Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

IntroductionThroughout history, our conceptualization of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has been changing alongside changes in the way we have viewed the world. With the dawning of the Renaissance in Western Europe, religious explanations based on demonic possession were superseded by a more humanistic understanding. By the early seventeenth century, the obsessions that drove Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth to suicide were recognized to be a product of her guilty mind, for which there was no medical cure.Obsessions and compulsions were first described in the medical literature of the early nineteenth century. They were viewed as an unusual expression of melancholia. By the beginning of the twentieth century, with the development of psychoanalysis, the focus shifted onto psychological explanations based on unconscious conflicts, but this did not provide a useful strategy for treatment. The subsequent application of learning theory to OCD led to the development of effective behavioural treatments in the 1960s and 1970s.Compared with the pace of these historical developments, modern understanding of OCD has expanded with dramatic speed. The development of effective medical treatments of OCD has revolutionized the outlook for sufferers and propelled OCD to the forefront of scientific attention. With the growth of research into the epidemiology, psychopharmacology, neurobiology, neuropsychology and genetics of OCD, reviewed throughout this publication, the emphasis has once again swung back toward a medical model. As we enter the twenty-first century, we now recognize OCD as a common, treatable form of major mental disorder.After the pioneering epidemiological catchment area (ECA) studies carried out by the National Institute of Mental Health in the early 1980s reported that the prevalence of OCD was substantially higher than expected, (Robins, Holzer, & Weissman, 1984) repeated population studies using similar methods have demonstrated a lifetime prevalence of 2-3% worldwide (Weissman, Bland & Canino, 1994).   Taiwan and India were the only exceptions, with rates below 1%. If these estimates are accurate, then OCD affects more than 50 million people in the world today. The prevalence does not appear to be influenced by socioeconomic status, educational achievement, or ethnicity. The disorder is more common than schizophrenia, and about half as common as depression. Yet the illness remains largely under-recognized, and the psychosocial and economic costs to society from untreated OCD are high (Hollander, & Wong, 1998).   It is not surprising that the World Health Organization has now recognized OCD as a public health priority.While there is little doubt that the ‘hidden epidemic' of OCD exists, the actual prevalence of clinically relevant disorder has been called into question. In the ECA studies lay interviewers were trained to make DSM-III diagnoses using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). However, clinical reappraisal of DIS -positive cases resulted in less than 25% continuing to meet the criteria for OCD (Nelson & Rice, 1997).One explanation is that the rates of illness reported in the original ECA studies may have been exaggerated. Alternatively, the findings may reflect variability in the severity of the disorder over time.Obsessive compulsive disorder is more common in women, although the differences are not as obvious as in depression or other anxiety disorders. An average female to male ratio of 1.5:1.0 is accepted for the community at large, although the ratio appears roughly equal in the adolescent population, reflecting perhaps the earlier onset in boys. In particularly in males, having obsessions and compulsions or magical thinking, poor social adjustment, and an early chronic course, predicted a worse outcome.A more recent 5-year prospective follow-up study of 100 OCD patients showed that in spite of the introduction of modern treatments, outcomes were similar to Skoog and Skoog's cohort, wit h only 20% reaching full remission of their OCD, 50% showing partial remission, and the remainder unchanged or worse over 5 years. Less severe illness and being married were associated with a better outcome (Steketee Eisen & Dyck, 1999).Most patients suffer a mixture of different obsessions or compulsions. Surveys have consistently identified contamination fears as the most common obsession, with concern about harm to others, pathological doubt, somatic obsessions and the need for symmetry also occurring frequently. Half of all OCD patients admitted for treatment suffer compulsions in the realm of repetitive checking or excessive cleaning and washing. 