Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Understanding And Treatment Of Psychological Disorders

The definition, understanding and treatment of psychological disorders have changed over time. In the dark ages or mid-evil times, people who behaved abnormally were quickly labelled as being mad or being possessed by spirits. The individuals were often held in isolation with their treatments being very cruel and harsh. In the eighteenth century, a French physician named Philippe Pinel challenged the cruel treatment methods and promoted a gentler and more humane approach. According to the American Psychiatric Association, a psychological disorder is a â€Å"syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation or behavior.† (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Some people use the term psychological disorder in the same context as a mental illness or disorder. It is a behavior that leads to distress in an individual and prevents him or her from living a normal life to the point that they cannot perform daily chores. Certain behaviors have normal acceptable characteristics and if the behavior falls outside of this acceptable range, it can be considered a disorder. The behavior can be painful as well as harmful to the individual. One thing to note is that the behavior should not be something that is caused by a sudden stressful experience such as grief due to the death of a loved one. (Myers, 506) A psychologist can use The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to help determine the criteria forShow MoreRelatedPsychological And Psychological Treatment Of Psychological Disorders1709 Words   |  7 Pagesefficacy of psychological (non-pharmacological) interventions for psychological disorder? Discuss with reference to difficulties in measuring the effects of psychological treatment. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the different theoretical approaches in the treatment of psychological disorder with the help of psychological treatments. 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These questions are numerous and varying and include researchers’ attempts to identify the specific mechanisms through which disorders occur, genes t hat may predispose individuals to certain disorders, new methodsRead MoreAntisocial Personality Disorder ( Aspd )1432 Words   |  6 PagesAntisocial Personality Disorder Among the vast things studied in the field of psychology lies psychological disorders. These psychological disorders can simply be defined as psychological functions that can be unhealthy and even harmful to a person (Gerrig, 2005). And because this disorders can cause damage to a person it is important to understand them, both to aid a person in this situation or get the correct help if the victim is oneself. There is a vast number of psychological disorders, however thisRead MoreEssay about Anxiety Disorder1441 Words   |  6 PagesAmong many psychological disorders, anxiety disorders are the most predominant in the United States. According to Antony (2011), anxiety disorders affect nearly 28.8 percent of the population. An extreme and unrealistic anxiety is the most common symptom that characterizes all the psychological conditions within the category of anxiety disorders. The category includes specific phobia, agoraphobia, social phobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress di sorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsiveRead MoreMental And Emotional Functioning And Healthy Personality977 Words   |  4 Pagesdimension of the PDM, the M Axis, describes mental and emotional functioning, including â€Å"the capacities that contribute to the individual’s personality and level of psychological health or pathology† (PDM 8). In the PDM’s third axis (S Axis) is characteristic subjective experiences that are commonly associated with certain psychological disorders . It begins with the DSM-IV-TR categories and continues with descriptions of â€Å"affective states, cognitive processes, somatic experiences, and relational patterns

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Consumer Behavior on Black Friday Free Essays

string(107) " feel a sense of empowerment, or the thrill of winning, which will only intensify their moods for the day\." Running Head: Black Friday Consumer Behavior on Black Friday Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine consumer behavior on Black Friday. Black Friday is typically the busiest shopping day of the year, and it is all driven by the chance for consumers to save the most amount of money possible while getting their holiday shopping done. Research was done online, and also through personal experiences. We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Behavior on Black Friday or any similar topic only for you Order Now By understanding what retailers and consumers hope to accomplish on this day can have a positive impact on everyone. Consumers are able to get what they want with the least amount