that The Centre for Public Integrity has as an agency in enforcing the regulations they are asked to uphold is limited. Often, this agency together with others are commissioned by certain state agencies, private and public organizations to investigate integrity, governance, administrative, and accountability aspects in a particular State or

Consumer credit Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Consumer credit - Research Paper Example Owing to the fact that there are potential challenges that may affect consumers while making transactions using consumer credits, various laws have been implemented to ensure that such challenges are prevented from occurring. In the United States, legal structures governing the use of consumer credits have been embodied in state as well as federal laws: Various states have passed regulatory frameworks that govern the use of consumer credits for instance; the application of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code that has been implemented in approximately 11 states. The main objective of this code is to protect consumers who intent to obtain credit cards for purposes of facilitating their transactions. Additionally, this code ensures that consumers are provided with enough credit and monitors the consumer credit sector as a whole. In the year 1968, the Consumer Credit Protection Act was passed by the United States Congress, with a purpose of regulatory the credit sector. This act stipulates that credit service providers have to describe the terms of providing credit to their consumers before they acquire their services. There are also other acts that have been provided in the United States not only for purposes of handling consumer credit issues, but also handling and managing issues that may affecting credit card holders in due course as well as issues affecting transactions involving debit cards. This research will specifically provide an overview of the Uniform Consumer Credit Code followed by a discussion of the statutes that have been used to manage consumer credit card issues, debit as well as holders in due

In-depth analysis research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

In-depth analysis - Research Paper Example However, there are concerns that his conservative media appearances are not desirable. This may have ethical implications to stakeholders and the public because they seem not to have adequate avenues to engage with their Governor. The second news item is titled â€Å"Super PAC cash plays big role in Nebraska Senate race.† This item illustrates political interplays that take place towards election of a state senator. It is agreeable that the position of Senator has some responsibilities; a fact that informs various stakeholders’ decision to support a certain candidate who they feel will perform his mandate effectively. However, financial support by various stakeholders may have ethical implications as the ultimate winner of the Senate elections may be tempted to make decisions based on the some of the wishes of his â€Å"supporters† which may not be in the interest of the other stakeholders. The third item is titled â€Å"New GOP super PAC aimed at attracting you th vote.† These items shows the desire of the Republicans to attract the youth vote as part of its agenda to address the high unemployment that has disillusioned the youths over the years (The Center for Public Integrity, 2012). ... The agency is non partisan and it is dedicated to producing investigative journalism on public concern issues. It operates in the political context which is conducive which enables it undertake its objectives effectively and with little or no political challenges at all. Internal agency leaders and political leaders have influenced the success of the agency in the following three ways. The first way is through the non-partisan approach that the internal agency leaders have adopted in the running of the agency’s activities which has enabled it to encounter minimal criticisms regarding partisanship. The second way is by operating its investigative journalism activities by putting the interest of the public first and adhering to integrity and honesty principles in its activities (The Center for Public Integrity, 2012). This has enabled it gain credibility from the public thus making it successful. The third way is through the political leaders; they have had faith on the agency a nd very few have raised pertinent concerns regarding the agency and its activities. Also, internal agency leaders have greatly influenced the success of the agency in the sense that the agency focuses on the abuses of power, duty dereliction by powerful private and public institutions thereby winning public support. Legal Decisions Ideally, the power that The Centre for Public Integrity has as an agency in enforcing the regulations they are asked to uphold is limited. Often, this agency together with others are commissioned by certain state agencies, private and public organizations to investigate integrity, governance, administrative, and accountability aspects in a particular State or

