Hypno-psychotherapy techniques can be extremely useful not only in the context of psychological treatment but also for medical, surgical and dental treatment. The WritePass Journal

Hypno-psychotherapy techniques can be extremely useful not only in the context of psychological treatment but also for medical, surgical and dental treatment. 1-Introduction Hypno-psychotherapy techniques can be extremely useful not only in the context of psychological treatment but also for medical, surgical and dental treatment. 1-Introduction2-The history of hypnosis2.1 Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815):2.2 Marquis de Puysegur (1751-1825):2.3 Abbe de Faria (1756-1819:3-The history of hypnosis used in surgery3.1 John Elliotson (1791-1868):   3.2 James Esdaile (1808-1859):   3.3 James Braid (1795-1860):   4-The decline of hypnosis in surgery4.1 Sigmund Freud (1856-1939):4.2 Behaviourism:   4.3 Cognitive Therapy:   4.4 Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy:5-Leading names in hypno-psycotherapy   5.1 Alfred Adler (1870-1937):   5.2 Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961):   5.3 Milton Erickson (1901-1980):   5.4 Friedrich (Frederick) Salomon Perls (1893-1970):5.5 Carl Rogers (1902–1987):6-Techniques used in practice6.1 Hypnosis:   6.2 Suggestion:   6.3 Paradoxical injunction:6.4 Distraction:6.5 Time distortion:6.6 Hypnotic suggestion for pain releif:6.7 Displacement:6.8 Dissociation:6.9 Systematic desensitisation:   7-The application of hypno-psychotherapy in medicine and dentistry7.1 Treatment in surg ery:7.2 Treatment for cancer patients:   7.3 Treatment in obstetrics and gynaecology:   7.4 Treatment in dentistry:   8-Conclusion8.1 Modern day acceptability:   8.2 Advantages and disadvantages:   8.3 Future possibilities:   Reference:Related 1-Introduction Hypno-psychotherapy techniques can be extremely useful not only in the context of psychological treatment but also for medical, surgical and dental treatment.   Techniques can be used to control acute and chronic pain which can help patients during for example, childbirth, minor and major operations, dental treatments, or simply to help with pain associated in minor ailments such as back pain, headaches and irritable bowel syndrome. Not only can techniques be useful in medicine and dentistry for pain relief   as described above but can also be used to deal with the anxiety connected with varying procedures and help with the patients state of mind which in turn can speed healing.   This can be of great advantage before, during and after any surgery or treatment. In this dissertation I would like to discuss in more depth the use of hypno-psychotherapy techniques specifically in medicine and dentistry firstly looking at the history of hypnosis, leading names in the integration of psychotherapeutic techniques over the years looking at their theories, describe the varying techniques which can be useful in medicine and dentistry and look at how these can be applied in practice as a qualified hypno-psychotherapist.  Ã‚   In conclusion there will be a discussion of any advantages, disadvantages and limitations of the use of these techniques and a brief look into future possibilities.    2-The history of hypnosis    The origins of hypnosis can extend back to ancient Greece where there were temples devoted to Aesculapius, the Greek god of healing.   In these temples which were built in pleasant surroundings usually near water, there would be music prayer and incantations.   Sleeping patients believed the Gods were visiting them.   However, the true precursor of hypnosis begins with the practice of mesmerism.    2.1 Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815): A German physician and astrologist, who invented what he called animal magnetism and other spiritual forces often grouped together as mesmerism. He was the first person to devise a system which could induce a trance.   The evolution of Mesmers ideas and practices led Scottish surgeon James Braid, later discussed in section 3.3, to develop hypnosis in 1842.   Mesmer hypothesized that the force of animal magnetism had to do with the movement of the sun, planets and stars.   He would use magnets in an attempt to heal his patients. 2.2 Marquis de Puysegur (1751-1825): A former student of Mesmer, described his patients in a state of artificial somnambulism which differed from the mesmeric trance.   He was the first practitioner to identify the importance of psychological factors in illness and healing which lead to recognition of these factors in mesmerism and hypnosis.   His more patient centred approach was later used by Freud, discussed in section 4.1 in the psychoanalytic technique of free-association and indeed in many techniques used today. 2.3 Abbe de Faria (1756-1819: Unlike Mesmer who claimed hypnosis was mediated by animal magnetism, Faria believed it worked purely by the power of suggestion.   Also unlike Puysegur’s somnambulism, Faria believed this state was lucid sleep.   He was the first to document individual differences, the first to state that the process would only happen if the subject was susceptible and not solely down to the powers of the mesmerist and also the first to use the verbal suggestion of sleep for his induction instead of using objects such as magnets etc. 3-The history of hypnosis used in surgery    Up until the 1940’s when hypnosis was still known as mesmerism, medical and dental surgeries were performed without anaesthetic because it was not available at this time.   John Elliotson, a professor of practical medicine, and James Esdaile, a medical officer reported a large number of surgeries performed painlessly, with the mesmeric trance as the only form of pain relief used. 3.1 John Elliotson (1791-1868):   Senior Physician at University College Hospital in London and Professor of the practice of Medicine at the University of London, Elliotson was a student of phrenology and mesmerism.   He hoped that his development of mesmerism would lead to new therapeutic applications in medicine and advocated its use in surgery.   When the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal asserted that, compared to ether, mesmerism could perform a thousand times greater wonders and without any of the dangers [2] British Medical Surgical Journal, (1846).   Elliotson agreed, however lost his chair because of his advocation of mesmerism in surgery. 3.2 James Esdaile (1808-1859):   Best known as a Scottish surgeon and pioneer in the use of hypnosis for surgical anaesthesia, Esdaile used mesmerism with patients at a British medical facility in India.   He performed over three hundred surgeries using hypnotic techniques including radical operations such as tumour removal and amputations. At that time the mortality rate for major operations by fellow surgeons was 50%.   In 1961 Esdaile’s mortality rate averaged 5%. 3.3 James Braid (1795-1860):   A Scottish physician and surgeon, specialising in eye and muscular conditions, Braid was an important and influential pioneer of hypnotism and hypnotherapy.   The three main contributions Braid made were the introduction of the term â€Å"Neurypnology† or nervous sleep, secondly his induction technique now known as â€Å"Braidism† or the Braid technique where the subject fixes their gaze on a point above eye level until the eyes close and the subject enters hypnosis, and thirdly his theories suggesting hypnosis was caused by visual fatigue.   It is from Braids influential work that others derived the term hypnosis in the 1880s although he himself did not use this term.   Similar to how techniques are used today, Braid believed that patients should be considered on an individual basis and hypnotic suggestion should be used in conjunction with other medical and chemical techniques and not as a sole cure. â€Å"Although Braid believed that hypnotic suggestion was a valuable remedy in functional nervous disorders, he did not regard it as a rival to other forms of treatment, nor wish in any way to separate its practice from that of medicine in general. He held that whoever talked of a universal remedy was either a fool or a knave: similar diseases often arose from opposite pathological conditions, and the treatment ought to be varied accordingly. He objected being called a hypnotist; he was, he said, no more a hypnotic than a castor-oil doctor.†Ã‚  Ã‚   [3] John Bramwell, 1910. 4-The decline of hypnosis in surgery    Despite both Dr. Elliotson and Dr. Esdailes successes they were condemned by their fellow doctors.  Ã‚   Also the introduction of chloroform and esther brought about the decline in interest of using mesmerism as anaesthia. These, among other chemical procedures, could be used by every surgeon, on everyone patient, were less time-consuming and required little-to-no knowledge of human psychology and therefore chemical anaesthetics became regularly used in dentistry, surgery and obstetrics.   Another reason for the decline of hypnosis was the rise of behaviourism.   Before looking at these schools of thought it is important to mention that hypnotherapy is still a very useful tool if required for simple relaxation therapy, however, in order to be of use for the more complex psychological and physical conditions presented in both Medical and Dental procedures, psychotherapeutic techniques must also be applied.   