Free On Earth

Author: Lauryn Hulston

  • What type of parent are you?

    What type of parent are you?

    Parenting can be an interesting topic to talk about, as there isn’t one handbook on how children should be raised. However, there are many similarities between most parents and that seems to have cultivated these common parenting styles:

    • Authoritarian or Disciplinarian.
    • Permissive or Indulgent.
    • Uninvolved.
    • Authoritative.

    It is unclear how well parents from different cultures can be fitted into the same categories, as parenting can vary in these aspects: discipline style, communication, nurturance, and expectations.

    Authoritarian Parenting.

    They are often seen as disciplinarians too. It is common for them to apply a strict discipline style that leaves little to no room for negotiation, and punishment is also common among this parenting style.
    The communication is usually a one way system: from the parent to the child. The parent will regularly establish rules without giving the child any explanation.
    Parents who use this parenting style are usually less nurturing towards their children and their expectations run high with little room for flexibility.

    Permissive Parenting.

    Also known as Indulgent parents, they often allow their children to come and go as they please, offer little to no guidance, and they can be seen more like friend than a parental figure.
    The type of discipline that they live by is the opposite of strict, they establish very few to no rules. Communication is usually open but the parents step aside when it is time to make a decision and allow the child to make up their own mind. Parents with this parenting style are usually warm and nurturing and their expectations are typically low or non existent.

    Uninvolved Parenting.

    Similar to Permissive Parenting, Uninvolved parents will grant their children freedom and mostly stay out of their way. In some cases the parents make the decision to use this parenting style and in other cases the parent has less interest in parenting or is unsure of how to do so. The child is allowed to do as it wants due to the parent’s lack of information or care. Communication is short lived, the child receives little to no nurturing and the expectations the parents have run very low.

    Authoritative Parenting.

    This type of parenting style is seen as the most beneficial to children. Authoritative parents are clear about their expectations and are usually down to earth and nurturing. This usually leads the child to become more self-disciplined and more able to think for themselves.
    The rules that are in place are clear and have been explained to the child. The communication goes two ways and is set at an appropriate level for both the parent and the child. Although Authoritative parents set clear, high expectations for their children, the children also have some input as to what those goals are.

    Parenting doesn’t just depend on what type of person the parent is, it should also cater to the needs of the child and be taken into consideration what would be the most beneficial to them. Whichever parenting style you feel suits you best is acceptable, just make sure that you communicate with your child so their needs are also met.

  • What types of Literature are there?

    What types of Literature are there?

    Although ‘literature’ can be the name given to any written work, it applies especially to artistic or intellectual pieces of writing. The language that is used in literature is different to the one we use in ordinary settings. The difference between them is that in literature, artistic tools are used to create aesthetic beauty.

    Here are the main types of literature:

    Drama: In literature, drama is a play and it is composed by a playwright, this means they can portray fictional or nonfictional stories. Drama can be used to explain certain events, characters, or stories using dialogues. There are different types of Drama:

    • Comedy: In Drama, Comedy applies a lighter tone, and its purpose is to provide humour and amusement.
    • Tragedy: In Drama, Tragedy tends to have a darker theme, usually portraying pain, suffering and sometimes death.
    • Musical Drama: In Drama, Musical Dramas tell a story with songs, music, dance and dialogues.
    • Melodrama: In Drama, Melodrama will portray emotions in an exaggerated way, often seen as tension or excitement. These emotions echo through the audience and will make them more indulgent.

    Autobiography: The author, or teller of the story is usually who the story is about and you get a description of their life from their own perspective. This gives you an insight into someone’s life on a more personal level.

    Poetry: In literature, Poetry is the composition of rhythm, sound and lyrics. Poetry is usually aesthetic and the poet will choose their words carefully so the reader can relate to them. The main types of poetry are: sonnets, haiku, free verse and acrostic poems.

    Science Fiction: Also known as ‘sci-fi’, this type of literature relies mostly on imagination and fantasy. They often tie into real scientific laws and they equally rely on imaginations based on assumptions.

    Prose: This is the form of literature that is usually the most plain and simple. There is no technical grammar structure or a certain writing pattern for you to follow. It is expected to be read and written in a usual conversational tone than will then translate into natural speech.

