Hearing Loss Attributed to the 21st Century use of Personal Music Player Essay Example for Free

Hearing Loss Attributed to the 21st Century use of Personal Music Player Essay In the recent few years leisure noise has become one of the threats to the hearing as it can reach high volumes and an increasing number of people are exposed. The danger is not only exposed by the music from the clubs but also it has been extended to the new generation of music players which are known to produce sounds at high volumes. Across Europe it is estimated that millions of people are using personal music players on a daily basis and in most of the cases these gadgets are being used inappropriately putting the user at a great risk of ear damage. This is a serious concern as the emerging technology may cause numerous problems to the people who are fond of using these entertainment gadgets. To add salt into the injury the users are exposing themselves to this particular danger for a long time as they are spending substantial time listening to music using ear phones. The amount of time one exposes to the sound of loud music from the personal music players increases the chances of hearing loss. The children and the youth are at risk as they have been noted to constitute the highest proportion of users. In this paper I will discuss the dangers involved in the use of personal music player and at the same time bring into the understanding who should be blamed for the hearing loss as a result of the constant use of these gadgets. Is it the makers of the personal music players or should we blame the users for putting their life at risk? A scientific study that was carried out for the European Union revealed that noise from the personal music players is a routine pollution for many people. It threatens permanent damage of the ear to as many as hundred million people in Europe and other parts of the world. The report indicated that those people who listened to the music for a continuous five hours per week on high volume were exposing themselves to high noise than it is allowed in the factory work places. This means that users of the personal music player who prefer to listen to their music on high volume are at a worse position than workers who are located in a noisy factory in an industrial hub. (Linkov,I and Steevens,J 2009 359) Experts argue that the maximum volume from these equipments can generate as much noise as an aero plane that is taking off. That kind of noise is enough to make a person have a quick and permanent hearing loss. The worst thing according to this report is that the users do not realize the problem until very late. This is the time when the damage has already been caused and nothing can be done about it. It is a very sad situation where a young person with bright future prospects losses his or her ability to hear at such an early age, it can be a very devastating experience but whom do we blame? Do we pass the buck to the manufacturer of these gadgets fro their neglect or do we blame the users for sometimes knowingly exposing themselves to dangers through their constant use of the music players. (Jameson,P and Romer,D 2008 347) The MP3 generation is headed for permanent hearing impairment in the cause of their lives. The youth are at the greatest risk as well as the older people too, in twenty seven countries across Europe it is estimated that fifty to a hundred million people out of five hundred people may be listening to a portable personal music player at any given time. Equivalents of five percent listeners who expose themselves to these new generation entertainment gadgets for more than one hour are at the greatest risk. These statistics have raised fears among some people prompting them to take some actions so as to avoid a future generation which has numerous problems which has been caused by things which can only be described as luxurious. In the year 2006 a man in Louisiana sued one of the manufacturing firms, The Apple claiming that this company had failed to take enough steps to prevent the problem of hearing loss among the users of one its popular product, the iPod. The suit which was filed in a federal district court in California city of San Jose claimed that iPod produces a sound which is as loud as one hundred and fifteen decibels when the maximum sound that is considered safe for listening is eighty five decibels. To this man the Apple Company was to blame for the problem that is threatening to have millions of deaf people in some years to come. I tend to disagree with his sentiments as it is clearly evident that the ipods sold by this company and many other manufacturer comes with a warning in the manual where the users are warned about the dangers they expose themselves into through playing the music in high volumes from their personal music players. It is blatantly clear that the users expose themselves to the risk of hearing loss through ignoring the warnings given by the manufacturers. The companies can not escape blame too, such warnings are printed using very tiny fonts such that not all the users might get a chance to read the small inscriptions which are usually placed on a page where the user might not even see. (Kirk,R and Mayshork,C 2007 73) The risk involved do not only come from ipods, the portable phones and personal stereos pose a similar problem as their earphones leads to a high sound exposure than any other type of a listening device. It has been stressed that young people who continue to expose themselves through