Using EMDR to Treat Trauma in Borderline Personality

Using EMDR to Treat Trauma in Borderline Personality BPD Treatment Print Using EMDR to Treat Trauma in Borderline Personality Disorder How eye movements may ease a traumatic memory By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial policy Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 04, 2018 More in BPD Treatment Diagnosis Living With BPD Related Conditions EMDR Therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, is a therapy designed to reduce distress associated with a traumatic or disturbing memory  and to also rework negative thoughts surrounding the memory. Lets learn more about this type of therapy and understand why it may be a good option for some people with borderline personality disorder.   Why is EMDR Used in People with BPD? While EMDR therapy was originally designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its now often used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders and depression â€" when a person with this disorder can identify a certain disturbing or traumatic memory. Likewise, since many individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have a history of one or more traumatic memories, EMDR is sometimes used to ease the memory and the emotions associated with it.   What Is EMDR Therapy? EMDR is considered an integrative approach to psychotherapy (i.e., talking therapy). This means that it draws on a number of different theoretical perspectives of treatment, like  cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic perspectives.   During an EMDR session, an EMDR therapist will ask the client to recall a single traumatic memory. Then a client will be asked to conjure up a visual image of the memory while simultaneously describing a negative thought associated with it. The person is also asked to share their negative emotions, like fear or anger, about the memory, and the physical sensations associated with these negative emotions. The client will be asked to replace the negative thought with a positive thought  while attending to a dual attention stimulus at the same time. The most common dual attention stimulus is lateral eye movements, which is moving the eyes left and right following the therapists hand movements. Dual attention stimuli are believed to facilitate the processing of painful or anxiety-producing memories, promoting deeper reprocessing of the stored memory.  Other forms of dual stimulation involve the use of tapping of bilateral body parts (e.g., both knees) or tones stimulating both ears of the client at the same time. Is EMDR Therapy Effective? There have been a number of research studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, EMDR its supported by the American Psychiatric Association in the treatment of trauma. Despite the scientific evidence that EMDR is an effective treatment for trauma, this approach continues to generate some controversy due to the concern over whether eye movements and other forms of dual attention stimuli are really helpful in processing traumatic memories.   A recent 2013 article in the Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry  analyzed a number of scientific studies on EMDR, and the authors concluded that eye movements are valuable and do alter the processing of emotional memories.   How Can I Find an EMDR Therapist? If you are interested in finding an EMDR therapist, you may want to try the therapist directory provided by the EMDR International Association. You can also try asking your primary care physician, general practitioner, or psychiatrist for a referral.

