Emerging Economy Of Russia Essay Example for Free

Emerging Economy Of Russia Essay Since Russia suffered the economic crisis in 1998, its economy has grown steadily. The growth has been attributed to investments, consumer demand, the prices of oil and cheap ruble. Since the financial crisis, Russia’s financial position has improved, with the poverty level declining and the middle class improving. The country has the third largest oil reserves in the world, thanks to the earnings from the oil exports, which have enabled it to increase the oil reserves. It also enjoys a bilateral market access agreement in partnership with the United States, with its companies involved in acquisitions and mergers at a global level in the oil, metals, telecom and the gas industries. (The economy of Russia, 2008) The aim of this essay is to describe what it has taken Russia for its economy to emerge to what it is today. Its also purposed to find out how its economy has benefited from globalization. The start of Russia’s economic growth Economics is one part of globalization, and it has been argued that it carries with it major changes in all walk of life. Anthony Gibbons said that, â€Å"globalization is an irresistible force, transforming all aspects of contemporary society, politics and the economy. † Howard says that many writers have expressed the hope that it eventually leads to the introduction of world wide western-style, democratic institutions and human rights. Concerning globalization in Russia, he says that it has had long ambient feelings about its place in the world. Russia focuses its attention towards Europe, Asia, and the Islamic world and at the same time is able to concentrate on its economy. It has been called a civilization of its own, as at times, it wants to be a civilization on its own and at others; wanting to be associated with the Western world. However, it’s clear that Russia has always wanted to be accepted in the civilized world. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) Howard continues to say that Russia was far behind the race for globalization. He gives these reasons as; first, that Russia did not possess the technical wherewithal to compete with countries like India, much less those in the EU of the United States. The second reason he gives is that since the collapse of communism in December1991, the country has been so destabilized and so chaotic that the idea of its being able to join the process of globalization was wishful thinking. He says that for the past twenty odd years, Moscow has had more important priorities. Its focus was on transition, from the old communist to a new, different, and for many years undefined political and economic system. The centre of a globalized economy took second, if not the fourth or fifth, or even a lower place in its priorities. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) Later on, the importance of globalization was realized in Russia. It was important, in that there was the hope of it bringing modern technology to the country. Bringing globalization to Russia was however a hard task, facing one problem after another, such as corruption, which made it expensive and hard to operate there. There was also no system of commercial laws and capitalist style work habits, both of which are necessary if a country expects to create modern, capitalist, multinational organizations and be competitive in a capitalist market. Not only did Russia have a little impact on globalization, but until recently, one could argue that the impact of globalization itself on Russia was minimal. The country was too weak and isolated, and besides that, cultural factors played a role. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) The role of the government in Russia’s economic growth When he came to power, Mikhail Gorbachev was convinced that he could revitalize the communist system-that it was not so much as the system, but bureaucratization and Stalinization that had put the country in a period of stagnation. However, Gorbachev’s efforts to invigorate the communist system ended in failure in December 1991, when the soviet’s union flag was lowered over the Kremlin to be replaced by the Russian tricolor. There was a short lived effort to create the â€Å"Commonwealth of Independent States. † (CIS) an organization that Moscow hoped would help keep the USSR together. Later on, it was realized that the CIS existed in name only, as the USSR evolved into fifteen different countries. This forced the Russian federation to go it alone. Vladmir Putin succeeded Gorbachev. He hoped to rebuild the country to the point where the rest of the world would take it seriously. He also wanted the country to have the kind of economic that other countries like India had with the United States. He made it clear that the change would be evolutionary and not revolutionary or cataclysmic as it had been before. He advocated for globalization, but only if it was in accordance to the Russian political culture. He