Creative Thinking

Much of the thinking done in formal education emphasizes the skills of analysis–teaching students how to understand claims, follow or create a logical argument, figure out the answer, eliminate the incorrect paths and focus on the correct one. However, there is another kind of thinking, one that focuses on exploring ideas, generating possibilities, looking for many right answers rather than just one. Both of these kinds of thinking are vital to a successful working life, yet the latter one tends to be ignored until after college. We might differentiate these two kinds of thinking like this: Critical ThinkingCreative Thinking nalyticgenerative convergentdivergent verticallateral probabilitypossibility judgmentsuspended judgment focuseddiffuse objectivesubjective answeran answer left brainright brain verbalvisual linearassociative reasoningrichness, novelty yes butyes and In an activity like problem solving, both kinds of thinking are important to us. First, we must analyze the problem; then we must generate possible solutions; next we must choose and implement the best solution; and finally, we must evaluate the effectiveness of the solution. As you can see, this process reveals an alternation between the two kinds of thinking, critical and creative.In practice, both kinds of thinking operate together much of the time and are not really independent of each other. What is Creativity? An Ability. A simple definition is that creativity is the ability to imagine or invent something new. As we will see below, creativity is not the ability to create out of nothing (only God can do that), but the ability to generate new ideas by combining, changing, or reapplying existing ideas. Some creative ideas are astonishing and brilliant, while others are just simple, good, practical ideas that no one seems to have thought of yet.Believe it or not, everyone has substantial creative ability. Just look at how creative children are. In adults, creativity has too often been s uppressed through education, but it is still there and can be reawakened. Often all that's needed to be creative is to make a commitment to creativity and to take the time for it. An Attitude. Creativity is also an attitude: the ability to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve it.We are socialized into accepting only a small number of permitted or normal things, like chocolate-covered strawberries, for example. The creative person realizes that there are other possibilities, like peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or chocolate-covered prunes. A Process. Creative people work hard and continually to improve ideas and solutions, by making gradual alterations and refinements to their works. Contrary to the mythology surrounding creativity, very, very few works of creative excellence are produced with a single stroke of brilliance or in a frenzy of rapid activity.Much closer to the real truth are the stories of companies who had to take the invention away from the inventor in order to market it because the inventor would have kept on tweaking it and fiddling with it, always trying to make it a little better. The creative person knows that there is always room for improvement. Creative Methods Several methods have been identified for producing creative results. Here are the five classic ones: Evolution. This is the method of incremental improvement. New ideas stem from other ideas, new solutions from previous ones, the new ones slightly improved over the old ones.Many of the very sophisticated things we enjoy today developed through a long period of constant incrementation. Making something a little better here, a little better there gradually makes it something a lot better–even entirely different from the original. For example, look at the history of the automobile or any product of technological progress. With each new mode l, improvements are made. Each new model builds upon the collective creativity of previous models, so that over time, improvements in economy, comfort, and durability take place.Here the creativity lies in the refinement, the step-by-step improvement, rather than in something completely new. Another example would be the improvement of the common wood screw by what are now commonly called drywall screws. They have sharper threads which are angled more steeply for faster penetration and better holding. The points are self tapping. The shanks are now threaded all the way up on lengths up to two inches. The screws are so much better that they can often be driven in without pilot holes, using a power drill.The evolutionary method of creativity also reminds us of that critical principle: Every problem that has been solved can be solved again in a better way. Creative thinkers do not subscribe to the idea that once a problem has been solved, it can be forgotten, or to the notion that †Å"if it ain't broke, don't fix it. † A creative thinker's philosophy is that â€Å"there is no such thing as an insignificant improvement. † Synthesis. With this method, two or more existing ideas are combined into a third, new idea.Combining the ideas of a magazine and an audio tape gives the idea of a magazine you can listen to, one useful for blind people or freeway commuters. For example, someone noticed that a lot of people on dates went first to dinner and then to the theater. Why not combine these two events into one? Thus, the dinner theater, where people go first to eat and then to see a play or other entertainment. Revolution. Sometimes the best new idea is a completely different one, an marked change from the previous ones. While an evolutionary improvement philosophy might cause a professor to ask, â€Å"How can I make my lectures better and better? a revolutionary idea might be, â€Å"Why not stop lecturing and have the students teach each other, working as teams or presenting reports? † For example, the evolutionary technology in fighting termites eating away at houses has been to develop safer and faster pesticides and gasses to kill them. A somewhat revolutionary change has been to abandon gasses altogether in favor of liquid nitrogen, which freezes them to death or microwaves, which bake them. A truly revolutionary creative idea would be to ask, â€Å"How can we prevent them from eating houses in the first place? A new termite bait that is placed in the ground in a perimeter around a house provides one answer to this question. Reapplication. Look at something old in a new way. Go beyond labels. Unfixate, remove prejudices, expectations and assumptions and discover how something can be reapplied. One creative person might go to the junkyard and see art in an old model T transmission. He paints it up and puts it in his living room. Another creative person might see in the same transmission the necessary gears for a multi-sp eed hot walker for his horse. He hooks it to some poles and a motor and puts it in his corral.The key is to see beyond the previous or stated applications for some idea, solution, or thing and to see what other application is possible. For example, a paperclip can be used as a tiny screwdriver if filed down; paint can be used as a kind of glue to prevent screws from loosening in machinery; dishwashing detergents can be used to remove the DNA from bacteria in a lab; general purpose spray cleaners can be used to kill ants. Changing Direction. Many creative breakthroughs occur when attention is shifted from one angle of a problem to another. This is sometimes called creative insight.A classic example is that of the highway department trying to keep kids from skateboarding in a concrete-lined drainage ditch. The highway department put up a fence to keep the kids out; the kids went around it. The department then put up a longer fence; the kids cut a hole in it. The department then put up a stronger fence; it, too, was cut. The department then put a threatening sign on the fence; it was ignored. Finally, someone decided to change direction, and asked, â€Å"What really is the problem here? It's not that the kids keep getting through the barrier, but that they want to skateboard in the ditch.So how can we keep them from skateboarding in the ditch? † The solution was to remove their desire by pouring some concrete in the bottom of the ditch to remove the smooth curve. The sharp angle created by the concrete made skateboarding impossible and the activity stopped. No more skateboarding problems, no more fence problems. This example reveals a critical truth in problem solving: the goal is to solve the problem, not to implement a particular solution. When one solution path is not working, shift to another. There is no commitment to a particular path, only to a particular goal.Path fixation can sometimes be a problem for those who do not understand this; they become overcommitted to a path that does not work and only frustration results. Negative Attitudes That Block Creativity 1. Oh no, a problem! The reaction to a problem is often a bigger problem than the problem itself. Many people avoid or deny problems until it's too late, largely because these people have never learned the appropriate emotional, psychological, and practical responses. A problem is an opportunity. The happiest people welcome and even seek out problems, meeting them as challenges and opportunities to improve things.Definition: a problem is (1) seeing the difference between what you have and what you want or (2) recognizing or believing that there is something better than the current situation or (3) an opportunity for a positive act. Seeking problems aggressively will build confidence, increase happiness, and give you a better sense of control over your life. 2. It can't be done. This attitude is, in effect, surrendering before the battle. By assuming that something canno t be done or a problem cannot be solved, a person gives the problem a power or strength it didn't have before.And giving up before starting is, of course, self fulfilling. But look at the history of solutions and the accompanying skeptics: man will never fly, diseases will never be conquered, rockets will never leave the atmosphere. Again, the appropriate attitude is summed up by the statement, â€Å"The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. † 3. I can't do it. Or There's nothing I can do. Some people think, well maybe the problem can be solved by some expert, but not by me because I'm not (a) smart enough, (b) an engineer, or (c) a blank (whether educated, expert, etc. Again, though, look at the history of problem solving. Who were the Wright brothers that they could invent an airplane? Aviation engineers? No, they were bicycle mechanics. The ball point pen was invented by a printer's proofreader, Ladislao Biro, not a mechanical engineer. Major a dvances in submarine design were made by English clergyman G. W. Garrett and by Irish schoolmaster John P. Holland. The cotton gin was invented by that well known attorney and tutor, Eli Whitney. The fire extinguisher was invented by a captain of militia, George Manby. And so on.In fact, a major point made by recent writers about corporate excellence is that innovations in industry almost always come from individuals (not research groups) outside of the area of the invention. General Motors invented Freon, the refrigeration chemical, and tetraethyl lead, the gasoline additive. Kodachrome was invented by two musicians. The continuous steel casting process was invented by a watchmaker (fooling around with brass casting). Soap making chemists turned down the problem of inventing synthetic detergents: those detergents were invented by dye making chemists.In a nutshell, a good mind with a positive attitude and some good problem solving skills will go far in solving any problem. Interest in and commitment to the problem are the keys. Motivation–a willingness to expend the effort–is more important than laboratory apparatus. And remember that you can always do something. Even if you cannot totally eradicate the problem from the face of the earth, you can always do something to make the situation better. 4. But I'm not creative. Everyone is creative to some extent. Most people are capable of very high levels of creativity; just look at young children when they play and imagine.The problem is that this creativity has been suppressed by education. All you need to do is let it come back to the surface. You will soon discover that you are surprisingly creative. 