of turmoil, and retailers are able to turn a profit. This research can be most helpful to merchants, as it will help them to understand what a consumer wants, and what they expect the unofficial holiday to be like. A complication with this research is that each consumer is different and may have different expectations in mind. Concentrating on making Black Friday as organized as possible will only benefit all parties involved. Introduction Black Friday refers to the day after Thanksgiving, which is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday is a day when stores dramatically discount products with the intention of luring in the highest number of shoppers possible. The term Black Friday received its name because that is a day when, hopefully, businesses balance sheets go from red, a loss, to black, a profit (Staff, 2010). It can be a day of chaos, as seen in 2008 when a Walmart employee was trampled to death by a mob of customers (Gould, Trapasso, Schapiro, 2008). But many that day focus on saving money, and are willing to wait in lines for days for a deal. Impulsive Consumption Some of the purchases made on Black Friday may be impulsive. The textbook states that impulsive consumption is usually spontaneous and involves some feelings of liberation; is associated with a lessened sense of costs or consequences; and is motivated by a need for immediate self-fulfillment (Babin Harris, 2011). Consumers who go to a store for only a couple of items may find themselves enticed by other items that are on sale. The average person spent $365. 34 during Black Friday weekend 2010, for a total of approximately $45 billion total spent nationally (Chang, 2010). Unplanned purchases may be made because although a consumer went to a store for one sale, they may not have known all the other items that are discounted that day, and may make other purchases. Because many Black Friday shoppers are actually holiday shopping for other people, it is easy to look for a gift for one person, but find those perfect gifts for the other four people on your list, all in the name of getting a good deal. Social Environment Social environment is defined in the text as â€Å"the other customers and employees in a service or shopping environment (Babin Harris, 2011). Normally, people may be put off by crowding at stores. However, it is the norm on Black Friday. Although it is still unfavorable, it is something that people are willing to adapt to for the day. It may give a sense of urgency, which will put a consumer into the mindset of action. The text also refers to shopping buddies. Many people who wait in line for hours or even days on Black Friday do not do so alone. There are usually small groups of people, which may help to make consumers feel more comfortable. Consumers are taking more time to find buddies to shop with, and they are making an effort to have a plan in mind for what stores they will visit, and what they will purchase. For people who wait in lines for extended periods, they usually create some type of habitat to pass the time. Consumers bring tents, chairs and heaters to make themselves more comfortable. Some even bring electrical items such as lighting, computers or small televisions to keep them company while waiting for the savings to begin. The people in line usually form temporary relationships with the people that are around them. Sharing stories or deals that they are interested in is a far cry from the massive chaos shown on television news stories. Attitudes People may get caught up in the excitement of the day, and that can help them to spend even more money. While waiting in line, customers at the front of the line seem to be excited and happy. However, at the end of the line, customers appear to be more frustrated and anxious. Some consumers plan their Black Friday shopping trips weeks in advance. There are many websites available for people to view Black Friday advertisements online, before they are supposed to be released to the public. Walmart has tried year after year for the advertisements not to be leaked, but they usually end up on these websites before they are supposed to (4 Years Strong: Walmart Sends Another Cease Desist, 2011). Stores may not want to have their advertisements released early for a couple of reasons. First, consumers having the ability to research products and having too much time to explore all of their options may mean that consumers will not make as many spontaneous purchases on Black Friday. They also do not want to have their competition see their deals, and then have them beat their prices. Having the advertisements earlier though means consumers are able to plan what stores they want to go to, which may lead to less chaos on the actual day. People are motivated by saving money on Black Friday. Some consumers may even see it as a competition. For some, because there is only a limited selection available for many of the items that are drastically reduced, just acquiring that item