also outlined a number of areas that he believed were important in the management of the countries economy and in the incorporation of globalization such as integrating the Russian economy into world economic structures and engaging in a battle against the economic crimes. Putin’s efforts to influence relations with other countries One of the major goals of Putin was to bring globalization to Russia. He was especially concerned in improving the relations of the country with the U. S. He made it clear that while there might be differences of opinion between the United States and Russia, he was prepared to talk. An example of efforts by the government leaders to improve relations with the U. S was the June, 2001 Foreign minister Igor Ivanov talks with the Bush administration. There were a series of exchanges between Kremlin and Washington, and the two men agreed to meet in Slovenia. The Ljubljana summit had a major, positive impact o the U. S-Russian relations, thanks largely to the personal ‘chemistry’ between the two men. Despite substantive differences, it was clear that the atmosphere between the two countries had improved. The best news however was on the issue of globalization, where President Bush announced that he would support Russia’s application to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), an action that would significantly increase Russia’s interdependence with the rest of the world. Putin put efforts to gain the trust of President Bush, as he would also lay an important role in marching Russia towards globalization. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) Trade in Russia After sixty years as an instrument of the state plan, trade in Russia has irrupted as one of the most volatile elements in the present economy and society. Caroline, in her book, â€Å"The unmaking of a soviet life† suggests that the post-soviet Russian economy is dominated by ‘merchant capital’ meaning that the enterprises seek profit from commerce rather than through the transformation of production. In the sphere of production, a lot of the old Soviet structure remains. What more is that the merchant capital does not evolve spontaneously into modern capitalism; rather, like the past alliance of merchant capital with feudal dominant classes, the present cliental links between Russian managers and organs of political power prevent the growth of autonomous bourgeoisie. (Humphrey Caroline, 2002) In Russia, many provinces cannot still balance their budgets. They rely on financial budgets from Moscow, meaning that very generally, money circulates through regional governmental budgets, only to certain parts of the population: key industries (power, transport), state employees (administrators, doctors, teachers), and state dependants (pensioners, invalids, war veterans). Successful traders reap this cash, giving rise to a number of support industries for the rich New Russians, as they are called, such as car-repair firms, security teams, and builders of their new houses. (Humphrey Caroline, 2002) In the historical long duration, Russian state policy towards trade has been characterized by autocratic, centralized control with a few temporary windows of quasi-free trade. Russia’s economic SWOT analysis Opportunities The World Trade Organization is an opportunity for Russia. As a member of the WTO, Russia would be in a better position to diversify and to expand its production and foreign trade. The bulk of international trade is determined by comparative advantage and trade in differentiated products, by economies of scale and by advantages in imperfect competition. Accessions to the membership in the WTO would require comprehensive commitments by the Russian government to reduce its tariffs and to provide greater market access to all of its regions. The implementation of the commitment in the medium term, prescribed by the WTO rules and regulations, would increase long-term economic flexibility within and among the international sectors. In general, the entry of Russia to the WTO would build a body of commercial law in Russia conforming to WTO standards and would foster interdependence between external and internal codes. Strengths Some of its strengths are that it is well endowed with scientists, engineers and mathematicians, as well as with a low cost and a highly motivated young labor force. The availability of such resources has been of importance in the development of Russia’s economy. Another strength of the Russian economy is the diversification of it economy, which has led to the growth of its international trade, and has made it possible to mitigate the impact of external cyclical and oil shocks. (Letiche John M. , 2007) Its massive and exploitable hydrocarbon reserves, precious metal deposits and potentially vibrant industrial base are of great importance in the growth of the Russian economy. Threats On the other hand, one of the threats to the Russian economy is the enlargement of the European Union. Although it seems to