Childhood obesity Essay

If an American government official announces that childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, it is completely unethical for that person to then endorse an unhealthy snack with their name and picture. The person that chooses to endorse unhealthy snacks but makes their living preaching against their sponsor is being an unethical representative of the company that is paying them to endorse the product and is sending a mixed message when on the job. The real ethical violation here is in business ethics. The man in the example is being paid to endorse an unhealthy snack. By accepting that contract, he has agreed to give his name and support to the product. To then preach against it from the pulpit of a government position is a violation of their contract with the business and a violation of their commitment to their job. Theoretically, if he is speaking out about childhood obesity in the course of his job, then he has a position related to the health of the nation. To the turn around and endorse an unhealthy project violates his contract with the American public to promote healthy behavior. In short, anyone who argues that childhood obesity is an epidemic and then endorse unhealthy snacks is the worst kind of hypocrite. This person is taking money from both sides of the argument and cannot effectively represent either side. He has stolen from both his government employer and from his snack time employer, failing to do what either of them paid him for. In that instance, he should be fired from both jobs and sued by both employers for fraudulently accepting their money.

5.1. Critical Discussion of Findings in Relation to Literature and Theory Essay

5. 1. 1. Over Restrictive Regulatory Environment The respondents to the question of whether the environment of overly restrictive regulations was a challenge indicated almost without exception that indeed the restrictive aspect was stifling to at least some extent. This indicates that the regulatory environment currently being experienced in the Kuwaiti banks surveyed is in keeping with the general view of Islamic banks as reported in the literature reviewed. The banking environment created has proved to be unsound, and it accords with the ideas of Windy (2003) demonstrating that it has not been conducive to the effectiveness and efficiency of nine of the ten financial institutions surveyed. The current state of the Kuwaiti banking system, though improving, demonstrates that reporting and the monitoring of capital and risk have suffered due to the heavier restrictions placed on the Shariah compliant banks. See more: Old Age Problem essay Since the restrictions are greater for these banks in comparison with the conventional banks, the Islamic banks have indeed been placed at a disadvantage within the market and this has caused them to be less efficient and therefore less attractive to prospective customers. This lack of attractiveness makes it even more likely that these banks will remain niche focused and relatively small in comparison with the competition. 5. 1. 2. Uniform Regulatory and Legal Framework The respondents to the survey indicated unanimously that the lack of a uniform regulatory and legal framework poses a challenge to the current Islamic financial state. The response to this question might seem enigmatic in light of the previous one. However, though the Shariah imposes restrictions on the types of transactions that might be performed in Islamic financial institutions, it is the regulation of these restrictions that have proven to be without uniformity. This lack of uniformity has been shown to have crippling effects on the Kuwaiti institutions surveyed. The fact is that once regulations become uniform, this serves as a support mechanism to the institutions that follow the regulations (Dudley, 1998). The problem with this lack of regulation is that Islamic institutions have been trying to conduct business according to Shariah, yet this has to be done within the conventional Western financial framework which does not lend the proper type of support to Shariah banking policies. This has been especially problematic in Kuwait since so many of its banks are Islamic and yet the uniform regulations that govern are often at odds with the Shariah principles by which these banks are run. There apparently still continues to be problems despite the 2005/06 regulation attempts by the Central Bank of Kuwait, and it makes it clear that the mere addition of a separate Shariah section to the regulatory laws is insufficient. What is needed, apparently, is full and complete integration of the Shariah into the regulatory system at every pertinent level so that financial institutions will know how to act in a wide array of situations. 5. 1. 3. Underdeveloped Regulatory and Supervisory Regime. Akin to the aforementioned problem, and perhaps stemming directly from it, is the fact that all respondents agree that the supervisory system of regulations is underdeveloped in their financial institutions. When no systematic regulatory doctrines have been formulated, the difficulty arises because supervisory activity has no clear knowledge of what to supervise or guard against. Because of the underdeveloped nature of the supervisory elements, Islamic financial institutions in Kuwait continue to fumble as it regards the attainment of success and customer satisfaction. Customers in these institutions cannot be secure in receiving fair treatment from institutions that have no active and systematic supervision. The respondents did not consider the current state of regulation supervision to be completely inadequate, as their responses hint toward the acknowledgement that the IFSB’s efforts at establishing co-operation among standard-setting bodies have had some favourable impact on the Kuwaiti situation. However, capital adequacy and risk management represent only two of the many areas in which supervision is necessary to the health of Kuwait’s Islamic financial institutions. The responses also indicate that the IFSB’s intentions of extending supervisory cooperation to the areas market transparency and discipline as well as corporate governance are warranted. 5. 1. 4. Capital and Liquidity Requirements The requirements of capital and liquidity within the financial market sector have been theorized as having the potential to be damaging to the Islamic financial institutions around the world. However, the reasons given for this potentially problematic effect reflect a division among theoreticians and those employed within the financial sector. This existence of controversy is confirmed within this research of the Kuwaiti institutions, as three respondents considered liquidity and capital issues to be of medium to high importance, while the others considered the issue to be of very little importance. One side of the controversy identifies the issue of capital and liquidity as stemming from the Basel Committee’s over-estimation of the risks that might accrue to (or as a result of) the assets of Islamic institutions. These theorists indicate that they believe the risks are not as great as others might believe, and it is with this view that those respondents agree—who indicated that liquidity and capital were not an issue. The alternate theoretical view, with which the survey shows three respondents agreeing, is that Islamic financial institutions present more risk than other banks do. The fact that these banks are generally smaller and carry a narrower capital base seems to reflect a large part of what these respondents refer to when they consider liquidity and capital to be a risk in such institutions. The respondents do not, however, indicate any aversion to the establishment of a capital market that would trade in Sukuk and other instruments, and even deepen the market so that additional liquidity might be created. 5. 1. 5. Accounting Standards Harmonization According to the responses given, the issue regarding the standardization and harmonisation of accounting practices ranks highly on the list of things that need to be dealt with within the Islamic financial institutions of Kuwait. The importance of this harmonization has made itself clear within the institutions being studied, as the lack thereof has contributed to the existence of a shallow capital market that lacks fairness, efficiency, and transparency (IOSCO, 2004). The credibility granted Islamic financial institutions as a result of recent work by AAOIFI has improved operations enough to emphasise the importance of accounting harmonisation. As it now stands, the harmonisation initiative has improved the ability for Kuwaiti financial institutions to communicate with other non-Islamic banks as accounting standards have been expressed in harmony to a greater degree. This appears to have also accorded the banking system a reasonable amount of credibility in the estimation of other institutions and accorded to Islamic bank workers a higher level of respect among their peers. Yet more needs to be done, as has been indicated by the interviewees’ responses. Continued efforts to broaden the scope of harmonisation promise to improve the status of Kuwaiti banks within a financial situation in which the majority of institutions do work according to international accounting standards. 5. 1. 6. Standardization of Shariah The respondents were universally agreed that the proper standardization of Shariah was necessary not only to the proper understanding of the Islamic banking principles, but ultimately to the proper governing of all financial institutions in Kuwait. The survey highlights the confusion that currently exists within the market and the formation of a common platform, as suggested by Kahf, does have the potential to improve the existing problem. The standardization of the Shariah would have the added benefit of making it easier for non-Islamic bankers to understand the provisions and requirements of the Shariah as it regards banking. The facilitation of Halal transactions might then be put into effect between such banks and Islamic institutions in Kuwait. Such standards will help non-Islamic members of the banking community understand such ideas as the necessity that an underlying asset exist as the subject of any financing contract, so that institutions will be better prepared to provide more than just a debt paper when conducting Shariah transactions . Therefore, any transaction that resembles Riba, Maisir or any other action prohibited by Shariah may be avoided. Halal practices might be set up even within non-Islamic banking institutions, and this may facilitate increased competition and better practice all round. 5. 1. 7. Competition from Conventional Institutions Competition is itself considered by theoreticians to be a problem for Islamic financial institution as these businesses are usually small and possess a smaller capital base than their competitor institutions. The respondents themselves have also indicated that competition is an important consideration for the Islamic banks of Kuwait. However, the degree of importance to which these respondents have admitted have varied across the spectrum from low to high. The Islamic institutions of Kuwait appear also to have gained a vast amount of capital (via Sukuk and other methods) by appealing on religious grounds and the establishment of a capital market through those means (Iqbal, Ahmad and Khan, 1998). This would indicate why some respondents consider the threat of competition to be low, especially since the Islamic institutions have a religious claim to customer loyalty that competitor institutions may not possess. However, the importance of competition between Islamic institutions appears not to be overlooked by those respondents who considered the threat of competition to be high. Still, though competition may be high, the actual threat it poses may still be low as competition has the advantage of presenting a barrier to the entry of further banking institutions. Furthermore, the existence of non-Islamic financial institutions within the Islamic sector may have been considered favourable by those persons who responded that the threat is low. This may be because the presence of these institutions validates the viability of the Islamic banking sector (Al Omar & Abdel-Haq, 1996). 5. 1. 8. Availability of Data The issue of data availability rates highly within the Kuwaiti Islamic financial sector according to the respondents. These interviewees appear to understand and have had problems arising from the difficulty with which data and statistics are obtained regarding the Islamic capital markets (IOSCO, 2004). The necessity of scientific research and the indispensability of such statistical market data are also addressed in this response by the interviewees; such research has rarely been undertaken by Islamic banks. The unavailability of data is a major reason for this lack of valuable research, and it appears that respondents realize that this has prevented Kuwaiti banks from reaching their fullest potential. The current information possessed for banks on a broad Islamic scale is lacking, inadequate and subject to qualifications. This appears also to be the case for the banks in question represented by the respondents. 5. 2 Micro Level Changes 5. 2. 1. Liquidity Management All respondents considered liquidity management to be of high importance, and this is in direct contrast to the controversial nature of the issue regarding liquidity and capital requirements. This is in keeping with the literature and theory prevailing within the Islamic banking community, which identifies this to be of major importance, especially in light of Islamic banks’ bid for global expansion. In Kuwait too this proves to be of interest to the Islamic bankers, and the many challenges which face the market are likely to be the reason respondents invariably indicated it to be of high concern. Certainly ideas abound regarding how to manage the liquidity within the Islamic market. Methods as have already been identified such as the shuffling (unbundling and repackaging) of assets in order to make them more marketable and liquefiable (Iqbal, 1997). These methods, along with the identification of potentials for inter-bank market development (El Qorchi, 2005), are ones that would doubtless prove valuable within the Islamic financial market represented by these respondents. The depth of the market would be increased in such a situation, and this would prove to be beneficial in the Kuwaiti market that is expanding both within the country and on a global scale. However, these measures would depend on further developments that may present difficulties materializing, and the gravity of this is also reflected in the response to the questionnaire. Such developments would include the installation of a facility that provides a lender of last resort. It would also involve securitization for the purposes of managing the spectrum of risk as well as maturity issues (El Qorchi, 2005). 5. 2. 2. Maturity Mismatch The maturity mismatch issue appears to have contributed to a division among the respondents regarding their responses. While some considered this problem to be of high importance, these opinions were balanced by those who considered the issue to be of medium or low importance. Those respondents who identify maturity mismatch as a low-ranking problem gain assurance from the possibility of using Tawarroq (debt rollover) as a method of financing maturities. The fact that the Kuwaiti Islamic banks they represent have the ability to finance the debt of the ultimate creditor using customer money allows these respondents to feel secure (Al-Suwailem, 2006). However, those who consider maturity mismatch to be a high-ranking issue do so likely because, as has been indicated in the literature, questions do exist concerning the extent to which debt-rollover can be used to finance or match maturity. Other problems, too, lie in the fact that in order for these policies to perform freely, other things previously mentioned would have to be put into place—such as accounting harmonization (for the smooth running of the capital market). Since these systems are not fully up and running in the Kuwaiti market, then this might explain the apprehension that some of the respondents have concerning the maturity matching issue (IOSCO, 2004). 5. 2. 