Every Ted Bundy/Charles Manson, Littleton, Rwanda/Kosovo inspires a renewed, desperate search for explanations & solutions. Hundreds of books wrestle w/ aspects of the problem: drugs, poverty, television, child abuse. Only a handful tackles violence on a broader scale. Called "a major contribution to violence theory" by the OMNI Center for Peace; a brilliant synthesis of all available models;" & the most comprehensive model of violence enabling yet to be developed;" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of the Pulitzer-nominated On Killing, Transcending Violence stands out in offering both explanations & pragmatic solutions

Violence comes in many shapes & sizes. It grows in almost any soil. Ethnic warfare & school shootings, crimes of passion & murder-for-hire seem to have little in common. One specialist blames overblown self-esteem while another points to deep-rooted shame. Criminologists, sociologists, police, peace activists, military historians & forensic psychologists bring contrasting perspectives to the table. Each explanation carries a large grain of truth, but when applied across the board quickly falls apart.

One error has been an obsession with finding only one factor that can carry the entire blame. Competing theories often throw light on specific incidents but not on others

These various perspectives become considerably more valuable when interwoven. Specifically, their shared characteristics & concerns can be sorted into up to 5 steps & 10 primary reinforcers. Variations on these 5 steps produce individually tailored paths to violence. That tapestry is laid out in the first half of Transcending Violence.

In part two, Transcending Violence takes this confluence model & turns it on its head. By identifying specific steps and reinforcers for violence, we become empowered to invert them. We can disassemble the steps & eliminate the reinforcers. These actions apply at all levels, from the individual to the global.

 

 

This study was undertaken to explore whether current leadership in the elder care home sector promotes a balance between personal and work life of healthcare staff. A case study approach was used to carry out the study using structured interviews, semi-structured interview and participant-observation as major data collection methods. The sample, a combination of enrolled nurses, experienced and inexperienced carers, were representative of the employees in care homes studied. This consisted of 18 subjects, 10 from a private care home and 8 from a charity care home. The structured interviews consisted of all 18 participants and the semi-structured interviews consisted of 6 participants from the 18 (2 carers and 1 nurse from each setting). For participant observation both homes were observed for 8 days from the three months spent in each. During interviews data were collected on the leaders style, leaders role, staff home life and work life and leaders support. During participant-observation the work environment, climate, leader and staff interaction were observed and key points were recorded. The data were analysed using the Ethnograph v4.0, a program for the analysis of text-based data. For the research purpose a codebook of 99 codes that would identify different aspects of the data in the interviews and participant observation was created. Content and thematic aproach were taken towards analysis using the computer software.

The result from this study showed that (1) staff are seen to prefer their leader to be democratic as there is room for negotiation, participation, consideration and understanding; (2) the staff's perception of the leader is an individualistic as well as every aspect of their needs being met due to variables such as age, gender, marital status, experience, dependants, education, position and language; (3) the level of effect of leadership style on the individual is dependent on individual circumstances; (4) the extent to which the staffÕs personal and work life balance are not promoted depends in the different combination of leadership style of the leader as leader is not autocratic, democratic or laissez-faire at all times; (5) the more democratic the leaders are, the more understanding and flexible they are in promoting a balance between personal and work life of their followers; (6) staff with different personal circumstances and background view their leaders differently; (7) none of the staff want their leader to be liberal; (8) staff psychosocial needs are not with leadership high in autocratic approach.

These findings have implications for nurse training and education, and leadership development. Trained appropriately and applying the results and recommendations from this study, the leaders will assist towards staff retention, increase productivity and increase the quality of care in the elder care home sector, and promote a healthy and cost effective workforce.

    What is the essence of humanity? What would an integrated science of Homo sapiens, the human species, include? Would such an understanding allow the species to manage itself better? Is the species making any progress at all along these lines? Or is its burgeoning material progress the best, and most, that should be expected of it?
    These are the kinds of questions that this modest little volume has the boldness to address. Presented as the draft report of The Homo sapiens Project, the book summarizes the current status of the human species, including its knowledge and management of itself. Written as a Consultation Draft, the book seeks feedback from readers and researchers interested in the future of humanity.
    Although the report was allegedly written by The Homo sapiens Project, the manuscript was brought to us by a person who prefers to remain anonymous at this time. Neither that person not the publisher can validate its authenticity. "Its apparent strength, and robustness, as an hypothesis convinced us to proceed with publication," said the publisher recently.
    Read for yourself how the difference (or is it war) between the sexes plays itself out in the human societies on planet Earth. Read where this species has come from, and where it is now, according to this ostensibly independent and objective analysis. Then, follow the hints towards the end of the book and muse about how the future of humanity might unfold.
    For the basis for acting on a human future is here, too. But be warned. The knowledge developing from this line of reasoning can be put to both 'good' and 'evil' purposes. The choice will be yours - to find the right balance for the future of the species -- once you understand...
    "Are They Human Yet?" poses a rhetorical question with a serious intent. Help choose a human future... read this book.

