Does Positive Psychology Ease Symptoms of Depression

Even many of those well versed in the field of psychology may know very little about the idea and subject of positive psychology. It almost seems as though so much attention and time is focused on human emotional, mental, and overall psychological ailments and woes that one easily forgets that there is a flipside to this. Positive psychology aims to target not the negative feelings or even the circumstantial triggers that set off psychological hot button issues like depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsion. What is positive psychology? It has been defined as a form of psychological and scientific study that examines what makes an individual’s life worth living and employs a specific theory to develop an understanding of human†¦show more content†¦There must be an equal mix of men and women, and a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, to provide a wider spectrum of observation. Group will be randomly and unknowingly assigned as either a control or test group, with a fair distribution of men and women in each. To recruit ideal candidates for this study, researchers must first recruit and fund a psychiatrist/therapy practice with an existing, established practice. Ideally, there will be an adequate number of subjects that can be selected out of the psychiatrists’ current clientele. Forty potential subjects shall be identified and asked for permission to utilize notes from their sessions to be used within a psychological study on the cutting-edge of mental hea lth issues. Within those who consent, the twenty most ideal candidates shall be selected. The study would be executed in a way that any of the possibly forty clients who agreed to allow their time with the psychiatrist to be considered for the study would not know if they had in fact been selected. Each would continue with their regular meetings, however the therapist or psychiatrist would be utilizing specific strategies and exercises as outlined within prevalent positive psychology literature. For the simple fact that Flourish by Seligman has been mentioned and studied before, his work would be ideal. Homework assignments and challenges will be given to participants, just like in the book, such asShow MoreRelatedAbnormal Psychology and Therapy: Physical Illnesses and Disorders1228 Words   |  5 PagesAbnormal Psychology and Therapy If you have an infection, you go to the doctor. There are many different treatments for any number of physical illnesses and disorders, but what if the illness or disorder is in your mind? For psychology to have any validity as a science, research must show there is a common way to think, react, and feel amongst humans; uniform mental processes. So far, research has shown that one can study the behaviors of a small group and compare them to a larger population;Read MoreCase Study Bill1361 Words   |  6 PagesCollege Many people are diagnosed every year with depression. Some that be in denial that they suffer from depression. In this present case study we have a client named Bill who is a 14-year-old white male. Bill has very poor attendance in school, and his physical appearance is very modest. While examining Bills characteristics and troubles I have found that his primary problem is that he suffers from some form of depression. Based upon Bills symptoms it is hypothesized that he suffers from Major DepressiveRead MorePsychological Perspectives On Mental Health Disorders1728 Words   |  7 Pagesmay ease symptoms, it wont fully explain them. The description given by the World Health Organisation is the most frequently used when trying to give an accurate description on health however it still contains some faults and receives criticism from some. Some question whether according to this description if it possible to be truly ‘healthy’ (Warwick-Booth, Cross Lowcock, 2012). Both psychological perspectives and health psychology look into peoples behaviours, however health psychology is lookingRead MoreMini Research: Depression Essay1101 Words   |  5 PagesClinical depression goes by many names; depression, the blues, biological depression, major depression. Although people refer to it by different names it all describes the same feelings: feeling sadness and depressed for weeks or months on end, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy, and taking little or no pleasure in things that gave you joy in the past. