Rotation of the letter R :: Essays Papers

Rotation of the letter "R" Psychologists have been interested in the processes that go on in the mind for centuries. However, a new method for assessing the various processes emerged in the 1970's. Several researchers predicted that mental imagery was treated by the brain similarly to actions performed on physical objects. Thus, performance in tasks involving inspection, rotation, and comparison of mental images according to size should be similar to results obtained using actual objects. Kosslyn, Ball, and Reiser (1978) asked participants to scan a mental map after studying a map of an island with several landmarks. They predicted that the further the distance between the landmarks, the longer it would take participants to scan from one to the next, whether using the actual map or a mental image created by intensive study. Their hypothesis was supported by their results. The closer positions took less time to locate on the participant' mental maps than the more distant places. In 1973, Cooper and Shepard asked participants to perform a mental rotation task. They gave the participants an image, and asked them to rotate it mentally by a certain angle, and then match the rotated image with one of several choices. Their prediction was that the greater the angle of rotation, the longer the task would take. This was because it would take longer to physically rotate a figure more degrees than fewer degrees. The evidence supported this hypothesis: The closer the angle is to 180 degrees, the longer the reaction time. Angles greater than 180 degrees do not take longer because the subject will rotate it in the other direction. So the angle distance from 180 degrees, called the angle of disparity, is directly related to the reaction time. The experiment done by the class involves looking at the letter "R" on a computer screen, and determining whether it is forward or reverse. The "R" is rotated at varying degrees, and participants must mentally rotate the "R" in order to determine whether it is forward or reversed. A forward "R" is the letter "R" in its usual orientation. The reversed "R" is backwards from its usual position. There were several predictions made by the class before the experiment was run. The highest reaction time was predicted to be at the 180 degrees condition, with the lowest reaction time at 0 degrees, increasing in both directions toward 180 degrees. Also, the average reversed-figure reaction time was expected to be higher than the average normal time.