3. Personnel Competence, Qualifications and Training The issue surrounding personnel competence and training in the area of Islamic and Shariah institutional banking has been determined to be of high importance by all but one of the respondents—who still considered it to be quite relevant within the Kuwaiti situation. In order to continue its expansion within the local and global markets, the banking system within Kuwait needs to facilitate the training of its personnel in all areas—including the areas concerned with Shariah banking (Iqbal, Ahmad & Khan, 1998). This necessity has been reflected in the responses, as incompetence has no doubt been the issue within the banks they represent—judging from the fact that most consider it to be of high priority. The problem arises because (among other things) customers are generally more accustomed to the conventional style of banking. Where, as in Kuwait, the majority of banks are westernized and traditional, it becomes absolutely imperative that the personnel be thoroughly familiar not just with the practices pertaining to Islamic banking but also with the Shariah doctrines that govern them. Without this knowledge, it is likely that employees do not possess the expertise necessary to explain to customers the meanings and Islamic implications of certain banking or investment practices. The respondents to the questionnaire, being banking personnel themselves, have first-hand knowledge of the problems that may arise when personnel are untrained or unqualified. Their response also points toward the need for more scholars who specialize in both finance and Shariah, as well as the need for focussed development of courses in Shariah designed specifically for the economist (IOSCO, 2004). 5. 2. 4. Financial Products and Innovation Innovation and the development of financial products appear to rank highly in the estimation of Kuwaiti bankers and investors, as is indicated by the responses to the questionnaire regarding this issue. The idea behind this wide-spread adoption of the innovative process by these Kuwaiti respondents stems from the theory that the viability of these Islamic institutions as an alternative to conventional banking rests on the ability of the bankers to provide a wide variety of new methods of investment for potential investors. The respondents, being high-level investment personnel working in Kuwait, are at least aware of the plethora of ways that Islamic and Shariah banking methods differ from the conventional methods of banking. These differences offer a variety of ways in which innovation might be brought to bear upon the Kuwaiti financial market and be made to attract newer investors. Such ideas as Mudarabah and Musharakah are likely to draw prospective investors previously deterred by the prospect of bearing the entire losses of their ventures. Furthermore, such persons as the respondents represent are in touch with the needs that customers have, and this knowledge allows them to realise the necessity of developing financial products that cater to these needs (Al-Suweilem, 2006; Bacha, 1999). As a result, supply will work toward creating an equilibrium with the demand that exists. Concerns may arise from the fact that these persons are also aware of the need for an in-depth understanding of the array financial instruments in order to put into effect many of the innovations necessary within Kuwait’s Islamic financial institutions (1999). 5. 2. 5. Products and Services’ Marketing The imperative nature of the marketing of products and services is reflected to some extent within the responses to the questionnaire. Though most consider this to be of importance, one person did offer a dissenting voice. Those who did agree were also divided as to the extent to which product marketing is necessary. It is likely that the dissenting person places the innovative development of products in a more prominent place, arguing that until products are developed no marketing will be necessary. This is certainly true. However, the fact that so many of the respondents acknowledge the necessity of marketing makes it clear that they understand one of the major issues facing Islamic financial institutions: customers are largely unaware of the services that are offered and the ways that these services could be of benefit to them. Clearly this is as much the case in Kuwait as anywhere else since so many respondents in the affirmative concerning the issue. 5. 2. 6. Size of Institutions Institution size is an issue on which most respondents again agreed. These Kuwaiti investment professionals appear also to face challenges which are similar to those faced by all banks—that of garnering a sufficiently wide investment base in order to ensure security and to maximize their competitive strength within the market. Since the questionnaire specifically asked whether size posed a challenge, the answers indicate that even in Kuwait, smaller banks tend to suffer from a higher level of risk on the financial market. What is also probable is that these smaller banks are represented mainly by the Islamic and Shariah compliant banks within the country. The earlier replies concerning the need for marketing and innovation therefore apply to this question of size, as development of strategies along these lines would enable growth and deepening of the institution as well as the market. It is likely, therefore, that (regarding the question of the challenging nature of institution size) the concurring responses demonstrate the need for expansion of Kuwaiti Islamic financial institutions. 5. 2. 7. Institution Rating and Instruments Theory, literature, and this survey concur on the question of the importance of institution rating. Though the matter is brought up as a subject of relevance within the Islamic banking community, it has not been treated as a major issue. This is seen especially in the fact that it remains a question whether or not such ratings should be made obligatory for financial institutions. The respondents to this question gauged the importance of ratings to be of low or medium range, indicating that in the Kuwaiti Islamic banking system, though ratings are also relevant, it is not the question of utmost importance to anyone concerned. The importance of ratings has however been established by the respondents within the Kuwaiti market. Despite the fact that they consider it of low importance, they do indicate that it is considered a pertinent issue. One reason for this would be that the IIRA does exist as a body to assess (among other things) the Shariah compliance of Kuwaiti financial institutions. This may have a bearing on the consumer loyalty that might be considered important to the continued operation or wellbeing of many of these institutions, especially in light of the fact that many Kuwaitis choose Islamic banks (over the competition) precisely for reasons having to do with Shariah compliance. 5. 2. 8. Inadequate Sensitivity to Customer Satisfaction While almost all respondents identified inadequate sensitivity to customer satisfaction as a challenge, of some concern is the fact that only a few Kuwaiti banking personnel identified it as a highly important one. It is evident that Kuwaiti bankers understand the situation of competition that exists within that nation’s financial market, especially since in Kuwait only three of its 15 banks are Islamic. It becomes imperative that consumers are satisfied within such a market where (with 76 other investment companies) alternative banking institutions about. What the Kuwaitis may be counting on is the fact that consumers who use Islamic financial institutions already have their primary needs met in a bank that is Shariah compliant. Still, as represented earlier, Kuwaiti’s banking personnel recognize the need for creating innovative banking products that cater to the desires of the consumer. They also recognise that in order to cater to these needs, sensitivity to customer satisfaction is indispensable. 5. 2. 9. Inability to Communicate Uniqueness The challenge faced in identifying the unique attributes of Islamic financial institutions is admitted by the majority of banking professionals surveyed. However, the importance of this issue seems to be only minimally appreciated in Kuwait—according to the data collected. This idea goes back to the question of marketing, and in which it was also evident that Kuwait felt no major compulsion toward pushing the Islamic banking product to consumers. Concerns about the future of Kuwaiti Islamic banking might here be expressed as it has been shown through the theory and literature reviewed that the ability of these institutions to become strong, viable, and known alternatives to traditional banking depends on its differentiation within the market (Khan & Ahmed, 2001). 5. 3. Critical Engagement with Areas of Convergence 5. 3. 1. Convergence on Shariah Compliance Issues In some very critical areas, it was found that the responses made by these Kuwaiti financial professionals strongly support the theories found in the literature. The strength of this support points in many cases toward not only the importance of the question but also the extent to which changes are necessary within the Kuwaiti finance environment. The unanimity with which the respondents answered the question of uniform regulation challenges leaves no doubt that the lack or inadequacy of regulation dealing specifically with Shariah compliance has a crippling effect on the Kuwaiti banking system. Since the Shariah’s restrictions and requirements may often be intricate, the lack of uniformity within the Kuwaiti market (as has been predicted by literature) has led to problems. Such problems have the potential of ranging from simply an inability to properly execute in the Shariah-compliant areas of banking, or the inability to detect and prevent the inappropriate actions of institutions that claim Shariah compliance. What the Kuwaiti banks have demonstrated is a convergence between theory and practice in that without a proper regulation system, the Shariah support mechanism for the institutions has also proven to be substandard (Dudley, 1998). Islamic institutions in Kuwait, while trying to conduct Shariah compliant business, have the added problem of working within the sometimes contradictory framework of conventional Western banking. Furthermore, the problem proves more crippling in the Kuwaiti finance environment as the Islamic banks are many, yet are lost in a world of regulations that prove more hospitable to the competition. The fact that problems still exist despite the 2005/06 attempts at regulation by the Kuwait’s central bank (CBK) only points to the magnitude of the problem as represented by Shariah regulation and the necessity of uniformity within these regulations/. It also demonstrates the inadequacy of simply tacking on a Shariah amendment to existing law. What this research has shown to be truly necessary is a thorough review of current regulations that culminates in the full integration of Shariah. This will facilitate the continued running of Islamic (as well as conventional) banking institutions within the financial environment. 5. 3. 2. Convergence on Competence and Training in Shariah The importance of personnel competence and training in Shariah banking is also an area that demonstrates convergence of practice in Kuwait with the theory. It highlights the immense need for scholarship and training in both Shariah and banking (IOSCO, 2004; Iqbal, Ahmad & Khan, 1998). The lack of thorough understanding of the key Shariah concepts (as introduced earlier on in this research) is shown to be a deterrent to optimal practice in the Kuwaiti financial environment. Since consumers are more used to conventional banking, this makes it all the more necessary for banking personnel to be fully equipped with knowledge and expertise in Shariah financial management so that all consumer queries might be dealt with thoroughly and professionally. 5. 4. Critical Engagement with Areas of Divergence 5. 4. 1. Divergence on Marketing and Innovation Issues Despite the concurrence of the responses with the theories presented in the literature, there were also some areas where responses disagreed with theory or amongst themselves. The areas represented are product/service marketing, inadequate sensitivity to customer satisfaction, and inability to communicate uniqueness. As regards the imperative nature of product and service marketing, the disagreement was occasioned in the area of the extent to which product and service marketing is necessary within the Kuwaiti Islamic banking environment. The connection that this question of product marketing has with innovation is undeniable, and it is likely that disagreement stems from the fact that persons place a higher priority on innovation. Products must be created before they can be marketed after all. However, it appears to be problematic that even some institutions within the Kuwaiti Islamic banking sector do not place importance upon marketing, as this strategy is precisely the method through which customers become aware of the services that any bank has to offer. Those who consider marketing to be of high importance understand that customer ignorance can have a damaging effect on the viability of a financial institution. Lack of knowledge prompts potential consumers to ignore the services available, and business that might otherwise be gained is lost. Marketing allows customers to become aware of these services, and it is consumer centred as it promotes the benefits that might accrue to the customer as a result of using that service. 5. 4. 2. Divergence on the Question of Sensitivity to Customer Satisfaction The other area of divergence deals with inadequate sensitivity to customer satisfaction. While the theory explored highlights this as an important area, it was surprising to note that some of the respondents considered the challenge to be of high importance. Evidently, the Kuwaiti banking personnel do comprehend the gravity of the competition that exists between Shariah and non-Shariah financial institutions. The fact that non-Shariah banks are set up so that losses to the institution are minimized at the expense of the customer leaves such banks in a relatively more secure position. The necessity of being sensitive to the satisfaction of clients becomes that more important, as the relationship with the customer is possibly the area that offers an Islamic bank the greatest amount of competitive advantage. In order that consumers who may not be completely loyal to Shariah be induced to work with the institution (or to continue as a customer), the satisfaction of these persons (on whom the institution rests) must be ascertained and guaranteed. Marketing plays a big role in this, but before marketing can take place banking professionals must become aware of the areas that would most satisfy these consumers. It must also be aware of areas in which satisfaction is not being granted (whether within Islamic banks or the alternative banking system) and changes made promptly to improve these conditions. 5. 4. 3. Divergence on the Issue of Communicating Uniqueness By far, the divergence of opinions between theory and practice as it regards the inability to communicate uniqueness is most surprising. The reason for this is that it is precisely the uniqueness of the Islamic bank that defines the necessity for all other areas of this research. Its compliance with Shariah principles is what sets it apart from the competition, and it is this that also contributes to the difficulties as well as the advantages of the Islamic bank. Though challenges of identifying the Islamic banks’ uniqueness is acknowledged by the majority of banking professionals surveyed, the minimal appreciation of its importance within Kuwait is of great concern for aforementioned reasons. The idea of uniqueness also reverts to the question of marketing. Though it does make sense that institutions that disregard marketing somewhat would also disregard the importance of product differentiation, this lack of interest on the part of so many managers gives cause for alarm. It gives cause for the expression of concerns about the future of Islamic financial institutions in Kuwait if no effort is made at demonstrating how their services differ from the traditional services of the competition (Khan & Ahmed, 2001). 5. 5. Reflection on personal learning As a student who is relatively new at empirical research, I found the experience of collecting and ordering data very intriguing. It was very interesting to find that the research carried out during the literature review demonstrated that though different researchers had essentially been studying the same phenomenon in different countries, the ideas extracted were able to come together to form a cohesive body of knowledge. This became even more evident when the empirical data collected within this research began finding support in the literature and theoretical concepts identified within the literature review. As it regards Islamic and Kuwaiti banking, I learned that the Shariah system of banking in many ways embodied ideas that exist for the improvement of the financial condition of the country which it serves. It caters to the needs of the institution, yet appears to be much more client centred than traditional banking. It also seems to favour the growth of the economy in its determination that financial transactions be done expressly in conjunction with the creation of real and tangible wealth. Finance is therefore not divorced from real work and real investment or enterprise. I also learned that Islamic banking does face many challenges, however.

