Obesity Is A Major Issue - 844 Words

Obesity is a major issue that has plagued many Americans in the past 50 years. Obesity is not something that should be taken lightly as it is known to lead to multiple health concerns and overall lower life expectancy. Unfortunately, the rate of obesity of children under the age of 19 has drastically increased from where it was in 1971. Also, there was a notable spike in the last 10 years and these rates continue to rise (Pineros-Leano). So why the recent spike? The fast-food industry. Despite the industry effort to reduce the marketing aimed and children, fast-food advertising for kids has only increased (Melnick). Targeting children at such a vulnerable time in their lives is a shameful strategy that has had remarkable success. At the end of the day the goal of these companies is to make as much of a profit as possible, they do not care about the obesity rate or what their food is doing to their consumers. Childhood obesity is an issue that needs to be addressed and in order for us to do that we have to recognize what these fast-food companies are doing and find a solution to ending this advertising to kids. Obesity is defined as being over the 95th percentile in BMI and is something that affects mental, physical, emotional and even spiritual health. It is associated with multiple physical health consequences such as asthma, sleep apnea, risk for type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, risk for hypertension, coronary heart disease, etc. The mental/emotional healthShow MoreRelatedObesity : A Major Issue1472 Words   |  6 Pages OBESITY Obesity is a major issue in the U.S.A. It is among the highest health problems in the U.S.A. Obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers, and can also lead to death .Two out of three Americans are considered to be obese. For a better future of the country obesity must be stopped. 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First we need to take a look at childhood obesity, even if children are slightly overweight and not quite obese at childhood, their childhood is laying the foundation for possible obesity in theirRead MoreObesity Is A Major Issue That Our Country Faces Today950 Words   |  4 PagesI chose to write about a cartoon from Times Magazine that focuses on Obesity in America by Joe Heller. Obesity is a major issue that our country faces today. After analyzing this cartoon I wanted to further my understandings to what it meant. In this article we see that the American Medical Association (AMA) is a main variable. They stated that â€Å"moderately overweight people live longer†. That is a bold statement and what I want to know is does having extra body fat really allow you to live longerRead More Critiquing Internet Sources The author is keen in analyzing the issue of excessive consumption of800 Words   |  4 Pages \ Critiquing Internet Sources The author is keen in analyzing the issue of excessive consumption of alcohol among college students. He acknowledges that excessive drinking is a common problem among college and university students and wants to explore why such students indulge in such a risky behavior. The author uses a reliable number of students when looking at the drinking problem and chooses the correct age, which is students below 21 years (Dodd et al, 2010). The results of the author’sRead MoreObesity : Becoming A Public Concern1654 Words   |  7 Pages Executive Summary Obesity has become an epidemic in American societies that has become a public concern. According to the American Obesity Association (AOA), overweight and obesity rates are higher than ever in America’s youth. Obesity is the fastest growing cause of disease in American society today. Some of the major health concerns for today’s youth with obesity include severe asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension, orthopedic complications and sleep apnea. Researchers have come up with manyRead MoreObesity Is A Global Issue1568 Words   |  7 PagesA steadily increase in childhood obesity has gained the awareness of everyone. Many are wondering that today s obese children may turn into the generations next obese adults. Obesity is a global issue, and being knowledgeable of the causes is an affection way of prevention. Technology, foods, and genes all factor into the childhood obesity epidemic. For example, â€Å"McDonald s even has toys in their food, increasing production and influencing students to eat it more† (Qtd. by Marcia). It is certainly

Divorce Across the Lifespan Free Essays

