Understanding crowd behaviour

Understanding crowd behaviour There are many vague definitions of the term a crowd one of which is defined as by the Oxford Dictionary() as a large number of people gathered together, usually without orderly arrangement and Le Bon (2006:15) defines a crowd as a gathering of individuals of whatever nationality, profession or sex and whatever be chances that have brought them together. The Oxford Dictionary() also defines behaviour as a manner of behaving or the response of an organism to a stimulus in regards to this literature the stimulus could be the emotions of others, or a shared experience within the crowd, or factors contributing to emotions within individuals in a crowd. Getz (2007:293) states that understanding crowd emotions and behaviour is essential for most events But Crowd management, however, is not simply achieved by attempting to control the audience, but by trying to understand their behaviour and the various factors which can affect this. (HSE, 2009:46) It is also noted in the HSE (2009) that the behaviour of crowds at events is determined by their own personal goals and motivations. This literature review will look at the frameworks behind three theories of crowd behaviour, as it is imperative to understand the psychological behaviour of crowds (Kendall 2008:545). The theories concerned are:- -Classic theories Contagion Theory Convergence Theory -Emergent- Norm Theory It will seek to identify key factors that can change behaviour within crowds and the impacts these can have on outdoor events. The literature underpinning research into crowd behaviour stems from disciplines such as psychology and sociology, with an apparent lack of recent research into crowd behaviours at large outdoor events. Crowd Behaviour Theories It is noted that the two classical theories that are reviewed, are the foundations of what has been formed today, they have evolved over time, but it is provided as an overview of crowd behaviour theories. Contagion Theory There are two key authors of the Group Mind theory, Le bon Freud It is important to recognise that the widely cited works of Gustave Le Bon, from his 1895 book, The Crowd was based on his observations of crowds during the French revolution, and are a long way from the crowds that are experienced today. Le Bon (2006) stated that crowds were protected by the anonymity of crowds and that individual responsibility was discarded, consequently forgetting their normal values and ability to think and to reason. He also assessed that ideas and emotions within the crowd became contagious and spread rapidly. However Reicher (2003:186) suggests that contagion theory is an affect of suggestibility, and that an individual sacrifices personal interest in favour of the collective interest of the crowd It is then understood that Individuals within crowds are more likely to involve themselves in antisocial behaviour as the anonymity provided makes them feel invulnerable, it is this collective behaviour that is understood to be irrational and that individuals will undertake actions within a crowd environment that they would normally resist. Freud believed that the crowd Unlocks the unconscious and that in normal daily situations moral standards are maintained because they are installed in the human psyche as the super ego. However in a crowd situation the leader of the group surpasses the super ego and now controls the unconscious, leading to uncivilised impulses (Hewstone Manstead, 1996:152) Criticisms My understanding of this theory is that it does not identify as to why some crowds become violent and other remain passive. 2. Convergence Theory Convergence theorists such as, Reicher (1984), and McPhail (1991), argue that individuals within a crowd do not loose personal identity, as stated in the contagion theory, but they communicate personal beliefs and values so that the crowds behaviour is that of similar feeling. It is understood that convergence theory is more rational as it focuses on the shared beliefs and emotions within a crowd. It is possible that individual can exploit the protection of being in a crowd to participate in behaviours that would normally be repressed. Criticisms However it does not give way to why individuals in this crowd, who share similar beliefs, behave differently. Emergent-Norm Theory Key Authors identified:- Turner and Killian Turner and Killian (1993) as cited in Kendall (2008:547) concede that crowds are understood to develop their own definition of a situation and therefore establish their own norms -social rules that specify appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in given situations (Sharpe, 2007:508 )that reflect the occasion and provide standards that allow decisions to be made about how people will interact with each other. (Sharpe,2007) Adang et al (2004) identifies that in every crowd you can spot individuals doing such things as initiating chats, shouting directions and in extreme cases initiating violence. FIND THEORY IN TURNER AND KILLIAN Emergent-Norm Theory argues that the appearance of unanimity among the participants in incidents of collective behaviour accompanies the emergence of dominant norms and according to this theory, once a dominant norm emerges group members disagreeing with it keep quiet out of fear of group