A Review of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Felicity’s Study Tips: A Review of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 
This post is designed to assist with the following courses PSY 201, PSY 220, PSY 210, BEH 225

This post is designed to help individuals with a variety of courses.  Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory that proposes that basic human needs must be fulfilled before higher needs. This theory defines human needs in terms of levels from lowest to highest. According to Maslow the lowest or first level of needs must be attained before one can move to the next level.  Once these levels are fulfilled, the highest level being the most challenging to attain, is then sought.  

Maslow lists human needs, from lowest to highest order: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. With Maslow’s theory, people must first acquire the most basic of physiological needs such as food and water before they can move on to the next. Safety needs require people to establish a safe and secure environment. Once basic physiological needs and safety needs are established, the social  need for love and belonging can be approached. Esteem needs are the next level up and this is the need to have self-worth. The highest level is self-actualization, which means that having satisfied one’s needs, the individual can now begin realizing their potential. (Being all they can be.) 

Maslow’s hierarchy seems correct or at least makes sense in a superficial sense. However, upon closer inspection, the theory begins to unravel to some degree.  The first point of contradiction in the theory is that this hierarchy could be slightly different for each individual. For example, one’s esteem is not always dependent on whether or not he or she feels loved by others.  In contrast there are others who need love and belonging to such a degree that they will forfeit their safety needs such as in abusive relationships. 

Another point of criticism is that Maslow assumes that there is an order to this hierarchy in which a person goes from point A to point B. However, it is completely possible for a person to fall in love and begin a relationship when he or she is unemployed or poor.  Thus the order or hierarchy is not truly set and can occur in different ways. 

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References

Maslow, A. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Retrieved from http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm

The Funnel Technique

Felicity’s Study Tips: The Funnel Technique
This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: COM 155, COM 156. Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

Wrong Funnel Technique! 

The funnel technique is the most basic paragraph writing technique taught to high school students and entry level college students. Typically, this is taught at the college level in ENG 1101, 102, COM 155, 156. The funnel technique is a method of introduction which begins with a broad statement or concept and then begins to narrow in focus throughout the introductory paragraph. This narrowing process will ultimately synthesize into the thesis statement.

This technique is very important to new writers or returning students in that it is the easiest to master and will be helpful with a variety of courses. This will include business, psychology, and any other courses where you will need to prove a thesis. Let’s look at an example of the funnel technique:

There are many different diets and methods for losing weight.  All diets include a methodology for weight loss such as eating less fat or increasing protein intakes. These different methods are designed to facilitate and increase the body’s ability to lose weight more effectively. The two most popular forms of diet plans include high-protein low fat and low carbohydrate plans. While both plans are commonly used, there are issues of health concern and effectiveness. Bodies of research show that low carbohydrate diets are healthier more effective at facilitating weight loss than high protein low fat diets. (From COM 155 Week 9 Final Assignment Homework Mountain, 2011)

Notice how the paragraph moves from general ideas to more specific ideas concerning weight loss. If we breakdown the paragraph this will show the funnel in a clear light.

There are many different diets and methods for losing weight. (very general)
All diets include a methodology for weight loss such as eating less fat or increasing protein intakes. (narrowing towards specific diet types)
These different methods are designed to facilitate and increase the body’s ability to lose weight more effectively. (narrows argument by bringing in the idea of effectiveness)
The two most popular forms of diet plans include high-protein low fat and low carbohydrate plans. (narrows diets to two types)
While both plans are commonly used, there are issues of health concern and effectiveness over the use of these diets. (narrows the two diet types to a discussion of health and effectiveness)
Bodies of research show that low carbohydrate diets are healthier more effective at facilitating weight loss than high protein low fat diets. (this is the thesis which incorporates both the ideas of effectiveness and health risk that are used to support low carbohydrate diets)

From the above example, one can see how the funnel technique is used to narrow the focus of a topic. It is important that topics are narrowed into a concise thesis because this will make reading understandable for the audience. You do not want your reader guessing at what is being stated. For this reason, the funnel technique will be a good tool for writing most any research paper.

