The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Essay -- Scripture Analysis

Introduction Jesus was a phenomenal communicator. In fact, Jesus was the greatest communicator to ever live. He used strategies and techniques that were previously unheard of to get his point across in any situation, regardless of the circumstances. What is interesting is that his most common form of speaking was in parables. He would use these analogies to provide a way of application for the gospel in people lives. The parable about the workers in the vineyard is one of many, but is one of the few that were only told in the book of Matthew. Although there a many assumptions as to the reasoning for this, nobody can be sure of the reason why this parable is nowhere to be found in the other gospels. It is especially confusing because in this parable Jesus talks about end times and entrance into heaven; which would have been, and still is, an important subject to any believer. Matthew 20:1-16 1 â€Å"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 â€Å"About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. â€Å"He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 â€Å"‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. â€Å"He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 â€Å"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘C... ...mazing, but sets an example of how believers today can use relevant and modern examples and stories to share the Gospel and continue growing the body of Christ. Works Cited Barker, Kenneth L., ed., NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008. Print. Blomberg, Craig L. "Matthew." The New American Commentary. 22. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992. Print. Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison. "Matthew 19-28." International Critical Commentary. New York, NY: T&T Clark International, 2004. Print. Hagner, Donald A. "Matthew 14-28." Word Biblical Commentary. 33B. Dallas, TX: Word Incorporated, 1995. Print. Keck, Leander E. "Matthew, Mark." The New Interpreter's Bible. 8. Nashville, TN: Abington Press, 1995. Print. Luz, Urich. "Mathew 8-20." Hermeneia: A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001. Print.

Online Pay-Per-View Movies :: Computer Entertainment Papers

Online Pay-Per-View Movies I choose to discuss the topic of the internet as a new medium for pay-per-view movies because I feel it is a very fresh and new topic that has not been discussed, nor received much attention. The onset of this new medium comes from an attempt to deter online movie pirates from stealing the movies to actually purchasing them for a low price. I feel this is especially important for me to be writing this on a college campus because that is where a great deal of movie pirating occurs due to the fast online connections that the universities provide. File sharing programs like Kazaa and Limewire run ramped on college campuses making this an interesting alternative to explore. With this subject hitting close to home, I choose to research it and find out why it would be a good alternative to the free downloads that we receive from online people to people file-sharing programs. While there are a few sites out there that offer this kind of pay-per-view service, I choose to specificall y focus on the site Movielink.com because it is backed by five major Media Corporations comprised of Universal, Sony, Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer, Paramount, and Warner Brothers. For this reason, it was the ideal internet site to explore to show the recent trend towards getting new movies online, even if only for a short time. For this paper, I had to do a lot of research to find information on how the internet sites for pay-per-view movies worked, and how they were going to be marketed. Since the prevalence of this kind of internet site is very recent, I received the majority of my information from periodicals. For this, I did a lot of research on my University Library Site looking for newspaper and magazine articles from all around the world. I came up with a few very good articles that gave me a plethora of knowledge that I attempted to incorporate into my story. Since I choose to focus on the site Movielink.com, which is backed by the previously mentioned entertainment companies, I choose to make each of the CEO’s of the companies a character in my paper. It is important to note that none of these CEO’s ever met, nor do they necessarily reflect the personality traits that I created.

