Dietary Supplements And Consumer Behaviour Psychology Essay

Dietary Supplements And Consumer Behaviour Psychology Essay Dietary Supplement is becoming a fast lucrative industry, according to a study published by the Journal of Nutrition. 54 of all American adults took Dietary Supplements in 2006. In a global view, Dietary Supplements increased their combined retail value by 16% in the 2006-2011 year period to reach $97.6 billion. The aim of this literature review is to define and describe all terminologies regarding Dietary Supplements and Consumer Behaviour. We will also look at the different studies and theories regarding consumer buying behaviour. This study will also identify the factors influencing the consumption of Dietary Supplements. 3.1 Dietary Supplements This section helps in understanding what is a Dietary Supplement, what are the different types of Dietary Supplements available and why people generally consume them. We will also cover the pros and cons of consuming Dietary Supplements. 3.1.1 Definition of Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplement is any product which is designed to supplement the diet and that bears one of the following ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb, an amino acid, or a weight loss supplement (Main et al., 2004). According to the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act of 1994 of the United States, Dietary Supplements is defined as a product (other than tobacco) which is ingested and contains a dietary ingredient with the purpose of supplementing the diet. These dietary ingredients include minerals, herbs, botanicals, vitamins, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, glandular organ tissues, metabolites, extracts or concentrates (FDA, 1994). Dietary Supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, meal supplements, sports nutrition products, natural food supplements, and other related products used to boost the nutritional content of the diet (Anon, 2011). 3.1.2 Types of Dietary Supplements There are two main types of nutrient supplements namely Micronutrient and Macronutrient. Micronutrient is that nutrient which our body needs in low quantity to function properly but macronutrient is nutrient which is required in a large amount to enable our body to function correctly (Reimer, 2009). Another key difference noted by Reimer (2009), is that macronutrients provide the body with energy whereas micronutrients play an important role in detoxifying the body and warding off harmful diseases. Proteins,  carbohydrates, and fats are examples of macronutrients, and vitamins and  minerals  are examples of micronutrients. Both types of nutrients can be obtained from the diet and supplements. Micronutrients Multivitamins Multivitamins are a combination of many different vitamins that are normally found in food and other natural sources (Cerner, 2012). Vitamins are organic substances that the body needs to function properly. Vitamins help the body to develop, grow and stay healthy. They strengthen the immune system, assist in forming bone and tissue, regulate metabolism, help convert fats and carbohydrates into energy, and protect cells (Rinzler, 2010). Multivitamins are used to provide the body with vitamins that are not taken in through normal diet; multivitamins are also used to treat vitamin deficiencies caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition and digestive disorders (Boyon, 2012). According to Grotto (2009), taking a daily multivitamin with minerals has long been considered as a nutritional insurance to cover dietary shortfalls. Macronutrients Meal Replacements A meal replacement acts as a substitute for a solid food meal. A meal replacement is a prepared product, such as a bar, shake or powder which can substitute a regular meal. Available in various forms, these products are intended to provide healthy amounts of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to make up for those an individual does not get by eating a normal meal (Zangwill, 2008) Sports Nutrition Supplements Sports Nutrition Supplements is a broad category which includes both sports performance and weight loss supplements (Wilborn, 2010). It includes pills, powders, formulas and drinks formulated to enhance physical activity. Some examples are creatine, amino acids, protein formulas, and fat burners. Creatine supplements  are athletic aids used to increase high-intensity athletic performance. (Wikipedia, 2011) Amino acid is a molecule which is necessary to create protein. An inadequate intake of amino acids can result in extremely serious health consequences (Tresca, 2012). Protein supplements are large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids. Protein is required for the structure, functioning, and regulation of the bodys cell. Protein supplements are mostly purchased and consumed by individuals involved in body building (Rogers, 2007). Fat burners are supplements which help to burn calories by increasing the rate of the bodys metabolism. People who are under diet often use fat burners to reduce their body fat more quickly (Stoppani, 2012). 3.1.3 Reasons for Consuming Dietary Supplements The main reasons highlighted for consuming Dietary Supplements are: Health Purposes Taking supplements can provide additional nutrients when ones diet is lacking or when certain health conditions cause the body to develop an insufficiency or deficiency. In most cases, multivitamin supplements provide all the basic micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) the body needs (Jegtvig, 2013). Dietary Supplement is perceived as a prevention and as a protection against future health issues (Peters et al. 2003). According to (Sadovsky et a/ 2008)., American consumers often cited that they purchased Dietary Supplements because of health promotion. Improving Athletic Performance Athletes often purchase supplements in an attempt to meet or exceed the nutritional demands of sports competition (Antonio, 2010). Dietary Supplements are very popular among professional and recreational athletes, body builders and fitness enthusiasts; they do so mainly for sports nutrition and to seek better performance (Samadi, 2011). Often protein is required to increase the building or repair