E-commerce in Arab countries ,what is the benefits Article

E-commerce in Arab countries ,what is the benefits - Article Example Relationships among individuals and organisations have been revolutionized by the massive application of information technology. Such massive use of information and communication technologies has resulted to simpler processes, enhanced productivity, increased customer participation, and reduced costs. As a result large numbers of organisations have shifted from the traditional business platform to the online platform of running business. All these factors have greatly influenced the economies of almost all the developed and developing countries over the past few years. The effects are more prominent in case of developing countries like Arab countries. Generally the list of Arab countries includes Algeria, Djibouti, Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordon, Mauritania, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Palestinian Autonomous Territories, Oman, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Tunisia. Economies of all these countries especially Saud i Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Oman, Sudan and Kuwait are found to be growing fast. As a result use of internet and other related technologies in these countries has increased over the past year and most importantly this use is expected to increase at a faster rate than it was ever before. This paper focuses on e-commerce activities in Arab countries. The paper also contains the benefits of e-commerce having on the economies of Arab countries. The report includes a brief overview of the main concepts of e-commerce. Commercial activities, as we all know, comprise those that are required to carry out trade between different parties. Generally the exchange of products and/or services is settled as per conditions that are mutually acceptable by the parties and hence the objective of any commercial transaction is to ensure that all the parties

What Are the Key Factors Which Lead to the Downfall of the Romanov Dynasty Essay Example for Free

What Are the Key Factors Which Lead to the Downfall of the Romanov Dynasty Essay 1917 saw the conclusion of the reign of the Romanov Dynasty, as well as the demise of Russia’s last monarch, Tsar Nicholas II. It is evident that the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty was directly linked to key factors such as the autocratic style of the Romanov dynasty and the nature of the social structure, as well as the evolving nation of Russia, as a result of industrialisation. The Romanov family was viewed by the people of Russia as leaders ‘sent from God’. However as the 20th century neared, this mystical admiration the public possessed for the royal family receded and was replaced by intellect. A growing sense of political and social awareness of the lower classes, as well as the introduction of democratic ideas from the West had sparked a change. The twentieth century saw the birth of new ideologies such as Leninism, Marxism, Liberalism and Socialism. These ideologies proposed new models of government techniques and questions the ruling of the Romanov Dynasty. Tsar Alexander II sensed the rising threat of terrorism threatening the Imperial family and more importantly the Dynasty’s autocratic rule. The responsibility of Russia was bestowed upon Nicholas II, son of Alexander II, based on the dynasty’s ritualistic practice of passing the throne to the Tsar’s eldest son or closest senior male relative. Nicholas II was reluctant to accept the responsibility of Russia, as well as its 126 subjects; however he acknowledged the burden of the crown as a spiritual experience destined by God. By the beginning of the 20th century, Russia had established itself as a vast empire, however in comparison to other countries; Russia was a ‘backward society’ with mostly undeveloped resources. At this time, Russia had established rigid class distinctions, with 88% of the population farming the countryside as serfs, whilst land and high government positions were owned by 5% of Russia’s population. In 1816, serfdom was abolished and peasants were free, however were required to pay compensation for land that they believed they already owned. Although agriculture remained the principle means of maintaining a livelihood for the lower class, peasants often struggled to live above starvation level, as they used inefficient farming techniques and had little land available to them. Those who struggled with agrarian lifestyles flocked to the cities, consequently causing a major increase in the urban population. As a result factory working conditions also suffered. Factory workers received low wages, at times only 25-30% of British workers, as well as long working hours, sometimes extending to 15 hour shifts. Workers were forced to endure these conditions, with little hope of assistance, as the Russian government had provided no means by which workers could express their grievances or dissatisfaction with their present conditions. The Tsar’s power was unlimited with no political party or constitution to inspect the Tsar’s ruling, as well as a secret police, known as the Ohkrana, which terrorised those threatening public order. ‘I shall uphold the principle of Autocracy as firmly and as undeviating as did my late father’ (Nicholas II, first proclamation, 29th January, 1895 source:Punch,9 February 1895 ) This proclamation illustrates Tsar Nicholas’s incentives to intimate his father Alexender II, by means of resisting modernisation and change, in the nation of Russia. Despite these obvious signs of corruption within the Tsar, the public, largely due to the coercive influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, continued to hold a mystical admiration for the Tsar and the royal family. However, while the myth of Tsar Nicholas or the public’s ‘little father’ retained some currency, the events of the years 1904 to 1905 disrupted this myth dramatically. In 1904, the government’s decision to go to war against Japan highlighted its weakness. The two countries had been competing for years over territory and influence in the Korean peninsula of Manchuria. Nicholas, along with most Russian’s believed that a brief encounter with Russia’s vast navy and army would be the solutions to their present conflicts with Japan. Nicholas was wrong. The war ended with the humiliation of Russian defeat, in August 1905. Confirmation of the Russian government and military weakness heightened discontent and fueled many reform movements. Meanwhile other incidences, such as the massacre or ‘Bloody Sunday’ on the 9th of January 1905, sparked political unrest in the capital of Russia. On this day a large crowd of people marched towards the Winter Palace, in St Petersburg, presenting a petition to the Tsar. The petition demanded a series of measures that would improve