Looking At The Behavioral Methods Of Social Work Social Work Essay

Looking At The Behavioral Methods Of Social Work Social Work Essay The aim of this assignment is to show how a Social Worker would apply a Behavioural Method as an understanding and intervention on the case study supplied. I will do this by explaining what Behavioural Social Work is, how it is used in practice, how it meets the needs of the service user and identify personal challenges along the way. I will try to challenge my own views and ideals on the service user, and how these can be challenged for Anti-Oppressive Practice. Most of what makes us truly human, most of what makes us individuals rather than clones, most of what gives us a discernible personality made up of characteristic patterns of behaviour, emotion and cognition is the result of learning (Sheldon and McDonald, 2008). The Behavioural Perspective focuses on the individual and the relationship between stimuli in an environment and how it determines behaviour through learning (Westen, 2001). This is also how Behavioural Social Work is executed, by focusing on behaviour that is observable and changeable. Like other forms of social work methods it has been adopted from other disciplines, and in particular Psychology, but has been adapted to achieve measured outcomes and effective practice for Social Work (Watson and West, 2006). There are four main Theories that are relevant and used in Behavioural Social Work; The first behavioural theory is Respondent Conditioning, first introduced by Ivan Pavlov, who used experiments on dogs to discover how to condition a response after the presence of a certain stimuli has been removed. The second major behavioural theorist is B.F Skinner and his Operant Conditioning, he observed that the behaviour of organisms can be controlled by environmental consequences that either increase (reinforce) or decrease (punish) the likelihood of the behaviour occurring (Westen, 2001). He claimed that the outcome of behaviour was voluntary and goal directed, and always controlled by the consequences the behaviour would lead to. The next behavioural theory identified is Social Learning Theory, which extends behavioural ideas and claims that most learning is gained by copying others around them, rather than them being reinforced as skinner claimed. That behaviour is shaped by observing others and interpreting it (Payne, 1997). The fourth behavioural theory is Cognitive Learning Theory and was introduced by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck in the 1960s, this is a theory that focuses on the way people perceive, process and retrieve information (Westen, 2001). A perception of the environment from previous experience. It was during the 1980s that Social Work adopted behavioural theory as a method of working with service users, part of the reason for this was the ability of the theory to achieve realistic outcomes (Watson and West, 2006). The learning theory used in social work is a combination between all four theories listed above; Respondent Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, The Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Learning. These are used to enable the social worker to observe behaviour and therefore intervene appropriately (Watson and West, 2006). The importance of behavioural social work is that the behaviour is learned and can therefore be unlearned. Cognitive learning theory focuses on this specifically and its engagement with cognitive processes which produce thoughts and feelings (Sheldon, 1995). Behavioural social work allows the service user to modify and change their behaviour through a process of reinforcement, both positive and negative, to produce a likeliness of a wanted behaviou r occurring (Watson and West, 2006). There have been criticisms of this form of social work as it involves deciding what normal behaviour is. This may lead to discriminatory and oppressive practice, as a perception of normal behaviour can come from a range of sources, such as, personal and professional values (Trevithick, 2000). Another criticism is that the social worker may be seen as having significant power in deciding a future for the service user, which may in turn lead to further problems. To overcome these criticisms for an affective and constructive service for users, social workers have to be aware of empowering skills to help the service user help themselves. Informed consent and active participation is also a significant part of behavioural social work (Watson and West, 2006). How is Behavioural Social Work Used in Practice? Some of the reasons a behavioural method was chosen for intervention is because it mainly targets problem solving, and anger management, which are some of the problems faced by the family in the case study. The first stage of Behavioural Social Work is the process of Assessment. This will begin by identifying the service users problem(s) (Howe, 1998). It not only identifies the problem behaviour, but how it manifested to begin with, and what can be done to change it. The first stage of assessment and intervention is to establish the behaviour to work with (Watson and West, 2006). Within the case study, the problem is the behaviour of Jake who is increasingly violent and aggressive towards his parents and siblings. To establish the intensity and occurrence of his aggression it should be recorded and written down. This will provide clarity and understanding of the nature of the violence, which person(s) are present when he does it and what are the consequences of his behaviour (Watson and West, 2006) The problem behaviour has to be described in terms that are observable and measureable (Howe, 1998). To ensure an accurate documentation of behaviour, partnership should be used with the parents and social worker for empowerment (Watson and West, 2006). A contact either written or verbal can be useful in establishing aims and goals for sessions, and an overall aim for behaviour (Howe, 1998). Operant conditioning is one of the main theories used in Behavioural Social Work; this is put into practice by the ABC Assessment, which uses the identification of Antecedents, Behaviour and Consequences to help shape wanted behaviour (Hudson and Macdonald, 1998 cited in Watson and West, 2006). The Antecedent