Group dynamics in The Breakfast Club Essay

Whether groups are formed for social or task oriented purposes, the ability to produce and maintain a sense of affiliation, peer support and collaboration is important for overall group functioning. The cohesion of a social group is produced through the establishment of a set of group norms, which are later defined as a guide for conduct accepted within a group of individuals. However, in order for a group to perform and produce results, the team leader should guide his/her team through the proper stages of group development, which includes the following steps: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. Although teams should follow all these stages of group development, the forming and the norming stages are the most important, since these develop and foster the development of the group norm which prevents segregation within a group. In addition, an autocratic leadership style, which is a very authoritative method is useful in cohering a poorly organized group, especially a group of young high school students as in the movie, The Breakfast Club. The first stage of group development is the forming stage. Forming is when members get to know each other and find common ground, while the group leader provides structure, direction and ground rules. For example, in the movie, The Breakfast Club, the forming stage was the point at which students were forced into a group during detention, which provided structure and rules and allowed individuals to become familiar with one another. The second stage in group development is the storming phase, which usually involves arguments, power struggles, debates and general conflict of interest, often resulting in individuals perceiving such gathering as a waste of time. An example of this stage also seen in the The Breakfast Club is where differing opinions and ideas due to variations in social norms created conflict and arguments within the group. However, if a team leader is able to get past this stage by reminding members of the general goal, group members will begin to work as a team and will move onto the norming stage. At this stage, the group begins to realize the more positive points of individuals within the group, which promotes the development of trust and respect which begins to build group cohesion. The next stage is the performing stage, which is typical of high-performing teams that are able to function as a group and figure out various options to get the job done smoothly and effectively without supervision. The final stage is the adjourning phase, which is the final step in completing tasks  and breaking up the team. The groups that are formed as adolescents often determine group associations as adults and define an individual within their social group that will either set them with or against other groups. This is described in an article on social groupings by Colin Allen, which mentions that our social asso ciations as adolescents are strong indicators to future patterns of social norms as adults. Therefore, the group of students in the movie, The Breakfast Club, can also be extrapolated to adult group dynamics. However, the varying social norms between groups can present conflicts when adults are required to function within a very diverse group of individuals. In The Breakfast Club, the Jock, Geek, Prom Queen, Delinquent, and the Freak groups are brought together initially through an autocratic or directive leadership role, used to bring the group together in order to proceed to the next phase of group development. This stage is particularly important within a group of varying personalities, such as a group of high school students, since it is most often the only way such a diverse group can become familiar with each other. Then through the forming stage, the group members move away from differing group norms, interact and eventually find common ground within the group and establish a unified group norm. The importance of developing a group norm is also illustrated in an experimental study done on group norms and self-aggressive behaviors, which indicated that the establishment of a group norm played a crucial role in the expression of self-inflicted aggression. This tendency to conform to a group norm was shown to influence individual behavior, such as the enhancement of self-image associated with group identification. Therefore, the formation stage in a group process is important, since it develops group norms by requiring the individual to gather data and impressions on similarities and differences within the group and rely on a strong authoritative leader for guidance. The second important stage in group development is the norming stage, which emphasizes interpersonal relations and group cohesion. This is the stage at which the members are actively acknowledging each other through learning about one another and developing group cohesion. Through this stage, individuals begin to share leadership roles and dissolve former cliques and contribute to the overall success of group functioning. This will also increase the sense of group belonging, and individual invested interest in solving any issues within the group. This stage is characterized  by sharing, soliciting information, accepting and finally, providing feedback, and increased creativity. In the film, The Breakfast Club, this stage occurs later when the group has already gone through the forming stage, where the individuals are able to function as a group towards the same goals. In general, if this stage is achieved, members of the group will become more open with each other and information sharing will occur, which will benefit the effectiveness of the group. At this stage a more relaxed leadership style can also be implemented, such as the democratic or laissaize-fair methods. In conclusion, the development of a group who vary in social norms is very dependant on the forming and norming stages, since these steps allow the group to develop a unified group norm. Depending on the characteristics of the group, normally an authoritative style should initially be implemented in order to bring some cohesion to the group. As an example, a group of first year nursing students would benefit from the forming stage, under the direction of an autocratic leadership, since this would offer a solid foundation on which to build a unified group norm. After the group is formed and rules have been learned and accepted by the students, a less authoritative leadership style can be implemented in the norming stage. This will allow students the freedom to learn and explore the field of nursing and develop their individual self-confidence within the field.

Impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Implications for Future Term Paper

Impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Implications for Future Generations - Term Paper Example Writing on the official website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Thacker (2003) reports that the HIPAA Privacy Rule is â€Å"pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.† Since its inception in 2003, there has been extensive This research paper seeks to complement existing researches by examining the impact of the Rule today and the implications it has for future generations – thus how it can be well preserved for generations unborn. The paper finds that, though generally accepted as a good system, there still needs to be more study and research conducted into the policy to ensure that it serves the interest of the patient to the later. It is clear that the HIPAA Privacy Rule was passed with a every good intention for the privacy of information of the patient. However, it should take constant education of the masses to help them appreciate the Act as their Right and begin to fight for it. Again, research work for possi ble amendments on the Act should not cease. Debates on the Act should continue; just as the case studies on it. ... The Health and Human Services Department (2011) summarizes that it provides â€Å"standards [that] address the use and disclosure of individuals’ health information — called â€Å"protected health information† by organizations subject to the Privacy Rule — called â€Å"covered entities,† as well as standards for individuals' privacy rights to understand and control how their health information is used†. Enforcement is provided by the Office of Civil Rights, or OCR. Health plans, HMOs and insurance companies, health care providers, health care clearinghouses, and researchers are all covered by the bill's elements (HHS, 2011). Protected information includes â€Å"all individually identifiable health information† (HHS, 2011, their emphasis). This is an expansive provision. It covers â€Å"past, present and future† health information, all provisions of health care to the individual, and payments thereof. But some information is â₠¬Å"de-identified† as being outside of the purview of HIPAA. Information can become certifiable as â€Å"de-identified† for purposes such as research or other public release either by a statistician approving it or by the removal of identifiers of the individual and all relatives and household members. The basic principle regarding disclosures is that, aside from provisions in the Act, no disclosure may be given without the written consent of the patient. Legally required disclosures can only be elicited by the person or their representatives and HHS. Patients must be presented a copy of HIPAA rights and a disclosure of the provider's health care practices (HHS, 2011). State law is eclipsed when it is contrary, or where the two are clearly mutually exclusive, but it does not eclipse more

Outline of research paper Impact of the Internet on a Small Business Assignment

Outline of research paper Impact of the Internet on a Small Business - Assignment Example Poon (1997) also discussed some research findings regarding competitive advantage and the extent to which the Internet helps in achieving that advantage. The Net Imperative (2009) and other Internet sources were also used as references in making their findings enhanced the contents of this paper. The rest of the paper includes the perspectives and interpretation of the researcher based on the sources used, both offline and online. Among the major findings of the research suggest that the positive impacts outweigh those of the negative. According to Poon (1997), the Internet affects small businesses especially inter-organizational and enterprise-to-consumer because IT costs are relatively low and efficient. Furthermore, the Internet also intensifies relations with trading partners by requesting quotes or perishable stocks of goods through online auction (The Net Imperative, 1999). In addition, the Internet is also a major help in locating and purchasing resources from distant market while it lessens the costs of marketing because it lessens the overseas taxes. In other cases, off-shoring is also a positive impact of the Internet because small companies with high operating cost in their home country can venture into overseas business in countries with lower operational costs. On the contrary, the research also reported the negative impact of Internet in terms of the company’s competitive advantage over b ig industries since both engage in Internet marketing and operations, as well. Lastly, Internet security is also a negative impact since information about the company, as well as its transactions and strategies, are also available via websites and blogs. The Internet has both positive and negative impacts to small businesses. The positive impacts outweigh the negative. Therefore, the Internet is a vital tool in today’s

