Interest Groups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Interest Groups - Essay Example An interest group can be defined as a group of individuals who have the same objective or are working together to achieve a certain ideal. Interest groups play an important role in policy making and in pushing for the action of various bodies in given matters. These include economic matters among others. They are also important in expressing the opinion of the people and the government also relies on them to ensure that they know the complaints of the people and address their concerns appropriately. As Ragone (director of graduate programs, University of Northern Iowa) puts it, all the members of an interest group are treated fairly and no opinion is better than the other. They are given a fair forum where everyone can pool his or her ides and then use them to change the nation or submit them to the relevant authorities. According to Hays, The main difference between economic and non-economic interest groups is that the economic interest groups aim at getting financial support for their members while the non-economic interest groups are not interested in getting benefits for their members. Labor organizations are examples of economic interest groups. In labor groups, people who have the same interest come together and present their economic grievances as a group so that they can be addressed unlike when they could do it individually. Examples of non-economic interest groups in California include public interest groups which are formed to address the problems faced by the people without trying to solicit financial benefits from the government or any other body.

Journal Review Essay Example for Free

Journal Review Essay The article authored by Lloyd and Craig (2007) describes important factors to consider when collecting a patient’s history.   The rationale behind the procedure is based on the increase in the responsibilities of nurses, which now includes taking the histories of patients.   The assessment of every patient is based on several components, of which medical history plays an essential part.   In addition to a patient’s history importance, the collection of this information by a nurse allows the establishment of a relationship between the patient and the healthcare professional. The article discussed in fine detail the critical stages of patient history taking.   In order to prepare for the collection of information, a nurse should be aware that a patient could come from various environments and show different medical conditions and thus respect plays a critical role the assessment of the patient condition.   The cultural and religious beliefs of every patient may be different and thus a nurse should be competent enough in recognizing such differences.   The importance of privacy and confidentiality is also important in this procedure. Communication skills are also important when taking the history of a patient.   The nurse should also be capable of listening to the answers of the patient.   It is also important to get the consent of the patient to disclose any information pertinent to the assessment of his medical condition.    History-taking also involves an appropriate order of questioning the patient and this generally starts with a question regarding the patient’s identity and then asking what his chief complaint is.   The precise details of the complaint will also influence the choices of diagnostic procedures that will be performed.   The article also enumerated the cardinal symptoms that are important to consider when taking a patient’s history. a. What was done well and what could have been improved in the article? The article was done well because it discusses in length all the important aspects of the topic such as the structure and order of the history-taking process and the list of symptoms that should be checked upon presentation of the patient at the hospital. b. Why did this article interest you? Or did it fail to interest you? The article is interesting because it critically presents the process of history taking and how it could influence the diagnosis and procedures that would be conducted in the hospital.   The article is important because nurses should be aware that history taking is a critical process that should be performed in a standard way in order to fully cover all important aspects of patient assessment. c. Does the material presented in the article relate to you or your area of practice? Yes, the material presented in the article related to me and my area of practice and that I have learned essential points on how to handle the responsibility of collecting information from a new patient. d. Was the health assessment strategy beneficial? Could you adopt it in your practice? Yes, the health assessment strategy is beneficial because I can now follow a better procedure in taking a patient’s history.   I will definitely adopt the important points of this article to my practice in order to better serve the patients. e. Was the health assessment strategy explained clearly? The health assessment strategy was explained clearly and specific examples were also provided that fully clarified any questions that I might have. f. Should more research/articles be written about this area of health assessment? I think that articles of this kind should be written and read because this will effectively help healthcare professionals in improving their skills in taking care of patients. g. What population or individuals does this article apply to (i.e.: who will benefit the most from this article)? Patients will definitely benefit from this article because these are the individuals that healthcare professionals take care of, and this is strongly influenced by the interactions that take place between the two parties.   Knowledge on the proper approaches to history taking will allow healthcare professionals, especially nurses, to perform this task in the most professional way.

Baroque Style :: essays research papers

The Baroque style was a style in which the art and artists of the time focused upon details, and intricate designs. During this time the portraits began to portray modern life, and artists turned their backs on classical tradition. Buildings were more elaborate and ornately decorated. These works of art created history and altered the progress of Western Civilization. The progress has been an uneven one. Regression and progress often alternated, and shifts in direction often occurred. Art, architecture, literature, and historical events shaped the ideas of the era we know today. Architecture such as the palace of Versailles, and artists like Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Goya symbolize these ideas. The palace of Versailles is a grand building outside of Paris, which exhibits the characteristics of the Baroque style. It was elaborately decorated and the final product took 20 years to create. The fence is covered with a sheet of gold; every room is filled with intricate carvings and elegant figurines. Each room reflects a certain time or king by the change in furniture and style. These rooms demonstrate this with items such as back-less chairs, which were created to accommodate the clothes of the period. The materials used to create each piece also distinguish the time period. First generation furniture was made of sterling silver, and the upholstery was changed with the seasons. Second generation furniture was very elaborate and made of wood. Versailles is a perfect example of progression in Western art. The entire house displays the transition from Medieval to Renaissance to the Baroque stylings. The palace is like a museum, which shows the progress of society using art and architecture. Caravaggio was an artist of this period who was also a pioneer in art. The artists of this period began to portray modern life, instead of religious figures. Caravaggio was a violent man who came to Italy to paint. Rebelling against conventional ideas- divine intervention, Virgin Mary, and death- he came to create his own style, forcing civilization ahead, and forcing others to follow his path. His paintings show pleading through man's direct knowledge of God. By revolting against the classical traditions, he created his own style, which other artists wished to portray also. Thus, he created a forward movement in the fashion of art and architecture. Rembrandt was also an artist who wished to depict art in a new manner. "Rembrandt, although in fact he was a profound student of the classical tradition, wanted to look at every episode as if it had never been depicted before, and to try to find an equivalent for it in his own experience." (Clark, 203). "...Rembrandt's paintings

Fast and Feast

Wednesday, I was appreciative and prayed like I said I would. When I found that I was appreciative I Just said a small thank you to God and I was proud of all the feasting that I had done. However, I found that even though I was appreciative I was still complaining. One of the things we, as Christians, are asked to do during Lent is make a sacrifice that will help us focus on resisting worldly distractions. Although complaining is not what you would normally think of as a worldly distraction such as TV or the computer, it still distracts me from God. During the first two days I realized that I had to balance my appreciation and complaining.I could not focus wholly on one or else I would forget about the other. On both Thursday and Friday of that week I tried my best to concentrate on both my feasting and fasting and learned by the end how to keep from complaining but also appreciate everything I am given and all the opportunities I have. One of these spoken opportunities was the chan ce to go on the Mid-night Run. It was very fitting that this was the last day of my five-day fasting/ feasting project because I feel like I was most appreciative during this day. All the people on the Mid-night Run went into NY City and handed out clothes and food to the homeless.At first I tried to be impartial to the whole matter because I did not want to cry in the middle of a city street. However, as the people started coming more and more I found myself feeling so sorry for them. I said a quick prayer in my head for them and that wherever they would sleep would be warm since it was so cold outside. What really affected me was when a small woman came over and asked If we had any underwear. This In particular blew my mind; I then realized how bad they must have It If a woman has to beg for underwear. Even though the five-day fasting/ feasting project is over I still try not to complain.When I do, I think of how fortunate I am in comparison to all those people out there who wish for half the life I have. Dying to ourselves, letting go of our own wants and needs, leaves us open to invite God in, to pay attention to something other than ourselves. This experience has made me more aware of all the joy that I deprived myself of. When I stopped myself from complaining, I realized how much better I felt. I felt as if I had made the whole situation better for myself and I did. When I stopped complaining, I subsequently stopped petty arguments and cruel or annoyed moods.Once I stopped I found yeses in a better mood altogether and I think It also rubbed off on the people around me. Overall, letting go of my own wants and needs, gave everyone an Improved attitude and allowed for more room to let God In. By not complaining I have a whole part of my life that essentially cut of. This part has now been filled with my appreciation and God. By separating myself from complaining I can turn to God and appreciative and happy I bring on that sense of fulfillment to other peop le. For Catholics, â€Å"dying to ourselves, we enter some way or another into Chrism's dying and we rise to new life with Him as well. † (TM p. 9) The new life I have been brought is one of acceptance and appreciation. As I moved through the week, I found that as I complained less, I became more and more relax as well. The complaining, when I was unable to stop myself, bothered me more than I think it bothered my parents. I found that I started to enjoy myself more as I accepted events around me. I knew I could not change that fact that it was cold outside so I accepted it for what it was and appreciated that I had clothes to keep me warm. By living this new life that was one of acceptance and appreciation I feel as if I have also opened up a new relationship tit God.I am closer to my ultimate vocation, union with God, after having been brought this new life through my fasting/feasting project. The overall purpose of Lent is to prepare for Easter and prepare to celebrate new life with the Resurrection. It is also a period of intense preparation for catchments to enter the church. During this preparation, Christians focus on living the Kingdom of God more intensely than they do during the rest of the year. This fasting is not only a literal fast from eating, but also a chance to make a sacrifice that will help us Ochs on resisting worldly distractions.This is self-discipline and also an opportunity to make more room for God and to move closer to him. When we fast together as a community, it is the whole church community opening themselves up to God together. My experience over the last five days has helped me live out the purpose of Lent by exposing me to the deeper meaning of the fast. Instead of Just giving up candy or chips, I have given up a part of my life that has only brought me down, and opened myself up to happiness, fulfillment, acceptance, appreciation, and a closer relationship with God.

