Research Paper Essay

Abstract This research paper will evaluate the biological aspects of addictive substance or behavior and how it affects the brain and organs. Biological aspects include dopamine levels that are replaced in the brain due to the reward system being overtaken and the absorption rate of the drug once it is ingested will be discussed. The biological aspects are extensive and permanent if the individual does not get the help they need. Furthermore the clinical issues of addictive substance or behavior will be discussed along with medical treatments and ethical issues. This includes treatments such as counseling and treatment programs that are effective. Lastly the Christian worldview implications and how it affects Christian counselors will be addressed. How the church may view individuals who have an addiction and how a counselor approaches a client with an addiction. Addiction is something that is an epidemic in the world of the devil and it should be evaluated and taken seriously. People use drugs for a variety of reasons, some may be to self-medicate, to overcome anxiety, to deal with a past that they want to forget, or even just to fit in with a crowd. However, most of the users, initially, do not think or care of the after side effects which could include addiction. There are many factors that come into play on if a person will be more susceptible to addictions such as â€Å"heredity, environment, psychoactive drugs and compulsive behaviors† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Substance/Behavior Drugs affect many areas of a person’s body, the central nervous system (CNS) is effected â€Å"causing mental, emotional and physical changes† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Pharmacokinetics describes this process by which a drug is â€Å"absorbed, distributed, metabolized, eliminated, and excreted by the body† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). The factors that contribute to this process include: â€Å"route of  administration, speed of transit to the brain, rates of metabolism, process of elimination, affinity for nerve cells and neurotransmitters† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). All of these factors contribute to how the drug biogically affects the person administering the drug. A person who injects heroine on an empty stomach will not have the same effect as a person who digests a pill of heroine after a meal. There are more aspects that involve if the person will become addicted to the drug. Metabolism and excretion also play a part in the effects on the brain. Metabolism is â €Å"the body’s mechanism for processing, using, and inactivating a foreign substance that has entered the body† (Inaba & Cohen, p. 2.7, 2011). Metabolism applies to everything that is ingested into our bodies, including food. Excretion is â€Å"the process of eliminating the foreign substance and its metabolites from the body† (Inaba & Cohen, p. 2.7, 2011). When a drug is ingested the metabolic process begins along with the excretion process by the kidney. This explains why alcoholics have kidney problems and sometimes failure after years of alcohol abuse. An example of how a drug travels from Inaba and Cohen is: â€Å"when someone swallows a 10 milligram tablet of Vicodin or drinks a beer the drug passes through the esophagus and the stomach into the small intestine, where it is absorbed into the capillaries enmeshed into the intestine walls. The capillaries transport the drug into the veins which carry it to the liver where it is partially metabolized. It is then pumped back to the heart and subsequently to the rest of the body.† That is just one example of how a drug is passed through the body and absorbed into the users system. There are many other ways that the drug can enter into the body. The first time alcohol or drugs are ingested â€Å"dopamine levels spike higher than they do with food†¦and that experience is remembered,† the experience is stored in the amygdala which controls emotion and hippocampus which controls emotion. After using the substance over and over the brain no longer produces its own dopamine. (Carlson & Carlson, 2013). There are more side effects that occur if the substance is not taken again, including depression and sometimes physical symptoms. (Carlson & Carlson, p.35, 2013). If the person stopped filling the void they have created with the substance their brain will eventually start reproducing its own dopamine again. There are addictions that can develop from behavior disorders, non-substance abuse disorders. These could be gambling, shopping, and many other compulsive/impulse control disorders. There are studies that suggest that â€Å"26-37% of those with alcohol dependence also had a lifetime history of a mood disorder (with depression being the most common), whereas 32-37% met lifetime criteria for an anxiety disorder† (McLachlan & Starkey, 2012). When a person who is addicted to a compulsive disorder is going through withdrawals â€Å"the urge or craving while abstaining from the behaviors may have a similarity with cravings during drug withdrawal in substance addictions† (El-Guebaly, Mudry, Zohar, Tavares,& Potenza, 2012). To a person who is withdrawing from a gambling addiction they will feel the same way as a person who is trying to stop drinking. There are groups such as Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous that help these individuals through the process of overcoming their addictions. When a person who is suffering from an addiction decides to make a change they can go through a process before they decide to take action. The stages are pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation/ready for action, action, maintenance, and possibly relapse. (James, p. 74, 2012). Pre-contemplation is when the person is not considering change and denying they have a problem. Contemplation is when the addict is sitting on