This study was undertaken to explore whether current leadership in the elder care home sector promotes a balance between personal and work life of healthcare staff. A case study approach was used to carry out the study using structured interviews, semi-structured interview and participant-observation as major data collection methods. The sample, a combination of enrolled nurses, experienced and inexperienced carers, were representative of the employees in care homes studied. This consisted of 18 subjects, 10 from a private care home and 8 from a charity care home. The structured interviews consisted of all 18 participants and the semi-structured interviews consisted of 6 participants from the 18 (2 carers and 1 nurse from each setting). For participant observation both homes were observed for 8 days from the three months spent in each. During interviews data were collected on the leaders style, leaders role, staff home life and work life and leaders support. During participant-observation the work environment, climate, leader and staff interaction were observed and key points were recorded. The data were analysed using the Ethnograph v4.0, a program for the analysis of text-based data. For the research purpose a codebook of 99 codes that would identify different aspects of the data in the interviews and participant observation was created. Content and thematic aproach were taken towards analysis using the computer software.

The result from this study showed that (1) staff are seen to prefer their leader to be democratic as there is room for negotiation, participation, consideration and understanding; (2) the staff's perception of the leader is an individualistic as well as every aspect of their needs being met due to variables such as age, gender, marital status, experience, dependants, education, position and language; (3) the level of effect of leadership style on the individual is dependent on individual circumstances; (4) the extent to which the staffÕs personal and work life balance are not promoted depends in the different combination of leadership style of the leader as leader is not autocratic, democratic or laissez-faire at all times; (5) the more democratic the leaders are, the more understanding and flexible they are in promoting a balance between personal and work life of their followers; (6) staff with different personal circumstances and background view their leaders differently; (7) none of the staff want their leader to be liberal; (8) staff psychosocial needs are not with leadership high in autocratic approach.

These findings have implications for nurse training and education, and leadership development. Trained appropriately and applying the results and recommendations from this study, the leaders will assist towards staff retention, increase productivity and increase the quality of care in the elder care home sector, and promote a healthy and cost effective workforce.

Every Ted Bundy/Charles Manson, Littleton, Rwanda/Kosovo inspires a renewed, desperate search for explanations & solutions. Hundreds of books wrestle w/ aspects of the problem: drugs, poverty, television, child abuse. Only a handful tackles violence on a broader scale. Called "a major contribution to violence theory" by the OMNI Center for Peace; a brilliant synthesis of all available models;" & the most comprehensive model of violence enabling yet to be developed;" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of the Pulitzer-nominated On Killing, Transcending Violence stands out in offering both explanations & pragmatic solutions

Violence comes in many shapes & sizes. It grows in almost any soil. Ethnic warfare & school shootings, crimes of passion & murder-for-hire seem to have little in common. One specialist blames overblown self-esteem while another points to deep-rooted shame. Criminologists, sociologists, police, peace activists, military historians & forensic psychologists bring contrasting perspectives to the table. Each explanation carries a large grain of truth, but when applied across the board quickly falls apart.

One error has been an obsession with finding only one factor that can carry the entire blame. Competing theories often throw light on specific incidents but not on others

These various perspectives become considerably more valuable when interwoven. Specifically, their shared characteristics & concerns can be sorted into up to 5 steps & 10 primary reinforcers. Variations on these 5 steps produce individually tailored paths to violence. That tapestry is laid out in the first half of Transcending Violence.

In part two, Transcending Violence takes this confluence model & turns it on its head. By identifying specific steps and reinforcers for violence, we become empowered to invert them. We can disassemble the steps & eliminate the reinforcers. These actions apply at all levels, from the individual to the global.

 

 

    What is the essence of humanity? What would an integrated science of Homo sapiens, the human species, include? Would such an understanding allow the species to manage itself better? Is the species making any progress at all along these lines? Or is its burgeoning material progress the best, and most, that should be expected of it?
    These are the kinds of questions that this modest little volume has the boldness to address. Presented as the draft report of The Homo sapiens Project, the book summarizes the current status of the human species, including its knowledge and management of itself. Written as a Consultation Draft, the book seeks feedback from readers and researchers interested in the future of humanity.
    Although the report was allegedly written by The Homo sapiens Project, the manuscript was brought to us by a person who prefers to remain anonymous at this time. Neither that person not the publisher can validate its authenticity. "Its apparent strength, and robustness, as an hypothesis convinced us to proceed with publication," said the publisher recently.
    Read for yourself how the difference (or is it war) between the sexes plays itself out in the human societies on planet Earth. Read where this species has come from, and where it is now, according to this ostensibly independent and objective analysis. Then, follow the hints towards the end of the book and muse about how the future of humanity might unfold.
    For the basis for acting on a human future is here, too. But be warned. The knowledge developing from this line of reasoning can be put to both 'good' and 'evil' purposes. The choice will be yours - to find the right balance for the future of the species -- once you understand...
    "Are They Human Yet?" poses a rhetorical question with a serious intent. Help choose a human future... read this book.