Last time i saw him Essay

The last time I saw my Grandfather he was walking along the beach with his metal detector. Actually it was not the last time I physically saw him, but it was the last time that I would see him and be able to talk to him person to person, eye to eye. I remember my surprise as I stood at the rail on the boardwalk looking down upon the steaming sand, noting nothing remarkable until, from the corner of my eye, I spied his figure. He had a figure that I had grown up knowing in silhouette distinct in my mind – but not as his. It was the familiar figure of Alfred Hitchcock. Whenever I looked at Grandpa I saw that shadowy teller of tales from days gone by. But, as I knew that I was not seeing the grand master of mystery himself, I knew it could be, couldn’t it, why yes . . . it was, Grandpa. He was slowly searching the sand for buried treasure with his prized metal detector. A hobby that he had adopted after retiring from the workaday world. Although I knew he lived somewhat cl ose to Seaside, that was the first time that it occurred to me that I might actually run into him. I suppose one never expects to run into their grandparents at the beach. I smiled silently for a moment as I watched that adorable man, donned in shorts, t-shirt. baseball cap and earphones studiously monitoring his valuable machine for blips or beeps. But that moment passed quickly as I called out to him, â€Å"Grandpa, Grandpa† waving my hand furiously to draw his attention. He spied me yet seemed puzzled as to who I could possibly be. I was, after all, the only black haired granddaughter that he had. After a moment or two of contemplation I watched as he seemed to awaken. As he waved back I began to walk toward a place where hellos could become hugs. I brought him to the pizzeria where Kenny, my husband, worked and we fed and watered the old dear. We sat talking at a table for moments too swift, not knowing then that this would be the last time we would really have the chance. We talked briefly of family matters that, in the big picture of things, seem not to have mattered enough for me to note them; of the wonderful treasures found beneath the sand thanks largely to his narrow, metal sidekick; of why Ken and I were in Seaside at all, and how long we planned to stay. Small talk filling a smaller moment in time. I asked him why he would want to wear that baseball cap, as I could not remember having seen him in one before, and he showed me the brilliance of the sunlight upon his naked head. I joked with him about not seeing me only feet away from where he was, and he  explained his glaucoma operation that would be taking place that month. We embraced as I walked him out and said goodbye. I may have just spent moments listening, but I was not hearing. He was not telling me about small items that day, he was telling me, I am old now and time is ticking away. He was warning me that he would not be here forever, yet I did not heed his warning. He was telling me goodbye that summer’s day and I was saying â€Å"Talk to you soon.† I was but a foolish child. As he walked away, the sun was taking a bow before fading away. I did not, until this day, see that something more blindingly beautiful had also taken their bow. As I yelled goodbye, at the moment the surf washed the sand back into its home – the sea, did he hear talk to you later or did he merely whisper, â€Å"Yes, goodbye.†

fo essays

fo essays Governments should discourage mergers in the communication industry. Our group will be disagreeing with this statement through out the project. We will be using texts and examples in order to support our ideas. Also we will be using reasoning and common sense in some cases. Our group believes the most important mergers in the communication industry are the telecommunication companies. Bell Atlantic and GTE are the two big mergers in the industry and are a good example for our case. This merge has brought benefits to workers, consumers and communities. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) represents 630,000 workers who are also consumers of telecommunications services. The majority of CWA members are employed in the telecommunications industry, including 72,000 employees at Bell Atlantic and 25,000 employees at GTE. CWA is the leading union in the information age whose members are responsible for building, maintaining, and servicing customers on the information highway. CWA seeks to ensure that the new information world brings benefits to all consumers, workers, and communities. CWA urges the Commission to approve the Bell Atlantic and GTE merger because it will benefit both consumers and workers. CWA believes the merger is in the public interest for five reasons. First, it advances the pro-competitive goals of the 1996 Telecommunications Act ("the 1996 Act") in local exchange markets for all consumer markets. Bell Atlantic and GTE have committed to enter 21 markets out-of-region within 18 months after the merger. Second, the proposed merger advances the 1996 Act's goal to speed deployment of advanced telecommunications networks to all Americans. The merger will provide Bell Atlantic and GTE with the scale and scope necessary to accelerate in-region and out-of-region investment in advanced data networks. Third, the merger is consistent with the 1996 Act's goal to advance and to preserve afforda ...