Pest Tesco Pakistan

Marketing Planning in a Global Environment Group Assignment No: 1 Topic: What is the purpose of a Political, Economic, Social and Technical (PEST) environmental analysis for companies in relation to their global (marketing) strategy? Present a PEST analysis for ONE of the following four companies: the computer chip manufacturer Intel the train operator Scotrail the food etc. retailer Tesco the book shop retailer John Smiths {draw:frame} Group Members: Bushra Yaseen Naureen Ruftaj Mahmood Ali Suhaib Hussain Baluch Submitted to: Sushil Mohan Dated: 26/February/2010 {pcut:paragraph_to_cut} Introduction: The assignment aims to apply the PEST analysis for TESCO (a British international grocery and general merchandising retail chain) if they were to launch the stores in Pakistan. The assignment takes into consideration all the factors (Political, Economical, Social & Technological) which might affect Tesco when it starts operating in Pakistan. {draw:frame} {draw:custom-shape} {draw:frame} What is PEST? Why Pest is used? PEST is an abbreviation of political, economical, social and technological analysis which describes the macro environment factors used to conduct a strategic analysis or performing market research. Political Analysis includes political stability, legal framework for contract enforcement, intellectual property protection, trade regulations & tariffs, pricing regulations, taxation – tax rates and incentives, wage legislation – minimum wage and overtime, product labelling requirements, environmental regulations. Economical Analysis includes type of economic system in countries of operation, government intervention in the free market, exchange rates & stability of host country currency, efficiency of financial markets, infrastructure quality, skill level of workforce, labour costs, business cycle stage, economic growth rate, unemployment rate, inflation rate, interest rates. Social Analysis includes demographics, class structure, education, culture (gender roles, etc. ), entrepreneurial spirit, attitudes (health, environmental consciousness, etc. Technological Analysis includes recent technological developments, technology's impact on product offering, impact on cost structure, impact on value chain Structure, rate of Technological Diffusion, technological Knowhow. Advantages of PEST Analysis It facilitates an understanding of the wider business environment. It encourages the development of external thinking and strategic thinking. It can enable an organization to anticipate the future busine ss threats and take action to avoid or minimize their impact. It can enable the organization to spot the new business opportunities and make use of them fully. {draw:frame} Introduction of TESCO Tesco, the leading Britain retailer commenced its business in 1919 in East London by Jack Cohen. Tesco now has 4308 stores with approx 440,000 employees. It is basically a retail service provider but it has diversified itself in telecom sector, health sector, clothing sector, hosieries, dental plans, DVDs, Internet services, financial services, pharmacy, car insurance, music downloads and software. Tesco is providing the products and services as per changing consumers’ needs and demands therefore; Tesco wants to facilitate its customers as much as it can. Mission: ‘Creating value for customers, to earn their lifetime loyalty’. Vision and Values: Our core purpose is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. We do this through our values and code of conduct, the way we choose to work at Tesco. Our values are summed up in two phrases – ‘no-one tries harder for customers’ and ‘treat people how we like to be treated’. Tesco’s stores are divided into the six following types: Tesco extra stores are larger in size (located away from main city centres) and have all Tesco’s product range. Tesco superstores are mainly having grocery items and a small range of non-food items. Tesco Metro stores are located in city centres and high streets. These stores are medium in size and offer limited range of items. Tesco Express stores are smaller in size to facilitate the customers on Esso petrol stations and small shopping places located in residential areas. One Stop stores are smallest in size and are part of Tesco Express. Tesco Homeplus stores offer all of Tesco's ranges except food in warehouse-style units in retail parks. *Marketing Objectives:* Increased Profitability Growth in Market share Emergence in new markets Customer advocacy Respected company/ brand awareness. Employees growth and motivation Emerging in new markets is the main focus of Tesco’s future planning. Initially the global expansion plan of Tesco was not successful but later on Tesco started the localization of its products and stores as per global markets. The global market strategy of Tesco is the growth in grocery items, non-food items, international expansion and other services offered by it. Tesco’s Global Presence (Appendix C) Political Factors The following are the Political factors regarding the Pakistani government which are likely to influence the operations of Tesco when they decide to launch its store chain in Pakistan. Political Instability: The political instability is the major factor of low foreign investment in the Pakistan. It creates uncertainty in the minds of investors. Because political uncertainty refers to the reaction by people to any change in the political scenario. The reaction can be in the form of protests or rallies in which the properties of government along with others have been destroyed in the past by the angry mob of people. This has resulted into the loss of millions and billions of Dollars to the companies. Tesco needs to keep in mind that in Pakistan if there is any instability politically, foreign companies get affected the most. It is very difficult for the government to provide foolproof security to their