Depression and Cognitive Distortions

Depression and Cognitive Distortions Depression Symptoms Print Depression and Cognitive Distortions By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Updated on February 15, 2020 Paper Boat Creative/Getty Images   More in Depression Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Types Childhood Depression Suicide Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which came first, the depression symptoms  or the pessimistic thoughts? In many cases, depression actually is the result of habitual negative thoughts, called cognitive distortions.?? When bad things happen, we begin chastising ourselves with thoughts such as Im no good, Im a total failure or Nothing ever goes my way. Our feelings follow what we are thinking, and negative thoughts like these can send us spiraling down into depression. This concept is the guiding principle behind cognitive therapy, a type of psychotherapy developed by psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s. If we think something often enough, we begin to believe its true and our feelings match what we are thinking about ourselves. To conquer depression, we must stop those automatic negative thoughts and replace them with more positive, truthful ones. By nipping these thoughts in the bud, we can halt depression before it even starts. Common Cognitive Distortion Examples Cognitive therapy is directed at 10 common cognitive distortions, or faulty thought patterns, that send us into depression. See if you recognize yourself in any of these. All-or-Nothing Thinking: John recently applied for a promotion in his firm. The job went to another employee with more experience. John wanted this job badly and now feels that he will never be promoted. He feels that he is a total failure in his career.Overgeneralization: Linda is lonely and often spends most of her time at home. Her friends sometimes ask her to come out for dinner and meet new people. Linda feels that that is it useless to try to meet people. No one really could like her. People are all mean and superficial anyway.Mental Filter: Mary is having a bad day. As she drives home, a kind gentleman waves her to go ahead of him as she merges into traffic. Later in her trip, another driver cuts her off. She grumbles to herself that there are nothing but rude and insensitive people in her city.Disqualifying the Positive: Rhonda just had her portrait made. Her friend tells her how beautiful she looks. Rhonda brushes aside the compliment by saying that the photographer must hav e touched up the picture. She never looks that good in real life, she thinks.Jumping to Conclusions: Chuck is waiting for his date at a restaurant. Shes now 20 minutes late. Chuck laments to himself that he must have done something wrong and now she has stood him up. Meanwhile, across town, his date is stuck in traffic.Magnification and Minimization: Scott is playing football. He bungles a play that hes been practicing for weeks. He later scores the winning touchdown. His teammates compliment him. He tells them he should have played better; the touchdown was just dumb luck.Emotional Reasoning: Laura looks around her untidy house and feels overwhelmed by the prospect of cleaning. She feels that its hopeless to even try to clean.Should Statements: David is sitting in his doctors waiting room. His doctor is running late. David sits stewing, thinking, With how much Im paying him, he should be on time. He ought to have more consideration. He ends up feeling bitter and resentful.Labeling and Mislabeling: Donna just cheated on her diet. Im a fat, lazy pig, she thinks.Personalization: Jeans son is doing poorly in school. She feels that she must be a bad mother. She feels that its all her fault that he isnt studying. How to Cope If you recognize any of these behaviors in yourself, then youre halfway there. Heres a homework assignment for you: Over the next few weeks, monitor the self-defeating ways in which you respond to situations. Practice recognizing your automatic responses. Now we will take each of the above cognitive distortions and discuss some powerful coping strategies that will help you dispel the blues before they even start. All-or-Nothing Thinking This type of thinking is characterized by absolute terms like  always,  never, and  forever??. Few situations are ever this absolute. There are generally gray areas. The technique that you should apply here is to eliminate these absolute terms from your vocabulary, except for the cases where they truly apply. Look for a more accurate description of the situation. Heres an example of self-talk that John could have used to cope with not getting that promotion: I wanted this job a lot, but it went to someone with more experience. This is disappointing to me, but it doesnt mean Im not a good employee. Other opportunities will be available in the future. Ill keep working on my skills so that Ill be ready for them when they arrive. This one setback does not mean my career is over. Overall, I have excelled in my work. Overgeneralization When one overgeneralizes, one takes an isolated case or cases and assumes that all others are the same??. Are people really all mean and superficial and could never like her? What about her friends who are trying to get her to go out? Obviously, she does have someone who cares about her. The next time you catch yourself overgeneralizing, remind yourself that even though a group of people may share something in common, they are also separate and unique individuals. No two people are exactly the same. There may be mean and superficial people in this world. There may even be people who dislike you. But, not every person will fit this description. By assuming that everyone doesnt like you, you are building a wall that will prevent you from having what you crave the most â€" friendship. Mental Filter When a person falls victim to mental filters they are mentally singling out only the bad events in their lives and overlooking the positive??. Learn to look for that silver lining in every cloud. Its all about how you choose to let events affect you. Mary could have turned her whole day around if she had paid attention to that nice man who went out of his way to help her. Disqualifying the Positive We  depressives  are masters at taking the good in a situation and turning it into a negative. Part of this comes from a tendency to have  low self-esteem. We feel like we just dont deserve it. How to turn this around is simple. The next time someone compliments you, resist the