the position of those being exploited by their factory owners. â€Å"Don’t refuse to help your people, lead them out of the grave of disfranchisement, poverty and ignorance Tear down the wall between you and your people, and let them rule the country with you Look without anger at our requests, they are not intended for an evil but for a good cause, for both of us† (Petition of the Workers and Residents of St Petersburg for Submission to Nicholas II) This extract displays the continuing confidence in the Tsar and assurance that he will overcome his evil advisors and attend to the struggling lower classes. However this confidence in the Tsar was completely destroyed by the following event. Under command, troops, who were guarding the palace, opened fire on the crowd, killing 100 protestors and wounding almost 300. Although it is still unknown who directed the final orders, Nicholas’s absence from the protest, eroded the iconic image of the Tsar and the myth upon which the Tsarist system was sustained. Hostility towards the blood bath was generated from the lower proletarian classes and reverberated upwards throughout the empire. As a result nine months of strikes, peasant revolts and mutinies among the army and navy, followed. Workers began to form councils, known as soviets, where worker’s representatives would voice their grievances and political protest campaigns were fashioned. Under immense pressure from these disturbances, the Tsar was forced to make compromises to the demands of the people in order to preserve the support of the public. On the 17th of October, the Tsar introduced the October Manifesto. This granted the people of Russia the freedom of conscience, speech, meeting and association. The manifesto also promised the introduction of a Duma, or parliament, elected by universal suffrage. The design of the Duma was to provide the people of Russia with the power to create and approve laws. The intentional exclusion of the word ‘constitution’ ensured that the Tsar autocratic power remained unscathed. The Duma was the Tsar’s puppet; he could dismiss and announce the duma, personally choose and dismiss ministers and declare new laws unaided, at any time. The first two Duma’s lasted only a few months before they were later dissolved, by the Tsar. The third Duma survived as a result of an alteration in the electing process of representatives. Subsequently the Duma became dominated by land-owners and businessmen who were more conservative and ‘trustworthy’ elements to the Tsar. This alteration destroyed the sole purpose of Duma as it hindered all classes from expressing their opinions. Although evidence of reform in the government was present, the manifesto did not address current problems affecting the lower classes such as poverty, low wages and poor working and living conditions. The grievances of the lower classes remained unheard and the gap between the Tsar and his subjects widened. For these reasons recently legalised parties such as the Social Democrats and Socialists revolutionaries had a willing audience. By the end of July 1914, the revolutionary discontent echoed the events of 1905 revolution. When World War II commenced early August 1914, Russia was in no state for battle. Although intensified emotions of patriotism temporarily calmed civil disputes, the hardships of the war brutally hit the home front. Russia’s undeveloped economy struggled to sustain the war efforts and keep up with increased demands. By late 1914, dreams of a short successful battle were doubtful. In addition to previous hardships, concerns of high causality rates, inadequate medical care and shortages of resources, such as food, weaponry and ammunition were affecting the Russian front. In Mid 1915, Nicholas II, with the aim of improving Russia’s current stance in the war, accepted the position as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces. Nicholas II had few military skills and was surrounded by ministers who had been chosen by himself, therefore were also sufficiently inexperienced. Meanwhile, German-born Tsarina Alexandra was temporarily responsible for the home front whilst her husband was away. The Tsarina was greatly influenced by Grigori Rasputin, a Russian mystic who was praised by Alexandra for his fanatical abilities to help her haemophilic son, Alexi, the heir to the throne. Tsarina had little political ability and looked towards Rasputin for advice. Due to the nepotism within the royal family, Rasputin was able to quickly posses doctrinal powers and become a influential member of the Russian court. The influence Rasputin had on the royal family as well as the scandalous relationship assumed to be between Alexandra and Rasputin discredited the Tsarist government. These scandals affected the way the public viewed the royal family and supported the idea that the royal family was easily dominated by religious mystics. By late 1916, discontent within Russia had reached crisis point. The duma and the majority of Russia’s upper class no longer supported the Tsar. The Tsar had lost his authority in the eyes of the public. By 25th of January 1917, St Petersburg, the capital of Russia, was at a standstill. Numerous factories were shut, shops closed, public transport ceased to run and radical political leadership seemed to be using all possible means of protest. Unlike 1905, troops did not restrain the strikes; some even rebelled and joined the workers. Tsarist authority had vanished. On the 2nd of March 1917, Nicholas II abdicated and within a few hours, the Grand Duke, Nicholas II’s brother, refused the responsibility of the throne. This was the definitive end to the Romanov Dynasty. In conclusion, although the Tsar’s character had great effect on the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty, it was ultimately the fault of Romanov dynasty’s ineffective style of government. As Russia became more industrialised, larger, and far more complicated, the inadequacies of autocratic Tsarist rule became increasingly apparent. Ritualistic beliefs such as the nepotistic process by which successive monarchs were selected, was unsuitable in an ever evolving world desperate for change and development. The Romanov Dynasty’s Autocratic approach to leadership had been successful for the previous three centuries, however as the twentieth century approached, the need for social and political reform advanced with it. For this reason, Nicholas II, was a victim of a time warp, where despite his best efforts to maintain authority of the autocratic crown, was forced to abandon inherited methods of leadership. He was trapped in a modernising world with outdated beliefs and traditions. Nevertheless, to a minor extent Tsar Nicholas was responsible for his own demise as he was aware of the changes occurring within the nation, however he didn’t not administer the needs and wants of his subjects.