may be all the motivation someone needs to be at the front of the line on Black Friday. A consumer may feel a sense of empowerment, or the thrill of winning, which will only intensify their moods for the day. You read "Consumer Behavior on Black Friday" in category "Papers" A consumer may be more likely to make a purchase of something out of the ordinary because of the price on Black Friday. The perceived risk is lower because the consumer balances the risk with the monetary discount that is offered, and can write it off easier. Normally, consumers may think thoroughly about an electronics purchase. However, electronics are usually a major seller on Black Friday. Because the discount is thought to be so significant, and the consumer thinks there are only a limited number available, they do not have time to think the purchase through like the normally would, and they make the purchase. What people are buying Each year, electronics are the one of the most widely sought after products on Black Friday. In 2009, the introduction of Zhu-Zhu Pets was the top search on Google referring to Black Friday sales (Wong, 2009). Surprisingly, rugs and jewelry were also top searches in 2009. In 2010, the iPad and other tablets were the top searches in electronics (Andrew, 2010). They were ollowed by laptops and HDTV’s. Handheld gadgets are expected to be a top seller for 2011. E-readers, tablets, music players and smart phones all seem to be popular searches for the upcoming holiday (Black Friday 2011 Predictions, 2011). Televisions and accessories are normally highly discounted on Black Friday, and 2011 should be no different. There may be more sales on 3D televisions, blu-ray players, and bundles of the televisions with the accessories. Cyber Monday Some consumers do not want to brave the chaos of Black Friday, and have moved to online shopping, while still looking for the dramatic discounts. Online purchases have grown steadily over the past few years, and in 2005, the term â€Å"Cyber Monday† was created (â€Å"Cyber Monday† Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year, 2005). In 2010, Black Friday sales grew 9% from the year before, but Cyber Monday sales grew 16% (U. S. Online Holiday Shopping Season Reaches Record $32. 6 Billion for November-December Period, Up 12 Percent vs. Year Ago, 01). Cyber Monday 2010 was the first billion-dollar spending day in history, and the first time that sales on Monday were higher than Friday. Many people have a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving, and are back to work on Monday. A large number of consumers are able to place orders right from a work computer, or even their smart phones. Smart phones are also making it easier for consumers to do research on sales, and to do the shopping itself. Online Black Friday sales increased 11% from 2008-2009 (Wong, 2009). Retailer Organization Most consumers on Black Friday have the same goal; to save money. If the stores are able to have some form of organization on Black Friday, it should help to keep the customers organized also. Chaos is more likely to happen when the store is not prepared for the massive number of shoppers. If the store makes adjustments to the way they normally operate, they are more likely to have an easier time handling the crowds. Passing out tickets to the customers in line for big ticket items is becoming the norm for many stores (Palmer, 2010). By doing so, customers are able to be sure they are going to receive the item they came to purchase, and it is easier to explain when they are sold out of a particular item. Also, some stores are able to rearrange their stores and put the items that are on sale in a particular area, so customers will not have to search all around the store, adding to the chaos. Many stores are choosing to open very early, with some retailers, such as Toys R Us even opening on Thanksgiving night at 10 P. M (Toys†R†Us Stores Nationwide to Open at 10pm on Thanksgiving Night to Welcome Black Friday Shoppers Earlier Than Ever Before with 200 Doorbusters and More Than $11,000 in Savings on Hot Toys, 2010). As this was only introduced in 2010, it remains unknown whether other stores will follow the idea. Having enough employees at check-out and for assisting customers is also essential. Retailers may want to also hire some form of security for the day, to prevent mobs of people causing chaos. No matter how prepared a shopper may be on Black Friday, if the store is unorganized or does not have a sensible system in place, chaos may ensue because of the consumers confusion or frustrations. Customers also look for even further discounts on Black Friday by using coupons. Retailers may want to include in their advertisements and stores about their coupon acceptance policy on Black Friday. If a customer waits in line for hours, then goes in the store to get an item, then waits in line for another hour to check-out, only to find that their coupon will not be accepted, that consumer may get