20 Key themes have been identified that underlie most symptoms. These include abnormal risk assessment, pathological doubt and incompleteness.Patients with OCD usually retain full insight into the absurdity of their symptoms, although this is not always the case (Insel & Akiskal, 1986). The DSM-IV singles out patients with poor insight as a meaningful subgroup. These individuals have more complex symptomatology, which makes diagnosis more difficult, and tend to be more severely ill. They have only a limited sense of the excessiveness and irrationality of their thoughts and behaviours and are therefore difficult to engage in treatment. They may appear to be deluded (and hence receive inappropriate treatment) but longitudinal studies show they do not go on to develop schizophrenia-like illnesses. In a cohort of 475 patients with OCD, (6%) displayed lack of insight.Mild forms of obsessional behaviour, such as repetitive checking or superstitious behaviour commonly occur in everyday life. They only meet the criteria for OCD if they are time-consuming, or associated with impairment or distress.Recurrent, intrusive thoughts, impulses and images also occur in other mental disorders thought to share a relationship with OCD: for example, the preoccupation with bodily appearance, in body dysmorphic disorder; with a feared object, in specific phobia; with illness, in hypochondriasis; or with hair-pulling, in trichotillomania. A diagnosis of OCD should only be contrast; men predominate in surveys of OCD referrals, possibly reflecting a greater severity in males.Women during pregnancy and the puerperium are particularly at risk of developing the disorder. In a study by Neziroglu et al of 59 mothers with OCD, experienced their symptoms for the first time during pregnancy. In many cases, pre-existing obsessional tendencies are unmasked and exaggerated by the events surrounding childbirth.Obsessive compulsive disorder is considered to be one of the most strongly inherited mental disorders (Pauls, Alsobrook, & Goodman, 1995). Approximately one-fifth of nuclear family members of OCD sufferers show signs of OCD, and the younger the sufferer the more likely they are to have a first-degree relative affected. The clustering of OCD and Tourette's syndrome (TS) within families suggests a common inherited factor.Th e course of the illness can vary from a relatively benign form in which the patient experiences infrequent, discrete episodes of illness interspersed with symptom-free periods, to malignant OCD, characterized by unremitting symptoms and substantial social impairment.In a 40-year prospective follow-up study, reported by Skoog and Skoog, the authors managed to locate and examine 144 out of 251 OCD patients who had previously been admitted as inpatients under their care between 1947 and 1953. 1Given that effective treatments for OCD were not developed until the end of the study, much of the data is naturalistic. The authors found that roughly 60% showed signs of general improvement within 10 years of onset of illness, rising to 80% by the end of the study.However, only 20% achieved full remission even after nearly 50 years of illness; 60% continued to experience significant symptoms; 10% showed no improvement whatsoever; and another 10% had worsened. In 60% of cases the content of the obsessions shifted markedly over the follow-up period (Pauls, Alsobrook, & Goodman, 1995).One-fifth of those who had shown an early, sustained improvement subsequently relapsed, even after 20 years without symptoms, suggesting early recovery does not rule out the possibility of very late relapse. Intermittent, episodic disease was common during the early stage of illness, and predicted a more favourable outcome, whereas chronic illness predominated in the later years.Early age of onset, made if there are also unrelated obsessive-compulsive symptoms, in which case more than one diagnosis may be warranted. Activities such as preoccupation with eating, sex, shopping and gambling are not considered genuine compulsions because they are not egodystonic, and the individual usually only tries to resist because of the adverse consequences.Reference:Hollander E, Wong C, 1998). Psychosocial functions and economic costs of obsessive compulsive disorder, CNS Spectrums (3 (5) suppl. 1:48-58.Insel T, Akiskal H, 1986. Obsessive compulsive disorder with psychotic features: a phenomenological analysis, Am J Psychiatry 143:1527-33.Nelson E, Rice J, 1997. Stability of diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the Epidemiological Catchment Area Study. Am J Psychiatry 154:826-31.Pauls DL, Alsobrook JP, Goodman W et al, 1995). A family study of obsessive compulsive disorder, Am J Psychiatry 152 : 76-84.Robins LN, Holzer JE, Weissman MM et al, 1984 Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites, Arch Gen Psychiatry (1984) 41 :949-58.Steketee G, Eisen J, Dyck I et al, (1999) Predictors of course in obsessive compulsive disorder, Psychiatr Res   89 (3):229-38.  Weissman MM, Bland RC, Canino GL et al, 1994. The cross national epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, J Clin Psychiatry 55 :5-10.

