How to Start a Career In Psychology

How to Start a Career In Psychology Student Resources Careers Print How to Start a Career In Psychology By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on July 05, 2019 Stuart Kinlough / Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Are you interested in a career in a psychology-related field but not quite sure where to begin? Do you have a question about psychology careers? Because there is so much diversity in the field of psychology when it comes to individual career paths, deciding where you want to go can be a daunting prospect. As you plan your way forward, it pays to do research on the different options that are available and carefully decide which area seems to be the best possible fit for your interests, needs, and goals. The following are just a few of the basic questions that many people ask when considering a career in psychology. Before you decide which path is right for you, spend some time finding answers to some of your biggest questions. Types The title of psychologist is often used as a blanket term to describe anyone who works in a psychology field, but there are actually major differences between different types of psychologists. For example, some psychologists known as clinical psychologists work with people who are experiencing psychological difficulties and perform tasks such as assessing, diagnosing, and treating these clients. Another type of psychologist is an industrial-organizational psychologist. These professionals work with businesses and other organizations to solve work-related issues. They might focus on designed safe and efficient work spaces or creating organizational structures that maximize productivity and efficiency. So how do you determine which type of psychologist you might want to be? One way to begin is to consider the general type of psychology you might want to practice and where you want to work. If you are interested in helping people improve their lives directly, you might want to consider a career in mental health or in an applied area outside of mental health. If you are more interested in researching how people think and behave, then you might want to consider a career in an experimental field. Specialty Areas Once you have a better idea of which types of psychologist you might like to be, you can then focus your career-planning on the specialty area that seems the most suited to your goals and interests.  One of the greatest things about psychology is that there are so many different career paths to choose from. Whether you are fascinated by research or interested in applying psychological theories in the real world, there is bound to be an area that is perfect for your interests. Just a few of the specific specialty areas in psychology include clinical psychology, educational psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and social psychology. Start by exploring the different specialty areas in psychology to learn more. Kind of Work Performed   Psychologists work in a wide range of professional areas. Even psychologists working in the same specialty area may find that their specific duties vary widely. This is because the nature of psychology work can vary tremendously depending on exactly where a professional is employed, the needs of their employer, and the needs of the populations they serve. Mental health, academics, and research are just some of the major areas of interest a psychologist might pursue. Many psychologists also work in applied settings like ergonomics and human factors. Psychologists are also well suited to work in business, government, education, and mental health. Discover more about the nature of psychology work and what it is really like to be a psychologist. Work Environment How a psychologist spends each day and under what type of working conditions are both affected largely by exactly where the professional is employed. For example, many psychologists work at colleges and universities, while others work in prisons, hospitals, or private practices. Some work individually with clients while others treat patients with a team of professionals. Before you decide on a career in psychology, spend some time thinking about where you might like to work one day. Understanding where different psychologists work is important, so spend some time learning more about the working conditions of psychologists. Earnings While a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that psychology graduates had the lowest starting pay of any field ($30,000), it is important to remember that earnings and salaries of psychologists vary widely depending on education level, experience, and specialization. In their Occupational Outlook Handbook, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual earnings for psychologists was  $72,580 as of 2015.  If youve ever considered a career in psychology, then you probably should spend a little time investigating the typical earnings and salaries of psychologists. While it is important to note that salary should not be your only consideration when selecting a career path, it is important to be aware of what you can expect to make when entering any profession. It is important to note that those who earn a masters or doctoral degree in psychology have a much higher earning potential than those who hold a bachelors degree. Education and Training Just how long does it take to become a psychologist? The answer depends on a lot of factors including which specialty area you plan on going into. It is also important to note that there are a number of career options available for those with doctoral, masters, and bachelor’s degrees in psychology. Before you pick a specialty area, it pays to figure out the training and qualifications youll need to work in that field. For example, if you are interested in becoming a clinical psychologist, you will need to first earn a bachelors degree in psychology (which usually takes 4 to 5 years) before earning a doctorate degree (which then takes an additional 4 to 7 years). Once you have completed your graduate training, you will then need to complete a period of supervised training ass well as pass state licensing exams in order to become licensed to practice in your state. If, however, you were planning to become an experimental psychologist, you would probably begin by earning your bachelors degree in psychology before enrolling in a masters or doctorate program devoted to research and experimental study. A masters degree may take 2 to 3 years of study which may then be followed by an additional 2 to 3 years in a doctoral program. In some cases, you may go directly from a bachelors program into a doctoral program which generally takes 4 to 5 years to complete. Depending upon your program path, you will likely have to complete original research and present a masters thesis or doctoral dissertation before earning your degree. Demand Outlook The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that the demand for psychologists will grow by 19 percent through the year 2024, a rate that is much faster than the average for all professions in the United States. However, they also note that growth will vary depending upon specialty area. Specialty areas including clinical psychologists, school psychologists, and industrial-organizational psychologist are expected to be in high demand over the coming years. When you are considering a career path, it is always a good idea to understand the possible job outlook before you commit. After all, you want to ensure that there will be a demand for your skills and services once you graduate and enter the workforce. Bachelors Degree So what sort of potential is there for those who want to work in a psychology-related profession but are not interested in going to graduate school? While those with an undergraduate degree will not enjoy the same job demand and salary that those with advanced degrees encounter, there are still plenty of things that you can do with a bachelors-level degree. There are a number of different entry-level jobs for college graduates with a bachelors degree. However, it is important to note that options tend to be more limited at the undergraduate level. Undergraduate education in psychology helps students develop skills that are important in a variety of careers. Graduate Degree Earning a graduate degree in psychology can open a lot of door in terms of career selection, salary, and opportunity for advancement. Those with graduate degrees are usually more in demand and may have an easier time finding employment in their chosen specialty area. Salaries also tend to be much higher at this level, although there is considerable variation based on the area of employment, years of experience, and geographic location. It is also important to note that with  many careers, such as clinical and counseling psychology, having a graduate degree is actually a requirement for becoming licensed. Which Career Is Right for You? As you have seen, there are a lot of different options to choose from when you are selecting a career in psychology. If you are still unsure of where you might fit, you might want to take a quick quiz to get a general idea of where to begin your career planning. Psychology is a diverse field with a wide range of career options, so a little planning now can help you find a specialty area that is perfect for you.

