Ideas And Issues In The Visit And A Chronicle Of A Death Foretold Essay Example for Free

Ideas And Issues In The Visit And A Chronicle Of A Death Foretold Essay Many works of contemporary literature discuss ideas and topics which are seen in the world around us today. These themes are either directly demonstrated or implied. Two works as such are The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt and A Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The issues raised in these two books are justice, communication, tradition, and moral values. Tradition is the ongoing obligation to commit to something, which is an act that has existed for many years. More often than not, tradition helps keep a community in one piece, much like laws do. In other cases, tradition obligates people and makes them do things they normally wouldnt do. In A Chronicle of a Death Foretold, tradition is one of the forces that drives the Vicario twins to kill Santiago Nasar and therefore clean their familys name. However, the Vicario brothers try to escape tradition. They had a debt which they greatly doubted and criticized. They know what the whole town expects them to do. But on the other side, their everyday life and friendship with Santiago Nasar, their victim, fills them with haste to fulfill tradition and do their pre-said duty. In The Visit, its tradition in the first place that brings the much anticipated lady Zachanassian to Guellen. So, in other words, tradition kills Ill as well as Santiago Nasar. Intertwined with the complications of tradition are the moral values behind any clearly human act. The only reason tradition has always been so difficult to adhere to is because of the moral issues behind the acts that tradition is composed of. This is seen in both pieces. In A Chronicle of a Death Foretold, the Vicario brothers are in a state of great misfortune not only because of the shame inflicted upon the Vicario family name but also because of the deed the have to carry out. However they also want their duty to be done. In an attempt to combine both, the twins unsuccessfully try to be caught whilst looking for Santiago Nasar. In other words, they seek someone to stop them by telling the whole town of their intentions. ,in reality it seemed that the Vicario brothers had done nothing right with a view to killing Santiago Nasar immediately and without any public spectacle, but had done much more than could be imagined to have someone stop them from killing him, and they had failed (p. 56). In The Visit, the town tries to hold its moral values despite the ironic reward the people and state will get if they do not. Later on in the book, even though Guellen has completely lost its morality and plans on doing Maddamme Zachanassians bidding and killing Ill, the townspeople will not admit, whatsoever that they have lost their towns values. Moreover, they blame Ill for not having any morality and tell him that if he had any values he would use a gun on himself outright. Ill, however denies the Mayors suggestion. Mayor: Pity. Youre missing a chance to redeem yourself and be a more or less decent human being. (p. 81) Tradition and the morality behind it are the two most ancient forms of justice. Today, justice is defined by laws and mainly is democratic and clear. But every person has their own form of justice for things, often acquiring either guilt or praise thereafter; or none of the two. Self-justice is reflexively self-justifying. In The Chronicle of a Death Foretold, the Vicario brothers want Justice. However, their morality, as discussed above, does not allow them to justify their familys shame by killing Santiago Nasar. For the sake of tradition they kill Santiago anyway. Pablo and Pedro Vicario tell everybody they come across that they will kill Santiago Nasar, hoping to get caught.. That way, they would have done their justice and duty as the brothers of Angela Vicario, the violated girl, by attempting to kill Santiago and not actually slaying him. They do not commit a crime the do not want to commit and which they consider immoral. Also, when Santiago appears to them, the Vicario twins do not face him head on. Instead they give him a chance of escape by remaining of the opposite side of the street and giving him a head-start through their body language. Clara Zachanassian in The Visit loses all of her moralities during her childhood as a prostitute and thus ends up defying the right and wrong of justice. Therefore, she goes ahead and offers money for an assassination. The townspeople of Guellen try to force back their moralities but fail to do so. As a result they take an alternative route to solving their problem. They masquerade the immorality of the crime of murder as justice. What follows is that they kill Ill with their bare hands. For justice and tradition to be enforced, a clear communication line must be drawn. Communication is what leads to the smooth flow of traditions and miscommunication to their collapse of justice. Morality has to do with a persons ability to communicate to oneself what they truly consider right or wrong; in this case it is contributed to justice and questionable traditions. Pedro and Pablo Vicarios failure to alert the whole town of Riochacha of their imminent crime is a result of poor communication. They misinterpreted the ability of the townspeople to pass on information and the rate in which the news would diffuse their way to Santiago Nasar or to the police. However they did not take one aspect of tradition into account: But most of those who could have done something to prevent the crime and did not consoled themselves with the pretext that affairs of honor are sacred monopolies [according to tradition], giving access only to those who are part of the drama. (p. 114). So, according to tradition, most people in town could not tell the authorities, nor anyone for that matter, about the Vicario twins and on top of that they could justify themselves by blaming it on the towns ethics. Destiny makes us invisible (Quote, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1928) The town of Guellen, on the other hand, had a level of communication between them far better than any other. They could communicate through the sub-conscious. It is not exactly stated that the Guelleners had actually decided upon killing Ill, so this could be assumed. They were very well organized and swift in killing Ill, as they were able to put many new products they wanted, more than needed, on account. As is clear, tradition, morality and justice are all connectable aspects which are usually bound together by a means of communication. Situations become elaborate and complications arise. The Chronicle of a Death Foretold and The Visit are two great examples of a situation that results from the combinations of those four issues.

Relativism And Realism Debates

Relativism And Realism Debates Should psychology pursue the path of realism or relativism? Critically discuss the implications of the relativism realism debate for psychology. In the field of psychology, there is a debate amongst psychologists about which scientific approach to take when it comes to studying psychology. Whilst some psychologists prefer the realism approach, other psychologists prefer a different approach, relativism. The debate argues over which approach is the best theory for psychology to adopt; how research should be conducted, what assumptions can be made by psychologists, and which approach is the best way to gain knowledge about the world. So what is realism and what is relativism? Realism is what could be considered mainstream psychology, where knowledge about the world can be acquired through methodical and systematic experimentation. Fletcher (1996) states that realism is focused mainly on behaviour, and that empirical research is the cornerstone of the scientific method (pp. 409). This approach is widely used in psychology to study behaviour and to gain facts about the world, which can be used to build psychological theories (Cac ioppo, Semin Bertson, 2004, pp 215). Relativism, on the other hand, offers an alternative approach to realism. Relativism argues that the world is created by the human mind, and the realism approach is no more rational or trustworthy than ordinary thinking (Fletcher, 1996, pp. 410). Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004) suggest that the relativism approach argues that theoreticians should recognize that all forms of theories are worthwhile and the key is to evaluate the relative informativeness of each theory (pp.219). This indicates that all theories are valid, but they are based upon the relative ideas and assumptions of the theoretician that put it forward. These relative ideas and assumptions of the theoretician are based on societal contexts which are part of the defining statement (Kagan, 1964, pp.131), meaning that what is stated is relative to the state of the individual and the context it is said in. But which approach should psychologists take and what does this mean for psy chology? The realism and relativism debate has been ongoing for a long time in the field of philosophy and more recently, psychology (Fletcher, 1996; Parker, 1998). In the field of philosophy, an empiricism approach has been widely abandoned in favour of a relativistic approach (Fletcher, 1996, pp. 410). However there is little consensus about which is the best approach to adopt by psychologists. There are arguments both for and against relativism and realism, and there are benefits to both approaches. This essay will look at both realism and relativism as philosophical approaches to psychology and which approach is more appropriate for the field. The realistic approach to psychology has been used in most psychological research that uses an experimental design. The assumption of the realism approach is that there is a real world that can be tested to establish facts; which experiments adopt to establish facts about behaviour. This, in a way, lends support for itself in psychology; by creating theories that can be tested, psychologists are able to predict behaviour, which is what some would say is the central aim of psychology (Gergen, 1973, pp. 317). Haig (2005) suggests that realism alone can offer an all-encompassing approach to psychology. It is argued by Haig (2005) that whilst there can be no proof that realism is a deficient philosophy for psychology, there is no need for other philosophical approaches to the field. However, it can be noted that this would be a very realist view; Haig (2005) needs proof that realism is deficient before it can be considered deficient. Whereas from a relativist point of view, proof would n ot be needed for realism to be considered a deficient philosophy, it would be relative to the context and person stating that it is deficient. This poses a problem; if realism is based on facts and wants proof that it does not provide an adequate philosophy, and relativism does not need facts or proof that realism is not an adequate philosophy, then a consensus of which approach is the most appropriate for psychology can never be made. One argument by Sankey (2004) suggests that the physical existence of the world provides evidence for a realist approach. It is suggested that the existence of the world around us does not depend on our thoughts, perceptions or experiences of it, it just exists. Whatever way we think about the world, or try to change parts of it (constructing buildings, growing crops, polluting the environment etc, pp.63), we did not create the world itself. It is argued that from this, human thoughts do