Agenda Setting Theory Essay examples - 950 Words

GlFinal Exam Essay 2 1) Define and illustrate (i.e., give examples of) agenda-setting theory. How might a president try to use the media’s presumed agenda-setting powers near election time? In other words, might it behoove a president to take (or threaten to take) certain highly dramatic actions-especially concerning foreign affairs- just before an election that will impact strongly on the power of his/her political party? If so, what actions might a president be likely to take and under what circumstances? (For example, would the likelihood of taking such actions depend on how the economy is doing? Explain. Would it matter whether business scandals, the budget deficit, crime patterns or a previously initiated war were detracting from†¦show more content†¦As for the President Utilizesing the media’s dramatic emphasis on the economies downward spiral, a President or presidential candidate would likely focus his media use in a positive way. He can use the valence principle, as far as ensuring to discuss the topics being targeted by the media in his favor. As I mentioned earlier, if the media is negatively discussing an issue, the President can try to turn things around, so that he can get the people on his side. As we all know, there are multiple ways to view the media and see what events are happening in the world around us. Being that we as Americans are in a recession, a President or candidate would probably want to steer away from supporting corporations or businesses that are hording taxpayers money over oil spills, environmentally hazardous accidents, or natural resources being wasted away. What I’m trying to say is that, in a presidential speech, or campaign speech, taking the supportive side of something that is worsening our economic state would hurt the chances of a successful presidency. For example, if a President wanted to persuade us to support his new healthcare proposal, he would likely manipulate the medias impact on our views by displaying and airing various commercials and programs which bring light to certain hospitals, or health policies rise in providing wider more sufficient care to certain families withoutShow MoreRelatedThe Agenda Setting Theory On The Public Agenda1076 Words   |  5 Pageshistory of the agenda-setting theory goes back over 50 years to when it was introduced in a 1972 edition of Public Opinion Quarterly by Drs. Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw. It was first developed as a means of studying the 1968 American presidential election as it relates to the most important issues determined by the news media and the most important issues determined by the 100 residents of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (McCombs Shaw, 1972). Still relevant today, the agenda setting theory explains theRead MoreMedia and The Agenda Setting Theory1337 Words   |   5 Pagespresumed innocent jeopardized by the media but also their assumed right to a private life is put into question. Agenda Setting Theory Agenda Setting Theory refers to the media’s ability to influence the significance of topics to the public. Agenda setting allows for the establishment of public awareness to issues made relevant by media. There are two assumptions underlying the agenda-setting theory (McCombs Shaw, 1972). Firstly, the media’s portrayal of an event does not necessarily reflect reality; ratherRead MoreAgenda Setting Theory - Introduction2974 Words   |  12 PagesIntroduction Agenda Setting Theory is first developed by Professor Maxwell McCombs  and  Professor Donald Shaw  in their  Chapel Hill study  in 1968. The agenda setting theory is separate into three parts which is media agenda, public agenda and policy agenda. Agenda setting theory is defined as the power of news media whereby mass media set an agenda which will influences the public which is called as public agenda by highlighting the issue frequently in media. Therefore the main effect of media in agenda settingRead MoreAgenda Setting Theory And Social Media1317 Words   |  6 Pages2015 Agenda-Setting Theory and Social Media The agenda-setting theory states that the media influences what people choose to think about. The theory emerged from communication studies and focuses on mass media and setting the public agenda. In the seminal article, McCombs and Shaw (1972) found a high correlation between media agenda and the public agenda through content analysis of a local election. The theorists wanted to discover what types of people are most susceptible to the media agenda throughRead MoreAgenda Setting Theory And Social Media s Influence2238 Words   |  9 Pages Agenda Setting Theory Social Media’s Influence Alicia Murray Kennesaw State University Abstract The creators of the agenda setting theory, Dr. Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw, say that Watergate is the most faultless example of how the agenda setting theory can heavily influence the mass media. The Watergate issue caught fire after months on the front page of The Washington Post because McCombs and Shaw believe that the â€Å"mass media have the ability to transfer the salienceRead MoreAgenda Setting Theory Of The United States Government And Its 300 Million Inhabitants Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagespolitics, interpersonal communication, and the mass media.   How does a specific item gain or lose momentum in this discussion?   Agenda Setting Theory attempts to describe the forces dictating the perceived importance (salience) of specific issues, occurrences, or values by individuals (McCombs Shaw, 1972, p. 177; Shaw, McCombs, Weaver, and Hamm, 1999, pp. 2-4). Agenda Setting Theory describes how the mass media affect the public salience of issues, especially those of political importance, through theRead MoreCommunication Theory : The Agenda Setting Theory1326 Words   |  6 PagesCommunication Theory Case Study Vidya Naidoo 5073 Communication Design Theory - Assignment Two Introduction: In this case study I will be analysing the Agenda Setting Theory of Communication proposed by Maxwell McCombs and Donald L. Shaw in 1972 in relation to the Cosmopolitan Australia magazine cover, Katy Perry issue 2014. Analysis of communication theory: The agenda setting theory by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw states that the ideas of the public in the modern world are constructedRead MoreThe Agenda Setting Model Can Guide The Public Opinion And Mass Communication1464 Words   |  6 Pagesthe agenda setting. The agenda setting model can guide the public opinion and mass communication about some social or political issues. Different with media effects model, the media effects more like to telling people how to think, however, the agenda setting model is successful in telling people what to think about. In a general way, agenda setting theory was constructed in the environment of traditional mass media, and the purpose is to study traditional mass media. About the visual agenda settingRead MoreThe And New Zealand Media Essay1329 Words   |  6 Pagescertain stories; also known as ‘Agenda Setting’. New Zealand and America interpret news completely differently, what is important in America may have zero relevance to New Zealand media and vis versa. Agenda-setting is more obvious in the New York times, they report on specific events to endorse and highlight events or issues in an attempt persuade their audiences how to think and feel about the stories. Whereas New Zealand news outlets have a less hidden agenda, trying to remain unbiased in theirRead MoreHow Media Influences The Minds Of All Who Consume It1569 Words   |  7 Pageshave differing theories on how the media influences the minds of all who consume it, and it is impossible to tell which theory is correct. However most theorists agree that one theory may fit one audience member, but not the other. For example, one viewer watching a program such as 60 Minutes or A Current Affair may believe everything being said wholeheartedly and without interpretation, however another might be skeptical or decide to research the story for themselves. The three theories that are prominent