5. That's childish. In our effort to appear always mature and sophisticated, we often ridicule the creative, playful attitudes that marked our younger years. But if you solve a problem that saves your marriage or gets you promoted or keeps your friend from suicide, do you care whether other people desc ribe your route to the solution as â€Å"childish? † Besides, isn't play a lot of fun?Remember that sometimes people laugh when something is actually funny, but often they laugh when they lack the imagination to understand the situation. 6. What will people think? There is strong social pressure to conform and to be ordinary and not creative. Here are some overheard examples: Creative Person: â€Å"I like to put water in my orange juice so it's less sweet. † Ordinary Person: â€Å"You're weird, you know? † Ordinary Person: â€Å"What are you doing? † Creative Person: â€Å"We're painting our mailbox. † Ordinary Person: â€Å"You're crazy. † Creative Person: â€Å"Why don't we add a little garlic? Ordinary Person: â€Å"Because the recipe doesn't call for garlic. † Ordinary Person: â€Å"Why are you going this way? It's longer. † Creative Person: â€Å"Because I like the drive. † Ordinary Person: â€Å"Did anyone ever t ell you you're strange? † The constant emphasis we see in society is toward the ruthlessly practical and conformist. Even the wild fashions, from those in Vogue to punk rock, are narrowly defined, and to deviate from them is considered wrong or ridiculous. Some peoples' herd instinct is so strong that they make sheep look like radical individualists. So, what will people think?Well, they're already talking about you, saying that your nose is too big or your shoes are funny or you date weird people. So, since others are going to talk about you in unflattering ways anyway, you might as well relax and let your creativity and individualism flow. Almost every famous contributor to the betterment of civilization was ridiculed and sometimes even jailed. Think about Galileo. And look what happened to Jesus. Quotation: â€Å"Progress is made only by those who are strong enough to endure being laughed at. † Solutions are often new ideas, and new ideas, being strange, are usually greeted with laughter, contempt, or both.That's just a fact of life, so make up your mind not to let it bother you. Ridicule should be viewed as a badge of real innovative thinking. 7. I might fail. Thomas Edison, in his search for the perfect filament for the incandescent lamp, tried anything he could think of, including whiskers from a friend's beard. In all, he tried about 1800 things. After about 1000 attempts, someone asked him if he was frustrated at his lack of success. He said something like, â€Å"I've gained a lot of knowledge–I now know a thousand things that won't work. † Fear of failure is one of the major obstacles to creativity and problem solving.The cure is to change your attitude about failure. Failures along the way should be expected and accepted; they are simply learning tools that help focus the way toward success. Not only is there nothing wrong with failing, but failing is a sign of action and struggle and attempt–much better than inactio n. The go-with-the- flow types may never fail, but they are essentially useless to humanity, nor can they ever enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes after a long struggle. Suppose you let your fear of failure guide your risk taking and your attempts.You try only three things in a year because you are sure of succeeding. At the end of the year the score is: Successes 3, Failures 0. Now suppose the next year you don't worry about failing, so you try a hundred things. You fail at 70 of them. At the end of the year the score is Successes 30, Failures 70. Which would you rather have–three successes or 30–ten times as many? And imagine what 70 failures will have taught you. Proverb: Mistakes aren't fun, but they sure are educational. Myths about Creative Thinking and Problem Solving 1. Every problem has only one solution (or one right answer).The goal of problem solving is to solve the problem, and most problems can be solved in any number of ways. If you discover a solution that works, it is a good solution. There may be other solutions thought of by other people, but that doesn't make your solution wrong. What is THE solution to putting words on paper? Fountain pen, ball point, pencil, marker, typewriter, printer, Xerox machine, printing press? 2. The best answer/solution/method has already been found. Look at the history of any solution set and you'll see that improvements, new solutions, new right answers, are always being found.What is the solution to human transportation? The ox or horse, the cart, the wagon, the train, the car, the airplane, the jet, the SST? Is that the best and last? What about pneumatic tubes, hovercraft, even Star Trek type beams? What is the best way to put words on paper? The word processor? Is that the last invention? How about voice recognition, or thought wave input? On a more everyday level, many solutions now seen as best or at least entrenched were put in place hastily and without much thought–such as the use of drivers' licenses for ID cards or social security numbers for taxpayer ID numbers.Other solutions are entrenched simply for historical reasons: they've always been done that way. Why do shoe laces still exist, when technology has produced several other, better ways to attach shoes to feet (like velcro, elastic, snap buttons, and so on)? 3. Creative answers are complex technologically. Only a few problems require complex technological solutions. Most problems you'll meet with require only a thoughtful solution requiring personal action and perhaps a few simple tools. Even many problems that seem to require a technological solution can be addressed in other ways.For example, what is the solution to the large percentage of packages ruined by the Post Office? Look at the Post Office package handling method. Packages are tossed in bins when you send them. For the solution, look at United Parcel. When you send a package, it is put on a shelf. The change from bin to shelf is no t a complex or technological solution; it's just a good idea, using commonly available materials. As another example, when hot dogs were first invented, they were served to customers with gloves to hold them. Unfortunately, the customers kept walking off with the gloves. The olution was not at all complex: serve the hot dog on a roll so that the customer's fingers were still insulated from the heat. The roll could be eaten along with the dog. No more worries about disappearing gloves. (Note by the way what a good example of changing direction this is. Instead of asking, â€Å"How can I keep the gloves from being taken? † the hot dog server stopped thinking about gloves altogether. ) 4. Ideas either come or they don't. Nothing will help. There are many successful techniques for stimulating idea generation. We will be discussing and applying them. ________________________________________ _______________________________________ Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking and Problem Solv ing 1. Prejudice. The older we get, the more preconceived ideas we have about things. These preconceptions often prevent us from seeing beyond what we already know or believe to be possible. They inhibit us from accepting change and progress. Example problem: How to connect sections of airplanes with more ease and strength than using rivets. A modern solution is to use glue–glue the sections together. We probably wouldn't think of this solution because of our prejudice about the word and idea of glue.But there are many kinds of glue, and the kind used to stick plane parts together makes a bond stronger than the metal of the parts themselves. Another problem: How can we make lighter weight bullet proof windows? Thicker glass is too heavy. Answer: Use plastic. Again, we are prejudiced against plastic. But some plastics are not flimsy at all and are used in place of steel and in bullet proof windows. Another problem: Make a ship's hull that won't rust or rot like steel or wood. Solution: Use concrete. Our prejudice is that concrete is too heavy.Why not make lightweight concrete? That's what's done. Final example: How to divide a piece of cake equally between two kids so they won't complain that one kid is preferred over the other: â€Å"You gave him the bigger piece; you like him better! Waaaah! † Solution: Put the kids in charge of dividing the cake. Our prejudice is that immature, selfish kids can't do the job. But the solution, one cuts the cake, the other has first choice of pieces, works very well. 2. Functional fixation. Sometimes we begin to see an object only in terms of its name rather in terms of what it can do.Thus, we see a mop only as a device for cleaning a floor, and do not think that it might be useful for clearing cobwebs from the ceiling, washing the car, doing aerobic exercise, propping a door open or closed, and so on. (Later on in the semester, we will be doing â€Å"uses for† to break out of this fixation. ) There is als o a functional fixation of businesses. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the railroads saw themselves as railroads. When automobiles and later airplanes began to come in, the railroads didn't adapt. â€Å"That's not our business,† they said.But if they had seen themselves as in the people transportation business rather than in the railroad business, they could have capitalized on a great opportunity. Similarly, when the telephone began its rise, some of the telegraph companies said, â€Å"That's not our business; we're telegraph companies. † But if they had said, â€Å"Hey, we're in the communication business, and here's a new way to communicate,† they would have grown rather than died. Compare Western Union to AT&T. And have you heard of those big calculator companies Dietzgen or Pickett? No? Well, they were among the biggest makers of slide rules.But when electronic calculators began to rise, they didn't know what business they were in. They thought they were in the slide rule business, when they were really in the calculator business. They didn't adapt, they didn't accept the challenge of change and opportunity, and they fell. And there's a functional fixation of people, too. Think a minute how you react when you see your pastor mowing his lawn, or your auto mechanic on a television show promoting a book. Stereotyping can even be a form of functional fixation–how many people would laugh at a blonde quoting Aristotle?Too often we permit only a narrow range of attitudes and behaviors in other people, based on bias, prejudice, hasty generalization, or limited past experience. Think of those statements like, â€Å"I can't believe he said that,† or â€Å"Imagine her doing that,† and so on. But recall the proverb, â€Å"The goal of my life is not to live down to your expectations. † 3. Learned helplessness. This is the feeling that you don't have the tools, knowledge, materials, ability, to do an ything, so you might as well not try. We are trained to rely on other people for almost everything. We think small and limit ourselves.But the world can be interacted with. If you are in need of information, there are libraries, bookstores, friends, professors, and, of course, the Internet. And there are also city, county, and state government agencies with addresses and phone numbers and web sites. There are thousands of government agencies that really exist and that will talk to you. Contact the EPA if you're working on air pollution or pesticides. Get some government publications. Call your state senator or federal congressman for help on bills, information, problems. Contact the manufacturer of a product to find out what you want to know about it.If you are technologically poor, you can learn. Learn how to cook, use tools, make clothes, use a computer. You can learn to do anything you really want to do. All you need is the motivation and commitment. You can learn to fly an airpl ane, drive a truck, scuba dive, fix a car–name it. 4. Psychological blocks. Some solutions are not considered or are rejected simply because our reaction to them is â€Å"Yuck. † But icky solutions themselves may be useful or good if they solve a problem well or save your life. Eating lizards and grasshoppers doesn't sound great, but if it keeps