string(33) " the risk of emotional problems\." Divorce Across the Lifespan Final Paper Elizabeth Seckler for Laurie Bulock FST 602 (Human Development Across the Lifespan) MAFS-J003 October 27, 2011 â€Å"I do†. Two small words with such a big meaning. Although fewer individuals are marrying today, nearly 90% of Americans will eventually â€Å"tie the knot† (Goldstein and Kenney, as cited by Cherlin, 2011, pg. We will write a custom essay sample on Divorce Across the Lifespan or any similar topic only for you Order Now 300). However, the meaning of marriage is appearing to lose its effect on individuals, as divorce has become epidemic in the United States (Hoelter, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 459). Since 1960, the divorce rate has varied through the years, increasing considerably from 1960 to 1980, then gradually declining from the early 1980s to 2005, but recently increasing from 2005 to 2007 (Popenoe, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 459). Divorce is a major disruption in the family life-cycling process, adding complexity to whatever developmental tasks the family member is experiencing in its present phase (Peck and Manocherian, 1988, pg. 335). The negative impact of divorce is so strong that children of divorced parents struggle as adults to create a positive, healthy family environment for their own children. All too often, adults who experienced divorce as children prove less capable of breaking the cycle and instead pass on a legacy of tragedy to their children and their children’s children (Fagan and Rector, 2000, pg. 17). Therefore, divorce does not just impact the individual at the time of the dissolution. Instead, divorce negatively impacts an individual in every stage of life. Infancy Of the stages of development across the lifespan, it may appear that infants are the least affected by divorce. However, while babies may not understand anything about separation or divorce, they do notice changes in their parents’ response to them, which impacts future development. According to psychoanalytic theorist, Erik Erikson, who developed eight stages of human development, the first psychosocial stage experienced in the first year of life is called trust vs. mistrust. Trust in infancy sets the stage for a lifelong expectation that the world will be a good and pleasant place to live (Santrock, 2011, pg. 23). Therefore, the foundation of all human interactions is trust. The degree to which trust is present will determine the nature and depth, as well as the length of relationships. If children develop basic trust, they progress through the rest of the developmental stages in a healthy way. However, if mistrust is the primary concept developed in infancy (as in a situation of divorce), the subsequent developmental stages are damaged (Rhodes, 2000, pg. 9). Still, Erikson’s trust vs. mistrust is not resolved once and for all in the first year of life. Children who leave infancy with a sense of trust can still have their sense of mistrust activated at a later stage if their parents are separated or divorced under conflicting circumstances (Santrock, 20011, pg. 187). Additionally, babies experience the distress of the parents and become aware of the changes, and comings and goings of both parents and other caretakers as they form emotional ties. The combination of distressed and/or unavailable parents can create demanding or withdrawn children. As children approach the age of two, their striving toward independence is closely tied to feeling secure; with the loss of a parent, this security is threatened (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 347). Early Childhood Parents who are struggling with their own sense of failure, anger, guilt, and loss have difficulty providing a stabilizing, consistent environment for their children. This is especially hard for preschoolers who are developmentally starting to move away from home and toward peers and school. They have the beginnings of a sense of morality, combined with difficulty in distinguishing between their thoughts and reality, and thus are especially vulnerable to guilt and confusion (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 347). They may regress developmentally in a number of ways: separation anxiety, sleep disturbances, bed wetting, clinginess, fear of any leave taking, and aggressive fantasies (Wallerstein Kelly, as cited by Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 347). Middle Late Childhood The impact of divorce on children of this age is more profound (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 51). Children six to eight seem to have the hardest time of any age group (Wallerstein and Kelly, as cited by Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 351), as they are old enough to realized what is happening, but do not have adequate skills to deal with the disruption. They often feel a sense of responsibility, experience tremendous grief, and have a pervasive sadness and yearning for the departed parent. At the same time, they experience recurring fantasies of reconciliation and often think that they have the power to make it happen (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 51). Additionally, children of divorced parents have lower grades and other measures of academic achievement, are more likely to be held back, and are more likely to drop out of school (Institute for American Values, 2011, pg. 27). Adolescence Adolescence is a stage filled with many changes, both physical and emotional. It is a time when children are beginning their own process of leaving home and forming an identity separate from their parents. At the threshold of young adulthood, relationships take center stage (Wallerstein, Lewis and Blakeslee, 2000, pg. 32). However, the divorce of parents make romance and courtship more difficult and tenuous for the adolescence as they reach adulthood, and the effects on dating seem to be the strongest when divorce takes place during the child’s teenage years (Fagan Rector, 2000). Older teenagers and young adults date more often, have more