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How can US Small business survive in a Global Economy - Research Proposal Example However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the level of management within this sector, with US policy-makers indicating that there are specific flaws in innovation (Katz & Green, 2011), lack of economic insight, entrepreneurial talent, practical understanding, and human resource management. According to Johnson and Turner (2010), the early phases are of significant value for the small business as these a very high failure rate. Keeping in view this high failure rate in the small business sector, it seems essential to examine the aspects, characteristics, or management skills that are necessary to facilitate the small business to survive and progress in global economy. ... ituational Analysis It is understandable that as the global economy goes on towards more and more integration due to progress of communications approaches, growth in developing nations, and decline in barriers for cross-country business, a few of the best prospects for small businesses will draw by operating within the global market. Within the developed as well as developing nations around the globe, US policy makers at all levels have accepted the fact that small businesses are turning out to be more and more essential with respect to employment, creation of wealth and the improvement in innovation. Alternatively, there are significant reservations regarding the excellence of management within this sector, with policy makers telling that there are specific weak spots in improvement, dire need of economic insight, advertising, entrepreneurial talent, understanding of market, and human resource management (Gupta, 2008). Therefore, a number of small businesses do not get to their comp lete potential and fail to survive, causing lost employments and capital for their area in which they are situated. Earlier research proved that there are four decisive phases within the life of a small business where the phases are decided by the time-span the business has been functioning. The estimated duration of every phase is as follows: first phase is the commencing point and is approximately three years in length. Subsequently, second phase is the development period and is four to six years in length; third phase is the established part and it is somewhere between six to eight years in length; and fourth phase is the constancy period having more than nine years of duration. Linked with all of these phases is a special set of business traits, tests, decision-making aptitude, and

Display design for or a museun, gallery, shop ,church, palace or Essay

Display design for or a museun, gallery, shop ,church, palace or temporary exhibition - Essay Example Furthermore, of the ethnic groups named in the Hall of Kenya and the Cycle of life gallery, the emphasis is on the Maasai ethnic group. This appears to be a deliberate attempt to please foreign tourist market given that it resonates well with Kenya’s tourism sector’s extensive use of Maasai imagery and artifacts in advertisements. The foreign tourist market is important for the museum given that tourist pay eight times more than what ordinary citizens of Kenya pay at the entrance as fee in order to gain access to the museum. In addition, the tourist pays U.S. $100 to view the original hominid skeletal remains in the Cradle of Mankind gallery’s section (JURMAIN, 2008.p.6). The Cycle of Life exhibits consists of artifacts associated with stages of life in the history of traditional and modern Kenya. Like the photographs and paintings in the Hall of Kenya, the artifacts here, also carry ethnic identities as the overriding motive of display. Pictorial exhibit in the national museum as part of Kenya’s 10th independence anniversary celebration display is political because they are used in highlighting the various developments in the history of Kenya since independence. These developments were responsible for shaping the history of the nation through the various stages of struggle up to independence. The pictorial exhibits are used by government and the museum to give citizens the opportunity to learn, appreciate and experience the efforts and struggles made by the government and other institutions in the social, political and economical development of Kenya as a young country. An example of this exhibition was the 17th December 2013 which showcased the political struggles of various individuals and their contributions towards Kenya’s independence. In addition, the pictorial exhibits are being used to celebrate Kenya’ Jubilee year. It is a celebration which given due

Juvenile Justice Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Juvenile Justice - Research Paper Example This would involve merging punishment and welfare in contributing to the rehabilitative reformatory. Since Mrs. I does not want her son to go to jail for his crime, the question would be; †should we punish,† or â€Å"should we treat the situation â€Å" (Reader, 1996). Therefore the best approach to the case considering Mrs. I’s concerns would be to talk to the teen and understand why he had to commit the crime, introduce treating mechanisms, which would make the youth to pay for the crime such. Such treatment would include recommending he should never touch a vehicle until he improves his behaviors, and threatening to take him to jail any time such a case is reported in the future. Such an approach as Markman (2007) notes would be in accordance to parens patriae doctrine in protecting, rehabilitating and healing process. There are three steps that have to be used to protect Mrs I’s teenager. The first step would be accountability. This would involve takin g responsibility for one’s behavior, take the necessary action to repair any harm caused and be ready to change (NCJRS, 2000). In this case, the teenager has to understand how his behavior affected others, accept, and acknowledge that the behavior involved a choice that could be made differently, and make changes to avoid such behavior in the future. The teenager has also to have support from his parents to ensure he realizes his mistakes and is ready to change for the better. This focuses on repairing the harm done by such a teenager, and not so much on punishment (Little 2010). The second stage would be competency development. Competency would be explained as the capacity to do something well to be valued by others (Pranis, 1998). The juvenile offender has to have a chance to perform meaningful and important tasks in the community and contribute to the wellbeing of others. Such would involve learning to make meaningful choices, belong to a community, and contribute positive ly in developing decision making, reasoning and problem solving skills (NCJRS, 2000). The third step would involve community protection. In a balanced and restorative justice framework, youths with strong connections to their communities and care about people in their community are less likely to offend. This would involve initiatives that would foster positive relationship with the family and the community at large (Pranis, 1998). To help the teen, it would be important to facilitate a cordial relationship between the youth, the family, and community, which would indicate the extent of reforming the teen has undergone. To ensure this is achieved, it would be important supervise the youth for sometime, where he has to report regularly on his day to day activities, use house arrests for some time to ensure he realizes his mistakes by denying the freedom he treasures, and ensure he is involved in some communal undertakings to understand how best to live in a community, which would in turn help in his reforming process by understanding his responsibilities, and having a sense of belonging (NCJRS, 2000). As a judge, there would be several factors to consider. For example, prototypical of the current psychological discourse related to youth and the hormonal imbalance issue, criminologists view youths as subjects to a number

