Analogous Structures in Evolution

There are many types of evidence supporting evolution, including studies in the molecular biology field, such as DNA, and in the developmental biology field. However, the most commonly used types of evidence for evolution are anatomical comparisons between species. While homologous structures show how similar species have changed from their ancient ancestors, analogous structures show how different species have evolved to become more similar. Speciation Speciation is the change over time of one species into a new species. Why would different species become more similar? Usually, the cause of convergent evolution is similar selection pressures in the environment. In other words, the environments in which the two different species live are similar and those species need to fill the same niche in different areas around the world. Since natural selection works the same way in these environments, the same types of adaptations are favorable, and individuals with favorable adaptations survive long enough to pass down their genes to their offspring. This continues until only individuals with favorable adaptations are left in the population. Sometimes, these types of adaptations can change the structure of the individual. Body parts can be gained, lost, or rearranged depending on whether their function is the same as the original function of that part. This can lead to analogous structures in different species that occupy the same type of niche and environment in different locations. Taxonomy When Carolus Linnaeus first began classifying and naming species with taxonomy, the science of classification, he often grouped similar-looking species into similar groups. This led to incorrect groupings compared to evolutionary origins of the species. Just because species look or behave the same doesnt mean they are closely related. Analogous structures dont have to share the same evolutionary path. One analogous structure might have come into existence long ago, while the analogous match on another species may be relatively new. They may go through different developmental and functional stages before they are fully alike. Analogous structures are not necessarily evidence that two species came from a common ancestor. It is more likely they came from two separate branches of the phylogenetic tree and may not be closely related at all. Examples The human eye is very similar in structure to the eye of the octopus. In fact, the octopus eye is superior to the humans in that it doesnt have a blind spot. Structurally, that is the only difference between the eyes. However, the octopus and the human are not closely related and reside far from each other on the phylogenetic tree of life. Wings are a popular adaptation for many animals. Bats, birds, insects, and pterosaurs all had wings. But a bat is more closely related to a human than to a bird or an insect based on homologous structures. Even though all these species have wings and can fly, they are very different in other ways. They just happen to fill the flying niche in their locations. Sharks and dolphins look very similar due to color, placement of their fins, and overall body shape. However, sharks are fish and dolphins are mammals. This means that dolphins are more closely related to rats than they are sharks on the evolutionary scale. Other types of evolutionary evidence, such as DNA similarities, have proved this. It takes more than appearance to determine which species are closely related and which have evolved from different ancestors to become more similar through their analogous structures. However, analogous structures themselves are evidence for the theory of natural selection and the accumulation of adaptations over time.

Nuclear Weapons And Its Impact On The World - 1702 Words

Throughout history many progressions in science and technology have set us ahead of other nations both scientifically and militarily. The use of new technology to set us ahead of other nations was imminent. With the creation of planes and tanks in the First World War the advancement of new technology and nation destroying weapons were not far off. With the threat of the Germans creating Wonder Weapons which could win them the war and the world we enlisted the help of defected German scientists and Americas greatest minds scientifically and military alike. With the fear of losing hundreds of thousands of troops in japan we used the first atomic bombs setting a new world standard for warfare and changing the way our nation was viewed. The†¦show more content†¦Albert Einstein who escaped Nazi Germany and Enrico Fermi who escaped fascist Italy these two who defected to the United States informed the president of the power the Axis nations were working on. With Einstein pushing P resident Roosevelt to research this power from splitting uranium atoms and the President seeing no use for this he slowly started agreeing. In 1942 the Manhattan Project group is created with the idea to make the world’s first Atomic Bomb (Sherrow page 6; â€Å"The Manhattan Project† Web). The Project was held at first out of only a few colleges, Columbia University, University of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley. The same year that the project was established the first controlled nuclear reaction was achieved by Fermi and the S-1 group at the University of Chicago. With this success more funds were placed into the project and development of the bomb. Nuclear facilities were built at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Hanford, Washington. The main station and bomb building plant was placed in Los Alamos, Texas with Robert Oppenheimer as the head. The main Power source for the bomb is Uranium-235 and that that its isotope would work as a fuel source for a nuclear device. The process though of separating Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 would prove very difficult but necessary to gain access to the fuel source (Sherrow page 7; â€Å"The Manhattan

Better Education for the Smaller Family Free Essays

In recent years, a trend around the world has been toward a smaller family. Most families in the world have one or two children. In Vietnam, the average number of children per family has decreased in the last 20 years. We will write a custom essay sample on Better Education for the Smaller Family or any similar topic only for you Order Now A typical Vietnamese family has only one or two children. In the past, a family with more than ten children was not strange. The better education and the improvement of living condition have caused smaller family size. First, the average number of children per family has decreased because of better education. After the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese government has emphasized on education. Every kid could go to school to study. Therefore, more knowledge and more job opportunities have provided to Vietnamese people. High-educated people concentrate on their work and their income. They do not want to marry soon. The more late married couples there are, the fewer children are born. Consequently, the family size has decreased. Moreover, Vietnamese people used to think that a big family with many children is a happy family. The educated people have a different point of view. They cannot provide their children a good education and a satisfactory support if they had many children. They have realized the benefit from a smaller family. For instance, the parent can afford $1000 to their children a month. If they had four children, each would receive only $250. However, the kid in a single child family would receive the whole supply. A small family would provide the child a good condition to grow up. Besides, a problem has occurred from smaller families. The child becomes mischievous and naughty. The kid does whatever he or she wants because they know that their parent do not have many children. Second, the improvement of living condition has caused smaller family size. During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese people liked to have many children because they were afraid that they would lose their kids for the war. They wanted more and more of their kids to become more and more Vietnamese soldiers. After the war, they did not need more children. As a result, the family size started to decrease. Furthermore, Vietnam is a country base on farm product. Eighty percent of Vietnamese people are farmers. The farm work is very difficult and requires a lot of labor. They needed many family members to help their work. Therefore, they had many children. Nowadays, farmers have used machine and new technology in their work. The apparatus has replaced the labor. The farmers do not need many people to help them. Accordingly, they have had fewer children. In addition, more public services and information have been provided to Vietnamese people. The couples have planed to have healthy marriages. A small family is a good choice for them. This smaller, healthier family contributes to overall development and slower population growth. Nevertheless, the trend toward smaller family needs to be controlled in order to have a best result. Providing jobs and food is hard, but lacking work force is also a problem. Nowadays, people have fewer children then they had before. The more kids they have, the more money and time they spend. In order to have a happy family, they have to support a good environment to their children. Separating the parents† afford and love for three or four children is not a good idea. Consequently, a smaller family is the best choice. How to cite Better Education for the Smaller Family, Papers