you alive in the wilderness, it's a good solution.Perhaps more importantly, what at first seem to be icky ideas may lead to better solutions–de-ickified analogues of the original. When doctors noted that some unsophisticated natives were using giant ant heads to suture wounds, they imitated this pincer-closing technique by inventing the surgical staple. Psychological blocks prevent you from doing something just because it doesn't sound good or right, which is a pretty ridiculous thing. Overcoming such blocks can be really beneficial. Navy commandos in Vietnam overcame their blocks and put on women's panty hose when they marched through the swamps and jungle.The pantyhose cut down on the friction and rubbing from the plants and aided in removing the dozens of leeches after a mission. Overcoming the block to using your own blood to write a help note could save your life someday if you got kidnapped. Positive Attitudes for Creativity 1. Curiosity. Creative people want to know things–all kinds of things– just to know them. Knowledge does not require a reason. The question, â€Å"Why do you want to know that? † seems strange to the creative person, who is likely to respond, â€Å"Because I don't know the answer. † Knowledge is enjoyable and often useful in strange and unexpected ways.For example, I was once attempting to repair something, without apparent success, when an onlooker asked testily, â€Å"Do you know what you're doing? † I replied calmly, â€Å"No, that's why I'm doing it. † Next, knowledge, and especially wide ranging knowledge, is necessary for cr eativity to flourish to its fullest. Much creativity arises from variations of a known or combinations of two knowns. The best ideas flow from a well equipped mind. Nothing can come from nothing. In addition to knowing, creative people want to know why. What are the reasons behind decisions, problems, solutions, events, facts, and so forth? Why this way and not another?And why not try this or that? The curious person's questioning attitude toward life is a positive one, not a destructive one reflecting skepticism or negativism. It often seems threatening because too often there is no good reason behind many of the things that are taken for granted–there is no â€Å"why† behind the status quo. So ask questions of everyone. Ask the same question of different people just to be able to compare the answers. Look into areas of knowledge you've never before explored, whether cloth dying, weather forecasting, food additives, ship building, the U. S. budget, or the toxicity of laundry detergents. 2. Challenge.Curious people like to identify and challenge the assumptions behind ideas, proposals, problems, beliefs, and statements. Many assumptions, of course, turn out to be quite necessary and solid, but many others have been assumed unnecessarily, and in breaking out of those assumptions often comes a new idea, a new path, a new solution. For example, when we think of a college, we traditionally think of a physical campus with classrooms, a library, and some nice trees. But why must college be a place (with congregated students and faculty) at all? Thus, the electronic college now exists, where students â€Å"go† to college right at home, online.Correspondence courses have existed for years, too, beginning with the challenging of the school-as-centralized-place idea. When we think of an electric motor, we automatically think of a rotating shaft machine. But why assume that? Why can't an electric motor have a linear output, moving in a straight line rather than a circle? With such a challenged assumption came the linear motor, able to power trains, elevators, slide locks, and so on. Problem: We make brandy, and for this special edition of our finest kind, we want a fully-grown pear in one piece inside each bottle. The bottle is narrow necked. How can we do it?As you think, watch for the assumptions you are making. Possible solutions (assuming fully grown pear): close the neck or bottom after insertion, use a plastic bottle like heat-shrink tubing, change to a wide mouth bottle. If we do not assume a fully grown pear: grow the pear from a bud inside the bottle. 3. Constructive discontent. This is not a whining, griping kind of discontent, but the ability to see a need for improvement and to propose a method of making that improvement. Constructive discontent is a positive, enthusiastic discontent, reflecting the thought, â€Å"Hey, I know a way to make that better. Constructive discontent is necessary for a creative problem sol ver, for if you are happy with everything the way it is, you won't want to change anything. Only when you become discontent with something, when you see a problem, will you want to solve the problem and improve the situation. One of the hallmarks of the constructively discontented person is that of a problem seeking outlook. The more problems you find, the more solutions and therefore improvements you can make. Even previously solved problems can often be solved again, in a better way.A constructively discontent person might think, â€Å"This is an excellent solution, but I wonder if there isn't another solution that works even better (or costs less, etc). † Another mark of constructive discontent is the enjoyment of challenge. Creative people are eager to test their own limits and the limits of problems, willing to work hard, to persevere and not give up easily. Sometimes the discontent is almost artificial–they aren't really unhappy with the status quo of some area, but they want to find something better just for the challenge of it and the opportunity to improve their own lives and those of others. 4.A belief that most problems can be solved. By faith at first and by experience later on, the creative thinker believes that something can always be done to eliminate or help alleviate almost every problem. Problems are solved by a commitment of time and energy, and where this commitment is present, few things are impossible. The belief in the solvability of problems is especially useful early on in attacking any problem, because many problems at first seem utterly impossible and scare off the fainter hearted. Those who take on the problem with confidence will be the ones most likely to think through or around the impossibility of the problem. . The ability to suspend judgment and criticism. Many new ideas, because they are new and unfamiliar, seem strange, odd, bizarre, even repulsive. Only later do they become â€Å"obviously† great. Other ideas, in their original incarnations, are indeed weird, but they lead to practical, beautiful, elegant things. Thus, it is important for the creative thinker to be able to suspend judgment when new ideas are arriving, to have an optimistic attitude toward ideas in general, and to avoid condemning them with the typical kinds of negative responses like, â€Å"That will never work; that's no good; what an idiotic idea; that's impossible,† and so forth.Hospital sterilization and antiseptic procedures, television, radio, the Xerox machine, and stainless steel all met with ho-hums and even hostile rejection before their persevering inventors finally sold someone on the ideas. Some of our everyday tools that we now love and use daily, were opposed when they were originally presented: Aluminum cookware? No one wants that. Teflon pans? They'll never sell. Erasers on pencils? That would only encourage carelessness. Computers? There's no market for more than a few, so why build them?R emember then that (1) an idea may begin to look good only after it becomes a bit more familiar or is seen in a slightly different context or clothing or circumstance and (2) even a very wild idea can serve as a stepping stone to a practical, efficient idea. By too quickly bringing your judgment into play, these fragile early ideas and their source can be destroyed. The first rule of brainstorming is to suspend judgment so that your idea-generating powers will be free to create without the restraint of fear or criticism. You can always go back later and examine–as critically as you want–what you have thought of.Proverb: â€Å"A crank is a genius whose idea hasn't yet caught on. † 6. Seeing the good in the bad. Creative thinkers, when faced with poor solutions, don't cast them away. Instead, they ask, â€Å"What's good about it? † because there may be something useful even in the worst ideas. And however little that good may be, it might be turned to good e ffect or made greater. Example problem: How can we get college students to learn grammar better? Solution: Spank their bottoms with a hickory stick. This isn't a good solution, partly because it's probably illegal. But should we just toss it out? Why not ask what's good about it? 1) it gives individual, attention to the poor performers, (2) it gives them public attention, (3) it motivates other students as well as the student being spanked, (4) it's easy and costs nothing. The next question is, Can we adapt or incorporate some of these good things into a more acceptable solution, whether derivative of the original or not? We easily fall into either/or thinking and believe that a bad solution is bad through and through, in every aspect, when in fact, it may have some good parts we can borrow and use on a good solution, or it may do inappropriately something that's worth doing appropriately.And often, the bad solution has just one really glaring bad part, that when remedied, leaves qu ite a good solution. In the above example, changing the physical spanking to a verbal spanking changes the entire aspect of the solution while keeping all the good points we identified. 7. Problems lead to improvements. The attitude of constructive discontent searches for problems and possible areas of improvement, but many times problems arrive on their own. But such unexpected and perhaps unwanted problems are not necessarily bad, because they often permit solutions that leave the world better than before the problem arose.For example, the first margarine was made from beef fat, milk, water, and chopped cow udder. It wasn't extremely tasty or healthy. Then about the turn of the century a shortage of beef fat created a problem. What to use? The margarine makers turned to vegetable fats from various plants and the soybean, corn, and sunflower oils they used are still used today. The margarine is healthier and tastes better. Or think about exams or papers. When you don't do as well a s you want, you think, â€Å"Oh no! † But actually, you have a good insight into what you don't know and still need to learn.You are aware of the geography of your knowledge in a much more detailed form than before the errors showed up. 8. A problem can also be a solution. A fact that one person describes as a problem can sometimes be a solution for someone else. Above we noted that creative thinkers can find good ideas in bad solutions. Creative thinkers also look at problems and ask, â€Å"Is there something good about this problem? † For example, soon after the advent of cyanoacrylate adhesives (super glue), it was noted that if you weren't careful, you could glue your fingers together with it.This problem–a permanent skin bond–was soon seen as a solution, also. Surgeons in Viet Nam began to use super glue to glue wounds together. Another example, also involving glue: 3M chemists were experimenting with adhesives and accidentally came up with one that was so weak you could peel it right back off. Hold strength, shear strength, all were way below the minimum standards for any self-respecting adhesive. A glue that won't hold? Quite a problem. But this problem was also a solution, as you now see in Post-It Notes. 9. Problems are interesting and emotionally acceptable.Many people confront every problem with a shudder and a turn of the head. They don't even want to admit that a problem exists–with their car, their spouse, their child, their job, their house, whatever. As a result, often the problem persists and drives them crazy or rises to a crisis and drives them crazy. Creative people see problems as interesting challenges worth tackling. Problems are not fearful beasts to be feared or loathed; they are worthy opponents to be jousted with and unhorsed. Problem solving is fun, educational, rewarding, ego building, helpful to society. Miscellaneous Good Attitudes 1.Perseverance. Most people fail because they spend only nine mi nutes on a problem that requires ten minutes to solve. Creativity and problem solving are hard work and require fierce application of time and energy. There is no quick and easy secret. You need knowledge gained by study and research and you must put your knowledge to work by hard thinking and protracted experimentation. You’ve surely read of the difficulties and setbacks faced by most of the famous inventors–how many filaments Edison tried before he found a working one, how many aircraft designs failed in the attempt to break the sound barrier.But planning to persevere is planning to succeed. 