Effect of Earnings Decline on Crime Levels

Effect of Earnings Decline on Crime Levels Module: Contemporary Issues in the UK Economy Use an appropriate supply and demand framework to explain how a decline in earnings from legitimate work would be expected to affect the level of crime. To what extent does evidence from the UK support this theoretical prediction? The idea that low earnings affect crime is not a new idea; Aristotle (350 B.C.) himself said â€Å"poverty is the parent of revolution and crime† (pg. 32). Since then, there has been much research in the field since policymakers require this information to create effective crime-reducing policies. In recent years, falling real wages has been a significant issue since the UK is in the longest period of pay stagnation since 1855 (The Economist, 25th Oct 2014). I will discuss the impact of falling wages on the crime rate by using an economic supply and demand framework and comparing my findings to real evidence from UK data. Both Becker (1968) and Freeman’s (1999) work make the assumption that criminals are rational economic agents and hence criminal activity can be modelled using a supply and demand framework in the same way one could a goods or services market. Economic theory states that the supply of crime depends on four components: potential earnings from committing a successful crime (Wc), probability of being caught (p), level of punishment (S) and wages earned from legitimate work (W). This can be shown in the following inequality: (1-p)U(Wc)-pU(S)>U(W) The left hand side represents the potential net benefit gained from committing the crime and the right hand side shows the utility of legitimate earnings. So the individual will commit a crime if the net benefits of committing the crime exceed the benefits of legitimate work. These factors which influence whether an individual decides to commit a crime or not can be aggregated to create the following function for Criminal Participation (CP): CP=f (Wc, P, S, W). The demand function of crime describes how the level of crime in society falls as individuals take increasing preventative measures (Cook, 1986) and therefore, the demand curve is downward sloping. However, the level of demand for committing crimes varies depending on the type of criminal activity undertaken. Freeman (1999) differentiates between â€Å"victimless† and â€Å"victims† crime suggesting that â€Å"victimless† crime carries obvious economic gain, e.g. dealing drugs, whereas â€Å"victims† crime has no obvious economic benefit e.g. violent crime. However, the downward sloping demand curve for â€Å"victims† crime is less intuitive so most work focusses on â€Å"victimless† crime. It is worth noting that one of the limitations of this supply and demand model in analysing crime rates is that it does not take into account non-economic incentives i.e. the feeling of doing wrong versus earning an honest living. Having discussed how to model crime using supply and demand analysis, I will now use these economic tools to illustrate a situation where wages are falling. If wages from legitimate work (W) fall, the supply curve will shift outwards since the opportunity cost of crime has fallen. Using the inequality previously discussed ((1-p) U(Wc)-pU(S)>U(W)), if legitimate earnings (W) fall, assuming ceteris paribus, the benefits of committing the crime are relatively higher. Hence more people will be willing to commit crimes. This is shown in Figure 1 as the shift from CP1 to CP2. Cantor and Land (1985) call this the motivation effect. As shown here, the outward shift of â€Å"supply† of crime (CP1 to CP2) results in an increase in the amount of crime committed (Q1 to Q2). However, there is also a fall in potential earnings from crime (Wc1 to Wc2); if wages fall, the value of consumer goods being bought is likely to fall so there are fewer valuable goods available to steal. This is the Opportunity Effect (Cantor and Land, 1985). So the fall in wages could actually reduce the crime level. It is difficult to gauge which effect, Opportunity or Motivation, is stronger. One factor which could affect this is whether low or high wages are falling. Machin and Meghir (2004) make this distinction by analysing the 25th wage percentile to capture lower skilled workers whose opportunity cost of committing is lower (Freeman, 1999). Machin and Meghir use data from England and Wales (1975-1996) and focus on vehicle and property crime as these are more likely to be driven by economic incentives than e.g. violent crimes. Figure 2 shows the relationship between the level of wage growth in an economy and the level of crime. The close proximity of the points on the graph to the regression line (calculated using a weighted least squares regression) shows a relatively strong negative correlation between the variables and the slope of the regression line gave a value of -1.580; hence, as the 25th percentile wage rises by 1%, the property crime rate is expected to fall by 1.580%. Machin and Meghir’s work supports the theoretical analysis that falling wages leads to higher crime rates for low paid workers. Therefore if low wages fall, the Motivation effect exceeds the Opportunity effect. We can also look at more recent wage and crime data from the UK to see if it supports the conclusion, that falling wages leads to higher crime rates, drawn from supply and demand analysis. As shown in Figure 3, there has been a downward trend in the real wage rate in the UK since the financial crash in 2007, real wage growth was around 10% but this has fallen to -9% by 2014. Using economic theory, it is evident that if real wages fall, then tax revenue earned by the government is likely to decrease through e.g. lower income tax revenue. Moreover, if people have lower earnings, government’s spending in transfer payments e.g. benefits is likely to rise. The situation of falling tax revenue and higher demand for public services has led to a worsening budget balance so the Coalition government adopted austerity measures. This has affected many areas of public sector spending, including the police force where there have been  £2.5bn in budget cuts since 2011, and an estimated 70% of these cuts have been in officer cuts (BBC News, 22nd July 2014). This leads to a fall in the probability of being caught (P) and severity of punishment (S), since severe punishments are typically more expensive. The effects on P and S are â€Å"second round† effects derived from falling wages. Using the CP function, one would expect that if P and S fall there is a rise in crime. However, national crime statistics demonstrate a reduction in the level of crime in the UK (figure 4): So it is evident that crime has been falling since around 1995 as shown by the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) data estimate. Since the financial crash, crime has fallen from around 10.5 million in 2008/2009 to 8.5 million in 2012/2013. This contradicts the conclusion made using supply/demand analysis that falling wages leads to higher crime rates. However, David Cameron argues that remaining policemen have been asked â€Å"to do more with less resources [and they] have performed magnificently (Gill, 2013). However, critics argue that there are other factors which have reduced crime statistics. Gill (2013) points towards technological advancements as a significant reason for a falling crime rates. Firstly, car manufacturers are able to include central locking systems which makes it more difficult for criminals to break in. Secondly, car break-ins are typically a â€Å"starter crime† leading onto more serious crimes such as drug dealing; if fewer people are getting involved in crime at this lower level then there will be less crime overall. Thirdly, Gill (2013) highlights