Brennan Surname Meaning and Origin

One of Irelands most frequent surnames, Brennan generally derived as a form of one of several Irish language surnames: From the Irish  Ãƒâ€œ Braonà ¡in, meaning descendant of  Braonà ¡n.  The Irish personal name Braonà ¡n is believed to mean sorrow, from the Irish  braon, meaning moisture or drop.From the Irish names Mac Branà ¡in and Ó Branà ¡in, both meaning descendant of Branà ¡n,  from the given name Branà ¡n, derived from  bran, meaning little raven. The Mac Branà ¡in were chiefs of a large territory in present-day County Roscommon, and many of the Brennan families in the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon descend from them. The OBrennans were chiefs of the  Uà ­ Duach sept located in northern Osraighe (Ossory), which  included all of county Kilkenny and part of county Laois. Brennan is one of 50 common Irish surnames of modern Ireland.   Surname Origin:  Irish Alternate Surname Spellings:  BRENNEN, MCBRENNAN, MACBRENNAN, BRANNON, BRANNAN, BRANNEN, BRANNIN, OBRAONAIN, BRANNY Where do People with the Surname BRENNAN Live? Irish Brennan families were very widespread, settling in Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, and Westmeath. According to WorldNames publicprofiler, individuals with the Brennan last name are now found in largest numbers in central Ireland, especially in County Sligo and the province of Leinster. The surname is much less common in Northern Ireland. Famous People with the Surname BRENNAN Walter Brennan - American actor, veteran of over 100 filmsWillie Brennan - Irish highwayman of legend, immortalized by Brennan on the MoorWilliam J. Brennan Jr. - former US Supreme Court justiceMaeve Brennan - Irish short story writer and journalist Genealogy Resources for the Surname BRENNAN The Brennans of ConnachtPat Brennan has put together a great deal of information on the origins of the Brennan surname, genealogies of early Brennan families, a list of MacBranan chiefs, and history of the families after the famine. British Surname Profiler - Distribution of the Brennan SurnameTrace the geography and history of the Brennan surname through this free online database based on a University College London (UCL) project investigating the distribution of surnames in Great Britain, both current and historic. Brennan Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Brennan surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Brennan surname query. FamilySearch - BRENNAN GenealogyAccess over 1.9 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Brennan surname and its variations. BRENNAN Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Brennan surname. DistantCousin.com - BRENNAN Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Brennan. -- Looking for the meaning of a given name? Check out First Name Meanings -- Cant find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins. ----------------------- References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back to Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins

Ongoing UN Peacekeeping Missions in Africa

There are currently seven United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Africa.   UNMISS The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan began July 2011 when the Republic of South Sudan officially became the newest country in Africa, having split from The Sudan. The split came after decades of war, and the peace remains fragile. In December 2013, renewed violence broke out, and the UNMISS team was accused of partisanship. A cessation of hostilities was reached 23 January 2014, and the UN authorized further troops for the Mission, which continues to supply humanitarian aid. As of June 2015 the Mission had 12,523 service personnel and more then 2,000 civilian staff members. UNISFA: The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei began June 2011. It was tasked with protecting civilians in the region of Abyei, along the border between The Sudan and what became the Republic of South Sudan. The Force is also tasked with helping The Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan with stabilizing their border near Abyei. In May 2013, the UN expanded the force.   As of June 2015, the Force was comprised of 4,366 service personnel and more than 200 civilian staff members and UN volunteers. MONUSCO The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo commenced 28 May 2010. It replaced the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While the Second Congo War officially ended in 2002, fighting continues, particularly in the eastern Kivu region of the DRC. The MONUSCO force is authorized to use force if need be to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel. It was due to be withdrawn in March 2015, but was extended into 2016.   UNMIL The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was created 19 September 2003 during the Second Liberian Civil War. It replaced the UN Peace-building Support Office in Liberia. The warring factions signed a peace agreement in August 2003, and general elections were held in 2005. The UNMILs current mandate includes continuing to protect civilians from any violence and providing humanitarian aid. It is also tasked with assisting the Liberian government with strengthening national institutions for justice. UNAMID The African Union / United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur began 31 July 2007, and as of June 2015, it was the largest peacekeeping operation in the world. The African Union deployed peacekeeping forces to Darfur in 2006, following the signing of a peace accord between The Sudan government and rebel groups.   The peace agreement was not implemented, and in 2007, UNAMID replaced the AU operation. The UNAMID is tasked with facilitating the peace process, providing security, helping establish the rule of law, providing humanitarian aid, and protecting civilians. UNOCI The United Nations Operation in Cà ´te dIvoire began in  April 2004. It replaced the much smaller United Nations Mission in  Cà ´te dIvoire. Its original mandate was to facilitate the peace agreement that ended the Ivorian Civil War. It took six years, though, to hold elections, and after the 2010 elections, the incumbent, President  Laurent Gbagbo, who had governed since 2000, did not step down. Five months of violence followed, but it ended with the arrest of Gbagbo in 2011. Since then, there has been progress, but the UNOCI remains in  Cà ´te dIvoire to protect civilians, ease the transition, and ensure disarmament. MINURSO The  UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) began 29 April 1991.   Its outcomes were to   Monitor the ceasefire and troop locationsOversee POW exchanges and repatriation Organize a referendum on  Ã‚  Western Sahara  independence from Morocco The mission has been ongoing for twenty-five years. During that time, MINURSO forces have assisted in maintaining the ceasefire and removing mines, but it has not yet been possible to organize a referendum on Western Saharan independence. Sources Current Peacekeeping Operations,  United Nations Peacekeeping.org.  (Accessed 30 January 2016).

Contrast in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” Free Essays

Conrad uses contrast in his novel â€Å"Heart of Darkness†. Conrad would use contrast to convey meaning in his writing. Not only did contrast help convey meaning, but he also used it to show feelings. We will write a custom essay sample on Contrast in Conrad’s â€Å"Heart of Darkness† or any similar topic only for you Order Now Of the many contrast in â€Å"Heart of Darkness† the difference of light and dark and the difference between the Thames River and the Congo River are the most obvious. The biggest contrast in â€Å"Heart of Darkness† is the difference between light and dark. London represents the light. London is in civilization, and if London represents the light, then civilization also has a big thing to do with light. The light represents everything that everyone has learned in their life, whether it was through experiences or through other peoples mistakes. On the other side there is the darkness. Africa is the main representation of darkness. Africa was uncivilized territory that everyone wanted to explore, but the darkness frightened people. Everything that happened in the darkness, â€Å"cannibals† and â€Å"savages† prowled the darkness, awaiting travelers. Africa is the â€Å"heart of darkness†. The contrast of the Thames River and the Congo River is also big in the story. The Thames is characterized as calm. Like the light the Thames represents good. The light from London makes sure the river is seen and nothing is cryptic about the river. On the other hand, the Congo is a dark, cryptic river. It is a place of evil. The contrast of these two rivers is the difference between the good and the evil, and light and dark. The Thames is peaceful and tranquil; it symbolizes light and civilization. The Congo is wild and barbaric; it symbolizes the dark and everything uncivilized and frightening. How to cite Contrast in Conrad’s â€Å"Heart of Darkness†, Papers