APEC impact on China's economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

APEC impact on China's economy - Essay Example ipation in APEC meetings, China wants to demonstrate its desire for maintaining the regional economic stability that can bring prosperity to the member countries of Asia Pacific region. The resistance to the temptation of Yuan devaluation and announcement of tariff rates reduction by Chinese government at a meeting of APEC in Osaka has confirmed this. Through this action, China perceives the opportunity to deal with United States by joining hands with East Asian countries, which are also members of APEC.(Yang & Huang 70) As APEC was the first international economic conference to member nations, under the Chinese leadership of president Xi Jinping, China has used this platform in an efficient manner, in the direction of seeking bigger economic role, globally. This combined with the fact that Chinese economy is the world second largest gives the required advantage to China for countering US economic domination. In this direction, China has announced the established of US Dollar forty million fund for improving the trade and economic links among Asia-Pacific countries. The emerging image of China being the top trading partner of South Asian countries from South Korea to Australia would definitely help in the erosion of American influence on these countries. (McDonald & Lee) Earlier APEC could not prove to be result-oriented for the members, as it failed to improve the economic relations among the Asia-Pacific nations in a substantial manner. However, when China hosted the APEC conference, it made clear to the member nations that the country was prepared to share the fruits of its economic development with neighbors in the region. For ensuring that APEC remained a successful platform to deliver the results. China made many announcements, which include the commitment from China to donate ten million US Dollars towards supporting the capacity building and institutional activities of APEC, apart from establishment of Silk Road fund for undertaking the infrastructure

Critically discuss the Suitability, Feasibility and Acceptability of Assignment

Critically discuss the Suitability, Feasibility and Acceptability of the International Strategy of an Organisation - Assignment Example This in turn has resulted in increasing internationalisation of the businesses. More and more multinational organisations are operating in different countries because of the increasing globalisation. There are different reasons and motives behind the decision of internalisation. According to Johnson and Turner (2003), the reasons and motives of the organisations behind pursuing internationalisation strategy can be divided into following broad categories: 1. Resource Seeking 2. Market Seeking 3. Efficiency Seeking 4. Strategic Asset Seeking Apart from this different approaches to enter into international market are being used by the organisations. Different market entry modes available to the organisations are presented in the figure below: (Adapted from Johnson and Turner, 2003) According to Wrigley (2000), Coe (2003), and Sanghavi (2000), the international expansion by the retail organisations started relatively later as compared to that of the manufacturing organisations but there have been considerable growth and development in the international expansion by the retail organisations in the last fifteen years. It is relatively difficult for the retail organisations to pursue the strategy of international expansion. The retail organisations do not have a single product which they can export to different markets. These retail organisations offer different products which are supplied by different manufacturers and along with this provide the shoppers with a complete experience. Hence it can be said that the business of retailing also has intangible service element. Along with this the products provided by the retail organisations have different consumer preferences and tastes in different regions. For this reason, it is not easy for the retail organisations to expand in different geographical markets and regions. The retail organisations are provided with two different strategic options in order to expand their business operations internationally i.e. global and multinational strategies. The retail organisations which implement the global strategy follow the same format and strategies all over the world. On the other hand the retail organisations which implement the multinational strategy adapt and change the practices according to local preferences. (Alexander and Myers, 2000) In this report an attempt has been made in order to analyse and discuss the suitability, feasibility, and acceptability of the internationalisation strategy of United Kingdom largest retail organisation, Tesco. COMPANY BACKGROUND: Tesco is the one of the biggest and largest retail organisation in United Kingdom. The company is not only operating in the retail industry but has also expanded in several other industries and markets. Apart from this the company is known for its rapid and successful international expansion in different regions (Palmer, 2005). The company has been successfully operating in 13 different countries of the world. Tesco is a successful multina tional retail organisation and is the third largest retail organisation in the whole world on the basis of revenues. The company is still looking to further expand its international operations (Wood, 2011) INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY OF TESCO: The management of Tesco is making all possible efforts in order to make sure to achieve the strategic of ongoing expansion in the international market. Currently, the retail organization is operating in 13 different countries all over the globe including Europe, North America, and Asia.

