Borderline Personality Disorder Essay Example for Free

Borderline Personality Disorder Essay In 1938, the term â€Å"borderline† was first used by A. Stern to describe individuals â€Å"on the border† of psychosis (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). Individuals afflicted by Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD, have unstable sense of relationship, mood, and identity. They exhibit low confidence on professional, sexual, and family relations and frequently experience depression, disappointments, and anxiety. In connection to these, BPD patients are inclined to substance abuse, antisocial acts, erratic lifestyles, suicidal attempts, and self-mutilation. Specifically, BPD patients of ages below than 18 years are commonly diagnosed with identity confusion. The BPD cases have a prevalence of about 0. 2-4 percent in the general public and approximately 15-25 percent among the hospitalized psychiatric cases with co-occurrence of eating disorder and substance abuse (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). Different hypotheses offer a possible etiology for BPD. Some of which ascribed it to the brains constitutional defects in different neurotransmitter systems like in the serotonergic, andrenergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic systems while other hypotheses associated it to the history of learning disabilities, encephalitis, head trauma, severe hyperactivity, and epilepsy (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). On the other hand, in terms of developmental perspective, the excessive frustrations during childhood, physical-sexual abuse, constitutional predisposition, early parental loss, arrest in normal development, traumatic separation from parental figure and post-traumatic stress disorder are considered as contributing factors in the BPD development (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). Meanwhile, a long term psychotherapy involving reality-oriented or analytic techniques along with drug medications which include mood stabilizers, antipsychotic, and antidepressants is the therapeutic mainstay. Borderline Personality Disorder and Marital Relations Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental illness which causes unstable behavior, self-image, moods, and interpersonal relationships to the affected individuals. Eventually, these instabilities will result to disruption of self-identity, family life, long-term planning, and work performance (Sholevar and Schwoeri, 2003). As well, a BPD patient may experience anxiety, violent bouts of anger, and depression for several hours or even a day leading to substance abuse, aggression, and self-injury. About two percent of adults, mostly women, affected by BPD suffer from instability of emotion regulation which often leads to self-injury and suicidal attempts (Sholevar and Schwoeri, 2003). Consequently, the disruptions of self-identity and cognition of the affected individual cause distortion on his or her gender identity, long-term goals, jobs, values, jobs, and career plans and in the long run may result to unworthy or bad perception about his or her self. As such, the afflicted individuals, more often than not, feel low self-esteem, empty, mistreated, bored, and misunderstood. In severe cases, BPD patients tend to feel lack of social support and isolated which may lead to impulsive avoidance of perceived abandonment. In relation to these, individuals with BPD are susceptible to turbulent social relationships (Sholevar and Schwoeri, 2003). They are prone to frequently agitated relationships and tend to abrupt shifting of attitude from love and admiration to anger and hate towards their family and friends. Hence, they easily idealize and develop attachment to other person; however, in the occurrence of conflict, their attitudes suddenly shift to anger and hate the person they are formerly attached to. In addition, even to their family circles, BPD patients are sensitive to rejection and separation issues. They tend to exhibit other behavioral problems such as risky sex, excessive eating, and extraneous spending (Sholevar and Schwoeri, 2003). The American Psychiatric Association (2000) postulated that a BPD patient most probably may have a chaotic and unstable marital relation which is attributed to the distortions in his or her affects, thoughts, and behaviors. Since, children in this kind of marriage are negatively affected by the behavioral exchanges between the couple, BPD treatment in terms of its cost and mandated implementation became a significant issue. Moreover, the study of Daley, Burge, and Hammen (2000) suggested that the presence and the degree of a personality disorder largely predict the impairment of an intimate relationship. As such, the results of their study fundamentally supported the significance of BPD perspective as not merely just a categorical diagnosis but as a continuum of severity. Whereas every woman in their study was diagnosed with BPD potential, women with more subclinical BPD characteristics tended to practice maladaptive romantic lives (Daley, Burge, and Hammen, 2000). This observation generally implied that the utilization of categorical approach in BPD assessment through systematic diagnostic threshold in inadequate in the detection of variations in the relationship behavior among individuals. Nonetheless, at subclinical levels, the BPD symptoms were not directly