2. A flexible imagination. Creative people are comfortable with imagination and with thinking so-called weird, wild, or unthinkable thoughts, just for the sake of stimulation. During brainstorming or just mental playfulness, all kinds of strange thoughts and ideas can be entertained. And the mind, pragmatist that it is, will probably find something useful in it all. We will look at several examples of this later on. 3. A belief that mistakes are welcome. Modern society has for some reason conceived the idea that the only unforgivable thing is to fail or make a mistake.Actually failure is an opportunity; mistakes show that something is being done. So creative people have come to realize and accept emotionally that making mistakes is no negative biggie. One chief executive of a big American corporation warns all his newly hired managers, â€Å"Make sure you make a reasonable number of mistakes. † Mistakes are educational and can lead to success–because they mean you are doing something. Sir Francis Pettit Smith, one of the early developers of the screw propeller, tried one design in 1836.During the test, half of it broke off–what a failure–but then the boat increased in speed substantially, revealing the efficiency of a new design, formed from a mistake. In sum, as Vergil once said, â€Å"They can who think they can. † Havin g the proper positive attitude about generating new and useful ideas and solving problems is really a large part of the whole process. A few years ago, the pipes in my mom's house had finally rusted through and I was faced with the task of finding a plumber to get a bid. Knowing how much they charge for small repairs, I knew that doing a whole house would cost a fortune.I thought, â€Å"You know, I'd really like to do this job myself, but I wonder if I can. † My neighbor happened to be around once when I said this, and he said, â€Å"Oh, you can do it. † Just that simple expression gave me the positive attitude I needed to do it. So I did. Characteristics of the Creative Person †¢curious †¢seeks problems †¢enjoys challenge †¢optimistic †¢able to suspend judgment †¢comfortable with imagination †¢sees problems as opportunities †¢sees problems as interesting †¢problems are emotionally acceptable †¢challenges assumptions â € ¢doesn't give up easily: perseveres, works hard Creative Thinking 1. If you had the power to transform the educational system to more effectively develop critical thinking abilities, what suggestions would you want to see implemented? You should focus on only one level. Draw upon the research and principles presented in Chaffee’s book and identify the specific processes that you wish to encourage. If I had the power to transform the educational system to more effectively develop critical thinking abilities, I would start to familiarize children with the concepts as early as possible. In the past when I was growing up, the emphasis for learning was placed largely on memorization. Since then, however, there is a trend toward teaching critical thinking skills in the classroom. These skills emphasize more than memorizing. They emphasize analysis and logic. If I were revamping the education system I would have classrooms begin to teach these concepts as early as kindergarten. â€Å"Being open to new ideas and different viewpoints means being flexible enough to change or modify your ideas in the light of new information or better insight. † (Chaffee p. 56) This would be an important concept to foster in kindergarten because at that age children are still open to new ideas and concepts. To teach them at that age to be open to new ideas would help them when they get older. This would help the child to grow as a thinker. Having children become critical thinkers at an early age can be accomplished by asking questions that have more than one correct answer. This teaches the child that they can answer the question without being afraid of being wrong. Another important method for teaching young children is to have them work in groups. This exposes them to others’ thoughts and ways of thinking. This is where being flexible comes into play. Young children are naturally flexible in their thinking and open to new ideas. If we emphasize the importance of being flexible at this young age, the child will have an easier time remaining flexible in their thinking and be more open to new ideas later on in life. Even though working in groups is important, encouraging young children to think independently is also important. (Chaffee p. 71) This can be encouraged in a young child by giving them various ideas and having the child arrive at his own thoughtful conclusion. The reason I would start so young is that I feel that the earlier children are exposed to these concepts the earlier they will be able to use a combination of cognitive abilities, basic attitudes nd thinking strategies. These skills enable a person to clarify and better understand the world. (Chaffee p. 71) 2. Imagine that you were born in a different sociocultural context. Describe the factors that would influence your chances of achieving creative breakthroughs. Emphasize whatever domain you feel best reflects your potential. Be sure to also include the cognitive and developmental notions that are discussed by Csikszentimihalyi. For this question I imagined that I was alive during the depression era and was not part of the wealthy class of that time. My domain would be the writing of novels because I have always liked writing stories. The following factors would influence my chance of achieving a creative breakthrough. One factor is exposure. One can’t be creative in a domain without being exposed to it. For example, â€Å"No matter what mathematical gifts a child may have, he or she will not be able to contribute to mathematics without learning its rules. † (Csikszentimihalyi p. 29) What this means is that if I was not able to be exposed to writing, books or famous authors through school, I would not be successful in writing myself. If I don’t learn the rules of grammar and spelling it would be very hard for me to write anything worthwhile that anyone would want to publish. Chance, perseverance or being at the right place at the right time is also important. Conditions might not be favorable for me as a writer during the depression. Times were hard for everyone and everybody was struggling just to put food on the table. There might not be much opportunity for chance no matter how much I persevere. Also, I might not have much energy to put into writing after spending the majority of my time earning enough money to live. No matter how gifted a person is, he or she has no chance to achieve anything creative unless the right conditions are provided by the field. â€Å" (Csikszentimihalyi p. 330) The book gives the example of Michael Jordan and stated that if he â€Å"had been born in a country where basket ball was not practiced, he would not have been able to refine his skills and would not have been recog nized. † (Csikszentinihalyi p. 331) Also, I would need to have hope. If there is no hope to use my skill, I will not be successful. It is extremely difficult to make a living as a successful writer. If I don’t have hope, I will not have much of a chance. One of the most important things I would need is luck. Without luck on my side, my book won’t ever be read by an editor. One would have to have luck for the publisher to choose my manuscript out of the many they receive. It is very important to be at the right place at the right time. The book gives the example of a painter who made an important contact at a party. Using this example, if I go to a party, I might make an important literary contact which could start my career. If I choose not to attend this party for any reason, I may never meet that contact person and therefore never jump start my career. It is the luck of being at the right place at the right time. Cognitive variables may make me more predisposed to become a writer. I may have more of a strength for writing and less of a strength for math. Writing may come easy to me and if I was exposed early to books, authors and good writing, I may be able to develop this inherited potential. Overall, I feel that it would be extremely hard to become a successful author during the depression unless luck was on my side and I was able to persevere. . The last chapter in Chaffee and the last two chapters in Csikszentimihalyi discuss improving creativity. Analyze the differences and similarities between the two authors on this issue. How does critical thinking facilitate creativity and what else, beyond critical thinking is necessary for creativity to occur. Chaffee states that both thinking critically and creatively are â€Å"two essential and tightly interwoven dimensions of the thinking process. These two forms work as partners to produce effective thinking enabling us to make informed decisions and lead successful lives. Chaffee p. 276) Both Chaffee and Csikszentmihalyi have views on creativity. There are both similarities and differences to these views. Csikszentmihalyi feels you should be be surprised and surprise others frequently while Chaffee feels that a person should expect the unexpected. Both authors agree that the creative person should follow up on ideas that create a spark of interest when they emerge. They also agree that it is best to look at a problem from multiple perspectives and that this can be done by using the confirmation of other people. Csikszentimihalyi suggests the following for improving creativity. First of all he suggests both keeping notes of your interests and having specific goals. He also suggests that a person interested in improving their creativity do things that are enjoyable but also have some challenge to them. Also, by taking charge of your time, being open and focused, allowing time for relaxing and making a space conducive to the creativity you are trying to achieve you will be able to be more creative. Both Chaffee and Csikszentimihalyi feel that establishing a creative environment is important. This would be a physical environment that allows the person to be more creativ Chaffee feels that in order to improve creativity, one should begin by understanding how the creative process works. He also states that by allowing yourself to be absorbed by the task and the more knowledge you have on the subject in which you wish to be creative the more prepared you are to be creative. Chaffee feels that it is also important to stop thinking about the subject and let the subconscious take over. A person’s mind will continue to work on the subject in the background. He also says in his book to become aware of our negative voice which he calls the â€Å"voice of criticism†. This is a danger to a person’s creativity and the creative person has to learn to recognize the voice of criticism and to ignore it. A person can create a positive voice to put in place of the voice of criticism. When a person thinks of different ways to solve a problem, they are using creative thinking. The evaluating of these alternatives is the critical thinking process. Beyond critical thinking, having the ability to choose freely and decide in what area you choose to be creative facilitates creativity. To exercise genuine freedom, you must possess the insight to understand all of your options and the wisdom to make informed choices. † (Chaffee p. 293) Chaffee goes on to state â€Å"You can learn to redefine your daily life in a new light and enhance its value through free choices derived from thinking critically and creatively. â€Å" (Chaffee p. 293 ) Sources Chaffee, John. Thinking Critically A Concise Guide. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Print. Csiksentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity:Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996. Print.