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. A person whos depr essed feels completely unmotivated toRead MoreHow Do Parental Psychiatric Disorders Impact Children? Essay1422 Words   |  6 Pagesoutcomes don t necessarily have to be positive or negative, but they do become a substructure of who you are. As a child of a parental figure who continuously suffers with manic depressive disorder, I ve always wondered how or why this psychiatric disorder has had a direct impact on my way of life. The children that deserve an explanation, whether it can help them or not, is what makes this question so significant. Psychological Theoretical Perspectives In Psychology, there are various perspectivesRead MorePositive Psychology and Depression3563 Words   |  15 PagesPositive Psychology in the Treatment of Major Depression Positive psychology is a strengths-oriented, positively focused approach to human behaviors and thoughts that is relatively recent to the overall field of psychology. Previous schools of thought had always focused on the abnormalities, weaknesses, and pathologies of people. Positive psychology is an exceptionally new branch of psychology and aims at making life more fulfilling, enjoyable, and happy instead of just tolerable; they wish toRead MorePremenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ( Pmdd ) Is A Severe Form Of Premenstrual Syndrome1452 Words   |  6 PagesPremenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Jennifer R. Goehring Psychology 612B National University Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Overview of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome. It can cause impairment with social activities, relationships, and occupational duties. PMDD is thought to be brought on by an altered sensitivity to normal fluctuation in hormones from the menstrual cycle (Hantsoo Epperson, 2015). Other possibleRead MoreCase Study the Machinest/ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/ Insomnia1578 Words   |  7 PagesAbnormal psychology is the study of abnormal behavior, thoughts and emotions. There are many people with mental disorders that never get treated. It is very important to make correct diagnoses when diagnosing a patient. Accurate diagnosing will insure that the individual is receiving the best treatment possible. The earlier mental illnesses are detected they easier they are to treat. It should always be ones priority to function as normal as possible and get back on track. Educating people on theirRead MoreChild and Adolescent Psychology Essay1348 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay will focus on the understanding of depression among children during the ages of early childhood (2-6) and adolescent (12-18) through the Brofenbrenner Ecological Systems theory. This theory looks at a child’s development within the perspective of the system of relationships that form their environment. Here you will find a description on the impact of family, school, community and other systems, according to Brofenbrenner, have on their lives. This will also show the influence of the attachmentRead MoreTechnology Use Among Adolescents And Young Adults1481 Words   |  6 PagesAmong Adolescents and Young Adults The Internet Age has become a time in which computer technology has not been envisioned as a luxury, but rather a necessity in many parts of daily living. And as the positive impacts of technology use in the workplace, and education setting, becomes a reality then so does the negative consequences. However, the ability to deal with the negative consequences may be more difficult to deal with for adolescents and young adults who heavily use technology for social media

The Fight Against Aboriginal Adolescent Suicide - 1806 Words

In North American society, the idea of mental health and suicide is presented quite frequently. Whether it is someone directly associated with oneself (friend, family member, co-worker, etc.) or the news recapping another life lost to suicide, it is an ongoing battle and it affects everyone. In 2010, there was 3,951 reported lives lost to suicide in Canada (â€Å"Suicides and suicide rates†, 2014). Navaeelan (2012) points out that suicide is a major cause of preventable death, and it is the second leading cause of death among youth. Within the youth population in Canada, Aboriginal youth are most at risk for attempting suicide, with rates 5-7% higher than those of non-Aboriginal heritage (Health Canada, 2013). The ongoing battle against†¦show more content†¦The origin of culture stress for the Indigenous populations dates back to the late 15th century when the French and British settled along the Atlantic coast. The Europeans took over the Indigenous peoples’ l and and slowly began forcing the First Nations peoples westward in an attempt to â€Å"control the relationships between First Nations and colonists† (â€Å"First Nations in Canada†, 2013). Another major moment in history that added to the cultural stress for Indigenous peoples was the passing of the Indian Act of 1876. The list is endless when talking about the ways the Indian Act contributed to cultural stress for Aboriginal peoples, but the following are key points that have held the highest negative impact in regards to suicide rates with Aboriginal peoples: implementing reserves, creating residential schools, and renaming individuals with European name (Joseph, 2015). The implementation of the reserves was a massive cultural stressor for Indigenous peoples as many were nomadic hunters and relied on the ability to travel to maintain their food source (â€Å"First Nations in Canada†, 2013). Though this is not a factor in society today, reserve living is still challenging for some, especially those First Nations located in remote communities. In 2011, the Pikangkikum First Nations reserve in northwest Ontario became all too familiar with burying their young after six teenagers committed suicide in the span of two months (Thompson, 2011). Thompson (2011) notes that