be an opportunity to the economy, Russia should not be too sure about it. There is evidence that the EU might be a threat without intending to be one. The problems have become obvious, by looking at the dependency, national identity, regional split and generally cost approaches. The EU has often been looked at by its members as a safe harbor important to reach, and this view proves to be problematic. Greece has been a victim of this, when its economic growth stagnated after joining the EU. Russia should realize that dependency, instead of cooperation is dangerous. Also, the enormous costs of the EU membership for the countries would probably endanger the economic growth of the countries. (Ledderhos Manja, 2007) Weaknesses The economy of Russia has been growing, although the growth rate has been slow. It is said that a growing economy is the best way to show the government’s effectiveness in leading the country. However, there is the danger of an obsession with the economic growth, leading to a neglect of the structural shifts and the quality of growth. An overdependence of Russia to its massive resources like oil and gas could create structural weaknesses within the economy as energy prices fluctuate like it happened in 1998. (Strengths and weaknesses, 2007) Conclusion There is no doubt that the Russian economy has undergone a big change, from the fall of communism in 1991 to the economic crisis in 1998 and the growing economy it is today. However, the government needs to watch the trends of the economic growth. The country has also welcomed globalization, hence the availability a bigger market for it products and more investment opportunities for the foreigners. This means that if the government would expose the economy more to globalization, then there would far greater markets for its oil, gas, metals and other resources. Other countries that have not had the opportunity to invest in the country would also do so. Finally, Russia should put more effort in pushing for their entry to the World Trade Organization as this will be of importance in boosting its trade opportunities with other countries. It would also result to a more or a faster growth of its economy. References 1) Humphrey Caroline, The unmaking of Soviet life: everyday economies after socialism, Cornell University Press, 20022) Ledderhos Manja, SWOT Analysis of Transition Countries in the Baltic Sea Region, GRIN Verlag, 2007, pg 17-18 3) Letiche John M. , Russia moves into the global economy, Routledge, 2007, pg 34 4) Strengths and weaknesses of the Russian economy, 3/1/2007, Russia in global affairs, retrieved on 4/1/2009 from http://eng. globalaffairs. ru/numbers/18/1090. html 5) The economy of Russia (Russia), Spain Exchange, retrieved on 4/1/2008 from http://www. spainexchange. com/guide/RU-economy. htm 6) Wiarda Howard J. , Globalization: universal trends, regional implications, UPNE, 2008

Memories of Sorrow :: essays papers

Somehow, it always seems that the most important memories are always hidden by some unknown force. I am almost certain to forget facial features or marking traits of someone special to me. If I try to remember, it is lost. Memories are not always an accurate recollection of the truth; sometimes they are not real at all. For whatever reason, people always seem to remember what they would like to believe the truth is. With all this in mind, I will share a personal recollection of my first romance. It was on a Friday during the winter months of my 8th grade year. If I recall correctly, which I always do, her name was Nicole. Her name, Greek for "Victory of the People", always embedded such awe and mystery into my mind. The angelic Nicole stepped into my life on a cold day, as I sat there in my school bus after another long day. I was sleepy, like always, because I had gone to bed late the night before. Then as unexpected as snow in Brownsville, I saw her. She was a vision, her golden hair streaming down to her neck. Her eyes sparkled like a thousand stars. She was tall and lusciously curvy. She was so curvy that it was a danger to all of heaven’s minions. I still have never been as anxious to meet any one as I was meeting her. God, with his merciful divinity, had shined his light upon the earth and sprinkled the world with one true miracle, Nicole. What luck I had, she sat next to me! What was I going to do? I was always very uncertain with women. Sure they said they liked me, but I had never really had a girlfriend before. Due to some strange outwardly liar paradox, I remained quiet. How could I make a fool out of myself? As time passed, so did my fear. I slowly began to get more and more comfortable with her vast beauty so close to me. As time passed I gained more confidence due to our assigned seating, I gradually worked my way up the ranks from "Hi", to "Hello", and ultimately to the benchmark: "Hi, how was your weekend?" Nicole and I soon became very good friends on the bus, but my greed asked for more; I needed to have unlimited access.