linked with dysfunctional marital relationships (Daley, Burge, and Hammen, 2000). Even though every personality disorder has an association with romantic dysfunction, the BPD symptoms failed to generate significant contributions beyond the other Axis II pathology (Daley, Burge, and Hammen, 2000). This signified the crucial role of a factor which underlies every personality disorder under the Axis II pathology for the determination of relationship adjustment. Borderline Personality Disorder and Dysfunctional Marriage In 1938, the relationship between personality disorder and dysfunctional marriage was first noted by Terman, Wilson, Johnson, Buttenweiser, and Ferguson (South, Turkheimer, and Oltmanns, 2008). They hypothesized that the unique attributes of every individual impart them the possibility for relationship dissatisfaction. In 1995, the vulnerability-stress-adaptation model for marital relations was proposed by Karney and Bradburry (South, Turkheimer, and Oltmanns, 2008). This model illustrates the role of individual differences along with interpersonal processes in the achievement of marital satisfaction. The model postulated that personality traits and couples vulnerability directly determine the couples endurance and their behavioral exchanges with respect to the stressful circumstances in their marriage. In relation to these, the symptoms of personality disorder have been tied up with serious couples conflict and marriage violence. Specifically, the partner-violence studies through behavioral analogue and factor-analytic techniques found that borderline personality and antisocial traits of individuals are predictors of the occurrence of violence in married life. Nevertheless, through developmental research, the relationship of personality traits during childhood and adolescent years with temperament and abusive behaviors in an intimate relationship has been reported (South, Turkheimer, and Oltmanns, 2008). For someone married to a partner with BPD, the frequent turmoil in their relationship can either make their bond stronger or at worst, result to hatred and divorce. More often than not, dealing with the love-hate nature of marital relations is exasperating for every couple. In particular, an individual can hardly understand a partner who at one time offers love and adorations then all of a sudden will just lose temperament and fall into horrific rages. This scenario would make the spouse of the BPD patient dumbfounded for the hastily anger may seem came from nowhere at all. The relatives of a BPD patient may experience stress and feel helpless as they witness their loved one suffering from self-destructive BPD symptoms (Sholevar and Schwoeri, 2003). The immediate caregivers, the parents or the spouse are more susceptible to chronic stress due to the pitiful condition of the patient which at worst may even lead to psychological trauma especially for the patients children. For instance, as the patient engages into self-destructive behaviors like self-injury, burning, or suicidal attempts, the immediate caregivers are vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder because they directly observe the patients high-risks behaviors as they respond for help. In line with this, the spouse of the patient may experience guilt as he or she tries to figure out the cause or his or her liability in the BPD development of the patient. Meanwhile, close relatives may want to support the patient but are afraid to do so because of the harm they may possibly beget from the self-harm behaviors of the patient. As well, family members may become impatient due to the patients disruptive behaviors. Nonetheless, family members, friends, and relatives may have inadequate knowledge about BPD; thus, they can hardly understand and give empathy to the patient. In the long run, the relationship turmoil between the couple along with the stress and guilt of the patients spouse cause impatience, hatred and may even lead to divorce. Still, the atmosphere at home has a great impact on the personalities of the couples children. For example, the eldest among the siblings are often tasked to look after the needs of the patient while the youngsters are instructed to keep away from the patient to avoid emotional trauma or the possible physical harm they may beget. Moreover, the extended family like uncles, grandparents, and close friends can also be affected as they relay aegis to the patients family. Couples Therapy An individual with a spouse afflicted with BPD can adapt to the behavioral problems of his wife or her husband by understanding the nature of BPD. Along with drug medications, therapeutic counseling is widely used to save marital relations from the consequences of BPD behaviors. Both Lachkar and McCormack in 1998 and 2000 respectively, suggested the creation of â€Å"holding environment† for couples with one partner having BPD (Oliver, Perry, and Cade, 2008). In this approach, each partner, rather than withdrawing or projecting, is conditioned for the recognition of his or her subjective experiences. In particular, Lachkar proposed three fundamental functions: containment, empathy versus containment, and self-object (Oliver, Perry, and Cade, 2008). In containment, the counselor mirror and defuse the negative affects and projections in order to provide new means of images and experiences to the couple. On the other hand, the empathy or mirroring versus containment