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The Importance of Tone

Felicity’s Study Tips: The Importance of Tone

This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: COM 155, COM 156, COM 219 and COM 220. Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

  Often understated in importance, tone is one the keys to successful writing. Due to electronic mediums of communication such as texting and email, tone has become misunderstood and often ignored. This is a serious problem because many people do not realize how their messages are being interpreted. This situation has created many problems in the workplace and in people’s personal lives.
Many people today are not even aware of tone or understand its definition. For those new to this concept, the simplest definition for tone is it is a writing technique that is inclusive of the attitudes the author presents concerning a subject to the audience.

Homework Cat says,
"Don't take that tone with me!"

  Tone is an extremely vital component of the writing process. Authors who are unaware of their tone often turn away readers. The choices a writer makes in vocabulary and in being subjective can create tones that sound sarcastic or dull. An example of this tone can be seen in the way that something is stated:

“Obviously we made it back from our trip, because we are here.”
“We made it back from our trip to everyone’s surprise.”

The first sentence sounds sarcastic, almost mean, whereas the second sentence is lighter and more positive. Much of the determination of tone is contextual in nature but this is at least a small example.

          The loss of tone in writing has been, in part, due to the overuse of abbreviations and slang caused by electronic communications. Even though we may not mean to sound mean or sarcastic, when we write a message that is a single word response such as “And??” this message can be interpreted in this manner. Most people do not think of this because they are usually communicating with friends and in this instance tone becomes less important. The problem begins when people begin communicating in this way with supervisors, teachers, and other more professional relationships.
  The seriousness of tone should not be diminished. I worked for a company where a person lost her job because she sent an email to a customer that sounded mean. Although she did not intentionally try to sound mean in the email the effect of tone offended the customer and a large sales account was lost. The worker was quickly terminated.
  The best way to avoid problems with tone is to avoid using slang, abbreviations, and to be mindful of what you are writing. Word choice and arrangement can play a large part in determining the tone of the message. Simply being aware of tone can go a long way to avoiding problems.

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SOC 315 How American Society Has Constructed Group Identity

Felicity’s Study Tips
SOC 315 How American Society Has Constructed Group Identity

This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: SOC 315.  This post could also be used in conjunction with research papers for POL 469 and ETH 125.  Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

Society’s identity is constructed from the diverse and similar beliefs maintained by its constituents. This identity often takes the form of nationalism as expressed when people refer to themselves as being American. This group identity is complex as it is heterogeneous and conflicting. This incongruence can be identified through political, religious, and ethnic beliefs.

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The United States, in theory is a melting pot, or place where these differing groups can meet and coexist without conflict. This theory is constructed on the belief that freedom must prevail above individual desires and beliefs. This value on freedom has evolved into a democratic system of government which attempts to protect this freedom. However, democratic ideology often complicates the idea of group identity further by allowing contrasting political and social beliefs to exist under its protection. This is especially true when one notices groups that ultimately conflict and even desire to destroy the essence of this freedom. For example, small portions of the population such as white supremacist and radical fundamentalist religious groups see American freedom as a perversion based upon their group beliefs.

For these reasons, group identity in the United States, rather than being a true mesh of cultures and beliefs is often more of a mosaic or pluralistic entity existing as a mostly united body while maintaining a degree of separation to allow for individual cultural diversity.

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This complex group identity also creates difficulties for individual identity formation. Second, third and beyond generations often no longer identify with their original group of origin. Philosophically, individual identity is a mass of interests and concepts that form a complex issue for individuals. The largest problem with individual identity is the actual ability to identify oneself with a particular group. This stems from the loss of cultural heritage that often takes place within the United States (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2011). Many individuals identify themselves as American but at the same time identify themselves with particular groups such Italian Americans. This gives rise to obstacles in which individuals often have little group identity and therefore cannot form a strong personal identity (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2011).

Young people are often caught in this dilemma as they strive to find identity in an effort to mature. This can be problematic as it makes them susceptible to often unhealthy groups and subcultures. For instance, some youth find acceptance and inclusion in groups like gangs and drug addicts. This defining of individual identity can and has added to many social issues such as drug addiction and racism.

References
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2011) The Problems of Personal Identity Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-personal/#ProPerIde

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Vitamin C: Conspiracy or Stupidity

This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: ENG 101, ENG 102, COM 155, COM 156, COM 220, and COM 122. Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

The Tree of Knowledge grows on the Homework Mountain.

