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Country Reporting Kenya

Country Reporting Kenya

Introduction:

Like the other world, in last 25 years, Kenya has witnessed unprecedented growth in number of nonprofit and non-governmental institutions. As a part of global association revolution, the non-governmental organizations in Kenya are formed to harmonize state service in response to the dilapidating capacity of the government to provide public service and development. “Kenya has a rich tradition of philanthropy and voluntarism with roots in the communal relationships of rural African society” (Salamon 2004). the civil society sector in Kenya were formed to provide alternative to the government in health, economic activities, in education, in protecting the environment, improving local services, and generally in improving human welfare.

In last twenty five years the region of East Africa experienced a great deal crises including draught, famine, and civil wars. Although Kenya was not immune all of these troubles, it has the most stable institutions; therefore, Kenya became a hub for the major international and local non-governmental organizations that are working and responding to the widespread crises in the region such as Somalia and South Sudan.

Country summary:

Kenya, officially called the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East African bordered by Tanzania to the south, Uganda to West, South Sudan to the northwest, Somalia to the northeast, and Ethiopia to the north. Kenya also has long coast with the Indian Ocean to its south-east. According to Encyclopedia of Britain, as the most African nations gone through, Kenya had experienced a colonial exploitation. The roots of the Colonial history goes back to the Berlin Conference in 1885, when the continent of Africa divided into territorial colonies by the European powers, and subsequently, the British Government conquered most of the East African nations including Kenya. Although Kenya gained its independence in 1963, poverty, inequality, and corruption remain the greatest challenges to the retaliation of economic, cultural, social, and human rights (Juma Dan 2008).

About the non-profit Sector in Kenya:

During 80s, the country has witnessed a dramatic growth of non-governmental organizations carrying out a variety of nonprofit work. The nonprofit sector in Kenya includes a very diverse consortium of organizations ranging from small welfare and community based or localized traditional welfare organizations. The last three decades has seen unprecedented growth in number and activities of civil society originations. There are four primary types of non-for-profit organizations operating in Kenya; they call companies, societies, trusts, and no-governmental organizations. Several factors account for the growth of NPOs. First, the country’s rich tradition of philanthropic and voluntarism the roots in the communal relationship of an African society have great influence to this sector’s growth (Salamon 2004). Kenya has a well-known slogan when addressing self-help activities; Harambee (pooling together or resources to provide basic services) is an expression of this tradition and the spirit of voluntarism. This Harambee tradition is the foundations on non-profit initiatives in the country (Kanyinga & Mitullah 2000). Others factors include the decline of state capacity to provide basic services, and the donors shift their attention to funding NGOs instead of government institutions.

The constitution of Kenya guarantees freedom of association, assembly, expression, and movement. Also bars discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion, gender, race, marital status, social origin, color and age (The Constitution of Kenya, Articles 26-51). Therefore, non-governmental actions must ensure equality of opportunity for all.

Size and Scope:

Kenya has a sizeable and diverse civil society sector that include a number of indigenous grassroots organizations and self-help groups, healthcare center, schools, foundations, welfare groups, religiously affiliated organizations, secular non-government organizations, political parties, and business and professional associations (Salmon 2004). The Kenyan civil society organizations are larger than those in most other developing countries; yet the civil society organization workforce in Kenya is les far smaller than those in developed countries (Salamon 2004). According to Salamon (2004), the non-profit sector is a significant economic force in Kenya. In 2000, the sector accounted for about US$270 million in expenditure. This was equivalent to 2.5% of the Gross Domestic product (GDP) and the workforce either paid or volunteers represent over 290,000 full time equivalent workers with almost 39 percent of this number are volunteers.The civil society sector in Kenya employs about 43 percent as many people as the public sector (Salamon 2004). According to Kinyinga & Mitullah report, a review of evidences for the period between 1997 and 2005 discloses that there were about 350,000 registered non-profit organizations in Kenya. The estimate for total membership of non-profit organizations in Kenya was about 5 million members in 2000 or about 17 per cent of the national population (Kinyinga & Mitullah).

Country’s Tax Law:

Kenya’s tax law is complicated and in inconsistent form. Kenya exempts from corporate tax the income of certain non-governmental organizations that perform specific types of services. Kenya also subject certain services and goods to Value Added Tax (VAT) with a quite range of exempt activities. In order to exempt from income tax, an organizations must have established exclusively on charity to reduce poverty of the public, or for purpose to enhance education or religion.

Sector Sustainability:

In order to look the sustainability of Kenya’s non-profit sector, two important measures of the size of this sector are revenue and operating expenditures. However, because of inconclusive data we have regarding these two areas, people have been raising questions about whether the sector is sustainable. Although fees and membership charges are the main sources of the non-governmental organizations in Kenya, they also heavily rely on external funding. According to report by Kinyinga & Mitullah, in 2005 data shows that the total revenue of all the NGO’s in Kenya was about $285 million; of this amount close to 90 percent came from donors (mainly international), and about only 6 percent of this came for own sources; while the rest contributed by private institutions and individual donors.

Conclusions

The civil society sector plays a significant role in political, economic, and the social fields in Kenya. It offers vital human services, especially in the country’s vast rural areas (Salamon 2004). Although Kenya’s civil society sector is growing in number and revenue in comparing with other developing countries, they are vulnerable and facing a huge challenges. Lack of funding is the major challenge that this sector is currently facing. NGO’s in Kenya are expressing difficulties in finding sufficient, appropriate, and continuous funding for their work. Lack of skills and poor governance was also recognized with in the sector; in particular, they extremely lacking skills such as management, mobilizations, project implementation, capacity building, and organizational sustainability. “The Kenyan government’s policy toward this sector has been somewhat ambivalent, however. Where the government views civil society organizations as potential partners in national development, it often reluctant to let these organizations operate without constraints” (Salamon 2004, p.108).

References:

Salamon, Lester M. ( 2004). Global Civil Society. Dimensions of the Nonprofit Sector

Juma, Dan (2008), Deputy Executive Director/Programmers Coordinator, Kenya Human Rights Commission. Report on Nonprofit Sector in Kenya.

Erica, Poff : Ohio University Center for International Studies

Encyclopedia of Britain (2010). World History

Kanyinga, Karuti & Mitullah, Winnie (2000). The Non-Profit Sector in Kenya. What we know and what we don’t know. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi.

Counterterrorism Activities and Programs in Aviation Security

Counterterrorism Activities and Programs in Aviation Security

Student’s Name

Institution

Counterterrorism Activities and Programs in Aviation Security

Legal Issues

1. Research Hypothesis: Since the 9/11 terrorist attack, aviation security has been augmented through efficient counter-terrorism activities and programs

2. Research Variables

Notably, the variables shall touch on the three basic parameters of the research hypothesis, which are, terrorism, aviation security, and efficient counter-terrorism activities. Therefore, the main variables of the research would be:

Patterns or characteristics of behavior of the 9/11 terrorist attack

The safety of aviation services

Prosecutorial successes

3. Explanation

The three variables should provide the information qualitatively and quantitatively on the rise, decline, trend, and counter-measures concerning the 9/11 terrorism.

Patterns or characteristics of behavior of 9/11 terrorism attack-the variable helps to give the concept of the rise that is, it is a descriptive variable on the nature of the terrorism and its afflictions. It is measured by the damages that the terror caused.

The safety of the aviation passengers-this could be viewed as a pointer of how the airline passengers perceive their safely. Analogically, the variable can be measured by the number of flight passengers, their security confidence, safe take-offs and landing amongst others.

Prosecutorial successes –the variable is an indicator of the measures in place to counter the security threats, and the successes that come with them. As such, the idea of efficient counter-terrorism program can be analyzed.

4. Measurement of the Variables

Descriptively, the pattern or nature of the 9/11 terrorism can be measured by considering facets such as unemployment, GDP per capita, poverty, inequality, political rights, literacy level, and inflation. The parameters are highly affected by terrorism. However, all the factors must be related to aviation services.

The safety of flight passengers will be measured using the concept of the number of aviation fatalities related to terrorism per unit travel. Empirically, this calls for information on passengers per trip, flight miles, flight legs, and safety in take-offs and landing.

Prosecutorial successes in aviation security are used to determine the efficiency of the program used. Thus, it can be measured through the percentage of screening programs, legal provisions on counterterrorism, and intelligence services to counter terrorism.

Annotated Bibliography

Atkinson, M. P., & Wein, L. M. (2010). An Overlapping Networks Approach to Resource Allocation for Domestic Counterterrorism. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 33(7), 618-651. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2010.484028. From http://library.ashford.edu/index.aspx

Atkinson and Wein’s article provides a logical mechanism that security agents should use in relating terror and crime to intervention measures. In particular, the article will help the research in the formulation and solution of resource allocation problems using overlapping networks. Therefore, it informs the study on the interdiction mechanisms that counterterrorism strategies should adopt so as to ensure a proactive measure. In addition, the article frames a sequential notion of investigation in the case of terror, which is essential in recommending appropriate prosecutorial measure.

Byrne, D., & Roy, A. (2015). Improving the safety, capacity and efficiency of airport traffic management with AeroMACS. Journal of Airport Management, 9(1), 36-43. From http://library.ashford.edu/index.aspx

The article does well by touching on issues concerning management of the airport in terms of planning, operations, and training of the human resource. Notably, Byrne and Roy’s literature acts as supporting evidence for the claim of the study that, aviation security is dependent on the management of the airport. Therefore, the article serves as a concrete backup material for evaluating the relationship of the aviation security to airport management. Also, the acclaimed authors approach the management in a composite notion that entails multiple facets; each of them being integral for security interventions.

Lum, C., Kennedy, L., & Sherley, A. (2006). A Campbell Systematic Review. The Effectiveness of Counter-Terrorism Strategies, 2-36. From http://www.rutgerscps.org/publications/Lum_Terrorism_Review.pdf

This article is valuable because of the content and due to the reputation of the authors. Surely, (Lum et. al, 2006) will contribute immensely to the conceptualization of terrorism and supporting the idea of countering the menace. That is not all; the primary objective of the research is to identify and evaluate the effectiveness of counterterrorism strategies. As such, the evaluation will guide the research on how to strategize on the on the actions and to reach an efficient model of counterterrorism. In addition, it gives the limelight to all the entities involved in the formulation and implementation of counterterrorism strategies.