failed romantic relationships, and experience a more rapid turnover of dating partners. Not surprisingly, this leads to a great number of sexual partners, which in itself creates a grave risk that one will acquire an STD (Fagan Rector, 2000). Because of their own unsettled nature, adolescents’ reactions to divorce include anger, a desire for a stable home, and a need for clear boundaries between them and their parents (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 354). For those teenagers who were already having difficulties, divorce creates an added burden, increasing the risk of emotional problems. You read "Divorce Across the Lifespan" in category "Papers" In addition to the sexual acting out and multiple partners, children at this age may engage in self-destructive behavior, such as truancy, school failure and substance abuse, (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 354). Emerging Adulthood While the effects on dating seem to be the strongest when the divorce takes place during the child’s teenage years, they also carry over into adulthood (Fagan Rector, 2000). In a twenty-five year study, Judith Wallerstein (2000) found that the effects of divorce on children crescendo as they enter adulthood. Their relationships with the opposite sex were often impaired by acute fears of betrayal and abandonment, and many also complained that they had never witnessed a man and a woman in a happy relationship and doubted that achieving such a relationship was possible (Wallerstein, Lewis and Blakeslee, 2000, pg. 2). A recent growth of cohabitation flows in part from the loss of confidence that many children of divorce have in marriage. Having witnessed divorce up close, many young adults are afraid that they will not achieve lifelong love and they feel handicapped in their search for love and marriage by their lack of models of a happy relationship between a man and a woman, th eir lack of knowledge about how to resolve differences, and their expectation of betrayal and abandonment by their partner (Institute for American Values, 2011, pg. 3). In addition, parental divorce increases the odds by 50 percent that adult children who do choose to marry will also divorce; this is partly because children of divorce are more likely to marry prematurely and partly because children of divorce often marry other children of divorce, thereby making their marriage even more unstable and uncertain (Institute for American Values, 2011, pg. 19). Because of increased life expectancy, a growing trend is divorce in families with children being launched (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 56). While divorce in childhood affects the development of emerging adulthood, a parental divorce in emerging adulthood has a profound impact, as well. When children are no longer the major focus of a couple, marriages become vulnerable and a decision is made to divorce. It may be that divorce occu rs when parents who have stayed together â€Å"for the children† now feel free to end a long and unhappy marriage (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 357). Despite the fact that they may be out of the parental home, divorce can be very stressful for young adults, with a sense of increased responsibility to their parents and a vulnerability to loyalty conflicts. In addition, young adults may experience a sense of loss of family home, abandonment by parents, and a concern about their own marriage (Ahrons, as cited by Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 356). The biggest risk for the adult child is when the parents â€Å"hold on to them† or assume the role of substitute spouse to fill the loneliness. When the parents are unable to make a meaningful new start, the children may have difficulty moving forward with their own lives (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 357). Middle Adulthood Divorce in middle adulthood may be more negative than divorce in early adulthood (Santrock, 2011, pg. 515). When divorce occurs for the couple in later life, it reverberates like a shock wave throughout the entire family and there may be three generations of family members whose lives will be altered by divorce (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 59). The children’s reactions and perceived responsibilities become key aspects of the divorce-adjustment process during this phase. Each parent may want to become reinvolved with the children in a way that is inappropriate; in a role reversal, children may now feel burdened by their parents (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 359). In addition, the emotional and time commitment to marriage that had existed for so many years may be not lightly given up by one partner (Santrock, 2011, pg. 515). Many midlife individuals perceive a divorce as failing in the best years of their life. The divorcer might see the situation as an escape from an unsustainable relationship, but the divorced partner usually sees it as a betrayal, or the ending of a relationship that had been built up over many years and that involved a great deal of commitment and trust (Santrock, 2011, pg. 515). An unwanted, unexpected divorce at this stage is traumatic, even when the marriage has been unsatisfactory to each for many years. Starting over as a single person is very difficult, particularly