Democracy and Pragmatism Philosophies: Approaches to “The Grapes of Wrath” Essay

In 1939, â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† by John Steinbeck formed an agitation of excitement and controversy upon its emancipation. The book forced the American public into a heightened awareness of national consciousness. Influenced by the thoughts of several dominant American philosophies such as transcendentalism, democracy and pragmatism, Steinbeck creates a masterpiece that edifies Americans about their value scheme. This work of art finds its main lineage from three following elements of American philosophy: Emersonian Transcendentalism with its perception of the oversoul and conviction in the common man, Walt Whitman’s devotion of the common man and his credence in mass Democracy, and Pragmatism as advocated by William James and John Dewey. Transcendentalism Transcendentalism is a belief system that espouses a non-traditional appreciation of nature and includes intuition, individuality, and self-reliance. It initiated as a remonstration, in opposition to the general situation of society, and specifically, the state of intellectualism and the doctrine of the Unitarian church at that juncture. Transcendentalists’ fundamental principle is an epitome of spiritual state that goes beyond the physical and empirical aspects and is barely attained through people’s instincts, rather than through the dogma of conventional religions (Goodman). Steinbeck was indeed influenced by this philosophy and the ideologies of this are evident in his novel, â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath†. The author conveys the idea of transcendentalism to the readers through a range of exceedingly noteworthy characters. One such character is that of Jim Casey, a former reverend and long-time acquaintance of the Joads. As a preacher like none other, he does not give a sermon of the conformist thoughts of Christian faith. Instead, he sermonizes of the Emersonian tenets of the Oversoul. Jim Casey symbolizes a contemporary Christ form who desires to pass on spiritual solidity to migratory people heading towards the West (Steinbeck). Among the various correlations between Jim Casey and Jesus Christ are the following. Casey pays attention to the people, thinks deeply and philosophically about what is happening to them, and becomes a role model for most of the characters in the story. A quote from the narrative denotes the aforementioned similarities. â€Å"Muley is a lost soul. He wouldn’t come along with us† (Steinbeck). Casey in this quotation acts as Jesus Christ contemplating why Muley, depicted as one of His Apostles, would not approach and follow him. Alternatively, transcendentalism can also be seen in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, which is entitled Nature. As indicated in his essay, he believes that a nation of men will exist because each believes that he is inspired by the Divine Soul which also fills all men with stimulation (Emerson). He closed the article by encouraging men for a revolution in human consciousness. â€Å"Emerson discards the Unitarian line of reasoning that miracles confirms the fact of Christianity and finds evidence for religion being more direct in creating a pious response† (Goodman). Democracy This is generally defined as the rule of the people where the individuals share in guiding the national activities, functioning either directly or by means of delegates, to manage their associations for their particular objectives. Equality is of great worth in considering this and would free persons as much as feasible from constraints which are not self-imposed. Steinbeck was also influenced by this philosophy and its ideologies are also reflected in his work. One of his characters, named Tom Joad, the oldest child of Ma and Pa Joad represents this. As we can cite in the book’s introduction, â€Å"Tom Joad gets a lift at a truck stop and tells the driver he’s paroled from prison in McAlester (for murder) and he’s headed home† (Steinbeck), the author unveils Tom as departing from imprisonment which symbolizes democracy and arrives at their place after being on the rampage. He subsequently learns a lot of things from their family friend, Jim Casey, and eventually matures in the course of their voyage, leaving their customary society to combat disparity (Steinbeck). In connection with advocating democracy, another avid supporter of this view comes with the poem referred to as â€Å"I Hear America Singing†. Walt Whitman, as the author, appears to have the love of all men and of mass democracy. Blessed with an exceptional ear for inner cadence, his application of a musical tone and mood all through the poem makes a connection to the concept of the free democratic structure in the society. Whitman expresses his considerably liberated, undulating, and continuing stanzas which invigorated the whole world of rhythmical style of writing, and particularly asserts that America has to establish its own modern dynamic and hearty voice. He made a hymn the whole time with his piece. His couplet embarks on presenting various people with different everyday tasks. In their daily lives each person sings â€Å"what belongs to him or her and to none else† (Whitman). Through his poem, he voices his belief that every American has pride in their life and vocation; thus, enhancing the concept of democracy. And for this, Whitman is honored as the Bard of Democracy, as the United States of America came to address the excellent writer. But needless to say, he also showed his support in democracy as affirmed in his letter to Emerson which states that â€Å"To freedom, to strength, to poems, to personal greatness, it is never permitted to rest, not a generation or part of a generation† (Whitman). Pragmatism Then as the final viewpoint, pragmatism is termed as a way of thinking wherein the certainty of a representation is considered by its uniformity with provisional consequences and by its realistic result. This prevails to be contrasting in doctrines that cleave to the idea that a fact can be achieved by means of deductive reasoning from a priori justification of premises. Furthermore, â€Å"the accepted wisdom is taken as merely a mechanism for sustaining the life aspirations of human beings and has no authentic metaphysical implication† (Shook). Steinbeck was also influenced by this philosophy and its ideologies are also apparent in his work. Appearing in the novel, when Ma Joad, the wife of Pa Joad and the matriarch of the family, addresses the people to †go on† (Steinbeck), it is a straightforward delivery of steadfast pragmatism. Ma is in fact the source of strength and determination for all of the family members and is especially close to Tom. Moreover, â€Å"She states that her thinking about the future would be too much. She has to take care of what’s in front of her† (Steinbeck). And as regards to advocating pragmatism, a proponent named William James, states that pragmatism is a specific philosophy in which beliefs are consequential as long as they have useful outcomes in tangible human events. He also believes that pragmatism is a worthwhile solution to some recent points of the word. James also claims that pragmatic values have certain attitudes which are eligible as true or false depending on how effective they attest in deed. Another proponent of pragmatism like James, named John Dewey, â€Å"maintains that the mind is an instrument for realizing purposes†(Goodman). According to him, in pragmatism’s moral facet, it holds that real knowledge and human values play as essential roles in the choice of means employed in order to attain an end. Both James and Dewey contend that a large extent of the discussion about the association of the mind to the body take effect from abstract uncertainties. They also claim that it is not essential to speculate the psyche as an ontological class (Shook).   References: Emerson, R. W. â€Å"Nature.† Pearson Education, Inc. New Jersey. Prentice Hall (2002). Goodman, Russel. â€Å"Philosophy of Dewey.† The Radical Academy. 2006. May 24 2007. . Goodman, Russel. â€Å"Transcendentalism.†Ã‚   Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2007. May 24 2007. . James, William. . Shook, John. â€Å"The Pragmatism Cybrary.†Ã‚   2007. May 24 2007. . Steinbeck, John. â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath.†Ã‚   (1939). Whitman, Walt. â€Å"Letter to Ralph Waldo Emerson.†Ã‚   1656. May 24 2007. . Whitman, Walt â€Å"I Hear America Singing.†Ã‚   Pearson Education, Inc. New Jersey. Prentice Hall (2002).   