Jones, K. C., & Glisson, L. M. (2009). HOMELAND SECURITY VS. CABOTAGE: ISSUES OF TERRORISM OR PLOYS. Journal of Transportation Management, 20(1), 35-47. From http://library.ashford.edu/index.aspx

Undoubtedly, the article does a remarkable work by reviewing how the 9/11 terrorism happened and the tactic that US adopted to counter the Islamist-inspired terrorists. In addition, it provides the chronological aspect of changes that have happened up to now in the Obama’s administration. For example, it outlines the progress in the domestic security such as Disaster Declaration, border security, immigration policy, committee intervention, and transport security systems. In sum, (Jones & Glisson, 2009) informs the study of all the transformations that are in place since the 9/11 terror.

Bloch-Elkon, Y. (2011). The Polls—Trends: Public Perceptions and the Threat of International Terrorism after 9/11. Public Opinion Quarterly, 75(2), 366-392. From http://library.ashford.edu/index.aspx

Importantly, this article gives various reports concerning the opinions or perceptions of the American people about terrorism. The point of reference of the polls is the 9/11 terror; therefore, the article gives a supporting information of what people underwent, and the changes they have been noticed. Also, the literature provides the idea about the methodology that this research needs to adopt. Clearly, Bloch-Elkon’s work is very crucial for the study in analyzing and evaluating the changes in security; particularly aviation terrors and making a follow up of the real trend of terror attacks.

Eller, W. S., & Gerber, B. J. (2010). Contemplating the Role of Precision and Range in Homeland Security Policy Analysis: A Response to Mueller. Policy Studies Journal, 38(1), 23-39. From http://library.ashford.edu/index.aspx

Eller & Gerber, (2010) critically addresses the gaps that exist in the US homeland security and the reason behind the situation. But more importantly, the article uses a unique approach as a quest to fill the security gap. Security policy analysis as the approach is essential in this study so as to modulate on how to decide on the effective and efficient counterterrorism strategies. The authors make clarity to the previous work of Mueller and ascertain that in order to counter terrorism, a holistic view in necessary. It recommends that all hazard management and control systems should integrate their efforts to stop terrorism. Indeed the information is inevitably worth for the research.

ZUREICK, A. (2012). The 9/11 Effect: Comparative Counter-Terrorism. 45(1), 385-390. From http://library.ashford.edu/index.aspx

The article comprehensively looks at the effects of the 9/11 terrorist attack to humanity, nature, and property. As such, it assesses all the damages and the subsequent responses that have been on the course. Therefore, the article helps the research in looking at how terror causes damage and the plausible proactive and reactive interventions that needed to halt terrorism. In addition, it provides the comparative approach of the parties and systems involved in combating terror.

United Nations, (2012). United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Activities of the United Nations system in implementing the Strategy. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, 3-75. From http://www.un.org/en/terrorism/ctitf/pdfs/A%2066%20762%20English.pdf

The article is undoubtedly important in answering the research questions of this study; particular because it shows all the steps that world nations have taken to counter the terrorism. Notably, The UN Security Committee and General Assembly in conjunction with experts produced the article so as to show how terrorism inflicts pain and a lot of suffering to the humanity. In essence, the literature will help in giving the information about the global perspective of terrorism. Of interest, the article outlines the specific activities and a new phase of the approach that the UN system has put up against terrorism.

References

Atkinson, M. P., & Wein, L. M. (2010). An Overlapping Networks Approach to Resource Allocation for Domestic Counterterrorism. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 33(7), 618-651.

Bloch-Elkon, Y. (2011). The Polls—Trends: Public Perceptions and the Threat of International Terrorism after 9/11. Public Opinion Quarterly, 75(2), 366-392.

Byrne, D., & Roy, A. (2015). Improving the safety, capacity and efficiency of airport traffic management with AeroMACS. Journal of Airport Management, 9(1), 36-43.

Eller, W. S., & Gerber, B. J. (2010). Contemplating the Role of Precision and Range in Homeland Security Policy Analysis: A Response to Mueller. Policy Studies Journal, 38(1), 23-39.

Jones, K. C., & Glisson, L. M. (2009). HOMELAND SECURITY VS. CABOTAGE: ISSUES OF TERRORISM OR PLOYS. Journal of Transportation Management, 20(1), 35-47.

Lum, C., Kennedy, L., & Sherley, A. (2006). A Campbell Systematic Review. The Effectiveness of Counter-Terrorism Strategies, 2-36.

United Nations, (2012). United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Activities of the United Nations system in implementing the Strategy. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, 3-75.

ZUREICK, A. (2012). The 9/11 Effect: Comparative Counter-Terrorism. 45(1), 385-390.

Counterinsurgency and the Human Terrain in Afghanistan-13

Counterinsurgency and the “Human Terrain” in Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper is on a discussion on the counterinsurgency system and the “Human Terrain” in Afghanistan and the US involvements, which has brought in many debates. The paper shows that counterinsurgency hardly works and that the use of human terrain system is socially harmful to some professions and should not be obtained from university students or lecturers. The contrast in this case is that counterinsurgency was suggested as the most effective way of leading to success of the US militants but everything seemed to fail practically. At the same time, the human terrain layer at the battlefield, which involves military intelligence programs, was found to be inappropriate as far as the 2010 Afghanistan case was concerned. This issue in this paper becomes the ethical importance of recruiting individuals from the universities from levels of students and professors to incorporate them in the human terrain system.

Introduction

Counterinsurgency is an operation that involves a recognized national government action in containing an insurgency taken against the government. In this case, there has to be insurgents who act by destroying or erasing the possible political authorities of those authorities in the country acting as defendants in a given population over which the authorities seek to lay their control. Human terrain has also been incorporated to play a significant role in the US army. The importance of the human terrain system is that it consists of personnel form various field especial the social sciences such as sociology, anthropology, linguistics, regional studies, as well as political science (Hammes, 2013). The human terrain is meant to assist the militants in their intellectual capacities and increase their capacity to succeed in war. Most of the military involvements in war are based on strategy of kill and capture.

The US military makes use of counterinsurgency in which case the strategy is today facing various aspects of oppositions based on a number of reasons. Some experts and professionals in the US military claim the use of the counterinsurgency strategy to be based on less serious examination than it is literary required. The concept of counterinsurgency often referred to as the COIN, can be understood by fully defining the concept of insurgency. In this case, insurgency is said to be a rebellion armed as a guerilla group mainly against a government authority that has been fully established like the case of Afghanistan. It is also termed as an organized and armed political struggle with a key goal of gaining seizure of power in a revolutionary way of taking over and replacing the already existing government. This is a bit different from counterinsurgency, which is a military group or a paramilitary group and their actions that could as well be initiated through political, economic, and psychological mechanisms in order to defeat insurgency (Price, 2008). The issue or problem that has been facing Afghanistan is insurgency in which case a certain group has been attempting to overthrow the existing government. The US role through a counterinsurgency strategy has been being initiated to ensure that the insurgency efforts fall in bare hands.

The issue of insurgency has not been witnessed in Afghanistan alone but the case has been happening in various countries around the world and the US has attempted the application of the same strategy to mitigate the progress or effects of insurgency. In general, insurgency practices are initiated with a key aim of weakening the control or operations of a given government after its full establishment. In this case, insurgency comes out a struggle done politically and is mainly between the challenger and the authorities in power. In this system of political struggle, violence is mainly used as the best tool of struggling to achieve the main objective, which is to overthrow the government (Rreguin-Toft, 2007). Various tactics could as well be used but the main tactic used in this case is the Severa Tactic, which involves provocation of authority through nihilistic attacks on several targets in the civilians. The case here could be the use of provocative action to make the government react by using military force. Counterinsurgency works under the rule that the initiators of violence or attack against innocent civilians have to face persuasion and it may be completely wiped out through military efforts and strategies. Counterinsurgency makes use of measurable force in which case the military force and efforts used are enough to settle the key problem. The force used is measured to be of an extent of stopping possible future attacks or any attempts to overthrow the government. The US military professionals and intelligence believe that a response is always positive since failure to respond would generate more problems from the insurgents in a given case (Rreguin-Toft, 2007). The same attempt to maintain silence may be interpreted as weakness. This brings the need to respond through the application of a counterinsurgent force of the military. Counterinsurgents work under power and authority unlike the case of insurgents whose activities are based on no authority making it a weakness to the insurgents. However, people may not just unite to rebel their government, a factor that brings the point of a problematic issue. This aspect calls the need for the incorporation of human terrain in military attacks.

Failures of the COIN in Afghanistan

While the COIN strategies were thought to succeed smoothly in Afghanistan, various issues could hardly make the strategies come out greatly as expected in writing. The application of the US military COIN strategies are said to have not yet gained full recognition as having been successful (Svet, 2012). Svet (2012) notes the negative implications as being tremendous and painful. The loss of life while attempting to restore peace in Afghanistan can now be approximated to be at least two thousand. These deaths are not for ordinary people but for the United States military groups since the war started. The key concern about the failure of the COIN strategies is that about one thousand military personnel lost their lives in a period of nine years before the US decided to implement the counterinsurgency strategy. It was then too shocking to point that the other half of the two thousand deaths occurred in less than a year’s period, immediately after the establishment of this COIN strategy (Svet, 2012). Svet (2012) goes on to point that; almost all attempts by the United States military to practice the COIN strategy have failed. The loss of lives to those soldiers and HTS specialist was a great loss to their families back in the United States. Counting the latter section of the deaths is even more traumatizing since all is a mistake placed on a smaller group of the militants in the management level but they can hardly be blamed since they acted in the best way possible. The United States is considered the world’s super power but this case in Afghanistan portrays the US has having been a failure in mastering small wars and the art in these wars like the case of Afghanistan (Svet, 2012).