not create the conception of reality, it is physically around us and this lends support to the realism approach. This would seem plausible, the fact that there are physical objects around us, that we can touch and interact with would suggest that there is a real world, and that we can acquire knowledge about that world. Sankey (2004) goes on to suggest that Mental representations are but a small part of a greater reality in which we find ourselves embedded. Any philosophy which seeks to ground our co nception of reality on our own mental representations commits the fundamental error of anthropocentrism, and should therefore be dismissed as fatally flawed, (pp.64). This suggests that by assuming that reality is evaluated exclusively through human representations of the world, relativism is flawed. It can also be noted that if relativists argue that all theories are worthwhile, then this argument by Sankey (2004) is perfectly reasonable in providing evidence for the realism approach. However, one thing that may go against this argument by Sankey (2004) is that there is no way of knowing whether everyone perceives the physical world around us in the same way or not. This means that the physical world as evidence for realism could be perceived in many different ways, suggesting that in fact a relativist approach is more appropriate for studying psychology. Whilst the realist approach lends support to the experimental side of psychology; enabling a psychologist to assume what they have found to be factual and free from representations, there is an increasing number of psychologists and psychological fields that are adopting a more relativist approach. These include social constructivism, discourse analysis and feminist psychology (Fletcher, 1996). But why adopt a relativist approach when a realism approach has been used so widely in the mainstream field of psychology? There are several arguments against using a realist philosophy for psychology. One argument that is highlighted by Fletcher (1996) is the idea that the empiricism approach to a lot of psychological research is based on a set of rules set out by psychologists that all experiments adhere to, for example significance levels (p.411). There is a question of why those particular values are deemed significant and why others are not, and what made those values significant. It can be supposed that somewhere along the line, humans decided what results could be considered significant and what results could not. This provides evidence for the relativism approach; everything is relative to the persons thoughts, assumptions and experiences. In this case results may only be significant to some people whilst the same set of results could be completely insignificant to others. However, because of the significance values used in the methodology employed by the realism approach, results that could seem significant to some people are deemed insignificant by the constraints of realist psychology. Rosnow and Rosethal (1989) criticise the methods of analysing data, stating that determining the particular level of significance of the data at which a null hypothesis will be rejected is essentially a personal decision, (pp.1277) which strengthens the argument that psychology is based on social constructs and is relative to the psychologist. The relativist argument that realis t methods are too dichotomous is also supported by Loftus (1996). Relativists have also rejected realist arguments that because we can physically touch and interact with our environment that this proves the world is real and that it can be tested in order to gain knowledge (e.g. Sankey, 2004). Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) identified two arguments used against relativism, (being able to touch furniture and the reality of death) and argue that these are still socially constructed. Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) suggest that a realist would hit a table and the resulting sound shows it is physical, and not socially constructed. The table, in the eyes of a realist, would be a real object that can be touched, physically in the real world. However, what Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) argue is that the table, whilst displaying physical properties is still a socially constructed object. The person that hits the table experiences it as real, but only the part that is touched by the hand. In addition to this, how does anybody else watching the t able being hit know it is real (pp.29)? It is also argued that by hitting the table, it does not prove that tables continuing existence (pp.29), nor does it prove that everything else around that table and other objects in the world exists. This highlights a flaw in what realists would count as evidence that the world is real and free from human interpretations. Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) also state that a realist would use death as evidence for a world that is free from human perceptions. It is said that a realist would ask how a relativist can question whether death is a reality or not. To dispute that death is a reality would seem immoral and it would be impossible to say that the death of something or someone is just a social construct. However, it is argued by Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) that even death is socially constructed. It is suggested that when you look at death and everything that relates to it, for example, resurrection, the afterlife, survival of the spirit, the non-simultaneous criteria of brain death, the point when life support might as well be switched off, cryogenic suspension, the precise (how precise?) moment of death, (pp. 36), it becomes clear that there is a lot of social construction surrounding death. Along with the different ways it is possible to die, it is stated that everyone knows, these are c ategories which are as constructed as can be, (pp.36). This is a convincing argument for relativism; there are things in the world that appear to be reality, physical and factual. However, as shown in the case of death, there are more components to death than just the umbrella term which are clearly socially constructed. When someone dies, are they truly dead? What if they are, instead, reincarnated as something else? In a realist world, these questions would seem scientifically impossible to test which leads to the question of whether death can really be established as fact and a realistic truth. The way in which we would class someone as dead is only to the extent of our own knowledge, tools and assumptions, but this would mean death has to be classed as a social construct and not free of human interpretation. As presented, there is support for adopting a realist philosophy and there is support for adopting a relativist philosophy. So which approach is best for psychology? As previously stated, Fletcher (1996) highlights that realism has been overlooked in favour of a relativist approach in several areas of psychology, in particular, social constructivism, discourse analysis and feminist psychology. Within feminist psychology there has been an increasing use of relativist philosophy. A paper by Riger (1992) suggests that relativism is the most appropriate approach for studying women and feminism in psychology. It is suggested that gender is a socially constructed phenomenon; we are members of gender through our thoughts and actions rather than just having the gender of male and female. In addition to this, it is argued that the relations between men and women are a result of patterns of social organisation (pp.737). Therefore, it is suggested that psychology as a discipline should consider the social context of gender and womens activity, promoting the use of a relativist philosophy in this particular branch of psychology. Support for a relativist approach in psychology is provided by Hepburn (2000), who points out the advantages to using such a philosophy in feminist psychology. It is stated that relativism clears the way for addressing the many competing versions, contingencies, arguments and agendas that go with doing feminist research (pp.103). This suggests that the relativist assumption that all theories are valid, allows for the many different paths of research in feminist psychology to occur. Therefore, it also has to be considered whether a realist approach would be appropriate for feminist psychology. Gender differences in empiricist research do not take the social context and human perceptions of those gender differences, which could mean that psychologists who follow a realist approach to psychology may not know every reason for those gender differences. Therefore, it can be questioned whether or not empiricism really does gain factual knowledge about the world, if it does not take into account everything that could contribute to those facts. In this case, it would seem that for feminist psychology, realism would not be the most appropriate philosophy to adopt. In contrast, there are some that promote realism within feminist psychology. New (1998) defends realism as the most appropriate philosophy for feminist psychology to adopt. It is stated by New (1998) that despite realisms current resounding unpopularity among feminist theorists, they cannot do without it, (pp.366) suggesting that whilst relativism is popular within feminist psychology, there is also a need for realism. It is argued that realism is needed to understand the underlying concepts in the history of feminist psychology and to understand the knowledge that has already been obtained of feminist psychology, and this cannot be done without assuming that the relativist social constructions are also true. This could mean that in psychology, you cannot have relativism without realism. In order to understand the knowledge that is gained through a relativist approach it may mean that realism is also needed. In other words, if relativism argues that gender differences are a social co nstruction, then they have to assume that these social constructions are true and real. New (1998) adds to this by suggesting that when arguing the case for relativism, relativists have to regress to realism in order to articulate the case. In addition to this, Parker (1999) supports realism in other branches of psychology. In his paper against relativism in psychology, Parker (1999) points out that some psychologists believe realism warrants psychology as a real science. Therefore, this could mean that by adopting a realist approach psychology could be put in the same category as what are commonly called real sciences such as physics, chemistry and biology. This has implications for psychology as a science and not just for psychologists either. If psychology is classed as a real science, the results of psychological research may carry more weight in everyday life, where not everyone is aware of the debate between realism and relativism. Therefore, as presented with the example of feminist psychology, there is a strong case for both realism and relativism within psychology. This leaves the question of which approach to adopt for psychology up in the air; the debate seems to have no solid consensus of which approach to adopt. Even in the case of feminist psychology, which is suggested to have predominantly accepted the relativist approach, there are still some that argue for a realist philosophy (e.g. New, 1998). However, there may be other philosophical approaches more appropriate for psychology. For example, Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004) evaluate instrumentalism as an approach for psychology. According to Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004), the aim of instrumentalism is not to discover truth, but instead aims to construct intellectual structures that provide adequate predictions of what is observed (pp.217). Therefore, whilst not searching for the truth like realism or proving that instead everything that is th ought to be true is instead a social construction, like relativism, instrumentalism provides a way of predicting and describing what is observed rather than persistently debating whether what is observed is true or not. In a way, instrumentalism positions itself in between realism and relativism, it just utilises the observations without having to assume whether it is real or not. So, aside from realism and relativism, would this be a better approach for psychology? Instrumentalism would seem to be a compromise between the two approaches and so this could be the path psychology should pursue. As highlighted by New (1998), it seems relativism cannot be without realism and as highlighted by Edwards, Ashmore and Potter (1995) it is argued realism cannot be without relativism. Therefore, as the debate between realism and relativism can become blurred, it may be that instrumentalism is a more suitable approach to psychology. In conclusion, with no consensus between realists and relativis ts, it is unclear whether psychology should pursue the path of realism and relativism. As proposed by Cacioppo, Semin and Bertson (2004) an integrated approach between realism and instrumentalism may be the best approach for psychology. Word Count Excluding References : 2,847

