Hunger Games Book Report Essay Example for Free

Hunger Games Book Report Essay â€Å"The Hunger Games† is a the first book in a fantastic series of three books written by Suzanne Collins. It takes you into the life of a scared but quick-thinking, brave girl named Katniss Everdeen who learns how to survive on her own from a very young age when her father died in a mining accident. From that day on, she took care of her little family (mother and little sister, Prim) as well as herself by hunting in the woods of District 12 everyday with her guy friend Gale (who might have a thing for her but no one really knows). District 12 was one of the twelve districts that made up the country of Panem. Panem was once the continent of North America. When an epidemic swept through the continent of North America, Panem was formed and, the people who lived under the rules set by the capitol did not like it. They rebelled against the capitol and lost. Now, every year, childrens names, ages 12 through 18, are put into a bowl and drawn out during a ceremony known as â€Å"The Reaping. † This is a dreaded time and no one wants to be a part of it because they know that if their names are drawn, it is almost like a death sentence. When a name is called, you are then taken and thrown into what is known as â€Å"The Hunger Games. † Our narrator, main character, and hero also known as Katniss Everdeen, offered herself as a tribute in place of her younger sister Prim in an effort to save her life. When her and Peeta Mellark (the boy tribute from district 12) were taken off to the capitol, they went through some pretty intense training and in the end, well, youll have to read the book to find out what happened but it was sort of an unexpected ending. This book was so good because it kept you on your toes the whole time. I would rate it a solid 9. 5. I gave it that high of a rating because, the unexpected seemed to happen a lot and things popped up all the time out of no where. The book also kept a good pace and there werent to many dull moments; there was just enough detail that you could picture what was going on in your head while the story kept moving. The only thing that I did not like about this book was the fact that it seemed almost too futuristic. Yes, it is true that the story takes place millions of years from our present day but, it seemed almost to realistic. Crazy is a good word that describes what some of the people acted like that lived in the capitol. In all though, I really did think that this was a very good book and I would suggest it to anyone who was considering reading it.

