Behaviorism And Behaviorism Theories Of Psychology Essay

William James is credited as the founder of American psychology. He believed in observing everyday psychological experiences such as attention, memory, and reasoning. James also believed that the mind way very active in nature. Behaviorism says that you have to look at psychology in a way that is observable and objective. The main focus was on how we react to stimuli. Unlike Ebbinghaus both James’s view and behaviorism stray from introspection as opposed to observation. Gestalt psychology emphasized people’s tendency to organize the information they receive. Like behaviorism and James’s view, Gestalt psychology did not agree with Ebbinghaus’s introspection. Unlike behaviorism Gestalt psychology did not view things as a response-cost unit. Frederic Bartlett saw that people make meaningful and systematic errors. Like Gestalt psychology, Bartlett focused on how our brain organized information, even in ways that are mistakes. The cognitive approach was the res ult of research being done on many aspects of human cognition. This caused questions to arise that Behaviorism could explain, like problem solving. Behaviorism could also only focus on what was observable, however psychologist were realizing that cognition was much more complex than that. The cognitive approach focuses on linguistics, memory, and development. 2.) List several reasons for the increased interest in cognitive psychology and the decline of the behaviorist approach. In addition, describe the field ofShow MoreRelatedThe Theories Of Psychology And Behaviorism2081 Words   |  9 Pages When one hears the word psychology, a therapist on a couch asking patients to talk out their problems usually come to mind. In fact, the field is much more important and relevant in our everyday lives than one may think. Cambridge’s Dictionaries Online website defines it as â€Å"the scientific study of the way the human mind works and how it influences behavior, or the influence of a particular person’s character on their behavior† (2015). How we act and react, what we think and say, and why we do whatRead MoreBehaviorism s Theory Of Psychology983 Words   |  4 PagesClassification Behaviorism claims that â€Å"consciousness† is neither defined nor unable concept; that it is merely another word for the â€Å"soul† of more ancient time (Watson, 1970). However, behaviorism holds the subject matter of human psychology it focus on the behavior or activities of the human being. Etymology The word behaviorism originates from the Middle French word behavior, meaning the observable activity in human and animal. This term was coined in 1913 by the United States psychologistRead MoreWhy Do We Do Your Regular Schedules?1368 Words   |  6 PagesTodd Donerson 5/9/2015 Intr. Philosophy Main project part 2 Behaviorism Why do we do the things we do in our regular schedules? Do we do it on impulse, is it something we daily choose to do, or are we simply conditioned to a point where it becomes natural? These are the questions behaviorists think about when studying other people. I believe this is the right theory because I believe that everything a person does, why they think they way they do, why they do the things they do is becauseRead MoreBehaviorism : Behaviorism And Behaviorism847 Words   |  4 PagesBehaviorism When individuals hear the term Behaviorism today, they instantly know that it signifies some form of behavior considering that it is in the word itself. Nevertheless, what exactly is behaviorism? According to the Dictionary of Psychology, behaviorism is a theory of learning that is based upon the idea that all behaviors are obtained from outside observations and not in thoughts or feelings. In the twentieth century, three significant behaviorists John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov and B.F.Read MoreBehaviorism And Classical Conditioning And Operant Conditioning Essay1504 Words   |  7 PagesBehaviorism is one of many theories in the field of psychology. It can be applied in different learning scenarios for different research purposes. Biographical information will be provided about the founders of the theory who are John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner. However, the information will focus more on their early education and known achievements. Furthermore, you will find different theories reg arding behaviorism such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning. In order to understandRead MoreBehavioral Approach And Consistent Misunderstanding And Devaluation1344 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Behaviorism application to early childhood, the behavioral approach and consistent misunderstanding and devaluation exists among many professional in the early childhood field. In this paper, it will discuss the important figures in developing behaviorism, the principal elements of the theory and relevant periods of development through adolescence. In addition, it will identify and describe the critical features of the behavioral approach and their similarities to early childhood and theRead MoreBehaviorism And The First American Psychological Revolution963 Words   |  4 PagesBehaviorism Behaviorism has been a topic of many controversies in the early stages of developing. This paper will present a synthesis of several articles discussing