Social Responsibility Theory

Social Responsibility Theory To combat the pressures that threatened freedom of the press, this theory was first introduced in 1947 and was recommended by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press. It stated that the media should serve the public, and in order to do so, should remain free of government interference. It defined guidelines that the media should follow in order to fulfill its obligation of serving the public. Ethics and the Media The Social Responsibility Theory claimed that the media could be self-regulating by adhering to the following precepts: †¢ Media has obligations to fulfill to a democratic society in order to preserve freedom. †¢ Media should be self-regulated. †¢ Media should have high standards for professionalism and objectivity, as well as truth and accuracy. †¢ Media should reflect the diversity of the cultures they represent. †¢ The public has a right to expect professional performance. The proponents of this theory had strong faith in the public’s ability to determine right and wrong, and take action to preserve the public good when necessary. ) The social responsibility does not only fall upon the reporters and producers of media. The responsibility also falls to the consumers to become media literate and maintain high, yet reasonable expectations of the media. In theory, if these things happen, there will be no need for government intervention. The Social Resp onsibility Theory was set forth as the ideal way for the media to conduct business. Over the years since its introduction, this theory has met with much criticism as well as support. It has become the standard for United States media practices. It has also set the standards for much of the currently accepted media ethics. [pic] [pic]Since the Hutchins Commission produced its famous theory, the United States has developed better educated journalists, seen a reduction in news sensationalism and enjoyed more accuracy in reporting. Many journalists are now also advocates for the public and for social issues and reform, getting heir messages out through the media. Read more at Suite101: What is the Social Responsibility Theory? : Written by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press http://press-freedom. suite101. com/article. cfm/what_is_the_social_responsibility_theory#ixzz0hYd9u8dH Social responsibility Social responsibility is an ethical or ideological theory that an entity whether it is a government, corporation, organization or individual has a responsibility to society at large. This responsibility can be â€Å"negative†, meaning there is exemption from blame or liability, or it can be â€Å"positive,† meaning there is a responsibility to act beneficently (proactive stance). Businesses can use ethical decision making to secure their businesses by making decisions that allow for government agencies to minimize their involvement with the corporation. (Kaliski, 2001) For instance if a company is proactive and follows the United States Environmental Protection Agency? EPA) guidelines for emissions on dangerous pollutants and even goes an extra step to get involved in the community and address those concerns that the public might have; they would be less likely to have the EPA investigate them for environmental concerns. â€Å"A significant element of current thinking about privacy, however, stresses â€Å"self-regulation† rather than market or government mechanisms for protecting personal information† (Swire , 1997) Most rules and reg ulations are formed due to public outcry, if there is not outcry there often will be limited regulation. Critics argue that Corporate social responsibility (CSR) distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations (Carpenter, Bauer, & Erdogan, 2009). Socially responsible Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible (SRB), or corporate social performance,[1] is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure their adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stockholders and all other members of the public sphere For each business, different measures are taken in consideration to classify a business as â€Å"socially responsible†. Each business attempts to reach different goals. There are four areas that should be measured regardless of the outcome needed: Economic function, Quality of life, Social investment and Problem solving. [citation needed] that is trying to be achieved should be measured to see if it meets with the cost guidelines that the business is willing to contribute. [edit] Emerging Normative Status of Social Responsibility Social responsibility as a non-binding, or soft law principle has received some normative status in relation to private and public corporations in the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Universal Declation on Bioethics and Human Rights developed by the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee particularly in relation to child and maternal welfare. (Faunce and Nasu 2009) The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is developing an international standard to provide guidelines for adopting and disseminating social responsibility: ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility. Due for publication in 2010, this standard will â€Å"encourage voluntary commitment to social responsibility and will lead to common guidance on concepts, definitions and methods of evaluation. † (ISO, 2009) The standard describes itself as a guide for dialogue and action, not a constraining or certifiable management standard. Social Responsibility |[pi|Practiced in the US in the 20th century | |c] | |[pi|Purpose is to inform, entertain, sell, but also to raise conflict to the plane of discussion | |c] | | |[pi|Ownership is private | |c] | | The social responsibility theory is an outgrowth of the libertarian theory. However, social responsibility goes beyond â€Å"objective† reporting to â€Å"interpretive† reporting. A truthful, complete account of the news is not necessarily enough today, notes the Commission on the Freedom of the Press: â€Å"It is no longer enough to report the fact [pic]truthfully. It is now necessary to report the truth about the fact. † Today's complex world often necessitates analysis, explanation, and interpretation. As the Commission stated in 1940: The emerging theory does not deny the rationality of man, although it puts far less confidence in it than the libertarian theory, but it does seem to deny that man is innately motivated to search for truth and to accept it as his guide. Under the social responsibility theory, man is viewed not so much irrational as lethargic. He is capable of using his reason but he is loath to do so. If man is to remain free, he must live by reason instead of passively accepting what he sees, hears, and feels. Therefore, the more alert elements of the community must goad him into the exercise of his reason. Without such goading man is not likely to be moved to seek truth. The languor which keeps him from using his gift of reason extends to all public discussion. Man's aim is not to find truth but to satisfy his immediate needs and desires. It is the press, therefore, that must be the â€Å"more alert element† and keep the public informed, for an informed populace is the cornerstone of democracy. Today's large media conglomerates, however, may not function naturally as a public forum, where all ideas are shared and available. â€Å"The owners and managers of the press determine which persons, which facts, which versions of these facts, shall reach the public,† writes the Commission. In this same light, Siebert, Peterson and Schramm warn: †¦ he power and near monopoly position of the media impose on them an obligation to be socially responsible, to see that all sides are fairly presented and that the public has enough information to decide; and that if the media do not take on themselves such responsibility it may be necessary for some other agency of the public to enforce it. The Canons of Journalism, adopted by the America n Society of Newspaper Editors addresses these same obligations when it calls on newspapers to practice responsibility to the general welfare, sincerity, truthfulness, impartiality, fair play, decency, and respect for the individual's privacy. Siebert, Peterson and Schramm also note that â€Å"freedom of expression under the social responsibility theory is not an absolute right, as under pure libertarian theory†¦. One's right to free expression must be balanced against the private rights of others and against vital social interests. † For example, it likely would not be socially responsible to report how the terrorist, using some new method, evaded security measures and smuggled a bomb onto a commercial airline.

OUTLINE AND EVALUATE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROCHES. (COGNITIVE AND Essay

OUTLINE AND EVALUATE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROCHES. (COGNITIVE AND HUMANISTIC) - Essay Example Individuals like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow felt existing (psychodynamic) theories failed to adequately address issues like the meaning of behavior, and the nature of healthy growth. However, the result was not simply new variations on psychodynamic theory, but rather a fundamentally new approach.† Some of the major weaknesses of the two approaches overlap, such as the fact that in all psychological perspectives—including both the cognitive and humanistic approaches—identifying practitioners that are any good in their field is rather difficult and sometimes impossible. For the purpose of treating psychopathy, the humanistic approach is simply not appropriate. It is not possible to have a great deal of emotional contact with psychopaths, and that step would be necessary if one were to engage in the humanistic approach. Furthermore, humanism is simply not suited for dealing with emotional damage that is extensive (Wilderdom, 2003). One strength of the humanistic approach is that it caters to unprecedented areas of psychology than other approaches. It is simply a newer, more eclectic approach at looking at the fundamentals of older ideas that were presented by previous psychologists (Wilderdom, 2003). Case studies and laboratory experiments are usually used as tools or instruments during investigations involving the cognitive approach. These studies are often conducted via computer and on people who are brain damaged. The entire idea behind the process is to analyze their thought processes and to draw a conclusion (Burgoon, 2008). There is one main weakness of this type of methodology, say some psychologists. One claims, for instance, that the testing environment is artificial and fair sets of data, therefore, cannot be collected. However, the thought processes of a human can be accurately recorded by a computer at any given time through the utilization of

What is the subject of Philosophy of Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What is the subject of Philosophy of Law - Essay Example General jurisprudence, as part of law, thus maintains a strong hold over this very normative aspect of law as it tries to answer the questions about how law dominates over every aspect of society at large. Philosophy of law thus boils down to the combination of concepts and theories that assist in the understanding of the very nature of law, the command that it holds within society as well as the sources of its authority. (Julius) The philosophies of Thomas Hobbes, Jeremy Bentham, and of course John Austin, have all added up to the nature and comprehension of law as well as the legal validity between legal positivism and the philosophy behind it. What exactly is law is the question that most legal philosophers have aimed to define during the course of their lifetime, and the various schools of thought that have contributed towards the same are legal positivism, natural law, legal realism and legal interpretivism. In order to address these questions, they have been placed under the branch of jurisprudence, since the 18th century. The legal philosopher Isodore states that â€Å"we call these legal matters just which are adapted to produce and preserve happiness and its parts for the body politic, for the state are a perfect community†. (Aquinas) The author states that law is normative in nature for the good of citizens; it purports the benefit of the various people living under the law, together, for their common good. At the same time hower, it also aims to provide individual good for as many as possible. This merges with the Utilitarian theory of Jeremy Bentham where he states that the law should aim for the greatest good of the greatest number. A consideration thus to understand the phiosophy of law should be made towards understanding the distinction between law and morality on the basis of the above mentioned. When the law tends to bend towards a form of socil control, it seeks answers to the question relating to the community; for example, in what

