Pension and Depression Symptoms

Sunday, December 6, 2009

One time in the span of human life that are vulnerable to depression are the retirees. According Blakburn and Davidson (in Kuntjoro, 2002) there are some conditions that cause depression retirees, among others: first, Retirement [whether it is civil servants, private, or wrestle in the world of business] is often regarded as an unpleasant fact that towards the time come some people are feeling anxious because they do not know what kind of life to be faced later. In the modern era, as now, work is one of the most important factor that can bring satisfaction (because of money, position and strengthen self-esteem). Therefore, often retired people who can not enjoy old age with relaxed living, on the other hand, there are even experiencing serious problems (mental or physical).

Second; age, many people are afraid of old age because of the presumption if it is old, it will physically weaker, more disease, quickly forgotten, looks even less attractive and more other obstacles that make life even more limited. Pensions are often identified with a sign someone into old age. Many people perceive negatively by assuming that retirement is a sign he was not useful and no longer required because of old age and decline in productivity that are not profitable for companies or organizations where they work. Often without realizing that understanding affects a person's perception that he became over-sensitive and subjective to the stimuli that were arrested. This condition is what makes people so sick when retirement arrives.

Furthermore Blakburn Marie and Kate Davidson (in Kuntjoro, 2002) suggests that the psychological symptoms of depression when viewed from several aspects, is as follows: 1. Mood, characterized by sadness, anxiety, irritability. 2. Thinking, characterized by simple loss of concentration, slow and confused in thinking, blame themselves, doubt, low self-esteem. 3. Motivation, characterized by lack of interest and hobby work, avoiding work and social activities, wants to run away, high dependence on others. 4. Behavior, the mark with a nervous look of a slow movement, often pacing, crying, complaining, 5) Loss of appetite or increased appetite, loss of sexual desire, sleep disturbed.

According to Kim, J., E. and Moen, P., (in Rini 2001) from Cornell University examined the relationship between retirement with depression. Both were found: Women who had retired tend to have higher depression than women who have long retired or even that still works, especially if the husband is still working; newly retired men tend to experience more marital conflict than those not yet retired; man newly retired, but his wife still works tend to have higher marital conflict than men who are both newly retired, but his wife did not work; Men who retire and return to work and have a wife who does not work, then they have a higher morale than couples who both Neither worked.

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Depression in Stroke Patients

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Generally stroke continues with depression. That is, the patient conscious, the other condition to do this and it routinely, such as food must be fed, the road is slow, and the bath had to be helped. Because mental factors, they become depressed: frequent crying and starry-eyed. This was added for those who have a high enough position in the career or the rise as a public idol. Any relatives who come visiting receives with tears. Patients like asking, why this happened. In fact there was a curt said you were going to die soon, because it can not stand the situation.

This situation is hard and time consuming. Efforts to rehabilitate up to no less difficult to cure with "medical treatment". As in the Netherlands, Australia, for example, psychologists are directly involved with the doctors. Missed the problem of depression, will only make the patient worse and also difficult to grow healing, let alone cure. Because depression is very close to the employment. That is, the depression will make a lot of energy / psychic energy being drained.

In these efforts, stroke patients can take steps such as:

1. Opportunity to express their feelings properly and untukditanggapi seriously.

2. Treatment that can give motivation to rebuild their optimistic attitude waver. We need to eliminate the impression that they are no longer useful to society and family.

3. Association, in the context of social rebuilding. Suppose a dialogue with his friends, that arise sependeritaan attitude, and the impression that he was not just had a stroke and who experienced impotence.

4. Opportunity to communicate with relevant parties and monitor progress, such as doctors and psychologists.

5. Equanimity, a guarantee that all complaints will be kept confidential, so he does not need to feel anxious and ashamed

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia

Are you on a diet to stay slim body? All of a sudden become allergic to chocolate, ice cream and food, high calorie foods. Then be afraid to eat for fear of weight going up so the whole day with just a few spoonfuls of rice. Be careful, because the diet does not normally be in danger.

Just an example of the hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of cases of eating problems experienced by some people. Actually, we unknowingly had friends, friends or lest we ourselves had experienced similar cases. Yes, it called anorexia or bulimia. What is anorexia or bulimia, and why someone may experience these things.

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorders are commonly encountered in young women is anorexic or fancy term known as anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is an activity to deal with loss by food restriction is deliberately and through strict control. People with anorexia are aware that they feel hungry but afraid to meet their food needs because it can result in increased body weight. Their perception of satiety so disturbed when they consume some foods in small portions, they will soon feel 'full' or even nausea. They are constantly dieting so hard to achieve a thin body. Ultimately this condition could cause a dangerous effect of the death of the patient. Just imagine, if they continue to refrain from eating, from whom they obtain energy to live.

Bulimia

If the anorexic desperately to keep his hunger and trying so hard to not consume food in large quantities so that it can hold 'live' simply by eating 2-3 tablespoons of rice per day, it is not the case with bulimia. In essence, the ultimate goal of people with bulimia and anorexia are the same, namely to maintain the slim body shape (thin) may be but how they are different. People with bulimia tend to like foods that they like. They overeat to satisfy their desires, but then they throw up again until there was no food left. Thus they avoid getting fat but still be thin without the need to restrain their desire to eat. Can imagine if someone constantly spewing the foods they eat, where they get the calories for the move. The body becomes weak, it is difficult to think and ultimately no more energy can be used to defend himself.

Impact of Depression

There have been many studies that depression usually accompanied by physical illness, such as asthma, coronary heart disease, headaches and ulcers. According to an expert who is also author of the book, which is Philip Rice, depression will increase a person's risk of developing the disease due to depressed conditions tend to increase the circulation of adrenaline and cortisol, resulting in lower immune levels. In addition, the disease easily settled because of people affected by depression often lose their appetite, so changing his eating habits (too much food or hard food), lack of exercise, easily tired and have trouble sleeping.

There are also other cases, where the depression does not cause disease, but rather a prolonged illness that can not heal it eventually causes the sufferer to feel depressed. Examples of cases are experienced depression cancer, asthma, back pain which usually lasted for years.

In addition to decreased endurance, depression is considered quite dangerous for mental and physical health because it can cause cognitive impairment, emotional and productivity of individuals who experience depression,

The impact of depression experienced by one person will affect the balance of the "environment". Just as if we have a cold, then the whole body felt weak and uncomfortable. Not only that, other people around also potentially infected by the disease. According to Miner (1992), a professor from the State University of New York, in the context of such a situation the organization known as the concept of the Sick Organization. Therefore, an employee who suffered only emotional disorders such as depression, will have implications not only on performance and satisfaction in his own work but also on organizational performance and atmosphere.

Internet and Self Exploration

Is the Internet can be used as a tool for self exploration? The question is not without reason, given that many sites that display a variety of EQ and IQ test. Besides this virtual world technology provides many opportunities for individuals to express themselves uniquely. However, the psychologist argues, if a person fails to integrate the true self with the self that are expressed differently on the internet, then this would be very dangerous for these people's personal growth.

Regarding the impact of the Internet as a means of self exploration, the psychologist view it depends on the individual users. Of course the Internet can be useful if able to increase a person's life, and instead becomes a disease if a person's life is a mess. Bad effect will occur if the Internet is used as a means to insulate themselves. Many people do not realize that he was eventually closed to the social communication either because as the Internet is used as an escape from the problems associated with personality. That could happen because there are individuals who show a different personality when online with offline. The motivation behind it is different from one person to another. Problems will be complicated if the reason is because the individual is not satisfied / love with himself (probably because of inadequate, embarrassed, or feel unworthy), then creates and displays a very different personality from his original. Often he would rather the personality of the new engineering because it seems ideal for him. In fact, according to the psychologist, this is not true and not healthy. Why?

Michelle Weil, a psychologist and author of popular books, providing concrete examples of a girl who was shunned by her friends and then spend time berchatting Proxl ria by displaying a very contradictory character with its original character. As a result, over time he grew a lot with the existing social fact, not even able to accept yourself what it is. According to psychoanalysis renowned experts such as Erich Fromm, this condition is called neurosis. Conditions of prolonged neurosis will result in serious mental disorders. Michelle further added, the danger is created online personality different from the original.

Of course there are positive effects from the use of the Internet on the personality of a person (not addiction). Reid Steere, a sociologist from Los Angeles said, if someone uses the Internet as a medium of self exploration with a clear conscience, he would experience growth as a result of the reflection of himself in full over the Internet.

How Well do you Listen?

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Most people can talk about themselves and their ideas, jobs, plans, friends, etc. on and on. And yet, the ones that truly stand out -- in business and in life -- are those who cannot only talk but also LISTEN.

And by listening we don't just mean saying "uh-huh" every now and then in polite conversation. If you want to be heard when it's your time to speak, you must also learn how to listen well.

