Personal Space Essay Example for Free

Personal Space Essay I. Introduction An individuals self- concept is the core of his personality. One’s perception affects every aspect of human behavior: the person’s ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. For every act an individual makes, he or she manifests what character he or she has. One certain person displays his own image through the conveyance of his behavior towards another. It is a mutual process wherein the receiver responds and takes action to the approach of the sender. Our thinking and behavior during interaction are always in anticipation of a response. This certain behavior that we use in order to attain interaction can be a positive or a negative one. At times, it can act as a defense and a way of concealing motives and thoughts. Human behavior is observed in the branch of Psychology to gain more knowledge that would contribute to an understanding of a certain culture based on the manipulation of the stimulus-response that would change human behavior despite of the underlying debate that behavior is hereditary or nurtured by the environment. It is also a range of behaviors displayed by humans influenced by several factors such as culture, attitude, emotions, values and ethics. The behavior of a human being depends on the potential and capacity of his or her physical, mental, emotional, and social activity during the phases of human life (Hickson III, M. Stacks, D., `1985). Living with the different factors that would generate the expression of manners of an individual, it basically acts as the foundation of molding the actual character of a certain person. In accordance to how people express their mental outlook, they respond and reciprocate towards the exposure of signals of the opposite sex, the perception to invasion of own psychological personal space, and the characteristics and levels of intimacy shared by both parties. Personal space is known to be the area surrounding a person which they consider as theirs (McConnell, J., 1985). It is their concealed spot wherein other people cannot penetrate and violate easily. Being able to value their personal space, they are able to set limits and certain zones on the ones they are interacting to (Eyserick, H. Eyserick, M., 1983). Human beings naturally bounce back to the encroachment of their personal space as Freudian would say. But once a person’s personal space has been penetrated by an outsider that understands the levels of comfort as of that of the receiver of message, there would be a certain allure of intimate bond between the two. Though intimacy has yet to be delved into to have the preciseness of its boundaries and levels as to observe the certain characteristics wherein spectators are able to classify their position when interacting with the person to whom they have invaded the private space. At par with the receiver of this invasion of space, he or she would be able to discuss and critically analyze the response to the means of how their own space has been occupied without having to suddenly jump into conclusion the actions being presented to them by the opposing party. Furthermore, through an interview, this paper will be the guided accordingly by the words of experts of the daily examples of private and intimate situations that would help foreshadow into reading the verbal and non-verbal signals each respondent would reciprocate in case to case basis. And to gauge whether or not this would be a case of violation or permitting one’s self to break down walls for others to penetrate into their personal space. The aim of this paper is to define, relate and categorize the development of a person’s perspective on privacy and intimacy when interacting to the same and/or the opposite sex. It would like to explore into the dynamics by which personal space would be determined by an internal or external influence upon it, and its connection to intimate situations. This is to widen the perspective of teenagers within the researcher’s age group when dealing with their social groups and be aware of the tell tale signs of positive and negative intrusion of privacy and display of intimacy towards others. II. Body Personal space â€Å"for me is the amount of space that you define for yourself by which you form of a barrier† (R. Tejeros, personal communication, February 13, 2012). This barrier of a person’s personal space is where an individual secludes himself or herself from external factors that may contribute to his or her reluctance to share the privacy that encloses a formed character (Gunsch, 2003). A character that has been influenced throughout its formation by numerous social groups that made this very individual self cautious to letting in strangers and known personalities alike to a realm that can make or break his or her disposition. Group dynamics is a study on personal and social space. These are standardized space perimeters wherein social clusters are able to reconcile the differentiation of personal space and its violation; also where social agents around us become an intimate, social, factor to everyday interaction. Though space may be standardized by norms, the interviewee has presented a notion that personal space is still very relative on most aspects. An individual defines it for him/herself and regardless of the standardization, and this is all based on the person’s ability to consent to the external factors or decline its persistence to enter the boundary line of this person’s space (R. Tejeros, personal communication, February 13, 2012). Furthermore, each person carries an invisible bubble around their bodies wherein the size depends on different factors such as personality, status and culture. This bubble is known to be considered as a person’s own personal, psychological space (McConnell, J., 1985). It is an approximate area surrounding an individual which should not be trespassed by an unsuspecting spectator for it creates an unsteady social relationship that when pierced by others becomes a violation of personal space. This private space, which role is to keep violation down, comes with the diversity of cultures who establish and upright barriers when interacting with other people. Raising these indomitable barriers are sort of their safety zones wherein people are unlikely to attack one another (Eyserick, H. Eyserick, M., 1983). With regards to the sex differences of personal space, the opposite sex would define personal space as a challenge. This would highly depend on the availability of the person’s willingness to interact to the opposite sex. Most especially in cases where in the male would pursue a female to interact with, if personal space would be regarded as barrier as said above, this would complicate the premises by which the sender of the message would like to address their message. For most cases, an aggression to entering the opposite sex’s personal space would be seen as a threat. A scenario that deals with a same sex penetration of personal space however would be put lightly as how Sir Tejeros (personal communication, February 13, 2012) said in his interview as â€Å"there should be a level of friendship or relationship first before you can get comfortable with a person within the same sex. And if you are in that level, the personal space is not a problem.† Based on this statement, the sexual orientation may be a high contributor to how other individuals would interact but regardless, a certain individual would still deal with others though with the factor that there should be a consequent relationship that should be established and the ability for both parties to gauge the comfort that they share to each other. Apart from the relationship that have been formed prior to create a state of sharing one’s personal space and privacy with each other, there are other factors that has been provided such as definition of the person’s character, personality, cultural background, race/color, age, gender and current status/authority (Berba R. Tejeros, personal communication, February 13, 2012). These factors contribute to both an easy relationship and appearance within the perimeters of the individual’s personal space though these may also be grounds for stereotyping and biases that may cause for an individual to also reluctantly open up to others. It was also stated through the course of interview that with the cultural setup here in the Philippines, these factors would be somewhat different from the ones where racial discrimination is rampant in western countries as well as first world countries. There may be discrimination but in the cultural setup in the Philippines, the social conflicts are quite subtle and are more distinctly seen if verbally exposed. Either way, these factors are not to be of constant basis for personal space is a subjective matter. Entering somebody’s personal space is an indication of familiarity and sometimes, intimacy. The receiver of the message creates a line that would not or should not be crossed by the sender in an actual confrontation to be able to have a decent and comfortable conversation. When this boundary is transpired, it causes uneasiness between the two people interacting. It is by human reflex that people react to certain responses. Reacting defensively when personal space is invaded is one way of assessing its significance to that certain individual. This reaction of the person aggressed varies according to how his or her space is invaded and whoever violated it. Whenever a person feels threatened by an outside force to enter his or her personal space, he or she will have a tendency to dislike the invader as a reaction and dismiss all opportunities (Lindgren, H.C. Byrne, D., 1971). Erikson’s theory of development states that intimacy would be attained through forming closely knit relationships which is basic to the growth of social interaction of early adulthood. (Davis, D. Clifton, A., 1995) Intimacy is known to be a token of familiarity and affection, a close relation or association