little voice inside that says you dont deserve it. Just say thank you and smile. The more you do this, the easier it will become. Jumping to Conclusions Once again, we fall victim to our own insecurities. We expect the worst and begin preparing early for the disappointment. By the time we find out that all our fears were unfounded, weve worked ourselves into a frenzy and for what? Next time do this:  Give the person the benefit of the doubt. Youll save yourself a lot of unnecessary  worry. If your fears have some basis in reality, however, drop that person from your life like a hot potato. Magnification and Minimization Have you ever looked through a telescope from the wrong direction? Everything looks tinier than it really is. When you look through the other end, everything looks larger. People who fall into the magnification/minimization trap look at all their successes through the wrong end of the telescope and their failures through the other end??. What can you do to stay away from this error and stop your negative thoughts? Remember the old saying, He cant see the forest for the trees? When one mistake bogs us down, we forget to look at the overall picture. Step back and look at the forest now and then. Overall, Scott played a good game. So what if he made a mistake? Emotional Reasoning Laura has based her assessment of the situation on how it makes her  feel  not how it really is. It may make her feel bad to think of the large task ahead of her, but is it really hopeless? In reality, cleaning her house is a doable task. She just doesnt feel up to it. She has reached the conclusion that it is useless to try based on the fact that it overwhelms her. When a situation feels overwhelming, try this to stop your negative thoughts: Break down the task down into smaller ones. Then prioritize what is most important to you. Now, do the first task on your list. Believe it or not, you will begin to feel better and ready for more. The important thing is to just do  something  towards your goal. No matter how small, its a start and will break you out of feeling helpless. Should Statements We all think things  should  be a certain way, but lets face it, they arent. Concentrate on what you can change and if you cant change it, accept it as part of life and go on. Your  mental health  is more important than the way things should be. Labeling and Mislabeling What Donna has done in our example is label herself as lazy and hopeless. She most likely will reason that since she cant lose weight, she may as well eat. She has now effectively trapped herself by living up to the label she placed on herself. When we label ourselves, we set ourselves up to become whatever that label entails. This can just as easily work to our advantage. Heres what Donna could have done to make labeling work in her favor. She could have considered the fact that up until now she has been strong. She could then forgive herself for only being human and acknowledge that she has been working hard to lose weight and has been succeeding. This is a temporary setback that she can overcome. Overall, she is a strong person and has proven it by her successful weight loss. With this type of positive thinking, Donna will feel better and be back to work on her weight loss goals in no time. Personalization In our example, Jean is taking all the responsibility for how her son is doing in school. She is failing to take into consideration that her son is an individual who is ultimately responsible for himself. She can do her best to guide him, but in the  end,  he controls his own actions. Next time you find yourself doing this, ask yourself, Would I take credit if this person were doing something praiseworthy? Chances are youd say, No, he accomplished that by himself. So why blame yourself when he does something not so praiseworthy? Beating yourself up is not going to change his behavior. Only he can do that. The solutions Ive presented here are some of the common situations we find ourselves in. Take these as examples and create your own positive solutions to your negative thoughts. Recognizing that you do it is the first step. Then play devils advocate and challenge yourself to find the positive. Turn your thoughts around and your moods will follow suit. Remember, you  are  what you think! The 7 Best Online Help Resources for Depression

Traditional and Non-Traditional Ways to Pay for College

Financial Aid Options from Grants to Educational Investments While high school seniors are anxiously awaiting admissions decisions, many parents are also waiting to see how much college will cost them come time to enroll. Higher education in the US is expensive, but it’s also an investment that has great returns long-term. Many colleges are known for their great ROI, but those with a college degree, no mater where it’s from, will earn $1 million more over their lifetime than those with just a high school diploma. There are many ways to fund your college education, both traditional and a little non-traditional. Here are some ways that students and parents can help pay for college. Grants There’s no such thing as a free lunch†¦but grants come pretty close. The following types of aid are the most common form of â€Å"free money† to help pay for college: Federal Pell Grants: Take up to $5,645 off the cost of tuition! Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant: And an extra $4,000 off for families demonstrating serious financial need. Institutional Grants (offered by the school itself): Several schools offer grants as well to students whose parents earn under a certain threshold. Princeton University has a â€Å"no loans† policy, meaning they agree to meet each applicant’s demonstrated need. State Grants: What’s your state’s policy on aid? Look it up today! Figure out whether you qualify, and for how much, by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fun Fact: "Free money" (scholarships and grants) now pay for 30% of college costs, up from 25% four years ago. Scholarships There is more than $3 billion in scholarships out there. By using online tools, such as FastWeb.com, Sallie Mae, Federal Student Aid, CollegeBoard.com and Scholarships.com, you can determine which scholarships align with your background and abilities. There's even one for the best duck call and best duct tape prom outfit! You can also qualify for merit scholarships by scoring high on the PSAT and/or attending a college that grants them to top performing students. National Merit Scholarships, determined by the PSAT, can earn