Effects of Stigma on Drug Users

Effects of Stigma on Drug Users In this essay I will demonstrate my understanding of stigma and labelling. There are certain people who are stigmatised and substance users often have a negative stereotype. This negativity will often not allow the substance user to seek the help and medical treatment that they need due to the stigma and labelling. I will be discussing the research around the impacts of stigma and labelling that will affect not only their treatment but in housing and employment. The term stigma originates from the ancient Greek word and signifies that he or she could be a slave, criminal or traitor and was used as a sign of disgrace and shame. It is now used to describe people who are stereotyped because of their social identity (Pierson Thomas, 2010). According to Goffman, when a person is not able to meet expectations because their behaviour or attributes are undesirable or unacceptable, then stigma disqualifies a person from social acceptance. Goffman suggests that stigma is, an undesirable attribute that is incongruous with our stereotype of what a given individual should be Goffmam (1963:3). Stigma is a use of negative labels and is about disrespect. It is not just a matter of using the wrong word but labels that person who has the substance use disorder. Stigma results in discrimination and abuse and is damaging to the lives of many people. The fear of stigma discourages families and many individuals from getting the support and treatment that they ma y need to lead normal healthy lifestyles. Stigma deprives people their full participation into society which then reinforces negative stereotypes (Goffman, 1968). The way of coping with stigma is to conceal behaviours and internalize these negative views and as a result will be subject to discrimination and exclusion within many areas. Drug problems will remain entrenched if substance users are seen as junkies. Landlords will be reluctant to let out their properties and employers will be wary of giving them jobs. Employment and housing are important to substance users as it can be vital in establishing themselves back into society (UKDPC, 2008). Research studies show that 80% of drug users are unemployed. Being employed is shown to be an important component into the reintegration into society. Once in work, it will help in building their self-esteem and back into normal life (UKDPC, 2008). Family members feel shame and stop trusting them and in some cases, disown him/her. Communitys will finger point, try to avoid contact and will gossip about them. Many would argue that societys disapproval of drug use; especially cannabis and heroin will say stigma is necessary to demonstrate disapproval (UKDPC, 2010). Stigma can also make the substance user stigmatize themselves, make them feel alone, rejected and destroy their self-esteem. Seeking help is very difficult for the substance user and will prevent them from doing so. They will often feel that quitting would be no use and returning to normal life would be impossible because people in society will no longer trust them and so will join in with other drug users, start criminal activities to pay for their use and accepting the blame of society (UKDPC, 2010). Stigma discourages families and individuals from getting the support and treatment they require. Families suffer the impact when another family member has a drug use (UKDPC, 2009) and it alters all their social invitations and friends that they once had. Other family members will often withdraw and children will often be targeted by bullies. Stigma deprives people of their full interaction into society. The UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) suggests that 1.5 Million people in the UK are affected by a relatives drug use. Supportive relationships are key to a successful recovery. Carers UK commissioned a study which estimated that carers in the UK made a contribution of  £87 billion in total economic value in one year. This may have excluded many who have not come forward with coping with a relative who has a drug problem but this gives us some indication of the social contribution likely to be made by the supporting families (DrugScope/Adfam, 2009). The drug user must have determina tion and faith in reaching their goals and there will probably be setbacks and barriers but with the support and contribution of social workers, support groups, family and friends, this will help towards the recovery process (HM Government, 2010). Families and relationships are key issues for recovery and drug users improve when their family is behind them. They are more than likely to complete treatment and maintain their new lifestyles (Best Laudet, 2010). DrugScope published research in 2009 by interviewing a random sample of over 1000 people aged 18 plus. The research published showed that one in five adults had a personal experience of drug use, either direct or indirect. The findings where: 19 % have personal experience of drug addiction either directly or among family or friends; 1 in 10 adults have a friend who has experience of drug addiction; 1 in 20 have experienced drug addiction in their family; 1 in 50 has personal experience of drug addiction. 77 % agree investment in drug treatment is sensible use of government money. The poll found that 19% either had direct or indirect personal experience of a family member or knowing someone within their circle of friends. 11% were likely to have a friend who has experienced drug addiction. 6% had family members who were drug dependant, yet 2% experienced the drug dependency themselves. These figures do suggest that drug misuse and the dependency do affect many peoples lives and is a social problem (DrugScope, 2009). Stigma to substance users will possibly make addiction recovery and treatment more difficult. Substance users often manage in secret and would rather not seek out the treatment and live in denial. The University of Nevada studied 197 drug users on the affects of stigmatization. This research identified that because of the use of stigma they would become more dependent on their drug use due to the perceived negativity that the society had on drug users. 60% of drug users in this study felt that they were treated differently after people knew that they were a drug user. 46% felt that others became afraid of them once they found out and 45% felt that their families gave up on them and wanted nothing more to do with them. 38% of their friends had rejected them and finally, 14% of employers paid a lower wage (Addiction, 2010). Users have no good reason to stop using when you look at this research study. This research identifies that stigma is conceptuality unique. Drug users also had a mo re difficult time in treatment at succeeding when there were higher levels of stigma. The study also showed that drug users often cope in secret due to their inability to openly discuss their addiction; this caused poor mental health and decreased their chances of recovery. By reducing shame the society could help in driving forward in helping the treatment of drug users who are not coming forward due to stigma (Addiction, 2010). Stigmatising is not only found amongst the public but also by the professionals who may be working directly with them. Professionals, such as doctors and nurses, who work directly with drug users, will have a greater insight into the problems that drug users face on a day to day basis. Miller et al (2001) mentioned in UKDPC (2010:30) summarised research from the USA which showed an increase in negativity towards drug users. Two studies of the treatment of problems with drug users and drinkers both in the inpatient care and safety net emergency department showed that negative views during training, continued when they became qualified and working within their practice (UKDPC, 2010). Stigma between health professionals and the drug user will prevent them from seeking help and may be one of the reasons as to why the drug user will not seek out the help or medical treatment that they require (Kelly Westerhoff, 2010). Everyone knows that it is wrong to discriminate, whether it is because of their race, culture or religion. Substance use is very common and is widely misunderstood. It is essential that we learn about the person and treat with dignity and respect. This will then help in emphasizing their abilities (Mental Health and Recovery Board, 2009). Public attitudes to drug addiction were explored in the UK in 2002 (Luty Grewal, 2002). Results showed that 28% regarded drug users as having a mental health problem. 