Suburban Nightmare free essay sample

Several years ago, a forest near my home was leveled with bulldozers and construction workers, trucks, and dumpsters took over. The forest, a haven where many neighborhood children and I could play and relax, became a barren dirt field with roughed-in roads, lots, and other preparations for construction. A tall fence around the new development went up next, forever sealing off the location of many memories. I had witnessed the construction of a new housing development, the human races indication of its presence. However, the new development was simply a first step towards a more problematic lifestyle. My town was previously semi-rural, but this connotation would not survive. A new neighborhood was in construction across from ours, another barren field of dirt blemishing the landscape. A golf course, regularly visited by my father, was the next victim. A previously quiet street near my school, which only served local traffic when I first arrived, was widened into a 4-lane artery serving residents all over the city. We will write a custom essay sample on Suburban Nightmare or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Before my eyes, all the qualities of a rural area vanished as our town succumbed to the rapid suburbanization of the Capital District of New York. This transformation was very important to me because I was able to live in the town prior to its suburbanization. The forest was part of my daily schedule, and i would spend entire afternoons after school there. I rode my bike through the forest with my friends on informal trails, riding over and through obstacles and ramps that we built. Other children would come and watch, sometimes playing in a creek that would form after rainstorms. Children could almost always be seen digging for fun, making ramps and creating holes to play in. These luxuries and experiences are rarely seen in a modern suburb, heavily regulated by homeowners societies that require green lawns and conformity, and were lost to us when the â€Å"yellow monster†, as the bulldozers were called, crushed the forest in front of several distraught children who had gathered to view the spectacle. Although the fierce spread of suburbs may not be able to be stopped, the qualities of nature could be preserved. Spacious and easily accessible parks with trees, playgrounds, and paths offer a viable suburban alternative to forests. Parks with these qualities are sorely lacking in suburbs; after I moved to Ohio, I realized that the neighborhood park was a tiny plot of sand with a single playground fixture, a full mile from my house. Positive changes are already taking effect in some portions of my town, with the expansion of a city park, but it is not happening quickly enough; my neighborhood will still have to live with a small plot of sand for years to come. The preservation of nature are also important. Sometimes, there is simply no substitute for a child to walk through a forest and explore the sights and sounds. My current home is located at the very fringe of Cincinnatis urban area, an epitomizer of suburbanization that I, as a child, had despised. After moving here, however, I realized that I was not alone; A friend of mine had lived in the town since a small child and had seen buildings built, roads expanded, and neighborhoods constructed around him. I was one of the vast majority of residents who had moved within the past few years, completely out of touch with the natural, rural past of the town. The suburbanization of the United States is unstoppable, but can and must be countered through the active development of green spaces and the preservation of nature.