listening to the high volume music from their music devices usually run into the risk of developing some hearing complications by the time they hit their twenties. Problems such as persistent tinnitus which is induced by high volume music has been reported common among the people in their youth and are constant users of the personal music devices. Despite this problem the same people continue using these devices. Therefore the problem squarely lies with the users, they are clearly aware of the risks involved, they have gone through numerous problems which have been as a result of their insatiable appetite for entertainment but they still continue to expose themselves to the risk. This can only be termed as deliberate move by these users to harm themselves and it is for this reason we can not blame the companies for the problems that are being experienced by the MP3 generation. The manufacturing firms only came to fill the gap that existed; they offer satisfaction to the people who are keen on entertainment especially when they are on move. They have clearly indicated the dangers one can expose him or herself to if the device is not used properly, that is if it is put on high volumes but the users choose to ignore such information for their personal reasons. (Tulchinsky,T and Varavikova,N 2000 285) The choices we make in life determine the direction we head, if we make the right ones we will always be on the right direction, if we happen to take the wrong choices as we mostly do then we are bound to blame others for the trouble we may get ourselves into later in our lives. It is extremely important for us to make the right decision as pertaining what we do as the opposite can lead to devastating effects. People have a choice of either buying a personal music player or any other similar device, they make a choice as to whether they will listen to the music high or low, it is basically a matter of choice. There is nothing about MP3 technology that can directly lead to hearing loss. It is the choice we make. For those users who choose to always put their devices at manageable and recommended sounds the problem of hearing impairment might not affect them but for those who choose to ignore the warnings given by the manufacturers, this problem will affect the rest of their lives. They just make a mistake of listening to the music on loud volumes for too long therefore exposing themselves to al manner of dangers associated with the noise. (Chan,S and Kwok,S 2003 34) The European Union is planning to regulate the volumes on personal music players and other stereos due to the fears that usage of these devices is causing the damage to the ears. This action has been precipitated by the findings of the scientific commission which was given a task of coming out with ways in to which this problem that is threatening the ability of million to hear can be tackled. In normal circumstances the personal music players are allowed to go up to one hundred decibels but when it used with an inbuilt headphones the sound can go up to one hundred and twenty. This is way above the recommended safe sound volumes which are close to eighty five. The recommended sound levels by the European Union committee are eighty, a figure which has been pointed out as safe enough to warrant any fears. This clearly points out that it is only a matter of educating the users on how they are supposed to go about listening to music using their sophisticated technology. If someone decided to ignore the message, he or she can not blame the manufacturing company for the problems that hearing problems which might occur later in life due to inappropriate use of the device (Linkov,I and Steevens,J 2009 359) For the sake of those who ignore the information given by the manufacturers, the makers of these devices should be advised to limit the volume levels so that they do not exceed the recommended limits. Though this might affect their sales it is the right thing to do as it will save those who have a problem following the given instructions. The company will in the short term suffer minimal losses but in the long term they will have more users as they will have expanded the markets as the effects of these devices to the ears will be minimal. The users will have won the confident of the music players as they have been set according to the standards which are considered safe for average use. (Davis,G 2004 40) The government can not limit the time a given person will spend on the personal music player. This is an individual choice; we spend as much time as we can get on these entertainment gadgets. Therefore it is up to the users to limit themselves as to how long they are going to be exposed . The user should ensure that they spend less time listening to the music through their devices to minimise the risk involved. All these points indicate that the manufacturing companies have no role to play as far as the usage of the personal music player is concerned. Their duty is to inform the users of the dangers involved through playing it loud and continuos exposure over a long period. The rest lies with the person using the gadget to decide how much time he or she is going to spend listening and on what volume they will get their music. If one decides to put his or her health at risk you can not turn at the company and blame it for the presonal problems which were as aresult of own volition. The government has the responsibility of ensuring that the manufacturing company follow the standards as far as making