Is History an art, a science or a craft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Is History an art, a science or a craft - Essay Example Cosmic, organic history and geologic developments are some of the events that are considered part of (human) history1. Meaning of art An art on the other hand is a study of creative skill or the study of a collection of disciplines which produce artworks which are driven by personal drive, in order to convey mood, a message or symbolism, for the viewer to analyse and interpret. Arts stimulate an individual’s emotions, thoughts, ideas and beliefs through the senses2. Meaning of science The phrase science derives its origin from the Latin phrase, scentia, meaning knowledge. As such, the phrase denotes science as a study of a systematic field of study which compiles and organises knowledge in the form of verifiable explanations and predictions concerning the universe and the life forms therein. Derry3 explains how classical qualifications such as the one passed by Aristotle conversely makes science the study of the body of reliable knowledge, or the study of knowledge which are r ationally and logically explainable. ... This may also involve the collection and transmission of knowledge about a craft. Because of this, guilds are inclusive of skilled amateurs, professional artisans and even beginners who may harbour specific interests in a given craft. There are series of tests to evaluate skills and provide frameworks for training new crafters. There has been a lack of consensus regarding the classification of crafts, with some academicians placing crafts as a hybrid between art and science, given that art relies on technique and talent, and science, knowledge4. How history ties in with the definitions above Interestingly enough, it is a matter of striking uniqueness that history ties with the definitions that have been advanced above. For one, one can see history as being tied to art since art is the study of creative skill or the study of a collection of disciplines which produce artworks which are driven by personal drive. The applicability of this standpoint to history is underscored by the fact that the creative skill mentioned above is critical for a historian to imagine a hypothetical problem, before he goes ahead to solve that specific problem by testing it. For instance, if a historian wants to establish the applicability and future of state competitiveness in international relations (as is envisioned in the theory of realism), then that academician my have to revisit the era between 1787 and 1990. This is because, it is in 1787 that the French Revolution took place, and thereby sparking the need for the Concert of Europe. The politics of Europe in turn triggered the World War I and II, before catalyasing the emergence of the Cold War. The definition of science partly qualifies history, given that science

1.Women into senior management. Gender communication barriers Essay

1.Women into senior management. Gender communication barriers - Essay Example , from their colleagues also they do not receive a friendly approach rather their â€Å"work lives had been made intolerant by constant harassment.† In her work, Suppressed, Forced out and Fired: How Successful Women Lose Their Jobs, the Reeves (1951, 65) has remarked, while taking about tragic plight of women at workplaces, â€Å"Several of the women faced bullying and eventual termination from more than one job.† There are also various cases, where, â€Å"women were not technically fired or formally made redundant,† (Reeves, 1951, 65) and those victims have described their situation as â€Å"being forced out.† (Reeves, 1951, 65) Many people can argue that such incidents are mostly frequent in the developing nations. The author has studied cases of ten women and most of them were working in developed nations like UK or Australia. The truth behind such observation we understand not only from analysis of the author but also from our daily experiences. There is no denial of the fact that even in job scenario of the 21st century gender discrimination is a major issue and women are mostly victimized under the prevailing patriarchal atmosphere is the companies. Despite their talent, efficiency and commitment for the company, most often, women have to strive more in comparison with their male counterparts to reach the senior managerial level. Even after reaching such height, she cannot communicate with her subordinates properly due to gender communication barrier. According to the social scientists and psychologists basic features or behaviorist approach of a woman does not suit are not in accordance with modern work culture. Since the post globalization period, the private enterprises have expanded to a great extent and the work culture that is followed there, has also affected huge effect even over the public enterprises also. When a person is elevated at the managerial position he or she is supposed to fulfill a lot of job responsibility, managing and planning for his or

Extraordinary Rendition Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Extraordinary Rendition - Research Paper Example and its conspiratorial partners. Although clearly illegal under international law, both Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush used kidnapping where normal extradition was unavailable to bring fugitives to trial. â€Å"The Supreme Court upheld the government's power to prosecute people who were seized in these abductions and kidnappings irrespective of their legality under international law in the 1992 case of United States v. Alvarez-Machain.† (Lobel 1). Not until 911, however, under President George W. Bush, did the process shift from law enforcement to a â€Å"preventative† measure, and the new policy of extraordinary rendition sent â€Å"individuals to countries not for the purpose of trial, but rather to gather intelligence about future wrongdoing through unlawful detentions and coercive interrogation† (Lobel 1). The estimated number of incidents has been assessed by the CIA as in the â€Å"mid-range two figures.† Based on facts stated by Grey o n Frontline in 2011, this number is probably an underestimate considering â€Å"Many renditions organized by the CIA involved the help not only of other U.S. agencies, such as the Pentagon, but the practical assistance of other countries, such as Egypt and Syria† (Grey no. 6). It is safe then to assume that rendition is not an operation of the CIA alone. Information gathered suggests it is operated through a series of interconnected governmental agencies, private operatives, such as now famous Blackwater, and private companies including Boeing Aircraft, which, through a subsidiary, â€Å"’offers everything needed for efficient’ spanning the globe† (Mayer par 1). The U.S. program prompted several official investigations in Europe into alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers involving Council of Europe member states. Charges were filed against such actions based on article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture cites the COE ’s responsibility as â€Å"guardian for human rights, democracy and respect for the rule of law in Europe,† citing its â€Å"†¦.numerous and systematic human rights abuses committed in the pursuit of the so-called â€Å"war on terrorism† (UN Resolution 1507 par. 1 & 3). British collusion in the process is clear in the case of a Pakistani rice merchant held for over six years at Bagram airbase, infamously known to human rights campaigners as â€Å"Guantanamo's evil twin†(Rose par 9). As Rose in his December 9, 2009 article in the Mail reports, a rice merchant was held without charges for six years after disappearing on a business trip to Iran. Crossing into Iraq he was captured by the British who handed him over to the Americans, countering British insistence that it does not take part in such activities. Additional evidence is suggested by a cable from the British requesting specific information on all intelligence flights to determine whether they â€Å"might put the UK at risk of being complicit in unlawful acts (i.e. the ferrying of prisoners through British territories)† (U.S. Embassy Cables par 1). Beyond the immediate EU member states, a web of collusion is also suggested, as one Pakistani prisoner subjected to torture by his Egyptian captors states that the â€Å"chief of Egyptian security informed him that Egypt receives $10

Truth Is Far from Stereotypes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Truth Is Far from Stereotypes - Essay Example Based on some personal or sometimes even generally accepted opinions, we may often get mistaken making the first opinion about another person. This, hence, causes prejudice and that is unfair towards the people living nearby, for any kind of prejudice is an unsupported by facts subjective belief. A similar situation has happened to me. It was several years ago when I first visited Puerto Rico. Preparing for the trip I was somewhat unsure of what to expect. I thought a completely new and, consequently, a strange and hostile environment was waiting for me. This impression was enhanced by my idea that I would be a stranger, a foreigner among the natives. At that time I was seeing Puerto Rico as a completely different world, absolutely different from what I’m used to in the ordinary day-to-day life. I guess such expectations and thoughts were the results of my unawareness of the major cultural and national traits of the land’s population. I, actually, knew nearly nothing about them, and probably that is why I was so unsure of what to expect. On the other hand, I believe no matter how much information you can get from the media, your real-life impressions will be much different from everything you learned in theory. So, I got to my destination.  

Customer Relationship Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Customer Relationship Management - Essay Example CRM is a broad aspect and can be used from the perspective of consumer, business and implementation of strategies. CRM can be broadly divided into three major categories namely, functional, business strategy and implementation. Functional category includes aspects which relate to the functional areas of an organization and includes areas like sales force automation, customer support etc. The business strategy aspect can be divided into three types which are business, technology and customer. The implementation perspective can be divided into analytical, collaborative and operational based practices. Analytical CRM is a tool that seeks to gather and analyse data related to operational aspects of an organization. Tools like OLAP and other data warehousing techniques help in creating a better experience for consumers by improving their relationship with the organization. Collaborative CRM focuses upon the different points of interaction with the customer and the firm and serves to integ rate the various channels of communication for a better service delivery. Operational CRM helps in providing solutions with regards to various back and front end support for administrative and customer related aspects by integration with different databases to provide customer friendly support and delivery business processes (Motiwalla & Thompson, p.332-333). CRM not only aims at developing a better relationship with the customers but also strives towards creating an all round development.... Collaborative CRM focuses upon the different points of interaction with the customer and the firm and serves to integrate the various channels of communication for a better service delivery. Operational CRM helps in providing solutions with regards to various back and front end support for administrative and customer related aspects by integration with different databases to provide customer friendly support and delivery business processes (Motiwalla & Thompson, p.332-333). Scope and Importance of Customer Relationship Management CRM not only aims at developing a better relationship with the customers but also strives towards creating an all round development of relationship with all the major stakeholders including the suppliers who play a crucial part in the sustainability of the organization. The main aspects of CRM include knowledge of the customer, an effective strategy directed towards maintaining a relationship with the customer, communication and finally the value addition in the product or service offering (Peelen, p.7). Figure 2: Diagram showing the scope of CRM (Source: Buttle, p.299) CRM places the customer at the centre of the framework as all its intended policies are directed towards the development of customer relationship. Management of suppliers is essential considering the fact that they form the backbone of an organization’s business activities. Firms like Wal-Mart have effectively used ERP to bring about a better and efficient relationship with the suppliers so as to deliver greater value to the consumers. Toyota uses a effective CRM framework to manage its large number of suppliers which has helped in attaining efficiency which has reaped numerous operational benefits to