the way crime is reported as being a problem since there has been growth in online and high tech crime, for example, online credit card fraud, which is not taken into account in the CSEW crime statistics. Therefore, the â€Å"second round† effects, that falling wages/tax revenue force governments to cut police funding results in more crime, may not be felt since technological advancements have resulted in less (reported) crime. That said, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) made a statement (2010) explaining how it planned to stabilise the number of prisoners until 2014/2015 and after this it would look at reducing the number by 3000 fewer than the figure as of 19th November 2010 (85,393). So while austerity measures have been implemented by the government, the severity of punishments has yet to fall significantly; this may be another reason why the crime rate did not increase whilst wages have been falling. It will be interesting to see whether going forward now crime rates increase since the MoJ is aiming to reduce the number of prisoners. In conclusion, it is evident that a supply and demand framework to model the effect of falling wages on crime cannot fully explain the situation we are currently in. In all fairness, Machin and Meghir’s work did support these findings, however more recent wage and crime data has contradicted the expected outcome. Therefore, although using a supply and demand framework can explain the impact of falling wages on crime to an extent, other factors, such as technological developments, may also influence the crime rate and policymakers who are trying to tackle crime need to ensure these other factors are also taken into account. Bibliography Aristotle (350 B.C.E.) Politics. Translated by B. Jowett. 1999. Kitchener: Batoche Books. Becker, G. (1968) Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach. Journal of Political Economy, 76 (2): 169-217. Becker, G. (1992) The Economic Way of Looking at Life. Nobel Prize [transcript], Wednesday 9th December, Available from: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economic-sciences/laureates/1992/becker-lecture.pdf [Accessed 18th November 2014]. Blunt, C. (2010) Imprisonment for Public Protection. House of Commons Debate [transcript], Tuesday 23rd November, Available from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101123/debtext/101123-0001.htm [Accessed on 20th November 2010]. Cantor, D. and Land, K. C. (1985) Unemployment and crime rates in the post-World War 2 United States: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis. American Sociological Review, 50 (3): 317–332. Cook, P. J. (1986) The Demand and Supply of Criminal Opportunities. Crime and Justice, 7: 1-27. Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Bulletin. The Office of National Statistics [online], 19th July 2012. Available from: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_273169.pdf [Accessed 16th November 2014]. Dolphin, T. (2014) Bleak figures show a relentless slide towards a low-pay Britain. The Observer [online], Sunday 19th October. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/18/economy-bleak-british-workers-technology [Accessed 18th November 2014]. Ehrlich, I. (1996) Crime, Punishment and Market for Offenses. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 10 (1): 43-67. Freeman, R. (1999) â€Å"The Economics of Crime.† In Ashenfelter, O. and Card, D. (ed.) Handbook of Labour Economics, 3. Amsterdam, Netherlands: North Holland Publishers. pp. 3530-3571. Gill, M. (2013) David Cameron is wrong: falling crime rates are not because of the magnificent police. New Statesman [online], Thursday 18th July. Available from: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/07/no-david-cameron-falling-crime-rates-are-not-because-magnificent-police [Accessed on: 17th November 2014]. Machin, S. and Meghir, C. (2004) Crime and Economic Incentives. The Journal of Human Resources, 49 (4): 958-979. Police forces in England and Wales ’rise to the cuts challenge’. BBC News [online], 22nd July 2014. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28415123 [Accessed 18th November 2014]. Real Wages: What Recovery?. The Economist [online], 25th Oct 2014. Available from: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21627665-workers-continue-feel-pinch-what-recovery [Accessed 18th November 2014].

John Locke Paper

Throughout the 17th century, John Locke presented society with his teachings and theories that clarified the order of natural law and fulfilled humanity’s divine purpose for living. It all began in 1647, as a young boy when he attended the prestigious Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham. During his years at the Westminster School, he found the work of modern philosophers more interesting than the material being taught at the university.Much of Locke's influence and later work was characterized by opposition to authoritarianism, which focused on both the level of the individual person and on the level of institutions such as government and church. Locke wanted each of us to use reason to search after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities or be subject to superstition. He wanted us to proportion go along with the proposition to the evidence for them. Locke came to the conclusion that there must be a balance and mutual under standing between individuality and social institutions where society will not feel suppressed under man made law and restrictions.John Locke believed that all knowledge comes from experience. Experience is composed of two parts: external and internal. External experiences are ideas of supposed external objects. These objects enter our minds through sensation. Examples of sensations would be hot, cold, red, yellow, hard, soft, sweet and bitter. Internal experiences are reflections that make us understand the operation on the objects of sensation. Examples of reflections are thinking, willing, believing, doubting, affirming, denying, and comparing.Once again Locke goes back to his foundation of principles by reaffirming that in order to achieve success and sensation there must be a working relationship between individual goals and the law of society. Sensation and reflection are called the two fountains of knowledge. All of our ideas we can naturally have or have so already come from these two experiences. Sensible qualities convey into the mind, and they produce most of the perceptions and most of the great sources of ideas we have.Sensation and reflection differ from each other because sensation is what happens outside the body, and reflection has to do what happens inside the body with our mind. Also reflection has to do with the ideas it affords being such only as the mind gets by reflecting on its own operations within itself, the mind takes over its own operations and the manner of them. Besides having sensible qualities one also contains primary and secondary qualities. Locke explains that these qualities are two kinds of properties that an object could have.Primary qualities contain solidity, figure, extension, motion and number. They are properties that are objective and independent on senses. On the other hand, secondary qualities consist of color, smell, taste, sound and touch. They are properties that are subjectively perceived. In Locke’s, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he states, â€Å"sensible qualities; which, whatever reality we by mistake attribute to them, are in truth nothing in the objects themselves, but powers to produce various sensations in us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (John Locke, 77).In other words, secondary qualities are dependent on the primary qualities. According to Locke, ideas are anything