behaviorisms and its development through various schools of theories, in addition known researchers and conclusions. The first article that illustrates behaviorism is, â€Å"Behaviorism at 100† by Ledoux (2012), which details the last 50 years of the study of behaviorism. The next article is â€Å"Behaviorism† by Moore (2011), maps the beginningRead MoreBehaviorism Was A Slow Revolution1604 Words   |  7 PagesBehaviorism was a slow revolution that proved to become a popular study within psychology that lasted through the second decade of the twentieth century and through the beginning of the cognitive science revolution (Behjamin, 2014). During this time, there had been a vast amount of academic individuals that contributed to the multifaceted studies within the context of behaviorism. Many of the studies withi n this movement were based on the concept that all behaviors are the result of conditioningRead MoreBehaviorism The Developmental Grand Theory1525 Words   |  7 PagesBehaviorism the Developmental Grand Theory Hillary C. Wade Cisco College Author Note This paper was prepared for Psychology 2314 Lifespan Growth and Development, Fall Mini-Semester, Taught by Linda Grant. Abstract Out of all the theories of lifespan development, behaviorism has proven to be the most efficient explanation of how we grow and adapt with our environments. Also known as the learning theory, it was developed by John B. Watson, and with major contributions from B.F. Skinner and Ivan PavlovRead MoreThe Field of Psychology840 Words   |  3 PagesPsychology is a discipline of social science that encompasses nearly every aspect of the human experience. The field of psychology addresses the entire gamut of human behavior and the complexities of emotion. Issues related to perception and cognition are included in psychological research. Neurobiology and neurophysiology also fall under the rubric of psychology. At the same time, psychology embraces less quantifiable variables in the human experience, such as emotional responses and altered states

King Leopold II and Belgian Imperialism Essay - 787 Words

King Leopold II and Belgian Imperialism In 1865, King Leopold II succeeded his father to the thrown of Belgium and thus began one of the most brutal and insensitive periods of imperialism ever to exist. From manipulative treaties to straight forward intimidation, Leopold dominated his empire like no other. He was cruel, deceptive, and downright evil, yet it took the world over twenty years to recognize this. The record of King Leopold’s atrocity is an interesting account of how a jealous man could inflict some of the most disgusting forms of oppression upon his fellow members of the human race. When Leopold came to power in 1865, he was incredibly disappointed at Belgium’s lack of power in the imperial†¦show more content†¦This lack of restriction allowed Leopold II to use the most horrible methods possible to accomplish his goal of obtaining mass wealth. The native people and captured Muslim slaves were forced to work as either ivory hunters or rubber gatherers, jobs that often kept men away from their families for many months at a time. When the natives finally rebelled, Leopold’s private army, the Force Publique was called in to subdue them. After this task was accomplished, Leopold used his army to force the Muslim slave traders out of Africa under the guise of performing a great humanitarian act when, in reality, the reason for their expulsion was Leopold’s desire to control the upper portion of the Congo river. At this point, Leopold’s enterprise had not made a substantial amount of money, but this was all about to change. In the mid-1890’s, the inflatable rubber tire was invented, thus beginning the use of the most brutal forced labor tactics ever known to man. With the increased demand for rubber, Leopold needed more men to journey deeper into the jungle in search of plentiful wild rubber. To obtain these extra men, Leopold decided to tax the African tribes by forcing them to provide his rubber industry with ever possible man they had. When these condition were not met, Leopold would hold the wives and children of the men hostage until they submitted to work. When the tribes rebelled, they were again defeated by the ForceShow MoreRelatedImperialism And The Congo : Imperialism1413 Words   |  6 PagesImperialism in the Congo What is imperialism? According to Britannica, imperialism is a state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas. Belgium taking over the Congo is an example of this. The Congo was a peaceful country, located in the heart of Africa, consisting of warm sunny days and beautiful Lake Malebo. The people were free, and happy. This was before the hell started†¦Read MoreKing Leopold s Ghost By Adam Hochschild1036 Words   |  5 Pages1800’s marked the peak of imperialism throughout Europe, primarily Africa. As a new century began to evolve, many European powers aggressively decide to surmount their power in many parts of Africa. More specifically, King Leopold’s journey to conquer the Congo and exploit the lucrative rubber/ivory market accurately describes the forced efforts of tyranny. King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild explains the pr opaganda remunerated by people in favor and opposition of King Leopold’s conquest. It alsoRead MoreThe Conflict Of The Congo1460 