Tsa Policies Essay - 773 Words

As an aviation management major airport security is a concern that I have taken a huge interest in. Making travel safer to air travelers is one of the biggest tasks that will never end as long as there is a plane in the sky. However, there are many problems that come about when traveling because passengers feel as if they are being harassed, which doesn’t set a good look for the Transportation Security Administration. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) consist of 50,000 security officers, inspectors, directors, air marshals and managers who protect the nations transportation systems so you and your family can travel safely. They look for bombs at checkpoints in airports, they inspect rail cars, they patrol subways with our†¦show more content†¦Finally, the DHS found that the TSA had implemented procedures to investigate and resolve passenger complaints regarding the screening process. The TSA maintains a screening Performance Management Information System (PMIS) where recorded complaints are logged. Operations research analysis teams and federal security directors review complaints logged in the database to track trends and identify areas of concern and take appropriate actions, including possible disciplinary actions, to resolve specific issues. Complaints involving allegations of discrimination based on color, race, gender, religion, or national or ethnic origin are forwarded to the TSA’s Office of Civil Rights for further investigation. Despite considerable concern raised by some regarding inappropriate behavior during pat-down screening procedures, the DHS found no problems with the technique. Nonetheless, privacy groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU), continue to express concern over potential intrusion on individual rights and alleged cases of sexual harassment and abuse of passengers, particularly female passengers, by TSA screeners. These concerns, however, raise a significant challenge for the TSA: to maintain high levels of security, which require resolving all alarms and screening in detail those passengers ascertained to pose an elevated security risk, while maintaining the privacy rights and dignity of passengers identified for these secondaryShow MoreRelatedCase Analysis On Airport Security Screening1209 Words   |  5 PagesFollowing the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, the 107th Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, establishing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) (History, 2014), and transferred the responsibility for civil aviation security from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the T SA (Statute and Regulation History, 2012). The Act was passed in just two months following the terrorist attacks, and likely would have passed even faster if it had not been for theRead MoreAirport Security : A Security935 Words   |  4 Pagesmuch security already or that we have done enough after the fact. Some claim that the excessive security breaks their privacy. However, airport security should be further improved by having different levels of tolerance instead of an all or nothing policy. 9/11 was the turning point in airport security. Before 9/11, the security was minimal. People could walk through the the security line with their drink without any questions asked. They could go through the line with their shoes and belt on. IfRead MoreCase Study Of Criminal Law976 Words   |  4 Pagesresources department and denied being intoxicated at the time of the arrest. A breathalyzer examination was administered and I pleaded not guilty to the charges against me. A trial was scheduled on _____, at Queens criminal court for the criminal charges. TSA Handbook to MD Number 1100.75-3,  § A (10) states that any disciplinary action imposed must be legally sufficient. A disciplinary action is legally sufficient only if: 1) the alleged unacceptable conduct is proven by a preponderance of the evidence;Read MoreThe Transportation Service Administration Directorate1734 Words   |  7 Pagesdirectorate, which is a directorate under the department of homeland security. The main purpose of this directorate is to ensure the safety of the United States’ transport infrastructure. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the objectives of the TSA and determine whether they are in alignment with the objectives of the department of homeland security. This ensures that the directorate works towards achieving the overall goal of the DHS as stipulated in its objectives. This ensures efficiency asRead MoreThe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Essay790 Words   |  4 Pagesknown as TSA, is a part of the United States Dep artment of homeland Security that supervises and manages the safety of travelers in the United States. Unlike other government operated tasks forces such as the military or FBI whose as been in existence since (), the TSA was only recently founded twelve years ago in 2001 after the devastating terroristic attack that took place in New York city’s twin towers earlier that year. There are more than forty eight thousand people employed by the TSA in airportsRead MoreBody Scanners Essay808 Words   |  4 Pagesestablishment of the cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the TSA. TSA is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for screening all travelers and their luggage, as well as the screening of all air and rail transportation in the United States. The resulting changes in screening restricted potential carry-on weapons, such as sharp objects, scissors, clippers, and so forth. The TSA also used various methods of determining risk f actors for the detainment andRead MoreThe Transportation Security Administration is Ineffective Essay631 Words   |  3 Pagescreated the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to protect air travel and prevent similar attacks. In 2012, the TSA had a budget of $8.1 billion, and while it claims to improve airport security, it fails to do so. Additionally, their checkpoints are privacy-invasive and cumbersome, negatively impacting the air travel industry. For these reasons, the agency should be abolished. As a response to the 9/11 attacks, one would expect that the TSA would improve airport security. In reality, itsRead MoreTsa And Transportation Security Administration916 Words   |  4 PagesTransportation Security Administration (TSA) and heighten its security throughout the transportation system, which were designed to prevent similar attacks in the future. This research paper will discuss the history of the TSA and what it does, how TSA improve aviation security, and the cargo screening process. This paper will conclude an overall debrief of my discussion about the TSA and transportation security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was establish in response of 9/11Read MoreEthical Analysis Of American And Israeli Airport Security1591 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Analysis of American and Israeli Airport Security Airport security in the United States has been a controversial topic since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was established to ensure the safety and security of US airports. Travelers voiced concerns and complaints over the heightened security measures, arguing that they invade privacy and are unethical. On the other hand, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport takes a very different approachRead MoreTransportation Service Administration and Aviation1387 Words   |  6 Pagesorganization! (Institute of Business Ethices, 2013). Aviation security is a service or several services currently provided by the Transportation Service Administration or as we more commonly know them during this season of travel, TSA. The mission statement for the TSA is â€Å"Protect the Nations transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.† (Department of Homeland Security, 2013) From this mission statement we can see that people traveling are the stakeholders, but