Divorce And Children Essay Example For Students

Divorce And Children Essay It seems that more and more marriages are falling apart everyday. Divorce ratesseen to be climbing astronomically. In so many of these divorces there arechildren to be considered. What is best for the child? Who will get custody?Will the child be scarred for life? Its really hard to say. The overalleffects on our children vary according to the factors involved. I am going toattempt to discuss a few of the problems that can occur with children ofdivorced families and what parents can do to ease the transition. I will limitthis discussion to infantile age thru early elementary aged children. Letsstart with understanding the parents role concerning being together or beingapart. Obviously, two parents can provide children with far more guidance,sustenance, and protection than one, and are more likely to prevent the kinds ofpsychological disturbance that may result from deprivations of these necessitiesWhen one parent is temporarily absent from the intact home, it is likely thatthe other will be available to ratify the childs needs in a loving way. Thisis not so readily the situation in the divorced home. ( Gardner, 1977). In thisstatement he illustrates the importance of having both parents together. Thiscan be emphasized further with a statement from Buchanan, Maccoby, and Dornbusch(1996). Childrens parents are their anchors. Parents provide the structurefor childrens daily lives, and even when parents are not functioning verywell, children depend on them for a sense of security that enables them to copewith their developmental tasks. When one parent leaves the home, the childrealizes a shattering possibility; parents are not always there. It is not hardto realize that divorce can have a devastating effect on children. Lets brakeit down by age groups; infants, toddlers, and so on. DeBorg (1997) states thatinfants do not understand conflict, but may react to changes in parentsenergy level and mood. She goes on to list possible reactions like loss ofappetite; upset stomach may spit up more; more fretful or anxious. She saysthat parents should keep their normal routines, and stay calm in frontof the child. Toddlers understand that a parent has moved away, butdoesnt understand why. I know that my son was very confused. He was onlytwo when my wife and I separated. He seemed to display allot of anger andinsecurity. DeBorg says that a toddlers reactions could include more crying,clinging; problems sleeping; regression to infant behaviors; and worry whenparent is out of sight. My son, his name is Cody, definitely fits thisprofile. He cried constantly. It seemed that nothing would calm him down. If yougot him to go to sleep, good luck keeping him there. As far as infant behaviorsgo, his biggest problems were wanting to be rocked like when he was younger andtrying to go back to the bottle. DeBorg say to allow some return to infantilebehaviors, but set clear limits. Easier said than done I can assure you. Preschoolers dont understand what separation or divorce means, theyrealize one parent is not as active in his or her life (DeBorg, 1997). Their reactions could include pleasant and unpleasant fantasies; feelinguncertain about the future; feeling responsible; and they may hold their angerinside. Deborgs first strategy listed for parents is to encourage thechild to talk. This makes sense if you are concerned with straitening outthese issues of anger and feeling responsible. It seems to be the only way toreally understand your childs problems. Gardner (1977, p. 42) talks ofsomething called the oedipal phase. He explains that this occurs betweenages three and five. This is the period when a child develops a strongpossessive attachment to the opposite-sexed parent. Gardner says that attimes the attraction can take on mildly sexual overtones toward theopposite-sexed parent, but the sexual desires are generally not forintercourse, the child being too young to appreciate that act. He explainsthat if a boy begins sleeping in Mothers bed thoughout the night, an acontinual basis, the likelihood that oedipal problems will arise is great .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 , .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .postImageUrl , .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 , .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:hover , .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:visited , .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:active { border:0!important; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:active , .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3 .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u329dfc21abdbc15a566de18c9457bbd3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: DRINKING Essaythis holds true for a father and daughter when they are the ones who remaintogether following the separation(p. 91). Learning of this has raised myconcerns for my son. His mother lets him sleep with her every night, and shebelieves nothing is wrong with the arrangement. This is a factor I will dealwith on my own, as soon as I figure out what to do. Continuing on to earlyelementary age, childrens understanding becomes more apparent. DeBorg (1997)says that children begin to understand what divorce is, and understandthat her or his parents wont live together anymore and that they may not loveeach other as before. Reactions, as she describes, could include feelin gs ofdeception and a sense of loss. Children have hopes that parents will get backtogether, and feel rejected by the parent who left. Children of thisage can have symptoms of illness like loss of appetite, sleep problems,diarrhea and may complain of headaches or stomach aches. DeBorg doesnot list any ways of curving these symptoms of illness, however she does listsome strategies for helping these children adjust. She writes, encourage thechild to talk about how he or she feels; answer all questions about changes;and reassure the child. From my standpoint, these ideas hold true regardlessof the situation. You should always encourage your children to talk about therefeelings and always take them seriously. A word of advice: Children can adjustto divorce. It is years of subsequent fighting between their parents, or aninappropriate child custody plan that can take a terrible toll (Olsen, 1998). So if you want to help your children succeed, then help them adjust to yourdivorce together; mom and dad. Never let them feel that they cannot have arelationship with the other parent if at all possible. BibliographyGardner, R. A. (1977). The Parents Book About Divorce. Garden City, NY:Doubleday Company, Inc. Buchanan, C. M., Maccoby, E. E., Dornbusch,S. M. (1996). Adolescents After Divorce. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UniversityPress. DeBorg, K. (1997). Focus on Kids: The Effects of Divorce On Children. http://www.nncc.org/child.dev/effectsdivorce.html Olsen, P. (1998). ChildCustody Savvy. http://www.savvypsych.com/Psychology

