How to Solve a Brain Teaser in a Job Interview

How to Solve a Brain Teaser in a Job Interview You might be more familiar with seeing brain teasers in the end pages of a newspaper, but some industries also use them as part of the interview process. But what are brainteasers for in job interviews and how can you solve them? © Wikimedia Commons | CepheusWe’ll explain the 1)  purpose of brain teasers and provide you some of the 2)  most common teasers used in job interviews. We’ll also give you tips on 3) how to prepare for a job interview and 4)  the three-step approach you should use to solve a teaser.WHAT IS A BRAIN TEASER?Brainteasers are not a new invention, as we humans have been interested in puzzles for a long time. In fact, one of the earliest brainteaser enthusiasts was Greek mathematician Archimedes, who used to devise mathematical problems for his fellow citizens to solve.So, what are these brainteasers? The Cambridge dictionary definition states brainteasers to be “a problem for which it is hard to find an answer, especially one which people enjoy trying to solve as a game”.Brainteasers are therefore types of puzzles and they require plenty of thought to answer. Typically, brainteasers require quite a bit of out-of-the-box thinking. The answer is not an easy one to find, but the pers on must use lateral thinking and intuitiveness.The focus of a brainteaser is usually on a puzzle or a specific problem. This excludes many other types of questions, which might be challenging, but won’t count as a brainteaser. This includes things such as:Tough technical questionsValue based questionsFailure or weakness based questionsWhile these might be challenging questions, they aren’t brainteasers.Brainteasers are typically found in newspapers and magazines, as something fun for the reader. But they’ve also found their way into the world of job interviews. The popularity of brainteasers depends a little about the industry, as well as the country. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to understand brainteasers, in case you ever find yourself in a situation where you’re presented with a brainteaser.Lets start by looking at some simpler brain teasers.[slideshare id=48369850doc=brainteasers-150520060632-lva1-app6891w=640h=330]We’ll explore the use of brainteasers in job intervi ews in more detail below, but it’s now time to look at some examples of commonly used brainteasers.EXAMPLE BRAINTEASERSWhen it comes to brainteasers in job interviews, the questions often fall under two categories: questions with correct answers and questions with no correct answer.Questions with a correct answerQuestions with correct answers are often math questions. Therefore, they are typically used in technical and finance industries, which require good mathematical skills and logical thinking.Below are a few examples of these types of brainteasers. While the wording or the examples used may not be the same, the examples provide the most common type of brainteasers you could expect. We’ve included the answers to these questions, but try to guess the answer first before checking!Example brainteaser 1:  You roll two fair dice, what is the probability that the sum is 9?Example brainteaser 2:  If time is 3:15, what is the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand on a cloc k?Example brainteaser 3:  You’re in a room with three light switches, each of which controls one of three light bulbs in the next room. Your task is to determine which switch controls which bulb. All lights are initially off, and you can’t see in one room from the other. You may inspect the room only once. How can you know which switch is connected to which light bulb?Example brainteaser 4:  What can you hold without ever touching, or using your hands?Answers to the brainteasersBrainteaser 1: The possible pairs of dice are: 3+6, 4+5, 5+4 and 6+3. Probability is therefore 4/36=11%.Brainteaser 2: 7.5 degrees. The hour hand moves around every 12 hours, which is 360 degrees in 12 hours or 30 degrees per hour. At 3, the hour hand points exactly at 3. This means that 15 minutes later, the minute hand is pointing at 3 and the hour hand is pointing 7.5 degrees past it.Brainteaser 3: Assign the switches with numbers 1, 2 and 3. Leave switch 1 off. Turn the second switch on for five minut es and turn it off. Turn switch 3 on and leave it on. Enter the room. The bulb currently on is controlled by switch 3. Feel the other bulbs for heat. The bulb, which is off, and warm is controlled by switch 2. The cold bulb is switch 1.Brainteaser 4: Your breath.Questions with no single correct answerBut job interviews often aren’t about testing your math skills, but are more focused on your logical thinking and creativity. This is why they often tend to use brainteasers with no correct answer.These are designed to find more about your approach to solving a problem and your ability to think on your feet. These brainteasers are not as much about the answer you give, but the way you go about solving them.There are two types of questions with no correct answers: the questions with a logical solution and often a possible correct answer, and the questions that aren’t possible to solve in any sensible way, but aim for a creative answer.Check out these hard to solve brain teasers and h ow to solve them.[slideshare id=36538567doc=hardtosolvebrainteasers-140702012330-phpapp01type=dw=640h=330]Again, we’ve added some common brainteaser examples, which are popular in job interviews. We’ve also included a few ways you could answer these questions.Example brainteaser 1:  If you had 5,623 participants in a tournament, how many games would you need to be played to determine the winner?Example brainteaser 2:  How many quarters of pizza do Americans eat a month?Example brainteaser 3:  How many footballs can fit inside a Boeing 747?Example brainteaser 4:  How would you move Mount Fiji?Example brainteaser 5:  Why are manhole covers round?Answers to the brainteaserAs you probably noticed, questions 1 to 3 can be answered with a near correct answer. In fact, if you had access to the required data, it would be possible to answer the questions correctly. But in a job interview, the focus is more on estimates and whether you take all the different aspects of the questions into account.Below answers are therefore focused on the averages and the focus is on the things you should consider when giving the answer.Answer 1: There are potentially an unlimited number of answers to this brainteaser. The point here is to ask questions. Questions you need to ask to solve the brainteaser include:Are the participants individual competitors or members of bigger teams?If teams, what is the number of teams?What is the tournament structure? Single elimination rounds or do each team get to play a specific number of games?Answer 2: To answer this question, you need to have an estimate of the population of the US, make