Ralph Lauren Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ralph Lauren Case Study - Essay Example In the same way, there are several ways that the value of a brand can be exploited for the beneficial purpose of the organisation (Keller, 2005). For Ralph Lauren, brand image is highly significant. Ralph Lauren sold his tie line at higher prices than that of market prices with the assumption that customers have greater preference for the product which is rendered at higher prices. It is because according to Ralph Lauren customers perceived that higher price refers to better quality. He diversified his business through own retail store to attract younger generation as well as baby boomers that can help the brand to catch the attention of the customers. Furthermore, Ralph Lauren diversified its business from menswear to womenswear in the year 1971. In the year 1972, the Polo brand was introduced in 24 colours with the tagline â€Å"Every team has its colours, Polo has 24†. This innovative promotional strategy facilitated to fabricate the brand equity for Polo. Ralph Lauren conc entrated on sportswear and trendy fashion wears. He is believed to be the pioneer of ‘lifestyle merchandising branding’. He promoted his brand ‘Polo’ very strategically. By 1980, he set up seven new stores across the markets. His brand was promoted through Hollywood movie ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the costume designer was awarded Oscar for costumes. The above mentioned issue helped the brand to be recognised throughout the world. He considered the social as well as the cultural factors to enhance brand awareness in the American market (Hancock, 2009). Accordingly, in 1978, he introduced fragrances for both men and women. The aromas of the fragrances were apparently distinct and customers would prefer to be familiar with, even if they were not concerned about the clothing line developed by Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren made an advertisement campaign with the assistance of Weber (photographer) with an eye-catching tagline â€Å"Rough wear-it was made to be worn†, in the year of 1979, that had a strong impact on brand advertising in those days. In 1981, Ralph Lauren launched a new brand namely Santa Fe collection which facilitated the romanticism of American fantasies with cowboy outfits. In the same year, Ralph Lauren executed its own boutique in London and he became the first American designer in the European market (Hancock, 2009). Next, Ralph Lauren diversified his business towards furnishings with the tagline of â€Å"How Tradition Begins†. Each product under this segment has its own image in customers’ mind. In the year 1986, he emphasised on a flagship store in New York which can define his brands within one corporate entity. The key factors of success for Ralph Lauren are innovative ideas with the combination of networking which creates public awareness and a specific vision about the brand. 2. Evaluation of the Role of Brand Association in the Company’s Success Brand association is related with the customers’ outlook connected with brand and it reflects the strategic position of the brand. Associations can provide to summarise a set of facts and specifications that would be complex for the customer to access and high-priced for the company to correspond. Brand association can facilitate to generate brand awareness in customers’ mind. A differentiating brand association is capable to assist the organisation to obtain competitive advantage. For instance, Ralph Lauren is synonymous with higher price

Employee relations Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employee relations - Coursework Example The relationship at workplace can be between any person in the organization, between coworkers, between workers and their superiors, between members who are in the same management among others. In any working environment, it is mandatory for employees to share a relationship that is healthy with one another so that they can ultimate product of their input is done to their best. In any workplace, the relationship that exists between the top management and the employees are of great value. Human relations starts from the starting point of employee training, addressing the needs of the employees, fostering an employee working place culture and resolving the conflicts that arises at the working environment between employees or employees and the top management. Every individual at working place shares a particular relationship with his or her fellow workers. Human beings at places of work are not machines who begin working at the press of a mere button. The employees need fellow workers whom they can talk to and share ideas, happiness and sorrow with each other. A healthy relation of employees reduces problems of absenteeism at the places of work when there is a good relation, individuals tend to be serious and put more effort towards their work. They do not take frequent leaves and do enjoy their work and the working environment. Employees’ incidents of complaints will reduce and start giving inputs to their best. Unitarist perspective This perspective assumes that an organization is an integrated and harmonious whole that deals with ideal of "one huge happy family". Its assumption is that the top management in the organization and other staff members all share a common purpose, emphasizes cooperation and have similar set of values, objectives and interests.