censure (Aguire et al, 1998) rephrase Analysis of theories Factors of Crowd Behaviour Berlonghi (1995) argues that by simply saying a crowd is a large number of people gathered closely together is a mistake and that it essential to distinguish one individual from another. By being unable to make distinctions about the crowd it leaves crowd control and crowd management ineffective. He also recognises those events that are a success, that never become publicised are they the consequence of effective planning, or simply the result of good luck. Crowd Catalysts It would appear that there are a multitude of factors that can influence behaviours between individuals in a crowd. Berlonghi (1995) has identified factors that may contribute to, or trigger a crowd from being one that is managed to one that needs to be controlled. Operational Circumstances Lack of parking, sold out event, and no show of performers are all examples of factors that can modify a crowds behaviour, an example of how crowd behaviour changed can be identified by The Rage Factor a Rage Against The Machine gig, which took place in Finsbury Park in 2010. Tickets were available by Ballot to celebrate the campaign that got the band to number one the previous Christmas. 180,000 people had applied for tickets with only 40,000 being available. It is reported that several hundred fans scaled the fence. (Gittins, 2010) Reading Festival has been forced to apply for extension to the number of early bird tickets allowing 20,000 people to arrive before the stated start of the event; this was due to an ever-increasing amount of festival goers arriving at the festival entrance prior to the event over the last few years. (Reading Borough Council, 2010) Event Activities Fireworks, video replays, and lasers may provoke actions within the crowd. Performers Action Sexual or violent gestures towards the crowds, Latitude festival 2010 witnessed an attack on the crowd, with Crystal Castles front women appearing to lash out after allegedly being groped by a male fan as she was crowd surfing. The singer repeatedly threw punches into the crowd and subsequently she stormed off stage before the allotted time, with widespread booing from the back of the fields (NME, 2010) The HSE (1999) states that event organisers should be aware of the history of the performers and also the audience which they attract. Spectator factors Anti social behaviour can impact a crowd not just the individual, and is having an impact in how events are being delivered (Connell, 2009). Kemp et al (2007) as cited in Connell (2009) have identified that alcohol and drugs are a major factor in determining crowd behaviour. The Guardian (2010) reported that at T in the Park festival in Kinross-shire, Scotland, there were 2 rapes and an attempted murder. Some festival goers believe a major part of the problem is a changing demographic among those attending, with drinking and drug taking surpassing the music. Security or Police Use of excessive policing, arguments with attendees and abuse of authority can spark aggression within the crowd. It has become increasingly accepted that the outcome of crowd events cannot be explained solely on what crowd members do, but must also address police actions (Adang, 2004). It is usual to use police to control a crowd but this often then leads to confrontation with the police (Argyle, 1992). Man Made Disasters Structural failure can be problematic not just for those directly injured, but by crowd surges fleeing the event. Crowd surges are often reported at both small and large events, and can be catastrophic. Conclusion The primary focus of this review is to understand crowd behaviours and factors which can impact the outcome of a crowds behaviour. Once the variable factor has caused an impact, it is then the individuals within the crowd that will react to the stimulus, and form themselves into the parameters of crowd behaviour that have been outlined by theorists. It is evident that there are factors within all three theories that can be imparted into observations within crowds at music festivals it is possible to envisage actions at outdoor music events that can be explained by these theories, however much of the recent literature simply reiterated these theorists with an apparent lack of observation towards currents trends and attitudes in society. The effects of crowd behaviour within outdoor music events can be catastrophic should event managers not take into consideration the factors that can affect the behaviour of both small and large crowds. If event managers fail to understand individuals within a crowd, and the potential that they have to physically change the dynamics of the crowd around them, they face disastrous consequences. Recommendations In 2010 there were over 450 music festivals alone in the UK (Winterman, 2010) and there has been little research into Anti Social Behaviour at events including the motives of gatecrashers at events attendees attempting to enter events without a ticket and the consequences that such actions can have on crowd safety at events. None of the theories above draw attention to why some crowds are organised and others spontaneous, by looking at the motivations of individuals at music festivals we may begin to further understand anti social behaviour at these events.