Police and Lethal Force Essay Example for Free

Police and Lethal Force Essay Police work entails expectedly many opportunities for misuse of authority or the excessive use of force which is not necessary when in the line of duty (Strack 1994; ACLU 1991). This is a primary issue that concerns policing and the grave and abusive conduct of men in uniform whether they are in the United States or elsewhere in the world (Police culture and behavior 2008).   There are various factors that are usually pointed at whenever this happens; police officers already in the brink of burn out are a primary reason. However, the mental or psychological state of an officer is usually in question if this use of lethal force occurs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Why is this considered an issue? It is a given usually, that a police officer is knowledgeable of the â€Å"force continuum† (www.policetest.info) which is a kind of scale that guides an officer in graduated level with which what method or approach will he resort to under any given circumstance (see appendix A).   This shows that by his mere presence alone, the officer realizes, the suspect may be alerted or threatened and succeeding responses by the two individuals (i.e., if it involves two people only) are then again graded and evaluated by the officer according to the force continuum. Precisely because reports are aplenty concerning police brutality which happens when a suspect is frisked and/or confronted with a criminal activity and many of these instances that the persons of interest or suspects do not even have any weapon of sorts with them, nor were they in the position challenging the person in authority. The case of Rodney King in 1991 became a platform for many of these reforms that were made eventually, to respond to public clamor for justice regarding perpetrators the like of which Rodney King had suffered from.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Studies show that in most organizations where reforms have been initiated, what was important was the regular monitoring of the activities of police officers ensures that these men minimize their propensity to exercise the capability of employing lethal or deadly force against any citizen or any suspect unless merited. This is not just to safeguard any suspect or citizen whether they are coming from the expected â€Å"marginalized groups† where the most likely victims are men of color, older or aging citizens, women and children but even these same men in uniform from their own tendencies to act with anger or rage and resort to these means (ACLU 1991). â€Å"To serve and to protect† can mean both ways when interpreted in the light of these reforms: it means serving and protecting the men themselves who are employed to do the same to the general public. Affirming their code of ethics now and then may be a small thing but it is still a major part of reminding officers why they are in the force and the accountability that is necessary in the deterrence of themselves committing a crime needlessly. Appendix A    The Force Continuum More Force Deadly Force Less Lethal Pepper Spray, Baton, Taser Empty Hand Control Verbal Commands Less Force Officer Presence Source: http://www.policetest.info/FORCE_CONTINUUM_POLICE_USE_OF_FORCE.htm Works cited: Strack, Lorr M.1994. Personality profile of police candidates. Journal of Clinical Psychology; 50(2):200-7. www.pubmed.gov. _____ Police culture and behavior. Accessed March 12, 2008. file:///G:/A%20POLICE/Police%20Culture.htm American Civil Liberties Union. On the Line: Police Brutality and its remedies. New York. April 1991. Retrieved March 12, 2008 http://www.aclu.org/police/gen/14614pub19971201.html _______ Police Oral Boards and Use of Force Continuum. Retrieved March 12, 2008 http://www.policetest.info/FORCE_CONTINUUM_POLICE_USE_OF_FORCE.htm