The COIN implementation was done in Iraq in 2006 through a field manual written by General David Piraeus assisted by several advisors. In this case, there was the incorporation of unusual case of brilliance, an aspect that contrasted the strategy used to capture and bring down Saddam Hussein and his regime. However, this high level of intelligence required higher level of financing and military expenditure as the use of the Human Terrain System was advocated as part of the strategy (Svet, 2012).

The COIN strategy involves many adjustments in the US expenditure due to the introduction new professional in the field of national defense systems. The future success of the COIN strategy will therefore lie on the hands of the government and its willingness to finance the researches in the program including the HTS program. The only fear is that the HTS program is highly objected by professionals especially anthropologists due to its working conditions and ethical issues, which are in contrast to the code of ethics in most of its social science professions. Beside the provided reasons, there are endless reasons why the US attempts to make use of the COIN strategies are failing and there is no hope of succeeding in the future. The supporters of the COIN strategy suggest that ISAF hardly used a COIN strategy in Afghanistan. The proponents suggest that there has been increasing peace and security between Afghanistan forces and the US forces in the recent past (Hammes, 2013). Hammes (2013) argues that counterinsurgency is hardly a strategy but only a possible way of generating the concept of a strategy. He further points out that the COIN strategy only fights with the real strategies that the US military should be using and therefore can hardly apply now or in the future.

The Human Terrain System

The need for human terrain is seen where a lot of diplomacy is required as part of the COIN strategy. Military groups do not only go attacking their opponents, in this case the insurgents, without analyzing the problem. The use of human terrain by the US militants aids in promoting the intellectual capacity of the military group carrying out their counterinsurgency strategy. The first application of this kind of human terrain system was in Vietnam War but had been suggested first in 2005 through an article under the title, “An organizational Solution for the Department of Defense’s Cultural Knowledge Needs.” This article by Montgomery M. and Andrea J. provided a clue on the importance of special intelligence body in the US military. Human terrain in the US army continues to widen the gap between the system and strategies used by the United States militants and other armed forces from other nations or any kind of insurgent group like the case of Afghanistan. The team of human terrain involves experts in various fields whose mission is to conduct an intensive empirical research and carry out various analyses on the environment in terms of social cultural aspects of the battlefield (Price, 2008). This could be done for specified social groups found on the operation grounds while at the same time trying to maintain relevant knowledge that has to be usable in all the strategic grounds of the military groups. The experts could b used as the close advisor of the military commandants in which case they are usually expected to provide the required information necessary in guiding the process of decision-making. Their researches can also be used to determine the winning position of the military and indicate any possibilities of defeat. Commandants can therefore use the information gathered to make their decisions towards their counterinsurgency attacks.

The main purpose of recruiting specialist in the Human Terrain System is aid the commandants in their understanding on some social concepts about people’s behaviors in the warzones. Through the specialists in the human terrain system, commandants could understand why many people in Afghanistan, were in the frontline to guide their government enemy, which turn out to be the US enemy as well as hostility the people towards the United States army. Their researches are key success factors to the United States army at any given time but the risk factors are too many given that most of the human terrain members have less superior fighting tactics than not only the US army personnel but also the enemy to the US army. In many cases, the human terrain team remains back in the green zone while working on their findings from the group being researched on and the experience of the military personnel for an effective analysis (Fick & Nagl, 2011). The Human Terrain System has since its establishment been placed in a point of providing guideline to the brigade commandants in their way and position of understanding and addressing the cultural characteristics of the Afghanistan population in terms of tactics and operational levels of their militaries.

The key focus in this case was on social, ethnographic, economic, political, and cultural elements of the Afghan communities in which the insurgents operated. The same system led to many revolutions such as changing the initial idea of intelligent system into a system whose focus is on cultural dimensions including values, language of the Afghan community in this case, and other cultural traits of the local community. The efforts in all researches are meant to boost the military efficiency in its mission and operation. The military leaders are able to get clue of key leaders of local communities, tribal problems or disputes, political turmoil, economic issues, as well as social problems that can aid them in resolving their problem that had led them into the mission (Fick & Nagl, 2011).

Ethical Issues in the Human Terrain System

The human terrain system has been effect in many ways and making the US arm gain success not only in Afghanistan but also in other areas such as Iraq and Vietnam. The application of the system has however faced critiques from various people and organizations due to its ethical value in the recruiting and operation of its personnel. There have been criticisms mainly from anthropologist on ethical concern of reporters who are generated by the program. The ethical issue in this case involves the use of these reporters by intelligent agencies and military in a way that makes them and the research specialists susceptible. There has hardly been and ethical safeguard for any of the populations being researched. At the same time, the resources being used by the system create an aspect of unethical practice. There have been increased reports of financial mismanagements with wrong interpretation of financial expenditure in order to benefit some top member of the system (Price, 2008). The case here could be analyzed from the point that subjects of the human terrain system have no ethical skills or values like the military personnel are. There would b cases of confusion in which case such human terrain member would be mistaken as being part of the military group while most of them are working as private contractors. Expansion of the program was faced with public negative view and comments from both the government’s financial perspectives and the risk factors in recruiting individuals with little or no military fighting skills to take part in military wars like in Afghanistan.

The US military project in human terrain system makes use of anthropologists mainly as contractors but not part of military system. There work is to set research for the various traits on the target communities but their setting is compromised in a way that it would difficult to distinguish them from the military personnel (Price, 2008). This aspect has been criticized and compromising their role and taking part fully in their ethical role as anthropologists. All what they are doing could be mistaken for military mission and places them into the risk of being executed just like any other military personnel. These specialists are also charged with responsibility of negotiating for relations among various members of the groups in a conflict. They would face it difficult to carry out negotiating efforts for peace or relations between the local community and groups with the United States military units specifically in war zones (Price, 2008). This issue brings in conflict between them and the people on which they are basing their research or study. The human terrain personnel are required by their stipulated codes of ethics to ensure a situation whereby thy cause no harm to the subjects of their research. Due to the confusion involved in which case they could be mistaken for the military personnel, this code of ethics may fail to apply whereby they may be forced to cause harm while trying to protect them from any attempted attack by the subjects of research.

The conditions of work by the HTS professionals is cruel and causes much difficulty in which case they may find it hard to get informed consent as they expected. Sometimes it may require the use of force to get information that is highly required in order for the military units to proceed with their missions. This aspect compromises the idea of ethical conduct with the locals and could bring more problems or make it even more difficult to obtain the required information. Specialist of the Human Terrain System are required to acquire information from voluntary respondents, an factor that fails whenever it comes to collecting the information under tough situations. This compromising condition may end up risking the lives of some researchers working as HTS under the United States Military (American Anthropological Association, 2007).

This system of human terrain as part of the US military strategy seem to fail due to its indistinctive nature in which case professionals working as part of the military as the Human Terrain System extents their risks to other similar professionals not working in the military. It would be too cruel of the insurgents in Afghanistan to extend their attack to other anthropologists in the United States in the name of being part of the military group that is currently acting Afghanistan or has ever taken part in the COIN strategies aimed to stop their insurgent efforts in their country (American Anthropological Association, 2007). The information these specialists provide to the locals could as well be risky in that the same information can be subjected to using the provision of basics for decision-making in identifying as well as selecting specifically targeted populations for the US military operation (American Anthropological Association, 2007). This risk could be posed during the short-run or the long run period of the US military Stay in Afghanistan, which is a major concern for the establishment of the program. The fact that the Human Terrain system may lead to the threatening of the lives of other specialist having the same professional backgrounds as those in the Human Terrain System in Afghanistan makes it unethical to recruit university students or professors of the United States Universities.

According to the American Anthropological Association (2007), the Human Terrain System in Afghanistan is bound to fail in the near future due to people reaction on the program and the risks it poses to other professions and particularly on anthropology. The Association of Anthropologist is also not in support for the program since the program seems to violet the American Anthropological Association Code of ethics. In this case, given that students and lecturers in the field of anthropology would be recruited into the program, it would add more into violating the code of ethics of the profession as well as risking danger to other anthropologists and students pursuing their study programs in the field back in the US universities. The executive board of the American Anthropological Association completely disapproves the programs as far as the HTS member working as anthropologists and other specialists are concerned (American Anthropological Association, 2007). The argument of the association is that war as widely recognized denies people their human rights, which is against the ethical practice of some specialties such as anthropology and thus is completely unacceptable to apply anthropology expertise in the HTS program. The main work of anthropologists is to help in improving the work of the United States government and its policies but not support in the creation of differences between the US government and the international communities. Anthropology as one of the many specialties in the HTS program should be used as a tool for enhancing global peace but the conditions of work hardly allow this to happen and therefore the future of the program is not promising (American Anthropological Association, 2007).

Another key reason why recruiting students and professors from the US universities would be an unethical action is the experience in Iran. The Iranian case saw that the counterinsurgency efforts that made use of the Human Terrain System as part o the US military strategy where faced with a serious attacks by those groups helped or supported by the Human Terrain System (Price, 2008). The attacks are even more sophisticated that it could have been projected and seemed to originate from a centralized power that increasingly provides access to the documents used in the military research. This aspect should b alarming any attempts to recruit new specialists especially students from the universities and lecturers from the same field used by the military HTS of the United States. Given that the attack took control over the media and those involved were able to access information, the attempt to recruit university students would be compromising their future in their dream careers as more on their dear lives. The fact that there is no apparent distinction between the Human Terrain System and other military activities puts all members at risk, which is also extended to other professionals who hardly took part in the missions (Price, 2008). The work of these specialists in the Human Terrain System is hardly to engage in the attacks but to create an understanding between the US military groups and the enemies but the confusing aspect of the program generates risk of those generating peace to be attacked. The program becomes even more painful on imagining that those prone to the effects of the attacks are those with no military skills and no other than the members of the HTS (Price, 2008). This image postulates that it would be unethical to recruit university student whose dreams are far from military activities and who may have their dreams shuttered by the mistakes of other specialists in the military all in the name of promoting peace in Afghanistan or any other similar case in another country.