How do you feel about photographs assignment Essay Example For Students

How do you feel about photographs assignment Essay How do you feel about photographs? Are you the type person that thinks a picture is worth a thousand words? If those statements describe you, you should probably take another look at how much weight and value that you give a photograph because pictures are very easily misinterpreted. When you take a minute to stop and think about pictures how they are looked at you might notice that more often than not if there is no writing with it you can only guess at what it shows. On the multiple occasions that we have looked at photos in class most people have eventually come to the same conclusion as Berger does in his essay. There are several core beliefs that Berger talks about and I will discuss in this paper. During the time that we spent looking and commenting on photographs during class you may have experienced the things that he describes. A photograph arrests the flow of time in which the event photographed once existed. All photographs are of the past, yet in them an instant of the past is arrested so that, unlike a lived past, it can never lead to the present. Every photograph presents us with two messages: a message concerning the event photographed and another concerning a shock of discontinuity. (1) This is what Berger said about a photograph and what it is able to capture. What he means by this is that a picture captures everything that is happening at a given time. The shock of discontinuity refers to anything that is out of order at the time the picture is taken. Because people are not always ready for pictures to be taken or even in a picture that is posed for the background may be out of order things can sometimes seems odd or out of place in a photograph. In my experience the parts of a photograph that are not planned can end up being what people find the most interesting or that they use to interpret the meaning of the image. The little unplanned things the occur in the backgrounds of photographs are many times what grabs peoples attention or at least affect in some way what they feel about it. In my pictures the subject is in his room which happens to have a lot of posters of women on the wall so some people thought that this meant that he was a horny guy which was not the image I was trying to convey at all. Im sure everyone has had this type of thing happen to them at some point. So I would think that everybody agrees with this statement. Another one of Bergers opinions is, A photograph preserves a moment of time and prevents it being effaced by the suppression of further moments. In this respect photographs might be compared to images stored in the memory. Yet there is a fundamental difference: whereas remembered images are the residue of continuous experience, a photograph isolates the appearances of a disconnected meaning.(1) This means that in a memory you know exactly what is going on. It is something that happened to you or explained to you in a way that you are able to know exactly what happened and how it should be interpreted. This allows a person to know how a memory should be viewed. However a photograph cannot clearly let you know its meaning unless you are the person who took it. The reason for this is that a photograph is just a picture of a moment in time that is open for the views of each individual who sees it. The photo has a meaning originally but it is not directly connected to it. So all the picture has is an appearance of some unknown meaning. .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae , .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .postImageUrl , .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae , .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:hover , .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:visited , .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:active { border:0!important; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:active , .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9508fdc2773cebb52114ee80a39418ae:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Famous photographers: Jerry Uelsmann, Freeman Patterson, and Annie Slivovitz EssayA good personal example of this is a picture of my subject in a car because my memory was of his crazy driving but all anyone got from the picture was that he liked cars. So the memory would have been a much better way to get my message across people didnt know the story behind the picture. The final statement that Berger makes is, In itself the photograph cannot lie, but, by the same token, it cannot tell the truth; or rather the truth it does tell, the truth it can by itself defend, is a limited one.(1) This basically wraps up everything that he has said before. Pictures are limited in what they can tell you, they can provide some of a story but not all of it. If a photograph is misinterpreted it is not its fault because it cannot be expected for a picture to tell you everything about the scene it represents. A picture in union with a memory can be a great way to get a point across but on its own a picture is not comprehensive enough to tell a story. Such as the picture I took of the cars speedometer. If you look at and say oh its only at sixty, you may think hes a fairly safe driver. What you wouldnt know is that he was going sixty on a winding back road at night. So even though the picture didnt lie the viewer was just unable to tell the whole truth from looking at it. Based on my experience I agree with Berger that photographs are nice but they are too open to be considered truth. The memory that I wrote tells much more about the person than the photographs. Some people get the right idea from the pictures but overall the memory did a lot better job of conveying the message I wanted to send about the subject.