of the personal music players is concerned. This will go a long way in saving the users who are conscious about their health. The recommeded standards should include limiting the volume settings to a particular level which can not harm the user even if the decide to ignore the warnings. People need to take a responsibility as far as their actions are concerned. There is a need for every user to take precautiosn as far as usage of these devices is concerned. Inappropriate use can lead to devastatiting health effects which would have been prevented if the user was careful. Technology advancement has come to make our lives easier and more enjoyable. This can only be achieved if we use this technology appropriately,use of personal music player beyond the recommended sound volume can lead to seroius effects which are not related to the manufacturing. The user have all the responsibility to ensure that this piece of sophistication does not harm him or her rather it serves the right purpose which is entertainment. (Markel,G 2007 25) The manufacturing company should carry a warning on the users who violate the instructions which comes along with the product. They have a responsibility to save the end users from their own ignorance. They can do this through offering and sponsoring sessions where users get to be taught on the proper methods of handling these entertainment equipement. This can help save some people but the biggest part should be played by the end user,they must use the device responsbly so as to avoid complications that might be brought by high sound volumes besides the time spent listening to the music at the expense of other important actiivities such as studying. The sole responsbility of the hearing loss as a result of inappropriate use of the personal music player and other related devices lies squarely on the user. He or she has the ability to control its use and therefore ealding a healthy life. (Anderson,B 2004 103) Work Cited Tulchinsky,T and Varavikova,N The New Public Health:An Introduction for the 21st Century,Academic Press (2000) Linkov,I and Steevens,J Nanomaterials ,Spring Publishers (2009) Davis,G How to do Everything with your iPod and iPod Mini,Mac Graw Hill Professionals (2004) Chan,S and Kwok,S Culture and Humanity in the new Millenium:the Future of Human Value Chinese University Press (2003) Kirk,R and Mayshork,C Personal Health in Ecological Perspective,Mosby (2007) Markel,G Defeating the 8 Demons of Distraction,Geraldine Markel (2007) Jameson,P and Romer,D The Changing Portrayal of the Adloescents on the Media Since 1950,Oxford University Press (2008) Anderson,B Bringing Business to Life:Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility,ASQ Quality Publishers (2004)

The Costs and Benefits of Funding Military Research and Development Policy :: Papers

The Costs and Benefits of Funding Military Research and Development Policy The central issues when evaluating the overall the United States research and development policy are the characteristics of a public good. A public good by definition is one that has a zero marginal cost of providing the good an additional person and from which individuals cannot be excluded. Research and development policy contributes to the level of knowledge and technology of the entire country. Knowledge, is in most cases, a public good under the aforementioned definition. Giving knowledge to an additional individual does not take away from the total amount of knowledge available, and exclusion from knowledge is often difficult to maintain. A market failure is often associated with public goods, and knowledge is not an exception. Regarding knowledge, and specifically research and development, the market fails to provide this good at adequate levels. The government then steps in to attempt to correct this failure through its research and development funding policy. The following paper details the costs and benefits incurred through funding research and development specifically within the realm of national defense. National defense is also a public good. The government provides national defense to correct the reality that if left uninfluenced, the market will not provide national defense at an adequate level. The U.S. government funds research and development in the area of defense at a much greater level than any other. Background Major policy initiatives were undertaken during the Reagan and Bush administrations in order to research and develop technologies that would aid in the Cold War. This was the era of Reagan’s arms stockpiling that pushed the defense budget to nearly three times the amount it is today, maxing out at just over $800 billion. (Stiglitz, 332) Policymakers were concerned with creating weapons and technology that were more sophisticated than those of the Soviet Union. Programs such as the semiconductor research consortium, SEMATECH, the Defense department’s Technology Reinvestment Program (TRP) and the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grew out of these years all of which took advantage of defense funding to establish dual-use technologies, that is technologies with specific uses to both the civilian market and the military. In 1986, the Federal Technology Transfer Act was established to allow federal laboratories to conduct cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) with private firms. The Reagan and Bush era policies supported high technology research and development that related to both the civilian market and to the military.