winners up to $2500. You should also have your parents ask their employers about corporate sponsorships, or look into opportunities with companies doing work you are interested in pursuing. Many schools themselves offer scholarships. Some schools grant additional aid to qualifying students, regardless of their need. Additionally, high performing athletes can receive additional aid from interested schools. Fun Fact: The University of Rochester awards $3,000 just for reaching out to the financial aid office for a serious conversation, and $2,000 for coming from out-of-state. AP Courses/Exams for College Credit AP courses and exams may not be free, but they are significantly less expensive than college courses. Earn enough college credit in high school, and you can graduate a semester or two early. This could mean cutting college costs by up to 25 percent! College Board also offers exams through its College-Level Examination Program(CLEP), where students can earn college credit by taking any one of the 33 exams on a variety of subjects, including calculus, government, literature, and others. There are currently2,900 colleges and universities who grant credit for CLEP, with each institution setting its own CLEP policy. Check out the AP and CLEP credit transfer policies at the schools you’re applying to in order to plan strategically. Fun Fact: AP exams cost $89 and CLEP exams cost $80. How much do you pay per credit at college? At a private four-year school, it works out to about $900 for each. Federal Work Study The Federal Work Study programprovides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and/or work related to the student’s course of study. Check with your school’s financial aid office to see if they participate, and be sure to fill out the FAFSA. Crowd-Funding Through services like GiveCollege.com, parents and students can register their 529 college savings plan with the service and invite friends and family to donate. You can even host fundraising events to boost participation! Registration is free. Student Sponsorships and Education Investment Following their popularity in Europe, student sponsorships and investmentsthrough companies and organizations likeLumniare finally catching on in the US. Through a sponsorship,private benefactors sponsor students from the local community, providing money for college under the agreement that students will commit to pay a fixed percentage of income for 120 months after graduation. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) This one requires a little more commitment, but it also offers higher reward. Yes, after graduation, you have to join the Army, Navy, or Air Force, but before then, ROTC will have helped pay not only for your tuition, but for other school fees as well. They even help pay for books and clothes, and provide a monthly stipend. Are you counting on scholarships, grants, or other forms of aid to finance your college education? Tell us in the comments below!

Success And Change At Prudential Plc - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 2956 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Prudential Plc is a United Kingdom (UK) based international retail financial services group focusing on the pre and post retirement market providing products such as insurance, unit trusts and bonds, annuities, pension plans, mutual funds, investment advisory services (Prudential Plc website,2010). It was founded on 30 May 1848 in London (Prudential Plc History Timeline, 2008). The company has significant operations in the United States of America (USA), UK and Asia with approximately 21 million customers, policy holders and unit holders, employing over 27 thousand people managing funds to the extent of ÂÂ £249 billion across the globe (Prudential Plc website, 2010). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Success And Change At Prudential Plc" essay for you Create order Prudential is a public limited company listed on the London Stock Exchange as well as the FTSE 100 index. Four main business units comprise the Prudential group: Prudential Corporation Asia, Jackson National Life Insurance Company in the USA, Prudential UK and Europe and MG Investments (Prudential Plc website,2010). These units are supported by central strategies such as those for cash and capital management, leadership development, succession planning and reputation management. Until 2006 the group operated through three segments: banking; long term business; and broker-dealer and fund management. In 2007 it divested its banking segment. In 2008, the company generated approximately $35 million, an increase of 3.4 percent as compared to the previous year but reported an overall net loss of approximately $718 million (Datamonitor, 2009).However, the group has continued to reinforce the fact they have retained a robust and resilient capital position in the industry despite the economic ally challenging environment (Prudential Plc website, 2010). The PESTEL analysis below looks at the macro-environment in which Prudential is operating and tries to identify forces having the greatest impact on the company and its performance. PESTEL Analysis Political With effect from 2012, European Commisions Solvency II project is expected to change capital requirements for all sectors of the insurance industry in the European Union. It will require insurance companies to set aside more or less capital depending on the risks they face (Financial Services Authority, 2010). Economic The Banking crisis and economic downturn in 2008/9 have put the financial activities and balance sheets of insurance companies under close scrutiny. It has also resulted in concerns amongst investors and led to loss of confidence in insurers. This is being manifested in the form of sudden falls in share prices of insurance companies, including Prudential (The Guardian, 2008). A deceleration for 2008-2013 has been forecasted in the performance of the global life insurance market. This will have a direct effect on the overall performance of the company (Datamonitor, November 2009). The global retail savings and investments market has also seen a decline in 2008 and hardly any improvement in 2009 as a result of the economic difficulties the industry is facing (Datamonitor, December 2009). As a result of the current market volatility, interest rates have fallen to their lowest level for over 3 hundred years. Nevertheless, Prudential has set its annual bonus rates at 3 percent for most with-profit bonds and personal pension policies and 