Experienced Negative Life Events

Experienced Negative Life Events Proposition no. 6 which states that A person who experienced negative life events can still be able to attain mental wellbeing relates to axiom 2 Positive and negative life events affect mental wellbeing and axiom 3 (A mentally healthy person functions effectively thus feels happy and satisfied) since it implies that using appropriate coping and adaptation skills against the many negative life events, minor, major or extreme life events, the older person still has a great chance attaining mental wellbeing, to be able to function normally despite physical and cognitive decline therefore making the older person happy and satisfied. During the normal process of aging, the older people encounter stressors or negative life events that may trigger both appropriate and distorted emotional responses. Two of the most stressful unplanned life events include declines in health and loss of loved ones. It may result to distress and a sense of helplessness due to physical deterioration in function, such as blurred vision and hearing difficulty; adjustment and difficulty after retirement, resulting to loss of financial independence, feeling of emptiness for lack of life goal, etc.; social isolation, and feelings of out of touch with the world owing to the rapid changing environment; loss of confidence and self worth; misconception that family members and society no longer respect them; and a sense of loneliness as adult children leave the family. In addition, chronic strains may also impact the older adult; for example, strains within the community, in relationships, or in the older persons immediate environment are all str essors. Most older people are able to adapt to these changes and maintain their well-being by utilizing and organizing their personal and environmental resources. These include coping skills, social support, and maintaining a sense of control. A mentally healthy older adult has the ability to interact positively with internal and external environment, can adapt and cope up from the negative life events. As the World Health Organization (2001) defines mental health as the state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities. He can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (Tameside and Glossop, 2011). According to Ebersole, et.al (2004), it is difficult to define mental health of an elderly because the differentiation of personality throughout the life span is escalating which may have resulted to idiosyncratic and sometimes eccentric adaptation in late life. As the person grows older, faced with particular situations, it accentuates a certain aspect of personality and appearance which make the person uniquely himself because he is strengthened with the accumulation of life experiences. Such personality characteristics maybe negative like being crusty, disagreeable, grouchy or grumpy which is however considered adaptive. A good example would be a cantankerous old man who utilizes his coping skills against with his severe illness and stoically protecting others from awareness of his pain might be manifesting a mentally healthy person. Therefore, Ebersole, et.al (2004) best described mental health in elderly as being measured by the capacity to cope effectively with relationships an d environment and by the satisfaction experience in doing so. If the environment provides the potential for mental health, then the only criterion for mental health is the persons response to the environment. The same connotation given by Zanden, et.al (2000) as he identified two (2) elements of mental health namely: (1) From a social perspective, mental health involves peoples ability to function effectively in their social roles and to carry out the requirements of group living; (2) From a psychological perspective, mental health involves a subjective sense of well being such as happiness, contentment and satisfaction. Moreover, the qualitative study of Moyle, et.al (2010) about Older people maintaining mental well-being through resilience is a good example of a mentally healthy older adult who is able to manage and cope well with the adversities. The older people in the study identified their negative life changes categorized by the following four themes: 1) Social Isolation and Loneliness, 2) Social worth, 3) Self-determination, and 4) Security. When the researchers asked the older-participants to discuss strategies that they used to maintain well-being through resilience, their responses were categorized under six themes. These are: 1)Keeping active; 2)Relationships; 3)Community connections; 4)Practical coping; 5)Emotional coping; and 6) Spiritual coping. Physical activities, mentally stimulating activities and meaningful activities are the identified activities of the participants inorder to be always active which enhance mental health and well-being. They reported keeping mentally active through continued learning, new interests or novel activities, as well as mentally stimulating games and through volunteering. Older people also identified that the more challenging activities can enhance well-being by giving a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Another approach which the participants expressed is being involved and maintaining healthy family contacts because this relationships could enhance well-being in older people just like the active and frequent presence of grandchildren. In addition, when participants felt able, taking on a caregiving role was another way maintaining well-being through relationships. The other strategy reveals the strength of community connections for maintaining well-being. Older people report that the ir health is maintained through continued and constant contact with all age groups and members of the community. For many participants, the key is to interact as part of the wider community and not isolating oneself according to age group. Another category of approaches used by older people in order to maintain well-being were those which used practical based coping strategies to minimize the effects of aging on well-being. The participants reported using practical focused coping strategies such as setting goals or planning for the future. This also includes financial planning and creating budgets to maintain financial security. While for other participants, actively minimizing responsibilities is one way to maintain well-being. Utilizing emotional coping strategies is another approach to enhance mental wellbeing. While distraction and occupation were considered to be important ways of maintaining wellbeing others reported altering goals or standards according to ones age as a way to maintain well-being. Comments frequently centered on being realistic and reasonable when considering the limitations and expectations of later life. For others not focusing on age and acceptance of older age were key approaches to assist in sustained well-being. However an important aspect of acceptance was not to give up on doing things that are enjoyable because of aging such as to think positively or maintain a sense of humor. The final approach highlights spiritual strategies used by some older people in order to maintain well-being. In a study of quality of life and Jewish older people in South Africa, over half of the participants felt that as they grew older, religion played an increasingly important role in their lives. Self-concept as mentioned in proposition no. 4 is an important factor that would help view the negative life events positively resulting to better coping skills. Self-concept is also evident when older person comments on major