Words   |  6 PagesIn the year 1876, King Leopold II of Belgium began to display an interest in the civilization mission in Africa. The documents on European Imperialism provide evidence for how the individuals in the Congo are being exploited for European benefit, under the profit-making aim of King Leopold II. European brutality in the Congo was the logical result of the European desire to implement ‘proper’ civilization in the Congo, albeit through a lack of cultural understanding and compassion towards the peopleRead MoreKing Leopold II Of Belgium1473 Words   |  6 PagesCharacterized by ambition and restlessness from an early age, King Leopold II of Belgium utilized his desire to make a name for himself, while increasing his personal wealth and power, and deftly harnessed subterfuge in order to convince the Belgian government that his interests in Africa were philanthropic, all the while exploiting and deceiving the native peoples of the Congo. However, it was this same relentless ambition which would eventually lead to Leopold’s being forced to sell his colonialRead MoreThe Scramble for Africa Essay1032 Words   |  5 Pagesconquest was the Belgian occupation of the Congo by King Leopold II. Scramble for Africa was bloody and eventful end to the Long 19th century that was brought on by colonialism and that left the continent of Africa in a state of shambles up unto the present day. Beginning in 1750 with the British occupation of India and culminating in 1914 with the Great War, The Long 19th century was a period that was bound by a theme of confrontation caused by colonialism and imperialism. Imperialism can be lookedRead MoreImperial Rule During The Twentieth Century891 Words   |  4 PagesImperial government ruled from as early as ancient Rome to the twentieth century. Imperialism has taken many forms of rule such as colonization and the civilizing mission during the scramble for Africa. However, many imperial governments were discredited and questioned after nationalists commented on the corrupt ruling under the European governments. The questioning of the imperial rule resulted in the decolonization of the colonies. Many of the colonies had to make forms of governments themselvesRead MoreThe Country Of Belgium : An Ambitious King Of The Conquest Of Africa1767 Words   |  8 PagesAfrican colonies, none was more well-known than King Leopold II, an ambiti ous king of Belgium who sought to take the expansive area around the Congo River at any cost. When he finally achieved his power, though, he ruled with an iron fist with unforgiving policies, known especially for having hands of natives removed as punishment for disobedience or failure to meet quotas. Leopold’s atrocious Congo State was truly an inevitable result of the imperialism that ended up swallowing most of the AfricanRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book King Leopold s Ghost 1466 Words   |  6 PagesKing Leopold’s Ghost is a nonfiction book about Imperialism in Africa written by Adam Hochschild. Hochschild was born in New York in 1942 and graduated from Harvard in 1963 with a B.A. degree in history and literature (Interview with Adam Hochschild). He worked as a reporter for a daily newspaper for two years and then he went on to writing and editing magazines. In 1986 he wrote his first book, and then twelve years later he wrote his second: King Leopold’s Ghost . Hochschild said he writes aboutRead MoreEuropean Imperialism in Africa Essay1405 Words   |  6 Pageswith Britain for wealth and so did other nations like Germany and Russia. Expansion was a goal that all nations wanted to achieve. Prince Leopold, the heir of the Belgian Throne, in a conversation, explained that â€Å"since history teaches us that colonies are useful†¦ let us strive to get on in our turn†¦ to lead to progress in every sense.† Being a prince, Leopold must have had a pro imperialist point of view, because he wanted to keep Belgium strong and prosperous. Cecil Rhodes, in a speech at the charteringRead MoreThe Horrors of Imperialism: The Belgian Congo Essay763 Words   |  4 PagesImperialism is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies. In 1870, the European powers took over the African Congo and enslaved the natives. Moreover, they were for ced to work the land, so the Europeans could obtain the products they needed by using a cheap labor force to turn around and sell them at a profit. These products included such commodities as rubber, diamonds and coffee (A New World

Report on cobalt (III) ammine complexes Example For Students

Report on cobalt (III) ammine complexes Outline1 Introduction2 Experimental3 Consequences and treatment4 Equations5 Preparation of Chloropentaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride6 Calculation of Concentration of Chloropentaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride in 100cm3 volumetric flask7 Preparation of iodopentaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride8 Preparation of hexaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride Introduction Cobalt was discovered by Georg Brandt in 1735 interestingly the name Cobalt originates form the German word Kobald which means hob or evil spirit. The original usage of Co was value to early civilization of Egypt for coloring glass blue. Alfred Werner was a innovator in coordination Chemistry determined the isomer Co ( III ) hexamine chloride. Experimental Ammonium chloride ( 1.306g ) was dissolved in dressed ore ammonium hydroxide solution ( 10.5cm3 ) organizing a colorless solution. Colablt ( II ) chloride hexahydrate ( 2.494g ) was added in little parts with t stirring bring forthing a boggy liquid with a dark precipitate. 