Active Listening Techniques

Pay attention. When someone is speaking to you, pay attention! Move closer to them and maintain eye contact. If in a crowded and noisy area, turn your head so that your ear is close to the speaker. And don't just take note of the words you hear. Look at his/her face and take note of the facial expression of your speaker and other body language.

Don't prepare. Part of listening attentively is NOT planning what YOU are going to say when it's your turn to talk. If you do this, you're only half-listening because you're already busy formulating your response. So don't prepare; just listen to the one speaking.

Convey that you're paying attention. Give the speaker clues that you're listening by making a few gestures such as nodding your head, smiling when appropriate, laughing when necessary, and so on.

Interjections such as "really?", "uh-huh", "no way!", and others also help relay to the speaker that you're listening to what's being said.

You may even want to "return the story" by saying something like "so let me see if I have this straight, you mean . . . ". Feel free to ask questions too. This conveys to the speaker that not only are you listening, but that you are interested in the conversation.

Another situation where you may need to clarify with a speaker is when he/she is speaking in a slightly different tongue or tone. He/she may be pronouncing the words differently and rather than just ‘drift off', ask politely for the speaker to repeat or clarify certain things he's said.

Don't interrupt. One common mistake of most people in a conversation is that they keep interrupting the speaker. Not only is this rude but you run the risk of completely misunderstanding what's being said because you didn't give the speaker a chance to finish his story. So give the speaker the time he deserves before you join in.

Listening is really an integral part of ANY relationship. Pay attention at how you listen to others. When you hone this skill, you'll find yourself naturally getting better at communicating with others.

Having the Confidence to Be Yourself

It is important that you do what is right for you, that you choose to do the things in this life which suit you as a person. There is no point in doing what you do not like, or do not believe in, in order to please another person. If you do, then you will usually end up resenting the person whom you had chosen to try to please.

We humans do what we want in this life (generally speaking) but we do not always admit to ourselves that this is the case. It is easy to say that it is another person's fault that something happened, and so on, and yet in reality the truth is that we chose to go along with whatever it was. There are many situations which I think the majority of people will relate to as ones in which we knew didn't quite feel right and yet we never the less went along with it.

It is easy in hindsight to see that the wrong choice was made, and possibly that choice was made based upon the wrong reasons. How many people know of someone who stays with their partner because they are afraid of being on their own? Or perhaps you know someone who leaves a good and stable, loving and successful relationship because "something" (which they cannot quite identify) is missing?

In the world of business, how many people go into a job because it is expected of them as opposed to what they are really passionate about? It is so easy for human beings to be swayed by what other people think, or by the local "norms" in our community, or by what we think that others expect of us. It is also easy to be swayed in our very beliefs about what is right or wrong, and perhaps it is also easy to alter our own beliefs in the hope that we will change the beliefs of others.

When the chips are down, the most important thing is to be true to your own path in this life, and this means not being swayed too much by others and also not swaying others to go along with you. We are all on our own paths, and we all have to take our individual course through this life. Your own beliefs should change only because you are discovering more and more accurately who you are as a person and not because you are purely aligning with the beliefs of friends or associates, or because you are trying to impose your beliefs on another.

This does not mean that you should not change. To not change would be to stagnate and die. This is a world which constantly moves and changes and everything within it moves and changes too. Human beings are no exception. The important thing is to have the confidence to move and change in a manner appropriate to you, in a way which suits you and affirms your true beliefs about yourself.

Nor does it mean that you should not compromise in certain circumstances or situations. Compromise is inevitable in a world where everyone is an individual living their own life, upon their own path. The key is in having the ability to compromise without compromising your own beliefs or those of the other person; Balance has to be sought. There has to be give and take in every relationship in life. Life is like a see-saw; as one end goes up there is another end which goes down...but there is an optimal point where both ends are level and everyone is happy. This is the equilibrium which everyone should seek to achieve in their relationships with others.

This equilibrium can only happen if you have self-confidence. To have the confidence to be yourself and to continually grow in your understanding of yourself and the world is the basis of what life is all about.

By; Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for self-confidence. Visit http://www.roseannaleaton.com/

Original Baby Shower Invitation Ideas

Celebrating the upcoming birth of your child is a lovely, fun time and a baby shower adds to that enjoyment, Organizing a baby shower can take a lot of time and effort and even a little thing like the invitations take a lot of decisions. If you look around and know your budget guidelines there are a huge arrange of baby shower invitations ideas that you can consider.

The usual invitations are made of thick paper or cardboard on which the request is printed. Traditionally baby shower invitation ideas have included designs of pictures and shape cut-outs generally associated with babies. Things like storks, pacifiers, cribs, toys, feeding bottles and teddy bears are all included. Many baby shower invitations are sold by bulk and have many others that are exactly the same of highly similar.

Thinking Out Of The Box Limiting baby shower invitation to standard two dimensional card or paper is not necessary. A lot of baby shower invitations ideas involves thinking outside the box and including little things that make the invitations fun and original. Be creative when thinking of baby shower invitation ideas as inspriration can come from many different sources.

Items associated with babies then cut out of wood can be used for some unique baby shower invitation ideas. Items to be used for your baby shower invitations can include balloons, cakes, teddy bears, safety pins and storks. Baby shower invitation ideas like this can come to life with the help of a skilled craftsman when can carve the wooden figures. You may decide to leave the figures untouched or you may want to have them hand painted. The details of the baby shower can be printed on the wood or printed on sticker paper and stuck to the wood.

A novelty item such as a baby pacifier can be sent out with a little note attached with gives the details of the baby shower. Baby shower invitation ideas need not only be the plastic rattle, other cheap baby toy replicas can be used. You can base the whole theme of the baby shower around the invitations. If you prefer the two dimensional invitations, some baby shower invitation ideas to make it unique is to put your baby's first ultrasound or 3 dimensional pictures on it. Having a small baby doll holding a scroll in its hand containing the invitation is one of a number of unique baby shower invitation ideas you could use.

Whatever kinds of baby shower invitation ideas might hit you, the important thing is to word it well in a way that you set down the details clearly.

By; Anna Shannen, site: http://babyshowerdreams.com/

Chinese Astrology, the art of the chinese zodiacs

People consider Chinese astrology as an art. The reason of Chinese astrology is to aid people attain their objectives through alertness and continuous development of the mind and soul. Just like the western astrology, you can consult Chinese astrology to know about your future, like career, relationship, love, likes and dislikes, good fortune and lot of other things.

Chinese astrology is created of a 12 year cycle and has 12 animals to depict every year, they are better known as the Chinese Zodiacs. The animals which are arranged in a particular order are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The perfect begining of the twelve animal plan remain not known. But there was a legend about it, here is the legend: the Jade King was bored, and was not doing anything in Heaven. He did not see what was happening on Earth, since he had servants satisfying his every wish. He decided that he wanted to see the animals that live the earth so he sent word to his advisors to bring him twelve animals. The advisor primarisly sent an request to the Rat, asking him to even bring the cat, as the Rat was envious he avoided the cat from knowing the news.

Later on, invitations were sent to animals like, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Ram, the Monkey, the Rooster and the Dog and were asked to attend the next days. They queued in front of the king, and later on he found out that they were just eleven, than 12 that he desired. The Jade king sent his servant down to Earth to get the twelfth animal. The servant hurried into a man carrying a Pig, and grabbed| it and presented it to the king.

The animals stood in front of the king in no particular order. The Rat, being smallest of the remaining, jumped on the Ox's back and continued to play the flute. This impressed the king greatly and he was happy. He gave the Rat primary position. The second stood the Ox for his true sportsmanship quality and the third stood the Tiger as he was quite strong. The forth place was for the Rabbit, the Dragon took the fifth position, The sixth place was fro Snake, the seventh for the Horse, the eighth one for the Ram, Monkey stood ninth, tenth was Rooster and eleventh was the Dog. By default, and due to the king's just nature, twelfth place went to the Pig. After the event got over, the cat asked the king to reconsider but he did not agree with the cat.

Chinese astrology is also composed of 5 elements. These elements were Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, always placed in that order as it is said to be a continuous procedure, that is Wood generates Fire; Fire generates Earth; Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood, and as it goes back to its beginning.

Last but not least there is the cosmic and divine strength that influences the entire Chinese astrology system. This force is well known as The Yin and The Yang. The yyin stands for the female whereas the Yang stands for Male. An diverse interpretation states that the Ying stands for the Evil and the Yang stands for the Good. And when both are taken into consideration, Ying and Yang, create harmony and everlasting balance. The amalgamation of Yin and Yang is the hidden power in the wake of the Chinese Horoscope system. But the Chinese Astrologers are not stern decision makers. They do not believe a person's destiny is already given exactly the time he/she took birth. However, they do believe in the philosophy that the time and the birth place set the limits of a person's freedom and liberty. What happens in these limits is influenced not just by own decision also by external issues such as locality, monetary conditions and the like.

By; Jamie Hanson

Verbally Abusive Relationships

Have you ever noticed how some couples believe that verbal abuse in marriage is acceptable? It's as though that foulness is his/her bad breath or messy bathroom habits.