is necessary for the containment balance. The couple also needs to experience empathy and mirror-back their statements and behavior to them. Thus, the counselor must know how to employ either one or the other so as to facilitate the effective relationship functioning and the healing process of traumatic experiences. Lastly, the self-object functions are designed for the structural repair of the self. In 2003, Fruzzetti and Fruzzetti identified the five functions for a complete dialectical behavioral therapy (Oliver, Perry, and Cade, 2008). Skill acquisition or enhancement is the first function in which specific skills are taught to individuals in every session. Next in line is the skill generalization wherein the learned skills are applied to real life setting through planning and telephone advising. The client motivation or behavior change is the third function which requires the collaborative effort of the client and the counselor in identifying and changing the dysfunctional patterns. Then, the crucial skills and high level of motivation are the required functions in the development of enhancement and motivation capabilities of the counselor. Finally, the environment structuring is a required function to ensure the desired outcomes. Gottmans Approach In 1999, Gottman proposed the different levels for a sound relational house which include: marital friendship foundation which consists of admiration and fondness, cognitive space for ones spouse, and turning toward versus turning away; override of positive sentiment versus the override of negative sentiments; conflict regulation which involves dialogue establishment and physiological soothing; and the creation of shared system of meaning such as meshing narratives, dreams, metaphors, and rituals (Oliver, Perry, and Cade, 2008). Furthermore, Gottman argued that resistance can hardly be avoided in the therapy because it resulted from the disruptions in the various level components of a sound relational house of the relationships internal working model (Oliver, Perry, and Cade, 2008). Hence, BPD patients suffer from the distortions of internal working models with respect to relationships and the self. Gottman further believed that the resistance due to the psychopathology of the individual is brought by his or her stable steady state, characterized by high negativity, and by the disruptions in the individuals means of influencing and influence acceptance (Oliver, Perry, and Cade, 2008). Dialectic Behavioral Therapy In 1980s, at the University of Washington, Marsha Linehan developed the Dialectic Behavioral Therapy or DBT after the failure of the standard behavioral therapies she has employed in treating women with chronic suicidal attempts (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). The DBT is an intensive and multimodal approach in the treatment of BPD. This form of therapy incorporated the cognitive-behavioral techniques with the time-tested Western contemplative and Eastern meditative medication approaches. These approaches with opposing notions, acceptance, and change were all integrated by means of a dialectical framework which can serve as a guide in the formulation and implementation of medication strategies. Since then, DBT has been utilized in the treatment of parasuicidal behavior among BPD cases and in other psychotic disorders. On the basis of biosocial maintenance and etiology of BPD, the DBT was developed in order to provide a plausible explanation for the BPD attributes with consistency on behavioral theory and empirical research findings (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). As posited by the biosocial theory, the BPD development is triggered by a dysfunction in the emotion regulation system during childhood brought by the interaction of the emotionally susceptible child to the invalidating environment. The immediate individuals in the childs environment, either unknowingly or intentionally, invalidate the childs emotional experiences which in turn result to the elevation of the childs emotional responses which aggravate the environmental invalidating responses. Further, the biosocial theory argued that the child and the environment have biodirectional relationship; thus, both influence the continuous elevation and deescalation of the borderline behaviors. The DBT treats BPD behaviors as spontaneous products of dysregulated and maladaptive attempts of emotions regulations (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). This model illustrated the characteristics of both individual and environment wherein the latter inhibits the development of the capabilities and potentials of the former. As such, BPD patients have low distress tolerance, interpersonal, and self-regulation skills. Hence, for any treatment approach, the development and enhancement of skills, capabilities, and motivation of every patient must be given prime importance. On the other hand, the therapeutic relationship between the BPD patient and the therapist poses a dialectic tension in which they can find themselves at the opposite sites of a particular issue. The therapeutic process then attempts to synthesize these opposing views resulting to a new dialectical tension. For instance, the therapist may perceive that the suicidal tendency of the patient is the root cause of the problem while the patient may take this behavior as the solution. The possible synthesis of these