A Memorable Experience: My Son’s Graduation Day

Memorable Experience Having children in my life make me feel more responsible. I have two children, teenagers, Elvis 17 years old and David 14 years old. My husband and I raise them with love and devotion but It comes a moment and we realize that they are growing up very fast. My younger son finished eight grade In Forest Middle School. Celebrating my son s graduation was a memorable experience for me. A good looking Is Important for this event. For examples, he was dressed In pants, and shirt, and tie. He looked Like a man.He Is taller than me and that It means too such for me because I m very short for him. And sure I was In perfect dress for that event, too. I bought a beautiful dress especially for that day. I invited my mother to be with us in that special day. The ceremony was so emotional. For instance, the principal speech was so emotional and encouraging the student for their future, so in the end of it everybody were in cheer. Another emotional moment was when one of the st udent sang the national anthem. She did it in perfect way and all the people liked it.And the third and important nominal moment was when I heard MO son ‘s name by the principal f the school who gave him the diploma. I was in tearful from emotions. His name was between honor students. He is such a nice child. He never gives me hard time during his life. My mother and I felt both proud of him. We took some pictures to memorize those moments, with teachers, who felt so proud for my son, and his friends and then we left. The party for graduated student is the cherry on cake. The party took place in a small bar. He did know nothing about it. The party was a surprise for him. Y younger sister was prepared the party. The adornments and lour balloons decorated the place. All my sisters and brothers with their husbands and wife with their children ,too, were there to help her and to celebrate with my family. There also were friends, and relatives, and neighbors, too. The drinks, the m usic, and the food were amazing. Everybody had fun that day. We danced and we sang Albanian music all late afternoon. To memorize those moments we did pictures and videos. Celebrating my son ‘s graduation was the most wonderful and amazing moment for my family especially for younger one.A Memorable Experience: My Son's Graduation Day By trendily with love and devotion but it comes a moment and we realize that they are growing up very fast. My younger son finished eight grade in Forest Middle School. Celebrating my son ‘s graduation was a memorable experience for me. A good looking is important for this event. For examples, he was dressed in pants, and shirt, and tie. He looked like a man.

The Hidden Purpose Of The Subway System - 1239 Words

What is the hidden purpose of the subway system which Jurgis helps to construct? The hidden purpose of the subway system which Jurgis helps to construct is to break the teamsters’ union. Because Jurgis got hit by one of the rail freight cars, he broke his arm and lost his job. 2. Find a passage in this chapter illustrating Jurgis’ opinion of the evangelists who preach to the poor. Which theme(s) does Jurgis’ opinion of the evangelists illustrate? â€Å"The evangelist was preaching ‘sin and redemption,’ the infinite grace of God and His pardon for human frailty. He was very much in earnest, and he meant well, but Jurgis, as he listened, found his soul filled with hatred. What did he know about sin and suffering---with his smooth, black coat†¦show more content†¦At this point in the story, Jurgis viewed that there is no place for him in this world. 2. Why might some readers find this chapter easier and more interesting to read than many of the other chapters in the story? Since Upton Sinclair illustrate the life of an affluent family like the Jones, this chapter is easier and more interesting to read than many of the other chapters in the story. In this chapter, the Jones’ family lived in luxurious castle with butlers and servants unlike previous chapters where Sinclair described the struggles of the factory workers. 3. Many critics believe this scene is written to delight Sinclair’s socialist friends. At the time it was written, readers would have easily recognized that the butler is named after Alexander Hamilton, who was Secretary of the Treasury, and that the dog is named after Admiral Dewey, who fought in the Spanish American War. Sinclair and the other socialists would have considered these two men to be perpetrators of the capitalist system, and ridiculing them in this scene would have been very amusing. Besides providing his readers with an amusing scene, what does Sinclair reveal about the changes in Jurgis’ character during this chapter? During this chapter, Sinclair reveal that capitalism bought out the worst in people especially Jurgis. After Jurgis migrate to America, he became an alcoholic, a violent and an adamant man. ForShow MoreRelatedSocial Medi The Power Of Context By Malcolm Gladwell1665 Words   |  7 PagesFacebook and video games) has increased tremendously in the 21st century, and its influence in daily lives has also affected young teenagers and their parents’ contemplation about violence. In the past, the function of social media was to discover hidden events and tell parents the right way to raise and educate their