ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Research Question Nowadays, the psychological and behavioral problems are common. A person who experiences such problems faces challenges in his/her daily life pursuits, social performance, and interactions with other people. The societal norms and standards of behavior put pressure on the human psychological state and well-being. When a person fails to meet high demands of the society, can’t comply with all the rules and requirements, or experiences conflicts and abuse in childhood, the different forms of anxiety occur. No matter what causes provoke the disorder development, the psychological therapy addresses all the multiple issues of human behavior and psychological problems: from the slightest to the most severe ones. The given research is devoted to the investigation of social phobia and its impacts on the performance in the various aspects of life. The main question of the research is as following: how does the social phobia affect the individual’s social functioning and quality of life? Nowadays, social phobia is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders, and the public and clinical attention to the issue is continuously growing. Nevertheless, the analysis of the previous literature has demonstrated that the investigation of the disorder’s causes and the potential methods of treatment are insufficient. The evaluation of the problems relevant to the topic is based on the review of the claims and findings in the peer-reviewed articles by Wong, Sarver, Beidel, Kessler, Marteinsdottir, Svensson, Svedberg, Anderberg, Knorring. “Social phobia is characterized by extreme fear in social or performance situations in which the individual may be exposed to embarrassment or scrutiny by others, which creates occupational, social and academic impairment” (Wong, Sarver, & Beidel, 2011, p. 50). The scholars dispute about the causes of the social anxiety disorder occurrence, and the different research findings emphasize the distinct causal factors and implications. According to Marteinsdottir et al. (2007), one of the impacts on the development of social phobia in individual can be caused by the negative life events (p. 207). The experienced assaults, verbal and physical aggression, familial conflicts, a lack of close relationships with parents and other adults in childhood, etc. are considered the risk factors for the disorder in a person. Social phobia interferes with the social functioning of the individuals. The main characteristics of the social anxiety include “excessive fears about social situations that lead to either avoidance of these situations or to extreme distress when in these situations” (Kessler, 2003, p. 20). As the result, the quality of life declines. The people with social phobia experience challenges in the social and personal relationship, low working and educational productivity, financial constraints and dependency. Despite the evident negative effects on the individual’s psychological well-being caused by the social anxiety, the rates of the disorder treatment stay lower comparing to the other mental problems. There are two basic explanations for this found in the recent research. Firstly, people with socia
Introduction Media has been in the forefront as far as communication is concerned for many years. Early inventors printed the first page ever more than five centuries ago. Since then, technological innovations have greatly improved printed and electronic media. Through the media, informing news, entertainment, education and even advertisement information gets to circulate in various global areas. Due to the dynamism of the media, many institutions have raised the question of the future of the media. With the improvement of technology, the future of the media seems bright. This may change our lifestyle magnificently. Body With the ever improving technology, fast and sophisticated printing machines, there will be a rise in the number of newspapers and magazines printed daily in many countries. More newspaper companies will emerge and make competition much stiffer. This will result in improvement of quality of newspapers and magazines. Additionally, with the ever-improving transport systems, circulation of newspapers will reach even the remotest part of the world within the next decade. Many countries will offer free newspapers as a way of promoting information sharing. There will be more free e-newspapers in the Internet thus reducing paper works in media institutions as well as in the public. This will eventually disfavor the betterment of our environment due to poor disposals of papers. On the other hand, the availability of online newspapers and magazines will drastically reduce the circulation of printed media. More people will stop subscribing to the print editions and will be downloading newspapers straight from their smart-phones and I-pads. This will reduce the circulation of newspaper, since more eco-friendly laptops will be accessible. Printed newspapers will be left for the low-income earners with little access to the Internet. Ten years will see full transition of radio broadcasting from analog to digital broadcasting in all parts of the globe. In addition, with globalization, most channels will broadcast internationally. With examples of CNN and BBC setting the pace, other radio companies will follow suit. Moreover, many individuals will own radio sets around the globe. The mobile industry will steer radio development as they have already incorporated radio as a feature in most phones. Furthermore, as media converges with computer technology, online radio will be available to more people in the world as more people have access to the Internet. The common radio sets will still be part of our culture later, as some people will be too busy to watch television especially while driving. In addition, people will have a variety of radio stations to choose from, since more entrepreneurs will venture in radio businesses. This has been the trend since long ago and there are no otherwise indications. This will eventually enhance competitions that will in turn improve the quality of radio programming (Keith, 2009