Three Major Concerns of a Driver Free Essays

Three Major Concerns of a Driver When driving, there are many concerns drivers should be aware of. These concerns make driving safer for anyone on the road. The three major concerns I am going to talk about today are road conditions, following distance, and speed. We will write a custom essay sample on Three Major Concerns of a Driver or any similar topic only for you Order Now These are only a few of the many concerns a driver should have when driving. Driving is not safe therfore you must take it as serious as possible. If a driver ignores these concerns there will be consequences whether it is by the law or a fatal collision. The first concern drivers should have while driving is for the conditon of the road. Road conditions change on a daily basis due to the weather and the time of day. A good driver knows that if it is raining or snowing outside the roads will be slick. Therfore they should drive not only slower but also more cautious. Another factor that effects the condition of the road is the kind of road. Rural roads tend to be more narrow and less maintained so you shoud look out for pot holes. Each kind of road should be treated differently because they all have different dangers. My second concern is it is important for a driver to have a safe distance between you and the next car, this is known as your following distance. This is a very important concern to have. I was effected by this about three months ago when i reared ended another driver due to not having anough distance between me and the next car. Surprisingly I am thankful for the accident because I am now a very safe and cautious driver. Your fallowing distance at twenty-five mph should be two to three car lengths between you and the car in front of you. Your following distance should increase one car length for every ten mph. A driver who fails to follow these facts will sooner or later end up in rear end accident just like I did, but the results could be much much worse. The last major concern a driver should have that I am going to talk about is speed. Speed is defined as the rate of change. When talking about automobiles speed is a very seriouse topic. As you increase your speed in any vehicle you have to be aware of the increase in change of things around you and need to be able to react faster to these changes. When speed is abused nothing good can come from it. Many accidents occur because of an individual who was speeding and or loses contoll due to speeding. In conclusion, drivers need to be constanty concerned of their surroundings. Speed road conditions and following distance are only three of the many concerns a driver should have. Driving is not a game or a right it is a very seriouse priviledg. Many people think if you wear your saftey belt and dont speed you’ll be ok. The fact of the matter is that driving is NOT safe! Certain cars make driving safe but there are always unavoidable dangers while driving. If you are constantly awar of these dangers then you will be a much safer driver and have a lesser chance of being one of the unluckey people who get into any kind of accident. How to cite Three Major Concerns of a Driver, Papers

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Of Canada Essays - , Term Papers

