Various Types Of Occupational Fraud - 962 Words

Types of Fraud The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners displays what is known as the Fraud Tree. It is a representation of the three major types of occupational fraud (www.acfe.com). Occupational fraud is any scheme that involves employees taking cash, resources, or misapplies assets of the business for their personal gain (www.smartceo.com). Type I: Corruption Corruption is an intentional, dishonest act where an employee abuses their position in the company for personal gain (www.curtin.edu.au). It can take many forms. Bribery is a form of corruption. This is receiving or paying for illegal advantages. An example of bribery is a company official paying a public official to gain advantage over competitors. Embezzlement is another form of corruption. This is when someone has legal access, but not ownership of assets, that steals them for personal gain. For example, the treasurer of the local PTA may decide to take PTA funds to buy her daughter’s prom dress. Conflict of interest is another form of corruption. If the purchasing manager sits on the board of his wife’s company and then awards contracts to her company, that is a conflict of interest. Type II: Asset Misappropriation This is the most common form of occupational fraud and accounts for over 85% of fraud cases. It also usually has the lowest cost of loss. Asset misappropriation is the intentional, illegal use of the company’s assets for one’s personal use (Mohlenhoff Uhl, 2014). An example wouldShow MoreRelatedOccupational Fraud : A Glance At Asset Misappropriation And Other Types Of Organisational Fraud Essay1074 Words   |  5 Pages II. OCCUPATIONAL FRAUD – A glance at Asset Misappropriation and other types of organisational fraud Now that we have tolerably defined ‘fraud’, we can move on to explain ‘Occupational Fraud’ which is an internal fraud i.e. generally committed by employees/members associated with an organisation, and more closely related to corporate governance. Occupational Fraud is defined as: â€Å"The use of one’s occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of the employingRead MoreFraud Is A Global Problem1003 Words   |  5 PagesFraud is deliberate deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain. Fraud is both a civil wrong (i.e., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud and/or recover monetary compensation) and a criminal wrong (i.e., a fraud perpetrator may be prosecuted and imprisoned by governmental authorities). Fraud is not prejudice; culture, ethnicity, and religion, are not factors in determining who will commit fraud. Finding fraud can be difficult. We re constantly reminded at every clientRead MoreCorporate Fraud, Within Corporate Governance1645 Words   |  7 Pagescollapse of various high-profile corporations across the world. These scandals were inherently the result of fraud, scams, mismanagement, fraudulent reporting and audit failure among many other deficiencies present in the corporate governance model of various syndicates. Some of these made the very foundation of the financial markets unstable and open to financial crisis. The international and national community were compelled to more efficiently address the issues of corporate fraud, misconductRead Moreoccupational fraud and abuse on the company959 Words   |  4 PagesThe effect of occupational fraud and abuse on the company Occupational fraud and abuse is defined as â€Å"The use of one’s occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of the employing organization’s resources or assets† (2012 Report To Nations On Occupation Fraud And Abuse, 2012). Occupational fraud entails deceiving employing organization to obtain resources or assets for personal gain and abuse involves misapplication of the resources provided by the employerRead MoreFinancial Fraud, And Identification Of The Different Fraud Types1734 Words   |  7 Pagesof the various types of fraud, in order to aid understanding in regards to the prevention of fraudulent activity. This paper begins with a review of the definition of financial fraud, and identification of the different fraud types. Further, included is an examination of what motivates individuals to commit fraud, including an identification of some of the method in which people commit fraud. A discussion of the importance of the fraud triangle, and how rationalization contributes to fraud is aRead MoreEssay about Internal Accountants Report to Management1274 Words   |  6 PagesCompany, I have to perform various financial operations, and I am considered the expert in this field. As we all are faced with preparation for the upcoming government contract bid, we need to have a better understanding of how our company runs the business and issues that we can face if we enter into this contract. It is vital to visualize the actual impact of occupational fraud and abuse in the company. We also need to know how the US government oversees the accounting fraud and abuse and its affectRead MoreThe And White Collar Crime897 Words   |  4 Pages2012). White-collar crimes can occur at any occupational level and affects all parts of society, from big businesses to individuals. Some associate the definition of white-collar crime mainly to economic crime, but others include corporate crimes like environmental law violations and health and safety law violations (Barnett, 1999). It is interesting to note that corporate crimes such as environmental pollution typically involve corporate personnel on various levels for purposes of implementation, fromRead MoreUnit One Assignment : Fraud Basics879 Words   |  4 PagesIroda Yakubova Unit One Assignment: Fraud Basics 1. In my opinion, non-shareable financial need is the most important in causing executives, managers, and employees to commit occupational fraud. The proxies become â€Å"criminals on trust† in the case