Pleasantville Film Analysis free essay sample

The film Pleasantville directed by Gary Ross is about two modern teenagers, David and his sister Jennifer, somehow being transported into the television, ending up in Pleasantville, a 1950s black and white sitcom. The two are trapped as Bud and Mary Sue in a radically different dimension and make some huge changes to the bland lives of the citizens of Pleasantville, with the use of the director’s cinematic techniques. Ross cleverly uses cinematic techniques such as colour, mise-en-scene, camera shots, costumes, music and dialogue to effectively tell the story. The town of Pleasantville is dull and this is reflected by its lack of colour the town is completely black and white. Black and white life is simple and uncomplicated. However Bud and Mary Sue soon begin to awaken the town of Pleasantville, especially Betty, Mr. Johnson and Skip changing it from sedate to a lively environment. Not only do the town people change, they become liberated. We will write a custom essay sample on Pleasantville Film Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Colour is used impressively throughout the film and plays a huge role as a cinematic device representing liberation and change. This is highlighted in the Lovers Lane scene when Bud and Margaret are driving to their first date. This striking scene depicted coloured pink blossoms falling from the trees onto their black and white skin. The juxtaposition between black and white here is also significant because it shows how things are changing. The black and white and color images blend pretty seamlessly. The viewer notices how this couple wonders at the petals instead of noticing the surroundings with strong elements of conservatism. Another example where the ‘normality’ in ‘‘Pleasantville’’ has changed is when the colour red is used for ‘romance. This is seen on Mary-Sue’s first date with Skip, where afterwards Skip sees a ‘red’ rose. Ross used the symbolism of red to indicate changes in the residents’ attitudes to love, passion and lust. These passions were considered to be absent from the idealized 1950s. The first full color scene in Pleasantville (when the local kids are gathering in a park) is stunning and shows how Ross, as director used colour to ‘engage socially’ all the characters in the film. Everyone in Pleasantville had a routine which was strictly followed day to day. Everyone wore the same style of clothes. Even the houses were the same, with picket fences adorning houses and everyone having the same car. Ross uses mise-en-scene to contrast idealistic, conservative American views and reality. He highlights the fact that the people of Pleasantville like everything to be kept to a routine. Their world has little time for change and is a complete contrast to realistic America. Fifties clothing was conservative. Men wore gray flannel suits and women wore dresses with pinched in waists and high heels. Gender roles were strongly held. Families worked together, played together and vacationed together at family themed entertainment. Indecent language was not used frequently. The biggest issue with reference to language used was the frequent use of God as an exclamation or declaration. Camera shots and angles are also used by Ross as a cinematic technique. The lack of engagement in class of a close up of David’s face is an example. David’s face show the expression of boredom and tiredness, as he listens to the teacher talk. Another example of a camera technique is the close up of David asking out a girl. It shows the strength and courage David has in him, but a long shot shows us that the girl is hundreds of meters away. This conveys that David is too socially inept to ask a girl out or even talk to one. Camera angles and shots are not always what the audience perceives. Ross highlights liberation through the styles of music throughout the film, notably on the jukebox in the soda shop. In the beginning of the movie, the music that is listened to is Bee-Bop’. This is a happy, yet unimaginative form of music. Later in the film, the people progress to blues, jazz and to rock and roll. Music stereotypes people because it is a way that people use to express themselves. Therefore, music is very significant in the film, as it symbolises freedom and liberation. . Sound, visual effects, camera techniques, dialogue and costuming are all film techniques that contribute to the broad range of ways in which a film is made. †Pleasantville† used the film techniques of colour as part of the plot. Along with the other techniques mentioned above this film portrayed a black and white world that began to slowly wake up to outside influences.

