Psychology Reflective Essay Example for Free

Psychology Reflective Essay After having various lessons, I would like to have a deeper evaluation of the chapter â€Å"Behavior in Social and Cultural Context† especially the concept of attributions . It is known that there are two types of attributions which are internal attributions and external attributions that we generally use to explain our own or other’s behaviors. Internal factors concern a person’s traits while external factors concern the external environment. In addition, I am actually shocked by the fact that there is a fundamental attribution error when we are explaining others’ behaviors. There is a real-life example that I would like to share. Last Monday, I was stuck in a traffic jam for half an hour on Nathan Road. I had a lesson at 8:30 am in Core A and I reached the pedestrian bridge at 8:25 am, so I was rushing to the classroom. At that moment, a scene annoyed me most and stopped my way to school. A boy who was around six years old was too energetic. He dashed and rushed around on the footbridge that disturbed others’ way. He also guffawed and touched or played with anything and everything he saw. Suddenly, he paced around and glared at his mum. Don’t walk like a stupid pig! Do you know how to walk? I have been waiting for you for so long! †He shouted at his mum. At that moment, I was very angry and strongly believed that the boy was so naughty and disrespectful that he showed his emotions with no restraint and did whatever he likes without regard for consequences. Based on the above case, the correspondence bias leads me to explain the boy’s behavior by ignoring the influence of situation on behavior. For example, actually he is a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, so he cannot be patient and always dash around. However, we tend to emphasize the dispositional attribution that the boy is so naughty and disrespectful. Apparently, we tend to overestimate internal factors and underestimate external factors when explaining others’ behavior. After understanding the concept of fundamental attribution error, I have an enquiry related to it. Is there an error too when we explain our own behaviors? In order to find out the answer of it, I do some researches on it. Afterwards, I found out that the concept of actor-observer bias which is proposed by E. E. Jones and R. E. Nisbett in 1971 gives a clearer picture on the error of explaining our own and others’ behaviors. It states that we as an actor are more likely to attribute our own actions to the particular situation than to a generalization about our personality while the reverse asymmetry held for people being an observer and explaining others’ behaviors. Nevertheless, I have doubts about both the fundamental attribution error and the actor-observer bias. In my opinion, I think that both of the ideas only firmly established when describing negative events. For instance, on the one hand, as an actor, when we get bad result on an exam, we usually attribute the reason to the difficult exam (situational). On the other hand, as an observer, when our friends get bad academic result, we usually attribute the reason to his or her lazy character (dispositional). If the event is positive, the reverse error occurs. With the same example but with the condition that both we and our friends get high marks in the exam, we will attribute the reason to hard-working (dispositional) and easy exam (situational) to explain behaviors respectively. Malle (2006) agrees that a reverse asymmetry held for positive events after conducting a mental-analysis. He states that the discrepancy may indicate a self-serving pattern in attribution that we attribute success to internal factors and failure to external factors. Therefore, I believe that we are explaining others’ by using both the self-serving bias and fundamental attribution error. Overall, the lessons build up my foundation for the psychological concepts and theories and we need to explore the psychological world by ourselves in order to find out more details, conflicts about and relationships between different ideas. For instance, in order to finish this reflective journal, I used Google scholar to search about the actor-observer bias and the criticisms about it that I did not learn on the book and in lessons. By experiencing the searching process, I have deeper understanding on it and it strongly impresses on my memory. The process also enhances my analysis skill, to determine which sources are useful and which sources are not related to my topic. Therefore, I enjoy the process of exploring the psychological knowledge by ourselves.