what precedes the behaviour, The Behaviour in this case aggression and violence, and the Consequence What happens immediately after the violence i.e Is the behaviour being reinforced? Once all the assessment has been carried out and all the information gathered, the social worker and the service user (parents) must work together to plan a method of intervention which promotes a wanted behaviour, this will be a baseline for intervention (Watson and West, 2006) The next stage in the process of behavioural intervention is the implementation of the plan to change the unwanted behaviour. For this method to be effective it needs partnership of both parents and the social worker to establish roles, tasks and responsibilities (Howe, 1998). The main task for all involved is to develop appropriate strategies to implement within a certain time frame (Watson and West, 2006), which will enable the social worker to evaluate the process and respond by either changing the strategies or the method implemented. In the case study Jakes behaviour deteriorated after the new baby was born, so the strategies that could be implemented would involve activities and more contact with his mother, and the rest of the family. Consequences of his bad behaviour should be consistent and happen immediately after an event (Watson and West, 2006). The main aim of Behavioural Intervention and Operant Conditioning is to focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, this is to positively change behaviour and motivate Jake to complete goals (Watson and West, 2006). How Does Behavioural Intervention Meet the Needs of the Service User? Behavioural Social Work is effective in meeting the needs of the service user as it is specific, simple and structured. It works in partnership with the parents and gives them an understanding into why their son behaves the way he does, and that Jakes behaviour is the problem and not Jake. Behavioural intervention is also cost effective and doesnt rely on financial help, therefore can be used immediately to help and support Jakes parents, as well as Jakes behaviour. One of the reasons why this method is widely used is because it is time limited; this allows the social worker to assess if the method is effective and if it is not it can be easily altered or changed. This method is specifically relevant to the case study as Jakes behaviour is the problem, which has been learned through time. A positive to this is that it can be unlearned with the help of his parents. To avoid oppressive practice this has to be a method that includes Jake, both his parents and the Social Worker. This will ensure empowerment to Jakes parents; a less likelihood of powerlessness over Jakes behaviour and a more effective outcome. Some of the negatives of this method if intervention is that it does not tackle the underlying problems to Jakes violence, but by using skills, values and knowledge the social worker can talk and support Jake to discover other underlying issues. Challenges working with this service user Some of the challenges I would face being a social worker for this case is helping Linda and Michael become more involved in changing Jakes behaviour. There is a new baby in the home and one other sibling besides Jake, and getting time to respond to Jakes behaviour may be difficult. There is also no other social support outside the home and Linda is very stressed and at the end of her tether with Jake, so getting time to spend with Jake alone may also be complicated. Another problem is that Michael is already threatening about having Jake removed from the home as his behaviour is so bad, so Michaels patience to assess and implement a behavioural intervention may be limited. To resolve these challenges I would have to use skills such as empathy and active listening, as well as appropriate questioning to gain a full awareness of the situation. The next step would be to involve both parents in trying to understand that Jakes behaviour is a result of learning and can therefore be unlearn ed in time, to show both parents that I am there to help and support both them and Jake for the sake of the family. Some personal challenges I would face as the social worker is trying to understand what it must be like to have three children under the age of ten, and being at a crisis point with one of them. To be so stressed that your husband is threatening to put one of your children into care because of his behaviour towards the rest of the family. I cant help but feel how could anyone, through choice, want to put their child into care. Can things get that terrible that some parents cannot see any way out rather than this? I couldnt help but think that Michael is saying this because he is Jakes step father and not biological father, but then, I do not have children and therefore have never had a child with behavioural difficulties. But I do understand what stress can do to a person, and how it can seem like there is no way out. I must challenge these stereotypical views on Michael and realise he has raised Jake from six years old, and probably knows a lot more about Jakes behaviour and the fam ily dynamic than I do, as a Social Worker. Conclusion A behavioural method for Social Work was chosen for this case study. It enables the social worker and the service user to work in partnership which is fundamental for a behavioural method to succeed. It includes a step by step process with defined roles and responsibilities to alter behaviour. Operant Conditioning is mainly used as its emphasis is reinforcing positive behaviour, but with punishment which should be consistent and applied immediately. Behavioural Intervention provides the Social Worker with a method which can be implemented swiftly, but can also be evaluated after time for its effectiveness. This provides the social worker with the knowledge to alter a method or implement and new one. Values such as anti-oppressive practice and empowerment are vital to implement this method as they provide the service user with choice, roles and responsibilities. By challenging stereotypical views, a social worker can make informed decisions and support the service user effectively. Ov er all a behavioural intervention is used to alter behaviour, as it is the behaviour that is the problem, not the person.