In my post, Chronic Disease Outline: Type II Diabetes, I discussed diabetes and some of its health risks. That post got me thinking about health in general and how important the subject is in my own life. Going along with my idea of making research easier, I believe that it is important to utilize research in a way that is useful. Why write about an issue or an event if it is not somehow useful to you as a person? Don’t get me wrong, writing about things that interest you is definitely a good way to stay focused on a paper, but also writing about things that will help you in a practical and realistic way can be equally beneficial for writing.

Who doesn’t think about their health and wellness at some point? Most people have concerns about their health but never truly develop an understanding of what makes them healthy. There are numerous facets to this subject which can be researched for personal as well as academic use that it is impossible to list them all. Some of the more common health and wellness subjects include:
• Diets
• Weight loss
• Beauty
• Healthy Foods
• Nutrients
• Exercise and Fitness

The list goes on but I believe that this is a great place to start when researching because of the usefulness of the information that will be gained. If you want to lose weight or if you have been trying for some time then perhaps you should choose a research topic on diets. In my case, I was having some health issues ranging from allergies to constant illnesses. I decided to research vitamin C because I heard that it could cure many ailments. My research for school led me to one of the most life altering changes as I learned to use vitamin C to improve my health.

Why should you study vitamin C?
I call it a conspiracy but I am not sure if it is really a conspiracy or if it is just pervasive stupidity.  The use of vitamin C has long been controversial despite its obvious benefits and lack of negative impacts. The medical establishment continues to recommend extremely low dosages of vitamin C and refuses to acknowledge the benefits of far greater quantities. Now, when I am discussing far greater quantities of vitamin C, I am not talking about taking slightly above the Recommended Daily Intake of about 100 mg per day. I am talking about taking much higher dosages such as 5 grams and up. It is at these high dosages that one begins to feel the positive effects of vitamin C.

How does vitamin C work?
To be quite honest, I am not sure that researchers truly understand the full purpose of vitamin C in the human body. But not fully understanding something does not mean that we cannot use it or that it is not beneficial. According to the NIH (2012), the functions and benefits of vitamin C include:

1. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is used to:
     -Form an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
     -Heal wounds and form scar tissue
     -Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth
2. Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals.
     -Free radicals are made when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.
     -The buildup of free radicals over time is largely responsible for the aging process.
     -Free radicals may play a role in cancer, heart disease, and conditions like arthritis.
                                       (NIH, 2012)

At this juncture, I am on board with most experts, however, when discussing the true benefits of vitamin C and appropriate dosage, the experts and I tend to diverge in thought.  For example, the RDI for a woman that is 19 years or older is 75 mg per day (NIH, 2012). While this amount might be enough to ward off the more terrible symptoms of scurvy, is this really the optimum level of vitamin C necessary for health?  I ask this question because there seems to be some form of logical problem with this situation. Let’s look at animals and their vitamin C production.

Most animals make the human body-weight equivalent of 5,000 to 10,000 milligrams a day. It is unlikely that animals would have evolved to make this much vitamin C if they did not need it and use it. Indeed, cells in many human body tissues concentrate vitamin C by 25-fold or more over blood concentration (Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, 2009).

There is some obvious problem here when a goat of equal body weight is making 5,000 to 10,000 milligrams a day of vitamin C and we are being told that we only need 75 mg.  In fact, humans are one of a few animals on this planet that has lost the ability to make their own vitamin C. Yet, somehow we need less of this nutrient than every other species. But the biggest proof is not in the numbers but in how you feel. The NIH (2012) reports 

Serious side effects from too much vitamin C are very rare, because the body cannot store the vitamin. However, amounts greater than 2,000 mg/day are not recommended because such high doses can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.

If this is the worst affect that vitamin C can have then does it not seem to be prudent to try it and get some of the benefits? I personally take about 8000 mg or 8 grams per day. When I first started taking vitamin C in large doses I was taking as high as 15 grams a day before having stomach and bowel issues. So what happened at that high dose?

