Antisocial Personality Disorder Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Antisocial Personality Disorder - Research Paper Example itful because of, say, consistent lying or stealing; aggressive; irritable; irresponsible toward his duties; and, most of all, does not show remorse over his behavior. This paper is going to discuss the causes, symptoms and treatment of APD. What causes APD to occur has always been in focus. Genetics alone cannot answer it because if this was the case, then the offspring of APD sufferers would essentially carry this disorder. But it is not this simple. Research has suggested that APD is a result of a combination of both hereditary and environmental factors. The latter may include risk factors such as child abuse, substance abuse, neglect, deprivation, having faced prejudice, being involved in animal cruelty during childhood, sexual harassment, reading disorder in children, mental torture, and so on. This disorder is more common among males (Swanson, Bland and Newman). Since there are no clear cut biological causes for APD, we can talk about the risk factors involved in this disease. Amygdala is that part of the brain that deals with the showing of sympathy toward the happy or sad expressions of other people, and also enables one to accept mistakes and learn lessons from them. APD sufferers are said to be having small amygdale with refrains them from understanding or showing regard to other people’s feelings or show remorse. This disease may be passed on genetically but shows itself when it is combined with environment factors as described earlier. An individual with APD breaks laws, deceives others, lies, steals, is disrespectful and violent, and is not at all concerned about safety or feelings of others. This all leads to violation of other people’s rights. A major symptom is that the APD patient is indifferent to what harm he has caused to others due to his criminal behavior and shows no concern about his hurting others emotionally. He is also apt to commit actions that make him liable for getting arrested. For example, he often gets involved in physical

History of philosophy Essay Example for Free

History of philosophy Essay The study of philosophy may deal with every dimension of human life and can raise questions in any field of study or endeavor. Philosophy pursues questions rather than answers. Philosophy is not bound by any particular â€Å"truths† that set limits to the desire to continue asking questions. Philosophy changes historically both in respect to its content and its character. Definitions Etymologically, philosophy is derived from the Greek word philein or philia meaning â€Å"love† or â€Å"friendship† and sophia meaning â€Å"wisdom. † Hence, â€Å"love of wisdom. † The Chinese define philosophy as Zhe-Xue or Che Shueh (originally coined by Dr.Nishi Amane). Zhe means â€Å"wisdom† while Xue means â€Å"study. † Significantly, the Chinese character Zhe bears the emblem of mouth and hand which suggests the inseparability of words and action. This philosophy is the translation of words into action or the application of theory into praxis. Hence, for the Chinese, philosophy singles out a person to live on what he says. For the Hindus, philosophy is Darsana. Darsana means seeing, not only through the eyes but through the whole being of the one that sees. In other words, philosophy for the Hindus means seeing the whole reality through a total advertence and involvement of the looker. Philosophy refers to the field of study of the process which includes standards and guidelines for thought and for logic by which people develop concepts and principles which describe people, things and events, and techniques for using the concept and principles for the purpose of observing, analyzing, understanding, evaluating, organizing, and dealing with themselves and other people, things, and events who/which comprise reality (Kroepel, 2011) Philosophy refers to a human drive in the search of knowledge and wisdom to facilitate the evolution of man. Philosophy studies the fundamental nature of existence, of man, and of man’s relationship to existence. CONCEPT OF PHILOSOPHY In order to live, a man must act; in order to act, he must make choices; in order to make choices, he must define a code of values; in order to define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he is, he must know his own nature (including his means of knowledge) and the nature of the universe in which he acts. All of this things put together, is the very concept of PHILOSOPHY. Origin of Philosophy Western Philosophy began in Miletus ( accdg.to Reginald Ellen). The radix of the claim lies on Thales: the acclaimed first philosopher. Historically, western philosophy began in Greece. The word philosophy is even derived from the Greek language and means a love of wisdom. Ancient western philosophy had three main branches: ethics, logic, and physics. These three branches have now broken into even smaller sub-sections, covering everything from epistemology to aesthetics. Socrates was a large influence on western philosophy, but there was a pre-Socratic era that covered philosophical topics. Eastern philosophy has its roots in religion, specifically the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Judaism Christianism). It is more concerned with asking questions about God and how the world relates to God. Abrahamic religions (also Abrahamism) are the monotheistic faiths of Middle Eastern origin, emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him. They are one of the major divisions in comparative religion, along with Indian religions (Dharmic) and East Asian religions (Taoist). Abraham was said to have lived during the Iron Age sometime after 2000 B. C. E. , in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia. The way eastern philosophers created theories on knowledge and religion has led people to practice the philosophies of certain philosophers without adopting all