Evolution Of Mass Tourism Destinations Tourism Essays

Evolution Of Mass Tourism Destinations Tourism Essays Evolution Of Mass Tourism Destinations Tourism Essay Evolution Of Mass Tourism Destinations Tourism Essay The word cordial reception comes from the Latin word hospes, which means host or invitee. Hospitality has come to intend run intoing the demands of invitees with kindness and good will. The cordial reception and touristry industry ( H A ; T industry ) meets the demands of people with kindness and good will while they are off from their places. The H A ; T industry is broken into four service sectors: nutrient and drink, housing, diversion, and travel and touristry. Assorted theories and methods are used in researching the touristry and cordial reception fields the most of import and effectual in all them are the critical research theory, qualitative research method and quantitative research method. The chief undertaking of critical research is seen as being one of societal review, whereby the restrictive and estranging conditions of the position quo are brought to visible radiation. Critical research focuses on the resistances, struggles and contradictions in modern-day society, and seeks to be emancipatory i.e. it should assist to extinguish the causes of disaffection and domination. criticalness is a contested thought, one with a assortment of significances each claimed by different groups for really different intents. How the term critical is used necessarily reflects the political orientation and worldview of the user One of the best known advocates of moderns of a critical attack to qualitative research includeA Ngwenyama and Lee s ( 1997 ) A andA Hirschheim and Klein s ( 1994 ) A work.A A Myers and Klein ( 2011 ) A suggest a set of rules for the behavior of critical research. Qualitative research is used to research and understand people s beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behavior and interactions. It generates non- numerical informations, e.g. a patient s description of their hurting instead than a step of hurting. In wellness attention, qualitative techniques have been normally used in research documenting the experience of chronic unwellness and in surveies about the operation of administrations. Qualitative research techniques such as focal point groups and in-depth interviews have been used in one-off undertakings commissioned by guideline development groups to happen out more about the positions and experiences of patients and carers. Quantitative research generates numerical informations or informations that can be converted into Numberss, for illustration clinical tests or the National Census, which counts people and families. A comprehensive analysis of 1274 articles published in the top two American sociology diaries between 1935 and 2005 found that approximately two tierces of these articles used quantitative methods. The development of mass touristry finishs: New attacks beyond deterministic theoretical accounts in Benidorm ( Spain ) Josep A. Ivars I Baidala, A 1, A , A Isabel Rodriguez Sanchezb, A , A , A Jose Fernando Vera Rebollob, A 2, A aA Instituto Valenciano de Tecnologias Turisticas ( INVAT.TUR ) Conselleria de Turismo Paseo Tolls, 2 Benidorm, Spain bA Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Turisticas, Universidad de Alicante, Edificio de Institutos, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig signal-to-noise ratio, Ap. 99 E-03080, Spain Received 26 November 2011. Accepted 29 April 2012. Available on-line 2 June 2012. hypertext transfer protocol: //dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2012.04.009, A How to Cite or Link Using DOI Permissions A ; Reissues Abstraction Although deterministic theoretical accounts of the development of mass touristry coastal resorts predict an about inevitable diminution over clip, theoretical models of the development and reconstituting policies of mature finishs should be revised to reflect the complex and dynamic manner in which these finishs evolve and interact with the touristry market and planetary socio-economic environment. The present survey examines Benidorm because its urban and touristry theoretical account and large-scale touristry supply and demand make it one of the most alone finishs on the Mediterranean seashore. The probe reveals the demand to follow theories and theoretical accounts that are non strictly deterministic. The dialectic interplay between external factors and the internal factors built-in in this finish at the same time reveals a complex and diverse phase of adulthood and the ability of finishs to make their ain hereafter. Highlights a-? Analysis of external and internal kineticss in the development of a tourer finish. a-? Cross-analysis between planetary factors and local responses. a-? Mature tourer finishs dynamism entail an undeniable complexness. a-? Finishs can act upon their ain hereafter development. a-? Long term fight depends on the local version capacity to alterations. Keywords Life rhythm ; A Development of mature tourer finishs ; A Restructuring ; A Internal and external factors ; A Benidorm 1. Introduction This paper assesses theories of the life rhythm and restructuring of tourer finishs in visible radiation of the recent development of Benidorm, a paradigmatic coastal finish on the Mediterranean ( seeA Fig.A 1 ) , and analyses different stages of its development, which reflect the planetary factors and local procedures that affect touristry. The probe revealed that the deterministic nature of Butler s Tourism Area Life Cycle theoretical account ( Cooper, 2006 ) and Miossec s modelA ( 1977 ) A did non use to the development of Benidorm, which has adapted to different market fortunes and possesses characteristics that guarantee its fight in the modern-day touristry scene. Therefore, this survey presented a new attack to the evolutionary analysis of coastal resorts that complements traditional theoretical theoretical accounts. Fig.A 1.A Location of Benidorm on the Mediterranean seashore. Benidorm is a typical illustration of the resorts that emerged along the Mediterranean seashore in the 1960s during the mass touristry roar that catered chiefly to foreign tourers through big international circuit operators that controlled the market. However, its alone urban development theoretical account is important for understanding the kineticss of this vacation resort. Originally a little fishing small town, Benidorm is the consequence of a local planning theoretical account based on a public enterprise that was ab initio approved in 1956 and partly modified in 1963. Within this model, the governments planned the classs of land usage and edifices and defined growing countries, in peculiar an country of urban enlargement adjacent to the Levante beach which led to Benidorm s typical image of high-density urban development and tower block edifices. Benidorm is one of the most of import tourer finishs on the Mediterranean seashore. The 2010 nose count identified 74,000 registered dwellers, 37 % of whom are aliens. In regulated adjustments ( hotels, flats and campgrounds ) , Benidorm provides more than 68,000 beds and there are 18,000 2nd places. Hotels entirely yearly register about 10 million nightlong corsets, with foreign ( chiefly British ) tourists accounting for half of these visits. Throughout its development as a tourer finish, this vacation resort has had a high mean length of stay for tourers and high hotel tenancy rates throughout the twelvemonth due to limited seasonality. However, new tendencies in the touristry market have raised uncertainties about the hereafter of this finish. The first subdivision of this paper provides a elaborate analysis of the recent development of this finish, the specific local impact of external planetary factors and the internal factors related to the kineticss of territorial and touristry characteristics that are alone to this finish. The end of the analysis was to find the extent to which the recent development of this finish was influenced by the interaction of external forces or planetary factors with local steps designed to restitute the finish and keep its fight. The 2nd subdivision focuses on the sentiments of localA stakeholdersA who have influenced the development of the finish and whose actions will mostly find Benidorm s hereafter. The analysis of mature finishs is of involvement from academic, political and touristry direction positions. Academic approaches focal point on the relationship of mature finishs with sustainable development and market variegation ( Bramwell, 2004 ) , the development of long-tail schemes ( Lew, 2008 ) , and the function of mature finishs within a planetary scenario affected by structural alterations in the touristry market ( Duhamel A ; Violier, 2009 ; A Shaw A ; Coles, 2007 ) . From the political and institutional point of position, the Spanish Ministry of Tourism is presently developing theA Coastal Tourism Plan for the 21st centuryin coaction with regional authoritiess, which will revise touristry schemes to bring forth higher degrees of sustainability, invention and distinction. The end is to alter the prevalent economic and touristry theoretical account for the Mediterranean seashore and the Canary and Balearic Islands from the current theoretical account, which is based on th e residential building that has been brought to a standstill due to the economic crisis. The program provides a national enterprise to increase the value of mature tourer finishs and is consistent with public steps to advance the redevelopment of mature finishs that began in the 1990s. Analyzing the recent development of Benidorm is peculiarly relevant in visible radiation of both structural alterations in the touristry market and the current economic crisis. In contrast to touristry theoretical accounts based on urban conurbation, which have resulted in spread colonies in coastal countries ( European Environment Agency, 2006 ) , Benidorm offers an urban denseness theoretical account that is more environmentally efficient in respect to energy, H2O and land usage, is less dependent on private conveyance and is more attractive to tourers year-round ( Iribas, 2000 ) . As a consequence, it is widely acknowledged as a hereafter theoretical account for coastal finishs that seek to be holiday hubs ( MVRDV, 2000 ; A Thomson Holidays, 2010 ) . To find the extent to which modern-day mature finishs can germinate into future vacation hubs, it is critical to analyze how finishs like Benidorm have addressed issues such as the negative image of a mass touristry finish ; dependance on the British and Spanish market sections ; re-intermediation processes in touristry distribution and alterations in circuit operator processes such as on-line travel agents, internet distribution systems, andA dynamic packaging ; alterations in consumer penchants and behavior forms due to generational alterations, the increasing diverseness of travel motives and decreases in the mean length of stay ; and limited concern net income borders. These new worlds suggest a new attack to amalgamate finishs that does non back up the prevalent theoretical claim of inevitable diminution. 