Effect of Surveillance on Autonomy and Greed

Effect of Surveillance on Autonomy and Greed Discussion The research hypothesis of this study stated that when individuals were under surveillance, they would feel a lack of autonomy or more controlled. Therefore, participants would subsequently demonstrate a higher level of greed, in comparison to those not under surveillance. This was supported by the ideas of SDT about autonomy being a fundamental psychological need, and so resulting in adverse consequences when not attained. The results derived from this research were not significant, indicating that no effects were found in either condition and therefore do not support the initial research prediction. Although not significant, data suggestive of a trend was found for ‘decision’ and ‘condition’ on negative affect. This demonstrated that participants who were in the experimental condition and kept all of their tickets (indicating a higher level of greed) showed increased levels of negative affect, compared to those who ‘gave some’ tickets. This could be interpreted as the individuals feeling guilt or other negative emotions about their decision when under surveillance. This may indicate that surveillance has an effect on negative feelings, following behaviour. Similarly, although no significant results were found, a trend suggests that participants who kept all their tickets in the experimental condition experienced a decrease in their just world beliefs. This demonstrates that those individuals who showed higher levels of greed under surveillance subsequently lacked beliefs in a just world, in comparison to the other participants. This may coincide with the trend found for negative affect implying that those participants under surveillance, who kept all tickets, had more feelings of negative affect and lower beliefs in a just world. Regardless of these trends, it has to be emphasised that the effects are not significant so the alleged effect is not concrete. One explanation for the lack of significance found within the trends may be due to the sample size, which was limited to eighty participants. If a larger sample size was obtained then the trends found may potentially be more powerful. A possible recommendation for future research could be a replication of this study using a greater sample size, to test whether this trend is more prevalent. As the initial predictions are not supported by the results, they do not support the notions implied by SDT; stating that autonomy is one of the crucial needs that needs to be attained. The current results may also suggest that surveillance is not as controlling as previously implied (Lepper and Greene, 1975), as individuals may still feel autonomous when under surveillance. Alternatively, it may be that the individuals did not notice the cameras. During the study phase, participants were asked whether or not they noticed surveillance – both the cameras and signs. When they did not take notice, which occurred frequently, participants often added comments implying that they had grown accustomed to this surveillance. This aligns with the initial thoughts that there is an abundance of cameras in society, perhaps suggesting an over-usage of the surveillance. These comments alongside the lack of awareness of the cameras can be interpreted as an element of desensitisation to the sur veillance. As the earlier quote by Home Office mentioned, individuals become so familiar with the cameras, that they are no longer something out of the ordinary; therefore if unnoticed, their purpose may not be as effective. This also corresponds with findings from the earlier mentioned studies where the surveillance became ineffective after a time lag (Web and Laycock, 1992). In addition to this, a study conducted by Tilley (1993) observing the power of surveillance in various car parks found that publicity of the surveillance was necessary for it to be effective. Therefore the use of CCTV needs to be directly brought to an individual’s attention for an effect to occur. This coincides with the notion of familiarity with the cameras earlier stated, suggesting that individuals may need some sort of reminder or prompt to be aware of the surveillance. Prior research has supported the assumptions made by SDT and the general prediction that a lack of autonomy will affect behaviour. Particularly, Cozzolino et al., (2015) used the same measure of greed as the current study, alongside a measure of indirect aggression, finding that surveillance elicited higher levels of greed and aggression. However, Cozzolino et al’s., (2015) study included the usage of more than one experimental task, which may explain the results. The antecedent task provoking aggression may enhance the general demeanour of the participant, prompting individuals to display greed. This may provide an explanation as to why results differed from this current research, as the economic trust task was measured independently. Self-concept is an important phenomenon to be observed in relation to this primary study. Individuals tend to seek approval from others and feel the need to ensure that they have a positive self-concept, as they prefer to feel better about themselves. This was illustrated by Swann Jr. and Read (1980) who observed the values of self-concept over a series of experiments. Their results indicated that self-concept was of high significance to individuals as participants sought to verify it through others. Lower levels of greed are likely to contribute to a positive self-concept; therefore this need for verification of self-concept may be a contributing factor to their behaviour in the current study. Thus, individuals may have altered their answers intentionally for this reason. Despite being ensured confidentiality, experimenter effects may have occurred, causing the individual to be more sceptical of possible judgement from the experimenter. They may not have wanted to display their actu al desire to show a higher level of greed, fearful of the impression they may make on the experimenter, therefore portraying actions that they think may be expected of them, more accepted, or more aligned with their self-concept. In addition to this the Theory of Reasoned Action (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1980) may contribute to the notion that individuals behaved in a way that they believed met societal expectations. This theory proposes that individuals have two different types of motivation, one of which is subjective norms; this is perceived social pressure to execute certain behaviours. In this case, subjective norms would point to acts of less greed (as this is more socially acceptable) which may explain the decision made by individuals in this study. Participants may be more influenced by their subjective norms than any other factors, causing them to behave differently. Interestingly Haley and Fessler (2005) observed the effect of evoked observability on pro-social behaviour through various different methods. These researchers measured levels of generosity using an economic game task, similar to that of the current study. This study provided a visual cue to make individuals feel as though they were being observed. This was in the form of stylised eye representations on the background of the computer they were completing the task on. Although this differs to the primary study conducted, the use of eye spots may make individuals feel as though they are under control, or that they are being ‘watched.’ They found that in the eye spot condition, in comparison to control, allocations were 55% higher, therefore displaying higher levels of generosity. This illustrates alternative effects to those initially predicted in the primary study, Haley and Fessler expected individuals to be more generous when in the eye spot condition, which was found. Perhaps it should be reconsidered which types of behaviour are usually demonstrated when ‘being watched’ as pro-social behaviour may be more prevalent than anti-social behaviours predicted by this primary study. While it has been strongly implied that surveillance can be perceived as a form of social control (causing individuals to lose their autonomy), this control itself may infer different effects. When being watched, individuals may feel that they need to act in a certain way. They may be reluctant to portray their genuine feelings or actions as they are afraid of what those surveying may think. When not under surveillance individuals are likely to act more freely as a result of feeling less pressured by subjective norms, and therefore are able to behave more genuinely. Moreover, individual’s actions may be more likely to be of an authentic nature, reflecting their intrinsic motivations. This coincides well with the trends found, implying that surveillance may inflict feelings of negative affect. Individuals may only feel guilt about their decision because of the judgement they may face from ‘being watched.’ Another possible limitation which may have arisen with this study may be placed with the methodology. As stated the study involved an economic trust task, measuring levels of greed on the basis of the raffle tickets. Firstly, this task may lack an element of ecological validity as the situation that individuals were placed in with this task may be perceived as unrealistic. It is unlikely that individuals would be asked to decide the allocation of raffle tickets; therefore it may not reflect real life behaviour. In addition to this, the environment in which the task was completed may also be considered less ecologically valid, being in a room with a computer and an experimenter close by. This may be a possible explanation as to why significant results were not found, as the task was not representative of a real-life situation, mirroring real behaviour. Furthermore, another methodological concern may be the format of the study. Participants were told that they were matched with another participant who made the tickets available to them; however they may not have believed that there was another participant involved. The sample included a generous amount of psychology students, who may have more insight and so are aware that these studies often involve an element of deception. Therefore they may have displayed a higher level of greed, regardless of surveillance, if they realised that there was no other participant. To improve this further studies could account for this in different ways. Firstly, using a sample of students from different departments, or not using a student population may affect findings, as they are unlikely to have prior background knowledge about experiments of this nature. Additionally it could be made more plausible that there is another participant involved. Future studies may have the other participant wait in t he same area as the current participant, or have a confederate pretend to be the ‘other’ participant. This may make it more believable to the participant, and may evoke the effect initially expected. Trying to gain the insight of someone else is a difficult task, which is one that has been challenged in this study. The evidence found for these various measures used such as the feelings of control involve introspective awareness, observing the understanding of others. As earlier stated, the Cronbach’s alpha for these measures were not consistent, therefore it has to be questioned whether it is possible to rely completely on the use of these measures as they tend to involve an element of inconsistency. Despite a consistent level of non-significance in the current study, the notion of social control is still very plausible. Previous research has delved into this phenomenon, such as the well-known obedience experiment by Milgram (1963). It was found that participants obeyed the instructions of those who they perceived as having authority. This illustrates that this form of social control can have an effect on individual’s behaviour, altering it significantly. In the same way that surveillance works as social control in altering individual’s behaviour. It can be argued, from an alternative viewpoint that there is an evolutionary basis for greed. Evolution emphasises the importance of survival, to the next generation and to continue to pass down genes. Therefore greed can be interpreted as a means of survival, gaining the resources necessary from an evolutionary standpoint. This could be an alternative explanation for higher levels of greed being prevalent; individuals may not be affected by surveillance but have evolutionary needs that guide their behaviour. Frustration of psychological needs can be fatal and lead to adverse consequences, especially when observing the analysis of certain disorders. For example it has been suggested that a frustration of autonomy can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Individuals feel they are being controlled or are unable to be in charge of themselves, so they control their environment instead. Similarly eating disorders is another form of the regaining of this control from an experience of lack of autonomy, as they tend to come from a very controlling environment. With more controlling and strict parents, individuals are more vulnerable to eating disorders. Without autonomy, individuals are more likely to develop psychopathology, as they defend against difficult experiences rather than overcoming them. Therefore it is important that further research is done to observe the implications that may derive from the thwarting of these needs, specifically autonomy. While no significant effects were found to support the suggested hypotheses of this current research, it is still crucial that further investigation takes place. An array of prior research has found prevalent effects demonstrating that surveillance can evoke feelings of powerlessness and that this lack of autonomy can be detrimental to individuals. Therefore additional research is necessary to find concrete evidence for the effects of surveillance.