Mr. Jim Wormold, the Unlikely Optimist in Our Man in Havana free essay sample

To have a faith in someone or something also involves an act of will to persevere when the odds are at great length. Even though the protagonist, Jim Wormold doesn’t have religious faith and his actions motivated entirely by desperation to have the approval of an absent wife and spoiled daughter, he is the only character that doesn’t exhibit blind faith. Faith is closely related to loyalty, as evidenced by the ideal of †fidelity to one’s promises† or an inherent â€Å"faithfulness†. Faith is not an uniquely religious principle, but it is a byproduct of entrusting loyalty. And both loyalty and faithfulness have connections to trustworthiness. Loyalty cannot exist without faith. Wormold’s faith is engrossed to the loyalty of his daughter. As stated in Chapter 2, â€Å"Unlike Wormold, who believed in nothing, Milly was a Catholic: he had been made to promise her mother, he supposed, was of no faith at all, but she had left a Catholic on his hands. We will write a custom essay sample on Mr. Jim Wormold, the Unlikely Optimist in Our Man in Havana or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It brought Milly closer to Cuba than he could come himself† (Greene, 15). When marrying, Wormold promised his wife they would raise their children as Catholics. Even when his wife leaves he continues to raise Milly as a Catholic. Although it appears that he himself is absent of a religious faith, his actions to ensure she is Catholic are very significant. Wormold failed in his marriage, but doesn’t want to fail in raising his daughter with the right upbringing. Wormold is wholly dedicated and governed by the main woman in his life, his daughter Milly. She is the entire reason for him becoming involved in the Secret Service. By all accounts he should have rejected Hawthornes offer. He has no background or training of any kind that would qualify him to be a spy. However, he sees a chance to make some money and he exploits it. He not only takes the basic pay of $300 offered him, but goes out of his way to make as much money as possible by creating phantom agents and missions all requiring more money, which of course he uses on his daughter. The following quote presents the reasoning why Wormold accepts Hawthorne’s offer. Milly wants a horse and a country club membership for her seventeenth birthday although she knows Wormold cannot afford the extra expenses of such a gift. †¦,‘Oh, I knew you’d take it like this,’ Milly said. ‘I knew it in my heart of hearts. I said two novenas to make it right, but they haven’t worked. I was so careful too. I was in a state of grace all the time I said them. I’ll never believe in a novena again. Never. Never. ’ (†¦) He had no faith himself, but he never wanted by any action of his own to weaken hers. Now he felt a fearful responsibility; at any moment she would be denying the existence of God. Ancient promises he had made came up out of the past to weaken him. (18) In the given quote, Milly begins to doubt whether her prayers will be answered. It is obvious she takes advantage of her father and asks for anything even if she knows her father cannot afford it. In fear of Milly becoming skeptical of her Catholic faith, Wormold keeps the horse as he had made ancient promises to his wife to raise a good Catholic. Wormold’s fear of his daughter, or at least the fear of her disapproval is brought to realization. Wormold has a great love for his daughter and wants to give her everything she wants so that he can succeed as a single parent and remedy faults he committed to his wife. He sees direct parallels to his daughter with his wife. Wormold failed at his marriage, but he intends to succeed in rearing their child. Several times throughout the novel, Milly manipulates and controls her father with a similarity to her mother. He feels distant and detached from her world and often gives into her requests. â€Å"He was glad that she [Milly] could still accept fairy stories: a virgin who bore a child, pictures that wept or spoke words of love in the dark. Hawthorne and his kind were equally credulous, but what they swallowed were nightmares, grotesque stories out of science fiction (75). Wormold compares the significance of Millys Catholic faith to that of a childhood fairytale as it ensures she maintains her innocence and faith in something without skepticism. This critique of Catholicism is similar to the Santa Claus myth. Parents lie to their children about the existence of an imaginary entity in hopes to instill principles of goodness and morality in their children. Wormolds’ lack of religious faith is a result of a moral discrepancy. His wife was apparently a devote Catholic but still managed to overlook her marriage and run off with another man. Religion