Conclusion

The COIN strategy is highly portrayed as a failing strategy as seen during its application in Afghanistan. Within the strategy, there is the Human Terrain System, which is also failing due the many challenges facing the system. The Human Terrain System is meant to generate peace but the professionals working on this aspect end up facing challenges such as being threatened and the threats being extended to other professional and students in the same career fields. The US as the world super power has to be understood as to be involved in confronting insurgencies not only in Afghanistan but also in other parts of the world continuously. Counterinsurgency efforts by the United States may be faced with even more future problems given that no adjustments are made in the COIN strategy or any other strategy. The issue here is to make a clear distinction between specialists working in the US military Human Terrain System and the military personnel as a way of distinguishing the activities of the two cases. Again, it would be a great idea if the recruits of the HTS program are given military training like any other US military person and completely distinguish them from other professional not in the military but working as civilians (Fick & Nagl, 2011). This including other critical adjustments of the COIN strategy may brighten the future of the strategy.

References

American Anthropological Association. (2007, October 31). Statement-on-HTS: Executive Board Statement on the Human Terrain System Project. Retrieved April 23, 2013, from aaanet.org: http://www.aaanet.org/issues/policy-advocacy/statement-on-HTS.cfm

Fick, N., & Nagl, J. (2011). The Long War May be Growing Shorter. The New York Times, February 21, 2011, 19 .

Hammes, T. (2013). Counterinsurgency: Not a Strategy, But a Necessary Capability. Retrieved April 23, 2013, from NDU Press Blogspot : http://www.ndu.edu/press/counterinsurgency-not-a-strategy.html

Price, D. (2008, December 12). The Leaky Ship of Human Terrain Systems. Retrieved April 23, 2013, from wikileaks.org: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/The_Leaky_Ship_of_Human_Terrain_Systems

Rreguin-Toft, I. (2007). How to Lose a War on Terror: A Comparative Analysis of a Counterinsurgency Success and Failure, in Jan Angström and Isabelle Duyvesteyn, Eds., Understanding Victory and Defeat in Contemporary War. London: Frank Cass.

Svet, O. (2012, August 31). COIN’s Failure in Afghanistan. Retrieved April 23, 2013, from nationalinterest.org: HYPERLINK “http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/coins-failure-afghanistan-” http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/coins-failure-afghanistan-7409

Counter-argument Essay

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Date

Counter-argument Essay

The University of Georgetown owns a newspaper known as thehoya.com that primarily targets the students as the main audience. Issues involving the students, sports, opinion, academics as well as other topics addressed through this newspaper with an aim of creating awareness to the students and members of staff. Students can write articles and present them to the editor who then decides if the article can be published in the newspaper or not. Therefore, the newspaper is not only owned by the journalist students, but it is open to all talented students and those who desire to convey a message to a large number of university students and the staff. The other audience that is targeted by thehoya.com is the residents of Georgetown whom have access to the newspaper through their children or friends who are either students or members of staff of Georgetown University.

The essay written by Kerry McIntosh has diverse implications and repercussions considering the fact that it was published in thehoya.com a university newspaper. Generally, the author underscores the fact that the Egyptians’ mode of conduct is faulty and undermines progressive growth and development of the country. This perception can be considered to be rooted in various cultural values and beliefs. Numerous studies indicate that while the Americans value hard work, Africans equally value the need for relaxation. In this respect, studies posit that the author needs to try testing the culture in order appreciate the inherent benefits.

The claims presented by McIntosh had some truth in them, but the facts and logic presented to back up these claims are substantial. Generalization of all Egyptians as “lazy” is a logical error (Georgetown University 1). All the people in that country are not lazy and some sectors like the tourism sector have thrived tremendously. The pyramids are a major tourist attraction site that has earned the country millions of dollars in foreign exchange. The Egyptians view nepotism as a positive thing where wealth is passed down the family as explored in the article “Egypt- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette.” It was imperative that McIntosh have her facts beforehand before making nepotism look like a vice which is making the Egyptian economy take on a downward trend. In the article “Curing Egyptian Idleness,” all the students are generalized as rich and lacking a motivation to perform better in school. This is a logical error because not all students in the university are rich. When McIntosh, went to class late, some students were already in class so it not logical to generalize all students as lazy.

Much as the author conceives the Egyptians to be slow in their activities such as walking, she would also have put in consideration that social and economic implications that influence the state of affairs. Cultural studies indicate that the economic conditions of a society play an integral role in determining the culture that they assume. The socio-economic structure of Egypt can not be likened to that of the United States because of the different environments that characterize the two countries. The comparison between the work ethic of the two countries works against the argument that the people in Egypt are lazy. It needs to be appreciated that people living in the two countries have a diverse culture and customs as described in the article “Egypt- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette” and so their work ethic can not be identical.

McIntosh’s tone is very critical throughout the essay and she can not help herself but compare Egypt to the west. She blames the people of Egypt for their socio-economic gap and the poor economic structure due to their laziness. Throughout the essay, it is evident that she only portrays the negative side of Egypt and not the positive side. The biased perception could have clouded the author’s ability to appreciate the underlying reasons that influence the Egyptians to behave as they do. At this point, it is worth noting that the value system of the west differs significantly from that in the South. Societal values influence the mode of conduct of individuals in the society as they tend to align their perceptions to these values. Moreover, values define the morals of the society and are therefore imperative in determining the activities that respective individuals would presume.

Unlike intellectual capacities that can be assumed within a short period of time, social values are intrinsic of an individual’s culture and tend to be developed through time. Put differently, such attributes are complex and are learnt throughout an individual’s life. In this respect therefore, the presumptions of the author regarding the Egyptian culture is justified. The main difference according to The Hoya lies in the interpretation of the underlying reasons that influence such behavior (The Hoya 1). Equally important are the environmental factors that also reportedly influence the work ethic in the North Africa region.

McIntosh is a hardworking well educated university student. She obviously prefers the United States as compared to Egypt. She is not interested in the positive side of the Egyptian culture which is undoubtedly very rich. McIntosh definitely takes sides when comparing Egypt to the west; she prefers the west which obviously has problems of its own. The West is clearly portrayed as perfect as compared to Egypt. The writer of the article “Curing Egyptian Idleness” suggests that the government should formulate policies that will work to change the social structures of the nation in a way that provides opportunities for a wider segment of the population to succeed. However, she does not provide definite solutions to the problem because she sees herself as not knowledgeable enough nor entitled as a foreigner to make recommendations (Kwintessential 1).

Conclusion

In her review, McIntosh provides a criticism of the Egyptian culture from a personal point of view. Basing on her educational level, it can be ascertained that the perception was well informed. However, as it has come out from the preceding analysis, it can be argued that the perception was biased. Seemingly, the author did not analyze the underlying reasons with respect to why the Egyptians behave in that particular manner. The inability to assume this objective approach can be attributed to a different value system that she assumes. Considering the fact that social values are intrinsic in nature and also obtained over a long period of time, it would require the author massive efforts in order to understand and acknowledge the dynamics of the Egyptian culture. In conclusion, the author’s review is not reflective of the actual situation on the ground, at least from a cultural, economic and environmental point of view.

Works Cited

McIntosh, Kerry. “Curing Egyptian Idleness.” Retrieved 19th September 2010 from www.thehoya.com.

Kwintessential. “Egypt- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette.” Retrieved 19th September 2010 from: www.kwintessential.com.

Georgetown University. Egyptian Culture. Retrieved 19th September 2010 from HYPERLINK “http://explore.georgetown.edu/sites/” http://explore.georgetown.edu/sites/

The Hoya. Americans Need to Find Time to Relax. Retrieved 20th September 2010 from: http://www.thehoya.com/opinion/americans-need-to-find-time-to-relax/

Count Basie

Count Basie

His mother taught him playing the piano and he started performing when he was a teen. After he dropped out of school, he learned how to operate lights for vaudeville and to invent complement for silent films at his local home theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. By the time he was 16 he had increasingly played Jazz Piano at resorts, parties and their prestigious occasions. He went to Harlem where he expanded his career before forming his own Jazz orchestra ad taking them to Chicago. He led the group for over half a century and created innovations like the use of the two “split” tenor saxophones, riffing with a big band, emphasizing a rhythm section, broadening their sounds using arrangers. He led many musicians to prominence. One of the most common features of the classic jazz of April in Paris is the sterling solos with trumpet solo at 00:50.

Duke Ellington

He embraced the phrase “beyond category” for those who embraced him and called his music “America Music”. He was one of the most influential Africa American personalities in the twentieth century. He melded his members of orchestra musicians into one of the best unit the Jazz history. He was prudent in writing miniatures for three minutes 78 rmp records format. He composed specifically for the skills and styles of his personal musicians. He extensive oeuvre was the largest recorded legacy o personal Jazz and he innovated over a thousand compositions while most of his existent work became standard. He had eloquence and extraordinary charisma that help in elevation of the jazz perception to an art form on par with other genres of music of traditions. His song “Take the A Train” gives fascinatingly all different sound. The most outstanding feature is the trumpet solo at 04:25.

Glenn Miller

He was a big band musician in America, a band leader and composer in the era of swing. He was the bestselling recording artist from 1939-1943. He also played football and won the Colorado Football Conference in 1920 with his school team. He was very interested in a new music style called “dance band music”. This carried him away and formed his own band together with his classmates. After attending college he stayed away from school most of the time attending auditions and playing any gigs he could get more so Boyd Senter’s Band. He failed three out of five classes in one of the semester and dropped out of school. He latter recorded his signature tunes called “Moonlight Serenade”. He was as well notably known for playing for the Victor Young thus getting mentored by other professional musicians. He worked as trombonist and composer. He did not do well so he moved to New York and made the unique clarinet play melodic line with tenor saxophone holding identical note while the three other saxophones harmonized with a single octave. His song “In the Mood” has used very many riffs. There is a trumpet solo at 01:17.