Political philosophy Essay Example for Free

Political philosophy Essay Thomas Hobbes was born in Wiltshire, England on 5 April 1588 | birth_place = some sources say Malmesbury[2]). Born prematurely on April 5, 1588, when his mother heard of the coming invasion of the Spanish Armada, Thomas Hobbes later reported that my mother gave birth to twins: myself and fear. [3] His childhood is almost a complete blank, and his mothers name is unknown. [4] His father, also named Thomas, was the vicar of Charlton and Westport. Thomas Sr. abandoned his three children to the care of an older brother, Thomas juniors uncle Francis, when he was forced to flee to London after being involved in a fight with a clergyman outside his own church. Hobbes was educated at Westport church from the age of four, passed to the Malmesbury school and then to a private school kept by a young man named Robert Latimer, a graduate of the University of Oxford. Hobbes was a good pupil, and around 1603 he went up to Magdalen Hall, which is most closely related to Hertford College, Oxford. [5][6][7][8] The principal John Wilkinson was a Puritan, and he had some influence on Hobbes. At university, Hobbes appears to have followed his own curriculum; he was little attracted by the scholastic learning. He did not complete his B. A. degree until 1608, but he was recommended by Sir James Hussey, his master at Magdalen, as tutor to William, the son of William Cavendish, Baron of Hardwick (and later Earl of Devonshire), and began a life-long connection with that family. [9] Hobbes became a companion to the younger William and they both took part in a grand tour in 1610. Hobbes was exposed to European scientific and critical methods during the tour in contrast to the scholastic philosophy which he had learned in Oxford. His scholarly efforts at the time were aimed at a careful study of classic Greek and Latin authors, the outcome of which was, in 1628, his great translation of Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War, the first translation of that work into English from a Greek manuscript. Although he associated with literary figures like Ben Jonson and thinkers such as Francis Bacon, he did not extend his efforts into philosophy until after 1629. His employer Cavendish, then the Earl of Devonshire, died of the plague in June 1628. The widowed countess dismissed Hobbes but he soon found work, again as a tutor, this time to the son of Sir Gervase Clifton. This task, chiefly spent in Paris, ended in 1631 when he again found work with the Cavendish family, tutoring the son of his previous pupil. Over the next seven years as well as tutoring he expanded his own knowledge of philosophy, awakening in him curiosity over key philosophic debates. He visited Florence in 1636 and later was a regular debater in philosophic groups in Paris, held together by Marin Mersenne. From 1637 he considered himself a philosopher and scholar. In Paris Hobbess first area of study was an interest in the physical doctrine of motion and physical momentum. Despite his interest in this phenomenon, he disdained experimental work as in physics. He went on to conceive the system of thought to the elaboration of which he would devote his life. His scheme was first to work out, in a separate treatise, a systematic doctrine of body, showing how physical phenomena were universally explicable in terms of motion, at least as motion or mechanical action was then understood. He then singled out Man from the realm of Nature and plants. Then, in another treatise, he showed what specific bodily motions were involved in the production of the peculiar phenomena of sensation, knowledge, affections and passions whereby Man came into relation with Man. Finally he considered, in his crowning treatise, how Men were moved to enter into society, and argued how this must be regulated if Men were not to fall back into brutishness and misery. Thus he proposed to unite the separate phenomena of Body, Man, and the State. Hobbes came home, in 1637, to a country riven with discontent which disrupted him from the orderly execution of his philosophic plan. However, by the end of the Short Parliament in 1640, he had written a short treatise called The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic. It was not published and only circulated among his acquaintances in manuscript form. A pirated version, however, was published about ten years later. Although it seems that much of The Elements of Law was composed before the sitting of the Short Parliament, there are polemical pieces of the work that clearly mark the influences of the rising political crisis. Nevertheless, many (though not all) elements of Hobbess political thought were unchanged between The Elements of Law and Leviathan, which demonstrates that the events of the English Civil War had little effect on his contractarian methodology. It should be noted, however, that the arguments in Leviathan were modified from The Elements of Law when it came to the necessity of consent in creating political obligation. Namely, Hobbes wrote in The Elements of Law that Patrimonial kingdoms were not necessarily formed by the consent of the governed, while in Leviathan he argued that they were. This was perhaps a reflection either of Hobbess thoughts concerning the engagement controversy or of his reaction to treatises published by Patriarchalists, such as Sir Robert Filmer, between 1640 and 1651. When in November 1640 the Long Parliament succeeded the Short, Hobbes felt he was a marked man by the circulation of his treatise and fled to Paris. He did not return for eleven years. In Paris he rejoined the coterie about Mersenne, and wrote a critique of the Meditations on First Philosophy of Descartes, which was printed as third among the sets of Objections appended, with Replies from Descartes in 1641. A different set of remarks on other works by Descartes succeeded only in ending all correspondence between the two. Hobbes also extended his own works somewhat, working on the third section, De Cive, which was finished in November 1641. Although it was initially only circulated privately, it was well received, and included lines of argumentation to be repeated a decade later in the Leviathan. He then returned to hard work on the first two sections of his work and published little except for a short treatise on optics (Tractatus opticus) included in the collection of scientific tracts published by Mersenne as Cogitata physico-mathematica in 1644. He built a good reputation in philosophic circles and in 1645 was chosen with Descartes, Gilles de Roberval and others, to referee the controversy between John Pell and Longomontanus over the problem of squaring the circle. The Civil War in England The English Civil War broke out in 1642, and when the Royalist cause began to decline in the middle of 1644 there was an exodus of the kings supporters to Europe. Many came to Paris and were known to Hobbes. This revitalised Hobbess political interests and the De Cive was republished and more widely distributed. The printing began in 1646 by Samuel de Sorbiere through the Elsevier press at Amsterdam with a new preface and some new notes in reply to objections. In 1647, Hobbes was engaged as mathematical instructor to the young Charles, Prince of Wales,[10] who had come over from Jersey around July. This engagement lasted until 1648 when Charles went to Holland. The company of the exiled royalists led Hobbes to produce an English book to set forth his theory of civil government in relation to the political crisis resulting from the war. The State, it now seemed to Hobbes, might be regarded as a great artificial man or monster (Leviathan), composed of men, with a life that might be traced from its generation under pressure of human needs to its dissolution through civil strife proceeding from human passions. The work was closed with a general Review and Conclusion, in direct response to the war which raised the question of the subjects right to change allegiance when a former sovereigns power to protect was irrecoverably gone. Also he criticized religious doctrines on rationalistic grounds in the Commonwealth. Frontispiece from De Cive (1642) During the years of the composition of Leviathan he remained in or near Paris. In 1647 Hobbes was overtaken by a serious illness which disabled him for six months. On recovering from this near fatal disorder, he resumed his literary task, and carried it steadily forward to completion by the year 1650. Meanwhile, a translation of De Cive was being produced; there has been much scholarly disagreement over whether Hobbes translated the work himself or not. In 1650, a pirated edition of The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic was published. It was divided into two separate small volumes (Human Nature, or the Fundamental Elements of Policie and De corpore politico, or the Elements of Law, Moral and Politick). In 1651 the translation of De Cive was published under the title of Philosophicall Rudiments concerning Government and Society. Meanwhile, the printing of the greater work was proceeding, and finally it appeared about the middle of 1651, under the title of Leviathan, or the Matter, Forme, and Power of a Common Wealth, Ecclesiasticall and Civil, with a famous title-page engraving in which, from behind hills overlooking a landscape, there towered the body (above the waist) of a crowned giant, made up of tiny figures of human beings and bearing sword and crozier in the two hands. The work had immediate impact. Soon Hobbes was more lauded and decried than any other thinker of his time. However, the first effect of its publication was to sever his link with the exiled royalists, forcing him to appeal to the revolutionary English government for protection. The exiles might very well have killed him; the secularist spirit of his book greatly angered both Anglicans and French Catholics. Hobbes fled back home, arriving in London in the winter of 1651. Following his submission to the council of state he was allowed to subside into private life in Fetter Lane. Leviathan Main article: Leviathan (book) Frontispiece of Leviathan In Leviathan, Hobbes set out his doctrine of the foundation of states and legitimate governments based on social contract theories. Leviathan was written during the English Civil War; much of the book is occupied with demonstrating the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the evil of discord and civil war. Beginning from a mechanistic understanding of human beings and the passions, Hobbes postulates what life would be like without government, a condition which he calls the state of nature. In that state, each person would have a right, or license, to everything in the world. This inevitably leads to conflict, a war of all against all (bellum omnium contra omnes), and thus lives that are solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short (xiii). To escape this state of war, men in the state of nature accede to a social contract and establish a civil society. According to Hobbes, society is a population beneath a sovereign authority, to whom all individuals in that society cede their natural rights for the sake of protection. Any abuses of power by this authority are to be accepted as the price of peace. However, he also states that in severe cases of abuse, rebellion is expected. In particular, the doctrine of separation of powers is rejected:[11] the sovereign must control civil, military, judicial and ecclesiastical powers. Leviathan was also well-known for its radical religious views, which were often Hobbess attempt to reinterpret scripture from his materialist assumptions. His denial of incorporeal entities led him write, for example, that Heaven and Hell were places on Earth, and to take other positions out of sync with church teachings of his time. Much has been made of his religious views by scholars such as Richard Tuck and J. G. A. Pocock, but there is still widespread disagreement about the significance of Leviathans contents concerning religion. Many have taken the work to mean that Hobbes was an atheist, while others find the evidence for this position insufficient. Locke John Locke (pronounced /l? k/; 29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English philosopher. Locke is considered the first of the British empiricists, but is equally important to social contract theory. His ideas had enormous influence on the development of epistemology and political philosophy, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers, classical republicans, and contributors to liberal theory. His writings influenced Voltaire and Rousseau, many Scottish Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the American revolutionaries. This influence is reflected in the American Declaration of Independence. [1] Lockes theory of mind is often cited as the origin for modern conceptions of identity and the self, figuring prominently in the later works of philosophers such as David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant. Locke was the first philosopher to define the self through a continuity of consciousness. He also postulated that the mind was a blank slate or tabula rasa; that is, contrary to Cartesian or Christian philosophy, Locke maintained that people are born without innate ideas, and that knowledge is instead determined only by experience derived by sense perception. [2] Contents[hide] * 1 Life * 1. 1 Epitaph * 2 Influence * 2. 1 Constitution of Carolina * 2. 2 Theory of value and property * 2. 3 Political theory * 2. 3. 1 Limits to accumulation * 2. 4 On price theory * 2. 4. 1 Monetary thoughts * 2. 5 The self * 3 List of major works * 3. 1 Major unpublished or posthumous manuscripts * 4 Secondary literature * 5 See also * 6 Notes * 7 Further reading * 8 External links * 8. 1 Works * 8. 2 Resources| Life Lockes father, who was also named John Locke, was a country lawyer and clerk to the Justices of the Peace in Chew Magna,[3] who had served as a captain of cavalry for the Parliamentarian forces during the early part of the English Civil War. His mother, Agnes Keene, was a tanners daughter and reputed to be very beautiful. Both parents were Puritans. Locke was born on 29 August 1632, in a small thatched cottage by the church in Wrington, Somerset, about twelve miles from Bristol. He was baptized the same day. Soon after Lockes birth, the family moved to the market town of Pensford, about seven miles south of Bristol, where Locke grew up in a rural Tudor house in Belluton. In 1647, Locke was sent to the prestigious Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham, a member of Parliament and former commander of the younger Lockes father. After completing his studies there, he was admitted to Christ Church, Oxford. The dean of the college at the time was John Owen, vice-chancellor of the university. Although a capable student, Locke was irritated by the undergraduate curriculum of the time. He found the works of modern philosophers, such as Rene Descartes, more interesting than the classical material taught at the university. Through his friend Richard Lower, whom he knew from the Westminster School, Locke was introduced to medicine and the experimental philosophy being pursued at other universities and in the English Royal Society, of which he eventually became a member. Locke was awarded a bachelors degree in 1656 and a masters degree in 1658. He obtained a bachelor of medicine in 1674, having studied medicine extensively during his time at Oxford and worked with such noted scientists and thinkers as Robert Boyle, Thomas Willis, Robert Hooke and Richard Lower. In 1666, he met Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, who had come to Oxford seeking treatment for a liver infection. Cooper was impressed with Locke and persuaded him to become part of his retinue. Locke had been looking for a career and in 1667 moved into Shaftesburys home at Exeter House in London, to serve as Lord Ashleys personal physician. In London, Locke resumed his medical studies under the tutelage of Thomas Sydenham. Sydenham had a major effect on Lockes natural philosophical thinking – an effect that would become evident in the An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Lockes medical knowledge was put to the test when Shaftesburys liver infection became