with deep knowledge of a certain person, place or period of history. Most of the times, Intimacy is considered to be the act of being affectionate of the people involved in a certain relationship and convey their thoughts and emotions by means of physical contact. This way of expressing intimacy to the other party is most likely to be applicable for those people who are considered touchers and are more comfortable in using the non-verbal communication while interacting. Aside from expressing feelings and motives through physical contact, there are other factors that contribute to the building up of close relationship of the people involved. Being intimate can also be observed when people involved in a relationship are attached in a way that they spend most of their times with each other, shares common similarities and interests, can communicate easily and has a personal connection that other people wouldn’t easily comprehend unless informed. Being intimate with another party depends on the built relationship of the people involved. It varies according to what and how intimacy is being expressed whether emotional, spiritual, intellectual or sexual (Berba, personal communication, February 16, 2012). There is a favored level of interpersonal intimacy, discrepancies from this stage and where it can possibly remunerate between the two people interacting. (Eyserick H., Eyserick M., 1983) As we all move through in getting to know someone deeper, we develop intimacy with them which is one of the factors that makes the relationship more profound. Building up a closer connection with that someone, certain levels of intimacy are exposed. For starters, people begin to see and judge if it is safe to connect with that individual in the stage of safe communication. In this phase, there are no feelings, personal vulnerability and opinions involved. This is the kind of interaction we have with people we don’t know that well and shares minimal intimacy. In level two, which is where we start sharing other people’s thoughts, beliefs and opinions, we are beginning to reveal more of ourselves and already build have a small foundation. In this stage, disagreements of opinions shared reveal inflexibility and intolerance already and becomes the basis whether they are to continue to the next stage or not. Continuing to the next phase, we start taking small risks and begin to share our own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. If we begin to feel vulnerable, we can change our minds and switch opinions to avoid conflicts. In the next level, we now start revealing our feelings and personal experiences; our own joys and pains, our achievements and failures and some of our likes and dislikes. This stage is more vulnerable than the earlier ones because in here, us being unable to change how we feel about something, we can now accept and receive judgments. The next phase of intimacy will be the highest level; our needs, emotions and desires are being emphasized. This is the stage where we are known at the deepest core of our character and requires a great amount of trust in order to maintain the relationship built by the people i nvolved. (Wilson, 2011) Entering a social relationship, verbal and non-verbal communications are expected. Verbal communication is the communication that uses words, either written or spoken. It also refers to the use of sounds and language to relay a message. It serves as a vehicle for expressing desires, ideas, and concepts and is vital to the process of learning and teaching. This verbal communication varies according to the personality and mental outlook of a certain person. Non-verbal communication, on the other hand, is usually understood as the process of communication by means of sending and receiving messages which are not in the form of words. It is a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts the emotions and intentions of a certain individual by means of gestures, facial expressions and body language (Hickson III, M. Stacks, D., 1985). These non-verbal signals are separated into two kinds: the touchers and non-touchers. People who are considered touchers are usually the individuals who are not good in expressing themselves in words and prefer to convey their messages through the use of physical contact. Non-touchers on the other hand are the ones who articulate their messages through non-verbal signals but do not require the use of physical contact; they express their messages using body language such as facial expressions (Eyserick, H. Eyserick, M., 1983). Through the interview conducted, Psychology professors, Ms. Berba and Sir Tejeros (personal communication, 2012), have exclaimed that in their field of study, they are more aware to theses identifiers that both trigger violation of personal space and cues on intimacy. They have provided examples that both can be observable from day to day cases and widely applicable to the target market of this paper. Examples of signals that trigger violation of personal space would be sitting very close to another person or the positioning of body parts that obstruct the balance of the space that the individual and the other people share in a pubic place. A particular example that is observable within the male domination would be the violation of space inside the comfort rooms. Based on the narration of Sir Tejeros, he stated that â€Å"There’s this unspoken rule, which you might find interesting. In male comfort rooms, when there is someone occupying a certain urinal, you do not go directly to the ones beside it. So kunwari there are 3 urinals. There is someone doing his business here. And then there’s 2 and 3, you do not go here beside him. You jump one urinal because that’s the person’s personal space. Seriously, that happens all the time. If you were a guy you would have noticed that. If someone would go near that, the other guy doing his business would look angry or hostile towards the other person. Kasi personal space niya yun, eh. Kasi like when you do your business in a comfort room, it’s something intimate and personal to you. So when someone goes way to near your area, â€Å"K† parang ganun.† Another violation of personal space that Ms. Berba stated is the sudden outburst of emotion through verbal and non-verbal communication. That when a particular individual is very angry and frustrated, they are not aware and conscious of their actions because of the aggression and adrenaline that courses through their being thus having an impulsive instinct to enter the personal space of their offender and violating their personal space. Though there may be positive violations of personal space as well, and the emotion that stirs up this violation would be of surprise. And example would be when a bearer of good news delivers the message and the receiver becomes intimately grateful to the bearer and crosses the line of the sender’s personal space. This would still be a violation of personal space because the receiver was not able to respect the personal space of the bearer however this is another response that was done instinctively because of positive feedback to the message re layed. III. Conclusion The interrelation between privacy and intimacy is the link of relationship that people have between each other. It is through a bond that they have, that they allow walls of privacy to be brought down and there is permission to be intimate with the other being. There are several factors that would contribute to this such as personality, cultural background, age, gender and status. Though these may contribute to a healthy interaction, these factors may also be causes for violation of personal space. The differentiation between people whose social groups mingle with each other may produce friction if not properly addressed by the social norms that surround them. It is best that personal space of an individual is respected before advancing to a more relaxed state. However, personal space does not necessarily go hand in hand with intimacy and vice versa. It does contribute to one another as we have theorized beforehand, though we have been disproven that if personal space is not violated, this may be called intimate. Through research work and interviews conducted, we have distinguished personal space as a person’s personal, psychological space. (McConnell, J., 1985) meanwhile intimacy is a token of familiarity and affection. Both are subject to change and have signals that would identify if an individual’s personal space is violated or a person is being intimate with another. To further elaborate on the levels of intimacy that would distinguish the state of relationship wherein two individuals are involved, these levels contribute to how someone who is in the process of determining his or her position in the relationship and be able to pacify his or her intentions as to not cross the boundaries of the social norms. Apart from the levels, there are kinds of intimacy which are spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and sexual that would be the basis for a good foundation of a relationship. Signals that trigger intimacy and violation of personal space would be verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal signals are on prose and non-prose means. On the other hand, non-verbal communication has touchers and non-touchers. They indicate stimuli-response contact and verify whether the process of communication is socially acceptable. These may not be necessary for all intimate partners though are highly observable throughout the society. Equipped with credible sources, this paper has given an array of responses that is useful for daily relations most especially for the target audience who are teenage adolescents who are undergoing inter and intra personal development. Expression of the mental and emotional outlook would be beneficial to build up the decision-making skills of a person. It also promotes awareness to the different kinds of scenarios that they would be dealing with in the future.