when there is not a clear sense of identity apart from the roles within the marriage. It is especially hard to find renewed meaning in life at this stage of the lifespan (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 359). Additionally, divorce has negative emotional effects on both divorced men and women as they complain of loneliness, diminished self-esteem, anxiety about the unknowns in their lives, and difficulty forming satisfactory new intimate relationships (Hetherington, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 460). A recent study reveled that following marital dissolution, both men and women were more likely to experience an episode of depression than individuals who remained with a spouse over a two-year period (Rotermann, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 460). Other impacts include the lowering of the economic standing of some middle-aged and older women who have a limited number of options (Mitchell, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 515). Late Adulthood As stated in infancy, Erikson developed eight stages of human development. Individuals experience the eighth stage, integrity versus despair, in late adulthood. This stage involves reflecting on the past and either piecing together a positive review or concluding that one’s life has not been well spent (Santrock, 2011, pg. 594). A well-adjusted older adult feels acceptance with his life and choices; however, when an individual is embroiled in divorce, he has despair and regret over their marital outcomes, thus not experiencing his full potential at this last stage of development. Additionally, in this stage of life, the divorced individuals’ parents may be dead, and their children and siblings involved with their own lives. As a result, they may feel very isolated from their usual social network and that their opportunities are limited. If one spouse has been left by the other, he often feels ashamed, humiliated, and as a result may isolate himself from former ties and may not have the energy or desire to form new relationships (Peck Manocherian, 1988, pg. 360). Furthermore, there are social, financial, and physical consequences of divorce for older adults (Mitchell, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 607). Divorce can weaken kinship ties when it occurs in later life, especially in the case of older men (Cooney, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 07), and divorced older women are less likely to have adequate financial resources than married older women (Santrock, 2011, pg. 607). Divorce is also linked to more health problems in older adults (Lillard Waite, as cited by Santrock, 2011, pg. 607). Why do individuals who are happily married live longer, healthier lives than divorced individuals? People in happy marriages likely feel less physically stressed, which puts less wear and tear on a person’s body; such wear and tear can lead to numerous physical ailments, such as high blood pressure and hart disease (Waite, as cited by Santrock, 011, pg. 459). Conclusion Divorce has universal ill effects on individuals in all stages of life development. If the family is the building block of society, then marriage is the foundation. However, as fewer adults enter into marriage, more adults leave it in divorce, and more adults begin cohabitating, the foundation of marriage is growing weaker and weaker (Fagan Rector, 2000, pg. 32). It is best stated by Wallerstein et al. (2000): Divorce is a life-transforming experience. After divorce, childhood is different. Adolescence is different. Adulthood- with the decision to marry or not and have children or not- is different. Whether the final outcome is god or bad, the whole trajectory of an individual’s life is profoundly altered by the divorce experience. Marriage is not merely a private preference, but also a social and public good. Concerned citizens, as well as scholars, need to be aware of the long-term consequences of divorces happening every day in America and the implications it has on the stages of development across the lifespan. References Cherlin, A. J. (2011). The deinstitutionalization of American marriage. In A. Guest (Ed. ), Taking Sides: Clashing views in life span development (3rd ed. , pp. 294-307). New York: McGraw-Hill Fagan, P. F. , Rector R. (2000). The effects of divorce on America (Research Report No. 1373). Retrieved from the Heritage Foundation website: http://www. heritage. org/library/ backgrounder/bg1373. html Institute for American Values. (2011). Why marriage matters, thirty conclusions from the social sciences . New York: Institute for American Values. Peck, J. S. amp; Manocherian, J. R. (1988). Divorce in the changing family life cycle. In B. Carter and M. McGoldrick (Ed. ), Changing family life cycle: a framework for family therapy (2nd ed. , pp. 335-369). Prentice Hall College Div Rhodes, J. L. (2000, Winter). The impact of divorce across the developmental stages. Paradigm, winter 2000. Retrieved from http://www. sequeltsi. com/files/library/The_Impact_of_ Divorce_on_Development. pdf Santrock, J. W. (2011). Life-spa n development (13th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill Wallerstein, J. S. , Lewis, J. M. , and How to cite Divorce Across the Lifespan, Papers

Man And The Ozone Essays - Ultraviolet Radiation, Gases,

