A Protracted Struggle Ahead For Iraq - 2480 Words

In my current event article, Carter, Tawfeeq and Alkhshali show dissenting views between Iran s Leader Khamenei, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on the conflict in Iraq, where Khamenei blames the conflict on extremist and remnants of Husseins military and Kerry blames Iraq’s sectarian rule. Through academic journals and news articles I will show the sectarian policies enforced by Maliki s rule caused political instability and military and governmental weakness that generated the extremist ideologies in which fuel the ISIS advances. In Bill Ardolino and Bill Roggio’s analysis: â€Å"A protracted struggle ahead for Iraq,† they describe the factors that generated opportunities for Isis rapid advances, including a politically†¦show more content†¦As late as 2012 during the Sunni protests, many protestors distanced themselves from ISIS. According to Abu Risha, they have been fighting Al Qaeda in Anbar for the past six months, but need Americas support. ISIS military campaign was devoted to the assassinations of the Sunni leaders that fought against them, so they could eliminate the leaders who could continue to rally Iraqi Sunnis against ISIS. As a result, the mainstream Sunni nationalist and ISIS agendas are greatly divided, which will soon manifest itself into greater conflict as it currently does in Syria. ISIS is as strong as it has ever been with thousands of jihadists freed from Iraq’s jails, half a billion dollars looted from Mosul’s banks, and is flushed with internation al support and recruits, which makes the Sunni-on-Sunni struggle in ISIS held territory harder to uproot terrorist organizations in the territory it has acquired without outside assistance and organization. This struggle will become a sectarian war as according to Ardolino and Roggio, without quick political accommodation and direct Western intervention, the conflict could slip into â€Å"the sectarian ghettoization and murder that characterized the worst years of the Iraq War.† (Ardolino; Roggio) This sectarian divide is inflamed by Iranian

Abnormal Psychology Abuse, Addiction, Disorders Free Essays

Psychological Disorder Analysis ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: ABUSE, ADDICTION, DISORDERS Psy 270 Jalisa Cooper February 4, 2012 Final paper Psychological Disorder Analysis Psychological disorders can be very debilitating for those who suffer from them. Psychological disorders affect a person’s ability to function normally in their daily lives. In regards to the case study of Nicole the patient Nicole is a 40-year-old Hispanic female who comes to the mental health clinical complaining of trouble sleeping, feeling â€Å"jumpy† all of the time, and experiencing an inability to concentrate. We will write a custom essay sample on Abnormal Psychology: Abuse, Addiction, Disorders or any similar topic only for you Order Now These symptoms are causing problems for her at work, where she is a finance manager. Though the information in regards to Nicole is very limited and difficult to analyze, however the symptoms suggest that Nicole may be suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be difficult to diagnose and the symptoms are often unrecognizable. Posttraumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which can develop from having experienced a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Like many anxiety disorder they may cause jumpy and sleepless behavior depending on the anxiety disorder the individual may have. Traumatic disorders can be triggered by stress or any other event that may cause the individual to develop anxiety related symptoms. A traumatic event might be military combat experience, violent personal attacks, or even car accidents. Post-traumatic disorders can be triggered by something in their past that be generated from something major or insignificant. While Nicole’s profile within the case study does not state the existence of a traumatic event throughout her past or present life, however I can only assume that she many have experienced something in her past that may have been triggered by stress at work or another aspect in her life. It is common for the individual to withhold this information as it may be extremely difficult for them to relive the event because it may be too traumatic. Victims that may have experienced an event such as rape or car accident resulting in death or severe injuries may not experience symptoms at the moment of the event however they may develop symptoms shortly or later after the event once it is triggered by stress or other traumatic events. Being that the case study did not present a in depth history on Nicole I would attempt to gather information form the patient such as â€Å"Have you experienced a traumatic event recently or in your past? † This would be to gather information about the patient to that I can pin point the origin of what is causing her symptoms. The case study regarding Nicole mentions that she is a 40-year old woman that is suffering from a great deal of symptoms. According to the Demographics of â€Å"Faces of Abnormal Psychology Interactive: for Post-traumatic stress disorder†, middle age adults are more adversely affected than older and younger adults. In addition she is a Hispanic woman meaning for whatever disorder it is important to take into consideration her culture in treating her conditions. The DSM-IV states one of the criteria of Post-traumatic