The Most Important Thing In Communication Is Hearing Communications Essay

The Most Important Thing In Communication Is Hearing Communications Essay Good communication is important, but what is communication anyway? The exchange of information? Many people think that communication is the same as the use of language. An understandable thought, because without a language it would probably be impossible to pass on information for this assignment. People spend about seventy percent of their day on language, this means talking, listening, reading and writing. Therefore language is very important for people to pass on information. A man with a red head, throbbing veins and a clenched fist, crying out: ‘Are you kidding me, I am not angry. This shows that we are not only communicating in languages (verbal communication), but also through body language (nonverbal communication). In this case, the nonverbal communication includes the red-faced head, throbbing veins, clenched fists, his volume and the tone of voice. Verbal and nonverbal expressions have different communication powers. The person from the example claims that he was not angry, but most people will not believe him. Because his body language ‘says something else. In cases in which language and body language contradict each other, the body is believed rather than the spoken word. Types of nonverbal communication Facial expression Emotions can be found throughout the whole body, posture and by gestures, but especially on the face. You can read a lot of emotions from the position of the eyebrows, mouth and particularly the lips. Non verbal communication can be a huge difference in cultures. But the facial expression for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are similar throughout the whole world. Gestures Some people support their story with many movements. Sometimes they need to beckon the people to make something clear. For example, you would specify how big or small something is or you have to make a move. This includes movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body. Sometimes simple gestures are symbols, as the fist with the thumb up: ‘Well done or with the thumbs down. ‘Really bad. Eye-contact Eyes are the mirror of the soul. The most deep and intense emotions are expressed through the eyes. Therefore eye contact is almost a synonym for personal contact. It is also very sensitive, because when you look someone too long to attract attention, this can be seen as rude or even intrusive, this is only the case when the other side doesnt want any contact. It can also be nice to have eye contact and it might be interesting to see how the other responds. Maintaining eye contact while both speaking and listening is a sign of confidence and interest. Posture Your body language can give you an individual status or power. It says something about who you are. For example, when you are a little shy, you will probably look to the ground. The movements of your hands and feet can be a bit slow. If you are a proud person you will walk with your head up, shoulders back, chest forward and with a lot of enthusiasm. Communication through object communication In our culture, the choice of clothing is an important way to communicate without words. Someone who will apply for a job will generally watch carefully what he wears and if anyone should give a presentation to a group of important people he will not normally do that in a pair of jeans. It is therefore surprising to see that relatively little research has been conducted to see a person clothing. It does appear that someones clothing should not underestimated the importance for the picture others have of him and the impact that his words are. But it is very difficult to cover general rules. What we can say is that people respond more positively to someone wearing similar clothing than someone with a totally different style. An American student had to interview farmers as vacation work. The first day he dressed in a suit with tie. He received little cooperation from the farmers. When he decided to wear jeans and a working shirt, he got considerably more response from the farmers. Someone appears to be believed better when his clothes and hair are better cared. But this is only the case when people do not know each other, so they have to make a good first impression. In the business world there are usually very strict dress rules. Not (well) aware of these rules can have a major impact on how others respond to you. Wrong choices in this area may therefore be harmful to your career. If you are underdressed or overdressed it may have a result in falling out of place. Appearance When you look at someones appearance, you can see how someone feels or what they want to radiate. For example, if someone has a hair bun it radiates neatness and meticulousness. Short shaven hair and spines radiate an easy and modern behavior. A beard may indicate wisdom, but also someone who is slovenly or it has to do with religion beliefs. If a woman has shaved hair it can arouse the suspicion that she is a lesbian, which is often a prejudice. Clothing Clothing can also be a form of communication. For example, you can see what kind of job the person has. When he/she wears a suit, he or she probably has an office job. You can also see what kind of music someone loves, (Punk, hardcore, RB) by the clothes they are wearing. For a lot of people branded clothing is often an important factor. It gives a certain status and suggests a certain quality. It often can characterize a particular group. Colors When you pay attention to colors you can see how someones life is. For example, someone wearing lots of bright, cheerful colors, is often an optimistic person. And someone with all-black clothes radiates sadness or just wants to make a statement. When and how to make eye contact in different cultures Like all mammals, the behavior of the eyes of people is very important. We have already seen that people respond positively to pupil expulsions. However, if someone sees something unpleasant, pupils will be smaller. The preference for the eyes seems to be a natural feature. Babies that are an hour old show a strong preference for forms that strongly resemble a face compare to other forms. Another very important sign is eye contact with the eyes. People who love each other are looking with pleasure to each other. If someone looks at another person for a longer period, so that is seems not be functional, will look aggressive. This applies much more for men than women. Men who have too much eye contact are more experienced as dominant or even aggressive compared to women. This is probably because too tightly is associated with rage and anger. Many teachers use the viewing behavior as an indicator if they want to select students whos homework they will check. After the teacher asks a question, he or she looks around the classroom. Students know the answer, will look to the teacher, while students who do not know the answer will often avoid eye contact. By looking at eye movements of people, you can see how people think about issues.  § If someone thinks visually and he will look left or right or look right through the center tail.  § If someone thinks phonetically, he or she will move their eyes to the right center, left center or lower left part of the eye.  § If someone thinks kinesthetic, he or she will look to the bottom right. Different Angles Here are a few different angles. These angles are for right-handed people. For the left-handed people it can be the other way around. A. Visually constructed images If someone looks to the right center, he tries to imagine something visually that hasnt actually occurred. He thinks from his imagination. According to the forecast, people could respond in this way to questions like: How do you spell your name backwards? (People can only do this if they are trying to see their name) B. Visually remembered images If someone looks to the left center, while talking, this means that he is trying to remember it visually. In this case his memory is very important. People will respond to a question like: What do you see when you are walking to the station? C. Visualization When people are looking right through the middle, without focusing, they often try to illustrate something. This is often by asking for examples of abstract concepts: Give me an example of social inequality. D. Constructed noise Middle right means that someone is trying to make noises that he had not previously heard: How would Mozart on a synthesizer sound? E. Remembered sounds Eye movements to the left center indicate that someone is trying to remember a word or sound: Is the second note of that song lower or higher than the third? F. Internal dialogue Bottom left represents the internal dialogue: What do you say to yourself when you are trying to talk courage to yourself? G. Kinetic When people look to the bottom right, it refers to feelings and bodily sensations: How does it feel when you are feeling very hungry? Can you see when someone is lying? Some people are hard to catch on a lie, even if they lie. Facial expressions are not always a reliable source of information to identify the lie. Some people smile while they lie, while another just has a quiet expression. Some evidence that people lie:  § People who lie often take a closed attitude. People who lie, uses their language differently and they often leave holes in their conversation, presumably to prevent what they say might betray them.  § The voice of people who lie usually goes higher than when those same people tell the truth.  § Liars often though their face or playing with pencils or other objects. The FBI can look at peoples eye movements. People who describe a situation or condition that have occurred here are their eyes to move left (remember for pictures) or to left center (for recalled words). When people think of words as they contrast to the right center and made statues the right to be here. But if someone constantly fumble with items in his hands, after a question, it obviously cannot be concluded that he is lying because he is fumbling. And if somebody has suddenly a closed attitude, this does not mean that he is lying. It may be that he just tells the truth, but it is so painful that he signed an attitude. Body language In general, people pay more attention to someones body language than to their words. Words determine the topic, but the way those words are expressed, determines how the message is interpreted. One explanation for the credibility of non-verbal communication besides verbal communication is that words are much easier to control than our behavior. Many people who lie find it difficult to keep eye contact and start to blush. Sometimes nonverbal communication is not difficult to control. Someone who likes another person, often get ‘caught because of the fact that their pupils grow bigger when he or she looks at that person. Sender and receiver are both not aware of this pupil reaction, but the receiver picks up the information unconsciously. This person gets positive and warm feelings for the person with the enlarged pupils. 1 So it may be interesting to watch the body language of people around you. Did we learn nonverbal behavior? Most of our nonverbal behavior we have learned through the years. Some of the gestures may have completely different meanings in different countries.If someone in France points to his head he finds you pretty smart. But if the Frenchman points his hand to his sleep, he wants to say that you are crazy in a negative way. And if we are accepting something we make a circle with thumb and forefinger. ‘Ok. But in Brazil this gesture means a contempt notion. Some nonverbal behaviors are probably not learned but self thought. Facial expressions for interest, joy, surprise, fear, anger, pain, disgust, contempt and shame have the same meaning in all cultures of the world. This strongly suggests that at least some facial expressions are congenital standards. Another proof that some expressions of emotions are self thought, is that deaf and blind children have the same basic facial expressions for emotions as people who do not have disabilities (e.g. crying, smiling, fear and anger). These emotions cant be wrong interpreted by looking at their faces. Although certain facial expressions are innate, it does not mean that they are always shown by people. Our education can ensure that certain expressions are not appropriate for adults to be shown. By culture and growing up, the expression of an innate emotion itself is changing. Thus, the innate facial expression for anger is showing the teeth and frown the eyebrows, in order to protect the eyes. In many cultures it shows the innate expression of anger openly. Instead, those oppressed by the teeth and the lips to be pressed. This also prevents people verbalizing their anger to continue swearing. If people who are angry no longer protect their eyes by frowning, but just dilate their eyes and show their teeth, this is usually a sign that someone is no longer in control. He even not thinks anymore about protect himself. And if he gets a fair complexion which is transported through blood to the muscles, it is time for you to find a safe place to hide. Because these people are really dangerous. 1 Hess, 1975 2 Eibl-Eibesfledt, 1970 Also for other emotions, cultures can add to those feelings to show the other non-native form. Japanese and American students were shown pictures of very bloody operations. If the students thought they were no longer observed, the facial expressions of Japanese and Americans are identical: the horror on their faces was plain to see. However, if they knew they were observed, unlike the Japanese. Americans were to hide their horror by smiling. In Japan it is rude to show your emotions openly in presence of others.3There are also differences in culture is often seen between men and women. For example in western cultures it is much more common for women to openly demonstrate sorrow compared to men. Men are more expected that they control their emotions (Real men do not cry!). People seem to be quite aware of their facial expressions. As already shown by the example of Japanese and American students, facial expressions, like languages, can be controlled. This has not always the best facial expressions (nonverbal indicator of what people really feel). 3. Research of Paul Ekman Meaning of the arms and hands Hands are frequently used to support verbal communication. Gestures often have a logical and traceable meaning. Some gestures are very clear in meaning. So we all know the insulting gesture of the middle finger. Other gestures have a meaning that is rooted in history. In England, for example, there are two gestures that are very similar: Everyone knows the famous V-sign of victory, made famous by Winston Churchill: the index and middle fingers of the right hand raised with the palm, but with the palm facing inwards. The main difference is the direction of the palm. With the palm directed toward the other has a positive meaning. With the outside of the hand addresses to the other is an offensive gesture. It is impossible to map all signs in the world. Here are some examples:  § Making a fist usually has an aggressive or offensive meaning.  § Showing the back of the hand is often referred to as being offensive. It usually has a negative signal value for the other.  § Showing open hands, palms up often has a submissive pleading or meaning. It generally has a non-aggressive signal value for the other.  § Showing open hands, palms towards the other, often has a bowing, submissive or defensive meaning. It usually has a non-aggressive signal value for the other.  § The downward keeping the palms often has a calming, enchanting sense.  § The further the hands held together, the less vulnerable a person feels himself generally speaking. The hands The hands are sometimes busy moving body parts or hidden in a trouser pocket. Hands tells people always something. It can show feelings and moods. They tell their own interpretation of events. But how to recognize certain feelings and attitudes? Here are some examples, feelings of the hands:  § Uncertainty: Someone has his hands all entangled. The palms are fully hedged. Soft fingertips rubbing against each other to indicate that a person has a conflict, challenge or prefer to avoid discussion going.  § Dominant: A person has his hands behind his back. The person is confident of himself and feels dominantly.  § Apparent dominant: An individual has his hands behind his back. The person wants the world to convince that he feels dominant.  § Hide: A person has his hands hidden in his pockets. He wants no positive nor a negative reaction, he takes the role of an observer. Examples, attitudes of hands:  § Open palms: This is a reliable measure of whether someone is honest.  § Questioning hand: The hand with the palm facing upward with your fingers is more or less a ‘bowl shape.  § Stop sign: During a conversation one person raises his hand, together with the palm facing out. The person indicates that it is ‘enough.  § The commanding hand: The hand points to the palm as if the hand down any rebellion from below suppressed. The arms †¦. How to improve your nonverbal communication skills? Some people dont believe that you can learn nonverbal skills, but you can. It will lead you to a few surprises. When you pay attention to nonverbal aspects of communication it will improve your communication skills. It can help you in both your personal and professional life. It can also enhance your own ability to communicate effectively because people are not always aware of the signals of nonverbal communication. It is very important to pay attention to nonverbal signals, like eye contact, gestures, postures, and body movements. It can help you to understand some difficult words or meanings. In some cases words do not match nonverbal behavior. The other person can say that he or she is happy but the look on their face will show you that he or she is unhappy. Also the tone of the voice can give you information of that person. People can say some words in an enthusiastic, disinteresting or even angry manner. So if you want to show interest in something or someone, express your enthusiasm by using your enthusiasm in the tone of voice. When people are evading or trying to hide something or someone, you can see it in their eyes. Eye contact is an important part of communication, its important to remember that good eye contact does not mean staring constantly into someones eyes. Your eye-contact may last up to four or five seconds. Different interpretation Behavior in other cultures can be interpreted very differently. For example, in Arabic countries men greet another with a handshake. Men, however, may not handshake with women. In many Asian countries the handshake is not so common. They use an alternative way of greeting such as nodding one hand on their chest or bend in different degrees of depth. Habits and conducts, for example from different religions can have a big influence on the physical presentation of people from other cultures. Another difference between Arabic and European people is that the left hand in Arab cultures is unclean. Also crossing your legs is an insult for Arabic people because if you show your foot sole, you are disrespectful. Cross-cultural misunderstanding of nonverbal communication The three-step method of Intercultural communication (dr. pinto). Culture and culture models People do not exactly know what the meaning of culture is. But it has something to do with values, habits, history, knowledge, experience, beliefs, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, roles, relations and manners of people behaving, that are different from other cultures. It is very difficult to find the definition for culture. Therefore it is probably easier to explain culture by discussing a number of theories. Theory 1. The fishbowl Model The Fishbowl Model describes the natural instinct humans have to act upon our own perceived short-term individual benefit, rather than long-term benefit or the benefit of others. The Fishbowl offers the class an opportunity to closely observe and learn about social interactions. You can use it in almost every area. Theory 2. The Iceberg Model This model is about the visible and invisible cultural aspects; The practices described above are the tip of the iceberg, the things we can see, hear, observe. The small part above the water level is visible. In it, we can include manners, customs, and languages: all things we can observe and learn. We also talk about the explicit aspects of culture, those aspects that we can easily describe. However, the larger chunk, is hidden under water, and we cannot see it. This is where we find the values and the vision of the world, the way of thinking and the assumptions we have. All these aspects are hidden; we cannot easily express our values. Theory 3. Union Model of Culture The Onion Model of Culture shows how culture has a number of layers. There are a number of interpretations of this model out the most easy one consists of four key layers. ‘Culture is a system that can be peeled, layer by layer, in order to reveal the content. Imagine the whole onion as ‘culture and as you peel on, you see different levels which work on and influence culture, in any particular society.4 Significant conversations are those that move beyond the material and behavioral levels (first two rings) to consider values, beliefs and worldview. This means that the goal is to move beyond comments about our environment (for example weather, sports) and behavior (our preferences for schools, holidays, church) to consider values (appropriate behavior, sexual morality), beliefs (value of human life) and worldview. 