Gorgias Defense on Behalf of Palamedes Essays - Socratic Dialogues

Carolyn Adams Philosophy 240 June 27, 2011 Comparison of Socrates? Apology to one Written by Gorgias The Apology of Socrates is Plato?s version of the speech given by Socrates as he unsuccessfully defended himself against the charges of ?corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes. In the opening paragraphs of Xenophon?s Apology he remarks that previous writers had failed to make clear the reason for Socrates? boastful talk considering he was facing the death penalty. Xenophon nowhere explicitly claims Plato?s Apology to be inaccurate even though his account disagrees in some respects. I find this claim plausible, because there is no real way to know how closely Socrates? words in the Apology match those of Socrates at the actual trial. In the first sentence of the Apology, Socrates begins by saying that he doesn?t know if the men of Athens (the jury) have been persuaded by his accusers. Socrates asks the jury not to judge him by his oratorical skills, but by the truth. By doing so, Socrates imitates, parodies and even corrects The Orators. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apology_(Plato) Socrates says that he will not use ornate words or carefully arranged phrases, but rather speak the expressions that come into his head. In this way Socrates corrects the Orators, showing what they should have been doing all along, speaking the truth persuasively with wisdom. My view is that by doing so Socrates alienated his jurors from the beginning of his own defense. I believe this because Anytus, one of the three men who had brought charges against Socrates did so because Socrates had offended him by naming names of prominent Athenians who had, according to Socrates, produced sons inferior to themselves. Anytus warns Socrates that running people down (?kakos legein?) could get him in trouble.( Therefore, I do not think it is implausible that perhaps some of these very men were his jurors. These jurors may have felt he was mocking their ability to speak the truth, thereby ?running them down,? from the beginning of his speech. Meletus, the only one of Socrates accusers to speak during Socrates? defense, allows himself to be cross-examined by Socrates. Socrates said that Meletus was a young unknown with a hook nose. Socrates accuses Meletus of not caring about the things he professes to care about and argues that no one would intentionally harm another person (because they would stand to be harmed by that person at a later date) ( Meletus falls into a trap and where he had joined the accusers because he was ?vexed on behalf of the poets?, not paying attention to the charges he is bringing, accuses Socrates of both atheism and believing in demi-gods. I believe that a convincing argument as to why Socrates Apology did not succeed in winning him an acquittal would be because throughout he continually antagonizes the court. Socrates antagonizes the court by stating that the Delphic Oracle has singled him out to spur his fellow Athenians to a greater awareness of moral goodness and truth. Socrates says that even if charges were withdrawn he would still not stop questioning his fellow citizens and asks ?Are you not ashamed that you give your attention to acquiring as much money as possible, and similarly with reputation and honor, and give no attention or thought to truth and understanding and the perfection of your soul It is my contention that Socrates in his Apology comes across as not only antagonistic but also sarcastic. I think he may have considered himself superior to his judge and jury. I wonder if Socrates really believed that he would actually be sentenced to death. While undeniably brilliant and enlightened, had Socrates shown more humility during his trial perhaps he would have had a better chance of escaping the death penalty. Socrates believed that in practice rhetoric was flattery, it made the audience feel worthy because they could identify with the rhetorician?s argument. Socrates argued that rhetoric is not an art, but merely a knack: it guesses at what?s pleasant with no consideration for what?s best. ? And I say it isn?t a craft, but a knack, because it has no account of the nature of whatever thing it applies it applies by which it applies

Free Essays on Shays Rebellion

Troubled Farmers â€Å"In the first years of peacetime, following the Revolutionary War, the future of both the agrarian and commercial society appeared threatened by a strangling chain of debt which aggravated the depressed economy of the postwar years†.1 This poor economy affected almost everyone in New England especially the farmers. For years these farmers, or yeomen as they were commonly called, had been used to growing just enough for what they needed and grew little in surplus. As one farmer explained â€Å" My farm provides me and my family with a good living. Nothing we wear, eat, or drink was purchased, because my farm provides it all.†2 The only problem with this way of life is that with no surplus there was no way to make enough money to pay excessive debts. For example, since farmer possessed little money the merchants offered the articles they needed on short-term credit and accepted any surplus farm goods on a seasonal basis for payment. However if the farmer experie nced a poor crop, shopkeepers usually extended credit and thereby tied the farmer to their businesses on a yearly basis.3 During a credit crisis, the gradual disintegration of the traditional culture became more apparent. During hard times, merchants in need of ready cash withdrew credit from their yeomen customers and called for the repayment of loans in hard cash. Such demands showed the growing power of the commercial elite.4 As one could imagine this brought much social and economic unrest to the farmers of New England. Many of the farmers in debt were dragged into court and in many cases they were put into debtors prison. Many decided to take action: The farmers waited for the legal due process as long as them could. The Legislature, also know as the General Court, took little action to address the farmers complaints. 5 â€Å"So without waiting for General Court to come back into session to work on grievances as requested, the People took matters ... Free Essays on Shays' Rebellion Free Essays on Shays' Rebellion Troubled Farmers â€Å"In the first years of peacetime, following the Revolutionary War, the future of both the agrarian and commercial society appeared threatened by a strangling chain of debt which aggravated the depressed economy of the postwar years†.1 This poor economy affected almost everyone in New England especially the farmers. For years these farmers, or yeomen as they were commonly called, had been used to growing just enough for what they needed and grew little in surplus. As one farmer explained â€Å" My farm provides me and my family with a good living. Nothing we wear, eat, or drink was purchased, because my farm provides it all.†2 The only problem with this way of life is that with no surplus there was no way to make enough money to pay excessive debts. For example, since farmer possessed little money the merchants offered the articles they needed on short-term credit and accepted any surplus farm goods on a seasonal basis for payment. However if the farmer experie nced a poor crop, shopkeepers usually extended credit and thereby tied the farmer to their businesses on a yearly basis.3 During a credit crisis, the gradual disintegration of the traditional culture became more apparent. During hard times, merchants in need of ready cash withdrew credit from their yeomen customers and called for the repayment of loans in hard cash. Such demands showed the growing power of the commercial elite.4 As one could imagine this brought much social and economic unrest to the farmers of New England. Many of the farmers in debt were dragged into court and in many cases they were put into debtors prison. Many decided to take action: The farmers waited for the legal due process as long as them could. The Legislature, also know as the General Court, took little action to address the farmers complaints. 5 â€Å"So without waiting for General Court to come back into session to work on grievances as requested, the People took matters ...