Joe ‘King’ Olive

He was famous for his playing style and pioneering the use of mutes in Jazz. He had such an influence that Armstrong claimed “if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today.” Hot jazz is his doing due to his collective improvisation style. He mentored and taught Louis Armstrong who idolized and called him Papa Joe. He was blinded in one eye and often played when sitting o a chair or leaning against the wall with a derby eye that would hide is eye. He was famous for using derbies, bottles, cups and mutes to modify the sound of his cornet. In his song he has used collective improvisation. For instance he used bottles at 01:27 to alter the tune.

Counseling Theories Outline

Counseling Theories Outline

Author

Institution

Introduction

The understanding of dynamics pertaining to resolution of varied problems pertaining to families has been extremely crucial. It has necessitated the devising of theories and models of therapies that would be employed in this endeavor, including the ones discussed below.

Bowen family systems

Key Concepts

The Nuclear Family- this underlines 4 patterns of relationship that manage marital conflict, emotional distance and dysfunction, as well as impairment in one or more children, governing the development of problems in the family.

Multigenerational transmission process- the concept outlines the manner in which minute variations in the differentiation levels between offspring and their parents result in marked variations in differentiation among individuals from multigenerational families. The relationship between people results in differences that are transmitted across generations (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Levels of variation of self- this concepts underlines the fact that as much as social groups and families affect the manner in which individuals act, feel and act, there are variations in the susceptibility of individuals to group-think. On the same note, there are variations in the amount of pressure that groups exert on an individual for conformity. The magnitude of impact that groupthink has on an individual is determined by the level of development (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Triangles- this refers to a three person syetem of relationship, which is considered to be part of a larger emotional system. These triangles may put social control via incorporating a third part when tension increases between two individuals or put an individual out.

Societal emotional process- the concept outlines the manner in which behavior on the societal level is governed by the emotional system just like in a family, which encourages regressive, as well as progressive periods within the society.

Key Theorists

Murray Bowen (1913- 1990)

Appropriate Populations

This theory is appropriate for populations there is a progressive reduction in the multi-generational differentiation and transmission among members of the family.

Inappropriate Populations for the Theory

The theory would be inappropriate for individuals who are undergoing extreme distress as they would be having problems expressing themselves or even their family dynamics in relation to the problems they face (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Therapist’s Role

The therapist has the role of examining the changes that have occurred in family dynamics and relationships, as well as identify the differentiation.

The therapist must relate the behavior and expectations of the client to the overall behavior of the family, as well as the forces that have altered family behavior (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Client’s Role

It is imperative that the client is open to examining his or her family dynamics, especially with regard to the changing or differentiated behaviors of generations (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Theory Strengths

The techniques come off as practical and straightforward, with families being encouraged to examine their families of origin, as well as comprehend the origin of the family patterns so as to enable forgiveness and change.

Theory Limitations

The theory has been criticized for its emphasis on differentiation, which may not apply to cultures that place a high value on interdependence.

The theory has attracted criticism from feminists who opine that healthy functioning is defined using male standards without placing any value on the manner in which women relate to others (American Psychological Association, 2006).

In addition, there exist no system or structure for developing relational capabilities, a factor that falsely creates the impression that the differentiation process develops the abilities (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Key Terms

Sibling position- individuals who have similar sibling position incorporate crucial common traits. For instance, first born kids, are apt at taking leadership positions while lastborns tend to be followers.

Emotional cut-off – individuals, in some instances, manage any unresolved emotional issues with their siblings, parents and other members of their family through a reduction or complete elimination of emotional contact with them (American Psychological Association, 2006). Bowel notes that such strategies do not resolve anything, and there is the risk of elevating new relationships to a level where they are too crucial.

Family projection process- this concept outlines the manner in which parents transmit or broadcast their emotional issues to their kids. This may result from their unrealistic appraisal of their kids, which may result in inability dealing with expectations (American Psychological Association, 2006).

Is this Theory Research-based?

The theory was research based as Bowel tested it using his family as subjects.

Narrative therapies- this is a technique of therapy that tries to separate an individual from the problems. It is based on the belief that the identity of an individual is formed through his or her narratives or experiences.

Key Concepts

Dominant story- this is the problem that is assessed for its influences and effects on an individual’s life.

Externalizing emphasis- involves the naming of an issue so as to allow an individual to evaluate the impact it has on his life.

Unique outcomes- exceptions of the problem that would be unlikely to be predicted by the story or problem’s narrative.

Key Theorists

The theory was developed by David Epston (from New Zealand) and Michael White (from Australia)

Appropriate Populations for the Theory

This theory is applicable to individuals who have had opportunities to visualize better futures or lives for themselves or who lived such lives in the past. This is because it depends on the ability of the client to make preferred narratives that are rich, as well as meaningful.

Inappropriate Populations for the Theory

Mentally handicapped or challenged individuals would be inappropriate as they cannot conceptualize their present lives nor can they create narratives or visualize a better life than they already have.

Therapist’s Role

The narrative therapist assists the client to examine, assess, as well as modify his or her relationship to a problem. In this regard, the therapist takes the position of an investigative reporter who poses questions to the client ant assists them to externalize the underlying problem, as well as investigate it.

Client’s Role

As much as the therapist directs the conversation, it is imperative that the client is willing to prop himself up in devising a solution to the issues that he is facing. He must be willing to open up to the therapist so that the therapist can assist him in getting another dimension to the problems, as well as solutions to the same.

Theory Strengths

The key strength of the theory lays on its remarkable outcomes on the consulting individual. It creates the impression on the client that he or she is not one with the issues or problems that he is facing, in which case they acquire new knowledge and images pertaining to the problem, as well as the selected alternate life direction.

It has been seen as allowing the empowerment of the client as he or she is placed as an expert where he understands his story and tries to make predictions about it.

Theory Limitations

Narrative theory has attracted widespread criticism based on the fact that it tends to hold onto constructionist beliefs to the effect that there exists no absolute truths, rather there are only socially-sanctioned perspectives or points of view. In this case, the narrative therapists are seen as giving privilege to the concerns of the clients above the dominant cultural narratives.

In addition, it deficiency of empirical or clinical studies to make valid its claims has brought it criticism. Critics note that the concentration of the therapy on qualitative outcomes negates or is not harmonious with qualitative research and findings that have been employed in most respected empirical studies. In essence, there exists no research material that can validate the theory’s claim to efficacy.

In addition, critics note that the narrative therapist may incorporate personal biases and opinions in the therapy sessions, which distorts the results. This is in addition to the fact that narrative therapists are seen as overly harsh about a large number of other therapies.

Key Terms

Outsider witness- this refers to an invited listener to the consultation and may be the client’s friend or even the therapist’s past clients who incorporate their own experience and knowledge pertaining to the problem at hand.

Externalization- this refers to a technique where the roles of a person’s ideals, beliefs, values and behaviors are explored with regard to their effect on the narrative of the client. The therapist would then assist the client in writing the negative areas that are outlined in the narrative.

Objectification- this is a technique where clients are allowed to see their problems via a new perspective, where they change the character dynamics thereby allowing for manipulation and modification of the story to give the narrative a new ending.

Is this Theory Research-based? Evidence-based?

The theory is not evidence based. The concentration of the therapy tends to be on qualitative outcomes that are not in line with the quantitative research findings that have been employed by a wide range of respected empirical studies. This has resulted in deficiency of research materials that can validate claims pertaining to its efficacy.

Solution-focused therapies

Key Concepts

Scaling questions- these refer to tools used in identifying crucial variations for clients and may be helpful in establishing goals.

Coping questions- these questions have been crafted in such a manner that they give information pertaining to the resources of the client that would not have been noticed.

Exception seeking questions- these are questions through which the counselor encourages the client to outline the varied circumstances pertaining to a certain case.

Key Theorists

Steve de Shazer

Insoo Kim Berg

These two theorists were influenced by Milton Erickson’s works.

Appropriate Populations for the Theory

Schizophrenic individuals, alcoholics, suicidal individuals, gamblers, individuals experiencing parent-child conflicts

Inappropriate Populations for the Theory (Explain why.)

Mentally handicapped individuals cannot benefit from this therapy as they would be incapable of examining their problems, leave along participating in the devising of solutions.

Therapist’s Role

The therapist examines the aspects of the patient’s life that he wants to modify, as well as those that he would want to remain unchanged.

The therapist collaborates with the client to come up with a vision pertaining to the manner in which a likely future would look. In this case, it is imperative that they undertake comprehensive definition of the possible future so as to give the client a clear mental picture of the same.

The therapist would then lead the client to finding certain moments in their lives when they had similar feelings to what they experience in their likely future image.

Client’s Role

The client must be willing to open up to his or her past experiences.

As much as the therapist leads the client in creating a mental picture pertaining to the likely future, the client has to correlate the picture with the vision that he or she had in the past pertaining to the same. This would allow them to identify the actions that they made in the past in an effort to attain the same the same outcome as the one he wanted in the future.

Theory Strengths

The therapy is flexible and collaborative, in which case it is effective in resolving complicated family problems, especially those that involve issues pertaining to children protection.

Theory Limitations

The theory does not use valid or reliable outcome measures.

In addition, there is little information pertaining to the manner in which the varied elements of the therapy may be used and blended with varied client types, problem areas or complementary interventions.

Key Terms

Problem-free talk- this technique is useful in identifying the resources that would help an individual to relax or enhance his assertiveness. The talk draws from leisure activities, beliefs and values of the client, as well as the meetings that the client may have had with friends.

Is this Theory Research-based?

This theory is not research based as it does not incorporate valid outcome measures.

Structural family therapy

Key Concepts

Joining- this refers to the process that a therapist uses t enter the family system so as to diagnose the dysfunction source, comprehend the manner in which the family sees or perceives reality, as well as develop therapeutic goals (Sharf, 2004).

Accommodation- this refers to the process that the therapist adapts so as to enter into the family system, as well as the process through which the family underwent in order to make some modifications.

Boundaries- these refer to family rules that determine the responsibilities and membership in the system.

Key Theorists

Salvador Minuchin

Appropriate Populations for the Theory

The theory is applicable in well articulated family functioning model.

Inappropriate Populations for the Theory (Explain why.)