2. Theoretical model Although there were noteworthy case in points ( Christaller, 1963 ; A Gilbert, 1939 ) , the analysis of the development of tourer finishs emerged as a research involvement with the rise of international touristry as a mass phenomenon. During the 1970s, several critical surveies ( Miossec, 1977 ; A Plog, 1973 ; A Thurot, 1973 ; A Turner A ; Ash, 1975 ) identified mass touristry as the concluding phase in the development of finishs, a phase that would finally take finishs to lose their original attraction. Butler s ( 1980 ) A Tourism Area Life Cycle ( TALC ) , which is the most cited work in touristry geographics ( Gibson, 2008 ) , emerged during the passage from quantitative geographics to critical geographics ( Coles, 2006 ) and became a mention theoretical account that explained the development of tourer finishs ( seeA Fig. 2 ) . As the theoretical account was applied to diverse finishs and different attacks ( Butler, 2006a, A 2006b ) , the initial theory became more comprehensive, although many theoretical parts and instance surveies besides identified the theoretical account s restrictions ( Vera A ; Banos, 2010 ) . Fig.A 2.A The touristry country life rhythm theoretical account ( Butler, 1980 ) . The TALC theoretical account acquired particular relevancy for both the direction of coastal finishs and research on these finishs due to the demand to place the phase of adulthood and turn to the issue of possible hereafter diminution ( Agarwal, 2002, A 2005 ) . Based on this theory, A Knowles and Curtis ( 1999 ) A argued that the second-generation Spanish Sun and sand finishs that appeared in the sixtiess, which are presently mature finishs, faced an irreversible diminution because of the finishs loss of attraction, which was caused by alterations in consumer motives, the outgrowth of rival finishs and a autumn in domestic demand due to the increasing popularity of travel to foreign states. These writers flatly claimed that public and private proposals would merely prorogue the irreversible diminution. However, their deterministic claim was based on the premises of a qualitative prospective survey, and although these premises were based on existent kineticss, they could non be ver ified. In contrast, A Aguilo , Alegre, and Sard ( 2005 ) A has argued that the addition in Numberss of tourer reachings and satisfaction degrees supported the endurance of the Sun and sand theoretical account and the efficiency of the redevelopment enterprises carried out in the Balearic Islands. Similarly, A Claver, Molina, and Pereira ( 2007 ) A found that Benidorm hotels maintained a competitory place based on the figure of nightlong corsets, per room tenancy rates, application of quality direction systems and profitableness degrees. Because the interaction between resorts and the market is complex, the symptoms of diminution must be diagnosed and responded to proactively. As a consequence, the European Commission promoted a survey to place worsening tourer finishs, which were defined as tradition touristry suppliers that exhibited negative tendencies, such as a lessening in the flow of tourers, impairment in the quality of the finish, trouble in vouching sustainable touristry or the influence of exogenic factors ( TNO Inro, 2002 ) . This definition is excessively generic and obscure because these indexs do non ever reflect a structural diminution, and the definition does non place the threshold at which a diminution has occurred. However, because this position did non restrict diminution to sector facets but addressed the sustainability of development, this attack supported the claim that an environmental jobs could besides take to a touristry crisis by bring forthing an imbalanced economic and societal developm ent for tourer finishs. However, A Agarwal ( 2005 ) A noted that the definition s standards for diminution were the effects of it and that the key was to place the causes instead than the symptoms of diminution. The construct of the TALC exhibits analogues to theories of productive restructuring. Both attacks agree on the demand to prosecute in disciplinary steps to avoid the effects of diminution. Within the model of productive restructuring theory, A Agarwal ( 2002, A 2005 ) A viewed the diminution of finishs as due to the interaction between internal forces that reduced the fight of a finish and external factors that intensified competition. The global-local interaction procedure proposed by this writer highlighted the importance of local conditions and actions to modify the effects of regional or planetary developments, in conformity with the glocal nature of touristry development processes ( Milne A ; Ateljevic, 2001 ) . Deterministic attacks were frequently set aside in favor of local planning to keep the fight of different coastal finishs through diverse restructuring schemes. For illustration, A Bramwell ( 2004 ) summarised the schemes employed by assorted finishs in the Mediterran ean Basin ; A Anton ( 2011 ) classified coastal finishs in Spain as reactive, originative or transitive depending on the restructuring policies adopted ; A Priestley and Mundet ( 1998 ) A analysed the post-stagnation stage of assorted finishs on the seashore of Catalonia, Spain, part whichA Garay and Canoves ( 2011 ) A late analysed by using the TALC and ordinance theory ; andA Oreja, Parra, and Yanes ( 2008 ) A integrated teleological positions with the TALC to analyze Tenerife in the Canary Islands in Spain. The recent development of finishs has besides been explained in footings of a passage from Fordism to post-Fordism.A Urry ( 1990 ) A argued that cultural alterations associated with post-modernism were the primary footing for the loss of attraction experienced by British coastal finishs since the 1970s.A Poon s ( 1993 ) history has emphasised alterations in demand and technological inventions, whileA Agarwal s ( 2002 ) A has emphasised flexible production systems. However, non all writers accept histories based on a additive passage from Fordism to post-Fordism. Certain writers ( Agarwal A ; Shaw, 2007 ; A Debbage A ; Ioannides, 1998 ; A Torres, 2002 ) have argued that post-Fordist and neo-Fordist state of affairss coexist in specific tourer finishs ; for case, the behavior of international tourer operators exhibits new signifiers of mass production that coexist with customised travel and the variegation of tourer motives. In contrast, new forms of international mobility ( Sheller A ; Urry, 2004 ; A Williams A ; Hall, 2002 ) affect established finishs with foreign occupants which presently absorb impermanent and lasting labor flows, every bit good as flows of short stay tourers due to the addition in low-priced air hoses, which make air travel more accessible ( Vera A ; Ivars, 2009 ) . These flow additions have influenced existent estate demand and favoured existent estate touristry, which in bend has increased adjustment capacity and the municipal demographic range.A Gonzalez ( 2008 ) A confirmed that the most of import tourer finishs on the Spanish Mediterranean coastline were pulling dwellers, investings, services and substructure. Based on the above considerations, an analysis of established finishs must see the consequence of tourer activity on territorial construction and urban functions.A Knafou ( 2006 ) A stressed that the urban and demographic growing attach toing the development of tourer finishs tended to increase their complexness. This is an indispensable characteristic of tourist urban sprawls such as the Cote dAzur, the Belgian seashore, the Costa Brava and Florida, where urban development has acquired a new dimension that can no longer be viewed entirely in footings of touristry. On a local graduated table, these kineticss have been examined for finishs such as Rimini ( Conti A ; Perelli, 2005 ) . An analytical position that considers the importance of the economic maps of finishs and the extent of their centrality within a district has been insufficiently developed in traditional touristry research, which has chiefly focused on the development of touristry demand and ignored the territorial kineticss that arise from the development of tourer finishs. As a consequence, the most recent surveies look intoing Butler s life rhythm theory have emphasised the demand to analyze the spacial dimensions of the theory in greater deepness ( Hall A ; Page, 2009 ) . In drumhead, the dynamic and complex nature of tourer finishs precludes the application of pre-established theoretical theoretical accounts in favor of diverse theoretical attacks. The dialectical interplay between external and internal factors underlies the uneven development of tourer finishs, which are non needfully fated to worsen. Tourist finishs are able to accommodate to fortunes and can act upon their hereafter evolution.A Walton ( 2000 ) A highlighted the resiliency of British coastal finishs despite jobs during the latter portion of the twentieth century. These finishs did non endure terminal diminution but experienced a function displacement ( Shaw A ; Coles, 2007 ) . Despite the fascination with diminution, most coastal touristry finishs still attract visitants as some have or more than 200 old ages ( Duhamel A ; Violier, 2009 ) . Therefore, the key to survival prevarications in the ability to accommodate to ever-changing fortunes. 