Understanding Developmental Psychology

Introduction With the increasing social, environmental and economic complexity in the world, there is need to understand developmental psychology. This paper recaps the highlights of the proposed research study.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Developmental Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By bringing out the application and benefits of psychology, this paper argues that developmental psychology need to be addressed in various developmental programs. It begins by defining developmental psychology; then it examines some of the application of developmental psychology in life and completes by reviewing the benefits of developmental psychology. Definition of developmental psychology In this section, the study will review some of definition of developmental psychology then incorporate these definition into one common definition. The study will base on Cooker-Greauter’s (2004) descriptio n of developmental psychology as a horizontal development and vertical development. According to him, horizontal development is a gradual accumulation of new knowledge and skills. It happens without universal overview of changes or people making meaning. Vertical development consists of the literal transformation of people’s perception of reality. As Kegan (2002) notes, as individual learns to think and look, they experience a â€Å"quantitative shift in the very shape of the window or lens† (p.148) from the universal perspective. Variables such as worldviews, stages of development, level of consciousness, logical actions and organizing principals are used as a measure to understand how people make meaning (McCauley et al., 2006, p.636).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Application of developmental psychology in life Development psychology can be used to explain how lead ers and managers interact with their environmental setting and their logical actions thus having a significant implication for leadership and management theories. Mainly, developmental psychology provides the most granular view to date how managers and leaders think and behave with respect to complex changing environment. Given the difficulty of societal, environmental and economic challenges faced in the world, there is an increasing need to develop capable leaders to help lead humanity into sustainable future. Therefore, considerable work using developmental psychology need to be addressed in developmental programs for tomorrow leaders. Besides the development of leaders, this section will examine some of the written literatures on different application of developmental psychology. The aim of this is to understand how developmental psychology can be applied in different life dimensions. Benefits of developmental psychology This section of the proposed study will basically focus on benefit of personal growth and development as a concept in developmental psychology. When people make a meaningful structural growth, they emerge into a new and improved capabilities. Developmental stages unfold into concrete, logical, invariant sequence from birth to adulthood. Each successive stage surpasses and incorporates the previous phase. The movement is often likened to an ever-widening spiral development (McCauley et al., 2006, p.636). In other words, people do not regress. Once a developmental order is constructed, the previous order loses its developmental functions yet remains as a considered perspective. People’s developmental stage influence how people notice and become aware of things and henceforth, what they define, reflect on, express, alter and impact (McCauley et al., 2006, p.636).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Developmental Psychology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Cairns, R. B. (1992). The making of a developmental science: the contribution and intellectual heritage of James Mark Baldwin. Developmental Psychology, 28(1), 1-21. Colman, A. M. (2009). A dictionary of psychology (3rd ed.). Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press. Cooker-Greuter, S.R. (2004). Making the case for a developmental perspective. Industrial and Commercial Training, 36(7), 270-280. Kochanska, G. (2002). Committed compliance, moral self, and internalization: a mediational model. Developmental Psychology, 38(3), 339-351. McCauley, C.D., Drath, W.H., Palus, C.J., O’Connor, P.M.G., Baker, B.A. (2006). The use of constructive developmental theory to advance the understanding of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 17(6), 629-640. Nielsen, M. (2006). Copying actions and copying outcomes: Social learning through the second year. Developmental Psychology, 42(3), 555-565. Riggs, N. R., Jahromi, L. B., Razza, R. P., Dillworth-Bart, J. E., Mueller, U. (2006). Exec utive function and the promotion of social-emotional competence. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 27(4), 300-309.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This essay on Understanding Developmental Psychology was written and submitted by user Axel C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on The Gift of Life