that is â€Å"the immediate object of perception, thought, or understanding† (William Lawhead, 91). Locke states that sensation and reflection are classified as simple and complex ideas. Simple ideas are red, yellow, hard, soft, etc and for example, you touch an ice cube, your mind is telling you its cold and it’s hard, you learn that from experience. Locke believed that the mind cannot know an inexperienced idea or create a new simple idea.Although the mind cannot create simple ideas, it can process them into complex ideas. Complex ideas are made up of several simple ideas, such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe. Complex ideas are also broken down into three parts: ideas of substance which is a constant collection of simple ideas, ideas of mode which is a combination of several ideas, which form a mode, like a triangle, last but not least ideas of relationship, which is a comparison of one idea to another.From experience it goes to sensation and reflection, and those are based on simple ideas and that’s all contained in the passive mind, after simple ideas it goes to complex ideas and that’s located in the active mind. Overall in Locke’s theory he uses epistemological dualism, which is the mind that consists of knowing and its ideas. He also states the object in the external world is known by ideas, and our ideas represent those objects. After researching about Locke’s theory of knowledge I would have to agree with what he has stated.Locke states that you go through an internal and external experience and I feel that today’s y outh do go through the motions of the internal and external experiences. As a result the youth are able to gain the knowledge from those experiences by allowing the mind to willingly accept these new ideas. For example, when I was younger I put my hand near a hot stove and from the heat irritating and pressuring my hand my mind told me it was a negative stimuli and it was essential to remove my hand from the stove and to keep that memory as a basic instinct.Society goes through experiences throughout life of internal and external and eventually gains knowledge through these experiences. John Locke also stated that the mind does all the knowing and its ideas are known. I agree with what he is saying because your mind is always working, it’s always active, we receive ideas internally through our mind and we receive ideas from the outside that goes into our mind. The balance is necessary between internal and external factors to keep society and individuals stable and yet progres sive to adapt to new changes that rise up.

Persuasive Essay Explained

Persuasive Essay Explained It's far less difficult to argue convincingly as soon as the topic matters to you. Qualities of a fantastic persuasive essay topic The topic needs to be specific. Begin with general subjects that you are conversant with then narrow down to a particular topic. Whichever topic you select, always don't forget the value of literature sources. When you want to speak on a specific topic it's tough to understand when to stop. At length, bear in mind that a huge portion of being effective in persuasion is the capacity to attract your audience's emotions. You always have to look at seeing your professor when you'll need any type of help in a class. It's sometimes simpler to persuade someone when you're passionate about a subject. It's not powerful or convincing to found your argument on easily refutable points. Each paragraph you should begin with a topic sentence. The thesis declaration may be put in the start or maybe the last end for the paragraph. A debatable subject provides the writer the opportunity to bring out several major points. It's imperative you take note of several points while writing a technical research paper. Our talented writers can deal with nearly every kind of writing assignment, together with Math and Physics troubles and a whole lot more. When you settle on the subject and pick the position on which you will base your essay, the remainder of the job can then begin. You still have to make an outstanding bit of writing. New Step by Step Roadmap for Persuasive Essay Persuasive writing can be challenging, particularly when you're made to face with a close-minded audience. Academic writers or essay writing providers allow it to be simple for students to find the things they need fast. The Cryptography is manner you're prepared to keep information secure. In an informative speech you're presenting information to an audience that's usually prepared to listen. Evidently, you ought not purposely choose a topic that will bore your audience. Quite simply, obtaining a focused topic is vital, but obtaining a specific audience is equally as important. Taking into account that lots of persuasive essays concern controversial topics, before writing, you can want to sit down and think of what your opinion on the topic actually is. In choosing your topic, it's frequently a good idea to start with a subject which you already have some familiarity with. It's extremely important to grasp the idea of recycling before we proceed to preparing all types of persuasive speeches on recycling. The significance of research in persuasive writing may not be overstated. Possessing excellent research abilities and selecting an excellent topic is important. The most common sort of speech given throughout the USA is the informative speech. There are not any steadfast rules that you will need to adhere to as you write. It's possible to discover a whole lot of persuasive essays in the realm of politics. Since you can see, several of the topics listed are new and deal with the recent issues happening in the World today. What is Actually Happening with Persuasive Essay Writing a college essay can arrive in various forms and styles based on your taste. So for a student to really receive a book from the library for the semester would be quite difficult if other students are attempting to do something similar. Many colleges pay athletes and supply them free education just due to their sports talents. There are many persuasive essay examples college students are able to make use of online. Now attempt to mix unique kinds of arguments to produce your paper lively and vibrant in style. Argumentative essays look at an idea or a problem and present each side when building a case for a single side particularly. Most academic essay top ics usually ask you to choose a side in an argument or maybe to defend a specific side against criticism. Useful advices An outline is a form of a plan, a structure of your paper, which you have to follow in order to create different essay connect to one another in a smooth and easy way. New Step by Step Roadmap for Persuasive Essay Exactly like in a written essay, you will need to choose what you want to explain or argue. It might be useful if you plan out or brainstorm your essay before you begin writing it. Otherwise a very good essay will receive a zero for plagiarism. Writing a superb persuasive essay is not a simple task, however, it's achievable. If you've ever taken an on-line class, you understand how different it can be from a standard face-to-face course. Unlike topics for middle school or higher school, great college topics are somewhat more challenging to discover. The custom is allowed in some states, but it's frowned upon and illegal in a lot more states. A good deal of new students do not don't forget that they might have to get all their books unlike in high school where they were provided. Picking a discussable issueA discussable issue is one which can be debated. Selecting a great topic for your essay is among the most crucial and frequently tricky parts for many students. Contraception ought to be banned for children.