very irritated and that will cause further problems. Conclusion Black Friday is a day that retailers hope to make the most amount of profit. But for consumers, they hope to save as much money as possible. Many consumers make impulsive shopping decisions on Black Friday. The social environment may lead to this behavior, as many shoppers are with friends or family, and make a display out of their shopping practices on that day. The attitudes of people can vary greatly on that day also. Most people are excited, but that can turn to frustration if it does not go as planned. Purchasing trends can vary each year, depending on what the newest items are. Electronics and the newest toys are usually very popular items. Cyber Monday is also changing the way people shop, and helping them to save even more money from the comfort of their home, from work, or even on their smart phone. A retailer being organized on Black Friday is imperative, as it can affect consumer behavior and how much money they spend. References 4 Years Strong: Walmart Sends Another Cease Desist. (2011, 10 14). Retrieved 10 22, 2011, from http://bfads. net/ Andrew. (2010, 11 15). Holiday Shopping Trends and. Retrieved 10 23, 2011, from http://www. retrevo. com/content/node/1570 Babin, B. J. , Harris, E. G. (2011). CB2. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Black Friday 2011 Predictions. (2011, 10 11). Retrieved 10 23, 2011, from http://www. blackfriday2011. om/news/2011/10/11/black-friday-2011-predictions/ Chang, A. (2010, 11 28). Big Black Friday weekend results: 212 million shoppers, $45 billion spent. Retrieved 10 21, 2011, from http://latimesblogs. latimes. com/money_co/2010/11/big-black-friday-weekend-results-212-million-shoppers-and-45-billion-spent. html â€Å"Cyber Monday† Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year. (2005, 11 21). Retrieved 23 2 011, 10, from http://www. shop. org/c/journal_articles/view_article_content? groupId=1articleId=623version=1. 0 Gould, J. , Trapasso, C. Schapiro, R. (2008, 11 28). Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede. Retrieved 10 21, 2011, from http://articles. nydailynews. com/2008-11-28/local/17910475_1_wal-mart-worker-long-island-wal-mart-jdimytai-damour Palmer, K. (2010, 11 23). Black Friday Guide to the Best Deals and Steals. Retrieved 10 23, 2011, from http://money. usnews. com/money/personal-finance/articles/2010/11/23/black-friday-guide-to-the-best-deals-and-steals Staff, L. L. (2010, 11 24). Business News Daily. Retrieved 10 21, 2011, from http://www. businessnewsdaily. om/how-did-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-get-their-names–0754/ Toys†R†Us Stores Nationwide to Open at 10pm on Thanksgiving Night to Welcome Black Friday Shoppers Earlier Than Ever Before with 200 Doorbusters and More Than $11,000 in Savings on Hot Toys. (201 0, 11 16). Retrieved 10 23, 2011, from http://www. prnewswire. com/news-releases/toysrus-stores-nationwide-to-open-at-10pm-on-thanksgiving-night-to-welcome-black-friday-shoppers-earlier-than-ever-before-with-200-doorbusters-and-more-than-11000-in-savings-on-hot-toys-108565064. html U. S. Online Holiday Shopping Season Reaches Record $32. 6 Billion for How to cite Consumer Behavior on Black Friday, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Personality and Self Concept in Consumer Behavior

Question: Discuss about the Personality and Self Concept in Consumer Behavior. Answer: Introduction Individuals could express themselves in a number of ways. One such method is through the selection and the consumption of the goods, which could symbolize their personalities. This has led to what is regarded as the symbolic consumption, which is becoming nowadays the focus to the consumer behavior research (Huang, Hu and Zhang, 2013). The organization especially in the beauty care industry are aiming in understanding as well as catering to the consumer personalities. This case study focus on such a company called Lush, which has been successful in targeting their products as well as communication through use of personality. Why do you think Lush has been able to be successful in catering to consumers' personalities? Lush company has been committed in employing individual instead of the machines, they have been using the best ingredients, which are available and keep the products that are environmentally as well as socially friendly to the consumers. To cater for the personalities of the consumer the company first has been able to maintain the same personal, small business feel with the emphasis of listening and understanding the needs of the consumers (Kumar, Manrai and Manrai, 2017). The lush products have been perceived to smell good as well as look colourful. The consumers have associated their ideal self-image of looking more beautiful through the usage of the lush products. Nonetheless, their successful campaigns as well as the policies have been focussed more to the actual self therefore they should always aim at introducing