It is by the integration of these varying schools of thought which wi ll be discussed, and adaption of their techniques that hypno-psychotherapy can be very useful in medicine and dentistry today. 4.1 Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): Freud, a neurologist and psychiatrist wrote of his rejection of hypnosis in Studies of Hysteria written with Joseph Breuer in 1895.   Although Freudian theory has been criticised by many has regardless been studied and continuously developed for more than forty years.   Freud is best known for his theories on the structure of the mind, levels of consciousness, instinct theory, psychosexual stages and the defence mechanisms of repression and tranference.   He also developed the clinical practice of psychoanalysis for treating patients through dialogue, known as free-association and the use of interpretation of dreams and fantasies as sources of insight into the unconscious.  Ã‚   Freud also used regression hypnotherapy which was sometimes known as hypnoanalysis, analytic hypnotherapy, or psychodynamic hypnotherapy. Freud was the founder of the modern day psychotherapeutic interview and not only this but many other aspects of Freudian theories and techniques are integrated and applied to patients in practices today. 4.2 Behaviourism:   The behaviorist school of thought maintains that behaviors can be described scientifically without taking into account internal physiological events or looking at theories of hypothetical constructs such as the mind and it is thought that all behaviour is learned. â€Å"Give me a dozen healthy infants, well formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select – doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-cheif, and, yes, even beggar-man and theif, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and race of his ancestors.†[4] J B Watson, 1931.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Behavioural techniques remain implemented by psychotherapists today.   These techniques are based on the phenomena of classic conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning.   It is believed that behaviour can be improved by the use of certain techniques, such as altering an individuals behaviours and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behaviour and/or the reduction of maladaptive behaviour through its extinction, punishment and/or therapy. Systematic desensitisation is a technique based on classic conditioning which can be of great use to medical and dental procedures to deal with anxiety which will be discussed in greater detail in section 4.3 Cognitive Therapy:   One of the major pioneers of CT was American psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck.   The pure cognitive therapies focus on changing certain thought patterns. The theory is that the way we perceive situations influences how we feel emotionally, and so by changing thoughts, then behaviours will also change.   The basic procedures in CT are educating patients with information about the nature of certain feelings, e.g. panic and anxiety, identifying salient thoughts, challenging the thoughts and beliefs, identifying distortions, cognitive restructuring and testing reality. Albert Ellis was the other major pioneer of cognitive therapy who developed Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), a therapeutic approach that stimulates emotional growth and teaches people to replace self-defeating thoughts and actions with more effective ones. REBT gives individuals the power to change the unhealthy behaviors that interfere with their ability to enjoy life. 4.4 Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to help manage problems by changing how the individuals think and act.   CBT encourages talking about how clients think about their selves, the world and other people and focuses on how actions can affect thoughts and feelings.   By talking, CBT can help change thoughts (‘cognitive’) and actions (‘behaviour’). Unlike other talking treatments, such as Freud’s free association, CBT focuses on the problems and difficulties in the here and now, rather than issues from the past. It looks for practical ways to improve the state of mind on a daily basis. 5-Leading names in hypno-psycotherapy      Traditional hypnotherapy has since integrated many more psychotherapeutic approaches such as Freud’s from many other varying schools of thought.   Examples of these influences are Adler and Jung’s theories, Erickson hypnotherapy, Fritz Perls Gestalt therapy and Carl Rogers Humanistic approach.   These historical influences combined with techniques used in cognitive and behavioural therapy resulted in the integrative approach, termed hypno-psychotherapy.   These techniques are often applied in order to modify a subjects behavior, emotional content, and attitudes, as well as a wide range of conditions including dysfunctional habits, anxiety, stress-related illness, pain management, and personal development. 5.1 Alfred Adler (1870-1937):   An Austrian medical doctor and psychologist, was the founder of the school of Individual Psychology.   In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freuds colleagues, Adler was among the co-founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. He was the first major figure to break away from psychoanalysis to form an independent school of psychotherapy and personality theory.   Adler’s main theoretical contributions are the importance of birth order in the formation of personality, the impact of neglect or pampering on child development, the notion of a self perfecting drive within human beings, and the idea that one must study and treat the patient as a whole person†. 5.2 Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961):   A Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of analytical psychology.   Though not the first to analyze dreams, he has become perhaps one of the most well known pioneers in the field of dream analysis. He considered the process of individuation necessary for a person to become whole. This is a psychological process of integrating the conscious with the unconscious while still maintaining conscious autonomy.   Individuation was the central concept of analytical psychology.   Many pioneering psychological concepts were originally proposed by Jung, including the Archetype, the Collective Unconcious, the Complex, and synchronicity.   Jung believed individuals had psychological types which were known as Jungian Typology.   A popular psychometric instrument, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), has been principally developed from Jungs theories. 5.3 Milton Erickson (1901-1980):   An American psychiatrist and psychologist, Erickson developed many ideas and techniques in hypnosis that were very different from what was commonly practiced. His style, commonly referred to as Ericksonian Hypnosis, has greatly influenced many modern schools of hypnosis. He was an important influence on neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which was in part based upon his working methods.   He is noted for his approach to the unconscious mind as creative and solution-generating.   He is known for using the handshake induction, uses indirect and confusion techniques and also takes into account factors such as resistance. 5.4 Friedrich (Frederick) Salomon Perls (1893-1970): Better known as Fritz Perls, he was a German born psychiatrist and psychotherapist of Jewish descent.   Perls coined the term Gestalt Therapy to identify the form of psychotherapy that he developed with his wife Laura Perls in the 1940s and 1950s.   The core of the Gestalt Therapy process is enhanced awareness of sensation, perception, bodily feelings, emotion and behavior, in the present moment. Relationship is emphasized, along with contact between the self, its environment, and the other.   Gestalt therapy is firmly rooted in the philosophies of Existentialism and Phenomenology and can be described as a holistic and psychodynamic therapy. 5.5 Carl Rogers (1902–1987): An American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology. Rogers is widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of psychotherapy research.   Rogers developed his person-centered therapy theories to understanding personality and human relationships which resulted in its wide application in psychotherapy and counseling.   His techniques make use of Empathy, Congruence and unconditional positive regard and he believes free will and self responsibility are paramount.   He describes his therapeutic approach as supportive. 6-Techniques used in practice There are many different techniques which can be applied for each patient’s specific requirements in medicine and dentistry, most of which will firstly require the patient to be in a trance like state or under ‘hypnosis’ where the patient is thought to be more open to suggestion.   â€Å"The brain seen in a hypnotic state is quite different from that seen in normal waking or sleeping.† [14] Carter,R (1998).   Smilar studies have also shown that there is increased activity in the brain during hypnosis which can help patients with heightened mental imagery.   A study by R.J. Croft suggests when under hypnosis a patient is able to dissociate and focus internally instead of on the pain they may otherwise experience. [15] R.J. Croft (2002). 