Operations Management in a Petrol Station- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theOperations Management in a Petrol Station for Production. Answer: Introduction Operations management can be defined as the process by which an operations manager plans, organizes the process of production and manufacturing. The responsibilities of the manager is to ensure that the business process is efficient and the functions of the business can be performed with the use of as much less resources possible (Heizer 2016). The manager in this case takes care of the process of converting the inputs into outputs in the most feasible way possible. Operations management is one of the most important functions of a business. The manager has to take a number of decisions in the process of operations management which include, operations strategy, design of the product, designing the process, quality management, planning the production and inventory control (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra 2013). This report is a discussion regarding the operations management process in a petrol station. The discussion will be regarding the various processes and aspects of managing the operations in a petrol station from the point of view of the manager of a petrol station (Khanna 2015). Discussion Responsibilities of Petrol Station Operations Manager The responsibilities of a petrol station has modified a lot from the duties they had before. In the early time the duty of a petrol station manager was only to fill the petrol, diesel or gas and that was all. On the other hand, in todays environment the manager has to take care of a lot more duties (Brown et al. 2013). (a) The petrol stations usually have less employees. Many petrol stations are self service, but the operations manager in this case has to take care or activate the pumps from inside their units and also process credit card transactions. The managers also need to check the IDs of the customers if needed (Bell et al. 2012). (b) In the recent times the petrol stations sell a lot of other products including snacks, beverages, cigarettes. The managers have the duty to count the products and merchandise that are there for sale and accordingly place orders for the same. The managers always need to keep a check that the products do not go out-of-stock as this can cause a huge loss to the company (Mahadevan 2015). Presently, the systems of tracking stocks has been automated and the managers need to keep a check on the reports made by the automated systems (Hill and Hill 2012). (c) The petrol station managers have other duties which include merchandising. This refers to the preparation of displays which will feature high selling items, promotional banners. Managers can also give these duties to their subordinates, but it is the responsibility of the manager to keep a check of the progress of their work (Rosendahl 2012). (d) Another duty of a petrol station manager includes supervising their employees. The manager has the duty to hire and train the employees regarding the various operations in a petrol station. It is the responsibility of the manager to make sure that the employees working under him are properly regarding the various processes as well as the safety procedures of the station (Brown, Bessant and Lamming 2013). (e) Operations managers in a petrol station are also responsible for increasing sales and also managing expenses for the company. The managers can apply the process of suggestive selling to increase sales and also build strong relationship with the customers so that the customers return to the same station (Evans and Lindsay 2013). Retail Forecourt Control for a Petrol Station In the recent times, fuel industry has become a low margin and sales volume based business. It is important for the operations manager to have a clear view of their retail forecourt. This helps the operations manager of a petrol pump to manage all the aspects of petrol management. Gilberco Veeder-Roots Retail Solutions have been designed to look after the security, performance and efficiency of the petrol station forecourt (Gilbarco.com 2017). These solutions help in establishing connections with different aspects of the operations of a petrol station which include dispensers, tank gauges, card payment systems and supplier systems. The different solution models designed are, Passport, POS, BOS, PSS 5000, Delivery Information System. (a)Passport This system helps in the analysis of historical data of the station. The structure of the Passport system suggests that the station needs to purchase the resources which are required at that point of time and expand the purchase as the business grows. The solution enables easy maintenance and helps in managing stock levels and stock orders. The Passport interface has superior touch screen facility and easy user interface which reduces the time required for training the employees. This helps the system to connect easily with all the different components of the petrol station. Management of retail stock and order generation for stock has been made easier with the use of this solution. The fuel stock can also be managed with the help of this software. Multiple payment options are also provided by this solution to make the modes of payment secure and more easier. Congestion in the forecourt of the petrol station is also reduced as this solutions provides the facility to deal with six transactions on one dispenser. Communication also improves with the help of this solution. Additional business can be achieved with the help of promotional activities and enhancement of the customer experience. (b)POS POS or Point of Sale solution is an user-friendly and highly efficient sales product or tool. This solution takes care of both fuel and shop