MKT Unit 4 Individual Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

MKT Unit 4 Individual Project - Research Paper Example The study will deal with the introduction of a new online product known as â€Å"Common† which works as internet currency platform and enables smooth financial transactions between buyers and sellers. The author of the study has highlighted various innovative methods of marketing concepts for Common and make it one of the most saleable and profitable products all over the world. The main objective of the study would be to highlight the various dimensions of Common and its related marketing concepts. A unique marketing plan would be created for Common that would enable to attract potential customers for a particular segment which believe in online purchasing and selling. One of the prime objectives of the study would be to highlight the product characteristics and features that would enable the reader to understand the innovative concept of digitalized transaction and its benefits. Finally, the study would conclude with the various marketing strategies that would enable the suc cessful marketing of Common internet currency platform. ... The prime objective of Common would be to enable fast electronic money and fund transfer for the online buying of products and conversion of money into digitalized currency. The sole purpose behind the creation of such an online platform would be to address the needs and concerns of the customers who believe in performing online transactions and also help in providing customers security and confidentiality while performing online transactions (Forex, 2013a). Common will also try to address the gaps that exist between the customers performing the online and offline transactions. The main objective would always be to provide a smooth financial service and also highlight the various concepts which help in facilitating intensive and extensive data. The maintenance and service offerings would directly depend upon the research market offerings and the proper maintenance of the customer accounts. It also helps in facilitating transactions between financial institutions such as banks, insura nce for investment purposes which help in enhancement of the technical and business expertise. The strategic mission of the company would be to develop a customized online platform which would help in catering to the needs and development of the customers making online and offline transactions (Forex, 2013a). Target Market Although, there is no specific customer segment targeted for the internet currency platform it is assumed that the customers who are not familiar with the technological concepts and methods are not targeted for the customers. The platform would enable micro, gaming; virtual currencies, offer based and mobile payment (FDBC, 2011).It would also facilitate online trading and domestic payment. The marketing department of Common would target customers aged

Professional goals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Professional goals - Assignment Example I established that the process has to be carefully managed if I am to fit into practice. Fitting in is quite difficult given the experience that I had during my placement. Fitting-in is a complex process requiring support from peers and the experienced nurses. However, I believe that with the correct mindset and determination together with support from experienced nurses, I can manage the transition. Duchscher (2008) argues that the graduate nurse is usually faced with a reality shock that comes from the discrepancy between what the draduate nurse has learnt in the classroom and what is actual or real in a health care setting. The graduate nurse in this case feels a sense of groundlessness. The resulting problems include anxiety insecurityand a feeling of inadequacy . Dyess and Sherman (2009) says that the problem is even more serious today because of the fact that the graduate nurse can take the licensure examination moments after graduation and enter into practice as a fully regist ered nurse in a matter of weeks. This is different from the earlier case where graduate nurses would get a temporary licence as they work with experienced nurses for a few months. According to Cubit and Ryan (2011), the situation is not completely out of hand and can be mitigated through proper support programs especially through Graduate Nurse Programs (GNP) that are provided by the health care organizations. This strategy will only be effective if it is not approached from an inculturation approach but rather a support and socialization approach in order to help the graduate nurse to fit in the system. I realized that it was not possible to do it on my own by moving straight into practice as I had little knowledge on the transition process and I was not aware about the graduate nursing programs available in my hospital setting. I would be in a better position if I developed the following †¢Reading more on the topic †¢Asking about other people’s experiences in orde r to learn from them †¢Find out the graduate nursing programs available at the hospital †¢Establish factors that contributed to my inability to fit-in and seek ways of mitigating them In order to know whether I gained from the learning or not, I will look at: †¢My transition process and establish whether it was successful or not †¢My knowledge of the transition process and if I can help others go through it †¢My understanding of the hospital graduate nurse programs The Nurse as a leader A leader is a person who is always looked at by others to provide guidance in situations of need. Being a leader is not a simple process and requires that one has an understanding of various issues around him or her and the people around him/her. I think that being a leader has to do with skills and capabilities that one has. It is thus not possible for anyone to be a leader. Leadership as a nurse is crucial in order to enhance patient care. I observed this during my placemen t as I got to understand what roles and responsibilities a nurse leader undertakes and how to effectively handle leadership roles. Nursing leadership is not a recent phenomenon. It is something that has been discussed for a while now (Stanley and Sherratt, 2010). The benefit of nursing leadership is seen in activities such as administration, education,