My hair became smoother
My skin cleared up (from acne)
Old sports injuries began to heal
I never get sick like I use to (I have not had a cold that lasted for more than a few hours)
Increased energy
Healthier teeth and gums (I don’t get cavities anymore)
Allergies to pollen no longer bother me

As you can see the benefits of taking vitamin C at high dosages have been life altering. While it is anecdotal, I believe it is noteworthy to mention that everyone I know that takes vitamin C at these high levels experiences the same benefits to greater or lesser degrees. Interestingly enough those who stop using it regret it because their bodies immediately begin feeling all of the old pains and health issues.

Nothing will prove to you the benefits of vitamin C like using it yourself. I often say that it is either conspiracy or widespread stupidity, but in truth it is misunderstanding and lack of knowledge which keeps many people from attaining optimum health. As humans, we tend to resist things that are foreign or out of the ordinary. For most people, the idea of taking 10 to 20 vitamin C pills per day might seem strange, especially when we consider that the pill bottle label is telling us to only take 1 pill a day. However, seeing and feeling is believing and I recommend you try vitamin C for yourself before being judgmental. No person has ever died from too much vitamin C.

It is easy to see how researching vitamin C has been both useful and fulfilled academic requirements. As an academic topic vitamin C is a great place to start researching because there is an abundance of information available as well as the fact that most people are vitamin C deficient.  Here are some vitamin C research sources that are very informative and can help you better understand this nutrient and mystery surrounding it.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/pauling-and-vitamin-c.html
http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/

References
NIH. (2012). Vitamin c. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. (2009, December 3). Vitamin c as an antiviral: It's all about dose. Retrieved from http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v05n09.shtml

Research Statistics

Felicity’s Study Tips: Research Statistics
This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: RES 320, RES 341, and RES 342. Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

Don't fall off the Homework Mountain!

One of my least favorite subjects is statistics. There are several courses which I have had the pleasure of being tormented with that involve research statistics including: RES 320, RES 341, and RES 342 and a few others. I am not exaggerating when I say I hate these courses. I realize that some people are very proficient at these classes but I hate to admit that I am not one of them. I struggle with the formulas and with the application of certain concepts. However, there are aspects of the statistics courses which I perform well at once I have applied the math and concepts correctly; the writing of the papers.

The most common entry level paper that most people will need to write is a business research paper. Typically, this type of paper is a review of a form of business research. Finding an research article will not be difficult but choosing the right one might be a little harder. Make sure you choose an article that is easily understood and is not difficult to read. This will make writing the paper much easier. Here is a common example of a project of this nature.

RES 341 Week 1 Individual Assignment: Current Business Research Project Paper

You can select communication, finance, economics, marketing, technology, or another faculty approved topic for the research study.

-Write a 350- to 700-word synopsis of the article, including the following: define the business research and its purpose, explain the business problems under investigation, describe the data collection methods used in the research project, and what did the researchers conclude as a result of their research?

While this is a pretty straight forward assignment, this does tend to give many students a difficult time. My study guide is in the link above, but being that I do not have as extensive of a library as my friends at Academic Collective, I thought I would provide some links to their study guides as well.

RES 341 Week 1 IndividualAssignment: Current Business Research Project Paper Topic: Mall Intercept vs.Internet Panels

RES 341 Week 1 Individual Assignment: Current Business Research Project Paper Topic: Green Products

No matter what statistics course you take you will be asked to write a paper that deals with some form of statistical measurement. One of the more popular papers that students are asked to perform is the creation of a survey. Here is a common survey assignment.

Week 3 Individual Assignment: Survey Paper

-Develop a problem statement using the business problem selected in Week Two, which can be addressed with survey research.

-Write a 10- to 13-question survey to collect primary data regarding your selected problem statement. You will not administer this survey as part of this assignment.

-Include a mixture of categorical (nominal and ordinal) and quantitative (interval and ratio) variables in your survey questions.
-Write a 700- to 1,050-word analysis of your survey. In your analysis, include the following: Explain how the proposed survey addresses your problem statement. Determine if your survey questions are appropriate for researching your business problem, and explain why they are. Identify the level of measurement being used for each of your survey questions. Explain which ethical implications must be considered when developing survey questions.

-Attach your survey as an appendix to your survey paper. Do not use a survey written by someone other than you. The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate your ability to draft survey questions.