The Processes Of Conceptualisation And Operationalisation Social Work Essay

The Processes Of Conceptualisation And Operationalisation Social Work Essay This paper will begin by examining what is meant by conceptualisation. Using examples, it will demonstrate how broad theories are narrowed down to mid-range theories showing how this refinement can aid a practical and achievable study, within a realistic timeframe. This essay will then introduce the process of operationalisation and explain how variables and indicators are used as aids in specifying exactly what is being observed. The subject of child abuse will be used throughout the paper where different appropriate examples will be used to clarify meaning. Two reports in particular, The Murphy Report (2009) and The Ryan Report (2009) both child abuse studies will be used. This essay will further clarify the conceptualisation and operationalisation processes by outlining the three main steps involved. These steps will be explained and examples of their use in research studies will be demonstrated. In all research studies great emphasis is placed on the accuracy of information presented. As such, reliability and validity will be briefly discussed at the concluding section on indicators. This paper will then present a summary of the main points of this essay. To conclude, this paper will emphasise the importance of employing the processes of conceptualisation and operationalisation to a research study. Social researchers are concerned with examining the relationship between human interactions of people and the society in which they live in. It is not possible however, to do a broad study on human interactions and society in one research project. Researchers therefore, will concentrate on a specific aspect of some social issue. This process begins with a definition of the chosen topic, for example assuming the topic was based on poverty. There are different elements that need to be considered. Poverty could include income poverty, living conditions, diet or any other element that prohibits people from fully partaking in society (Lister, 2004). Before a study begins, the researcher should ideally determine what aspect of poverty is to be examined. It may be for example, the impact of a reduction in child benefit to families already living below meridian income level. Here a researcher may concentrate his or her study on how even lower income further prohibits families from fully participating in society. In this case the researcher may use the theory of social exclusion. However, social exclusion is a very broad concept and researchers will generally look at other, mid range theories or form their own, for example, reducing benefits to lower income families can have effects on childrens health. Having determined which aspect of poverty to study, the researcher will then decide what it is, and what it is not, they are trying to find out. This process is part of what is termed conceptualisation (Geraghty, 2008). Conceptualisation is the process of narrowing down, confining, defining and explaining, what it is, that is being examined. It is concerned with what is meant by a term (Geraghty, 2008). In undertaking research studies, the researcher has to be clear about what aspect of a social phenomenon is being studied. Just as importantly, the completed study must also demonstrate to the readers, that the study has dealt with and answered the specific starting research question. To demonstrate what has been explained thus far, this essay will take an appropriate example to convey more clearly how conceptualisation works. In Ireland over the last two decades there has been extensive media focus and attention on Child Abuse. Considering child abuse as a research study, it is important to understand the scale and scope of the topic. One of the first things to be considered is the definition of child abuse. As the example is taken from an Irish context, it is appropriate to quote The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, 2000 which states child abuse as: The wilful, reckless or negligent infliction of physical injury on, or failure to prevent such injury to, the child. The use of the child by a person for sexual arousal or sexual gratification of that person or another person. Failure to care for the child, which results in serious impairment of the physical or mental health or development of the child or serious adverse effects on his or her behaviour or welfare. Any other act or omission towards the child which results in serious impairment of the physical or mental health or development of the child or serious adverse effects on his or her behaviour or welfare. (The Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse Act, 2000 ). From this definition it can be deducted, there are four main types of abuse that constitute the concept of Child Abuse in Ireland. These are physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. In undertaking research on Child Abuse, the researcher may confine the study to one aspect, such as neglect. This may be further refined by looking at a hypothesis or theory of neglect as a topic such as, the impact of parental drug dependency on Irish children within the family. By narrowing down and focussing on specific research questions related to the topic it is easier to produce a relevant, meaningful and practical research study. Conversely, if a researcher were to ignore this approach and deal with the topic of Child Abuse only as a topic, there are many aspects and questions that would have to be considered. These could include all the different types of abuse at an international level over huge timeframes. To further examine and explain the process of conceptualisation this es say will give another example from an actual Irish research on Child Sexual Abuse. The Murphy report (2009) was commissioned to examine the allegations and suspicions of child sexual abuse against clerics in the Archdiocese of Dublin over the period 1975 to 2004. The author takes this report as a further example of conceptualisation as it specifically details exactly what it was set up to find out. It examines allegations of child abuse against clerics; here it is not concerned with lay people or other children. The study was confined to the Archdiocese of Dublin, not Ireland as a whole. Finally, the report was focussed only on the period spanning 1975 through to 2005. This conceptualisation made it very clear what exactly the research was to encapsulate. The previous paragraphs discussed specification of meaning of terms whilst this example demonstrates evidence of clarification of concepts. The Operationalisation process is also concerned with specification but on a different more detailed scale. Operationalisation is a process where certain variables are employed as aids in specifying what exactly is being observed and just as importantly, specifying and demonstrating, how exactly observation will be carried out. It is important to understand what is meant by the term variable. In defining the term Giddens explains it as: A dimension along which an object, individual or group may be categorised, such as income or height, allowing specific comparisons with others or over time (Giddens, 2001,p.701). Other concepts such as class or satisfaction can not be observed (Bell, 2005). Ways of measurement must therefore be determined. Rose and Sullivan (1996) are cited by Bell (2005:p.139) to show how the concept of class might be measurable. They write that: If we wish to understand something about class (a concept and therefore†¦not observable), what can we observe in the world which manifests class? That is, what indicators can be used for class so that we can obtain data about class? This is the essence of the measurement problem and when we link an unobservable concept with an observable indicator we are producing operationalisations. (Rose and Sullivan 1996:12-13). The authors do not expand on this quote but indicators of class for example may be based on salary, housing or education. These are elements of the concept of class and are measurable. In the previous example of The Murphy Report the term Child Abuse was seen to be defined under four main headings. These could also be taken as the variables, a specification of what aspects of child abuse will be researched. Continuing with the operationalisation process, having identified variables the researcher will then need to devise indicators to measure the concept (Bryman,2004). Thus far this paper has attempted to portray an understanding of conceptualisation and operationalisation. In doing so, it was also