This therapy has been found inapplicable in dysfunctional families as they have mixed subsystems, as well as improper hierarchies of power.

Therapist’s Role

The therapist must have the appropriate attitude that will allow him or her to adapt to the style of the family, as well as design interventions that are a reflection of the distinctive aspects of the family.

Client’s Role

The client has to be capable of identifying the family structures, hierarchies and levels, as well as the roles pertaining to them. They must identify the rules of interaction, how they influence their communication, as well as the consequent implications (Sharf, 2004).

Theory Strengths

The theory has been found to be extremely effective in effecting change as it is an action-oriented therapy.

Theory Limitations

Critics note that the theory does not incorporate clear oprationalization of its constructs as to allow for research to be carried out.

In addition, feminists criticize the theory stating that it ignored variations n gender, political and social-cultural contexts pertaining to family life, and that it did not consider issues pertaining to differential vulnerability and power of women and men to exploitation (Sharf, 2004).

The theory has also been criticized as inadequate as a family theory, as it did not sufficiently involve or incorporate biopsychosocial perspectives.

Key Terms

Coalitions- these refer to negative alliances formed between two or more members of the family.

Triangles- this is a term that underlines the triadic interactional configurations that are the fundamental block building any emotional system. They are deemed stable as the third person eliminates the anxiety existing between two individuals.

Family belief systems- this concept is used to underline the fact that problems are maintained by the construction of the family about the problem (Sharf, 2004).

Is this Theory Evidence-based?

The model is evidence-based as it allows for the conceptualization of the problem so as come up with the appropriate strategy that enables comprehension of the issue or problem with clarity.

Feminist Therapy

Key Concepts

In feminist therapy, problems are seen through cultural and sociopolitical context.

It is assumed that clients are experts and are privy to what is best for their lives.

Conventional concepts pertaining to assessment of psychological health can be challenged.

The therapist encourages the client to take action.

The therapy is built on the concept that individual modification takes place best via social change.

Key Theorists

Judith Worrell

Laura Brown, Carolyn Enns

Jean Baker Miller

Bonnie Burstow

Sandra Bem

Ellyn Kaschak

Pam Remer

Judith Jordan

Appropriate Populations for the Theory

Women who have been oppressed and living in patriarchal societies.

Inappropriate Populations for the Theory (Explain why.)

Women in the modern world with equal rights with their male counterparts as they cannot relate to the notion of having been ignored or demeaned on the basis of their sex or gender.

Therapist’s Role

The therapist has a duty to create an environment that promotes a certain level of intimacy so as to allow for openness. This can only be attained through openness and genuineness on the side of the therapist (Sharf, 2004).

The therapist must encourage the client to recognize and acknowledge her own strengths, especially considering that most victims are deficient of faith in their own strengths and abilities. He must strive to enhance the strengths rather than seeking to remedy the inadequacies.

The therapist is required to honor the healing process of the client so that it can occur at the client’s pace. He would, therefore, be merely acting as a guide with the client controlling the pace, destination and the stops.

Client’s Role

The client is required to open up to the therapist about any underlying factors pertaining to her problems. This will allow for proper evaluation of the problems that she faces.

In addition, the client should be open to acknowledging her strengths and exercising them at her own pace (Sharf, 2004). She must acknowledge the demeaning aspects of the environment within which she lives and be willing to tackle them.

Theory Strengths

The key strength of the theory rests on its capacity to underline the capabilities of an individual and enhance personal growth in women. It has been noted as essential in enhancing the self-esteem and confidence of women.

Theory Limitations

Critics note that the family therapy tends to promote and embrace varied discredited and inaccurate priori assumptions, especially the notion that men are to blame for starting, perpetuating and perpetrating a large percentage of interpersonal violence.

On the same note, the theory is seen as encouraging a one-size-fits-all technique that assumes that a large percentage of problems from patients emanate from their living in zexist, patriarchal or oppressive cultures. As much as living in such conditions may be a precursor, the therapy tends to ignore other likely sources of problems such as substance abuse, family dynamics, mental illnesses, cognitive distortions and others.

On the same note, the presumption by the therapy that women are always under oppression may worsen their feelings of helplessness as they place their locus of control outside themselves.

Key Terms

Conscious raising- these are sessions where small groups of women discuss their shared and individual experiences.

Analysis of social and gender role- this analysis involves the assessment of the psychological distress of the client, as well as her coping techniques.

Resocialization involves reorganization of the belief system of the patient to have a different perspective, as well as have new strategies and skills of coping (Sharf, 2004).

Is this Theory Research-based? Evidence-based?

This theory was not evidence based nor was it research based as it did not involve any scientific or empirical research, rather it grew out of a social movement, where women wanted to assert their rightful position in the society (Sharf, 2004). In fact, the key criticism of the theory is that goes against the goals and techniques of psychotherapy.

Strategic models

Key Concepts- key concepts in Strategic model mainly revolve around the stages.

Brief therapy stage- this stage aims at observing the interactions of the family and creating an open an calm mood for the therapy session and tries to enhance the participation of all family members (Sharf, 2004).

Problem stage- phase where the therapist seeks to determine the problem through posing questions.

Interactional stage-where the therapy urges family members to discuss the problem to allow for enhanced understanding of the underlying dynamics in the family.

Goal-setting stage- where the therapist and family members highlight the issue that must be addressed.

Final stage- marks the phase where tasks are set, with the therapist coming up with comprehensive directives or homework assignments that enhance modification of the problem in the family (Sharf, 2004).

Key Theorists

Jay Haley

Cloe Madanes

The two theorists were inspired by the works of Milton Erickson, as well as Don Jackson

Appropriate Populations for the Theory

Individuals experiencing domestic conflicts, parent-child conflicts,

Inappropriate Populations for the Theory (Explain why.)

Schizophrenic and mentally challenged individuals would be inappropriate for this therapy as they may not be able to explore the deep intricacies pertaining to their conditions or situations.

Therapist’s Role

The therapist undertakes the identification of symptoms within families that may be resulting in the current problems of the family and comes up with strategies that will fix them.

The therapist chooses between the varied interventions including prescribing the symptom, paradoxical intervention and relabeling intervention.

Client’s Role

The client must be willing to explore the deep intricacies that exist in the family and expose his or her response to them in a genuine manner.

Theory Strengths

The technique mainly involves modification of the communication styles within the family. Communication has been found as fundamental in any form of human relations, in which case the theory strengthens family bonds and enhances the empathy they have for each other (Sharf, 2004).

The therapy also has a hands-on approach to fixing the problems that a family experiences, with the therapy trying to inset themselves to the problem as a way of solving the family problems.

Theory Limitations

It tends to place the control on the hands of the therapist, which may limits its validity and applicability, especially in instances where the patients feel threatened or want to maintain control.

Scholars also state that the theory breeds dependence as the client may be unable to tackle the problems by themselves in the future.

Key Terms

Paradox-this refers to puzzle or contradiction arising in the course of the therapy. Interventions that involve the utilization of paradox are founded on the notion that families that experience problems or difficulties are more likely to be resistant to the initiation or introduction of change. In essence, it would be more useful to ask them to modify in a manner that seems to contradict the desired goals or to forbid them to change (Sharf, 2004). Their rebellion would result in the achievement of the desired results.

Double Bind- underlines a contradictory message but is commonly used in this therapy to underline complex interactions that are characterized by communication between two individuals, repeated communication, and communication with a command forbidding an individual from carrying out a certain act under the threat of punishment. The complex interactions also incorporate a secondary abstract injunction where a threat of punishment contradicts the previous one, as well as a third negative injunction that necessitates a response while preventing escape, thereby binding the recipient (Sharf, 2004). The sixth component or characteristic is that the recipient is conditioned or obligated to respond, in which case the sequence becomes unnecessary in maintaining the symptom.

Is this Theory Research-based?

This theory is research based considering that it emanated from the works of Milton Erickson who had come up with revolutionary paradoxical interventions capitalizing on the natural reluctance of individuals to modifying so as to have rapid change in psychiatric symptoms (Sharf, 2004). The strategies involved the application of the science of cybernetics to patterns of communication in the family.

References

Sharf, R. (2004). Theories of Psychotherapy & Counselling. (3rd Ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson Learning.

American Psychological Association (APA) (2006). Evidence Based Practice in Psychology, American Psychologist, May-June, 271-285.

Counseling Reflections

Counseling Reflections

Author

Institution

Introduction

The importance of counseling cannot be gainsaid as far as the psychological health of individuals is concerned. Indeed, this may be tied to the economic wellbeing of individual and the country at large, especially considering that only healthy individuals have the capacity to create wealth. Counseling sessions may be individually held or in group sessions, both of which I have attended (Nelson-Jones, 2008). Group counseling revolves around a therapy format that approaches issues pertaining to personal growth using interpersonal interaction. In this case, individuals would interact with each other in an effort to identify, as well as comprehend their maladaptive patterns, as well as how they can modify them (Nelson-Jones, 2008). These interactions come with a chance to build relationships, as well as receive interpersonal feedback pertaining to the manner in which individuals experience one another. Individual counseling, on the other hand, would involve individual interaction with the counselor on an individual basis.

Feeling about the individual versus group counseling process

I feel extremely happy about both the individual and the group counseling sessions. Both of them allowed for immense interactions between the individuals, sharing the thoughts and issues that are deep-seated in the heart of an individual. Individual counseling sessions triggered feelings of security and trust especially in instances where the counselor would encourage me to talk about issues that I considered as relatively embarrassing. This, was undoubtedly, bound to increase feelings of trust and prompted me to explore feelings that I have always been afraid of exploring, as well as realizing and feelings issues that I have never thought existed in me.

However, I felt more excited about the group counseling sessions as they allowed for more openness and increased interactions than the individual counseling processes. Indeed, the individual counseling sessions brought out feelings of burn out, which may have emanated from the hectic nature of my life, as I have to juggle from terrific work to studies. Individual counseling sessions brought out feelings of burn out as it is often difficult to get a rapport with the counselor. Strong feelings especially emanated from the openness that the group sessions came with, as well as the fact that individuals could always discuss issues even when they did not particularly concern them.