This assignment tends to give a lot of students trouble mainly because they pick the wrong business problem. Typically, students will pick business problems that are either too complex or problems that cannot be measured through a survey method. For example, finding whether people quit smoking more often using cold turkey or through nicotine replacement therapy is a good survey experiment. This is a good experiment because it can cover qualitative as well as quantitative data. A bad experiment would be to survey people to see if they enjoy Starbucks Coffee. This is a bad experiment because it only provides qualitative data and will not meet the requirements of the project. For this reason, a survey project will need to take into account a variety of factors.  I have this type of survey listed on my site in a study guide.  

Week 3 Individual Assignment: Survey Paper Topic: Major League Baseball

Week 3 Individual Assignment: Survey Paper Topic: Self-Efficacy and Cigarette Smoking

Week 3 Individual Assignment: Survey Paper Topic: Topic:Wage Earners

No matter what statistics course you take you will undoubtedly be forced to write a paper. Even those experienced with statistical formulas often have trouble putting the paper together in a clear format. The use of study guides in these instances can be helpful.

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Chronic Disease Outline: Type II Diabetes

Felicity’s Study Tips

Chronic Disease Outline: Type II Diabetes

This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: SCI 162, SCI 220, and SCI 241. This post could also be used in conjunction with research papers for COM 155 and  COM 156.  Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

In most health courses students are asked to write a paper or give a presentation concerning a chronic disease. Typically, these projects are straightforward and involve minimum amounts of research. The following is an example of what information will be needed to research a disease. I chose Diabetes because it is a common problem with tons of research available. I suggest choosing a topic of this nature because choosing rare forms of chronic disease can be difficult to research. The following information should get any research project started.

The Facts

            Type II Diabetes is a dangerous disease that accounts for 95% of diabetes in the United States. Type II diabetes also referred to as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes is caused by the body becoming incapable of using insulin properly.  When type 2 diabetes is present, the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. The insulin is used by the body for energy. When one eats the food is broken down into glucose. Therefore the process of creating glucose is halted or interfered with. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells this causes many risks to the health of the individual.

            Type II diabetes is severe risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. It is the second-leading cause of blindness and kidney failure. It is also the number one reason that individuals must undergo amputation of legs.

            Individuals who are at the highest risk of contracting diabetes are sedentary individuals, people with high fat diets, people with high sugar consumption, and low dietary fiber contents. Diabetes often sets in as people age and continues living for a long period with high risk factors such as obesity. The condition susceptibility can be lowered significantly by altering one’s lifestyle and changing dietary practices.

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            Simply by eating a low fat and high fiber diet can significantly lower the chances of contracting diabetes. This coupled with exercise can lower the risk of diabetes in almost all individuals. In a study of lifestyle factors individuals who had high levels of exercise, healthy diet, did not smoke, and consumed alcohol in moderation exhibited an 82% lower rate of diabetes (Mozaffarian et al, 2009).

Outline

I. What is Type II Diabetes?

A. Type II diabetes, also referred to as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes, is caused by the body becoming incapable of using insulin properly. 

1. When type 2 diabetes is present, the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.

2. The insulin is used by the body for energy. When one eats, food is broken down into glucose and the process of creating glucose is halted or interfered with.

3. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells this causes many risks to the health of the individual.

II. What are the causes and risk factors?

A. Individuals who are at the highest risk of contracting diabetes are sedentary individuals, people with high fat diets, people with high sugar consumption, and low dietary fiber contents.

1. Diabetes often sets in as people age and continues living for a long period with high risk factors such as obesity.

2. Type II diabetes is severe risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

3. It is the second-leading cause of blindness and kidney failure and the number one reason that individuals must undergo amputation of legs.

III. How is it diagnosed?

A. There are two standard test for diabetes which are called the FPG test and the OGTT test.

1. FPG test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes because of its convenience and low cost, but can miss some diabetes or pre-diabetes that can be found with the OGTT.

2. Both tests work by checking glucose levels in the body.

3. The OGTT test takes longer and requires fasting for 8 hours.

IV. What are the treatment options?

A. Type II diabetes can be controlled through diet and exercise.

1. Losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight through dietary changes.

2. Increased physical activity.

3. A low-fat, low-calorie diet.

V. What are the prevention options?

A. Simply by eating a low fat and high fiber diet can significantly lower the chances of contracting diabetes along with exercise.