Psychological Benefits of Fashion Essay

Fashion has been identified as one of the prevailing entities that can be observed all throughout history. It is an indication of styles and customs that are widely practiced at a particular time. Nonetheless, the usage of such term is always associated with clothing. However, in a greater sense, the concept of fashion encompasses more than clothing— it is something that pertains to a much bigger picture. The interest if humans in fashion are not just of recent origin. To prove such point, since the pre-historic many people have adorned their skins with colored clays and even tattoos, while clothing has been considered as one of the most absorbing yet was also treated as an important issue in life as it represents many things about life as a whole. However, while fashion from the past was regarded as an aspect only reserved for the wealthy populace, the influence of such entity can now be felt everywhere, anytime at this moment. Today, from the poorest to the richest, from the inhabitants of the most metropolitan areas to the inhabitants of the most rural places, many individuals indulge in extravagant fashion. From here, one can simply ask what is it with fashion that motivates people to recognize it as a powerful entity? While physically fashion posit lots of benefits for individuals following the latest trend, limited studies were centered in understanding the benefits that fashion can offer for those who follow it. In this respect, this paper sought to answer the question: What are the psychological benefits of fashion for individuals following the trend? What is fashion? In order to give depth to the subject being taken, it is therefore an imperative to discuss what fashion is. One researcher pointed out that fashion is â€Å"a series of recurring changes in the choices of a group of people, which though they may be accompanied by utility, are not determined by it†¦ Fashion is marked by rhythmic and innovation, by alternate uniformity and change, but neither of these phases obeys the principle of utility† (Ross, n. p. qtd. in Hurlock, 4). From the given perspective, it can then be assumed that fashion is a response to the ongoing cycle of change. Although it can not be widely utilized, fashion for many is a solution for the conventionality of life. Therefore, there is a greater element of luxury and lesser element of usability. Because of this, fashion has become an integral part of the social environment. Today, fashion affects almost all aspects in life. Fashion can now be seen in architecture, manner, automobiles, home furnishings, personal adornments, music, games and the likes. As the society tends to become an organized group that perceives fashion as something more, it is therefore possible that the chances of fashion to hold on for long is high, because fashions are transferable from one individual to another within the groups they belong because of the sense of imitation (Hurlock). So what is it that motivates individuals to follow such trend? The answer is simple; it benefits their psychological well- being other than the physical usefulness of such entity. Psychological benefits of fashion Sense of acceptance and belongingness Both ridicule and scorn are the sanctions that force people to embrace fashion, and in such case the dissenter is said to be powerless in such manner. When one refuses fashion that has been widely accepted by many, the dissenter is more likely to hurt himself, but rarely hurts fashion itself. Public opinion is a powerful entity which can persuade a person to accept fashion (Hurlock). Today, however, fashion is now more of a pavement that leads an individual to gain entry to a particular group. For instance, a group wears a certain memorabilia so as to indicate their allegiances to education. People follow fashion, most especially in the context of wearing clothes, in accordance to their age cohorts, ethnic backgrounds, social class and professional affiliations. It is noteworthy that every individual has the innate desire to belong to a system or an established group, thus recognizing fashion is one way of signaling membership within a relevant in-group (Baumeister and Leary, 1995 qtd. in Saad, 2007). There are numerous practices that are done in order to solidify the behavior of an in-group, one of which is their consumption choices that re-affirm the membership of individuals. The fashion industry is often seen as a group exercise of conformity and identification. In short, the innate need to belong is sufficed by the fashion industry. As an industry that is followed by millions of individuals; consumers are therefore repeatedly engaging in behaviors that ensure that they indeed belong to the â€Å"fashionable group. † Thus, fashion in itself has usurped the innate needs of humans to belong. Specifically, the overt signals of belongingness are labile in nature such as in order to become fashionable and to gain entry to a fashionable group an individual must continuously buy the continuously changing fashion, accessories and adornments. While some claim that fashion trends are mere representations of the pretentious life of wealth and are only made available to the privileged classes (Locke and De