Social Contract And Immanuel Kant Philosophy Essay

Social Contract And Immanuel Kant Philosophy Essay In a society that the people are free to do as they see fit and are governed by natural laws, where individuals can abuse and exploit of one another and there is no fear of consequences is known as the state of nature.  [i]  When individuals give up a little of their freedom to do as they like, and voluntarily agree to obey laid down laws (civil laws) to have protection of life and ownership of property, this agreement is known as the social contract. The political philosophers would explain the social contract theory as individuals giving power to the government (state) to govern over them in exchange for protection.  [ii]  It must not be misinterpreted that an individual, who is under the social contract has to give up their total freedom rather, the person is still at liberty to do as they please so far as it does not cause harm or impede on another individuals freedom. Giving up this freedom under the social contract is viewed as a benefit to the society. The social contract which brings into existence a well ordered society state of states, is said to be of three key elements. The first element is an imagery of how a society will be like with no laws, under the state of nature  [iii]  . People would be exploited, abused and there will be no fear of justice since they are free to do as they like and are not confined by any laws that restrict them from doing unto others as they please. Individuals attempt to escape from such brutality brings about the second element which is recognizing the state to have the power to bring about order and stability to a society; recognizing the sovereign power  [iv]  . The third element is the obligation of the people under the social contract to respect and obey the laid down laws by the state  [v]  . In their obedience to these laws they are showing gratitude to the state for securing an organized and stable society. Some philosophers believe though, that the social contract is imposed on society to demonstrate the structure of rationality.  [vi]   Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) born in Eastern Prussia was a German philosopher and an idealist. The author of Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, in his book he defines morality as an action that is not determined by its consequences, only by the intentions behind it  [vii]  . He believes that a persons intention to do good or bad justifies the action as good or bad. For example when a person finds a bag of money and the persons intention is to report it to the police, according to Kant this makes the person good (moral). But if the outcome is different from the supposed intention that is, the person ends up keeping the money, the person is still seen as good; In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing it  [viii]  . The outcome of the action whether good or bad should not be considered in determining an action as moral but only the original intention. These actions are said to be motivated by duty and incli nation. Duty is an action that has been outlined by society to be in the right moral direction. Duty is described in four cases; (i) when actions are contrary to duty (e.g. stealing) (ii) when actions are dutiful because of fear of penalty (e.g. paying taxes) (iii) when duty is in accordance to ones inclination (e.g. labor of love) and (iv) actions that are in accordance to duty but contrary to inclination (e.g. not committing suicide despite being in unbearable distress).  [ix]  Duty is seen to be morally worthy because it is approved by society whereas inclination is seen as praise worthy because it is motivated by emotions. He argues that people are more concerned about their self-interest as such, when they act in accordance to their inclinations then they are acting out of self-interest, but since duty is determined by society it will contrast with their self-interest thereby making it moral. Kants moral theory is centered on a system that distinguishes a moral from a maxim known as the categorical imperative. A maxim is the principle or general rule that determines an actions moral worth  [x]  . When a maxim has contradictions then it cannot be considered as a moral maxim  [xi]  , an example used is when a person borrows money and promises to pay knowing very well he wont. This cannot be willed as a moral maxim then because everybody will promise and fail and people with needs will be seen as liars. His attempt to solve the problem of morality and solidify his theory brought about the categorical imperative  [xii]  . The categorical imperative is seen as a criterion for determining obligatory and forbidden actions and is made up of three formulations; (i) universal moral law, (ii) treat people as ends and (iii) the kingdom of ends.  [xiii]   The first formulation, the universal moral law looks at how ones maxim can be accepted by another person, in other words, can your maxim be accepted by all and will everybody feel the same about it. Act only on that maxim which you can, at the same time will it to be a universal law  [xiv]  . For example my maxim is when I borrow something from somebody I like to return it as soon as I am done using it. The real test here is can this be universally adopted and willingly accepted. A universal maxim should also have the ability to remain consistent. If a maxim passes the test, then the maxim is morally accepted and is seen as permissible but if it fails then that maxim should be disregarded and forbidden. When weighing a maxim as a universal law there is no exception, an individuals maxim should not only apply to others around him but should also be applicable to him, and he must accept it with no hesitations. The second formulation which is treat people as ends explains how we should see people as ends and not as means to an end. People can be seen as both means to an end and as end at the same time, but never should they be treated as means to an end only  [xv]  . An example is a man who makes a false promise to a friend so as to secure a loan. The friend here is seen as a mean to attaining his self-interest. He argues that people in themselves are ends, it is therefore wrong to use people to satisfy our selfish desires. Kant believes that in doing so; treating people as a means, we deny them the importance of their humanity. By disrespecting their personhood and dignity and not recognizing them as rational individuals we deny them of their humanity  [xvi]  and we denial ourselves as well of the importance of humanity. The third formulation the kingdom of ends can be seen as a totality of the two formulations. With this formulation we are urged to imagine ourselves as the law makers in the kingdom of ends. The kingdom of ends is an imaginary state whose laws protect an individuals autonomy  [xvii]  . In this kingdom we put our maxims to the test to satisfy the two formulations; universal moral law and treat people as ends. When these maxims satisfy the conditions of the formulations, that is, they become universally adopted and accepted, and people are treated as ends and not means to an end, then the maxims can be known as a moral law. A society that acquired its laws by the means of using the system of the categorical imperatives to Kant is an ideal society because the society is based on moral laws. Kant views a society under the social contract as a society based on moral laws. Under the social contract individual desires are not used in determining the law, but rather the maxim that satisfies the conditions of the categorical imperative  [xviii]  . To Kant this is ideal because the state addresses the wants of the people and not the desires of a particular group. He uses an example the war tax to support his argument explaining; when the state imposes a fair tax that is just, citizens cannot argue against it because the state might have legitimate reasons for imposing the tax that citizens are not