The Impact Of Consumerism - 939 Words

According to Dictionary.com, consumerism is defined as â€Å"the concept that an ever-expanding consumption of goods is advantageous to the economy.† Basically, this definition boils down to people getting more people to buy more products is a good thing. However, things aren’t always as they seem. In order to get people to be interested in your product, there is lots of advertisement involved and this of course costs money. Unfortunately, with lots of advertisements, they may not tell the whole truth of a product, or they may target one specific age or race group. Getting consumers to buy products is a good thing, but the lengths people go at isnt. In order to get people to be interested in a product, it has to be something that they can see†¦show more content†¦Due to the larger amounts of products being made, there are more pollutants being emitted, more land is being used, and the harmful gases that is being released into our atmosphere helps to accelerate our climate change problem. In his book No Impact Man, Colin Beavan states, â€Å"we work out butts off so we can get the stuff, but the making of the stuff destroys the planet, which makes us more depressed,...† (Beavan, pg 142). In this quote, Beavan states how people keep on buying despite the negative effects it has on our environment. Another thing companies may do to get their products to sell, is to aim some of their products to a certain age and race group, Even though it may seem innocent, it is discriminatory and harmful. For example, it is seen in many commercials that cigarette companies ads are found in areas where the majority of the people in the neighborhood are black.It is uncertain who came up with the idea to put up a majority of posters in black majority neighborhoods, but it isn’t right and to many it is considered racist and discriminatory. Fast food companies have their advertisements appeal to young children especially, they advertise low price meals for people that are on the go, and are physically attractive to young children. The parents of the young kids are usually busy, and may notShow MoreRelatedTechnology And Consumerism And Its Impact On Consumerism1847 Words   |  8 Pagespopulation is connected to the Internet today [Internet World Stats, 2017]. The mass amounts of exposure t o technology, the World Wide Web, and e-commerce lead one to wonder what influence technology and social media have on consumerism and on a customer’s buying habits. 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Essay On The Role Of HIV / AIDS Among Adolescents In SSA

Behavior change—the challenges for the youth. The rate of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in SSA is alarming since this cohort is growing quickly. With too many youngsters infected with the virus, this region is at risk of arduous trials that will slow down its economy and overall development. All the economic growth generated in the past decade is at risk of falling if AIDS is not addressed among the most vulnerable population: The country’s youth. Indeed, those who are 15 to 24 years old are the most infected individuals in the region with about 60 % of all new infections in many countries of SSA (Kwaku Oppong, 2013). This is worrisome. Though HIV/AIDS awareness among youth has grown, there are still high numbers of infections today (Ganle,†¦show more content†¦Indeed, if they have inaccurate knowledge of how HIV originated, they may also have a inaccurate knowledge of how to prevent infection. Some had what is termed ‘false hope’: the idea that they could never catch HIV; while others had skewed unders tanding of the human reproductive system, and sexual intercourse in general (Tillotson Maharaj, 2001). This of course, is making youngsters more susceptible to HIV contagion (Elbadawi Mirghani, 2016; Hogg, et al., 2017; Tillotson Maharaj, 2001). Adding to this misinformation of the risk of HIV/AIDS and the misunderstanding of prevention methods, the lack of HIV testing and counseling is extant. In the late nineties in South Africa, 150 adolescents were infected with the virus every day (Maart, 1998). This is quite the misfortune considering that the disease is taking the population needed for development. South Africa, and other SSA nations could not let this continue to be the case; hence, the high level of mass awareness campaigns provided in the 2000s. Nevertheless, today, we have about 240 individuals who get infected every hour, the majority of whom are youngsters in SSA (amfAR, 2017). This means that the awareness is either not comprehensive, or that many youths are ignoring it. Regardless, several studies show that very few people seek HIV counseling or get tested for HIV (Maughan-Brown et al., 2016; Sommer, Likindikoki, Kaaya 2015); Tillotson Maharaj, 2001). Indeed, in a study conducted among GhanaianShow MoreRelat edFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesQualifications 68 Seniority Systems 68 Selected Relevant Supreme Court Cases 69 Cases Concerning Discrimination 69 Cases Concerning Reverse Discrimination 71 ETHICAL ISSUES IN HRM: English-Only Rules 72 Enforcing Equal Opportunity Employment 72 The Role of the EEOC 72 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) 73 Current Issues in Employment Law 74 What Is Sexual Harassment? 74 Are Women Reaching the Top of Organizations? 75 DID YOU KNOW?: EEOC Reaches Out to Young Workers 76 HRM in a Global

Image of God Free Essays

string(62) " ways and the Grace of God shines through in many situations\." Christianity has been interpreted in many ways by different theologians and lay people. As much as this subject is studied there continues to be an ongoing differing of opinions relating to what it means to be created in the image of God. However, even with the differing of opinions, Christian faith is based on the central belief that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and that his life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God’s love for humanity. We will write a custom essay sample on Image of God or any similar topic only for you Order Now infoplease. com, 2010). Although Christian beliefs are based on the New Testament, Christianity still views the Old Testament as a very important part of its faith and uses it often in reference and teaching. This paper will first discuss what it means to be created in the image of God as it pertains to my opinion and second how my beliefs on this subject are incorporated into my nursing practice. Man in God’s Image â€Å"The most distinctive feature of the biblical understanding of man is the teaching that man has been created in the image of God†. Hoekema, 1986). The bible refers to man being made in God’s image in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis references man being made in God’s image in the Creation Story, in explanation of the generations of Adam to Noah and also again in the Covenant With Noah. Genesis: 1:26-28; 5:1-3 and 9:6. The New Testament references in many different books that man was made in the likeness of God and also speaks frequently of Jesus as being the perfect man who is made in the image of God. Hoekema states â€Å"Since Christ was totally without sin (Heb 4:15), in Christ we see the image of God in its perfection†. Christian belief follows that man was made in the image of God; however, differing theologians have developed differing theories over the years in regards to what it means to be made in the image of God. Theologian Saint Augustine of Hippo believed that humanity, which was created in the image of God, also had an image of the Trinity within it. He believed that there was evidence of the trinity within the human mind such as love, being, knowing, willing and understanding. (newworldencyclopedia. rg, 2010). According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) â€Å"Of