events in his life, he was engaging in a special form of reminiscence called life review calling up past experiences with the goal of achieving greater self-understanding. Older adults who participate in counselor-led life review report increased self-esteem, greater sense of purpose in life, and reduced depression. At the same time, when they relate about themselves, elders have accumulated a lifetime of self-knowledge, leading to more secure and complex conceptions of themselves. Their autobiographical selves emphasized coherence and consistency, despite physical, cognitive, and occupational changes. So when an older adult who shows firm and multifaceted self-concept which allowed for self acceptance is a key feature of integrity. Moreover, a flexible, optimistic approach to life, which fosters resilience in the face of adversity, is common in old age. Being resilient, the elderly gain in agreeableness, becoming increasingly generous, acquiescent, and good-natured well into late life. Agreeableness seem to characterize people who have come to terms with life despite its imperfections- greater acceptance of change an attribute the elderly frequently mention as important to psychological well being. When asked about dissatisfactions in their lives, many older adults respond that they are not unhappy about anything. Acceptance of change is also evident in most elders effective coping with the loss of loved ones, including death of a spouse. The capacity to accept lifes twists and turns, many of which are beyond ones control, is vital for adaptive functioning in late adulthood. Most older adults are resilient, bouncing back in the face of adversity especially if they did so earlier in their lives. And older persons heightened capacity for positive emotion contributes greatly to their resilience (Zanden, 2000). Therefore, if the older adults are recalling past positively revealing a lifetime of self-knowledge, leading to more secure and complex conceptions of themselves and is resilient have arrived at a sense of integrity and they would feel whole, complete, and satisfied with their achievements. They have adapted to inevitable triumphs and disappointments and realize that the paths they followed, abandoned, and never selected were necessary for fashioning a meaningful life course. Another measure for the older adult to consider inorder to successfully adapt and manage negative life events is for him to take initiatives in doing activities. This relates from the study of Steverink, Lindenberg and Slaets (2005) who define taking the initiative as the ability to take initiatives or to be agentic (self-organizing, proactive, self-reflecting and self-regulating). This ability, although closely related to self-efficacy, Deci and Ryan (1995) considered taking the initiative to be a separate ability, because the belief in ones competence is not automatically linked to the motivation to use ones competence. Thus it is hypothesized that taking the initiative with regard to important resources, as opposed to being or feeling passive, dependent or fatalistic, is necessary for the achievement and maintenance of wellbeing. With aging, as a consequence of losses in resources, together with decreasing opportunities and challenges, there may be a decline in the rate and range of self initiated behavior and an increase in dependency (Baltes 1996). The general construct that has been the focus of most research on this aspect of adaptive behavior is autonomy vs dependency. For example, it was found that nursing home residents who experienced greater autonomy reported less depression and higher self-esteem, life satisfaction, meaning in life, general health and psychological adjustment (Vallerand and OConnor 1989). Similarly, in nursing home residents, Kasser and Ryan (1999) found out that greater autonomy in daily activities predicted decreased mortality over a 1-year period. The initiative of the elderly to be always active and involved in social activities prevent mental depression. This way, it avoids the elderly population from thinking negatively and becoming pessimistic which contributes to health problems especially mental illness. However, the elderly should not limit itself to social activities, but he should be involved in variety of resources called multifunctionality. Well-being is about being emotionally healthy, feeling able to cope with normal stresses, and living a fulfilled life. It can be affected by things like worries about money, work, your home, the people around, and the environment. Well-being is also affected by a feeling of having control of your life, feeling involved with people and communities, and feelings of anxiety and isolation (Coggins Cooke, 2004). Axiom number 2 stresses then that there are multifunctional resources/factors, internal or external that would influence the person to reach and attain mental wellbeing. Nieboer, A. Lindenberg, S. (n.d.) described multifunctional resources as the resources or activities or factors that serve multiple aspects of wellbeing (e.g. social and physical wellbeing) simultaneously and in a mutually reinforcing way. Because of this mutual reinforcement, multifunctional resources are of special importance for the realization of wellbeing. Therefore, the ability to maintain or regain multifunctional resources is important for wellbeing in ageing. A spouse, for instance, is often a multifunctional resource. Interacting with a spouse fulfills the need for affection, and at the same time fulfills the need for activation. Another example of multifunctionality is having dinner (fulfilling the need for food) with friends (fulfilling the need for affection). With aging added by Riley and Riley (1994), there may be a decline in multifunctional resources and activities, due to the loss of a partner or close friend, and also because of a decrease in opportunities to part icipate in occupational and other formal settings. Such settings often offer opportunities for multifunctionality through interaction with colleagues and by performing tasks that yield reinforcing physical and social rewards. Because multifunctional resources or activities are hypothesized to yield more overall wellbeing than unifunctional activities or resources, the loss of these opportunities is therefore expected to have a particularly negative impact on wellbeing. Moreover, it is often hard to substitute or compensate the loss of a multifunctional resource. For instance, the loss of a spouse and subsequent widowhood, which is a common experience in later life especially for women, often has a broad impact on different aspects of wellbeing, because the loss of the spouse often involves the loss of other relationships as well. Other empirical evidence for the importance of multifunctional resources or activities for overall wellbeing is found in studies that show both higher leve ls of wellbeing and increased longevity in older people who remain socially active and productive (Nieboer Lindenberg, n.d.). However, it is believed that if these multifunctional resources and strategies have been taught and develop at an early stage then obtaining mental wellbeing would not be difficult to attain. An elderly who has a loving, close family relationship and full support from them from childhood to adulthood, the elderly will have a positive outlook in life thus living a fulfilled, happy and contented and complete life will eventually reach the stage of integrity hence attain mental wellbeing. Investment of behavior is another factor inorder to attain mental wellbeing. This relates to the famous adage which states continue doing good because