Heavy Versus Light Reading: The Decipherment of Literary and Non-Liter

Heavy Versus Light Reading: The Decipherment of Literary and Non-Literary Texts In attempting to discriminate between the nature of a "literary" text and a "non-literary" text, a metaphor from Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being comes to mind. Especially in considering this same novel in contrast with a novel such as Danielle Steele's Vanished, the idea of lightness versus heaviness presents itself, and with it, a new way of approaching the decipherment of any high/low dichotomy of "literariness". When the "literary" text is imagined as "heavy" and the "non-literary" as "light", an interesting illumination is cast upon the scene, and parallels emerge alongside ideas originally presented in the writings of A. Easthope and Wolfgang Iser. In the novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Kundera (in writing a "weighty" novel himself), presents a distinction between the light and the heavy. The lightness of human existence resides in the idea of a life being lived only once - decisions being made only once. The singularity of such an existence seems to render it "unbearably light", or insignificant. An existence which is eternally repeated has, on the contrary, more "weight" to it in its substantive inexhaustibility. There is a seemingly infinite array of different possible choices to be made - multiple paths which could be followed. This "plural" brand of existence seems to carry more significance in its "heaviness". Easthope, in Literary into Cultural Studies, suggests that a high cultural ("literary") text such as Heart of Darkness (or The Unbearable Lightness of Being) possesses certain characteristics whose antitheses are found in a popular ("non-literary") text such as Tarzan (or a novel like Vanished).... ...eaning. Repetition of this kind of heavy reading of a light, insubstantial text, is no more than the repetition of a particular existence - the same life and the same death each time. A reader has one choice to make in experiencing the "non-literary" work: to either read it once (to experience the set lifetime once), or to read it multiple times (to become reincarnated into the same body and destiny time after time). This could very well be the reason that a text which is considered to be "literary" is indeed thought of as better or more fulfilling than a "non-literary" text. It is the "literary" text with all of its afore-mentioned characteristics which makes possible the "reincarnation" of the reader - which carries the potential for a reader to enjoy countless different experiences of lightness, no longer unbearable in such lightness, because of their plurality.

The Colonies :: American Independence

What major problems did the young republic face after its victory over Great Britain? How did these problems motivate members of the elite to call for a federal constitution? In 1776 when the Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain with the Declaration of Independence they had one clear goal in mind: become a sovereign nation and avoid the tyranny of Great Britain. What they did not know, however, is that they had to face many more issues beyond simply cutting the ties with Great Britain; they also had to create and maintain a working system of rules which could guide them into becoming the United States of America. Once Independence was gained in 1783, the Articles of Confederation were created, but with many deep flaws in the system. The Federal government had no power, and the states were loosely held together and hardly acted as if they were a single united nation. After recognizing that these problems were too large to overcome easily, several of the greatest men in the nation gathered together to rectify these problems. The Colonies were excited about having won their independence in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, but they still had to be able to create their own system of government which they thought would create a strong government which would not have an overpowering central government as they thought Great Britain had had. With this was the creation of the Articles of Confederation. These articles were meant to create strong local and state governments while not granting any power to the central government with the idea that it could not have any power over the states. The states were allowed to conduct their own diplomacy, or war, from nation to nation or even from state to state. States were allowed to create their own currency and put heavy import taxes on goods from other states. The federal government had no independent executive, nor could it levy taxes on any part of the states. It could not create or maintain a militia; this duty was left to the states. All decisions had to be ratified by all thirteen colonies. In thought, this was a great idea because only the most popular decisions would be ratified and stronger states could not hurt the smaller states through majority rule. In practice it did not work very well because it could be thwarted by a single stubborn state.