all visible creatures only man is ‘able to know and love his creator’. He is ‘the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake’, Man occupies a unique place in creation, he is ‘in the image of God†. God, creator of all life, made man uni que apart from other living things by giving him gifts such as dignity, self-knowledge, self-possession, the ability to commune with others, free will, faith and love. Creation began with Adam and has been passed down to all of humanity which, in turn, results in a unity within humanity. Acts 17:26 states â€Å"He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions†. Because creation began with Adam, who was created in God’s image, and we are all from Adam, we too are created in God’s image. The question is what does this mean? For some it means, contrary to my personal beliefs, that with the Fall of Adam and the development of sin the image of God in humanity has been destroyed or corrupted. So what does it mean to be created in God’s image? Man was created with definitive differences from other animals. I believe animals are capable of love and all living things possess and innate ability for survival. I also believe that some animals are capable of a higher cognitive reasoning to an extent. For example, both sharks and chimpanzees have been taught to use a higher thought function in turn producing higher cognition. There is life, even within plants, that manifests and grows. However, God gave man a soul that with his body creates a unity. A soul that possesses unique gifts that other living things do not have. God gave man the ability to develop relationships with others and with God himself. I believe that God initially created man for companionship and love. Because of this our Creator has made a never-ending covenant with us and loves us unconditionally. I believe that God created man and woman equally and that the first union is the first representation of communion among humans. I believe that our humanity, made in God’s image, is created good. I believe that although there is sin in all of us, this sin does not corrupt our souls but because of Adam’s original sin, it is now within all of us, not as a personal fault but a flaw of humanity. A â€Å"wounded nature† (CCC). I believe that man is capable of personal sin and does so on a daily basis because of this wounded nature, however, God gave us free will and man has the choice of right and wrong. Unfortunately, since the Fall, man is no longer perfect with a divine likeness and sin is actually a proper state within humanity. Meaning that â€Å"As a result of its original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers; subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death; and inclined to sin†. (CCC). God’s image remains present in us because we are created by God. Good remains present in us because we are created by God. This can be evidenced by seeing humanity helping each other in times of need, seeing love shared in so many forms and present in so many deeds, seeing the overall beauty of humanity that is present even though we live in a world of sin and imperfection. Man remains hopeful in many ways and the Grace of God shines through in many situations. You read "Image of God" in category "Papers" With all of this happening on a continual basis how could one question that man has lost his image of God? Yes, there is evil present in the world, as stated earlier mankind is weakened, only weakened, not distorted and corrupt. Personal Beliefs for Serving those in Need of Healthcare Now that ground has been established for how man is created in God’s image I would like to discuss how I personally not only see this within my nursing practice but also how I use it to provide care to patients. Shelly and Miller state that â€Å"The role of the nurse grew out a Christian understanding of the human person as created in the image of God and viewed the body as a living unity and the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Cor 3:16)†. As a nurse I find that this statement has very a great deal of truth in it. Nurses view the body as a Temple in many ways and assist those in who are not able to care for themselves. I feel that because we are created in God’s image, we should work to take care of ourselves and try to maintain a disease free state. Unfortunately, there are people who do not always share this view; this is where keeping God with us while giving care becomes very important. As nurses, whether it is an advanced practice nurse or a floor staff nurse, we have a desire to care for others. We want to help them return to a functioning state of health, whatever that may be because it differs depending on disease process. However, often times because a person has a chronic disease, he or she does not want to participate in their care or is short tempered with the staff that cares for this person. When this happens it is easy for a nurse to also become defensive and give less of herself to this person. Unfortunately, this happens frequently on busy units and emergency departments. If the nurse is not careful, he or she can become jaded and judgmental developing preconceived notions of patients based olely on the diagnosis or actions from the patient. However, if the nurse keeps God in her mind and close to her heart he or she is able to see the patient in a different light and can care for this patient in their diseased state knowing that we are all children of God and made in his image. In order to take optimal, holistic care of our patients we need to always keep with us that humanity is created in God’s image and that life is a sacred gift that we should respect on all levels no matter who the person is or how he or she may differ from yourself. When I am caring for my patients I try to always be not only sympathetic but empathetic. Being sick is a scary thing and often times the outcomes are unknown at the time of the present illness. Fear of the unknown is one of the most common stressors a person can have. So, if you take the stress of â€Å"not knowing† and combine it with the physical stress of being sick and emotional stress that accompanies not feeling well you can easily see that nurses often take care of patients when they are not only at a suboptimal level physically but also emotionally and often times spiritually. With this in mind one can understand the struggle on both sides of the spectrum; a person is at a place where he or she is requiring care from someone other than themselves. This person is a consumer and knows that he or she is paying for the care that is being received, with this in mind one can see how this can easily be looked at from a business-like perspective meaning basically an exchange of transactions and nothing more. However, in healthcare there is the human aspect that is very unique among business. We are in the business of caring. As nurses we not only know this, we feel this. We see a person in need and provide care for that person, this alone has aspects of the image of God within it. The desire to provide care and love for another being even when this being is not always acting kind or â€Å"doing the right thing† is a grace given to us by God. Jesus, the son of God, the second person of Trinity was a great healer and a caring, loving man. In all four of the Gospels, there are acts of healing documented that Jesus performed. Understanding that Jesus wanted to heal afflictions and help those who could not help themselves and knowing that he did this with kindness and love in his heart keeps me true to my profession and spirituality. Not everyone is blessed with good health and even those who are experience tragic events. Because humanity is a union, created by God and in the image of God, we are called to help one another not only in times of need but on a daily basis. I think