Isaac Newton and Sigmund Freud Essay

Birth order is defined as a person’s or child rank/position by age among his/her sibling. Everybody has a birth order including ones family members, teachers, co workers and friends in school. Birth order is a unique phenomenon that is said to shape the personality of an individual. While there are factors like race, age, gender and age help shape the personality of an individual, birth order is considered one of the determinants of an individual character. Empathy refers to the ability of an individual to understand another person’s feelings and emotions and to be in a position to share the feelings with other people. It’s the ability of considering another person’s feelings and considering them as important as one’s own feelings also. Empathy is often associated with birth order because every child born often enters into a different environment different form the previous child. Because empathy involves understanding the feelings of others, it can also mean recognizing the emotions of another person and the way they are characterized (Zajonc and Gregory 79). This is because since emotions are normally the combination of beliefs and ideas, then getting this concept is more essential to empathy. The human capacity to identify the body feelings of the other are related to the birth order in several ways. People believe that emphatic personality traits that children possess depend on the birth rank of the child. First borns are considered the most intelligent, responsible, obedient, the least emotional and least creative. Middle children are considered envious. Last borns are seen as creative, emotional, disobedient, irresponsible and talkative. This can make some children to feel not loved. First borns are exposed to only adult language while later borns are exposed to adult language but also to the less mature vocalizations of their older siblings. This affects the verbal environment of the later born. This dilution becomes more pronounced for each additional child born. This differential exposure to mature language may be the reason for later borns reduced performance on verbal, vocabulary and reading comprehension tests as compared to first borns. Birth order explains the different personalities that siblings often have. When a child first becomes aware of the environment, he first identifies his niche. This issue brings competitions that exist in the siblings for the parental resources and as this competition sprouts up, the last borns develop counter strategies and the whole thing looks like a race for the best in the family. It’s this competition that causes the different personalities in an individual (Sulloway, Frank J. 38). Since the later borns often learn from the first borns, the later borns are often are more empathic than the first borns. This is because the later borns expand their language development by learning from the older siblings. They can be in a position to understand the behaviours and emotions and their causes. Later borns are therefore said to use a positive social behaviour. Development of empathy has over the years been seen as a cognitive issue while others refer to it as a primary effective process. The cognitive development of a child is different in different children in the birth order. Firstborns are considered assertive and very anxious because they develop their cognitive processes by observing this development in their parents. The later born on the other hand often learn from their older siblings and therefore their character is often less assertive. Since the older borns are wiser, older and more powerful, the later borns often are diverse in their interest and they therefore are open in most of their relationship. Good examples that explain the nature of first borns being assertive are scientist’s nature like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Sigmund Freud. Latter borns are said to only follow the first borns decision as is evident in the supporters of these scientists (Hoff-Ginsberg 625). The effect of birth order on a child’s behaviour is normally considered overrated. There are other variables in the family that are said to also affect the personality in a child and they include the spacing between the siblings, the age of the first borns and the size of the family. Certain characteristics of the child therefore are associated with the family size. If an individual did not develop in his younger years in the emotion of empathy there is likelihood that at the older years, the child will have diverse effects. The behaviours at old age often show differences between the siblings who are the first borns and those who are the last borns. Often those who are first borns will develop a less emphatic behaviour because they did not get a closer relationship from their parents, the later borns on the other hand will love challenging the status quo and getting attention and also creative in their work. This explains the importance of birth order in getting along with friends, family and fellow workers at job, and often feeling for them. Research has also shown that birth order affects romantic relationships and personality, the first borns said to be lees emphatic on their spouses and therefore are so hard to maintain peaceful relationships while the later borns are more emphatic and therefore form good relationships. In conclusion, birth order is considered an important aspect in the development of empathy in a child. Often the child will develop different characteristics depending on the position of his birth. It’s important for parents to learn the characteristics of a child by considering the birth order so that it will help predict the behaviour and personality of the next child. Work cited: Hoff-Ginsberg, E. The Relation of Birth Order and Socioeconomic Status to Children’s Language Experience and Language Development: Applied Psycholinguistics 19 1998:603-629. Sulloway, Frank J. Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives, New York: Pantheon, 1996: 28-42 Zajonc, R and Gregory B. Birth Order and Intellectual Development, Psychological Review 82, No. 1, 1975:74-88.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Significance of the Title