A Refutation of the Descent of Man from Apes Essay

Perhaps even before the time of Darwin, man had already started asking himself where he had come from, and somehow the Theory of Divine Creation – that man was rather created as himself and has not descended from any other animal – proved to be rather insufficient as a means to explain his roots. Scientific studies later on proved that there are several homologies shared by man and apes and the question remains as to whether man has indeed descended from this group of primates called apes. However, despite the obvious similarities between the two species, the results of this investigation say otherwise. The Proofs against the Supposed Descent of Man from the Apes The Common Ancestor. It is claimed that â€Å"[humans] didn’t evolve from apes†¦[but that] humans share a common ancestor with modern African apes, like gorillas and chimpanzees† (â€Å"Where We Came From,† 2001). The reason therefore for the similarities and the homologous morphological and anatomical characteristics between humans and apes may not be exactly due to the fact that the first descended from the second but that they could just be of the same ancestor. In a similar way, when you see similarities between two people of different ages, you cannot immediately conclude that the older one has begotten the other but that they could be both siblings. In logic, one can say that just because A looks similar to B, it does not necessarily mean that A has descended or originated from B, although we cannot deny that indeed there is some connection. In short, the claim that humans descended from apes may just have been one speculation or assumption based on morphological evidence, which may prove to be weak. This common ancestor is believed to have â€Å"existed 5 to 8 million years ago [and] shortly thereafter, the species diverged into two separate lineages† (â€Å"Where We Came From,† 2001). There have been claims that â€Å"the [ape or] gorilla lineage branched off 1. 6 to 2. 2 million years earlier than did the human-chimpanzee divergence† (Chen & Li, 2001), making humans even closer to chimpanzees than apes. The term evolutionists have given to this so-called common ancestor of humans and apes is known as â€Å"‘Australopithecus,’ which means ‘South African ape’† (Hasnain, 2009). The theory of the common ancestor has been backed by several studies which stated that either â€Å"mitochondrial DNA† (Ferris, Wilson & Brown, 1983) or the â€Å"extremely close immunological resemblance between the serum albumins of apes and man. † (Sarich & Wilson, 1967) The problem, however, is that it could be that this theory is not that plausible after it was found that â€Å"the beings called Australopithecus in this imaginary scenario fabricated by evolutionists really are apes that became extinct† (Hasnain, 2009). If the Australopithecus had actually not existed, then it could be that man has really descended from apes owing to the homology in their physical structures. Convergent Evolution. The homology in the morphology of humans and apes is, however, not a strong guarantee that the first have descended from the second. It is said that â€Å"the resemblance in the skeleton structure of apes and humans has [always served as] strong evidence for common ancestry† (â€Å"Evolution of Man,† 2010). It is however a poor assumption that similarity means relatedness, which means that â€Å"two species can have homologous anatomy even though they are not related in any way† (â€Å"Evolution of Man,† 2010). This is known as â€Å"convergent evolution. † Convergent evolution teaches one that two species which are distinctly unrelated from each other could have just have developed separately and at times coincidentally produced similarities in morphology. In a similar way, based on pure simple logic, it does not necessarily mean that two people are related just simply because they look similar, even very similar. Menton (2002) states that these similarities may have just been due to â€Å"an incredible run of countless lucky mutational coincidences. † This simply means that it could have been that it is a mere coincidence that humans and apes look alike. Deductive Logic. Robinson (2005) argues that â€Å"If humans evolved from apes, then one would expect that there would be no apes left on earth; all would have evolved into humans. † This statement simply means that since evolution propels a species to change, and if it is true that apes have evolved into humans, then there simply seems no logical explanation as to why several apes nowadays have not evolved into humans. Nevertheless, this claim could be refuted by the theory that certain species of animals may not have evolved because of their ecological niche. This means that certain apes in the jungle may not have evolved into humans due to the fact that the former are arboreal. Conclusion Man has not descended from apes. This is proven by scientifically-based claims that have established the existence of a common ancestor. Another proof is that the evolution of both humans and apes was merely convergent. Lastly, deductive logic disproves it. At this point in time, scientific researches on the evolution of man and apes have not been able to completely shed light on the possibility or impossibility of man’s descent from their primate brothers. Further research is therefore highly recommended. References Chen, F. C. & Li, W. H. (Nov 1985). â€Å"Subliminal messages: Between the devil and the media. † The American Journal of Human Genetics, 6, 444-456. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from the Cell database: http://www. cell. com/AJHG/retrieve/pii/S0002929707640968 â€Å"Evolution of Man – What is it?. † Science. (2010). Retrieved May 18, 2010 from the AllAboutScience. org website: http://www. allaboutscience. org/evolution-of-man. htm Ferris, S. D. , Wilson, A. C. , & Brown, W. M. (Apr 1981). â€Å"Evolutionary Tree for Apes and Humans based on Cleavage Maps of Mitochondrial DNA. † Evolution, 78, 2432-2436. Retrieved May 19, 2010, from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America database: http://www. pnas. org/content/78/4/2432. full. pdf+html? sid=768efdca-ce15-463a-959d-dd9fbbf7e9d1 Hasnain. â€Å"Did Men and Apes Come from a Common Ancestor?. † Food for Thought: Thought Provoking Articles. (26 Jan 2009). Retrieved May 18, 2010 from the Hasnain’s Life website: http://hasnain. wordpress. com/2009/01/26/did-men-and-apes-come-from-a-common-ancestor/ Menton, D. N. , Ph. D. â€Å"If We Resemble Apes, Does That Mean We Evolved from Apes?. † Origin of Man. (2002). Retrieved May 18, 2010 from the Missouri Association for Creation website: http://www. gennet. org/facts/metro05. html

Research Question And Hypothesis Of Online Peer Mentoring

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Is the practice of online peer mentoring as effective at getting at risk high school students to go on to higher education as its in-person counterpart? 2. Can students possess a positive relationship with mentor support using online peer mentoring as much as they do with in-person peer mentoring? From what we have learned from the literature, we hypothesize that online mentoring will be as successful as its in-person counterpart and that a positive relationship through online mentoring can be maintained.Show MoreRelatedThe Teacher Assistants Of Canadian International Collage, Ahram Canadian University, Modern And Science Academy Essay1387 Words   |  6 PagesThe research aim: to apply this methods on the teacher assistants of Canadian international collage, ahram Canadian university , modern and science academy . 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Essay on Myth of the Fortunate Fall in John Milton’s...

Myth of the Fortunate Fall in Paradise Lost From this descent / Celestial Virtues rising, will appear / More glorious . . . than from no fall. (ii. 14-16)1These are Satans words to the fallen angels in Paradise Lost. Satan claims that their fall from Heaven will seem like a fortunate fall, in that their new rise to power will actually be more glorious than if they had stayed in Heaven all the while. Can we, as fallen humans, possibly make Satans words our own, even if it is not our own work but Gods that causes our rising; or, if we do claim a fortunate fall, have we been beguiled by Satan to rejoice in our fallen state? While it is common among beguiled critics to claim that Paradise Lost presents the Fall as†¦show more content†¦Worse, as time passes, the scale shall dip farther downward before it can ascend. Sin will reign among men because of the Fall (xii. 285-86). No man or woman shall ever be as good or as fair as Adam and Eve (though this is not necessarily a result of the Fall; iv. 323-24). Michael tells Adam , Since thy original lapse, true liberty/Is lost. Liberty (with political overtones here) is lost because liberty is tied to right reason and depends on reason to moderate the passions. But now that sin is in the world, the passions often eclipse reason. The passions forever after will to servitude reduce/Man till then free (xii. 83-90). Worst of all, the Fall is most fortunate, throughout the entire history of the world, until the final triumph, not for mankind but for Sin and Death, and most of the time for the demons as well (x. 270 ff.). Thou hast achieved our liberty (x. 368), Satans progeny say as they thank him for orchestrating the Fall. What good can there be amongst so much evil? In fact, God makes a point of sending Raphael to Adam and Eve for the express purpose of encouraging obedience and warning against the Fall. Raphael is armed with compelling evidence, too; he explains the results of disobedience for Satan and the fallen angels. Thus mankind should fear to transgress (vi. 906-12; vii. 44-45). What trips up the critics is not that the Fall is evil, however, but that out of such an evil God can bring forth good (i. 163, vii.Show MoreRelatedFall from Grace: Satan as a Spiritually Corrupt Hero in Miltons Paradise Lost2859 Words   |  12 PagesFall From Grace: Satan as a Spiritually Corrupt Hero in Miltons Paradise Lost Can Satan -- a being, so evil that even as an Ethereal being of Heaven, who was cast out of Gods grace - be a hero? John Miltons Satan in Paradise Lost is very much a romanticized character within the epic poem, and there has been much debate since the poems publishing in 1667 over Miltons sentiments and whether Satan is the protagonist or a hero. As an angel in God the Fathers Heaven, Satan rose up with a group

Whole Foods Market, Inc. - 1162 Words