Hire With your Head Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hire With your Head - Essay Example Additionally, there are also legal costs and ethical considerations any organization might face due to a poor hiring process. It, therefore, is imperative to make the process as perfect as possible through asking the right question, testing the correct skills and ascertaining the best qualifications. In ordinary situations, finding good people that match expectations prove difficult. As a result, most organizations stumble to the ground despite having qualified individuals (Alder 178). All these problems point back to the hiring process, which might be expensive with regards to opportunity and money. In this light, the paper takes a deep insight at chapter 6 of Lou Alder’s book Hire with your head. †¢ Evidently, Lou Alder is a senior corporate executive experienced in finding, evaluating, hiring and assimilating new employees into the work environment. Through his book Hire with your head, a systematic approach prevails for discovering and bringing on board new employees of exceptional skills and productivity. Notably, the hiring process is complicated by Alders book simplifies the continuous process. †¢ Interviewers often mistake the first candidates and approve them for the strategic positions. In essence, Alder regards, these simple mistakes as serious hiring problems that retain the wrong candidates while the right candidates face expulsion. The first interview is an avenue for collecting information and not a decision-making platform. Any interview that induces choice of options at the first stage stagnates or change the hiring process.

Border security issues (week 6) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Border security issues (week 6) - Essay Example There is a systemic technique of impunity at the state and local levels where the anti-press crimes are under investigation (Lauria, O’Connor, Campbell & Barbeito, 2010). The report by Lauria, O’Connor, Campbell and Barbeito (2010), shows that the US-Mexico border is not only unsafe for journalists, but for citizens. The special report found out that the police and justice system do not uphold the law in cases concerning crimes by cartels. Mexico’s current President Enrique Peà ±a Nieto, continues use of the military to combat drug lords’ activities, which is not the best method to eliminate threats made to journalists from drug cartels. Politicians from United Stated and Mexico can take several measures to fix the broken immigration systems. It is still possible, even when a vacuum of truth exists since some of the officials in both governments may know those who operate the drug cartels. The problem is that there is no transparency if it is only one government that deals with a broken immigration system. However, if the two governments increased their collaboration between each other to curtail border insecurity against the cartels they would fix the immigration system easily. Nevertheless, these calculated measures would be useless if the general population is not involved. Drug cartels operate successfully when both sides are not in good terms because if there are legal consequences in one state, the drug lords cross the border to the other state and continue with their criminal activities. Therefore, if politicians from both states would collaborate on drug policy implementation and other viable strategies, it would be easier to fix the broken immigration system. Meyer, M. (2013). Mexico’s new military police force: the continued militarization of public security in Mexico. The Washington Office on Latin America,

Module 3 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 3 - Case Study Example To develop one’s plan of action for each child, aside from indicating their respective areas of interests, the additional information would could enhance the development and design of differentiated instructions include: preferences of using identified instructional materials (technological applications, games, or visually designed projects). Also, it would be helpful to determine from their respective parents the academic support accorded outside the classroom (use of computers, tutors, mentors, and other enriching activities). The information would help in the design of compacted and differentiated instruction; as well as in monitoring the performance of the child outside the traditional classroom setting. Actually, the strategies and recommended differentiated instructions were effective in achieving the identified goals. For Mark, it was important to gain interpersonal skills; aside from exhibiting excellence in the subjects which were noted. For Katrina, it was crucial to mitigate any potential negative impact of having to retain her to Grade 3 level. As such, it was correct to solicit the inputs of parents, as well as to refer the children for consultation and evaluation with the school psychologist, who could assess the condition of the children, their accurate competencies and skills, and the preferred intervention, as