Introduction Over the past century, the invention of the computer and the subsequent creation of the internet have been among the major accomplishments in terms of communication advancements. These two entities have been used extensively to revolutionize the world in regard to information processing and communication strategies. One of the areas that have recorded significant growth as a result of computing and internet advancements is social media. Social networking has attracted millions of users globally and the numbers continue to grow as more people gain access to computers, mobile phones and the internet (Frau-Meigs, 2011). Social networking sites have created avenues through which people can communicate with friends, colleagues and family around the world (Flynn, 2012). Despite these benefits, social media poses serious security and privacy concerns to users. This paper shall set out to explore the privacy and security risks that users are exposed to. To achieve this aim, social media shall be defined and examples of social media provided. This shall then be followed by a problem section, which shall focus on the privacy and security issues such as identity theft, spying, and fraud among other cyber crimes that are inherent to social media. The pros and cons of social media shall be discussed and solutions to curb the security and privacy issues proposed. An overview of social media Social media refers to online and mobile communication technologies that are used by people to engage in interactive dialogue (Bradshaw & Keefer, 2007). Some of the web-based technologies include social networks (Facebook and Myspace), blogging sites (wordpress and typepad), wikis (Wikipedia, Wikia etc.) and business/technical networks (Linkedln among others). Despite the fact that social media has helped people stay in touch regardless of various constraints such as distance, time and financial aspects, there are privacy and security issues that threaten the effectiveness of social media channels. Privacy in this regard refers to personal information that is sensitive, important and inaccessible by other members of the public (Timm & Duven, 2008, p.90) Social media can therefore be viewed as an effective tool for enhancing and promoting globalization (Bradshaw & Keefer, 2007). This is attributed to the fact that social media technologies facilitate communication and interactions on a global scale, thereby promoting international relations. Privacy and Security Issues in Social Media According to Cha (2011), security and privacy problems emanating from social media are classified into behavioral and technical issues. One of the problems associated with social media is the invasion of privacy. This has been attributed to technological adv
Introduction In 2014, several countries in West Africa were affected by a severe and life-threatening pathogen, known as the Ebola virus. While most states assisted in these regions, many non-African nations also implemented discriminatory policies that contradicted the advice of the World Health Association (WHO) (Squire 114). Moreover, these actions brought light to such issues as inequality, racism, and human rights. Countries in Europe, North America, and Asia restricted travel for people from affected regions who refused to deploy medical personnel and did not participate in the creation of a vaccine. These three factors expose the unequal treatment of the outbreak as a regional rather than a global issue. Discrimination First of all, the travel bans and restrictions implemented by several countries were not advised by the WHO. Canada and Australia, as well as several countries in the Middle East and Africa, were the most active proponents of this ban, halting the movements for both people and goods from states affected by the Ebola outbreak. This ban implies that any person coming from an affected country is dangerous, and it limits people’s ability to travel, work, or study overseas. Moreover, it also increases racial tensions as it propagates the fear of people from affected African countries regardless of their current location. Second, multiple countries did not assist the affected regions by deploying qualified medical personnel to deal with the outbreak. Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Japan expressed concerns over putting their medical specialists at risk of infection (Squire 117). While this concern is valid, healthcare provision is a duty of medical staff, and countries are expected to help each other in their time of need. Furthermore, trained medical workers could substantially benefit the progression of the outbreak, treating patients and increasing awareness about prevention strategies. Finally, the absence of a vaccine poses the question of whether its development could be tied to profitability. African countries affected by the virus did not have enough money to finance the vaccine’s creation, and prosperous Western companies did not see any benefits to spending resources without the potential for profit (Squire 119). This particular type of discrimination is connected to the capitalist nature of the healthcare system. Similarities to COVID-19 and Racialization Currently, the whole world suffers from a similar crisis that is also characterized by inequity. China was the first country to detect the virus, and the initial responses to this news were comparable to the Ebola outbreak. Travelers from China were questioned upon entering other countries, and many people of Chinese background suffered from racial discrimination and even violence. It is especially evident in North American nations, where numerous acts of violence and discrimination were committed against Asian American people. Furthermore, the borders of many countries are closed at the moment. The v