the fence about if they have a problem or not. Preparation/ready for action is described as when they are making a mental plan for how and when they are going to act. Action is practicing the new behavior for three to six months. The maintenance stage is continuing to maintain the new behavior for more than six months after the action plan. Relapse occurs if the old behaviors happen again, (James, 2012). An important part of overcoming the behaviors that go along with addiction is the creation of memories. Memories are created from the time we are born, we learn things about ourselves such as what makes us laugh or what makes us cry. A person may have a bad experience with a drug or alcohol and that memory stays with them. It could even deter them from trying it again or the person could be pressured into giving it one more try before they decide. Memories are actually â€Å"solid bits of protein imprinted on the brain as microscopic memory bumps called dendritic spines† (Inaba & Cohen, p. 2.12, 2011). When people use psyc hoactive drugs the memories are imprinted on the brain. These memories include, â€Å"where they got the drug, the reason they used it, and what feelings resulted† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). These memories are problematic because they are especially  powerful for the user’s brain. The memories will affect how often a person uses in the future. If a person has a euphoric and amazing experience when they use a drug they will remember it vividly and have a hard time forgetting the experience. If something happens to them that causes depression or makes them have a bad day they will go back to this euphoric state and want to recreate that situation again. Furthermore, if the person has a preconceived susceptibility to addiction to a substance they are more likely to continue to go back to this substance to solve their problems rather than dealing with them in a healthy way. Many factors such as environment when the person was raised will also play a factor, if the person was not taught the proper coping skills in dealing with issues their only memory of how to escape a problem will be the occurrence of the drug use. The same instance occurs with a person who suffers from a behavioral disorder such as gambling. When a person gambles they feel valued and appreciated. A person with a gambling addiction is treated like a king when they walk into a casino or a place that caters to gamblers. They bring them drinks to their table, they have beautiful girls around them, and they a re treated as if they are someone important. To a person who has never been treated like that in their life, it can develop into an addiction, an addiction to winning the money and an addiction to being treated like a king. Their memories and reward systems are replaced with this experience and it is hard to overcome. The reward/control pathway of the brain â€Å"encourages a human to perform or repeat an action that promotes survival† (Inaba & Cohen, p. 2.14, 2011). A psychoactive drug urges a person to take the drug again because it closely resembles the natural reward system of the brain. For substance abusers this pathway is seriously altered, â€Å"the go circuit becomes overactive and the stop circuit becomes dysfunctional and does not shut off the craving† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). The craving to do the drug again becomes seemingly unbearable for the individual because their reward system is in overload. The individual may wish that they could stop the addiction or not even want to but they cannot stop because of the affect the drug/habit has had on their brain. The reversal of the reward system also makes normally enjoyable circumstances not enjoyable to the individual suffering from an addiction. A person who may have enjoyed painting or walking around the park will be able to think about nothing other than  taking another hit of cocaine because their brains reward system is not happy until that is experienced. It takes a very strong individual to be able to overcome this and recognize it in their own brains. That is why there are programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous to help individuals process these changes in a step by step basis, because it is so hard to just quit something that has such a hold on the person. Clinical Issues There are aspects of treatment that dominate in the field of treatment of a behavioral or chemical dependency. These aspects begin with the fact that medications are used more to treat addictions, there are many reasons that a drug may be used in the treatment process including; â€Å"drugs lessen the withdrawal symptoms, drugs lessen cravings, substitute medications that are less damaging than the primary substance of abuse, nutritional supplements, and antidepressants† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Some addicts do require drug use but some do not, it depends on how addicted to the substance or behavior the person was as well as how long they were using. Another issue in treatment is that new imaging techniques are being used to â€Å"visualize the structural and physiological effects of addiction on the human brain† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). These techniques include CAT (computerized axial tomography) scans to show the damage to the brain tissues, MRI (magnetic resonance imagin g), fMRI (functional MRI), PET (positron emission tomography), SPECT (single-photon emission computerized tomography, and DTI (Diffusion tensor imaging) (Inaba & Cohen, p. 9.5, 2011) These techniques allow doctors to study the brain as the addict goes through such things as the reward cycle when using a drug. These tests will help to better understand the processes of the brain and possibly be able to further combat the problem of addiction. The more a process in understood, the more educated a doctor can be with