38% assumed that drug users were criminals and 78% to be deceitful and unreliable. 30% said that they deserved the misfortune that fell upon them. 62% thought that the law were too soft on drug users and 40% believed that their children should be taken into care. It was concluded by Luty and Grewal, 2002, the results clearly indicate a negative view of drug addicts (Luty Grewal, 2002:94). Yet, DrugScope in 2009 wanted to find out the attitudes of the public towards drug users and drug treatment. They commissioned a poll and the findings suggest that the public to be very sympathetic than sometimes often assumed. 80% of the people surveyed agreed that people can become addicted to drugs because of other problems within their life. 35% agreed that it was the individuals fault for drug use and that there is no excuse. A large amount of respondents 88% agreed that for the drug user to get back on track, they needed help and support and 77% agreeing that the investment of government money towards drug treatment is sensible. This research showed a sympathetic response of the majority of the people surveyed. Drug users are the most marginalised people in society where discrimination and stigma are key into the barriers of receiving recovery. Two thirds in a recent poll showed that employers would not employ anyone with history of drug use, even though they were suitable for the job. Stigma and discrimination still remains a barrier to recovery and will clearly impact of them finding work. It will also affect being housed appropriately and accessing the healthcare that they need (DrugScope, 2009) The things that we can do as practitioners in helping to overcome the stigmatisation is to have a better understanding of how difficult it is for people to change who may have low self-efficacy. First impressions count and for a substance user, coming through the door is hard enough. The substance user will have come because they are in a crisis and has realised it is time for change (Lecture Notes, 2012). As social workers we have to realise that engaging with the substance user will help in the first steps to recovery and help in building relationships. Building respect and trust will prevent misunderstandings that may lead to conflict. Having good communication skills is effective and at the heart of social work. It is only through our communication skills that we are able to understand the knowledge of others and work effectively (Trevithick, 2009). It is important to communicate as it helps in exchanging our thoughts and feelings and in forming the foundation of a good relations hip. Communication allows you to help the substance user to be more receptive to the new ideas by creating an environment that they can trust and help in developing resolutions. To have an open and honest relationship, trust is important in succeeding this. An agreement ideally should be met with the substance user about confidentiality. They have a right to know who will be able to access any information about them (Koprowska, 2010). Motivational Interviewing is a well known model developed by William Miller in 1982. It is a model used with people to evoke change, especially people who have problematic substance misuse. Motivational interviewing is a client-centred counselling style and helps the service user to reach their decisions about potential behaviour change (Nelson, 2012). This model helps in identifying and understanding the substance users motivation to change and highlight to the client their perceived negatives and benefits of change. The principles of motivational interviewing are to express empathy, develop discrepancy by helping the client in increasing their awareness of the consequences of their behaviour. Avoiding argumentation as it is them who are the expert. Roll with resistance by encouraging the client to develop their own arguments. Resistance is normal if you are uncomfortable about something and lastly self efficacy by highlighting the skills and the changes they have already made (Lect ure Notes, 2012). Assessing motivation with the substance user and finding out at which stages they may be will help in me identifying where the substance user is in their dependency. A well known model called the cycle of change developed by DiClemente and Prochaska (1982) represents the point at which the substance user passes during their change in behaviour. The different stages are: Pre-Contemplation, this is where the service user has no desire to change. Contemplation, this is where the service user may be considering their situation and is more aware of it. Preparation is where the service user makes a decision to change their substance misuse. Action and this is where the service user takes steps in bringing about change. Maintenance is where they have stopped using the drugs and moved to a more controlled and less harmful way of using and is maintaining that change. Relapse is where the service user will go back to their old behaviour and will have to start the Cycle of Change again (Teater, 2011:122). The substance user may slip back or relapse in to their old behaviour because permanent behaviour is very difficult to change, particularly with people who want to make change in substance misuse. This is very difficult and may take several attempts (Nelson, 2012). Motivational interviewing will help the substance user move through the stages of change. Having good active listening skill is important and will help in making the substance user feel that he/she is being helped. Many people will feel encouraged when they have been truly listened to without interruption and will often become encouraged and empowered (New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse). A good listener allows the person to get their own stories and opinions across, which active listening will allow them to do so. If you interrupt, the person will feel that they may not have been listened to. They will not feel respected and may hold information through being cautious. It is important to allow them to know that you were listening and will help in encouraging them to continue talking. Leaning forward, maintaining eye contact will also show them you are interested in what they have to say (MindTools, 2012). You have to remember to not let environmental factors distract you as this could make you lose focus. Giving the substance user your undivided attention and ackno wledge what they are saying. Using body language either by nodding occasionally, smiling and encouraging the speaker to continue by saying verbal comments, such as yes and go on will encourage the speaker to continue by knowing you are listening. Giving