Kayla Avery 10k Analysis CBAD 478 May 22nd, 2016 Whole Foods Market, Inc. was founded and created by four business people in Austin, TX during 1980. The founders opened Whole Foods Market because they wanted a supermarket that offered natural foods. This company was able to be successful because at the time they opened there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United Sates. In 1984, they build stores in Houston and Dallas, they then moved to New Orleans, and eventually to the West Coast. A major part of Whole Foods growth has come from the many mergers and acquisitions with companies that have occurred throughout the years. The mergers and acquisitions gave Whole Foods’ even revenues to move to the East Coast.†¦show more content†¦Whole Foods’ launched their mobile application and started offering the grocery delivery to try and stay ahead of their competition. A strategy of Whole Foods’ in 2014 and 2015 was to be disciplined and opportunistic with their real estate purchases . They prefer to open new stores in existing areas and then expand into new areas. Since 2011, Whole Foods’ has opened 100 stores, which is great for growth, but was a huge part of their decline in 2015. As previously mentioned, Whole Foods’ opened 38 new stores in 2015. This large expansion of stores allowed them to produce $1.1 billion in cash flows from their operations, invest $851 million in capital expenditures, and resulted in a free cash flow of $278 million. Those numbers were wonderful for the companies’ shareholders, who got $184 million in quarterly dividends. In 2015, they focused too much on opening new stores, rather than focusing on preexisting stores. Customers said their stores are getting â€Å"shabby with mediocre customer service† (Whole Foods’ Sales). This was a huge turn off for many people, especially when they can go to a store like Sprouts, spend less and get just better service, and natural food. The three-year trend for Whole Foods’ was doing very well until this year, as seen below (WFM Gross Profit Margin (TTM)). The average weekly sales per store hit a record high in 2014 reaching $722,000 and stores that are comparable in

Maintaining Romantic Relationships Free Essays

Maintaining Romantic Relationships When two people choose to forge an interpersonal involvement through communication and believe the bond to be romantic, they have chosen to be in a romantic relationship with one another. In the beginning, being in a romantic relationship seems effortless, magical, and exhilarating. This is before conflict arises and negative emotions cause things to get real and bring the relationship down from cloud nine. We will write a custom essay sample on Maintaining Romantic Relationships or any similar topic only for you Order Now While enjoying the initial stages of the relationship is important, it is also imperative that the two individuals are simultaneously building a foundation of appreciation, respect, forgiveness, and trust. Without this effort, once the â€Å"honeymoon stage† is over, the relationship will most likely crumble and leave both partakers hurt and confused (McCornack 326). With this said, a romantic relationship is one of the most rewarding, complex, and significant entities in a person’s life, and though it seems as if maintaining one should come easily, at times it can be one of the most difficult challenges. However, if effective communication is executed and both partners share the desire to be together, the challenges of misunderstanding one another and accepting shortcomings can be surmounted and a successful romantic relationship can be achieved. Because there are two people deeply invested emotionally, mentally, and possibly physically in a romantic relationship, the stakes are higher than those in a friendship. The chance of actions and words exchanged causing destruction to a point of no retribution is greater than in a platonic relationship, where forgiveness is more easily granted. In an intimate relationship, both people must meet each other halfway. The inherit nature of the human race is to focus primarily on personal needs, but in a committed romantic relationship it is important that the needs of the other partner are also taken into consideration, which may require compromise on how communication and expression of feelings are exchanged. Typically men are less sensitive than women, causing many unnecessary disagreements between the two. Men need to realize that at times the criticism or suggestions they believe will be helpful actually sound mean and hurtful to women, and women should realize that usually men do not have negative intentions with their blunt words but instead do not know any other way to communicate as they were created to interact that way. A helpful tactic in preserving an intimate relationship is for the couple to be able â€Å"to create and maintain ‘positive illusions’ about each other, that is to be less negative and more kind in their evaluation and feedback of their partners, [which] can help to enhance relationship satisfaction† (â€Å"How to Build Maintain Happy Intimate Relationships†). This applies to both sides of the relationship. For example, the man can be gentler in his communication and the woman less harassing in hers, resulting in both of them being happier with the way they are treated, bringing them closer together. Partners are happier and more committed when positive interactions between partners outweigh negative ones by a ratio of at least 5:1† (â€Å"How to Build Maintain Happy Intimate Relationships†). The risks are greater in a romantic relationship than in a platonic one, but so are the rewards, causing the necessary determination and effort worth th e gamble. As life progresses, changes are inevitable, and relationships are affected by the continuing evolution of a person’s life. An individual’s wants and needs change as a relationship develops, and this change should be embraced as an