Even though they don't like the way it feels, they make excuses for it, minimize it, rationalize it, and often just look the other way. But deep down inside, at the end of the day, they hate it. It hurts deeply, and they know it.

Yet they don't know how to stop it, nor do they know how to deal with it. Here are some important facts you will want to know about verbal abuse, so you weather its brunt more comfortably.

3 Keys to Dealing with Verbal Abuse

1) It is not about you. You may think the verbal abuser is saying something about you because their commentary is directed toward you and supposedly describes you. But it isn't about you.

It's their insecurities leaking forward. It's their anger oozing out. It's their need to feel and appear omnipotent in the face of their experience of impotence.

2) You can't stop it because you don't control it. You don't drive its release. Verbal abuse is owned, operated and controlled by the verbal abuser and no one else.

3) You can, however, control the impact it has on you by controlling your interpretation of it. It will amaze you to discover that you can step back and see the verbal abuser as a broken child, rather than as an overbearing guerrilla.

And when you do, the impact of the words uttered is different. While it still may hurt, it no longer defines you and you no longer define yourself through the ugly utterances of your partner's verbal abuse.

By; Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D.

First Date Tips by a Professional Matchmaker

Often the first thing men and women worry about when beginning a dating relationship is starting out on the right foot or better yet avoided putting their foot in their mouth. There are key elements and a few tips that will be helpful in guiding you into a successful, secure, and lasting relationship.

Often the first thing men and women worry about when beginning a dating relationship is starting out on the right foot or better yet avoided putting their foot in their mouth. When we first meet someone, whether it be a friend, perspective employer or date we tend to focus on all the wrong things. Our presentation, our looks and image. Appearance, although important is not the only key to a successful date. There are key elements and a few tips that will be helpful in guiding you into a successful, secure, and lasting relationship.

- Pay attention to the signs or possible red flags. As we enter into each date, not only do we have hope that he or she may be the "one" person we have been searching for, we also overlook actions or mannerisms that may reveal volumes about their history. Their past as well as how they may have acted or reacted to situations or conflicts can better help you determine how they will deal with them in the future.

- You should disclose what is relevant, what is important to you at the beginning and then ask the other person to do the same. It will help to conclude if both of you are right for each other. Listen carefully to what that person says. Early on, most people feel open to telling a prospective mate about what they are looking for since they have just met you & therefore have nothing to lose. If a man mentions that he does not want kids, odds are that is what he means. If a lady says she is the jealous type, believe her. Often what they casually mention in conversation may be just the tip of the iceberg. If hers or his personality traits and interests are not what you looking for, don't ignore it. You can not change this person; take what they say at face value. If you ignore this it will create disappointment and misunderstandings later, down the road.

- Get to know your date as a friend first, see if you share common interests and take time before becoming intimate if you are looking for a true partner. If you learn more about each other before having sex, you will have a chance to see if your attraction is on many different levels. Sex can sometimes be the foundation of the relationship but as a solo component, the relationship will not last.

- On the first date, ask a lot of questions, and study the person’s body language to see if they are sincere. Also pay close attention to how they speak about their exes. Do they speak poorly of there previous relationships, if so that could be red flag. Ask detailed questions about their background, where they went to school, do they have kids and if they have ever been married before. When preparing for a job or buying a home or car we concentrate on the most important details and think them through thoroughly before taking them on…why wouldn’t we take the utmost care in directing our heart to do the same?

About Author:


Svetlana Novikova has a decade of experience as the premiere relationship expert. She offers counsel, guidance and advice as well as an elite approach to matchmaking which connects two people into becoming life partners. www.SvetlanaInternational.com

Weaning A Baby

The best time to wean your baby onto solid food is at about age 6 months. This is because your baby's mouth will start to change around that time to help her cope with the transition. Another guide is to start when baby doubles in weight.

Before then your baby's digestive system and kidneys are able to cope only with breastmilk and formula. But don't leave it too late as baby may find it difficult to adapt to swallowing food, and she will need a balanced varied diet.

What You Will Need

* Bibs - and plenty of them! At first she will spit out more than she swallows and feeding will be very messy.

* Unbreakable bowls and spoons.

* Lidded containers for storing the food.

* A food processor. You could manage with a fork and a sieve, but the one thing you won't have plenty of is time, so a blender will make life easier.

You don't need a high chair, not at this stage anyway. Baby won't be able to hold her head up until about age 12 months, so feed her while she is in your lap or in a seat that supports her head.

Foods To Try And Some To Avoid

* Baby rice is usually the first solid for babies, it has a low protein content and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Mix with milk (expressed breast milk or formula) to make the rice easier to swallow. Rice also has the advantage that it can be mixed with both vegetables and fruit, so after a few days, mix in a little puréed potato, vegetable or fruit. You may wish to start with vegetables to ensure she establishes a taste for savoury foods as well as the sweeter fruits.

* Foods to try include: potato, carrot, swede, parsnip, sweet potato; and apple, banana and pear. Cook where appropriate and purée. If the result is too dry or lumpy, add milk (breast milk or formula).

* Avoid cow's milk until she is about 12 months old. Other dairy products like cheese and yoghurt can be introduced after a month or so.

* Avoid soft-boiled eggs; nuts; blue-veined cheese; salt; sugar or sweeteners, including those found in fruit drinks and squashes; bread and pasta; and rusks.

The Transition

The move from milk to solid food can take place only gradually. At first, solids should take the place of one of the milk feeds. Then, over the next 3 or 4 months, introduce more solid food and cut down on the milk; and chop and cut food rather than purée after a few weeks.

Vegetarian

If you are vegetarian and want your baby to avoid meat and fish, this should not be a problem. The same nutrients present in
meat are also available in other foods and you will be familiar with what is
required for a balanced diet. However, if you are a vegan, your baby could miss out on certain vitamins as well as sufficient protein. Prolong breastfeeding as long as possibleFind Article, and take expert advice on any necessary supplements.

Baby's In Charge

Of course no two babies are the same and there are no rules laid down regarding exact timing. Appetites vary too and your baby will tell you by her actions whether she needs to be 'topped-up' with a bottle of milk.

Source: from gozine.search4i.com

Benefits of Humor

In public life or reality some people feel that humor has no place, but that’s not the truth. Decorating a serious subject with an anecdote at the right time will grip your audience instead of making them snore.

In public life or reality some people feel that humor has no place, but that’s not the truth. Decorating a serious subject with an anecdote at the right time will grip your audience instead of making them snore. Simple and cold facts can be delivered by any Tom, Dick and Harry but, a good public speaker keeps everyone interested in said facts with anecdotes and sharing a good experience. Efficient communication skills are important for anyone whether an employee or an employer and humor plays very important part in creative communication.

Benefits of using humor:

• You can grab people''s attention and convey your point.

• People will like you more if you use humor in your speech. You can get connected with the audience very easily.

• Humor helps in conveying your point across without any force. This is very important if you are sharing new ideas and policies that may not appeal to some people.

• Using humor shows that you r approach is not with self ego. This can overcome flattering introductions. Who would like to listen to a snob who thinks too much of himself?

• Humor lightens up heavy subject or topics and makes the interaction more memorable.

• Humor can make a positive impression.

• Humor paints a picture in people''s minds. An illustration can explain a point more clearly than mere words.

• The audience will leave happily. You''ll get your message across and they''ll have a good time laughing. Everyone wins!

You may not be a "funny" person, but it doesn''t mean that you cannot use humor to convey a point. If you''re not expert in telling jokes, then try some humor on yourself or just use a witty one-liner to grab attention of the audience right off the bat. The idea is to find what is working for you. The last thing a public speaker wants to be is forgettable. You of course wish that your audience should remember your words and what you had to say long after they have left. A good laugh is always remembered by people. A humorous point always lingers in their minds and your job is effectively handled.

Dealing with Anti Social Behaviour

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Domestic anti-social behaviour is unfortunately something most of us have to deal with sooner or later. It can be anything from serious harassment from a close one to nuisances brought on by anti-social landlords or neighbours. A lot of victims blame themselves when situations get out of hand and are reluctant to file a police report or contact other appropriate authorities.

After all, most of us just want to get along with our acquaintances, neighbours, landlords and tenants and when something bad happens, we hope that it will turn out to be a one-time incident. When problems gradually escalate, it is possible to go through a so called “normalization process” where actions that you would have reported to the police 6 months ago are now left unreported, simply because you have gotten used to accepting anti-social behaviour from others.

When you find your self amidst anti-social behaviour, the worst thing that you can do is to keep it to your self. In order to determine how serious the problem really is, and possibly find viable solutions, it is always recommended to tell others about your situation. A person form outside can look at the situation with fresh eyes and let you know his or her opinion. Support, encouragement and tips from others can also make a tremendous difference. When a victim decides to file a police report and try to put an end to the anti-social behaviour via the legal system, support form others who have gone through the same arduous process is often essential.