life-threatening. Locke coordinated the advice of several physicians and was probably instrumental in persuading Shaftesbury to undergo an operation (then life-threatening itself) to remove the cyst. Shaftesbury survived and prospered, crediting Locke with saving his life. It was in Shaftesburys household, during 1671, that the meeting took place, described in the Epistle to the reader of the Essay, which was the genesis of what would later become the Essay. Two extant Drafts still survive from this period. It was also during this time that Locke served as Secretary of the Board of Trade and Plantations and Secretary to the Lords and Proprietors of the Carolinas, helping to shape his ideas on international trade and economics. Shaftesbury, as a founder of the Whig movement, exerted great influence on Lockes political ideas. Locke became involved in politics when Shaftesbury became Lord Chancellor in 1672. Following Shaftesburys fall from favour in 1675, Locke spent some time travelling across France. He returned to England in 1679 when Shaftesburys political fortunes took a brief positive turn. Around this time, most likely at Shaftesburys prompting, Locke composed the bulk of the Two Treatises of Government. Locke wrote the Treatises to defend the Glorious Revolution of 1688, but also to counter the absolutist political philosophy of Sir Robert Filmer and Thomas Hobbes. Though Locke was associated with the influential Whigs, his ideas about natural rights and government are today considered quite revolutionary for that period in English history. However, Locke fled to the Netherlands, Holland, in 1683, under strong suspicion of involvement in the Rye House Plot (though there is little evidence to suggest that he was directly involved in the scheme). In the Netherlands Locke had time to return to his writing, spending a great deal of time re-working the Essay and composing the Letter on Toleration. Locke did not return home until after the Glorious Revolution. Locke accompanied William of Oranges wife back to England in 1688. The bulk of Lockes publishing took place after his arrival back in England – his aforementioned Essay Concerning Human Understanding, the Two Treatises of Civil Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration all appearing in quick succession upon his return from exile. John Locke Lockes close friend Lady Masham invited him to join her at the Mashams country house in Essex. Although his time there was marked by variable health from asthma attacks, he nevertheless became an intellectual hero of the Whigs. During this period he discussed matters with such figures as John Dryden and Isaac Newton. He died in 28 October 1704, and is buried in the churchyard of the village of High Laver,[4] east of Harlow in Essex, where he had lived in the household of Sir Francis Masham since 1691. Locke never married nor had children. Events that happened during Lockes lifetime include the English Restoration, the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London. He did not quite see the Act of Union of 1707, though the thrones of England and Scotland were held in personal union throughout his lifetime. Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy were in their infancy during Lockes time. Epitaph Original Latin: â€Å"| SISTE VIATOR Hic juxta situs est JOHANNES LOCKE. Si qualis fuerit rogas, mediocritate sua contentum se vixesse respondet. Literis innutritus eo usque tantum profecit, ut veritati unice litaret. Hoc ex scriptis illius disce, quae quod de eo reliquum est majori fide tibe exhibebunt, quam epitaphii suspecta elogia. Virtutes si quas habuit, minores sane quam sibi laudi duceret tibi in exemplum proponeret; vita una sepeliantur. Morum exemplum si squaeras in Evangelio habes: vitiorum utinam nusquam: mortalitatis certe (quod prosit) hic et ubique. 1632 Aug. 29Mortuum Anno Dom. 1704 Oct. 28Memorat haec tabula brevi et ipse interitura. | †| English Translation: â€Å"| STOP TRAVELLER Near this place lies JOHN LOCKE. If you are wondering what kind of man he was, he answers that he was contented with his modest lot. Bred a scholar, he made his learning subservient only to the cause of truth. You will learn this from his writings, which will show you everything about him more truthfully than the suspect praises of an epitaph. His virtues, if indeed he had any, were too slight to be lauded by him or to be an example to you. Let his vices be buried with him. Of virtue you have an example in the gospels, should you desire it; of vice would there were none for you; of mortality surely you have one here and everywhere, and may you learn from it. That he was born on the 29th of August in the year of our Lord 1632and that he died on the 28th of October in the year of our Lord 1704this tablet, which itself will soon perish, is a record. | †| Influence Locke exercised a profound influence on political philosophy, in particular on modern liberalism. Michael Zuckert has in fact argued that Locke launched liberalism by tempering Hobbesian absolutism and clearly separating the realms of Church and State. He had a strong influence on Voltaire who called him le sage Locke. His arguments concerning liberty and the social contract later influenced the written works of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers of the United States. In fact, several passages from the Second Treatise are reproduced verbatim in the Declaration of Independence, most notably the reference to a long train of abuses. Such was Lockes influence, Thomas Jefferson wrote; Bacon, Locke and Newton.. I consider them as the three greatest men that have ever lived, without any exception, and as having laid the foundation of those superstructures which have been raised in the Physical and Moral sciences. [5][6] Today, most contemporary libertarians claim Locke as an influence. But Lockes influence may have been even more profound in the realm of epistemology. Locke redefined subjectivity, or self, and intellectual historians such as Charles Taylor and Jerrold Seigel argue that Lockes Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) marks the beginning of the modern conception of the self. [7] Constitution of Carolina Appraisals of Locke have often been tied to appraisals of liberalism in general, and also to appraisals of the United States. Detractors note that (in 1671) he was a major investor in the English slave-trade through the Royal Africa Company, as well as through his participation in drafting the Fundamental Constitution of the Carolinas while Shaftesburys secretary, which established a feudal aristocracy and gave a master absolute power over his slaves. They note that as a secretary to the Council of Trade and Plantations (1673-4) and a member of the Board of Trade (1696-1700) Locke was, in fact, one of just half a dozen men who created and supervised both the colonies and their iniquitous systems of servitude[8] Some see his statements on unenclosed property as having justified the displacement of the Native Americans. Because of his opposition to aristocracy and slavery in his major writings, he is accused of hypocrisy, or of caring only for the liberty of English capitalists. Theory of value and property. Locke uses the word property in both broad and narrow senses. In a broad sense, it covers a wide range of human interests and aspirations; more narrowly, it refers to material goods. He argues that property is a natural right and it is derived from labor. Locke believed that ownership of property is created by the application of labor. In addition, property precedes government and government cannot dispose of the estates of the subjects arbitrarily. Karl Marx later critiqued Lockes theory of property in his social theory. Political theory. See also: Two Treatises of Government Lockes political theory was founded on social contract theory. Unlike Thomas Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance. Like Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. This is apparent with the introduction of currency. In a natural state all people were equal and independent, and everyone had a natural right to defend his â€Å"Life, health, Liberty, or Possessions, basis for the phrase in America; Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. [9] Like Hobbes, Locke assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature was not enough, so people established a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society. However, Locke never refers to Hobbes by name[10] and may instead have been responding to other writers of the day. [11] Locke also advocated governmental separation of powers and believed that revolution is not only a right but an obligation in some circumstances. These ideas would come to have profound influence on the Constitution of the United States and its Declaration of Independence. Limits to accumulation Labor creates property, but it also does contain limits to its accumulation: man’s capacity to produce and man’s capacity to consume. According to Locke, unused property is waste and an offense against nature. However, with the introduction of â€Å"durable† goods, men could exchange their excessive perishable goods for goods that would last longer and thus not offend the natural law. The introduction of money marks the culmination of this process. Money makes possible the unlimited accumulation of property without causing waste through spoilage. He also includes gold or silver as money because they may be â€Å"hoarded up without injury to anyone,† since they do not spoil or decay in the hands of the possessor. The introduction of money eliminates the limits of accumulation. Locke stresses that inequality has come about by tacit agreement on the use of money, not by the social contract establishing civil society or the law of land regulating property. Locke is aware of a problem posed by unlimited accumulation but does not consider it his task. He just implies that government would function to moderate the conflict between the unlimited accumulation of property and a more nearly equal distribution of wealth and does not say which principles that government should apply to solve this problem. However, not all elements of his thought form a consistent whole. For example, labor theory of value of the Two Treatises of Government stands side by side with the demand-and-supply theory developed in a letter he wrote titled Some Considerations on the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest and the Raising of the Value of Money. Moreover, Locke anchors property in labor but in the end upholds the unlimited accumulation of wealth. On price theory Locke’s general theory of value and price is a supply and demand theory, which was set out in a letter to a Member of Parliament in 1691, titled Some Considerations on the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest and the Raising of the Value of Money. [12] Supply is quantity and demand is rent. â€Å"The price of any commodity rises or falls by the proportion of the number of buyer and sellers. † and â€Å"that which regulates the price[of goods] is nothing else but their quantity in proportion to their rent. † The quantity theory of money forms a special case of this general theory. His idea is based on â€Å"money answers all things† (Ecclesiastes) or â€Å"rent of money is always sufficient, or more than enough,† and â€Å"varies very little†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Regardless of whether the demand for money is unlimited or constant, Locke concludes that as far as money is concerned, the demand is exclusively regulated by its quantity. He also investigates the determinants of demand and supply. For supply, goods in general are considered valuable because they can be exchanged, consumed and they must be scarce. For demand, goods are in demand because they yield a flow of income. Locke develops an early theory of capitalization, such as land, which has value because â€Å"by its constant production of saleable commodities it brings in a certain yearly income. † Demand for money is almost the same as demand for goods or land; it depends on whether money is wanted as medium of exchange or as loanable funds. For medium of exchange â€Å"money is capable by exchange to procure us the necessaries or conveniences of life. † For loanable funds, â€Å"it comes to be of the same nature with land by yielding a certain yearly income †¦ or interest. † Monetary thoughts Locke distinguishes two functions of money, as a counter to measure value, and as a pledge to lay claim to goods. He believes that silver and gold, as opposed to paper money, are the appropriate currency for international transactions. Silver and gold, he says, are treated to have equal value by all of humanity and can thus be treated as a pledge by anyone, while the value of paper money is only valid under the government which issues it. Locke argues that a country should seek a favorable balance of trade, lest it fall behind other countries and suffer a loss in its trade. Since the world money stock grows constantly, a country must constantly seek to enlarge its own stock. Locke develops his theory of foreign exchanges, in addition to commodity movements, there are also movements in country stock of money, and movements of capital determine exchange rates. The latter is less significant and less volatile than commodity movements. As for a country’s money stock, if it is large relative to that of other countries, it will cause the country’s exchange to rise above par, as an export balance would do. He also prepares estimates of the cash requirements for different economic groups (landholders, laborers and brokers). In each group the cash requirements are closely related to the length of the pay period. He argues the brokers – middlemen – whose activities enlarge the monetary circuit and whose profits eat into the earnings of laborers and landholders, had a negative influence on both ones personal and the public economy that they supposedly contributed to. The self Locke defines the self as that conscious thinking thing, (whatever substance, made up of whether spiritual, or material, simple, or compounded, it matters not) which is sensible, or conscious of pleasure and pain, capable of happiness or misery, and so is concerned for itself, as far as that consciousness extends. [13] He does not, however, ignore substance, writing that the body too goes to the making the man. [14] The Lockean self is therefore a self-aware and self-reflective consciousness that is fixed in a body. In his Essay, Locke explains the gradual unfolding of this conscious mind. Arguing against both the Augustinian view of man as originally sinful and the Cartesian position, which holds that man innately knows basic logical propositions, Locke posits an empty mind, a tabula rasa, which is shaped by experience; sensations and reflections being the two sources of all our ideas. [15] Lockes Some Thoughts Concerning Education is an outline on how to educate this mind: he expresses the belief that education maketh the man, or, more fundamentally, that the mind is an empty cabinet, with the statement, I think I may say that of all the men we meet with, nine parts of ten are what they are, good or evil, useful or not, by their education. [16] Locke also wrote that the little and almost insensible impressions on our tender infancies have very important and lasting consequences. [17] He argued that the associations of ideas that one makes when young are more important than those made later because they are the foundation of the self: they are, put differently, what first mark the tabula rasa. In his Essay, in which is introduced both of these concepts, Locke warns against, for example, letting a foolish maid convince a child that goblins and sprites are associated with the night for darkness shall ever afterwards bring with it those frightful ideas, and they shall be so joined, that he can no more bear the one than the other. [18] Associationism, as this theory would come to be called, exerted a powerful influence over eighteenth-century thought, particularly educational theory, as nearly every educational writer warned parents not to allow their children to develop negative associations. It also led to the development of psychology and other new disciplines with Dav.