           

Diabetes is the fastest growing heath problem in the United States and has risen about six fold since 1950. It’s now affecting about 17 million Americans and one third of those Americans (5.9 million) don’t even now they have the disease.  Today, not only are adults being diagnosed with this disease, but it’s also affecting today’s youth.

Sources for Diabetes

ADA. (2012, July 5). American diabetes association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/

Mozaffarian D, Kamineni A, Carnethon M, Djoussé L, Mukamal KJ, Siscovic, D (2009).

            "Lifestyle risk factors and new-onset diabetes mellitus in older adults: the cardiovascular

            health study". Archives of Internal Medicine 169 (8): 798–807.

NCBI. (2012, July 5). Type 2 diabetes. Retrieved from  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001356/

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The Six Dimensions of Health

Felicity’s Study Tips: The Six Dimensions of Health
This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: SCI 162, SCI 220, SCI 241, and health course discussing the six dimensions of health.  Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

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According to Donatelle (2011), there are 6 dimensions of health. These six dimensions work in cohesion in order to balance the human being and support an active life. When one or more dimensions are out of balance or deficient then the overall health of the person is diminished. The 6 dimensions of health include:
1. Physical health
2. Social health
3. Intellectual health
4. Environmental health
5. Emotional health
6. Spiritual health
Far be it from me to question the experts, but the 6 dimensions of health seem loosely tied together. While I can see strong connections between certain aspects such as physical and emotional, it is difficult to understand the spiritual health and how it ties into this health structure.  Here is what the author has to say concerning spiritual health:

Spiritual health involves subscribing to a way of life or a belief in a supreme being based on a particular religious doctrine or feeling of unity with a greater force and a guiding sense of meaning or value in all life. True spiritual health typically goes well beyond an organized religion and includes many more aspects of living a balanced, introspective, and meaningful life (Donatelle, 2011, page 5).

I have to say that this concept of spiritual health seems to be a bit biased. As a Buddhist, I subscribe to a way of life which is not dependent upon a higher being but instead values wisdom, logic, and mindfulness. One could argue that I am following a doctrine which is still religious in nature which I would agree with to some degree, however; what about atheists? There are millions of atheists, who do not believe in any form of religion or spirituality, are we to believe that they are unhealthy or less healthy than they could be?

The reason I point this dimension of health out is that as students we should strive to find the truth  and not simply swallow and regurgitate the information given us from texts and teachers.  When it comes to understanding and being healthy there is not set code or fixed measures of determination. The fact of the matter is that health is a dynamic element in humans which cannot be addressed in terms of static ideas.
To further show how this concept of health is somewhat flawed we can look at the equality of importance in the 6 dimensions. While these dimensions might have some importance they are far from being equal in nature or within the context of circumstance. For example, being emotionally healthy does not always translate into other areas of health being diminished. I have (as I am sure that many of you have) met very physically healthy people who were emotionally stunted and immature.  As an example, I am pretty sure that most people would agree the Michael Vick was not emotionally or intellectually healthy when he was dog fighting, however; he certainly was physically healthy.  The point of this argument is to show that the 6 dimensions of health are more of a guideline for health with some of the dimensions being more important than others.

References
Health: The Basics, Green Edition, Ninth Edition, by Rebecca J. Donatelle. Published by Benjamin Cummings. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

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Religion Study Tips

Felicity’s Study Tips: Religion
This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: HUM 130 and REL 134 and any basic religion course.
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Religion courses are easy for many people but for those who are staunch in their beliefs, religion can often be a difficult course This true of the most basic of theology classes because students that hold strong beliefs with their own faith often find it difficult to see other belief structures in an objective manner. This can create bias in papers and can cause conflict between students. For these reasons, I have created this posting which discusses Judaism as it compares and contrasts with Islam and Christianity. The post also discusses the basic conflicts of thought and inner conflicts pertaining to Judaism. In this way a student can see how they might tackle a topic of religion without becoming extremely biased.