Today, there are many online sites where people share their experiences regarding crimes and anti-social behaviour. You can for instance pay a visit to a website where UK citizen congregate to discus crime, crime prevention and experiences with crimes.

It is important to remember that as a victim of anti-social behaviour, you are not the one who should feel ashamed; nor are you the one who should alter your life or be forced to move to a new neighbourhood in order to get away from anti-social behaviour. In some instance moving can be the easiest solution, but before you make such a life altering decision you should take a good look at your other options. By sharing your experiences with other, especially with others who have been in similar situations in the past, it is often possible to work out feasible solutions to this complicated type of problem. Stop feeling ashamed and angry, and start doing something constructive today! You are the victim here and you deserve a better life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Crime forums UK allow you to discuss crimes, anti social behaviour, crime prevention and experiences with crimes in the UK. Joining the online forum, is totally free.

Motivation; The A to Z Steps To Motivated Success

Motivation is a strong determinant to the amount of success you will have in life. I have shared with you a number of ways in which you may increase your own level of motivation. I hope you find my A to Z steps of motivation, very motivating.

Motivation is the key to all success. There are many factors in life that determine the amount of motivation we have at any given time. Pain can be a motivator as well as pleasure. The degree to which we desire to have something or some situation is another motivator. Desire and determination has the ability to spark our motivation into a particular path. Ultimately it is what is inside us all that determines our level of motivation in live.

With the countless negativity's the world brings about, how do we keep motivated? Try on the tips I prepared from A to Z...

A - Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things and places. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Consume yourself with the motivation to achieve tremendous results from everything you attempt

B - Believe in your self, and in what you can do. Motivation comes from within, if you trust in your abilities you will come out on top.

C - Consider things on every angle and aspect. Motivation comes from determination. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides. Never say never, there is a way of accomplishing anything if you keep an open mind and never give up.

D - Don't give up and don't give in. Thomas Edison failed once, twice, more than thrice before he came up with his invention and perfected the incandescent light bulb. Make motivation as your steering wheel. The only way you lose for sure is when you quit.

E - Enjoy. Work as if you don't need money. Dance as if nobody's watching. Love as if you never cried. Learn as if you'll live forever. Motivation takes place when people are happy. Maintain a positive attitude under any circumstance. Fill your mind with positive thoughts and the whole world will be your playground.

F - Family and Friends - are life's greatest 'F' treasures. Don't loose sight of them. So often we look past our greatest treasures, remain motivated to always seek the treasures in your family bonds.

G - Give more than what is enough. Where does motivation and self improvement take place? At work? At home? At school? When you exert extra effort in doing things. Try to give more than what is asked of you, this shows true self motivation.

H - Hang on to your dreams. They may dangle in there for a moment, but these little stars will be your driving force. Dreams keep us motivated to go after the things that excite us in life. Holding onto your dreams shows a strength in your character of positive expectations.

I - Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don't let other people to get the best of you. Stay away from toxic people - the kind of friends who hates to hear about your success. Surround yourself with positive people and you will all keep each other motivated to seek out the positives in life.

J - Just be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to try to please everyone. Believe in your strengths and live by your positive terms.

K - keep trying no matter how hard life may seem. When a person is motivated, eventually he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way to self improvement. Motivation keeps you striving for the best, hang onto the values brought on through positive thinking.

L - Learn to love yourself. Now isn't that easy? You cannot give love to others unless you love yourself. Learn how to motivate yourself into working on your own personal development. You will never grow as a person until you learn to take responsibility for your own self improvement.

M - Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes. Motivation is one of the strongest characteristics you can have. When you live your life filled with motivation you become a person who really gets things done.

N - Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game. A person with a good moral standing will go further in life than an unmotivated cheat. Never look for short-cuts to good things, this will lead to missed opportunities and challenging possibilities.

O - Open your eyes. People should learn the horse attitude and horse sense. They see things in 2 ways - how they want things to be, and how they should be. Life is full of possibilities, keep the motivation to go after the wonders in the world.

P - Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our mistakes. Maintaining the motivation to work hard towards the things you truly want out of life will bring you more rewards than sitting back and expecting things to happen.

Q - Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate - are you going to be a quitter? Or a winner?

R - Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation. We must hear the little voice within us telling us to get started before others will get on their feet and try to push us around. Remember, it wasn't raining when Noah build the ark. The boy scout motto is "Be Prepared" and this is a way of life we should all adapt to.

S - Stop procrastinating. Nothing kills motivation more then procrastination. Choose to spend your time accomplishing positive things in your life.

T - Take control of your life. Discipline or self control jives synonymously with motivation. Both are key factors in self improvement. When you know what you want out of life and you are motivated to work towards the attainment of your dreams, you will accomplish more then the average person lacking motivation.

U - Understand others. If you know very well how to talk, you should also learn how to listen. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood the second. Understanding another persons problems in life and being motivated to offer help to others, builds your own character.

V - Visualize it. Motivation without vision is like a boat on a dry land. Your mind can bring you whatever you desire in life. Visualize success and success will be yours, visualize defeat or loss and failure will encompass your life. Maintain the motivation to visualize success and achievements.

W - Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing. And to believe is something that is rooted out from the roots of motivation and self improvement. When you have strong wants this leads to the motivation to attain what you truly desire.

X - X Factor is what will make you different from the others. When you are motivated, you tend to put on "extras" on your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on. Set yourself apart from others, stand out in the crowd, hold your head up high with pride and conviction.

Y - You are unique. No one in this world looks, acts, or talks like you. Value your life and existence, because you're just going to spend it once. Use the fact that you are one of a kind to excel at everything you do in life. True motivation is for you and you alone, use it to move forward in life, show your uniqueness.

Z - Zero in on your dreams and go for it!!! Never lose your motivation to go after your dreams because living your dreams means you are living your life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The level of our personal motivation is usually determined by the strength of our own personal development. If you are interested in more relevant information to help you with your own motivation please visit: http://www.positive-thinking-for-you.com/ http://www.nlp-self-help.com

An Overview of Motivation Theory

Motivation is simply defined as the one that kindles change and concentration. As Elbert Hubbard says, "Positive anything is better than negative nothing." True isn't it? Motivation is the one that keeps people to stay focus. It's motivation that helps people to stay optimistic amidst all the challenges that they encounter in their everyday life.

As Elbert Hubbard says, "Positive anything is better than negative nothing." True isn't it? Motivation is the one that keeps people to stay focus. It's motivation that helps people to stay optimistic amidst all the challenges that they encounter in their everyday life. Literally speaking, motivation is based on the word "motivus" which is a Latin term that denotes a moving cause. It is the element that pushes an individual to take action or initiate change. It is the one that keeps an individual to get going. To best explain the importance of motivation and how it affects the behavior of a certain individual, you should look into this article and discover the whole story of motivation theory. There are many motivation theories that were conceptualized on account of giving people a vivid picture of what motivation is and how important it is to be motivated. Here are some of the theories of motivation that you should take into account.Consistency TheoryThe consistency theory is based on the principle that people need some form of regularity and control in their lives. It is very important to have consistency for the reason that it is the key element that binds everything as one. Being consistent is necessary not only because it holds everything together but also because it drives people to reach that standard level of stability in this world. Self-discrepancy TheoryThis theory deals with the human self-esteem and how it is affected by the dealings with cognitive elements of the self. People are encouraged to have that sense of consistency depending on their point of views or how they perceive things. This sometimes led to some problems because people have different expectations. This is evident when people don't get what they wanted for example you want to win the first prize for the essay writing contest but you end up on the 3rd place. You feel dissatisfied and depressed for you don't get what you like to achieve. Reactance TheoryReactance theory is based on the notion that when people don't feel comfortable and they think that they can do what they want, they experience a bad feeling. This bad feeling is known as reactance. When they feel this, they will be motivated to do what they were threatened to do, which is a sign that their freedom has not been suppressed.Goal-setting TheoryThe goal-setting theory implies that people set goals for themselves. But you see setting goals for yourself is more effective unlike when other people set your goals. This is because people are more encouraged to fulfill the goals that they have set for themselves for it's based on what they believe. Acquired Needs TheoryThe theory of acquired needs explains that needs may vary depending on people's experiences and these needs may change as time goes by. This theory is also referred to as the Three-Need Theory or Learned Need Theory. Generally, the needs of the people are classified into three. These are the achievement, affiliation and power. On the whole, understanding all the theories of motivation can be a great help to you especially when it comes to harnessing your leadership skills. Motivation is a very important ingredient in the success of every individual. Without it, your life will not be bright.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Developmental and Child Psychology

At this age the child does not have the capacity to take into consideration others point of view, but as he grows up to be six or seven, he will engage in group play and understand different people’s perspective and progressively as he enters into his teens he would feel the need to develop positive human relation-ships (Hetherington et al, 2006). The intriguing question is what accounts for this progressive and steady evolution of the child’s ability to perceive and describe complex relationships and learn new things efficiently? The quest for its answer and research into the area has lead to the inception of the field of developmental psychology (Papers4you.com, 2006).