School of Athens by Raphael Analization

The School Of Athens by Raphael Nii Teiko Tagoe 9/11/12 LBTS 1105 The School of Athens by Raphael is a painting that really relates to classical philosophy and humanism. It is one of the greatest paintings in the high Renaissance, and it was painted in one of the greatest most extraordinarily decorated rooms in the Vatican, the name of the room was the Stanza della Segnatura. † The school of Athens† was painted by Raphael between 1508 and 1511, and it was right around the time Michelangelo was painting the 16th chapel.One of the things that makes this painting so special is that â€Å"The School of Athens† represents all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists from classical antiquity gathered together sharing their ideas and learning from each other. These figures all lived at different times, but here they are gathered together under one roof. The painting consists of generic and geometric shapes there is a good balance of both in the painting.On e of the first things that stand out to me is all the decoration that is surrounding the fresco in the painting and also the monochromatic sculptures at the base that are supporting the fresco. When you look close to the painting you can see that it was done in a one point perspective, the vanishing point and the horizon line run right through the center of the picture and sort of terminate behind the two central figures heads, and those two are Plato and Aristotle. The vanishing point almost divides the painting into two as its right in the middle of those two figures.The only place that I see a two point perspective being used in this painting is the block of stone on the floor that Michelangelo is leaning on. I also see some illusionism giving a sense of space going on as pertaining to the use of one point perspective, through the floors and the coffers and the celling. The use of simulated and actual texture and repetition in these areas also help create some of these illusions. There are different elements used, such as line, texture and repetition that helps strengthen Raphael’s painting.Overall Raphael’s use of warm colors in most areas of the painting could be looked at symbolically, such as the use of red demonstrating wisdom and power as it is used on the main figures in the painting. The colors in general are light but not too bight to keep a sense of seriousness in the painting. The warm light is focused more on the people in the back, and shadow is slightly casted upon the figures towards the front. Raphael used chiaroscuro to show underlying body structure in each of the figures and to also show and create depth and shape in the painting. he painting overall has a lot of analogous color schemes going on, with the characters, and the same analogous color scheme going on with the walls, the windows the floors and the back ground in general. But the color scheme in the characters pertaining to the background is complimentary when it co mes to certain figures. Overall this is a wonderful piece of art and Raphael did a great job over all of depicting each individual character and brings life into them in the painting.