a guesstimate on how many people eat pizza. After that guesstimate how many slices a person would eat and how often in a month. Then you can calculate the average size of a pizza.For instance, the figures could look something like:Population around 300 millionTwo out of three eat pizza - 200 million eat pizza.Average person eats two slices of pizza twice a mon th, meaning four a month.The average slice is six inches at the base and ten inches long - 30 square inch - four slices is 120 square inches.One square foot equals 144 square inches and on average one person would eat around one square foot per month, if you round up the answer.200 million times one square foot = 200 million square feet of pizza a month.Answer 3: You’ll need to consider the size of a Boeing 747 and the size of an average football. Boeing 747 has a passenger volume of around 876 cubic meters, with cargo volume of 159 cubic meters. The average football is 22 inches in diameter. The average would therefore be around 47,000 balls.Since the focus is not on the correct answer, you should consider asking extra questions. For example, are they talking about football (soccer) balls or American footballs? Can you use the fuel tank and does the airplane have seats attached?The final two brainteasers, on the other hand, don’t have an actual answer. For example, moving Mount Fiji from one spot to another isn’t really a logical question, as you wouldn’t be able to do so. The idea is, therefore, to focus on how you approach the question and how good you are thinking outside of the box.Answer 4: The questions, popularized by Microsoft according to reports, can be answered in a numerous different ways. Here are some of the possible solutions:Mount Fiji is already constantly moving, as the Earth is rotating around its axis.You could create a massive earthquake, which could shift the mountain.Take a picture of it and carry the image elsewhere.Take a piece of the mountain from the right and add it on the left. This would continue to move the mountain.Answer 5: This is another out-of-the-box kind of questions. The possible answers could include:Because manholes are round and any other shape wouldn’t fit it.A round manhole cover is easier to move, as it can be rolled.Circular covers are easier to place on the opening, since they don’t require precise al igning.Some further examples of brain teasers and how to solve them. WHY DO INTERVIEWS USE BRAINTEASERS?Whilst we can agree that brainteasers are a fun way to spend a few minutes (or hours!), but what is the reason behind job interviews using them.As mentioned above, the idea behind brainteasers in an interview isn’t about finding the correct answer, but more about the journey to an answer.In fact, the candidate’s ability to answer a brainteaser (right or wrong) can reveal more information to the interviewer and help the interviewer understand whether the person is the right fit for the role.Brainteasers generally help the interviewer to analyze the candidate’s proficiency in:Problem solving â€" How fast can you analyze the problem in question and come up with a possible solution?Critical thinkingâ€"Are you able to see the big picture and evaluate all the different options and aspects behind the question?Analytical skills â€" What is your ability to analyze different pieces of data and use them to determine probability? Are you able to make calculations based on the information you have available?Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking â€" Can you take an innovative approach to problems? Can you see past the ‘obvious’ solutions and surprise the interviewer with a fresh approach?Their ability to think on their feet â€" Are you able to come up with a solution even when you haven’t been able to prepare for it?Their ability to perform under pressure â€" Will you be able to remain calm and composed even when you’re presented a tricky brainteaser?When faced with a brainteaser, you should always remember the focus is not so much on the actual answer, but the way you approach the problem.Jean Eisel, director of the Career Management Center at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, told Monster, “You don’t necessarily have enough information to give the answer. They’re (interviewers) really looking at how people process information”.HOW TO PREPARE FOR BRAINTEASERS?Since job interviews don’t always follow a similar pattern, it’s impossible to know whether you have to answer a brainteaser or not. Your interview success won’t be determined by how well you answer a single brainteaser, so don’t make it the central focus of your interview preparation.Nonetheless, it can be helpful to understand some of these basics beforehand, as you’ll be more able to stay calm and composed in case a brainteaser comes up. The focus of your preparation should be on understanding what brainteasers are, what the interviewer is trying to measure with it and how you can go about solving them.Go through the examples above to understand the different kind of brainteasers. You can find further brainteasers online and even watch the video below for some common brainteasers. HOW TO APPROACH A BRAINTEASER?The final part of your preparation and understanding of brainteasers should involve the right approach to solving the problem. There are three steps to approaching and solving a brainteaser and you should use this tactic in a job interview.Step 1: Take a moment to understand the questionFirst, if the interview asks you a brainteaser, stay calm and take a deep breath. Don’t blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind. A good trick is to repeat the teaser aloud while you gather your thoughts and analyze the kind of question you are presented with.Think whether the problem has a single solution or is it a more open-ended question. What are the interviewers looking for with the question?For example, if the problem is a simple math question, you can start working on the solution. On the other hand, if it seems like a creativity question, such as the Mount Fiji, one, start thinking a fun and innovative answer.Step 2: Clarify any issues you might haveDon’t be afraid to ask questions. In fact, it’s going to tell the interviewer a better ability to solve problems and be analytical if you do. Follow-ups also give you a little more time to think and gather your thoughts.It is often possible to use pen and paper to make notes. You can also use them to draw graphs and to visualize your answer and approach. This can show the interviewer your ability to analyze and think about the big picture.Step 3: Explain your thinking processFinally, you should explain your thinking process behind the answer, not simply blurt it out. You can present your abilities to solving complex problems, as well as highlight your creativity, by talking through your thinking process and the approach you took.For example, on the Boeing 747 