positions may result to the notion that committing suicide is a maladaptive solution to the problem at hand. Then, this new position may necessitate the learning of new skills so as to smoothly adapt the patient into the present state of life. DBT Treatment Stages Since DBT is a multimodal approach, the treatment is categorized into several stages, each of which has its own goals (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). In Stage I, the behavior is out of control as the individual possesses debilitating and pervasive problems. The first stage aims to facilitate the achievement of action control and stability as well as the natural life expectancy by preventing suicidal behavior, the development of the capability of helping individuals in reducing severe impediments, and the achievement of necessary skills for such tasks. In the following stage, the individuals have attained reasonable action control. The Stage II then intends to gain understanding and at the same time to reduce the impact of early traumatic experiences, and to strengthen the individual’s endurance in emotional experiences in the absence of psychological trauma. In the third stage, the focus of treatment is on the resolution of residual problem behavior which hinders the attainment of personal goals. The BPD patient, with self-trust and respect, takes a pivotal role. Finally, Stage IV aims for the sustenance of personal freedom and goals. This last treatment stage facilitates the patient’s achievement of spiritual fulfillment, vast awareness, and connection to the universe. Empirical Findings The randomized controlled DBT trials proved its efficacy on BPD behaviors such as suicidal tendency, substance abuse, depression, binge eating, anxiety, and other personality disorders across various populations (Koerner and Linehan, 2000). In addition, a substantial number of nonrandomized controlled DBT trials have shown efficacy similar to the randomized controlled. Thus, in general, the results of DBT studies indicated its superiority against non-DBT controlled trials in the prevention and reduction of problem behaviors like substance abuse and suicidal behavior as well as treatment dropout and hospitalization, and the improvement of the general and social functioning of the BPD patients. References American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. Arlington, VA: APA. Daley, S. E. , Burge, D. , and Hammen, C. (2000). Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms as Predictors of 4-Year Romantic Relationship Dysfunction in Young Women Addressing Issues of Specificity. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109 (3), 451-460. Koerner, K. and Linehan, M. M. (2000). Research on Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23 (1), 151–167.

Genocide Essay -- History, Hitler, The Holocaust

Living through genocide is a horrific tragedy that no one should ever have to endure. While there have been numerous genocides within the last century, the holocaust was a genocide that killed over 12 million innocent people and segregated them by religion, sex and age. Since the end of the holocaust, many survivors wrote their stories accounting the horrific lives they led, while some eliminated parts of their story, others felt that it was necessary to show the entirety of what had occurred. With these first hand accounts, the reader is able to see the differences between how men and women lived their everyday lives as well as how they were treated by Hitler’s regime. In Elie Wiesel’s, Night, and Sara Nomberg-Przytyk’s, True Tales from a Grotesque Land, Auschwitz, men and women prisoners lived lives that the everyday reader would find impossible. By reading these accounts, the readers can question themselves as to why this occurred as well as to why it matter s. While people heard stories about the atrocities that were going on within the camps, many families did not want to believe them. Other families did not want to immigrate into other countries that were considered safe because they felt that they were too old to start a new life in a new country. Entering the holocaust at a young age, Elie Wiesel’s only reliance was his family. Separated from his mother and sister as soon as they arrived at the camp, the only person he had by his side was his father. Having to depend on his father, Elie made decisions that would benefit them as a pair such falsifying his age when he entered the camp. By making these decisions there would be a better chance that they would be able to stay together as a family. After entering the camp... ...and terrible sores all over their bodies† (Nomberg-Przytyk 95). With the author stating that she still had a heart makes the reader understand that people truly cared about others inside the camps, they did not want others to die. Throughout the holocaust, men and women prisoners lived lives that the everyday reader would find impossible. While men and women were treated differently during the holocaust, the overlying image of genocide is what is important for people to learn about. By reading Elie Wiesel’s, Night, and Sara Nomberg-Przytyk’s, True Tales from a Grotesque Land, Auschwitz, the reader is able to answer why reading the stories of the past still matter. By preserving the history of the men and women within the holocaust, the following generations will be able to remember the 12 million people killed during Hitler’s regime.