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to become an organ donor. Introduction: I. If you were handed the power to save someon's life, I hope you would take it. A.What you might not realize is that you all do have the power to save someone's life. 1.We all have valuable organs that we can donate after we die. 2.There is a huge need for life saving organs. B.Many people would still be alive today if they had received a needed organ. 1.When we die, we have no need for our organs. 2.There are many people who could use our organs. II.Today, I am going to tell you how to become a life saver. A.I am going to discuss the huge need for organs. B.I am going to tell you what organs can be donated. C.I am going to tell you how to become an organ donor. D.Finally, I hope to leave you with a desire to become an organ donor. Body:I.Organ transplantation is one of the most remarkable sucess stories in the history of medicine. A.Transplantation of organs is no longer considered experimental. B. According to LifeGift, an organ donation center, there are approximately 20,000 organ transplants performed every year in the U.S. II.The need for donated organs and tissues continues to outpace the supply. A.According to an article in Hospitals and Health Networks, of the 37,609 people who needed an organ transplant in 1995, less than half received one. 1.LifeGift states that currently over 53,000 people are waiting for an organ in the U.S. 2.Every 16 minutes, another name is added to the waiting list. III.With the recent advances in medicine, almost anything can be transplanted. A.The Coalition on Donation website states that one donor can help more than 50 people. 1.A kidney can free two people from dialysis. 2.Your heart could beat for someone else. 3.Your corneas could give sight to two people. III. If a person suddenly dies, it is up to his/her family to decide if his/her organs should be donated. A.According to a Government Press Release, only about h... Free Essays on The Gift of Life Free Essays on The Gift of Life Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to become an organ donor. Introduction: I. If you were handed the power to save someon's life, I hope you would take it. A.What you might not realize is that you all do have the power to save someone's life. 1.We all have valuable organs that we can donate after we die. 2.There is a huge need for life saving organs. B.Many people would still be alive today if they had received a needed organ. 1.When we die, we have no need for our organs. 2.There are many people who could use our organs. II.Today, I am going to tell you how to become a life saver. A.I am going to discuss the huge need for organs. B.I am going to tell you what organs can be donated. C.I am going to tell you how to become an organ donor. D.Finally, I hope to leave you with a desire to become an organ donor. Body:I.Organ transplantation is one of the most remarkable sucess stories in the history of medicine. A.Transplantation of organs is no longer considered experimental. B. According to LifeGift, an organ donation center, there are approximately 20,000 organ transplants performed every year in the U.S. II.The need for donated organs and tissues continues to outpace the supply. A.According to an article in Hospitals and Health Networks, of the 37,609 people who needed an organ transplant in 1995, less than half received one. 1.LifeGift states that currently over 53,000 people are waiting for an organ in the U.S. 2.Every 16 minutes, another name is added to the waiting list. III.With the recent advances in medicine, almost anything can be transplanted. A.The Coalition on Donation website states that one donor can help more than 50 people. 1.A kidney can free two people from dialysis. 2.Your heart could beat for someone else. 3.Your corneas could give sight to two people. III. If a person suddenly dies, it is up to his/her family to decide if his/her organs should be donated. A.According to a Government Press Release, only about h...

How internal and external forces affect organizational behavior Essay

How internal and external forces affect organizational behavior - Essay Example mies and free sourcing of materials and labors, competition became tougher because other similar companies with the same objective of making profit are finding ways to offer its good and services at a lower price and better quality. This puts pressure on any company to perform, to become efficient, to be able to produce and provide the better goods and services at the least cost possible. Unlike before, the pressure is greater today because with the globalization of business, competition is not only confined within the domestic players but also other companies abroad. It is an imperative that every business should remain competitive otherwise competition will eat its share in the market and push the business out to oblivion. This external pressure necessitated the change from within, to institute changes that would make it lean and efficient. Globalization of business however is not only about the intense pressure which resulted from the increased competition. It also afforded opportunities to explore other markets which were unavailable before. Globalization brought down the restrictions on trade and companies with better products and services at lower prices can enter into markets and expand its market base. This has unintentionally affected organizational diversity as it immerses into new borders with different culture and perspective and in a way widen its horizon. The restrictive organizational now opens not just because of its exposure to foreign market but due to market imperative to adapt to the perspective of new markets in order to be more