Australian national identity in the 21st century Essay

Australian national identity in the 21st century - Essay Example The best possible means would have been to segregate individuals under certain units like family and city and denote them by these identifying marks. (Sherman, 114) Similarly, Australia has been under the theoretical protective umbrella of the Queen of England till now. But the national identity is hugely manifested in every walk of life. It can well be stated that the issue of diversity in Australia is highly accepted and celebrated in the modern era. The evidence is clear and assertive. This is because there are a number of creed, race, language and color operating at the same time in the same fields all at a single time and space. This would not have been possible if the government was not in a true democratic mode and this true nature of democracy yields opportunity for all and as a result we can find the huge amount of diversity within the nation and this could well be stated as the most significant aspect of national identity of 21st century Australia. From the point of view of bilingual individuals it could also be ascertained that they have complete access to their native language. For example it can be stated that that the Asian and East European influx in the southern regions of the Australia are comfortable speaking their mother tongue and practice the same at their business. It is true that there are some sections who believe that there should be only English at least in the parameters of business but that intension is yet to be fulfilled. As a result it can be easily stated that bilingual individuals have no problem with their mother tongue and they are comfortable with it. (Lamb, 188) This specific intent of openness and freedom is the driving force that has turned into becoming so successful in uniting Australia and the credibility or the acceptance of all sections of the population has become the primary nature of the country. This success is highly celebrated and it can well be stated that the unification of diversity is the key ingredient of 21 century Australia. However, it can be stated that there are certain arguments related to Melting Pot vs. Salad Bowl phenomena in Australia. In melting pot all the elements are poured into a cauldron and a homogeneous stew is prepared where the individual identity of elements seizes to exist. However, in a salad bowl it is found that though all the ingredients are placed in the bowl each of the element tends to sustain its basic properties. In this respect we can state that Australia is more of a salad bowl than a melting pot because members of several communities with a number of creed, race, language and color operate together with their individual identity intact. However there are sections who believe that there should only be a single Australian culture and each individual must indulge in it and this culture is supposed to be mostly English flavored. (Kar, 227) As a president or a Congressional leader the policies that need to be initiated in order to limit the intolerance and racism in the Australia