necessary to include references to variables and indicators. The next section of this paper necessitates further explanations of these terms. The three main steps in these processes are defining concepts, identifying variables and developing measurement indicators (Geraghty, 2008). This paper will outline each of these and provide appropriate examples that are continuing on the subject of child abuse. In examining what is meant by conceptualisation this paper explained the complexity of undertaking a broad research and detailed ways in which a subject or topic could be narrowed down and refined. Geraghty (2008) explains it as using a theory to identify concepts at the core of a research study. An example of poverty was given at the start of this paper demonstrating different elements of the topic that could merit a research study on their own, for example income poverty. Defining concepts also involves researching current and previous definitions on the subject. Previously in this paper a definition of child abuse was taken from The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, 2000. A definition from an American study over twenty years earlier gives a legal definition as: The physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the childs welfare under circumstances which indicate the childs health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby.'( Bradbard and Watkins, 1982). Although these definitions are similar to a degree there are some differences that may be important in specifying elements of a concept. The Irish definition for example does not specify an age level whereas the American definition specifies under the age of eighteen. The Irish example does not specify that the abuse is by a person who is responsible for the childs health or welfare. There are many other definitions of abuse that may also include exploitation or other elements as a variable. What is seen as abuse in one culture may be accepted as normal practice in another, such as child marriages. Researching such definitions helps to give a clearer aspect of a concept and may be useful in identifying other relevant elements for consideration. Having looked at defining a concept the next step is to identify variables. Identifying variables is an important part of the conceptualisation and operationalisation process. It involves examining different dimensions of a topic that need to be considered to capture exactly what is being observed (Geraghty, 2008). As with defining concepts it is important to research previous studies to capture what variables other researchers used and how they applied them (Geraghty, 2008). Previously this paper referred to the Murphy Report (2009), which was primarily concerned with child sexual abuse and clerical involvement. In this case only the sexual element of abuse was researched. Taking sexual abuse as the subject necessitates determining variables of Child Sexual Abuse. These may include social status, incest and institutional settings. Another report, the Ryan Report (2009) studied Child Abuse in Irish Industrial schools and childrens institutions spanning several decades up to 1974. This report, in dealing with child abuse broke abuse into four variables; physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. There has been huge media attention on the subject of child sexual abuse in Ireland, so much so that there may be a tendency to automatically assume that the term child abuse is relating to sexual abuse. However, by conceptualising and breaking the term into variables, child abuse captures other aspects which are just as important in their own right. In an editorial from Child Links, Barnardos on the subject of child abuse categories say: Of these, the largest number of cases that come to the attention of the authorities are cases of child neglect. In 2003, of the 4,984 children who were in State care, 24% of these children had been neglected. Yet it is the sexual abuse cases that are highlighted more in the media. (Conroy, p.9). This quote along with the example of the Ryan report demonstrates how the use of variables more readily captures elements of child abuse that might otherwise have been overlooked. Variables are important in identifying aspects of a concept to be studied. There is also a need to measure the information and data accumulated under each variable or show what was used to determine the data. At this juncture the third and final step of the conceptualisation and operationalisation process will be explained. Indicators are measures that should link to the variable. There can be numerous indicators for each variable depending on the research subject. In taking the variable of neglect for example, it could be measured using a number of indicators that may themselves be broken down to further indicators. One indicator may be a physical indicator from which other indicators may be taken, such as loss of weight, poor or inadequate shelter or poor health. Another indicator such as behavioural could be broken down to further indicators such as leaving school early, alcohol abuse or crime. The Disabled Persons Protection Commission in Massachusetts USA (2010) lists twenty-three separate indicators for physical abuse including burns, scalds, bites, cuts and more. Indicators can be used to determine the presence or absence of what is being researched (Geraghty, 2008). However, not all researches may require so many, Bryman (2004) argues that in much quantitative research there may be only one indicator of a concept used. Although indicators are extremely useful in research, care must be taken, especially in areas like child abuse, as even with indicators, signs are not always readily visible. In its national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children (2004) the Department of Health and Children expressed caution on this when issuing their own guidelines. To conclude this section on indicators it is important to understand that the indicator used should stand up to accurate measurement. In social research, validating examines the accuracy of measurement and is considered the most important criterion in social research (Geraghty, 2008). Another important criterion in social research is reliability. Reliability estimates the consistency of procedures used for collecting data even at different times with different subjects (Geraghty, 2008). Validity and Reliability as discussed are key criteria in research and merit a separate paper to fully explain their importance in research studies. The author has introduced them at this point to show that not only are indicators useful in breaking research studies down into manageable portions they are critical components necessary for the validation of a study. This essay commenced by referring to the complexity of undertaking a broad research study. An example of the term poverty was presented as a broad theory that encapsulates many dimensions, such as income poverty and childrens health. The author explained how broad based theories can be broken down into mid range theories through the use of an appropriate research question. The example proffered being, how the reduction of benefits could affect childrens health. This demonstrated that in breaking down the theory of poverty it is easier to determine what exactly the researcher is trying to find out. The author identified this process as conceptualisation. The operationalisation process was then outlined, specifying the importance of understanding how exactly, observation should be conducted. The three main steps of the process of conceptualisation and operationalisation , defining concepts, identifying variables and development indicators were outlined. In doing this, examples of the Murphy and Ryan reports were used to demonstrate all three of these steps. The essay concluded with measurement indicators and stressed their importance not only as tools in observation through measurement but also as vital components of validity and reliability criteria. Although it is possible to undertake a research study without the employment of detailed methodologies, a research can be more focussed with an investigative plan. Whilst this paper did not look at the many and varied tools of research methodology, it did however concentrate on useful and important processes that help ensure that correct and relevant information is gathered. The purpose of any research is to gather information on a subject or social issue. Employing methods that ensure the correct, measurable data is gathered in relation to the subject is well served using the processes of conceptualisation and operationalistion.