Currency Derivatives Essay

Preference of equity and commodity over Currency derivatives trading in India survey Kindly spare some minutes to fill this form and be a part of real customer perception survey and support us to gain an insight about the preferences of Indian retail investors for trading in market and the reasons behind the existing popularity of currency derivative market in India. 1. Did you ever think of currency derivative market as trading option? Yes, I trade in currency market No, but planning to invest after performing research? Never, what is Currency Derivatives? 2. In which market do you trade? (Choose all that apply, skip if you do not trade) Equity Commodity Currency Derivatives 3. Rate your expertise in the market: (Choose one level for each) Zero Commodity Currency derivatives Equity Beginner Intermediate Expert 4. Given Rs. 1000, how would you allocate the money among these investment options? (Allocation should add up to Rs. 100). Hedger Commodity Currency derivatives Equity Speculator Arbitrager 6. Choose and rate from 1 to 3 among the following attributes for each market. (Fill for only those market in which you trade) Returns Market volatility Portfolio diversification Hedging Arbitrage Commodity Currency derivatives Equity 7. Why do you think Indian retails investors have less preference towards currency derivatives market? Strongly agree Not enough self knowledge Less popular among peers Lack of govt. initiatives Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree.

How have the values of the boys changed by Chapter 10? Essay

In chapter 10 there is a shift of values form a democracy to a dictatorship. Following Jack’s rebellion most of the boys have left camp and joined forces with Jack, now known as ‘The Chief’, at Castle Rock. Since they first landed on the island as innocent school children a lot has changed, as many of the values which they once held are disregarded on account of them being stranded on the island. When Jack first arrived on the island he was the eldest and naturally assumed that it was his destiny to be in charge. As head choir boy, Jack has been set aside from the rest, â€Å"golden cap badge† and it is obvious that back home he was very important and was given the authority in terms of the choir. Due to the control he exerts we can understand that prior to landing on the island, Jack was a leader who ruled by fear. When they first meet the rest of the boys it takes the combined efforts of begging â€Å"But, Merridew. Please, Merridew †¦ can’t we?† and a boy fainting for him to consider the two groups merging. Here we can see Jack’s instant aversion to situations where he is not fully in charge. This means that often times he would prefer separatism, as we see when he distinguishes the Hunters, to co-habitation where making compromises and accept other people’s points of view. We know that Jack doesn’t like this because before he goes to form his own tribe he says † It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us.† Jack was at first in agreement with the request for democracy but this was only because he was convinced that he would win the vote. When he realises that he has in fact lost out to Ralph he â€Å"blush[es] with mortification†. He is not sure whether to stay or go when he is offered charge of the Hunters. By taking over the hunters Jack tries to gain favour with the boys because he thinks that the boys will become dependent on him. However the longing for rescue and the fact that the tool for rescue is Ralph’s brainchild means that Ralph continued to have the upper hand on Jack. Despite this Jack still tries his best to prove himself to the boys. For example, at first like many of the boys on the island Jack is unable to kill however now, behind the mask, he kills to show his power and control over the lives of others. However William Golding makes the death of Simon strange, in that Jack does not take responsibility and is almost afraid of what he has become. â€Å"Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law.† Roger is portrayed to be a very cruel character and this quotation shows the beginning if the boy’s falls into uncivilisation however at this early stage the boys still act in a civilised nature. However like many of the older boys Roger chooses to test the water and soon enough the urge to destroy overcomes him. Despite this Roger still feels restricted by â€Å"parents and school and policemen and the law†-the adults who make the rules and make sure they are followed. However before long, Roger and most of the other boys lose their respect for values and morals, and violence, torture, and murder break out as the savagery becomes the distinctive sway i n the group At first Ralph is esteemed and supports all the boys on the island due to the way that he has kept a level head despite being on tropical island. His strong-willed nature means that when others break down he is still solid. However with talks of beasts and mutiny Ralph becomes disgruntled and begins to think of home a lot. Towards the end of the book despite having the symbol of democracy, the conch he feels that that this is useless against Jack’s oppressive regime.

Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points

METHODOLOGY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS â€Å"WOODROW WILSON’S FOURTEEN POINTS† By: Astrid Leony Longdong / 043 2010 0004 Dwi Setiawati Endi / 043 2010 0009 Candice Hermawan / 043 2010 0011 Mella Melia / 043 2010 0016 Lecturer: Indra V. A. Krishnamurti, S. Sos, M. Asian St. Date/Day: Thursday, 27th September 2012 [pic] INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITAS PELITA HARAPAN KARAWACI 2012 WOODROW WILSON’S FOURTEEN POINTS 8th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, played a very dominant role in the end of World War I with his Fourteen Points, which also known as Wilson’s Fourteen Points. The Fourteen Points as set forth by Wilson can be seen as the following: 1. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind, but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view. The purpose is clearly to prohibit treaties, sections o f treaties or understandings that are secret.It is proposed that in future every treaty be part of the public law of the world and that every nation assume a certain obligation in regard to its enforcement. Nations cannot assume obligations in matters of which they are ignorant; and therefore any secret treaty tends to undermine the solidity of the whole structure of international covenants which it is proposed to erect. 2. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants.It refers to navigation under the three following conditions: (1) general peace; (2) a general war, entered into by the League of Nations for the purpose of enforcing international covenants; (3) limited war, involving no breach of international covenants. Simply said, it is meant free navigation of all seas. 3. The removal, so far as possibl e, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance.The proposal means the destruction of all special commercial agreements, each putting the trade of every other nation in the League on the same basis, the most-favored-nation clause applying automatically to all members of the League of Nation. This is now what we known as free trade in which all economic barriers between countries will end. 4. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest points consistent with domestic safety. â€Å"Domestic safety† clearly implies not only internal policing, but the protection of territory against invasion and the reduction of weapon numbers. . A free, open-minded and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty , the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined. The German colonies and any other colonies which may come under international consideration as a result of the war. The stipulation is that in the case of the German colonies the title is to be determined after the conclusion of the war by â€Å"impartial adjustment† based on certain principles. . The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affecting Russia as will secure the best and freest cooperation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development and national policy and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free nations under institutions of her own choosing; and, more than a welcome, assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire.The treatme nt accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their goodwill, of their comprehension of her needs as distinguished from their own interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy. The problem of these nationalities is complicated by two facts: (1) that they have conflicting claims; (2) that the evacuation called for in the proposal may be followed by Bolshevist revolutions in all of them. Therefore the evacuating of the territory, if it resulted in class war, would very probably also take the form of a conflict of nationalities.It is clearly to the interests of a good settlement that the real nation in each territory should be consulted rather than the ruling and possessing class. 7. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. No other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the n ations in the laws which they have themselves set and determined for the government of their relations with one another.Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of international law is forever impaired. The only problem raised here is in the word â€Å"restored. † The restoration is to be in kind or how the amount of the indemnity is to be determined is a matter of detail, not of principle. Among the consequences may be put the war debt of Belgium. The recognition of this principle would constitute â€Å"the healing act† of which the President speaks. In short, Belgium should be independent as it was before the war. 8.All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted in order that peace may once more be made secure in the interest of all. As the world stood in 1914, war between France and Germany was not in itself a violation of international law, and great insistence should be put upon keeping the Belgian case distinct and symbolic. The status of Alsace-Lorraine was settled by the official statement.The best solution would seem to be a free choice by the [people of] Luxembourg themselves. 9. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality. A conflict with Greece appears through the Greek claim to northern Epirus, or what is now southern Albania. This would bring Greece closer to Valona than Italy desires. A second conflict with Greece occurs over the Aegean Islands of the Dodecanese, but it is understood that a solution favorable to Greece is being worked out.Italy's claims in Turkey belong to the problem of the Turkish Empire. 10. The people of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomou s development. The United States is clearly committed to the program of national unity and independence. It must stipulate, however, for the protection of national minorities, for freedom of access to the Adriatic and the Black Sea, and it supports a program aiming at a confederation of Southeastern Europe. 11.Rumania, [Serbia], and Montenegro should be evacuated; occupied territories restored; Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea; and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into. This proposal is also altered by events. Serbia and Rumania wil have 11 or 12 inhabitants and will be far greater and stronger than Bulgaria.Balkan states should be allowed for self-determination and guarantees of independence. 12. The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development; and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. A general code of guarantees binding upon all mandataries in Asia Minor should be written into the Treaty of Peace.This should contain provisions for minorities and the â€Å"open door. † The trunk railroad lines should be internationalized. 13. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenants. The principle on which fronti ers will be [delimited] is contained in the President's word â€Å"indisputably. This may imply the taking of an impartial census before frontiers are marked. The chief problem is whether Poland is to obtain territory west of the Vistula, which would cut off the Germans of East Prussia from the empire, or whether Danzig can be made a free port and the Vistula internationalized. 14. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small [states] alike.The principle of a League of Nations as the primary essential of a permanent peace is the foundation of the whole diplomatic structure of a permanent peace in order to guarantee the political and territorial independence of all states. Wilson’s Fourteen Points were well received by the public either home or abroad, but many foreign leaders, such as David Llyoid George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vi ttorio Orlando were very skeptical about it[1]. Those who were skeptical doubted whether it could be effectively applied to the real world.Clearly, from his Fourteen Points alone, in which he issued as a basis for peace on January 1918, Woodrow Wilson was an idealist. Instead of his famous Fourteen Points, the League of Nations and the World War I Peace Treaty were the products of his idealism. Wilson’s idealism, however, was not merely an idealism. It was more to crusading idealism, where his idealistic nature was apparent through his beliefs as a Christian[2]. His idealistic vision, especially Fourteen Points, had motivated the world with the core lists of what we have widely known now as self-determintation of peoples, free trade, disarmament, open diplomacy.Wilson’s thoughts have been enlighted the world in long term, and for most of it, Wilson did not present a way to achieve his goals[3]. So, he basically just lead people through the door he created, but people t hemselves had to figure out the rest of their own. Wilson, like most of the idealists, is characterized by thinking and planning based upon the ideas that are fit for a perfect world, or at least how a world should be perfect in an imperfect world.The only thing with most of idealists, in this case Wilson, was that he got the right and brilliant ideas, but no body’s in his era got his forward-thinking as he was in different state of mind and vision. It is clear that Woodrow Wilson has imprinted a lasting legacy to the world that we now know. His idealism has brought the world into such a dramatic make over in a better and positive way. Though some of his ideas seemed to be failed, like League of Nations for example, but he gave the world of what we call as the very first ideas and inspirations.People learned from his mistakes and made some kind of innovation that was based upon his failures, like the United Nations which was based on the failed League of Nations. So, in concl usion, Woodrow Wilson is one of well-known idealists and the most influential as well. For the world that we now live in and enjoy, it would not be as it is now (with free