process of muscle in the human body. The use of high-protein diets has a long history in the sport field; it was reportedly popular with athletes in the Olympics of ancient Greece. According to (Tarnopolsky, 2007) protein intake of strength athletes or bodybuilders should be around 50% to 100% higher than the average population. According to Maughan (2007), knowledge about the composition of foods among athletes is not generally good, which result in a restricted choice of food and Hawley (2006) on the other hand stated that most sporties think they are achieving their protein intake goals. Protein supplement offers athletes the possibility to achieve an adequate level of protein intake without changing too much their eating habits. Protein supplement are easy and quick to take, they can be taken before or after training (Tipton et al., 2006). Improving Personal Appearance According to (Berens, 2008), modern high-fat, high caloric diets combined with physical inactivity have contributed to the epidemic of overweight and obesity in America. In a study conducted by Ogden (2012), it has been found that 57% of the general population of New York were considered overweight or obese. Studies carried out revealed that many consumers purchase and use Dietary Supplements to help them lose weight (Blanck et al., 2008). A large number of Dietary Supplements manufacturers have seen an opportunity and have created weight loss Dietary Supplements to help to combat obesity. Weight loss supplement varies from calcium, fibre, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), green teen extract, meal replacement and Orlistat, an over-the-counter weight loss drug (Parker, 2011). A nationally representative survey found that 33.9% of people who were making a serious weight loss attempt admitted to have used Dietary Supplements (Pillitteri et al., 2008). Some nutritional studies have reveale d that people who use Dietary Supplements generally have a higher nutrient intake from food. According to Mehdi (2007), nutritional Supplements (protein and amino acids) play an important role in the muscle building, hence improving the appearance of the body (muscular body) Avoiding Pharmaceuticals Individual nutrients such as vitamins may be used to treat a simple deficiency, such as an iron deficiency, but sometimes they are used therapeutically to treat specific health conditions or risk factors. Studies have shown that Dietary Supplements is common among people with chronic or recurrent condition (Jacques, 2009). Other factors for use are financial. During the recession, the rise in unemployment and subsequent loss of health has led consumers to turn to Dietary Supplements in an attempt to avoid expensive insurance coverage and minimise cost with dollars and drugs (Mintel, 2009). Main Survey Findings about Dietary Supplements The FSA (2005) research found that: Women are more likely to purchase Dietary Supplements than men. Older people and people caring for their health benefit are more likely to consume Dietary Supplements. The market for dietary is not only exclusive for Adult, 51% of the consumers are children. 3.1.4 Pros and Cons of Consuming Dietary Supplements According to Duran (2011), the following are pros and cons associated with Dietary Supplements: PROS Correction of Nutrient Deficiencies Nutrient deficiencies can lead to serious medical problems, such as anemia, bone fragility, poor immune system function and nervous system abnormalities. Dietary Supplements can help correct the deficiencies and reverse the medical abnormalities associated with the condition. Disease Prevention Specific types of dietary supplements can help reduce the risk for certain types of diseases and medical conditions. CONS Not a Replacement for Food Dietary supplements are not a replacement for food. Food contains a complex constellation of nutrients, including substances called phytochemicals, which biomedical researchers believe provide health benefits. Getting nutrients from wholesome foods is more healthful than relying on Dietary Supplements to meet nutrient needs. Potential for Toxicity When it comes to Dietary Supplements, more is not necessarily better. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E can accumulate to toxic levels in the body if taken in doses that significantly exceed the recommended daily allowance. Additionally, certain herbs and botanicals may prove toxic if one is having underlying medical problems, such as chronic kidney or liver disease. Side Effects and Interactions As with any medicinal product, Dietary Supplements sometimes cause side effects and may interact with prescription medications. Serious and potentially life-threatening supplement / drug interactions can also occur. 3.2 Consumer Behaviour This section brushes the main definitions and theories pertaining to consumer behaviour. It also covers the main factors influencing consumer behaviour. 3.2.1 Definition of Consumer Behaviour Consumer behaviour is a complex, dynamic, multidimensional process and all marketing decisions are based on assumption about consumer behaviour (Khan, 2010). A number of different approaches have been brought forward in the study of consumer behaviour. The five approaches are namely Economic Man, Psychodynamic, Behaviourist, Cognitive and Humanistic Approach. 3.2.2 Approaches to Consumer Behaviour Consumer behaviour has been the subject of analysis by economists, psychologists, and management expert. Economists have taken up the study of consumer behaviour in the nineteenth century, while psychologists and management experts are late entrants (Intriligator 1985). Each stream of thought and approach differs from other in view point, contents and thrust of analysis. 3.2.2.1 Economic man Approach According to (Richarme, 2007), work in this area began around 300 years ago, the early research considered man as an entirely rational individual, making decisions based upon the ability to maximise utility whilst doing the minimum effort. In order to behave rationally, the consumer must be aware of all the available consumption options, must be capable of correctly rating each alternative and be able to select the best option (Kanuk, 2007). According to (Simon, 1997) customers rarely have the sufficient information, motivation or time to make the best decision and often make decisions based on influences such as social relationship and values. 