3. Methods Harmonizing to the theoretical model adopted in this paper, statistical information for the 1988 to 2010 period were analysed to place the different stages of adulthood of Benidorm based on variables associating to the finish itself and to the touristry environment, in peculiar touristry policies implemented during the period. To bring forth the development curve for the finish, nightlong hotel corsets were selected as the key variable because they are representative for finishs like Benidorm and the official statistics obtained from the monthly census-based study of hotel constitutions in Benidorm were reliableA Tourism Survey of the Valencian Tourism Agency. The tourer nightlong hotel stay variable was chosen because it was based on a monthly study of the hotels in Benidorm and was available for a longer clip period ( 1988-2010 ) . This variable measured the inflow of tourers busying the about 40,000 available beds in regulated adjustment. Furthermore, usage of the hotel study made it possible to cross-index other variables such as the average business, seasonality and alterations in markets of beginning during the survey period. Although the entire figure of tourers sing the finish was the most theoretically relevant variable, it could non be measured through empirical observation because gauging nightlong corsets in flats and at bivouacing sites presented methodological jobs and this information was merely available for a shorter clip period. In add-on, although supply statistics chiefly the alteration in the figure of beds were analysed, the behavior of these variables was more inactive and did non explicate the cyclical demand constituent. As a consequence, these indexs were regarded as accessory to the demand variables. The distinction of stages within the adulthood period was complemented by qualitative research on internal factors in local touristry policy and direction reflected in the sentiments of differentA stakeholders. This attack regards the finish as an unfastened system with private and public interdependent agents, in which the actions of one party affect other parties ( Pulido, 2010 ) . The 23A stakeholdersA selected were representative of the local touristry industry ; interviews were held with persons who managed and owned the most of import independent hotels or hotel groups, representatives of touristry industry associations with a multisector remit ( flats, bivouacing sites, leisure industry, etc. ) and political leaders and council functionaries who were responsible for touristry and related countries such as urban and environmental planning. Persons were interviewed from January through June of 2010. The interviews were analysed utilizing theA Atlas.tisoftware plan, which is base d onA Strauss and Corbin s ( 1990 ) A grounded theory technique. 4. The complex development of Benidorm: different stages of adulthood The analysis of factors related to the planetary touristry environment, such as the development of the touristry market, economic rhythms, sociopolitical contexts, and the public and private actions that formed the local responses describe four distinguishable phases for alterations in the figure of nightlong corsets at this finish ( seeFig. 3 ) : aˆ? Phase 1. International recession and supply-demand instabilities ( 1988-1993 ) aˆ? Phase 2. A new expansive stage ( 1994-2001 ) aˆ? Phase 3. The stabilization phase ( 2002-2007 ) aˆ? Phase 4. Effectss of the international economic crisis ( 2007-2009 ) Fig.A 3.A Recent development stages and factors impacting on the touristry and territorial kineticss of Benidorm ( 1988-2010 ) . 4.1. Phase 1. International recession and supply-demand instabilities ( 1988-1993 ) Phase 1 occurred after a period of economic enlargement in Spain and the Valencia part, and the figure of nightlong corsets reached a upper limit between 1986 and 1987. In 1988, jobs in accommodating the touristry supply to alterations in international touristry demand, such as alterations in travel penchants, reeling of vacations, more complex and diverse travel motives, and increasing competition from more alien tourer countries created a clime of uncertainness. Within a twelvemonth, a touristry crisis both at the national and at the local degree was by and large acknowledged. There was a important decrease in nightlong corsets and a little lessening in reachings of visitants due to factors such as the grasp of the peseta and the Spanish rising prices derived function. The recession led to oppugning of the traditional Sun and sand theoretical account and the thought that successful touristry meant a quantitative growing in demand, taking to proposals for variegation of touristry of ferings and markets. In 1990, other international factors, such as the Gulf War in the Middle East, ended the sustained growing and enlargement of international travel. In Spain, the crisis was widespread and the 1990 season was considered the worst of the decennary. The tendency observed in the old twelvemonth was magnified and the figure of visitants in peculiar, British visitants continued to diminish. This was partly attributed to the rise in the exchange rate of the peseta with regard to other currencies, rising prices and economic recession in of import tourist-generating states, such as Great Britain. The state of affairs improved in 1991, and exogenic factors, such as the decreased popularity of other finishs such as Greece and Turkey, were associated with an addition in the figure of visitants and nightlong hotel corsets. In 1992 and 1993, the touristry industry in Spain improved ; fewer Spaniards travelled abroad and favorable exchange rate following the devaluation of the peseta made Spain more competitory as a finish by increasing the disbursement capacity of foreign tourers. This tendency was besides observed in Benidorm, where there was a passage from a positive to a negative dynamic, peculiarly for the primary international ( British, Belgian and Dutch ) markets ; this contrasted with the behavior of the national market, which was more unvarying. During this stage, the hotel capacity in Benidorm was comparatively stable. At the beginning of this stage, 31,370 beds were available ( 42.8 % of the entire hotel beds in the Valencian part in 1988 ) . In 1994, at the terminal of this stage, there were 32,238 beds an addition of merely 2.8 % . It should be noted that at the beginning of this stage, most of the chiefly 2- and 3-star hotels in Benidorm had been built between 1960 and 1970 during the tourer roar, and hotel engagements were chiefly made through circuit operators, which created fewer fluctuations in demand compared to finishs that depended on occasional tourers. At this clip, Benidorm had much more to offer in respect to recreational and leisure installations than environing finishs. A in private financed H2O park was merely one of the attractive forces that targeted visitants of all ages. During this phase, Benidorm besides became the base for twenty-four hours trips to nearby small towns, which were requested by international circuit operators and organised by local business communities. Integrating these elements added value to the Sun and sand bundle vacations ( Vera A ; Banos, 2010 ) . During this phase, public enterprises focused on urban planning and bettering environmental quality to heighten fight with rival Sun and sand finishs, and a strategic selling program ( 1991 ) was developed to present new ways to advance the town. In lAiguera, portion of the river bottom that cut through the town was used to make an extended populace park with unfastened infinites, landscaping countries and locales for unfastened air shows. The undertaking, which was designed by the designer Ricardo Bofill, integrated the infinite into the town, which added value to the immediate milieus. The Levante beach seafront promenade a undertaking designed by another celebrated designer, Oriol Bohigas was besides constructed during this period and made the beach, which was the location most frequented by visitants, much more attractive and accessible. Because a famine of well-trained staff was by and large considered to hold contributed to the Spanish touristry crisis, regional governments created a Tourism Training Centre in Benidorm to better the makings of touristry professionals. This Centre was the first in a web of regional Centres. 4.2. Phase 2. A new expansive stage ( 1994-2001 ) With the betterment in the economic system in Western Europe and the devaluation of the peseta, a period of recovery began in 1994. Both nationally and regionally, this stage was characterised by turning grosss, more nightlong corsets and increased tourer disbursement. Locally, the recovery was reflected in the figure of nightlong corsets of foreign visitants, peculiarly British tourers, which exhibited an addition of 58 % by 2001, although the entire figure of nightlong corsets increased by merely 15 % due to the lessening in the figure of nightlong corsets of Spanish visitants. This period was characterised by tenancy rates of about 95 % in 2000 and 2001. The entire figure of hotel beds remained stable. However, there was a progressive decrease in the figure of lower rated constitutions, and companies began to put in upgrading the categorization of their hotels. This tendency was favoured at the regional degree by a new ordinance that introduced a categorization system based on fulfillment of specific proficient demands. The regulative purpose was to do the construction of the sector more crystalline and diminish the figure of little guesthouses either by shuting them or reclassifying them into different classs. Tourism policies during this period were characterised by new public works undertakings to make urban landmarks and better public infinites that reinforced the image of a quality Sun and sand finish. A major investing during this stage was the state-financed redevelopment of the seafront promenade along the Levante beach, which was completed in 1996. However, a extremist alteration in policy besides occurred during the 1990s, which involved the creative activity of an urban leisure and diversion country that was separate from the town itself. Therefore, the regional authorities financed a major subject park that opened in 2000. The park was described as a redevelopment of the tourer finish intended to pull new demand sections to Benidorm and the environing country. The new park was located outside the town of Benidorm, associated with beaches and urban infinites, and generated a separate urban growing procedure. Apart from the inquiry of belongings guess, the determination to construct outside preexistent constructions was influenced by the thought that subject Parkss made tourer finishs more competitory, and the building of the new park was viewed as the drive force for a new stage in the development of Benidorm. Therefore, the Particular Master Plan for Uses and Infrastructures Theme Park Area Benidorm-Finestrat approved in 19 98 by the Regional Department of Public Works, Urban Planning and Transport non merely created a macrostructure that focused on themed leisure but besides at the same time introduced new activities, such as golf, and favoured the building of hotel and residential adjustment. Although after a decennary, the result was dissatisfactory, the park contributed to the development of a new leisure country and residential places outside of the town ( Vera A ; Banos, 2010 ) . However, regional touristry policies that supported the modernizat