for the protagonist, Wormold is irrelevant. On the other hand, to have a faith that things will continue being advantageous isn’t considered far-fetched. Our Man In Havana takes place against the background of the Cold War. The British Secret Service is operated by heresy and the fear of expansion of the Communist regime. The novel’s setting in Havana Cuba is important because the story is written and takes place just before the revolution led by Fidel Castro. At the time of the story, Cuba is a largely poor country. There are many European and American tourists and businesspeople on the island who have their personal agendas and respective loyalties. Wormold remarks about this in Part 5 of Chapter 4: You are loyal. Who to? To Milly. I dont care a damn about men who are loyal to the people who pay them, to organizations I dont think even my country means all that much. There are many countries in our blood, arent there, but only one person. Would the world be in the mess it is if we were loyal to love and not to countries? (195) The paranoia surrounding the Cold War is what drives the Secret Service to recruit agents so quickly without giving them proper training. Loyalty is a recurring theme throughout Greene’s novel and questions the validity of the ability to have a loyalty to a country when residing in another. Espionage is rampant because the fear of a Communist threat appears imminent. Consequently, they are so desperate for any information that they are very excited when they get Wormolds fake reports. Their desire to outmaneuver the Communists overshadows their common sense. The British Secret Service engages in a prime example of blind faith with enlisting Jim Wormold. Hawthorne, the British secret agent who recruits Wormold, is not revered as an outstanding agent and isn’t trusted by his superiors. This may be a result in his questionable judgment for selecting new recruits. Although the British secret Service prides itself to â€Å"employ agents who were men of good social standing,† Hawthorne lies about Wormold’s true occupation and social standing by embellishing it: â€Å" ‘Oh, he imports, you know, Machinery, that sort of thing. ’ It was always important to one’s own career to employ agents who were men of good social standing. The petty details on the secret file dealing with the store in Lamparilla Street would never, in ordinary circumstances, reach this basement-room† (52). Later, Hawthorne suspects Wormolds reports may be falsified, but does nothing about it. In Part 4 of Chapter 2 Dr. Hasselbacher states, â€Å"At first they promised me they were planning nothing. You have been very useful to them. They knew about you from the very beginning, Mr. Wormold, but they didnt take you seriously. They even thought you might be inventing your reports. But then you changed your codes and your staff increased. The British Secret Service would not be so easily deceived as all that, would it? (146) Faith is a suspension of disbelief. This is vital for believing in things that cant be proven, and as such is a personal decision for the individual. The function of the British Secret Service is to rely heavily on sources that cannot be easily confirmed. They have to put much trust in people like Wormold. While it is likely that most of them are reliable and diligent intelligence gatherers, there are few checks and balances in place to confirm they are not. The information they provide is obviously secret and not easily verifiable. This is dangerous because decision makers have to much of their faith on these sources when making serious decisions. When wrong information gets through the system, whether it is intentionally wrong or not, it resulted in disastrous consequences as several people do in fact die indirectly because of Wormolds fake reports. The Secret Service is supposed to be a highly competent organization, but in reality they are unwittingly relying on Wormold who is neither qualified nor a loyal patriot of the British Crown. â€Å"If you have abandoned one faith, do not abandon all faith. There is always an alternative to the faith we lose. Or is it the same faith under another mask? # The idea of faith being either religious or not is purely semantics. For Wormold it is not a matter if he has faith, but who or what he places his faith in. Throughout the novel, Wormold exhibits optimism that he will be able to preserve a decent livelihood for himself and his daughter through playing up the insecurities and paranoia of the British secret service. Through the depiction of Wormold, Greenes Our Man In Havana suggest s that true faith is not blinded by fear of attack of an unknown enemy or mythology of an ominous being, but loyalty to one’s individual morals and loved ones.

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