3.2.2.2 Psychodynamic Approach This approach was first developed by Sigmund Freud. The psychodynamic approach suggests that behaviour is subject to biological influence through instinctive forces or drives which acts outside the conscious thought (Robertson et al, 1991). The main point in this approach is that behaviour is determined by biological drives, rather than individual cognition or environmental stimuli. 3.2.2.3 Behaviourist Approach Behaviourists regard all behaviour as a response to a stimulus (Sammons, 2005). In other words, they assume that the action of an individual is determined by his environment he is in, which provide a stimuli to which he responds. According to Sammons (2005), the behaviourist approach can be much effective due to the methods it uses, which are the insistence on objectivity, control over variables and precise measurement; thus meaning that the studies carried out tend to be quite reliable. However, Sammons in his article explained that the scientific method used by psychologists must be studied under artificial conditions that often do not reflect the real-world contexts. 3.2.2.4 Cognitive Approach The term cognitive psychology came into use with the publication of the book  Cognitive Psychology  by Ulric Neisser in 1967. Cognitive Psychology revolves around the notion that if we want to know what makes people tick then we need to understand the internal processes of their mind (McLeod, 2007). He also added that the cognitive approach focuses on the way humans process information, looking at how we treat information that comes in to the person (what behaviourists would call stimuli), and how this treatment leads to responses. There are two main types of Cognitive models namely analytical models which provide a framework to explain the behaviour of consumers. These models identify a number of influencing factors and their relationship in the consumer decision making process. These models follow five step classification namely outlining problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, choice and outcome evaluation in the consumer decision process (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2007). The two most common known analytical models are the consumer decision model (Blackwell et al, 2001) and the theory of buyer behaviour (Howard and Sheth 1969). The second Cognitive model is the prescriptive model. According to (Moitial, 2007) prescriptive models provide guidelines or frameworks to organise how consumer behaviour is structured. The most widely known models are theory of Reasoned Action who was developed by Fishbein and Ajzen in 1975 and the Theory of Planned Behaviour which was developed by Ajzen in 1985. In the next chapter of this literature review, we will look at the planned behaviour in more details. 3.2.2.5 Humanistic Approach There are a growing number of marketers who believe that the cognitive approach has some major limitations. According to Nataraajan Bagozzi (1999) the first limitation of the cognitive model is that it neglects the role of emotion in decision making. There is a pressing need in the field to balance the rational, cognitive side of marketing thought and practice with new ideas and research on the emotional facets of marketing behaviour (Nataraajan and Bagozzi 1999 p. 637) The second limitation of the cognitive model is that it does not take into consideration the concept of volition (Rey, 2011). According to the Oxford Dictionary, volition can be defined as the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms or a gradual development. The third limitation is that the cognitive model does not take into consideration egoism; there is a lack of research that has examined the influence of altruistic motives on any consumer behaviour. Humanistic Approach priority is to understand peoples subjectivity, try to put oneself in the mind of the individual. As a result, it rejects the objective scientific method as a way of studying people (Sammons, 2011) 3.2.3 Theory of Planned Behaviour The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB; Ajzen 1991) is one of the mainly used cognitive models. The Theory of Planned Behaviour has been introduced by Ajzen in 1991 due to the rising limitation of the previous cognitive model; the Theory of Reasoned; which was developed by Ajzen and Fishbein in 1975. The Theory of Planned Behaviour is based on the assumption that the human being normally behave in a reasonable and sensible manner, when making a decision or undertaking an action; an individual would seek for available information and the implication in doing such action. According to this theory developed by Ajzen, a persons intention to perform or not to perform a behaviour is the most immediate determinant of that action. According to the Theory of Planned Behaviour, intention and behaviour are a function of three determinants; one personal in nature, one reflecting social influence and the third dealing with control (Ajzen, Pg 117). The first determinant that is personal factor is simply the individuals attitude (positive or negative) towards a particular behaviour of interest. The second determinant is the persons social pressure to perform or not to perform such behaviour. It is generally referred to subjective norm (Ajzen, 2002). The third determinant is the sense of self- efficacy or the ability of the individual to perform such behaviour which has been termed by Ajzen as Perceived Behavioural Control. The main difference between the Theory of Reason and the Theory of Planned Behaviour is the control component of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Conner Spark, 2005). As it was mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Theory of Reason assumes that human social behaviour model is under volitional control and thus it can be predicted from the intention only. Ajzen (1985) found that often, the individual does not have complete control, hence the Perceived Behavioural Control was added to the Theory of Reason. Ajzen named it the Theory of Planned Behaviour where Perceived Behavioural Control could be used to predict the non-volitional behaviours. Perceived Behaviour Control is when a person expecting that the performance of the behaviour is within his/her control and has the confidence that he/she can perform the behaviour (Coner, 2010). This is similar to the concept of self-efficacy developed by (Bandura, 1997). The theory of Theory of Planned Behaviour has been largely tested and has also been successfully applied to understand the different types of behaviour (Conner and Sparks, 2005). Armintage and Corner (2001) reported that, across 154 applications; attitudes, subjective norms and Perceived Behavioural Control accounted to 39% of the variance intention. Perceived Behavioural Control accounted for 27% of the variance in behaviour across 63 applications. Figure 3.1: The Theory of Planned Behaviour, adapted from  Ajzen (1991). 