Sir Wilfrid Laurier of Canada Laurier gained great achievement over his political years because he represented Canada as a whole. His family first came to Canada dating back to the time of New France and the early Montreal years. Laurier's father, a government surveyor and a genial, settled down in Canada and got married to Marcelle Martineau. Wildfrid was their first child who was born on November 20, 1841. Seven years later a tragedy struck the Laurier family when Wildfrid's mother died. Since his mother died when Wildfrid was only seven, his father wanted to give him the best education possible. His father knew if he were to succeed in Canada he would have to learn the english language and ways. When Wilfrid was ten years old he got sent to an Anglo-Protestant family who were Scottish immigrants. Here he learned the english language and the Protestant faith. Later on in his life he recalled "how I fought with the Scotch boys and made schoolboy love to the Scotch girls, with more success in the latter than in the former." Remembering the past Laurier would carefully develop the politics of reconciliation rather than conflict. In the year 1854 the young lad went to college, De L'assomption. In his studies he took subjects such as Latin, Latin classics, pre-revolutionary French literature, Greek, English and some philosophy. The education which Laurier got from this school was to prepare him for priesthood but he decided to study law in Montreal at McGill University. At the University Laurier was very hard working and serious to try to accomplish his first major goal which was to become a lawyer. In 1864 Laurier had graduated at the top of his class and was chosen to give the valedictory address. Some of the things he said in his address were how a lawyer bore heavy responsibilities. A lawyer had to maintain liberty and justice; a lawyer had to defend the individual, especially the weak from bold to strong, and that sometimes included the state and church. Differences of language, religion or history paled in comparison to lawyer's obligation to seek justice and freedom." Laurier started his law career in a small law firm in Montreal but due to bad health he moved to a small town in Quebec called Victoriaville where he carried out practising law and became involved with the newspaper in that town. He was lured into politics quite slowly although he always was interested in politics. He was often ill and did not know weather he would go into the political field because of it. As his heath got better and his interest in politics grew he became an M.P (member of parliament) in March 1974. One of the major events that took place in Laurier's political career was the interest he took in the Northwest Rebellion and Louis Riel which later helped him become the Prime Minister of Canada. The situation with the Metis people was not good. Land had been given to them but white settlers were moving in, which meant that the Metis would have to leave and move more West to Saskatchewan. The Metis had demanded money but were not payed any attention to by the government. The Metis called Louis Riel to help them out and try to settle the problems which faced them. After a few months Riel had realized that the government were not going to do anything about the issue so then the problem ended up in a rebellion known as the Northwest Rebellion. Laurier had decided to try to defend the cause because he believed in minority rights although he had a French- Canadian background. Although Laurier was helping the Metis he did not really approve of Riel's ways. Some of the things Laurier said during that time was,"I am not one of those who look upon Louis Riel as a hero. Nature had endowed him with many brilliant qualities but nature had denied him that supreme quality without which all other qualities, however brilliant, are of no avail. Nature had denied him a well-balanced mind. But," he announced, "we cannot make a nation of this new country by shedding blood." These fine words were noted in Parliament. The rebellion ended as Riel surrendered on May 15. He was later tried for treason. Riel pleaded guilty and was executed. This put great tension between the Anglaphone and Francophone people. Because of Laurier's participation in this major historical event he gained the favour over the majority of the francophone community. On July

DH essays

DH essays The Debate Between Bilingual Education and English Immersion Programs Bilingual Education is defined as any school program that uses two languages. In a more theoretical sense it is any educational program whose ultimate goal is for the participants to be fully versed in all facets of both languages (i.e., able to listen, speak , read, and write in both languages). The definition of a coordinated, developmental bilingual approach has emphasized the goal of being equally fluid in both languages. Realistically, this has not been the goal for most K-12 bilingual schools in the United States. More commonly in the United States we are using the words bilingual program to describe a program that will provide literacy and content in the primary language, while building English fluency, to the point where all instruction will occur in English. These programs are label transitional bilingual programs as their ultimate goal is to transition all students into an English only learning arena. One of the down sides of these programs is that they are not maintenance (development)bilingual programs which are designed to preserve and develop students primary language while they acquire English as a second language. Bilingual Program Models All bilingual program models use the students' home language, in addition to English, for instruction. These programs are most easily implemented in districts with a large number of students from the same language background. Students in bilingual programs are grouped according to their first language, and teachers must be proficient in both English and the students' home language. Early-exit bilingual programs are designed to help children acquire the English skills required to succeed in an English-only mainstream classroom. These programs provide some initial instruction in the students' first language, primarily for the introduction of reading, but also for clarification. Instruction in the f...