Language, Culture And Thought

Language, Culture And Thought ABSTRACT Language is the basic means of communication in every culture. Language expresses cultural reality of the speakers in every society. Language is a socially acquired phenomenon and all the culturally bound languages differ dramatically from one another in terms of the description of the natural world. Language not only embodies cultural reality but it is also viewed as a symbol of social identity This assignment explores different ways in which the world is described by the speakers of different languages due to their cultural diversity and its effect on different ways of thinking about the world. The study reviews the description of spatial terms, temporal terms, substances and objects by different speakers of different languages belonging to different cultures and its effect on the ways of thinking about the world around us. Keywords: language, thought, culture, space, time, objects, substance, linguistic relativity, Whorf, Sapir LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND THOUGHT Language is a complex phenomenon for human communication. In the domain of communication each language of the world is different from the other on both lingual and cultural grounds. This diversity in world languages from linguistic standpoints ranges from the clear distinction of pronunciation and vocabulary to the more complex differences of grammar. The diversity of cultural standpoints related to different languages can be seen in the variety of cultural connotations assigned to these linguistic codes. The representation adopted by different languages to the same sentence such as, the professor delivered the lecture, is different to each culture. In English, the verb delivered marks the past tense. In Indonesian and Mandarin, the verb never changes to mark tense. In Russian, the verb is changed to mark tenses and gender, so if the subject is female instead of male, then a different verb is used from the verb that is used for the male. Similarly, in Russian, the verb is also change d to mark whether the whole lecture was delivered or only part of it was delivered by the professor. In Turkish, the verb even specifies weather the delivery of lecture was witnessed or it was a gossip. It is apparent the speakers of different languages see the different aspects of the world to use their language properly (Gumperz and Levinson: 1996) Do these features of language affect the way their speakers think about the world? The idea that thought is shaped by language is most commonly associated with the works of American linguistics Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf. According to Whorf, the categories of every human language present a way of perceiving, analyzing and acting in the world. The strong view of the Sapir Whorf Hypothesis that thought and actions are completely determined by language has been rejected in the field of linguistics. However, answering a less deterministic weaker version does language affect thought has proven to be a very difficult task for the researchers. In recent times researches have found new evidences which highlight the effects of language on thought. This assignment discusses the effect of language on peoples thinking of space time, substance, and objects. Research Question To what extent are the world views and mental activities of members of a social group shaped by, or dependent on, the language they use? LANGUAGE AND CULTURE The word culture is etymologically derived from the Latin word cultura, which means to cultivate and different philosophers such as Voltaire, Hegel, Humboldt and Kant assign different meaning to it. In antiquity, culture was referred to the opposite of nature, something that is willingly produced by man. (Dahl: 2001) In 18th century, the term was used to describe elite and high-culture concepts in continental Europe. According to Dahl, culture is a collectively held set of attributes, which is dynamic and changing over time. It is the totality of values, beliefs, basic assumptions as well as code of social behavior in a society. Individual are made by culture on one level and culture is made by individuals on the other. (Dahl: 2001) Language is the basic means for communication in a society. Language is primarily related with culture in the domain of communication. Speakers communicate their ideas, feelings and facts with language both in inter and intra societal setups. Hence, we can say that language expresses cultural reality. (Kramsch, 3: 2005) Language is not only a mean of expressing experience but it also creates experience. Speakers give meaning to such an experience through various mediums, such as, mass media, internet, telephonic conversations, presentations, etc. The medium with which language is used also designate meaning to experience, for example, the phonological and supra-segmented phonological features of language. Hence, we can say that language embodies a cultural reality. (Kramsch, 3: 2005) In every society the collective set of social values, beliefs, norms and mores are transmitted from one generation to another by the process of socialization. Hence, culture is a socially acquired knowledge. If we observe language from this standpoint, it is observable that language is also transmitted from one generation to another through the process of socialization. It is, therefore, evident that language is also a socially acquired knowledge. (Horton and Hunt: 2005) Finally, the speakers of one language identify themselves with a particular group through their peculiar way of using language. This characteristic of individuals in a group signify that language is viewed a symbol of social identity. Hence, we can say that language symbolized culture. (Kramsch, 3: 2005) EFFECTS OF LANGUAGE ON THOUGHT Space Languages differ from each other in the description of the setting of space. For example, In English, it is different to put something in which it is contained (the orange in the plate, the letter in envelope) and putting things onto surfaces (the orange on the table, the sticker on refrigerator door). `In Korean, putting an orange in a bowl uses a different term (nehta) from putting a letter in an envelope (kitta). Additionally, putting a letter in envelops and putting sticker on the refrigerator is both expressed by the similar term Kitta because both involves close fitting. McDonough et al. (2000) conducted a research to test whether the linguistic differences between English and Korean speaker affects the representation of spatial relations. He showed scenes containing examples of tight and loose fit to Korean and English adults. The Korean adults looked longer at the example scenes compared to English adults. After that they were shown tight fit on one screen and loose fit on another and were asked to distinguish between them. The Korean adults were quick to identify between the tight fit and lose fit, whereas, the English adults were unable to distinguish between the tight fit and the lose fit, and they took relatively longer time than the Korean adults. Further, when these speakers were given several example of tight fight and one example of lose fight (or vice versa). The Korean adults could easily pick out the odd ones, but the English adults could not. This study concluded that the distinctions of settings reinforced by the particular languages r emained central in the representation of their spatial settings. Time Languages are also different from one another because of the difference in the descriptions of time. In English language, the conception of time is represented in horizontal terms. For example, students may ask the teacher to move the test forward, or the teacher may push the test back for the students. Similarly, the speakers of Mandarin language also use terms qian (front) and hou (back) to represent time in horizontal terms. However, the speakers of Mandarin also uses vertical terms such as shang (up) and xia (down) to describe time which in English signifies last and next respecitively. The use of the vertical terms of time in Mandarin is more common in than the horizontal terms of time. In a study conducted by Borodistsky (2001), it was found that the Mandarin speakers think about time vertically even when they are thinking for English. The Mandarin speakers were quick to answer questions such as March comes before April when they were shown objects in a vertical order before questioning compared to the English speakers. Similarly, the English speakers gave quick response to this answer when they were showed objects arranged in a horizontal order before the question were asked from them for the study, compared to the Mandarin speakers. The researcher in another attempt gave English and Hebrew speaking adults sets of pictures that showed some kind of temporal progression such as, pictures of a man aging, or a plant growing, or an apple being eaten. (Boroditsky: 2002) They were asked to arrange the shuffled photos on the ground to show the correct temporal order. They were tested in two separate sittings, each time facing a different direction. The English speakers arranged the cards in a way that time progresses from left to right. The Hebrew speakers arranged the cards in a way that time progresses from right to left, showing that the direction of writing plays a role in the progression of time. Objects Language also differs in the way the names of the objects are arranged into grammatical categories. Unlike English, many languages assign gender to all the nouns. A recent set of studies suggested that grammatical gender given to objects by the language influence the mental representation of these objects by the people (Boroditsky and Schmitt: 2003). The researcher gave pictures of people (male and female) and also pictures of objects (having opposite genders in German and Spanish) to two groups of German and Spanish speakers. They were asked to rate similarities between the pictures of objects and pictures of people. Both groups rated grammatically feminine objects to be more similar to females and grammatically masculine objects more similar to males as described by their languages. This test was a complete nonlinguistic test. In Spanish, the word for key is feminine, while the German word for key is masculine. The Spanish and German speakers were asked to provide descriptive adjectives for different objects. German speakers described keys as hard, heavy, jagged, metal, and useful, while Spanish speakers described them as golden, intricate, little, lovely, and shiny. For the word bridge, which is feminine in German and masculine in Spanish, the opposite happened. Germans described bridges as beautiful, elegant, fragile, and peaceful, while Spanish speakers said they were big, dangerous, long, and strong. CONCLUSION Languages appear to influence many aspects of human cognition: evidence regarding space, time, objects, has been reviewed in this assignment. Further studies have also found effects of language on peoples understanding of numbers, colors, and shapes, events, and other minds. Considering the many ways in which languages differ, the findings reviewed here suggest that the mental lives of people who speak different languages may differ much more than previously thought Beyond showing that speakers of different languages think differently, these results suggest that linguistic processes are pervasive in most fundamental domains of thought.