question, you don’t want to simply answer with the final estimate. Instead, go through the different sets of data you need to know, the way you reached to your estimates and how you then calculated the final answer.If you had no idea of the size of a football, you should explain what estimate you used. For instance, you could say that you assume a football is slightly smaller than basketball, which you play and therefore, you estimated the ball to be about 22 inch.Remember, the focus should be on your thinking process and logical thinking skills, not whether or not you used the exact data or numbers. Even in the questions with a single correct answer, you can salvage points by highlighting the approach you’d take and the honesty of winging it if all else fails.IN CONCLUSIONBrainteasers are not the most common part of today’s job interviews, but certain companies still regularly use them. It can therefore be helpful to understand why you might come across them and the approach you should take to solve them.You shouldn’t ever stress about brainteasers too much â€" they are more about analyzing your creative and problem solving skill than a correct answer. Always keep a cool head and focus on explaining your approach and the thinking behind your answer.Image credit: Wikimedia Commons | Cepheus under the public domain.

Transgender Rights And Issues In America - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2028 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Transgender Essay Did you like this example? Every day, thousands of transgender Americans have to deal with several kinds of injustices. Whether it be trying to do basic, everyday activities, grow up in an unsupportive household, come out to family, or obtain basic healthcare, there is always trouble in the lives of transgender people. In America today, the negative stigma surrounding transgender people has begun to dissolve, and the community has acquired more support over the years, but prejudice is still awfully prevalent despite the efforts to stop it. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Transgender Rights And Issues In America" essay for you Create order This topic is important because transgender people are not always treated like people, when all they want is to be accepted by their families, peers, and communities, just like everyone else. Transgender Americans deserve the full rights to live that every other citizen in this country takes advantage of, and the discrimination that they face is unfair. Transgender people are normal people who feel they were born in the wrong body, as the wrong gender, and are either female transitioning into male, or male to female. This can mean extremely expensive top or bottom surgeries that alter the persons body to match the gender identity of the person. Gender identity is the gender that a person feels like they are, rather than the sex they were given at birth. A common condition that most trans people have is something called gender dysphoria. This is caused by distress that someone experiences because of the difference between the appearance of their body and their gender identity. Gender dysphoria is often confused with body dysmorphia, which is the mental disorder that distorts the image of ones body and causes anxiety about ones appearance. Although some transgender people might have both of these, they are different conditions (Callahan 2014). According to Planned Parenthood, transphobia can be defined as the fear, hatred, disbelief, or mistrust of people who are transgender, though it is most commonly characterized by bullying. It can take many forms and cause the victims issues such as depression, suicidal thoughts or tendencies, and hopelessness. Roughly 50 percent of trans people in America have thought about committing suicide because of transphobia (Ettachfini 2016). Unfortunately, in attempts to stop trans kids from being transgender, some conservative parents choose to send their trans children to conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is a service given by churches or religious groups to try to change an adolescents sexual orientation or gender identity through electric shock, psychological conditioning, or a number of other cruel methods (2018). Several issues are common for the victims of whom are forced to participate in this continually debunked as unfunctional. According to the Human Rights Campaign, depressi on, anxiety, homelessness, drug use, and suicide can be the result of conversion therapy. There are several misconceptions about the transgender community. For example, some people who are uneducated or ignorant to the topic of gender identity believe that being trans is just a phase gone through by someone who is confused about who they are, and will grow out of it. Also, contrary to popular belief, transitioning fully does not just take one simple operation; legal, social, and personal changes are common in addition to reassignment surgeries to fully become the people they want to be. Gender reassignment surgeries can be difficult to schedule due to lack of funds or a support system from family and/or friends. Many people do not approve of trans people using the bathroom that matches their gender identity. This is because of the false belief that if trans people used the bathroom of their choice, they could be sexual predators in disguise, there to prey on young people, but this is untrue and trans people just want to use the restroom. Seventy percent of transgender peo ple surveyed in Washington D.C. said that they received some form of backlash or harassment for using the bathroom of their choice (Wang, Soloman, Durso, McBride, Cahill). This negative response can also lead to health concerns and embarrassment in young people. Students are more likely to develop urinary tract infections, be constipated, or have accidents at school, as a result of being afraid to using the bathroom (Ettachfini 2016). If a trans adolescent does not have a solid group of people to be there for them while growing and transitioning, they may suffer from depression and deal with higher rates of harassment and bullying at school than children who are not trans (Ettachfini 2016). In highly extreme cases, trans kids could become suicidal, and children over 14 have taken their own lives as a result of how they were treated at home or school. An example of this is the story of Leelah Alcorn. Leelah was a transgender girl from Cincinnati, Ohio, who had felt like a girl and not a boy since the age of 4. Her parents refused to accept that she was not a boy, and rather than loving and supporting her regardless of her gender identity and sexual orientation, when Leelah was 14, they sent her to conversion therapy after she came out to them. My mom started taking me to a therapist, but would only take me to Christian therapists (who were all very biased), so I never actually got