2 percent for annuity customers, thereby suggesting its strong capital position to help it tide through the difficult economic times ahead (Prudential Plc News Release, 2009). Social Ageing population in the two most developing nations, USA and the UK is leading to a higher demand for pension and retirement products (Datamonitor, 2008). Since Prudentials products and marketing range are mainly targeted at those aged over 45, this change in demographics is very crucial to the companys overall growth (Datamonitor, 2005). It is therefore essential for Prudential to support the ageing population by providing products that meet the customers changing needs. There is a distinct loss of confidence amongst consumers to opt for financial services as a result of mis-selling of some products in the UK, complexity in the financial services environment and poor performance of equity markets (Prudential Plc website, 2010). Research reveals that there is an estimated savings gap of ÂÂ £27 billion per year in the UK. Furthermore, the government has estimated that approximately 10 million people in the UK are not saving enough and 3 million people are not saving at a ll despite having the ability to do so (Wyman, O. Co., 2001). Technological The importance of digital/internet marketing in todays competitive environment can hardly be over-emphasised. The Internet accounts for 8 percent of global advertising spend and is growing rapidly (The Economist, 2009). Recent studies show that the financial services industry is lagging behind in digital marketing as compared to other industries (Marketing Charts, 2008). Given the challenges now faced within financial services, it is crucial for companies to rethink and adjust the way they acquire new customers and retain existing ones. Increased use of digital marketing can help financial institutions to develop better relationships with customers (Marketing Charts, 2008). Environmental International Agreements such as the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Kyoto Protocol in 1997, Johannesburg Summit in 2002, have led to nations taking action towards ensuring sustainable development across the globe. Keeping in line with these policies, Prudential are committed towards reducing their environmental impact including reduction in the carbon footprint of the group, its suppliers business operations and creating bottom line savings through the implementation of cost effective energy efficiency measures (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008). Prudential is one of 38 companies from the financial services sector to endorse the ClimateWise principles, launched in 2007. The principles have been developed by leading global insurers, reinsurers, brokers and asset managers to promote action on climate change. They will enable companies and organisations throughout the world to build climate change into their business operations (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibilit y Report, 2008). Legal In the UK, from April 2010, earnings over ÂÂ £150 thousand will be subject to a new tax rate of 50 percent and the corresponding tax rate for dividends will be 42.5 percent (HM Treasury, 2009).This will have a negative impact on companys UK market as it will encourage higher earners who could have invested in the companys financial products and services to leave the country (Prudential International, 2009). In the UK, also from April 2010, anyone with an income over ÂÂ £100 thousand (after certain adjustments for pension contributions, Gift Aid etc) will lose personal allowance at the rate of ÂÂ £1 allowance lost for every ÂÂ £2 excess income (HM Treasury , 2009). This will have a negative impact on the companys UK market as buyers might be encouraged to invest in off-shore bonds and policies instead (Prudential International, 2009). Porters Five Forces Analysis of the Financial Services Industry Threat of Substitute Products and Services There are few close substitutes to financial services and products and the threat is determined as weak. Investment in gold, jewellery, antiques and other collectibles might be considered as substitutes for investment in mutual funds, equities and other forms of savings. Investment in property is also seen as alternate to investment in pension schemes to provide income and capital for old-age, consequently leading to a rapid growth in the buy-to-let market (Ennew et al, 2007). Level of Competition There is considerable competition within the financial services industry despite having few close substitutes. Most companies in this industry operate on a large scale with wide geographical coverage and strong buying power, thereby fostering strong rivalry between the players (Datamonitor, 2007). Competition has been fuelled by the liberalisation of financial markets and reduced barriers between different institutional types. Bancassurance and diversification of specialised insurance companies into banking are typical examples of this. Companies in the industry try to maintain their competitive edge by diversifying and offering a wide range of financial services and products to its target audience (Ennew and Waite, 2007). For example, Prudential ventured into the online banking industry through its online bank Egg through which it offered a range of traditional banking products at very competitive terms and conditions. However, this venture was sold to Citibank in 2007 (Prudential Plc website, 2010). Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is low. This can be attributed to high entry barriers caused by strong brand identity for Prudential, its product differentiation, customer loyalty and moreover, high switching costs. Moreover to be able to enter the market and be successful, new entrants would need highly specialised knowledge and expertise along with huge financial resources to compete with an established brands in the industry (Dess, Lumpkin, Eisner , 2008 ). There are some government regulations in place by bodies such as the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK which limit the entry of other financial firms into the market (Datamonitor, November 2009). Moreover, the likelihood of new entrants in the industry has been reduced with the current global economic situation causing reduction in consumers confidence in the industry, increased merger and acquisitions amongst key players and government bail-outs for large institutions (Datamonitor, December 2009). Bargaining Power of Buyers Is moderate for individual consumers as there