stores. Threat of change in Government: The rules and policies (Tax rates) given by the government also changes by the change of the authority or government. Bargaining Power on Taxing: Since the Government is encouraging the Foreign Investments and new entrants in the field of departmental stores (Cash & Carry) therefore, Tesco can use its power of being a huge foreign investor to have tax rates which are lesser than others. Keeping in mind the current situation of foreign investments (very low) the government might offer a lesser tax rate to Tesco. Fluctuation in Trade policy: There is very high frequency of changing trade policies in Pakistan. The fluctuation in trade policy results into an imbalance between exports and imports. Economic Factors Inflation Rate: The inflation rates gives an idea about the price increase over the past few years and it tells that at the moment in Pakistan it stands at 10. 3% approximately which is quite high. For a country that has such high inflation rates, it gets really difficult to operate at lower prices. Cost of Security: Tesco would have to spend a lot of money on the security because as Tesco is a foreign brand a lot of security threats would be faced by Tesco. Since the government is unable to provide foolproof so Tesco would have to engage a private company for its stores which would increase cost. Fluctuating Exchange Rates: Devaluation of money (Cost of Capital goes down) and increasing exchange rate discourages the investors to invest in Pakistan’s market. Cost on Energy: The country is also suffering from Energy crisis (Electricity) so this would give rise to a problem of Electricity in Stores. There is load shedding of electricity of minimum of 6-8 hours in urban areas. Therefore, an alternative source of generators would have to be used by Tesco for their stores. Which would result into an increase in cost of Tesco and since Tesco stores remain opened for 24 hours, therefore, their charges for electricity (which would be on generators) would be doubled Intense Competition: Tesco is likely to face a very intense competition from all areas. There are cash and carry stores already located in the major cities of Pakistan (one in each) like Makro and Hyper star. Apart from that there are a very huge number of retailers present in every town (almost in every other street). For consumers, switching costs might increase if they plan to purchase a product from Tesco. The switching cost can be higher in terms of time and the distance. Purchasing Power: Tesco might need to look into the purchasing power of consumers in Pakistan. The purchasing power would help Tesco to determine the size of the potential market (revenues). Socio-Cultural Environment Behaviour of Pakistani Consumers: First of all society and the culture of Pakistan and its markets are not as much adaptive to changes. So it would be difficult for Tesco to get sales. Convenience of Time & Distance: The habit of Pakistanis is to buy goods from the nearest market on the day to day basis in order to save time and cost of travelling to a megastore which might be located far away from them. The Power of ‘Credit Sales**’: Another problem which Tesco might face is that there is a trend in Pakistan of consumers that they buy groceries from local retailers on credit and pay them back after they get their salaries. Bulk Shopping: Most Pakistani consumers lack the concept of bulk shopping. It is not in their culture to shop in high quantities. Since the purchasing power of majority of people is not very high so they prefer to buy items day by day (as and when needed). Creating Demand for ready cooked Tesco’s food products: It has been observed that in UK and other European countries there is a huge demand of Tesco’s ready cooked meals. But if we look at the social behaviour (taste) of Pakistani consumers it still reflects the conventional ways of food consumptions (3 heavy meals / day). Consumers like to cook themselves at their homes. The existing culture as far as the consumption of food items is concerned might pose few problems for Tesco. *Culture for *24 hour* shopping*: Tesco might find it hard to attract consumers at night because it is not in the culture of Pakistani people to shop late at night. They shop during the day timings or evenings and prefer to stay home take rest at night so Tesco would certainly need to do something to change this habit of Pakistani Consumers. Technological Environment Online Shopping: Tesco would have to invest a lot of money if they decide to serve customers through online shopping. The reason being that it is very difficult (Costly) for them to set up an Information Technology infrastructure which would enable them to serve customers through internet. Payments through Debit Card: Another area in which they might need to focus on is payments through debit cards like they have this facility in their stores in other countries. Since megastores generate a lot of revenue through impulse buying as well so the consumers might not carry cash for such purchases. In order to avoid losing customers, Tesco would have to create an arrangement with the banks in a way that it enables the customers to use their debit card while making purchases at Tesco. Installation of Security Equipment: By considering the current security situation of the country, Tesco would be required to install latest expensive security equipments such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), scanners, metal detectors. Etc Solar Energy as source of Electricity: Since electricity is a problem in Pakistan, what Tesco can do is that they can install the solar energy lit appliances to utilize solar energy to generate electricity. Since the weather of Pakistan is mostly sunny, we believe Tesco can make use of this technology to benefit itself. Conclusions & Recommendations After carrying out the PEST analysis for Tesco on Pakistan