positive feedback by paraphrasing e.g. What I am hearing is and It sounds like you are saying, are good ways of reflecting back and help in clarifying certain points that the substance user may have said and helps towards getting more background information. Paraphrasing also helps in allowing yourself to really understand what has been said and helps the substance user know that they have been heard und understood correctly (Koprowska, 2010). Having the three core conditions of counselling of empathy, respect and congruence will help to enhance the substance users motivation to change. Empathy allows putting you in another persons shoes and having a better understanding of their feelings and emotions. You must ignore your own percep tion of the situation and accept their feelings and thoughts. By doing this does not mean that you accept the behaviour they are doing but means that you understand them. Congruence allows you to be yourself and that you are only human and a real person. This will help in reducing the stress the substance user may have. Having respect is accepting the person for who they are regardless of what the person says or does. When others have possibly made that person feel negative, it is very hard for them to feel positive. Showing the substance user respect will show willingness that you want to work with them, which will allow them to grow confidence (Trevithick, 2009). Change is difficult, so it is normal for the substance user to feel ambivalent. Using the Decisional Balance will help in identifying the positives and negatives of their behaviour. If you are going to change, you need a reason to and people change when the positives outweigh the negatives. We always have to be aware of the short term or long term risk factors including their level of usage and what type of drugs they are using (Miller Rollnick, 2002). Motivational interviewing helps the substance user in identifying the importance of their behaviour change and also helps the practitioner help in doing so by enhancing their motivation. This model works well alongside the cycle of change as it is useful to assess where the substance user may be in their cycle of change and help in identifying the strategies you may use (Nelson, 2012). In conclusion, if a person does not conform to social stereotypes, they are more than likely to be marginalised and bear stigma. People with substance misuse are of all types and come from different backgrounds (Pycroft, 2010). Working with individuals who are experiencing substance use, it is important to remain focussed. Providing constant feedback and offering support will help in engaging the drug user towards solving the crisis the substance user may have. Having a non-judgemental attitude underpins social work along with empathy and advocacy (Trevithick, 2009). People with substance misuse are often viewed as less worthy and deserving. Stigmatisation can cause prejudice, marginalisation, discrimination and oppression and is often reinforced by the media and even our own families (Theory and practice, 2011). People who substance use are often stigmatised and feel shameful of it and can happen if the substance user has had several attempts. When you are ashamed of something and y ou disclose it, it is very hard especially if youre unsure as to how the other person is going to respond. It is important for myself to reflect upon my own value base and prejudices that I may have. Referances All about Addiction (2010) Addiction Stigma: making addiction recovery, and addiction treatment entry, even harder. www.allaboutaddiction.com/addiction/addiction-stigma-making-addiction-recovery-harder (accessed 16 November 2012) Best, D,. Laudet, A. B. (2010) The potential of recovery capital, Royal Society of Arts. DrugScope/Adfam (2009) Recovery and drug dependency: a new deal for families. http://www.adfam.org.uk/docs/recovery_dependency.pdf (accessed 26 November 2012) DrugScope, (2009) Closer to home than you think: one in five adults knows someone with experience of drug addiction. London :DrugScope http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Media/Press+office/pressreleases/ICM_poll_results (accessed 18 November 2012) Goffman, E. (1963) Stigma: notes on a spoiled identity. Prentice-Hall. New York. Goffman, E. (1968) Stigma: notes on the management of spoiled identity. Harmondsworth: Penguin. HM Government, (2010). Drug Strategy 2010: reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug free life. http://mhfe.org.uk/sites/default/files/shared/drug-strategy-2010.pdf (accessed 26 November 2012) Kelly, J.F. and Westerhoff, C.M. (2010). Does it matter how we refer to individuals withsubstance-related conditions? A randomized study of two commonly used terms. International Journal of Drug Policy, 21 (3), 202-7. Koprowska, J. (2010). Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. Lecture Notes (2012) Social Work with Substance Users: Assessment and Initial Intervention. Hull University. Luty, J. and Grewal, P. (2002). A survey of the British publics attitudes towards drug Dependence. Journal of Substance Use, 7, 93-5. Mental Health and Recovery Board (2009) http://www.mhrbeo.org/stigma.html (accessed 20 November 2012) Mind Tools (2012). Active Listening. http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm (accessed 26 November 2012) Miller, W,. Rollnick, S. (2002) Motivational Interviewing: preparing people for change. New York: Guildford Press. Nelson, Anna (2012) Social Work with Substance Users, London: Sage Publications Ltd. New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse. Improving your listening Skills. http://www.mededfund.org/NJgroups/Listening_Skills.pdf (accessed26 November 2012). Pierson, J., Thomas, M. (2010) Dictionary of Social Work. England: Open University Press. Pycroft, A. (2010) Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers. London: Sage Prochaska, J., DiClemente, C. 1982) Transheoretical therapy: Towards a more integrative model of change, Theory, Research and Practice, 19:276-88. Maclean, S,. Harrison, R. (2011). Theory and Practice: A straightforward Guide for Social Work Students. Great Britain: Kirwin Maclean Associates Ltd. Trevithick, p. (2009) Social Work Skills: a practice handbook. England: Open University Press UKDPC (2008) Working Towards Recovery. London: UK Drug Policy Commission. http://ukdpc.org.uk/publications.shtml#employment_report (accessed 15 November 2012). UK Drug Policy Commission (2009). Adult Family Members and Carers of Dependant Drug Users: Prevalence, social cost, resource savings and treatment responses. http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Evidence%20review%20-%20Adult%20family%20members%20and%20carers%20of%20dependent%20drug%20users_%20prevalence,%20social%20cost,%20resource%20savings%20and%20treatment%20responses.pdf (accessed 26 November 2012) UKDPC (2010) Getting serious about Stigma: the problem with stigmatising drug users. London: UK Drug Policy Commission. http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/publication/getting-serious-about-stigma-problem-stigmatising (accessed 15 November 2012). UKDPC (2010) Sinning and Sinned Against: The Stigmatisation of Problem Drug Users. London: UKDPC http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Policy%20report%20-%20Sinning%20and%20sinned%20against_%20the%20stigmatisation%20of%20problem%20drug%20users.pdf (accessed 18 November 2012) Trevithick, P. (2009) Social Work Skills: a practice handbook. England: Open University Press. Teater, B. (2011) Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, England: Open University Press.