their patient the better treatment process they can prescribe for the patient. Internet-based therapies involve â€Å"structured, treatment programs delivered via the internet that incorporate some degree of therapist interaction† (Blaszczynski, A., Gainsbury, S., 2011). The internet based therapy mostly occurs via e-mails, telephone or face to face between the client and the counselor; it can benefit a wide range of people including those with alcohol and drug addictions. It is also beneficial for those with behavioral addictions such as gambling. Internet based therapy  has been largely successful with less than â€Å"25% of people with addiction-related problems ever entering formal treatment† (Blaszcynski, 2011). The internet based therapy could be widely popular as well because it is anonymous and they do not have to attend a meeting or go out of their way to a counselor’s office. The appointments are on the person’s own time when they are available. Treatment for individuals such as the elderly depends on patient placement after they are evaluated for abuse or addiction as well as physical or psychiatric problems. Treatment is then evaluated on the risks that could affect the elderly person. There are six dimensions â€Å"established by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM): acute intoxication and/or withdrawal potential; biomedical conditions and complications; behavioral conditions and complications; treatment acceptance/resistance; relapse potential; and recovery environment† (Clay, 2010). An elderly individual struggling from addiction can also be placed in an outpatient treatment such as â€Å"brief intervention, motivational interviewing and pharmaceuticals† (Clay, 2010). It is recommended that the least intensive approach be considered first and then the condition be further assessed. Individuals who are addicted to heroin have a treatment that is called Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) this involves prescribing opioids to those who are opioid dependent. A person who is addicted to heroin will go through â€Å"daily withdrawal symptoms, and are at increased risk of persisting in use of heroin and other drugs.† (Bell,2012). The i dea is to prescribe low dosage methadone (30-60 mg a day) or buprenorphine (4-8mg/day) to help control the withdrawal symptoms. Another reason for this approach is, â€Å"at higher methadone doses, people become more tolerant to opioids, and blocking the effects of heroin and suppressing continued heroin use† (Bell, 2012). Another approach to treatment is coerced treatment. Coerced treatment is when it is â€Å"mandated by the criminal justice system, through drug courts mandatory sentencing, probation/parole stipulations, and state or federal legislation requiring compulsory treatment† (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). The Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison program measured the effectiveness of the treatment programs that were mandatory and found reductions in the re-arrest rate, reconviction rate and return to prison rate. The downfall to the coerced programs is that there may not be space available for people who want to voluntarily get help before they are  arrested or in trouble with the legal system. The reduction in the economy over the years has caused a lot of government funded programs to be closed due to funding issues, leaving less places for addicts to go for help. (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Christian Worldview Implications Addictions can come in many shape and forms to a Christian counselor. There are sexual addictions, gambling addictions, alcohol addictions, substance addictions etc. From a biblical standpoint a Christian counselor would want to introduce biblical morals and values so the person can rely on a higher power other than themselves to overcome the addiction. Addictions come straight from the devil when they are attacking a person and causing them to sin. A counselor should consider themselves to be warriors of God in the war against addictions. There are many in the Christian environments that consider addiction to be an act of will. A church congregation may not take an addiction as seriously as they would take someone who was diagnosed with cancer. It is important that the counselor help the client see that their addiction is important to overcome, confessing their addiction and the problem with it can be the first step when a person is struggling with an addiction. The person may feel that it is easier to hide the addiction rather than admit there is a problem, but to confess the sin is the most important first step. References Bell, J. (2012). Buprenorphine in The Treatment of Heroin Addiction. Dusunen Adam: Journal Of Psychiatry & Neurological Sciences, 25(2), 93-100. doi:10.5350/DAJPN20122502001 Blaszczynski, A., Gainsbury, S. (2011). A systematic review of Internet-based therapy for the treatment of addictions, Clinical Psychology Review. Vol. 31(3). Carlson, D., & Carlson, H. (2013). Addiction : The brain disease. Madison, CT, USA: Bick Publishing House. Clay, S. W. (2010). Treatment of addiction in the elderly. Aging Health, 6(2), 177-189. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/ahe.10.14 El-Guebaly, N., Mudry, T., Zohar, J., Tavares, H. and Potenza, M. N. (2012), Compulsive features in behavioural addictions: the case of pathological gambling. Addiction, 107: 1726–1734. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03546.x Inaba, D. S. & Cohen, W. E. (2011). Uppers, downers, all arounders: Physical and mental effects of psychoactive drugs. (7th ed.). Medford, OR: CNS Productions James, R. L. (2012). Sexuality and addiction. Westport, CT, USA: ABC-CLIO. McLachlan, A. D., & Starkey, N. J. (2012). The classification of substance and behavioural addictions: a preliminary investigation. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 41(1)