4. Geert Hofstede Conclusion Answer to the main question What does nonverbal communication exactly means and what kind of effect has nonverbal communication on people from different cultures. Literature Internet  § http://iwp.cs.utwente.nl/Vaardigheden/G-Nonverbaal/Koefening/koefening.html  § http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication  § http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language  § http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/05/nonverbal-behaviour.php  § http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/05/busting-myth-93-of-communication-is.php  § http://psychology.about.com/od/nonverbalcommunication/a/nonverbaltypes.htm  § http://psychology.about.com/od/nonverbalcommunication/tp/nonverbaltips.htm  § http://www.innerned.org/nvc2.html  § http://www.psychowerk.com/Woordenboek/N/nonverbaal%20gedrag,%20de%20gebaren%20en%20hun%20betekenis.htm  § http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/a/nonverbal_com  § htm http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/05/education-reduces-cross-cultural.php  § http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/businessetiquette/a/making-eye-contact.htm  § http://www.lichaamstaal.com/cultuur.html  § http://www.gilde-samenspraak.nl/sitebuilder/index.asp?nodeid=235  § http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00451/nonverbalcom.htm  § http://helpguide.org/mental/eq6_nonverbal_communication.htm  § http://www.lichaamstaal.com/cultuur.html Books  § Basisprincipes van communicatie, Klaas Wiertzema Patricia Jansen  § Communicatie handboek, Drs. W.J. Michels Planning and logbook Not ready yet, (plan of action) Number Activity Starting date Deadline Estimated Workload (hours) Actual Workload (hours) 1 . Making Project Plan 12/03/10 17/03/10 4 1.1 First draft 12/03/10 17/03/10 3 1.2 Revision 18/03/10 18/03/10 1 2 . Pre-research 23/03/10 02/04/10 68 2.1 Orientation 23/03/10 26/03/10 5 2.2 Internet search 24/03/10 02/04/10 28 2.3 Literature search 24/03 31/03/10 28 2.4 Television series 23/03/10 01/04/10 5 2.5 Search for visual aids 26/03/10 31/03/10 2 3. Definition of research question 05/04/10 25/05/10 55 3.1 Select subjects 06/04/10 09/04/10 4 3.2 Select information for each subject and create structure 07/04/10 19/04/10 3 3.3 Write information about every subject 19/04/10 25/05/10 43 3.4 Add visualization with captions 15/05/10 20/05/10 5 4. Final things to do 28/06/10 16/06/10 17 4.1 Rewrite after first check 28/05/2010 11/06/10 16/06/10 12 4.2 Final touch of the script 11/06/10 16/06/10 5 Total hours 144

Psychological Intervention and Schizophrenia Essay -- Disorder Schizop

Psychological Intervention and Schizophrenia There are perhaps two main prongs to the development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as an intervention for schizophrenia, the first being based upon the sizable research that centre on family interventions, which have been successful in reducing patient relapse in schizophrenic families (Pilling et al., 2002). Family interventions are important to consider as they became established treatments during a phase where drug treatments were the main focus of attention in this field and so opened the area of non biological treatment for schizophrenia. And as I will touch upon later drug therapies are frequently used to reduce psychotic symptoms and relapse but these treatments rarely provide the answer, with as many as 50% of patients suffering from persistent psychotic symptoms when adhering to pharmacological treatments (Dickerson, 2000). The other aspect that has seen CBT be considered as a treatment for schizophrenia is that it has been effective in treating a range of non-psychotic disorders both mild and more serious (e.g., Hawton, Salkovskis, Kirk, & Clark, 1989; Clark & Fairburn, 1997). The range of effective CB therapies stem from early studies where depression and anxiety disorders were the subject of interest (Beck et al., 1979; Barlow, 1988) to more serious psychotic disorders, such as bipolar disorder (Basco, Rush, 1995; Perry et al, 1999) and personality disorders (Beck et al, 1990). While the success of family intervention, a non drug related therapy, and CBT’s success in treating various disorders provide evidence for the potential of CBT in treating schizophrenia they have been developed amid a backdrop in which drug therapy has been extensively explored, but has failed to produce a whole solution to the complexities exhibited by schizophrenia sufferers. It is likely then that as an intervention for schizophrenia CBT will provide a part solution rather than an all-encompassing answer. Detailed study of patients’ experiences has led to a greater understanding of the stress suffered by patients who go on to develop coping mechanisms, which can be treated using CBT, to deal with the symptoms of their illness (Mcnally, Goldberg, 1997). The fact then that there are so many aspects to this disease means that it would be impossible to provide a comprehensive review in this paper but I will discuss... ..., Tarrier, N., Morriss, R., McCarthy, E., & Limb, K. (1999). A randomised controlled trial of teaching bipolar disorder patients to identify early symptoms of relapse and obtain early treatment. British Medical Journal, 318, 149–153. Pilling, S., Bebbington, P., Kuipers, E., Garety, P., Geddes, J., Orbach, G. et al. (2002). Psychological treatments in schizophrenia: I. Meta-analysis of family interventions and cognitive behaviour therapy. Psychological Medicine, 32, 763–782. Sensky T., Turkington D., Kingdon D., Scott J. L., Scott J., Siddle R., O'Carroll M. & Barnes T. (2000). A randomised controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for persistent symptoms in schizophrenia resistant to medication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57: 165-172 Watts FN, Powell GE, Austin SV. 1973. The modification of abnormal beliefs. British Journal of Medical Psychology 46: 359–363. Wiersma D., Jenner J. A., van de Willige G., Spakman M., Nienhuis F. J. (2001) Cognitive behaviour therapy with coping training for persistent auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: a naturalistic follow-up study of the durability of effects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 103 (5): 393-399

Electricity Policy Reform and Responsible Government in India Essay exa

With many different religious, ethnic, and social groups, the Republic of India is a unique and diverse state. Since gaining independence, India has faced a challenge of encouraging the variegated people within its borders to embrace and celebrate a common Indian identity even while nurturing their distinct cultures and traditions. This diversity is reflected throughout social and political challenges in Indian society. Although the different federal states are given a certain amount of leeway to accommodate for the population’s heterogeneity, the central government maintain a great amount of power for purpose of holding the nation together. As India has developed, one of its focuses has been the energy sector and increasing Indian citizens’ access to electricity. The government has historically carried a large influence over India’s vital electricity sector,. Electricity is a concurrent subject under the Cons titution, falling under the purview of both the central government and the states. Whether by influencing the electricity sector through private companies collaborating with the central government or acting directly through state-owned companies and bureaucracies, India has maintained a large degree of centralized control over the electricity sector. Since passing the Energy Conservation Act of 2001, the government has pursued a national policy of increasing Indian electricity independence and access. In order to meet these goals, India has used state-owned enterprises and bureaucratic institutions to maintain direct control over the sector. However, the Electricity Act of 2003 reformed India’s electricity policy, allowing for more electricity sector privatization and fewe... ...ar, Shailesh. "UP Farmers Continue Protest over Land Acquisition by Reliance." Down To Earth. N.p., 15 Feb. 2007. Web. 11 May 2014. "Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill." StudyMode.com, 01 January 2014. Web. 11 May 2014. Mona Sur and Dina Umali-Deininger, â€Å"Public Expenditures and Subsidies in Indian Surface Irrigation: Who Benefits,† paper presented at Water Week 2003, conference organized by World Bank, Washington, DC, 4-6 March 2003. Web. May 15, 2014. Tongia, Rahul. â€Å"The Political Economy of Indian Power Sector Reforms,† pp. 109-174 in: D.G. Victor and T.C. Heller, (eds.) 2007, Reforming Electric Power Markets in Developing Countries: Politics, Law and Institutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. March 2007. Web. 11 May 2014. United Nations. â€Å"Population and Vital Statistics Report.† January 1, 2013. Web. May 15, 2014.

Growth and Potential of International Luxury Fashion Brands Essay

This is to certify that the project entitled ? Growth and Potential of Luxury International Fashion Brands in India? is submitted towards the partial fulfillment of the program ? Master of Fashion Management‘ by Kanan Gupta. It is an original work done under my guidance and the results are based on the research done by her. Name of mentor: Mr. Kislay Kashyap Asst. Professor Department of MFM NIFT, Patna Date: 01-03-2012 Place: Patna 1|Page DECLARATION I, Kanan Gupta hereby declare that the project entitled ? Growth and Potential of Luxury International Fashion Brands in India? submitted towards, partial fulfillment of the program Master of Fashion Management is my original work and no part of the project has been copied from any other report or carried by someone else or has been submitted for any other degree/award. However, any material taken from any other published sources has been suitably referred and acknowledged at various places. Name : Kanan Gupta Roll no : 17 Batch : 2011-2013 Centre : Patna Date Place : 01-03-2012 : Patna 2|Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I owe my gratitude to many people who helped and supported me during the research and compilation of my project report. I would like to thank my mentor Mr Kislay Kashyap for approving my project and express my indebted gratitude for his guidance and suggestions at every stage of this report. My sincere gratitude is also due to my seniors for their constant encouragement and support. I would like to express my thanks to all those people who were directly and indirectly involved in shaping my project by providing valuable information and co-operation. 3|Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: This is a project to study about the ? Growth and Potential of Luxury International Fashion Brands in India?. If we look into the past, no one could imagine that a luxury market would exist in India. But over the years with the change in the demographics of the Indian consumer and with higher disposable income available, the luxury market in India has indeed emerged as one of the fastest growing markets in the retail segment. PROBLEM DEFINITION: The Indian Luxury Market is still a niche market and people have got a very low personal disposable income, though it has increased a lot from before but not so much to afford international luxury fashion brands and the people who have got a high disposable income lack enough knowledge about the international fashion brands available in India as the luxury international stores are limited to metropolitans only. 4|Page OBJECTIVE: The main objectives of the projects are ? Analyze the Luxury Brand Awareness among the Indian consumers. ? Reasons behind customers buying Luxury fashion Brands ? Analyze the major international fashion brands in India. ? To analyze the Current Scenario and the Growth of Indian Luxury fashion brands and the Market. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: ? The secondary research is through Magazines, journals, articles and internet. ? Primary research through focus group interview with industry personnel, customers. HYPOTHESIS: ? Assuming that there is a strong scope for the growth of international luxury fashion brands in India. ? Taking an assumption that Luxury fashion brands do not have much scope in the Indian market. 5|Page CONTENTS Ch. No. 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 3. 1 3. 2 3. 3 3. 4 3. 5 3. 6 3. 7 4. 0 4. 1 4. 2 4. 3 5. 0 5. 1 5. 2 5. 3 5. 4 6. 0 7. 0 8. 0 9. 0 9. 1 9. 2 Chapter Name Objective Research Methodology Literature Review Introduction India at Glance Geography People Understanding Luxury Defining Luxury Socio Economic Significance of Luxury Acquainting with Luxury Fashion Brand Major Difference between Regular Brands and Luxury Brands Persona of Indian Luxury Industry Famous Luxury Brands and their destination in India SWOT Analysis Major Problems Faced by Luxury Fashion Industry Growth and Potential of Luxury Brand Growth of Indian Luxury Market Luxury Fashion Branding Strategies Final Summary Primary Research Findings Annexure Questionnaire Bibliography Page No. 7 8 9 9 9 11 13 14 15 16 17 21 23 26 31 32 33 35 39 41 43 54 56 56 58 6|Page 1. 0 OBJECTIVE: The main objectives of the projects are ? Analyze the Luxury Brand Awareness among the Indian consumers. ? Reasons behind customers buying Luxury fashion Brands ? Analyze the major international fashion brands in India. ? To analyze the Current Scenario and the Growth of Indian Luxury fashion brands and the Market. 7|Page 2. 0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: ? Secondary research through Magazines, journals, articles and internet. ? Primary research through focus group interview with industry personnel, customers. 8|Page 3. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW 3. 1 INTRODUCTION: If we look into the past, no one could imagine that a luxury market would exist in India. But over the years with the change in the demographics of the Indian consumer and with higher disposable income available, the luxury market in India has indeed emerged as one of the fastest growing markets in the retail segment. Through this report I have tried to give an estimate of the luxury retail market in India, how much it has penetrated and also how much it is likely to grow. Also I have tried to specify various factors that are crucial for the success of luxury brands in India. While doing out research on this project I have come across many new findings. The role the Indian market plays in the global scenario and the position of India vis-a-vis other countries. Also I understood about the duties and legal requirements for this segment. I have tried my level best to cover all the aspects in regard to my research. India today is fast becoming a new world of modern luxury. The country now teems with luxurious international brands, spurring the ascent of an Indian luxury market. One does not need to travel abroad to shop for luxury. Luxury goods and services sit aplenty right at home. Indians, however, have to realize such, be informed where to avail of them, and be convinced of the convenience and ease of access to these luxury goods and services. In the same vein, foreigners can also visit India to shop for same luxury. India can very well be placed on the global luxury-shopping map. There is, therefore, a huge opportunity to pump prime the luxury market field in India. 9|Page 3. 2 INDIA AT GLANCE: FOCUS : Study about India and its habitats. India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the last 60 years of its Independence. India has become self-sufficient in agricultural production and is now the tenth industrialized country in the world and the sixth nation to have gone into outer space to conquer nature for the benefit of the people. It covers an area of 32,87,2631 sq km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the mainland extends between latitudes 8 °4? and 37 °6? north, longitudes 68 °7? and 97 °25? east and measures about 3,214 km from north to south between the extreme latitudes and about 2,933 km from east to west between the extreme longitudes. It has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. The total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman& Nicobar Islands is 7,516. 6 km. 10 | P a g e 3. 3 Geography: Location: The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south. Geographic Coordinates: Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8 ° 4? and 37 ° 6? latitudes north of the Equator, and 68 °7? and 97 °25? longitudes east of it. Indian Standard Time: GMT + 05:30 Area: 3. 3 Million sq km Telephone Country +91 Code: Border Countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. Coastline: 7,516. 6 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 11 | P a g e Climate: The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons – winter (December-February), (ii) summer (March-June), (iii) south-west monsoon season (June-September), and (iv) post monsoon season (October- November). Terrain: The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula. Natural Resources: Coal, iron ore, manganese ore, mica, bauxite, petroleum, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, magnesite, limestone, arable land, dolomite, barytes, kaolin, gypsum, apatite, phosphorite, steatite, fluorite, etc. Natural Hazards: Monsoon floods, flash floods, earthquakes, droughts, and landslides. Environment – Current Issues: Air pollution control, energy conservation, solid waste management, oil and gas conservation, forest conservation, etc. Environment – International Agreements: Rio Declaration on environment and development, Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on climatic 12 | P a g e change, World Trade Agreement, Helsinki Protocol to LRTAP on the reduction of sulphur emissions of nitrogen oxides or their transboundary fluxes (Nox Protocol), and Geneva Protocol to LRTAP concerning the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds or their transboundary fluxes (VOCs Protocol). Geography – Note: India occupies a major portion of the south Asian subcontinent. 3. 4 PEOPLE: Population: 1,21,01,93,422 Decadal Population Male: 9,15, 01,158 Growth: Female: 8,99, 54, 828 Density of Population: 382 per sq. km. Sex Ratio: 940 per 1000 males Nationality: Indian All the five major racial types – Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India. Ethnic Groups: 13 | P a g e Religions: Hindus constituted the majority with 80. 5 %, Muslims came second at 13. 4%, followed by Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others. Languages: There are 22 National Languages have been recognized by the Constitution of India, of which Hindi is the Official Union Language. Besides these, there are 844 different dialects that are practiced in various parts of the Country. Literacy: Persons: 77,84,54,120 Males: 44,42,03,762 Females: 33,42,50,358 GDP: Nominal GDP stands at US$1. 53 trillion as per 2010 census 3. 5 UNDERSTANDING LUXURY AND AQUAINTING WITH LUXURY FASHION BRANDS: FOCUS : Getting introduced to the term ? LUXURY? Luxury, derived from the Latin word luxus, means indulgence of the senses, regardless of cost. Luxury is something that everyone wants but nobody needs, its an area of huge comfort and the best of the best. 14 | P a g e A luxury brand is a brand for which a majority of its products are luxury goods. It may also include certain brands whose names are associated with luxury, high price, or high quality, though few, if any, of their goods are currently considered luxury goods. The luxury sector targets its products and services at consumers on the top-end of the wealth spectrum. These self-selected elite is more or less price insensitive and chooses to spend their time and money on objects that are plainly opulence rather than necessities. For these reasons, luxury and prestige brands have for centuries commanded an unwavering and often illogical customer loyalty. 3. 6 DEFINING LUXURY: The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilization. Its role was just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it is in modern societies. With the clear differences between social classes in earlier civilizations, the consumption of luxury was limited to the elite classes. It also meant the definition of luxury was fairly clear. Whatever the poor cannot have and the elite can was identified as luxury. With increasing ? democratization‘, several new product categories were created within the luxury markets that were aptly called – accessible luxury or mass luxury. This kind of luxury specifically targeted the middle class (or what is sometimes termed as aspiring class). As luxury penetrated into the masses, defining luxury has become difficult. In contemporary marketing usage, Prof. Bernard Dubois defines ? luxury‘ as a specific (i. e. higher-priced) tier of offer in almost any product or service category. However, despite the substantial body of knowledge accumulated 15 | P a g e during the past decades, researchers still haven‘t arrived on a common definition of luxury. Many other attempts have been made to define luxury using the price-quality dimension stating higher priced products in any category is luxury. Similarly, researchers have used the uniqueness aspects of luxury too. Prof. Jean-Noel Kapferer, takes an experiential approach and defines luxury as items which provide extra pleasure by flattering all senses at once. Several other researchers focus on exclusivity dimension and argue that luxury evokes a sense of belonging to a certain elite group. 3. 7 SOCIO ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF LUXURY: Several manufactured products attain the status of â€Å"luxury goods† due to their design, quality, durability or performance that are remarkably superior to the comparable substitutes. Thus, virtually every category of goods available on the market today includes a subset of similar products whose â€Å"luxury† is marked by better-quality components and materials, solid construction, stylish appearance, increased durability, better performance, advanced features, and so on. As such, these luxury goods may retain or improve the basic functionality for which all items of a given category are originally designed. There are also goods that are perceived as luxurious by the public simply because they play a role of status symbols as such goods tend to signify the purchasing power of those who acquire them. These items, while not necessarily being better (in quality, performance, or appearance) than their less expensive substitutes, are purchased with the main purpose of displaying wealth or income of their owners. These kinds of goods are the objects of a socio-economic phenomenon called conspicuous consumption and commonly include luxury vehicles, watches, jewelry, designer clothing, yachts, as well as large residences, urban mansions, and country houses. 16 | P a g e 4. 