are many in number and the impact of losing one customer is low. However, buying power is higher for corporate clients as they usually pay huge premiums and loosing high-margin clients will have a negative impact on the companys revenues. There are plenty of alternatives in the industry but the switching cost is relatively high for consumers as changing players will involve surrendering or ending a policy before it matures which will have cost and tax implications for them. Existence of price comparison websites and financial services consultants boost buyer power as they empower buyers to shop-around for the best deal available due to the importance of the product offered. With the economic downturn, buyers disposable incomes have also been reduced. This has an indirect impact on their buyer behaviour as they may choose not to invest in financial services as they might not come across as necessities (Datamonitor, November 2009). Bargaining Power of Suppliers Overall bargaining power of suppliers is strong. This is because companies operating in this market require a reliable and secure ICT infrastructure to help conduct vital back-office and client-facing functions such as online equity trading and online banking. Studies conducted by Datamonitor (2009) indicate that complex hardware and software requirements by major players in the industry lead to few suppliers which can offer suitable solutions to them, and these tend to be large organisations such as IBM or Microsoft. This consequently strengthens the bargaining position of suppliers such as IT consultants, hardware and software suppliers and internet service providers. Moreover, large firms tend to be committed to one supplier, thereby imposing high switching costs on themselves. Additionally, large firms with extensive branches face high staffing costs because of the need for skilled employees (Datamonitor, December 2009). SWOT Analysis Strengths Strong Market Position in Asia, Europe and the U.S. the three most attractive savings markets in the world provide a competitive edge to the company. This helps the company to retain existing and attract new customers (Datamonitor, November 2009). The group has always endeavoured to continuously improve its brand value by contextualising and localising its marketing strategies. With the big demographic shift, the groups focus on brand value is expected to help capturing a huge share in the global retirement and asset management markets (Prudential Plc website, 2010) The company has a strong financial position thereby standing it in good stead in the current economic downturn and tight capital markets across the globe (Datamonitor, November 2009 ). Weaknesses High operating costs pose a risk of reducing profit margins for the company which would directly affect its competitiveness as compared to its rivals (Ebsco Host , 2009). Overall group performance is being affected by its exposure to the sub-prime mortgage sector through its subsidiary Jackson National Life in USA due to predicted high losses in the coming financial year (Ebsco Host, 2009). Opportunities Expansion in the Asian market could help to increase the groups revenues and overall profits. This is because the group has high brand recognition and a strong customer base of 7 million added to booming economic activity leading to higher personal wealth , greater disposable incomes and a growing demand for protection and savings products (Ebsco Host, 2008). With the aging of the baby- boomer generation there is huge increase in demand for pension and retirement products. Studies reveal that the market for retirement products is already the largest driver of growth in financial services (Ebsco Host, 2009). This change could benefit the life and pension business of the Prudential. The anticipated growth (9.9 percent compounded annual growth rate for 2006-2012) of the global asset management industry will help to strengthen the companys market position (Ebsco Host, 2009). Cost savings would increase the companys profitability (Ebsco Host, 2009). Threats Existence of namesakes worldwide, the closest one being Prudential Financial Inc, confuses consumers and can result in loss of business. This is aggravated by the increasing popularity of the internet wherein it has become difficult to differentiate between the company and its namesakes (Ebsco Host, 2008). Studies reveal an increasing number of insurance frauds in the industry. With Prudentials large scale of operation, this could lead to increase in claim losses and operation margins .This could force the group to pass insurance fraud costs to policy holders or opt for lower reinsurance cover, thereby causing an adverse affect to profitability (Ebsco Host, 2008). Value Chain Analysis Value-chain analysis is a useful tool to determine how an organisation creates its competitive edge over its rival firms (Dess et al, 2008). Primary Value Chain Activities: Inbound Logistics Prudentials inbound logistics policy is to work in partnership with suppliers who operate with policies and procedures consistent with the standards set out in the Group Code of Business Conduct (the Code), and to help them reduce their impact on the environment. This enables the group to maximise their beneficial social impact and minimise environmental impact. In its dealings with suppliers , the company endeavours to maintain the highest possible standards of integrity in business relationships. All subsidiaries are encouraged to use only those suppliers who operate with values and standards equivalent to the Group. The company has a strict policy to agree terms of payment when orders for goods and services are placed and pay in accordance with those terms (Prudential Plc Annual Report, 2008). Operations As Dess et al (2008) postulate, creation of environmentally friendly manufacturing processes is also one way of achieving competitive advantage, Prudential Plc are no stranger to this. The group actively endeavours to reduce its environmental footprints directly and indirectly. Examples include activities such as introduction of Energy performance certificates , achieving ISO 14001 certification, publishing sustainable development framework to encourage sustainable practices across the industry (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008). Outbound Logistics The company uses Single Customer View architecture to enable it to store in one place, information on different products and account data relating to any customer. This provides one point of contact