Essay on The Personality of Othello - 1053 Words

The Personality of Othello Othello’s speech to Brabantio and the Duke in Act 1, Scene 3 is of major importance in describing Othello’s personality. This long speech, found in lines 149 to 196, shows Othello for the first time as a person with depth and less as a soldier. This speech is important to the book as a whole because it is a testimony to the strength of the love between Othello and Desdemona, which will later play a major role in the plot. It is also one of the first times that we see Othello trying to influence his audience with his words. The speech given by Othello is intended to convince Brabantio that Desdemona is with him willfully, and not by â€Å"spells and medicines bought of montebanks† (line 74). Her father†¦show more content†¦My story being done, She gave me for my pains a world of (sighs.) She swore, in faith, twas strange, twas passing strange, Twas pitiful, twas wondrous pitiful. She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me, And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake. She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used. Here comes the lady. Let her witness it. Lines 149-196 To influence his audience, Othello uses logic as well as an entrancing tone that surprises and allures his audience of Brabantio and the duke. Othello offers to tell his story, despite his discomfort with words. Othello tells the men that, â€Å"Rude am I in my speech, and little blessed with the soft phrase of peace. . . and therefore little shall I grace my cause in speaking for myself.† (lines 96-104) This preview to his speech gives the men a feeling that he’s going to be rough and unlearned when he talks, and definitely unworthy of Desdemona. This idea is quickly dismissed when he does begin to talk, almost magically, and it completely puts Othello in a good light. His tone, imagery, and diction all add to theShow MoreRelatedParanoid Personality Disorder In Shakespeares Othello1577 Words   |  7 PagesWorld Lit/Comp Honors 1 November, 2017 Othello was a great leader in the battlefield, but that never transpired in his social life as he couldn’t take the lead in his relations. He had frequent suspicions about his spouse and close associates. In the play â€Å"Othello† written by Shakespeare, Othello is the main character who goes through many phases during the play. Othello is mainly influenced by Iago but he causes his own downfall as the tragic hero. Othello plays a role of a commander in the armyRead More Comparison of an Evil mastermind in Shakespeare’s Othello and MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)1433 Words   |  6 Pagesintroduced in Shakespeare’s Othello. His deceiving personality and complex nature is painted such that readers are amazed by his ingenious schemes. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is represented as trustworthy and honest, but readers soon realize that he is the opposite of what he seems. Even though Iago’s perso nality and thoughts are revealed less in MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), he carries on the same immoral legacy as in Othello. Throughout the plays, heRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1383 Words   |  6 PagesIn the play Othello, Shakespeare presents sufficient evidence that proves that the character Othello has a paranoid personality disorder. One criteria for paranoid personality disorder from the DSM-5 that Othello meets is he â€Å"suspects without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him†(American Psychiatric Association). He also recalls: villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore! Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof, Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Thou hadstRead MoreThe Character Analysis Of Iago Of Othello1075 Words   |  5 PagesAt first glance, Iago of Othello can appear to have little motivation for his destructive tendencies; however, when viewed through the lens of antisocial personality disorder, his incentive takes on a twisted internal logic. His all-consuming desire for revenge is not necessarily because of any outside influence by Othello himself, but rather the fact that Othello disrupts Iago’s conception of himself and is a pawn whom he can manipulate for pleasure. His arrogance and entitlement are also classicRead MoreOthello Essay, Appearance vs Reality1175 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough life without anyone understanding the true reality of their character. William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers of all time, understood the relationship between appearance and reality and often gave characters two sides to their personality. One of the most fundamental questions in philosophy is the one of appearance vs. reality. We find ourselves asking the question of what is genuinely â€Å"real,† and what is viewed merely as just an â€Å"appearance,† and not real? It becomes difficultRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello - A Diagnosis Of Literary Character, Iago1460 Words   |  6 Pagesfate. Meaning in every situation there must be a character that is fraudulent and misleading. To which this character would tell false lies to hopefully make the plot end in disaster. In the dramatic play Othello, Shakespeare unleashes the tale of an interracial marriage between a Moor (Othello) and a Venetian woman. Which continuously builds on internal dialogue, race, gender, and insinuations the characters placed on one another. Moreover, the characters possessing various kinds of mental disordersRead More Othello Essay1312 Words   |  6 Pagesand a tragic flaw which proves fatal. This suggests Othello is a tragi c hero, though qualities such as nobility in thoughts or actions do not consistently portray Othello throughout the play. Despite his brave reputation as a soldier and characteristics of trusting and caring initially with Desdemona, his weaknesses in both his own character and his vulnerability to Iago ¡Ã‚ ¦ s lies, and the decision of killing Desdemona at last do not make Othello sufficiently noble in thought or action to attain theRead MoreLady Macbeths Role in Macbeth by Shakespeare647 Words   |  3 Pagesrole in Macbeth Of all the females