we came up to few recommendations. It is advised that Tesco should launch its retail chain in Pakistan because Pakistan like other developing countries is a high potential market (in terms of revenues) for the investors. We have also observed that Carrefour has launched Hyperstar which is doing very well in terms of revenue generation and profits. Since it is not a good time as far as the political environment is concerned and foreign investors are not willing to invest in Pakistan so this might help Tesco to have tax rates lower than others or they might negotiate with the Government of Pakistan to raise a barrier for new retail store entrants for particular years so that Tesco establishes itself properly and achieves economies of scale (which would serve as a barrier to new entrants) Since Tesco is open 24 hours a day so they would need double resources (in terms of Technological & Human Capital) but it might not be a good option in Pakistan because mostly consumers in Pakistan do not prefer to shop late at night because issues like security and others. So we suggest Tesco to operate 12-16 hours per day. This way Tesco would be able save a huge amount of cost which would have been incurred by just operating 24 hours a day. We believe Tesco should launch its operations into Pakistani market in order to follow their growth strategy through international expansion. We are very sure that Tesco will be able to gain a decisive amount of market share in order to show its dominance in Pakistan. APPENDIX A {draw:frame} APPENDIX B Application of PEST Business planning , {text:list-item} Marketing planning, {text:list-item} Product development, {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Organizational change, {text:list-item} Research reports. {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} APPENDIX C {draw:frame} This table is taken from Tesco Preliminary Results 2008/09 Additional Information REFERENCES Websites: http://www. tescocorporate. om/plc/ir/pres_results/analyst_packs/ap2009/prelim09/prelim09. pdf http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/PEST_analysis http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newTMC_09. htm http://www. cbr. gov. pk/ *Author & Textbooks*: Kotler, P. , and Keller, K. L. (2006) Marketing Management, 12th ed, Prentice Hall, London. AGUILAR, F. J. (1967) Scanning the business environment. New York: Macmillan. Johnson, G. , Scholes, K. , and Whittington R. (2008) Exploring Corporate Strategy Text Cases, 8th ed, Prentice Hall, London. Narayanan, V. K, and Fahey, L. (2001) Macro environmental_ Analysis_: Understanding the Environment Outside the Industry, in The Portable MBA in Strategy, 2nd ed, John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Culture-Bound Syndromes

Mental health functioning is important regarding a person’s well-being, being able to interact with others in a healthy manner, and contributes many things to individual’s through communities and society. Culture-bound syndromes are conditions that are specific to particular cultures. The cultures that experience, express, and deal with culture-bound syndromes in different ways is extremely common. LaVeist and Thomas (2005) state that â€Å"culture-bound syndromes are clusters of symptoms more common in some cultures than others† (p. 01). There are symptoms that are found in all nations, cultures, and similarly recognizable worldwide but yet are different at the same time. Culture-Bound Syndromes Culture-bound syndromes, also known as culture-specific syndromes, have been defined as â€Å"clusters of symptoms more common in some cultures than in other cultural groups† (LaVeist & Thomas, 2005, p. 101). Although many mental disorders are well known in sp ecific cultures, these disorders are at least somewhat conditioned by the culture in which they are found.More importantly, the topic of culture-bound syndromes has â€Å"been a controversial topic since they have reflected the different opinions of anthropologists and psychiatrists† (WHO, 1992). Consequently, researchers have had some difficulty emphasizing culture specific dimensions of certain syndromes. Some studies have suggested that the most beneficial aspect of defining culture-bound syndromes is that they represent an acceptable way to define specific cultural responses to certain situations.According to Guarnaccia and Rogler (1999), â€Å"researchers have referred to culture bound research on culture-bound syndromes serves strategically to tighten the integration between cultural and clinical knowledge, while providing insights into issues of diagnostic universality and culturally specificity† (p. 1326). The role of biology in the development of culture-bound syndromes, therefore, has proved to be of debate. Interest in culture-bound syndromes has increased over the last few decades.Similarly the treatment in a diagnostic classification treatment of these disorders has over the last several years gained attention (Guarnaccia & Rogler, 1999). Clinicians are presented with plenty of challenges when dealing with culture-bound syndromes such as how to diagnose them. Several questions clinicians present include the stability of culture-bound syndromes, the common nature of these disorders across cultures, and the similarity of symptoms between syndromes (APA, 1994).Similarly, the question of whether culture-bound syndromes should be included in the diagnostic criteria of current psychological illnesses or as individual entities themselves is also debatable (APA, 1994). Another issue concerns the relationship between culture bound syndromes and standard diagnostic systems such as the DSM. Of specific concern is that they do not easily con form to the categories within the DSM due to significant differences across cultures.These differences are due to differing views of self and reality as well as the different ways cultures express certain