3.2.3.1 Limitations of Theory of Planned Behaviour According to the Theory of Planned Behaviour, intention is determined by three classes of behavioural beliefs (normal norms, subjective norm and perceived behaviour control), however these assumptions are highly debatable. Generally the combination of attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control leads to a reasonable prediction of behavioural intention. However, (Schwenk and Moser, 2009) reported that: Although the inferred correlation (between intention and behaviour) is substantial, one should not expect to be able to explain a third of the variation observable in environment behaviour. This indicates that the strong causal of the Ajzen Model is not met in realityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Ogden (2003) noted that the Theory of Planned Behaviour is a conceptual based model and discussed several limitations of Ajzens theory. Based on literature review, Ogden observed that some of the studies carried out under the Theory of Planned Behaviour reported no role for subjective norms; others showed no predictive role for perceived behavioural control and some shows no roles for attitudes. Several suggestions have been put forward within Attitude Theory to understand, explain and reduce the attitude-behaviour gap. A general approach is the extension of the Theory of Planned Behaviour with additional explanatory constructs. The main additional approach which was brought forward was the perceived availability and the importance of price. Ajzen (2002) reported that the perceived behavioural control could be divided into two subclasses namely perceived self efficacy, which refers to the ease or difficulty of performing the behaviour and perceived controllability which refers to the extent to which performance depends on the individual. Perceived controllability deals with consumers external control to buy; the perceived self efficacy deals with consumers internal control to buy (Conner Armitage, 1998). Regarding the importance of prices, higher prices may be an obstacle, especially for low income group consumers to make a purchase (Tarkiainen Sundqvist, 2005) 3.2.4 Factors Influencing Buying Behaviour The stimulus-response method is based on the work of classical psychologists such as Pavlov and Watson (1870), who found that all organisms have psychological drives directly related to their need for survival. According to Hisrich (2000) drives can be divided into primary and secondary drives whereby primary drives refers to the need to avoid pain and the need for belonging whereas secondary drive refers to guilt, pride and acquisitiveness in attempt to satisfy primary drives. As you can see below in the stimulus diagram, Marketing and Environmental stimuli enter the buyers consciousness. The buyers characteristics and decision process will lead to a purchase decision. For my study I will concentrate only on the buyers characteristic to understand how these characteristic affect the decision to purchase or not to purchase a product. 3.2.4.1 Buyers Characteristics Consumer Behaviour can be influenced by buyers characteristics. These characteristics are cultural, social, personal and psychological factors. Those factors exert a certain influence in the mind of customers when buying a particular product according to Kotler (2001) Cultural Factors Cultural factors can be classified into culture, subculture and social class. Those factors are particularly important in understanding the buying behaviour of customers. The factors represent a hierarchy of social influences, ranging from broad, general effects on consumption behaviour such as those imposed by the culture we live in to more specific influences that directly affect a consumers choice of a particular product or brand (Boyd et al, 1998) Culture According to Kotler (2001), culture is the most fundamental determinant of a persons wants and behaviour. Culture is the total way of life of a society, passed from generation to generation, deriving from a group of people sharing and transmitting beliefs, values, attitudes and forms of behaviour that are common to that society and considered worthy of retention (Chisnall, 1985). Kotler reported that a growing child acquires a set of values, perceptions, preferences and behaviours through his or her family and other key institution. Riley (2012) reported that a cultural shift is an important opportunity for marketers. He also argues that a shift towards greater concern about health and fitness has resulted in more industries servicing customers with low calorie foods, health related products, exercise equipment or Dietary Supplements. Subculture Each culture contains subculture, according to Kotler (2001), he defines subculture as nationalities, religions, racial groups and geographical regions. According to Schouten and Mc Alexender (1995), subculture is a distinctive subgroup of society that self-selects on the basis of shared commitment to a particular product class, brand or consumption activity. According to Jim Riley (2001) the young culture has quite distinct values and buyer buying characteristics comp-are to the older generation. Nevertheless, subculture is usually identified through race, nationality, religion, geographical region and age (Hawkins et al, 1989). Social Class According to an article published by the Princeton University (2010) a  social class  is a group