that in doing this we strengthen our relationship between each other and with God. As a nurse I keep this in perspective so that I am not only helping my patients but also my patient’s family members, my fellow co-workers, and visitors with anything that I can. It is easy to look at a portion of the picture, but we should always take a few steps back and look at the whole picture. In doing this it helps facilitate not only one area but all areas. Jesus was always able to explain to his apostles the whole of a situation when they asked him questions, looking at a problem as a whole, rather than a portion makes it easier to treat everyone involved, not just one person. God has given humanity many gifts, such as the ones mentioned above. God also gives individuals gifts and graces them with the ability to perform and strengthen the gifts given to them. Although we are made in the image of God, people can differ a great deal. They differ in actions, opinions, thought and feelings this is a gift in itself. As nurses God has granted us with gifts of empathy, compassion, intuition and understanding. As much as nursing is a science it also holds a strong component of intuition and feeling. A patient connects with the nurse at the bedside because of the feelings that they share and experience together. When a nurse and a patient are able to connect on this level relationships are formed and care is given, received and collaborated. This bond that is created is another example of how we are created in God’s image and how we share this with others. Conclusion â€Å"To be created in the image of God means that we must look to God for our meaning, purpose, and direction. It also makes us thinking, willing, feeling, relational creatures who reflect these attributes of our Creator†. Shelly ; Miller, 2006). With this in mind we can all realize that to be created in the image of God is a gift, from a loving, relational God. I feel that if we can keep this thought in perspective, that our life, created in His image, is a gift and remain thankful for this gift we will be able to serve others with God in our hearts and minds. God did not create us to be solitary bein gs. He created us to commune together, to love one another and to help one another. Although our divine likeness has been weakened, it still remains and it is our responsibility to nurture our faith and help it o grow. When we do this we become closer to God and strengthen our bond not only with our love for humanity and the union we share with it but also our bond with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When we feel that closeness and strength it helps us to remember that we were created in His image and likeness which in turn helps us to live our faith. References Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2000. Christianity: Central Beliefs. (2010). Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www. infoplease. com/ce6/society/A0857333. tml#ixzz0zQKnLsSt Created in god’s image. (1986). Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans. New American Bible, (1991). St. Joseph ed. Catholic book Publishing Corporatio n. New World Encyclopedia Online. (2010). Augustine of Hippo. Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/Augustine_of_Hippo Shelly, J. A. , Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing. 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press: Downersgrove, IL. What it Means for Humans to be Created in the Image of God THEO/532 September 14, 2010 Brandy Perkins Malone University How to cite Image of God, Papers Image of God Free Essays HB351- Assessment 3 – Essay This essay will explore my own practice perspective as a Christian counsellor; I will look at my own views and approaches to Christian counselling in particular in relation to human nature, abnormality/dysfunction, health, recovery, the therapeutic relationship, the therapeutic process and any essential counselling skills. How different counselling models impact my own Christian worldview, together with an integration of my own personal, scriptural, psychological and multicultural perspective will be included. Human Nature I have chosen in life to see the best in people the positive that we are made in the image of God and therefore if God make us so unique and special than all humans should be valued and respected. We will write a custom essay sample on Image of God or any similar topic only for you Order Now As it is said in the scriptures Genesis 1:27: â€Å"So God created ‘man’ in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female, he created them. (NIV Study Bible) I am not naive enough to believe that all people see the world in this light , but living in a fallen world and reflecting of the life of Christ who always was seen with the marginalised and the shunned, for me to work with all different people and see the diversity of God’s creation is a privilege and unique experience. In integrating my positive beliefs in human nature, working with the counselling model of Person Centred Therapy which helps people realise their potential and they are able to grow and change in a positive manner. In working in the person centred approach the therapeutic relationship is vital where unconditional positive regard, genuineness empathic understanding by the counsellor are very important. The counsellor needs to be there for people through their struggles as a positive influence for change and what the future holds, the person is contained and held to enable the growth towards a place of healing and realisation of their full potential (Prochaska, J. O. 2009. pp. 29-137) As Christ worked with the marginalised and everyone was the important no matter their status in life, journeying with a person should enable a person to see they are worthwhile and their opinions are significant. PCT is non-directive so therefore enables the counsellor to work cross culturally. PCT is a modality that stands out for me as it adheres for me to my own worldview, where everyone has the ability to reach there God given freedom and potential. From a Christian perspective PCT in their journey with God gives them the freedom to reach their potential and that they are truly a gift from God. Health Holistically people are whole beings made up of mind (social learning), body (biologically) and soul (choice-spiritual issues) to form the whole person (Class notes – HB351 – Week 7). Often in a situation can be spiritualised by a Christian counsellor but the whole person needs to be considered even Christ as shown in Luke 2:52 learnt and grew: Luke 2:52 â€Å"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men†. NIV Study Bible) In the terms of all the aspects of stature- physician, wisdom – psychology, socially and favour with God spiritually in this scripture although Jesus is God he grew and attained knowledge like any other boy. However in considering the whole person and all the aspects one needs to consider their limitations and in living with the imperfections from being fallen, a cceptance and grace are vital in any healing process. My own worldview had been challenged in relation to the need for medication when someone is suffering from depression; I was very wary and did not accept the decision made by a doctor to give medication to my mother who was suffering from depression. This came from my experience with my aunt who had been medicated for depression and hospitalised constantly for 5 years prior to her death. However in coming to Christian Heritage College my view has changed and so seeing the person from a holistic view is very important, as an underlying medical condition may be overlooked if this is not considered when a person comes to counselling. Abnormality/Dysfunction Often if an abnormality or dysfunction is apparent in a person it can stem from a long held belief that can be either true or false. In class we spoke of 3 different types of irrational belief and this seemed clearer to me those that are too general and always true, too personalised and all about me and permanent and never going to change, As our actions have led to consequences that can be repeated over and over, action then the belief and consequence which is the feeling or behaviour that is repeated (Class Notes – HB351 – Week 6). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is an approach that I can see be helpful with the irrational thoughts that may be unrealistic and unhelpful, form the persons cognitions assumptions and beliefs (Class Notes – HB351 – Week 6). A CBT therapist would work with these irrational thoughts and there foundation and work with coping skills and techniques to form new feelings and behaviours, often basic as change is good and evitable in everyone’s life. Prochaska, J. O. 2009 pp. 479-480). The use of Cognitive Behaviour therapy could be helpful therefore to integrate into practice to use with other modalities. From a Christian perspective being transformed and renewing of one’s mind can be integrated with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as in: Rom 12:2 â€Å"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. They you will be able to rest and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. †(NIV Study Bible) Being transformed in Christ is an ongoing processes not a singular event, transforming of the mind where the mind and thoughts in this context relate to morality. One spiritual transformation has taken place through God’s will, ultimately God is wanting good from and for the person, leading to our spiritual and moral growth which God is wanting for us, but not perfect by our standards, by the will of God cannot be improved on. By Christ dying for our sin we can be transformed in Christ, and if there is dysfunction we can live in grace with our imperfections. Recovery In walking with others in their journey to recovery there are a number of different modalities that can be integrated with my view of recovery. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can be used to renew the mind and giving the skills to help the person on their journey as discussed in the previous section. As well as from a Psychodynamic perspective someone recovery can be through their learning and growth that can happen for the person by understanding and acknowledging that most emotional problems originate from childhood experiences, and that all experience have a subsequent subconscious effect on the person (Prochaska, J. O. 2009 p . 26). Helping a person to identify subconscious thoughts, and how to understand these thoughts affect behaviour, is part of the building and restoration of relationship with others and God. Recovery through renewing of the mind, repentance, forgiveness and restoration of broken relationships releases healing and a redemptive process as humans we do not want to suffer but Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us. Often through suffering healing can be found as in the bible: Rom 5: 1-5 â€Å" Therefore we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by our faith into his grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. †(NIV Study Bible) In these scriptures Paul does not have a dark view of live but one of positiveness of life, Christians are able to rejoice in our sufferings as we know that it is not without meaning, purpose of which is produce character into the children of God. In the hope of God we are reassured that the love of God dwells within us which by the death of Christ on the cross has been revealed to us. Relationship Our relationships with God and others is the basis for our existence and for counsellors the therapeutic relationship needs to be built in a safe contained place where we need to be authentic in our relationship with the other person. Building on the therapeutic relationship with the use of counselling modalities such as in Narrative Therapy helping the client finds their own capacity to heal and open up the possibility of a new story by looking at any dominant or alternative stories that link to events in the past which have ongoing consequences. Assisting the person to move away from the thin stories and negative, which direct the outcomes in their lives, and helping the person and separate themselves from the problem that they were experiencing? (Morgan, A. 2000). From my Christian to explore the best possible outcome with a person and to look at all the possibilities for their life towards wholeness and well-being, would be an amazing journey. As in the bible relationships are central part of a person’s journey and being able to grow and learn from our relationship with others, God and ourselves. Process As I journey through my own process of learning and formulating which counselling modalities I can identify with and seeing how the process works, it has become evident how the process forms the understanding of what is happening and why it was so. Looking for the ‘golden threads’ or key elements of what the person is saying, not getting so bogged down in the basic counselling skills which are essential but looking past to what else is being said. Observing the total person, their expression, body language and being able to observe myself as the counsellor and the person simultaneously (Class notes – HB261). Meta skills although something fairly new to me using the process of CURE to connect, understand, respond and engage others and evaluate has shown me how important it is to find out what is happening for the person in their journey and why it is happening. This process and way of understanding fits with my own worldview of the person being a whole person, made up of body, emotions, intellect, psychological and spiritual aspects and keeping aware and observing all these aspects as best as possible you are more able to help the person to wholeness. While keeping all facets of the person in mind a major part or area for concern for them may come out in your interaction with them as you talk (Class Notes – HB261). Specific skills In the area of specific skills, all of the basis counselling skills are very important and something with practice I am sure will be more heightened and I will be more equipped to be more comfortable to work in different areas (Ivey and Ivey 2009). From my point of view a number of modalities come out when I speak to a person, that of person centred therapy to join and journey with the person where they are at. Also in Psychodynamic, where the concept of childhood being the arena where the issue has started and now manifested in the person in different ways, finding the source of the issue would be very exciting ((Prochaska, J. O. 2009 p . 26). Narrative therapy also fits with my thinking and I could see myself developing in this area more as separating the person from the problem and helping them to change the dominant story that controls them (Morgan, A. 2000). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to help stem irrational thinking, aid by helping the person to attain skills for growth and learning (Prochaska, J. O. 009 pp. 479-480) As well as continuing my learning into sand play therapy (Kalff, 2003) and gestalt therapy (Prochaska, J. O. 2009 p . 