disorders (APA, 1994). Guarnaccia and Rogler (1999) referring to the DSM classification system in that it addresses certain concerns about differing cultural boundaries, and in dealing with the classification methods certainly deal with the reliability and validity of the non-universality of cultural experiences in relation to mental illnesses.The fact that each culture-bound syndrome is individually associated with particular sets of illness responses, it is difficult to define precisely the definition of the culture-bound syndromes as a unit. Culture-bound syndromes as therefore comprised as several different illnesses and afflictions. LaVeist and Thomas (2005) thoroughly expresses the dynamic nature of culture-bound syndromes when they state: The symptoms of mental disorders are found in all nations and in all cultures; there are recognizable symptoms that are common worldwide.Mental health researchers have not yet been able to determine whether culture bound syndromes are indicative of one or more possibilities that include distinct disorders that exist only in specific cultures, and reflect different ways in which individuals from different cultures express mental illness, as well as reflecting different ways in which the social and cultural environment interact with genes to produce disorders, or any combination of these. (pp. 01) With the following information in mind, it should be noted that not all disorders are considered pathological; some behaviors are seen as ways of expressing and communicating distress to members of a certain culture and are seen as culturally accepted responses (APA, 1994). In fact, cultures experience, express, and cope with feelings of distress in various ways that may counter what Western societies see as common. Furthermor e, at times these cultural differences are referred to as idioms of distress.Understanding the expression of these idioms (for example somatization, which is a physical representation of distress that is typically accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal or chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness or vertigo, and blurred vision) allows clinicians to be more aware of the diagnoses they give (LaVeist & Thomas, 2005). Culture-bound syndromes can also appear to be similar within several cultures. Furthermore, a culture specific syndrome can be categorized by various things.The APA (1994) characterizes culture specific syndromes as the following: categorization as a disease in the culture, familiarity within a widespread culture, people with lack of familiarity of specific conditions from other cultures, and the use of folk medicines that particular cultures use as a conditioned sense of usage within a specific culture. More specifically, culture-bound syndromes are not the same as geographically localized diseases with specific biological causes, such as kuru or sleeping sickness, or genetic conditions limited to certain populations, like sickle cell anemia (APA, 1994).Discussions of culture-bound syndromes have often concerned the amount of different categories of syndromes present in the world today. Many culture-bound syndromes are actually specific cultural representations of illnesses found elsewhere in the world. Some of these responses are not necessarily psychological illnesses but rather are explanatory mechanisms like witchcraft (Simons & Hughes, 1985). Beliefs in witchcraft could seem to be a little farfetched as a type of culture-bound illness; however, it is supposed that witchcraft can lead to behaviors that can be seen as disordered.This concept is of particular concern to medical and psychiatric anthropologists because culture-bound syndromes provide examples of how cultural specific symptoms can evolve into psychological illnesses. Just because these responses may not begin as disorders, however, does not devalue the fact that they are illnesses and should be taken seriously (Simons & Hughes, 1985). The American Psychiatric Association (1994), states that the Western scientific perspective characterizes culture specific syndromes as imaginary and has no way of clearly being able to show why someone cannot understand that perspective.According to the APA (1994), physicians will share many things about a disorder with the patients and help them try to understand how they see their particular disorder; they also use folk medicine treatment if the patient asks for that if it is a culture-bound syndrome. Another thing is that a physician may falsify a patients perspective to offer folk medicine treatments that are available or maybe for a new and improved treatment strategy. Lastly, the clinician should educate the patient on being able to recognize their condition as a culture-bound syndrome so that the clinician m ay treat them as they see fit.Guarnaccia and Rogler (1994) said that specific conditions are very challenging within medical care and illustrate rarely discussed aspects of fundamental aspects of physician to patient relationships, a diagnosis that is the best fit for the way of looking at the body and its diseases are easily negotiated if both parties can be found. Restrictions of the diagnostic classification systems of culture-bound syndromes have complications with certain additions within the iagnostic classification systems and have raised many questions. It is not quite clear on whether culture-bound syndromes are actually different from conventional syndromes or if they are just categorically different. Some people like to argue that some culture-bound syndromes are not just limited to specific cultures but are widely experienced throughout the world. Many of the syndromes that have been labeled as culture- bound are compromised by many mixtures of indicators that have been witnessed collectively.Culture-bound syndromes are lacking in diagnostic regularity and legitimacy making it extremely difficult to