aware of  [xix]  . This goes to justify the state concentrating on benefits of the society rather than benefits of an individual. This is Kants description of an ideal society under the social contract. CRITICISM Kants theory is based on having an ideal society that is based on moral laws. These moral laws have been acquired by the use of categorical imperatives; the criterion for determining a moral, therefore making these laws ideal. He believes that when a society is governed by these laws then people treat each other as equals and our conscience will prevent us from doing otherwise  [xx]  . Arthur Schopenhauer a German philosopher disagrees with Kants theory saying, the categorical imperatives speaks before the deed but the conscience after the deed. He argues that the conscience cannot act as a deterrent against people having their freedom impeded, since it is an afterthought after the deed has been done. The social contract is an ideal society which seeks to bring order and safety to the people under a government. Kants formulations of the moral laws by using the categorical imperatives are fascinating theoretically but do not seem to hold in real life; the universal moral law, treating people as ends rather than means to an end and kingdoms of ends. Kants ideal society using these imperatives might be a solution to finding laws that will be accepted by all and obeyed as well, since we how we feel about these laws help in their formulation.

Beauty Therapy for Wellness | Business Plan

Beauty Therapy for Wellness | Business Plan Part 2 The Business My Background: The idea for this business has been getting planned out in my mind since I first began studying Beauty Therapy at James Watt College. My years of customer service experience, that I gained previous to starting college, in hospitality both in a managerial role and a team member will serve me well and can be adapted to suit the beauty and complementary therapies industry. When I started I knew my end goal was to set up a small business of my own using the qualifications I was to gain, I did not, however realise at the time that I would go on to pursue complementary therapies. During the 3 years I have been studying I went from beauty, to spa route and then onto Complementary Therapies, I have been a devoted student throughout this time and always took on any challenge given to me. I have worked hard throughout this time and as a consequence to the hard work I have done I was offered a job in the 5 star Blythswood Square Spa where I had done my placement, I have been there for almost 2 years now where I have developed my skill and knowledge base, this had allowed me to work with many different people and get a taste of the work I want to do. I have also had the opportunity to witness first hand many excellent working practices, which has given me plenty of ideas of how I can see my business and treatments running. As well as my time in college and the spa I also do work from home with clients I have met through close friends and family members. This has let me build a small client base with whom I can fall back on at quieter times in the beginning of my new venture. I have added a copy of my CV in Appendix 2. The Idea: The idea for my business will be a room in the local health centre in which I will offer complementary therapies. Massage will be the main focus, I will offer limited aromatherapy using pre-blended oils which have been pre-blended and labelled before I get them. The main treatments I will offer will be Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports/remedial massage, Indian head massage, aromatherapy (using pre-blended oils) and facials. I will be working closely with the healthcare professionals in the centre in which the business is based and will take referrals from them to try and aid the patients in their healthcare needs. The business will be different from anywhere in the area as there are only salons around, all of which are much more focused on beauty treatment and nails as opposed to massage and complementary therapies. Business Name: My business name will be A Tranquil Touch, tranquil means quiet, calm or peaceful and this is how I intend my business to be. I will aim to always have a tranquil atmosphere, calm staff should I need to expand or get help and always leave my clients feeling tranquil and relaxed. The touch part refers to the massage treatments I will offer. Position to Date: All of my initial research has been fully compiled and as soon as I have purchased the products and equipment needed and register that I am self-employed to HMRC I will be in a position to open. Mission Statement: A Tranquil Touch will be a place of calm and tranquillity, as the name suggests. I will provide the best possible service to my clients through hard work, excellent customer service, high standards and professionalism. I will aim to provide a place and treatment list for which my clients will wish to return time and time again to receive the complementary therapies they need in order to feel their best. Short term objectives: Over the next 12 months I aim to achieve regular visits from existing clients from the health centre and of my own, alongside new faces through recommendations and with successful advertising through Facebook, through promotion, packages and pricelists. Posters will be on display in the health centre, town halls, schools and other public buildings in town, price lists will be available in various locations throughout the various locations as well. To ensure a profitable business in the future and establish a healthy clientele I will advertise as much as I can before opening and in the 1st year updating and drumming up new business through promotions and advertising as and when is necessary. Long term objectives: My aim for the future is to expand the business into an wellness centre, where clients can come to relax, unwind, fine tune their minds and bodies and enhance any medical they are receiving from the NHS. I would hope to have a successful business and employ staff to run a room each in any given day. I would also like to include a beauty room as part of the business to help clients look as good as they feel, trends are fast moving however and while I will strive to continue my own learning and that of my staff, I would take over as a managing role providing treatments as and when possible. I will always be 100% involved in my business, supportive to employees, always looking at things through the customers eyes while providing the best possible client journey for all. Industry Analysis Distribution Chanel: A Tranquil Touch, based within Port Glasgow Health Centre, is a holistic salon with a friendly and relaxed ethos in which provides a high standard of massage services. The method of distribution is direct distribution as the service is coming directly from myself to my clients and they come to the premises. Competition: For A Tranquil Touch I want to set myself apart from other salons in the area that offer a similar type of service. After researching I discovered that there are 4 salons in the surrounding area of Port Glasgow Health Centre, who are my direct competitors. There is a gap in the area for a service which concentrates on complementary therapies, specialising in massage and which is not focused on beauty treatments but looks to improve the health and wellbeing of its clients. After having sent out a questionnaire (included in appendix 3) and speaking to my own clients I have gained through mobile services, I found out that they want a business they can feel confident will provide them with services and treatments to complement and enhance the health care they are receiving from the NHS. Most people seem to be unaware of the added benefits of massage or do not think that beauty salons are the best place to receive these treatments (some examples of the returned questionnaires are included in appendix 4). Direct Competitors Tres Mar: 5 Church Street, Port Glasgow, PA14 