Argument Against Protein Supplement Use by Athletes

Argument Against Protein Supplement Use by Athletes Introduction Athletes make use of dietary supplements with the aim of enhancing their performance. Proteins are some of the most popular performance-enhancing supplements used by amateur and professional athletes. Norbert et al. report that at least 40% of athletes make use of protein supplements because they feel that an ordinary diet is unable to provide the necessary nutrients in adequate quantity (2).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Argument Against Protein Supplement Use by Athletes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The prevalence of protein supplement usage among athletes is because of the supposed benefits that these products give to the individual. However, most of the advantages are overstated and research indicates that supplements have some significant demerits. This paper will set out to argue that protein supplements are bad and as such, they should not be used by athletes. Why Protein Supplements are Bad Protein supplements are associated with a number of adverse health effects on the individual. Protein supplements are consumed in order to add the protein content in the athletes body. Since most supplements contain a high dosage of protein, consuming them might lead to the overloading of the body with proteins. Nemet and Eliakim document that when this happens, the kidneys and the liver experiences a high urea/nitrogen load (13). Excess proteins lead to the production of more ammonia by the body and it is the function of the kidney to get rid of these ammonia. The kidneys are overworked as they try to eliminate more ammonia from the body. This kidney and liver overload can contribute to the loss of kidney function or the development of kidney complications. Large amounts of protein also result in dehydration, which is undesirable for the athlete. Vaughn warns that a decrease of as little as 2% of body weight from dehydration can significantly reduce the muscular strength and stami na of the athlete (236). Dehydration also places the athletes body at risk since the body temperature rises steadily and the heart rate increases. It can also result in an increase of calcium loss from the body, therefore reducing the strength of the athlete’s bones. Protein supplements do not stimulate muscle growth in the athlete. Most athletes consume protein supplement under the false assumption that this will assist in muscle growth. Whitney and Eleanor reveal that protein supplements do not assist in the building of muscle (195).Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This assertion is supported by research by Nemet and Eliakim, which indicates that there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that increased protein intake will increase muscle mass (13). The additional protein provided by protein supplements is dismantled by the body and used for energy or stor ed as body fat. The athlete is only able to stimulate muscle growth by engaging in vigorous exercising. Taking protein supplements in the hope that these products will stimulate muscle growth is ineffective and it does not assist the athlete to enhance his capabilities. Protein supplements lead to excess fat development and this might decrease the performance of the athlete. Athletes consume protein supplements due to the body-building ability of proteins. Nemet and Eliakim reveal that most athletes use these substances to change body composition and improve looks (12). However, consumption of excess proteins might have the effect of increasing the body fat composition. While proteins are body building foods, excess consumption leads to the conversion of proteins into fats. The protein content of most protein supplement sources such as protein bars, powders, or shakes are very high and this makes it easy for excess protein intake to occur quickly. Bartlett and Gratton explain that w hen high protein intake is engaged in, the body will convert the excess protein into fatty acids and store it in the fat cells (1087). Increased body weight and fat are an undesirable outcome for most athletes who hope to maintain lean bodies in order to increase their performance. Supplement intake might lead to the reduction of motor skills and mental performance in the athlete. While adequate amount of protein intake is necessary for enhancing body performance, excessive intake might be detrimental to this function. The supplements used by most athletes contain high doses of proteins. Stepto et al. (671) declare that this high-dose supplementation lead to a decrement in motor skill performance. The agility of the athlete is compromised by consuming excess proteins. In addition to this, the supplements have an adverse effect on the cognitive functions due to the depletion of serotonin.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Argument Against Protein Supplement Us e by Athletes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Stepto et al. warn that supplements must be taken in moderation in order to limit the potential negative impacts (680). However, most athletes do not take exercise moderation and therefore expose themselves to the risks of protein supplement overuse. Taking protein supplements exposes the athlete to steroid contamination. Consuming such products might result in the athlete being banned from the sport because of doping. The demand for protein supplements by athletes has turned the dietary supplements market into big business. Most manufacturers are keen to demonstrate impressive results in order to increase their market share. Norbert et al. state that some manufacturers lace their products with steroids in order to increase the performance of the athletes and therefore raise the popularity of the particular brand of protein supplements (5). Most athletes are unaware of these contaminations since the active ingredients are not included on the label. Protein supplements are costly and they might become a financial burden for the athlete. Bartlett and Gratton document that most athletes and fitness enthusiasts spend a lot of money annually on protein supplements (1087). This observation is supported by Norbert et al. who declare that the protein suplement industry has grown into a multi-billion industry (3). Even with the supplements, the athlete will have to ensure that he/she takes regular meals. Nutritionists state that with a proper diet, athletes do not need to involve themselves with protein supplementation. Considering that these supplements are not as efficient as they are purported to be, athletes end up wasting their money without achieving the performance enhancement goals that they seek to get from consuming the supplements. Conclusion This paper set out to argue that use of protein supplements is bad for the athletes due to the risks that it exposes the individua l to. The paper began by observing that athletes require an increased daily amount of protein compared to their non-athlete counterparts. However, it noted that supplements do not lead to outcomes such as increased muscle mass which the athletes seek. In addition to this, the supplements expose the athlete to health problems such as kidney problems, dehydration, and calcium loss. These ends up decreasing the performance of the athlete, who is supposed to have superior physical performance. The paper also noted that protein supplements are not the primary means through which this increased protein dose can be obtained.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Considering the numerous negative impacts and risks associated with using protein supplements, athletes should avoid these products and instead stick to an ordinary diet that contains all the necessary nutrients in adequate quantity. Bartlett, Roger and Gratton Chris. Encyclopedia of International Sports Studies. NY: Routledge, 2012. Print. Nemet, Dan and Eliakim Alon. â€Å"Protein and amino acid supplementation in sport.† International SportMed Journal 8.1 (2007): 11-23. Web. Norbert, Baume, Hellemans Len and Saugy Martial. â€Å"Guide to over-the-counter sports supplements for athletes.† International SportMed Journal 8.1 (2007): 2-10. Web. Stepto, Nigel, Shipperd Benjamin, Hyman Graeme, McInerney Bernie and Pyne David. â€Å"Effects of high-dose large neutral amino acid supplementation on exercise, motor skill, and mental performance in Australian Rules Football players.† Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 36.1 (2011): 671–681. Web. Whitney, Ellie and Elean or Noss. Understanding Nutrition. NY: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.