stress disorder is increased levels of arousal including insomnia, irritability, and hyper vigilance. People with these disorders may feel overly alert, be easily startled, develop sleep problems, and have trouble concentrating† (Comer, 2005). When suffering from PTSD and individual may begin to display symptoms of avoidance of any stimuli that is in anyway related or associated with the traumatic event. These methods many even include avoidance of thoughts, feelings and activities associated with are resemble the event. As stated in the case study Nicole mentioned that she is having complications with getting to sleep or in general getting the significant amount of sleep needed to maintain her energy level throughout the day. Through her lack of sleep she is experiencing difficulty concentrating at her work facility, where her position requires a focused mind and attentiveness. She also experiences the feeling of being jumpy frequently throughout the day which relates to being easily startled or paranoid due to a past experience in relation to her current stress levels. She may have experienced something in her past that is being stimulated by her events she participate in during the day causing her to flash back to that moment and relive this event. It is common for individuals that suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder to experience a sequence of involuntary flashbacks through thoughts and even dreams, which may also be an additional reason for Nicole’s lack of rest during the night. She may be involuntarily reliving her traumatic experience due to stress in her life preventing her to obtain the proper rest that she needs to function at work. The case study failed to explain her social life and the relationships she may have with others thus it does explain her detachment to her work assignments and her lack of focus to stay on task. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms reflect emotional detachment from friends and family causing them to be unable to express loving feelings for them. Post- traumatic stress disorder individuals become hyper-vigilant which could cause them to become chronically un-alert to the things and events around them rendering them unresponsive. Which is another symptom that Nicole the case study patient displays throughout her explanation of her working abilities, she displays a lack of concentration to the tasks at hand and jumpy feeling all the time. Those that suffer from this disorder may often become startled easily and suffer from difficulty of sleeplessness. Those individuals with PTSD often develop other disorder such as depression; substance related disorders as well as anxiety disorders. Meaning those that suffer from severe Post-traumatic stress disorders may often result to substance abuse and may of their symptoms may be influenced by the usage of these substances causing their condition to seem more extreme. As well as depression and anxiety disorders can in addition contribute to the symptoms PTSD raising the impact of each symptom to a higher level depending on the severity of each disorder. Many times individuals are misdiagnosed because of the commonality of symptoms between disorders. Studies have shown that 60% of adult men today have experience a traumatic even, whereas 51% of adult women have experience a traumatic event at least once in their life. It is common for many individuals that experience traumatic events sometime throughout their life to not be affected by these events. Of 50% of American that experience a traumatic event of any kind, only approximately 8% of them eventually experience Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms later in life. It is suggested that each event is different in their own way as well as has different impacts on each individual. There are factors that predict ones vulnerability of Post-traumatic stress disorder which would revolve around the nature of the event the individual experienced. The DSM-IV states the severity of the traumatic event in one of the leading factors that help predict whether an individual may be susceptible to later suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder. The severe traumatic events that are more likely to induce PTSD are the events that are prolonged traumas that often affect ones family or self directly. Secondly the more likely trauma suffer that was experiencing pre-existing anxiety symptoms long before the severe traumatic event occurred is more likely to later develop Post- traumatic stress disorder symptoms. This is because the individual has already reached a point in their life that cause them to become worrisome making them unable to handle the pressures of a traumatic event of severe magnitude without having and episodes. These individuals are unstable to cope with whatever change this event has brought on causing them to develop additional anxiety disorders. Those individuals that have a history of mental illness are way more likely to experience PTSD symptoms. Third the individuals coping techniques play a large role in ones predictability of developing symptoms of PTSD. Traumatic events can take a toll on anyone and any magnitude of the event however ones predictability of developing PTSD is based on ones ability to cope with the tragic event. The individuals that lack the ability to move past the event often fall victim to this disorder. Those that dwell on the details of the event are at higher risk