The Values And Ethics Social Work Essay

The Values And Ethics Social Work Essay Social workers are faced with making decisions about risks whilst managing the pressures of limited resources such as a lack of social workers and societys view of social work (11). This can cause a social worker to be risk averse and become more concerned with avoiding risk to protect themselves instead of taking action that may be right for the service user. 88% of social workers have expressed a concern that cuts in services can put peoples lives at risk and 77% stated that they were unable to manage their caseloads (1). Wales has the second highest vacancy rate of social workers in the UK at 9% with England at 11% (Lombard, 2010). There are 3 different types of risk (Adams, Dominelli Payne). These are the risk to service users from others, the risk to service users from themselves and the risk to others from service users. In the statutory sector risk assessment is a mandatory part of casework as it is within law and agency policy to assess risk to an individual (Healy,2012). S17 and S47 of the Children Act 1989 places a duty on a social worker to investigate when it is believed that a child is at risk of harm. The difference between S17 and s47 is the urgency and seriousness of risks (Beckett, 2010). Risk to the child includes some form of harm and the probability of that harm occurring. 2. Factors of Risk There are certain factors in a childs life that may be linked to poor outcomes (Parton, ) These include low family income, homelessness, parenting capacity, post natal depression in the mother, low birth weight, substance misuse and community factors such as residing in a disadvantaged neighbourhood. Protective factors may include a strong relationship with parents and other significant adults, parental interest and involvement in the childs education and positive role models. There are also other protective factors if the child is outgoing, has self motivation, has intelligence and plays an active role in family and community life. The more risk factors present the more likely it is that they would experience abuse or poor outcomes (5). Early intervention to identify risks can help to reduce problems. Identifying the risk and protective factors can give a prognosis on the childs future development (8). Assessing their needs and risks will help to identify the services that should be in place to prevent further impairment to their health and development (BASW, 2012, 3.2). In assessment we must recognise the factors that could have harmful consequences and the severity and the likelihood of harm (Beckett, ). The difficulty in assessing risks is that we may see a high risk factor that may be unlikely to materialise but dismiss low risk factors which may cause more harm long term. There is the potential to reinforce social inequalities as many factors are strongly associated with socioeconomic disadvantage such as single parents, low income and previous institutional care (CCW, 2002, 1.5). 3. Assessment In social work the assessment of children involves analysing the childs development needs, parenting capacity and family and environment factors (Welsh Government, 2001). Using the assessment triangle gives a holistic view of the child and the influences upon them. Once all the information is gathered it can be easier to identify the areas in which a child is most at risk and how those risks maybe addressed (BASW, 2012, 3.2). Risk is an aspect of all assessments (Whittington, 2007). The aim of a risk assessment is to consider the situation, decide on the likelihood of the risk happening and aim to reduce the identified risk having a negative impact. There are different types of risk assessment (Coulshed Orme, ). These are preventative, investigative and continuation. Preventative is undertaken before intervention to decide on whether or not to intervene. It involves looking at the situation and assessing the risk factors along with balancing the rights of service users and the responsibilities of the social worker. Investigative is carried out during an initial assessment to identify the current and potential risks. Continuation assessment is balancing the risks of intervention against no intervention. A social worker should evaluate the original situation then acknowledge changes and what effect these changes will have if any at all. In social work the actuarial and clinical methods of risk assessing are used (Cree Myers, ). The actuarial method uses statistical calculations of probability and how an individuals behaviour is judged on the basis of behaviours in other people in a similar situation. The clinical method uses personality factors and situational factors relevant to risky behaviour and the interaction between the two. Adhering to legislation, policy and procedures and the rights of the service user should ensure good practice in relation to assessment and managing risk and protection (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, ). Legislation and policy shapes and determines the actions, duties and powers of a social worker (CCW, 2002, 6.1). Failure to follow set policies and procedures can result in things going wrong. 4. Skills and Judgements in Assessment Management of risk is often judged by the outcome and not the process of the assessment (7). When examining a case that has had negative outcomes it is easy to see the presence of heightened risk. This can reinforce the view that the outcome could have been avoided had the risks been realised. Conducting an initial assessment requires interview skills to get the information and reasoning skills to analyse the information and identify risks (CCW, 2002, 4.2). Assessment is an essential skill in itself (9). It requires effective communication skills to gather the necessary information and critical analytical skills to interpret that information. A social worker will need the appropriate skills to be able to negotiate with a service user or an agency in order to provide appropriate services (BASW, 2012, 2.2.3). Serious case reviews often highlight the importance of assessment and analysis (Good practice in assessment book). An effective assessment looks at the overall situation to explain what has happened to a child and provides a framework for analysing the needs of the child and the dangers that individuals pose to children. Particular care must be taken so that the assessment does not become over optimistic and minimise the risk to the child. The focus should be on gathering evidence to make professional judgements about whether a child is safe from harm, neglect, and abuse. Other skills in assessing risk is the ability to predict what may happen in the future in areas of uncertainty (Trevithick, ). If the information gathered is accurate and up to date and the social worker has a sound knowledge and skill base there is less chance of over or underestimating the risks involved. In order to gain accurate information a social worker should use effective communication and listening skills to pick up on the risks presented. Communication between professionals and agencies may be difficult as there may be issues of power, different priorities and professional values (10). For example a doctor will be more concerned with discharging a service user once their medical issue has been addressed. A social worker will be concerned that services are put in place to ensure that the service user is safe to return home. Skills and knowledge are frequently criticised in serious case reviews into child protection services and can adversely affect risk management. 