The effects of advertising on children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The effects of advertising on children - Essay Example This "The Effects of Advertising on Children" essay outlines the impact of the ad on the children, their behavior, eating disorders and bad habits. Almost all food and beverage companies are using television advertisements aiming to target the children. (McGinnis et al., 2006) These advertisements include: TV commercials, product placement, and character licensing in order to persuade children to consume low nutrient foods with more high calories, sugar, salt, and fattening foods like cereals, hamburgers, French fries, pizza, and hot dogs among others. Mc Donald’s, KFC, and Burger King are only some of the companies that widely use advertisements on TV, billboards, and even on the newspaper. Some of these kids also hear these advertisements on the radio. Advertisers have a convincing way of making fast food advertisements look extremely delicious and appetizing. On the other hand, fast food companies know how to make their food taste better by adding high sugar, salt, and fat contents. (Well, n.d.) The combination of television, radio, and print advertisements together with the good tastes of these foods make children crave for more each day. Unconsciously, fast food restaurants become the brand and food preferences of these children. Thus, affecting their health negatively. Based on a research study, there is a possible correlation between childhood obesity and sugary foods advertisements on the television. Another study shows that fast-food consumption is strongly associated with the sudden increase in weight and insulin resistance.

Cain Motors Information System Essay Example for Free

Cain Motors Information System Essay The purpose of this document is to define the Context of Cain Motors Information System in order to form the basis for the Information System and assessment of the success of the project. This document will allow the Project Board to ensure the project has a sound basis before making a major commitment to the project. It will act as a base document against which the Project Board and Project Manager can assess progress, change management issues, and on-going viability issues. Approval of the Project Initiation Document (PID) is sought from the Project Board, together with authorisation to proceed with the next stage of the project. here are eight main stages to using PRINCE2 Quality Management, which is the system we will be using to develop this project. Cain Motors is a small garage in the east end of London situated under the railway arches. The garage has been running for thirty years and relies mainly on word of mouth and passing trade for its business. It deals with car repairs, MOTs, servicing and insurance work. There are a total of four workers including the owner Mr Cain. Last year we were brought into update the system from a manual system to a computerised system, which we did but Mr Cain has called us back to update the system and to redevelop the existing information processing system at Cain Motors to resolve defects highlighted by users and Mr Cain, the project will also incorporate certain changes requested by users of the present information system such as to be able to produce a complete MOT history, to produce invoices, web site for advertising and booking appointments (MOT, crash repairs and servicing). Mr Cain has decided to store stock on the premises; therefore he now requires a facility for stock monitoring i. e. a stock table added to the database so he can keep track of what needs to be reordered and what has to be used. The project aims to provide an information system that will assist staff in the day-to-day operations of Cain Motors, providing an efficient computer system, which reliably and securely stores information manages stock control, customer information and MOT service history. If the aim of the project if achieved it will make the business more efficient, it will cut down on lost time, because everything should be on the computerised system, which means the company will on lost man hours. The identified defects are listed below, also the desired improvements Improvements Defects As business expands, stock details needs to be included and supplier referencing for purposes of stock control and monitoring. The supplier table is not related to any other tables within the databases, at present it is a flat file contained with the database. Web site for advertising and booking appointments (MOT and crash repairs servicing) MOT history is not recorded for each customer, when a search is entered only the last record is shown. A full history needs to be returned. Estimates were not included into database version 1 to be included in version (estimate log, costs retail date given who gave when was it given to customer, proceed or decline. How long does estimate stand) Printing details currently only tacks a screen dump and prints that off rather than a full report, which is really what is required. Delete functions used in a VB front end for the database does not delete record conation with the database table this needs to be readdressed. The stock control system will be integrated into the existing system, linking the supplier table to the database. The system will be loaded as part of a new version, data migration for the previous version will be required and data entry will be required to enable the staff to see all supplier information. Financially this change will benefit Cain Motors immensely, turn around time will increase for cars, and cars will not be held static in the garage awaiting parts thus increasing the amount of cars that can be worked on at once. Thus increasing business revenue.

Understanding Terrorism Essay Example for Free

Understanding Terrorism Essay The type of funding’s they used in the dirty war was, committing little petty crimes or credit card frauds. They used radiation and dirty bombs to create the explosions. The assets they used where from all over the country, they hid the material in vegetable oil. The Tactics they used to deceive the law enforcements were just to live a normal life. None of them had a criminal past, they were normal citizens in the laws eyes. The terrorist used a lot of phone cards. That’s how the police started catching on to what they were doing. The failures that the law enforcements had were they wasn’t ready for such a disaster. It also took them along time to catch on to what was happening right in front of their eyes. The general public couldn’t have stopped the attack no way possible. Other than telling the police that there was suspicious activity happening in their area, they could have been no help. Finally the law enforcements started putting clues together about the phone cards, the oil from the restaurant that was carrying the dirty bomb material in side. They were slightly too late for the first bomb but they caught the other two right in time. The part I didn’t understand is that all 3groups didn’t work together but they were going to detonate at the same time. I found that strange. The motive I saw from the movie was that it was religious purposes.