6.1 Hypnosis:   Before looking at the techniques which can be used in medicine and dentistry we must look at how the therapist can prepare their patient to enter this heightened state of awareness.   Described below is the basic backbone of what is required when treating a patient using hypnosis however each of these steps will be described in more depth. Prepare the patient. The induction of the hypnotic state or trance. Deepening of the above. Therapy, namely suggestions and imagery-based techniques. Alerting Posthypnosis discussion. The use of self-hypnosis by the patient between sessions. [8] John Hartland, 2002. When preparing the patient is not possible in many situations to completely eliminate noise and distractions, especially in medicine and dentistry, but this need not pose a problem.   The main point to remember when preparing the setting is that the patient is comfortable.   This can be achieved by providing a chair or somewhere to lie down if appropriate and making sure the temperature is comfortable.   It is important that the patient feels relaxed and at ease with the therapist.   The therapeutic allience can be a very important part of the treatment in alleviating pain [16] Shapiro 1964.   Carl Rogers’s supportive approach could be used for this purpose. The induction and deepening can be achieved through a series of instructions and suggestions which will help the patient to enter a trance like experience.   There are many different ways to achieve this, for example using the Braid technique described in section 3.3 or another example is using Erickson’s handshake induction mentioned earlier in section 5.3.   The handshake induction is a confusion technique where the therapist begins to shake hands with the patient then interrupts the flow of the handshake in some way.   If the handshake continues to develop in a way which is out-of-keeping with expectations, a simple, non-verbal trance is created, which may then be reinforced or utilized by the therapist. All these responses happen naturally and automatically without telling the subject to consciously focus on an idea. For the purpose of medical and dental procedures, to help the patient undergo uncomfortable or anxiety provoking treatments, the use of distraction (section 6.?) and relaxing imagery (section xxx) can be extremely useful.   These techniques may also help the patient tolerate pain.   The induction and deepening is thought to enhance the patient’s responsiveness to the suggestions which will follow in the next stage, which is the therapy.   To ensure the patient is in a trance like state the therapist may ask for a signal off the patient and use an ideomotor response to get the patient to raise a finger.   This will show the patient is ready for the next stage (Please refer to section 6.2 – 6.? For techniques used during therapy). When alerting the patient suggestions of wakefulness and mental alertness are given.   This is also a good time for a post hypnotic suggestion, in the case of dentistry the therapist could say â€Å"You will find that in the future every time you experience these procedures you will become even more easily relaxed, even more quickly than this time, and into an even deeper state of relaxation.†Ã‚   The patient is then asked to be fully alert of their surroundings and to open their eyes (if shut), this can be achieved by counting the patient up or down suggesting increased awareness with each count. Once the patient is alert again this is when the therapist can discuss with the patient how they feel and make a plan for future sessions.   Time should always be given for the patient to adjust back to their surroundings, awaken all their senses and discuss any worries they may have had about their session.   The therapist may wish even at this stage to include some positive suggestions.   Before concluding the session self hypnosis can be taught to the patient for help between treatments which will also go towards helping the patient relax faster at future sessions.   A CD can also be given for use in between treatments to reinforce suggestions made. The following chapters will describe some of the techniques which can be applied in practice to control pain for medical and dental procedures.   The patient would firstly go through all the preliminaries described above, with the technique itself being integrated into the ‘therapy’ stage. 6.2 Suggestion:   Much of the practice of hypnosis entails giving suggestions directly or indirectly which will promote the desired change, an example of this is saying â€Å"Gradually you are feeling the pain easing away, as it is becoming more and more comfortable† or for a post-hypnotic suggestion and example would be â€Å"After your operation, you will feel stronger each day; any discomfort you feel will not really bother you, and you will have little bleeding.† [13] John Hartland, 2002.   Ego-strengthening is always used during therapy which is achieved by repeating positive suggestions (similar to positive reinforcement descibed in section 4.2) to the patient to reinforce any progress being made and to enhance feelings of self confidence and self worth.   This will give the patient the feelings they have the strength and resources to deal with the situation they are in now and after therapy.    Imagery NLP Anchoring 6.3 Paradoxical injunction: Hypnotic imagery (section 6.?) is widely used in pain management – particularly for longer-term pain conditions. One approach is to ask the client in hypnosis to create an image of a scale or dial (or something similar) going from 1-10 to represent their current experience of pain. It is then possible to suggest that they use the dial to ‘turn the pain down’.   If the client increases the pain then a reassuring suggestion could be given that if you can control the pain in one direction then you can also control it in the other to lesson the pain. 6.4 Distraction: Distraction techniques, similar to Erickson’s ‘confusion’   are often used in medicine and dentistry while performing uncomfortable procedures, however, for the purpose of hypnosis, imagery is again utilised.   The client is to engage their attention on something which appeals to them therefore distracting their attention from the pain. 6.5 Time distortion: Direct suggestions can be given during hypnosis to condense the experience of time if experiencing pain.   An example of this would be to say to the client ‘1 minute seems to pass as fast as a second’.   An example of when this could be used is in minor surgery when a procedure is being preformed without anaesthetic.   This technique would be used alongside relaxation and distraction techniques.   This could also be useful in a post-hypnotic suggestion to alter the patient’s memory of how long the actual procedure took. 6.6 Hypnotic suggestion for pain releif: This can be coupled with suitable imagery to give sensations of numbness and insensitivity.  Ã‚   A technique called ‘hand analgesia’ can be used in minor surgical, medical and dental procedures and also in childbirth.   The therapist simply suggests a feeling of coolness then numbness in the hand and the patient can then apply this feeling to the necessary part of the body.   Imagery techniques can also be used to create a metaphorical or symbolic image of the pain which can then be modified to experience pain relief.   One example of how this can be used is if a patient experienced arthritic pain they may imagine this as ‘grating cogwheels’, an image which can be helped by ‘oiling the cogwheels’ helping to relieve the pain. 6.7 Displacement: Peripheral pain can often be more bearable than centrally located pain therefore a suggestion can be made that the pain is located in another part of the body.   Reinterpretation is another technique similar to this where the patient can either imagine the pain is being caused by a positive activity, possibly sport, or they can convert the experience of pain to something more pleasurable like warmth. 6.8 Dissociation: In some patients this occurs naturally as a defense technique for pain such as in severe widespread pain or cardiac resuscitation where the patient may have an out-of-body experience.   Suggestion can be used by the therapist so the patient can imagine the pain is being separated from the part affected, perhaps to another part of the room, or even the affected part itself is separated. 6.9 Systematic desensitisation:   Systematic desensitisation, used primarily to treat phobias related to one particular issue, is also a simple process whose effectiveness depends on practice. Essentially you create an anxiety hierarchy (a graded list of anxiety-provoking items) and then proceed to pair each item with the feeling of being deeply relaxed. Eventually this training process allows you to remain relaxed even when thinking about the anxiety-provoking situation. Finally, you learn to confront the real situation while remaining calm and relaxed. 7-The application of hypno-psychotherapy in medicine and dentistry Pain relief is one of the main ways patients can benefit from hypno-psychotherapy techniques in medical and dental procedures.   