Bahamas :: essays research papers

While on vacation on The Disney Cruise, I, along with my family took a tour by boat to a small resort island. As we approached, I was awestruck by its beauty. I knew this was going to be fun, but had no idea that this place would be forever etched in my mind. Two natives dressed in brightly colored tropical shirts, white pants and shoes greeted us at the dock. They were also wearing smiles just as bright. They escorted us to an open-air type restaurant with a thatched roof that was actually attached to the pier at which we docked The restaurant had a casual atmosphere that made us feel very comfortable. The food was served buffet style, with an elegant array of Bahamian and American cuisine. The entertainment during and after the buffet was delightful. A ten minute introduction to the Bahamian culture was followed by an intriguing native dance, performed by a man dressed in an authentic looking costume consisting of only a rawhide g-string with a short apron front. His sandals had leather cords winding halfway up his legs. This dance depicted a story of a hunter and his prey. A woman who was also in costume narrated it. Brightly dressed Bahamian men were beating drums and banging sticks providing the sound effects for the story. This was truly a great beginning to a wonderful afternoon. Behind the restaurant was a private beach area, accessible by walking trails only. We walked one of these trails, observing the brightly colored tropical plants and trees that flourished on this well maintained terrain. A beautiful lagoon added to the splendor, and when we reached the end, a lookout provided a panoramic view of the entire bay. What a breathtaking sight! There was a bar here, and after a cool drink we decided to head back. We took a different trail back that brought us right to the sands. In front of us, about 150 feet was the beach. It was 90 degrees and the Bahamian sun made the sand hot under our feet. However, a gentle breeze kept us comfortable otherwise. On the beach we rented a cabana, which is little more than a thatched umbrella, table and beach chairs, and a hammock. There, we sat and enjoyed one of those big tropical drinks that have fruit on the edge of the glass and a small umbrella of its own.