sales of the petrol station to simplify the process of selling. The retail POS is used by the petrol stations to provide high level of performance, security and efficiency in the forecourt transactions. This system provides with tools required for business growth which includes discounting fuel prices, merchandises and promotional activities. This solution provides flawless integration of all the systems, the power to increase revenue from sales and this is the reason why the POS system is considered to the most important part of a petrol station forecourt. The system has an easy to use interface. It is affordable for the stations. It requires a minimum amount of training for the employees to use this interface. The system is built to tailor the business needs of the particular organization for which it is built. (c)BOS BOS or Back Office System is a system which is built for low end automation purposes as well as for high end solutions with the instructions from the forecourts or petrol stations. This system is an powerful and easy to use interface which provides solutions for site automation, management of stock and editing the promotion purposes of the petrol stations. This system is adaptable to the needs of the petrol stations and their customers. The technology used is always up to date. The BOS system works on a centralized database and does nit require any further checking. The system is flexible and efficient. The reports provided by this system is mostly accurate. The promotional activities of the station can be monitored centrally the manager of the station. (d)PSS 5000 The PSS 5000 provides the petrol station with ability to mix Point of sale system and forecourt components of any brand. It helps the station to increase its connectivity. This solution reduces the difference between the forecourt of the petrol station and the retail environment. All types of forecourt equipment can be controlled centrally. (e)Delivery Information System(DIS) The DIS solution helps in increasing flexibility of deliveries. This saves time and money for the organization. This system provides accurate information to the drivers about the level of the fuel tank. This helps in reducing the chances of delivering the wrong product into the tank (Gilbarco.com 2017). Conclusion The retail solutions are developed to increase automation in the system of the petrol stations and also increase accuracy and flexibility in the systems. This helps in the fruitful interaction and collaboration within the forecourt equipments and retail management. This in turn is a helpful system for the operations manager of the petrol station. The manager has to supervise the automated systems and keep a track on the functions of these systems. This makes it easier for the manager to provide training to the employees and reduces the time and costs associated with the same. This also helps the manager to easily track the sales, inventories, stocks and all other aspects of the retail forecourt of the petrol station. References Bell, D., Wilson, G., Mcbride, P. and Cairns, N., 2012.Managing quality. Routledge. Brown, S., Bessant, J.R. and Lamming, R., 2013.Strategic operations management. Routledge. Brown, S., Blackmon, K., Cousins, P. and Maylor, H., 2013.Operations management: policy, practice and performance improvement. Routledge. Evans, J.R. and Lindsay, W.M., 2013.Managing for quality and performance excellence. Cengage Learning. Gilbarco.com. (2017).EPOS Solutions, POS Integration | Gilbarco Veeder-Root Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.gilbarco.com/eu/products/forecourt-control/POS [Accessed 20 Sep. 2017]. Gilbarco.com. (2017).Petrol Station Forecourt Management and Control Systems | Gilbarco Veeder-Root Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.gilbarco.com/eu/products/forecourt-control [Accessed 20 Sep. 2017]. Heizer, J., 2016.Operations Management, 11/e. Pearson Education India. Hill, A. and Hill, T., 2012.Operations management. Palgrave Macmillan. Khanna, R.B., 2015.Production and operations management. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. Krajewski, L.J., Ritzman, L.P. and Malhotra, M.K., 2013.Operations management: processes and supply chains(Vol. 1). New York, NY: Pearson. Mahadevan, B., 2015.Operations management: Theory and practice. Pearson Education India. Rosendahl, T. ed., 2012.Integrated Operations in the Oil and Gas Industry: Sustainability and Capability Development: Sustainability and Capability Development. IGI Global.

To what extent was fascist control of Italy 1925-1943 the result of the effective use of propaganda free essay sample

?To what extent was fascist control of Italy 1925-1943 the result of the effective use of propaganda? Propaganda allowed Mussolini to keep a wide control over the Italian population, however there were also other factors that maintained fascist control over Italy, including Mussolini’s link with the church, the banning of opposition, fear and repressive measures and the creation of a secure state. Propaganda was an important step in securing Mussolini’s position in power. He proposed various ways to ensure that the media would represent him in a favourable light. These various tactics included targeting mass media, in which the press office was given responsibility of all aspects of culture and was renamed the Ministry of Popular Culture, this meant that every aspect of media that was exposed to the population was diligently monitored, therefore removing the possibility of opposition being given the chance to flourish. Government agencies designed posters to appeal to the masses, a large percentage of the population were illiterate and so image was important in portraying Mussolinis political ideas. We will write a custom essay sample on To what extent was fascist control of Italy 1925-1943 the result of the effective use of propaganda? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Newspapers were heavily controlled, and as a journalist and editor himself, Mussolini knew the impact a fascist controlled press could have. Newspapers were expected to steer away from the mention of crime, unemployment and other negative aspects within society, aswell as this, all journalists were to be registered on the fascist lists to ensure their political views were in line with Mussolini’s to prevent them from reflecting any different political views through their work. As well as mass media being controlled, the government also arranged for mass activities to be organised, such as rallies, sporting events and youth leagues. It was important to the government that the youth were targeted in the spread of fascist ideas, as the new generation should be entirely fascist and not introduce any opposition. The Dopolavoro (OND) was also introduced, which consisted of leisure programmes and to over 4 million members, holidays, trips, summer camps and train tickets were organised, whilst they also set out to spread the fascist ideas in especially remote and illiterate areas. By the 1930’s, the OND controlled sporting clubs, theatres, dramatic societies, libraries and bands. These mass activities were intended to keep people happy under the fascist regime, and gave them privileges and opportunities, therefore keeping Mussolini popular among the masses. Power over the church was another thing that maintained fascist control, the catholic church was the main obstacle which stood in the way of Mussolini gaining totalitarian control. Mussolini originally possessed anti clerical views and disagreed with the church on many issues. However, he decided to end this ongoing struggle and instead reach some agreement. His intentions were to limit the impact the Church held on society, and hoped that with support from the Catholic Church, he would appeal more to the predominantly catholic population. Mussolini took various steps to gain a friendship with the church; first of all he became more religious by taking on the role of ‘Prodigal Son’, and married his wife in a church ceremony. This showed the general public that he was a religious man who had respect for the Catholic Church. He also granted the Church additional funds and attempted to save the Catholic bank by investing public funds, Mussolini did this to show that he supported the church financially and was keen to keep the Church stable and economically viable. Mussolini also stopped proposals to tax Church property, and he allowed clerical salaries to be increased. These actions show Mussolini’s eagerness to be associated with the church and to gain support from it. Not only did Mussolini take direct measures in appealing to the Church, but he also changed things within society, such as placing crucifixes in classrooms and the banning of brothels and freemasonry. This showed that Mussolini had taken on a new religious attitude, and it began to appeal to the Church. It was important in maintaining fascist control in Italy because the Church was the cornerstone of society, providing people with education, moral guidance, sanctuary, charity and it had a strong influence over people. If the Church did not support Mussolini, it is unlikely that the masses of Italian Catholics would either. Another way in which Mussolini attempted to maintain fascist control was by banning political opposition. In 1926, other political parties were banned. This allowed the Fascist party to be the leading party without threat from other leaders. Opposition began to fade away in 1925 when some deputies walked out of parliament as a way of protesting Mussolinins speech, which caused them to loose their political voice. This benefited Mussolini as they appeared to be weak and allowed Mussolini to have a leading voice in the chamber of deputies. In 1925, the press law was also introduced which meant that all journalists were to be registered by the state, and editors were closely monitored. This meant that ideas of opposition would not find its way into newspapers and other forms of media which would spread quickly amongst the general public. Finally in 1926 Mussolini took the final step in curbing opposition by banning all political activity out of the PNF and declaring opposition illegal. This meant that the fascist party faced no threats from outside their own party, and the Italian population had no alternative political party to support besides Mussolini. Fear and repression was vital in maintaining fascist control as it acted as way of dealing with anybody who showed resistance to Mussolini’s regime. The policies of ‘confino’ allowed police to banish people to remote provinces or to the southern islands if they showed any sign of opposition or if they were considered to be anti fascist, criminals or suspected of spreading rumours. This meant an ideal solution to anybody who the fascist party regarded as a threat to their success. Without this strict regime in banning rebels, opposition could spread quickly and the fascist party would appear to be weak. Specialised tribunals were also set up in order to tackle terrorists and political criminals, these tribunals were controlled by the militia. Punishments often included life long prison sentences, confinement and occasionally the death penalty. Finally, the creation of a strong state was a key point in marinating control over Italy. Mussolini intended to find a way of making Italy a secure state, and he had various tactics to do this. He controlled the Police, and after a third attempt on Mussolins life he appointed Bocchini the chief of police, and it was estimated that overall the political police