Critically Assess the UN Response to the Crisis in Darfur Essay

Critically Assess the UN Response to the Crisis in Darfur - Essay Example However, there was an observation that the Sudan government failed to defuse and prosecute the Arab mercenaries. According to De Waal (2005), the UN considered engaging in the crisis by observing that the condition presented violated Article VII of the U.N Charter. Therefore, in the year 2004, the UN resolved to address the Darfur crisis. The UN designed a multifaceted response to the crisis with the sole aim of curbing the situation. Therefore, this paper critically examines the UN response on the Darfur crisis. The State of the Darfur Conflict Sudan has constantly struggled with the civil wars presented by the Arab-Christians conflicts. The Arabs who comprise the overriding group have exploited the southerners. These conflicts became grave in the year 2003 with emergence of â€Å"Sudan Liberation Army† (SLA) and â€Å"Justice Equality Movement† (JEM). These two groups attacked the government since the Arabs who promoted oppression of the blacks (De Waal 2005) dominate d the governance process. The Sudan government retaliated by executing attacks against the civilians in the South. Subsequently, there emerged an Arabic based group called Janjaweed, which furthered the attacks. Investigations provide that the Sudan government financed Janjaweed activities; however, administrators have maintained that the group is illegal (Moore & Pubantz 2008). Initially, UN ventured in the Darfur crisis by chairing a peace agreement between the Sudan government and SLA in the year 2003. However, the partisans to the peace agreement installed by the UN challenged the process and failed to follow it comprehensively. Consequently, conflicts progressed as characterized by deaths and destruction of property. Hopper (2010), observes that Janjaweed’s activities led to death of about 30 000 blacks in Sudan. Importantly, the conflict has led to eviction of over a million Africans from their lands. The UN observed that the crises had presented a pathetic condition in the ground with its policy makers claiming that more than two million Sudanese need care. According to Mamdani (2009), the UN policy makers observed that the Darfur case clustered among the worst global humanitarian crises hence the body observed that there was need of executing the necessary response. The UN initiated instituted investigative bodies that found stern violation of the human rights (Hopper 2010). This was against the policies of the â€Å"International Covenant on Civil and Political Right† (ICCPR) and â€Å"International Criminal Court† (ICC) to which the Sudan government holds the membership. Therefore, the UN could successfully challenge the government’s activities legally (Steidle & Wallace 2007). Consequently, the UN subscribed actively to the Darfur activities. There is a concern among some UN policy makers that the Darfur situation demands a declaration that quantifies as a genocide case; however, this continues to elicit debates (Totten a nd Markusen 2006). The UN and Darfur Situation The UN engaged in the Darfur conflicts initially due to the disinclination of Sudan government in countering the crisis. Humanitarian advocates who observed that the concern needed critical attention raised the matter to the UN panel in the year 2003. The UN’s humanitarian docket claimed that situation poses a serious humanity concern since by then the crisis had displaced about 600, 000 people (Hagan & Rymond-Richmond

Role of women in colonial America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role of women in colonial America - Essay Example In United States, early involvement of women can be traced before colonization of the country up to independence. While contribution of women is viewed to be minor, American women played significant role in colonizing the country, establishing the American identity and in the independence movement. 1Ann Bleeker identified three different categories of women in America. They include African American, native Indians and the Europeans. These groups of women came from very distinct backgrounds and they played different roles in colonizing and establishing the foundation of America. 2Bleeker noted that women who had settled in America from European continent had specific roles in the society. These roles included preparing food for the family, weaving, in addition to rearing and educating the children. The Jewish women were not an exception and 3Helena noted that they performed similar traditional roles just like women who had settled in America from Europe in the sixteenth century. 4Murr ay noted that women were not allowed to hold leadership positions or have social organization of their own. Their major occupation was home making but few owned property that they had mainly inherited from their families.

Water Contamination Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Water Contamination - Assignment Example Farms do two things to chicken manure: dump it in any available water resource or use it on the fields. Pohlmann decided to 14.1 tons of land-applied manure to one acre. This was done despite the recommendation limiting manure to six tons per acre (Rish). According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Ohio has no Clean Water Act permits that specify control over livestock operations like Buckeye’s chicken farm. Also, Ohio’s Trade Secrecy act permits factories like the Buckeye farm to dump their manure in an off-site location without revealing the area. However, it is not the manure spill alone that affects the poison content of the water. The intensive confinement of thousands of chickens can result in manure that is far beyond the soil’s absorption rate. The runoff that results from this heavy manure can cause not only water pollution but also affect the land. In the water, it causes eutrophication which makes the soil so rich in organic and mineral content that the amount of oxygen in the water is depleted (HSUS 2005). The difference is that while the plants in the water thrive, the animal life in the water body suffers. This contamination is not a problem for the land and animals alone. The polluted water that drains into the rivers is a percentage of the drinking water for the humans in that area. Grant claims that 60% of the water dumped into these rivers is used as drinking water by the locals of Ohio (1998). Thus, Buckeye farm profited from a number of loopholes in Ohio’s state program. The farm was not forced to reveal the places it dumped the manure preventing the citizens from knowing if the manure is not being properly disposed of in streams or wells. Ohio’s environmental body also has the permission to ask for the management of livestock manure if any farm has more than 1000 livestock units: like the Buckeye Farm.