the therapy I needed to cure me o f my depression, she wrote in her suicide note, giving up hope, I only got more Christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help (Farrell 2014). At age 17, Leelah could not take living with parents who did not acknowledge her gender identity anymore. Leelah posted this suicide note on her Tumblr account and then took her life. In this note, Leelah wrote, My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year, and concluded with, Fix society. Please. She intended for the purpose of her death help to bring change to the way that transgender people are treated. Even after her death in 2014, her parents still call Leelah by her birth name and referred to her as their son, because of their conservative religious beliefs (Farrell 2014). Soon, her story went viral and the world became devastated about what happened to her, and furious with Leelahs parents for neglecting their childs needs. Soon, after her death thousands of people from around the world, including President Obama, were advocating for Leelahs Law. This was meant to be a national law that would ban conversion therapy, named to imm ortalize both Leelah and what she wanted her death to stand for. Although people have not stopped pushing to make conversion therapy, in all its forms illegal, and seven states and several U.S. cities have passed laws that protect minors from conversion therapy, Leelahs Law has unfortunately not yet been passed (2018). A lot of trans people feel the direct effects of the current situation in this country. For example, Thomas, a transgender high school student at Bay City Central says that he has noticed that the trans community today is better than it was, but still not good at all, referring to the injustices and discrimination faced by himself and his peers. On a daily basis, Thomas has to deal with any combination of rude comments that intend to invalidate him, people who do not understand that he is a person, and those who choose to remain ignorant. He says that he feels genuinely scared for the future, because President Trump wants to make it even harder than it already is currently for trans people to legally change their names and gender marks. Thomas plans to move in with his boyfriends family over the next summer because he is incredibly uncomfortable around his family, who has not supported him since coming out. It is not right that Thomas, who has not even graduated yet has to find anoth er place to live because he lives in a household that chooses not to support him. The topic of transgender rights is complicated because it has many parts and layers. First, there is the issue of the way that transgender people are treated in society, and too often, as a result of prejudice, it turns violent. A survey carried out in 2015 by the National Center for Transgender Equality showed that 1 in 10 transgender people in America face violence from a family member after coming out, and that 46 percent of trans citizens in this country were verbally abused in the year before the survey took place. Second, transgender people sometimes have trouble with legal matters such as marriage, or obtaining healthcare. Trans people can have trouble accessing a marriage license that contains the gender they identify as on it, because some states do not allow for people to change their legal sex. Healthcare can also be difficult to attain because in several U.S. states, it is legal to deny trans people coverage for basic preventative care that everyone else has easier access to. Third, transgender Americans are more likely to be unemployed or homeless. About one in four trans people have reported losing a job due to workplace discrimination, and since there is no federal law prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, it is completely legal (Passy 2018). It is true that many people disapprove of people being transgender at all. Some of these people believe that God made men and women in a certain way, and to be transgender is to go against what He intended. Of course, it is not wrong to be religious and to follow that religions ideology, but some religious groups fight against the very existence of transgender people. For example, an organization who promotes strict, conservative views, called Focus on the Family does not believe in transgender theology because it contradicts Christian ideals and scriptures (2018). On the topic of raising trans children, they support the idea of conversion therapy, and urge parents raising children to have them act more feminine if they were born female, and more masculine if they were born male to stop their child from becoming transgender. This company has been supported by both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a long time, with Pence giving occasional speeches sponsored by Focus o n the Family, which shows that neither of them are friendly nor supportive toward the transgender community. Others like Ryan T. Anderson have concluded that there is no way to transition that will ever make a person whole and happy. He also believes that, the sex of an organism is defined and identified by the way in which it (he or she) is organized for sexual reproduction, or in other words, the gender determined at birth should be permanent for the reason of sexual reproduction. This assumes that all people want kids, as some of them surely do not, and it is wrong to think that a persons sole purpose in life is to reproduce. Still, it is Andersons belief that trans men are will always be masculine women, and trans women will always be feminine men (Anderson 2018). This is simply not true because they do exist and can transition and be happy. These beliefs, however, can be dangerous to the trans community because the people who follow anti-transgender organizations such as Focus on the Family may begin to have transphobic views, believe that trans people dont exist, or be verbally or physically abusive toward them, which as mentioned before, can increase rates of depression and suicidal thoughts or tendencies in victims. If large groups of people continue to be transphobic, the current climate for transgender people could continue to get worse, and transgender erasure could persist, and the number of trans people who are killed, or commit suicide could increase greatly. Transgender people are just people, and they are valid, and deserve equality. In conclusion, the topic of transgender rights is important and should be talked about more because many people do not realize all the misconceptions that are believed by the ignorant, mistreatment of trans people and youth that occurs, and the everyday things that trans people endure, while trying to be equal to people who are not transgender. There is a battle that most transgender people and allies to the trans community must fight for equality, and they will not stop fighting until it is achieved.