160) which I could see would be very beneficial for the person under certain circumstances, as I have only touched on these, however this aligns with my world view of people being able to find the right path given the right tools. In conclusion challengin g my beliefs and where they came from is important and an ongoing process to me, as the presuppositions which have been constructed by my experience about Christianity and every other part of our life (Collins, G. 007). Being open to growth but also being open to others beliefs so I can be more able to engage with a client, not to let my presuppositions overtake, where I can become judgemental, I need to be open for to have a client believe in themselves I need to believe in them. Knowing that God made us in his image and ordained us to be born and we are all here for a purpose, what we believe in a person we need to see what God can do in their lives. In asking ourselves what does God say about this person and bring this into the therapeutic relationship, and ourselves be authentic as counsellors and in our interactions create a safe place for the client to be open to see their own values and beliefs and reflect upon them. References Class Notes – HB351 – Week 6 Class Notes – HB351 – Week 7 Class Notes – HB261(Processes and strategies in counselling). Collins, G. (2007). Christian counselling: a comprehensive guide. (3rd edn). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Ivey, A. E. , Ivey, M. B. , Zalaquett, C. P. (2009). Intentional Interviewing and counselling: Facilitating Development in a multicultural society. 7th ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks Cole. Kalff, D. M. (2003). Sandplay: A Psychotherapeutic Approach to the Psych. Chicago, USA: Temenos Press Morgan, A. (2000). What is NarrativeTherapy? An easy-to-read introduction. Adeliade,SA: Dulwich Centre Publications NIV Study Bible. (2002). Grand Rapid, Michigan, USA: Zondervan Prochaska, J. O. (2009). Systems of psychotherapy: A transtheioretical analysis. (7 ed. ). Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole. How to cite Image of God, Essay examples

Leadership and Responsibilities Nelson Mandela

Question: Discuss about theLeadership and Responsibilities for Nelson Mandela. Answer: What makes one a leader? Is leadership innate or created over time? These questions are among those which have given people a lot to think about. Both factors can influence the leadership qualities of a person (Gujral, 2013). For instance, through education, individuals gain more skills on management of resources. Proper management is what good leadership is all about. How many people in the world can fall in the list of good leaders? The list is endless. People like Malcolm X of the US, Mother Teresa of India, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa among several others. A good leader always takes responsibility (Krass, 2017). Nelson Mandela was a great leader who is well-known in the world history. He was a politician, anti-apartheid revolutionary and later the President of the South African Republic from 1994 to 1999 (Hollingsworth, 2013). Nelson Mandela was able to end the apartheid system in South Africa. Nevertheless, he set an example for the rest of the world. People are all equal regardless of their race, gender, age or position in the government. The apartheid system began when South Africa was under the colonial government. There was discrimination of people by race (skin complexion) to the extent whereby the blacks were made slaves in their country. As a courageous leader, Mandela rose to form groups which would fight for human rights. There are several leadership qualities which can be attributed to Mandela. They include: Mandela was positive thinking, he always thought of how to improve the lives of all the communities living in South Africa. Mandela was a visionary leader. He was able to see the big picture of South Africa, the suffering the community went through and the way forward to solve all the challenges. A good leader should be able to identify the needs of his people and how each one of them can be helped to achieve what they desire. Nelson had a commanding He was a brave leader who showed up whenever his people needed him. He never liked violence and easily worn enemies with a smile. He was focused on his mission and vision. He never stopped the fight till he achieved what he wanted. He had hope. Good leaders should have hope in whatever they do. A leader with no hope is a failure. Determination was also part of his strategy leading South Africa to independence in 1994. A determined leader believes in himself. Believing in oneself leads to improvement of self-esteem. A person with self-esteem will always mind the lives of others. There are many things which can be learned about leadership from Nelson Mandela. Individuals can tell the difference between a leader and a ruler. Mandela was a leader. A leader always thinks about other people, unlike a ruler. To be a significant leader for your people, you need determination. One should be ready to take responsibility as there are several challenges that leaders face. For instance, Mandela was imprisoned. There are times leaders face hardships. A good leader will take advantage of the challenges to strengthen his team to carry on fighting for what they believe. From Nelson, leaders learn the significant of being focused on their project. Be it business, political or sports; focus is the most important. For instance, when students are in group discussions, those with leaders without focus end up failing to achieve their main objective. A less focused individual is easily swayed aside by others. Making decisions become a big problem for such a leader. Exercising patience is also another thing which leaders learn from Mandela. Things do not come as fast as most will expect. Nevertheless, the easy way of doing things is not always the best way. Strategies need to be involved for a leader to make a decision (Strategy and leadership, 2016). In the strategy, consultancy is essential. A team leader should form a group to help in running the management. Two heads are better than one, diverse opinions from several individuals lead to the development of a sound decision. The nature of the influence of a leader depends on a number of factors like for instance, how well does the society know the leader? Nelson was able to influence almost all people from South Africa to fight in ending the apartheid system (Sadler, 2013). This set a good example for most leaders in the African Continent who decided to put their efforts together to end racism. In fact, the whole world was moved by the struggle of this man. His strength, voice, humbleness and peaceful way of handling disputes motivated many people. From that, we learn that peaceful negotiations can also solve issues, violence is not the only way of approaching serious issues in the society. The presence of a leader when addressing matters affecting the community is important. People do not need virtual leaders. They need leaders they can see, leaders who can make decisions on their behalf. Nevertheless, brave individuals who are ready, to tell the truth, call a spade a spade and not a spoon. If things are bad, they are bad, no need to hide. A leader who brings things into the light of many often gets the support of the majority. Having a majority by your side is an assurance of success. Personal traits contribute much in making a good leader. From the way you handle things, the way you conduct your businesses and the way you interact with people, it is easy to tell the kind of leader you are. References Gujral, G. S. (2013). Leadership qualities for effective leaders. Hollingsworth, T. (2013). Nelson Mandela: Leading The Way Forgang, W. G. (2016). Competitive strategy and leadership: a guide to superior performance. Lanham, Md, Rowman Littlefield Publishers Krass, P. (2017). The book of leadership wisdom: classic writings by legendary business leaders. New York, Wiley. Sadler, P. (2013). Leadership. London, Kogan Page Ltd Strategy and leadership. (2013). Bradford, England, MCB University Press. Swart, I. (2015). Religion And Social Development In Post-Apartheid South Africa: perspectives for critical engagement. Stellenbosch, SUN Press Whyte, Q. (2014). Apatheid and other policies. Johannesburg, South African Institute of Race Relations