5EH are the salon in my area I consider to be my strongest competitors. They offer aromatherapy, reflexology and chiropody as well as massage, facials and sports massage. At the moment they are often fully booked but this mostly with nails, waxing and the other beauty treatments they offer. As long as I keep my prices low I should be able to target my clientele and keep them. I will also offer different opening hours keeping my room open late when they are not in order to target clients after working hours (I have included a copy of the treatment price list in appendix 5). Amethyst Hair and Beauty: King Street, Port Glasgow are the closest salon to the health centre where I will be based, at the moment they do offer facials but have no body massage treatments on their treatment menu as they offer more superficial treatments such as nails, lashes, waxing and hair dressing. This should be of great benefit to me. I may also try and make a link with the salon where we can offer referrals to our clients (I have included a copy of the treatment price list in appendix 5). The other 2 salons in the area are the Relaxation Room and Brown Street Hair and Beauty. Both of these salons are relatively new and also offer mainly beauty treatments, as they are not yet well established within the area and have not done much in the way of advertising I do not see them as a major threat, as long as my advertising is done well I am positive I can establish my business in the area without too much bother in the way of competition. Operational Plan Services: I plan to offer different types of massage which will be Swedish, Aromatherapy (using pre-blended oils), deep tissue, sports/remedial, Indian head, bamboo, hot stones and facials to begin with. I will offer full body and have many options for part body which will be back, neck and shoulders, facial, scalp neck and shoulders, legs and feet, hand and arm, abdominal and chest, neck and shoulders. All massages will be customised to meet the needs of the client and will therefore be bespoke, this is something completely different from that which is offered in any of the surrounding salons and will be my main selling point. Cost: The rent for the room for the 1st 2 months will cost me  £600. The room is in walk in condition and needs no decorating, due to the specialised nature of the business I will need very little equipment which is massage bed at approx  £350, hot stone heater and stones  £100, a hot towel cabinet  £150 and a selection of towels (large and small), face cloths and mitts on which I estimate I will need to spend  £100 to begin with. My other costs will be products and consumables such as couch roll, spatulas, bowls, first aid kit, grapeseed oil, pre-blended aromatherapy oil, cleanser, toner, mask, exfoliator, cotton pads, tissues, massage cream and moisturisers all of which I can get for an approximate cost of  £200 to get me started. I can get all of this from beauty express which will keep my shipping costs to a minimum. As I plan on paying my insurance with my own money I estimate I will need an approximate total of  £1500 to get me started. Legal Entity: The legal entity I will be trading under will be as a sole trader as I will be working for myself, renting a room and solely responsible for starting it up. Therefore, there are no particular legal formalities to adhere to and no planning permission is needed as the business is already established. However, I will contact the HMRC to inform them that I will be self-employed and when I intend to start my business. Health and safety legislations: There is a great deal of legislations which protects both the clients and myself. I must ensure as well as the manager at Twisted Sister salon, to follow the legislations efficiently according to the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). Health and Safety at Work Act (1974): This forms the basis of health and safety regulations in the UK, this act explains the minimum standards required for health, safety, and welfare in the workplace. This makes sure that all work premises are safe to use. How this applies to me? I work in a specific work area carrying out treatments on clients. Therefore, I am responsible for maintaining my work area throughout each treatment and making sure that it is safe and hygienic enough for my clients and myself. I will check my work area thoroughly such as the cleanliness of the work surfaces and trolleys. I ensure there are no lose wires, spillages and blockages of any of the pathways and that there are no hazards causing risk to any of the employees or customers. The workplace (Health, safety and welfare) regulations 1992: This is to make sure that all those working, maintain the high safety standards of the environment. This includes equipment, ventilation, working temperature, lighting and cleanliness, avoidance of falling objects, safe floors, windows and doors. How this applies to me? I am responsible for my clients comfort and safety. Therefore, it is important for me to check all aspects of the treatment and treatment area. I ensure that the temperature is at the correct working level along with accurate lighting, the light bright enough for me to carry out the treatment safely yet low enough to create a relaxing ambiance. Also, ensure that the area is thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant to reduce the chance of cross-infection, in which can be passed on from person to person, or coming into contact with a contaminated work surface or tool. All tools and equipment which I use is sterilised and disinfected appropriately. All bedding is freshly laundered and changed after each client. Methods of sterilisation and disinfection UV cabinet: These are highly recommended for equipment sterilisation. Tools and equipment can be placed in the cabinet for effective sterilisation. Disinfectants: Ammonia compound disinfectants (e.g. Barbicide) can be used for metal and plastic items such as tweezers and scissors. Follow manufacturers instructions for correct use. Control of substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002): This is commonly referred to as COSHH Regulations. These regulations are very important as it is a legal obligation to assess any risks associated with hazardous substances used in the workplace to eliminate or control risks. How this applies to me? To prevent personal harm from hazardous substances e.g. skin irritation, respiratory disease, a COSHH risk assessment is required for such substances as cleaning chemicals. All cosmetic products used in salons must comply with the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2004, which are enforced by Trading Standards Officers. During the treatments I handle products with care and only use and store them following the manufacturers instructions throughout. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989: These ensure that all equipment and sockets have been checked by a professional electrician. It is important to ensure that any employee uses their own initiative to check the appliances they are using. For example, spotting any worn or exposed wires. How this applies to me? Before my treatment I ensure that the electrical equipment I am using are all checked and maintained in accordance of the manufacturers instructions and recommendations. I ensure that no wires are twisted, worn or frayed and that the plug is not cracked or loose. Once the treatment is over I store the equipment away safely with all the wires fixed securely in its place. Data Protection Act: The client is asked very personal questions during a consultation through specific consultation techniques. Therefore, it is important to ensure that any information given is kept confidential and secure. How this applies to me? I conduct a consultation with my clients before a treatment depending on what they are having to determine contra-indications and to ensure it is safe and suitable for the client. I therefore, ensure that all information that is given remain confidential and protected. I keep all documents and answers from others and are not kept longer than necessary. Amy GrayHNC Complementary Therapiespg. 1