Man And The Ozone Man and the Ozone Ozone is perhaps one of the singularly most important molecules there is. No, not because man came from ozone, but because it forms a protective layer above the earth in its stratosphere which allowed for the growth of life upon land. Before we had an ozone layer, the rays of the sun struck the earth unimpeded, barraging it with the deadly ultraviolet radiation which prohibited any chance of life on earth. However, there was life in the oceans, plant life in particular. This plant life may seem unimportant, especially since it is algae that is being given the spotlight. The algae in the ocean produces oxygen gas (O2), which would rise through the water and up into the air, there it would be struck by the ultraviolet radiation, which changed the O2 into O3, which is ozone. This ozone gas has the unique ability to block out the vast majority of sunlights harmful ultraviolet radiation. This afforded for the growth of life on the earths surface. Despite the ozone layer, which helps block UV light and its radiation, some still gets through and can affect us. First it causes a nice looking tan, or a painful sunburn, however, deeper than that, it is wreaking havoc upon the skin cells, though this damage is cumulative, and is not visible for along time, it does great harm. In fact, ultraviolet radiation is the number one cause of skin cancer, and its occurrence is still rising. This rise in cases of skin cancer could be linked to a dramatic change in the atmosphere - the loss of ozone. Over the past decades, scientists have begun to study the atmosphere and the ozone layer. They have noticed a marked reduction in the amount of ozone that is protecting the earth from the suns harmful UV rays. Before, the amount of ozone in the atmosphere was kept in check by methane gas released from the most mundane of things (like termites). This methane gas would break down small amounts of ozone to keep it from getting to thick, and blocking too much of the suns light, or from causing damage to the animals on land. However, as the scientists work has shown, this delicate balance has been disrupted by the pollution produced by man. There are many factors that contribute to the pollution that is destroying the atmosphere, like the byproducts from major industries and manufacturing, of which millions of tons are released into the atmosphere yearly. But the most dangerous po llutant comes form smaller, yet more numerous items: air conditioning units, freezers, refrigerators, aerosol spray cans, and styrofoam products. The one thing which all of theses items have in common is Chloro-Fluorocarbons or CFCc. CFCs are used in all of those products because they are very stable, and non-reactive. That is, they are not flammable, and they will not react with other chemicals. Because they are so stable, CFCs are not very biodegradable, and thus have a long time to get into the atmosphere and destroy ozone molecules. Once CFCs reach the atmosphere, they come in contact with ultraviolet radiation that breaks them down and converts them into Chlorine atoms, which in turn react with the ozone molecules. It is estimated that each Chlorine atom is responsible for the destruction of 100,000 molecules of ozone. That is 300,000 oxygen atoms for each atom of Chlorine. This destruction of ozone is most obvious in the north and south poles of the earth, where there has been an estimated 30-40% decrease in ozone levels, and a 100% increase in Chlorine levels. Part of this is due to the unique winter-vortex that is caused by polar winds in the winter, which effectively keep polar air from being recirculate d. This air is later released, and goes over Australia and New Zealand, which then experience their highest annual levels of UV radiation. So why should we be worried about this trend? Well, it is estimated that for every 1% drop in ozone levels there is 10,000 more cases of skin cancer developed in the U.S. alone. This is truly a very costly effect, not only monetarily, but also on peoples emotions and quality of life. So what

Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay Example

Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay Example Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay By Nichole Crawford We live in a society that is fueled by instant gratification, exaggerated sexuality and an ever-increasing lack of moral values. Through both poor role models and a highly sexualized media, the adolescents of today are constantly presented with a â€Å"lassiez-faire† projection of sex. Rarely do these images accurately portray the very real damage that irresponsibility and a lack of planning can do to the lives of young adults. In fact, some of the portrayals in today’s media do just the opposite, by encouraging teens to behave irresponsibly in regard to their sex lives. This is evidence in reality-style shows like â€Å"Teen Mom† and â€Å"16 and Pregnant†, which glorify teen sexuality and the consequences it can lead to. By airing television shows about teen moms on television, we are encouraging our young girls to repeat the behavior they see. Glorifying these girls’ choices to have unprotected sex at such a young age is irresponsible. There is little doubt in anyone’s mind of the turbulence that accompanies