Impact of Video Games on Society

Impact of Video Games on Society Video games are a pastime for masses of adolescents worldwide. The unprecedented technological advancements to this entertaining culture have caused many gamers, especially adolescents, to acknowledge it as the ultimate fantasy. According to many studies, video games can increase aggressive behavior, cause emotional outbursts and decrease inhibitions in many people (Kardaras 2008). As a result of the increased exposure to this modern phenomenon, a mounting body of research is linking video games to violent, aggressive and anti-social behavior. For this reason the study focuses on investigating the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent, anti-social behavior. The first aim of this investigation is to document the different types of video games and how they operate through electronic devices, and therefore examining the associations between video game exposure and the different attitudes and behaviors displayed by gamers. The second objective is to explain the key factors which lead to violent, aggressive and anti-social behavior and the extreme lengths to which the gaming industry will go to in order to reap the advantages of video games. The investigation also presents an outline of the current rating and censorship systems in Australia, which has resulted in some violent video games being banned for their violent and inappropriate content. To end the research a feasible solution is proposed to maximize the potential advantages of rating systems. In conclusion, the paper summarizes the impact of video games on society. It concludes that gamers who expose themselves to greater amounts of video game violence are more likely to be prone to violent, aggressive and antisocial behavior over time. Word Count: 272 Section One: Introduction The gaming industry has grown immensely through the evolution of modern consoles, games and accessories. Therefore the ever growing hype that surrounds these technological gadgets is unprecedented even in the world of gamers, causing many adolescents to perceive video games consoles as a necessity in their lives, rather than an accessory. The impact of video gaming has been a debated issue for many years, and consequently the problem appears to be influencing many of my peers therefore I took this opportunity to explore the effect of video games on society. This paper presents an investigation into the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent and anti-social behavior. For the purpose of this examination the information has been divided into four sections. The first section examines what video games are and the genre of games which have resulted gamers displaying different behaviors. The next section assess how video games have an impact on society through real life examples, and then the possible factors which could lead to aggressive, violent and anti-social behavior. The final section in addition to a proposed solution to this issue, aims to discuss how effectively game ratings restrict inappropriate content from adolescent users. There is no question that video games have an impact on society. One thing that is certain is that the gaming industry is growing rapidly which consequently increases the impact of video games on society. Section Two: What are video games and the different type of video games played? A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a device specially made for game play called a video console; these interactions are entered via input devices such as controllers, joysticks and hand-held peripherals. The electronic systems used to play video games are known as platforms which range from: personal computers, video game consoles and small handheld devices and through these platforms video and sound are produced to interact with the user (Video Game 2009). The advancements in gaming consoles have become a major factor in promoting video game addiction, and therefore amplifying the video game influence among users. As gaming technology continues to expand, consoles such as Microsofts Xbox 360 and Sonys Playstation are becoming more sophisticated due to the customer demand for an enhanced gaming experience. Recent developments allow gamers to have access to video games at any time; for example with the PSP (Play Station Portable) a gamer is able to carry their console around with him/her anywhere, thereby adding to the amount of hours spent playing games. Similarly consoles like the Wii set a new precedent for the gaming world, trying to create a physical and more realistic gaming experience through innovative accessories such as the Wii MotionPlus which provided true motion and position information to the console (The Wiire 2008), and therefore encouraging users to become more engrossed in the game. Furthermore, the development of graphical interfaces and televisions appear to be significant factors in endorsing excessive gaming time. In particular the transition to LCD (Liquid-Crystal Display) and plasma televisions, which introduced a gratifying experience for gamers through the addition of surround sound speaker systems and improved graphic resolution. Subsequently the enlargement of graphic interface screens also added to the attractiveness of video games, as the screen sizes increased from 14 inch up to the unprecedented size of 65 inch (LCD television 2010). As the mind-blowing graphic resolution becomes more available, users are promised real entertainment in these virtual worlds, by creating a more realistic gaming experience. The most commonly played games are action games; these games encourage the development of aggressive characteristics to emerge in gamers, as they have a large amount of violence due to their fast-paced nature. The games usually allow the user to play person against person or person against animal/aliens; a classic example is the game Halo which incorporates violent confrontations which are practised through violent combat between the user interface and the console (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009). Currently the most recent video games present players with expansive spaces and allow users to interact in multiple ways; resulting in each player having a unique experience (Garrelts 2006). One of the most problematic games of recent times is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The controversy behind this game stemmed from many politicians condemning its frequent violent and sexual scenes. As illustrated above (refer figure 3), the game encourages inappropriate actions such as violence to be practised through gang warfare, raising concerns as these types of games have been turned into fodder for entertainment (Loftus 2002). Another genre of video games is adventure/role playing games; these games are usually less graphic than action games but contain mild violence and typically have an element of surrealism and fantasy. Games like Starfox Adventures are usually combined with a role playing element and allow the character to initiate dialogue. These games tend to be among the most addictive due to their narrative fantasy themes together with their mild violent content (Caruana, Caruana Bruner 2009). In a study conducted on video game usage and content this genre of games was found to encourage an increasing amount of antisocial values of a violent nature (Tompkins 2003). Section Three: How do video games have an impact on society? Adolescents and children are the group of people which are mostly engrossed to video games in society. The vulnerability of these groups especially children is prominent, as they are at such crucial stages in their development that they are highly influenced by their environment. For this reason some concerns have arisen as to why video games have become very influential story-tellers for this generation of children and youth (McCain J 2000).This may be a result of the technological advances which have exposed new generations to more graphic games which emphasize violence. With regards to this argument there are two very opposite sides, the first being put by the gaming industry who argue that gaming is secure entertainment with no link to violence and the others being the psychologists and researchers who argue that violent media promotes aggression (Tompkins 2003). Research dedicated to this issue is enormous, with many scientific studies concluding that significant exposure to violent video games increases the risk of aggressive behavior in certain children. From this exposure children become desensitized to violence making them believe that the world is a meaner and scarier place than it is (Tompkins 2003). Unfortunately, these thoughts are often said to be difficult to change later on in life. Therefore children begin to think that violence is normal behavior as depicted in the games. The idea of violence in video games can be similar to that of domestic violence, where children who are exposed to violence either become offenders or victims as they believe that what they observe is the norm (Tompkins 2003). The development of these thoughts in gamers could potentially lead to gamers becoming more violent and aggressive over time. Much of the research found on video games, like Dr Andersons, a leading researcher in the field of gaming reveals unequivocal evidence that game violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts (Anderson et al. 2003). The studies conducted found that the short-term exposure increases the likelihood of physically and verbally aggressive behavior, thoughts and emotions immediately after playing the game. While large-scale longitudinal studies provided converging evidence linking frequent exposure to violent video games during childhood leads to aggression later in life, including physical assaults and spouse abuse (Anderson et al 2003). Other researchers illustrate a comprehensive correlation between playing of M-rated games and bullying in schools. The gamers who played M-rated games, commonly adolescents, were found to be more likely to be reported for bullying other members in the school community (Thomas 2008). Sadly thes e negative outcomes are real as they are affecting our childrens behavior in schools, therefore creating more violent and troublesome youth within the wider community. The aspect of video games that is of most interest for this investigation is the content due to the fact that the violent content exposed to users can potentially be a factor which leads to aggressive outcomes (Gentile, Lynch, Linder Walsh 2004). Although current researchers conclude violent affects, Dr Anderson himself describes the relationship between games and aggressive behavior as similar to that between smoking and cancer. This comparison illustrates the idea that exposure to violence in video games may not always necessarily lead to aggressive outcomes; likewise smokers do not always develop cancer. Nevertheless, the chances of video games causing violent behavior in adolescents are increased dramatically (Hian Hou 2009). The negative effects of violent video games are evident in a recent study which involved adolescents playing two different games for 30 minutes. The researchers divided a group of 44 adolescents into two groups and randomly assigned the children to play one of the two games; the first being the high-octane Need for Speed: Underground, and the other the ultra-violent first-person shooter Medal of Honor: Frontline. Following the gaming session the children were given MRIs (Magnetic resonance imaging) of their brains. The scans revealed that the adolescents who played Medal of Honor, as a result of the exposure to violent and destructive scenes, showed an increase in emotional arousal and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition and attention(Kalning 2006). Unsurprisingly that same effect was not present in the children who played Need for Speed. For many gamers the exposure to violent video games increases their violent behavior; the cumulative effect of the exposure to these realistic and disturbing graphics is that it is creating a more violent society. Many modern time games now have been designed to demonstrate stereotypical characters. For example regarding gender, the portrayal of men has caused many adolescents to learn from these violent games, but unfortunately they are getting the wrong messages across. The men which are often portrayed as large and aggressive characters have resulted in gamers using violence as a means to solve conflict and problems with negotiation and non-violent solutions being totally disregarded. The concept of the gamers solving issues themselves in a similar manner through the practice of violence and aggression in order to be a man becomes apparent in gamers, ultimately resulting in some gamers imitating scenes from games in real-life situations (Haymes 2009). The impact of violence in video games has ignited debate in recent times, due to the rise of video games as a modern phenomenon. Psychology lecturer Caleb Owens, an obsessive gamer himself who spends lots time at a console, was so disturbed by scenes from the game Modern Warfare 2 where a player could at an airport assume the role of a terrorist in a Mumbai-style massacre (Dikeos 2010), that he complained to the Classification Review Board. The response from the games publishers was that this is to help gamers understand terrorism from the other side(Dikeos 2010). Supporting this response is Laura Parker, who is a devoted gamer and an online journalist for a gaming website, saying that a lot of people take these violent scenes out of context and say that the whole game is made up of these elements and thats often not the case at all (Dikeos 2010). Even so, frequent scenes which depict blood and murder have caused greater concern, as it could potentially encourage gamers to imitate vi olence in real-life situations. Despite the negative associations, some experts have come to other conclusions, strongly arguing that video games have no link to violence. In recent times Modern Warfare 2 has been criticized for its violent content but it is not going to cause a change in adult behavior (Barnett 2009) says Professor Mark Griffiths. The professor explained that there is no definitive proof or research to show that violent video games make adults behave any more violently (Barnett, 2009), adding that younger gamers, typically under the age of eight tend to be more influenced by games and what they see on screen. They usually try and mimic what they have watched on the big screen. However adults, which this game is certified for, have already formed their cognitive sensibilities and will not usually start acting differently because of a video game (Barnett 2009). Although these justifications sound reasonable they overlook the ease with which children can access violent and adult rated games. Currentl y video games cannot be certified to a specific group of people because the chances of a child obtaining a MA18+ rated game have increased due to the feeble enforcement of censorship regulations enforced in many countries. Section Four: Factors which lead to aggression, violence and anti-social behavior. The most worrying issue is that most violent games are landing in the hands of millions of children, despite ratings attempting to restrict prohibited access. For this reason inappropriate games have become implicated in a string of recent school shootings and murders which has raised concerns to new heights (McCain J 2000). Modern games are designed to be entertaining and challenging. The reality is that manufacturers are shamelessly exploiting children for revenue. Currently 89% of video games released contain some violent content. For this reason when consumers specifically children, who are highly influenced by what they see on the big screen, expose themselves to violence they begin to incorporate aggressive concepts and behaviors into their typical behavioral repertoire (Anderson, Gentile Buckle 2007). Despite these unethical practices by manufacturers being scrutinized, many retailers still insist on advertising games where it is better to kill people, attack police and drive dangerously. Although video games exposure is correlated to many negative outcomes, some research suggests that video game exposure independent of content is related to improvements in certain types of cognition and learning. These benefits are real but are limited, as the majority of games played tend to incorporate an increasing amount of violence and inappropriate content (Barlett, Anderson and Swing 2008). Despite some research in support of positive outcomes, the negative outcomes of video games are more evident. As research, in this case a meta-analysis by Anderson and Bushman (2001) found that across 54 independent tests of the relation between video games and violence, involving 4262 participants, there appeared to be five consistent results from playing games with violent content. Playing violent games tend to increase aggressive behaviors, awareness, emotions, and physiological arousal and decrease pro-social behaviors. These effects are noticeable and have been found in children and ad olescents, in males and females and in experimental and non-experimental studies. Therefore it can be considered as concrete evidence supporting the negative effects of video games on gamers. Further research by Anderson suggests that exposure to violent video games may increase angry and hostile feelings while interacting with peers, teachers and adults which leads users to demonstrating fierce behavior (Anderson et al. 2004). Perhaps the best example of violent video game influence over adolescents is the case of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. The two video game fanatics opened fire in their Colorado High School in 1999, killing 13 people. Experts made a convincing link between the murder and the continuous playing of video games with reports revealing that Harris and Klebold spent long hours playing video games like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Mortal Kombat. The two murderers enjoyed playing various violent games, which effectively played a focal role in their violent acts. Eric Harris had actually modified a version of the game Doom and placed it on his website.   In his version there were two shooters, extra weapons and other characters in the game that couldnt shoot back. Harris and Klebold essentially acted-out their version of Doom on innocent classmates demonstrating how violent content in games played could have a pronounced influence on the users behavior and actions (Holmes 2005). The dramat ic rise in violent shootings by adolescents many of which have been linked to playing violent video games supports the argument that video game violence transforms into real-world situations (Layton 2007). Another murder which was linked to video games was that of a 14-year-old British boy by an older friend. The court heard that Warren Leblanc, the convicted murderer had struck Stefan Pakeerah over the head with a claw hammer from behind. The spark behind the prolonged assault was found to be the horrific images observed on the computer while playing a violent video game, as Stefans parents proclaimed that Leblanc had mimicked a game called Manhunt, in which the players score points for violent killings. The parents of Warren themselves claimed that their son was obsessed with the game, as a result guiding him to rehearse violent scenes of this game in real life in an exceptionally disturbing manner (Video game sparked hammer murder 2004). The ethical question arising from these cases is that if these violent video games are having such a pronounced influence on gamers causing them to commit crimes in such a cruel manner, should they really be developed and sold in the first place. Moral concerns also arise with recent studies suggesting that adolescents playing such games have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality, therefore guiding them to perform acts played on consoles in real life. (Video game sparked hammer murder 2004). For many the line between reality and fantasy is lost through their addiction. In some fantasy games like Second Life players are able to live their fantasy life in a virtual world, to the point where the virtual world overrules their daily life. Even though these types of role playing games do not necessarily encourage aggressive or violent behavior, nevertheless they still contribute to the possibility of a gamer engaging in anti-social behavior as they create an alias where people can live technologically, contrary to their usual social life. The addictive nature of video games can lead to gamers developing anti- social behavior. This addiction is so problematic that such games have affected non-adolescents day-to-day activities. An example of an addictive game is the popular online game The World of Warcraft which has over 10 million online users. Due to the extended hours spent playing these game extreme cases have