China S Domestic Tourism And Hotel Industry Tourism Essay

China S Domestic Tourism And Hotel Industry Tourism Essay With the rapid development of Chinas national economy, the leisure choices of Chinese people also have undergone great changes. The Chinese peoples leisure presents distinctive regional characteristics and cultural identity. As the increase in income and living standards improved, Chinese people are more willing to travel for consume choice. Chinese tourism is at s rapid developing stage, forming the three kinds of tourism: inbound tourism, domestic tourism and outbound tourism market. For its further development, Chinas tourism should continue to focus much on domestic tourism market. Consumer demand for the spiritual life and growth making tourism become casual as a relaxed kind of entertainment. When people facing the highly technical and highly urbanized life, many people have the demand to enjoy nature and enjoy life, high quality tourism has become the pursuit of many modern urban people with consume consciousness. Due to that, the development of Chinas domestic tourism would b e even brighter. Chinas domestic tourism promoted local economic development, and it is also influenced by national policy and regional economic development levels. Meanwhile, the hotel industry is also driven by the development of domestic tourism and has been considerable prosperity and development. It could be said that the development of tourism and hotel industry promote each other, are both important parts of Chinese national leisure. This essay will firstly discuss the variety markets and the growth of Chinas domestic tourism. Following this, it will discuss the growth and diversified markets of Chinas hotel industry. Finally, it will provide some suggestions for todays Chinese leisure market. The variety markets and the growth of Chinas domestic tourism With the economic development, China in the last century after 1990s, as guided by national policies, the domestic tourism market has entered a rapid development period (Wu, Zhu, and Xu, 2000). Since 1999, the total consumption growth rate remained at around 10%-12%, indicating that Chinas domestic demand for tourism market has entered a stable stage of development. When the Chinese tourism industry in its infancy, the domestic tourism demand is not enough strong, showing small-scale, with single of the characteristics associated. Therefore, the first principle of Chinas domestic tourism is to meet the inbound tourism demand as the main target. However, after nearly 20 years of development, domestic tourism gradually has become to be market-oriented, and Chinese people would like to take domestic travel as leisure-based behavior (Huang, Xiao, 2000). The number of domestic tourists has grown, tourists levels also constantly improved, showing a large scale and covering wide demand cha racteristics. The formation of effective travel demand requires tourists must have a certain ability to pay, that should be available for discretionary income. With the opening up of Chinas sustained rapid economic development, domestic residents disposable income is also increasing at the same time (Wu, Zhu, and Xu, 2000). The disposable income of urban residents rose from 1700.6 RMB in 1991 to 7702.8 RMB in 2002. With the sustained, steady, and moderate economy growth, income levels would continue to improve, people want not only meet their daily lives demand, which means that China would face increasingly strong domestic tourism demand and Chinas domestic tourism market is still promising in the following years. Chinas domestic tourism meets the requirements and effective demands of different tourists who have the desires to travel and enjoy leisure time. When received the mobilization of Chinese governments leave policies, Chinas domestic tourism market made a rapid expansion (Wang, Qu, 2004). Since May 1995 China launched the weekly rest-day work system and brought an excellent opportunity for the development of domestic tourism. These polices then leaded a weekend travel fever caused by the increase travel rate of urban residents in 1995-1999. September 1999, the Chinese State Council issued a national New Year and Day holiday approaches, made the Labour Day and National Day positioning as the Spring Festival holiday time with the extended 3 days, plus weekends before and after the formation of three complete the concentration of a week holiday as the Golden Week. It could be considered that, with the future improvement of the system for holidays, and paid holidays became more common, pe ople are free to spend their time on domestic pinpoints. In these systems, the distribution of Chinese tourism is imbalance in some areas, and someone has become a cultural and fashion center, become a popular tourist site and entry, such as Hong Kong (Tam, Chan, Chu, et al., 2005). The formation of effective demand travel requirements related to tourism infrastructure is needed to be improved. The rapid development of Chinas national economy has been a strong guarantee for the domestic tourist attractions and supporting facilities construction. A tourist attraction is not enough only increase the attraction for tourists, and the domestic tourists travel demand also should to improve in order to achieve sustainable development of domestic tourism according to the local differences (Wang, Qu, 2004). This requires that tourism-related transportation, catering, accommodation and other related supporting infrastructure, industry, construction and tourism development to become much convenient. Currently Chinese enterprises and the tourism management departments have recognized this, and they realized that the construction of tourism infrastructure is referred to a considerable height, increased investment, continuous improvement and tourism-related facilities. This will help to promote the formation of effective demand, tourism, promote tourism market. The formation of effective demand travel requirements of tourists reflects the change of consumer awareness. Economic development and upgrading of living standards, attract many international tourists, has changed peoples consumption concept, which making people more willing to improve their spiritual life through tourism. The growth and diversified markets of Chinas hotel industry Chinas domestic tourism development also greatly pushed the domestic hotel industry development and prosperity. Chinas hotel industry is developing rapidly in 2004, accommodation and catering industry in China is total 1 trillion RMB of business, accounting for 7.3% of gross national product, is about to become very important Chinas national economy industry. With Chinas sustained rapid growth and the rising living standards, it would gradually speed up the internationalization process of Chinese hotel industry. With the host of Beijing Olympics and Shanghai World Expo and Guangzhou Asian Games and even the further success of large-scale activities held in China by 2020, China would become the largest tourist destination in the world, and further promoted Chinas hotel industrys development to a new stage. Currently Chinese hotel industry shows many characteristics. The most hotels continuously improve product functionality. After 20 years of development, Chinas hotels could be subdivided as the general business hotel, tourist hotels, resort hotels, conference hotels, theme hotels and the general hotels, etc., and these hotels could continue to meet the diverse demands of the travel market (Pine, Phillips, 2005). There are about more than 100 hotel groups, nearly 1,000 hotel chains. Hotel consolidation and reorganization progresses, and the international hotel group from the low-end market promote the tourist market, accelerate the pace of internationalization of the domestic market. Hotel Services become more prominent in the hotel industry. Electronic information technology has been used into China hotel industry, and the global information highway also provides customers new services, such as artificial intelligence on the technology of temperature, light, automatic adjustment, the rooms have broadband Internet access, room is able to receive satellite TV network signal, remote network scheduled. So that the hotel industry increasingly dependent on science and technology. Hotels would become the main body of the hotel industry market. In the hotel industry, hotels have the largest space for future development. Chinese hotels begins to follow international hotel industry trends, being consistent with the actual Chinese hotel market segments to meet the needs of domestic tourists, and on major events is not sensitive to economic factors. Star hotel industry in China would shift to the main economic development of a new era hotels. The level of the overall hotel market returns showed a strong momentum of development. Considering all five star hotels in Chinas management fees and fixed fees, its income increased by 42% over the same period, four-star and three star hotels grew by 52% and 24%,compared to 1990s. International management of the five-star and four-star hotel than other hotels with the level of management to achieve better earnings before charges and fixed costs, total revenues were 43% and 35%. Shanghais five-star hotels achieved the highest level of return, has 48% of total revenue, followed by Sanya (47%) and Beijing (40%) of the five-star hotel (Lam, Han, 2005). In addition, the five-star hotel, the rooms of the hotels are still the highest total revenue department. Hotel room revenue accounted for 55% of total revenue, while its total expenditure amounted to only 11%. In the main expenditure, catering is containing 35% of income in the total expenditure. Some suggestions for todays Chinese leisure industry The Chinese government should further adjust and improve the statutory holidays and leave regulations, in order to promote the prosperity and development of Chinas domestic tourism market. Tourism activities and national holidays and vacation is closely related to institutional arrangements, and the introduction of adjustment programs of national holidays and paid annual leave regulations, will have an important impact on space-time structure on domestic tourism flows and tourism development. The implementation of the new holiday system will break the monopoly of the past space and time factors of travel, promote tourist flows. The promotion of coordinated development of regional tourism would optimize the layout of space tourism industry and narrow the differences in regional tourism. On the one hand, the adjustment of the statutory holiday will significantly increase the proportion of short-range tourist flows, increase tourism sources, and promote the development of tourism markets. It could force local government and tourism enterprises to pay more attentions to the development of local tourism market, and take serious on the active development of local tourism market, tourism product, tourism activities to enrich the content of local tourism. By optimizing product structure and promote local tourism development, the local economy development is of great significant convert. When local government adjust the implementation of tourism polices, it will bring about more p otential tourism, especially to these state-owned hotel (Heunga, Zhang, Jiang, 2008). Once met the personal needs of tourists, many tourist areas, which are not popular in the past, would be the choice of different types of potential tourists, thus stimulating the remote tourist spots to recovery, promoting the coordinated development of regional tourism. Those measures could improve the overall economic benefits of tourism. Of course, in nowadays, green, environmental protection, energy saving, safety, and health development of the international hotel has become a new direction of hotel industry. Followed the trend, many activities are implemented to create green hotels, promoting Chinas hotel industry into the safety, health, environmental protection, and energy saving road in the future. At present, China mainly focus on hotel supplies: disposable daily necessities, intelligent products, hotel decorative items, sports goods, food supplies, cleaning supplies, uniforms, and severa l other aspects of the hotel. Among them, the hotel leadership management level also should be enhanced (Wong Chan, 2010). Along with the development and improvement of living standards, customers increasing the demand for the hotel, which requested hotels in system equipment, used the hotel intelligent systems. Therefore, hotel equipment, intelligent systems, would be the development of hotel equipment, as an important trend. The other tech-intensive hotels supplies will be smaller, light and miniaturized to the trend of development. Conclusion In conclusion, Chinas domestic tourism and hotel industry has been rapid development and prosperity, because of the rapid development of national economy and domestic policy, regulation leaves promotion. Brought by the increase of Chinese residents income, it improved the quality of many people life, and more people want to choose consumption and leisure, the tourism and accommodation outside. To some degree, Chinese peoples leisure has markedly changed. Of course, Chinas domestic tourism presented geographical imbalance, which asked tourism authorities to develop a positive awareness of domestic tourism consumption. For the western and rural areas, the consume awareness of many tourist areas is not strong. So that it could take various measures to encourage people to travel. In order to promote tourism and hotel industrys further development, it also should be constantly improving and standardizing Chinas leave system. Beside successful enterprises in the construction and restructur ing of hotel, it has many efforts to create Chinas own strong hotel group. When Chinese super-national hotel group become the famous hotel brand of the world, it could get the establishment of China in the international hotel industry on a due place.

Oliver Twist Essay -- Essays Papers

Oliver Twist A Criticism of Society or a Biography With all of the symbolism and moral issues represented in Oliver Twist, all seem to come from real events from the life of its author, Charles Dickens. The novel’s protagonist, Oliver, is a good person at heart surrounded by the filth of the London streets, filth that Dickens himself was forced to deal with in his everyday life. It’s probable that the reason Oliver Twist contains so much fear and agony is because it’s a reflection of occurrences in Charles Dickens' past. Oliver Twist also brought to light the evils of social injustice and the victims of it. During his childhood, Charles Dickens suffered much abuse from his parents. This abuse is often expressed in his novel. For example, while suffering from starvation and malnutrition for a long period of time, Oliver was chosen by the other boys at the orphanage to request more gruel at dinner one night. After making this simple request, the master (at the orphanage) aimed a blow at Oliver's head with a ladle and placed him confinement. As noted by Patricia Marks in her article on Dickens, â€Å"childhood experience and suffering had emerged as a significant new topic in romantic poetry, and Dickens was personally impelled towards it by memories of his own pre-teenage years when, with the rest of his family in prison and himself alone, he was thrown into manual labour.† Dickens was even quoted as saying, â€Å"I might easily have been, for any care that was taken of... Oliver Twist Essay -- Essays Papers Oliver Twist A Criticism of Society or a Biography With all of the symbolism and moral issues represented in Oliver Twist, all seem to come from real events from the life of its author, Charles Dickens. The novel’s protagonist, Oliver, is a good person at heart surrounded by the filth of the London streets, filth that Dickens himself was forced to deal with in his everyday life. It’s probable that the reason Oliver Twist contains so much fear and agony is because it’s a reflection of occurrences in Charles Dickens' past. Oliver Twist also brought to light the evils of social injustice and the victims of it. During his childhood, Charles Dickens suffered much abuse from his parents. This abuse is often expressed in his novel. For example, while suffering from starvation and malnutrition for a long period of time, Oliver was chosen by the other boys at the orphanage to request more gruel at dinner one night. After making this simple request, the master (at the orphanage) aimed a blow at Oliver's head with a ladle and placed him confinement. As noted by Patricia Marks in her article on Dickens, â€Å"childhood experience and suffering had emerged as a significant new topic in romantic poetry, and Dickens was personally impelled towards it by memories of his own pre-teenage years when, with the rest of his family in prison and himself alone, he was thrown into manual labour.† Dickens was even quoted as saying, â€Å"I might easily have been, for any care that was taken of...