Case Study on Adolescent Depression

Case Study on Adolescent Depression This case study concerns a teenage service user whom we shall refer to using a pseudo name, Katie, to maintain confidentiality in line with the Nursing Midwifery Council Code of Conduct (NMC, 2015). Katie suffers from a comorbidity of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and depression, and the focus of case study is on thedepression component. Managing and treating depression has proved to be sometimes difficult for both practitioners and patients due to its multi-dimensional aetiology which is attributed to a combination of biological, environmental and personal factors. Its impact is equally challenging as it usually associated with poor disease control, adverse health outcomes and quality of life impairment (Andreoulakis, Hyphantis, Kandylis, Iacovides, 2012).The case study will explore pathophysiological and psychological perspectives in the aetiology of depression. The objective of the survey is to undertake a systematic enquiry (Holloway, Wheeler, 2010). Using a real world situation to ga in a deeper understanding of the situation to try and solve a problem and improve the current situation (Aitken Marshall, 2007).The utility of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is discussed as the intervention that was prescribed for Katie. The rationale is that CBT is relevant to the assessment outcomes and the symptoms presented by Katie. The GP referral to the Community Mental Health Team states that Katie is a 16-year-old enthusiastic teenager, who is in full-time education and enjoys extramural activities in school and also enjoys socialising. Recently Katie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and prescribed insulin pump therapy. Following this diagnosis, Katie became remarkably withdrawn from friends and family, with expressions of hopelessness and low self-esteem. She has lost interest in the activities that she has been enjoying in her life. Her GP diagnosed depression. The condition has been getting worse and persistent for three weeks, putting a significant strain on her parents, including two siblings who live with her. The GP concluded the case warranted specialist attention and referred Kate to the Community Mental Health Team. Katies referral notes suggested that her depression should be assessed further due to deterioration in her mental health. The assessment highlighted significant depression symptoms such as poor sleeping patterns, weight loss, burdensomeness, constant feeling of sadness (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2016). Also, self- loathing, insomnia, lack of energy, irritable mood, physical pains and a gloomy outlook on life including diminished pleasure in enjoyable activities were the contemporary (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2016). The symptoms are likely to impact on the ability to cope, personal relationships and the general quality of life (Pryjmachuk, 2011). To determine the severity of Katies mental health, the Registered Nursing Practitioner took the lead in completing a Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9) with Katie. Katie scored as having major depression. This self-reporting tool is critical in aiding practitioners to conceptualise depress ion as it can be used to monitor, diagnose, and measure the severity of depression (Wu, 2014). The risk of harm is critical to the assessment of depression (NICE, 2016). Studies show that mental disorders are present in 90% of suicide cases in the UK, with depression found in 60% of the cases (Centre for Suicide Research, 2012). Hence, Katie was assessed on the risk of self-harm. However, she did not state any thoughts or actions of self-harm or suicide attempts. Due to the severity and the diverse nature of her symptoms an appointment was arranged for Katie to see the team Psychiatrist. Katie agreed to the decision. This led to the intervention discussed later in the essay. Katies symptoms include loss of appetite, and there is substantial evidence that links eating disorders with depression, especially among young females (Allen, Crosby, Oddy, Byrne, 2013). As pointed out by Allen et al. (2013) Eating disorders can lead to over eating, which contributes to other problems such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, Loss of appetite can lead to malnutrition, Loss of weight and fatigue. Eating problems also lead to stomach aches, cramps and constipation (Allen et al. 2013). Literature also shows that depression is linked to nearly every other physical and mental illness, as according to the joint report (Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of General Practitioners, 2009). Also, there is sufficient of evidence that physical illness disturbs our feelings and thinking, just as social, and personal stress can cause ill health (Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of General Practitioners, 2009). Also, other diseases can trigger stress and o nset depression, as is the case with Katie who got depressed after a diagnosis of diabetes. Oladeji Gureje (2013) suggest that patients can be caught in a vicious circle in which depression contributes to other present conditions and vice versa. Conceptualising the pathophysiology of depression is made complicated by the fact that while the majority of patients respond to pharmacological treatments such as antidepressants, some patients remain partially or wholly unresponsive to drugs (Cryan, Leonard, 2010).In these illustrations, there are individual differences in the manifestation of depression that cannot be addressed in current drug regimes. It follows that treatment for depression needs to be observed according to how each patients response to treatment(Andersson, Cuijpers, 2008).And this should provide guidance in formulating Katies care plan in this study. However, there is research evidence that links depression for the maintenance of the homoeostasis and stress levels (Leonard, 2005; Cryan, Leonard, 2010). Stress is often well-defined as a state of real or perceived threat to homoeostasis (Leonard, 2005). The homoeostasis process function is to provide the essential balance and stability in the body systems to e nable cells to sustain life (Clancy, McVicar, 2011).Stress to the homoeostasis will activate stress response to provide the required body function balance (Leonard, 2005). Critically to the depression paradigm, the stress response mechanism is mediated by multiple responses that involve the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems, which are collectively known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) (Cryan, Leonard, 2010). Changes that happen to the HPA and the immune system as a result of chronic stress can trigger anxiety and depression (Leonard, 2005). Depression is also ascribed to imbalances that arise in the brain about serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine (Charney, Feder Nestler, 2009). Evidence suggests that the physiological functions that are mediated by neurotransmitter serotonin include sleep, aggression, eating, sexual behaviour and mood (Nutt, Demyttenaere, Janka, Aarre, Bourin, Canonico, Stahl, 2007). All these symptoms are much dominant in most depression cases, and indeed symptoms such as insomnia, loss of appetite experienced by Katie. Research also suggests that reduced production of serotonergic neurones that make serotonin has an impact on mood states and contributes to depression (Nutt et al. 2007). However, several lines of evidence suggest that neurotransmitter dopamine is involved in motivation that drives to seek reward and pleasure, and it is believed low levels on this transmitter play a role when depressed people cease to enjoy activities that they enjoyed in the past (Charney et al. 2009). Katie had been a vibrant juvenile and lost all the passion for passion when she was diagnosed with depression. Research suggests antidepressants play a role in improving neurotransmitter imbalances (Anderson, 2013). However, in the case of Katie, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE (2017), recommends that antidepressants should be used in young people and children only after alternative therapies have been considered. The psychological impact of depression on the patient is concerned with the patients concepts of self, how they conceptualise their illness and the world around them (Barlow, 2014). It is quite critical as this impact on behaviour and treatment outcomes (Sanders Hill, 2014). Above all, an analysis of Katies symptoms and assessment suggest there are significant psychological issues. The symptoms that relate to behaviour include lack of motivation as shown by poor school work and lack of interest in social events that she enjoyed before. She is no longer taking responsibility for daily actions and routines. Katies care plan and treatment should aim to address this. There are also symptoms that relate to self. She felt continuously sad about her present condition, resulting in emergency visits to her GP. In other words, Katie may have felt a loss of status and purpose, having become remarkably withdrawn from friends and family, she was not able to retain a sense of confidence in her th e future. Some of Katies psychological concerns can be addressed within the Community Mental Health Team working with other professionals and Katies Care-Coordinator, and also with Katies family. The support of family and friends could be mobilised to give emotional, spiritual and financial assistance, with her family assuming an influential changing role and responsibilities when one person is ill (Washington Leaver, 2009). The motivation for Katies to participate in daily activities could be initiated by working with the Occupational Therapy to engage in activities at the community centre. Sanders and Hill (2014) examined the psychological impact of depression, in so far as it is conceptualised by the patient, as grounded in the concept of self. They assert that the idea of self is concerned with perceptions and awareness of being, the pattern of perceptions, which is also concerned with consequences for personality and change (Sanders Hill, 2014). Also, a well-functioning self-characterised by assimilation and ability to respond to new experiences. However, a good self-process can become impeded by other impaired person -processes such as intrusive thoughts and any other perceptions that pose a threat and target the self (Sanders Hill, 2014). Threats to the self, which can be internal or external, can culminate in patterned restrictions on perceptions and response which is configured as depression expressed in symptoms such as pervasive feelings of negativity (Sanders and Hill, 2014). This conceptualisation encapsulates Katies perception of herself as Katie could st ill enjoy her life only if she could change her perception of herself. Katies intervention needs to focus on changing her perception of herself. Specifically, the Nursing process involves identification of priorities as well as the determination of appropriate patient-specific outcomes and arbitration, thus determine the urgency of the identified problem and prioritising the patients needs (Ackley, Ladwig, 2013). In other words, mutual goal setting, along with symptom, pattern, recognition and triggers, will help prioritise interventions and determine which intervention is going to provide the greatest impact (Ackley, Ladwig, 2013). Heeramun-Aubeeluck, Luo, (2012) assert that collaborative care, behavioural interventions, and psycho-education are helpful in encouraging patients to maintain treatment and enhance psychological well-being and quality of life. The intervention chosen for Katie in this case study is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT can be accessed through referral to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). CBT is supported by NICE (2017), and also various government publications over the years have recommended the use of CBT such as No Health without Mental Health (Department of Health, 2011) and Talking Therapies. CBT is concerned with how people think (cognition), how they feel (emotion) and how they act (behaviour) (Daniels, 2015). CBT is psychoeducational and focused on changing the way people conceptualise illness to influence their behaviour and attitude (Daniels, 2015). The objective of cognitive processing is to examine patients thoughts and help them to learn the skills of acknowledging negative thoughts, often referred to as negative automatic thoughts (NATs). They will then be able to re-evaluate these ideas using an objective framework, and this can involve using approach to gathering evidence for the validity of ideas, such as proof against and for, surveys, or asking a trusted other (Grist, 2011). The rationale for CBT in this study is that its characteristics as a therapy would be helpful to address Katies symptoms and profile, as mostly the symptoms that impact on her quality of life are of cognitive and behavioural nature. Equally important, a problem-solving approach will be adopted to structure and organise Katies nursing care and treatment. Katie will be involved in the whole process to empower her in her care plan through a person-centred approach and intervention that is evidence-based. Evidence-based interventions are practices or programs that have peer-reviewed, documented empirical evidence of effectiveness. Evidence-based interventions use a continuum of activities, strategies, integrated policies, and services whose effectiveness has been verified or informed by research and evaluation (National Resources Centre for Mental Health Promotion Youth Violence Prevention, 2017).Gulanick Myers (2016) contend that intervention is a basis for excellence in nursing practice, which includes correctly identifying existing needs, as well as recognising potential needs or risk, planning, delivering care in own fashion to address actual and prospective needs as well as evaluating the effectiveness care. More importantly, nurses must be able to work autonomously with confidence with significant others, such as families, friends, and carers to ensure Katies needs are met, including self-care arrangement (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2015). Besides, as the name suggests, CBT comprises distinct therapy approaches that the address either the cognitive or the behavioural aspects associated with mood disorders, including depression. In CBT cognitive and behavioural approaches can be used in combination or unilaterally (Dobson Dozois, 2009). The behavioural perspective in CBT looks at the environment and behaviour of the patient. Depressive symptoms are attributed to a decrease in environmental reward, reinforcement of depressive reactions and avoiding alternative actions that facilitate good health (Hopko, Lejuez, Lepage, Hopko, McNeil, 2003). The behavioural perspective to depression underpinned by the works of Lewisohn (1974), who concluded that the pleasure obtained through interaction with ones environment increases the likelihood of a rewarding behaviour. Further, change in the environment could result in deficient response-contingent positive reinforcement (RCPR) which directly contributes to depression (Dobson Dozois, 2009). Dobson Dozois, (2009) highlights Response-Contingent Positive Reinforcement as positive or pleasurable effects deriving from the behaviour of a person within their environment and the likelihood of increasing such conduct. Behavioural Activation therapy has proved to be useful in addressing deficient RCPR and improving mood and thoughts. This treatment focuses on availing activities that support environmental reinforcement (Hopko et al. 2003). Both the cognitive a nd the behavioural components of treatment would benefit Katie. Sheldon (2011) contends that CBT is a therapeutic approach that involves talks and conferences. In this therapy, the patients are involved in discussions, and they express their feelings, behaviours and thoughts to a CBT professional during the initial assessment (Sheldon, 2011). Kassel (2016)asserts the value of CBT as a therapy that teaches individuals how to think and react to certain stressful situations appropriately and can be used for some across a range of disorders including phobias, schizophrenia, depression, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and relationship difficulties. When embarking on CBT interventions, the therapist uses information collected from an interview the patient; in this case, it would be with Katie and guides her through a description of the CBT model of depression as it applies to her profile and symptoms (Kassel, 2016). Also, general models of how thoughts, moods, behaviours, and physica l sensations interact are discussed, enabling identification of a model as it relates to the patients life. Several lines of evidence suggest that CBT is one of the most effective treatments when anxiety and depression present as the primary symptoms (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2009). Further, CBT helps to make sense of a profound problem by breaking it down into smaller bits (Kassel, 2016). The National Centre for Biotechnology Information (2012) highlights that a combination therapy consisting of medical drugs and CBT has been establishing to be more efficient when that when medication is used alone in patients with more severe, recurrent or chronic forms of depression in the acute treatment phase. However, as highlighted by RCP (2009) CBT does not a quick fix, and if the patient is feeling depressed, it will be difficult to concentrate on getting them motivated. Further, CBT courses can last for six weeks to sixths months depending on the type of problem, and how motivated the patient is on engaging. CBT offers some significant advantages as an alternative therapy. Given all that h as been mentioned so far, it is evident that CBT has considerable influence on the disease burden of depression as the treatment is safe and cheap (RCP, 2009). Also, it can administer as a self-help programme. CBT is now also delivered online, however, the quality of these trails is not always right (Andersson, Cuijpers, 2008). RCP (2009) notes that some research suggests that CBT may be better than antidepressant at preventing depression relapses. However, it is necessary for the patient to keep practising their CBT skills, even after they are feeling better CONCLUSION The two dominant approaches to conceptualising and treating depression that is the physiological perspective and psychological perspective, offer plausible concepts in understanding the aetiology of depression, yet the patient may attach different conceptualization of the illness, which results from the idea of the self. The idea of the self is quite critical in treatment outcomes in so far as it mediates changes in cognition and behaviour. However, it has not yet been clearly established how the perspectives interact to cause depression symptoms. This case study highlights that when treating depression, it is essential to carefully monitor the response to treatment as some people will not respond to available therapies. Further, as some people dont respond to treatment, there is a lot of research that needs to be done to understand how antidepressants work in different people entirely. Finally, cognitive behavioural therapy has numerous benefits for patients, including, decreased ps ychological distress, improved pain management, increasing self-efficacy, execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations, better quality of life and function. References Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B. (2013). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care (10th ed.). St. Louis, Mo;London; Elsevier Mosby Allen, K. L., Crosby, R. D., Oddy, W. H., Byrne, S. M. (2013). Eating disorder symptom Trajectories in adolescence: Effects of time, participant sex, and early adolescent depressive symptoms. 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