The Rate of Hydrolysis of Sucrose Essay -- Biology Science Experiments

The Rate of Hydrolysis of Sucrose Hypothesis - The digestion of sucrose into glucose and fructose is carried out by the presence of the enzyme Sucrase. The activity of the enzyme will be greatest at its optimum temperature since at this temperature the enzyme's tertiary structure will be correct to allow the formation of the substrate-enzyme complex quickly and efficiently. This should be at 37Â °C (body temperature), which is the temperature of the ileum where Sucrase is secreted and naturally functions. The first thing to say about enzymes is that they are proteins and they are found in all types of organisms from humans to viruses. They function in the body as catalysts. In other words they speed up the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Enzymes actually accelerate chemical reactions by a factor of about 1 million. Enzymes are organic catalysts. Without enzymes the metabolism of an organism would be too slow for the organism to survive. The word enzyme actually means "in yeast" as they were first discovered in these micro-organisms. Enzymes are found inside cells (intracellular) and outside cells (extra cellular). Intracellular enzymes are for example, those that control metabolism while extra cellular enzymes are for example, gut digestive juices and the enzymes secreted by bacteria, which digest their food outside the body then reabsorb the products. Enzymes work on particular organic chemicals, these are called substrates. So in effect food is the substrate of digestive enzymes. Each enzyme is specific to one or a group of particular substrates. The majority of the reactions that occur in living organisms are enzyme-controlled. Without enzymes toxins would soon build up and the supply of respiratory substrate would decrease. Enzymes are proteins and thus have a specific shape. They are therefore specific in the reactions that they catalyse - one enzyme will react with molecules of one substrate. The site of the reaction occurs in an area on the surface of the protein called the active site. Since the active site for all molecules of one enzyme will be made up of the same arrangement of amino acids, it has a highly specific shape. Generally, there is only one active site on each enzyme molecule and only one type of substrate molecule will fit into it. Lock and key hypothesis description of the specificity of t... ... well as this the final colour was defined. Results : my results from then on were much more reliable and the average was easier to plot on a graph drawing my expected curve. The first colour change was a loss of the base pink colour and the final colour change is a measurable blue. Throughout all these preliminary experiments and the final one all laboratory safety precautions will be observed. To check the reliability of my results I will take a mean average of all 3 experiments I finally did. Using the mean of all the experiments I then will work out the standard deviation of the primary colour change and the final colour change. On the graphs the X axis is numbered 1-6, this corresponds to the Sucrase Concentration 0.0%-2.5%. Below is the preliminary experiment graph for primary colour change at 0-5% solution. The line slopes down as the reaction time decreases in relation to the concentration. This was the graph of the preliminary experiment after making the changes due to evidence from preliminary experiment 1 and 2. Prediction: I predict that the higher the concentration the faster the reaction due to induced fit and lock and key hypothesis.

Free from Humans :: English Literature Essays

Free from Humans I did not witness the construction of the nest which had the size of a man’s fist. It would be a great experience since my university course in animal architecture was a source of marvel at how different birds collect different materials to weave, in different fashions, out different forms of nests. I noticed it when one day, as I walked along the straight corridor towards my apartment, something softly fluttering sped across my view. He or she was a little bird rushing into the open air away from this corridor ten-storey above the ground. I turned to where he or she should have come from. Hanging from a thin branch of a tall potted plant scattered with some leaves was this egg-shaped nest with a hole. Tiny twigs and some feathers were used to weave this simple but adequate home. Probably, he or she had plucked some of his or her feathers. That could be painful, I thought. I wondered why this bird had chosen this unattractive thin plant which belonged to a withdrawn neighbor t hree doors away from my apartment. More importantly, staying on a plant that was incapable of concealing it and staying at a height easily reachable by humans was unwise at all. â€Å"Did the footsteps from my hard executive shoes frighten it?† From then on, everyday, I walked past the plant with the slightest sound. At night, as I came back home and passed the plant, I would, taking care not to startle the faint animal, steal a glance at the hole where his or her beak rested. My respect for animals is as natural as animals are beautiful. I can’t comprehend how any human with all its gift in reasoning could inflict pain upon or even kill other animals when it knows well that it doesn’t like pain. An ex-colleague, Diane, which was then a fresh Biology graduate, ate the same rice and meat everyday like a one-dimensionally programmed machine without being equipped with sophisticated taste buds to receive tastes and feel textures, not to say being installed with the brain to unify them all as an experience. Its indifference towards good or bad food mirrors its attitude towards animal rights. â€Å"Why should I care? When a cat or dog passes by, I just kick it. They should be sent to laboratories for testing,† Diane’s one-dimensionally programmed brain sent the data to the lifeless tongue which then rattled to output the sound wave.