reach widespread straightforward criteria to describe these illnesses because of problems in language. â€Å"In the development of the DSM, its designers tried to create a diagnostic system that was well-suited with a broader and more worldwide medical organization system that is, the International Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death (ICD) developed by the World Health Organization† (WHO, 1992).Therefore, the DSM implements a medical model of diagnosis for which many mental disorders, regardless of whether their background is biological or psychological, is viewed as mental illnesses and requires treatment. Furthermore, this model is implicit and assuming that mental disorders are under the compromise of behavioral or psychological symptoms that can form definable patterns or distinct forms of a particular syndrome (Guarnacc ia & Rogler, 1994).The authors of the DSM definitely made a careful choice to accept a clear-cut categorization of mental illnesses. It is important to notice, however, that the DSM does not make the assumption that all mental disorders are discreet entities with absolutely no boundaries. Finally, before methodology is discussed, examples of what culture-bound syndromes actually are is important to include. The case of Koro â€Å"provides an example of shifting diagnostic classifications because of changing decisions about which symptoms are predominant.For example, Koro was first categorized as a somatoform disorder on the basis of the perception of the afflicted person’s intense preoccupation with a somatic concern, the retraction of the penis† (Bernstein & Gaw, 1990). â€Å"More recently, Koro was categorized as an anxiety disorder and noted that others have associated Koro with panic disorders† (Levine & Gaw, 1995, p. 1323). Second, the debate of the relationship between culture-bound syndromes and psychiatric disorders according to symptoms is evident in the case of Latah Levine & Gaw, 1995). More specifically, â€Å"a debate about Latah focuses on which theoretical perspective should prevail; Simons and Hughes argued that the predominant feature of Latah is the neurophysiological startle reflex, culturally elaborated into Latah in Malaysia† (Simons & Hughes, 1985, p. 1323). Therefore, each disorder represents responses specific to certain cultures while also explaining the different ways cultures respond to events. MethodUnderstanding culture-bound syndromes requires looking at multiple sources that give a broad range of information regarding the topic. For this paper I felt that it was necessary to use the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders because it gives plenty of information regarding culture-bound syndromes. The Diagnostic and Statistical Ma nual of Mental Disorders is extremely useful in the fact that it allows a health educator to become more acquainted with culture-bound syndromes that are unique and unusual to our specific field of study.Guarnaccia and Rogler and their research on culture-bound syndromes is informational in that they give a comprehensive look at culture-bound syndromes through the classification system and allow one to focus more on specific syndromes, such as Koro and Latah. LaVeist and Thomas from Chapter 5 in Minority Populations and Health are really informational along the lines of mental health, mental illness, and mental health problems.They give a more thorough explanation of basic background information on the previously stated information and topics and yet still remain in-depth when looking at specific aspects of mental health. They describe mental health, mental health problems, and mental illness in more detail and allow for the interpretation of others reading their work to help fuel o ne’s own judgments on those topics. I also used various sources to address other topics relevant to culture-bound syndromes. For example, Bernstein and Gaw specifically addressed Koro, which I used as an example of a culture-bound syndrome.Another example, Simon and Hughes addressed Latah, I felt it was necessary to use examples of both Koro and Latah to help show what culture-bound syndromes were exactly and what they meant to cultures that were not American and how the cultures that were affected by these syndromes. The method I used for identifying and locating sources mainly dealt with trying to find a broad aspect of culture-bound syndromes and basic information on this particular subject. The rationale for choosing the specific sources was along the lines of being able to find enough useable information that could allow me to get my points across.When searching the electronic databases and the library at Central Arkansas University I was mainly looking for a broad range of topics that could fulfill the various information needs I had for this paper. I wanted to look at the topic on multiple levels, including cross-cultural, the way culture-bound syndromes affect others, and the ways in which these disorders are specifically associated with mental illness. Analysis & Discussion The grouping of culture-bound syndromes into qualified diagnostic categories usually is based on a perception of their principal indicators.But the bigger issue itself of classifying a majority of symptoms is definitely challenging, as exemplified in the cases of Koro and Latah. Problems most definitely arose when conclusions were built on general, typical descriptions of the syndrome that are then linked with the textbook criteria of psychiatric diagnoses. The present method of studying the same set of readings and engaging in the classification process with them does not, from my viewpoint, promote the consideration of culture-bound syndromes.The approach of trying to find the right classificatory organization by basing it on the similarity between certain symptoms that include maybe one or two of the same grouping within the syndrome as well as the DSM