kids. However, in the 21st century, young teenagers can see violence on television shows, movies, YouTube, and Facebook as if fights, sexual conduct, injuries, drug use and deaths areRead MoreSubway Franchise Case Study2949 Words   |  12 PagesSubway Restaurant Overview Our organisational analysis focuses on Subway Corporation, a submarine sandwich Franchise which is the fastest growing fast food franchise in the world. The Subway headquarters is registered and operates in Connecticut USA. In 1965 Subway a private company owned by Fred Deluca set a goal of having 32 stores in 10 years. With only16 submarine sandwich shops operating in 1974, Mr. Delica realized that his goals were unachievable and decided to Franchise his storesRead MoreA Report on New York City Subway3654 Words   |  15 Pagesï » ¿Report on New York City Subway Abstract: The report investigates the issues pertinent to the New York Citys subway. The report focuses on such problems laying emphasis on rat problems and air pollution issues. The report provides background knowledge to help readers better understand the problems under consideration. A set of recommendations are given at the end of every section; recommendations that can be incorporated by the concerned authorities in order to curtail the aforementioned problemsRead MoreThe Mystery Of The Internet Essay1684 Words   |  7 Pagesthe case. who exactly is she? who set up the cameras in her apartment and why ? It is also unknown how she manages to survive on her own or what her source of income is. Markovian Parallax Denigrate In 1996, the Usenet ,a global message board system that started operation in 1980 was spammed with a series of messages that basically consisted of the most bizarre examples of word salad you can think of, always with the subject line, â€Å"Markovian Parallax Denigrate.† According to later accounts,Read MoreNyc : The Underground Heart Of The World2120 Words   |  9 Pageshave adopted the city as either their home or a ground for tourism. While NYC is technically a melting pot, the real melting of cultures occurs in the underground heart of the city: the subway system. NYC has 21 train lines and 3 shuttle trains that service over a billion commuters on a daily basis. The subway system makes it possible for anyone - whether you live in the city or not - to hop on a train and go wherever they desire. The 5 train, which is routed from Brooklyn to the Bronx (and visa versa)Read MoreTerrorism Is A Budding Problem1395 Words   |  6 Pagescracking into important computer terminals or networks for the purpose of disruption and chaos. Potential targets for cyberterrorism can be innumerable. Some of the ex-amples are, communication systems, defense systems, medical facilities, power grids, transporta-tion, and a lot more. The FBI’s definition â€Å" the use of cyber tools to shut down critical national infrastructures (such as energy, transportation, or government operations) for the purpose of co-ercing or intimidating a government or civilian population†Read MoreSuccessful Factors Of Subways Business Marketing Essay9310 Words   |  38 Pageshttp://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/successful-factors-of-subways-business-marketing-essay.php http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/franchise.aspx http://www.germann.co.nz/franchising/franchising-in-New-Zealand.html http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-franchise-businesses.html royalty fees – http://businessecon.org/2013/04/franchise-fee-royalty-fee-license-and-marketing-fee-franchise-agreement-terminology/ http://www.franchise.org/part-6 http://emarket.franchise.org/FRCSupportHandbook.pdfRead MorePizza Fuel : The First Burger Fuel2892 Words   |  12 Pagesmalt shakes and its own branded ice cream (Frostbite). In this year the Burger Fuel Worldwide announced a partnership with California-based franchisor OH Cal Foods as part of its plan to break into the US market. OH Cal Foods services more than 2100 Subway restaurant outlets in the United States. Its share price immediately lept 21% on the news. Performance of Burger fuel: The Burger fuel have running their business very well in the market. In line with our stated objectives and previous market guidanceRead MoreMcdonalds Fuel : The First Burger Fuel2889 Words   |  12 Pagesmalt shakes and its own branded ice cream (Frostbite). In this year the Burger Fuel Worldwide announced a partnership with California-based franchisor OH Cal Foods as part of its plan to break into the US market. OH Cal Foods services more than 2100 Subway restaurant outlets in the United States. Its share price immediately lept 21% on the news. Performance of Burger fuel: The Burger fuel have running their business very well in the market. In line with our stated objectives and previous market guidanceRead MoreFossil Fuels : A New Form Of Energy2059 Words   |  9 PagesImagine New York City right now with all its bright lights, crowded streets full of cars, and amazing architecture such as skyscrapers and subway systems. Now let a few decades go by and take away fossil fuels, what is left now? A dark city with empty streets littered by useless vehicles and empty buildings and tunnels. Why did all of this change and why was this simple form of energy removed? That is because at the current rate of consumption fossil fuels will not last more than a few decades, plunging