Dreams may not always come true :: essays research papers

â€Å"Dreams may not always come true, but they make life worthwhile.† Dreams are a part of everybody’s life, this term dream is widely used to express mental images of something we may want, or something we whish we where. Dreams usually are seen as false, or just a child’s thing however this is seen mainly as the dreams conflict with reality. Many films of the post-modernism era can be seen that you would have the stereotypical way of someone wishing for something and it comes true. Even so Dreams are worthwhile and this will be shown below: In the book looking for Alibrandi we see a typical year 12, student whom has never seen her father in her life and has always had the life long dream of meeting him. As we read further on we see that the father rejects the daughter at first but, with Jessie’s (Main Character) persistence her father finally accepts her and that her family is finally accepted. This is a perfect example of how a dream from childhood had stuck with a child and through tenacity she finally achieved her goal. The Biography on Mel Maninga is another example of how a dream of a little boy who wished that he could follow in his father’s footsteps came true with him following his dream. In the end Mel did achieve what he sought to achieve and that was to become a first grade footballer and you may say this was a generalization of that everyone’s may come true and that may be the case if the wish is not one of supernatural powers etc, point being Mel’s dream did not come easy, again this may be merely coincidental however all dreams don’t come easy within reason of course. In the Film â€Å"What A Girl Wants† we encounter that this tale is of a child who again contrary to Looking for Alibrandi, is similar in saying that it is about a young female who leaves her house and goes out and seeks her father who in this case is a person of importance. Here we envision the stereotypical motion picture of someone who dreams of something in this case, it would be of meeting her father, and that in the end she attains the satisfactions of bringing her nuclear family together and also gaining herself a male companion. In this motion picture we see that

Developing Effective Communication in Health & Social Care

P3 – Explain factors that may influence communication and interpersonal interactions in Health & Social Care environments. Factors that may influence communication and interpersonal interactions in a Health & Social Care environment are things such as; Setting- this is the place that you are in. To be able to communicate with someone correctly, you will need to make sure that it has all of the right things. Noise level is important because if it is too noisy then you will not be able to hear the person speak and both of you will need to shout when your speaking instead of just talking normally.Lighting is also important in where you are, this is because if it too dark then the opposite person will not be able to see you and you will not be able to see them and good eye contact is needed (if possible) in order to communicate properly and if it is dark then this will be hard. Having enough space in a room is also important as you will not want it to be small as personal space is essential and being very close to someone you hardly know could be quite awkward and tense.You shouldn’t be too close to each other, however you shouldn’t be too far from each other either as it’ll be hard to hear and speak properly. Time- time means that you should not be in the room with the service user for too long; also you should not be in there for a small period of time either. You should spend a decent amount in the room with the service user, making sure that you have covered everything and haven’t missed out anything and also making sure that the service user has told you everything you need to know; in order to help them to resolve their problem(s).Also if you keep mentioning about the time that you have left to speak to the service user then they might get annoyed and feel that you are more worried about the time than about their problems. Also rushing the service user would mean that they’ll have to speak quicker and they will not be able to explain themselves properly. There are also barriers; these are things that occur while communicating with someone. The type of communication that you have with someone will be very different for example; a difficult communication may be something that is hard to solve/ something that will take long to solve.A complex communication is when there is man parts to the story and it may be very confusing and hard to understand. The last example I will use is a sensitive communicationmay occur when someone close to that person has passed away or when someone is ill etc. P4 – Explain strategies used in Health and Social Care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions. Language needs/preferences could be a barrier for example; if someone is trying to talk to you but you can’t understand them as they are speaking to you in a different language.This would be a barrier because if you cannot communicate with this person eff ectively then they will not be able to explain their issue/problem or just to talk to you and you will not be able to communicate back and respond to them. Strategy – You could try and overcome this problem by getting another worker to come in and translate what they’re saying in your preferred language/method; in some cases the service user may bring a family member/friend who may be able to translate for you as well.Sensory impairment is when you may not be able to view, smell, sense or say things. Therefore, coming across someone like this may affect your communication with each other. Strategy – So you should ask the person that they have come along with (if possible) to help you or you should look at their personal details and notes in order to see what their preferred language/method of communication is. Disability is also another barrier to communication, this may affect the way you talk to them as they may have difficulty moving their arms, speaking or d oing anything.Strategy – Someone with a disability will also mean that you will have to pay full attention to what they are doing and you should insure that you follow the rules and regulations so that nothing bad happens. For example; someone with dementia will need full support as they forget things and may wonder off on their own or with a stranger without realising. Personality may affect the way you communicate with each other as the person may be very aggressive and loud so you will not be able to talk to them without them shouting or suddenly becoming annoyed.Strategy – When dealing with people, you should always check their notes beforehand; this is because you will then know what type of person you are dealing with and also you will then know how to deal with this person, how to approach him/her and how to speak to them. Self-esteem Is how confident someone is in themselves, this is an important thing when communicating with someone in Health and Social Care a s the level of self-esteem can affect how quickly they recover.Strategy – Raising their level of self-esteem by making them feel at ease will make it easier for  them to recover. Anxiety is when you feel nervous or anxious about something, this is a barrier because if the service user gets nervous then they won’t speak and this will be a problem because there will be silence and the problems that the service user has will not be resolved as they will not be speaking; making it hard for the person trying to help them. Strategy – The way that you could overcome this could be to try and make the person feel at ease so that they are not nervous.You could do this by saying ‘I am here to help' or ‘I know this is hard but I will try and help you get through it'. This may make the service user feel comfortable and make them feel that they are able to talk to you; as you are there to help them. Depression is something that people get when they are under str ess. This can be a barrier to communication as the person with Depression may not want to speak or they might be too upset to explain how they feel; even though they are in need of help.This can make their situation worse because they are not letting anyone help them; however this is not their fault. Strategy – Trying to help someone with depression can be very hard; depending how bad they are. Doing activities with someone who is suffering with depression may be one strategy as they will have their mind on something else, rather than their problems. Aggression can affect the communication between two people or a group etc. This is because the person trying to help the service user will/may likely find it hard to deal with and speak to someone who is very aggressive.The aggressive person could be very angry at what is going on in their life so they will take it out on the person who is trying to help them; they may not necessarily mean what they say or do but shouting and sho wing aggressive behaviour could be the way that they deal with everything. Strategy – A way to try and deal with an aggressive person is to not fight back. If you argue back with them thenthey will argue back and it will not make anything better and the reason they are there is to get help.The reason they could be aggressive is because of something that has happened so asking them questions could get it all out of them so that you are aware of their situation. Submissiveness is someone who will just agree and go along with whatever someone is saying to them. This is a barrier because they will not actually say what they feel and they will not disagree with anything that is being said so they may be agreeing to something that they might not even want.Strategy- A way to get past an