of they start to have financial difficulties, which they cannot share with nobody. They think that available option to perform completely secret financial fraud and able to give an explanation to their behavior in a given situation, allowing to reconcileRead MorePrevention And Detection Of Accounting Fraud2577 Words   |  11 PagesPrevention and Detection of Accounting Fraud @@@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@ October 21, 2014 Abstract: A client has requested information on the prevention and detection of accounting fraud. The research paper will cover descriptions of types and components of fraud. It will offer suggestions as to who would commit fraud and how it would be detected and prevented. The research paper should provide a general overview of the subject in layman s terms. Read MoreA Political Party May Have On Regulating Healthcare Essay1392 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluence a political party may have on regulating healthcare. Furthermore, it proves the responsibility of the occupational therapists to investigate and advocate in politics regarding health care that may affect future clients and/or quality of care. The occupational therapy student (OTS) will present research on the libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, and his views on healthcare and occupational therapy. About Gary Johnson and the Libertarian Party Gary Johnson is a candidate representing the libertarian

Operant Conditioning Essay - 757 Words

Operant Conditioning Overview: The theory of B.F. Skinner is based upon the idea that learning is a function of change in overt behavior. Changes in behavior are the result of an individuals response to events (stimuli) that occur in the environment. A response produces a consequence such as defining a word, hitting a ball, or solving a math problem. When a particular Stimulus-Response (S-R) pattern is reinforced (rewarded), the individual is conditioned to respond. The distinctive characteristic of operant conditioning relative to previous forms of behaviorism (e.g., Thorndike, Hull) is that the organism can emit responses instead of only eliciting response due to an external stimulus. Reinforcement is the key element in†¦show more content†¦Parenthetically, it should be noted that Skinner rejected the idea of theories of learning (see Skinner, 1950). Example: By way of example, consider the implications of reinforcement theory as applied to the development of programmed instruction (Markle, 1969; Skinner, 1968) 1. Practice should take the form of question (stimulus) - answer (response) frames which expose the student to the subject in gradual steps 2. Require that the learner make a response for every frame and receive immediate feedback 3. Try to arrange the difficulty of the questions so the response is always correct and hence a positive reinforcement 4. Ensure that good performance in the lesson is paired with secondary reinforcers such as verbal praise, prizes and good grades. Principles: 1. Behavior that is positively reinforced will reoccur; intermittent reinforcement is particularly effective 2. Information should be presented in small amounts so that responses can be reinforced (shaping) 3. Reinforcements will generalize across similar stimuli (stimulus generalization) producing secondary conditioning www.udayton.edu/~psych/DJP/histsys/pdfhs/hsbehavior2.pdf www.public.iastate.edu/~hdfs502/powerpoint_files/Thomas_07.PDF B.F. skinners’ theory is based on the idea that learning is the function ofShow MoreRelatedOperant Vs. Operant Conditioning858 Words   |  4 PagesOperant Learning Model Operant conditioning is best described as the process that attempts to modify behavior through the use of positive and negative reinforcement. During this process the subject you are working with either animal or human learns to perform a specific task, through the use of positive or negative reinforcement (Chance, 2014). This model is best suited for teaching Ben the appropriate behavior as it relates to stealing. Operant conditioning will be used to teach Ben not to steal;Read MoreOperant Conditioning : Example Of Conditioning Essay789 Words   |  4 PagesEXAMPLES OF OPERANT CONDITIONING Example of Operant conditioning, is when you decided to snooze the alarm in the morning after partying all night long. Finally you decide to get up to go to work you are running 15 min late. And decide to step on gas pedal. You are now driving 50 mph on a 35 mph road. You think you are fine and won t get caught because everyone else is driving fast also. All of sudden a cop is hidden in between the trees and bushes. You try to brake, in order to slow down a bit,Read MoreOperant Conditioning, The Strength Of Conditioning Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pagesoperant behavior and because of the emphasis on the response it is called type R and also called operant conditioning. In type R conditioning, the strength of conditioning is shown by response rate, however in Type S conditioning the strength of conditioning is usually determined by the magnitude of the conditioned response. One example I can provide for Type S, on a daily basis, is when I see the mailman entering my building to drop of f my mail. I immediately start feeling anxious and sometimesRead MoreThe Theory Of Operant Conditioning989 Words   |  4 PagesOperant Conditioning: Procrastination The principals of operant conditioning, teaches how having certain coping techniques can reward certain undesirable behaviors. Conditioning human behavior has been studied for many years, Psychologists Edward Thorndike and B.F. Skinner, have dedicated majority of their lives to the study. Thorndike’s theory Law of effect. Thorndike suggest that certain stimuli and response become connected or dissociated from each other. His experiment worked by placing a catRead MoreThe Theory Of