Lives of Girls and Women: Curiosity by Alice Munro Essay -- del jordan,

The process in which human beings advance through different stages in their life towards adulthood is highly hellacious. Moreover, it is very likely that one might encounter some difficulty in this progression. However, it is in human nature that we learn by failing at things, then mastering them by repeating them again and again. In the novel Lives of Girls and Women, Alice Munroe presents the life of Del Jordan in a very interesting way. The novel is divided into eight stages of Del’s life, where she experiences different scenarios which ultimately give her a better understanding of life. Even though being curious has its pros and cons, at the end of the day it leads to the enhancement of a person’s inner self. In the novel Lives of Girls and Women, Del the protagonist can be analyzed as being a very enthusiastic girl. Moreover, her curiosity proves to be a dynamic benefit of her actions. Firstly, as an individual develops, it is normal for one to be very keen. Moreover, the enthusiasm leads one to being curious and wanting to learn new things. During the early stages of Del’s life, her curiosity is reflecting with her interest on the life of Uncle Benny. She narrates his life in Flat Roads and presents Benny as an eccentric character who is single, likes to hunt at the pond, and lives in an extremely unorganized way. â€Å"So lying alongside our world was Uncle Benny’s world like a troubling distorted reflection† (Munro 22). This quote explicitly shows the interest Del maintains on the troublesome life of Uncle Benny as she analyzes his characteristics and the many obstacles he faces in life. For instance, due to the fact the Benny was unorganized and needed someone to look after his house, he came up with an idea of marrying a woma... ... questioned gravity when an apple dropped on his head. This led to the discovery of physics that we study in schools today. However, too much curiosity is not good as well. Like they say â€Å"Curiosity killed the Cat† Del develops interests on topics regarding intercourse and gets sexually harassed by a man much older than her. All in all, we all should remember that curiosity is good if it is used in topics that would not cause great harm to you. As a human it is okay to be curious. What do you think? Is too much curiosity bad? Is Del right for being so curious? Works Cited Munro, Alice. Lives of Girls and Women. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. January, 1974. Book. Stafford, Tom. "Why Are We so Curious?" BBC Health. BBC, 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Jan. 2014. Rey, H. A. "Curious George - The Original Story (1941)." YouTube. YouTube, 23 May 2012. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.