trade, the United Nations, and the other legacies) if it weren’t because of him. BIBLIOGRAPHY â€Å"Woodrow Wilson-The Idealist Essay†.Free Essay Must Be Free! TM. Retrieved September 26, 2012 from http://essaymania. com/110139/woodrow-wilson-the-idealist Hickman, Kennedy. â€Å"World War I: The Fourteen Points†. About. com Military History. Retrieved September 26, 2012 from http://militaryhistory. about. com/od/worldwari/p/World-War-I-The-Fourteen-Poin ts. htm â€Å"Paper Analysis: Realist vs. Idealist† Essay001. blogspot. com Retrieved September 26, 2012 from http://essay001. blogspot. com/2007/11/realism-vs-idealism. html ———————– 1] Hickman, Kennedy. World War I: The Fourteen Points. Retrieved on September 26, 2012 from http:// militaryhistory. about. com/od/worldwari/p/World-War-I-The-Fourteen-Points. htm [2] Essay Mania. com. Woodrow Wilson-The Idealist Essay. Retrieved on September 26, 2012 from http://essaymania. com/110139/woodrow-wilson-the-idealist [3] Essay001. blogspot. com. Paper Analysis: Realist vs. Idealist. Retrieved on September 26, 2012 from http://essay001. blogspot. com/2007/11/realism-vs-idealism. html

Benito Cereno by Herman Melville

In â€Å"BÐ µnito CÐ µrÐ µno† by HÐ µrman MÐ µlvillÐ µ, thÐ µ author offÐ µrs a warning about thÐ µ dangÐ µrs of slavÐ µry, and thÐ µ futurÐ µ problÐ µms slavÐ µry could causÐ µ AmÐ µrica. By tÐ µlling thÐ µ story of a slavÐ µ rÐ µvolt on a Spanish ship, MÐ µlvillÐ µ shows how prÐ µjudicÐ µs affÐ µct a pÐ µrson’s pÐ µrcÐ µption of thÐ µ world around him. Through writing most of thÐ µ story from thÐ µ viÐ µwpoint of thÐ µ main charactÐ µr, Captain Amasa DÐ µlano of Duxbury, MassachusÐ µtts, MÐ µlvillÐ µ dÐ µmonstratÐ µs how prÐ µjudicÐ µs can limit onÐ µÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s pÐ µrspÐ µctivÐ µ and undÐ µrstanding.Although Captain DÐ µlano is an honÐ µst and kind pÐ µrson, hÐ µ cannot pÐ µrcÐ µivÐ µ thÐ µ world rÐ µalistically bÐ µcausÐ µ hÐ µ bÐ µliÐ µvÐ µs that blacks arÐ µ nothing morÐ µ than propÐ µrty. Captain DÐ µlano’s inability to rÐ µcognizÐ µ his prÐ µjudicÐ µs or to lÐ µarn from his Ð µxpÐ µrià  µncÐ µ in thÐ µ slavÐ µ rÐ µvolt makÐ µ him a symbol of what MÐ µlvillÐ µ fÐ µars will happÐ µn to AmÐ µrica. ThÐ µ story opÐ µns in thÐ µ Ð µarly morning of August 1799, off thÐ µ coast of ChilÐ µ, aboard an AmÐ µrican sÐ µaling ship callÐ µd thÐ µ BachÐ µlor’s DÐ µlight and undÐ µr thÐ µ command of Captain Amasa DÐ µlano.MÐ µlvillÐ µ dÐ µscribÐ µs DÐ µlano as a bÐ µnÐ µvolÐ µnt optimist who has a â€Å"singularly undistrustful good naturÐ µÃ¢â‚¬  and doÐ µs not likÐ µ to bÐ µliÐ µvÐ µ that man is capablÐ µ of Ð µvil. HowÐ µvÐ µr, DÐ µlano is also dÐ µscribÐ µd as a blunt thinkÐ µr and a simplÐ µ man incapablÐ µ of irony. WhilÐ µ DÐ µlano is dÐ µscribÐ µd as such a dÐ µfinitÐ µ thinking pÐ µrson, MÐ µlvillÐ µ dÐ µpicts thÐ µ morning as unclÐ µar and blurrÐ µd. ThÐ µ sÐ µa is fillÐ µd with a gray mist and thÐ µ color of thÐ µ sky, watÐ µr and birds all sÐ µÃ µm gray. Thus, thÐ µ rÐ µadÐ µr knows that thÐ µ indÐ µfinitÐ µnÐ µss of thÐ µ day and its hazinÐ µss will confusÐ µ DÐ µlano and prÐ µvÐ µnt him from sÐ µÃ µing clÐ µarly.Finally, thÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ of shadows adds furthÐ µr mystÐ µry to thÐ µ morning, which MÐ µlvillÐ µ says, â€Å"forÐ µshadow dÐ µÃ µpÐ µr shadows to comÐ µ. † ThÐ µ oddnÐ µss of thÐ µ day continuÐ µd whÐ µn DÐ µlano spottÐ µd a ship without a flag, which usually indicatÐ µd that it was a piratÐ µ ship. However, based upon how the ship was badly navigating the waters along the coast, Delano presumed that it was a ship in distress. As a result, he decided to take the whale boat to investigate and help those on board. While Delano advanced toward the ship, Melville gives the first hint of how Delano’s prejudices keep him from being able to perceive the world properly.As Delano rowed toward the ship, he could not grasp the fact that it was a ship he was moving toward because he saw Negroes on the deck. At t he time, Negroes usually did not walk freely on decks, but were locked in the holds as slaves. Delano made excuses and thought the ship was impossible things, such as a monastery because he thought the black figures on deck were friars dressed in black robes. His prejudices about blacks prevented him from seeing even just simple things, including ships, accurately.Upon boarding the ship, Delano found it and its crew in horrible shape. While it was a very large and one-time fine vessel, it had become a horrendous ship looking like a funeral carriage. Barnacles encrusted the hulls and rust covered its once-fine features. The ropes were woolly and not tarred, and like â€Å"mourning weeds† sea grass swept over the engraved name of the ship, San Dominick. Melville writes that Delano’s actions were an attempt to â€Å"ignore the symptoms, to get rid of the malady,† like someone trying forget about seasickness by walking around the ship.While Delano prepared to leave after his men brought back supplies, Delano