Safety Regulations in the Petroleum Industry

It is common knowledge that petroleum and petroleum gas (LPG) are good sources of energy. Imagine that petroleum did not exist. This simply means that all the technology that has been developed around petroleum will not be there. To say the least, development in the energy sector has been greatly enabled by petroleum. As fears of future deficit of petrol continue to be entertained by the superpowers, there has been an effort to shift the focus from petroleum to other sources of energy such as solar, hydro electricity, safe nuclear power, bio oil among other alternative sources of energy. Despite the fact that petroleum is a very useful source of energy, it is also a very dangerous, volatile and flammable liquid or gas that can rein havoc if mishandled. Based on its volatile and inflammable nature, there is every need to uphold a high degree of safety measures so as to prevent explosion and fire disasters. The petroleum industry has a number of safety regulations often set by the government that need to be observed. Any organization that handles petroleum oil and gas can only be certified and allowed to operate after satisfying the safety regulations that are specified by the government. The difference of these safety regulations throughout all countries is minimal because after all the petroleum oil and gas is the same. The safety regulations govern every activity in the petroleum industry ranging from drilling, refining, transportation (either through road, ship, air, rail or pipeline), packaging (especially for gas) to safety at the premises in which some of the activities take place. This paper seeks to explain a number of health and safety precautions and regulations that need to be adhered to by every actor in the petroleum industry (Williamson, 1979). Taking US as our working example, we witness tight safety regulations governing the petroleum industry. These regulations are created and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA is an agency in the US labor department which was created by congress under the legislation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSH Act) to set safety standards that will guarantee that workers do not suffer from any kind of work related deaths, injuries or even illnesses. The OSHA agency is aided, in the release of occupational health and safety standards, by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) whose main function is to conduct research into the areas that pose safety and heath threats to the worker in the petroleum industry. Unlike OSHA, NIOSH does not lie under the US department of labor. Some of these safety standards are explained in the following paragraphs (Joseph, 2006). The regulations governing occupational health and safety are industry specific those that apply to the petroleum industry are based on the fact that petroleum is flammable, inhalation of petroleum vapor is dangerous and harmful to health and for those who drill, exposure to natural gas can trigger cancer and the natural gas is poisonous. The first regulation is base on the Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL). This is specifically important because exposure to petroleum vapor is harmful. However, it should be noted that the effects of the exposure depend on the concentration of the vapor and the amount of time one is in exposure. Inhalation of petroleum vapors can cause nervous effects such as dizziness, headache and even nausea. It can also cause respiratory irritation. Chronic exposure affects the blood, kidney and the nervous system. Very high exposure can lead to coma and death. Gasoline contains benzene which is a human carcinogen and thus the petroleum products that come to contact with the skin may be absorbed and eventually may cause skin cancer and myeloid leukemia. Based on these health risks, OSHA released a PEL regulations that specifies the amount of petroleum vapor that petroleum industry workers (especially those working in petroleum refineries) are supposed to be exposed to. Benzene-containing gasoline requires an 8 hour 1ppm with a maximum of 5ppm short term exposure. The other hydrocarbons also have their specific exposure limits. The limits are not supposed to be exceeded to avoid health hazards (National Safety Council, 1990). OSHA Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) regulations in the petroleum industry require a number of protective equipment. Some of this protective equipment includes the use of goggles, face shields and safety glasses to protect the eye and the face from metal or wood flying objects, dangerous light or even chemicals. The Fall Protection regulation requires that those working in excavation sites such as petroleum drillers and those laying petroleum tankers and pipelines need to be protected against fall by use of guard rails, personal fall systems and safety nets that will protect the workers in an event that they fall. Foot & hand and arm protection is also encouraged through the use of metatarsal guards, special shoes with anti puncture soles and toe shields and gloves ranging from heavy metal to soft cotton gloves respectively. The head, respiratory and other parts of the body are also protected. Each part of the body requires specific protective equipment against a specific hazardous stimulus. Respirators are also part of the OSHA regulations (Olishifski, 1999). According to OSHA 1910:134, the employers in the petroleum industry are supposed to provide respirators to the workers to protect them inhaling excessive petroleum vapor which is harmful to their health. This regulation calls for special kind of air purifying or air supplying respirators depending on the exposure situation. In this way, the worker is protected from vapor in excess of the OSHA PEL. Those working in enclosed premises processing, mining or handling petroleum should either be supplies with respirators or ventilation of the premises should be maintained at the OSHA regulations. All this is in a bid to maintain the concentration of petroleum vapor in air within the OSHA PEL brackets (Roughton, 2002) When handling the flammable or combustible liquids, OSHA proposes a number of guidelines that must be adhered to prevent fire and explosions. To avoid fire, there is need to prevent accumulation of petroleum in the air in such vapor-air mixture concentration that exceeds one quarter of the least flammable limit. This is achieved by encouraging