Neuro-physiological work has shown if subjects are asked to imagine pain increasing or decreasing, the anterior cingulate cortex which registers pain changes accordingly whereas the somatosensory area which registers the sensory component, is unchanged [6] Rainville et al 1997.   Differing from these results studies have also shown that highly susceptible subjects who can relieve themselves from all perception of pain appear to be able to diminish the sensory component by absorbing themselves in some other cognitive activity.   [7] Crawford, 1994.   The other main way these techniques can benefit patients is through the reduction in anxiety throughout many procedures.   Described below are some of the many procedures where hypno-psychotherapy techniques are applied in medicine and dentistry.    7.1 Treatment in surgery: Uncomfortable minor surgical procedures where pain releif can be aided through hypnotherapeutic techniques include injections, blood taking, stitching and their removal, opthalmic surgery, dressing of burns, removal of drain tubes and many more.   Entire operations have been reported where hypnosis was the only method of analgesia, however, the main use is in facilitating major surgery and general anaesthesia.   Applications include relaxing the patient in the preoperative period, thus reducing preoperative sedation, muscle relaxants, and general anaestetic requirements and facilitating intubation. [9] Kessler, 1997.   Also with the use of positive suggestion the patient is instilled with thoughts of a successful outcome leading to reduction in post-operative pain and anxiety and need for chemical pain relief. Techniques have also been successful for the control of blood loss.   There are many metaphors which can be used for this, for example, blood vessels being tied with a ‘magic thread’. 7.2 Treatment for cancer patients:   There are many ways in which Hypno-psychotherapy techniques can help cancer patients.   General relaxation, the control of negative emotions and the sense of control over the disease can be achieved using techniques such as self hypnosis and ego strengthening.   Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can often take several months before completion of treatment, by enhancing future rehearsal the therapist can replace the any negative thoughts about their illness with a positive future outlook of their lifestyle.   Similar to its use in general surgery, techniques can be used to alter the patients state of mind pre and post-operatively and help with pain relief. 7.3 Treatment in obstetrics and gynaecology:   Hypno-psychotherapy techniques can be used before pregnancy using relaxation techniques to help with infertility treatment, during pregnancy using ego-strengthening, self hypnosis, imagery and relaxation to help with morning sickness, hypertension and premature labour or miscarriage caused by anxiety, and after pregnancy to help with bonding with the baby and post natal depression. Anxiety during pregnancy can affect blood flow and fetal stress and can lead to complications such as pre-eclampsia, forceps delivery, prolonged labour, clinical fetal distress and primary postpartum hemorrhage [10] Crandon 1979.   It is not only reducing stress and anxiety however which can help during pregnancy, analgesia in childbirth using hypnotherapy can be used which reduces and can sometimes even remove the need for chemical analgesia and other medication which can be potentially harmfull to both mother and baby.   Methods which can be used are ‘hand analgesia’, the use of imagery, or dissociation which has been previously mentioned in section 6.   Some painful gynaecological conditions may also be helped by hypnotic pain management techniques such as dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, vulvodynia and idiopathic pelvic pains. 7.4 Treatment in dentistry:   Hypnosis has been used in the dental industry as far back as the 19th century when John Elliotson (section 3.1) used mesmeric passes for analgesia for many surgical procedures.   As mentioned earlier pain management and reduction of anxiety are the main advantages to using these techniques, however in dentistry the treatment of anxiety is extremely important.   This is one of the main problems in dental surgery and not surprisingly one adult in three has a moderate to severe fear of dental procedures [11] British Dental Association 1995. Techniques commonly used by dentists are relaxation (combined with anchoring), imagery, distraction, ego-strengthening and in some cases self hypnosis to aid future treatments.   Hypnoanalgesia can be achieved similar to the way it can in childbirth by using the hand analgesia technique (section 6.5) where this can not only be successful giving a numbing sensation in the required area but can also demonstrate to the patient that the technique works, which will in turn leave them more open to suggestion.   Desensitisation (MAKE SURE ITS IN!!) can also be extremely successful if used building up to the treatment.   Control of bleeding can sometimes be achieved by direct suggestions of ‘less bleeding’ or ‘the ice cold sensation is consticting blood vessels’.   The most important technique to include in hypnosis and dental surgery is to give the patient control over the treatment they are being given and this can be achieved by using a signal such as rai sing the hand or finger similar to the ideomotor response mentioned in section 6, so the patient can stop the procedure immediately if need be.   Dental phobias can often stem from a bad experience in the dental surgery [12] Ãâ€"st 1985, or from hearing horror stories as children, or from deeper routed experiences where psychodynamic approaches can be of great use. 8-Conclusion    8.1 Modern day acceptability:   In 1955, the Brittish Medical Association was sufficiently interested in hypnosis to set up an enquiry, the second one in its history (the first being in 1892), which reported favourably on hypnosis as a therapeutic medium, even recommending that hypnosis should be taught at medical schools and on courses for psychiatrists, and possibly anaesthetists and obstetricians [5] John Hartland, 2002.   This was followed in 1958 by the American Psychological Association forming a specialty in hypnosis and establishing a certifying board of examiners in both clinical and experimental hypnosis.   At a formal meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1959, hypnosis was granted official status of an adjunctive tool.   Also, in 1961, the AMA recommended that medical professionals receive 144 hours of training in hypnotherapy.   Hypnosis has become represented by numerous professional organizations and leading national and international journals have been established for publishi ng research. A committee commissioned by the British Medical Association formally concluded that: In addition to the treatment of psychiatric disabilities, there is a place for hypnotism in the production of anaesthesia or analgesia for surgical and dental operations, and in suitable subjects it is an effective method of relieving pain in childbirth without altering the normal course of labour. [17] (BMA, Medical use of hypnotism’, BMJ, 1955, vol. I, 190-193) 8.2 Advantages and disadvantages:   8.3 Future possibilities:   For conclusion see page 363 in Hartland. For advantages and disadvantages see pages 390-391.   Also the case study on page 403. Reference: 1. Mesmer, Franz (1980). Mesmerism. Los Altos: W. Kaufman 2. British Medical Surgical Journal (1846)35:   Page 542. 3. Bramwell (1910) Hypnotism and treatment by suggestion.   Page 203. 4. Watson, J B (1931) Behaviourism.   London:   Kegan Paul.   Page 104. 5. Hartland, John (2002) Hartland’s Medical and Dental Hypnosis.   Fourth edition. Page 14. 6. Rainville P, Duncan G H, Price D D et al (1997) affect encoded in human anterior cingulated but not somatosensory cortex.   Science 277:   Pages 968-971. 7.   Crawford H J (1994) Brain dynamics and hypnosis:   Attentional and disattentional processes.   International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 42:   Pages 204-232. 8.   John (2002) Hartland’s Medical and Dental Hypnosis.   Fourth edition. Page 61. 9.   Kessler R (1997) The consequences of individual differences in preparation for surgery and invasive medical procedures.   Hypnosis:   Swedish Journal for Hypnosis in Psychotherapy and Psychodynamic Disorders 24:   Pages 181-192. 10.   Crandon A (1979)   Maternal anxiety and obstetric complications.   Journal of Psychosomatic Research 23:   Pages   109-111 11.   British Dental Association 1995 Dental Phobia.   Fact File, June.   British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London WIM 8A. 12.   Ãâ€"st L G 1985 Mode of acquisition of phobias.   Acta Universitatis Uppsaliensis (Abstracts of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine) 529: 1-45 13.   John (2002) Hartland’s Medical and Dental Hypnosis.   Fourth edition. Page 84. 14.   Carter R (1998) Mapping The Mind. Phoenix. London. Page 318. 15.   Croft, R.J., Williams, J.D., Haenschel, C. and Gruzelier, J.H.,(2002) Pain perception, hypnosis and 40 Hz oscillations.   International journal of Psychophysiology.   Vol. 46 Issue 2.   Pages 101-108. 16.   Shapiro (1964) Page 134   xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx get proper ref off diss by Karen H!! 17.   BMA, Medical use of hypnotism, BMJ, 1955, vol. I.   Pages 190-193.