Overview of Minimum Wage in Canada

When Canadas federal minimum wage laws governing all 10 provinces and three territories were eliminated in 1996, the minimum hourly wage rates for experienced adult workers were set by the provinces and territories themselves. These minimum wage rates have periodically changed, and the new minimum wage laws usually take effect in either April or October.   Exceptions to Canadas Minimum Wage Some circumstances circumvent the general minimum wage, applying different minimums to some workers. In Nova Scotia, for example, employers can pay an inexperienced minimum wage to workers for the first three months of employment if they have less than three months prior experience in a field; that wage is 50 cents lower than the general minimum wage. Similarly, in Ontario, the minimum wage for students is 70 cents less than the general minimum wage. Different work situations affect the minimum wage in some provinces, too. In Quebec, the minimum wage for all workers who receive tips is $9.45, which is $1.80 less than the minimum wage of general workers, and the minimum wage for liquor servers in British Columbia is $9.60, more than $1 lower than the general minimum wage. Manitoba has separate minimum wages for security guards ($13.40 per hour in October 2017) and construction workers, whose pay depends on the type of work and experience. Liquor servers in Ontario earn $1.50 less than the minimum wage but home workers earn $1.20 more. Minimum Weekly and Monthly Wages Not all occupations are covered by the general hourly minimum wage. Alberta, for example, passed a three-stage wage increase for sales workers, from $486 per week in 2016 to $542 per week in 2017 and $598 per week in 2018. The province did the same with live-in domestic workers, raising the 2016  wage from $2,316 per month to $2,582 per month in 2017, and to $2,848 per month in 2018. Examples of Minimum Wage Increases in Canada Most provinces have periodically revised minimum wage rates since Canadas federal mandates were eliminated. For example, in 2017 Saskatchewan tied its minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index, which adjusts for the costs of goods and services, and plans to announce on June 30 each year any change to the minimum wage, which will then take effect on Oct. 1 of the same year. In the first fiscal year of this plan, the 2016 minimum wage of $10.72 was raised to $10.96 in 2017. Other local governments have scheduled similar increases based on other criteria. Alberta scheduled its $12.20 rate to rise to $13.60 on Oct. 1, 2017, the same date Manitoba ($11 to $11.15), Newfoundland ($10.75 to $11) and Ontario ($11.40 to $11.60) scheduled minimum wage rate hikes. Province General Wage More Employment Standards Alberta $13.60 Alberta Human Services BC $10.85 B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Manitoba $11.15 Manitoba Family Services and Labour New Brunswick $11.00 New Brunswick Employment Standards Newfoundland $11.00 Labour Relations Agency NWT $12.50 Education, Culture and Employment Nova Scotia $10.85 Labour and Advanced Education Nunavut $13.00 Ontario $11.60 Ministry of Labour PEI $11.25 Environment, Labour and Justice Quebec $11.25 Commission des normes du travail Saskatchewan $10.96 Saskatchewan Labour Standards Yukon $11.32 Employment Standards

Tomie Depaola s Stories.he - 993 Words

Tomie dePaola was born on September 15,1934 in Meriden, Connecticut.He is a very important person in the children’s book stories.He is very famous from illustrating a science book after he graduated from college . He grew up with his father and mother, Joseph and Florence(Downey)DePaola, and his brother and sisters Joseph Jr.,Judie, and Maureen.He developed love for books because his mother loved books and read to all of his siblings and also him too.At the age four he told everybody that he wanted to write books and draw pictures and sing and tap dance on stage.Drawing and dancing continued to interest him during his school years. He and his dance partner Carol Morrissey performed throughout Meriden and other places also. After he graduated from high school he went to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York Where his twin cousins previously attended art school. He said â€Å"spent four years learning how to draw everything-tin cans,dogs,cats,horses,trees,horses,trees-and I pr acticed and practiced.†He didn t get a contract right out of school. His first book was to illustrate a science book called Sound. A year later he wrote and illustrated his book called The Wonderful Dragon Of Timlin. That was his first book and it was a long time ago(40 years ago). He nearly illustrated 250 books and written 100 of those books. His studio is attached to a 200 year old renovated barn in New London, Hampshire.All of his books are translated in 25 different languages.He has a lot of awards for

Flight Of The Phoenix Essay Example For Students