as well as those who refuse to discuss the events at all cost. Some events such as witness to death, accidents resulting in death and disastrous events could cause one to reframe communicating and expressing their feelings about the events. By reframing from acknowledging such event has occurred I could cause a mental break. Finally support is an important factor when it comes to dealing with traumatic events much like any other disorder. Those that have a lack of support from friends, family, counseling or event therapy tend to be more susceptible to the developing the symptoms of PTSD. The lack of a support network is does not allow the individual to express their problems to someone that can understand or relate. And sufferer of a post-traumatic event needs to be able to reflect and vent some other emotions to someone close. They have to be a be to feel the support and encouragement of loved ones to keep them motivated to work through whatever they are experiencing. There have been a set of therapies to design to address this disorder to properly treat the symptoms. The three primary goals in theory are reducing the individual’s fear of provoking stimuli. This means that therapy will assist the individual in reducing the fear or unwillingness to address and confront activities and thoughts that trigger the traumatic event. Secondly, assisting the patient in modifying counterproductive thoughts, and lastly reducing stress are method used in therapy to assist the patient progress pass this event. The method of be reducing the individual’s fear of provoking stimuli are done through systematic desensitization, which is when an individual unlearns their fear thus reversing the classical conditioning process and eliminating the cause of them requiring the fear initially. The first phase is relaxation training of each muscle in the body while allowing the patient to then trained to calm themselves. The second phase is list of fear provoking stimuli descending from least threating and uncomfortable to more threating fears. The third phase us the desensitization phase where the patient is slightly provoke to introduce those thoughts or stimuli while remaining calm. It is often done through imagined stimuli and then they may introduce actual stimuli to the patient. In addition to this method therapist may use cognitive techniques which challenge ones irrational beliefs and unhealthy thoughts. Reference Comer, R. J. (2005). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (4th ed. ). New York: Worth. Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology Faces of Abnormal Psychology Interactive application at the McGraw Hill Higher Education Web site: http://www. mhhe. com/socscience/psychology/faces/http://www. mhhe. com/socscience/psychology/faces/# Melinda Smith, M. A. , and Jeanne Segal, Ph. D. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, AND SELF-HELP, (2011), Retrieved February 4, 2012, http://www. helpguide. org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment. htm Resources: Appendix A, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, and the Faces of Abnormal Psychology Interactive application at the McGraw Hill Higher Education Web How to cite Abnormal Psychology: Abuse, Addiction, Disorders, Essay examples

Fine Arts Essay Example For Students

Fine Arts Essay Although different pieces of art come from different eras and different artists, what makes a composition fine art is its ability to evoke emotions in the viewer. These emotions can range from misery to ecstasy and everything in between. Conversely, if there are no feelings experienced by the majority viewers, no matter if theyre positive or negative, than that piece does not fit into the genre of fine art. The great thing about genuinely fine art is the fact that the experience of emotion is absolutely subjective. It is true that a work of art has a certain message embodied in it and an intended emotional response; however, with fine art the experience is different from person to person. Great artistic compositions do trigger similar responses in the viewer; yet, each individual has their own unique interpretation of the meaning and orientation of feelings towards the piece. No matter how similar or different these results are, none of them are the same. Out of all the amazing creations at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, four paintings stand out among them all. These are Paul Cezannes Bottom of the Ravine, Paul Gauguins Arearea II, Vincent van Goghs The Rocks, and Georges Seurats Young Woman Powdering Herself. What makes these painting prominent idols of attraction is the fact that they are so simple, yet they convey a deep meaning. And like all fine art each viewer has their own personal perception and reaction to these paintings, perhaps because of their uncomplicated surface appearance. What all of these compositions have in common is that they all depict natural occurrences. Whether or not the events and the contents are based on something or a scene that actually did exist is irrelevant. What matters is that these paintings are composed of images and settings which actually can exist or could have existed. This elicits a personal connection between the viewer and these fine arts since what they are viewing is something that is actually tangible rather than surreal and abstract. Paul Cezanne was a painter of the Post- Impressionism era which was a further extension of Impressionism