of people who have the same social, economic, or educational status in society. According to Kotler (2001), social classes differ in dress speech patterns, recreational preferences and among others. He reported that there are four main types of characteristics which define a social group. Those within each social class tend to behave more alike than persons from two different social classes. Persons are perceived as occupying inferior or superior positions according to social class. Social class is indicated by a cluster of variables (occupation, income, wealth, social class) Individual can move from one social class to another one (up or down). Social Factors Apart from cultural factors, consumer behaviour is also influenced by social factors such as reference groups, opinion leaders and family Reference Groups Kotler (2001) defines reference groups as all the groups that have a direct (face-to-face) or indirect influence on an individuals attitude or behaviour. Another definition of reference groups is those groups the consumer identifies himself with and wants to join. Opinion leaders   Opinion leaders  are people with expertise in certain areas. According to Bergstrom (2008), an opinion leader is anyone who has an active voice in a community; it is somebody who speaks out and who is often asked for advice. Brenna (2013) reported that health and fitness movement is now influencing many industries including food, travel, clothing, footwear, entertainment and among others. OptiMyz Magazine (Sport and Nutrition Magazine, 2013) revealed that their readers are educated, affluent and focused; they tend to be opinion leaders in their social groups. Readers would recommend their siblings to use the supplements advertised in the magazine. Family According to Kotler (2001), the family is the most important consumer-buying organisation in society. The individual members who make up the family unit exercise an influence over each others behaviour and therefore the activities which form part of consumer decision-making (Cox, 1975). Kotler (2001) stated that in countries where parents live with their grown children, their influence can be substantial. In the United States, the husband-wife involvement has traditionally varied widely by product category. Psychological Factors Even if two consumers have equal involvement with a product, they often purchase different brands for different reasons. The information they collect, the way they process and interpret it and their evaluation of alternative brands are influenced by psychological variables. Those variables are motivation, perception, learning and belief and attitudes (Boyd et al., 1998). Motivation Motivation is the force, which energises behaviour, gives direction to it and underlines the tendency to persist (Barton et al, 1996). According to recent studies carried out, it has been proved that motivation may affect reasoning through reliance on a biased set of cognitive process (Eagly Chaiken, 1993). Therefore understanding motivation is very important. Learning Learning is to gain knowledge, understanding or skill by study, instruction or experience (Arbib et al., 2005). Osselear and Alba (1999) further laid down that consumers learn the relationship between product attributes and quality and they will differentiate among brands that possess different attributes and treat as commodities those brands that share the same attributes. Personal Factors A buyers decisions are also influenced by personal characteristics. These include the buyers age and stage in the life cycle, occupation and economic circumstances, lifestyle and personality. Age and Stage in the Life Cycle Age has an impact on consumers buying decision. The type of leisure activities they participate in, the likelihood of their being in education or at work, their need for health care and their preferences for style and fashions will change them. (Crown, 2009) Occupation and Economic Circumstances People who function in higher status occupations have characteristics personalities, motives and values that set them apart from those in less prestigious positions (Kohn Schoenbach, 1983; Kohn et al. 1990). Lifestyle Lifestyle is defined as a pattern in which people spend time and money. People from the same culture, social class and occupation may have very different lifestyles, expressed in their own activities, interests and opinions. Lifestyle as such influences the consumer in his purchase of products (Chellum Esson, 1999). 3.2.5 Buyers Decision Process In this model, the consumer passes through five stages: problem recognition, information search, evaluation and selection of alternatives, decision implementation, and post-purchase evaluation. The diagram below depicts the process which goes in the mind of a buyer when deciding to effectuate a purchase. Figure 3.2: The Consumer Information Processing Model Source: Adopted from Kotler (1997) Problem Recognition The consumer buying process begins when the buyer recognises a problem or need (Ken Matsuno, 2007). Typically, researchers seek to identify consumer problems by analysing the factors that widen the gap between the actual and the desired state. The desired state of the consumer is inspired by their aspirations and circumstances. Culture, sub-culture, reference group and lifestyle trends can cause people to change their desired state. Information Search When a consumer discovers a problem, he/she is likely to engage in internal and external information searches. It has been recognised that information search often precedes brand preference formation and that search behaviours may vary according to individual characteristics (Block et al., 1896). Usually educated people are more likely to engage in more meaningful search for information, thereby contributing to a higher level of search (Kiel and Layton, 1981; Marvel, 1996; Newman Staelin, 1971) Evaluation of Alternatives Consumers may apply a variety of criteria in evaluating purchase alternatives, which will vary in importance of influence in shaping alternative evaluation and selection (Black et al, 2001). According to Matsuno (2007), by gathering information, the

How Successful Were the Liberal Governments of 1896 to 1915 in Dealing with the Problems They Faced?