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Conflicting Religions
Although Judaism shares a large history and many theological similarities, with Christianity and Islam, the religions have become diametrically opposed fundamentally. These fundamental differences have caused serious violent altercations and have been at the root of many hostilities. The three major points of contention that outlines the fundamental differences between these religions:
1. Essential truths of the independent faiths
2. Political involvement
3. Cultural differences

Essential Truths
Judaism distinguishes itself from Christianity and Islam on the fundamental belief that Jesus Christ was not the savior and the Mohammad is not the final prophet. These beliefs are considered heretical by the opposing faiths. Along with this major difference in belief there is also the contention that is created from the belief of Islam that Jews refuse to accept later revelations which give a more accurate portrayal of the bible. Then there is the conflict of belief that Judaism and Islam share for Christianity in that the religion is heretical because if promotes idolatry in the belief that Jesus was God in man’s form. Despite the common beliefs in God these differences separate these religions and consistently keep them in opposition of one another.

Political Involvement
As a result of conflict occurring with essential truths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have further escalated their divide because of their common trait of becoming involved with politics. Islam has become a political force in the Middle East with most of the countries there existing as theocracies. Amidst these Islamic states, Israel exists as the homeland for all Jewish persons. Christianity, although having been divided from government, still maintains extreme power through special interest groups within countries such as the United States and Europe.
Underlying the laws of Islamic states is the religion itself. The Sharia which is Islamic religious law, also serves as the primary law for Islamic nations.   Under Judaism, although a democratic government is formed, the laws are still based in part on the Tanakh, Talmud, and, Shulkhan Arukh. These are Jewish biblical canons. Christianity also roots itself in many democratic governments with the Bible underlying many laws. This situation has caused the political associations of countries developed in this manner to be strained and at times resulting in war.
What mainly causes this political tension is the fundamental beliefs as directed through law. Judaism, similar to Christianity, can find a home in democratic systems but Islam is far from democratic and its culture has developed in a manner which is opposed to democratic thinking. For example, the view of women as being subordinate or as property is not acceptable in modern democratic systems. Interestingly enough, all three religions have at one time shared this view.
Judaism is also what is considered a religion of exclusion (Biale, 2011). While one can convert to Judaism many Jews do not accept these converts because they were not born into the religion. For this reason Judaism does not proselytize. This is in direct opposition to Islam and Christianity in which both religions proselytize and seek to convert others.  This fundamental difference also generates hostility because each religion is seeking to either convert the other or to be opposed to their beliefs.

Cultural Beliefs
Due to the fundamental differences in belief, each religion has developed a significantly different culture which again drives conflict. Judaism like Islam has incorporated many daily practices into their culture. For example, many Jews practice attendance to synagogue three times a day (Judaism, 2009). This practice is dependent upon one’s level of commitment. Judaism has its own foods and also its own customs a traditions.
This is similar to Islam in which prayer and custom is built into the lifestyle and culture. In Islamic states, prayer is mandatory five times per day.  This practice is part of the work and social culture.
Christianity maintains less daily traditions but does have its personal traditions such as praying daily. The difference in culture from Christianity to Judaism and Islam creates more conflict because the traditions and practices are viewed sometimes as heretical by the other. The respect for individual rights and the treatment of other persons is at the heart of these conflicts. Judaism continues distinguishes itself in practice and culturally through a unique phenomenon known as Jewish Secularism. Jewish secularism is the maintaining of cultural practices wrought from the religion but not the belief in the religion itself (Biale, 2011). This is a growing movement in the Jewish culture which separates the belief from the culture. Secular culture further divides and adds to the conflict between these religions as it is viewed as completely heretical.

Inner-Conflict
Judaism is today suffering from the problem of lack of community. As American Jews have increased in numbers and they have begun marrying outside their faith, the Jewish community is not nearly as tight knit as it once was (Cohen, 2009).  Jews today do not feel the obligation to Judaism which just a few decades before, was more far more prominent. This combined with secularization has been a diminishing factor for Jewishness or the community of Judaism.
A further escalation of this problem is that the culture of American Jews is rapidly growing more distant from Israeli Jews. In part, this divide is being caused by the American value system in that it views religion as a personal choice rather than an obligatory tradition. Jews in America strongly define themselves as orthodox, reformed, conservative, etc… In Israel and other parts of the world Jews do not view themselves with this degree of division. As a result the culture of Jews is being lost in America because the view of it ethnicity has been altered to that of religion. For example, the Jew is placed not in the category or Irish or Italian, but today finds its own category to be religion and thus categorized with other religions (Cohen, 2009).
The differences between Judaism and Christianity and Islam have been an ongoing struggle. The inner conflicts of the Jewish faith and culture have also been ongoing and growing in concern. Today the Jewish people have been taking active measures to make changes in these situations such as taking part in interfaith councils. The cultural divide with Israel will however continue to challenge the faith as there seems to be no solution to the problem.