Chinese Language Characters as Pictographs

Chinese Language Characters as Pictographs   A common misconception about Chinese characters is that they are pictures. I have met many people who dont study Chinese who think that the writing system works much like rebuses where pictures represent concepts and meaning is communicated by listing many such pictures next to each other. This is partly correct, there are a number of Chinese characters that are actually drawn from just looking at the world; these are called pictographs. The reason I say that its a misconception is that these characters make up a very small portion of the total number of characters (perhaps as little as 5%). Since they are so basic and easy to understand, some teachers give their students the false impression that this is the way characters are normally formed, which is not true. This makes Chinese feel much easier, but any learning or teaching method built on this will be limited. For other, more common ways of forming Chinese characters, please read this article. Still, it is important to know how pictographs work because they are the most basic kind of Chinese character and they appear frequently in compounds. Learning pictographs is relatively easy if you know what they represent. Drawing a Picture of Reality Pictographs were originally pictures of phenomena in the natural world. Over the centuries, some of these pictures have morphed beyond recognition, but some are still clear. Here are some examples: Ã¥ ­  child (zÇ ) mouth (kÇ’u)æÅ"ˆ moon (yuà ¨) mountain (shÄ n)æÅ" ¨ tree (mà ¹)ç” ° field (tin) While it might be hard to guess what these characters mean the first time you see them, its relatively easy to recognize the drawn objects once you know which they are. This makes them easier to remember as well. If you want to see how some common pictographs have evolved, please check the pictures here. The Importance of Knowing Pictographs Even though its true that only a small proportion of Chinese characters are pictographs, that doesnt mean that they arent important. First, they represent some very basic concepts that students need to learn early on. They arent necessarily the most common characters (those are usually grammatical in nature), but they are still common. Second, and more importantly, pictographs are very common as components of other characters. If you want to learn to read and write Chinese, you have to break characters down and understand both the structure and the components themselves. Just to give you a few examples, the character Ã¥  £ (kÇ’u) mouth appears in hundreds of characters related to speaking or sounds of different kinds! Not knowing what this character means would make learning all those characters much harder. Likewise, the character æÅ" ¨ (mà ¹) tree above is used in characters that represent plants and trees, so if you see this character in a compound next to (usually to the left) of a character you have never seen before, you can be reasonably sure that its a plant of some sort. To get a more complete picture of how Chinese characters work, though, pictographs arent enough, you need to understand how they are combined in different ways: Character type 1: PictographsCharacter type 2: Simple ideogramsCharacter type 3: Combined ideographsCharacter type 4: Semantic-phonetic compounds