Meaning of the Term Black Church and Its Importance

Meaning of the Term Black Church and Its Importance The â€Å"black church† is a term used to describe Protestant churches that have predominately black congregations. More broadly, the black church is both a specific religious culture and a socio-religious force that has shaped protest movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Origins of the Black Church The black church in the United States can be traced back to chattel slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enslaved Africans brought to the Americas a variety of religions, including traditional spiritual practices. But the system of slavery was built on the dehumanization and exploitation of enslaved people, and this could only be achieved by depriving slaves of meaningful connections to land, ancestry, and identity. The dominant white culture of the time accomplished this through a system of forced acculturation, which included forced religious conversion. Missionaries would also use promises of freedom to convert enslaved Africans. Many enslaved people were told they could return to Africa as missionaries themselves if they converted. While it was easier for polytheistic beliefs to merge with Catholicism, which ruled in areas such as the Spanish colonies, than the Protestant Christian denominations that dominated early America, enslaved populations constantly read their own narratives into Christian texts and incorporated elements of their previous faiths into Christian frameworks. Out of this cultural and religious acculturation, early versions of the black church were born. Exodus, The Curse of Ham  and Black Theodicy Black pastors and their congregations maintained their autonomy and identify by reading their own histories into Christian texts, unlocking new routes for self-realization. For example, many black churches identified with the Book of Exodus’s story of the prophet Moses leading the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt. The story of Moses and his people spoke to hope, promise and the benevolence of a God which was otherwise absent in the systematic and oppressive structure of chattel slavery. White Christians worked to justify slavery through the employment of a white savior complex, which  in addition to dehumanizing black people, infantilized them. They insisted that slavery was good for black people, because black people were inherently uncivilized. Some went so far as to claim that black people had been cursed and slavery was the necessary, God-intended punishment. Seeking to maintain their own religious authority and identity, black scholars developed their own branch of theology. Black theodicy refers specifically to theology that answers for the reality of anti-blackness and the suffering of our ancestors. This is done in a number of ways, but primarily by re-examining suffering, the concept of free-will, and God’s omnibenevolence. Specifically, they examined the following question: If there is nothing that God does that is not good in and of itself, why would he inflict such immense pain and suffering on black people? Questions like this one presented by black theodicy led to the development of another type of theology, which was still rooted in accounting for the suffering of black people. It is perhaps the most popular branch of black theology, even if its name is not always well known: Black Liberation Theology. Black Liberation Theology and Civil Rights Black Liberation Theology strove to incorporate Christian thought into the black community’s legacy as a â€Å"protest people.† By recognizing the social power of the church, along with the safety it offered within its four walls, the black community was able to explicitly bring God into the daily liberation struggle. This was famously done within the Civil Rights Movement. Although Martin Luther King Jr. is most often associated with the black church in the context of civil rights, there were many organizations and leaders during that time who leveraged the church’s political power. And although King and other early civil rights leaders are now famous for their nonviolent, religiously-rooted tactics, not every member of the church embraced nonviolent resistance. On July 10, 1964, a group of Black men led by Earnest â€Å"Chilly Willy† Thomas and Frederick Douglas Kirkpatrick founded The Deacons For Defense and Justice in Jonesboro, Louisiana. The purpose of their organization? To protect members of the Congress For Racial Equity (CORE) against violence from the Ku Klux Klan. The Deacons became one of the first visible self-defense forces in the South. Although self defense was not new, the Deacons were one of the first groups to embrace it as part of their mission. The power of Black Liberation Theology within the black church did not go unnoticed. The church itself came to serve as a place of strategy, development  and reprieve. It has also been a target of attacks by numerous hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan. The history of the Black church is long and not over. Today, the church continues to redefine itself to meet the demands of new generations; there are those within its ranks who work to remove factors of social conservatism and align it with new movements. No matter what position it takes in the future, it cannot be denied that the black church has been a pivotal force within Black American communities for hundreds of years and those generational memories are not likely to fade.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 5

Case study - Essay Example Perspectives in global media culture addresses debate on globalisation, including those regarding the local-global dialectic, questions of cultural agency, indigenous media, and identity politics. It explores key issues of the politics of representation, with particular attention being paid to questions of sub alternate, multiculturalism, cultural nationalism and media imperialism, new technologies and transnationalism (Athique, 2014). The following essay considers the example of a media house with a huge employability attraction with an example of a media text. The media text will be analysed with reference to the following questions: the different cultures represented in the particular media text; the global, local, institutional, professional and/or media cultures that have informed the creation of that particular media text; and finally, the forms of media literacy and/or the ethical norms observed. Apple Inc is an American multinational company formed in the year 1977. It designs, develops and sells consumer, computer applications, online services, and personal computers. Its best and most renowned products include the iPhone brand of phones, the iPod music play, the Mac line of computers, and the iPad line of tablet computers. As the organisation the recently acquired my services, it requires a media text to introduce its recently launched, a new line of iPhone phones. But first, before we proceed further we need to examine what a text is and how it is important to what Apple Inc. Wishes to communicate to the general public. A text is a media product that we want to examine, whether it is a television program, a poster, newspaper article, a popular song, latest fashion among others (McQuail, 2010). A text has a denotative meaning, and this essay aims to discuss such features as its narrative structure, how the meanings are communicated, and implicit values in the media text. The central