As much as group sessions made me feel more relaxed, I would feel happy to attend individual sessions more than the group sessions in the future. This is especially considering the intricacies surrounding future life, especially with regard to family, spouses, marriage life and others. These issues would be better discussed in private with individual counselors rather than I group sessions.

What I have learnt about myself

As much as the sessions may have been extremely different, they brought out incredible lessons about my own nature. First, I learnt that I am incredibly impatient with other people especially in instances where I hold a relatively higher position than them. This can always trigger feelings of exasperation and frustration especially in instances where the people do not seem to catch up with me or get in line with my thinking as fast as I would want them to.

In addition, I learnt that that I cannot afford to be alone. Indeed, I like it when I am surrounded by people. Somehow, having people around me triggers feelings of happiness. From this, I learnt that I am always willing to listen to the feelings and opinions of other people and may, in fact, feel inclined to strive to meet the expectations of other people. As much as this may seem to conflict with or contradict the aspect of being impatient with people, it could explain why I never give up on people easily despite my frustrations with them. Indeed, I seem to derive immense happiness striving to meet the expectations of others and following their likes and preferences.

While all this may be true, I learnt that I usually question myself as to whether I derive as much happiness from doing things that please other people, or rather doing things for other people. However, this does not negate the fact that I never reject other people and I usually go an extra mile in an effort to assist people or save them from their problems. Unfortunately, this often leads people to take advantage of my kindness, facts that I realize much too late into helping them.

Theses lessons would come in handy in my interpersonal interactions. It is evident that being impatient almost always makes other people less comfortable with me, which may affects their capacity to open up to me. On the other hand, being always willing to do things for other people even when I am not comfortable with them is likely to hurt me as it makes me vulnerable to having my generosity exploited. To salvage my sociability, it would be imperative that I take my time to evaluate my reaction to issues and determine the best way to assist individuals without giving people a leeway to exploit my generosity.

What my individual and group counselors do that was helpful or not so helpful for me

While there may be some reservations about the techniques that the counselors used, I deemed a lot of the things that they did as helpful. The individual counselors clearly went out of the way to ensure that they allowed me to express myself and delve into my feelings as much as possible. They went out of the way to listen to every issue and probe it as much as they could irrespective of how minute an issue seemed to be. While the group counselors were applying their listening skills as well, they excelled more in allowing for the exploration of every issue and trying to apply it in the life of every person irrespective of the individual that raised the issue (Nelson-Jones, 2008). Nevertheless, group counseling allowed for easier flow as other people could always chip in when I had no comment to make. Indeed, other people could always bring out issues and incorporate another dimension of looking at issues, which allowed for comprehensiveness in the discussions.

In addition, the discussions and interactions allowed by the group counselors enhanced interpersonal skills and shored up the confidence of individuals thereby allowing them to open up even on issues that may have tagged at their deepest points. In fact, individuals realized that they did not have to go to the counselors themselves, rather they could open up to other people who they trusted or who were willing to listen. Indeed, counselors in both types of sessions underlined the therapeutic nature of talking or opening up to a friend as soon as one can to avert the possibility of deterioration of psychological and emotional states. Group counseling, therefore, came as more of a discussion rather than self exploration. In addition, group counselors gave every person an opportunity to make a contribution. It is often understood that people have different character traits, with some being more confident than others. In most cases, the more confident and talkative individuals can drive a discussion to a particular direction, sometimes ignoring their less talkative and more reserved counterparts. Indeed, they may tend to bulldoze their counterparts to agree with their points or their opinions. However, the moderating efforts of the counselors came in handy as they underlined the importance of the opinion of each member, as well as the importance of engaging constructively with each other. Indeed, this seemed to allow me to gain specific skills and strategies that would allow me to meet personal goals, gain encouragement and support from other people, as well as explore areas that may present an immense personal challenge to me.

Influence of my PDS sessions on my counseling style in the in-class role plays

The PDS counseling sessions came as extremely helpful to me. Indeed, they instigated immense changes in the ways in which I would approach counseling sessions whether as a counselor or as a subject. Indeed, the PDS counselor identified the weaknesses that I had with regard to relating with other people and assisted me to become more firm and speaking my mind in simply, respectful but firm manner. In addition, the PDS sessions enhanced my time management skills and emphasized on the importance of undertaking a critical analysis of every course of action that I took. This would allow me to make decisions not to please other people or to meet their expectations or according to their likes and preferences rather because I felt they were right. As much as she did not make an express statement on what I am supposed to do, she took me through a step-by-step process that allowed me to sort out my thoughts and feelings pertaining to the issues that troubled me, the things or course of action that I wanted, as well as the things that I should expect from the issue, thereby coming to a conclusion on the most appropriate course of action. In addition, the PDS counseling sessions enhanced my listening skills, which essentially involved enhancing my patience with people even in instances where they seemed to lag behind in their comprehension of issues or in agreeing to my line of thinking. Indeed, I could as well examine the positive aspects pertaining to their line of thinking and take them up. In fact, I am more willing to reach a compromise by incorporating the best of their ideas and combining them with mine, thereby coming with a mix that would satisfy all individuals.

References

Nelson-Jones, R. (2008). Basic counselling skills: A helper’s manual. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.

Could work be made more satisfying and participatory

Work Satisfaction and Participation

Name

Professor

Institution

Course

Date

Could work be made more satisfying and participatory?

For a long time now, work has been viewed as an important aspect in life. Everybody across the globe is longing for work, with people doing their best to secure an employment. However, it is evident that many people are doing different jobs, but are not satisfied with them. Others do certain work without much conviction, because they cannot secure the right job, while others work because they were forced to. Different factors have proved to be behind this situation. A lot of research has been done concerning this matter, but no direct answer has ever been found to explain this phenomenon. The relationship between employees and employers has been the main factor determining satisfaction and participation at work and also at the workplace (Mahalingam, 1993). There is supposed to be a good relationship cultivated between employers and employees, because this will create a healthy working environment. In addition, employees are supposed to participate fully in decision making, implementing rules and regulations, and also, working towards achieving the set goals of the company or organization. It should be known that the latter, hardly takes place as employees have no say or power in the organization affairs. Nevertheless, this has not been the case, since there has been a bad relationship between employees and employers, and the former denied a chance to participate in significant issues affecting their work or organization at large. These factors led to the need to question whether work could be made more satisfying and participatory.

When looking at this question, it is apparent that work can be made more satisfying and participatory. Participative decision making as a managerial policy is ideal as a means of improving both satisfaction and performance of employees in an organization (Reason & Bradbury, 2006). Employees should be made to feel that they are vital to the organization, and their views and concerns are appreciated as well. Due to this fact, employers, employees, have implemented numerous strategies, reforms, and formed labor unions, aimed at ensuring that work is made satisfying and participatory. However, in order to ensure that work is more satisfying and participatory, several works reforms have to be initiated.

Schaff (2001) asserts that, there are different goals and motivations for work reforms. Many studies have found out that motivation makes people work more than it is anticipated, since they are aware of the rewards, which await them. For instance, employers will ensure that all employees have manageable workloads, high quality supervision and time for specialized training. They will also allow employees to raise their views, pay them reasonable salaries and maintain their health. Employees on the other hand, will ensure that they deliver their best by presenting quality work, observe all rules, and stay focused on the objective of the organization. Consequently, these will lead to increased satisfaction and participation in work.

According to Leitner (2010), this is because low wages, huge workloads and communication barriers that keep employees from raising issues, are the main factors that have been contributing to dissatisfaction by employees. An employee being paid a low salary will be less willing to work, as compared to one paid a higher salary. Furthermore, huge workloads leave employees being highly fatigued, hence losing interest to work again. If an employee is not allowed to raise issues affecting him and also to participate in the decision making process, he or she feels as if he/she is not a member of that given organization, hence not offering his best.

This kind of employee is usually not satisfied, since he/she feels that his rights are being violated. However, when an employee is given a chance to express his views and participate in decision making, he is usually eager to work, since he feels that he is actually part of the organization. There are numerous cases where employees are employed not because they are qualified nor have required skills or interest, but because they have not secured job in their fields of specializations (Ciulla, 2004). Others are employed because they are related to the employer or one of the renowned people in the industry. Thus, these kinds of employees, even if they are paid highly, given manageable workloads, and allowed to raise their voice and participate in decision making, would not be satisfied. This is because they feel like they have not attained their objective in life and you will find many of them still searching for employment in their respective fields of specialization.

According to Berg et al. (1978), everybody across the world including management, unions, and the state can play significant roles in shaping workplaces. For instance, they should ensure that the health of the workers is maintained at all costs by implementing rules and regulations and demanding employers to insure their employees. Within increased exploitation across the world, they can set standard salaries that every employees should be paid. Employees should be allowed to form unions through which, they will be able to demand their rights. They should also ensure that employees are included in the decision making process. The State should ensure that all employees are working the same hours, not more than eight hours per day, and that they do not work on the weekends. They should prevent child labor, which has become rampant across the world.

By doing these, management, unions and state, will have created a humble working environment for all employees. They would also have facilitated satisfaction and participation in work. This is because healthy workers are eager and willing to work, since they deliver their best compared to sick or injured employees (Zemsky, 2009). When employee knows that he/she has health cover, he will be willing to take any risk so as to ensure that organization’s objective is attained.

When employees are allowed to form unions, they will be working harder than ever before. This is because employees will be in a good position to demand and enforce their rights when in a group, than as an individual (Hanlon et al., 1985). Hence, this will create a humble working environment because employees will know that by no chance will their rights be violated. Some employers are seeking cheap labor from children and paying low salaries for hard jobs. Hence, prevention of child labor and standardized salaries will help in creating a favorable working place.