Alexander Hamiltons The Federalist, No. 15 Essay

Alexander Hamiltons The Federalist, No. 15 - Essay Example Each side would feel a certain way, in terms of how the system of government should be handled and what its role would need to be. Making the argument in favor of the constitution and what it meant, would be Alexander Hamilton. The key to convincing the general populous, remains the dedication to the core argument within the issue and for Hamilton, he would seek to do just that. Hamilton would seek to make his case, through the creation of his work commonly referred to as the Federalist Papers. As for the work itself, "The Federalist Papers, originally written as a series of newspaper editorials intended to persuade New York to ratify the Constitution, remains the most valuable exposition of the political theory underlying the Constitution," (Hamilton, p.60). In order for something to be agreed to, it must first be understood. The impact of Alexander Hamilton's work would be the ability to clearly define the core issue at the center of document itself. To make known the very thing that would ultimately have lead to the document's creation. First and foremost, Hamilton would make the argument that, in order to maintain a sense of organization within the nation, there must be some form a of guiding force that would keep everything, as well as everyone, together and in working order. In the end, so the government could be held to a stronger degree of regulation and to a higher standard of expectation, in terms of its specific responsibilities. With regard to the founding fathers view of the current state of the American political system, they would see a system that would have a specific organization to it, would still fall sort of an absolute solid outline. Different interpretations bring about potential changes to be made and that has continued to be the case for many years. Hamilton would further argue that, while there would be those who wished to make light of the imperfections found within the national system, they would in turn fail to step forward and enact the change that would improve the situation that they themselves, would feel required improvement. Hamilton asserts the following, "..While [opponents of the Constitution] admit that the government of the United States is destitute of energy, they contend against conferring upon it those powers which are requisite to supply that energy," (Hamilton, p. 61). When it comes down to it, Hamilton's views about a league would be appear to be folded within his overall argument in favor of the possession of a document, such as the constitution that would be the primary guiding force of a more productive and succinct system of governing. Discontent would be felt on the part of Hamilton, in terms of viewing those whom he would feel as being reactive, rather than proactive. Such persons that would make an argument for the sake of making it, rather than offering up any form of answer, in regard to a potential solution(s) that would fix whatever issues that would have been present. As he writes, "There is nothing absurd or impracticable in the idea of a league or alliance between independent nations for certain defined purposes precisely stated in a treaty regulating all the details of time, place, circumstance, and quantity, leaving nothing to further discretion, and depending for its execution on the good faith of the parties," (Hamilton, p. 61-62).