Developmental psychology is the scientific study of progressive psychological changes that transpire in human beings as they age (Margaret & Butterworth, 2002). Child development is its rapidly emerging sub-field of study, which seeks to account for the gradual evolution of the Childs’s cognitive, social and other capacities, first by describing changes in the child’s observed behaviours and then by uncovering the process and strategies that underlie these changes (Hetherington et al, 2006, p4). Although field has seen rapid developments recently, it’s relatively young with the first theories coming up just a century ago.

Proposing one of the first theories on the children’s emotional development was none other than the legendary Charles Darwin, who based most of his work on his son’s earliest emotional expressions. Alfred Binet was another individual who pioneered in the filed by studying children’s learning and methods of assessing intelligence (Hetherington et al, 2006). Moreover, the field of cognition i.e. the way the human mind acquires, remembers and learns to use knowledge forms an integral part of the field and has a wide range of implications. From devising teaching methods in schools to big organisations employing it to create a learning environment for its employees the field has had a far reaching effect.

The nature of the subject is such that it has seen a flurry of theories, one contradicting the other, especially in the area of Cognitive development (Papers4you.com, 2006). There have been several different approaches to cognitive development like Jean Piaget’s theory, which emphasizes developmental changes in the organisation or structure of children’s thinking process or the Lev Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of cognitive development, which attributes the advancement in the child’s thinking and learning to his/her interaction with the social world (Hetherington et al, 2006).

The field has limitless implications especially in improving children’s functioning and opportunities for development in important areas of their lives, especially in relationships with their family, friends, peers and personal development. There is no doubt that child psychology is a field on the move.

References

Hetherington, E. et al. (2006). ‘Child Psychology: A contemporary viewpoint’. 6th ed. McGraw-Hill, London.

Margaret, H & Butterworth, G. (2002). ‘Developmental Psychology: Student’s handbook’. Psychology Press, Hove.

Papers For You (2006) "P/PS/67. Disclosure of sexual abuse in children", Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtpsy5.htm [20/06/2006]
Papers For You (2006) "S/PS/50. This essay critically discusses the assertion that the principles of transactional models of development help us to understand the causes of disturbing behaviour in young children", Available from Papers4you.com [19/06/2006]

Psychology essay

Psychology essay writing usually demonstrates your knowledge gained and your ability to think critically. Psychology essay writing presents all sorts of issues to write about in this manner. Each one is interesting in its own way, and different writers tend to specialize in critically analysing different issues of psychology.

Your Psychology essay provides you an opportunity to present your views and compare them with scholarly works. In a manner of speaking, you will be contributing to the field of psychology through presenting your arguments. However, before you start writing down your arguments in a Psychology essay, you need to present your topic in an introduction. This part will inform your readers about the direction you intend to take in your essay. Additionally, your introduction will describe your title and also highlight a specific area you want to address. Basically, you will place your main arguments here that you will build upon in the main body of your essay. 

In your Psychology essay, selecting the right sources to support your arguments is important. These will help you to draw your conclusion effectively. Also, the authenticity of these sources will help to convince your readers about the conclusions you draw. A Psychology essay without adequate or authentic sources cannot achieve the goal of your essay. 

Along with using your sources well in your Psychology essay, you need to place arguments in coherent paragraphs. One argument should need into the next. You may analyze your claims as you go along or you may do so in a separate section. If you decide to analyze your arguments in a separate section of your Psychology essay, your arguments must be analyzed in the same sequence as you presented them earlier. This will help the reader to experience a smooth follow in the direction you take. 

In a Psychology essay, your claims and arguments are not to impede the work of other scholars. Instead, your work will compliment their research. This is most likely to be the outcome because you will be using established and scholarly sources in your Psychology essay. Apart from complimenting scholarly work, your main goal is to prove your point. Depending on how you use your sources you will be able to do this. 

Your Psychology essay will not have its complete strength without a solid conclusion. You need to make sure that your essay states finally what you have managed to prove. To do this in your Psychology essay, you need to remind your readers about the main points. After this, you should briefly review your evidence. Your last step should be a clear statement that supports your arguments. 

For writing a successful Psychology essay, you can hire professional writing services or you could get down to doing it yourself. To be a successful Psychology essay writer, you need to practice your skills. After some time, you will find out how much you have improved. You will be able to write your own essays effectively whenever you need to.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White is a senior writer and writers consultant at Essay writing. Get some useful tips for psychology essay and argumentative essay.

Social Psychology: The Psychological Explanations of Social Phenomena

The various aspects of social psychology could be examined within the wide concepts of intelligence, gender, advertising, consumer culture, stress and psychological issues that define society.

Considering consumer behaviour, social psychology uses convincing theories to explain addictive consumption, the influence of advertising and the phenomenon of purchasing. Advertising is seen as a subtle psychological manipulation as it creates desires and anxiety in the potential consumers (Papers4you.com, 2006). Advertising can have both psychological and commercial aspects including misattribution, bias, suggestibility, and could be studied from global or local perspectives. Organisational consumption is seen as different from individual consumption although generic psychological theories of human motivation such as that of Maslow and Freud can explain consumer behaviour. However consumer behaviour can also be studied in terms of the notion of quality and its relation to customer satisfaction (Silva et al, 2005). The objective measures of customer needs, pricing and expectations of the customers may have to be analysed within Service Quality or Expectations models. Hogg and Garrow (2003) highlighted on the psychological aspects of gender and the influence on consumption of advertising. Advertising has been found to be processed and interpreted differently according to gender schemas and perceptions. This would in turn relate to psychological theories of gender such as the theory of biological determinism, Freudian theory of personality development, cognitive-developmental theory, and feminist theories. Bridging the gap between gender studies and gender differences in consumption could provide us with new insights on social and psychological aspects of consumer behavior. Orth (2005) indicated that consumer behaviour largely depends on consumer personality and susceptibility to interpersonal influence, consumer situational disposition such as risk taking and curiosity, purchasing behaviour and purchasing frequency and demographic variables such as age and gender. Contemporary consumer culture could be studied in relation to an excessive emphasis on beauty and appearance and an obsession with youth, a phenomenon that has seen an increased dependence on cosmetic surgery. The increased importance of the body in the consumer culture could be studied along with the significance of appearance in modern society, the role of marketing and advertising images, and the psychological need for self-expression (Papers4you.com, 2006). 

Social psychology is however focused not just on consumption and public attitudes on advertising, but also on group behaviour, general individual and collective attitudes towards various social issues including war, work, violence and quality of life. This would in turn explain how individuals deal with stress, and focus on the psychological consequences of stress. Although psychological disorders may in some cases be a direct result of social stress, deviant behaviour in society could be explained with the help of several theories such as the theory of subcultures by Parker, the structural strain theory by Merton, or the theory of conformity. Social psychology is thus focused on explaining a wide range of issues from advertising and consumer behavior to public attitudes on social issues and antisocial behaviour. 

Bibliography

Hogg M.K.; Garrow J. (2003) Gender, identity and the consumption of advertising Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, Volume 6, Number 3, June, pp. 160-174(15)

Orth, Ulrich R.(2005) Consumer personality and other factors in situational brand choice variation The Journal of Brand Management, Volume 13, Number 2, November, pp. 115-133(19)

Papers For You (2006) "P/M/510. Advertising: means of psychological manipulation", Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtpsy3.htm [22/06/2006]
Papers For You (2006) "P/M/646. Causes of addictive consumption in modern society", Available from Papers4you.com [21/06/2006] 

Silva Jr, Nelson da; Lírio, Daniel Rodrigues (2005) The postmodern re-codification of perversion: On the production of consumer behavior and its libidinal grammar International Forum of Psychoanalysis, Volume 14, Numbers 3-4, Number 3-4/December, pp. 217-223(7)

Online Degree in Psychology

Friday, July 31, 2009

Make Online Psychology Master Degree Work for You

by Christina Williams

Are you considering going for your psychology master’s degree online? In the US, masters degrees consist of the Master of Arts or M.A.; The Master of Science Degree or M.S. and the Master of Business Administration or M.B.A and other masters degree programs such as the Master of Social Work, M.S.W. or a Master Degree in Psychology, M.S.

If you decide to go into one of the popular career professional tracks (nursing, MBA/Business, computer science or of course psychology), make sure to roll up your sleeves and put the time into to investigate which schools’ degree programs online are praised and recommended by students, employers and other important parties.

But first, let’s give some history here. As technology becomes a greater part of our lives, it’s obvious why online degrees would be seen as a more valid option for advancing in one’s career.

When it comes to the right online psychology masters degrees, it’s vital to search for the right accredited educational institution. This means that you have diligently done your part to earn the coveted degree. Employers correlate this to the ability of the person to look at things in a more mature perspective that implies that they would be a great asset to the company. Low-standard are rampant everywhere, even in the internet. more likely to be frauds. They will bombard you with empty promises and give you a worthless piece of paper that they will call a “diploma” in exchange for you hard earned money.