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4

Strategic Management - Essay Example This report analyses the industry as well as the company with the help of the various strategic tools like the SWOT Analysis, PEST, Porter’s Five Forces, Porter’s Generic Strategies as well as the Ansoff Matrix. These would provide an insight to the feasible strategic alternatives that are available to the company which would help the company survive in the long-run. Contents Contents 2 Introduction 4 Strategic review 5 Industry Competition 10 Suppliers 11 Buyers 11 New Entrants 11 Substitutes 11 The Generic Strategies 12 Conclusion and Strategic Options 13 Introduction Hutchison Whampoa Limited is a group of companies that has a number of operations across different countries of the world. The company is highly committed to the development of technology and innovation. The brand has international presence in almost 52 countries of the world. 260000 people comprise the human resource strength of the organisation. The company has a customer base of 23.5 million as on 201 2 which is experiencing and upward trend since its inception. The company is listed in the Hong Kong stock exchange and has a high market capitalisation. The six main areas where the company’s businesses are specialised are the telecommunications, infrastructure, property and hotels, ports and related services, retail as well as energy. In order to carry out the different businesses the company has to maintain proper business relations with the suppliers and the various dealers. The company strives to maintain a multicultural environment and therefore there is a wide range of mix in the human resources that drive the company towards its goals. The aim of the company is to maintain a very high standard of corporate governance which would ensure accountability and transparency in the process in which the work is carried out. These attitude and work cultures have won the company various accolades and honours. The vision of Hutchison Whampoa Limited is the attainment and maintena nce of the highest standard in the corporate governance which would suit the interests and the necessities of the company. At the same time the interests of the subsidiaries also have to be taken care of. Sound corporate governance would ensure that the equity holders of the company are getting the right value for the money that they have invested into the company. The company should strive at enhancing the interest of all the stakeholders of the company. The mission of Hutchison is to attain these agenda by ensuring that all the corporate governance principles have been applied. The board of directors should be of good quality who would exercise internal control in the most effective manner. The disclosure practices of the company should be carried out in the most stringent manner. The company should adhere to its values of maintaining transparency in the corporate practices which results from the accountability of Hutchison to its shareholders. The goal of the company is to improv e these practices in the most efficient manner. The company also intends to maintain a sustainable communities and business for a long run. Strategic review Hutchison Whampoa Limited operates in six different sectors which include telecommunication, energy, infrastructure, retail, ports and properties as well as financial services

Drama Paper on Trifles †Susan Glaspell Essay Example for Free

Drama Paper on Trifles – Susan Glaspell Essay

The Easter Vigil: The Primary Liturgy. Which Shows The Church As A Sac :: essays research papers

Every year, on the day before Easter, one of the biggest and most important masses of the year happens on that night. The mass is called the Easter Vigil. The Vigil brings out the true and full nature of the Catholic Church and all of its people. It celebrates Jesus Christ, as he rises from the dead and ascends into heaven. Since this mass is so large, it is split into four parts. The first, the Service of Light, and is the most solemn part of the mass the Church celebrates. The second part is the Liturgy of the Word, in which you listen to a reader who reads from the books of the Bible such as Genesis and Exodus. The third part of the celebration is known as the Celebration of the Rites of Initiation. At this point people become part of the Church and receive such sacraments as Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. The fourth part of the vigil is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the climax of the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil is the biggest mass in the Church and it requires four parts in the Service of Light, The Liturgy of the Word, the Celebration of the Rights of Initiation, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, but also requires much more faith and concentration to fully appreciate it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first part of the Easter Vigil is the Service of Light. The Service of Light is the most solemn time during the Easter Vigil and where the people of the Catholic Church show the most respect. All the lights in the Church are turned off. The minister carries the paschal candle slowly into the Church. As the candle is shared with the rest of the congregation, the atmosphere is very dark and glum. As the minister brings the candle towards the altar, the following response is sung by the pastor and by everyone else in the Church. The Deacon or the Celebrant sings â€Å"Christ our Light† and everyone responds, â€Å"Thanks be to God†. This is done three times and after this the choir sings the Exultet. The focus on signing is of the risen Jesus Christ. After, the paschal candle reaches the altar; it is placed on a stand next to the lantern. This marks the ending of the first part of the Easter Vigil, the Service of light.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second part of the Easter Vigil is the Liturgy of the Word.

John Locke on Property Essay

In the Second Treatise of Government by John Locke, he writes about the right to private property. In the chapter which is titled â€Å"Of Property† he tells how the right to private property originated, the role it plays in the state of nature, the limitations that are set on the rights of private property, the role the invention of money played in property rights and the role property rights play after the establishment of government.. In this chapter Locke makes significant points about private property. In this paper I will summarize his analysis of the right to private property, and I will give my opinion on some of the points Locke makes in his book. According to Locke, the right to private property originated when God gave the world to men. Locke makes the argument that when God created the world for man, he gave man reason to make use of the world to the best advantage of life, and convenience. What he means by that is, that God made this world for man, and when he made it he gave man the right to use what is in this world to his benefit. Locke explains that every man has property in his own person, and that nobody has any right to that property but that person. The author states that â€Å"whatsoever then he removes out of the state of nature hath provided, and left it in, he hath mixed his labour with, and joined to it something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property (Locke pg. 19)†. What Locke means by that statement is that once a person removes something out of its original state of nature that something becomes that persons property. After someone gains this property are there any limitations on that property? Locke believes that there are limitations on that property. Locke believes that God has given us all things richly, and that man may use those things as long as he takes what he needs. Men can have property as long as they obtained it rightfully, and as long as they use discretion. If those limitations were overlooked when the person was getting the property the property was not obtained rightfully. In the chapter the rights of property, Locke tells the role that the invention of money plays in property rights. Money was invented because people were abusing their property rights. With the creation of money things were given value, and this invention prevented people from taking more than they could afford. Money was an invention that men could keep without spoiling. Men could exchange money for truly useful, but perishable supports of life. This invention plays a big role in the property rights. Now that there is money people have to use that money to get what they need instead of taking whatever they want as was the case before the invention of money. According to Locke, individual property rights change after government was established. He believes that in governments, the laws regulate the right of property, and the possession of land is determined by positive constitutions. Before the establishment of government Americans had the rights to property as long as they used it before it spoiled, and as long as they didn’t take more than they needed, and as long as they obtained it rightfully. After government, there were laws and restrictions pertaining to property. These laws and restrictions were established to secure protection of those who had property. I believe that some of Locke’s views on the rights to private property are right. I agree with his thoughts of the way property rights originated, the limitations he said were placed on property rights, and his thoughts of why money was invented. I also agree with his take on the role property rights played after government was established. I think that government plays a very important part in the protection of property. Without the laws that are made by the government there would be many problems with property rights. People still have the right to have any property they want as long as they can afford it and as long as it is obtained properly. The points that Locke makes in the chapter Of property are very important and pertain to North American society today. I feel that he was extremely accurate in some of his views and he is an important figure in world history.