THe Windover Bog Site, an Archaic Pond Cemetery

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General George Washington Calls for a Standing Army, 1783 Assignment

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Written Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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Case Study on Adolescent Sexual Abuse Essay Example for Free

Case Study on Adolescent Sexual Abuse Essay Elias is a five year old Mexican American male who has recently been referred to the community counseling center due to the exposure of sexual abuse by his stepfather. Elias was a client of this community center approximately 18 months earlier. Elias had been referred for poor impulse control and hyperactivity. At that time he was diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He also met with the agency psychiatrist who had prescribed Elias Focalin. His cased was closed after only a few sessions due to the family’s inconsistency and withdrawal from services. At this point in time Elias has been attending his sessions with his mother and baby brother. Stepfather’s whereabouts are unknown and he has not had any contact with the family since the abuse was exposed. Elias has returned to taking Focalin, since he failed to continue taking his medication after withdrawing from services. However, there have been no changes noted in his behavior since he has begun to take the medication. The psychiatrist believes that this may be due to the low dosage he has prescribed Elias and because of such, the psychiatrist has opted to slowly increase the dosage and closely monitor any changes. The clinician notes that Elias is extremely hyperactive and exhibits minimal impulse control. Other than his high levels of restlessness, Elias shows no observable signs or symptoms of reaction to the sexual abuse. When clinician has attempted to process with Elias about the abuse or his feelings about the abuse, Elias has changed the subject or ignored the clinician all together. Mother states that she has noticed no changes in his behavior since the abuse was discovered. Practice Effectiveness Questions  The special population in discussion is children, the social problems in focus are sexual abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which leads the target client group to be children who have experienced sexual abuse and have been diagnosed with ADHD. Our client is Elias who is a child, who has experienced sexual abuse and is diagnosed with ADHD. For the purposes of this discussion our practice effectiveness questions are: 1) What are effective interventions for children who have been sexually abused? and 2) What are effective interventions for children who have been diagnosed with ADHD? Search Description Procedures The databases utilized for this search were: Google Scholar, Social Work Abstracts, Child Welfare Information Gateway, Academic Search Complete, Professional Development Collection, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, SocINDEX with Full Text Sociological Collection, Academic Search Premier, and JSTOR. It was also helpful to review the journal entitled Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment for relevant articles. While searching the aforementioned databases, the following keywords were utilized: ‘sexual abuse and ADHD’, ‘sexual abuse and interventions’, sexual abuse and co-morbidity’, ‘ADHD and co-morbidity’, ‘children and sexual abuse’, ‘sexual abuse and interventions. ’ All articles selected were peer reviewed, found in scholarly journals, and published within the last ten years. In searching for relevant articles regarding treatment of sexual abuse, most articles addressed interventions designed to treat perpetrators of child sexual abuse; a few articles were uncovered that discussed treating adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Fewer still were articles that identified interventions for children who are recent or current victims of sexual abuse. In order to find information relevant to our target client group, we began pulling sources from reference pages of relevant articles which provided more focused research relevant to treatment of children who have experienced sexual abuse. Results The result of our exhaustive search of available literature led us to identify eight articles to focus on. Out of these articles, four dealt specifically with children who have experienced sexual abuse, two focused on abuse of children which included physical abuse along with sexual abuse, two were focused primarily on ADHD, four focused on co-morbidity of either post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or ADHD and sexual abuse, and four specifically discussed treatments and interventions. Half of the selected articles were literature reviews while the remaining four were reporting from the standpoint of a primary source on research studies of treatments and interventions. The research studies varied in their sampling and control or comparison groups; only two studies were able to utilize a true experimental design with random assignment of study participants to control and experimental groups. The literature reviews provided an extensive overview of relevant studies and interventions from a secondary source standpoint. The eight identified sources provided an assortment of research-based perspectives as well as a sampling of evidence based on authority by those who reviewed the literature and discussed their findings in literature reviews. Research Findings Description of Articles In the article Sexually Abused Children Suffering from PTSD: Assessment and Treatment Strategies by David Heyne, Neville J. King, Paul Mullen, Nicole Myerson, Thomas H. Ollendick, Stephanie Rollings, and Bruce T. Tonge states that sexual abuse of children is a major societal problem because of its high prevalence and devastating impact on the victimized child. Children who have been sexually abused often demonstrate anxiety, depressive moods, improper sexual behaviors, nightmares, social withdrawal, sleep difficulties, anger, shame/guilt and school problems. The authors did diagnostic interviewing with their participants. The authors interviewed thirty six children and sixty nine percent were primarily diagnosed with PTSD. Within the thirty six children four of the children with full PTSD had no other diagnoses. Nine had one co morbid diagnoses, ten had two co morbid diagnoses, and two had three co morbid diagnoses. PTSD is not always prevalent and at times other emotional and behavioral problems are prevalent. In fact, many studies confirm that on clinical evaluation a large proportion of sexually abused children meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD (Heyne, at el. , 2003). This particular article showed that often there are other diagnoses that go along with PTSD but in an article by Peggy T. Ackerman, Roscoe A. Dykman, Jerry G. Jones, W. Brian McPherson, and Joseph E. O. Newton, did research on groups that have been affected sexual, physically abused, or both. The article Prevalence of PTSD and Other Psychiatric Diagnosis in Three Groups of Abused Children (Sexual, Physical, and Both) was a study done with children that are sexually and or physically abused. Fortunately, many children who are victims of horrifying events do not develop PTSD or other psychiatric disorders (Ackerman at el. 1998). Very little is known as to why some victimized children do and others do not develop psychiatric disorders. Even such basic variables as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, intelligence, and age at time of trauma, have been inadequately studied. They were in a large children’s hospital in which sexual and or physically abused children were referred. The groups were divided into three, sexually and physically abused and both. Through the finding there were more boys who were physically abused and girls who were sexually abused. Anxiety and behavior disorders were more frequent than mood disorders. In concordance with clinical observation, abused boys, regardless of type abuse, had higher rates of behavioral disorders and abused girls had higher rates of two internalizing disorders: separation anxiety (caregiver reports) and phobic disorder (child report) (Ackerman at el. , 1998). Studies show most clearly that children who have been jointly physically and sexually abused are at greatest risk for psychiatric disturbance. There are many different treatment interventions one can go through to minimize PTSD and attention deficient disorders. Maryka Biaggio, Darlene Staffelbach, Dan Weinstein wrote the article ADHD and PTSD: Differential Diagnosis in Childhood Sexual Abuse which shows different interventions used for victimized children. Treatment interventions for ADHD children predominantly consist of behavior management, social skills training, and stimulant or other medication. Treatment interventions for children with PTSD generally consist of management and alleviation of emotional distress using play, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy modalities (Biaggio at el. 2000). Relaxation techniques and hypnosis have also been effective in treatment of PTSD in children. Misdiagnosis may lead clinicians to use inappropriate interventions for PTSD. Side effects experienced by ADHD children on stimulant medication may include difficulty falling asleep, lack of appetite, irritability, headaches, stomachaches, nausea, dizziness, tachycardia, muscle tics or twitches, slowed physical growth, and skin rashes (Biaggio at el. , 2000). Another undesired onsequence of ADHD misdiagnosis in SAC (sexual abused children) is the failure to address and treat the trauma symptoms of children who actually have PTSD. Given the risk of wrongly prescribing, untreated trauma, and negative impact on self-esteem for children misdiagnosed with ADHD, it is unfortunate little attention has been given to this issue (Biaggio at el. , 2000). Increased attention to clinical decision-making in the differential diagnosis of ADHD and PTSD may lead to more appropriate, beneficial, and timely interventions. Darcie) Allison M. Briscoe-Smith and Stephen P. Henshaw’s article entitled: Linkages between child abuse and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in girls: Behavioral and social correlates, was an excellent source to explore the relationship of sexual abuse and ADHD and begin to discuss the co-morbidity of these events for children. The article described a research study carried out with a sample of 228 females at a summer camp for girls with ADHD over a three year span. Each year cohort groups were created to identify the prevalence of abuse among girls diagnosed with ADHD and those who had not received a diagnosis of ADHD. Out of the twenty-four identified cases of abuse histories, twenty of these girls were diagnosed with ADHD, and of those abuse histories ten were sexual in nature which is much higher than any other form of maltreatment documented by the researchers. All girls who had abuse histories had a co-morbid diagnosis of Oppositional Defiance Disorder. The study found that girls with both ADHD and abuse histories were more likely to display externalizing behaviors and be negatively received by their peers. The study also analyzed the relationship between the prevalence of an abuse history and the rejection from peers and found aggression to partially mediate that relationship. The authors concluded that girls with ADHD were at increased risk of having abuse histories and questioned the accurate diagnosis of ADHD. It was suggested that the girls who had histories of abuse may more accurately be diagnosed with PTSD and/or share a co-morbid diagnosis with PTSD. Judith A. Cohen and Anthony P. Mannarino conducted a research study comparing two interventions to treat children who have been sexually abused; their findings were published in the article entitled: Interventions for Sexually Abused Children: Initial Treatment Outcome Findings. This article was one of few that specifically addressed interventions for children with the focus being treatment of sexual abuse. The sample consisted of 49 children between the ages of 7 and 14 who were randomly assigned to either sexual abuse specific cognitive behavioral therapy (SAS-CBT) or nondirective supportive therapy (NST) for a twelve week duration. The study found that children in the SAS-CBT group improved significantly in social competence and in the reduction of feelings of depression. Also, substantially higher percentages of children involved in SAS-CBT experienced what is considered clinically significant improvements. In regards to deterioration while in therapy, higher rates were found in children who received NST. For the safety of the other children in the groups, children who were consistently displaying repetitive extreme sexually inappropriate behaviors were removed from treatment groups; seven NST participants were removed from the study as compared to two children participating in SAS-CBT. Parental satisfaction with treatment was high in both treatment groups which either treatment modality. The clinical impressions of the authors conclude that sexual abuse specific cognitive behavioral therapy is superior to nondirective supportive therapy in the reduction of depressive symptoms. SAS-CBT was also favored due to the benefit of including parents in treatment (NST did not formally include parents). The authors also concluded that there is value and importance in providing a directive therapy technique in dealing with the effects of trauma caused by sexual abuse. Assessment of Evidence Implications of Evidence Interventions for sexual abused victim’s trauma may include based cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, parental involvement- parent training, behavioral therapy, coping skills training, psycho-education, and prevention awareness. PTSD interventions may include trauma based cognitive behavioral therapy, and play therapy. Attention deficit disorder can also be treated with behavioral management techniques, medication, social skills training, play therapy, parent training, behavioral classroom interventions and summer treatment programs. Many sexually abused children have other diagnosis along with PTSD and several possible co-morbid diagnosis are more than likely behavioral, but often can be confused with PTSD. When looking at interventions and treatments clinicians need to look at the client’s cultural background so that way we do not intrude on their lives.

Consumer Behavior Is Essential For Effective Marketing Marketing Essay

Consumer Behavior Is Essential For Effective Marketing Marketing Essay Introduction: A Consumer is somone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing process. (Investor words, 2010). We can classify consumers in two categories: (i) personal consumers / retail consumers, and (ii) organisations as consumers. In each case bahaviour is analysed differently. I will concentrate in this essay on personal consumers and their behaviour and its implications for effective marketing. Consumer behaviour is the process individuals or groups go through in recognizing needs, finding ways to solve these needs, making purchase decisions (e.g., whether or not to purchase a product and, if so, which brand and where), interpret information, make plans, and implement these plans. Understanding customer perception and motivations has tremendous implications for selling and marketing, process improvement and, in turn, reaching targetted consumers and make rewarding profit. With the Consumer-Centered era long gone, in the New Era orentation to enable long-term bonds with consumers it is essential to study consumer behaviour and to understand more of the customers psychology, their internal and external motivations, preferences, limitations, and actions to be able to provide a tailored value proposition. As a discupline, this is referred to as customer relationship management (CRM). Diagram showing consumer behavior, measures, and marketing actions. (graph from: Norton, 2005)Consumer attitude: The process of purchase is largely influenced by consumer attitudes. In the context of marketing, it is towards: product, brand, place (eg retail store), etc.  Consumer attitudes are a composite of a consumers (1) beliefs about, (2) feelings about, (3) and behavioural intentions.   These components are viewed together since they are highly interdependent and together embrace the forces that influence how the consumer will react to the object.(Perner, 2008) Beliefs: Consumer beliefs can be positive (e.g. chocolate tastes good) as well as negative (e.g., chocolate makes me fat).   In addition, some beliefs may be neutral (chocolate is a treat), and some may differ depending on the person or the situation (e.g., dark chocolate gives a lot of energy and stimulatesgood when you need to study or boost your energy level, but not good just before sleep time).  Often consumer believes can be inaccurate (e.g. pork is healthier than chicken). Feelings/Affect- is the consumers feelings toward a brands product or service.   Sometimes these feelings are based on the beliefs (e.g. a person feels nauseated when thinking about a hamburger because of the amount of fat it contains), but there may also be feelings which are relatively independent of beliefs (e.g.  I like ice cream) Behavioural intention.   Is what the consumer plans to do with respect to the object (e.g., buy or not buy the brand).   This can be a logical consequence of beliefs (or affect), or may reflect other circumstancese.g., although a consumer does not really like a bar/restaurant, he or she will go there because it is a hangout for his or her friends. (Perner, 2008) Changing behaviour of customers can be challenging because people like to believe that their behaviour is rational; thus, once they use our products, chances are that they will continue unless someone is able to get them to switch (Perner,2010). Consumer Choices: The comonly accepted and studied path of consumer choices, also illustrted in Elliot (1997), includes 5 main steps: Need/ opportunity recognition 2. Information Search 3. Evaluation of alternatives 4. Purchase 5. Outcome of purchase/feedback Need/opportunity recognition. Consumers recognize a need for a product/service when they percive a gap between their current state and their desired state. This can be either because of a change for the worse in their current state (need recognition) or when the desire seem to be further away (opportunity recognition). ( Elliot, 1997). That can be as easy as concluding that we need milk because we have just run out and cant make a cake without it. Or when a mother decides that buying an Armani top for her son would probably make her family more recognisable and admirred. Information Search. After identifying a product which will satisfy the need or opportunity gap, it is assumed that a customer will search for information to help him make a decision. Here it has been established that there are two ways in which information search takes place. Those are internal and external searches. Internal vs. External Search(Perner,2008) Internal search involves the consumer identifying alternatives from his or her memory/experience. Internal search is influenced by motivations, attitudes, personality, age, lifestyle, perception and learning/ experience.   This is often the only search method used for low involvement products or fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs), thus building top of mind awareness is crucial task for marketing communications especially in hose low-involvement products categories (Elliot, 1998). External search involves information from environment that influences the purchase decisions. Those external factors influencing decision process include situational influences, such as, physical environment and time, and social influences such as advertising as well as culture, subculture, social class, group membership, family, friends, work/school peers, co-workers, people from the same sports/hobby clubs, neighbors etc. There are various referent groups that people consciously or unconsciously consider during their search. Those include; membership, aspiration, avoidance, word of mouth, opinion, leadership. Despite consumer interests and beliefs, they will strive to conformity and thus usually the internal search has to compete with their external influences because they want to belong to, and be accepted by, people from their direct environment. Consumers are more likely to use an external search for high involvement products.   For instance before buying a house, the consumer is more likely to ask friends opinions, read reviews in Consumer Reports, consult several web sites, and visit several property offices.   Thus, it is extremely important that firms that offer products that are selected predominantly through external search invest in advertising and marketing to ensure having information available to the consumer in need-e.g., through brochures, web sites, or news coverage. Evaluation of choices: The evaluative criteria are the product attributes, functional, symbolic and emotional, on which the relative performance of the competing alternatives will be compared (Elliot 1998). Decision rules can be: I. Compensatory, when a poor performance on one attribute can be offset by good performance on other attribute. (e.g. one car is not as fast as other but its cheaper.   If the price is sufficiently inexpensive, the consumer may then select it over a car with better acceleration that costs more) II. Non-compensatory, when only one standard is used and alternatives which dont measure up are eliminated. (e.g. when a customer wants to have a UK-branded product, lets say cereal, although there will be many other cereals with same ingredients and good taste they wont be considered) Considering that human beings seek to reduce cognitive efforts, often the way for choice evaluation are rules of thumb, e.g. cheapest is best, or known brand is always better than unknown, etc. Unfortunately this type of thinking often lead to systematic bias when compared with the rational decision making model of economic theory. Those would be believes that e.g. if an item is on sale it must be a good deal, or all branded products are of the same quality. Purchase: Purchased is often influenced by time, the more time between the intention to buy and the purchase the more opportunity for change in original intention. But in many instances a conscious purchase intension is not formulated prior to the purchase act and in this case a display of product may trigger impulse purchase. US studies show that 83% decisions to purchase of snack foods take place in the supermarket itself rather than prior to shopping. Obviously higher involvement products are more likely to be pre planned than lower involvement products. (Elliot, 1998) Outcomes of Purchase: These have important implications for the future purchase decisions. The cognitive approach points to importance of prior expectations as a determining how well consumer will evaluate the purchase experience. The lower the expectations the less dissatisfaction on poor product performance, and the more satisfaction on good product performance is seen. Consumer Involvement: The amount of effort a consumer puts into searching depends on a number of factors. There is a classical model to measure consumer involvment in purchase decision. This model shows that involvmnet depends largly on: price, type of product, frequency of purchases, symbolic meaning, social visability, time commitment, potentiality for harm, potentiality for poor performance of product/service etc. (Elliot, 1998) In practice the price or high significance will mostly effect the involvement of consumers. E.g if we buy boat or house we are more likely to put more effort in research than when we buy washing powder. The same is true for highly life significant products such as computer or medications, which tend to be given more attention than lets say notepad or pen. (where you shop, ease / proximity of parking, ambience, safety, provision of child care, etc) Influences on Consumer Behavior(Perner 2008) The Life Cycle. Individuals and families tend to go through a life cycle: The simple life cycle goes from    http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/images/cb/Simple_FLC.png (Perner 2008) In real life however, there are many more complications possible, such as couples undergo divorce, single parents run house or remarry or become involved in other non-marital relationships, or stay on their own etc. Integrating all the possibilities gives a depiction of the Family Life Cycle to the one below: http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/images/cb/Family_Life_Cycle.png (Perner 2008) Obviously young singles with still little cash and highly influenced by their peer environment will have different needs, and make different purchases to young couples, and young couples will greatly vary in their customer behaviours to full nest families. Then again there is a significant difference in amount, type and variety of products purchased between Nest I, Nest II and III families, since different age of children in the family will have various demands / needs, and the older the children the more influence they will have on parents and their purchase decisions themselves. Empty nest family with no children in the house often can afford more luxurious items than before. They will frequently look for comfort and durability and high quality of goods. Older singles will have similar needs, but if retired or lonely may not be able to afford as high standards of products as empty nest and thus minimalistic approach can be seen in their purchase behaviour. Apart from differences in customer behaviour arising from Family Life Cycle it is also important to mention that behaviour changes with age, health, career and financial status. Older people tend to have greater income but also greater obligations such as mortgages, children, and spouse. Different ages are concerned with different financial rewards and obligations. That often leads to different consumer behaviour. Figure 2.5 Consumer life events Understanding the life event triggers behind the big decisions that consumers make, assists information providers in targeting information at the times and places in peoples lives when they most need it. (Australian government, 2010) Family decision making model: Another relevant consideration includes the Family decision making model. It is important to realise that it is not only the decision maker(s) in the family that count during the decisions processes of the family. Although they decide where and which product, brand to buy, there are also initiator, ultimate users, the information gatherers/holders- who seek out information about products of relevance, Influencers- who do not ultimately have the decision power, but they may make their wishes known by asking for specific products or causing embarrassing situations if their demands are not met. And then again all those have different role to that of the purchaser. (Perner, 2008) It was measured that parents under childrens (age 4 -12years) influence in US purchase products worth apporximately $4,400 per year per child. This comprises nearly $150 billion annually in US market alone. (McNeal,1997). This statistic is even more prominent if we look at China and heir one child policy and the six-pocket syndrome (where all 4 grandparents and parents can cherish and spoil 1 child only (Goll,1995) From the marketing point of view, family decision-making model introduces some problems since the purchaser can be targeted by point-of-purchase (POP) marketing efforts that cannot be aimed at the decision maker, or influencer. It should also be noted that family decisions are often subject to a great deal of conflict. The reality is that few families are wealthy enough to avoid a strong tension between demands on the familys resources. (Perner, 2008) Family decision making model can be observed in nearly any shop. This will take place when a family is out and about maybe doing grocery shopping and then suddenly one of the children will point to a toy or Christmas tree that courts its attention (that will be the initiator). There will be various criteria to consider: maybe some information provided on the spot about this particular Christmas tree; the fact does the family have already one or not and in what condition it is, also time of the year will have influence on the decision making process. The user or a Christmas tree is the whole family but especially children. Mother of the family will often be the decider who will try to satisfy the whole family and purchase something that is practical and safe a s well as will look representative in the home surrounding. Father will often pay for the tree and make the purchase thus in this scenario will be the buyer. This issue is addressed by many shops by offering extensive displays o f child-attractive items, together with parent-satisfying product descriptions to fulfil needs of the decision maker, and not infrequent value deals to finally convince the ultimate buyer. The Means-End Chain. Is another model of consumer behaviour where consumers buy products not because of their attributes per se but rather because of the ultimate benefits that these attributes provide, in turn leading to the satisfaction of ultimate values. An important implication of means-end chains is that it is usually most effective in advertising to focus on higher level items. (Green Book, 2005) This can be illustrated on example of UHT milk. A consumer may not be interested in the process and chemistry of ultra high temperature process of milk preservation, but might reason as follows: Self satisfaction/esteem Kids will continue to get all calcium and vitamins required for growth and strong bones, and he milk is there whenever needed Children can safely use the milk when they need it without a need to go back to