History Cold War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History Cold War - Essay Example In a letter of July 23, 1946, Wallace stressed Truman to work for the achievement of global order based on mutual trust, toleration and faith (Wallace, pp 587-600). Resultantly Truman asked him to resign. Wallace’s letter explains how Truman’s Doctrine of Containment became the foundation of Future American Foreign Policy based on the requirements of Cold War. Andrei Vishinsky conveyed his anger in the same tone in his speech at United Nations on September 18, 1947. Vishinsky was open while declaring that America was grounding for a war against Russia (White, pp121-122). It was under the same scenario that the world saw yet another mishap was imminent. Those who wanted peace around the globe worked for the removal of distrust between United States of America and the Soviet Union. Henry A. Wallace was one of such peace-lovers. He lashed out at the policies of the Truman regime which were helping emerge a cold war. Through his words, Wallace actively criticized Trumanâ₠¬â„¢s cold war mindset. He was aggrieved over the America’s policy of the Soviet Union and spoke against it in open words: â€Å"The flaw in this policy is simply that it will not work† (Wallace, p 592). He believed that both the countries could work together. Wallace wanted conciliation, mutual trust and respect and restraint by Americans towards the Russians. Doing this he foresees the solution of America’s many headaches: â€Å"Many of the problems relating to the countries bordering on Russia could more readily be solved once an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence is established† (Wallace, p597). Andrei Vishinsky, the Chairman of the Soviet delegation to the United Nations General Assembly spoke the same words. He termed the United States of America wholly responsible for creating the atmosphere of cold war: â€Å"A number of newspapers and magazines, mostly Americans cry every day and in every way about a new war† (White, p 121). He deni es America’s hue and cry that Russia was imposing a war on it: â€Å"the Soviet Union is not threatening in any way an attack on any country† (White, p 121). Vishinsky fears that America could even fight against those who presented or tried to present systems of their own other than Capitalism. As Soviet Union had adopted Communism which had more charm for the world than the Capitalism and America could not afford to lose its trust, it decided to fight the Soviet Union as well. Wallace speaks against the preparations of America against an expected war. He opines that America’s such preparations will compel the rest of the world to get atom bomb too and that will mean the destruction of the world for atomic war is the cheapest and easiest as against the traditional wars of the past which were costly and enjoyed more labor. The availability of atom bombs with many nations of the world will result in a fear-ridden society and abnormal psychology of the people aroun d the globe. America will have the possibility of falling victim to such violence because of its wealth. This is a dilemma and some have found the solution by presenting their theory of preventative war against the Soviet Union. They argue that before Soviet Union gets atom bomb, it should be attacked as to thwart the danger before it comes into existence. The only solution Wallace puts forth is the obeying of the Moscow Declaration which tells the nuclear disarmament of the nations and mutual trust. To stick to the idea that everything

The Destructors by Graham Greene Essay Example for Free

The Destructors by Graham Greene Essay The word ‘allegory’ means that which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. These are typically moral or politically based works of†¦ writing, in this case. †The Destructors† explores and focuses on the former rather than the latter- the aforementioned ‘morals’. This is majorly done using microcosms to reflect on the condition of England and its people within the actions and thoughts of the characters. It may sound a bit complicated at first, but basically the things that the characters in the story do and see are symbolic of the state of England at the time- after the second world war. Now, coming to the story itself- it follows the Wormsley Common Gang, a group of children living in Eastern London in 1956. The city is basically dreary, bleak, and lacks any type of warmth or compassion. Yep, it’s downright dreadful. â€Å"Beauty† is a thing of the past; unheard of! It is a word that belongs to the â€Å"class world†-which is now a joke, and â€Å"parodied†. This is where the new generation has grown up, and it is all that the children have known. Greene begins the story in an almost childlike tone of voice, and establishes the sense of innocence that should be present in