ample ventilation to avoid this vapor accumulation. Explosions on the other hand are likely to occur due to pressure building in tanks holding the flammable or combustible liquid. For this reason, tanks are to be built of heat resistant steel, corrosion resistant steel or if built of any material should be built based on sound engineering designs as per the principles governing the material used. The tanks should also be vented to prevent any possible development of a vacuum or pressure which can lead to explosions (Penton/IPC, 1984) The handling of LPG requires that it be odorized so as to enable detect its presence in air to a concentration that exceeds one fifth of the lower flammable limit. The odor should be distinct and easy to detect. However, odorizing is not necessary if it proves harmful if the LPG shall be used for further processing. Odorizing is necessary to prevent fires incase of a leakage from cylinders and pressure tanks used to hold the gas (because LPG is highly volatile and flammable) because one is able to detect it early and thus take remedial measures. Regarding the cylinders that hold the LPG, one is not allowed to carry out any welding on the shell, head or any section of the pressure container. This is to prevent possibility of explosion of the container due to welding. Further, any fittings shutoff valves and any accessories fitted to the LPG pressure container should meet the 250 p. s. i. g pressure specifications. The shutoff valve should not be made of cast iron because of its less resistance to fire and heat. Incase of heat or fire, the valve is likely to expand or open leading to a leakage and hence fire or explosion. All these specifications are for safety purposes to avoid possible leakage from the pressure containers holding LPG. Areas with high temperatures require lower vapor pressure LPG in a high pressure container so as to prevent the opening up of safety valves as a result of the high temperatures. The OSHA regulations governing the petroleum industry are very diverse and go down to greater finer details. Despite all that the bottom line is the fact that these regulations were set to protect the workers and even the consumers of products originating from the petroleum industry. If these safety and health regulations are followed to the letter, it will lead to a high degree of safety in the petroleum industry. As said earlier, petroleum is a very important component in the energy sector development but posses a great danger to health and property if no handled with care (Olishifski, 1999). Any organization under the petroleum industry needs to adhere to these rules to avert any possible disaster that can result if the regulations were not adhered to. However stiff the regulations may be, for safety purposes, they need to be followed. The OSHA’s regulations have often been criticized by the petroleum industry players for lacking practicability. The department of labor under which the OSHA agency exists should set out modalities of working closely with the industry’s stakeholders to encourage a health and safety culture among the key players in the industry. If the regulations seem to be expensive and the specifications too much specific, then OSHA has no alternative than to liaise with engineers and some other professionals so as to supply the equipment and services which are compliant with the safety and health specifications to the ministry players.

History of Mathematics - 1062 Words

â€Å"Mathematics - the unshaken Foundation of Sciences, and the plentiful Fountain of Advantage to human affairs.† (Barrow) Mathematics plays an integral function in our daily living since its conception, and we thank the great mathematicians for this essential tool. Mathematics has been used in various professions and academic fields. Undoubtedly, there have been many men of old that have contributed to the science of mathematics, but what really captivates our interest, are the ones who were passionate – who dedicated their lives to the study of mathematics; the originators of various fields of mathematics who displayed remarkable work. I have narrowed the list of the top three mathematicians who I have deemed worthy of being named the†¦show more content†¦He was the first person to use this method to estimate the area of a circle. As the creator of the Mechanical Method, he used it to find the area of a parabola, volume of a sphere, and the surface area of a sphere. He â€Å"produced several theorems that became widely known throughout the world. He is credited with producing some of the principles of calculus long before Newton and Leibniz. He worked out ways of squaring the circle and computing areas of several curved regions. His interest in mechanics is credited with influencing his mathematical reasoning, which he used in devising new mathematical theorems. He proved that the surface area and volume of a sphere are two-thirds that of its circumscribing cylinder.† (Archimedes) Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician who spent the majority of his short but remarkable life practicing mathematics. Pascal’s passion for mathematics was intertwined with his outstanding work in the field. Like Archimedes, he used the studies of his predecessors, but perfected it. This is with the cases of Pascal’s arithmetic triangle and the probability theory. Pascal’s passion for mathematics began from his pre-teen years. It has been claimed that the 12 year old Pascal was found playing with pieces of folded paper and later realized that the â€Å"sum of the angles inShow MoreRelatedMathematics : History And Mathematics1548 Words   |  7 Pagespotential such as history and mathematics, it can distort our knowledge on world problems. Both subjects are very significant in life and everyone should have some knowledge on it. The lack of knowledge of both subjects would make things more difficult for numerous of people when it comes to world problems that ca n affect life such as health/medical problems and future events. The two areas of knowledge that will be focused on are History and Mathematics. History and Mathematics are both very significantRead MoreThe History of Mathematics Essay627 Words   |  3 Pages What is the meaning of history? According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, history is: past events that relate to a particular subject, place, organization, etc (Merriam-Webster, 2014). 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