Orwell’s Totalitarian Government in 1984 Essay - 1562 Words

George Orwell’s key objective throughout his novel, 1984, was to convey to his readers the imminent threat of the severe danger that totalitarianism could mean for the world. Orwell takes great measures to display the horrifying effects that come along with complete and dominant control that actually comes along with totalitarian government. In Orwell’s novel, personal liberties and individual freedoms that are protected and granted to many Americans today, are taken away and ripped from the citizen’s lives. The government takes away freedom and rights from the people so that the ruling class (which makes up the government), while reign with complete supremacy and possess all power. George Orwell declared himself as a Socialist, and he†¦show more content†¦Using his remarkable writing skills, Orwell published 1984 in hopes that he would be able to demonstrate to his readers that a communist government would lead to a totalitarian reign over all of societ y. In Orwell’s novel he creates a fictional society in which the government rules all the people and holds complete power over everyone. The government is referred to as ‘The Party’ and they depict themselves and flawless, generous, and so very helpful to all of mankind. They feed the people lies and tell them that without them (The Party), the citizens would be hopeless and could not possibly survive. The government holds onto their widespread power by instilling fear upon all citizens. They openly let the people know that they have spies hidden everywhere, and they have various technological devices that will ensure that every person is acting exactly how the government wants them to. For example, the ‘telescreen’ was a device that was mandatory in every citizen’s house and was installed by the government. It was basically a video recorder that could watch a person’s every move, as well as read off important news from the government ruler s. The main character in Orwell’s novel, Winston Smith, expresses his thoughts about the telescreen by realizing that â€Å"at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and,Show MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Totalitarian Government In George Orwells 19841803 Words   |  8 Pagescontext of any government. But, these three statements help establish the foundation of the world in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. The novel is set in an alternate version of the year 1984, imagined by Orwell in the 1940s. The world had split into three superstates: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The main character, Winston Smith, lives in Oceania where the entire superstate is run by an all powerful government, lead by the divine and immortal Big Brother. 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Serving as aRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Dystopia 881 Words   |  4 Pagesname being â€Å"1984† by George Orwell. â€Å"Big brother is always watching,† the language the author utilizes drops subtle hints from time to time about what could possibly happen in the real world in near future. 1984 still remains one of the most intense and powerful warning signals about the peril of total government control. The time period 1984 was inspired in is crucial to its plot. It was inspired around World War 2. Because of the rise of totalitarian dictators, AdolfRead MoreAnimal Farm And George Orwell By George Orwell1034 Words   |  5 Pageswriting the novel 1984, which similarly criticized totalitarianism by depicting an overwhelmingly melancholy dystopian society. 1984 achieved similar success and opened the public’s eyes to the dangers of the spread of despotic regimes throughout the world. By examining both Animal Farm and Orwell’s biography, further light is shed onto his belief in the dangers of totalitarian governments as depicted in 1984. Primarily, there were many influential factors and moments in George Orwell’s life that causedRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s The Great Gatsby 1285 Words   |  6 Pagesrecognized for his portrayal of dystopian societies and how they parallel present society. Through intense allegories, Orwell unintentionally crafted novels that are applicable to the totalitarian government systems prevalent in many advanced societies today. His dystopian societies have influenced many on history and government alike, giving it timeless qualities. Born as Eric Arthur Blair, George Orwell was an extremely skilled novelist, critic, journalist, and essayist capable of spreading his thoughts

Spontaneous Recovery Reflections of a Smoker Free Essays

Definition: Spontaneous Recovery is the tendency of a learned behavior to recover from the extinction after a rest period. (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner 2009). In order to better understand this definition I had to do more reading on the basic principles of learning and behaviorism. We will write a custom essay sample on Spontaneous Recovery: Reflections of a Smoker or any similar topic only for you Order Now The definition for learning is some experience that results in a relatively permanent change in the state in the learner. (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner 2009) In order for one to have a spontaneous recovery you must first have learned the habit, such as smoking. Next is the habitation, which is a general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner 2009) This would be the learned smokers getting use to the taste of nicotine, the smell of the smoke and ultimately the mood or mental state associated with the effects of the cigarette. I have been a smoker since I was about fourteen years old. At first I began smoking due to peer pressure. I was not truly addicted till the year 2003 when everyone I worked with