In light of the conducted interview, the idea that African-Americans continue to face racial discrimination appears true, at least anecdotally. Consequently, this confirms the assumption that it is indeed justifiable to analyze the explicit and implicit forms of racial discrimination against African-Americas in the U.S., as one of the society’s most pressing issues. In my paper, I will explore the validity of this thesis at length while discussing what can be considered the issue’s overall significance. The main explicit examples of racism in the country’s public sphere are as follows: The practice of IQ-testing. As of today, it represents a commonplace occurrence in many American colleges and universities to require students to be IQ-tested, as the mean of defining the measure of their academic adequacy. However, this specific practice can hardly be considered thoroughly appropriate, because it helps to legitimize the racist assumption of African–American students not being particularly bright ( Reproducing Racism: White Space, Elite Law Schools, and Racial Inequality , Moore 35). After all, the methodological principles of IQ-testing are strongly Eurocentric, and consequently – ill adjusted to the multicultural realities of today’s America. The unfortunate racist quality to the functioning of the system of criminal justice in the U
Reflection Introduction Bullying is one of the issues that has been discussed extensively yet remains part and parcel of the day-to-day reality (Department of Education 2017). It is truly surprising how the phenomenon has spun out of control over the past few years, leading to a range of social conflicts. To manage the issue, one will have to reconsider how communication occurs, as well as what behavioral strategies people choose to participate in a conversation. By shaping the traditional models and breaking the old that has been in use for decades, one will be able to create the environment in which bullying will become not impossible, but manageable. The recent technological breakthrough has opened new opportunities for bullies. The creation of the environment in which people can hide behind a nickname has led to a massive drop in the responsibility levels among online users. As a result, the communication process has become significantly less careful, and the exposure to the abusive behavior of online bullies has grown exponentially for a range of vulnerable members of the population (Department of Education 2017). Therefore, the issue needs to be addressed at all levels, including the online one. As a result, dramatic improvement can be expected. Problem Statement Bullying has always been a significant problem and claiming that the Internet, as well as other innovative technologies, has created an even greater problem would be quite a stretch. Naturally, the transfer of the communication process into the realm of social networks has opened new opportunities for bullies to reinforce their attacks on their victims. As a result, the problem is becoming increasingly big. The anonymity which users enjoy online affects their responsibility levels significantly, triggering an immediate drop in the responsible attitudes among the target population. Furthermore, the long-term effects that bullying has on the health status of people involved are beyond deplorable. As explained above, there is strong evidence that bullying leads to an increase in the risk of depression and the associated disorders in not only the victims of bullying but also their attackers (Serra-Negra et al. 2014). It is quite peculiar that bullies themselves are also subjected to the threat of developing health issues, including physical and mental ones. Apart from the depression-related concerns marked above, bullies may also develop substance abuse. Thus, it is crucial to determine the factors that encourage bullying and design the strategy that will help reduce the effects thereof in the target audiences by reconsidering their behaviors and approaches to communication (Cosma, Balazsi, & Baban 2015). Examples and Effects When addressing the issue from the health perspective, one must bring up the fact that bullying has a plethora of adverse effects on not only the victim but also the bully. Another reason for concern
There are myriads of challenges that young immigrants face when they visit the United States of America. According to a survey conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2004, young immigrants in the United States face a lot of impediments even as they attempt to transmit to the American culture far away from their native lands (Garret, 2006). In the survey, it emerged that the young people who are especially not educated find it extremely difficult to acquire high-quality education. Worse still, there are those who land in the US with no background in the English language. Therefore, they are compelled to start the process of learning the language so that they can be able to transact or even interact with the new culture. The survey also revealed that there are youths who enter the United States while in the status of refugees from other war-torn countries. Secondly, the focus groups also came out with a finding that this vulnerable group faces economic hurdles to the extent that it cannot afford basic needs due to a lack of ready employment opportunities. As a result, they end up living in squalor conditions. They can hardly afford decent housing facilities. The young immigrants are also discriminated from the rest of the indigenous population. They are concentrated in refugee camps where they can hardly access basic amenities. Consequently, most of them develop several episodes of stressful moments that eventually culminate into depression. It is against this backdrop that this essay seeks to explore the challenges facing young immigrants in the United States and the proactive measures that can be taken to rescue this vulnerable group in transiting towards the new culture. Before fully embarking on the actual challenges facing