in the end you will reap a harvest full of blessings would also mean doing something good in your life even in the earlier stage of life is an investment behavior which resulted to increase longevity. The investigation made by Steverink, Lindenberg and Slaets (2005), found that the investment of behavior is important for achieving stability in resources and the maintenance of wellbeing in the longer term. Therefore, it is hypothesized that a certain amount of investment behavior is important for the realization and maintenance of wellbeing, even with increasing age and a declining time-horizon. Without investment behavior there will be a decline in resources and wellbeing. With aging, this ability may decline as a consequence of a decreasing time-horizon and the loss of external resources and opportunities. It has, indeed, been found t hat older individuals become ever more present-oriented, and have a less extended future perspective than younger people in general. Yet, when older individuals are able to maintain a certain amount of investment behavior, this clearly will have a positive effect on their overall wellbeing. For example, proactive prevention activities in older people have positive consequences for longevity, as well as for indicators of subjective wellbeing. Although there are only a few studies that have investigated investment behavior in aging individuals, other studies have closely examined related aspects of future orientation and planning in older people. It has been found that older people who maintain a future orientation, and also plan for the future, report higher levels of life satisfaction (Prenda and Lachman 2001). Moreover, Isaacowitz and Seligman (2002) supported that a positive future orientation was found to predict affective adaptation (Nieboer Lindenberg, n.d.). Furthermore, there are more coping and adaptation strategies that can be used inorder to attack negative life events as reflected in axiom 2. The measures/strategies discussed previously were indeed a good tips inorder to maintain mental health more especially if the older adult is optimistic, with positive self-concept and self-esteem, he can easily face the negative life events with confidence, happy and contentment. Axiom no. 3 (A mentally healthy person functions effectively thus feels happy and satisfied) will never be difficult to attain if the elderly views aging positively despites its cognitive and physical decline, this will never be a hindrance inorder to attain happiness and life satisfaction as measurements of mental wellbeing. It was never true that attaining mental wellbeing means having no diagnosed illness nor physical disabilities, what is important is the development of ones potential, work productively and creatively, how strong and positive relationships are built with others, and how to contribute something to the economy. As Baltes Baltes (1990) accentuates that successful aging, is not based on den ial of real losses in functioning in the last stage of life but rather it encourages older people to optimize the capacities that remain while compensating for inevitable losses. A report of Mroczek Kolarz (1998), documented that older adults do not appear unhappier compared to middle-aged or younger persons even though they experienced declines in physical health, deaths of peers and spouses, and other objective rigors that accompany aging (Baltes Baltes, 1990; Brandtstadter Greve, 1994; Filipp, 1996; Staudinger, Fleeson, Baltes, 1998). As a result of hardships in life, it was expected that they would have lower levels of happiness but it was not so. Their well-being seems to be unaffected by the adverse contexts brought on by the aging process (Borgatta Fbss, 1979; Cameron, 1975; Haug, Belkgrave, Gratton, 1984; Herzog, Rodgers, Woodworth, 1982; Larson, 1978; Schulz, 1985). Also, Zanden, et.al (2000) cited that Erikson during his late adulthood, demonstrated a life of ego in tegrity. At age 87, he continued to publish books relating to old age, his last work found out that some older adults live hopeful, productive lives, despite failing health and alertness; while others were relatively robust, although sometimes giving in to loneliness, narcissism, and despair (Woodward, 1994). The Social Production Function (SPF) Theory explains the two (2) types of older adults. According to the theory, success in obtaining the goals of affection, behavioral confirmation and status for social well-being, and comfort and stimulation for physical well-being resulted to subjective wellbeing. People have their own multiple means for achieving these goals by using a variety of means or resources simultaneously, should there be a case in which their goals cannot be achieved, they will build buffers against the loss of subjective wellbeing, although people have differences in buffer formation but people are resourceful in substituting across different life-domains and diff erent forms of well-being. This is confirmed from the study of Steverink (2001) among older adults (Nieboer Lindenberg, n.d.). Relating it to the observation of Erikson some older adults though relatively robust but still give in to loneliness, narcissism and despair, this maybe due to how they deal with their negative life events, how they make use of their coping and adaptation skills, or their buffer system or multifunctionality resources. The implication of the above scenarios portray that the negative life events were never considered as obstacles in attaining mental wellbeing. When appropriate skills are used in attacking adversities in life, there is a great chance of achieving happiness and life satisfaction. As Field (2009) expresses in his words mental wellbeing is not simply as having absence of diagnosed illness, disability or dissatisfaction but the individual must acquire social qualities of confidence, optimism about the future, a sense of influence over ones own destiny, and the social competences that promote satisfying and supportive relationships with other people. It also critically involve the resilience needed to deal with hard times whenever they occur inorder to function effectively so that by then happiness and life satisfaction are possible to reach. Therefore, mental wellbeing involve happiness or contentment, caring for and about others, and the capacity for creative and productive work. Theory Generated As the individuals grow old, people encounter challenges, stresses or adversities in life such as negative life events, it maybe in the form of major, minor or extreme life events. These life events have great impact to the lives of every individual especially on the desire of achieving functioning effectively, happiness and satisfaction or otherwise known as Mental Well being during the late stage of the peoples lives. The theory on Attainment of Mental Wellbeing is being developed because of the belief that despite those negative life events, the individual still manages to adapt and cope from those stressful events thus function effectively and shall have satisfied and happy lives. However, there is no best formula in attaining mental well being because it is believed that there are factors that will act as a barrier in attaining mental wellbeing and at the same time there are also factors that would help mold the individual to have good mental health in order for the person to be fully develop in combating against those negative life events. The study is anchored on the Social Production Function (SPF) Theory which will explain why people is still fairly satisfied with their lives even when they lack important resources such as a paid job or a spouse (Nieboer Lindenberg, n.d.). The same observations made by Erikson when he interviewed older Americans because he found out that some older adults opted to be lonely, narcissistic and desperate though they are relatively in good health. SPF theory asserts subjective wellbeing is ordered hierarchically. The general universal goals which are at the top: Overall subjective wellbeing consists of physical and social wellbeing; then followed by universal instrumental goals (for social well-being, three universal instrumental goals are specified: status, behavioral confirmation, and affection and for the production of physical well-being, two universal instrumental goals have been distinguished: comfort and stimulation (Wippler 1990)) and the lowest level is the layers of means cal led resources. In achieving the overall subjective being, one has to work on it, starting from the lowest level inorder to attain the universal goal. If an older person lacks the necessary resources like work, due to retirement, this doesnt mean its the end of the world. The theory suggests that the older person should make use of a buffer system or multifunctionality resources as their coping and adaptation skills. There is still a big chance to achieve the higher goal which is the attainment of mental wellbeing, hence the theory on Attainment of Mental Wellbeing is being developed. The proposed theory on Attainment of Mental Wellbeing is applicable to all individuals across several lifespan, specifically, among the institutionalized older adults in Por Cristo and in the city and provincial jails (elderly inmates) of Butuan City. The theory suggests basing on the SPF theory, that inorder to battle against their negative life events will make use first of the lowest level of resources before going up to the next level until they will be able to attain mental wellbeing. The theory further suggests that these resources are factors that would affect or influence the person on the extent of his effort, belief, perceptions, coping and adaptation skills towards the attainment of his mental wellbeing. This theory will be tested to determine if the following propositions are true among the institutionalized older adults in Por Cristo and in the city and provincial jails (elderly inmates) of Butuan City: Proposition 1: Mental wellbeing is an optimistic person. Proposition 2: Parents and families have important role in the early initiation of secure attachment to the life of a child influences in the attainment of mental wellbeing across life span. Proposition 3: Several factors and/or resources that work collaboratively inorder to help promote in the attainment of mental well being. Proposition 4: A person with healthy self-concept and positive self-esteem towards life events can attain mental wellbeing. Proposition 5: A person who fully understands the meaning of life with strong sense of spirituality has attained mental wellbeing. Proposition 6: A person experienced negative life events can still be able to attain mental wellbeing using better coping skills and adaptation Conceptual Framework The proposed theory on attainment of mental wellbeing is taken from the idea related to the effect of life events towards the attainment of mental wellbeing and in which there are several factors that will influence the process in the attainment of the goal. Figure 1 illustrates the schematic diagram on the proposed theory called the theory of attainment of mental wellbeing. It shows the independent and dependent variables. Life events surrounded with the influencing factors signify the independent variables, while the effect called the dependent variable is the attainment of mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing or wellbeing is defined as a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their economy (Foresight Report, 2008) while mental health is a state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work ATTAINMENT OF MENTAL WELLBEING productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (Word Health Organization, 2007). Both mental health and wellbeing is the core elements of the over-all health which means if his health condition is marked with alteration in thinking, mood or behavior resulting to either distress, impairs ability to function or both (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) is a manifestation that the older person has not attained mental wellbeing which might result to mental health problems such as depression, suicide, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ There are two (2) elements of mental health namely: (1) From a social perspective, mental health involves peoples ability to function effectively in their social roles and to carry out the requirements of group living; (2) From a psychological perspective, mental health involves a subjective sense of well being such as happiness, contentment and satisfaction. Therefore, mental wellbeing is measured in terms of functioning effectively, happiness and contentment or life satisfaction. However, attaining mental wellbeing is not an easy journey because all of us will always encounter different life events. Life events are described as a significant occurrence involving a relatively abrupt change that may produce serious and long-lasting effects. It is considered as stressor in the life of a person because the demands on the person exceed the resources available to meet those demands (Schwarzer, Schulz Berlin, 2001). For older adults, it will be in a form of retirement, death of a spouse or children or friends, lost of income, change of living environment, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ These life events can threaten the wellbeing of an individual thats why life events are most often considered as obstacles in reaching the goals. However, depends on the persons capability to face the different life events. The influencing factors that will help attain mental wellbeing can be in form of intrinsic and extrinsic or promotive and preventive factors. Intrinsic factors are the core characteristics needed inorder to easily attain mental wellbeing, such as optimism, self-concept, self-esteem, meaning of life and spirituality. These core characteristics help the individual views the life events positively and produce a direct effect on the attainment of mental wellbeing such as optimism, self-concept, self-esteem, meaning in life spirituality. While the promotive and preventive factors refer to the environmental factors which has indirect effect in the attainment of mental wellbeing, this includes: parental care, like exercise, healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ These factors influenced the individual on the proper choice of coping and adaptation skills when faced with life events especially the negative ones. Older adults must continue to engage in activities, socialize, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ despite their health condition right now. Problem Generated The study aimed to determine the life stories of institutionalized older adults relating to the essence of mental well being in relation to the different life events they encountered. Specifically, it sought answers from the following problems: To identify the significant life events they encountered from childhood up to the present and how they cope up and adapt with that experiences. To determine the different factors that influence their mental wellbeing causing them to be able to surpassed their negative life events. To explore the essence of mental well being and if they have attained it despite the condition/situation of their life right now.