groupings as the main organizing arrangement of significance to the culture-bound syndromes is not expected to produce new answers to the questions about the classification system. There are many syndromes that have different names that are seen from a variety of cultures that are basically the same set of behaviors, but culturally are explained in slightly different ways.Occasionally, on certain remote instances the arrangement of the behavior that is recognized as a culture-bound syndrome occurs in an area that is far from individuals where the termed and elaborated syndrome is an endemic. Conclusion & Recommendations Some major challenges that can help the classification system out is that the same distress responses may be stated differently as a result of cultural cues, language variances , and changes in experience.In addition, the American Psychiatric Association (1994) notes that some examples of cultural structuring and or human behavior knowledge regarding illnesses are stated in Western classification systems more commonly known as the DSM. Thus, the challenge to categorize culture bound syndromes, whether as diverse syndromes or as part of an already categorized illness, is an activity that is inseparably tied to a certain culture. Also it has been suggested the ways that cultures and their social methods can limit the expansion of an internationally valid system of identification.Guarnaccia and Rogler (1999) suggests that classification of culture-bound syndromes are better than recording symptoms due to the fact that examining the context and symbolic structure of cultural reactions yield a better turnout. The main themes of most discussions over culture-bound syndromes is that such illnesses personalize symptom patterns that are somewhat linked in some sign ificant way to the specific cultural setting in which they have occurred within.Because most of the syndromes are separate from the theoretical outlook of the Western medicine systems, they are quite often disregarded in serious analyses and therefore are carelessly overlooked for helpful mediations. These disorders appear to reside in a figurative twilight zone of psychiatric diagnosis and are viewed as highly mysterious. To nearly everyone, the behavior and outlooks common to one’s own culture seem natural and/or rational in most parts, while those derived from other cultures appear abnormal, culture-specific, or arising from irregular conditions.Most clinicians are more than likely to think through the justification of culture when presenting a patient’s problem, especially when he or she is from a cultural setting other than the clinician’s own. However, cultural factors are a considerable part of every disorder and expressive in the outlook of specific comp onents. Nonetheless, all psychiatric illnesses are culture bound to a certain degree. The divisions of psychiatric illnesses of culture-bound syndromes are those found only in inadequate cultural areas.Though culture does shape all illness behavior, it is always hypothetically informative to ask why any given syndrome appears to be present or not in a given culture. In recent years, the mindfulness of cultural diversity and of the role of culture in all illnesses has greatly been improved. Because of the interpretations into the relationships between individual psychopathology and culturally firm practices and beliefs that the study of culture-bound syndromes offers, an interest in these syndromes has grown greatly over the past several years.Health educators in dealing with culture-bound syndromes would be able to help Center for Disease Control officials in many aspects. Since culture-bound syndromes are very common among many cultures around the world, health educators who deal w ith particular syndromes could help assess and implement many programs that can help with assessing many syndromes that afflict many cultures throughout the world. In a classroom setting, health educators can teach students how to spot syndromes and treat them to an extent in which helps their particular culture, community or society.Health education programs that are implemented within colleges and universities can stress that culture-bound syndromes are very serious and need to be treated like any other mental health disease that we as educators deal with and try to diagnose every day. I believe that policies and procedures that are already implemented within our culture are doing a good job in trying to handle culture-bound syndromes. Educationally, I believe that there are definitely some great programs that try to help with identifying and dealing with culture-bound syndromes.References American Psychiatric Association (APA). 1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental D isorders, Fourth Edition: DSM-IV. Washington, DC. Bernstein, R. L. , & Gaw, A. C. (1990). Koro: proposed classification for DSM-IV. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 1670-1674. Guarnaccia, P. J. , & Rogler, L. H. (1999). Research on culture-bound syndromes: New directions. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(9), 1322-1327. Hall, T. M. (2008). Culture-bound syndromes in China. Retrieved from http://homepage. mac. com/mccajor/cbs. html LaVeist, T. A. , & Thomas, D. (2005). Mental health. In T. A. LaVeist (Ed. Minority populations and health: An introduction to health disparities in the United States (pp. 83-107). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Levine, R. E. , & Gaw, A. C. (1995). Culture-bound syndromes. Psychiatry Clinic North America, 18, 523-536. World Health Organization (WHO). (1992). International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10): Classification of mental and behavioral disorders. Geneva, Switzerland. Simons, R. C. , & Hughes, C. C. (1985 ). The culture-bound syndromes: Folk illnesses of psychiatric and anthropological interest. Dordrecht, Netherlands.