for customers ensuring faster responses to queries and quicker problem resolution. The architecture has helped the company to consolidate its call centres as it helps to provide staff with an overview of all customers and their value to the company resulting in cost savings (Beckett, 2005). Marketing and Sales The Prudential built its reputation by providing financial advice and products to customers through an army of door-to-door salesmen. However, since 2002 the man from the Pru image has been replaced by automated channels and intermediaries because the direct selling method was not suitable for the company anymore. The new image has Retirement has more potential with Prudential as its tagline. The company now uses print, online, direct response, radio and television advertising as well as sponsorship of client interest programmes (Marketing Week, 2007; Phang, L, 2008). Service The group continues to maintain high standards of customer service ensuring that they receive fair, transparent financial products through a variety of trusted channels. Prudential endeavours to meet the rapidly changing needs of its target audience. The company has tracking systems in place to regularly monitor customer satisfaction. Examples of good customer service include achieving the 2008 award for highest customer satisfaction in the financial services industry in North America; surveys reveal that 88 percent of Prudential UK customers feel they are treated fairly; conducting agency training and leadership development to promote a deeper understanding of customers financial goals (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008). Support Value Chain Activities: Procurement Prudential encourages all its subsidiaries to develop collaborative win-win relationships with its suppliers and contractors to ensure the quality and profitability of its products and services (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008). Technology Development The importance of technology can hardly be undermined for the group. Prudential has always been at the forefront to develop and install automated systems to aid in its administrative functions. The company has created its own customer information system, Single View to enable it to manage the quality of its data. This new system also helps the company to cater to online marketing and customer management (Beckett, 2005). Human Resource Management (HRM) The companys HR strategy focuses on five key elements: getting the right people into the business; building and rewarding performance; growing a strong talent pipeline; developing credible successors and; developing an organisation that works. The group has also launched a group-wide Momentum Programme to attract a wide diversity of applicants (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008). General Administration Prudential has an effective planning system in place to help it to attain overall goals. This is backed by the ability of its top management to anticipate and respond to key environmental trends and events such as the demographic shift in global population. Through its sustainable development initiatives, the company has maintained excellent relationships with its diverse stakeholder groups. There is an effective IT division which helps to integrate the companys value creating activities (Prudential Plc Corporate Responsibility Report, 2008). Conclusion Prudential Plcs several strengths and opportunities are helping the company not only to survive but also grow in this global economic downturn following the banking industry crisis. The retail financial services industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation as one of the biggest demographic waves in history transitions out of the workforce and into active retirement. Over the coming years, this global retirement opportunity will be a significant driver of further growth for Prudential. However, the group need to be wary of its high operating costs in order to maximise the profitability of its products and services.

Gay Marriage Research Paper - 899 Words

In recent years, the debate over gay marriage has grown from an issue that occasionally arose in a few states to a nationwide controversy. People have opposing viewpoints on whether gays should be allowed to marry or not, and the sub topics that coincide with gay marriage. People wonder if it is okay for gays to marry, and if so, should it be legal everywhere? In the United States I 2009, some states like Iowa, Vermont, and Connecticut allow gays to marry, while states like California, Florida, and Arizona have constitutions that prohibit same-sex marriages. Most supporters of same-sex marriage contend that gay and lesbian couples should be treated no differently than their heterosexual counterparts and that they should be able to†¦show more content†¦7). Many benefits come with a marriage. Some of those benefits include tax filing status, joint ownership of property, insurance benefits (Messerli, par. 3), and children. Without marriage, gays will be unable to have some of these benefits that many other married couples have. For example, if one member of a gay couple that has been together for 20 years gets critically ill, visitation may not even be allowed since the other isnt considered a spouse or immediate family member (Messerli, par. 3). Children, on the other hand, is a bit different. Even though someone does not have to be married to have a child, how come people think gays should not be allowed to? If a sixteen year old girl can raise a kid, then, a gay couple can too. Some people think that only heterosexual couples should have kids, and that marriage [is] only for the procreation of children and that homosexuals cannot biologically fulfill this function (Blair, 305). Technically, gays could procreate and have biological children, but they would have to use surrogacy. Some people also think that a child being raised by two parents of the same gender will not turn out to be normal, but there are plenty of different aspects that could affec t the way a child will turn out to be like. The number of child adoptions should increase since gay couples cannot pro-create (Messerli, par. 8). With more gay marriages, there will be a largerShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage Research Paper1970 Words   |  8 PagesIt is rooted in our traditional Western values that marriage is intended to be between man and woman. The dictionary defines it as the social institution under which a male and female establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments and religious ceremonies.1 I do not believe marriage should have an alternate definition. President George W. Bush once addressed our nation stating: â€Å"The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution honored and encouragedRead MoreGay Marriage Research Paper1852 Words   |  8 Pagesmarried or reap the benefits of said marriage. Marriage is basic to the recognition as equals in society and any status short of this becomes inferior, unjust and unconstitutional. Our nation cannot live up to its promise of equality and the fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, until the invidious discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is done away with. Equality under the law extends to all persons. 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Augustine s Ontological Proof For The Existence Of God