invited Cereno to return with him to his ship, but Cereno refused. Delano was offended by Cereno’s rudeness and chose to leave the San Dominick as soon as possible. However, Cereno chased after Delano and then tightly held Delano’s hand until they reached the whale boat. As Delano’s whale boat started to leave, Cereno leaped into it. Delano grabbed Cereno’s throat thinking that Cereno was going to kill him. Babo also jumped into the boat, and tried to kill Cereno with a hidden dagger.Delano, thinking Babo was protecting his master, blocked Babo and put his foot on Babo’s throat. Suddenly, Delano understood what all of the events on the ship meant and the â€Å"scales dropped from his eyes† when he saw the other slaves trying to attack the whale boat. During the attack by Babo, the canvas covering the masthead at the front of the ship unwrapped revealing Alexandro Aranda’s skeleton. Delano an d Cereno escaped to the Bachelor’s Delight with Babo as a prisoner. On board the ship, Delano finally learned about the revolt.The revolt of the slaves was led by Babo and their objective was to get back to their homeland, Senegal. The slaves violently killed many of the Spanish sailors, and after killing Alexandro Aranda, they hung his skeleton at the front of the ship. The slaves used the skeleton to warn the sailors that they would â€Å"follow their leader† if the sailors did not follow orders. After Delano heard Cereno’s story, Delano offered to give his sailors part of the Spanish cargo if they gained control of the San Dominick. The sailors boarded the Spanish ship, and killed most of the slaves.After the attack, the American sailors brought the captured slaves to the Bachelor’s Delight and shackled them to the deck. During the voyage to Lima, Peru, the sailors stabbed, killed and poked some of the slaves with knives as revenge for the revolt. At t he court trial held when they arrived in Lima, Cereno testified at his deposition and explained what had occurred during the revolt. Many of the slaves were found guilty, including Babo who had never spoken again after his capture, even at his execution. Following the trial, Delano and Cereno had a final conversation together.Cereno was disappointed with Delano because he could not comprehend Cereno’s signs warning of him of danger on the ship. Delano told Cereno to forget about what happened that day because he had already forgotten about his own errors. Thus, Delano forgot and did not learn from the experience. Delano also asked Cereno what was casting a shadow on him, and Cereno replied that it was the Negro. Cereno left Lima to become a monk and died three months later. Delano’s prejudices and clouded perspective led him to misperceive the behavior of the slaves.He believed that whites were the better race and that blacks were a completely different species, like a nimals, describing the Negroes like dogs and the Negresses like cheetahs and doves. He also believed that Negroes made good servants because of their natural calm and simple and limited thinking. Thus, while Delano thought Babo was very weak and stupid because of his size and race, he believed he was a loyal servant. However, Babo was really a strong leader because he planned and led the slave revolt.Furthermore the sweet and loving Negresses were really the most vicious people on the ship because Cereno, in his deposition, said that they wanted to torture and kill all of the sailors. Even when Delano saw the slaves abuse and stab the white sailors, he believed they were actually docile because he had read a book about a tribe of docile wild Africans. Therefore, Delano’s prejudices made him unable to believe that the slaves could revolt against white sailors. Melville depicted the cycle of violence of slavery as a warning of what could happen to America if it did not change i ts beliefs.Slavery is based on violence and the belief that a certain group of people are not human because of their race. The stern-piece of the ship symbolizes the cycle of violence that causes slavery. Spain originally used this symbol to show its power over the world. It is also symbolic of the slaves when they revolted and took over the ship because they violently killed the sailors in order to hold them down. Finally, Delano completed the cycle when he captured Babo, copying the symbol in real life. Spain, a once-great power, never stopped the cycle of slavery, and by 1799, it was falling apart like the San Dominick.America, in 1799, was the new world power that Melville feared would become like Spain if it did not end slavery. Melville’s fears were correct since slavery was the main cause of the American Civil War. However, Melville’s warning about prejudice still applies even today. â€Å"Benito Cereno† is a very complex short story with a very important message about slavery. The story has many sophisticated and symbolic points. This story is recommended for people who enjoy sailing and studying about America’s views during the early 1800’s.