featured in Shakespeare’s plays, Lady Macbeth is particularly distinctive. Her portrayal is not confined within any of the pedestrian gender roles of sixteenth and seventh century England. Instead, her robust personality makes her one of the most famous and frightening female characters in Shakespeare’s plays. In this tragedy, Lady Macbeth is a strong and ruthless woman who plots the murder of the Scottish King, Duncan for the ascension of her husband, Macbeth,Read MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Iago And Othello1094 Words   |  5 Pages The tragedy of Othello is not just a story of jealousy but rather a clash of two worlds. In Shakespearean plays we many times see the protagonist fall due to deceit, human flaws, and corruption of their society. We specifically see the hero fall in Shakespeares Othello as a man trying to be himself with a corrupt friendship in Iago. Othello is seen to be the noble moor of Venice. He is respected by society for his many actions of nobility and bravery. Iago on the other hand is the villain plottingRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1678 Words   |  7 Pagesmasterpieces and tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet caused a remarkable turning point in English literature as whole, and English drama in particular.His play Othellois one of his unforgettable tragedies. The play of Othello is the finest example of Shakespeare’s poetic and narrative style. Thus, Shakespeare is known as the most influential dramatist whose tragedies found the way to interact with the audience.Shakespeare’s Othello is about jealousy, revenge and deception

The History of the Green Movement

Though the conservation movement had European roots, many observers maintain that the United States has emerged as the worlds leader in environmentalism. If America does, in fact, deserve credit for leading the green movement, what made the United States such a crucible for environmentalism? Its partly due to the immigrants who came to the North American continent in the colonial era and partly to the natural beauty of the land they found when they crossed the Atlantic. The Early Years of the Green Movement America, of course, didnt invent the green movement any more than it invented trees. The basic principles of sustainable forestry management, for example, were known throughout Europe (especially Germany, France and England) since the medieval era. Farming communities in Asia practiced soil conservation through terrace farming and other sustainable agricultural practices. English writer Thomas Malthus, in his oft-quoted An Essay on the Principle of Population, alarmed much of 18th-century Europe by proposing that an increase in human population beyond sustainable limits would result in a catastrophic plunge in population due to famine and/or disease. Malthus writings would inform much of the alarm over the population explosion roughly 200 years later. But it was after the colonization of the Americas by Europeans that writers and philosophers were among the first to propose that wilderness had an intrinsic value beyond its usefulness to humans. While fisheries, hunting grounds, and timber stands were important to civilization, visionaries like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau proposed that in wildness is the preservation of the world (Thoreau). Their belief that nature possesses a spiritual element that transcends human utility gave these men and their followers the label Transcendentalists. The Green Movement and the Industrial Revolution The transcendentalism of the early 1800s and its celebration of the natural world arrived just in time to be trampled underfoot by the ravages of the Industrial Revolution. As forests disappeared under the ax of reckless timber barons, coal became a popular source of energy. Unfettered use of coal in homes and factories resulted in horrific air pollution in cities like London, Philadelphia, and Paris. In the 1850s, a carnival huckster named George Gale heard about an immense California redwood that was over 600 years old when Jesus was born. Upon seeing the magnificent tree, nicknamed The Mother of the Forest, Gale hired men to cut the tree down so that its bark could be displayed in his sideshow. The reaction to Gales stunt, however, was swift and ugly: To our mind, it seems a cruel idea, a perfect desecration, to cut down such a splendid tree ... what in the world could have possessed any mortal to embark in such a speculation with this mountain of wood?, wrote one editor. The growing realization that human industry was obliterating irreplaceable wilderness -- and endangering human health -- resulted in the earliest efforts at managing natural resources. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was created, the first of what became one of Americas best ideas: a network of national parks that were strictly off-limits to exploitation. The Conservation Movement Takes Root As the Industrial Revolution continued to wreak havoc on wilderness, a growing chorus of voices sounded the alarm. Among them were John Muir, a visionary poet of the American West and its spectacular beauty, and Theodore Roosevelt, an avid reformer whom Muir convinced to set aside vast tracts of wilderness for conservation. Other men, however, had different ideas about the value of wilderness. Gifford Pinchot, who studied forestry in Europe and became an advocate for managed forestry, was once an ally of Muir and others in the conservation movement. As Pinchot continued to broker the clear-cutting of virgin forests with influential timber barons, however, he fell out of favor with those who believed in the importance of preserving nature, regardless of its commercial uses. Muir was among those who decried Pinchots management of wilderness areas, and it is Muirs interest in preservation as opposed to conservation that gave rise to what may be Muirs greatest legacy. In 1892, Muir and others created the Sierra Club, to do something for wildness and make the mountains glad. The Modern Green Movement Begins In the 20th century, the conservation movement was overshadowed by events like the Great Depression and two world wars. Only after World War II ended -- and the rapid transformation of North America from an agricultural society to an industrial one was well underway -- did the modern environmental movement begin. Americas postwar industrialization proceeded at a breakneck pace. The results, while amazing in their breadth, alarmed many with the havoc they wreaked. Nuclear fallout from atomic tests, air pollution caused by millions of cars and factories spewing chemicals into the atmosphere, the destruction of once-pristine rivers and lakes (like Ohios Cuyahoga River, which famously caught fire due to pollution), and the disappearance of farmland and forests under suburban developments were a concern to many citizens. Into this maelstrom stepped a quiet, studious scientist and author.  