Flight Of The Phoenix Essay Flight of the Phoenix is a movie that displays the dynamics of a group in terms of power, decision-making, communication, group roles, group atmosphere and norms, and leadership in the group. The movies story line follows a diverse group of oil workers, military men, a doctor, a pilot and a navigator among others that sets out on a rickety plane to cross the Arabian Desert. Not long into the flight the plane is caught between two sand storms and is blow off course. The plane in forced to crash land and a few passenger die. The severity of the situation that the men find themselves in forces them to form a group. The newly formed group confronts several challenges, tasks and goals immediately after they find themselves stranded in the desert with limited resources. The members begin to adopt specific group roles, as well as follow various stages of group development. One theory of group development explains how new groups do not immediately function as highly effective teams until they have gone through various stages of development. These stages are given mnemonic names that are as easy to understand, as they are to remember; the names of the stages are, Forming, Storming, Norming, and Preforming. FormingThe decision making process in the forming stage of a group is usually manifest by caution, confusion, courtesy, and commonality. These characteristics may vary throughout the group depending on their intimacy and the influence of the leader. These characteristics were truly apparent in Flight of the Phoenix. When the airplane crash-landed in the scorching and searing desert confusion erupted, passengers fled for safety. In a confused and puzzled manner, members of this bewildered group huddled under the wing of the mother plane seeking refuge and direction from their grand captain, the pilot Frank Towns. The decisions initially made at this climax rooted the first seeds of the groups orientation and eventually forming. Initially they unofficially made Towns their leader. In this early choice many were cautious but willing, most just showed a common courtesy to his position as pilot and followed, while others like the military captain Harris, in a heroic effort, seized his chance to demonstrate differently. Each individual decision made on behalf of the member influence the final effectiveness of the organization. StormingWhile stranded in the desert the group underwent a phase in their group dynamics in which confrontation, disagreement, and criticism arose. This is particularly evident in the way they communicated among each other. Furthermore, the expectations of the group members were also questioned when the shift of leadership went from the pilot Towns to an airplane designer named Dorfman. This challenging phase proved to beneficial because it provided greater cohesiveness and brought them closer to their ultimate goal of survival. A falling out transpired when the military sergeant named Watson was unable to communicate his aversion for the army to his commanding officer, Captain Harris. As Captain Harris was forming an exploration team Watson faked a leg injury to disqualify him from the group. This nonverbal communication alerted every one of Watsons feelings about being treated as a subordinate. This eventually led to a verbal argument that dichotomized Watson and Captain Harris. This challenge to Captain Harris role as the authoritative military man is a common occurrence during the storming phase. The major confrontation occurred when two individuals struggled for the leadership position. The pilot Towns originally filled the leadership role, and had the duty of the principal organizer and figurehead of the group. Everyone looked to him for direction. He took on the role because of his superior knowledge of aircraft accidents and the group trusted him to provide a way for their rescue. However, the real reason for Towns leadership was because he felt personal responsibility for the crash of the plane. Later we saw a dramatic shift in leadership when airplane designer Dorfman came up with a plan to rebuild a plane and then fly them to safety. This made an abrupt transfer in the decision making process from Towns to Dorfman as the leader. It became necessary for the success of the group that Towns publicly recognized Dorfman as leader. Much to Towns chagrin he did so and let Dorfman believe he was in control of the rescue operation. This situation proved to be stimulating becaus e it provided a greater commitment to survival. .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 , .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .postImageUrl , .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 , .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:hover , .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:visited , .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:active { border:0!important; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:active , .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6 .