Action Paper Research

Action Paper Research Action Paper Research Action Paper Research: Active Team-work! If you have got an assignment to write an action research paper, you should pay special attention to this task. The matter is that the action paper research is rather different from other kinds of the academic research. So, to cope with your task you should understand what exactly you should do. This article will help you make head or tail of what the action paper research should include and in what way it should be made. Action paper research What is this? The purpose of the action paper research becomes clear from the very definition of this kind of research. It is to find the appropriate solution of the problem in question by taking certain actions. That means that you should not just study some informational materials on the issue and make your conclusions but make different observations, conduct interviews or work out some questionnaires in order to get necessary data. This is one of the peculiar features of the action paper research that distinguishes it from other kinds of the academic research. Besides, another characteristic of the action paper research should be mentioned. It is the team work. You do not make your research by yourself but work in team. All your actions should be concerted in order to make the thorough research. What stages should the action paper research writing follow?Brainstorming. Think over the problem you would like to investigate. Planning. Plan your research. What actions will you take? Collecting of data. Collect the information necessary for your research. Analyzing of information. Study the problem relying on the obtained results. Making conclusions. Make your conclusions. Writing an action research paper from scratch After your action paper research is completed it should be presented properly. In what way should an action research paper be written? As a rule, it has the same constituent parts as any other research paper:Title page; Table of contents; Abstract; Introduction; Main body (that presents the methods of research, the details of the issue, the results of the study and the discussion); Conclusion; Reference list. As usual, an action research paper should be written in accordance with the APA format requirements. So, this is the main information about in what way the action paper research should be made and how it should be presented. If you face any difficulties, do not hesitate to contact us! We are always ready to help you!

B.F. Skinners theory, positive reinforcement essays

B.F. Skinner's theory, positive reinforcement essays In B.F. Skinner's theory, positive reinforcement is defined as a presented stimuli that works to increase or strengthen the probability of a response. An example of this would be a food treat for a dog in return for sitting behavior. A negative reinforcement is defined as the removal of stimuli that acts to increase or strengthen a response. An example of this would be yelling at a child to stop crying, and having the crying behavior stop. While the action of yelling was negative, the response was positive, in that the child stopped crying, thus increasing the likelihood that a person will yell to get the child to stop crying. Punishment is defined as an action to temporarily repress behavior, such as the removal of television privileges for a child who fails a class. This "punishment" would temporarily serve as a repression to the behavior of receiving bad Walden II, B.F. Skinner's world of utopia, is a model illustration of what needs to be done in order for humans to be happy, rather than just furthering the happiness of the ruling class or the majority. The idea that humans are born with nothing, that we are then the product of our history, and thus, that we learn all the problems we have, is a wonderful idea. If this were true, then Walden II would work: no one born in the world would learn the behaviors, and everyone who had previously learned them could simply unlearn them. Without social pressures, and with all needs met, there would be no need for corruption. In the modern world, however, this idea is just that: an idea. Even if all the technologies were in place, we now know, through modern medicine and psychiatry that some behaviors are inane, and thus very difficult to unlearn. While life in Walden II would be blissful, it would also be impossible. Secondary reinforcers are those that get their power from associations with primary reinforcers...