aspects of that branch. For example, some people may consider themselves believers in the Buddhist philosophy, but they never actually go and worship Buddha. The eastern philosophers historically believed that religion was a large part of the study of philosophy. Contemporary practices of eastern philosophy often remove the religious part. Islam impacted much of what we now consider eastern philosophy, meaning that most branches have a religious aspect. The most common branches of eastern philosophy include: Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Maoism, Shinto, Confucius, and Legalism. Both regions can attribute a large amount of current philosophical thought to some form of religion. The eastern world chose to embrace religion as their main pursuit of knowledge, while the western world broke philosophy into a bunch of different branches. Branches of Philosophy Epistemology This refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of knowledge. It answers the question, â€Å"how do we know? † It encompasses the nature of concepts, the construction of concepts, the validity of the senses, logical reasoning, as well as thoughts, ideas, memories, emotions and all things mental. It is concerned with how our minds are related to reality, and whether these relationships are valid or invalid. Aesthetics refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of art. It answers the question, â€Å"what life can be like? † In philosophy, aesthetics is important because it delves into the reason why art has always existed to reflect and express the desire and need of mankind through the ages to see the world in a different and clear way. It further evaluates art by using the standards of human life, and if whether it accomplishes the job of satisfying man’s intellectual needs, or whether it tends to hurt or make worse of those needs. Metaphysics Literally means beyond physics, this refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of existence. It answers the questions, â€Å"What is out there? † or â€Å"What is real? † As the foundation of philosophy, metaphysics is also regarded as the fundamental view of the world. It encompasses everything that exists, as well as the nature of existence itself. It determines whether the world is real, or merely an illusion. Ethics This refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of action. It answers the question, â€Å"what should I do? † Ethics deals with the proper course of action for man. Specifically, it answers whether or not a human act is good or bad. At a more fundamental level, Ethics can also be defined as the method by which people categorize values and pursue them. Logic It is the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of reason. It answers the question, â€Å"what is correct reasoning? † Furthermore, logic attempts to distinguish a fact from fallacy. Politics It refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of force. It answers the question, â€Å"what acts are permissible? † Under its philosophical perspective, politics is ethics applied to a group of people. Brief History of Philosophy. Pre-Socratic Philosophy Characterized by the rejection of the mythological explanation on the nature and phenomena in the universe. The thinkers under this time period were mainly concerned with the search for the â€Å"true essence of things† and made use of systematic and scientific approach in uncovering the realities in the universe. Pre-Socratic Philosophers Thales (c. 624 – 546 B. C. ) Greek philosopher who was regarded as the first philosopher in western tradition. He became known for positing that water is the single element that comprised all things in the universe. He also made famous the aphorism, â€Å"know thy self. † Anaximenes (c. 610 – 546 B. C. ) A student of Thales who postulated that air is the source of all things in the universe. His major contribution, however, was stating that nothing can be created from nothing. Matter, force, and energy are indestructible. These ideas later reappeared in physics in the laws of the conservation of matter and energy. Anaximander He explained the world as originating in conflicts between contraries, such as hot and cold and wet and dry. The cold partly dried up, leaving the Earth and its water. The hot turned some water into mist and air, while the remainder ascended to form fiery rings in the heavens. Holes in the rings are the sun, moon, and stars. CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY Classical Philosophy was primarily characterized by the rise of the â€Å"Great Greek Triumvirate† – Socrates, Plato Aristotle. Classical Philosophers Socrates (c. 469 – 399 B. C. ) A Greek philosopher who became known as one of the most prominent philosopher in Ethics. Unlike his contemporaries, Socrates was more concerned with how people should behave rather than how the world works. Plato (c. 428 – 348 B. C. ) A student of Socrates who become known for through his dialogues which contained the presentation of his ideologies and theories in a conversational form. Aristotle (c. 384 – 322 B. C. ) He was the student of Plato and became known as the first thinker to create a comprehensive system of philosophy, encompassing Ethics, Aesthetics, Politics, Metaphysics, Logic and Science. MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY Medieval Philosophy was the period predominantly composed of philosophers who were concerned with proving the existence of God and with reconciling Christianity/Islam with the classical philosophy of Greece particularly that of Aristotle . This period also saw the establishment of the first universities, which became an important factor in the subsequent development of philosophy. Medieval Philosophers Avicenna (980 – 1037) A Persian philosopher, physician and polymath during the Golden Age of Islam. As a philosopher and a devout Muslim, he tried to reconcile the rational Greek philosophy with Islamic theology. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) An Italian philosopher and theologian who became a great influence on subsequent Christian philosophies, particularly that of the Roman Catholic Church. EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY Early Modern Philosophy. The rise of Modern Philosophy can be attributed to certain historical and cultural changes that happened between the Age of Reason during the 17th century and the Age of Enlightenment during the 18th century. Among the changes during the said period were the advancement in science, the growth of religious tolerance and the rise of liberalism (promotion of liberty and equality). Early Modern Philosophers Rene Descartes (1596 1650) A French philosopher, mathematician, scientist and writer of the Age of Reason. He has been called the â€Å"Father of Modern Philosophy†, and much of a subsequent Western philosophy can be seen as a response for his writings. He is responsible for one of the best-known quotations in philosophy: â€Å"Cogito, ergo sum† or â€Å"I think, therefore I am† (Mastin 2008). Baruch Spinoza (1623 1677) a Dutch philosopher who was a contemporary of Descartes. Spinoza became famous for his belief that absolutely everything including human behaviour occurs through the operation of necessity, leaving absolutely no room for free will and spontaneity. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646 1716) A German philosopher, mathematician, scientist and polymath who postulated the concept of â€Å"monads† which refers to the ultimate element of the universe from which all things, including human beings and God himself are made of. Immanuel Kant (1724 1804) A German philosopher during the Age of Enlightenment. He is regarded as one of the most famous thinkers in modern philosophy. His contributions in all branches of philosophy are often described as being, â€Å"immeasurable†. Kant’s Copernican Revolution. One of the most popular Kantian theories which states that the â€Å"representation† of an object greatly helps the perceiver to perceive a certain object and not the object per se. To put it more accurately, tangible materials (such as the actual glass) are less important in perceiving the glass. What is important is how we experience the â€Å"glassness† of the glass through experience. Kant believed that the human mind can be compared to a tabula rasa (blank tablet). Examples: It is like a computer with no operating system. A computer with no â€Å"O. S. † should be installed with various programs to function properly. A new born baby should be exposed with positive experiences which may affect his lifestyle and manner on how he/she perceive things. MODERN PHILOSOPHY Modern Philosophy. The modern period of philosophy generally refers to the 19th and 20th centuries. The late 20th Century which is sometimes referred to as the contemporary period, became the venue of major development in philosophy characterized by the rise of new philosophical movements. Modern Philosophers Jeremy Bentham (1748 1832) An English philosopher, political radical and legal and social reformer of the early modern period. He became the founder of the Utilitarianism which refers to the principle that holds that the right action is that which would cause â€Å"the greatest happiness of the greatest number†. John Stuart Mill (1806 1873) An English philosopher and political scientist who was the protege of Bentham and conducted major improvements on the principles of Utilitarianism. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (pronounced NEE-cha) (1844 – 1900) A 19th Century German philosopher who was known for challenging the foundations of Christianity and traditional morality, famously uttering, â€Å"God is Dead†. EASTERN WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES: AN OVERVIEW Western Philosophy Refers to the philosophical thinking in the Western or Occidental world, particularly in Europe. Historically, it refers to the philosophical thinking of Western civilization, beginning in ancient Greece. Western thought puts more emphasis on individualism, science, math, and politics – hence, rational and materialistic. It can be seen as the triumph of reason and empiricism over faith/religion – a search involving many questions. Eastern Philosophy. Refers broadly to the various philosophies in the Eastern or Oriental world, particularly Asia and some Arab countries. Historically, it is heavily influenced by Hinduism the world’s oldest religion, beginning in India. Eastern thought puts more emphasis on interdependence (of human beings and nature), harmony, unity, and faith – hence, meditative and spiritual. It can be seen as the triumph of faith/religion over science and reason – an answer following realization. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF EASTERN WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES Western Philosophy. Is rational because most western thought focused on refining epistemology and logic. It emphasized that it is the individual using his/her rational ability to deduce the truth about the things around him/her, and this separates the individual as a subjective mind different from objective reality: Nature, God, the Universe. Eastern Philosophy In the East, philosophers have been more concerned with ordaining society in a harmonious manner, finding humanity’s proper place in society and nature, acting and thinking in a way that would promote unity and order in the universe. It does not have to rely on rationality and often tries to transcend individuality itself to reveal a person’s inherent sameness with the universe/nature. Reason is in fact seen as a stumbling block to truly understand reality. It focuses on how to live and tends to accept the way things are. Eastern thought is focused more on the mind and the spirit/soul, tending to offer a different level of internal experience (meditative) from which to draw conclusions. Thus, it would be hard to separate philosophy and religion.

Love in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay -- Shakespeare, Romeo Juli

Love. In all its facets and colors, love is understood and accepted as a concept by even the most primitive cultures. But what is love? Many writers have debated this subject. Many works have been produced detailing the understanding individuals had of the concept of love.   Ã‚  Ã‚  The more accepted conception of love is usually found in Romeo & Juliet. Many people refer to it as love at first sight, in French, â€Å"le coup de foudre†, as if you had just been struck by a lightning bolt. This interpretation dates back to the courtly love tradition which manifested during the late Middle Ages, first through chivalry and then more openly among the nobility. In fact, many references to the courtly love tradition are found in the play, for example, Juliet's famous line: â€Å"I'll prove more true than those that have more cunning to be strange.† Here, Juliet is obviously talking about the other women, those who know to be coy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  The courtly love tradition is, however, best expressed in all the works I have chosen by â€Å"The Miller's Tale†, Chaucer's recalling of tales supposedly told in his time period. In this story, we witness the amorous liaison between Alyson, the carpenter John's wife, and Nicholas, a student of astronomy and courtly love. The lovers engineer a stratagem which will allow them to consume their passion without fear of retribution, but only after much insistence on the part of Nicholas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Then Nicholas began to plead his cause   Ã‚  Ã‚  And spoke so fair in proffering what he could   Ã‚  Ã‚  That in the end she promised him she would.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  It seems strange that, in both stories, there seems to be some resistance to the tradition of courtly love. Both stories were written during the Middle Ages, two hundred years apart. We can ... ....   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Everyone always thinks they hold the truth. The Word of God can be a convincing argument for those who rely on faith to survive. The word of man, however, makes a stronger point, as it demonstrates how foolish and artificial our beliefs can sometimes be, and how they can change and evolve with time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Who is to say what love will be a hundred years from now? What will they write when they speak of us, of our own courtship rituals, of the looseness of morals we sometimes manifest? Will they see our behaviours as evil or good? Or will they see us as people who acted according to the values set in the culture in which we lived?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Or is it better not to think of the future, and just love each other, as we always have, regardless of everything else ? Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. London: Cambridge University Press, 1959.

Free Essay on Ecology of a Cracker Childhood :: Cracker

Free Essay on Ecology of a Cracker Childhood      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By reading Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, it is safe to assume that Janisse Ray, the main character, author, is one who doesn't conform and has a stubborn nature. For instance, when Ray wants to play football with the boys in her class at recess she gets angered when they tell her no she can not play with them; so instead of accepting their reply she jumps in the game anyway and tackles the boy with the football.   The boys angry with the fact that their friend, a guy, got tackled by a girl went chasing after her. Why did Ray feel the need to make a statement by taking down the boy with the football? Perhaps it was her feminist nature, driving her to show the boys that just because she was a female didn't mean that she was not able to do as they did. Whether or not it was feminism, Ray, still has the heart of a revolutionary.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ray suspected that the boys' rejection was due to the fact that she was a girl, but her suspicions were repudiated when she saw a girl playing with them. The only difference between Janisse and the other girl was that the other girl was not wearing a dress.   The Ray family's religious convictions required the females of the family to wear a dress, providing for the boys uneasiness when it came down to allowing her to play with them. Janisse, dress or not, felt capable of partaking in the sport. It is women like Ray, who will not take no for an answer, that has brought equal rights to their gender in sports, jobs and even around the house.    America was founded, and has been very successful because of people like Ray, who want to leave their backgrounds or use them to learn from them in order to better their lives in the future; the kind of people that will do anything, whether it is leaving their homeland for a foreign soil in search of a new life and freedom, or tackling the boy with the football. Things have been changed, invented, and made better by people that will not take no for an answer. Free Essay on Ecology of a Cracker Childhood :: Cracker Free Essay on Ecology of a Cracker Childhood      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By reading Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, it is safe to assume that Janisse Ray, the main character, author, is one who doesn't conform and has a stubborn nature. For instance, when Ray wants to play football with the boys in her class at recess she gets angered when they tell her no she can not play with them; so instead of accepting their reply she jumps in the game anyway and tackles the boy with the football.   The boys angry with the fact that their friend, a guy, got tackled by a girl went chasing after her. Why did Ray feel the need to make a statement by taking down the boy with the football? Perhaps it was her feminist nature, driving her to show the boys that just because she was a female didn't mean that she was not able to do as they did. Whether or not it was feminism, Ray, still has the heart of a revolutionary.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ray suspected that the boys' rejection was due to the fact that she was a girl, but her suspicions were repudiated when she saw a girl playing with them. The only difference between Janisse and the other girl was that the other girl was not wearing a dress.   The Ray family's religious convictions required the females of the family to wear a dress, providing for the boys uneasiness when it came down to allowing her to play with them. Janisse, dress or not, felt capable of partaking in the sport. It is women like Ray, who will not take no for an answer, that has brought equal rights to their gender in sports, jobs and even around the house.    America was founded, and has been very successful because of people like Ray, who want to leave their backgrounds or use them to learn from them in order to better their lives in the future; the kind of people that will do anything, whether it is leaving their homeland for a foreign soil in search of a new life and freedom, or tackling the boy with the football. Things have been changed, invented, and made better by people that will not take no for an answer.

Culture debasing Essay

The mass media is constantly around us, through newspapers and magazines, the internet, television and film etc. these are used by us everyday in our spare time and academic work. So are we influenced by this form of secondary socialisation in our lives to create a ‘mass culture’? And does this ‘mass culture’ debase ‘ordinary culture’? In this essay I will use secondary research and my own opinion to answer this question. The media itself plays a big part in creating images through the way they report and advertise consumer products and moral panics. I feel that the type of media presentation demonstrated influences different subcultures into believing that what they are seeing is true, hence the change in their attitudes to different topics, music and fashion. Especially young people today can be nai ve and believe everything they see or hear on television or the internet, which could cause primary socialisation to change for the children, because of these views. This ‘mass culture’, I believe could destroy and make an ‘ordinary culture’ into extinction through too much influence of â€Å"babble† and consumer products on television. Although you could ask what is ordinary and normal? Normal does not have a clear definition; as no one is completely normal, but ordinary seems to be defined as routine or customary, so an ‘ordinary culture’ is considered the norm way of living. So what is mass culture? An extra- ordinary way people live, or is it a negative perception of some people’s choice of life? By using the textbook ‘seventh edition Sociology Themes and Perspectives’. I found that the â€Å"development of the media was debasing the culture of ordinary people, which could cause problems for western societies†. This comment could back up my opinion of a negative effect of media through a mass culture which could destroy the traditional thoughts and practices of western life. Dwight Macdonald had a theory about mass culture. He claimed that mass culture was very different from high culture and folk art. He states that mass culture is standardized and a commercial kitsch (popular culture which could be considered worthless) used by business to create a profit. This shows that Macdonald as well as I believe that mass culture is â€Å"kitsch†- worthless babble used to sell products, which also influences or â€Å"brainwashes† people into believing that anything merchandised is right or â€Å"sick† as teenagers of today say. Dwight also stated that mass culture takes ‘less mental effort’ and that it ‘tended to undermine high culture’. So basically he is saying that mass culture is maybe for a different class of person.

Phil Spector and the Murder of Lana Clarkson

Phil Spector and the Murder of Lana Clarkson On February 3, 2003, police went to Spectors Los Angeles mansion after receiving an emergency 9-1-1 call. As stated in the police reports, police found the body of the 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson sitting slumped in a chair in the foyer. She had been shot in the mouth and a blue-steel .38 Colt revolver with a two-inch barrel was found on the floor near her body. The Investigation Clarkson was an actress and also working as a hostess in a VIP lounge at the House of Blues in West Hollywood on the night that she met 62-year-old Spector and left with him in his limousine. His driver, Adriano De Souza, told the grand jury that he waited outside after the two went into Spectors mansion. Almost immediately after the two entered the home, Spector returned to the car and got a briefcase. About an hour later De Souza heard a gunshot, then observed Spector going out the back door with a gun in his hand. According to De Souza, Spector said to him, I think I killed somebody. Spector is Charged With Murder After police arrived to the scene, a small struggle incurred when Spector was asked to show his hands, which were jammed inside his front pockets. He fought off police and was eventually subdued after police used a Taser stun gun on him then tackled him to the ground. I Didnt Mean to Shoot Her Inside the home, police found nine additional firearms and a blood trail throughout the house. Transcripts of grand jury testimony in the case show that Spector first told police he accidentally shot actress Lana Clarkson, then later said she had committed suicide. When police officer Beatrice Rodriquez arrived at the scene, Spector told her, I didnt mean to shoot her. It was an accident. After an investigation lasting over six months, Spector was officially charged in November of 2003 for the murder of Lana Clarkson. The Trial Spectors attorneys tried unsuccessfully to have the damaging statements suppressed, but on October 28, 2005, the judge ruled the statements could be used against Spector in trial. A retired police officer who had worked at times for Joan Rivers as a security guard, testified during the trial that he ejected Spector from two Christmas parties for brandishing a gun and making violent and threatening statements about women. One Attorney, Two Attorneys, Three Attorneys Spector hired and fired three attorneys. Defense attorney Robert Shapiro represented Spector at his arraignment and early pretrial hearings, and arranged for his release on $1 million bail. He was replaced by Leslie Abramson and Marcia Morrissey. Bruce Cutler, the former long-time lawyer of New York City mafia boss John Gotti, in turn, replaced them.

Marriott International Business Analysis Essay

Marriott International Business Analysis Essay Marriott International Inc. Business Analysis Essay Marriott International Inc. Business Analysis Essay Marriott International, Inc. is a leading global lodging company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Marriott International, Inc. has over 4,200 properties spread across 79 countries (â€Å"About Marriott International†). Besides, the company owns 19 brands that are grouped in five business segments, which include the North American Full-Service Lodging, North American Limited-Service Lodging, International Lodging, and Luxury Lodging and Timeshare (Marriott Jr. 15). Besides franchising and operating the hotels, Marriott International offers services to home and condominium owner associations for projects related to one of its brands (Marriott Jr. 28). Marriott International uses unique strategies aimed at achieving effective market share and good profitability. MARRIOT INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT The company is guided by Marriott family for almost 90 years (â€Å"About Marriott International†). The initial idea of the founders of Marriott International, Inc. was to open a root beer stand in Washington (Marriott Jr. 12). The company’s first hotel, founded in 1927, was a major achievement for Marriott family. Marriott International has become a world leading business due to its main focus is on customer relationship, growth efficiency, service offering as well as its capability to provide effective customer promotions for the hotels. The paper aims at analyzing the Marriott International Inc. and its environment. Employees Marriott International understands the importance of employees for the success of the business. Thus, the company provides a supportive environment to help its employees grow in the current job positions and build a sustainable career (Gallagher par. 1). The company follows the principle of putting people first. The company is known to be offering competitive compensation and benefits to its employees. In Marriott International, there are over 200,000 hotel employees. Together with those in the franchised properties, there are 361,000 (Gallagher par. 6). The company’s employees are not concentrated on a cool campus, but rather scattered all over the world. Owners The founder of Marriott International was J. Willard Marriott. Today, the company is led by his son, Bill Marriott, the Executive Chairman, in conjunction with Arne Sorenson, the Chief Executive Officer (Marriott Jr. 12). The Marriott family owns 30 percent of the company. The company hosts an Ownership Educational Summit twice per year to encourage hotel ownership and educate potential owners on the hospitality and tourism industry as well as the ways of attaining Marriot’s ownership and the significance of contracting strong brands for the company. Board of Directors. The board of directors of Marriott International consists of qualified personnel as discussed below (Aspen Publishers 56-77). Marriott International’s Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board is W. Marriott Jr., the son of the founder, Willard Marriott. Customers Marriott International has a broad target market (Marriott Jr. 44). However, the company’s most important target group are the business travelers or people in the business world. The company understands that people in the business industry have to travel around the world for business reasons. Thus, Marriott International offers such brands as Fairfield Inn Suites, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, and SpringHill Suites for its business clientele (Marriott Jr. 47). Competitors Marriott International faces strong competition both as a franchisor and as a lodging operator. There are approximately 872 lodging management companies in the US, with 9 of them operating over 100 properties (Marriott Jr. 56). The operators are mainly private management companies, but also include some large national chains that operate own hotels and franchise own brands. Marriott International ranks second in the market share (5.6 %) after Hilton Hotels Corporation (7.2%) (Marriott Jr. 57). Other major rivals of Marriott International in the industry include Starwood Hotels, Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, which have the same market share (3.4%) (Marriott Jr. 57). Other competitors include Accor at 1.7% and the Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC, whose market share is 0.8% (Marriott Jr. 57-58). Though all the hotel properties offer similar facilities, the Hilton Hotels Corporation, the largest competitor in the industry, incorporates more leisure facilities. Secondly, Hilton Company operates its own loyalty program. Besides, unlike Marriott, Hilton has taken environmentally friendly efforts to maintain its market position (Marriott Jr. 60). Suppliers. Marriott International maintains strong relations with businesses owned by minority groups in the areas of its operation across the world, and these relations continue to grow and strengthen ( «Marriott Enlists more Diverse Suppliers† par. 1). In the past decade, the company spent 4 billion dollars with diverse suppliers ( «Marriott Enlists more Diverse Suppliers† par. The company’s suppliers from different industries include: Berman Purchasing Inc., Jupiter, Fla. (furniture, fixtures, and equipment seller); Carter Brothers, Atlanta, Ga. (security and fire alarms distributor); Eagles Koinonia Corporation, Brandon, Fla. (janitorial/cleaning services); Fairmont Designs Hospitality Group, Buena Park, Calif. (furniture designs); Garys Seafood, Orlando, Fla. (seafood distribution); Hospitality Staffing Solutions, Marietta, Ga. (temporary staffing); Land-Ron Inc., Orlando, Fla. (constructions for the company); Tronex, Parsippany, NJ. ( disposable gloves and products); Ty, Ty, Ty Inc., Miami, Fla. (takes care of the rooms/linen); TG Constructors Inc., Orlando, Fla. (constructions for the company) ( «Marriott Enlists more Diverse Suppliers† par. 3). Distributors Marriott International has one of the strongest distribution systems in the industry. The system is integrated with the revenue management, customer loyalty, ecommerce, global distribution systems, and property management systems of the company (Marriott Jr. 66). The company’s foodservice distributors include the Red Lobster restaurants, Darden Restaurants Olive Garden, and Garys Seafood, Orlando, Florida (Marriott Jr. 66). Strategic Allies Marriott International has entered a number of strategic alliances with strong world consumer brands to increase customer awareness as well as revenue and share value (Marriott Jr. 67). The company’s strategic allies include Visa USA, which entered an agreement with the company to develop novel products for leisure and business travels, joint sponsorships, and consumer and trade promotions. Next is the Rugby Football Union. The alliance with Marriott International was meant to enhance the existing relationship between the two firms (Marriott Jr. 77). Unions and Employee Associations. Of the total number of employees working for Marriott International, 11,000 of them are protected by unions (Gallagher par. 6). These organizations ensure that workers receive the right treatment at their workplaces and are equally compensated. Some examples of the unions is the International Labor Organization and Hotels, Restaurants Cafà ©s in Europe (Marriott Jr. 70). Local Communities As a recognized company that operates managed and franchised lodgings, Marriott International has various stakeholder groups that include hotel owners, shareholders, customers, suppliers, associates, industry associations, community organizations as well as governmental and non-governemntal agencies (Marriot 92). The company’s stakeholders are diverse and operate globally. Marriott has an understanding that the stakeholders are important and that their opinions, desires and needs drive the company’s stategy. Therefore, the company’s stakeholders are highly valued and are accorded utmost respect because they shape the sustainability strategy (Marriot 92). Lenders Marriott International is financed by the local commercial banks in the US (Marriott Jr. 102). However, in case of a financial crisis in the home country, the company can borrow money from a bank in the country it wishes to operate. Government Regulators The regulations encountered by Marriott International are with regards to the environment, tax, and employees (Marriott Jr. 108). In every country where Marriott International is executing its operations, there are particular rules that guide its interactions with governmental agencies and officials. The rules mainly focus on lobbying, political contributions, trade restrictions etc. Special Interest Groups Special interest groups are formed to enable members to share information related to hospitality and tourism. Marriot International is a member of special interest groups (Marriott Jr. 103). What is more, one of the chairmen of