Operant Conditioning1934 Words   |  8 Pagesof Operant Conditioning and all the many aspects that go along with it. This theory of Operant Conditioning by B. F. Skinner is a great guideline that can be used in the classroom. Operant Conditioning is definitely a theory that can change the way a classroom is ran. Throughout this paper we will see what behaviorism is and what operant conditioning is as a whole, along with the educational implications of this theory. Biographical Background of (Theorist) The theory of Operant Conditioning wasRead MoreThe Theory Of Operant Conditioning1212 Words   |  5 PagesOperant conditioning (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. For example, when a lab rat presses a blue button, he receives a food pellet as a reward, but when he presses the red button he receives a mild electric shock. As a result, he learns to press the blue button but avoid the red button. TheRead MoreThe Principals Of Operant Conditioning1119 Words   |  5 PagesThe principals of operant conditioning, teaches how having certain coping techniques can reward certain undesirable behaviors. Conditioning human behavior has been studied for many years, Psychologists Edward Thorndike and B.F. Skinner, have dedicated the majority of their lives to the study. Thorndike’s theory Law of effect. Thorndike suggests that certain stimuli and response become connected or dissociated from each other. His experiment worked by placing a cat in a box, then observing its behaviorRead MoreOperant Conditioning And Its Effect On Behavior1380 Words   |  6 PagesOperant conditioning refers to the method of learning to occur through rewards and punishment for behavior (Staddon Cerutti 2002). In the operant condition, an association occurs between the behavior and the consequences of the behavior. Behaviorist B.F Skinner coined operant conditioning, and that is why some refer to it as Skinnerian conditioning. Skinner started studying operant conditioning in the late 1920s when he was a graduate student at Harvard University. As a behaviorist B.F SkinnerRead MoreOperant Conditioning : Voluntary Behavior Essay940 Words   |  4 PagesOnil Trinidad Psych 11 Dr. Mcspadden Operant Conditioning Voluntary behavior is a result of a learning process which is commonly referred to as â€Å"Operant Conditioning.† According to the American Psychological Association, operant conditioning is â€Å"Learning in which the probability of a response is changed by a change in its consequences† (Allyn Para#8). In simpler terms, operant conditioning is the explanation for voluntary behavior, which can reoccur or diminish, depending if the consequence isRead MoreOperant Conditioning Methods And Research1620 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction In the article, â€Å"Operant Conditioning Methods Applied to Research in Chronic Schizophrenia,† a study is described where experimenters used operant conditioning methods to analyze the behavior of â€Å"non-verbal, lowly motivated, chronic psychotic patients.† (Lindsley 118-119) Before this study can be understood, a brief description of operant conditioning is necessary. Operant conditioning was a method developed by B.F. Skinner in 1938. (121) Prior to this year, Skinner became very interested

Music Therapy for Health and Wellness Free Essays

string(134) " to the method using music and pictures, which took away from the boring learning atmosphere compared to other methods \(Lim 73-77\)\." Lilia Grabenstein Professor Lambert Hartman GWRTC 103 11 October 2012 How Does Music Therapy Affect Patient’s Psychological and Physiological Well-being? Many countries that you can travel to, have their own style of music that makes up their culture, which is incorporated into their lifestyles. Music was not only created around the world for enjoyment, but has been used as a form of comfort, a stress reliever, and a healer (â€Å"What Is Music Therapy? †). According to the American Cancer Society, in their Find and Support Treatment section, music therapy was developed in during World War II where it was used in US Veteran Administration hospitals to treat soldiers from suffering from shell shock (â€Å"Music Therapy†). We will write a custom essay sample on Music Therapy for Health and Wellness or any similar topic only for you Order Now From a personal experience, I feel that music eases my tension, helps me focus, and relates to how I am feeling. In addition to my personal experience and connection with music, I was curious to see how music can be even more therapeutic. I am interested about the profession of music therapy as well as the effects that it has on patients and people with disabilities. For my research, I decided to choose the question, â€Å"What effect does music therapy have on various patients’ physical and mental wellbeing? † I wanted to examine this question more intently, because I believe that music therapy can provide evidence for a new method of healing for people that suffer from illnesses including cancer, disease, and depression as well as mental disabilities like autism. As I started my research, I first wanted to find out what music therapy was and what type of audience it was aimed toward. The first resource that I found to steer me in the right direction was the Music Therapy Association website where I read, â€Å"What is Music Therapy? † This provided me with the basic definition of music therapy and how it aimed to help their patients. Music Therapy is defined as, â€Å"the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (â€Å"What is Music Therapy? †). Here, I learned that the entire website is geared toward people who find it difficult to express themselves and feel strengthened by the music that the program is creating for them. For many years music therapy has been developing and helping to ease the pain of many patients ranging from various ages with illnesses and