The Glass Menagerie :: essays research papers

Glass Menagerie is a collection of fragile glass animal figurines. Fragile is the word which describes the family in the story. From the mother which sees no reality with a cripple daughter that she sees beautiful to a son that wants out but is also Amanda’s sole provider. The daughter is such that fragile is to harsh a word. Her life buried in glass animals and a victrola, she is a fragile as that unicorn that breaks in scene four. Tom is full of contradiction. On the one hand, he reads literature, writes poetry, and dreams of escape, adventure, and higher things. On the other hand, he seems completely bound to the petty world of the Wingfield household. One of the key things of the play is how it relates to Williams' life with the mixture of illusions and reality. All of the characters appear to be connected in some way to members of his family. The mother, Amanda Wingfield, shares similarities with Williams' mother, a harsh woman who had been known of being a southern belle and living a luxurious life. Laura Wingfield, her daughter, is similar to Williams' sister, Rose. Laura is shy and uneasy to the point of being socially unable. As a result of her mother's nagging, Laura's slight limp is exaggerated in her mind to the point where she believes herself crippled. Amanda’s illusion or what she wanted to see was that Laura was beautiful and had many male callers. Williams' sister was also mentally unstable, and spent most of her life in a mental institution. The play’s protagonist Tom Wingfield, is very similar to Williams himself. For most of his life, Williams felt guilty about leaving his mentally ill sister on her o wn, to nearly die from a botched lobotomy. In the play, Tom feels as if he is betraying his sister by leaving home, just like his father did. Some critics have thought that Tom is a homosexual (just as Williams was). Tom is a writer working a crappy job in a shoe factory. Which Williams also worked a shoe factory for three years which lead to a minor nervous break down. While he works at this factory, Tom actually writes poetry. For Tom’s adventure and illusions he would spend all hours of the night at the movies. Williams' real name was Thomas, so there is clearly a connection between Tom in the play and Williams himself.

Native Son Essay: Bigger as a Reflection of Society -- Native Son Essa

Bigger as a Reflection of Society in Native Son    In Native Son, Wright employs Naturalistic ideology and imagery, creating the character of Bigger Thomas, who seems to be composed of a mass of disruptive emotions rather than a rational mind joined by a soul. This concept introduces the possibility that racism is not the only message of the novel, that perhaps every person would feel as isolated and alone as Bigger does were he trapped in such a vicious cycle of violence and oppression. Bigger strives to find a place for himself, but the blindness he encounters in those around him and the bleak harshness of the Naturalistic society that Wright presents the reader with close him out as effectively as if they had shut a door in his face. In the first book, Wright tells the reader "these were the rhythms of his life: indifference and violence; periods of abstract brooding and periods of intense desire; moments of silence and moments of anger -- like water ebbing and flowing from the tug of a far-away, invisible force" (p.31). Bigg er is controlled by forces that he cannot tangibly understand. The society seems to bear down upon him like a weight, and only by being nonconformist to all philosophies does Bigger feel that he can throw off that weight of oppression and misunderstanding.    Bigger's many acts of violence are, in effect, a quest for a soul. He desires an identity that is his alone. Both the white and the black communities have robbed him of dignity, identity, and individuality. The human side of the city is closed to him, and for the most part Bigger relates more to the faceless mass of the buildings and the mute body of the city than to another human being. He constantly sums up his feelings of frustration as wan... ...ght's Art of Tragedy. Iowa City: U of Iowa Press, 1986. Kinnamon, Keneth and Michel Fabre, eds. Conversations with Richard Wright. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1993. Kinnamon, Keneth. The Emergence of Richard Wright: A Study Literature and Society. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 1973. Kinnamon, Keneth, ed. New Essays on Native Son. New York: Cambridge UP, 1990. Macksey, Richard and Frank E. Moorer, eds. Richard Wright: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1984. Margolies, Edward. The Art of Richard Wright. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1969. Miller, Eugene E. Voice of a Native Son: The Poetics of Richard Wright. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1990. Rampersad, Arnold, ed. Richard Wright: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995.         