Initially, it was believed that it was not easy to reorganize work, so that it becomes more satisfying and participatory. However, this has become an issue of the past with everybody believing that if determined and willing, work can be reorganized, so that it becomes more satisfying and participatory (Gustavsen & Hunnius, 1981). In order to attain this, there are different issues that are supposed to be addressed. For instance, health of the workers should be maintained fully with all employees given health insurance. All workers injured while at work should be treated immediately, given some days off duty, so as to rest and recover, and also be compensated. Employees should form and join unions of their own choice. This will help them to demand their rights and reorganize work in the way they want. Employees should also access better housing, clothing and meals (Pauly, 2010). Employers should ensure that all their employees have at least three meals a day and that they live in good houses. This will not only motivate employees, but will also make them to view work as being satisfying and participating.

McCann (1994) states that any given business organization has got its productivity and profit goals. However, due to increased need for work-reform, humanistic work-reform has also got its own objectives aimed at ensuring that they reorganize work and make it more satisfying and participatory. However, it is possible to reconcile goals of humanistic work-reform with those of productivity and profit. That is, you can use humble working environment, good salaries, maintaining health of employees, which are goals of humanistic work-reform goals to reduce production cost while increasing profits, which are goals of productivity, and profit making.

This is because, when an employee is treated well and he/she is feeling satisfied what he/she is doing, he will usually be willing to work under low supervision and work hard. This will help to reduce production costs especially capital used on supervision (Card, 2002). Since satisfied employees produce high quality products, they will fetch high prices on the markets and compete effectively hence leading to high profit margins.

There are numerous theoretical perspectives that developed to provide the most significant insights on the prospects or thereof, for work-reform. Nevertheless, not all these theoretical perspectives provide similar insights in the prospects or thereof for work. Nevertheless, the perspective that employ satisfaction and participation are they key factors to success is the best theoretical perspective that provide since it attracts attention from employees, employers, unions and states (Hanlon et al., 1985). It forces them to concentrate one goal- making working to be more satisfying and participatory hence facilitating well being of the employees while lowering organization’s cost of production and increasing profit margins.

In general, work can be easily made to be more satisfying and participatory. Nevertheless, in order to ensure this, employers, employees, unions and states are supposed to play their role and contribution fully towards this objective. Employers should hire highly skilled employees with the qualifications needed to undertake that given task. Employees should seek employment in their fields of specialization. They should not go for what they are not comfortable with since this will not satisfy them. Unions should stand up to protect employees’ rights and ensure that all workers are paid well and that they are working in favorable environments. State on the other hand should implement laws preventing child labor and addressing needs of all employees. It should prevent maltreatment of employees and low wages. By doing these, work would be made highly satisfying and participatory. In conclusion, it is extremely vital that employees are in a work environment, which is conducive for their development, as well as career growth. The employer is the one who has the ability of making work to be participatory and satisfactory. This means that they have an upper hand in making sure that the needs of employees are well catered for. Human nature involves ensuring that they can express themselves in any way possible without being restricted.

References

Berg, I., Freedman, M. and Freeman, M. (1978). Managers and work reform: A limited engagement. The University of Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Card, D. (2002). Finding jobs: Work and welfare reform. Oxford: Russell Sage Foundation.

Ciulla, J. (2004). Ethics, the heart of leadership. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Gustavsen, B. and Hunnius, G. (1981). New patterns of work reform: The case of Norway. Oxford: Universitetsforlaget.

Hanlon, M., Nadler, D. and Ancona, D. (1985). Attempting work reform: The case of “Parkside” Hospital. New York: Wiley.

Leitner, G. (2010). HCI in Work and Learning, Life and Leisure: 6th Symposium of the Workgroup Human-Computer Interaction and Usability Engineering, USAB 2010, Klagenfurt, Austria, November 4-5, 2010. Proceedings. New York: Springer.

Mahalingam, S. (1993). Labour participatory economy. New York: Mittal Publications.

McCann, M. (1994). Rights at work: Pay equity reform and the politics of legal mobilization. University of Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Pauly, M. (2010). Health Reform Without Side Effects: Making Markets Work for Individual Health Insurance. New York: Hoover Press.

Reason, P. and Bradbury, H. (2006). Handbook of action research: The concise paperback edition. New York: Mittal Publications

Schaff, K. (2001). Philosophy and the problems of work: A reader. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.

Zemsky, R. (2009). Making reform work: The case for transforming American higher education. Rutgers University: Rutgers University Press.

Nutrition analysis

NAME:

UNIVERSITY:

DATE :

PROFESSOR:

Nutrition analysis

Introduction

I noticed abnormal weight at the age of thirteen while I was still in school. My parents used to work with the army, and most were the times I was left with the house help who rarely cooked most of the times. Most were the times I ate junk foods and packed them for lunch in school; little did I know the harm I was causing to myself. Weight gain lowered my self-esteem with my peers as I watched them play during break time; I could not even participate in basketball which was my best despite having a pitch in town. I often got sick, thus missing most of the classes in school, which even made me repeat some classes. When I got admitted to the hospital and explaining to the doctor my feeding habits, he got shocked and recommended some of the foods I should take. I had to change my routine programs such that I had to allocate more time to physical exercises. I was the firstborn in the family. I did not want my small brothers and sisters to through the same situation as I did. I wanted to help such people with the same condition as I wanted to become a nutritionist after school.

Nutrition analysis

It is easy to maintain a well-balanced diet and helps prevent usual health problems, including heart and diabetes. It can be hard to tell if the food you eat meets your diet’s nutrients and standards, and it is essential to be aware of this, especially if you are trying to develop healthier habits. I could calculate my calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins consumption in their database. To create a scale for people to measure their eating habits, both sex, age, weight, exercise levels and height were included in the database. The findings of a dietary analysis were studied, and numerous experiments were subsequently correlated with DRI (Dietary Reference Intake). In determining how much food I shall consume one day, this was extremely helpful. Finally, I have planned a regimen to keep my diet balanced. I had to consult my nutritionist, Dr Peter waters, to guide me in this. He discouraged eating junk foods as I used to do; he then advised my parents to employ a home health giver to look after me.

In my diet, Peter Waters emphasized the importance of three macronutrients: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates, which include sugars, cellulose, and starches, are primarily organic compounds abundant in food and living tissues. A protein is a nitrogenous organic compound made up of larger molecules that contain one or more long amino acid chains. They are a necessary component for the physical components of the body’s tissues, such as hair, muscles, and collagen. Protein can be consumed at a rate of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight (kg). Finally, the fat in one’s diet provides a large portion of one’s nutrition. Per gram of dietary fat, nine (9) calories are present. Because of its high caloric content, increased fat consumption increases the risk of obesity value. My intake of carbohydrates is just over half of the minimum recommended amount.

With the database modified to my information, I should take between 1,100 carb calories a day. These results show I intake approximately 550 carb calories. Suppose you don’t have enough carbohydrates in your diet. In that case, it can cause an energy deficit, resulting in your body breaking down the stored energy, and your body will try to obtain energy from a less good food source, which could produce unwanted side effects. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of glucose, which offers the required fuel for every cell in your body. Recommended protein levels show a minimum of about 240 protein calories a day and a maximum of about 875 calories ( Alexon). My intake averaged to be about 300 protein calories. This is within my range, but it is at the lower level. There are two main categories of protein deficiencies when one consumes enough calories but not enough protein calories; one will suffer from kwashiorkor. When one doesn’t consume enough calories or enough protein calories, one will suffer from marasmus. Reduction in protein synthesis inside the cells is one of the primary outcomes of protein deficiencies. Your body wouldn’t access essential compounds needed to create new protein molecules if you fail to consume critical amino acids, which eventually decelerates the production of new proteins. My recommended fat intake was between 490 fat calories and 850 fat calories per day. I averaged roughly 460 fat calories, which is just under the recommended daily intake. When someone doesn’t get enough fat in their diet, they could suffer from depression, an increased risk of blood pressure and cholesterol and poor vitamin absorption.

Micronutrients are frequently addressed as vitamins and minerals and are huge dietary components. Although they are usually only needed for the body in small amounts, they are essential in the development, prevention of diseases, and overall well-being (Kinstler et al.). The body can’t produce them, so your diet is where they are derived from. According to the results, my average caloric intake throughout the 3-day analysis was 1287kcal, expending an average of 2664kcal each day. This is a net loss of -1377kcal/day. The database concluded my recommended daily calorie intake is 2429kcal, which is just under double my actual average intake. A full data-sheet can be found in appendix C, Energy Balance. The predesigned equation to calculate estimated energy requirements (EER) left only weight, height, age and physical activity levels. My EER was calculated as 2438.12kcal/day. This is very close to the databases calculation, with just a difference of -9.12kcal. I am not getting nearly as many calories as I should be. To help this issue, I can eat regularly and according to my DRI. This analysis indeed indicates my personal nutrient ingesting isn’t as healthy as I initially thought it was. Consuming foods from primary groups, such as fats, carbohydrates, or fibres, is not generous in other essential nutrients.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, understanding foods are critical to ensure a healthy amount is going into your body each day. Some nutrients are only needed in small amounts, and this range varies based on what it is, but that doesn’t go to say a small amount of a nutrient is unimportant. Although people think you can have a deficiency for a particular nutrient, you can consume too much of something, which causes issues within the body. Since many people are so naïve to a lot of generic information, using this database will make people think about what they’re eating before eating it. This type of analysis can help people who have unhealthy lifestyles and diets to change with nothing more than statistics and personal motivation. This can be extremely rewarding and inspire the individual to keep going and change their diets and lifestyles and others as well. Parents should play a role in ensuring that their children are fed in an appropriate way by the care givers whom they leave with their children. Lack of proper diet can lead to diseases such a kwashiorkor as well as marasmus. Poor nutrition in children can lead to brain damage in thus the child becomes a poor performer in school.

Work cited

Axelson, Marta L., Terri L. Federline, and David Brinberg. “A meta-analysis of food-and nutrition-related research.” Journal of Nutrition Education 17.2 (1985): 51-54.

Kinstler, Angela et al. “Frequent Emesis With Enternal Nutition: Are Formula Hang Times A Factor? An Evidence Synthesis”. Journal Of Pediatric Nursing, vol 26, no. 4, 2011, p. e25. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2011.01.277.

Krause, Marie V. Food, nutrition and diet therapy. Saunders, 1979.