opportunity for the relationship to grow and reach a deeper level instead of resisted and ignored. By periodically setting aside time to check in with one another on these changes, the couple can assure that they are aware of the other’s changing expectations and goals, therefore enhancing the intensity of their connection (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). Sometimes, couples forget that they must make the conscious effort to keep the relationship going, which leads to it falling into a rut. Thus the exploration of each other’s hobbies and interests is essential in maintaining the excitement of sharing experiences with one another (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). Having a significant other is like always having a best friend around, but better because there is affection and deeper feelings involved. The point of a best friend is to have someone to share enjoyable experiences with, so to not include one another in activities and adventures in an intimate relationship is counter-intuitive and defeats one of the main purposes of being in one. Long-term relationships are difficult because sometimes the couple loses sight of why they are together in the first place. They begin to view the relationship as a job instead of a thrilling, positive addition to their lives. From personal experience, I know that even though avoiding this unfortunate situation sounds simple enough, it can happen all too easily, for I am guilty of it as well. A year ago, after I realized that my relationship with my boyfriend was becoming more stressful than fulfilling, I knew I had to make a change. I told him that I wanted to be â€Å"the cherry on top of his life sundae† and be a positive appendage to his life instead of an exhausting obligation. By this time it was too late and we broke up for a few months. I feel as though if my boyfriend and I had taken the time to sit down and talk to each other about the changes that were occurring in our lives and in our relationship, as well as make the effort to experience fun activities together instead of falling into a routine of going to each other’s houses with the occasional trip to the movie theater, our relationship might not have transformed into such a tense monster that seemed to spiral out of our control. When conflict arises, communication is the key to a resolution. Because a common source of conflict is unrealistic or unreasonable expectations, the two members of a relationship must be willing to be open and honest about what they anticipate from one another and whether these expectations are being met (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). Each of the romantic partners must be willing to attempt to see the issue from the other’s point of view. Sometimes, the way that conflict is dealt with speaks enormously about a person’s past experiences and family history. No two people have grown up exactly the same, so it is impossible for two people to have the exact same way of dealing with issues. In some families, communication is not a big priority, yet in others it is constant. It is important for an individual to be aware of his or her partner’s background so that an understanding can be met and communication can effectively solve an issue instead of prolonging it. Another important aspect of solving a conflict is timing. There is no perfect time for a conflict to occur, but the partakers of one have control over when they solve it. In the past, it was believed that it was best to never leave a fight unresolved and that the issue should be fixed immediately; however, it is now recommended that people take some time to â€Å"cool off† so that hurtful things are not said that could potentially cause irreversible damage to the relationship (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). This personal time can allow each person to alleviate the initial anger or hurt and rationalize their thoughts. The most important aspect in the approach to solving a conflict is for both partners to do their best to communicate in a way that the other will understand. The main obstacle that makes maintaining a romantic relationship so challenging is that men and women communicate so differently, and it is impossible for them to ever communicate in the same manner no matter how much each of them try. When it comes to communication, men and women are on two completely different planets, stated by the best-selling book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. In this relationship guide, the author John Gray states, â€Å"Men are motivated when they feel needed while women are motivated when they feel cherished† (â€Å"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Quotes†). This could not be truer. Men approach the world with the mindset that they are an individual in a hierarchy where life is a contest of social order, while women engage the world â€Å"as an individual in a network of connections† where life is a community and the main focus is to evade isolation and sustain intimacy (Tannen, Ph. D. 24-25). For effective communication to occur, understanding and compromise must be implemented. This is vital in maintaining a healthy romantic relationship because ineffective communication leads to frustration, confusion, and eventually termination. In order to avoid this, both the man and the woman in the relationship must be willing to accept each other’s way of interacting, even if it seems strange or ridiculous. To many people, opening the lines