Rachel Carson in 1962 published, a devastating argument against the reckless use of the pesticides that were wiping out populations of birds, insects, and other animals. The now-classic book gave voice to millions of Americans who saw their rich natural heritage disappearing right before their eyes. Following the publication of Silent Spring and books like Paul Erlichs The Population Bomb, Democratic Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson joined many other politicians in adding environmental protection to their platforms. Even Republican Richard Nixon made considerable progress toward incorporating environmental awareness into his administration. Not only did Nixon create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), he also signed the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, which required environmental impact assessments for all large-scale federal projects. And on Christmas Eve of 1968, NASA astronaut William Anders, while orbiting the moon with the Apollo 8 mission, snapped a photograph that many people credit with providing a foundation for the modern green movement. His photo shows a small, blue planet Earth peeking over the horizon of the Moon. (See above.) The image of a small planet, alone in a vast ocean of space, showed billions the fragility of our planet and the importance of preserving and protecting Earth. The Environmental Movement and Earth Day Inspired by the protests and teach-ins that were occurring worldwide throughout the 1960s, Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed in 1969 that there be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment. In Nelsons words, The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Thus was born the event now known as Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, the first celebration of Earth Day took place on a glorious spring day, and the event was a tremendous success. Millions of Americans coast to coast took part in parades, concerts, speeches and fairs devoted to preserving the natural heritage of the United States and the entire world. In a speech that day, Nelson stated, Our goal is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all living creatures. Earth Day is now celebrated worldwide and has become an environmental touchstone for two generations of eco-activists. The Environmental Movement Solidifies In the months and years following the first Earth Day and the creation of the EPA, the green movement, and environmental consciousness were solidified into private and public institutions around the world. Landmark environmental legislation, like the Clean Water Act, the Federal Pesticides Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Scenic Trails Acts, were signed into law. These federal acts joined many other state and local programs to protect the environment. But all institutions have their detractors, and the environmental movement is no exception. As environmental legislation began to be implemented nationwide, many in the business community found that environmental legislation was having a negative impact on the profitability of mining, forestry, fisheries, manufacturing and other extractive and polluting industries. In 1980, when Republican Ronald Reagan was elected to the presidency, the dismantling of environmental safeguards began. By appointing anti-environmental crusaders like Interior Secretary James Watt and EPA Administrator Anne Gorsuch to office, Reagan and the entire Republican Party signaled their naked contempt for the green movement. Their success was limited, however, and both Watt and Gorsuch were so universally disliked -- even by members of their own party -- that they were removed from office after serving a matter of months. But the battle lines had been drawn, and the business community and the Republican Party remain vehemently opposed to the environmental protections that define much of the green movement. The Green Movement Today: Science vs Spiritualism Like many social and political movements, the green movement has been strengthened and annealed by the forces that oppose it. After James Watt was appointed to lead the Department of the Interior, for instance, membership in the Sierra Club grew from 183,000 to 245,000 in just 12 months. Today, the green movement is again defined and galvanized by its command of issues like global warming and climate change, wetlands preservation, the Keystone pipeline, nuclear proliferation, hydraulic fracturing or fracking, fisheries depletion, species extinction and other important environmental concerns. What distinguishes the green movement today from the earlier conservation movement is its emphasis on science and research. Speaking in spiritual tones and using religious metaphors, early environmentalists like Muir and Thoreau celebrated nature for its profound impact on mans emotions and our souls. When Hetch Hetchy Valley in California was threatened by a dam, Muir exclaimed, Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. Now, however, we are far more likely to call upon scientific data and empirical research to buttress arguments in favor of wilderness preservation, or against polluting industries. Politicians cite the work of polar researchers and use computerized climate models to battle global warming, and medical researchers rely on public health statistics to argue against mercury pollution. Whether these arguments succeed or fail, however, still depends on the vision, the passion and the commitment of the people who make up the green movement.