Developmental Analysis of “Big”

In the movie Big, Tom Hanks is an adolescent boy who gets frustrated with the limitations that come with being only 12 years old. He makes a wish that he was older and to his surprise it works! Unfortunately for him, he realizes that being older is not all that it is cracked up to be. Throughout the movie, young Josh (the main character) has to go through the developmental stages that an adult normally goes through, only they are happening all at once for him.I will be using Erosion's stages of psychosocial development to analyze the growth of the Josh's personality. He viewed personality as a result of our social interactions with other people throughout life. Whether we succeed or fail at these certain stages will determine how our personalities develop. Erikson proposed eight stages of development from ages O-65+. From infancy to 18 months is knows as Trust vs. Mistrust Stage. Failure at this can lead to mistrust. 2-3 years is known as Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt. Failure at this can lead to feelings of shame.From 3-5 years is known as Initiative vs. Guilt. Failure at this can lead to feelings of guilt. From 6-11 years is known as Industry vs. Inferiority. Failure at this can lead to feeling incompetent. After 40 until 65 is known as Generative vs. Stagnation. Failure at this leads to little involvement in the world. Over 65 years of age is known as Ego Integrity vs. Despair. Failure at this can lead to bitterness, despair or regret. Because this movie starts in adolescence (12 years old) and shows the character at about 40 years old, I will only be discussing two stages ofErosion's development: Identity vs. Confusion and Intimacy vs. Isolation. Adolescence (12-18) is the stage known as Identity vs. Confusion. This is when children learn a sense of identity and sense of self. Failure to succeed at this may lead to a weak sense of self and role confusion. This is a time when teens try to find where they â€Å"fit† into society. They may experiment with di fferent hobbies or behaviors. It is important for a teen to be able to explore different paths in a supportive environment so they can form a strong sense of independence and control.In the movie, Josh, went from being a 12 year old to a grown man. He had to move out of his parent's house and start living on his own. The first few nights alone, he was in a dark, dank apartment in a shady part of town. Without the skills that one learns throughout adolescence teaching them what skills they are good at and where they â€Å"fit† in society, Josh was lost. When he meets an owner of a toy company that embraces his â€Å"youthful† attitude, he offers him a Job. This Job entails thinking of and trying out new toy ideas that will popular with the youth of that time.Since Josh mentally is still a 13 year old, this appeals to his interest and is compatible with his development. In a sense he is finding his identity. This is a place where he â€Å"fits in† to society. If h e did not meet the toy shop owner, he may have remained confused about what he should do with himself or where he will fit in. There are many ways in which people know that they are successful in what they are doing. An example of this is when Josh received his first check. He exclaimed â€Å"One hundred and eighty dollars! â€Å". To him this was a great amount.His coworker replies aim, they really screw you. To his coworker, this is not enough. This shows how a specific symbol may convey success to one person and failure to another because of differences in development during the Identity Vs. Confusion stage. Young adulthood (19-40) is known as intimacy vs. isolation. This is when adults seek to find intimate and loving relationships. Failure to accomplish this may lead to loneliness and isolation. This stage is thought to be highly dependent on whether or not one was successful at the previous stage.In order to form intimate relationships, one must have a strong understanding o f who they are. People who have poor sense of self find it harder to stay in committed relationships and often times experience depression or isolation more frequently. This is a good example of how all the stages, while independent, all depend on each other in order for personality to successfully grow. In the movie, there are many situations that occur that depend on previous development of the intimacy vs. isolation stage. At his new Job at the toy company, Josh comes to meet a female coworker named Susan.Throughout the movie Susan grows more attracted to Josh and tries to initiate a more intimate relationship. Unable to pick up on her cues, Josh say inappropriate things that mean something different than what he intends. For example, Susan tells him after a date that she â€Å".. Wants to spend the night with him†. He replies † Oh, like a sleepover? Well Im on top! † In the adult world this would refer to intercourse, but for Josh it referred to bunk beds. Bec ause Josh had never successfully navigated through this specific stage of life, he lacks the skills necessary to be in an adult committed relationship.Because of this, Susan assumes that he Just does not want to commit to her and dismisses his attempts at trying to explain he is really a child. Since Josh is technically only 13 years old, he has not successfully developed a mature sense of self yet. He has not gone through the previous stage, identity vs. confusion. It is only possible to be successful in this sixth stage of social development if a strong sense of self is developed during the previous stage. This movie does a good Job at showing how an incomplete sense of self can inhibit a person from forming committed intimate relationships in adulthood.The ability to form these intimate relationships is very important to both hysterical and mental well being in adulthood because they affect not only personal relationships but also work and community relationships as well. In conc lusion Erosion's stages of psychosocial development are clearly apparent in the movie Big with Tom Hanks. The two stages in particular that are evident are the identity vs. confusion stage and the intimacy vs. isolation stages. These occur between the ages of 12 and 40. In the movie the main character, Josh, is 13 years old and finds himself in a world where he appears and must act as if he is in his ass.While trying o make it in the adult world he is confronted with situations that require certain psycho-social skills that he has yet to develop yet. He begins life as an adult in a state of â€Å"confusion† about where he fits into society. He has not had time to explore what he is good at or what he should do as a career. He has not formed a mature sense of self yet. When he lands a Job as a toy creator, he develops an sense of independence and self worth. This is only because as a toy creator he does not have to do anything that he isn't prepared for. Susan does all the cle rical work and all he must do is think f and play with toys.Another problem he is confronted with is the subject of adult relationships. He must navigate the stage of intimacy vs. isolation at an earlier time than expected. Susan tries to initiate a romantic relationship with Josh to no avail. He interprets these as purely platonic since he is only 13 years old. Susan interprets his reactions as a inability to commit. In real life if Josh was an adult, this would lead to isolation from Susan leading to less committed and secure relationships for Josh. Psycho-Social relationship skills are vitally important for successfully navigating he adult world.The ability to form intimate relationships can lead to happiness and the inability to do so can lead to depression. The ability to develop a strong sense of self and identity is crucial in order to form committed relationships and to know where you fit in with society. Our relationships impact our health and well being throughout our life . Being able to go through the stages of development that Erikson proposed successfully is what leads a person to a happy and fulfilling life.