adolescence. It is a hormone-filled roller coaster of confusion, excitement and increased interest in sexuality. In recent years, with the internet boom and the increase in available television channels, it has become the norm for sex to be the topic in almost any available programming. From regular primetime shows to cable shows to commercials, sex can be found as a central theme. With children, teenagers, and young adults being exposed to so much sexuality, we can assume that it must have an impact on the development of their sexuality and their sexually-based decisions. The parents of teenagers and their children participated in one study in which they were asked questions in an attempt to determine how the media influenced them sexually (Werner-Wilson 303-311). The results were conclusive, and showed that teens did not believe the media had much influence of their decisions. Their parents, however, expressed more concern. As one parent put it the images on television were â€Å"pornography set to music† (page 310) and the concern was widespread that it would have a negative impact on their children’s’ choices. This is a concern that should not be easily dismissed. The study concluded that the teens were essentially unaware of the influence the media had on their decision making (311). Because it is unlikely for teenagers to be able to make a distinction on their own, parents should make an effort to sit with their children on occasion and observe their television choices, to monitor their intake of televised sexuality and discuss the unhealthy or dangerous decisions being made in the programming. Essentially, parents should assume a watchful and careful role in their children’s television decisions. We can hope that by taking such an interest in the television programming their children watch, parents can ward off any negative influence that sexually-charged programming can have on behavior. Another such study performed in a Northeastern high school had a goal of profiling television use among high school television viewers, with a specific interest in the sexual content in these programs (Schooler, pg. 484-508). The study divided the participants into groups and measured the amount of sexual content in each group’s television consumption. They found that the programs with higher sexual content was viewed by more of the study participants as a whole then were the programs with low sexual content, regardless of the genre of the show (503). This finding suggests that these adolescents do not realize the extent to which they are influences by the sexual content, because they believed that they were choosing the shows based on the genre, not the sexual content. As the author of the study findings puts it: â€Å"it appears that some teens who regularly watch higher levels of sexual content may be doing so somewhat inadvertently (504). This finding further emphasizes the need for parents to take an active role in helping their teenagers become aware of what they are watching, and how it impacts their thinking and behavior, because if they are unknowingly watching these highly sexualized shows, they may also unknowingly behave in a way that is portrayed in these programs. When taking these facts into consideration regarding teen sexuality and teen pregnancy, it can be safely assumed that these shows play at least a small role in the way that today’s teens view sexuality and, in turn, their own sexual behavior. One form of sexual content that poses a particular problem is so-called â€Å"reality† television. Shows that show romantic and sexual themes, presented in a realistic format give teenagers, especially female teenagers, a false sense of reality. The shows fail to depict accurate scenarios in the dating world, which leads to unrealistic expectations. When combined with insufficient knowledge about the dangers of risky sexual behavior, the shows perpetuate the possible problems that exist for teenagers in both romantic and sexual scenarios. These shows, while being called â€Å"reality TV† are unrealistic about the actual dating world as it exists today. Rarely do the characters on these shows experience real consequences from their behavior, such as pregnancy or STD’s, and in that sense, they fail to prepare the viewers for what is actual reality. This leads teens into situations with unrealistic expectations for their own encounters. In a study performed to determine the correlation between romantically themed reality television and teenage behavior, it was found that â€Å"[Romantically themed reality television] is a significant of girls’ frequency of sexual conversations with their peers and boys’ perceptions of the sexual experience levels of their peers (Vandenbosch, page 578). When these shows are viewed adolescents who watch them talk about sex more frequently with their friends; without also increasing the frequency of educational conversations about sex, this increases the risk of sexually irresponsible behavior. These shows do not depict sex and romance in a way that encourages furthered learning abo ut responsible sex, rather, it depicts sex as having little or no consequences in the lives of the people engaging in it. It is human nature that the things to which we devote our energy become increasingly a part of our lives, so if the adolescent’s