In the period 1896 – 1915, the condition of Italy was relatively in a terrible state in many ways with various political, economic and social problems that hindered the country’s progress. Italy’s Liberal Governments during this period were generally very unsuccessful in dealing with these inherited and growing problems clearly contributing to the end of Liberalism in Italy. More so, the Liberal Government under the rule of Giolitti saw Italy progressing in some circumstances regarding the socio-economic concerns. Nonetheless, it is very comprehensible that the Liberal Governments lacked solving the problems that they faced.The Liberal Government’s major issue following unification was Italy’s economic progress due to various problems. The economic situation in Italy after Unification was lacking modern communications such as roads due to a limited degree of industrialisation. This was a huge problem for the Liberal’s to solve because it mean t that Italy was industrially declined in comparison to most of Europe. As of this decline, the Liberal’s tried to put an end to the Economic backwardness by increasing industrial production. This occurred by essentially increasing the percentage of the workforce in industry.Industrial giants such as Fiat and Pirelli employed more workers to help contribute to the increased percentage working in industry from 13% in 1871 to 23% in 1913. This proved successful for the Liberal’s in ways that they improved industrial output. However, the workforce for industry being 23% was still approximately half than that of the workforce for agriculture being 57%. Accordingly, the Liberal Government did not heavily improve industrialisation successfully. Moreover, this increase in industrial workforce did prove to widen the north-south divide socially because of industry situating mainly in the north of Italy.To conclude, you would say that the Liberal Government failed to deal with t his inherited problem although it did increase the industrial workforce but insignificantly achieving their aim. Thus, you would deduce that it left Italy with little preparation for war and accordingly the social problems that were caused. It appears to be that the Liberal Government had worsened the north-south divide caused by their merely achieved aim in improving industry. Heavy tariffs and taxes on Italian exports also enforced by the Liberals completely ended Italian export industries especially in silk trade.Judging this, unemployment increased primarily in the south causing social unrest. The Government’s improved industrial development had also caused redistribution of the population all over Italy, densely populating the towns and cities that were not prepared for this overcrowding and influx. As of this, the enforced economic changes, Italy had an augmenting number of social problems combining with the Liberal Government’s inherited problems. Firstly, this was the great north-south divide that was very difficult to unite due to the south being extremely backward and poor and the north being more developed in every way.This social inequality is clearly outlined in reasonable living standards in the north but widespread low living standards of the south. The government’s inherited social problem was also education. The north had improving education standards – with high literacy rates however, this was clearly inverse to the south’s high illiteracy rates figuring over 88% and low education levels. As a result, the Government dealt with this, by trying to improve education in the south and so by 1913, the percentage of illiteracy had decreased to 65. 3% proving a successful improvement.One of Giolitti’s policies of reform was to make anti-malarial drugs free especially in poverty struck areas of the south. This policy had considerably improved the health for most people in the south of Italy. Furthermore, ther e was a more obvious inherited problem for the Liberal’s. This was the percentage of the population who spoke the Italian language, because only 2. 5% spoke it. This occurred due to the Italians speaking their regional languages in states like Venice and Rome. Prior to these inherited problems, we would conclude that the Government had hugely reduced adult illiteracy rates especially in the south from 88% to 65. %. The Liberals had also efficiently improved health services especially in the south by enforcing free anti-malaria drugs mainly in the southern areas of Italy. However, the Liberal’s had failed in solving all of the problems because of factors such as unemployment remaining high and the southern problem still remaining prevalent on a whole. Although, it is fair to judge that the Liberal Government was fairly successful in dealing with the various social problems it had faced causing significant improvements as stated before.However, the outstanding social pro blems had led to an increase in the support of socialism and also leading to an increased fear of communism stressing political problems for the Liberal Governments to deal with. The Liberals had dominated politics generally for a long period of time. However the Liberal Government had lost out on support hugely by 1915 under Giolitionism. The Liberal Government’s general aims were to stabilise Italian politics, end the church state division and obviously gain support for Liberalism.This is true in every way, because only 2% of the population (middle class/wealthy landowners) elected from the North of Italy. This clearly meant that the Liberal Government’s aim was to maximise their support for a sustained period of time. However, in some cases of Giolittionism, the Liberals have been too geared to the needs of the wealthy and have not met the needs of the poor. This meant that the Liberal’s had to try and work for the benefit of the poor and other groups includi ng moderate socialists and Catholics to deal with this problem i. . Transformismo. However this proposed â€Å"fair government† did not solve the major political issue, which were the differences between these other groups and the Liberal Government that was clearly outstanding under Giolitti’s political system. This made it fairly easy for Giolitti to lose support when enforcing policies and so the Liberal Governments fell through fairly quickly on a whole. From what I can judge from the Liberal Political system, there were various threats posed against the Liberal Governments from the far left and far right.This was because the working class solely turned their support to other groups who also wanted reform and revolt. As to this, the Liberal Government’s failed terribly in successfully dealing with political problems in the period 1896-1915. This was because of not being able to improve the political system for the benefit of other groups thus leaving politic s stagnated outlining their failure. Overall, from what I can conclude, we can say that the Liberal Governments had not successfully dealt with the problems they faced in the period 1896-1915.This had ranged from their control of society which, although experienced in some case a slight improvement but in every case failed terribly in improving the main north-south divide that outlined Italy’s divide in society. Their control over the economy had responded to some sort of improvement in terms of industrialisation, yet they still lacked in efficiently industrialising the country for a war or modernisation. Furthermore, we can deduce that the Liberal’s were ineffective in predominantly improving the political system for which lead to the end of Liberalism in Italian politics.