something, which caters for more ideal self-image. Further, Lush Company has been able to cater on the personalities of the consumer through getting them involved in t heir campaigns. The consumers are always environmentally and socially conscious and they believe they have the ability to become involved in the campaign especially the animal testing or environmental harm. Lush has helped the consumers to get involved to such campaign, which leads to charge and to the news of orchestrating the controversies of the anti-animal testing campaign (Morhart, Malr, Guevremont, Girardin and Grohmann, 2015). Lastly, through catering on to the personality traits of the consumers, the brand have been able to develop on the personality of the consumers. This has often been linked to the traits, which are exhibited by the consumers in order to ensure that the consumers could relate to the brand. Lush brand personality illustration in the statement Yes, the lush brand has been illustrated to the statement. The statement reflects that Lush believes that their products are of high value, and they believe that the customer is always right. This clearly reflect some form of trustworthy and kind of a personality of the brand. Moreover, the statement also tells the consumer that the company is a business minded brand, although it is not like the other traditional companies since their beliefs are different. As a marketing professional, I would recommend the company to do the following if it want to grow in the cosmetic and toiletries industry. The beauty industry evolution is still going on and will continue to introduce innovations into our life, over the coming years. Lush company with their products they have changed the modern industry and individuals on the way they look, through influencing on their attitudes towards the use of the cosmetic and personal products. Lush company should use the brand slogan, which comes naturally t o the play. Brand is the emotion, which is behind one products (Schiffman, O'Cass, Paladino and Carlson, 2013). They have tried on their part but I think they could do more, to encourage the consumers to be part of the company. Having a memorable personality is essentially the key to making the brand to stick to the mind of the consumers (Janiszewski, Labroo and Rucker, 2016). The brand entails the look as well as the feel of the business, the moral standing as well as the physical appearance. Additionally, in a competitive cosmetic industry any company should aim at product positioning. Lush company has tried to position their product to every segment such as there are products for kids, mums, or even the old. Taking a marketing directive further through zeroing the core demographic as well as marketing would be an additional element to the company (Schiffman, O'Cass, Paladino and Carlson, 2013). The company should go further and identify who is buying each product of their cosmeti c line, which will be helpful to open the door to the highly effective segmented advertising. It is significant to think about the big picture projects that are going to have the large effects for the company, such as supply of the ingredients as well as materials. The company should focus on their impact what the customer want most (Janiszewski, Labroo and Rucker, 2016). Moreover, they should also introduce more of the simple environmental practices in the business each day in order to encourage environmental as well as social conscious to the consumers. Conclusion The brand personality traits, which are presented in the statement of the company, have personality, which matches to the self-image of the customer. The brand personality has been found to infuse on the products, as well as the communication of the company. The customer relates to the personality of the brand to an extent it brings differentiation of the company from the others. The company over the years aimed in offering of the personal services in order to create on their own brand, which the customer could associate with through the products they offer. References Huang, L., Hu, C. and Zhang, X., 2013. Consumer experience analysis: A case study of Apple Inc. from consumers' perspective in experience marketing. Janiszewski, C., Labroo, A.A. and Rucker, D.D., 2016. A tutorial in consumer research: Knowledge creation and knowledge appreciation in deductive-conceptual consumer research. Journal of Consumer Research, 43(2), pp.200-209. Kumar, B., Manrai, A.K. and Manrai, L.A., 2017. Purchasing behaviour for environmentally sustainable products: A conceptual framework and empirical study. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 34, pp.1-9. Morhart, F., Malr, L., Guevremont, A., Girardin, F. and Grohmann, B., 2015. Brand authenticity: An integrative framework and measurement scale. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(2), pp.200-218. Schiffman, L., O'Cass, A., Paladino, A. and Carlson, J., 2013. Consumer behaviour. Pearson Higher Education AU.