Significance of the title: The title To kill a mockingbird is in a way a symbol of almost the entire book. From part 2 on Maycomb County and its people were all engulfed in the Tom Robinson rape trial. As Atticus and Miss Maudie said â€Å"it`s a sin to kill a mockingbird† and â€Å"Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. †(p. 19) Tom Robinson can be seen as a mocking bird in the sense that he has never done anything to purposely hurt anyone, his only sin was that he tried to help people out of the kindness of his heart. Setting: The story takes place in Maycomb County Alabama in the 1930`s. Maycomb is the typical southern town, small square houses, everybody knows everybody, a feeling of hominess, only one of everything (post office , grocery store, school etc. ) Maycomb County is a bit of a special case because it is rather far from any other towns.When Maycomb was founded it was built a very long way upstream from the ocean on a small river which was unusual back in the day considering boat was the main mode of transportation then. Maycomb is a kind of boring uneventful town the most interesting thing to happen is what Miss Stephanie can manage to come up with and gossip about. The setting of Maycomb county relates to the main theme of the book in the way that Mood: In the first part of to kill a mocking bird Maycomb County is portrayed as a small, quiet southern town, nothing interesting ever happens.The town has a naive, innocent, immature and mischievous feel to it and everyone mostly keeps to themselves and you never really know much about anyone, except for a few characters. In the second part however everything and everyone changes. Once the Tom Robinson case comes to light you can say that everyone sho ws their true colors and who they really are deep down inside. The mood in the air shifts from nice and quiet to harsh, dangerous and hostile, every person in Maycomb is rattled to the bone with this case it will never be the same like it was before. Everyone loses their innocents

Financial Economy and Royal Bank Of Scotland Essay

Financial Economy and Royal Bank Of Scotland - Essay Example RBS is engaged in international banking and financial services business and thus confronts with the challenges posed by any changes taking place in financial economic conditions only in the United Kingdom but throughout the world. This paper provides an insightful study on the effects of financial economic factors on the activities, operations, profits and reported earnings of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The paper starts from discussing the prime banking and financial services activities of the bank and its international operations. It then moves towards the company's debt/ gearing level and analyzes the impact of changes in interest rates, inflation and exchange rates in the activities and earnings of the company. The paper also sheds light on the extent of the RBS' involvement with the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The Royal Bank of Scotland is one of the largest companies in the UK as well as the world. The company is ranked as the greatest company in Scotland, second largest in the United Kingdom and sixth largest in the world. The company is involved with provision of financial services to a variety of customers ranging from large corporations to small businesses and individuals (Scotland PLC: The financial industry in Edinburgh, 13.04.07). RBS has its banking operations in various parts of the world. Being a banking and financial services company, the Royal Bank of Scotland is greatly influenced by changes in financial economic conditions. RBS- Operations The Royal Bank of Scotland has a wide range of operations in various areas of banking i.e. corporate markets (investment and risk management services in both the UK and global large businesses and financial institutions), retail markets (including retail operations and wealth management), Ulser bank providing products and services to retail and corporate customers in Ireland, Citizens commercial banking organisation, RBS insurance and manufacturing (RBS annual report, 2006). The major business segments of RBS are personal banking, private banking, business banking and corporate banking (Royal Bank of Scotland, 13.04.07). Overseas Operations The Royal Bank of Scotland has its operations in different parts of the world including UK the home market, the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company's operations in UK include dealing in the areas of corporate markets, retail markets, insurance and manufacturing. In the United States, RBS has its operations in the areas of corporate and retail banking. The company is engaged in the same operations as in UK all over the Europe, whereas in Asia Pacific the RBS is involved with corporate market, retail market and manufacturing operations (RBS Annual Report, 2006). Retail Operations The company operates in a vast range of financial services including retail operations. The Royal Bank of Scotland's retail banking operations includes services to personal and small business customers. In this regard, the company provides its services in the areas of consumer banking, business banking, cards and direct finance in the United Kingdom. The Royal Bank of Scotland's has its international wealth management operations in continental Europe and Asia Pacific region, as well as in the UK home market. RBS- Debt/Gearing: The Royal Bank o