carried out 20,000 searches, visits, arrests and seizures of literature. This represents the tight control Mussolini had on the country and the actions of the people. Aswell as the political police, the OVRA were introduced, which were secret police, which carried out important arrests and they had an influential impact on the public. This is an example of how Mussolini used fear to maintain his position in power, and his various numbers of police and secret police ensured that nothing would interfere with his leadership. In terms of the Militia, Mussolini became minister for war, Navy and Air, which in reality did not effect its actions, however it gave Mussolini prestige and he appeared to have more control over the country. Within the civil service, prefects had been given extended powers, and they now played an important role in organising the police, defending the regime and suppressing opposition. The ‘Podesta’ was introduced, he replaced the mayor and local councils and was appointed by a prefect, they were generally elderly conservative men and not representative of the Italian population. This variety of people appointed in important positions ensured Mussolini could create a secure state and no opposition would spread. Overall, the main factor which allowed Mussolini to maintain fascist control was his agreements with the Church, without gaining support from the Church, Mussolini wouldn’t have appealed to the Italian population. For years the Church was responsible for many aspects within society, and in order to gain popular support and maintain fascist control, he would have to gain their support. Although propaganda was an important step in appealing to the population, and repressive measures and a secure state helped him gain and stay in power, the Church would have been a strong barrier in preventing him from gaining totalitarian control.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment The Enlightenment History Essay Example The Enlightenment History Essay Example The Enlightenment (the Age of Enlightenment/Age of Reason) was purely a cultural movement of intellectuals in the mid 17th and 18th centuries. This began first in Europe and later found its way into the American colonies. Its main purpose was to alter the way of thinking using reason and challenge ideas in tradition and faith. It also played the role of advancing knowledge using scientific methods. It promoted scientific way of thinking, intellectual interchange and skepticism. The Enlightenment opposed all forms of intolerance, superstition and some abuses of power by the state and the church. The provenance of the age of reason lies in the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries. This unique, revolutionary way of living had the backing of many philosophers. Most these philosophers included Baruch Spinoza, Isaac Newton, John Locke, Pierre Bayle and Voltaire. Most ruling princes often supported and made attempts of applying the ideologies in the Enlightenment revolution in their own governments. This had the identity of Enlightened Despotism. To a large extent, the Scientific Revolution has very close ties with the Enlightenment. Its discoveries did overturn various traditional concepts and brought different perspectives on man’s place and nature within it. The Enlightenment blossomed until about 1790–1800.   After this period, the emphasis on reason led to the Romanticisms emphasis on emotion. In this manner, Counter-Enlightenment garnered further support (â€Å"The Enlightenment† n.d.). Among the new political philosophies of the Enlightenment was that of the Englishman, John Locke. He expressed the contract theory of governance. Locke said that there was a contract between the government and the people; that the people were sovereign and had fashioned government in so as to meet certain political needs. As long as the government served those needs, it was worthy of the support of the citizens. However, when the government failed to fulfill its promise, the people had no obligation of supporting it. The people should replace that government with another. This Englishman expressed his ideas following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The philosophy appears to be a justification for those political actions. Similarly, the political circumstances in France gave motivation to Montesquieu to write the â€Å"Spirit of the Laws†. In his writing, he advocated   Ã‚  for separation of powers as a way of preventing power abuse. This man was an aristocrat who viewed the power exercised of regional parliaments as a superb way of controlling the power monarchical powers. In a unique way, Voltaire provided one of the most outstanding representations of the Enlightenment. His political philosophy offered much support to absolute monarchy. He, however, wrote in favor of an â€Å"enlightened† style of  absolutism. Voltaire is also famous for his advocacy of dissident ideas and tolerance for different people. He supported strongly the idea of freedom of expression and religious freedom. After years of flourishing and significant, there came a time when the Enlightenment elicited sharp reactions from different philosophical minds. They challenged the ideologies in the context of the Enlightenment way of thinking. Many people, including David Hume, questioned the Enlightenment faith in reason as the sole means to progress.  He suggested that the driving force for people to exercise had its firm anchor within their desires and needs. In another skeptical analysis of the Enlightenment, Jean Jacques Rousseau blankly departs from this perspective, suggesting that civilization is largely corrupting to the minds of the people. This diminishes any optimism in the Enlightenment faith and brings a serious challenge to the fundamental pillars of the movement. There is a perception that the Enlightenment undermined the general will of the people.  