The Baptism of Pocahontas by John Gadsby Chapman Essay

The Baptism of Pocahontas by John Gadsby Chapman - Essay Example Both "The Warning of Powhatan" and "The Crowning of Powhatan" were displayed at the National Academy of Design in New York in the year 1836. His Landing at Jamestown and The Crowning of Powhatan were later imprinted in the 1840s for accepted magazines. Chapman's companion Henry Alexander Wise had set up a decree in the United States House of Representatives in the year 1834 to structure a committee to choose American artists to complete the United States Capitol Rotunda cycle commenced by John Trumbull. On 28 February 1837 the Select Committee opted Robert Weir, John Vanderlyn, Henry Inman, and John G. Chapman to paint sight from American history. According to his agreement, Chapman entertained $10,000 in four payments. The completed painting, The Baptism of Pocahontas, was revealed on 30 November 1840 and was escorted by a leaflet elucidating the artist's approach to the theme and a concise history of Pocahontas as well as the Jamestown colony. John Gadsby Chapman sought to use the Jamestown legend as a paradigm of the confrontation between English settlers and Native Americans. His Baptism of, installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in 1840, combined historical mythmaking, concerns about the fate of the "noble savage," and respect for the Virginia heritage. Like Custis, the artist had deep roots in the Virginia soil; his father, Charles, came from an old Prince William County family; his maternal grandfather, John Gadsby, owned the famous Alexandria tavern that is now a Virginia landmark. Born near there in 1808, Chapman grew up with Mount Vernon and its powerful Washington legacy a few miles to the south and the newly constructed federal city taking shape upriver on the Potomac. Both were to have a profound effect on his future ambitions. During a brief and futile attempt to study law in Winchester, Virginia, he formed a close friendship with future Virginia congressman and Governor Henry Alexander Wise2. In 1828, the youn g artist toured Europe, there enriching his artistic education while making friends with such notables as James Fenimore Cooper, Samuel F.B. Morse, and the sculptor Horatio Greenough. Chapman might have taken advantage of such influential friends to help him launch his career in New York upon his return in 1831. Instead he chose to settle in Virginia, where he eked out scant living painting portraits. (Alexandria Gazette, 1832) During his youth, Chapman had witnessed the rebuilding of the Capitol after its destruction during the War of 1812 and had later watched John Trumbull install his four Revolutionary War paintings in the rotunda. Hoping one day to create a similar "national picture" for the Capitol, he began to contact influential politicians and exhibit his paintings around the District of Columbia3. By this time, Chapman had moved to New York City, where he was establishing a creditable reputation as a printmaker and illustrator. As soon as he returned home, the artist began painting episodes from the Pocahontas saga, the first being two small canvases -- The Coronation of Powhatan and The Warning of Pocahontas -- which he exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1836. In 1837, he composed his own version of the famous rescue scene, Pocahontas Saving the Life of Captain John Smith and between 1839 and 1841; he

Like Water for Chocolate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Like Water for Chocolate - Essay Example According to the De La Garza family tradition, the last-born daughter was not supposed to marry, or she would do so after taking care of her mother until her death. This role fell into the hands of Tita, who happened to be last born. As the family doctor, I pitied the role Tita had gotten as her birth right. It was a tradition that was both selfish, on the mother’s part, and denied Tita equal opportunities like her sisters’. Being a doctor from the United States of America, I saw this as a major infringement on Tita’s rights. When Tita fell in love with a young man named Pedro, I saw this as a chance for her to escape from traditional bondage. I was highly disappointed when Pedro was denied her hand in marriage because Mama Elena disallowed the marriage citing tradition that Tita can only marry after she is dead (Esquivel 78). According to my opinion, Mama Elena’s mistreatment and cruelty on Tita on numerous occasions, represents the same kind of treatment the civilians were receiving from the dictatorship, in governance (Esquivel 43). When Mama Elena imposed the marriage of Rosaura to Pedro, instead of Tita, strengthened my perception of the country’s leadership that was strongly rooted, in a tradition, which it used to oppress the civilians. I yearned for the day Tita would stand up to her mother and do as she wished. When Gertrudis run away and get banished by her mother, she had to come back as a general with the revolution (Esquivel 98). This gave me hope that it would be a sign to Tita, and other women, in Mexico that they can stand up against oppression and triumph. The day Tita stood up against her mother’s ghost and banished it, gave me a piece of mind since it showed me that she had acquired enough strength to be rid of her mother’s domination once and for all. The death of Roberto, Rosaura and Pedro’s son was a blessing in disguise because it gave me another chance at love. I fell in love