with fewer boundaries; yet, both of these styles contained images that can exist in the real world. The major difference the distinguishes these two different styles of painting is that Impressionism strives to achieve a photographic type of quality (just an example of the degree of which these paintings resembled real life since cameras were not yet invented), whereas Post-Impressionism does indeed contain elements that do exist in life but with a less rigid attempt to depict how the images would appear in real life. Thus, Post-Impressionism is less limited by precision yet composes life-like scenes. This gives these paintings an almost cartoon like appearance. This era is also distinguished from symbolism in that symbolism is more of a reflection of ideas. Paul Cezanne was the genius behind the composition Bottom of the Ravine. This painting fits perfectly into the scheme of Post-Impressionism as it displays a mountainside, a life-like image, but in a loose cartoon-like fashion. This is done by using fewer colors and shades than would actually appear on a real mountain and also having each color distinguished from its surroundings rather than blending together as it would naturally occur. The main subject in this piece is the mountain that is prominent because of its large size and the fact that it is the dominant figure with all the other objects, which are trees, existing on it and the background, the sky, being the only thing contrasting with it. The sky is far too plain to be the subject of the painting and each trees is too undistinguished to be the subject; yet the fact that it contrasts with the mountain causes it to play a vital role in this work in that it brings out the green shrubbery and the mountain as a whole. The colors are shades mainly of blues, yellows, and greens. They were applied with blotted strokes and dabs, but they come together in such a way that the scene as a whole gives an invigorating, refreshing, and happy feel all while having a three-dimensional appearance. This is done by the natural setting of the mountain being uninterrupted by people and all the colors together giving a refreshing natural feel; the pure blue sky especially ccontributes to this overall feel. This painting was actually based on something that did exist. Paper Persuasive EssayThe emotions evoked by this painting are negative even though most of the colors are bright. This is because the subject has a lot of dark in it especially at its core. Also the tree is being swayed by the wind when nothing else is. This tree represents strength and sturdiness and the fact that it is being swayed by the wind indicated that it is not serving its function. The weaker, less significant foliage is remaining stagnant and since this is so, it makes the meaning clear absolute strength and power can easily become corrupt. The last artist who had painted one of the most fabulous works of art in all of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, is Georges Seurat. The title of his painting is Young Woman Powdering Herself. This painting also belongs to the Post-Impressionism era and it fits its characteristics perfectly. First off, it is composed of something that could have really happened. Secondly, the colors are lacking the necessary shades that would allow this painting to actually look real. The subject of the painting is an attractive woman holding a powder puff. She has very large and round breasts which contribute to her attractiveness. She seems very upset as she is applying her makeup. The colors in this work are very light and are pastel colors. There are different shades that do blend together but it is the fact that they are so faded and pastel-like that causes this painting to seek unreal in its appearance. The painting is composed of tiny little dots that come together to make the painting as a whole and allow the painting to look solid from a distance; this is the same effect a television set has. The fact that the woman is so upset while she is putting on her makeup, gives the sense that she does not want to be objectified any longer. Obviously she is getting ready to go somewhere and with somebody and she feels obliged to have to do this. This causes the viewer to feel a strong sense of compassion and sympathy for the subject. The light colors also play a part in this feel in that they are faded just as this womans dignity is. These paintings have their similarities and differences. They are similar in that they all come from the same era and for this reason and because they have the same basic characteristics of this time period. The Bottom of the Ravine is similar to The Rocks in that they both have a mountainous setting; however, both of these works are different from the other two works because they lack people as subjects. Furthermore, besides the similarity that they both contain people, Arearea II is drastically different than Young Woman Powdering Herself since the former has a handful of people in it, dark colors, and a happy theme whereas the latter has only one person in it, light colors, and a sad theme. Whatever a critiques taste in art is, they can surely appreciate any work that makes them feel something. These four paintings are rich with emotional undertones causing the viewer to have a certain attachment to these works. Because of their quality of evoking emotion in the individual experiencing the painting, these four compositions are clearly samples of fine art.