would gather and smoke after out shift to relax and reflect on our night. In 2008 I quit smoking with the use of the medication called Chantix with complete success. Unfortunately, I picked it up again when I had a roommate move who smoked. Now even though I hadn’t smoked in over a year the craving came back, which was the spontaneous recovery. I hadn’t smoked In over a year and found myself under stress and quickly went back to the habit (habituation) of smoking again and have been doing so for the last year. Now, I find myself with another prescription for Chantix but I know that unless I control my urges after I quit. I will forever have the learned behaviorism of a smoker and must always remember that spontaneous recovery will be right around the corner if I allow myself to fall back into the habit of smoking. How to cite Spontaneous Recovery: Reflections of a Smoker, Essay examples

Theories of Developmental Psychology

There are numerous theories of developmental psychology. Theses theories have attempted to explain changes in human behaviours as a result of certain conditions or situations. In spite of the fact that a number of studies have focused on children’s development, there is an increasing interest in the behaviour of old people as well (Papalia, Olds Feldman, 2007, p.2). This paper will therefore discuss the strengths and weaknesses of two theories of developmental psychology.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Theories of Developmental Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Attachment Theory John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth are regarded as the authors of attachment theory. John Bowlby devised the fundamental principles of the theory by relying on ideas from cybernetics, ethology, developmental psychology and information processing. Ainsworth’s creative methodology facilitated the empirical testing of t he theory of attachment. Ainsworth also invented the notion of the attachment figure as a secure pedestal which a child can use to explore the society (Bretherton, 1992, p.759). Attachment is perceived as a natural system that transforms itself to guarantee continued survival of a child. Children have a natural tendency to seek physical, psychological and emotional support from persons they are attached to (Bretherton, 1992, p.759). Bowlby developed his theory after serving as a voluntary worker in an institution for maladjusted children. Bowlby was mainly influenced by his experience with two children at the institution. The first child was an extremely affectionless and detached youngster who did not have a stable mother figure. The second one was a nervous eight years old boy who followed him everywhere (Bretherton, 1992, p.760). Bowlby’s theory relied heavily on Lorenz’s ethological theory (especially his research of imprinting). Lorenz used young ducklings in his research to demonstrate that attachment was a matter of survival. Bowlby suggested that attachment behaviours are innate and that a child is bound to feel insecure and afraid when the attachment figure is absent. He also asserted that the fear of strangers is an inherent behavioural attribute that a child is born with. This innate behaviour enables a child to maintain close proximity with his/her attachment figure (Bowlby, 1980, p.2). The attachment theory helps us understand the importance of an attachment figure in shaping the child’s personality. A child is likely to experience psychological and emotional disorders when the attachment system is broken (Bowlby, 1980, p.4). Pickover (2002) states that children raised in an insecure attachment system are usually unreceptive to new secure attachments patterns (p.3).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, they often become emotionally withdrawn. However, when children are brought up in a secure attachment system, they are able to socialize with other people and at the same time maintain close relations with their attachment figures (Pickover, 2002, p. 3). Limitations of the Attachment theory Bowlby’s attachment theory has attracted criticisms from some psychologist. According to Bowlby, the personality of a child is mainly influenced by his/her attachment figure (especially the mother). For example, Bowlby asserts that a child will grow up to be an irresponsible person if his/her parents are reckless. However, Harris gives a different viewpoint. He asserts that parents are not the only people that alter their children’s actions. He claims that environmental factors and peer pressure influence the behaviour of children (Harris, 1998, p. 5). Bowlby assumes that the mother family member (such as fathers and siblings) can also influence the behaviour of young children. Finally, Bowlbyâ€⠄¢s attachment theory lends more credence on the stressful circumstances (as opposed to the non-stressful circumstances) that a child encounters during temporary separation from his/her mother (Fraley Spieker, 2003, p. 8). Social Learning Theory The social learning theory was developed by Robert Sears in an attempt to explain factors that influence human behaviours (Grusec, 1992, p.776). The social learning theory is based on â€Å"socialization processes that had a particularly strong impact on research and theory in social developmental psychology† (Grusec, 1992, p.777). In other words, this theory attempts to understand the process in which children learn the behaviours, attitudes and values practiced by other members of the society. The social learning theory also focuses on matters such as the attainment of culturally endorsed sex-role behaviours, the control of hostility and the struggle with enticement and guilt. Sears asserts that parents play a major role in helping their children to internalize the culturally accepted behaviours. He also states that the internalization process is