Why Did Germany Lose The First World War History Essay

Why Did Germany Lose The First World War History Essay The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was a trigger to World War One, but according to many historians, they claim that Germany is responsible for the war. Prior to the war, tension built up among nations. With the race for superiority a war was bound to happen. Most European countries made alliances with each other, thus pulling Germany with its allies: Austria Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire into the war. By the end of the war, Germanys economy was bankrupted. Germany and its allies lost the war with the Treaty of Versailles, by signing it on June 28, 1919. Given that Germany was the cause of the war, it was more at risk of losing the war. Germany failed to succeed in World War One because of three main reasons, the failure of the Schlieffen plan, nationalism, and the allies effective use of attrition warfare. The failure of the Schlieffen plan caused Germanys plan to fight a two front war almost impossible. The Schlieffen plan was thought of by Alfred Von Schlieffen, and modified by von Moltke (who was in charge of this operation), and it was a strategic plan for victory while fighting two fronts. Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II fought a two-front war against French, British, Belgian, and Americans on the Western Front and at the same time Germany was fighting the Russians on the Eastern Front, until Russias participation in the war ended on March 3, 1918 with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Germany did not have a sufficient amount of troops to be sent to both fronts, and food was limited. Another factor that caused the failure of the Schlieffen plan was Belgian resistance and the entrance of Britain into the war. One August 4th 1914, Britain declared war on France when they invaded Belgium. Germany did not expect Britain, the great empire to join and therefore were worried. Moreover the spe ed of Russian mobilization was unexpected and they gained land in Eastern Prussia sooner than planned. At the beginning of the war, Russia was not a huge threat to Germany and its allies because of their humiliation at the failure of the Russo-Japanese war. However, Russia gained territory quickly and moved closer towards Berlin. Before World War One, Germany believed that they were a great power, and therefore nationalism was at its highest point, however between 1916 and 1917, nationalistic views were starting to take a downturn. In these two years, a lot of lives were lost and the term stalemate was present. The Battle of Jutland was the largest sea battle of the entire war. It occurred in 1916 and it was one of Germanys only chance to weaken Great Britains royal navy, hence the wars nickname; the Battle of Lost Opportunities. The German counterattack failed because their plans were discovered by Russians, thus this battle was a disaster for the Germans, which caused their fleet to not leave the German ports until 1918, as a result giving the British navy domination of the seas. This disappointed the Germans, and lowered German nationalism. Another battle in 1916 named the Battle of Verdun was a disastrous battle fought by the Germans. A win after this battle was impossible after a loss of 430,000 soldiers . In this battle, the French effectively sent the Germans back to their starting point. The French were delighted from their success while German nationalism continually decreased. In 1917, the third battle of Ypres was a huge success for the Germans, despite this success the German self-confidence was already low, and the accomplishment did not increase nationalism significantly. Furthermore, the fact that Germany sent the Zimmerman note to Mexico in 1917, created a strong enemy for Germany and its allies. The telegram stated that if Germany and the United States were to go to war, Mexico would ally with Germany and as a result of this alliance Germany would aid Mexico into regaining the territories of Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. While some historians thought it was intended for America to join the war others thought of it as a method to distract America. As soon as the people realized that Germany lured America into joining the war, German morale vanished. The allies effective use of attrition warfare throughout the war wore out German troops which forced them to surrender. The term attrition warfare is a strategic concept that to win a war, ones enemy must be worn down to the point of collapse by continuous losses in personnel and materiel.  [1]  One method of wearing out the enemy that the British used was The British Naval Blockade. The blockade of German ports starting in 1914 soon resulted in shortages of food, oil, rubber, and fertilizers. This restricted maritime supply of raw materials and foodstuffs to Germany and its allies. Starvation was a key issue for the Germans during the Great War, soldiers and people in Germany starved and possibly died. This continued to the point until strikes were made in German industries in the winter of 1918 which pressured the government to break the blockade or end the war. After the war, claims are made by historians that the North Sea naval blockade was a primary factor in the collapse o f the Central Powers.  [2]  Furthermore the Ludendorff Offensive of 1918 was Germanys final chance for victory, but failed because Germany and its allies were too worn out to continue. This offensive was a series of attacks along the Western Front. The Ludendorff Offensive marked The United States entrance into World War One. Each month, America sent in new troops to face the central powers. After a length of time Germany was unable to fight back because, unlike the Americans it could not send a new group of soldiers to Paris. Consequently, Germany and its allies were too worn out to continue the war because of the British naval blockade, and the new supply of Americans every month. In conclusion, three factors affected the downfall of Germany during the Great War, the Schlieffen plan, nationalism, and the use of attrition warfare. The Germans were not able to fight on two fronts, and therefore could not fully participate during the rest of the war because of their stoppage in the beginning of the war. As battles were lost, the people of the Central Powers were disappointed and worried which contradicted their views from the beginning of the war. This lowered nationalism, especially in Germany greatly. Lastly, Germany could not handle the blockade and the entrance of the U.S.A. This tired German troops to the extent that they were incapable of continuing. If these factors had not been present it could have been possible for Germany and its allies to win the Great War.