Frederick Douglass vs. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay

MLK Jr and Frederick Douglass both have the same thoughts on how African Americans should be treated different. The main difference between there thoughts are how they feel about how African Americans get treated by white people. Frederick Douglass was a slave who escaped form slavery but while in it he was treated horrible. Since he was treated so bad his point of view and perspective on white people is that there all evil no matter whom they are. But from MLK’s perspective he just wants African Americans to have equal rights just like they should. Frederick Douglass was born a slave and has been around slavery all his life. During slavery the slaveholders never held back and never showed mercy when they punished slaves. Frederick Douglass was punished so much and to him slaveholders and white people are evil. So since Frederick Douglass has only really seen white people when there mad and when they harm him, that is why his point of view on them is so different then MLK’s. That is also why Frederick Douglass’s speech is different from MLK’s letter they both have two different perspectives on white people. Martin Luther King on the other hand is totally different. He really just wants peace for his people and the same rights. He believes that all humans are the same and created from the same person so why don’t African Americans have equal rights as everyone else. He knows the nicer white people and he also knows the white people who don’t care at all about what he wants. So unlike Frederick Douglass who didn’t know any nice white people MLK knew people who were on his side and the people who were totally out to get him. That is why MLK’s letter is different than Frederick Douglass’s speech. They both do have there similarities though. They both want the same for there people and that’s peace and to be equal. MLK enforced it a lot more than Frederick Douglass but in the end they both wanted the same thing for there people. They both suffered a lot from wanting equal rights but they made it. MLK got put into jail for awhile and was humiliated and Frederick Douglass was nearly beat to death everyday and was humiliated so much  everyday but in the end it was all worth it because now African Americans are equal and have there rights. In the end these two men got what they worked so hard for, there rights for there people and equality. They both had a goal and achieved it they never gave up no matter how hard it got or no matter how much trouble they got into they strived for there goal and achieved it. These two men are inspirations to most people because of what they have don’t to help there people and themselves.