of communication seems impossible because they view the difficulty of communicating as an inevitable problem and a flaw of the other person. However, this is not the case, and it is achievable as long as both partners are prepared to attempt to see communication from the other’s point of view (Tannen, Ph. D. 297-298). There is no one set way to do anything in life; instead, there are many methods of approaching an issue or situation and the â€Å"right† one depends on personal preference. This applies to maintaining a romantic relationship as well. Each couple has their own unique way of interacting with one another, and in each of those couples, the man and the woman also have different ways of communicating and expressing themselves. John Gray also wrote in his book, â€Å"When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom† (†Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Quotes†). A relationship cannot grow without proper communication, and for this to be accomplished both partners must be willing to give up their stubborn pride and come to terms with the fact that their way of handling situations is not the only way. Once this level of respect is present, misunderstandings will be a misfortune of the past. The best approach to maintaining a healthy intimate relationship is to not overlook each other’s flaws and shortcomings but to accept and embrace them. Though this can be challenging and at times overwhelming, the success of maintaining a romantic relationship is one of the most fulfilling triumphs known to mankind. Works Cited â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start. † UT Counseling and Mental Health Center. The University of Texas at Austin. Web. 7 Mar 2013. How to Build Maintain Happy Intimate Relationships. † Counseling Center Resources Articles and Brochures. Roosevelt University. Web. 9 Mar 2013. McCornack, Steven. Reflect and Relate, an Introduction to Interpersonal Communication. 2nd. Boston: Bedford/st Martins, 2009. 326. Print. â€Å"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Quotes. † Goodreads. N. p.. Web. 6 Mar 2013. Tannen, Ph. D. , Deborah. You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. NewYork: William Morrow and Company, Inc. , 1990. Print. How to cite Maintaining Romantic Relationships, Papers

A New Sense Of Life Essay Example For Students

A New Sense Of Life Essay A New Sense of LifeIn Baldwins Discovery of What it Means to Be an American, it was said that to be an American was a truly free feeling. The fact is you could change yourself mid-life and still hold worth and prowess. The idea of being considered a great author, and also as being a great actor, holds different places here in America then in Europe, or even Canada. Most places would hold the profession of an author to have more of an elegance then an actor. The author holds more intellectual ground, then that of one who can act out a part and memorize lines. (Not so much as the idea of being a writer, then an actor, but how you present yourself.) If someone asks you, Who are you?, you might simply answer, I am a carpenter. or I am a congressman. Say you have a job that would not be as high on the social ladder as these. For example, use the profession of a garbage man. He gets paid as much as the carpenter, but in society, that profession isnt looked upon like a carpenter, or a congressman. Along the same lines, a congressman, or even a carpenter, can turn around at the pinnacle of his career, and choose to be a garbage man, if thats what his heart seeks. America has a view unlike any other nation, in which you can start over at any time. You can take control of your life by going back to school, learning what you want to, thus becoming something completely different at the age of 50. Unlike many eastern nations, where you are dedicated to that one job concept, (IE. If youre an incredible trumpet player, you will be that for the rest of your life, and thats that), in America you have the option to move about in the job market, to try out different professions, and feel your way through life. You can see evidence of that by the fact junior colleges are very popular among older people. In America, you are allowed to go to school for the rest of your life if you want to, and the school will work around your current employment schedule. The meaning of life in America is different than that of any other country. You can go where you want and be whomever you want. It is called the pursuit of happiness. Ill use me as an example. Im currently working as a computer salesman for Gateway Computers. On the side, Im reading and learning about the A+ certification to become a computer technician, so I can move out of my current profession as a salesman and into one of a technician. In America you always have the option of bettering yourself. America is the path of gold to anything and everything in life. You can achieve whatever you can muster, and are encouraged to do your best every step of the way. You can take your life, completely turn it around at any point, and become someone you werent 3 days prior. In Japan, for example, this would be unheard of. If youre in college, you would identify yourself as a student. Later in life, you would say youre a businessman, or woman, or a professional, and that is what you would be. The changing of professions in Japan is extremely rare and seldom considered. In the land of America, it is always an option. You can always better yourself, and become a better you.English