a shop for weeks at a time. Milk can be stored longer without taste and properties change, Long life properties of UHT milk UHT milk producers use this model and emphasise the long life properties of milk, and thus in consumer perception this is the main focus point. They often dont make further investigation to find out that UHT milk has sufficiently less vitamins and minerals then fresh milk, and frequently make decision to buy long life milk instead of fresh milk. Diffusion Curve Model: And last but not least we should note that not all consumers will choose to buy new products at the same time. Dependingly on their education, experience, capacity to purchase and desires we will be able to identify Innovators who buy first but comrpise less than 5% of consumers, e.g. people who follow the latest releases of technology/fashion engineering and will purchase the products as soon as they reach the market even if they dont necessary need it, and it means paying premium price for those goods. After the first purchases by Innovators, the Early adpoters will show their interest. They benefit form using the product and want to maintain an edge over the rest of their peer group / consumers at large. However the vast majority of the curve ignores most marketing efforts at the earliest stages until they are convinced that the product or idea is not a fad. Successful new products, the hits, are most sought by Innovators and Early Adopters soon after introduction: and then Early majority will follow the trend to purchase. After some time the later majority will make the decision to buy, and then when the products/ services are no longer considered new by majority of population the laggards will come to belive it is ecessary for them to aquire this product. Possibly that will take place after the older model they owned is no longer functioning and it is necessary for them to replace it. Those clients frequently benefit from large discounts, since new more desirable models are often already available on the market. The described above model is commonly known as Diffusion Curve model or 5 segments model, and can be illustrated as bellow (actual percentages will vary according to the product / sector / consumer mix): Viral Marketing and Consumer Behavior (Graph from; Braziel, 2007) This model doesnt equally apply to all products, it is mostly used for electronics, computers, fashion clothing, house appliances such as AGD (white goods) and RTV (audio / visual electronics) products. Thats because we cant really talk about innovative products when it comes to FMCGs like bread, milk, butter. Also it would be hard to talk about laggards when the product of concern was something everyone needs in day to day life. Knowing about the diffusion curve model and the fact that new products are usually initially adopted by a few consumers and only spread later, and then only gradually, to the rest of the population, companies learned that to introduce new products they must be well financed so that they can stay afloat until their products become a commercial success by generating self-sustainable profit. They also realize that it is very important to please initial customers, since they will in turn influence many subsequent customers brand choices. That is why many brands use post-purchase evaluation forms and ensure quick response to any dissatisfaction, so consumers feel understood, respected and powerful. This helps in creating good overall impression about the product or brand, which is likely to be passed on to Early adopters and beyond. Discussion: There are two main applications of consumer behavior in marketing: (Perner 2005) Using consumer behavior to make better marketing campaigns. For example by understanding that consumers are more receptive to food advertising when they are hungry, food/snack companies learned to schedule snack advertisements late in the afternoon. As a result of increased receptiveness consumers are more likely to memorize the items and either buy there and then or next time when they see the product on the supermarket shelf. by understanding that new products are usually initially adopted by a few consumers and only spread later, and then only gradually, to the rest of the population, companies learned that (1) to introduce- new products must be well financed so that they can stay afloat until their products become a commercial success. (2) it is very important to please initial customers, since they will in turn influence many subsequent customers brand choices. Social marketing involves getting ideas across to consumers rather than selling something. E.g. To reduce the incidence of transmission of diseases through illegal drug use the best solution, obviously, would be if we could get illegal drug users to stop. This, however, was deemed to be infeasible. It was also determined that the practice of sharing needles was too ingrained in the drug culture to be stopped. As a result, using knowledge of consumer attitudes, Dr. Fishbein created a campaign that encouraged the cleaning of needles in bleach before sharing them, and this marketing campaign was hugely successful (Syed, 2009) Attitude research has shown that consumers often tend to react more favorably to advertisements which either: Admit something negative about the sponsoring brand (e.g., the Volvo is a clumsy car, but very safe), this approach makes consumer perceive the advert more reliable, and will pay off by their better attitude towards brand/product advertised. OR Admits something positive about a competing brand (e.g., a competing supermarket has slightly lower prices, but offers less service and selection).   Two-sided appeals must, contain overriding arguments why the sponsoring brand is ultimately superior-that is, in the above examples, the but part must be emphasized. (Perner, 2008)   Again this two side appeal gives consumer perception of rational, reliability and this type of advert is more likely to be listened, believed in and remembered. Knowing it is generally very difficult to change beliefs that people hold, some companies try to change the importance of beliefs by decreasing them or by strengthen them by advertising e.g. milk company can emphasise on the importance of milk ingredients such as; calcium and iron for the health being of people, and thus increase the perception of importance for milk in consumer eye, which will then lead to increased milk sales. Companies can also add to consumer beliefs, e.g. Cereal makers can add beliefs that their cereal are more convenient and healthy than other cereals, which sounds quite plausible to some people if the advert uses enough credible terms for ingredients. Thus consumer perceive those cereals more appropriate for breakfast than others and are more likely to purchase them when next time see them in the shop. Using consumer choices model described in the introduction, some companies will seek to create in the eyes of target consumers a perception of need of e.g cooking spice, by advertising it as a miracle mix which will make every dish you make tasty and desirable by all family members. That perception of opportunity may trigger the consumer purchase decision. Knowing that information search for FMCGs is mostly internal, food producers try to make impression on the consumer e.g by making tomatoes look more healthy and appealable to potential consumers e.g we can see tomatoes with green stems or big organically grown sign on the packaging that will trigger the consumer desire to eat healthy and even though those tomatoes may not be any healthier than the other 5 types that sit on the shelf. The perception of healthy / organic will arise in consumer mind and thus he will be more likely to purchase them. In relation to purchase decisions of consumers, many companies, especially those selling low involvement goods, use a marketing strategy which is directed at one of humans basic motivation:- curiosity. By packaging a product with interesting and/or innovative pictures and images, they try to wake up consumer curiosity and in this way win the consumer interest and encourage impulse to buy. Knowing that fulfilling original expectations of consumer will often lead to repeat purchase some products e.g Heinz Ketchup by introducing a claim of great thickness and delivering on it better compare to other brands, can win consumer because consumer attention is drawn towards thickness only and satisfying this attribute alone give consumer overall perception of good performance. Emphasising consumer brand loyalty, many shops introduce loyalty cards, which give additional credits for shopping in particular shop, such as entitlement to discounts and promotions. Loyalty cards databases on the other hand enable understanding the clients better and give offers that best suit their behavior/habbits. Its a win-win situation for seller and buyer: the consumer has a perception of being special/appreciated and can see the reward for loyalty, while the shop has more information about the customers. For example, it was established that a buyer of full fat milk is 2.5 times more likely to purchase children orientated products. That is because a lot of parent buy full fat milk for their kids, and having kids means we buy for them more than just milk. Knowing that, a shop/company can send kids products brochures only to those people buying full fat milk rather than spend money on approaching adults who dont have kids and are unlikely to purchase childrens products. All the models described above are important to know and consider; to help spot emerging patterens and trends relative to the marketing and branding process. However they seem to be slightly overcomplicated and we need to realise that every day consumer patterns as well as practical marketing often varies from the theoretical models. To support this view we dont need to look far, we read from countless articles e.g McCole (2004) suggests that there exists a sizable gap between the worldviews of academics and practitioners. And Brennen (2004, p. 492), in his editorial comments in a special issue that explored the nature of the academic-practitioner divide, notes that a consensus seems to be emerging that much, or perhaps most, of work done by academics is of limited relevance to practitioners. (Syed H. Akhter, 2009). Also there are numerous studies which show that a large percentage of consumers dont research their purchases or limit the research to minimum, e.g. on average 52% of peo ple in US obtained no independent information on products/services purchased and even for purchase of a new car, more than 30% of people visit only one car dealer.(Elliot, 1998). A lot of those theoretical models, together with practical / anecdotal experience, indicate that decisions made by customers are mostly emotion-driven or impulse driven. The purchase decisions often depend on curiosity, value perception (an approximation of reality), brand loyalty or rules of thumb , rather than research, and that is why marketing, branding and advertising need to enhance value perception for the customer and take care of a good purchase experience rather than just focusing on the purchase product/service. Conclusion: To conclude this paper on dynamics of consumer behaviour in practical marketing, I decided to look into Early Learning Center (ELC) brand and their marketing strategies. With their consumer base largely being 0-6 year old children, specifically I sought evidence of ELCs marketing efforts reflecting a sound understanding of the behavior of their target customers, the adults who buy those goods on childrens behalf Early Learning Centre (ELC) ~ Toy Sale Now On Early Learning Centre (ELC) is essentially a marketing and distribution company, but one that also designs and commissions the manufacture of its own-branded products.It was established in 1974 as a mail order firm, and was an early adopter of direct sales through the Internet the website www.elc.co.uk was first launched in 1999 and proved to be successful in its first year in terms of profit generated on internet-driven purchases.. In 2007 Mothercare plc acquired Early Learning Centre for  £85m ( £49m plus  £36m debt). Mothercare is one of the most familiar names in UK retailing, and is probably the first store that comes to mind when thinking of the needs of pregnant women, babies and children up to the age of 10. There is a lot of overlap with ELC in the post-natal market and so their merger and co-location of stores makes sense from a business perspective. Today there are over 225 ELC stores in the UK, and 115 stores internationally operated by franchise partners in locations including UAE, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia Ireland, and Poland. Catalogues sales have remained a core part of the business. [Early Learning Centre prints and distributes over 4 million catalogues in the UK alone each year.] Over 80 percent of the products sold by Early Learning Centre are own brand. ELC operate through three distinct channels to market; UK stores, Direct (internet-based businesses and catalogue mai l order), and International.(ELC, 2008) The Early Learning Centre brand provides eight major categories of toys and games primarily for children in the 0-6 year age range. They segregate their items based on sex and age of children for whom the toys are designed. This approach helps greatly during customers search through the products. As a result customers can put less effort into the search process and it adds to their overall shopping experience. Knowing that changing attitude of consumer is generally very difficult. Instead ELC try to influence feelings, either by advertising itself to create pleasant, warm feeling about products, and hope that will be enough to make customer like the product, or they use classical conditioning by e.g. showing happy, stress free children playing with ELC toys. the great outdoors!!! acctive play and fresh air fun! (pictured copied from: http://www.kidstart.co.uk/partner/ELC.aspx) Another strategy of ELC involves exposure effect. By providing advertisement and pictures outside the store and in magazines known to be popular amongst parents of 0-6 year old children and those adults likely to buy presents for such children, ELC ensures customers are more familiar with the product and thus more likely to purchase it. Aware that changing behaviour of customers can be challenging, one strategy employed by ELC is to introduce seasonal price discounts to justify in consumer minds the switch, based on a good deal principle. After the switch if a customer was more satisfied with the ELC product than with a previously used brand, there is a large likelihood that he or she will stick with the ELC products for future purchases even when the price goes back to normal. Another marketing strategy employed by ELC is engaging the convenience mindset of their target audience. ELC stores are usually located in big shopping malls, specifically in those locations in the mall that are frequently used/passed by customers on their way in or out. Not only are toys displayed, many toys at the entrance, but also throughout the store, are out of their packaging to enable better investigation of product prior to purchase. This is also a great way to attract the children of passing shoppers mothers, families into the shop to play. When this happens parents will be forced to come into the shop and during that time possibly will purchase one or more of the toys that their children were attracted to, or indeed other