disorders. Specialized in this area, music therapists are â€Å"trained professionals who assess the well being of the physic al health, communications, and functions of client needs† (â€Å"What Is Music Therapy? ). Some of their main goals are to â€Å"promote wellness, alleviate pain enhance memory, and promote physical rehabilitation† (â€Å"What Is Music Therapy? †). The website gives you the opportunity to sign up as a Music Therapist, attend conferences for the program, and provides many stories and quotes about personal experiences with musical therapy. Although this website was beneficial to the start of my search, I knew I needed more to do more in depth research about my topic. I decided to expand on my previous topic so I searched the LEO Library Website on the JMU page for further research. Here, I found a book called Interactive Music Therapy, where Amelia Oldfield shares her experience from traveling to a Child Development Center where she conducted a study the developmental relationship on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their parents. Since Oldfield specializes in studying children with ASD, I knew she would provide quality information for me to include. For eighteen to twenty-six weeks Oldfield studied ten children and their parents by video analysis, semi-structured parent interviews, music therapy reports, and Parenting Stress Index questionnaires. After hours of recording data at the end of the study, nine out of ten parents felt the sessions proved to have a positive impact after participating in the program. The children resulted in increased levels of engagement, communication levels, playfulness, and interaction with their parents. Parents PSI levels all lowered, but it was proven that two pairs of parents PSI levels decreased dramatically. The video analysis data was not as positive as the music report, which proved to be more helpful in the study (Oldfield 157-169). After reading this excerpt, I gained more insight into understanding how interactions, communication, and even relaxation levels can increase based on music therapy treatments. At this point in my study, I knew that I had made progress in researching he topic of music therapy and how it increased interaction of children with ASD. I knew that I had to dig even deeper if I wanted to support my question. Oldfield’s study seemed like children with ASD were increasing their connection with their parents. I wanted to learn even more about how music therapy could potentially improve autistic children’s learning methods. In my next source, Hayoung A. Lim shares a perspective of children with ASD in the classroom. In addition to my last resea rch source, I decided to go to the library to further my research. I took about six books off the shelf, and one that stood out to me was Developmental Speech-Language Training Through Music for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Hayoung A. Lim, which provided me with another variation of a test on children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In a study Lim shares, Carla Hoskins investigated sung and spoken versions of three standardized speech tests, which included a verbal test, verbal with pictures, and a sung version with guitar. This was used to see if it would produce better short-term memory. Through multiple tests with regular verbal talk, music, and music with words, there was a significant difference in learning experience of the children in each group. It appeared to be evident that the tests with the verbal music with pictures improved short-term memory, increased communication, created more focus in the classroom. The results of this research was the cause of enjoyment in accordance to the method using music and pictures, which took away from the boring learning atmosphere compared to other methods (Lim 73-77). You read "Music Therapy for Health and Wellness" in category "Papers" After reading this excerpt, I came to the conclusion that these tests and studies on children with ASD and delayed speech development started to clarify the first part of my question about the improvement of the psychological well-being of people. This information gave me a clearer perspective of how music and learning combined makes it more exciting, especially for children to gain knowledge about certain subjects. Besides children, I wanted to understand how music could also affect adults and teens. Another great article that I found on the LexisNexis Academic database was about how music therapy can be an â€Å"effective tool in enhancing the quality of life among cancer survivors and people suffering from chronic illnesses† (Wee). May Wong Mei-lin found the Hong Breast Cancer Foundation after she experienced breast cancer herself, where the Hong Kong Music Therapy program had professionals perform for patients. A breast cancer survivor that attended Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, Pollina Ip Lai-chun, joined a program called Melody-in-Mind after experiencing depression after chemotherapy. She stated that singing lifted her spirits and she feels that she has become â€Å"more cheerful† (Wee). In Wee’s article, she included the four types of intervention in a music therapy session: performing including singing or playing instruments, composing, improvising, and listening. In addition, Wee included some studies in her article like one that was conducted in 2009 by the University of Maryland Medical center that found that, â€Å"Alzheimer’s patients who received music therapy experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression†. She also discovered a study from Drexel University by Joke Bradt provided that, â€Å"music can reduce anxiety in cancer patients, and may also have positive effects on mood, pain, and quality of life†. Lastly, another study included from Nature Neuroscience showed that listening to preferred music