Msc Strategic Marketing Assignment

1. Visit www. americanexpress. com to learn more about the different cards that American Express offers. Discuss the target market and positioning strategies for each and suggest other segments that American Express might be able to successfully target (20%/630-770 words) American Express manages a wide variety of products but their cards can be classified in two main card types if cards: personal and business cards. For each card type they offer a wide range of different utilities and privilege and can be sub divided in credit and charge cards.The difference between the credit and the charge cards available in each category is that the credit cards charge the card holder at the end of the month while the charge cards charge the card holder instantly. The American express business model is aimed at a very narrow premium customer base, which frequently make large transactions. As their customer base is narrow they are able to provide a higher customer service than their competitors (p p). The AmEx brand also holds a huge cultural value.Because of the brands positioning and corporate branding being the owner of an AmEx automatically improves this persons role as opinion leader for the personal social group. Personal Cards Card The range of personal AMEX cards is designed for personal use. The holder pays an annual fee depending on their card and in return they get the corresponding American Express services. Generally such services include no preset spending limits and luxury rewards for collecting points.Other cobranded American Express cards such as the British Airways American Express card also offer additional travel related advantages such as travel insurance or priority on waiting lists. (American express. com Target market In comparison to some of its competitors such as Visa and Mastercard, American express does charge for its services. This naturally shifts it away from these competitors and into a segment of its own. The target market of the personal AME X cards are high earning individuals, because they are high earners they are likely to be individuals professionally hold roles of esponsibility. Their personality is extravagant, extroverted and exploring yet sophisticated lifestyle. Small Business Cards Card The small business card range is designed by American Express to help small businesses manage their finances and reduce stress of running a business. The card holder is expected to pay a monthly fee and in return get the American Express services of no preset spending limit, the card can be extended to other business employees, access to airport lounges and a generous membership reward program.Target Market As the card types name suggests American Express targets small businesses segment with this range of cards. But they don’t target the whole of the small business segment. The card is designed for those businesses that regularly need to make payments for business purposes. The co-branded American Express and British A irways card suggests that they are targeting businesses whose employees are frequently traveling and would like to centrally control their company expenses. Missing segments,The existing range of AMEX cards target the high profile person and business that need to make large and regular payments. Though the product range can also be use online it’s mainly intended to be used offline with the physical card. Many of today’s payment transactions are made via the world wide web of which services such as Pay Pal and Citadel EFT. These 3rd party services are sometimes considered to be unreliable and no provide the exclusivity that American Express provides. This can withhold AMEX users from using their AMEX card online.An exclusive online payment service for AMEX users to provide payment services can increase the company’s online presence and stimulate the cards use. 2. How has American Express been able to help consumers shift their attitude toward usage of the card? Is American Express taking a proactive approach to managing its marketing environment? How? (20%/630-770 words) Shift of attitudes Proactive in managing its marketing environments? 3. Based on your knowledge of online buyer behavior – provide a proposal for an effective e-marketing campaign for American Express, using social media: Facebook, twitter, blogs etc.Critically discuss different ways to attract and retain consumers using different social media in the UK market. To answer this you may choose any two appropriate models of consumer behavior. (20%/630-770 words) Currently American Express is present of the World Wide Web’s main social networks. On Facebook AMEX? s global page got 2. 7 Million who â€Å"like† them, they also have separate pages for each country they have commercial activity in which on average tend to have some 7,000 likes each.The AMEX main Twitter account got 600K followers, on LinkedIn approximately 136,000 professionals are following th e company and on YouTube they got 12,000 subscribers. American express also attempts to connect with small businesses and professionals through offering business advice to them through blogs. In comparison American Express? s closest competitors Master Card and Visa both got 4. 5 million likes each on Facebook. On twitter Visa got 38,000 followers and Master Card 16,000. On Linked in MasterCard for 43,000 followers and Visa 48,000 and on YouTube 1000 and 4000 subscribers respectively.Because of the niche market targeted by American express and the enormous reach and noise of the World Wide Web, planning a carefully targeted campaign is of great importance to ensure the campaign is using resources efficiently. In their study Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (2002) found that modern day online consumers, when considering buying, are looking for the human values behind products and services, such as honesty, respect, dignity trust and fairness behind the products they buy.Since American expres s has two card types and thus two target markets its only logical that the online marketing campaign also be divided to target the two markets separately. Since AMEX got two quite specific target markets the use of social networks is recommended. Social networks allow you to target users on a wide variety of demographic, psychographic, lifestyle information and interests supplied voluntarily by its users. American Express brand is virtually universal, and a single geographic market is quite small.Therefor it is suggested that it is better to focus an e-marketing campaign, via social media, on a global or regional scale than national. The online marketing campaign directed towards the private users will focus on creating a worldwide viral marketing campaign on the popular social networks. For a period of 45 days, using a designated app on the AMEX Facebook page, users can enter a lottery to win one of five free Platinum American Express cards and an additional â‚ ¬2000. Users will be able to increase their chances of winning one of these cards in multiple ways.The first way would be though on a daily basis entering the application and participating in a multiple choice quiz, for every correct daily an additional entry is gained. The daily quiz will consist of questions related to the AMEX products and brand, designed to increase the knowledge about the AMEX products and aid the correct positioning of the brand in the mind of the consumer. The estimated marketing costs for the target market of private users is approximately â‚ ¬17,000, and has a potential reach +1,000,000 resulting in a maximum price per impression of â‚ ¬0. 17, much more efficient than the Facebook adds which recommend a charge of â‚ ¬0. 65 per click. Rivero, J. (2012) suggests that credit card marketing to consumers should be done â€Å"where your consumers and their friends are hanging out†. This campaign attempts to do just that: to get potential new users interested in an d reinforce the connection that existing consumers have with American Express through cultural influences. The people who have already like the American Express Facebook page will be the ones kicking of the campaign by being the first ones to enter the draw.Then when they invite their friends to join they are seen as opinion leaders within their social group. Those who are really interested in winning will engage in the daily quiz elaborating their knowledge of the brand and its products and in turn also convert them into 2nd generation opinion leaders for their social network. Facebook users will also be able to increase their chances of winning by inviting their Facebook â€Å"friends† to enter the competition via the AMEX application. For every friend that they have invited and has also entered the competition they will also gain an additional entry.For the business segment of the American Express target market linked in will be used to gain the public’s attention. This campaign will also take the shape of a competition but not a lottery. Entrepreneurs will be invited to submit start up business proposals. After initial screening, through popular vote on from the linked in community the most popular idea will gain a three year backing of American Express experts, full financial support and of course the AMEX cards and benefits to get up the new business idea. This campaign focuses gaining new business customers through having them engage with the brand through LinkedIn.The social role that AmEx would be taking on, of financing the best business idea, should be interpreted by other users and business as an act of social charity and an attempt to help the business world encouraging them to also use American Express for their business as they understand they provide better and premium services to businesses. 4. Critically analyze and evaluate consumer and customer management practices adopted by American Express and how consumers react to individ ualized consumer-organization interaction. (20%/630-770 words) . Discuss potential trends in buyer behavior in the Credit Card market over the next ten years. Identify companies in this sector which are responding well to the trends, and make recommendations how your company can update the way it engages with current and potential customers. (20%/630-770 words) Innovations One of the main innovations currently in the credit card market is the move to pay via smart phones. Systems are being developed to use a person’s smart phone as a mobile wallet without having to take out a physical credit card. 0 percent of people expect that their smartphones will eventually replace cash and credit cards. (Farrell, B. M. , 2013) Mastercard, Visa and Paypal are already experimenting with this alternative payment method though it must be mentioned that people or 35 or younger, are more inclined to use this innovation than the over 35? s. (Farrell, B. M. , 2013). Amex bought the online payme nt system Serve for $300 million in 2009 and launched its e-wallet service in 2011 (Pepitone, J. , 2011) in a reaction to Visa and PayPal launching a similar service first.The service is currently only available in the US (Johnson, A. R. , 2011) Since in many emerging markets they are taking a technology leap, i. e. directly starting with the latest technology, there exists a realistic possibility that they might also skip the credit card phase and move directly into having an e-wallet. American express could well establish their brand in these markets by providing e-wallet services as well as methods to accept e-wallet payments to local businesses. Competition,The standard credit card market is becoming saturated and its becoming increasingly difficult to obtain new customers or to make customers switch credit card issuer. Card issues have to offer increasingly more incentives to attract new customers and retain exisiting customers. American Express has the advantage of having a un ique brand within a select group of customers. But there are no restrictions for MasterCard or Visa to launch a cheap premium or platinum range in order to target and gain market share right in the heart of American Express? core business. Multi-Function cards. First Data Corporation (2011) suggests that in Brazil Banco Bradesco and in France Credit Agricole have been offering a card type that has the ability to access both credit and debit accounts. But neither have been considered a game changer. Multi-function cards are being increasingly interesting as consumers are starting to shift their preference to the debit card instead of the credit card. This is partially related to the currently ongoing financial crisis.With shifting trends and no game changing alternative this will be a future point of focus for credit card issuers to successfully introduce a hybrid card of this type as long as the demand proves sufficient. Co-Branded Cards Some of American Express? s biggest competito rs are teaming up with other large multinationals to offer exclusive co branded credit cards. For example IKEA and VISA have launched the IKEA Visa card allowing consumers to finance their purchases for up to three years among other benefits.American Express already hs a co-branded card with British Airways but with competition becoming increasingly tougher it is likely that card issuers will also try to issue cards via large multinational organizations. Bibliography: Farrell, B. M. , 2013, Not paying by smartphone? You soon will, many bet. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from http://www. bostonglobe. com/business/2013/03/20/payment-industry-executives-eye-mobile-future/XHi4XtUT9zkoloMd0m2biO/story. html First Data Corporation (2011) Four Important Trends Shaping the future of Credit Cards. Retireived from ttp://www. firstdata. com/downloads/thought-leadership/cc-trends-wp. pdf Johnson, A. R. (2011). â€Å"AmEx Looks Beyond Credit Cards†. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from h ttp://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052970204552304577112611696189378. html Pepitone, J. , 2011. American Express dives into mobile payment with Serve. Retrieved from http://money. cnn. com/2011/03/28/technology/american_express_serve/index. htm Rivero, J. (2012). 3 Big Trends in Credit Card Marketing. Retrieved from: http://thefinancialbrand. com/22348/three-trends-in-credit-card-marketing/