Chamfort qtd. in Saad), the popular fashion trends of today are now made available to the masses, thereby allowing consumers that originate from any social classes can now feel the cues of belongingness, most especially within the reference group through the fashion trends that they have come to adopt (Saad). The innovations provided by fashion, such as new clothing and the sole benefit of the adopter to such particular innovation, specifically that of belongingness and acceptance is just one of the many instantiated psychological benefits of fashion. Establishment of Identity Psychologically, identity is said to have two important dimensions, the personal and the social. However, both dimensions of identity are related in the psychological concept of â€Å"self,† â€Å"self-identity,† and â€Å"self concept. † Yet each of the said terms more often than not given complex and at time inconsistent meanings which makes it hard for identity to be defined. Therefore, the safest way to define identity is that it is the subjective concept or representation that an individual holds of who she or he really is (Vignoles, Regalia, Manzi, Golledge and Scabini, 2006 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). The said definition highlights two important aspects. First is that identity is in the position of a person’s subjective psychological experience instead of referring to it as an objective essence. Second is that, identity is inclusive, which often involves individual, relational and group level representation of the self (Sedikides and Brewer, 2001 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). This also implies that identity is multi-faceted in nature, and that it is made up of various self- representations that vary from each other which instead of making a unitary structure integrates varying aspects of the self (Donahue, Robins, Roberts and John, 1993, 834 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). Generally, the given definition means that every individual has multiple identities. Such perspective has been consistent from research findings, as people who are often asked â€Å"who are you ? † listed differing qualities and material objects that satisfy their needs (Gordon, 1968 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). From William James’s â€Å"Principle of psychology,† he identified that one of the many representations of the identity is the â€Å"material self. † He noted that an individual’s identity, aside from the body’s physical boundaries also includes material goods (James, 1890 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). In addition to personal identity, another domain that is manifested within its context is that of body image, which connote one’s thoughts and feelings about his or her physical body (Dittmar, 2005c qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). Traditionally, body image is not considered as a domain of identity. However, as body image constitutes a subjective concept, wherein a person sees this as the self-representation of their bodies to other, therefore it makes a lot of sense to hold such concept as a part of identity (Dittmar,Phillips and Halliwell, 2007; Halliwell and Dittmar, 2006 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). So, how are these this related to fashion? For the most of its followers, fashion may it be in the aspect of music, arts and the likes, is the gateway for them to develop and maintain their identities. Fashion, in most part, plays a significant role in the lives of many because it makes them view themselves in a different light; helping them define who they really are and how they really feel. By simply purchasing the things that they want and are in style, their specific needs are already met and they already feel secure about themselves, because they know that they look good in the eyes of others (Zborowski). In short, fashion is in touch with the identity domain of the â€Å"material self† and â€Å"body image,† as it satisfies the needs of material goods and the attention that one gives in his or her body as a whole. Fashion does not only create identity, but also changes it. One person can go from â€Å"hip-hop† to â€Å"goth. † Not at all times fashion have the same effect on everyone. For some, they are satisfied with their clothing’s comfort and versatility. They may not feel the pull that they have to follow the latest trends, but the fact still remains that they already established a social identity by allowing themselves to recognize that fashion is an on-going cycle. Take for example in clothing, whether an individual follows a trend or not, the effect of stating one’s own fashion through such medium can already serve as a code for people to believe that an individual is who he or she is by the clothes that he or she wears; the person may inculcate a political statement or just become one of the crowd. The multi-functionality of fashion as well as the contradiction it presents can be used as a means of impressing, rebellion or either to fit or stand-out of the crowd. As fashion is a personal choice, it gives its followers the liberty to decide on the how they can present themselves to the world (Zborowski). According to author Evelyn Brannon â€Å"fashion is