occurred as excessive exposure to this online game has resulted in some mature aged gamers getting divorced, fired from their jobs, and in a rare case, someone dying as a result of the lack of sleep or proper nutrition (Do Video Games Cause Aggression and Death The Truth About Video Game Effects 2010). Often gamers can connect with multi-players around the world through the click of a button, without even meeting them or knowing who they are. The availability and easy access to the internet directly from the console eliminates the need for users to go out and socialize as these technological communications are in effect replacing social interactions for gamers; thus leading to isolation and the development of anti-social behavior over time. On the other hand, a report by Greg Thom suggests that fun games which encourage teamwork and friendship can lay the groundwork for positive interaction between children, leading to better behavior and academic results (Thom 2009). Although these findings exemplify positive outcomes, they are limited as such results only apply to gamers who play non-violent and G-rated games. At present the number of fun games has diminished as the growing culture within the gaming world demands more violent and adventure orientated games. For this reason the negative associations allied to video games are more apparent with an increasing number of gamers spending hours playing violent and role playing games, isolating themselves from the rest of the world. The exposure to long hours over time allows for basic social functions to be forgotten leading to players hesitating when handling social activities. Other impacts are loneliness, aggressiveness and disregard for rules and regulations. An initial addiction to video games which may not be considered severe can easily turn into a psychological anti-social disorder (Anti-Social Behaviour n.d.) 5. Section Five: Overview of ratings and censorship in Australia. The purpose of a rating system is to provide concise and impartial information about the content in video games so consumers, especially parents, can make informed purchase decisions (Game Ratings Descriptor Guide 2009). Nevertheless rating systems implemented in many countries including Australia are open to manipulation quite easily whether it is because of dishonest retailers or careless parents. Unfortunately games that are rated MA15+ or AO are potentially at risk of falling into childrens hands. With pirated media rampant in society a game that is banned in your country could be downloaded to a destination where it has not been released, again limiting the effectiveness of current rating systems. The main reason that games are banned is because they promote anti-social behavior and expose users to high levels of violence, sex and drug use. An example of a game banned in Australia for its explicit adult content is Phantasmagoria, which goes so far as to have a rape scene in it. Without censorship, games like these which are highly inappropriate could easily be found in childrens video games consoles. However while it is possible to control the content of what hits the shelf, it is what happens once they have been bought that remains the issue. Another game is Left 4 Dead 2 a first person shooter game which was refused classification because of its frequent and intense portrayal of violence and graphic depictions of blood and gore. The disturbing scenery resulted in some politicians correlating between the people playing such violent video games and the increase in criminal activity (MacDonald, 2009). Of the thirty three games that have been banned in Australia fourteen of them contained images that were deemed inappropriate for users and considering that the average age of a video gamer in Australia is 30 years old, that is indicative of just how explicit the content is (List of banned video games 2009). There are already issues in todays society with children being exposed to images/cultures which are inappropriate and the addition of unsuitable video games can add to the increasing problem of media influence on children and adolescents. The unfortunate failure of these ratings is that some parents are not aware retailers are selling inappropriate games to their children, who, by law are not permitted to purchase them. Even though this is the case parents should be encouraged to monitor and be more attentive to their children while playing video games by restricting their time in front of the television and computer (Tompkins 2003). Governments should strive to insure that all parents are fully aware of the rating system and the way it works. To promote awareness a campaign should be launched across all media regarding the negative implications of the exposure to inappropriate video games on their children. With the support of a rating system to try and minimize the amount of inappropriate content, parents should make an effort to become more involved in their childrens lives before it is too late (Tompkins 2003). Effectively if the parents take more responsibility by endeavoring to cooperate with their governments i n an attempt to limit the amount of violent and inappropriate content displayed to their children then the potential impact of video games on society could be lessened. Section Six: Conclusion The impact of video games is apparent as it is affecting thousands of people around the world daily. From Street Fighter to FIFA 09 these games are impacting the gamers in society psychologically and physiologically. Many gamers have become attached to the life and person they believe they have become through virtual worlds experienced in games. These worlds have caused gamers who otherwise would not be living their ideal life in reality to get caught up in the fantasy and unrealistic expectations of video games. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of video gaming on society to determine whether it leads to aggressive, violent, anti-social behavior. The essay demonstrated how video games have a pronounced influence on adolescents in society, with violent behavior becoming more prevalent amongst adolescent, gamers begin to act like the characters they seek to control in games. Video game impact on society is evident, as the exposure to video game violence was found to be a significant risk factor for aggressive and violent behavior (Tompkins 2003). Unfortunately, games which contain violent content are reaching our childrens hands, therefore encouraging them to act aggressively and anti-socially. One question which we should ask is Who should be held responsible for the increase of video game exposure in society? Are the gaming companies to blame for releasing highly graphic and violent games d, the irresponsible parents who allow their children to spend long hours playing inappropriate games or simply the young people who choose to play the games? Consequently, other possible issues attached to this effect can be examined; for example more stringent regulations or laws to implement impose accountability for the retailers. Therefore the focus for further research should be based on these questions that are emerging to possibly come to a conclusion about how to finally address this issue. Currently there is no definitive solution to the issue of gaming and the effect that it has on the users behaviors. Nevertheless, there are some recommendations to a possible solution; these include the need for more governments to impose stricter rating systems, parents becoming more aware and responsible for their childrens game play and also gamers themselves becoming more mindful of separating the gaming world from the real world. 7. Section Seven: References and Bibliography Reference list: Online books: Anderson, C, Gentile, D Buckle, K 2007, Violent video game effects on children and adolescents: theory, research, and public policy, Oxford University Press Inc., New York. Garrelts, N 2006, The meaning and culture of Grand theft auto: critical essaysHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Woct9TuzNNoCpg=PP1dq=The+meaning+and+culture+of+Grand+theft+auto:+critical+essays++By+Nate+Garreltscd=1à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ½, McFarland and Company Inc, North Carolina. Online journals/articles: Anderson, C.A. Bushman, B.J (2001). Effects of violent games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Psychological Science, 12 , pp. 353-359, retrieved on 2 May 2009. Anderson, C. A., Carnagey, N., Flanagan, M., Benjamin, A.J., Eubanks, J., Valentine, J. C. (2004). Violent Video Games: Specific Effects of Violent Content on Aggressive Thoughts and Behavior. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 36, p. 199-249, retrieved on 23 April 2009. Anderson et al., (2003), The influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4(3), p.81-110, retrieved on 10 September 2009. Barlett, C. P, Anderson C.A, Swing, E.L (2008). Video Game Effects- Confirmed, Suspected, and Speculative: A Review of the evidence, Simulation Gaming, vol. 40, pp. 337, retrieved on 25 August 2009. Gentile, D.A, Lynch, P.J, Linder, R.H Walsh, D.A (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance, Journal of Adolescence, vol. 27, pp. 5-22, retrieved on 11 November 2009. McCain, J. (2000), The impact of interactive violence on children. Committee on commerce science, and transportation United State Senate, retrieved on 20 July 2010. Tompkins, A. (2003), The Psychological Effects of Violent Media on Children. AllPsych Journal, retrieved on 15 June 2010. Websites: Anti-Social Behaviour (n.d), A social, psychological and economic study of the positive and negative impact the internet has on children and families, viewed 27 June 2009, http://people.hamilton.edu/bhouse/DoWeEncourage/DoWeEncourage5.html Barnett, E 2009, Modern Warfare 2: No link between video games and adult violence, Telegraph, viewed March 20 2010, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/6536966/Modern-Warfare-2-No-link-between-video-games-and-adult-violence.html Caruana, V, Caruana, C Bruner O 2009, Types of Video Games, Focus on the Family, viewed 28 June 2009, http://www.focusonthefamily.com/entertainment/mediawise/parents_guide_to_video_games/types_of_video_games.aspx Dikeos, T 2010, Emotive debate over R rating for video games, ABC, viewed 20 March 2010, http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2848891.htm Do Video Games Cause Aggression and Death The Truth About Video Game Effects (2010). Update Reality: Self Improvement, viewed 15 Ju