27 % Hydrogen peroxide ( 2.25cm3 ) was added utilizing a dropping pipette with changeless stirring. A little sum of heat and effervescence ( bubbling ) was seeable. Once the reaction has stopped and a dark ruddy solution was formed to which Concentrate Hydrochloric acid ( 10cm3 ) was added really easy with changeless stirring. A big sum of heat was released and a white gas was given off organizing a dark pink solution. This solution was heated for 18mins before being cooled in ice organizing dark pink precipitate. The solution was filtered and washed with dilute hydrochloric acid ( 5cm3 ) ethyl alcohol ( 5cm3 ) and propanone ( 5.5cm3 ) . Once dry the crystals ( 1.447g? ? % ) were transferred to an unfastened sampl e phial and dried in a desiccator for a hebdomad. A part of this merchandise ( ? ? ? g ) was dissolved in Dilute ammonium hydroxide ( 10cm3 ) , H2O ( 40cm3 ) was added. The solution was heated ( 15 mins ) organizing a clear ruddy solution. Concentrate Hydrochloric acid ( 10cm3 ) was added followed by Ammonium chloride ( 1.00g ) organizing a orange solution. The ensuing solution was heated for a farther 25mins. Color? ? . Solution was cooled in ice and the merchandise filtered away and washed with hydrochloric acid ( 5cm3 ) ethyl alcohol ( 5cm3 ) and propanone ( 5.5cm3 ) . Forming 0. ? ? g? ? % ) Ammonium chloride ( 5.02g ) , Cobalt ( II ) chloride hexahydrate ( 1.396g ) and Sodium Iodide ( 0.192g ) were dissolved Water ( 10cm3 ) bring forthing a deep pink violet coloring material. Powdered I ( 0.718g ) was added organizing a? ? ? ? ? ? coloring material. Concentrate Ammonia ( 5.2cm3 ) was added with stirring organizing a light muddy brown Grey so turned greyer on after a farther 30mins of stirring. The ensuing solution was left to stand for 1 min and so the liquid was decanted off, H2O ( 20cm3 ) was added and decanted away and so Ethanol ( 20cm3 ) . The ensuing precipitate was dried under suction with farther Ethanol lavations ( 15cm3 ) bring forthing ( 1.404g? ? % ) Ammonium Chloride ( 1.0g ) was dissolved in Boling H2O ( 3.5cm3 ) . Cobalt ( II ) chloride hexahydrate ( 1.548g ) was added bring forthing a deep royal bluish solution. Charcoal ( ? 0.75g ) was added turning the solution Grey black. The solution was cooled in an ice bath to 5oC and Concentrate Ammonia ( 4.5cm3 ) was added in little parts over 3 mins. Hydrogen peroxide ( 23 % vol ) ( 4cm3 ) was added in parts over 5 mins. The solution was so heated to 60oC for 1 min. The solution was re cooled to 3oC in an ice bath. The black oily precipitate was filtered under suction before being added to Boiling H2O ( 12cm3 ) . Concentrate Hydrochloric acid ( 0.5cm3 ) was added and so the solution filtered. Concentrate Hydrochloric acid ( 2cm3 ) was added to the filtrate ( liquid ) and the solution cooled in ice. The ensuing orange precipitate was filtered and washed with propanone ( 10cm3 ) bring forthing ( 0.444g? ? % ) Consequences and treatment Equations A ; Delta ; M= Molar Conductivity ( S m2 mol L-1 ) = Measured conduction ( units S Garand rifle ) degree Celsiuss = Concentration ( units mol M3 ) A mol L-1 = A x100 mol M3 A Â µS cm-1= ( A /10000 ) S Garand rifle n=M/Mr n= Gram molecules .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 , .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .postImageUrl , .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 , .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:hover , .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:visited , .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:active { border:0!important; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 { 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; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:active , .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .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; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4 .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u07e26d92ae1f02ce7f9cf59ebc475df4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The 1930s: The Good Times And The Bad Times EssayM= Mass ( units gms ) Mr = Molecular weight n= C x V n = moles C = Concentration ( units mol L-1 ) V= Volume ( L ) 100cm3= 0.1L Preparation of Chloropentaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride Ammonium chloride +Ammonia+ Cobalt ( II ) chloride hexahydrate A ; agrave ; Chloropentaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride NH4Cl + CoCl2.6H2O + NH3 A ; agrave ; Cl2 Calculation of Concentration of Chloropentaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride in 100cm3 volumetric flask n=M/Mr M= 0.1100g Mr Chloropentaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride = 267.4762 n = 0.1100/267.4762 n= 4.112543110-4 n=CV 4.1125431 x10-4= C x 0.1 C= 4.1125 x10-3mol L-1 A ; agrave ; 0.41125 mol M3 Conductivity = 1286Â µS A ; agrave ; 0.1286 S Garand rifle S m2 mol L-1 Preparation of iodopentaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride Iodine + Cobalt ( II ) Chloride