Facebook Essay

Facebook is a social network created in 2004 and has over 21 million registered members. It is the newer version of MySpace and has taken over cyberspace. Facebook allows you to stay connected with friends, classmates and old friends. It was originally created for college students, but people of all ages all over the world have now become part of the social network. There are many activities you can do when you join virtual groups based on common interests, see what classes they have in common, and learn each others’ hobbies, interests, musical tastes, and romantic relationship status through the profiles. If used properly there can be many advantages of Facebook in the life of a college student. Some colleges set up facebook groups for future classes of students to meet online. The University of Chicago had several groups of students getting ready to graduate high school already beginning online friendships with possible future classmates. They all talked about and shared their goals, what classes they planned to take and shared in the anticipation of receiving their acceptance letters. Students across the country are connecting with future classmates as well. Some students in New York arranged to meet there facebook group friends in person. These new facebook friends will probably rarely see each other on campus. These facebook forced friendships do not last for long, but it makes the students feel more comfortable about their first day of College. If you are a college student like me, chances are you probably have a Facebook. You probably log on more than once a day and you probably spend at least an hour on it per day. You sit down to write a paper or study for a test and somehow you end up on Facebook. Before you know it an hour has passed and you haven’t gotten anything done. This is the case for majority of college students. We do not know how to manage our time or priorities. It is easier and more entertaining to spend time on Facebook than to spend time studying. There is a quote that states â€Å"The reason why people fail is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment. † In this moment college students want to socialize and have fun, they put their future on the back burner because they cannot feel the effects of their underachievements. Facebook also has its advantages as well. For example many college students can use facebook market place to sell their cars, books, computers etc. With such a large number of people in this network it makes it easier to sell your items. â€Å"According to a 2008 Kaplan study, one in 10 college admissions officers routinely check out college applicants’ Facebook and MySpace pages. And some 38% of them found posts and pictures that reflected poorly on those prospective students. A study conducted at Ohio State University concluded that students who were Facebook user had a GPA 5-10 points lower than non Facebook users. Students who did not use Facebook dedicated more time to studying than users. It is important to keep everything on your facebook mutual. You do not want someone to be able to look at your profile picture and know everything about you. If you are a prospective college student, or a college student ready to find a good job, or apply for an internship it is import ant to sensor your profile. Your profile picture should be of you at a party with a drink or cigarette in your hand, kissing your significant other, or anything sexy or provocative. It should be a mutual picture of you in a nice setting. You should also be cautious of what you put in your profile description. The way you talk, and describe yourself shows a lot about your character. College students talk in slang amoung there friends, which is not a bad thing, but it should be limited to just that, amoung your friends. A young college graduate applied for an internship in a consulting company in Chicago, when the company looked up his facebook this is what they found in his profile description â€Å"†smokin’ blunts† (cigars hollowed out and stuffed with marijuana), shooting people and obsessive sex† Though this individual may have been joking or trying to be funny, it made him like he lacked good judgement and very unprofessional. They found things that went against the values of the company. These are not the kind of people companies are looking to hire. They are interested in responsible and modest people. Facebook and MySpace are only two years old but have attracted millions of avid young participants, who mingle online by sharing biographical and other information, often intended to show how funny, cool or outrageous they are. † For some Facebook is a new identity, you can be whoever you want because you are hiding in front of a computer screen. You can make you rself seem however you would like by just an update of a status. It can also hinder your social ability to communicate with people. A cell phone build one wall between two people, texting and social networking builds two. Many college students have â€Å"hooked up† with and gone on blind dates with complete stranger they have met over Facebook. Most facebook users including myself have accepted friend request by strangers. Maybe you accepted them because of your mutual friends, or maybe other reasons. Whatever the reason, someone who tries to hit on you, or ask you out on facebook can manipulate your profile. They know which friends your both have in common because of the â€Å"mutual friends list† they know what type of music you listen to, what your religious and political views are, even your favorite quotes. A friend of mine met an attractive guy over facebook. They started chatting a few times a week, and eventually set up a date. She said she had a good time, but that it was almost too perfect because they had so much in common. It was obvious that he had done his research, and did it well. He used her facebook information to get her to like him, he knew exactly the right things to talk about and say. For all she knew he could have been a crazy stalker with bad intentions. If you have just graduated and you are looking for a job, Facebook could either make or break your career. Most companies take the time and research potential employees. They would like to hire people with a clean record and reputation to represent their companies. Many have lost their jobs because of their Facebook profiles. Though you may try to keep your profile as clean as possible, the comments your friends leave you also count. You are who you hang out with and if your friends leave you inappropriate comments or tag you in an old party picture it could very well jeopardize and close doors for your future. According to Alex Patino, a Resident Assistant here at Kean University, the Office of Residence Life requires that you sign a contract disclaiming that no inappropriate pictures and/or comments are posted on your Facebook or any social networking site you belong to. Any Resident Assistant caught or reported to have any offensive material of his or her website can be put on probation, and if serious enough the student may be fired. I decided to conduct my own research to find out how many hours a day college students spend on facebook and how it affects their work and study habits. I made a multiple choice and one open ended question survey and sampled about 115 students from all different colleges. I posted my survey from survey monkey to my facebook status. From there I waited for students to respond. Out of the 115 students who participated in the survey, 46 % spent two to three hours on facebook per day. That is almost half of those who participated. 11 % spent two to three hours, and 8 % spent an unhealthy 5 hours or more on facebook, that is almost a whole day at work. 35 % of students said they spend an hour or less on facebook which is the amount of time we should be limiting ourselves to being online. When asked what activities they do online, most students said they spend most of their time on facebook checking for notifications, chatting, and said most of their time was spent browsing through user’s profiles and pictures. One student said: â€Å"I do not use facebook anymore. Have no use for it†¦ It is nothing but a ‘Hackers’ paradise. † The Face book dos and don’ts -Do not post to much personal information about yourself. Remember that your reputation is important and your information should be mutual Also remember strangers can view your profile. Ex: address cell phone number place of work) Your close friends already know that information you do not need to post it for everyone else to see – Be careful what pictures you upload of yourself. Many people do not personally know you, and can get the wrong idea of who you are by the way you present yourself in photos. Employers like to keep an eye on their employees, drunken pictures or provocative pictures can ruin your chances of landing a job -Do not ever post on your status where you will be, and who you will be with. There are such things as facebook stalkers and they might really show up – Do not believe everything you see online. More than 75% of students who participated in my survey said they spend most of their time looking at other user’s profiles. People can pretend to be who ever they’d like online â€Å"Everything you say can and will be used against you. † We all have heard that saying somewhere or another that is used in court or upon arrest. But did you ever think everything on your facebook could be used against you in some way? Well think again. According to one East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania professor, a joke she made about students on her facebook was not taken lightly. She posted comments joking about killing students. The comment stated â€Å"Had a good day today, did not want to kill even one student 🙂 Now Friday was a different story. † What she thought were playful joking comments led to her suspension at the University. Even upon her return students were very angry that she was allowed back into the classroom. The jokes were strictly meant for family and friends, but when posting something on a public website, others who may not know u as well may feel threatened and take â€Å"jokes† to be serious.