    Fable: Fables are used when the intention is to provide a moral story, and they usually include animals as characters. They serve as the personifications of human characteristics and their nature.

    Biography: In literature, Biographies tell the stories from another person’s point of view and it is not written by the subject himself. Its intention is to enlighten the audience by including different aspects of somebody’s life.

    Whatever type of literature you are interested in creating, it should all depend on your target audience and the message you want to put across.

  • Cultural Differences

    Cultural Differences

    Cultural differences can be seen as various beliefs, behaviours, languages, practices and expressions that are considered one of a kind to the members of a certain ethnicity, race or national origin.
    While most members of society have more similarities than they do differences, these differences can result in issues that stem from culture clash.

    Every culture will have a certain way of doing things that are deemed polite, but will come off as rude and disrespectful in different cultures.

    Here are some examples:

    Feeding in Ethiopia.

    In Ethiopia, it is common to feed another person as a sign of love and friendship and it is deemed rude if you do not accept the food you are being offered.

    Nudity in Iceland.

    In Iceland nudity is quite a normal sight to behold. It applies to both men and women and it comes with no backlash.
    This doesn’t apply to swimming pools, in order to use them you must first shower while the pool guard verifies that you do so and put on your bathing suit. Only then can you enter the pool.

    Greetings in Japan.

    In Japan it is deemed appropriate to ask a person’s age. Due to the Japanese language being to diverse and complex, there are different words you can use that depend on the age and social status of the person you are talking to.

    Hand Gestures in Turkey.

    Hand gestures are seen as rude in Turkey, simple hand gestures that could be deemed as harmless could mean something entirely different and disrespectful in Turkey.

    Gift Giving in China.

    In China, giving people certain gifts can be offensive, such as gifting cut flowers, which is only done at funerals.
    Gifting somebody a clock is also deemed inappropriate and is supposed to enforce bad luck.

    Touching People’s Heads in Malaysia.

    Touching the head of a baby or an adult can come off as rude in Malaysia. Pointing your finger is also seen as a negative thing and should be avoided.

    Being Late in Tanzania.

    It is considered rude in Tanzania to show up on time for dinner, you must show up 15 minutes late at the earliest. And when you do arrive, do not mention that you can smell the food as that is also a rude gesture.

    Throwing Tomatoes in Spain.

    There is a festival in Spain called La Tomatina. It consists of people who are participating in the festival who throw tomatoes at each other for around 1 hour. Although it sounds like it could be harmful, there are rules you must adhere to:

    • Throwing or ripping t-shirts is not allowed.
    • Hard objects or bottles are not allowed.
    • The tomato must be squashed beforehand so it can’t be used to harm somebody.
    • When you hear the loud signal, this means the festival has come to an end and you must refrain from throwing anything you have in your hands.

    Traveling to new countries is always going to be an experience, but in some countries, there are things that are seen as inappropriate or rude that to us seem completely fine and normal. If you are traveling to a new country it is always best to gain as much information as you can before your visit so that you can avoid any misunderstandings with the residents of the country you are visiting.

  • The Importance of Thinking

    The Importance of Thinking

    The importance of how much thought we give our actions often goes unnoticed. But without our minds subconsciously processing thoughts, we wouldn’t get anything done. In order to maintain productivity in your day to day life, you must engage in a routine that will allow you to increase your creativity.

    Create a Plan.

    This is the first step towards distributing your time efficiently. This will make it easier for you to engage in important tasks, and it will also give you the time of rest that is equally important.
    Being productive is all about letting go of the things that aren’t working and starting fresh. While plans can me modified and are not set in stone, it does not reduce the importance of having a starting point.

    Breaking Habits.

    In order to establish productivity, cut out any habits that stop you from being so. A good way to budget your time on certain activities is to distribute your time and set alarms so you don’t lose track of your scheduled time frame.

    Stick to your Plan.

    You have to force yourself to keep up with the plan that you’ve created for yourself. Remind yourself that you are doing this to increase productivity, which will take you one step closer to where you want to be.

    Look back on your Plan.

    If you’ve been sticking to your planned routine but you still feel like you’re not getting the results you were expecting, that’s completely fine! Planning doesn’t always mean success. Determine what works for you and what doesn’t, then you can cut out anything that isn’t working for you or simply modify it to cater to your personal needs.