both public—the impression we make on others—and private the way we explore our own personality and tastes† (Brannon, n. p. qtd. in Zborowski, 30). People are apt to think that as fashion meets the desire of an individual to differentiate oneself from the group, and at the same time to conform to the social norms, buying new styles are efficient means of establishing individuality. Soon enough, the styles they opt to use will be recognized by everyone else that, the same clothes and accessories they wear will eventually be paraded by other people. As such, in order to deviate people to like just like everyone else, most fashion designers recognizes the minute a trend is already plunging into the conventional level. So, they would release new styles because they understand that every individual’s need to express themselves. The cycle would then eventually flow once again: people will purchase unique and fashionable items in order to re-establish their identities (Zborowski). Sense of Positive Well-Being Historically, psychology has been pretty much concerned with the indicators of a person’s ill-health and unhappiness. Recently, the focus of psychology is on the explicit factor that promotes a person’s well-being, which is known as â€Å"positive psychology† (Csikzentmihayali and Csikzentmihayali, 2006 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). It has been noted that one of the most important aspects of a person’s well-being is his or her experience of happiness, which is truly subjective in nature. Apparently, the good and bad events in one’s life affect an individual’s happiness temporarily. However, it should also be understood that people can and do adjust with this happiness. For example, one study found out that lottery winners and victims of accidents that both ended in wheelchairs after their initial reaction to their good and bad experiences, have returned to their levels of happiness prior to experiencing such events (Brickman, Coates and Hanoof-Bulman, 1978 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwelll). However, happiness is something that cannot be easily measured; as such recent studies have focused more on the construct of a person’s subjective well-being (Diener, Suh, Lucas and Smith, 1999 qtd. in Dittmar and Halliwell). Such construct may include over-all cognitive evaluation of one’s life, sense of satisfaction, the â€Å"frequent experience of positive emotion and the absence of negative emotions. † From the said perspective, it can be said that self-evaluation, like dissatisfaction about life or body, the measure of positive experiences, such as high self-esteem and body-esteem, and the measure of negative experiences like depression and anxiety, can be clear indicators of positive and negative well-being. Additionally, in relation to an individual’s material and bodily well being, behaviors such as disorder eating patterns and compulsive buying of goods are also detrimental for the psychological and physical health of a person in order to identify whether their well-being is healthy or not (Dittmar and Halliwell). How does fashion fit in the big picture? As stated from the given perspective, some of the indicators of a person’s positive well-being are high self-esteem and satisfaction. Partaking in a shopping spree in order to buy and select the latest fashion is an exhilarating experience that promotes self transformation may it be in the physical and mental sense. Although, fashion is temporary at times, in the long-run it boosts an individual’s self-esteem, and provides them the confidence that perhaps they may have lost in some events in their life, allowing them to feel that they are special and unique (Zborowski). To prove such point, a shirt is just a shirt—until a designer logo is placed on it, and knowing the caliber of such things, its price is far higher compared to other goods. So, why do people pay for such large amounts just for the privilege of wearing it? For many the reason is within two perspectives. First, designer labels allow individuals to have a sense of self-worth by just the association of it. Personally, once individuals purchase fashionable stuffs with designer labels, the wearer’s self-esteem is temporarily boost because they somehow made a connection with well-known and expensive names that not all can experience. Although mass-produced, that fact that the purchase is not the same as others makes the buyers feel that they are special and unique. Likewise, designer labels also serve as the symbolical representation of who the person is and who he or she hopes to be. Parallel to this, the self-worth of an individual is further elevated by the society or maybe their peers that are brand conscious, making them happy temporarily as they feel that they already fit in the circle and they are already at ease in the situation wherein in a regular basis they often feel out of place (Zborowski). In addition to this, fashion followers tends to make connection with other individuals who have common outlook in life thereby reinforcing bonds that in a regular setting does not usually takes place. For instance, a mere inquiry about a certain design of a current home decor can catapult an individual to share what he or she