aggressive person  is to not take anything they say personally as they are just saying horrible things because of the bad situation that they are in. You should also TALK back to them instead of ar guing. Assumptions are bad in Health and Social Care; this is because if you just assume what the person is saying then you aren’t exactly listening to them because you are already thinking of a way to respond to them; without knowing if it is what they are actually saying. This is bad because the service user will obviously not get the help and support that they need.Strategy – You can get past this by actually listening to the person you are talking to properly so that you don't just assume what they're going to say. By listening, you will hear what the person is saying and you will also be able to come up with a way to solve their problem/issue etc. Value & belief systems can affect the level of communication that you have with someone. The values and beliefs that someone has can have a huge effect on the relationship you have with the service user.For example; if a Christian councillor came across a gay service user who needed help with him and his husbands marriag e, and the councillor didn’t want to speak or associate themselves with this person as it doesn’t say anything about gay marriage in the bible then this would cause big problems as the service user will not get any help and the person in need of help may feel very angry and he might even feel quite upset as the councillor is discriminating against him & gay, lesbian and bisexual people and also being homophobic.Strategy – The easiest way to get over something like this is to get a new job because if you don't agree with gay marriage then this will defiantly affect you as you will may come across 2 gay people that want to get married and discriminating against them because you don't agree with gay marriage will cause problems. Jargon is a type of slang, if the service user speaks like this when seizing help then they may not be able to get the help that they require as the person trying to help then will not understand them; meaning that they will not know what t he problem is.However, overcoming this issue could be to ask someone to translate if possible or to use a method of communication that you both understand. Strategy – Ways to get past this issue would be things such as; translators, other workers to help you out, their family/friend could help you etc. Cultural variations are differences between you and someone else, for example if someone comes to you who are from Poland and you are from the UK then there will be many differences between the two of you.These differences should not affect you in a huge way as you should be able to use many methods of communication; preferably the one that they prefer. One difference between the both of you may be the language or preferred method of communication, this will cause problems when communicating as you may not be able to understand them and they may not understand you. Strategy – A few ways to overcome this may be things like translators, sign language, written, body languag e, oral etc.Use & abuse of power is a barrier is because when you are trying to solve or help a situation that someone is going through then you will both need to give ideas, not just one of you. If only one of you is talking then the other person may have ideas that they cannot share and this would be a barrier as both people need to speak in order to share ideas and solve problems that you both agree with. Strategy – You should make sure that you are both speaking; not just one of you.Making sure that you are both talking is important, to do this you will need to make sure that you are asking questions and not just constantly talking to them because they might switch off and look like they're listening when in fact they are just bored. Effects of alcohol/drugs can mean that someone is not in their right state of mind; this means that they will not necessarily be making sense and they might also not know what they are saying. The problem with this is that the service user wi ll not be getting any help because they will not be in the right state to be serious and to be willing to sort out their problems.Strategy – Someone who comes in to speak to you about their issues could have a drink problem or a drug addiction. Ways to deal with this is to send them to Rehab so that they can try and get back on track; instead of getting worse. Whether it is an alcoholic or adrug addict, you should always take their needs into action as they could be desperate to turn their lives around before its to late. Regular check ups and phone calls will be a good idea as you can then see how the person is getting on and if they are getting the help that they require. Developing effective communication in Health & Social Care Unit 1: Developing effective communication in Health & social care Task 1 intro:Communication is at the heart of any relationship, be it familial, business, romantic, or friendly. While there have been significant advances in how we understand body language and other forms of communication, verbal communication continues to be the most important aspect of our interaction with other people. It’s important to understand both the benefits and shortcomings of this most basic communication. One-to-one communication plays a very important part in almost everyone's life. This type of communication occurs most often in face-to-face conversations and in telephone speech skills.Conversation consists of talk about various matters of common interest to both of the people involved. Conversations, unlike many other types of communication are usually not planned or rehearsed beforehand. Group communication refers to the communication between a group of people and another group of people or within the group itself. A group is normally considered as a collect ion of people that number 3 or more. This type of communication is very helpful when you need to get across the same message to more than 1 person.For example if you are a manager who is announcing a change in hours for employees shifts, then you would gather everyone together. That way it is quicker and saves you time. Also it is helpful when you want to discuss something with your team mates or business. Group debates and discussions are very popular. Formal communication is the type of communication used for important topics, usually in the arenas of business, government, diplomatic matters, scientific matters, lectures by teachers, certain types of speeches at colleges, or in seminars.It is speech which is meant to impress and to give weight and authority to the person speaking and to the subject being spoken about. It is polite speech, and uses polite language, whether in verbal or written form. Examples would be the president's inaugural speech, letters between ambassadors or consuls, an address by a college president to the school, the presentation of a scientific paper or theory at a symposium or seminar. Even in written form, a letter of resignation from a post one hold.Formal communication assumes, usually, a vertical relationship between people in that situation. Someone is the person above, in authority, and someone is the person below, dependent to some extent on that person, in that situation. Informal communication is more on a peer level. It is everyday speech, the kind of speech where you don't have to worry too much about how you couch something, because you and the other person know each other well enough not to take things wrongly. It may be concerned with important matters, but it is not on an authoritative level.It may be two people who enjoy argumentation going at it about some specific topic, or friends planning an outing, or working together on a project and talking through what and how to do it. Forms of communication ‘Verbal' m eans ‘spoken'. So, verbal communication is the messages you send with words. It's what you actually say. Non-verbal communication is the messages you send with your body. Some people call it your body language. For example: Facial expressions – smiling, frowning, raising eyebrows, eye contact Gestures – waving your hand, pointing your finger, crossing your arms Posture – the way you stand or sit.Touch – being caring you would put you hand on ones shoulder to show you care. Silence – could be a sign of anger, upset, nervousness etc. Reflective listening – nodding your head to show you understand, eye contact. Non-verbal communication also includes the tone and pitch of your voice. So, verbal communication is the words. But non-verbal communication is how you say the words. Technological communication – Text messaging, E-mail, Msn, etc. Technological aids – People who are deaf blind use many different methods of communicati on.The method chosen will depend upon the amount of sight and hearing the individual has the cause of deaf blindness and how long the person has had a sensory impairment. – Braille is for someone unable to see text well enough to read it, braille can be used to label objects and give access to books. Objects designed especially for blind and deaf blind people may already be labeled in braille. – British sign language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expression, and body language.Sign Language is used mainly by people who are Deaf or have hearing impairments. Within Britain the most common form of Sign Language is called British Sign Language. British Sign Language has its own grammatical structure and syntax, as a language it is not dependent nor is it strongly related to spoken English. British Sign Language is the preferred language of between 50,000 – 70,000 people within the UK. – Communication symbols could be anything from à ¢â‚¬Å"ladies toilets sign† to â€Å"road signs†. Here are some images of communication symbols.

Hong Kong Today

Liberal Studies F4 Second term—Hong Kong Today ? Indicators used to understand poverty in HK ? ? ? ? Income Health Education ? ? ? Living conditions Employment Community / family support Section 1—Poverty Disparity / discrepancy between rich and poor ? Gini coefficient – Range from 0 to 1 0 = income distribution is absolute equal 1 = income distribution is absolute unequal ? Challenges faced by poor people ? Employment – usually contract staff, low income, lack labour protection ? ? ? ? Support – limited support channels from government Living standard – X fulfill basic needs (eg. ealthcare service) Intergenerational poverty Relationship no family time ? marital / familial conflicts ? Disadvantaged groups ? Men vs. Women – do housework + child care ? HK citizens vs. New arrivals less assistance from government discrimination (reduces HK citizens’ job opportunities) ? ? CSSA: Comprehensive Social Security Assistance HK government —positive non-interventionist approach ( ) ? ? ? A regulator rather than a provider of welfare programmes Free market / trade policy ? Minimal government intervention Low taxation system Liberal Studies F4 Second term—Hong Kong Today Section 2—Quality of Life ?Measuring QoL ? Dimensions—economic; social; political; cultural; environmental ? Objective indicators (statistical data) – Income; wealth gap – Social welfare; life expectancy – Electoral system; voter turnout rate – Variety of cultural activities; museums; libraries – Living space; air pollution index Subjective indicators (people’s feelings) ? Satisfaction with economy / income Satisfaction with public health, freedom of speech, welfare Satisfaction with government’s performance Perceived human rights enjoyed Satisfaction with cultural environment, diversity Satisfaction with living / natural environment Obstacles to better QoL in HK ? HK has a per vasive culture of long working hours ? Stay until boss leaves ? Not much emphasis on importance of work-life balance ? Constant reaffirmation of good working ethics ? ? Life chances are determined by individual efforts Weak collective bargaining power between workers ? Strategies used in promoting labour rights ? ? ? Legislation and enforcement Management and regulation Education and publicity ? ? Public engagement Research ? Organisations and treaties ? International Labour Organisation (ILO) ? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) ?The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) – Right of everyone to enjoyment of just & favourable conditions of work – Safe and healthy working conditions – Rest, leisure and reasonable limitation of working hours Liberal Studies F4 Second term—Hong Kong Today Section 3—Rule of law ? Rule of Law ? All individuals are equal in front of law ? Government should act in accordance with its established statutes ( ) ? ? ? Both the government and the citizens must act according to such statutes The independence of the judiciary institution is guaranteed to maintain rule of lawHow to ensure judicial independence ( ) ? ? Way of appointing judges should be away from external pressure Constitutions ( ) should be written for and monitored by people ? Rule of law is actualization of constitutional democracy ? Principles of rule of law (remember!! ) ? Everyone is equal before the law ? Government should act in accordance to the law ? The law should not have retroactive effect ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Judicial independence The law clauses should be simple and easy to understand The law clauses should not be self-contradictory Filing an appeal ( ) is allowed Judicial review ( is allowed Legal aid is offered Should go through sufficient public consultation Assume innocence before conviction / proven guilty Law should be the lowest limit to protect individual freedom *** Police p ower should be limited under rule of law ? Functions of LegCo ? Enact ( ) laws ? ? ? Control public expenditure Monitor the work of government Unfairness of District Council elections ? Not all DC members are elected directly by voters ? Some DC members are appointed by Chief Executive ? Presence of ex-officio members ( ) Liberal Studies F4 Second term—Hong Kong Today Section 3—Rule of law ?Functional Constituencies ? Rationale for introducing FCs – To use their professional knowledge for the benefit of the public by helping people ? analyse problems Reason to maintain FCs – To ensure balanced participation ? people, government and business sector / FCs should play an equal part in decision-making Contradiction between â€Å"balanced participation† and â€Å"direct election† – Representatives of government and FCs are not directly elected by people Fundamental flaws of FCs – Not directly elected by people – Distrust by p eople at the beginning – Emphasise too much on their own interests ?Often oppose to motions supported by directly elected GC members – An obstacle to motions that are beneficial to general public Corporate votes – Encourage corporate welfare – Represent only interests of certain groups instead of whole sector – Profitability of businesses often depends on government licenses, regulations, subsidies government count on support of business interests in LegCo and CE elections ? ? ? ? ? Not all practitioners working in the sector / industry can vote Split voting system ? Motions supported by GCs are often opposed by FCs ? Promote favouritism towards business sector / government?Criteria for democratic electoral system ? Principle of universality ( ) ? Principle of equality ( ) Electoral Affairs Commission ( ) ? Ensure that elections are carried out in a fair, open and honest manner ? ? ? Geographical Constituency has a broader electoral base (no. of r egistered voters) than Functional Constituency Liberal Studies F4 Second term—Hong Kong Today ? Chief Executive Election ? Term of office: 5 years, renewable once only ? Elected by Election Committee (800 members) Election Committee (2008) 1. Industrial, commercial and financial sectors (200) 3.Labour, social services, religious and other sectors (200) ? Section 3—Rule of law 2. The professions (200) 4. Political sector: members of LegCo, HK deputies to NPC†¦ (200) Article 45 of Basic Law ? The ultimate aim is the selection of CE by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures Latest development ? EC increases from 800 to 1200 ? 75 of 100 additional seats for political sector occupied by DC members ? ? Why EC is divided into different subsectors? ? Ensure balanced participation and broad representation ? Increases the legitimacy ( of government Expansion of EC ? Advantages – Inc lude people from different sectors to elect CE – EC composition resembles diff. sectors in society ? Reflect views of diff. people ? People more contented ? Fairly high legitimacy level of CE Disadvantages – Not all people can cast vote in CE election – People may think that electors in EC cannot fully represent their views – Presence of corporate votes undermines the representativeness of EC ? Represent corporate interests but not general public interests No political competition in some sub-sector elections ? Weaken legitimacy of CE ? ? ? Small circle election

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Marquz – Destructive Consequences of Solitude IOP