Religious Private Schools

Religious Private Schools As you browse private school profiles, you will usually see a school’s religious affiliation listed within the description. While not all  private schools  have religious affiliations, many do, and many families have questions about these private institutions. What is a nonsectarian or non-denominational  school? In the private school world, you may see schools listed as nonsectarian or nons include schools like  The Hotchkiss School  and  Annie Wright School. The  opposite of a nonsectarian school  is a sectarian school. These schools will describe their religious affiliations as Roman Catholic, Baptist, Jewish, and so on. Examples of sectarian schools include  Kent School  and  Georgetown Prep  which respectively are  Episcopal  and  Roman Catholic  schools. What is a religious private school? A religious private school is simply a school that identifies with a specific religious group, such as Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, or Episcopal. Often these schools have curricula that include teachings of that faith in addition to a traditional curriculum, something that is often referred to as a dual curriculum. These schools are usually independently funded, meaning they depend on tuition dollars and/or fundraising efforts to operate. What is a parochial school? Most people associate the term  parochial school with Catholic school. In general, parochial schools are usually private schools that receive financial support from a particular church or parish, meaning the funding of a parochial school primarily comes from the church, not tuition dollars. These schools are sometimes referred to as church schools by the Catholic faith. They are closely connected to the church itself  and do not stand alone. Are all religious private schools considered parochial schools? No, they are not. Parochial schools are usually funded by the religious organization with which they are associated. For many, parochial typically connotes Catholic schools, but there are many religious private schools of other faiths, such as Jewish, Lutheran, and others. There are many religious private schools that are independently funded and do not receive funding from a particular church or other religious site. These are tuition driven. So, what is the difference between a parochial school and a private religious school? The biggest difference between a parochial school and a private religious school is money. Since private religious schools do not receive funding from a religious institution, instead  relying on tuition dollars and fundraising to operate, these schools often carry higher tuition rates than their parochial counterparts. While many parochial schools carry lower tuition rates, it is important to remember that many private schools, including both religious and nonsectarian schools, offer financial aid to qualified families who cannot afford tuition.   Can you attend a school affiliated with a religion other than yours? This answer will vary from school to school, but often the answer is an enthusiastic, yes!  Many religious schools  believe that educating others about their religion is important, regardless of the student’s own personal beliefs. As such, most institutions accept, and even welcome, applications from students of all faiths and beliefs. For some families, it is important for the student to attend a school that is affiliated with the same religion. Yet, there are many families who enjoy sending their children to  religious schools  regardless if the families have the same religious beliefs. An example of this is  Milken Community Schools  in Los Angeles, California. One of the largest Jewish schools in the country, Milken, which serves students in grades 7-12, is known for enrolling students of all faiths, but it has certain requirements for Jewish studies for all students. Why should I consider sending my child to a religious school? Religious schools are often known for the values they instill in children, and many families find this comforting. Religious schools are usually known for their ability to embrace differences and promote tolerance and acceptance, as well as teach the lessons of their faith. This can be an interesting learning experience for a student who is not familiar with a particular religion. Many schools require that the students participate in the religious customs of the school, including attending classes and/or religious services, activities and learning opportunities, which can help students become more comfortable in unfamiliar situations.

History Midterm Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History Midterm - Term Paper Example A detailed introspection into the history of both the ancient civilisations would culminate into the fact that both the civilisations developed in the basin of the great rivers which not only provided a life – line to the population but also provided most favourable conditions for the development of civilisation and human settlement. Yet there is a vast difference in the nature and development of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisations. Mesopotamian civilisation gradually became the rink for the Romans and the Parthians. The part of Mesopotamia concentrated on the Assyrian region was gradually taken in control by the Romans for a time being and gradually it fell into the hands of the Sassanid Persians and remained so till 7th century. Between 1st century BC and 3rd century AD, many neo-Assyrian and Christian native Mesopotamian states existed. Whereas, the Egyptian civilisation had a peaceful rule till it was conquered by foreign powers in the later period. It reached the omnipotent regime of power during the Rammesside period. The success of the Egyptian civilisation can be found in its extreme adaptability with the changing conditions of the Nile River Valley. The flooding was predictable and the over-fertile Nile basin produced surplus crops which initiated the development of the Egyptians socially as well as culturally. If I would have been a peasant in the 2nd Millennium BC, then I would have definitely chosen Egypt for the place of settlement because during that time Egypt was the only civilisation which had a very peaceful and calm geographic and social environment which accelerated its development and prosperity. In Egypt, there was a huge prospect for the farmers. Irrigation facility was evident and the floods were predictable. The soil was extremely fertile and it provided the best opportunities to grow more and good crops. In Mesopotamia, the conditions for the cultivation were favourable. It was