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u24d58b01487851c787881209805419d6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Body Images in the Media EssayNormingThe norming stage of group development is characterized by the division of tasks and responsibilities among the various members of the group. This division differentiates each group member according to his or her skills and abilities, allowing each member to have a specific group role. The adoption of group roles was apparent in the Flight of the Phoenix, as each group member fulfilled a unique responsibility. For example, Dorfmans group role as airplane engineer was fulfilled as he devised a plan to recreate an airplane and instructed the other group members as to how his plan was to be carried out. The role of Towns friend, Lew, was t o act as go-between for Dorfman and Towns, encouraging each to lay aside individual differences and to embrace the skills the other possessed to effectively pursue their common goal of survival. Conflict can result in the norming stage as individual group members violate implicit group norms as they differentiate themselves from others. These norms are commonly held beliefs of group members about appropriate conduct in social situations, dress, performance, and reciprocity. Other members of the group may punish the violator by mockery, abandonment, or physical force to bring the violator into conformity with the commonly accepted norms of the group. Social norms are designed to create a pleasant group atmosphere. One of the most explicit violations of this group norm occurs when Sergeant Watson refused to accompany Captain Harris to meet the Arabic nomads. Sergeant Watsons blatant refusal of Captain Harris requests violated the groups perception of submission of subordinates to military leaders. This refusal disrupted the quasi-pleasant group atmosphere and replaced it with tension. Dress codes, or formal dress standards, are also powerful expressions of group norms. Violation of this code is often punished by mockery by the group. An example of dress code violation occurs when Dorfman comes out of the airplane soon after it crashed wearing a makeshift headdress to protect his face. Other members of the group exchange knowing looks and make snide remarks regarding his choice of attire. Performance norms also exist with in a group, which guide individual efforts as to how fast each member should work and how much each member should produce. Conflict resulted in the movie as Dorfman felt the other members of the group had violated performance norms by not working as long and hard at rebuilding the airplane as he had. By taking more than his allotted ration of water, Dorfman, felt he was justly compensated for his work, thus demonstrating the concept of reward allocation norms, which governs how rewards are allocated among members of a group. PerformingWhos in charge, hollered Dorfman after another conflict about priorities. An exhausted, irritated, and extremely thirsty Towns replied, You are Dorfmann, you are. This demonstrated that the leadership and power struggle was finally dissipating. The men were entering the final stage of group development, Performing. They recognized their daily struggle for survival required each distinct member of the group; someone to push, someone to pull, someone to drive, someone to unscrew and tighten the bolts, and someone to calculate the procedure. Each job was weighted equally due to the sequential process. Dorfmans ability to design was useless without a pilot, which was useless without the manpower to put it together. Each group member depended on the other group members for their survival. This cohesiveness created a new commitment to the group. They began to have more in common than the goal for survival and escape; they all adopted and truly believed the new plane was their only chance. They felt needed and useful, which motivated them to keep going. They learned to collaborate as a group, and suddenly annoying individual differences often went overlooked. Even the intriguing discovery that airplane designer Dorfmans past experience was limited to model airplanes didnt break or crack the group. They had reached the Performing stage, where tasks were effectively accomplished. The group now looked towards a higher goal. This ability to collaborate allowed them to achieve exceptional results and fly, in their makeshift airplane, to the nearest oasis. This proves that even in catastrophic situations groups can achieve extraordinary results if they overcome differences, adopt group goals, communicate, and work as a team. .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 , .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .postImageUrl , .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 , .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:hover , .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:visited , .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:active { border:0!important; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:active , .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29 .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5219f8413c9ce244f2283bd747b98d29:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The EverChanging American Culture EssayConclusionThe surviving passengers of the plane crash came rapidly together as a group, despite its diversity. Because of the central goal of all members to survive the group moved through all development stages rapidly, ultimately to achieve their goal. Throughout all the stages of group development the goal of survival drove the diverse members to cohesiveness and teamwork. In the end the group became very effective in achieving their goal of building a new airplane to fly them to safety, mostly because of group cohesiveness (through a common goal) and in part due to the fact that the conflicts that risked the entire project were smoothed out by peacemakers and were ignored until the goal of saving themselves was achieved.