Solitude is defined as remoteness from society or the state of being remote from others. In Marquez' OHYOS, solitude is what ultimately brings the village of Macondo to its tragic end. Throughout the novel we explore the interesting theme of the various forms and reasons behind solitude and its consequences. Psychological studies show that, on the individual level, various needs are assumed to promote growth and self-actualization. For instance, John Burton's Deviance, Terrorism and War specifies eight basic human necessities: the need for others' response (and consistency thereof); stimulation; security (for instance, freedom from everyday preoccupation with death fears); recognition (through which individuals receive social confirmations that their reactions to social stimulations are relevant and approved); distributive justice (not merely a consistency in response but a response or reward deemed appropriate in terms of individuals' experiences and expectations); the need to appear rational (which follows from the need for consistency of response– rationality calls attention to the fact that there is a need for consistent behavior in others); need for meaning to be deduced from consistent response; and the need for a sense of control. From this list are various â€Å"camps† promoting the centrality of their distinctive need systems. These include, for instance, the need to belong, to bond or connect with others; the need for meaningfulness and the need for transcendence. As put by Richard Nixon, â€Å"Unless a person has a reason to live for other than himself, he will die–first mentally, then emotionally, then physically. † Studies of terminally ill individuals reveal the need for assurance that they have a legacy, that their lives made a difference, and that others are who they are because of oneself and that these others will carry one's memory with them. The mere fact that isolation is commonly known as a form of torture demonstrates that too much solitude leads to destructive consequences. These studies are relative to my topic because throughout the novel we encounter situations in which characters are driven to insanity as a result of their solitude, even if it is a self-selected decision. To quote Francis Bacon, â€Å"Whosoever is delighted with solitude is either a wild beast or god. † One is the example of Jose Arcadio Buendia, the first great solitary of the novel. He becomes so obsessed in his pursuit for truth and knowledge that he neglects his family and ultimately loses all touch with outer reality. Another is the example of Colonel Aureliano Buendia, who retreats into the solitude of his sadness and becomes incapable of expressing emotion other than sorrow and resignation. Aureliano Buendia is an interesting character because, in the novel, he first expresses his clear preference for solitude after his encounter with a girl who is forced to sleep with other men in order to pay her debt to her grandmother. Because he feels uncomfortable in society, he retreats into the comfort of his own solitude, which brings me to introduce psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs is a sequential, graduating set of needs that a person must satisfy to reach one's full potential or self-actualization. The needs are ranked bottom from top as physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem needs, and self actualization. These needs must be satisfied in order to get to the top, but one may go backward as well as forward, which relates to the theme of time as a cycle, and the Buendia's inability to progress. Because they are unwilling to communicate outside of themselves, the Buendia family is never able to move forward but moves instead in cycles, or a downward spiral, collapsing in on itself. According to Marlow, when one is unable to achieve the needs of love and belonging, it is assumed they regress back to the stage of securing their safety needs, which is most clearly demonstrated in Aureliano Buendias case. The solitary characters are often contrasted to the antisolitary characters of the novel such as Ursula Buendias and Pilar Ternera, and other characters who combat their solitude. Ursula Buendias and Pilar Ternera both live very long lives and devote their lives to strengthening social bonds. In her younger years, Pilar Ternera comforts the Buendia men with her sex and bear many of their children. She is extremely prosperous as the madame of a nunnery, which stands for a bountiful sexuality. Many other instances in the novel indicate that sex and love is used to combat solitude, especially the notion of free love. The most obvious example for this is perhaps the cold, barren relationship of Aureliano Segundo and Fernanda del Carpio in contrast with his relationship with Petra Cotes, in which his farm animals begin to proliferate and bring him great prosperity. This instance conveys the message that sexual liberation leads to progress and prosperity. Incest is a secondary theme of solitude. Essentially, incest is the practice of keeping family members within the family, which demonstrates the Buendias' habit of isolating themselves from the rest of the community and their inability to reach out to others. The incest that occurs throughout the novel only perpetuates the Buendias' solitude, and reflects the eventual destruction of the town. From the very beginning of the novel, Ursula warns of deformity as a result of incestuous relationships, and ironically, the last of the Buendias is born with the tail of a pig, and ends the family line. The novel ends with an interesting passage, in which the narrator explains, â€Å"He had already understood that he would never leave†¦ races condemned to 100 years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth. † Here solitude can be seen very differently, portraying the solitude of Latin America forced upon their race by the West, who denies their access to the opportunities of the developed world, in comparison to the Buendias inability to join the moving world. â€Å"The opposite of solitude is solidarity,† says Marquez. Solidarity is defined as a union of interests, purposes or sympathies among members of a group, or a fellowship of responsibilities and interests, an obvious lacking quality in the town of Macondo. Psychological studies show that social systems have various â€Å"needs† to function successfully. There is, for instance, the social need for a collectively shared sense of order and that rules for a society's game board of life are understood and respected by all social actors. An ordered world is a predictable world and the essence of society is the predictability of its members' actions. There are the needs for solidarity between social members (including, as anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn observed, â€Å"a set of common values that give meaning and purpose to group life†), their willingness to accept their social duties and to make personal sacrifices for the welfare of others, and their cooperation with each other. Further, if we perceive social systems to be analogous to organisms struggling to survive in potentially hostile environments, there are such individual needs as defense, coordinated action toward collective goals, and the ability to adapt to challenging new internal and external conditions. The Buendias are obviously lacking in this cooperative quality and often struggle with their meaning in life, which is reflected in the destruction of the town. In quoting HG Wells, â€Å"A downtrodden class.. will never be able to make an effective protest until it achieves solidarity. † In order for the Buendias to leave their solitude, solidarity must first be achieved. From this it can be concluded that Marquez is promoting the same message for the solitude of Latin America, having been so long controlled by the West, before they must suffer the consequences of Macondo and the Buendia family.