Molecular Geometry Definition in Chemistry

Molecular Geometry Definition in Chemistry In chemistry, molecular geometry describes the three-dimensional shape of a molecule and the relative position of the atomic nuclei of a molecule. Understanding the molecular geometry of a molecule is important because the spatial relationship between atom determines its reactivity, color, biological activity, state of matter, polarity, and other properties. Key Takeaways: Molecular Geometry Molecular geometry is the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms and chemical bonds in a molecule.The shape of a molecule affects its chemical and physical properties, including its color, reactivity, and biological activity.The bond angles between adjacent bonds may be used to describe a molecules overall shape. Molecule Shapes Molecular geometry may be described according to the bond angles formed between two adjacent bonds. Common shapes of simple molecules include: Linear: Linear molecules have the shape of a straight line. The bond angles in the molecule are 180Â °. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitric oxide (NO) are linear. Angular: Angular, bent, or v-shaped molecules contain bond angles less than 180Â °. A good example is water (H2O). Trigonal Planar: Trigonal planar molecules form a roughly triangular shape in one plane. The bond angles are 120Â °. An example is boron trifluoride (BF3). Tetrahedral: A tetrahedral shape is a four-faced solid shape. This shape occurs when one central atoms has four bonds. The bond angles are 109.47Â °. An example of a molecule with a tetrahedral shape is methane (CH4). Octahedral: An octahedral shape has eight faces and bond angles of 90Â °. An example of an octahedral molecule is sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Trigonal Pyramidal: This molecule shape resembles a pyramid with a triangular base. While linear and trigonal shapes are planar, the trigonal pyramidal shape is three-dimensional. An example molecule is ammonia (NH3). Methods of Representing Molecular Geometry Its usually not practical to form three-dimensional models of molecules, particularly if they are large and complex. Most of the time, the geometry of molecules is represented in two dimensions, as on a drawing on a sheet of paper or a rotating model on a computer screen. Some common representations include: Line or stick model: In this type of model, only sticks or lines to represent chemical bonds are depicted. The colors of the ends of the sticks indicate the identity of the atoms, but individual atomic nuclei are not shown. Ball and stick model: This is common type of model in which atoms are shown as balls or spheres and chemical bonds are sticks or lines that connect the atoms. Often, the atoms are colored to indicate their identity. Electron density plot: Here, neither the atoms nor the bonds are indicated directly. The plot is a map of the probability of finding an electron. This type of representation outlines the shape of a molecule. Cartoon: Cartoons are used for large, complex molecules that may have multiple subunits, like proteins. These drawings show the location of alpha helices, beta sheets, and loops. Individual atoms and chemical bonds are not indicated. The backbone of the molecule is depicted as a ribbon. Isomers Two molecules may have the same chemical formula, but display different geometries. These molecules are isomers. Isomers may share common properties, but its common for them to have different melting and boiling points, different biological activities, and even different colors or odors. How Is Molecular Geometry Determined? The three-dimensional shape of a molecule may be predicted based on the types of chemical bonds it forms with neighboring atoms. Predictions are largely based on electronegativity differences between atoms and their oxidation states. Empirical verification of predictions comes from diffraction and spectroscopy. X-ray crystallography, electron diffraction, and neutron diffraction may be used to assess the electron density within a molecule and the distances between atomic nuclei. Raman, IR, and microwave spectroscopy offer data about the vibrational and rotational absorbance of chemical bonds. The molecular geometry of a molecule may change depending on its phase of matter because this affects the relationship between atoms in molecules and their relationship to other molecules. Similarly, the molecular geometry of a molecule in solution may be different from its shape as a gas or solid. Ideally, molecular geometry is assessed when a molecule is at a low temperature. Sources Chremos, Alexandros; Douglas, Jack F. (2015). When does a branched polymer become a particle?. J. Chem. Phys. 143: 111104. doi:10.1063/1.4931483Cotton, F. Albert; Wilkinson, Geoffrey; Murillo, Carlos A.; Bochmann, Manfred (1999). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (6th ed.). New York: Wiley-Interscience. ISBN 0-471-19957-5.McMurry, John E. (1992). Organic Chemistry (3rd ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-16218-5.