0 AQUAINTING WITH THE LUXURY FASHION BRANDS Luxury fashion brands have often been associated with the core competencies of creativity, craftsmanship, precision, high quality, innovation, & premium pricing. These product attributes give the consumers the satisfaction of not only owning expensive items but the extra-added psychological benefits like the esteem, prestige and a sense of a high status that reminds them and others that they belong to an exclusive group of only a select few, who can afford the pricey items. The luxury sector targets its products and services at consumers on the top-end of the wealth spectrum. These self-selected elite are more or less price insensitive and choose to spend their time & money on objects that are plainly opulence rather than necessities. For these reasons, luxury and prestige brands have for centuries commanded an unwavering and often illogical customer loyalty. 17 | P a g e Luxury has never been something easy to define; yet this mystery concept is something highly desired by one & all alike. I look at delving deeper into this mystery and aura of luxury goods by way of comparing them against ? regular goods‘ as well as highlighting the characteristics of the luxury industry. But before beginning with that, lets first attempt to understand some common terms associated in the world of high-end goods. Luxury and Prestige brands such as Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Tag-heuer represent the highest form of craftsmanship and command a staunch consumer loyalty that is not affected by brands. These brands create and set the seasonal trends and are also capable to pulling all their consumers with them wherever they go. 18 | P a g e Premium brands are those brands like Polo, Ralph Lauren, Versace and Tommy Hilfiger that aspire to be luxury and prestige brands but their marketing mix strategies are more attuned to a mass market, albeit a luxury mass market. They also termed as mass Premium brands or luxury brands. Fashion brands are those that address the masses. LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) is the largest luxury good producer in the world with over fifty brands, including Louis Vuitton, the brand with the world’s first designer label, other famous fashion brands are Chanel, Gucci etc. 19 | P a g e Luxury is a Hub of Business Luxury brands take the elements they feel passionate about, add design then develop it and present it to the customers that exceed their expectations. A luxury good is a product at the highest end of the market in terms of quality and price. Classic luxury goods include haute couture items such as clothing, accessories and luggage. However, many markets have a luxury segment including for instance, cars, wine and chocolates. Such brands share characteristics like consistent premium quality, a heritage of craftsmanship, a recognizable style or design, a limited production run of any item to ensure exclusivity, an element of uniqueness and an ability to keep coming up with new designs when the category is fashion-intensive. Keeping it simple and realistic, luxury is anything and everything that you may truly desire; it can be short lived or a life long desire – it is ? your‘ emotional connect and reward that allows it to appear as luxury. 20 | P a g e 4. 1 MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGULAR BRANDS AND LUXURY BRANDS: FACTOR REGULAR GOODS LUXURY GOODS Available at posh, PLACE Available at convenience and according to the product category exclusive and selected locations ? Highly customized or ? Multiple mass variances but PRODUCT standardized. ? Service levels range from low to high. limited editions of products. ? Very high personnel service. PRICING Value for money Premium pricing ? Pre- ? All kinds of media (ATL, BTL) used. ? Product functional and aspirational PROMOTION value appeals. ? All kinds of reference group appeals used. dominantly premium above the line media. e. g. Connoisseur, Magazines, 21 | P a g e Travel media) ? Products have the exclusive appeal. ? Mostly celebrity appeals. Luxury goods are Those goods for which demand is inversely proportional to price. also called as Veblen‘s goods, the demand for the product is said to increase with the increase in price. ECONOMIC DEFINITION BRAND EXTENSION DECISIONS Based on defending your turf. (R&D based decisions to an extent). Based on marketing the luxury brand. DRIVERS OF BRANDS Functional attributes and innovation. Tradition and brand heritage. Source: Luxury Marketing, Samit khanna- IIM-A 22 | P a g e 4. 2 PERSONA OF INDIAN LUXURY INDUSTRY: FOCUS : Understanding the characteristics of luxury brands. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN LUXURY INDUSTRY: 1. THE MEANING OF LUXURY HAS CHANGED: Luxury has moved from its ? old‘ meaning of ownership (also known as conspicuous consumption – Conspicuous consumption is a term used to describe the lavish spending on goods and services that are acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying income or wealth rather than to satisfy a real need of the consumer. In the mind of a conspicuous consumer, such display serves as a means of attaining or maintaining social status. Invidious consumption, a necessary corollary, is the term applied to consumption of goods and services for the deliberate purpose of inspiring envy in others) of objects to the ? new‘ meaning of the experience / fulfillment derived from possessing a certain object. 2. LUXURY MEANS DIFFERENT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE: Luxury has no certified origins. But luxury branding is said to have taken birth in the west with the appearance of high-end brands. But there is still no definite meaning of luxury, for someone luxury can be a necessity and vice-versa. If one can think a luxury brand is really cheap, its not necessary that the other person also will think the same way. Luxury is yet to be defined, it totally differs from person to person. 23 | P a g e 3. LUXURY IS A PRODUCT CATEGORY IN ITSELF: This can be best clarified by the fact that both an expensive watch and an apparel can be considered to be luxury items. Therefore, all luxury marketers are not just competing in their ? technically defined‘ product categories (like manufacturers of televisions compete among themselves) but for the wallet share of luxury goods in total. 4. CLASSIFICATION OF LUXURY CONSUMERS: SRI Consulting Business Intelligence places consumers in 3 groups according to what luxury means to them: Luxury is Indulgence – This group is the smallest of the three and tends to include younger consumers and slightly more males than the other two groups. Their purpose for luxury goods is to lavish themselves in self-indulgence. They are willing to pay a premium for goods that express their individuality and make others take notice and are not overly concerned with product longevity or possible criticism. They enjoy luxury for the way it makes them feel, therefore have a more emotional approach to purchases. They respond well to messages that highlight the unique and emotional qualities of a product. Luxury is Reward – These consumers tend to be younger than the first group but older than the third. They use luxury goods as a status symbol to say ? I‘ve made it! ? They are motivated by their desire to be successful and demonstrate this to others. Luxury brands that have widespread recognition are popular, however they don‘t wish to appear lavish or hedonistic in their appearance. They want to purchase ? smart? luxury that demonstrates importance while not 24 | P a g e leaving them open to criticism. Marketing messages that communicate acceptable exclusivity resonate with this group. Luxury is Functional – these consumers tend to buy luxury products for their superior functionality and quality. Consumers in this segment, the largest of the three, tend to be older and wealthier and are willing to spend more money to buy things that will last and have enduring value. They buy a wide array of luxury goods, from artwork to vacations, and conduct extensive prepurchase research, making logical decisions rather than emotional or impulsive. Messages that highlight product quality and are information-intensive are powerful with this group. 5. CUSTOMER LOYALTY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT BRAND AWARENESS: Rather than focus on measuring the brand awareness of a luxury company, measuring customer loyalty is far more significant a metric regarding the success or failure of corporate strategy to connect with the luxury consumer. 6. CERTAIN FACTORS WHICH PLAY A N IMPORTANT ROLE: In luxury marketing there is a subtle interplay between three factors that most strongly influence the luxury consumer to buy: product brand; dealer or store’s brand or service providers’ reputation; and price/value relationship. 25 | P a g e USERS OF LUXURY BRANDS IN INDIA: ? CEOs and other senior professionals (in their thirties and early forties) ? Entrepreneurs in new businesses ? â€Å"Prodigal children† ? Actors and models ? Franchisees, and small and medium Retailers 4. 3 FAMOUS LUXURY BRANDS AND THEIR DESTINATIONS IN INDIA FOCUS : To evaluate about all the famous luxury brands available in India and the places where they are available. UB CITY- THE COLLECTION, BANGALORE: UB City is the biggest commercial property project in Bangalore, India. Pioneered by the chairman of UB Group, Dr. Vijay Mallya , it is built on 13 acres (53,000 m2) of land and hosts 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m2) of high-end commercial, retail and service apartment space. UB City has four towers namely, UB Tower (19 Floors), Comet (11 Floors), Canberra (17 Floors) and Concorde (19 Floors). UB City has four towers namely, yelahanka. The later three towers are all named after aircraft. UB City will house the Group offices under one roof – UB Tower. Concorde & Canberra will have retail space on the lower floors and office space in the higher levels, while Comet will have serviced apartments. It will house commercial offices, banks, high-end retail stores, a five star hotel, 26 | P a g e serviced apartments, restaurants, food courts, pubs, health clubs and cafes. Multi-level parking areas will offer virtually unlimited parking spaces. Also on the blueprint is an amphitheatre with food courts and landscaped gardens. UB City will provide parking space for over 1,100 cars. Being an environment friendly project and keeping in mind the green surroundings of Cubbon Park, one-third of the space has been earmarked for landscaped gardens. An elevated roof top helipad will provide a five-minute aerial commute to the airport. Four storeys of multi level parking, in addition to one common basement for the entire UB City and extensive surface level car parks, will provide UB City the remarkable prospect of offering literally unlimited car parking space. BRANDS AVAILABLE AT UB CITY-THE COLLECTION: ? Louis Vuitton ? Alfred Dunhill ? Estee lauder ? Mont Blanc ? Zimson ? Rolex ? Canali ? Salvatore Ferragamo ? Paul Smith ? Lladro ? Versace ? Corneliani ? Burberry ? Jimmy Choo ? Diesel 27 | P a g e DLF EMPORIO, NEW DELHI- DLF Emporio has been designed as a name synonymous with luxury – offering a unique shopping experience where the accent is on exclusivity, space and aesthetics. There is simply no other place where such a wealth of designer and premium merchandise, lifestyle products and services are showcased under one elegant roof. The nuances of luxurious serenity are going to be expressed at DLF Emporio in a way found only in the fashion capitals of the world, offering just the right kind of tasteful and sublime ambience to attract high value spenders. 