greatly affected by parents’ behaviour (Grusec, 1992, p.777). The social learning theory is based on three key aspects. These are aggression, dependency and identification. Sears’ assessment of aggression relied heavily on Freud’s early concepts of aggression. Freud asserted that aggression was a by-product of frustration. According to Freud, â€Å"aggression is attributed to a drive†¦linked to experience with frustrating events† (Grusec, 1992, p.777). Sears asserted that aggression could be alleviated via a learning process. Dependency is another critical element addressed by the social learning theory. According to Sears, the presence of dependency is attributed to the fact that children posses numerous drives which are reduced by their mothers. Sears argues that a child is able to imitate his/her mother’s attributes through observation (during the infant-mother pairing moments such as breast feeding).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Theories of Developmental Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He further states that the desire by the infant to be close to his/her mother yields dependent behaviours that are bolstered by motherly attention (Grusec, 1992, p.778). Sears’ theory also lends credence to the role of identification in personality development. When young children develop a dependency drive; they perceive actions of their mothers as vital elements of their own behaviour patterns (Grusec, 1992, p.778). Limitations of Social Learning Theory Sears’ social learning theory has failed to stand the test of time. The theory makes fundamental assumptions regarding human actions. For instance, the theory ignores the fundamental biological principles that are critical to the social learning process. It is obvious t hat Sears encountered problems as he attempted to describe the growth of drives. He ultimately discarded the notion of drives and relied on the concepts of incentive and reinforcement. Consequently, his theory lost its unique attributes (Grusec, 1992, p.779). To sum it up, the two theories emphasize on the role of adult individuals and the socio-cultural environment in shaping up children’s behaviour. Basically, Bowlby believed that attachment system was an integral aspect that facilitated a close bond between children and their mothers. Similarly, Robert Sears’ social learning theory attempts to explain factors that influence human behaviours. Nonetheless, both theories do not give adequate explanations with respect to developmental psychology. References Bowlby, J. (1980) Loss: Sadness Depression. Attachment and Loss (vol. 3); (International psycho-analytical library no.109). London: Hogarth Press. Bretherton, I. (1992). The Origins of Attachment Theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Developmental Psychology, 28, 759-775. Fraley, R. C., Spieker, S. J. (2003) Are infant attachment patterns continuously or categorically distributed? A taxometric analysis of strange situation behaviour. Developmental Psychology, 39, 387-404. Grusec, J.E. (1992) Social Learning Theory and Developmental Psychology: The Legacies of Robert Sears and Albert Bandura. Developmental Psychology, 28, 776-786.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Harris, J. R. (1998) The Nurture Assumption: Why children turn out the way they do. York: The Free Press. Mith, P.K., Cowie, H., Blades, M. (2008) Understanding Children’s Development. Basic psychology (4 Ed.). Oxford, England: Blackwell Inc. Papalia, D. E., Olds, S. W., Feldman R. D. (2007) Human development. 10th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill. Pickover, S. (2002) Breaking the cycle: A clinical example of disrupting an insecure attachment system. Journal of Mental Health Counselling, 24, 358-367. This essay on Theories of Developmental Psychology was written and submitted by user Iliana H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Gods Generals essays

God's Generals essays The American Civil War was a military conflict between the United States of America (the Union), and 11 secessionist Southern states, organized as the Confederate States of America (the Confederacy). It was the culmination of four decades of intense sectional conflict and it reflected deep-seated economic, social, and political differences between the North and the South. Many books have been written on this first modern war describing how over 620,000 men were killed. Jeff Shaara goes deeper and explores the personal conflicts of four historical figures, two from the South and two from North: General Lee, General Jackson, Colonel Chamberlain, and Hancock. Robert E. Lees story began with a dilemma; he had to decide whether to stay to fight with the army he has been serving for 30 years or to resign and go to Virginia to defend his home. Life in the army had ruined his life. Throughout Part 1, Lee feels something missing from inside him: the feeling of action, of war. While in Texas , General Winfield Scott asks Lee to serve as second in command of the Union Army, but due to the possibility that Virginia could also secede, he declines. Still yearning for action, he accepts the command of the Provisional Army, the defense forces for the state of Virginia. He goes on to recruit Major Thomas Jackson, Jackson replies by saying, If they do not run, then they die. (Pg. 135) I will do whatever I must to defeat my enemies. (Pg. 135) This describes Major Jacksons general attitude towards war and towards God. Jackson is extremely pious and does all he can to please God and to follow His path. Newspaper coverage of his battles quickly publicized him and the title Hero was given to Jackson. Throughout the war, Jackson shows dedication, going beyond his orders and chasing away his enemies. He also shows an immense concern for his troops. His men were shabby compared to the force ...