knows about the said product. For the person who shared the idea there is a sense of fulfillment because within himself or herself, he or she knew that he or she already shared something significant to the individual, and this is something that is priceless. On the other hand, the person who inquired about the product can approve of such outlook, as he or she may perceived the same thing and it is quite a confirmation of what she or he feels. Meanwhile, fashion can also be a form of relaxation and an escape from the monotony of life. For one, shopping for fashion is not an easy task, but for many it is something that lifts their spirit as it is an indication that the person is in control of his or her personal environment. As stated, there are no laws that make an individual accept fashion. â€Å"No fashion is imposed upon an individual by force† (Hurlock, 8). Both the acceptance and rejection of fashion is in accordance to individual discretion. As such, person is free to make decision as to what actions he or she will take. Fashion is an invaluable tool that allows a person to move to through the world, may it be in the social or business setting. It serves as a communication where in an individual can freely move on top of things; persuading an individual to accept such freedom. More than anything else, freedom is something that allows an individual to gave a positive outlook about himself or herself, because there is no one to condemn his or her actions, and such perspective can be seen in fashion. As stated earlier, a high-self esteem and satisfaction are some of the key factors of attaining positive well-being, and this is provided by fashion through freedom of choice and the affirmation of an individual’s character and spirit. In other words, following fashion have become an imperative means of acquiring, attempting and establishing one’s well-being as it signifies the liberty to choose and symbolizes the ideals of happiness and a break away from the conventional. The association of individuals with the products that they feel are fashionable connotes that they are utterly re-evaluating themselves in order to know what type of particular trend or style they feel happy about. Moreover, a person’s inclination with fashion is one vehicle for them to escape depression, stress and anxiety because they know within themselves that on their life there is one thing that truly decreases their ill feelings, which is fashion. Conclusion From the given perspectives, it is safe to say that fashion is truly something that is inescapable. Since time immemorial people have been engaged in such aspect and over time it has developed into something that is far more reaching. It is a sign of change, as it is an on going cycle that allows a person the opportunity of following the trends or not. While many people claim that fashion is an indication of higher standards of living, current conditions today makes fashion available to everyone else most especially to the masses, making it more recognizable and diverse. For the followers of fashion, such word encompasses not only being fashionable; it is also a host of myriads of psychological benefits that makes it worth engaging to. Fashion is perceived as an avenue for individuals to feel a sense of belongingness and acceptance. It serves as the rights of passage for people to become comfortable and inclined with groups that share their same interests. Fashion is able to provide the innate needs of humans to be accepted and to belong through its continuous change of concept and availability to the public. It allows an individual to make allegiances with people they knew would understand them. One of the greatest benefits posted by fashion is its capability to establish and change and individual’s identity. Because it satisfies both the domains of material self and body image, a person is able to freely express himself through the fashion trend that he wears and practice. It creates a sense of individuality and promotes proper self-representation because in many ways fashion expresses the inner self of an individual. Establishment of a positive well-being is also another benefit that can be derived from following fashion. With the freedom it gives individuals in order to choose what they believe is fit for their personality, fashion promotes high-self esteem and satisfaction which spells an individual’s positive outlook in life and happiness. Although it is limited at one point or another, the happiness provided by fashion is just enough for individuals to see themselves in the light of who they wanted to become. Likewise, the ability to take control of themselves and their environment through fashion is something that inimitable as it provides them ground to realize the many good things that life has to offer. Generally, fashion is a clear manifestation of how trends, styles and changes, and in a greater sense the power of individuals to develop the sense of belongingness and acceptance, establishment of identity, and a sense of positive well being that greatly benefit their psychological well-being. Works cited Dittmar, Helga and Halliwell, Emma. Consumer culture, identity and well-being: The search for the â€Å"good life† and body perfect. New York, NY: Routledge, 2008. Hulock, Elizabeth. The psychology of dress: An analysis of fashion and its motive. Manchester, NH: Ayer Publishing: 1976 Saad, Gad. The evolutionary bases of consumption. New York, NY: Routledge: 2007 Zborowski, Megan. â€Å"The fashionable brain: Dissecting why fashion gas such a grip on the minds of the masses. † Colored Stone Magazine, vol. 17, No. 6 November/ December 2004