Nutrition and Body Composition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nutrition and Body Composition - Essay Example Whole body composition comprises both fat-free body mass (FFM) and total body fat. The former is inclusive of water, bone matter and muscle and the latter pertains to essential fat and storage (stored) fat. Accordingly, Heyward and Stolarczyk (1996) assert that whole-body composition is of interest in terms of sports and exercise, obesity assessment and control of body weight. Of specific importance is the need to consistently ensure that total body fat is maintained at an optimal level (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:4). The total body fat element is critical to optimal human physiological capacity. Thus, too little fatness, as is witnessed in individuals with eating disorders and exercise addiction as well as those with certain diseases, e.g. cystic fibrosis, can eventually result in a serious physiological dysfunction (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:5-6). Through different body density measurements, which utilise established equations and corrections, one is able to calculate the ratio of fat-free mass to fat mass in a human body. This is based upon the ‘much lower density’ of the prevailing fat compartment in terms of their ratio (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:8). However, concerning FFM, the bone matter is denser than the muscle structure. This may lead to the over-estimation of the fat percentage present. This is if there is either relative increase in the body muscle mass (during training) or relative loss of the prevailing bone density as found in individuals suffering from osteoporosis (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:9). A variety of avenues are available through which effective body composition can be measured. This is especially in regard to the ‘approximate’ measurement of body fat percentage present. The most commonly employed method is through use of gun calipers, in measuring the subcutaneous fat thickness at various places on the body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), on

The Compatibilist and Moral Responsibility Research Paper

The Compatibilist and Moral Responsibility - Research Paper Example However, the above person must comply with the United States laws to avoid causing discomfort among the other members of the community. The law prohibits the person from using a microphone to sing at a very loud boisterous level. The act would irritate the nearby apartment dwellers’ sleeping patterns. Singing at the top of one’s voice at 12:00 midnight may anger the next room dweller who needs the silence because her 8 month old baby is sound asleep.               In terms of love, the same individual can freely court whoever he chooses. The same person is free to love someone from the African American race, Asian American race, and European American race.   Same person can court a 40 year old woman or an 18 year old lady. Some confessed homosexuals freely enter into love relations with persons of the same sex. In fact, gay and lesbian marriages are allowed in some parts our United States.   However, the individual cannot force the other person to accept the individual’s love overtures. The other person has the right to freely exercise one’s freedom to accept or reject the love overtures of the suitor or suitors.       In terms of education, any person has the freedom to enroll in any school of one’s choice. The individual can prefer to enroll in Harvard Business School.   One can enroll in London’s Metropolitan University. The same person can study in Washington .D.C. however, the preferred schools have the right to refuse certain student applicants.   The schools can refuse entry to students who do not pass the school’s standard entrance exams.            In terms of work, every individual has the right to apply for work. One can freely choose to apply for a vacant job in any United States government agency. Every person can freely submit one’s job application letter to the London air force.   One can even apply for a job as the bodyguard of the victorious Barack Obama. However, the company or Barack Obama has the freedom to accept or reject the job applicant’s application letter.