Geography of the New Country of South Sudan

Geography of the New Country of South Sudan Estimated Population: 8.2 millionCapital: Juba (Population 250,000); JubaBordering Countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and SudanArea: 239,285 square miles (619,745 sq km)South Sudan, officially called the Republic of South Sudan, is the worlds newest country. It is a landlocked country located on the continent of Africa to the south of the country of Sudan. South Sudan became an independent nation at midnight on July 9, 2011 after a January 2011 referendum regarding its secession from Sudan passed with around 99% of voters in favor of the split. South Sudan mainly voted to secede from Sudan because of cultural and religious differences and a decades-long civil war. History of South Sudan South Sudans history did not become documented until the early 1800s when Egyptians took control of the area; however oral traditions claim that the people of South Sudan entered the region before the 10th century and organized tribal societies existed there from the 15th to the 19th centuries. By the 1870s, Egypt attempted to colonize the area and established the colony of Equatoria. In the 1880s, the Mahdist Revolt occurred and Equatorias status as an Egyptian outpost was over by 1889. In 1898 Egypt and Great Britain established joint control of Sudan and in 1947 British colonists entered South Sudan and attempted to join it with Uganda. The Juba Conference, also in 1947, instead joined South Sudan with Sudan. In 1953 Great Britain and Egypt gave Sudan the powers of self-government and on January 1, 1956, Sudan gained full independence. Shortly after independence though, Sudans leaders failed to deliver on promises to create a federal system of government which began a long period of civil war between the northern and southern areas of the country because the north has long tried to implement Muslim policies and customs on the Christian south. By the 1980s, the civil war in Sudan caused serious economic and social problems which resulted in a lack of infrastructure, human rights issues and the displacement of a large part of its population. In 1983 the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) was founded and in 2000, Sudan and the SPLA/M came up with several agreements that would give South Sudan independence from the rest of the country and put it on a path to becoming an independent nation. After working with the United Nations Security Council the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on January 9, 2005.On January 9, 2011 Sudan held an election with a referendum regarding South Sudans secession. It passed with nearly 99% of the vote and on July 9, 2011 South Sudan officially seceded from Sudan, making it the worlds 196th independent country. Government of South Sudan South Sudans interim constitution was ratified on July 7, 2011, which established a presidential system of government and a President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, as the head of that government. In addition, South Sudan has a unicameral South Sudan Legislative Assembly and an independent judiciary with the highest court being the Supreme Court. South Sudan is divided into ten different states and three historical provinces (Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Greater Upper Nile) and its capital city is Juba, which is located in the state of Central Equatoria. Economy of South Sudan South Sudans economy is based mainly on the export of its natural resources. Oil is the main resource in South Sudan and oilfields in the southern part of the country drive its economy. There are, however, conflicts with Sudan as to how the revenue from the oilfields will be split following South Sudans independence. Timber resources like teak, also represent a major part of the regions economy and other natural resources include iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, and gold. Hydropower is also important as the Nile River has many tributaries in South Sudan. Agriculture also plays a major role in South Sudans economy and the main products of that industry are cotton, sugarcane, wheat, nuts and fruit like mangoes, papaya, and bananas. Geography and Climate of South Sudan South Sudan is a landlocked country located in eastern Africa. Since South Sudan is located near the Equator in the tropics, much of its landscape consists of tropical rainforest and its protected national parks are home to a plethora of migrating wildlife. South Sudan also has extensive swamp and grassland regions. The White Nile, a main tributary of the Nile River, also passes through the country. The highest point in South Sudan is Kinyeti at 10,456 feet (3,187 m) and it is located on its far southern border with Uganda.The climate of South Sudan varies but it is mainly tropical. Juba, the capital and largest city in South Sudan, has an average yearly high temperature of 94.1ËšF (34.5ËšC) and an average yearly low temperature of 70.9ËšF (21.6ËšC). The most rainfall in South Sudan is between the months of April and October and the average yearly total for rainfall is 37.54 inches (953.7 mm). To learn more about South Sudan, visit the official government website of South Sudan. References Briney, Amanda. (3 March 2011). Geography of Sudan - Learn the Geography of the African Nation of Sudan. Geography at About.com. Retrieved from: http://geography.about.com/od/sudanmaps/a/sudan-geography.htmBritish Broadcasting Company. (8 July 2011). South Sudan Becomes an Independent Nation. BBC News Africa. Retrieved from: bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14089843Goffard, Christopher. (10 July 2011). South Sudan: New Nation of South Sudan Declares Independence. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from: latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-south-sudan-independence-20110710,0,2964065.storyWikipedia.org. (10 July 2011). South Sudan - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudan