The Paperless(?) Office :: essays research papers

The Paperless(?) Office 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the paperless office?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many advantages to having a paperless office. One advantage is that companies are able to greatly reduce the amount of paper that they use. Not only does this help the environment, it helps cut costs within the organization. Companies are also able to improve service through implementing the paperless office. This is because communication is immediate and does not get lost in a pile of papers on someone's desk. A paperless office can also save the company money. This can be seen in the example of Washington Mutual Savings Bank of Seattle. The bank automated more than one-hundred different forms and estimates that they are saving upwards of one million per year.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One disadvantage to having a paperless office is the issue security. How does a company make sure that only the eyes the document is intended for, are the only eyes that see it? Also how does a company know an electronic communication is authentic? Another issue is privacy. How does a company make sure that when an electronic communication is sent only the person it is intended for will read it? How does a company make sure private information does not make the evening news? 2. Are certain types of information more readily amenable to digital processing in a paperless office than others? If so, why; if not, why not?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It would seem that some types of information are better in paperless form, while some are not. Implementing an e-mail system can do wonders for companies. The e-mail sessions allow managers to get more information across to the employees and vice versa. This is a way to make sure everyone will access to the same information. A paperless office is a good way to send and receive reports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another area that is conducive to a paperless office is such companies that put large volumes of books and papers on CD-ROM. A single CD-ROM can hold a whole room full of books. This cuts down on the physical space a company must devote to paper storage. 3. How might book publishing change as the technology of the paperless office continues to develop? Will books become obsolete? Why or why not?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book publishing industry will have to grow and change in relation to the changing technology. As the paperless office gains more and more popularity, one will begin to see more and more documents being on CD-ROM and also on the Internet.

Energy Policy in Canada

Each day millions of tons of fossil fuels are being consumed by the world. As most people already energy is the basis of industrial civilization; without energy, modern life would cease to exist. Presently, fossil fuels make up a large portion of present day energy sources. Canada, one of the world's largest industrialized nations uses an abundance energy to support its ever growing society. However, the population of Canada is slowly growing each day and with that the closer demise of fossil fuels. For this reason Canada has implemented an energy policy which in turn is to establish guidelines and standards. In Canada, natural resource ownership is largely controlled by the various national provinces, which are allowed to legislate in the areas of resource development, production control, taxation, and resource extraction. Provincial governments have major responsibility for both the management of resources and environmental protection within their boundaries. The provinces are assisted in varying degrees by private companies in the exploration, development and distribution of natural resources. Because so much of Canadian energy policy lies outside of federal jurisdiction, strategic partnerships and linkages among provinces themselves and between provinces and the government are very important. In many cases, these take the form of shared commitments to provincial and territorial energy programs, building codes, environmental goals, and efficiency targets. However, the government's resolve n environmental issues is still being questioned, however, due to a sharp debate over the matter of legislative versus voluntary measures on climate change For this reason it can be stated that Canada's energy policy has some good policies but is still greatly flawed. Moreover, it is essential that alternatives to hazardous fossil fuels are found and efficiently implemented before the demise of fossil fuels is soon a reality. Also it is imperative that people of the world learn to conserve and prevent further abuse of fossil fuels.

Essay on The Identity Theory - 529 Words

The Identity Theory #65279; Mental processes are physical is equivalent to what is coined The Identity Theory. Smarts theses is that mental events are identical to brain processes. The definition of neurophysiological is to say the science of neurons dealing with living matter such as the brain. Smart discounts Cartesian Dualism that depicts the mind as a separate entity than the physical body. In addition, Smarts theory is a posteriori claim, which is to say that through an observation or senses we can come to a factual conclusion. The Identity Theory makes a prediction concerning science and that is that in the future man will be able to know by fact that the mind is no more than a physically charged form of matter.†¦show more content†¦The Identity Theory depends on past discoveries that have discounted superstitious beliefs. Sober uses the example of lightning. He points out that according to the Greeks, lightning was understood to be a possession of the Greek god, Zeus. However, later man discovered through science that electricity was responsible for the white bolts of heat. In the same way, the Identity Theory dives into the future of the sciences to explain the human mind. According to Cartesian Dualism the mind has no matter or substance and is separate from the physical body. In the Identity Theory, the mind is one with the brain and there exists no separation of the two. Descartes recognized that the body and even the brain had mass, but he believed in a casual interaction between the brain and the mind. Specifically, he thought that the neurons jumped off of the pineal gland to a unexplainable being that he called the mind. Sober sums up, that the Identity Theory is a form of materialism and anything that is mental in nature is realistically physical in nature. In addition, this theory waits for science to discover a physical reason that humans think that snow is white or how humans came to define a certain color. Moreover, this theory through discovery would have to prove that everyone sees the same color with out variation or if there were variation, there would have to be a physical tangible reason that causes the variation.Show MoreRelatedIdentity Theory And Social Identity1228 Words   |  5 PagesIdentity theory traces its root in the writing of G.H Mead, the American philosopher, sociologist and psychologist who says that the image or the feeling that a person creates for him or herself in a particular society is the result of other’s vision, which is created daily and is subjected to change. Richard Jinkens, the sociologist describes that social identity means who we are and who the others are and on the other hand what the other thinks about themselves and others. Further, Mead elaboratesRead MoreThe Theory Of Personal Identity988 Words   |  4 Pagessupporting the same soul theory. By having the same soul, we are the same person. I will support this argument by giving a bri ef overview of all the theories of personal identity then stating the objection of the same soul theory using the same body and same mind theorist. Last but not least, I will then respond accordingly to the objection by stating the connection and unchanging qualities from the same soul theory. There are approximately four theories of personal identity: no self, same soul, sameRead MoreThe Identity Theory Of Mind1385 Words   |  6 PagesThe development of the Identity Theory of Mind is representative of materialist philosophy’s shift towards questions of human consciousness. Within philosophical and scientific circles, discussions of the mind and body have supplanted discussions of what constitutes the world around us. Staggering technological innovation, alongside the establishment of superior of scientific research methodologies, has given rise to this philosophical trend – Identity Theory is, indeed, the culmination of this trendRead MoreSocial Identity Theory1399 Words   |  6 PagesSocial  identity  theory  is a  theory  which is intended to explain how people develop a sense of belonging and membership in particular groups, and how the workings of intergroup  discrimination  work. Social identity  theory  plays an important role i n the study of  social psychology. To some degree, everyone is influenced by social identity theory. Social Identity Theory tries to explain such intergroup discrimination in the real world as well as in the circumstance of the minimal groups. The theoryRead MoreSocial Identity Theory861 Words   |  3 PagesSocial identity theory, it is a person’s sense that is based around the group they are in, either by their personal identity or with different kinds of social identities. That is, people will try to improve their own image of themselves. The theory was proposed by Henri Tajfel. People can increase their self-esteem by both their own achievement and interaction with a successful group of people. This shows the importance of social belonging. This theory is based around three mental processes, socialRead MoreThe Theory Of Self And Identity Essay1805 Words   |  8 PagesThe idea of self and identity is highly intricate, and the self can either be one of three options: the self is private, constructive, or a mixture of both. In the private viewpoint, the self is static, founded on a set number of traits, values, and dispositions that will not change with time. The constructivist theory argues that the self is changeable by nature and changes based on varying circumstances.Then, there is the mixture idea, that these separate opposing ideas are connected, as the wayRead MoreThe Theory of Personal Identity592 Words   |  2 Pages1. Any theory of personal identity should be able to solve two problems: first, the problem of individuation; second, the problem of continuity or persistence. How would you in your own words characterize these problems? Also, do these problems matter at all? Are they actually important? Why or why not? Personal identity is basically a continuity of consciousness. It is the experience that I am the same person I was five years ago. This is perhaps the easiest and most straightforward concept ofRead MoreThe Mind Body Identity Theory1668 Words   |  7 Pagesnature of a human person; this has lead to various theories and speculation about the nature of the human mind and body. The question they are tying to answer is whether a human being is made of only the physical, body and brain, or both the physical or the mental, mind. In this paper I will focus on the mind-body Identity Theory to illustrate that it provides a suitable explanation for the mind and body interaction. Identity Theory Identity theorists hold the view that the mental events are nothingRead MoreThe Mind Brain Identity Theory1096 Words   |  5 Pagesmind-brain identity theory is the view that the mind is the brain and that mental states are brain states (Mandik 77). Therefore, we can identify sensations and other mental processes with physical brain processes (Blutner 4). I argue, that the mind is not identical to the brain, and the conceivable idea of zombies, as well as the multiple realizability argument, can disprove this theory. In denying that the mind and mental properties, like qualia, are nonphysical things, mind-brain theory objectsRead MoreAssignment On Social Identity Theory Essay1158 Words   |  5 Pages TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES MUMBAI GROUP WORK ASSIGNMENT ON SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY Submitted to: Professor Vijay Raman Enrollment No.: M2015CF026 SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY The Social Identity Theory was developed by Tajfel and Turner in 1979. The theory was originally developed to understand the psychological basis of intergroup discrimination. Tajfel in 1971 attempted to identify the  minimal  conditions that would lead members of one group to discriminate in favour of the in group

Essay on Counselling Interview Skills Ass. 1 - 1235 Words

[Type the company name] | DIPLOMA OF COUNSELLING CHC51712| CHC8D02V Counselling Interview Skills | Assignment 1 | | | 2/20/2013 | | 1 | Three key components involved in the communication process are context, participants and rules. | | Context:All communication takes place within context. It is recognized that there are four major factors influencing context. 1) Physical – where is the communication occurring ie. What location 2) Social-psychological – what rules are applicable to this encounter? Different rules exist for workplace, home, friends and/or acquaintances 3) Temporal – timing; is now the best time to raise or discuss an issue or concern? 4) Cultural; different cultures†¦show more content†¦| | Supportiveness:Essential to a beneficial relationship is the feeling that your counselor supports what you say and will not be judgmental, derogatory nor make fun of your divulges. From support builds trust and this si essential if the relationship is to continue and be of benefit to the client. | | Confidence:A confident counselor in thoughts, actions and words will instil l confidence in the client that this person, their counselor, knows what they are on about, cares about them and will be able to provide some assistance. | 3 | Not every encounter between counselor and client will run smoothly from start to finish. Barriers to effective communication can include – 1) Use of language; being mindful not to use negative, derogatory or judgmental language nor indulge in the use of jargon when with a client; 2) The environment; poor location choice due to noise, interruptions from others, too hot or too cold can all impact on a successful meeting; and 3) Time, timing; when feeling rushed people may be less inclined to get into their discussion in any detail as they may feel they would not have time to finish. | 4 | Time amp; TimingIt is imperative that when you conduct a counselling session that you devote your full attention to the client with you. If you are pre occupied with other thoughts eg. thinking about your next or last appointment; concerned that your last appointmentShow MoreRelatedRecruitment and selection process of the fast food industry5355 Words   |  22 Pageswhich organizat ion recruit people for their business has changed into a different level. The practise of human resource management in recruiting people has made a significant changed in the food industry across Greater London. People s food habit and ass well as recreational activities has also changed. And for changing those activities fast food played a very vital role in society. The competition among the competitors become intense as this is a very profit oriented business. As the competition getsRead MoreTrial by Fire16438 Words   |  66 PagesWillingham’s motive, and she pressed him on the matter. In response, he wrote, of the death of his children, â€Å"I do not talk about it much anymore and it is still a very powerfully emotional pain inside my being.† He admitted that he had been a â€Å"sorry-ass husband† who had hit Stacy—something he deeply regretted. But he said that he had loved his children and would never have hurt them. Fatherhood, he said, had chan ged him; he stopped being a hoodlum and â€Å"settled down† and â€Å"became a man.† Nearly threeRead MoreTrial by Fire16445 Words   |  66 PagesWillingham’s motive, and she pressed him on the matter. In response, he wrote, of the death of his children, â€Å"I do not talk about it much anymore and it is still a very powerfully emotional pain inside my being.† He admitted that he had been a â€Å"sorry-ass husband† who had hit Stacy—something he deeply regretted. But he said that he had loved his children and would never have hurt them. Fatherhood, he said, had changed him; he stopped being a hoodlum and â€Å"settled down† and â€Å"became a man.† Nearly threeRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pages978-0-273-68774-0 ISBN-10: 0-273-68774-3 1. Organizational sociology. I. Duberley, Joanne. II. Johnson, Phil, 1955III. Title. HM786.M33 2007 302.3’5—dc22 2006022347 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 10 09 08 07 06 Typeset in 10/12.5 pt sabon by 72 Printed by Ashford Colour Press Ltd., Gosport The publisher’s policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests. . Brief Contents Preface List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements xiii xvii xix xx 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Introducing organization

Critique of Actors in Charles Griffiths Little Shop of...

Critique of Actors in Charles Griffiths Little Shop of Horrors Little Shop Horrors is a story about a man who finds an unusual plant in a Chinese market. The man, Seymour nurses the Venus flytrap like plant to full health by his blood. The plant wins him everything he could want, respect, love and money. All to be lost in unity at the end. The main plot of little shop of Horrors revolves around Seymour. Seymours ambition of Audrey to become his girlfriend. Seymour also wants respect from his boss and he also wants to make a little money. The play Little Shop of Horrors was written by Charles Griffith, the lyrics were created by Robert Billig, the music was composed by Robby Merkin, and the play was directed by marsha m. morgan.†¦show more content†¦The volume of Seymours voice was loud and projected somewhat far. The pitch was high and squeaky. The overall quality of the voice was by far not the best. He is someone with whom you could only speak with for a short amount of time. Seymour would pause occasionally taking short breat hs only to continue with more choppy sentences. When Seymour defends Audrey against Orin Scrivello DDS in the dentist office his voice was on the fritz. When the drill was turned on Seymour squirmed in his chair and his voice was louder and higher pitched than the drill. The inflection of his voice was very drastic it would be somewhat loud and than soft again. Overall the vocal quality was quite detailed and portrayed Seymour in a realistic perspective. Miles did a good job of slipping into the role of Seymour. The character is an uptight person that has a lot of psychological and emotional problems. I believed in Seymour for who he was. The only way to fool an audience is to erase suspicion from their mind. For instance if the audience is suspect that you are acting than believability is already lost. I was able to pick up very small clues Miles used to evoke the character of Seymour. Miles would play with his glasses like Seymour would. He would also scratch his face and squint his eyes. This is what I would think Seymour would do subconcisouly. The reactions of Seymour were understandable. When Audrey II wanted to be feed for the first time Seymour was

A Successful Teacher free essay sample

Teaching is a special calling. It is not a job well – suited to everyone. Teaching is still more of an art than a science. So teachers should be artists in this domain. Teaching should provide an opportunity for students to develop a strong sense of creativity, a high self-esteem a life- long respect for learning. A teacher will be one factor that helps a student learn and progress along their way through life. Many individuals believe that being a teacher is an easy task. Our society believes that any person can become a teacher, but experience has shown that not everyone is capable of being a teacher. There are many personality traits that are required to be an effective teacher. â€Å"How to be a successful teacher? † It is an important question that we can answer by infinite words and endless sentences. However, here are some top keys for being a successful and ideal teacher. We will write a custom essay sample on A Successful Teacher or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Every teacher can benefit from focusing on these important qualities. Success in teaching, as in most areas of life depends almost entirely on your attitude and on your approach. 1- Sense of Humor : A sense of humor can help you become a successful teacher. Your sense of humor can relieve tense classroom situations before they become disruptions. A sense of humor will also make the class more enjoyable for your students and possibly make students look forward to attending and paying attention Most importantly, a sense of humor will allow you to see the joy in life and make you a happier person as you progress through this sometimes stressful career. 2- A positive Attitude A positive attitude is a great asset in life. You will be thrown many curve balls in life and especially in the teaching profession. A positive attitude will help you cope with these in the best way. Your composure will ease your possible anger and will decrease the pressure that you may face. For example, you may find out the first day of school that you are teaching English 2 instead of English 1. This would not be an ideal situation, but a teacher with the right attitude would try to focus on getting through the first day without negatively impacting the students. 3- High Expectations : An effective teacher must have high expectations; you should strive to raise the bar for your students. If you expect less effort, you will receive less effort. You should work on an attitude that says that you know students can achieve to your level of expectations, thereby giving them a sense of confidence too. This is not to say that you should create unrealistic expectations. However, your expectations will be one of the key factors in helping learn and achieve. 4-Consistency: In order to create a positive learning environment, your students should know what to expect from you every day. You need to be consistent, this will create a safe learning environment for the students and they will be more likely to succeed. It is amazing that students can adapt to teachers throughout the day that range from strict to easy. However, they will dislike an environment in which the rules are constantly changing. 5. Fairness: Many people confuse fairness and consistency. A consistent teacher is the same person from day to day. A fair teacher treats students equally in the same situation. For example, students complain of unfairness when teachers treat one gender or group of students differently. Students pick up this so quickly, so be careful of being labeled unfair. . Flexibility: One of the tenets of teaching should be that everything is in a constant state of change. Interruptions and disruptions are the norm and very few days are typical. Therefore, a flexible attitude is important not only for your stress level, but also for your students who expect you to be in charge and take control of any situation. Finally, there are some points that every teacher should pay attention to in order to be an ideal teac her : 1- Never lose your temper, be self-contain. Do not let your students know your self-points. 3- Do not break the rules and the regulations. 4- Be patient. 5- Be unpredictable, do not be a stereo type teacher. 6- Variety and speed†¦. †Variety is the spice of life†. 7- Love your students and treat them kindly. 8- Be punctual in appointments. 9- Be tolerant. 10- Pay attention to the differences that may be found among the students. ( disparity in mental and understanding abilities ) . Whenever there is a will, there is a way†¦..

Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial Development free essay sample

Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adulthood) Occurring in Young adulthood, we begin to share ourselves more intimately with others. We explore relationships leading toward longer term commitments with someone other than a family member. Successful completion can lead to comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment, safety, and care within a relationship. Avoiding intimacy, fearing commitment and relationships can lead to isolation, loneliness, and sometimes depression. Ego Development Outcome: Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation Basic Strengths: Affiliation and Love In the initial stage of being an adult we seek one or more companions and love. As we try to find mutually satisfying relationships, primarily through marriage and friends, we generally also begin to start a family, though this age has been pushed back for many couples who today dont start their families until their late thirties. If negotiating this stage is successful, we can experience intimacy on a deep level. If were not successful, isolation and distance from others may occur. And when we dont find it easy to create satisfying relationships, our world can begin to shrink as, in defense, we can feel superior to others. Our significant relationships are with marital partners and friends. The second crisis, occurring between late adolescence and early adulthood, is called the crisis of intimacy versus isolation. This crisis represents the struggle to resolve the reciprocal nature of intimacy; i. e. , to achieve a mutual balance between giving love and support, and receiving love and support. Thus, youth must determine how to develop and to maintain close friendships outside the family, as well as how to achieve reciprocity in romantic relationships. Erikson believed that when youth successfully navigate this crisis they emerge with the ability to form honest, reciprocal relationships with others and have the capacity to bond with others to achieve common goals (e. g. , marriage). When youth fail to navigate this crisis successfully, they can become distant and self-contained; or conversely, they can become needy, dependent, and vulnerable. If youth do not resolve this crisis, their emotional development becomes stalled, and as a result, they will remain isolated and lonely without social supports. Identity Moratorium – the status in which the adolescent is currently in a crisis, exploring various commitments and is ready to make choices, but has not made a commitment to these choices yet. The third identity status is called moratorium. This identity status represents high degree of exploration but a low degree of commitment. At this status, youth are in the midst of an identity crisis which has prompted them to explore and experiment with different values, beliefs, and goals. However, they have not made any final decisions about which beliefs and values are most important to them, and which principles should guide their lives. Thus, they are not yet committed to a particular identity. They are keeping their options open. For example, Tim, 14, may suddenly begin to argue with his parents about going to the Sunday worship service at the Methodist Christian Church, even though he has attended this service with his family since childhood. Instead, he likes to spend his timing reading about all the different world religions and plans to visit several mosques, temples, and churches around the area to see what their worship services are like. Or, he may question the logic of religion altogether, and he may even wonder whether God exists at all. It is clear that Tim is not quite certain what he believes yet, but he is actively exploring and considering what values, principles, and beliefs he wants to live by. Identity Moratorium – adolescent has acquired vague or ill-formed ideological and occupational commitments; he/she is still undergoing the identity search (crisis). They are beginning to commit to an identity but are still developing it. Jerry Erikson emphasized the role of culture and society and the conflicts that can take place within the ego itself. Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development has eight distinct stages, each with two possible outcomes. According to the theory, successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and successful interactions with others. While failure to successfully complete a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further stages, which can lead to a more unhealthy personality and sense of self. These stages, however, can be resolved successfully at a later time. Since adulthood covers a span of many years, Erikson divided the stages of adulthood into the experiences of young adults, middle aged adults and older adults. While the actual ages may vary considerably from one stage to another, the ages seem to be appropriate for the majority of people. Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood) During middle adulthood, we establish our careers, settle down within a relationship, begin our own families and develop a sense of being a part of the bigger picture. We give back to society through raising our children, being productive at work, and becoming involved in community activities and organizations. By failing to achieve these objectives, we become stagnant and feel unproductive. Ego Development Outcome: Generativity vs. Self absorption or Stagnation Basic Strengths: Production and Care Now work is most crucial. Erikson observed that middle-age is when we tend to be occupied with creative and meaningful work and with issues surrounding our family. Also, middle adulthood is when we can expect to be in charge, the role weve longer envied. The significant task is to perpetuate culture and transmit values of the culture through the family (taming the kids) and working to establish a stable environment. Strength comes through care of others and production of something that contributes to the betterment of society, which Erikson calls generativity, so when were in this stage we often fear inactivity and meaninglessness. As our children leave home, or our relationships or goals change, we may be faced with major life changes — the mid-life crisis — and struggle with finding new meanings and purposes. If we dont get through this stage successfully, we can become self-absorbed and stagnate. Significant relationships are within the workplace, the community and the family. Refining and extending Erik Erikson’s work, James Marcia came up with four Identity Statuses of psychological identity development. The main idea is that one’s sense of identity is determined largely by the choices and commitments made regarding certain personal and social traits. Based on Erik Erikson’s groundbreaking work on identity and psychosocial development in the 1960s, Canadian developmental psychologist James Marcia refined and extended Erikson’s model, primarily focusing on adolescent development. Addressing Erikson’s notion of identity crisis, Marcia posited that the adolescent stage consists neither of identity resolution nor identity confusion, but rather the degree to which one has explored and committed to an identity in a variety of life domains from vocation, religion, relational choices, gender roles, and so on. Marcia’s theory of identity achievement argues that two distinct parts form an adolescent’s identity: crisis (i. e. a time when one’s values and choices are being reevaluated) and commitment. He defined a crisis as a time of upheaval where old values or choices are being reexamined. The end outcome of a crisis leads to a commitment made to a certain role or value. James Marcia expanded on Eriksons work and divided the identity crisis into four states. These are not stages, but rather processes that adolescents go through. All adolescents will occupy one or more of these states, at least temporarily. But, because these are not stages, people do not progress from one step to the next in a fixed sequence, nor must everyone go through each and every state. Each state is determined by two factors: 1. Is the adolescent committed to an identity, and 2. Is the individual searching for their true identity? Identity Diffusion – the status in which the adolescent does not have a sense of having choices; he or she has not yet made (nor is attempting/willing to make) a commitment. The core idea is that one’s sense of identity is determined largely by the hoices and commitments made regarding certain personal and social traits. The work done in this paradigm considers how much one has made certain choices, and how much he or she displays a commitment to those choices. Identity involves the adoption of 1) a sexual orientation, 2) a set of values and ideals and 3) a vocational direction. A well-developed identity gives on a sense of one’s strengths, weaknesses, and individual uniqueness. A person with a less well-developed identity is not able to define his or her personal strengths and weaknesses, and does not have a well articulated sense of self. The first identity status, identity diffusion, describes youth who have neither explored nor committed to any particular identity. Thus, this identity status represents a low level of exploration and a low level of commitment. These adolescents havent considered their identity at all, and havent established any life goals. They are reactive, passively floating through life and dealing with each situation as it arises. Their primary motivation is hedonic; the avoidance of discomfort and the acquisition of pleasure. By way of illustration, consider the example of Tyler, who stumbled his way through high school and graduated last year (but just barely). Tyler still doesnt know what he wants to do with his life. In fact, he hasnt really given much thought at all to what hed like to accomplish. He hasnt applied to any colleges or technical schools. He still works part-time at the pizza shop; a job he started while in high school so that he could have a little extra spending money. He doesnt earn enough money to live on his own so he lives with his parents, but he doesnt pay them any rent or even pay for his own groceries. Nonetheless, he hasnt even considered applying for a better paying, full-time job. Whenever his frustrated mother asks, What are you doing with your life? he just mutters, I dunno. Tyler hasnt even considered this question, and has no goals or plans of any sort. Diffusion – the state of having no clear idea of ones identity and making no attempt to find that identity. These adolescents may have struggled to find their identity, but they never resolved it, and they seem to have stopped trying. There is no commitment and no searching. As mentioned, these four identity statuses describe points along a continuum moving from an initially diffuse, undefined individual identity to a highly specific and well-defined, individual sense of self. Inherent in Marcias theory is the assumption that a mature and well-adjusted person possesses a well-defined and individually determined identity. This assumption reflects an implicit set of values common to many developed Western societies concerning the desirability of an individually defined identity; but, this set of values may not be universally shared. In contemporary Western cultures, there is a great value placed upon individual needs, rights, and freedoms. Therefore it is only natural that such societies would define maturity in terms of a highly evolved sense of an individual self. But some other cultures value the needs of the larger community over any single individual. In such cultures, maturity is defined by the ability to subjugate individual pursuits and desires in the service of the groups greater good.