the young immigrants in the United States, it is perhaps necessary to briefly point out today’s immigrants in the US. Since these young immigrants come to the United States for various reasons such as seeking refuge due to political tension back home or seeking employment, they face unique challenges daily (Garret, 2006). Ethnic persecution and religious tension are also some of the reasons why these immigrants move to the United States. Most of the immigrants originate from the Afro-Caribbean basin, Asia, and Latin America, while less than 20% come from other regions across the world. This explains why the nature of challenges faced by a particular group of immigrant youths is largely determined by their place of origin. Nonetheless, the stress associated with being an immigrant is usually shared by all groups irrespective of their countries of origin (Preston, 2013) Secondly, young immigrants are also vulnerable to discrimination during the period when they are seeking to belong in the ne
Introduction As a motivational tool, companies’ today are embarking on tuition reimbursement programmes in bid to win employees’ loyalty and confidence. Although this is a noble task, it is costly and technically involving. As a result, the concept of providing tuition reimbursement and creating extra time for adult learning has not yet found popularity with most companies (Bender 2008, p. 193-207). The company used in this illustrative essay is arbitrarily selected from the service industry. The company in question specialises in the sale and distribution of electronic equipment. Due to this assumption, this strategy may not apply to certain companies in other industries which deal in highly specialized product segments. However, its general application does not fail in most companies, this limitation notwithstanding. This research paper intends to provide a systematic and practical strategy which if implemented by organisations would help such a company appreciate the importance of providing tuition. In addition, the paper wishes to stress on the importance creating additional time for the adult learner. The ultimate intention of this research paper is to demonstrate that the provision of tuition reimbursement and making of extra time for adult learning is a requisite to improved company’s performance. Cost of tuition Due to their present commitments at the work place, employees often find it extremely challenging to create time and attend classes within their daily busy schedules. It is equally challenging that they require adequate knowledge to cope with the needs of customers in the ever changing modes of operations at the market place (OECD, 2003, p. 27). When the company finds begins to recess because of inefficient works, it is due for the company to make extra time for adult learning for its employees. This is relatively cheaper compared to hiring of new qualified staff which might lead to a complete over haul of its employees (Bender, 2008, p.202). The current existing policies and education structures also restrict adult learning in most companies and institutions as puts a lot of unnecessary burdens on the learning employee. In order to make working flexible and learning enjoyable, the company may now need to invest in adult education because the knowledge obtain thereafter is spent in the same company. In the final analysis, it is the company that profits from a highly trained, motivated and professionals dedicated to their job. In a civilised world that is rapidly growing and developing investment in human
Democracy in any state is based on the opportunity of citizens to influence the country’s development in relation to the basic questions such as the political sphere and the control of the government’s activities. However, to set the basics for the development of democracy in many countries, it is necessary to overcome the barriers produced by the previous regimes. Cambodia is the state in which the principles of democracy are proclaimed only during two last decades that is why there are many problems associated with the necessity to build the democratic society, rejecting the main strategies used by the previous governments. Cambodia is discussed as the post-conflict society where the ideas of the controlled Socialism according to the old-fashioned patterns are more influential than the contemporary orientation to the democratic freedoms. Thus, the Cambodian society and political life are centralized with references to the methods used in the 1980s (Gottesman, 2004). As a result, the society suffers from corruption and bureaucracy, and it is unable to affect the situation in relation to the norms typical for the democratic society. That is why, the orientation to the development of the effective democratic principles in Cambodia requires the significant changes in providing the necessary political legitimacy in the country to achieve the real democracy. To assess the current situation in Cambodia and provide the strategy and recommendations to develop democracy in the country, it is important to determine the criteria according to which the society and government’s policies and practices can be discussed as democratic. The will of citizens as the major regulative factor is one of the main features of the democratic society. The accents are made on the activities of the public’s representatives who are elected to promote the will of the citizens and act according to this will. Moreover, the equality of citizens while voting is the important characteristic of the democratic society. The next feature is the protection of the civil liberties. It is also necessary to focus on the rule of law, independence of judiciary, and the presence of the political opposition (Blunt & Turner, 2005). The analysis of these areas in relation to Cambodia can provide the audience with the information about the weak points which prevent the Cambodian society from achieving the ideals of the democratic society effectively. Some actions shou