Bang! A Soldier Just Got Shot, And Most Likely P Never

Bang! A soldier just got shot, and most likely p never had his first legal drink. Is this right to fight for your country and never have the freedom of drinking? The drinking age was moved to the age of 21 in 1984 due to many drunk drivers. Now I think everyone gets the point not to drink and drive due to the serious consequences. If we lowered the drinking age underage drinking wouldn’t be as big. More money for our government will be made, therefore we can buy and reproduce more goods. The drinking age should be lowered, because it will stop binge drinking, you are considered an adult at age 18, and it helps colleges. Binge Drinking is when excessive drinking occurs not in the open public. A lot of problems happen due to binge drinking†¦show more content†¦By lowering the drinking age, the amount of binge drinking that would be going on would lessen. This would be huge for one’s health and well-being. The number of sexual assaults committed will go down as we ll. With the drinking age being lowered the amount of binge drinking among minors will eventually vanish. When you are 18 you are considered an adult. You can fight for your country, buy tobacco, live on your own, be tried as an adult, and a lot of other stuff. If a person can do all those things, but can’t drink there is something wrong with this country. Per the article Is it time to lower the drinking age to 18? it states â€Å"most proponents for a lower minimum age immediately point to Europe as an example, where the drinking age is lower than 21 almost everywhere. As an American who spent half a year living in France and traveling through other European countries with about a dozen other American college students, I can tell you the difference between the way they drink and the way we drink is akin to comparing someone who enjoys an after-dinner mint to the fat kid who dove headfirst into Willy Wonka’s chocolate river† (Fulton). This quote shows us that if we lowered the age drinking would not be so important. By not making it so important might lower the exciting factor of drinkingShow MoreRelatedLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages 1 C H A P T E R 1 How to Reason Logically T he goal of this book is to improve your logical-reasoning skills. Your logical-reasoning skills are a complex weave of abilities that help you get someones point, generate reasons for your own point, evaluate the reasons given by others, decide what or what not to do, decide what information to accept or reject, explain a complicated idea, apply conscious quality control as you think, and resist propaganda. Your most important criticalRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesaware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial caps or all caps. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Whetten, David A. (David Allred) Developing management skills /David A. Whetten, Kim S. Cameron.—8th ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-13-612100-8 1. Management—-Study and teaching. 2. Management—Problems, exercises, etc. Kim S. II. Title. HD30.4.W46 2011 658.40071 173—dc22 I. Cameron, 2009040522 10 9 8 7 6 5 4Read MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 PagesDimensions of Culture 5. Managing Across Cultures iv Feigenbaum−Feigenbaum: The Power of Management Capitol 1. New Management for Business Growth in a Demanding Economy Text  © The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2004 1 C H A 1 P T E R NEW MANAGEMENT FOR BUSINESS GROWTH IN A DEMANDING ECONOMY 2 Feigenbaum−Feigenbaum: The Power of Management Capitol 1. New Management for Business Growth in a Demanding Economy Text  © The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2004 Read MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesas an illustration of either good or bad management practice. They are not intended to be a comprehensive collection of teaching material. They have been chosen (or speciï ¬ cally written) to provide readers with a core of cases which, together, cover most of the main issues in the text. As such, they should provide a useful backbone to a programme of study but could sensibly be supplemented by other material. We have provided a mixture of longer and shorter cases to increase the ï ¬â€šexibility for teachersRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesA Make-or-Buy Decision at Baxter Manufacturing Company CASE STUDY III-3 ERP Purchase Decision at Benton Manufacturing Company, Inc. CASE STUDY III-4 The Kuali Financial System: An Open-Source Project CASE STUDY III-5 NIBCO’s â€Å"Big Bang†: An SAP Implementation CASE STUDY III-6 BAT Taiwan: Implementing SAP for a Strategic Transition CASE STUDY III-7 A Troubled Project at Modern Materials, Inc. CASE STUDY III-8 Purchasing and Implementing a Student Management System