National Initiatives Essay

Many national initiatives have been developed over the years as society becomes more progressive and tolerant, the results of these legislative regulation at every level from international law all the way down to individual practice policy have an effect on anti-discriminatory practice in health and social care systems Conventions and fundamental and regulation European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 Article 14 in this convention concerns discrimination and prohibits discrimination based on many different factors such as Race, Sex, Age etc. It also can extend to protect against discrimination of different sexual orientation and legal rights of people under national law. In terms of Health and social care and anti-discriminatory practice this Article is very important as it sets the basis for a non-discriminatory Health a Social care System. This article states in essence that by and large everyone has the right to be treated without being discriminated against for any illogical reason such as a person not being treated because they mentally Ill. It should mean also that more health professionals cannot be hired based on discrimination from the employer against other applicants. E.G a dental practice picks a Caucasian applicant over an Asian Applicant based purely on their own prejudice against Asian people. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 This act dictates that men and women are protected by law from being discriminated against on the bases of their sex or marital status. This act gives men and women the rights to the same level of treatment by health professionals and to attain the same positions as one another. This makes a more diverse workforce and in health & social care which is a diverse environment, this is a good thing. Codes of Practice and Charters Codes of practice are enforced by individual practices and Healthcare Centres, These are all similar in most respects but usually are specified to the practice itself. For example a Dentist and a Hospital for the mentally infirm will have different codes of practice due to the complete difference in patient, treatment and the overall healthcare plan. But this show’s just some of the benefits and uses of practice codes in healthcare as it allows room for maximum patient care. These codes of practice however generally address what is considered to be discrimination in the practice and what sanctions follow if any of these codes are broken. This helps to ensure that all employees are aware what discriminatory practice is and this allows no excuse when discriminatory practice is carried out by and employee. Organisational Policies and procedures Organisational policies and procedures affect various things in health & social care including positive promotion of individual rights, advocacy, staff development and training, complaints procedures, confidentiality. Promoting individual rights Individual rights cover a large range of rights and good organisational policies cover the protection of these against discrimination. People’s individual rights in the health and social system must be protected against any infringement on them e.g. their personal beliefs. Advocacy An advocate is someone who stand’s in the place of and speaks for someone who is not able to represent themselves, e.g. an advocate for a mental patient or a child. This person is responsible for said person and should only act in their best interests. Advocates promote anti discriminatory practice by giving a voice to those without one, stopping discrimination based on lack of social ability. Staff development and training It is essential that staff are trained properly in anti-discriminatory practice, this allows them to develop as professional’s with a duty to uphold the rights of individuals and to work against discrimination where seen. Complaints procedures and confidentiality Complaints procedures must be followed up quickly and efficiently as any possible discrimination must be investigated and also that complaints processed properly can make for improvements in the delivery of healthcare. Patient’s confidentiality must be kept at all times as any illness is private to whomever has it. National initiatives are in place for a reason, practices are still working every day to promote anti-discriminatory practice, the idea to produce an equal, quality and efficient healthcare system that works for everyone is still not a complete reality but with more initiatives and good practice it could be.

Self-Management and Self-Planning Skills (Physical Education Course) Research Paper

Self-Management and Self-Planning Skills (Physical Education Course) - Research Paper Example In easiest way we can attain Healthy life style by combing of management and planning skills and to set goals not only long term but also shot term that can bring affirmative behavioral changes in daily routine if it is well planned, executed and based on easy strategies. Stages of Lifestyle Change There are five stages that are involved in the change of lifestyles and quitting habits (Prochaska, 1983). Precontemption: It is actually the denial phase where a person is not ready to leave his/her habit for anything as withdrawal from junk food for obese patients Contemplation: it is the phase when an individual start thinking about the change that could be better for life. Preparation: when individual start accepting and preparing for the change of dietary habits. Action: when individual takes actual step for change, as opting for other sources of food and start avoiding less beneficial Maintenance: it is the regular practice of that routine, as to maintain healthy lifestyle in this ex ample by adapting healthy food habits.

U08d2 Court Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U08d2 Court Case Analysis - Essay Example The main intention of the bill was to improve the current, i.e. less than 3% of the Massachusetts residents without health insurance. Hence to help the people overcome and not be uninsured, the state has established that hospitals need to charge the patients on reasonable rates rather than being based on the actual costs (Goodnough, 2009). The case involved a number of claims, like, ‘BMC’s constitutional claims also face high hurdles. The hospital contends that in requiring BMC to treat patients without providing full payment, the state engaged in a â€Å"regulatory taking† — essentially, using the hospital’s property without paying for it’ (NEJM, 2009). This case is absurd in a few manners. The main issue is due to the stem of an older case and conflict between the state and Medicaid cost cutting. Cases of this nature tend to be never ending and with a chance of low solutions for the health care industry. As explained in the case, ‘As long as powerful interests clash over limited health care resources, parties will do what they have always done: go to court’ (NEJM, 2009). The case of Massachusetts allows being a guide to help resolve the several health care reforms and will also allow a future solution for the cases where hospitals are not given their freedom to treat patients and are directed by the State Legislation (NEJM, 2009). Hence the case has a clear amount of impact on the health care industry and this case to some extent although a bit absurd is a benchmark for the several cases where the hospitals are not treated