Maternal Stress and the Effects of Childhood Development Essay

In conducting my research on developmental studies, I had the chance to review many academic journals with many different studies. I chose to read, â€Å"The Role of Prenatal Maternal Stress in Child Development,† by Janet A.DiPietro in the, Current Directions in Psychological Science journal. The title of the study itself does identify the independent and dependent variable. The independent variable is the effect of stress, and the dependent variable is the child’s development. In reading the introduction, I learned that throughout history people have thought that the emotions and experiences of a pregnant woman impinge on her developing fetus. (DiPietro, 2004) I also learned that there are no direct neural connections between the mother and fetus. (DiPietro, 2004) The journal went on to describe the physiological processes involved in mother to fetus bio-chemical and hormonal functions. The main studies used in determining theoretical explanations throughout history, have been in animal studies. According to DiPietro (2004), â€Å"the most compelling evidence between maternal physiological functioning and later development in offspring is found in animal studies.† (p. 1). The hypothesis of this study suggests that maternal stressors are more far-reaching on child behavior than previously suspected. (DiPietro, 2004). The main way that this hypothesis has been studied is by utilizing animal research. In a series of studies done with rhesus monkeys, when the mothers were exposed to loud noises throughout pregnancy, the offspring showed delayed motor development and reduced attention. (DiPietro, 2004) It does seem that most of the studies conducted on animals have reported negative consequences. Although reports of either no effects or beneficial ones make it clear that much is left to be learned about the specific characteristics of stressors that either accelerate or retard development. (DiPietro, 2004) The subjects used in the methods section were humans. Although, according to the article, this is difficult to study in the human because of the physiological differences during the pregnancies of the different species, and the fact that researchers are unable to control events that transpire after birth in humans. (DiPietro, 2004) Therefore, there are no graphs, charts or statistical measures seen in this article. There were several methods used to analyze the data in this article. One was the survey. Surveys were done with mothers who had witnessed a catastrophic even such as the World Trade Center disaster, or an earthquake. Although the study was able to show that the mother was indeed stressed during pregnancy, there was no study conducted on the outcome of the child. (DiPietro, 2004) Another method had mothers report about their stress incurred during pregnancy, and then an observer and not a parent rated the infant’s behavior. The article suggests that even the resulting information in this study may be skewed, because the studies relied on the Mother’s reports of their children’s problems. It finally became apparent through this study that the only way for the researchers to examine the effects of stressors on the fetus was to subject women to a non-invasive stressor and then measure fetal response. (DiPietro, 2004) They gave these women a standardized test called the, Stroop Color-Word Test. (DiPietro, 2004) The test caused the women to feel cognitively challenged, therefore inducing increased physiological responses in mother, but interestingly, not in the fetus. Fetal motor activity was actually suppressed, according to the study. (DiPietro, 2004) The final results of the study showed that higher maternal anxiety midway through pregnancy were strongly associated with better motor and mental development scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. (DiPietro, 2004) Interestingly, the research conducted on humans, showed that the effects on the developing child are opposite of the effects on animals. The article ends with this statement, â€Å" Too much or too little stress may impede development, but a moderate level may be formative or optimal. It seems that there is really too little research on this area of study to come to a conclusion. I found this study to be very interesting and relevant to today’s issues within society, and especially the question of nature versus nurture. It makes me think about children who are displaying such violent behaviors such as shooting their classmates and parents. It makes me ask the question of what was going on in the mother’s environment during pregnancy? Did she have an easy, stress free, supported pregnancy, or was there fighting and unrest during the pregnancy? Could factors such as these affect the child and develop into what we label as sociopathic? It would be interesting to conduct a study of pregnant women in a prison setting versus pregnant women in an ideal pregnancy situation, and to study the offspring from birth to five years old. Would the affects of the pregnant woman in prison create certain developmental issues in the children? Does it even matter? These questions and many more within the psychology realm are what make this a fascinating discipline to study. It truly is the nature of ourselves that we get to ask questions about, and find the deeper, hidden meanings. References DiPietro, J. A. (2004, April). The role of prenatal maternal stress in child development. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(2), 71-74. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20182913