Civil Disobedience and Henry David Thoreau - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 791 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/05/13 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Civil Disobedience Essay Did you like this example? Civil Disobedience is an essay written by Henry David Thoreau first published in 1866, in which Thoreau attempts to convince readers to oppose the Mexican-American War and the institution of slavery as a whole. First presented as a lecture in 1848, and shortly thereafter as an essay titled Resistance to Civil Government. It was not until sometime after Thoreaus death that the essay was published as Civil Disobedience and began to gain further prominence and popularity. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Civil Disobedience and Henry David Thoreau" essay for you Create order In his essay, Thoreau attempts to explain his rationale for protesting against his own government by non-violent means. His essay has become a de facto manifesto for those seeing political change by means of peaceful protest. It is difficult for one to argue that Thoreaus heart wasnt in the right place while penning his essay. Living in a country that he so dearly loved, he was a firsthand witness to slavery, an evil institution that needed to be abolished, and a war between the United States and Mexico which was being fought only to establish new territory in which slavery could be expanded into. Well ahead of his time, both ethically and morally, he sought to protest these actions of his country which he deemed objectionable, and he would do so without bloodshed. Living in a country which, since its inception, used its fists, not only to gain power, but to intimidate and bully those that threated its status quo, Thoreau would attempt to convince those who were as driven as he was t o peacefully rise-up. Civil Disobedience, gained its fair share of notoriety when it was published, and over the last century and a half has become the foundation upon which many civil rights leaders and activists build and pursue their cause. It has helped to shape landmark rulings from high courts, while also shaping the moral discourse that our country was facing. This essay serves to explain how such a seeming short essay, penned over 150 years ago, could have such a lasting impact. Comparisons to more modern day activists such as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and their methods of peaceful protest will be discussed as well. Finally, the overall relevance in todays world, and whether or not Thoreaus work still measures up by todays standards. Throughout his essay, Thoreau is trying to prove one main point: Citizens in good conscience, should actively oppose the unjust policies of their government using non-violent methods. This includes refusal to pay taxes and other methods of non-coopera tion. According to Thoreau, one must be willing to be imprisoned rather than to bow to the unethical and immoral government laws and practices. One topic that is touched upon but never explicitly said, and actually serves as a larger basis for his rational, states that the rule of God, transcends the law of man. Moral and ethical convictions which are considered to be an innate characteristic in every man, can and should supersede any laws created by man himself. Slavery and war, which Thoreau writes about as specific influences, are both in direct objection to the divine rule listed above. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was a major inspiration for Thoreaus work. Having seen the United States essentially bombard Mexico and claiming their territory as their own, all in the name of what Thoreau saw as slavery expansion, something needed to be done. Seeing his country continuing to perpetuate these moral injustices could no longer go unchallenged. Thoreau understood that something needed to change, and that he also couldnt be the only one with those same feelings. He also knew that solving violence and aggression with mor e violence and aggression would only exacerbate the problem, and ultimately lead to no solution. With these things in mind, Thoreau sought to protest the actions and behaviors of his county. His primary method, was to stop paying taxes. The theory was, that if he were to not pay taxes, that would be less money to fund the actions of the government in which he was protesting against. He understood that his monetary implications on the government as a whole were negligible, however the results would be seen in the message being sent. This seemingly small form of disobedience would not fail to be noticed, and Thoreau would eventually be imprisoned for his actions. Thoreaus non-violent form of protest and willingness to be imprisoned rather than support his countries degrading moral behavior served as the basis for two very important and crucial civil rights activists some 100 years later. Mohandas Gandhi was an Indian activist who led the non-violent Indian Independence Movement against British rule. Gandhi adopted and expanded the methods of non-violent protest that Thoreau outlined, including: hunger strikes, mass noncooperation, nonviolent direct action and other social, cultural, economic, and political forms to in tervene.