hexahydrate + Ammonia+ Ammonium chloride A ; agrave ; Iodopenaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride I2 + CoCl2.6H2O + NH4Cl + NH3 A ; agrave ; Cl2 n=M/Mr M= 0.0934g Mr iodopentaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride = 341.90 n = 0.0934/341.90 n= 2.73179 x10-4 n=CV 2.7317910-4= C x 0.1 C= 2.7317929 x10-3mol L-1 A ; agrave ; 0.27317929 mol M3 Conductivity = 1137Â µS A ; agrave ; 0.1137 S Garand rifle S m2 mol L-1 Preparation of hexaaminecobalt ( III ) chloride Ammonium chloride + Cobalt ( II ) chloride hexahydrate +Ammonia A ; agrave ; Hexaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride. NH4Cl + CoCl2.6H2O+ NH3 A ; agrave ; Co ( NH3 ) 6 ] Cl3 n=M/Mr M= 0.1010g Mr Hexaamminecobalt ( III ) chloride =267.4762 n = 0.1010/267.4762 n= 3.776036896 x10-4 n=CV 3.776036896 x10-4= C x 0.1 C= 3.776036896 x10-3mol L-1 A ; agrave ; 0.3776036896 mol M3 Conductivity = 1720Â µS A ; agrave ; 0.1720 S Garand rifle S m2 mol L-1

The Hudson River And Pcb Pollution Essays - Monsanto, Pollutants

The Hudson River And Pcb Pollution The Hudson River and PCB Pollution The Hudson River is a body of water that stretches for 315 miles from the Adirondack Mountains to the Battery in Manhattan, reaching its deepest point of 216 feet in the Highlands near Constitution Island and West Point and reaches its widest point of 3 miles across at Havestraw. This river is one of the most beautiful and scenic of the Tri-State area. Unfortunately, it happens to be New York's most polluted river. The river has been influenced upon since the early 1600's, when Englishman Henry Hudson commanded the Dutch ship Half Moon on an exploration of the river, certain that he had discovered a trade route to China. It soon dawned that this was no Atlantic-to-Pacific passage but an Edenlike place of awesome potential-a river valley teeming with prospect and spirit that was worth fighting for. In the centuries that followed, the fight for the river and its commerce never stopped, and still continues to the present. Then during the Industrial Revolution, with the advent of hulking manufacturing plants on the riverbanks, everything changed. The river became a sewer, cut off from the people around it by the electrification of the railroads. The 1825 completion of the Erie Canal instantly opened trade to the Midwest by linking Troy to Buffalo and established the Hudson River as the major commerce channel for New York City. Tycoons transformed the landscape in New York and across the country with the railroad, and the Hudson River valley became a hotbed for iron mining, limestone quarrying and clear-cutting. Toward the 19th century, when dynamite blasting was reducing the face of the Palisades to rubble, conservationists became alarmed that something was being lost to progress. In 1900, New York and New Jersey established the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to preserve the cliffs from further quarrying. Although conservation efforts continued into the 20th century, there was no progress to protect the Hudson River and its banks from industrial pollution. Some of the largest factories in the nation started production on the Hudson River, including Anaconda Wire and Cable in Hastings-on-Hudson and GM in the present day Sleepy Hallow, discharging waste into the river. There are numerous known contaminated sites around the U.S. Among the most dangerous of these, and of particular concern to residents of the Hudson Valley, are the forty ?hot spots? in the Hudson River resulting from the dumping and leakage from General Electric plants at Fort Edward and Hudson Falls. From 1947 to 1977, these two plants legally discharged from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson, and unknowingly saturated the bedrock beneath both sites with at least that much again. There are PCBs in Hudson River water, biota, and sediment from Hudson Falls to New York City - 200 miles that comprise the nations largest Superfund site. Pure PCBs are oozing out of the bedrock to this day, constantly recontaminating the river and over 300,000 pounds remain concentrated in bottom sediments of the river today. The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain, which it supports, has created one of the most extensive hazardous waste problems in the nation. Polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCBs) are a group of synthetic oil-like chemicals (therefore insoluble in water) of the organochlorine family. Until their toxic nature was recognized and their use was banned in the 1970s, they were widely used as insulation in electrical equipment, particularly transformers. Reputable chemists have since concluded, ?it was probably a mistake ever to make or use PCBs.? These are serious poisons, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive, neurological and immune systems of wildlife and humans and are known to cause cancer. Exposure has also been linked to behavioral damage. Specifically, because PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible to a variety of development and reproductive disorders. Once in the body, these compounds do one of two things: they block the normal passage of hormones into their receptors, or, mimic the hormone itself and enter the receptor in lieu of the ho rmone. By doing so can irrevocably alter and damage the development of the organism.