Online learning schools that swear they will grant you a top not degree in a matter of a few weeks are probably the kind you would want to stay away from. They’ll hammer you with big promises and say they’ll grant you the sky but at the end of the day, it’ll probably be a waste of your time.

A school that is accredited has been assessed by experts in order to judge the strength and soundness of its educational standard. To gain accreditation, online schools must demonstrate as much quality and effectiveness at training students as campus, off line colleges and universities.

The certification that you will get from the hoax online education providers are worth nil as employers will not recognize them. You might even have legal impediments when you try using them when applying for jobs.Colleges and universities are kept on their toes in terms of the quality of the training they give you.

Make certain you opt to attend a school that is absolutely an officially recognized academic institution. As the formal board that decides if a school is accredited or not maintains a regular evaluation schedule of thousands of schools, you should feel comforted. When you finally go for your ideal online psychology master degree program, you’ll end up far ahead of the curve by having done your research.

About the Author:
Excel in Life. Discover online psychology degrees and online psychology master degree information now.

Master Degree in Psychology

So, what are you going to do with that psychology degree? With your college-educated insight into the human mind, you could do just about anything. Psychology is fundamental to nearly everything we do, and the degree is among the most versatile in the job market.

The qualities that make a good psychologist are also the qualities that make good business managers, health care workers, educators, or researchers. Psychology students need strong communications skills, compassion, research and analytical abilities, and last but not least, an understanding of what makes people tick. 
Five Careers for Psychology Majors

Most psychology graduates do not go on to careers as psychologists. Business and healthcare are the top employers of psychology majors, and the top three careers are manager, sales representative, and social worker. Here's a look at five different ways to put your psychology degree to work.

1. School Counselor

With the quality of education under increasing scrutiny, school counseling is more important than ever. And psychology graduates are in a position to do the job well. Psychology-educated school counselors have the background to troubleshoot student performance and help them develop effective learning strategies. In addition, they can guide students in the introspection necessary to answer that crucial question: "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

School counseling typically requires specialized training in addition to a bachelor's degree. State certification requirements range from a teaching certificate to a master's degree in the field. The good news: an online Master of Education in School Counseling can be completed in as little as a year.

School counseling promises to be the fastest-growing counseling specialty, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

2. Social Worker

Social workers draw on their interpersonal and organizational skills to guide clients through psychological, social, or financial problems. Psychology graduates have the training to work effectively in what can be an emotionally draining role. Their counseling background enables them to maintain an appropriate level of empathy and support without taking on their client's problems. 

A bachelor's degree in Psychology is sufficient qualification for many entry-level positions in social work, but most social workers go on to a two-year master's degree. An advanced degree is a requirement for supervisory, policy, and clinical positions. 

Social workers can look forward to plentiful job opportunities: the field is projected to grow 36% through 2014. <

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3. Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help patients adapt to mental or physical challenges and achieve an independent lifestyle. The job takes practical ingenuity--occupational therapists develop tools to improve mobility, exercises to improve mental acuity, etc. But most of all, it takes psychological insight. Gadgets and strategies aren't worth much unless the therapist can inspire a patient to use them. That's where your psychology degree comes in.

As of 2007, board certification requirements include graduate-level training and an exam. Psychology majors will need to supplement their undergraduate training with a master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

Earning that additional degree should pay off: Occupational Therapy ranks among the Department of Labor's Fastest-Growing Careers.

4. Marketing Executive

Psychology graduates excel at Good Samaritan roles, but can they take on the business world? Yes, say employers of managers, sales representatives, business strategists, and marketers. A bachelor's in psychology is a valued qualification in all these careers. 

Marketing executives, for example, rely on their understanding of human behavior to communicate effectively. Marketing initiatives play to mass audiences, and they need to be carefully calibrated to drive specific responses. Psychology majors understand what motivates consumers, and are therefore able to develop effective promotions, merchandising strategies, and advertising campaigns.

Psychology undergraduates can proceed directly into a marketing career without additional training, but many will find professional education an asset. MBA programs and Marketing certificates are readily available online.

Consumer spending is alive and well, and so is the job market for marketing specialists; the BLS predicts faster than average growth through 2014.

5. Criminologist

Criminologists draw on their insight into the human psyche--plus their research skills--to catch criminals and improve law enforcement. Psychological profiling is a major asset in criminal investigations. Criminologists review patterns of behavior and present their research in reports. Some assume a more active role, inspecting crime scenes for evidence and questioning suspects.

Criminology is "exciting," "interesting," and "unpredictable," according to its practitioners, but it is also competitive. A psychology bachelor's degree is the standard qualification, but many boost their career profile with graduate work in behavioral sciences.
Criminal justice occupations are booming, but criminologists face a competitive market; demand is higher for those with investigative skills.

Understanding the human mind, it turns out, is a critical asset no matter where you turn. Psychology majors graduate to a world of career opportunities. What are you going to be when you grow up?

Source; Clare Kaufman

Forensic Psychology Degree

Forensic Psychologists apply psychological theory and principles in a number of legal areas, including child abuse, sexual abuse, criminal responsibility, and personal capacity to manage one's affairs and stand trial. They work in a variety of legal settings but are most often recognized for their involvement in the processing of a crime scene.

Forensic Psychology involves the application of psychology to legal issues through administering psychological tests, gathering hospital records, police reports, and witness statements. Forensic psychologists are expected to synthesize psychological analysis with legal relevance of cases involving child custody disputes, child abuse, competency, criminal responsibility, and advising judges on sentencing. Most forensic psychologists possess an advanced psychology degree at the Master or PhD level or a specialized Forensic Psychology M.A. degree. Obtaining a forensic psychology degree online has never been more readily available. The colleges listed below all offer forensic psychology degrees.

Careers in Forensic Psychology

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY is the application of psychology to the criminal justice system. Many people confuse Forensic Psychology with forensic science. Although the two are closely related, there are many differences. The primary difference is that forensic psychologists delve into the vast psychological perspectives and apply them to criminal justice system. On the other hand, forensic psychologists frequently deal with legal issues, such as public policies, new laws, competency, and also whether a defendant was insane at the time a crime occurred. All of these issues weave together psychology and law topics and are essential to the discipline of Forensic Psychology. Forensic Psychology knowledge is used in various forms, such as in treating mentally ill offenders, consulting with attorneys (e.g., on picking a jury), analyzing a criminal's mind and intent, and practicing within the civil arena. 

Individuals interested in pursuing a Forensic Psychology career would have take psychology and criminal justice courses at the core of their academic studies. There is a very limited number of academic institutions that specifically offer a Forensic Psychology degree. Clinical, social, cognitive, criminal investigative, and developmental psychology also help to prepare one for this speciality. 

A forensic psychologist may chose to solely focus his/her career on research, ranging anywhere from examination of eyewitness testimony to learning how to improve interrogation methods. Another form of Forensic Psychology work is public policy, in which researchers can help in the design of correctional facilities and prisons. More generally, Forensic Psychology covers territory between the traditional options of criminal justice (i.e., academic training, law enforcement, and corrections).

Applying to Graduate School in Psychology

Have you ever been told that you would make a great psychologist? Perhaps you've heard this from friends, who rely on you for advice and wise counsel. Or maybe faculty, pointing to your analytical mind and interpersonal skill, have encouraged you. Maybe your own enthusiasm and ability in psychology classes has sparked your interest in following this career path.

No matter which factors influenced your decision, once you determine that you want to apply to graduate school in psychology, a number of additional considerations await you. Some of the issues you'll face include the following.

1. Which specialty area?
Psychology is a very rich and diverse field. As one illustration, consider the American Psychological Association (APA), which currently lists more than 50 "divisions," including behavioral neuroscience, developmental, industrial-organizational, and clinical psychology to mention just some of the better known specialties. Deciding which to select depends, in part, on what you want to do professionally. For instance, if you want to work with clients, you'll probably lean toward one of the license-eligible specialties such as clinical or counseling psychology. If you want to focus on research and teaching, then experimental psychology may be your preference. However, there are a variety of other factors you also might want to consider such as differences in competition for graduate school admission, the length of training, minimum requirements for professional practice, and future employment outlook. For instance, admissions for license-eligible specialties generally tend to be somewhat more competitive (with clinical psychology being among the most competitive), involve a longer duration of training (including a yearlong predoctoral internship experience), and require passing a licensing examination for independent practice. Due to shifting market forces, the employment outlook for different specialties can be difficult to forecast. However, at the present time, health psychology, neuropsychology, and pediatric psychology seem to be especially popular.
Given the many factors to consider, deciding on a specialty can involve a complex decision-making process. One place to start is by reviewing a couple of books on this topic. Some of the best are edited volumes containing chapters written by psychologists working in different areas (e.g., Sternberg, 1997). Armed with this overview, you might gradually begin to narrow the field. Discuss your thoughts with your advisor. If you know psychologists specializing in an area you are considering, make contact and arrange to spend some time talking with them or, if possible, taking their classes or working on their research teams. If your psychology department has graduate programs in the specialty, talk with graduate students about what the training is like and their hopes for the future. The time and effort spent not only will help your immediate decision-making process but also will make you a more informed consumer when you do apply.