The Predictors Of Substance Abuse Essay - 1944 Words

Predictors of Substance Abuse in Teens Substance abuse is a leading cause of mortality among adolescents (Sussman, S., Skara, S., Ames, S. L. ,2008). What can be done to help predict which teenagers are at risk for substance abuse issues? Substance abuse, which can be defined as overindulgence in psychoactive drugs will usually begin during the teenage years. Psychoactive drugs work mainly by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain (Weiten,2015). Although various drugs initially affect various neurotransmitters, many theorists concur that the majority of abused substances affect a neural circuit that is known as the mesolimbic dopamine pathway (Weiten,2015). Operant conditioning may cause users of psychoactive drugs to continue using drugs. By consuming mind altering substances one is altering their consciousness. Additionally, substance abuse can lead to cognitive deficits, brain damage, and sleep problems (Weiten,2015). Three academic journals will be reviewed discussing whether it is possible to predict the likelihood that teenagers will abuse psychoactive substances based on whether the teenager suffers from depression, experienced childhood trauma, or based on the parenting style that the teenager grew up with. Psychology has many schools of thought. As a result of this theoretical diversity, there are many hypotheses as to what can help predict substance abuse in teenagers. B.F. Skinner, a strong advocate of behaviorism would likely suggest that substanceShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse As A Predictor Of Divorce1368 Words   |  6 Pagesreview focuses on substance abuse and how it correlates with divorce; specifically within the context of concordant and discordant substance abuse in married couples. It aims to assess how substance abuse impacts marital satisfaction, and if indeed it has an effect on subsequent separation and divorce. 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