The color purple :: essays research papers

The story really begins in about 1903 with the killing of Celie's father by jealous white guys. Celie's mother goes insane but marries a man who is just using her. When Celie is 14 this stepfather, who she thinks is her dad, begins to rape her, causing the birth of two children which he gives away to a missionary friend of his. Celie's mother dies angry at Celie and, because she's been warned by her stepfather not to tell anyone (but God) who fathered her children, Celie writes letters to God. Later, when her younger sister, Nettie, runs away from home, she comes to the house Celie shares with Mr. ______, her abusive husband who was going to marry Nettie but her stepfather said no, who married Celie so that she could look after his kids from his first marrage. Because Nettie rejects him, he kicks her out of his house and Celie sends her to the same missionaries (Samuel and Corrine) who have unknowingly adopted her children, Olivia and Adam. Nettie goes with them to Africa as a missionary, where she stays for thirty years, faithfully writing letters to Celie, never knowing if she's receving them. After years of abuse, Celie begins to become more optimistic when Shug Avery, a blues singer and old lover of Mr. _______'s, is brought home by him because she's sick, so that Celie can nurse her. Celie and Shug fall in love, and Celie leaves Mr. _______ to go with Shug to Memphis. Here, Shug makes a good living singing and Celie starts designing and sewing pants for Shug, this hobby finally spawning a business. Then, Celie finds out that Mr. _______ had hidden all the letters Nettie had written to Celie over the years. In the letters, which she finally gets to read, Nettie's life is revealed. She and Celie's children, Samuel and Corrine live with the Olinka in a small village in West Africa. They all teach and nurse and Samuel preaches. Corrine lets her thoughts about how strong the resemblance between her adopted children and Nettie fester and, with help from a tropical fever, agonizes herself to death. After she dies, Samuel and Nettie decide to get married. During this all, the Olinka's village is destroyed by an English company, and the Olinka are forced off their land. Adam marries Tashi, an Olinkan, and they all return to America.