2. Which program?
Having decided on a specialty area, your next task is to identify programs to which you might want to apply. One excellent source of information is the APA publication entitled Graduate Study in Psychology (2001), which contains a description of graduate programs nationwide. Most university libraries will have this guide among their holdings. Examination of this publication is a good first step to surveying the range of possibilities available. If you are able to relocate, consider programs from a wide range of geographic areas. To the extent that you are tied to a specific location, your options will be more limited.
After you identify the programs that pique your interest, have a look at their websites. For programs that you continue to find appealing, request additional program materials. Pay particular attention to the program description and listing of faculty interests. A key question centers on how well your background and interests match those of the program and current faculty. For instance, if you are interested in conducting research on schizophrenia and no one on the faculty works in that area, you probably would not be happy in that program. In sum, familiarize yourself sufficiently well with the program materials to determine if you and the program match. You'll probably want to eliminate those programs where the "fit" is not good. Gradually, the ones that represent a good match with your background and interests should rise to the top of your "apply" list. For each program on your final list, you should be able to articulate the reasons you believe you and the program match and to identify faculty with whom you would be particularly interested in working.

3. Who should write letters of recommendation?
An important part of the application process is identifying individuals who will be asked to write reference letters in support of your application. You should make this decision with great care. Ensure that you select letter writers who are able to comment very specifically on your abilities to pursue graduate study.
If your only experience with a faculty member was in the context of a class in which 80 other students were enrolled, it is unlikely that person will be able to say much about you that would be helpful to a graduate selection committee, even if you did come to class regularly and get an A on all your exams. A much better choice would be the faculty person you assisted on a research project or the psychologist who closely supervised you on a practicum.

4. What is a "personal statement"?
In the applications for most programs, you will be asked to write a paragraph or two about yourself. The personal statement is an opportunity to provide a sample of your best writing and gives you the chance to describe how your academic background and professional goals are consistent with the program's mission and faculty specialty areas. This is not the place to reveal deep, dark, personal or family secrets. It's always a good idea to have your current advisor review your statement in draft form. In this way, you will increase the chances that you are clearly conveying the points you intended to express. Obviously, you'll also want to be sure your writing is grammatically correct and the final copy is free of typographical errors.

5. What if questions arise while completing the application?
The majority of applications have detailed instructions attached. If you are sure you have read the instructions carefully, it is perfectly acceptable to seek clarification of unclear questions or other issues that arise. A good place to start is with your advisor or other faculty at your current school. If, after local consultation, the question remains, contact the program directly. Depending on the question and the program, you might find the program secretary helpful (e.g., if the question has to do with the correct mailing address). However, as the person responsible for program administration, the program director or director of clinical training is generally available to discuss applicants' questions or concerns. In fact, if the application is unclear in some way, it would be very helpful for the director to have that feedback. Of course, whenever you contact program faculty or staff directly, you should endeavor to "put your best foot forward."

6. What about those application deadlines?
Application deadlines are not uniform across programs. Therefore, the various deadlines are important to keep in mind as you put together your applications for different programs. Keep in mind that the application deadline is the date by which all materials must be received, not just the part of the application for which you are responsible. To ensure that your materials arrive on time, request your GRE scores and letters of recommendation well in advance. At least one month before the first deadline, provide your letter writers with a list of the programs to which you are applying, the name of the individual to whom the letter should be sent, the deadline date for each, a copy of your recent curriculum vitae, and any additional reference forms required by the programs. Moreover, it is customary to provide a stamped, addressed envelope for each letter to be sent. It's not a bad idea to ask your letter writers if other information would be helpful to them.

7. To check or not to check?
Universities vary in the way they process graduate school applications. Some schools ask you to assemble the various pieces and submit one complete packet. For example, your letter writers may be asked to provide letters to you in sealed envelopes for inclusion in your application. However, at many schools, the pieces of the applications (e.g., your part, the reference letters coming directly from faculty, GRE scores, etc.) arrive independently and travel on a circuitous route through various graduate school divisions before they reach the program for which they are intended. In addition, at large schools, the admissions staff are processing incoming applications for many different departments and programs all at about the same time. Consequently, there are numerous opportunities for things to go awry. For these reasons, you'll want to check to be sure your application arrived and that all the various components are there. Some programs will not review incomplete applications.

8. What if the program director or program faculty calls?
Once you send in your application, there is a chance that a representative of the program (such as the program director or other faculty member) may contact you. Although not everyone will be contacted by phone, it is wise to prepare for the possibility. Toward this end, several points are worth considering.
The phone number you list on your application should be one that will answer during normal business hours (even if the answer is by machine) and reliably transmit a message to you. For instance, if you share a phone with several roommates, be sure that they will take messages accurately and get them to you in a timely way. If you share an answering machine with several others, make every effort to ensure that no one will erase an incoming message in error. This also would be a good time to review the greeting on your answering machine. Does your greeting present you as you would like to be seen by others or does it create an impression that does not reflect your assets? If you recently added a greeting in questionable taste as a joke among your friends, this might be the time to reconsider it.
Be aware that the timing of a call may seem somewhat unpredictable from your perspective. In other words, you could be in the middle of anything when a call comes. For instance, if you listed your cell phone number as your phone contact number, you could be shopping, rushing to your next class, or arguing with a significant other when you are phoned. Make every effort to minimize the influence of these extraneous factors on the professionalism with which you conduct yourself during a conversation with program representatives.
Even if you applied to many programs, try to keep in mind all the program names and key characteristics. If you don't remember applying to the program or remember very little about the program, you could find yourself in an embarrassing position in the event that someone calls. Be prepared to discuss typical questions such as why you applied, your fit with the program, and faculty with whom you might like to work if you were to be accepted.

9. To interview in person or by phone?
Programs differ in the way they handle interviews. However, if you are given an option to interview either in person or by phone, it is well worth the effort to select the in-person interview. Visiting the campus and meeting personally with faculty, staff, and students not only gives you much more information on which to make a decision but also provides data that are difficult to detect based on the written program materials alone. For instance, during the course of visiting for a personal interview, you'll get a sense about how you might fit with the other students, program climate, graduate student office space, and campus facilities (e.g., library, gym). If you are unfamiliar with the city, a visit could help you decide if you would be comfortable living there for several years.

10. What if I don't receive an offer of admission?
Application to graduate school has become increasingly competitive over the years. In many programs, there are far more excellent students seeking admittance than graduate student slots available. For this reason, the absence of an offer does not mean you are not a good candidate for graduate school. If you are not admitted this year, take time to review your application strategy and background. Did you limit yourself to a very small geographic area? Are there things you might do differently in preparing your application? Does your interview style require some fine-tuning? Are there areas of your background that could benefit from some additional work (e.g., research experience, course work)? If so, make some changes based on what you learned. Take some time to strengthen your application and reapply next year.

References

American Psychological Association. (2001). Graduate study in psychology: 2002 edition. Washington, DC: Author.

Sternberg, R. (Ed.). (1997). Career paths in psychology: Where your degree can take you. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

by Lisa Terre - University of Missouri-Kansas City

How To Talk To Your Baby – And Understand What She’s Saying Back

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

It is incredible, but within a years time your baby will progress from random crying to talking. This is quite an achievement for your baby and in a very short period of time. In this chapter we will look at your baby’s development when it comes to language. You’ll also discover what you can expect to see every month but it’s important to remember that these stages of your baby’s development are broad and because every baby is different these are not meant as exact milestones.

One month. Your baby will be able to understand speech long before actually talking. From birth he will look at your face and listen to your voice. He may make a small range of noises that will start to mean something to you - these may be made when he experiences feelings of hunger or pain (such as crying and certain sounds while he is breathing). When your baby is eating, you may notice him making sucking type noises and sounds of contentment.The way that your baby cries is an important communication method while he is actually unable to talk. Crying lays the foundation for speech as your baby learns to control his vocal cords. Crying is also a baby’s way of indicating hunger, discontentment, or general discomfort. Through responding to this crying you let your baby know that she is important to you – and this can really be reassuring for a young infant.

Two months. As a child enters his second month he is far more aware of the world – things such as sounds, even that of your voice, will amuse and fascinate your child. Change the tone of your voice and this will keep him amused. Your baby will respond with a variety of cooing sounds, vowel-like sounds, and sometimes some consonant sounds such as a “k”. You will find that your baby has quite a collection of cooing sounds that she uses to communicate with you as well as discover how to use the sound of her own voice. During this time, try and talk with your baby – this will encourage her response and help in the development process. By looking into your baby’s eyes you are communicating an important thing to her – that you are listening.
Three months. By now you will find that your baby is able to recognize your voice and may come to you or face you when your voice is heard. You may notice him laugh out aloud and may even scare himself by doing this (as he does not initially know that he is the one making the sounds). Your baby will be making sounds such as “ahhhh gooo”. He will squeal when he is happy and content, again often startling himself as he learns his own abilities.

At this stage you should not only talk to your baby but also introduce other communication forms such as singing and story telling. The greater your effort in trying to talk with him, the better his response is likely to be.

Four months. By now more and more communication should be taking place with your baby. You may notice a greater amount of smiling – while his babbling may have a noticeably singsong quality to it, often ranging into a high pitch that delights him as he learns to like the sound of his own voice. There will be lots of repetition to the sounds that your baby makes.

It is important that you always respond to your baby’s “oohs” and “ahhs” and whatever other communication methods she is using - respond with your own voice tones. This is your chance to have a “chat time” with your baby and you should take advantage of these times – you are helping him to discover the art of conversation. There will also be certain times when your baby may also not be in the mood for talking. He will turn his head in the other direction and may put his arm over his face. He may be showing signs of anger or frustration by crying out, especially if something is taken away from him.

Five months. As each month progresses you will find that your baby is becoming better at communicating. It’s possible that you will notice him imitate some sounds and gestures. By now he’ll most likely be able to let you know if he’s happy or sad. When attention is wanted your baby will babble until he is given the attention he feels he deserves. Interestingly, if you always respond to his communication efforts (whatever these may be) he’ll repeat them whenever he wants your attention this way.
During this month it’s likely that your baby will be looking at your mouth moving while you talk. Talk to him from across the room and he’ll be able to find you with ease. He is learning to control his vocal sounds as he watches your response to his sounds.

Six months. Your baby may now be using consonant-vowel combinations. It’s quite possible that he has discovered his mirror reflection and is probably having conversations with himself. Your baby’s language is becoming much more precise.
Here are some ways that you can help your baby develop her language skills:
Speak very slowly and clearly.
Identify and point out items, objects and people as you talk about them.
Use shorter sentences sentences.
Using repetition when singing songs and nursery rhymes helps the learning process.
Reading to your baby is a good idea and should be done as often as possible – ask your baby questions and point things out to make the process as interactive as possible.
Let your baby respond in his own way when communicating with her.

Seven months. Your baby is now continuing to learn how to use his newfound language skills. He may be able to do things such as wave goodbye and may accompany his wave with babbling sounds. He can say “mama” or “dada”.

Eight months. Your baby is playing games such as pat a cake and peek-a-boo. Even though he can’t speak the words that belong to these games, he can babble and talk to himself. It’s likely that your baby knows what the word “No” means by now as well.
Nine to twelve months. It’s possible that by now your baby understands requests and commands such as “give it” or “don’t touch that”. Similarly, she may understand simple questions such as “where’s your rattle?” At this time you should be encouraging your baby to use gestures (and you should respond to them). For example if your baby indicates she wants to be picked up then say “you want to be picked up?” while picking her up. This helps the learning process. You should also talk about everything that you do, and use gestures (and short sentences) as you’re doing them.

Here are some ways to help your baby with the learning process:
Look at books and talk about the pictures in simple languages. Where possible try and use books that your baby is able to hold.
Talk often to your baby using simple words to identify objects in his life. Name trees, numbers, colours, and animals as you take your baby for a walk. You should also use your baby’s name often – this way she will be able to recognise it.
Talk back to your child when she talks with you.
Introduce concepts to your baby, such as the “big” dog or the “little” mouse.
Give your baby time to get his words out; don’t be tempted to complete sentences for him.
Continue to read to your baby as much as possible. Reading should be part of your daily routine.
From day one start to talk in a simple, short and uncomplicated way with your baby – even though she will not understand what you are saying this is laying the foundations for learning language.

Twelve months. After one year babies are generally able to say one or two words and are able to understand 25 words or more. For example if a person in the room asks, “where is daddy?” your baby will look for you. Your baby is also able to point at things (and ask for things in this way).

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keziah Engineer is the author of the best selling ebook “THE BABY CARE BOOK”. You can find more of her books at www.global-ebooks.com

Self Motivation : Building The Techniques

Sunday, July 26, 2009

There are many methods to build motivation in someone. The only lasting thing is self motivation. There are four techniques that anyone can use to build self motivation. This article will describe the four techiques in their priority order. These are quite simple techniques but powerful. If anyone follows them consistently, he or she should be able to keep the motivation level high at any time.

Fear and reward are two most commonly used methods to build motivation in someone. But, these methods are temporary. The only lasting thing is self motivation. Motivation actually is the enthusiasm of doing something. It refers to inner feeling, strong desires, and expectation about something. You may sometimes loose the necessary level of the inner drive to get something done. Self motivation is what you need to boost the level of your inner drive to achieve your goals.

Self motivation is a form of self encouragement. You will say to yourself that you have the capacity to do better and eventually get whatever you want in your life. This inner enthusiasm will push you forward until you achieve your set goals. You may not even be aware of any reward in the beginning but you keep working on it. You work on it because your inner strength says that you can attain your goals. This is your will power - the driving force behind your self motivation. Self motivation is a combination of will power, goals and ability to continue attaining the highest level of your success.

You need self motivation to accomplish tasks you have now. Along the way, you may be facing with situations that are discouraging and can bring down your motivational level. You need to keep yourself really focused on your objectives to maintain the level of your self motivation. Here are techniques you can adopt to start acquiring higher motivational level and achieve greater success.

Writing Your PlanSuccess does not come easy without any proper plan. Failing to plan is actually planning to fail. Therefore, you must give a greater emphasis on having well prepared plan to achieve your goals. You simply need to have your plan written on a piece of paper. Having your plan clearly written gives you more psychological inner drive to work toward achieving your goals. You create more enthusiasm and can see more clearly how you want to achieve your goals. Thus, your commitments will be much stronger.

When writing down your goals, state very specific terms. For example, if you want to accumulate certain amount of money, state exactly how much you want. You must also set a specific date to fulfill your goals and specific rewards for achieving your goals. Writing is not enough if you do not follow up with some reading. You have to make a point to read your written plan at least twice a day. Once in the morning before you start your day; and one at night just before you go to bed. This simple routine will keep you stay motivated.

Be realistic, things happen in life. Unforeseen circumstances may sometimes require you to make adjustments in your plan. Go ahead and make the necessary adjustments. But, try to maintain realistic limits. Do not make it too easy or too hard for you to achieve. Set it just right to maintain your motivation level.

Visualizing Your GoalsYou need to simply make your goals as visual as possible to maintain your motivation at the highest level possible. If your goal is to own an apartment, find pictures of your desired apartment keep them in front of your eyes. Visualizing your goals creates a positive impact on your mind and keeps your motivation surging. When you feel very down, visuals will help you provide the necessary boost to surge your motivation level.

Like the written plan, you have to make a point to see the visuals at least twice a day. The images you see of yourself achieving the goals you desire will instill strong impact in your mind, which will control your actions to maintain your level of motivation.

Controlling Your FeelingThis one is not quite straight forward action. It has to do with your feeling in your mind. You need to control what you feel. Your feeling will reflect your mental attitude and moods. If you feel upset and depressed, you will feel as if everything crashes on you. This feeling reflects on your physical self. You will lose concentration and everything you do will be full of mistakes. You have to learn to start controlling your feeling.

The simplest way will be to start your day with a smile. No doubt this can be fake at times due to things that happen around you, but you have got to master this simple task to ensure that things around you will be pleasant and enjoyable for the rest of the day. You can feel the enthusiasm and energy level soaring. You will be able to stay motivated and spread positive energy around you.

Your mental and physical attitudes work closely. Hence, to stay motivated, learn to develop cheerful and confident characters by simply walking with your face up and smile on it. You will realize that your confidence and self motivation developing. It is probably kind of hard to maintain the action, but with time, once it naturally becomes your way of life, you are able to motivate yourself even during difficult times.

Giving Your Effort A RewardYou need to give yourself a reward for what you have achieved. This one simply acts as an appreciation to yourself in achieving your goals. You have to credit yourself for what you have gone through, your determination and your hard work in ensuring your success.

Earlier I said reward is a temporary method to motivate someone. In this case, a reward is not what keeps you motivated. It is just an element to add flavor to your self motivation exercise. You may want to think of a simple reward that sounds reasonable with what you have achieved. Do not get over excited about this. Meaning, the reward has to be at par with your level of achievement. Take this positively to further enhance your level of self motivation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fadzil is an entrepreneur, writer, and web content developer. He enjoys helping individuals, who are excited about self improvement and attaining personal success, to learn the simple steps to achieve their goals. To learn more about such system, please go to: http://www.wisdomgateway.com/6wlmover/life_makeover.htm . He is also the founder of WisdomGateway which helps internet users to obtain knowledge in the area of Business Matters, Healthy Living, Hobbies & Activities, Internet Marketing, and Real Estate. To visit the site, please go to http://www.wisdomgateway.com .