Internet Regulation :: Internet Essays

Internet Regulation What is the Internet? The definition of the Internet put in one sentence is: A worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange, where anyone with a computer can access the internet through an ISP (Internet Service Provider). The Internet consists of a three level hierarchy composed of backbone networks (e.g. ARPAnet, NSFNet, MILNET), mid-level networks, and stub networks. These include commercial (.com or .co), university (.ac or .edu) and other research networks (.org, .net) and military (.mil) networks and span many different physical networks around the world with various protocols, chiefly the Internet Protocol. The Internet is a global network connecting millions of personal, institutional and company computers. The number of computers used by the internet is growing rapidly. The United States is connected with over 100 countries worldwide and linked together to exchange of data, news and opinions. The Internet is decentralized design. This means that there isn't just one computer that stores all of the information from the Internet. There are many independent host servers located throughout the US and the world that store the information made available to the global Internet community. The Internet is primarily used for these functions: 1. To send and receive e-mail. 2. To transfer files from one computer to another (the files may be text, images, audio, video, etc.). 3. Research to locate information for either government, educational, commercial, etc. 4. To communicate with other computers, either one at a time (Instant message) or many at once (chat rooms or discussion groups). The internet is a work in progress and will continue to evolve. What is Internet Regulation? Internet regulation is basically restricting or controlling access to certain aspects or information. Internet regulation consists of mainly two categories: Censorship of data, and controlling aspects of the Internet. Most of the Internet regulation is imposed by the Government in an effort to protect the best interest of the general public and is concerned with some form of censorship. Other forms of Internet regulation is domain registration, IP address control, etc. In domain registration, once a domain is purchased the Webmaster’s address has to be registered at the time of purchase. A governmental agency can track someone down if they put up information, that the government considers unacceptable. IP address is you Internet identity when you are connected to the web. It is synonymous to a postal address.

A Structuralist Reading of Austens Sense and Sensibility Essay example

A Structuralist Reading of Austen's Sense and Sensibility The fundamental structural dynamic underlying the whole manifested universe, much less literature, is duality; therefore, Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility is easily analyzed from the structuralist perspective. Each of us is a complex mixture of polar opposites, the most primary of which being the division between right brain and left brain, or, more commonly, "heart and mind." Austen's technique in this novel is that of eliminating altogether the corpus callosum, thus juxtaposing the two halves into a "binary opposition," a split between the heart that throbs and exults and the mind which ascertains and evaluates. Marianne is, of course, the heart of the novel, Elinor the mind. Moreover, the remaining characters, too, fall within one of these two categories. I have arranged the most important figures of the novel in this way: SENSE SENSIBILITY Elinor Marianne Edward Mrs. Dashwood Lucy &nbs... ...novel can stand alone from its constituent elements, to be used and reused again and again by simply replacing different characters, different circumstances. Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund is a perfect example. In this novel, the exact same dualism of heart and mind is explored (and far more interestingly, in my opinion) in the experiences of the two title characters. In closing, it must be stated that there are certainly other structural dichotomies within the novel, contrasts of high and low which bisect the lateral distinctions upon which I have focused. These involve the shifts in social stations experienced by various characters such as Elinor, Marianne, Lucy, and Edward. These are, however, secondary to the primary theme, the seemingly impassable, yawning chasm which separates those with sense from those possessed by mere trivial sensibility

Evaluating China’s one child Policy Essay

During the 1970s, China felt the indenting need for a drastic policy that would be able to control its ever-expanding population and to begin development in its country and thus the one child policy was born, if the policy had not been instituted china would have faced severe famine and starvation as it would not have been able to cope with rapid growth. The policy was administrated in September 1981 and they called it ‘birth planning’ by which families were given a maximum limit of one child per family however in rural areas, couples were allowed to have two children and this was to help need on agricultural land and farming; those who try to breach this law would face severe consequences. The policy was considered as one of history’s ‘most ambitious pieces of social engineering’ as quoted from The Economist since the policy heavily intervened with families plans for the future and affected how most chines families would function in terms of having children. The policy governed by the Chinese government was said not to last no longer than a single generation and yet here in 2013, the policy still continues to proceed and there are little or no signs of a new policy or removal of this policy from the country. Administration Of Policy The policy in china was very drastic and therefore it contained many punishments for anyone who tried to breach the policy and the government also deployed many forces of administration to make sure that people were being monitored and that no one was trying for a second child. There were family-planning workers in every single workplace to grant families the ability to have a child if they had been on the waiting list and also at this point the couple would be presented with a special card which gives them authority to claim governmental benefits such as free education, free kindergarten facilities, free healthcare etc. on birth of the child. Police called the ‘granny police’, who were not actual police but represented the role of making sure woman were practicing using contraception and to had the objective of reporting on pregnancies so that the local authority would be able to work out whether a family is trying to have a second child illegally. Female women were also given education on the use of contraception and this was to try minimising the amount of unexpected pregnancies. Family planning officials levy huge fines of up to ? 20,000 from those who try to have a second child and this fine account for the estimated value of public services that the forbidden child would have received over its lifetime. Furthermore, in some areas the couple would have been stripped of their house, jobs and even the ability to live in a particular area of the country. Also in earlier time they would have been forfeited their rations and clothing benefits. Furthermore, women would have been given forced steralisations or contraceptive pills and their chances of being able to have children ever again would be removed if they were found guilty of trying to have a second child and this would impose that they would never be able to have a child even if they decide to migrate to another country. This kind of steralisations was only existent in certain provinces of China and it is currently completely abolished from all parts of china as it was considered to unforgiving for a punishment. Changes Generated by The One Child Policy. Without need to say, the obvious: the one child policy had caused a drop in the fertility rate in China. From the starting point of the policy in 1981 to now the birth rate has dropped from an above average 2. 