Gender and Society :: Gender Society Sexism Essays Papers

Society has stamped an image into the minds of people of how the role of each gender should be played out. There are two recognized types of gender, a man and a woman, however there are many types of gender roles a man or a woman may assume or be placed into by society. The ideas of how one should act and behave are often times ascribed by their gender by society, but these ascribed statuses and roles are sometimes un-welcomed, and people will assume who they want to be as individuals by going against the stereotypes set forth by society. This paper will examine these roles in terms of how society sees men and women stereotypically, and how men and women view themselves and each other in terms of stereotypes that are typically ascribed, as well as their own opinions with a survey administered to ten individuals. What I hope to prove is that despite stereotypes playing a predominant role within our society, and thus influencing what people believe about each other in terms of their same and opposite genders, people within our society are able to go against these ascribed stereotypes and be who they want and it be okay. Through use of the survey and my own personal history dealing with gender stereotyping I think I can give a clear idea as to how stereotypes envelope our society, and how people and breaking free from those stereotypes to be more individualistic. The differences between women and men are not solely biological. Our society’s culture has established a set of unwritten cultural laws of how each gender should act, or in other words society has ascribed a stereotype. Men’s gender identity has been one of masculinity, and masculinity is defined as referring to a man or things described as manly. What does manly mean though? Is a male manly if he is â€Å"Mr. Fix-it†, or the jock, or if he sits on the couch on Sunday watching football? This latter statement is a stereotype of men, that has been around for decades, and is current as well, but starting with the 1960’s a man’s role started to change, despite the stereotype not changing to accommodate it. For the past 40 years one can see how men have taken on roles stereotypically ascribed to women, such roles including being the â€Å"stay-at-home mom†, which we can find an excellent example of in the 1980’s film â€Å"Mr.

International Operations Management Essay

Nowadays every company wants to gain a competitive edge in the market and for that it leaves no store unturned . When any new development takes place although it has a good side to it but there are equally a lot of challenges attached to it as well. If a company is thinking of moving from batch processing to line processing there would be considerable concerns which the following departments might raise and might have to juggle with. The finance department might face the issues of capital investment rising from moderate to high level because if an automobile production line is there then it would not use ordinary machinery instead would require specialized machinery for its production. In a batch processing system the capital investment is usually seen to be moderate and when decision of venturing into line processing is taken then capital investments expects to be high. Variable cost might tend to lessen from moderate level of previous working seen in batch processing. Human resource department would also have to face issues like curtailing the number of labor content and workforce . Usually in assembly line processing the workforce is replaced by machinery and supporting mechanisms embedded in the systems like for example adding a conveyer belt to connect the activities which take place in the firm. (Lewis & Slack, 2003). Labor content in batch processing is moderate whereas in line processing its low. (McHugh & MuHugh , 1990) . This can be a concern of the human resource department because it would take decisions like lay off, transfer etc. The accounting department has to be on the toes because the level of transactions would increase as the volume would increase i. e. from moderate level of quantity produced to high level production. The entries have to be made on a continuous basis as volume or the quantity has risen. The information system which would be used for line processing will have to more swift and embedded with specialized softwares or systems which support line processing nature of work. The connected flow of working will have to be monitored efficiently. The system of monitoring will have to be modified so as to facilitate the current functioning. The marketing department might think of the fact that in the batch processing products involved were several and in line processing the products involved are less hence less responsibility, but the quality of marketing expertise would be expected to increase drastically. ( Heizer & Render , 1991 ) . A batch process usually executes different production runs for different runs but it’s not in the case of line processing. The flexibility is usually seen to be low in line processing and therefore as in batch processing where flexibility is seen to be moderate might create concerns for the marketing department. The marketing department now will have to devise such ideas which are out of the box and facilitate such larger processing function . The marketing department has to design such products which entice the masses as they would now not have multiple products which can save their flagging reputation. (Weiss & Gershon, 1989) To culminate I would state that whenever any other process flow is adopted then there are certain specifications which are to be considered and the various departments which previously followed a specific line of action need to have the insight of how to adapt to the other one in which they are opting to venture.

Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign: a Reflection Essay

Jennifer Millard’s Performing beauty: Dove’s â€Å"Real Beauty† campaign was made to conduct a study on the results of the company Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign onto it’s targeted audience, women. Throughout the study Jennifer Millard explains that Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign is a series of advertisements in magazines and commercials that promotes and empowers beauty for every women, no matter what other media outlets says. Millard uses focus groups and interviews with sixteen Canadian women to investigate the opinions; with ages ranging from fifteen to fifty-nine years old. Within the study, I found two main themes within Millard’s article, which will be discussed and reflected on how it contributed to her study. The first theme I found quite interesting in Millard’s study was how she was connecting her definition of beauty towards a symbolic interactionist perspective by explaining how it is the culture and society that determines which features would be deemed as beautiful or not. I somewhat disagree with Millard’s connection because while the media outlets to society what they should and should not be, most of the content was created by the outlets themselves with their opinions of what society should be. While the society may have certain opinions on these topics, the media elaborates on the opinions society has and makes them more negative and demanding then they actually are. For example, in Millard’s study she shows the participants an advertisement from the Dove Real Beauty Campaign of a naked, overweight, middle-aged African American woman. After seeing many of the other Real Beauty Campaigns, this was the first advertisement that got a negative reaction from one of the focus groups. â€Å"Sasha: Sometimes I’m like ew, I wonder why is this even in here? Like all these Dove ones, there is old wrinkly lady. Her legs are like this and you can’t see any- thing and it’s like why is she in here? Monica: She’s naked and like oh no!† (Millard 164) From these reactions that came from the youngest aged focus group, it reflects the negative attitude regarding nudity the media has created against overweight, non-white women. The general, society-made opinion on nudity is that it is an act to be seen not in the public eye, but in a private setting. The media has taken that opinion of nudity and subjected it to making it more tolerable in public (in certain films or advertisements) but only if the people who are naked are deemed beautiful enough. An argument that can be made against my point is that only one of the focus groups in Jennifer Millard’s study had a negative reaction to the advertisement. The focus group that reacted negatively to the advertisement also happened to be the focus group with the youngest women in the group. Their reaction can be explained because they have not had a long experience with â€Å"out of the norm† advertisements and are used to seeing advertisements with a more negative message within them, compared to the other and more experienced focus groups. Also, the women in the other aged focus groups can better relate to the model’s â€Å"imperfections† compared to the younger focus group. Millard explained in her article that specific advertisement was Dove’s boldest one in the study, and expected that it will cause stronger reactions compared to the other campaign advertisements the focus groups would be seeing. Another theme that I found when reading Jennifer Millard’s article was the idea of privilege that the media creates within the desire of beauty. By being classified as beautiful in society, the media creates a shift in power that only beautiful people can have and reinforces the power within majority groups in the society. â€Å"In Western culture, those with beautiful bodies and faces â€Å"get more† out of life because beauty is highly valued (Black 2004). Beautiful people are viewed as more intelligent, powerful, healthy, and of higher class than the masses of regular Joes and Janes (Plous and Neptune 1997).† (Millard 150). To make sure this idea of privilege gets reinforced, and not every person can be classified with is privilege, the media has created extreme expectations that are very difficult for a woman to fully achieve every requirement. These expectations range from being tall and having a slender body, long, shiny hair, clear skin, and trendy, expens ive clothes. These expectations creates a form of privilege within society, that the small percentage of people who have all those qualities are classified correctly will all the benefits and advantages. I definitely agree with Millard’s on this issue because everyone who is not classified as beautiful has seen this form of privilege in the media. By looking at a tabloid magazine or by watching television, the privilege of beautiful is often flashed into the eyes of the less worthy, non-beautiful majority. Award shows is a obvious example of this privilege. Here famous and usually beautiful people gather and attend a extravagant night of drinking and celebration, and accompanied by thousands of dollars worth of jewellery and clothing on their bodies. Throughout their campaign, Dove promotes equality of beauty between all groups of women, no matter their size, shape or age. With their campaign message, they are attempting to eliminate the privilege that only women classified as beautiful deserve. As positive as this campaign is, at the end of the day Dove is a company trying to make a profit. Instead of the usual kind of advertising with the message that their product will make the woman who buys it more beautiful; they state that every women is already beautiful, and they can embrace their beauty by buying a dove related product. From advertising with this point of view, Dove is assuming that no women knows their true beauty, and will never see it unless they buy their products. When looking at that viewpoint Dove is stating, it can be seen as offending towards any woman who is already confident in their beauty and self-image. In conclusion, while the Dove Real Beauty Campaign is certainly not the only solution towards changing the view of beauty in the media, Jennifer Millard’s study discusses the many pros and cons the campaign offers towards women in a fair matter. Millard also presents the themes of a symbolic interactionist perspective and of privilege that help benefits the Real Beauty Campaign which in time, creates more positive content within the media. Reference List Millard, Jennifer. â€Å"Dove’s â€Å"Real Beauty† Campaign.† University of California Press (2009): n. pag. JSTOR. University of California Press. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.