Remember if you need help with your courses come to www.homeworkmountain.com

References
Biale, D. (2011)  Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought, Princeton University Press p.10
Cohen, SM. (2009) Changes in American Jewish Identities Since 1948: From Norms to Aesthetics The American Jewish Scene, The Blog Retrieved from http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/changes-in-american-jewish-identities-since-1948-from- norms-to-aesthetics/
Judaism 101. (2009). Welcome to Judaism 101! Retrieved  March 4, 2012 from http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm

Understanding Marketing and the Four P’s

Felicity’s Study Tips: Understanding Marketing and the Four P’s
This post is designed to help individuals taking the following courses: BUS 475, MKT 421, MGT 300, and MGT 330. Don’t struggle on the Homework Mountain!

Marketing is both an interesting and fun field where I believe that people can exercise their originality as well as their education. Many students enter marketing not really understanding the field beyond the idea of selling things. This presents a problem for many students because they tend to fall back on mundane ideas that are limited to selling products. While ultimately this aspect of marketing is important, it is far from being a complete understanding.

It doesn't have to be an uphill battle!

For those beginner marketers, this post should be a useful guide to developing an understanding of marketing as a field and as a skill. Let’s begin by defining marketing. The term marketing is an ambiguous term which seems simple in concept. Most people know many of the components of marketing such as advertising and selling methods and this seems to provide a general concept of marketing. However, when asked to define the term, a variety of definitions will appear with certain contextual differences that make the differing definitions somewhat disingenuous. For example, one of the more standard definitions of marketing can be found in the Business Dictionary, “The management process through which goods and services move from concept to the customer (Business Dictionary, 2011)”

While this definition is concise it lacks a certain depth of critical understanding. A more in depth definition of marketing would describe the field as,

Marketing is the process whereby society, to supply its consumption needs, evolves distributive systems composed of participants, who, interacting under constraints - technical (economic) and ethical (social) - create the transactions or flows which resolve market separations and result in exchange and consumption (Bartles, 1968).

Both definitions provide a simple point of view concerning marketing but both definitions also show a distinct contextual difference. The dictionary definition defines marketing as a management process while the textbook definition defines it as a social process. This is important because one can glean from both definitions a more exact personal definition.  From these sources, I would define marketing as a broad based management and social process of creating and delivering goods to the market with sales principles underpinning its mechanism. In layman’s terms, marketing is a management process and social process by which products are moved to customers. Understanding that marketing is a twofold process, as students we can begin to see that this is far more complex of a process than simply selling. In fact the selling of the product is the end result of the marketing process.

Okay, you might be asking, so how do we get the product to that end result? Well, marketing consists of a four part process referred to as the Four P’s.  These four elements of marketing coordinate the effort of the company through stages of product development with the consumer ultimately in mind.
1. Product-identification, selection, and development of a product (niche or consumer need)
2. Price-determination of its price (what price will be profitable but also affordable and competitive)
3. Place-selection of a distribution channel to reach the customer's place (how will the product be sold to customers i.e. stores, internet, etc…)
4. Promotion- development and implementation of a promotional strategy (how will the customer be made aware of the product) ( Business Dictionary, 2011).

As one can see the actual selling of the product is really a larger process within marketing. By understanding these concepts one will broaden her view of marketing and develop more useful thinking when completing assignments. One should be warned that the Four P’s will appear again and again as one continues taking business and marketing courses.

Remember if you need help with your courses come to www.homeworkmountain.com


References
Bartles. R. (1968) General Theory of Marketing The Journal of Marketing Publication Info. Vol.
32, No. 1, Published by: American Marketing Association Retrieved from University of
Phoenix Online Library

Business Dictionary (2011) Definition: Marketing Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/marketing.html