time is increasingly spent watching sexually themed television, and then subsequently talking about it, they will spend an increasing amount of time involved in related behaviors. This leads to an increased risk of unplanned pregnancy and STD’s simply because the amount of sexual experiences should increase according to the amount of time spent watching and then discussing sexually themed television and other media. Not only does a sexually-themed medium increase the likelihood of sexual behavior in adolescents, but it also increases the likelihood that teens will experience consequences or regrets after such behavior. For example, after watching and discussing a show with a high amount of sexual content, a female teenage viewer may go and behave similarly to a character on the show. She may be misguided in her expectation because of the outcome on the show, and when her encounter fails to meet her expectations, she may come to regret her experience. Not only is regret a very real risk, but if the shows fails to depict necessary protection use by the character, it is likely that the teen may not think to use such measures in her own encounters. In this way, television content about romantic and sexual encounters sets adolescents for disappointment and an increased risk of unwanted consequences. According to one study involving teens’ media exposure to sex and the likelihood of regretting their first sexual encounter: â€Å"teenagers exposed to high levels of sex on television will be more likely than their peers to regret their first sexual experience† (Berry, page 93). While this may be related to an emotional aspect of the encounter, it is also fairly likely that it is due to the experience of unwanted consequences to the sexual behavior such as pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. The study found also that increased television exposure led to earlier sexual experiences and also states that â€Å"earlier age at first sex is correlated with elevates risks of both pregnancy and STD’s. (Berry, 97)† Given these findings, as well as the findings in other studies regarding the media influence on adolescents, we can draw the following conclusions. First, teenagers who watch television programming are largely unaware of the influence it has on their own personal sexual behavior. Parents of such teens seem to be more aware of the influence it can have, although are unlikely to try to change the media intake of their children. Secondly, the viewing of sexual media leads to an increase in discussions of, and possibly involvement in, sexual activity. The involvement in such activity is rarely paired with education about sexual safety when it is influenced by sexual media. Lastly, teens who watch a high volume of sexually themed television are more likely to regret their first sexual experience. This can be because of unrealistic expectations, or can come from unwanted consequences such as STD’s and pregnancy. All of these facts should be taken into consideration when choosing what to allow our children to watch. While it would be nearly impossible to completely eliminate sexual content, it is possible and probably necessary to attempt to regulate it for children and teenagers. By oing so, we can probably reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Berry, Sandra H et al. â€Å"It’s Better on TV: Does Television Set Teenagers Up For Regret Following Sexual Initiation? † Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Volume 41, Number 2, June 2009. Pages 92-96. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012 Schooler, Deborah et al. â€Å"Beyond Exposure: A Person-Oriented Approach to Adolescent Media Di ets† Journal of Research on Adolescence; Volume 19 (3) 2009, Page 484-508. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012 Vandenbosch, Laura, and Steven Eggermont. Temptation Island, The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire : A Prospective Cohort Study On The Role Of Romantically Themed Reality Television In Adolescents Sexual Development.   Journal Of Broadcasting amp; Electronic Media  55. 4 (2011): 563-580. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. Werner-Wilson, Ronald Jay et al. â€Å"Adolescent and Parent Perceptions of Media Influence on Adolescent Sexuality† Adolescence; summer 2004, Vol. 39 Issue 154, p303-313. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012

How to Use the NORM.INV Function in Excel

How to Use the NORM.INV Function in Excel Statistical calculations are greatly sped up with the use of software. One way to do these calculations is by using Microsoft Excel. Of the variety of statistics and probability that can be done with this spreadsheet program, we will consider the NORM.INV function. Reason for Use Suppose that we have a normally distributed random variable denoted by x. One question that can be asked is, â€Å"For what value of x do we have the bottom 10% of the distribution?