Communication †Differences Between Men and Women

Communication – Differences Between Men and Women According to Fiona Sheridan, â€Å"The consequences of differences in linguistic activity between men and women in the workplace are enormous (2007). † Women create feelings of closeness by conversing with their friends or loved ones. They have a tendency to communicate by consensus. This means, they use the information gathered by other women and make a decision based on the wishes of the group. â€Å"Men, on the other hand, seek to establish and maintain status and dominance (Tannen, 1990). †When communication is not effective, it can have severe consequences on an organization. Each gender must decide what it is that they are looking for, decide how they want to receive it, what order they want to receive it, and decide how they want to process it. We must realize that each communication style has certain strengths. â€Å"To have successful working relationships with members of the opposite sex, you also have to know why those differences matter and what to do about them. † (Kelley, 2010, p13) Both men and women can contribute and offer a lot.Margery Weinstein said it best when she said that, â€Å"Each gender is a culture unto itself, one that comes with certain norms and standards that can be misunderstood by those of the opposite sex (Weinstein, 2006, p8). † Below are some differences in the way women and men communicate: Ways Women communicate: 1)Women more likely talk to other women about problems. 2)Women are more relationship oriented. 3)Woman share experiences and ask questions. Ways Men communicate: 1)Men keep problems to themselves. )Status and dominance are important to men. 3)Men give information rather than ask questions. There is definitely an impact in the workplace when there is a difference in communication between men and women. The difference in the communication styles can lead to confusion between the two parties. This can create unnecessary tension betw een the two genders.The key is to realize that either gender can effectively communicate as long as they are equally valid in getting the message relayed to its intended target. Discussion The main topic was whether there was a difference in how men & women communicate and whether it has an impact in the workplace. â€Å"Beyond gender-related communication differences, awareness of gender-related communication barriers may play a key role in the effectiveness of communication (Schneider, 2007). † It would prove beneficial for companies to teach their employees how to have effective communication when gender may be involved.The bulk of my research was done by utilizing information gathered from the internet and ProQuest. Valuable insight was collected on this topic. Many people do believe there are differences in how the two genders communicate. â€Å"If we consider both communication styles and associated values in practice, we will increase chances of all people representin g either style to join the communication process, regardless of their gender (Rawluszko, 2009, p54). † ?

Global Warming Is False Essay Example

Global Warming Is False Essay Example Global Warming Is False Paper Global Warming Is False Paper The issue of global warming has become a hot topic in not only in American, but all over the world. For years, many politicians have evaded the issue of global warming. But now, all of a sudden, the Democratic Party vows to combat global warming. Now that the Democratic Party has majority in both houses on Congress, they have taken an emphasis over environmental issues, mostly involving global warming. On January 30th, 2007, Congress held its first hearing about global warming. What was concluded in that hearing was that global warming is a fact, and that it is caused by humans. AY Gore conveniently released a movie called Cute Inconvenient truth, a movie that showed AY Gore giving a speech about the Diffracts on global warming and its C]irrefutable repercussion. Just this past February, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a summary that blamed global warming on CO released into the atmosphere by humans. With scientist backing claims that CO is causing global warming, the majority of Americans have made the decision that global warming is in fact true. But what Americans are not exposed is the scientist that claim climate change is part of Earths cycle, and that it right on schedule. The EPIC found that the amount of CO in the atmosphere is causing the rise in temperature on Earth. This, in effect, is causing polar ice caps to melt, flooding Oceans with fresh water. The EPIC says that the flood of freshwater in the Ocean is causing weather patterns to change. But claim that the amount of CO in the air is causing global warming is not correct. Last year, Carleton University Professor Tim Patterson appeared before the Commons : Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. He testified that there is no correlation between the CO levels and the Earths temperature. He states his findings that 450 million years ago the amount of CO in the atmosphere was over ten times greater than they are now, and during that time, the earth was experiencing its coldest period ever. How does the Earth heating have anything to do with the increase in CO if the Earth has been known to be cooling with high amounts of CO in the air? The EPIC and AY Gore have both stated that the polar ice caps are melting uh to global warming, noting that some scientist have never seen anything like this. In his movie, AY Gore shows a dramatic display of the ice caps in Antarctica melting and breaking off. Dry. Boris Windcheater, former marine researcher at the Geological Survey of F-inland says that the breaking of glacier walls in Antarctica is normal in the advance of a glacier. Windcheater explains, In Antarctica the temperature is low enough to prohibit melting of the ice front, so if the ice is grounded, it has to break off in beautiful ice cascades. If the water is deep enough icebergs will form. Another professor from the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology at Stockholm University, Dry. WIBNI Carlen, says that the temperature in Antarctica is indeed rising, but only slightly. But he also claims that more snow in accumulating than melting off. In The Inconvenient Truth, AY Gore claims that over 200 cities and towns in Western American have experience all time records for temperature and that this is caused by global warming. According to a new study released by Dry. Roy Spencer, Principal Research Scientist at the University of Alabama, it is not uncommon for many towns, out of the thousands, to experience record setting weather. His data reveals that recent temperatures in America were not unusual. A scientific group focusing on Climate Variability and Mechanisms conclude that the Earths climate in the past 1 0,000 years is, is now known to have been highly unstable and prone to major, rapid changes, especially warnings, that occurred briefly within a few decades or less.. The scientific community has made major strides in documenting the history of leaning-decal scale climate change. In a paper that was published in Science Magazine, seven scientists concluded that the Earth is on a 1 500 year cycle. They found evidence by testing the carbon and beryllium isotopes in sediments that suggests the changes In surface winds and surface temperatures are caused solar output. They also found that the Earth has experience drastic temperature changes r oughly ever 1 500 years, dating back 1000 A. D. Two other scientists, Wolfgang Berger and Lurch von Radar, retrieved a 5,000 year old sediment from the Arabian Sea. It revealed an unnamed cold period before the Roman Empire, the 1 1 50-year Roman cycle, the 900-year Medieval cycle, and the beginning of the Modern Cycle. This means that the Earth has cooling cycles and warming cycles. They concluded that the Earth has been warming since 1 680, the lowest point of a cooling period called the Little Ice Age. With all the evidence the Government has been relaying that proves global warming to be true, why has a lot of information been left out?

Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox

Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox A prominent American officer during the American Revolution, Brigadier General Francis Marion played a key role in the wars southern campaigns and earned the moniker The Swamp Fox for his exploits as a guerilla leader. His military career began with the militia in the French and Indian War during which he fought the Cherokees on the frontier. When the war with Britain began, Marion received a commission in the Continental Army and helped defend Charleston, SC. With the citys loss in 1780, he commenced a career as a highly effective guerilla leader that saw him employ hit and run tactics to win numerous victories over the British. Early Life and Career Francis Marion was born around 1732 on his family plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The youngest son of Gabriel and Esther Marion, he was a small and restless child. At age six, his family moved to a plantation in St. George so that the children could attend school in Georgetown, SC. At the age of fifteen, Marion embarked on a career as a sailor. Joining the crew of a schooner bound for the Caribbean, the voyage ended when the ship sank, reportedly due to being struck by a whale. Adrift in a small boat for a week, Marion and the other surviving crew finally reached the shore. French and Indian War Electing to remain on land, Marion began working on his familys plantations. With the French and Indian War raging, Marion joined a militia company in 1757 and marched to defend the frontier. Serving as a lieutenant under Captain William Moultrie, Marion took part in a brutal campaign against the Cherokees. In the course of the fighting, he took note of Cherokee tactics which emphasized concealment, ambush, and utilization of terrain to gain an advantage. Returning home in 1761, he began saving money to purchase his own plantation. American Revolution In 1773, Marion achieved his goal when he bought a plantation on the Santee River about four miles north of Eutaw Springs which he dubbed Pond Bluff. Two years later, he was elected to the South Carolina Provincial Congress which advocated for colonial self-determination. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, this body moved to create three regiments. As these formed, Marion received a commission as a captain in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. Commanded by Moultrie, the regiment was assigned to the Charleston defenses and worked to build Fort Sullivan. With the completion of the fort, Marion and his men took part in the defense of the city during the Battle of Sullivans Island on June 28, 1776. In the fighting, a British invasion fleet led by Admiral Sir Peter Parker and Major General Henry Clinton attempted to enter the harbor and was repulsed by Fort Sullivans guns. For his part in the fighting, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Remaining at the fort for the next three years, Marion worked to train his men before joining the failed Siege of Savannah in the fall of 1779. Going Guerilla Returning to Charleston, he fortuitously broke his ankle in March 1780 after jumping from a second-story window in an effort to escape a bad dinner party. Directed by his doctor to recuperate at his plantation, Marion was not in the city when it fell to the British in May. Following subsequent American defeats at Moncks Corner and Waxhaws, Marion formed a small unit of between 20-70 men to harass the British. Joining Major General Horatio Gates army, Marion and his men were effectively dismissed and ordered scout the Pee Dee area. As a result, he missed Gates stunning defeat at the Battle of Camden on August 16. Operating independently, Marions men scored their first major success shortly after Camden when they ambushed a British camp and liberated 150 American prisoners at Great Savannah. Striking elements of the 63rd Regiment of Foot at dawn, Marion routed the enemy on August 20. Employing hit-and-run tactics and ambushes, Marion quickly became a master of guerilla warfare using Snow Island as a base. As the British moved to occupy South Carolina, Marion relentlessly attacked their supply lines and isolated outposts before escaping back into the regions swamps. Responding to this new threat, the British commander, Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis, directed Loyalist militia to pursue Marion but to no avail. Routing the Enemy Additionally, Cornwallis ordered Major James Wemyss of the 63rd to pursue Marions band. This effort failed and the brutal nature of Wemyss campaign led many in the area to join the Marion. Moving sixty miles east to Ports Ferry on the Peedee River in early September, Marion soundly defeated a superior force of Loyalists at Blue Savannah on September 4. Later that month, he engaged Loyalists led by Colonel John Coming Ball at Black Mingo Creek. Though an attempt at a surprise attack failed, Marion pressed his men forward and in the resulting battle were able to force the Loyalists from the field. In the course of the fighting, he captured Balls horse which he would ride for the rest of the war. Continuing his guerilla operations in October, Marion rode from Ports Ferry with the goal of defeating a body of Loyalist militia led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Tynes. Finding the enemy at Tearcoat Swamp, he advanced at midnight on October 25/26 after learning that the enemy defenses were lax.  Using similar tactics to Black Mingo Creek, Marion split his command into three forces with one each attacking from the left and right while he led a detachment in the center. Signaling the advance with his pistol, Marion led his men forward and swept the Loyalists from the field. The battle saw the Loyalists suffer six killed, fourteen wounded, and 23 captured. The Swamp Fox With the defeat of Major Patrick Fergusons force at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, Cornwallis became increasingly concerned about Marion. As a result, he dispatched the feared Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to destroy Marions command. Known for laying waste to the landscape, Tarleton received intelligence regarding Marions location. Closing on Marions camp, Tarleton pursued the American leader for seven hours and across 26 miles before breaking off the pursuit in the swampy territory and stating, As for this damned old fox, the Devil himself could not catch him. Final Campaigns Tarletons moniker quickly stuck and soon Marion was known widely as the Swamp Fox. Promoted to brigadier general in the South Carolina militia, he began working with the new Continental commander in the region, Major General Nathanael Greene. Building a mixed brigade of cavalry and infantry he conducted a failed attack on Georgetown, SC in conjunction with Lieutenant Colonel Henry Light Horse Harry Lee in January 1781. Continuing to defeat the Loyalist and British forces sent after him, Marion won victories at Forts Watson and Motte that spring. The latter was captured in conjunction with Lee after a four-day siege. As 1781 progressed, Marions brigade fell under the command of Brigadier General Thomas Sumter. Working with Sumter, Marion took part in a fight against the British at Quinbys Bridge in July. Forced to withdraw, Marion split from Sumter and won a skirmish at Parkers Ferry the following month. Moving to unite with Greene, Marion commanded the combined North and South Carolina militia at the Battle of Eutaw Springs on September 8. Elected to the state senate, Marion left his brigade later that year to take his seat at Jacksonboro. Poor performance from his subordinates required him to return to command in January 1782. Later Life Marion was re-elected to the state senate in 1782 and 1784. In the years after the war, he generally supported a lenient policy toward the remaining Loyalists and opposed laws intended to strip them of their property. As a gesture of recognition for his services during the conflict, the state of South Carolina appointed him to command Fort Johnson. Largely a ceremonial post, it brought with it an annual stipend of $500 which aided Marion in rebuilding his plantation. Retiring to Pond Bluff, Marion married his cousin, Mary Esther Videau, and later served at the 1790 South Carolina constitutional convention. A supporter of the federal union, he died at Pond Bluff on February 27, 1795.

Is the EU a declining global power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Is the EU a declining global power - Essay Example The European Union has been in the forefront in influencing policies, both in Europe and other parts of the world. The organisation has been a strong agent of change that has determined the fate of many nations within and outside Europe. Among other aspects, the organisation has actively participated in enhancing trade within Europe and ensuring that there is harmonisation of trade policies within the European nations. This has led to the establishment of the Euro as a currency, which is widely used when carrying out business transactions in Europe. Despite the dominance of EU and its notable strength as a global superpower, the organisation has been experiencing some challenges that have contributed to its decline as a global power (Prys, 2010: 480). The eurozone, which mostly comprises of the leading states, which make up the European Union, have been faced with immense challenges that have threatened to cause the fall of the European Union. The individual challenges faced by the states separately have had a negative impact on their production systems and economic growth. As a result, this has led to the decline of the entire union since the member states contribute significantly to the continuity of the union. The aspects of innovation and enterprise that once took centre stage in the EU have faced significant challenges; they have been frustrated and their advancement hindered by a number of factors (Hothi, 2005: 12). For the last three decades, the economic growth rates in the European Union have declined significantly as compared to the rates of growth in other regional actors. This case demonstrates that the EU has declined as a global power since it has faced difficulties in competing with other regional powers.

The Best Airline in the United Kingdom and Europe Research Paper

The Best Airline in the United Kingdom and Europe - Research Paper Example The airline schedules are today subjected to strict regulatory measures, which limits the flying time across Europe as a whole. To remain viable in the market, British airways must implement security and regulatory measures as stipulated by the control acts. The level of security measures that an airline puts in place also influences customer confidence and trust. Consequentially, British Airways must enforce the political security regulatory measures that are put in place by global airline control (O’Connell & Williamson, 2011). A number of economic events in the global market have also affected the performance and vibrancy of the airline industry. For example, the global economic crisis of 2008 affected a number of businesses based in the United Kingdom, which further reduced the level of airline schedules. The growth of the industry following this crisis has not significantly picked up and is currently pegged at 2% yearly. Apart from the global financial crunch, the dwindling strength of the euro has also had a significant bearing on the performance of the airline sector (Punzel, 2011). The euro has continued to weaken against the pound and this has affected the performance of British Airways. To mitigate the challenges created by the meltdown, most businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom and the United States have cut down on their spending and travels, a situation that has affected the performance of the airline. The high cost of fuels, which has led to an increase in the cost of air travel, has also forced companies to adopt other cheaper alternatives such as teleconferencing (Balmer, Stuart & Greyser, 2009).