9 to 1. 7 and this has lead to understand that the policy was successful and that it has tackled one of the country’s main concern which is an ever-expanding population. Furthermore, this drop has claimed to prevent up to 400 million births, which would otherwise have kept China’s population at 1. 7 billion currently compared to the 1. 3 billion that it actually is today. However, despite showing a drop in birth rate after the beginning of this policy, there are statistics that show that China’s fertility rates fell drastically during the 1970s and that the policy did not influence the drop in birth rates much. This suggests that the fertility rate was naturally decreasing so there was no need for the policy. This suggests that the policy did not control the country’s population greatly because the fertility rates had dropped severely just before the commencement of the policy. Therefore the implementation of such a severe policy has now indented Chinese people’s concept of families and even if the policy was to be removed people will still continue to have few children and this would not have been the case if fertility rates were allowed to naturally decrease to make the population eventually stable much alike how most other countries have progressed through the demographic transition such as Russia, Germany and Japan. The rapid fall in fertility rate just before the one child policy is clearly shown in the graph that is on the previous page; the graph was taken from the GapMinder webpage which holds information about the world demographic and thus is very reliable. Another negative impact of the one child policy was a case of female infanticide. In fact, this is an interesting concern as it has lead to china presenting a population where there are about 120 Chinese men for every 100 Chinese women and thus there is a shortage of women. There was a severe amount of female infanticide for several reasons. Firstly a male child was seen as more superior for the use on farmland and for the use on agricultural land as men were seen as stronger characters compared to women. Secondly, only the male would be able to carry forward the family name and in China there was a great cultural desire to carry forward a family name to keep the family advancing through generations. Finally, men are usually the main income-earners, either because they are more employable or earn higher wages for the same work, or because they are able to do more agricultural work in subsistence economies. Since male babies have a greater income potential, they are more desired over females and thus female births were usually abandoned or killed. There are some stories of extreme discomfort where female babies have been flushed down toilets and drowned, as they were not considered valuable to Chinese family. Furthermore, the shortage of females in China has lead to a generation where there are â€Å"too many men†, and this was caused by the desire to have a male child in the family. The result of the one child policy has meant that there are 1000 million women whom would else be existent if the policy wasn’t introduced and thus this social engineering has converted the a balanced gender country into an imbalanced country with more men. This has lead to desire to import woman known as human trafficking where women are smuggled using from Burma and North Korea and the women are used as prostitutes or sold as wives and domestic servants in parts of china. This is a negative outcome of the policy by which women are used inappropriately and are illegally imported from other countries. Furthermore, it is expected that by the year 2030 there could be up to 20-30million bachelors in chine whom are unable to find a partner and this would further increase the desire and temptation to want female prostitutes and this will create an illegal transportation of women to china from neighboring countries. Another disadvantage of the policy is that a generation of not enough children is developing in china and this results in not enough children to look after parents which could mean that the country could grow old before it is able to develop it’s economy and becoming rich by limiting the mouths to feed as it is trying to do so using the one child policy. In china this lack of children is called the ‘4-2-1’ dilemma and as The Economist suggests this is where each couple has the job of looking after four parents and one child. This creates a dilemma as the couple’s parents become aged and need the help of the couple and thus the couple have the cost of having to look after their parents all on their own as they would not have any siblings and thus china has created a problem for families trying to develop as they will have a shortage of money to spend elsewhere in the economy to try boost the countries development stage. The imbalanced structure of china’s population also hints that the working force will come to an end by 2020 and therefore this would mean that the country would not be able to further develop and this has again raised pressure on the Chinese government to introduce further amendments to the one child policy. For example, Hu Jintao suggested allowing more than one birth but between longer gaps and also the scrapping of the birth quota so that couples could still have a child even if the maximum number of children in a certain area is reached. This would help to regain a large population of workers in the future generation to continue with the countries development without having to deal with another expanding population. The article presented by The Economist has dealt with many defects of the one child policy including the extortionate amount of female infanticide, the illegal need for a second child, female imports, ‘4-2-1’ issue and the fact that the country could have still developed without the policy as statistics showed that fertility rates were naturally decreasing as people become more educated and this would therefore have reduced to country’s large population and allowed the country to develop as the government would have to feed fewer people and also if the policy had not been introduced there would not be effects one some females lives who have been sterilized permanently after the birth of the first child because this would prevent the mother from having another child ever. Also, the Chinese government are now unable to scrape the policy because they have not alternatives that could be administrated on the scale of the one child policy and therefore the government suggests ‘we will stick to the family-planning policy for decades’ and this implies that the removal of the policy would have a considerate difference on China’s population and that it could possibly improve the gender imbalance which is not of great interest to china as demographers suggest the removal of the policy would suggest a rapid increase in population once again and this would mean that the country would not be able to achieve its goal which is to become a well developed country with a high GDP. The charts below show what would happen to china’s population and its structure by 2050 if the policy was to be removed and as the first graph clearly suggests, the one child policy has been heavily successful in maintaining a smaller population and emphasis should be placed on the fact it is just a smaller population. Although, the population is smaller the structure of the population between men and women and groups of elderly, working class as well as those under 15 is highly imbalanced and as the chart on the right clearly imposes, if the policy was removed the demographic structure will become more balanced once again.