† The steps that we would go through for this type of problem are: Using a standard normal distribution table, find the z score that corresponds to the lowest 10% of the distribution.Use the z-score formula, and solve it for x. This gives us x   ÃŽ ¼ zÏÆ', where  ÃŽ ¼ is the mean of the distribution and  ÃÆ' is the standard deviation.Plug in all of our values into the above formula. This gives us our answer. In Excel the NORM.INV function does all of this for us. Arguments for NORM.INV To use the function, simply type the following into an empty cell: NORM.INV( The arguments for this function, in order, are: Probability – this is the cumulative proportion of the distribution, corresponding to the area in the left-hand side of the distribution.Mean - this was denoted above by ÃŽ ¼, and is the center of our distribution.Standard Deviation - this was denoted above by ÏÆ' and accounts for the spread of our distribution. Simply enter each of these arguments with a comma separating them. After the standard deviation has been entered, close the parentheses with ) and press the enter key. The output in the cell is the value of x that corresponds to our proportion. Example Calculations We will see how to use this function with a few example calculations. For all of these, we will assume that IQ is normally distributed with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. The questions we will answer are: What is the range of values of the lowest 10% of all IQ scores?What is the range of values of the highest 1% of all IQ scores?What is the range of values of the middle 50% of all IQ scores? For question 1 we enter NORM.INV(.1,100,15). The output from Excel is approximately 80.78. This means that scores less than or equal to 80.78 comprise the lowest 10% of all IQ scores. For question 2 we need to think a little before using the function. The NORM.INV function is designed to work with the left portion of our distribution. When we ask about an upper proportion we are looking at the right-hand side. The top 1% is equivalent to asking about the bottom 99%. We enter NORM.INV(.99,100,15). The output from Excel is approximately 134.90. This means that scores greater than or equal to 134.9 comprise the top 1% of all IQ scores. For question 3 we must be even more clever. We realize that the middle 50% is found when we exclude the bottom 25% and the top 25%. For the bottom 25% we enter NORM.INV(.25,100,15) and obtain 89.88.For the top 25% we enter NORM.INV(.75, 100, 15) and obtain 110.12   NORM.S.INV If we are only working with standard normal distributions, then the NORM.S.INV function is slightly faster to use. With this function, the mean is always 0 and the standard deviation is always 1. The only argument is the probability. The connection between the two functions is: NORM.INV(Probability, 0, 1) NORM.S.INV(Probability) For any other normal distributions, we must use the NORM.INV function.

Policy Evaluation Findings and Recommendations Paper WK5 BPA 303 Essay

Policy Evaluation Findings and Recommendations Paper WK5 BPA 303 - Essay Example Social service programs are to be devised that could identify the social needs of children and their parents such as food, clothing and housing and ensure that these services are continuously available to families. The company currently has a policy that they comprehensively meet cognitive and academic needs of children; however, the organization must be focused towards providing development of a child across all domains (Chicago Department, 2010). The Federal Government should form a body of stakeholders that could address the matters of the organization and to assemble their workforce. The government should convene a pool of professionals that could be able to provide their suggestions voluntarily to generate more funds for the organization. The Federal Government should also develop a team of researchers that could find out new ways to teach young children and to improve their learning standards. The involvement of the family is the key to early learning of childhood which could help in successful parent engagement (Chicago Department,

The death penalty of Kasab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The death penalty of Kasab - Essay Example A major ethical issue is whether the death penalty of Ajmal Amir Kasab was justified or not as several agencies of human rights and the leaders of several minority groups have asked this question against the decision or verdict of The Indian Supreme Court as according to them, death penalty cannot be justified in any case. The death penalty of Ajmal Kasab can be considered as one of the favorite debatable or argumentative topics. The article mentioned in the appendix is full of ethical issues as Ajmal Kasab killed innocent people without any reason only for the sake of terrorism and religion. On the other hand, human rights and the leaders of minority groups demanded mercy of Kasab for the sake of ethics and non-violence. Therefore, it can be considered as an ethical issue. Argumentative Analysis There are two different types of ethical theories regarding the source of value and integrity, such as non-consequential reasoning and consequential reasoning. The ethical issue in the death penalty of Kasab will be discussed through the use of the above mentioned theories. Consequential Reasoning It is true that ethical theorists or thinkers have criticized the effectiveness and justification of consequential reasoning as this ethical reasoning generally ignores the basic value of moral assumptions and categories. A consequential theory generally judges the wrongness or rightness of a particular action based on the consequences of a specific action.