5. Risk Management In a review of child protection services it was identified that mistakes in assessment of risk have been either over or under estimating the risk posed to the child (2). Risk management cannot completely eliminate risks only reduce them. An assessment may decide that the risk of harm to a child will be low but low risk events can still happen. A social worker should use their professional judgement when deciding on actions to take as all options will involve a certain amount of risk (CCW, 2002, 4.1). For example when a child is removed from their family and placed in local authority care they may face other risks such as being unable to settle with a new family. The principles of working in child protection are to maintain the safety, security and well being of individuals. A social worker should use their judgement to balance the possible benefits of a decision against the likelihood of possible harm. They should work with other professionals to make decisions on risk involved so th at errors can potentially be reduced (BASW, 2012, 3.1). Lessons can be learnt to improve decision making from the successes as well as the failures. Positive risk taking relies on quality information. Agencies should share appropriate information on those individuals who pose a risk to others or those that are at risk from harm. A serious case review identified several failings in the protection of Baby P (6). Two of the children in the family were already subject to child protection plans which may be seen as a risk factor. The adults involved had refused to explain Ps injuries. It would have been reasonable to believe that Baby P was at risk if the adults were not willing to provide an explanation if they had nothing to hide. It was recommended that interagency working and communication must improve to ensure that children have a greater level of protection from different professionals. Professionals should recognise and respect each other roles and be trained appropriately together (BASW, 2012, 3.14). Supervision for the social worker in the case of Baby P was inconsistent and often cancelled. When carrying out S47 enquiries a social worker should be supported by their manager and have periods of supervision to review their caseload. This provides the opportunity to view the actions of the social worker f rom another perspective so that other options can be explored. A criticism of social workers in child protection is over familiarity with a family (10). The social worker may have long term involvement with the family and are unable to take an unbiased view of the situation. Therefore it is important that supervision takes place to gain another perspective (BASW, 2012, 3.13). Child protection conferences should involve the parents (AWCCP). Professionals should determine how information about the case will be shared with them to ensure that a child is not put at further risk. Unless the criteria for exclusion are met parents should always be encouraged and supported to attend the conference. By attending the conference parents will be clear on what the concerns are, understand the risk to their children and the reason for the involvement of the different agencies. This will ensure that they are aware of the changes that need to be made to protect their children from harm. During the conference professionals involved must consider the risks of harm if the child were to remain at home and how those risks can be managed. A plan will be created which will detail the arrangements for managing the risks identified and how it will be monitored. The child protection plan must consider the wishes of the child and the parents (CCW, 2002, 1.2). A solution focussed approach can be utilised by the social worker to plan the necessary services required to manage the risk (Creer and Myers). This approach is used when finding solutions to the current situation. A social worker may consider services such as family counselling to explore and understand the issues the family have. 6 Values and Ethics etc There are times when taking a risk is a positive move (Beckett, ). It provides an opportunity to learn to manage risk. If a child is over protected they cannot be expected to understand how and when to take risks. If risks are unavoidable then the positives and negatives of the outcome should be analysed. In child protection the dilemma may arise when deciding on whether to remove a child and place them in foster care or remain with the family. As previously identified there are risks in placing a child in foster care. If they are unable to settle they may experience multiple moves. When there are risks of harm to children there will be pressure on the social worker to act quickly but this may be difficult as exploring the risks and benefits effectively may take time. There are also risks to social workers from aggressive parents when working in child protection (Lindon, ). The social worker should acknowledge the parents feelings and refrain from arguing back. As the social worker has a responsibility towards the children they should attempt to diffuse the situation to prevent upsetting the children (CCW, 2002, 5.7). The anger from the parents could present a risk to the children and should be acknowledged as such. A child has the right under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to protection from abuse and neglect (WAG, 2008). The parents could also argue that they have the right to a private family life under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 but if they are subjecting their child to abuse or neglect then this right is over ridden. There are many uncertainties regarding risk in child protection (Adams, Dominelli and Payne). There may be no right or wrong decisions if it is approached correctly. However, there is always the possibility of a negative outcome which can be difficult for all involved and have serious implications for a child. It is difficult to make decisions where there is incomplete knowledge and uncertainty of a situation. The social worker must use their professional judgement to ensure they have taken as much care as possible to address risks with the information available (BASW, 2012, 2.3.4) In conclusion risk can be difficult to manage as it contains many areas of uncertainty. The negative factors should be identified early to prevent further risks occurring. The assessment must take into account all areas in a childs life to ensure a complete picture is gained and all risks are acknowledged. If the social worker has good communication skills then the quality of the information gained should be high and will enable them to make a more informed assessment. If the relevant information is not gathered then appropriate decisions may not be made. Several recommendations were made in the serious case review of Baby P. Supervision is important as it can ensure the quality of a social workers practice, provide other perspectives on relevant cases and potentially can improve outcomes for service users. Multi agency working is a requirement in social work. It must be utilised to gain a holistic view of the child and identify various services that can be put in place to manage ris ks. A service user still may not experience a positive outcome even though the most appropriate services are utilised to reduce and manage risks. If the social worker has carried out their duties correctly in accordance with legislation and policies, identified the risks and worked with others to manage those risks then they can be satisfied that they have done all they can and accept that not all outcomes will be positive.