could cause the brain to release a dopamine chemical that improves our moods. This information created answers to my questions and even expanded on the side effects music therapy can have on the brain. This positive feedback made my research process look even more promising. After numerous amounts of research, I kept finding articles that discussed the improvement in psychological areas, but I was very adamant about learning if music therapy truly could help the physiological state of being for patients that had were in worse conditions of illness. If I could find more information about physical improvement, I could answer my initial question confidently. In some cases, I have heard that music can be a factor in curing sicknesses and diseases, so I was also curious to see if this information was factual. In my final day of research, a study that I read from the American Cancer Society called â€Å"Music Therapy†, included that in a clinical trial, musical therapy provided for cancer patients was proven to reduce symptoms like high blood pressure, heart rate, insomnia, and breathing rate. This information provides evidence that music therapy can help our physiological state. While reading this article, I found the author included that music did help short-term pain after surgeries, but a key factor that I noticed was that he stated, â€Å"there were no difference in survival rates† (â€Å"Music Therapy†). Soon after I read this, I realized that the method of musical therapy might help emotional well-being and decrease in levels like stress, but it would not actually cure a patient of a medical illness. After I searched through different data bases on the LEO Library, my eye caught various titles like â€Å"Music Therapy Cures Stroke Patients† and â€Å"Music Therapy Cures Cancer Patients†. However, the articles and excerpts I read were very short and did not have factual evidence to support the claims. With that, I have concluded that Music Therapy does not help our physiological wellbeing as much as it helps our psychological wellbeing. Although I could not find too much supporting evidence about the physical aid that music therapy provides patients besides reducing things like heart rate, the last article I stumbled upon provided a new angle of vision toward my topic. Although I found many article about curing illnesses, this story provided a unique twist to my research about the use of music therapy in a hospice setting. The article â€Å"Music Therapy Taken To Hospice Patients†, Sarah Pitts, a trained musical therapist, worked in a four-year musical therapy program at the Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Pitts brought instruments like drums, which helped release tension in children that had cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Pitts saw improvement in patients who had overcome strokes and had other similar impairments. She even played music for a family that requested here while the patient died peacefully. As Pitts simply played on her guitar and sang for patients, she was able help reduce anxiety in her patients and even a few patients became well enough to leave hospice (â€Å"Music Therapy Taken To Hospice Patients†). This article did provide evidence of physical improvement in relation to patients with physical impairments, however, not enough information was provided that signified dramatic physical improvement. After hours of research spent in the library and online, I found that the art of music therapy provides a healing power for people everywhere. Whether we are elderly, youth, or teenagers, we all can find a comfort while listening to music. The goal of music therapists is to provide an interactive atmosphere where patients can socialize and physically watch a performance wherever they may reside. In response to my initial research question, I have concluded that music therapy is beneficial in augmenting the intellect of children with disabilities, lowering anxiety levels, easing tension, and lowering heart rate, to name few. In addition, my research provided that music therapy alone doesn’t cure cancer and illnesses. There is a possibility that it has cured patients, but many studies that I read concluded that the music only eased short-term pain. Overall, I have found that music therapy has been proven to increase our psychological well being more than our physical wellbeing. I would have to conduct more research about music therapy and its capability of physically curing patients fully in order to answer my research question more accurately. Annotated Bibiographies Lim, Hayoung A. Lim. Developmental Speech-Language Training Through Music for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012. 73-77. Print. This book provides copious amounts of information for parents that are curious in learning about how they can help their child become more at ease by using music therapy. In the chapter I read, there was a test that was made for children that tested the short term memory of children with ASD which improved after testing with musical therapy. This article is important because it informs us about different ways autistic children can enhance their development of intelligence with this unique approach. â€Å"Music Therapy†. Find Support and Treatment. American Cancer Society. 1 Nov. 2011. Web 10 Oct. 2012. The article from the American Cancer society website about music therapy is geared toward readers curious about alternative methods of relieving the pain of cancer patients. It talks about the benefits of attaining an overall sense of well-being that patients receive from music therapy at the bedside in hospitals. This article is helpful in providing information about the many physical reliefs that music can help to treat various cancer patients. â€Å"Music Therapy Taken to Hospice Patients†. Hospice Management Advisor (2010): LexisNexis Academic. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. Written for readers who are interested in methods of healing during hospice, this journal article provides how a music therapist improved spirits of patients in critical conditions. This article shares how being part of interactive musical therapy can help patients in hospice to ease their anxiety and maintain their peace by listening to therapists like Sarah Pitts. This information is valuable because it promotes the development of both psychological and physiological wellbeing that can improve attitudes of people that are suffering from illness. Oldfield, Amelia. Interactive Music Therapy: A Positive Approach. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006. 157-169. Print. In this interactive online book, Oldfield creates her focus toward parents of children with disabilities. Specifically, in one of her studies, she observed interactions of parents and their children who took many music therapy tests and structured interviews. This chapter in the book provided that music therapy does have an impact on how children with autism interact with their surroundings, providing that they were more open to self-expression, learning, and interaction while listening to music during the tests. Wee, Margaret. â€Å"Music Therapy is Proving to be an Effective Tool in Enhancing the Quality of Life Among Cancer Survivors and People Suffering From Chronic Illnesses†. South China Morning Post (2011): LexisNexis Academic. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. This is a journalistic article that features a story written for readers who are curious about cures for breast cancer. While music therapy is not exactly a cure for breast cancer, this article provides information about how it acts as a temporary healer for patients suffering from depression and anxiety during chemotherapy. This is an important article because it provides valuable information that can help researchers gain more insight about the healing music therapy promotes. What Is Music Therapy? † Music Therapy Association. 2011. Web. 7 Oct. 2012. This website provides stories about various patient’s who experienced the healing of music therapy. The website provides an opportunity for music therapists to sign up online and join for a good cause. The website provides basic definitions and information about what the association is geared toward. From this there are many beneficial links about AMT A and how it is utilized in places like schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. How to cite Music Therapy for Health and Wellness, Papers

One Poet Two Poems Essay Example For Students

One Poet Two Poems Essay Two Poems. Two Ideas. One AuthorTwo of Emily Dickinsons poems, Because I Could Not Stop For Death and I Heard A Fly Buzz-When I Died, are both about one of lifes few certainties: death. However, that is where the similarities end. Although both poems were created less than a year apart by the same poet, their ideas about what lies after death differ. In one, there appears to be life after death, but in the other there is nothing. Only a number of clues in each piece help us determine which poem believes in what. In the piece, Because I Could Not Stop For Death, we are being told the tale of a woman who is being taken away by Death. This is our first indication that this poem believes in an afterlife. In most religions, where there is a grim reaper like specter, this entity will deliver a persons soul to another place, usually a heaven or a hell. In the fifth stanza, Death and the woman pause before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground- The Roof was scarcely visible- The Cornice in the Ground- (913). Although the poem does not directly say it, it is highly probable that this grave is the womans own. It is also possible the womans body already rests beneath the soil in a casket. If this is at all accurate, then her spirit or soul may be the one who is looking at the house. Spirits and souls usually mean there is an afterlife involved. It isnt until the sixth and final stanza where the audience obtains conclusive evidence that Because I Could Not Stop For Death believes in an afterlife. The woman recalls how it has been Centuries- and yet feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses Heads were toward Eternity- (913). To the woman, it has been a few hundred years since Death visited her, but to her, it has felt like less than 24 hours. Since the body cannot live on for hundreds of years, then it must be none other then the soul who has come to the realization that so much time has passed. The final part with the horses refers to the horse drawn carriage the woman was riding in when she passed away. In those two final lines, the horses seem to be leading her into Eternity, possibly into an afterlife. It is just the exact opposite is Dickinsons other poem, I Heard A Fly Buzz-When I Died, With this particular piece of literature, the clues which point to the disbelief in an afterlife are fewer and not as blatant, but are all still present. In this poem, a woman is lying in bed with her family standing all around waiting for her eventual death. While the family is waiting for her to pass on, she herself is waiting for the King (914). No, were not talking about Elvis, but instead this King is some sort of omnipotent being, a god. Later as the woman dies, her eyes (or windows as they are referred to in the poem) fail, then she could not see to see- (914). When she says this, what she seems to mean is she could not see any of the afterlife or Kings she expected to be there. The womans soul drifted off into nothingness with no afterlife to travel to. To conclude, the beliefs of the two Dickinson poems in regards to life after death differ significantly. In one, life does exist, in the other it does not. 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