all of the children. But then he goes on to introduce the â€Å"gang† and their lives, forcing the reader to wonder about the circumstances which have led to these young boys acquiring qualities of â€Å"danger†, of the â€Å"unpredictable†. Greene then answers this question, going on to explain that the story is set in the place that has been the worst for wear- having been dealt the worst blow in the war- and will continue to suffer due to the aftermath of the war. Here he refers to â€Å"the first blitz†; a period when London was continuously bombed and left in a state of disarray. Again, this is the environment that the children have been brought up in (not a very healthy one) without even the memories of the prosperous times that they missed. This- the memory of better times- is a key element in the story and will develop late r, so keep it in mind. The gang consists of several characters with highly contrasting attitudes except for one shared sentiment (I’m sure you’ll be able to identify it as the story progresses). The most fascinating character is probably that of T., short for Trevor, who is introduced as â€Å"the new recruit†- someone of little importance- who â€Å"never wastes a word† and is a typically silent, yet cunning member. However, there are â€Å"possibilities about his brooding silence† that give him an element of mystery. It is important to remember that one important factor which differentiates him from the others is that he is well educated- an uncommon trait- which is indicated by the fact that he correctly identifies the shared style of architecture of two different buildings: a house, and a church. Blackie is the leader of the gang in the beginning of the story. He is mature, practical, and a good leader, but lacks any form of refinement and is doubtful of his own capabilities. This is apparent when he replies to T.’s comment about St. Paul’s Cathedral with an indifferent â€Å"who cares?† Mike is the youngest of the group, very obedient and respectful, but only with the other gang members. He is not old enough to be scarred by the brutality of his city, but on the other hand he is not old enough to have formed a real bond with any of the other boys. He follows their orders not because he is driven to do so by motivation, but simply because he doesn’t know better- something we call naà ¯vetà ©. His innocence is the only somewhat comforting concept in a world where everything is broken and the one remnant of the past is the house of a man named â€Å"Old Misery†. This house had been built by Wren, whose most famous construction- St. Paul’s- had also miraculously survived the horrors of the war. This makes the house seem even more of a foreign entity in the boys’ lives. â€Å"Old Misery† is the man Mr. Thomas, who lives near the impromptu car-park where the boys meet each morning. He is actually well meaning and kind, but the boys, who have only learnt to be distrustful, struggle to cast him in a negative light. When Thomas gives them chocolates for no obvious reason, they naturally assume the worst of him for it and believe that they are being bribed to stop bouncing their balls on the walls of his house. Therefore, they devote the entire following day on doing just that- bouncing their balls on the walls of his house- something that only Mike is â€Å"young enough to enjoy†. The boys are obviously doing this out of spite for Thomas, and desire respect in the eyes of adults and the other gang members. Blackie once claimed that he had actually heard the first-blitz, but no-one notices that at the time of the bombing, even Blackie would have been only one year old. He said this in order to strengthen his position as the leader of the gang, and so the boys would respect him as an authoritative figure. T., whose name is actually Trevor, is referred to as T. but not because it is an endearment, but so that his ‘posh’ name wouldn’t set him apart from the other members of the gang. However, Thomas does not mind these antics, for in the children he sees his own childhood and he has hopes that they will someday renew his country’s former glory. This is extremely ironic, considering that their behavior towards him completely contradicts this. The boys’ lack of empathy can be quite a bit associated with their parents’ examples, who had been forced to live through the war, and as a result becoming bitter and shrugging off their responsibilities. For instance, T.’s father had â€Å"come down in the world† and his mother considered herself to be â€Å"better than others†. We assume that he has had an unloved upbringing. Mike’s parents tell him to go to church on his own, as his mother â€Å"felt ill† and his father was â€Å"tired† (after a late night of drinking!) Mike recognizes these excuses and his impressionable mind gradually becomes influenced by lies. The boys are, in essence, left by themselves, a nd without the guidance of their parents, become hateful and aggressive. Of all the members of the gang, T. is probably the most radical and frightening. At first, when he calls Old Misery’s house â€Å"beautiful† we are relieved to know that at least one of the children still appreciates beauty. Believe it or not, the other boys think the same thing, and rebuke T. for not stealing something while he had the chance. However, this statement is not one of appreciation. Far from it, it is an accusation! T. can identify beauty as something he never had a chance to experience, and he wants to make sure that no-one else appreciates it either. He decides to propose that the boys tear the house down, as Old Misery is leaving for the weekend. Not