Although, it started well, the end was a concoction of bitter skepticism and diverse opinion about the movement (â€Å"The Enlig htenment† n.d.). Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon was a French, political and military leader who soared to prominence in the final stages of the famous French Revolution. As Napoleon I, he reined from the year 1804 to the year 1815. People fondly remember this legendary ruler of France for his spirited fight against different coalitions that waged wars against France during his time. The wars had the prominent recognition of Napoleonic wars. To a large extent, Napoleon is a child of the French Revolution. He set up hegemony over most of the continental Europe and purposed to advocate for the embracing of the ideals and ideology of the French Revolution. When he took the leadership mantle of the nation of France, Napoleon did commendably well by keeping some of the revolutionary reforms. They included the upholding of the people’s right to keep the land that had been grabbed from the Church, for instance.   He also fostered the idea of â€Å"career open to talents† and people’s equality before the laws of the land (Schom 1998). Napoleon’s legal reform, the famous Napoleonic Code, has always been a major influence on many civil law jurisdictions universally. However, many people around the world give napoleon the sole credit for his successful, courageous fight against his foes in a series of fierce wars. As a result of his immense success in those wars, often against numerically superior adversaries, people generally regard Napoleon as one of the leading military commanders of all time. His campaigns have found adoration in many military academies not only in Europe but also the entire world. At the same time, he made tremendous efforts of consolidating an imperial monarchy that rebuilt aspects of the ousted ancient regime, or simply, the pre-revolutionary era. He reintroduced the unbearably strict censorship and the nasty imprisonment without trial. During napoleon’s tenure as France’s top leader, the elected, legislative bodies existed for that virtue of existing. However, he withdrew all the powers of such bodies and amassed all of it to himself. His upheld the imperial rule which made him more or less the same as the pre-revolutionary leaders of France. He conferred full authority to the male individuals as heads of their families. He withdrew the women’s rights that the Revolution secured for them. He did this in totality, leaving female members of the society under the mercy of the male counterparts. This tarnishes his image as a man who had lost track of the intention and of his course to nurture and safeguard the ideals of the French revolutio n. Napoleon’s Goals Napoleon fought relentlessly against the enemies of France, and ruled his country almost totally, by imperial decree. He ensured he had a firm grip on the affairs in his own backyard while trying to spread the influence of the French Empire in the continental Europe. He had the powers in his hands, and made sure there was little or no anti-Napoleon force that could derail his international missions of conquest. Therefore, what were his goals? Napoleon did not fight blindly. He had goals in mind. Generally, he wanted to build France in the same manner as the Roman Empire. He desired to have an empire full of greatness, national pride, many colonies and a massive territory. He also had the noble goal of living to the expectations and ideals of the French Revolution (Harvey 2006). live CHAT

Should the UK government restore the 50% additional rate of income tax Essay - 2

Should the UK government restore the 50% additional rate of income tax - Essay Example In the United Kingdom, the income tax rate is about 22%/. This is the rate that majority of the citizens will pay. It is worth nothing that this is termed as the marginal tax rate and will only be paid on incomes the respective tax threshold. In the United Kingdom, the threshold for tax is 5575 pounds for 07-80. Therefore, if a person earns 6225 pounds, the tax payer will be required to pay at22% which is equivalent to 1000 pounds of earning. Therefore, if a person is paid 6225 pounds, he is required to pay 100 pounds as tax. It is noted that 10% of income tax rate for income between 5226 and 7455 pounds. This was removed during the budget of 2007 as the main cut fundamental rate from 24 per cent to 22 per cent. The history of income tax first appeared in 1799. It was introduced by William Pitt: he was the younger to pay the Napoleonic wars that were initially 2d in the incomes pound over 60 pounds. Recently, in the mid of 1980s, the fundamental rate reached an income rate of 33 per cent. The United Kingdom has a marginal tax rate system. Meaning that the income tax is charged on income that is above certain levels. Therefore, it means that if a person earns 200000 pounds, the tax payer is required to pay half of the whole 200000 pounds. A tax payer is expected to pay half on the income earned above 150000 after including the personal allowance. The income tax rate in 2009 and 2010 is as shown below: The labour government of the previous regime increased the income tax rate from 40 per cent to 50 percent in the year 2010. The current UK government reduced that amount to 45 per cent starting April last year. The discussion formed the main focus in the pioneering election. Any person that receives a taxable income like pensions, interest on savings, and salaries in United Kingdom is subjected to income tax. After a personal allowance worth 9440 pounds that was due to increase to 10000 pounds from the effect of the tax rate. Currently, a