Polish People in UK Essay Example for Free

Polish People in UK Essay How do English people in United Kingdom perceive Poles? What are the stereotypes of Polish Workers? How the image is changing over the years? The subject is very controversial as Poland gives many reasons to not be forgotten at the European stage. Poland is famed for John Paul the 2nd, many beautiful women, Vodka and sausage. A general description is hard to obtain, as there are many points of views and issues. The historical background had a massive impact on cultural and economic development. Not so long ago Poland was a communist country, where human rights were highly oppressed. At this time Poland was a satellite state being hold back by the Communist Soviet Union while Western European development was progressing. Eventually Poland achieved full democracy in 1989, and continues without communist influence to this day. The new fundamentalism was doing very well. For years, the Catholic radio, ‘Radio Maria’ for example, gave voice to the hate priests and politicians that condemned everything that was foreign and is not inline with the narrow, xenophobic vision of parochial Polishness. Regularly young men throw stones at those who seem to them non-native. Taking out the rage on sexual minorities as there is no luck to find any immigrants. Galloping hate speech on the Internet is already pathological standard. In May 2004 Poland joined the European Union. United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden open labour market for Polish citizens and other new members of EU. The huge wave of Polish migrants entered the foreign markets. Base on GUS (Central Statistical Office) research in May 2002, 24,000 Polish Emigrants were living in United Kingdom. In 2008 the number was drastically multiply, by 27 times, the amount of Polish Immigrants in the UK reached the point of 650 thousands. It was the largest number of Polish migrants abroad in Europe. The social approach towards Eastern European Migrants was distinguished by those, who negatively responded to economic threats related with job losses, and those who were aware of their matter in the future development. Depending on where you stand, this phenomenal wave of immigration was either a death knell for British values and the tradition of the blue-collar British worker, or a powerful boost to the British economy while others in Europe stagnate. While industries in other EU countries have been limited in their attempts to expand by an unavailability of high quality, reasonably-priced labour, many UK industries have been able to fuel their expansion and advances with hard working Poles, Slovaks, Lithuanians and Czechs. Demographic studies of those that have entered the UK reveal that over three quarters of immigrants fall into the 18-34 age bracket. The popular estimate is that the average age of the Polish immigrant is 28. Following natural migration trends, the large majority of these are single, with fewer responsibilities, resulting in an increased disposable income and a greater tendency to participate in the consumer culture that has been behind Britain’s economic growth over the past few years, at a time when most of Europe has been desperately trying to rein in escalating unemployment and avoid economic stagnation. While on other fronts increased immigration is a controversial topic, economically the British government can have little cause for complaint. Eastern Europeans have plugged holes in sectors short of labour, helping to keep inflation down, and in the relatively liberal open-market economy of the UK, the extra labour has been an easily absorbed asset. The minimal effect being had on unemployment as a result of immigration in the UK has disproved the theory that there are a finite number of jobs in the labour market and that the immigrant’s gain is the Brits’ loss. Though registered unemployment has crept up recently the government argues that this is not due to the economy failing to create jobs. Indeed, the number of job vacancies remain high and the overall job market continues to expand. From an economic point of view, the fact remains that while almost all immigrant workers in the UK have found full-time employment, the non-migrant unemployment rate has remained steady – proving that immigrants are helping to fuel economic growth rather than undercut British workers in the labour market and steal their jobs. Whether it be reduced costs and waiting times for housing repairs in London as a result of Polish plumbers and builders, or new additions to the high street as a result of Polish demand for imported goods, many towns and cities are coming to appreciate the addition of yet another flavour to the bubbling concoction that is multi-ethnic Britain. Government and big business certainly appreciate the benefits brought by this dynamic new demographic group. According to the Ernst Young Item Club, Polish and other Eastern European immigrants are having a positive economic impact by making the UK workforce ‘younger, more flexible and economical, easing the pensions burden and keeping interest rates lower’. In the past few years Poland lost her best human capital ever – people, who travelled the world, higher educated, fluent with foreign languages, and familiar with new technologies. In the previous waves of emigration the dominant were people with primary or vocational education. Polish is the most commonly spoken non-native language in England and Wales. More than half a million people in Britain now speak Polish as their first language, placing it ahead of Punjabi and Urdu and behind only English and Welsh. The data, extracted from the 2011 census, confirmed the staggering numbers of Polish migrants who are now living, working and putting down roots in the UK. Some 521,000 Polish-born people have made their homes here, a figure that has increased seven-fold since 2003, when just 75,000 were listed in the census. In many parts of Britain, such statistics will come as no surprise. The influx of Poles to this country has long been evident in the swathes of Polish supermarkets, grocers, churches and cultural centres that have appeared across the country – particularly since 2004, when Poland joined the European Union, opening up borders for free movement of workers. In addition to long-established Polish communities – in west London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham and Slough – smaller hubs have established themselves in rural areas, such as Carlisle in Cumbria (twinned with the Polish city of Slupsk) and the Scottish Highlands. During the past decade, Polish culture has ingrained itself in British society. Most major supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, now stock Polish food and drink. There are 10 Polish churches in London alone, in locations such as Balham and Ealing, and road signs are translated into Polish in villages around Cheshire. There are hundreds of Polish-owned clubs, pubs and bars, a hugely popular newspaper (founded in 1940) and cultural centres that regularly host sell-out Polish plays and exhibitions. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, Poland is the most common country of birth for non-UK born mothers in Britain, with 20,495 babies born to Polish mothers in 2011. Marriages between Poles and Brits, too, have multiplied. Poles have become British homeowners, business owners and taxpayers. So how have they, unlike any other nationality before them, achieved such full-scale integration into our society – and in such a short time? The ability of Poles to integrate seems to be linked to the reason many of them come to Britain in the first place. Work,† explains Robert Szaniawski of the Polish Embassy in London, â€Å"is the main factor that draws Poles to the UK. Most of them are young – they’re from small towns; they see it as a chance to get out and have an adventure, so they come to Britain. â€Å"They’re flexible and they move with the demands of the labour market. It’s this willingness to go where the work is tha t helps them to ingratiate themselves. † Poland’s GDP is significantly lower than Britain’s ($514. 5 billion, compared to the UK’s $2. 43 trillion); there is high unemployment (averaging 12 per cent since 2008) and the minimum hourly wage is less than half that paid in Britain. As Poland’s economic growth slows down – it halved to 2 per cent in 2012 – still more skilled workers are lured to the UK. In 2011, 45,000 Poles settled here, marking the biggest rise in migrants since the financial crash. Poles have a reputation for being hard workers, especially in the manual labour sector. Adam Zamoyski, a British historian descended from a Polish noble family, says Poles are â€Å"brilliant workers. When they’re abroad, they put their best foot forward and act as ambassadors for their country. They have a better experience in England than they do in Germany or France. They’re treated as menial in other countries; in England, they’re treated with kindness. † But with such mass immigration comes inevitable tension. Many British workers blame the steady flow of cheap, cash-in-hand Polish labourers for keeping them out of jobs. And not all Poles who settle in Britain come here for gainful employment. Of the 371,000 non-UK nationals claiming unemployment benefit, 13,940 are Polish – making it the only previous EU accession state to appear in the top 20. In 2010, 6,777 Poles were convicted of crimes in Britain, and there are currently more than 700 Polish migrants in UK prisons (ranking in the top five nationalities of the 10,592 foreign nationals behind bars). â€Å"As with every large group of migrants, you do get an underbelly,† Zamoyski says. â€Å"There are huge scams going on with benefits, whereby Poles come over to work, bring their families, sign them all up for child benefits and then go back home again with the money. And I have heard of older Poles accosting younger ones on their way to the bus stop and fleecing them for all their money. It was the Second World War that really formed the roots of Britain’s Polish community. The Poles made an important contribution to the Allied war effort, providing troops, intelligence and vital equipment. After the fall of France in 1940, the exiled Polish Prime Minister and his government set up office in London, bringing with them 20,000 soldiers and airmen. Poles made up the largest non-British group in the RAF during the Battle of Britain and, by July 1945, more than 150,000 Polish troops were serving under the command of the British Army. When the war ended, Churchill vowed that the British would â€Å"never forget the debt they owe to the Polish† and pledged â€Å"citizenship and freedom of the British empire† for all. Fleeing the Communist government in Poland, many refused to return home, leading to the passing of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947, the UK’s first mass immigration law. This first generation of Polish migrants laid the foundations for recent immigration. Nicola Werenowska, a playwright from Colchester, is married to Leszek, a second-generation Polish migrant whose parents moved to Reading after the war. While researching for her play Tu i Teraz (â€Å"Here and Now†), staged recently at the Hampstead Theatre in London, she interviewed 50 young Poles in Britain about their experiences of moving here. â€Å"They come over for the jobs, but the history of migration helps them feel connected,† she says. â€Å"There are generally positive attitudes towards the UK in Poland. † Szaniawski agrees: â€Å"It’s a friendly, welcoming country and there’s a huge tradition of our parents and grandparents coming here. The willingness – and ability – of Poles to learn English is another factor that has been crucial to their integration. According to the Polish Central Statistical Office, 40 per cent of Poles aged 25-64 speak at least one foreign language, most commonly English or German. Joanna Pietrzykowska, 27, a trainee accountant from a small town in eastern Poland, came to the UK seven years ago to learn English. â€Å"I initially came for a yea r, but I liked it so much that I am still here,† she says. â€Å"You can get anything you want over here now – Polish food, movies, books from the library. Wherever I go, I meet at least one Polish person. I have an English boyfriend, and I’ve always found it very welcoming. There are more career opportunities than in Poland – so why would I go back? † But not all Poles have such positive experiences of Britain. Some, says Adam Zamoyski, simply don’t want to integrate. â€Å"They don’t ever have to learn the language; they stay in their own communities, where you can go all the way from the obstetrician to the grave without ever having to speak English. Others, like Sofia Pekala, 54, a cleaner who moved to the UK from Poland in 2002, have had bad experiences at the hands of British employers. â€Å"When I first came I worked on a farm in Penzance,† says Pekala, who used to own her own clothes shop. â€Å"I was treated very poorly and paid just ? 2. 75 an hour for very hard work in poor conditions. † Rafal Zbikowski, 34, who moved to Boston, Lincolnshire – where 3,006 out of 62,243 residents are Polish – eight years ago from Krakow, says he has experienced some tension, but adds: â€Å"It has been a great place to work. I came here to work in a food production factory and have had a job ever since. † So what does the future hold for Britain’s Polish migrants? Werenowska believes that the roots many Poles have put down will last. â€Å"Of the Polish migrants I interviewed, there were broadly two types,† she says. â€Å"The first are those who want to earn as much money as they can, as fast as they can, and then go home to their families. The second are those who have come to Britain because they love it, who genuinely want to be a part of British society. Like it or not, they’re definitely here to stay. †