only does he become the gang’s new leader with this suggestion, (remember the common emotion the boys share? Well, it’s jealousy. They are jealous of anyone who has experienced the happiness and compassion to which they are strangers and, as revenge, they want to destroy the few things that act as reminders of the past or can be described as ‘beautiful ‘. Hence the name Destructors) and the â€Å"fickleness of favor† is symbolic of the changing opinions in the society of London at the time. When T. states that he doesn’t â€Å"hate† Old Misery, the reason behind his actions is unclear. But then he goes on to say how if he did, the demolition of his house would not be â€Å"fun†. He makes sure that the boys carefully destroy only the interior of the house, and goes so far as to burn all of Thomas’ savings! The efficient, militaristic manner with which the boys tear down the house is microcosmic of the efficiency with which Germany completely obliterated some parts of London. When Blackie enters the house at their first meeting, he immediately notices that the demeanor of the boys had changed from the â€Å"happy-go-lucky† ways of before to something greater than them all. He gets the impression of â€Å"organization†. â€Å"No-one speaks† and there is a sense of â€Å"great urgency† as they carefully destroy the innocent man’s house (Greene almost makes the boys seem similar to terrorists in this way). They work â€Å"with the seriousness of creators† and stating that â€Å"destruction is a form of creation† only further supports the sentiment that man has become increasingly destructive, almost to the point of self-destruction, after the horrors of war and the resulting bitterness. The words Greene uses to describe the condition of the house; â€Å"pillaged†, â€Å"ripped† and â€Å"smashed† are reflective of the appearance of the city after the bombings, and can also be linked to its description in the beginning of the story, where the entire lane was â€Å"shattered† and glass had all been â€Å"sucked out of the window frames†. When Summers, a skinny ‘yellow’ boy asks whether they have done enough, T. replies adamantly that they must utterly destroy the house until â€Å"there won’t be anything left†. They are later interrupted by Mike claiming that Old Misery is well on his way back, and T. states that â€Å"It isn’t fair† which is an ironic statement coming from him as Greene states that it â€Å"mimics the childhood he never had†. T. doesn’t want to leave the house as it is because there is still a possibility that it could be rebuilt, this time even more beautifully than before. T. struggles to remain composed, and it is obvious that his authority has started to crumble under the immediate threat of discovery as he â€Å"begs† the boys to â€Å"please† give him a chance to â€Å"fix† this, which is an interesting choice of words as T. lacks the ability to create and would obviously lack the ability to â€Å"fix† as well. Surprisingly, it is Blackie who steps up to help T. and this action clearly portrays how to people, no matter how different in ideologies and opinions, can work together to achieve a common goal (here, this goal is destructive).The boys devise a plan to keep Old Misery occupied and T. manipulates Thomas into following him to the loo, where he claims that a boy has fainted. The fact that Thomas follows T. not only hints at his trusting nature, but also his desire to help the boys to which they are oblivious. Not only does he do this, but T. even persuades Thomas to climb the wall of his own garden, even though he states that â€Å"It’s absurd†. His climbing over the wall shows a shift in control from the older generation to the younger generation, of which they take advantage. As Thomas opens the door of the loo, he is pushed inside and the door is bolted. As he sits inside, occasionally receiving food and blankets, Thomas is aware that due to the Bank Holiday, everyone would have gone out and his cries for help would not be heard. As he wonders what is happening outside, Greene explains how the older generation is now trapped; they can only sit idly as they watch the new generation destroying their legacy, unable to protect their home. Meanwhile, the boys continue to â€Å"penetrate† into the house, leaving it â€Å"gutted† (These words create an effect of a process like ‘dissection’ taking place). Greene describes the house as â€Å"balanced on a few inches of bricks† and this is apt to describe the state of Britain’s economy; â€Å"in shambles†. The fact that it is ultimately the driver who actually â€Å"destroys† the house shows that although the initial idea of destruction was the boys’, their plan is finally executed by the generation that is responsible for their destructive nature. The line â€Å"It’s nothing personal† is repeated twice in the story, once when Thomas is sitting in the loo, and once after the house has fallen, indicating that the driver did not feel the slightest hint of compassion for Thomas as he tries to control his laughter and for the children, who are responsible for the destruction of his house, it is an impersonal act borne of man’s aggressive nature. However, to Thomas, who can still remember the Britain of old, it is the loss of ties to the past and the annihilation of any hopes for the future for the second time; first to Germany, and second to the children of his own country, for which he had such high hopes. The final act of destruction demonstrated the transition of power over the generations, and expresses how the bitterness of war causes bitterness to fester in man’s heart until he becomes what he ought to despise.