Augustine was a Christian theologian and philosopher born during the late ancient period, born only a handful of centuries after the advent of the common era. Through this era, the separation between religion and philosophy became increasingly evident, though many theologians and philosophers did not limit themselves to one field or the other. In fact, many used philosophical ideas to back up theological concepts and thoughts. One good example of this would be in Augustine’s Ideo-Ontological proof for the existence of god. However, as with most things of a philosophical nature, there is no simple right or wrong, A or B reading of the Ideo-Ontological proof. Despite any possible contention that may occur over the interpretations of the Ideo-Ontological proof, there is no doubt that the proof contributed greatly towards the development of western philosophy, as started by Plato centuries prior. The primary concept behind the Ideo-Ontological proof is that god is a thinker of some sort; for such an influential concept, the definition is actually very cut and dry. The steps to come to such a conclusion, however, are somewhat more complicated. The first step in this proof is to accept that humans are, first and foremost, thinkers; something that later philosophers would pick up on as well. The second is where the problems start; as predicated by the fact that we are thinkers, we are able to think of eternal ideas. I have troubles with this, as I do not presently believe thatShow MoreRelatedProposed Seven Philosophers On The Existence Of God And Their Development Of These Ideas1413 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle, (4) Francis Bacon, (5) St. Augustine, (6) Thomas Aquinas, and (7) Rene DesCartes. The specific three I want to focus on being; St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and Rene Descartes. Lastly, I will proceed to relate their ideas on the existence of God and their development of these ideas. St. Augustine s epistemology is rationalization. In his argument for the existence of God, he is referring to varying degrees of perfection otherwise know as, an Ontological argument. He believed that in pursuingRead More Gods Existence Essay1554 Words   |  7 Pageshas challenged the existence of God. This may happen for a number of reasons. For example he or she might have been at a point in their life when their faith alone was just not enough for them to believe. Humans have a natural instinct to find reasons for events that canamp;#8217;t be explained. For some, the existence of God may help give them the answers they are looking for. Philosophers spend a great deal of their time trying to prove or to disprove the existence of God. One philosopher thatRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesmanaging, organizing and reflecting on both formal and informal structures, and in this respect you will find this book timely, interesting and valuable. Peter Holdt Christensen, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark McAuley et al.’s book is thought-provoking, witty and highly relevant for understanding contemporary organizational dilemmas. The book engages in an imaginative way with a wealth of organizational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from the

Physioex 8.0 Respiratory Lab Essay - 696 Words

Respiratory System Mechanics Simulation Lab Activity 1: MRV __7500__ ml/min =500 tv x 15bmp Does expiratory reserve volume include tidal volume? Explain. Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) does not include tidal volume. Expiratory reserve volume is the amount of air that can be expelled after a normal tidal exhalation. This means that tidal volume is not included in the ERV measurement. Activity 2: FEV1, as % of VC Radius FEV1 Vital Capacity FEV1% 5.00 3541 4791 73.90 4.50 2303 3143 73.27 4.00 1422 1962 72.47 3.50 822 1150 71.47 3.00 436 621 70.20 What happened to FEV1 (%) as the radius of the airways was decreased? Explain. FEV 1 (%) will decrease as the airway radius is decreased. FEV 1 (%) is†¦show more content†¦The total airflow was reduced by one half. What do you think would happen if the two lungs were in a single large cavity instead of separate cavities? Both lungs would collapse when the thoracic wall was punctured if the two lungs were in a single cavity instead of individual cavities. Did the deflated lung reinflate? Explain. The lungs did not reinflate when the valve was closed. In addition to closing off the opening to the atmosphere, the excess air in the intrapleural space must be removed to decrease intrapleural pressure below atmospheric pressure before the lungs will reinflate. Why did lung function in the deflated (left) lung return to normal after you clicked Reset? After clicking Reset and running the experiment again, the function of the simulated lungs returned to normal. This happened because the air was removed from the intrapleural space, allowing the lungs to reinflate. Intrapleural pressure was decreased below atmospheric pressure by clicking Reset. Activity 5: What happens to PCO2 during hyperventilation? Explain. PCO2 decreased during rapid breathing because more CO2 was removed from the blood than normal. Each breath expels a certain amount of CO2. If the breathing rate increases, then more CO2 is expelled. What happens to PCO2 during the entire time of the rebreathing activity? PCO2 increases during rebreathing because the CO2 gradient is being

Well Hello There! Free Essays