Project Management for Dummies, by Stanley E Portny

The â€Å"Dummies Series† book, Project Management for Dummies, by Stanley E. Portny (Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2001), is, in my opinion, a relatively easy-to-read (although also somewhat structurally fragmented in places), step-by-step â€Å"how-to† book, for either current or prospective project managers, with or without experience. In life, every individual has projects to complete – usually a never-ending series of them, in fact, and often more than one project to complete simultaneously. One's projects may be personal or professional; voluntary or required. They may be for our selves alone; for friends or family; for churches, clubs, or communities; special events; or for colleagues; companies, or employers. As the author concurs, in his â€Å"Introduction† to the text: Projects have been around since ancient times. Noah built the ark, Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine – all projects. . . . Why then, is the topic of project management suddenly of such great interest today? The answer is simple. The audience has changed and the Management projects in particular, however, as Portny also points out, within Chapter 1, must meet three key criteria; they must have (1) â€Å"Specific outcomes†;(2) â€Å"Definite start and end dates†, and (3) Established budgets† (p. 10). Further, as that chapter mentions, project management â€Å"includes three basic operations† (p. 12), which are: (1)planning; (2)organizing; and (3) control (Portny). In management today, for managers at all levels, completing projects; meeting project goals; and meeting project deadlines, are more important, as skills, aptitudes, and professional achievements, than ever before, especially within today's super competitive business environment. As Portny also states at the outset: â€Å"Successful organizations create projects that produce desired results in established timeframes with assigned resources† (p. 9). Clearly, those who can successfully, skillfully, and within budgets and deadlines complete projects have an advantage over those who cannot. Many suddenly find themselves project managers, not by choice, but due to either changed or expanded job descriptions or expectations, or just plain company need. Increasingly, project management has increasingly become a ticket to job promotion and career advancement (or not). Moreover, if one has no previous formal training in project management, one may need to simply learn such skills on the job, and quickly. Project Management for Dummies is written for such individuals: those who would like to develop new project management skills (but also for those who desire to increase their current ones). The book is, I believe, potentially very useful for readers within either group. This book guides one through the beginning, middle, and ending project stages. It offers guidelines and tips on planning; navigating through ambiguities and uncertainties; teamwork; time management, organizational strategies; handling paperwork; staying on track; meeting deadlines, and bringing projects to a successful, satisfactory, and timely conclusion. Topics Project Management for Dummies covers include: making project schedules; building teams and sustaining teamwork; budgeting; coping with risks and surprises; optimally integrating technology into project management; and keeping team members motivated, on task, and within budgets and deadlines. Structurally, the book is divided into five parts (I-V). Each part consists of between three and six chapters, with 20 chapters in all. Chapter headings and topics covered include (to name but a few) â€Å"What is Project Management (And How Do I Get Paid Extra to Do It?)† (Chapter 1); â€Å"Estimating Resource Requirements† (Chapter 5); â€Å"Tracking Progress and Maintaining Control† (Chapter 10); â€Å"Dealing With Risk and Uncertainty† (Chapter 15); and â€Å"Ten Tips for Being a Better Project Manager† (Chapter 20). There are also two appendices (A and B) and an index. Chapter 2 covers defining and understanding what one is trying to accomplish with a project, knowing who and what one is doing a project for, and why that person or entity needs the project completed. This chapter also offers ways to avoid others' having unrealistic expectations of the project or oneself as manager. â€Å"Looking at the big picture† includes â€Å"figuring out why you're doing This project†; â€Å"identifying the initiator†; â€Å"identifying others who may benefit from your project† and â€Å"defining needs to be addressed† (pp. 29-32). In short, Chapter two focuses on defining the rationale(s) and parameters of the project; clarifying those for oneself and for all others involved; and laying the initial groundwork toward project completion. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 focus on â€Å"Getting from Here to There†; â€Å"You Want This Done When†; and â€Å"Estimating Resource Requirements†. Key ideas contained within these chapters, include knowing and planning all steps of a project, including making a â€Å"work breakdown structure†; â€Å"knowing how much detail is enough† (p. 49); â€Å"developing and analyzing a network diagram† (p. 71) and â€Å"assign your project's personnel needs† (p. 105). Chapter 5 in particular also stresses the importance of finding the right people to assist with the project. Portny observes â€Å"Your project's success rests on your ability to enlist the help of the right people to perform the necessary work† (p. 106). Portny also stresses that, toward that same end, â€Å"identifying skills and knowledge needed to perform your project's activities† (Project Management for Dummies) and Finding people who in fact possess all of those required skills will either make or break a project. One of the chapters I found most personally useful was Chapter 6, on â€Å"The Who and How of Project Management†. Here, Portny covers three main topics: (1) â€Å"Distinguishing the project organization from the traditional organization†; (2) â€Å"Clarifying the roles of different people in the matrix organization†; and (3) â€Å"Recognizing key tips for increasing the chances of success† (p. 137). As Portny also notes in this chapter, project management structure and atmosphere may be, and very often is, much different than overall company structure and atmosphere, and one is wise to be clear at the outset on the differences between the two. While projects are company activities, they nevertheless typically take on atmospheres, conflicts, and lives of their own. For example, one operates within both a centralized company structure and a functional departmental or area structure in most parts of one's job. However, project management may send one outside one's own functional structure into various other functional structures within the centralized one. Those areas outside one's usual functional structure become the unique â€Å"matrix structure† (p. 141) of the project. Understandably, the matrix structure of an individual project will spawn (and necessitate) much different communications; alliances; interrelationships; interactions, and interdependencies than will usual, more typical work activities. Key players in a project matrix environment, which obviously differs from one's overall work environment, will typically include the â€Å"project manager; project team members; functional managers; and upper management† (p. 143). Chapter 7 covers choosing and involving the â€Å"Right People† (p. 149) in one's project. Supporting ideas covered in this chapter include the importance of understanding one's project's audience (â€Å"any person or group that supports, is affected by, or is interested in your project† (p. 150). Each project also has â€Å"drivers†; â€Å"supporters†; and â€Å"observers† (p. 158) and it is equally important, Portny suggests, for project managers to identify and know each of them, and their respective roles. Of crucial importance to project success, also, is â€Å"Finding a project champion† (p. 159) or someone high up in one's organization that will support and encourages the project. Teamwork is crucial to successful project completion. Chapter 8 explains the importance of â€Å"defining team members roles and responsibilities† (p. 166), and making sure all team members are aware of their own and each others' roles and responsibilities. Therefore, lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability must be clearly established at the outset, and sustained throughout the project. This chapter also discusses strategies project managers can use should they have to deal with micromanagement from above, such as â€Å"setting up times to discuss interesting technical [or other] issues with the person† (p. 181). The book also covers ways of tracking progress and maintaining control (Chapter 10); ways of keeping everyone informed (Chapter 11), including sharing information both in writing and at meetings; and ways of encouraging peak performance in team players (Chapter 12), including providing rewards and helping players maintain motivation. Chapter 14 focused on handling risk or uncertainty, including ways of identifying possible risk factors; assessing risk impact, and preparing a risk management plan. Key advice of this chapter is to realistically assess risks to the project, and to have a risk management plan for handling them. Later chapters included advice on how to hold people accountable (Chapter 18); getting a project back on track (Chapter 19)and tips for optimal project management (Chapter 20). All in all, I benefited from reading and reflecting on the guidelines, strategies, and tips plentifully contained within Stanley E. Portny's Project Management for Dummies. The only aspect of this book that I found disappointing was that of that it had far fewer specific examples, of actual project management situations to illustrate major points and concepts, than I would have liked. I learn best and most easily from examples and discussion of how those examples illustrate theoretical concepts. I would have liked for Portny to do more of that in this book than he did. Major strengths of the book include its being thorough; comprehensive; well organized, and practical.