28 | P a g e DLF EMPORIO RETAIL MIXGreat care is being taken to ensure that the global retail community at DLF Emporio is the most premium. Only the finest signature brands, designer labels and high end lifestyle products co-exist here. Some of the brands in DLF Emporio include Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Fendi, Dior, Just Cavali, DKNY, Tods, Burberry, Hugo Boss to name a few. ESSENTIAL PLAYERS OF THE LUXURY MARKET IN INDIA: ? JEWELLERY- Cartier, De Beers, Tiffanys etc. ? CLOTHING- Louis vuitton, Varsace, Armani, Chanel, Gucci etc. ? ACCESSORIES- Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo Salvatore etc. ? AUTOMOBILES- Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, Volkswagen, Nissan, Audi etc. 29 | P a g e 30 | P a g e 5. 0 SWOT ANALYSIS: FOCUS : To do the swot analysis and ascertain the major problems faced by the international fashion brands in India. STRENGTH WEAKNESS 1. Brand Name/Brand Ambassadors 2. Customer Loyalty 3. Quality 4. Global Presence 1. Concentrated Market-only metro cities 2. Government Regulations 3. High Prices 4. Percentage of target audience is Less 5. Higher Operational cost-rents. OPPORTUNITY THREATS 1. Manufacturing the brands in India 1. Fake branded stuff available in India itself rather than importing it 2. FDI Regulations 3. Globalization 2. Available at cheaper prices abroad 31 | P a g e 5. 1 MAJOR PROBLEMS FACED BY THE LUXURY FASHION INDUSTRY- 1. LACK OF AWARENESS OF BRANDS AMONGST INDIAN CONSUMERS: The Indian consumers are not aware of the brands available in India, Most rich people who can afford the luxury brands either live in smaller towns and cities where there is no outlet or awareness of the brands. 2. PREFERENCE OF BUYING FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES: People who are aware of the brands and live in metro cities and have a higher disposable income prefer buying from abroad as they travel a lot and so they prefer buying from abroad itself as they get a better and wide variety of products with lesser prices. 1. DUPLICATION AND KNOCK-OFFS: There are a lot of duplicate and knock-offs available in the Indian market. Most of these products come from China. The same branded product, which is available for 25000 Rs. , is available for 1500 Rs. When it is not authentic. Though the quality of these products is not good, they appear to be the same and hence people don‘t mind buying them. But people in India do not believe in authenticity, if they see the name and the knock-off looks exact, they buy that item as they believe in showing off. 32 | P a g e 2. LACK OF RETAIL SPACE: The luxury retail stores are located in 5 star hotels or malls in selected cities, as we all know that there are only two luxury malls in India, The collection-UB City, Bangalore and the DLF-Emporio Mall, New Delhi, because that is where the potential customers are most likely to come for shopping, hence the feasible space available is very less. 3. LOW CUSTOMER TURNOVER: The number of customers who visit a luxury store is comparatively lower than a regular store. Also the luxury store outlets are located exclusively in certain areas and are sometimes not accessible by everyone, this factor also affects the customer turnover. 4. HIGH OPERATIONAL COST: The cost of operating a luxury outlet is high because the size of the store has to be elaborated and also it has to locate at a prime location in major cities. Due to the image that is associated with luxury products, the cost of maintaining the store is high because it has to look upbeat all the time. At the same time these stores normally situated in 5 star hotels or big shopping malls where the rents charged are very high and hence the cost is further increased. 5. 2 GROWTH AND POTENTIAL OF LUXURY BRAND: FOCUS : Study about the roots and the growth of the luxury market of India. LUXURY is no stranger to India. The erstwhile maharajas and princes led a life of opulent splendor. The only way to be apart of the elite as to be born into it. 33 | P a g e The lifestyle as also associated with hunting, polo and her games of the rich. New money could never get into this circuit. The aspiration was always there. But the princes operated in a different league altogether. The era of the selfmade millionaire was yet to arrive. So small possessions, or copied fashion designs with a few geegaws thrown in, became the height of luxury. An achiever of the 1970s could only get by with a good foam mattress — no Omega, Rolex or BMWs. This trend saw a shift, a gradual one, in the 1980s. Luxury began creeping into upper class homes through small things and symbols. The colour TV came in, the humble pen was elevated to a Parker, successful self-made people began to be featured in magazines. The concept of luxury as a reward for achievement gained acceptance, though royalty and the aristocracy continued to remain the benchmark of the elite. The real change came in the 1990s when more people started making more money. There was a sudden explosion of colour and things and objet D’arts began to appear. In order to gain access to luxury and class one could just go out and charge it. What contributed to this shift? India opened up to the world. The liberalization process brought more than high economic growth rates. It showed the people what was possible. In the process, it has altered mindsets. The IT revolution, and the consequent demand for Indian brainpower, has created a whole new breed of wealthy global Indians. At the other end, an increasingly open economy has created new b

Review: The House of the Spirits

In the novel, â€Å"The House of the Spirits†, the author, Isabel Allende uses the symbolism of the house on the corner and the viewpoints of Esteban and Clara’s notebooks to show the reader that in order to understand the history of the Trueba family, multiple viewpoints must be taken into consideration. Through the use of symbolism, the house on the corner is representative of the Trueba’s history and how the family’s history is told through dichotomy. The house has two structures that must be observed in order to understand the entire home, one being inspired by Esteban, and the other being inspired by Clara. The structure that Esteban builds is the outside and the foundation of the house. Esteban builds a â€Å"cubic, dense, pompous house, which sits like a hat amidst its green and geometric surroundings†(92). This description represents how he tells his stories of history in the novel. Esteban doesn’t use magical realism, he has much less narration in comparison to Clara in the novel, and his writing is straightforward. The way Esteban is portrayed proves the exterior of the house to be representative of his narration as it is â€Å"cubic† and â€Å"dense†. In contrast, Clara’s narration from her notebooks is much different from Esteban’s simple narration like the structure of the house. Clara doesn’t talk solely about important events, â€Å"she also records trivialities† (1) and incidents that do not necessarily lead to anything. Clara’s peculiar and magical narration style is represented by the infrastructure of the house, â€Å"full of protuberances and incrustations, of twisted staircases that lead to empty spaces, of turrets, or small windows and could not be opened, doors hanging in midair, and crooked hallways† (92). The two narrations make up the entire Trueba history the same way the infrastructure and the outside make up the entire house. Each story is told in a different style to symbolize the structure of the house. Esteban’s part in the creation of the exterior of the house is clean and dense which parallels the way he tells history. In contrast Clara’s narration is more detailed, superfluous and includes the nuanced stories of the characters. Together, the exterior and interior make up the house, just as the two narrations make up the novel and the history of the Truebas. With only one narrator, Clara or Esteban speaking at a time, the story of the Trueba family becomes skewed and unreliable due to Esteban’s personal bias and Clara’s magical point of view. With both histories presented the reader understands a more accurate and complete story. Allende uses the dichotomy of the house on the corner as a symbol to show that there are multiple sides to history. We also see two sides of history through Clara’s notebooks and Esteban’s narration. With two narrations we get a comprehensive vision of history that can only be obtained by reading multiple perspectives. One way that Allende uses the narrations to show that understanding multiple viewpoints is necessary, is through the unreliability of the narrator. At the beginning of the novel we first experience magical realism when Clara’s Uncle Marcos leaves the country on a â€Å"bird† that he builds and â€Å"[a]gainst all logic, on the second try the bird lifts off without mishap and with a certain elegance, accompanied by the creaking of its skeleton and the roar of its motor. Flapping its wings and disappearing into the clouds†(13). We are unaware of what actually occurred in this event because we only see one perspective of what happened. Once both narrators’ are used in the novel, the reader is able to see more than one perspective of the events told and the reader is able to see the entire history, just like the exterior and the infrastructure of the house on the corner make up the entire house. Esteban’s narration is biased and unreliable, but through the use of Clara’s notebooks we see the other side to Esteban’s time at Tres Marias as the patron. When Esteban recalls his leadership at Tres Marias he says, â€Å"no ones going to convince me that I wasn’t a good patron†(51) and that he has â€Å"been a good patron; there’s no doubt about it†(54). Shortly after, we hear from Clara’s notebooks of how â€Å"[n]ot a girl passed from puberty to adulthood that [Esteban] did not subject to the woods, the riverbank, or the wrought-iron bed†(63). If the reader only heard Esteban’s narration, the reader would have only seen that he â€Å"rebuilt chicken coops and stables†, â€Å"rescued the oil fields†, and planned â€Å"an irrigation system so the crops wouldn’t have to depend on the weather†(53). During his narration the reader sees all the positive things that he did, but with Clara’s notebooks the reader also sees the negative aspects of his time at Tres Marias. Along with seeing different events that occurred with multiple narrations we also see the feelings of multiple characters. When Clara first arrives at Tres Marias â€Å"she feels that she has finally discovered her mission in life†(105). While the reader understands her motivation, Esteban is unaware that she has this drive to fulfill her mission in life. Esteban thinks she is just â€Å"charitable and generous† and wants to make â€Å"those around her happy-except [Esteban]†(178). Due to the telling of two narratives in the history of the Trueba family we are able to see the relationship dynamics from both sides, and as a result, understand the Trueba family history better. In conclusion, Isabel Allende wrote the novel in a certain way to show the reader a different view of how history could be learned. She used the symbol of the house to show that to see the history there are various perspectives to understand just as there are various structures that make up the entire house. Allende wrote the novel through the perspective of Clara, Esteban, and others, so the reader is able to get the most comprehensive telling of the Trueba family history, and can see multiple sides in order to obtain the best understanding.