Dialogue (Feelings through words) Dialogue is one of the most powerful attributes an author can use while writing a story. It is a conversation between characters in a drama or narrative. Also, it’s the lines or passages in a script that are intended to be spoken. We will write a custom essay sample on Well Hello There! or any similar topic only for you Order Now The use of this gives the reader the belief that they are part of the story. It is used throughout stories to convey the feeling of emotions. Writers use expressions in their writing to suggest that the character(s) are having some sort of inner feeling happening Whether it be from the author inserting some of his/her own words or the character talking, this technique gives the story more of a fluent feeling. With the story â€Å"A Conversation with My Father,† dialogue is used sufficiently throughout the reading. This is a literary work written in the form of a conversation. This conveys that this conversation between daughter and father is continuously arguing about a topic. In the story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† dialogue is used in the way so the reader visualizes what the characters are talking about. Dialogue contributes to the overall story to keep the reader in and aware of the moods the characters are experiencing; it shows the true meaning behind the belief of the imagination. An exchange of ideas or opinions. Dialogue is a big contribution to the overall reading. It shows the inner linings of a story. In the story â€Å"A Conversation with My Father,† the dialogue is shown in the text through the talks between father and daughter. When the daughter says â€Å"I say, yes, why not? That’s possible. I want to please him, though I don’t remember her writing that way. I would like to try to tell such a story, if he means the kind that points which I’ve always despised (Poley 1096). † What the author does for this sequence of writing is the use of expression in the text. Even though this is writing on paper, the belief of emotion is seen. The daughter says â€Å"I say, Yes, Why not? That’s possible; the author wanted to convey the use of excitement and persuasion of the character and transfer that to the reader. Dialogue is shown in many ways. In â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† the author wants the reader to experience the story through the life and views of the Grandmother. She tried to convince her family to take a vacation to east Tennessee instead of Florida. Shown in the text, â€Å"The Grandmother didn’t want to go to Florida; she wanted to go to visit some of her connections in east Tennessee and she was seizing at every chance to change Bailey’s mind (O’Connor 1042). † The author shows you the want and the need of the grandmother to get to east Tennessee. In the eyes of the reader, the use of the text to show the emotion of the grandmother is nothing short of excitement. The Grandmother is excited to start the trip. For example, â€Å"The next morning the grandmother was the first one in the car, ready to go. She had her big black valise that looked like the head of a hippopotamus in one corner, and underneath it she was hiding a basket with Pitty Sing, the cat, in it (O’Connor 1042). † When it comes to the two stories relevance to each other; Dialogue is the link between them. Dialogue is used through-out both stories to make sure the reader understands what is going on in the story. The characters in the stories show their personalities, self-beings, and their love for one another (family wise). In â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† the family shows their love for each other and their personalities through the dialogue used by the author. The Grandmother starts to tell a story while the family is on the road trip. In â€Å"A Conversation with My Father,† the daughter and father have a relationship that is rocky. The use of subtext by the author shows a conversation between daughter and father. â€Å"Once in my time there was a woman and she had a son. They lived nicely, in a small apartment in Manhattan. This boy at about fifteen became a junkie, which is not unusual in our neighborhood. In order to maintain her close friendship with him, she became a junkie too. She said it was part of the youth culture, with which she felt very much at home. After a while, for a number of reasons, the boy gave it all up and left the city and his mother in disgust. Hopeless and alone, she grieved. We all visit her (Paley 1096). † This quote from the story represents the dialogue used by the author to convey a conversation being had between the father and the daughter. With this quote being in the story, the reader feels as if they are in the conversation too. The daughter and the father show their belief and love for one another even if their relationship is not the best. The father will always be her father and the daughter will always be his daughter. In Conclusion, Dialogue is one of the most powerful attributes an author can use while writing a story. It is a conversation between characters in a drama or narrative. Also, it’s the lines or passages in a script that are intended to be spoken. It is a powerful tool that the author uses to show the personalities and the beliefs of the characters in the writing through words. The use of this gives the reader the belief that they are part of the story. It is used throughout stories to convey the feeling of emotions. Writers use expressions in their writing to suggest that the character(s) are having some sort of inner feeling happening Whether it be from the author inserting some of his/her own words or the character talking, this technique gives the story more of a fluent feeling. With the story â€Å"A Conversation with My Father,† dialogue is used sufficiently throughout the reading. This is a literary work written in the form of a conversation. This conveys that this conversation between daughter and father is continuously arguing about a topic. In the story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† dialogue is used in the way so the reader visualizes what the characters are talking about. Dialogue contributes to the overall story to keep the reader in and aware of the moods the characters are experiencing; it shows the true meaning behind the belief of the imagination. An exchange of ideas or opinions. Works Cited O’Connor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find. 8th ed. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1999. 1042-53. Print. Paley, Grace. A Conversation with My Father. 8th ed. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1999. 1096-1099. Print. How to cite Well Hello There!, Papers