the aztecs Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Aztecs Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The tribe in which I will be researching is the Aztecs tribe. I plan to find out the answers to the questions below. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Where they lived? 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their religions? 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What they ate? 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of their beliefs? 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What life was like? The Aztecs   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Indian tribe I am studying is the Aztecs. I plan on answering questions such as what life was like, what they ate, how they dressed, what their religions were, and many other questions which I intended on finding out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I learned many interesting facts about the Aztecs. And a few of the most interesting facts in which I learned are that the Aztecs believed deeply in sacrifices, and would capture prisoners of another tribe of war, and would make them climb a pyramid and at the top they would have their heart cut out from their chest and burned as an offering to their gods. (Unstead, 9&10.) The Aztecs had many gods, which they believed in. The two chief gods were Oretecuhtlick and Orecihuatl. They were the lord and the lady of creation. They had four sons who would be the creators of the other gods. (Unstead, 8&9.) The Aztecs believed in a god for everything. There was a food god, a sun god, a water god, a moon god, even a god for their clothing. &n...

Flower and Delicious Sunflower Bread

The sunflower family (Helianthus) has perfect flowers, with male and female organs both on the same flower, but with either the male or the female organ infertile. What is usually called the flower is actually a composite flower, made up of numerous flowers or florets crowded together. Once the plant has flowered, usually in summer, it produces a sweet pollen mixture that lures bees and other insects. When the bees arrive, they get their feet wet with the pollen as they drink the plant's nectar. The plant relies on the sperm-producing pollen coming into contact with the egg-containing stigma. The yellow pollen is transferred from the insect's hairy legs to the stigma. This is the first step in sunflower reproduction. Once the pollen goes down the stigma, it releases sperm into the ovary. An available egg receives the sperm, and the egg is fertilized with a meat-bearing seed. The pollen/sperm can belong to the original plant or may come from another sunflower. Self-pollination is a mechanism that the sunflower uses to stay alive. On the occasion where the stigma receives no pollen, the stigma will twist and wrap itself around its own pollen. Seeds created by self-pollination will only produce flowers that look like the original plant, so no hybridization will have occurred. Sunflowers are fast reproducers, and one plant can create dozens of others. Plant seeds about an 1 inch below the ground. Germination occurs quickly, usually between 5 and 10 days, but spring crops produce more plants than summer crops. Spring crops are planted in April and May. Summer crops go in the ground in June and July. When the back of the plant's head turns brown, it is ready for harvesting. The Sunflower’s symbiotic relationships with other plants usually benefit the Sunflower, because the sunflower takes all the nutrients and water from the soil for itself and takes over (hence, its invasive). The Sunflower’s relationships with bees and birds and humans is much less greedy, however. The huge face of the Sunflower feeds many bees with its sweet pollen, baseball players and birds feed off of its multitudes of plump, ripe seeds. The Sunflower was first cultivated in mesoamerica (present day Mexico) in 2600 BC (A Gardeners Guide, 1996) and there is evidence that it was being used by the Native Americans in the Mississippi valley in around the same time. It is widely believed that Sunflowers were cultivated for religious purposes having to do with various tribal sun deities. They also used the oil for religious rituals having to do with warfare, bread, medical ointments, dyes and body paints. When Francisco Pizzaro ravaged and plundered the welcoming tribes of Peru, he came across gold paintings and idols of Sunflowers, which he stole and brought back to europe in the 16th century. The Europeans have been growing sunflowers since then, mostly in Holland, Germany, and France. Sunflowers are cultivated nowadays to make Sunflower butter (a peanut butter alternative), and it is mixed with rye to make a delicious Sunflower bread, bird food, salad mixings, etc. The Sunflower oil, which is taken from the ripe seeds is used commonly for cooking and also used as a cheaper biodiesel. Sunflowers also produce latex