Wealth and Happiness in Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen Essay

In the novel Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen, the Dashwood family is left with much less money after their father dies. When their cousin takes them in, they move to a new home and start their new life. In this time period money and social rank were the most important things. For most marriage has nothing to do with love, it is about gaining property, money or rank. This is why Elinor and Marianne’s, two of the Dashwood sisters, answers to the question: â€Å"what have wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?† (122) are so important. Elinor, the eldest Dashwood sister has all the characteristics of sense and responds, â€Å"grandeur has but little . . . but wealth has much to do with it† (122). She is implying that to be happy in life one must have money. Marianne seems to be the opposite of Elinor and embodies sensibility; she disagrees and claims that money â€Å"gives no real satisfaction† (122). This theme is seen throughout the novels wi th many characters specifically with the characters of the two Dashwood sisters, Edward, Mr. Willoughby and Colonel Brandon. These ideas influence the characters’ decisions and have many consequences. Elinor is said to be the character that has the most sense. She sharply contrasts her mother and her other sisters who are much more open with their feelings. Elinor is said to follow all the rules of society. Her beliefs and attitude are what makes it so surprising that she decides to marry a man such as Edward. Edward’s fortune depends entirely on his mother and he must stay in her good grace to inherit any money. At first Elinor’s belief that money has much to do with happiness makes sense. She has feelings for Edward who is the eldest son and therefore should inherit all the money. Ho... ...oose wealth she shows that the consequences are not always expected. Wealth and happiness was the common debate for most people at the time, and usually wealth would conquer happiness. Women, and even men, always wanted to â€Å"marry up† and climb the social ladder. Austen seems to convey the idea that one should marry someone for love but does put importance on money. Although most of her main characters marry for love she makes sure they have an income. Even the characters who claim that happiness is most important, such as Marianne, have a subconscious desire for men of wealth; and sensible characters such as Elinor hesitate at the idea of a marriage that would be made impossible by a lack of fortune. In the end love and happiness triumph over wealth and grandeur as Willoughby and Lucy lose the people they love and Marianne, Edward and Elinor live contently.