John Galliano for Dior Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

John Galliano for Dior Crisis - Essay Example In ten years Maison Dior had become one of the most powerful design houses in the industry with Seventh Ave depending on Dior to lead them in a mutually beneficial relationship. In 1957 the company was grossing 17 Million dollars per year, which increased to 22 million by 1958. Yves Saint Laurant, Dior’s handpicked Head Assistant became the head of Dior, but soon left after only six collections when he was called to join the French Army. He had taken up the reigns of the Dior house when he was only twenty-one years old (Blaszczyk 93). Although the design vision of the company has had to change through the transitions of designers over the years, the company pioneered a concept that secured its position in the fashion industry. According to Blaszczyk â€Å"Maison Dior’s achievement in the history of the fashion industry lies in the creation of a format for producing profits while continuing to operate the maison as a viable business for licensing† (105). What the House of Dior did was to create the first example of the power of branding and the idea of licensing was the foundation of how the profits for branding were established. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of the nature of the business is in the perceptions that the public holds for the name of Dior. This is why the crisis that occurred with John Galliano had to be handled with care and surgical precision. The House of Dior Christian Dior is currently owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which is owned by Bernard Arnaul. Sidney Toledano, Dior Couture’s chief executive, and the board of directors were responsible for the decision to fire Galliano during the crisis (Saltmarsh). The demographics for Dior are wide and varied, depending on what branch of the company is being discussed. However, the core of the demographics are affluent with an upper class income, varying from those who buy from the runway and are represented by the elite to those with upper middle c lass incomes that can afford higher designer level prices. The House of Dior includes Miss Dior, which is geared towards the younger woman, J’dore, which is currently the perfume that is represented by Charlize Theron, and Diorskin Forever, their skincare line represented by Natalie Portman. Dior lines include accessories, jewelry, watches, baby wear, men’s wear, and of course, women’s wear (Dior). Dior represents glamour, wealth, and couture. The house has always strived to serve the elite of the world. Christian Dior, in defiance of a restriction on fabric during World War II, created pieces in his collection that uses as much as 20 yards of fabric (Blaszczyk 93). While this suggests a sense of social defiance during a time when people were needed to band together, it also represents a belief in the luxury of life and that to live in a restricted form is to limit the possibilities. Dior’s first releases also revolutionized the look of woman. He embraced the large breasts, small waist, and long silhouette with skirts that ended at mid-calf that now still have power in women’s wear creations. His company was run with smart business moves in mind, licensing the products in order to create lines that could extend the brand. Dior is a company to be admired for the products that they produce, the luxurious lifestyle that is the cornerstone

ECONOMICS 1. The Managerial theories of the firm seek to provide Essay

ECONOMICS 1. The Managerial theories of the firm seek to provide models characterised by realism in motivation, whilst recognising the continued importance of profit in the corporate environment - Essay Example As income taxes have risen over the past historical era, the outright impact of salary or bonus increases has been moderated somewhat. The incremental tax on income in the UK and the US is at about 50%, when all local and national income taxes are taken into account. Thus the standard supply and demand relationship demonstrates a curve, as shown below. Since taxes climb with income, the curve's change in slope is more pronounced: As compared to the turn of the last century, when income taxes were less than 10%, the total impact of increases in wages has therefore moderated. The second influence on this moderation has been the increase on the value of leisure time (Kokoski 1987). As the value of leisure hours has increased, the amount which needs to be paid to offset the value of leisure time has also increased, all else being equal. Group incentives can take the form of income increases (salary and bonus) or non-monetary rewards, such as additional vacation days. From a microeconomics standpoint, there is no difference between group pay incentives and individual pay incentives. There are psychological differences which can be substantial, however, depending on the type of performance being rewarded. An extreme example of the point above is an individual whose personal rewards far exceed those of the group, and in achieving his goals may actually be a detriment to the shareholders. An example of this might be Robert Eaton, who was the Chairman of the Chrysler Corporation at the time that his company was approached by Daimler-Benz. Eaton agreed to a plan whereby Daimler-Benz would merge with Chrysler, and he sold the Board of Directors and employees' unions on the plan. What he didn't reveal was that he stood to gain over $100 million personally if the deal went through. The resulting hue and cry was that Eaton "sold out" Chrysler, which was borne out by subsequent events. Chrysler's largest shareholder at the time, the Tracinda Corporation1, sued Daimler-Chrysler for over $8 billion for erasing nearly $38 billion of market capitalization due to the transaction (CNN 2000). Figure 2: Reduction in share price since merger (CNN 2000) Thus a personal incentive (for Eaton) was in direct opposition to the interests of the shareholders. Stock Options Stock options have the advantage of better alignment with shareholder expectations. The theory is that managers are