    Planning to increase productivity doesn’t guarantee your success overnight, but it does prevent poor performance and stops us from going in head first to a task that we know nothing about or do not have the time for. Giving yourself a routine will incre

  • Types of Behaviour in Psychology and what do those mean?

    Types of Behaviour in Psychology and what do those mean?

    Understanding human behaviour becomes easier if we know how they naturally behave in certain situations. Our behaviour is linked to our current mental state and usually says a lot about who we are from within. I am going to discuss the four basic personality types.

    Often enough, we evaluate others purely based on their actions or reactions when presented with different situations. However, external behaviour is guided by the nature of the person and the situation they’re in.

    Types of human behaviour.

    Based on the response behaviour when in different situations, they can be divided into 4 sections.

    Molecular and Moral Behaviour:

    Molecular Behaviour: This behaviour occurs spontaneously with no logical thinking behind it. For example, flinching of the part of your body that was exposed to pain or discomfort.

    Moral Behaviour: Contrary to Molecular Behaviour, Moral Behaviour occurs after a thought has passed through your mind. For example, changing your planned route after seeing something harmful while on your journey.

    Overt & Covert Behaviour:

    Overt Behaviour: This type of behaviour is one that occurs on the outside of a human being. For example, eating a meal, walking, washing your hands.

    Covert Behaviour: This type of behaviour is invisible to the eye. Covert Behaviour is made up by the thought process behind every action.

    Voluntary and Involuntary Behaviour:

    Voluntary Behaviour: This type of behaviour simply depends on what it is you want to do. For example, talking, dancing and writing are voluntary acts.

    Involuntary Behaviour: This type of behaviour is the most natural and does not require any thinking in order to be carried out. For example, breathing and blinking are involuntary acts.

    Human Personalities can be divided into 4 types, as the most common ones.

    Optimistic: This is a type of personality that will remain positive in order to generate a good outcome for everything.

    Pessimistic: This is a type of personality that will question people and their intentions while expecting the worst most of the time.

    Trusting: This is a type of personality that will trust others without any given reason to do so.

    Envious: This is a type of personality that looks at the accomplishments of others and wants to take them for themselves.

    While these are 4 of the most popular types of personality, it is important to mention that most of these traits do exist in most people simultaneously. This information can help you understand not only your own behaviour, but the one of those around you.

  • Are you Emotionally Intelligent?

    Are you Emotionally Intelligent?

    Emotional Intelligence is something we’ve all heard about at some point in our lives, and this is why it is important we keep the conversation going.

    Emotional Intelligence is made up of 5 components:

    • Self-awareness. This is the ability to differentiate yourself from your thoughts and emotions. Being self-aware means your attention is focused on any inner thoughts, emotions and actions that may affect others.
    • Self-regulation. In short, self-regulation is being in control of yourself. By practicing this, you should easily have the ability to keep your emotions under control and regain authority over your life and behavior.
    • Motivation. This one is all about goals. Motivation is what leads the way towards your targeted goals. Often unrecognized, the push behind every action you take is actually Motivation.
    • Empathy. With Empathy you are able to acknowledge and comprehend another person’s feelings. Empathy is a vital part in forming and maintaining relationships, and by spending time with people unlike yourself, you can easily work on your level of Empathy.
    • Social Skills. Through using your social skills, you are likely to succeed in situations such as: career goals, expanding your professional network or being hired for your dream job. It can also benefit you in your personal life, you can use your skills to build new relationships and navigate your way through life with as much ease as possible.

    How it is created:

    The ability to identify and name your own emotions and the ability to control your emotions and feelings are the foundation of being emotionally intelligent. However, by applying this behavior to thinking or towards solving problems will facilitate your journey to completely manage your emotions. In the future, this will contribute to living a well-balanced lifestyle.

    Why you should focus on Emotional Intelligence:

    If your goal is to change any aspect of your life, most of these aspects are accomplishable simply by working on all the components that make up Emotional Intelligence. Whether you are looking to succeed in a new role in leadership, start a new business, blend in with a new organization or simply branch out in an attempt to make new friends or professional contacts, Emotional Intelligence is what you should be focusing on in order to move forward.