the special interest groups, Allan Tuttle, is the member of the company. Marriott International is a member of the Hospitality and Sales (SIG) group (Marriott Jr. 103). Mass Media Marriot International uses mass media to reach out to its clientele (Marriot 36). The company uses the social media such as Twitter and Facebook to create awareness of any changes in the company. Besides, it uses flyers to communicate its programmes to its customers. Lastly, the company uses utility bills such as eGifts to enhance its customers’ experiences (Marriot 36). GENERAL ENVIRONMENT Economic Forces Marriot International is affected by economic factors such as recession and ecomomic turmoil in Europe (Marriott Jr. 75). Events such as debt crisis have reduced the buying power of customers and their ability to travel. This affects Marriott International heavily, as its operations depend on travelling trends. Another economic problem facing Marriott International is that the US dollar faces high exchange rate overseas (Marriott Jr. 75). This discourages foreign visitors from travelling to the US. The high exchange rates discourage business travels as well. Sociological Forces. The demand for the products in the tourism and hospitality industry is influenced by sociological factors. In the modern world, people enjoy travelling and exploring new places. Due to technological advancements and improvements in the transportation system, travelling has been made easy. The desire to attain a distinctive atmosphere has become an important concern for managers in the hospitality industry. Employees in the industry offer personal services to customers so as to retain them (Sung Chon and Yu 77). Marriott International is characterized by its strategy of ensuring customer satisfaction to guarantee a return visit (Renner 7). It is also is expanding its travel network across the world (Marriott Jr. 72). Demographic Forces The demographic forces entail characteristics such as age, gender, religion, education, income, among others. The hotel industry targets people of all ages (Marriott Jr. 55-56). The company targets the highly paid in the society; however, it also takes into consideration the lowly paid who have a passion for travelling (Marriott Jr. 54). Marriott International has to ensure that it has a tier to every income group so as to remain competitive in the industry. The company has ranks of hotels in specific areas that rely on the wants and needs of the customers of all groups. For example, the company’s brands such as Fairfield Inn Suites have free Wi-Fi and business centers with PC and printing services to help its customers to remain entertained and productive. Besides, the rooms are fitted with accessible high-speed Internet, guest rooms with a conducive work area, and separate living and sleeping areas. The brand SpringHill Suites is spacious, has style, and is affordably price d to attract both the high and low income earners (Marriott Jr. 57). Political/ Legal Forces Marriott International operates in a country that remains politically stable. Further, the growing prosperity of its populace continues to provide a concrete foundation for sustained growth that will prompt the confidence of investors in the hotel industry that results in investments for the company (Marriott Jr. 87). Research indicates that developments in the hotel industry result in stable taxes for the government. In turn, it becomes easy for foreign investors to get licensed to operate in the country. The unpredictable and volatile situations in the political environment of a host market increases risk and uncertainty, thus pushing potential investors away. There are laws and regulations that control business operations in every country. Marriott International understands the role of such rules, and it has acted accordingly both in the past and currently. The company understands that every political system is different and it needs to be addressed. Marriott International is reported to have always followed the set of rules specific for certain countries such as policies concerning low-fat food, smoking policies etc. (Marriott Jr. 87). International Forces Today, the world of business is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. Evidently, all decisions facing international managers regarding whom to hire, which technologies to adopt, how to market their products locally and internationally among others are influenced by the business environment of the country in which a company operates. Marriott International has had to confront the legal, cultural and political issues specific for the countries of operation in developing strategies to enter the local market (Marriott Jr. 115). The issues include encouraging government’s fiscal policy, a conducive environment for business that offers investment incentives, effective and sustainable marketing and promotions, as well as policies that are in agreement with the local communities and cultures. Marriott International has been able to succeed in business because it not only complies with the rules of its home country, but also with the laws and regulations of the host countries in which it operates. The international laws have influenced the markets that the company can serve, the prices it should charge for the products, as well as the costs of inputs such as labor, technologies, and raw materials (Marriott Jr. 115). Besides, the political environment and the legal system in the international market have affected the location of hotel suites for Marriott International. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT analysis is defined as a structured planning technique used for evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a business venture. For Marriott International, SWOT Analysis presents the actual picture of its business operations. Strengths Marriott International is a universally recognized leader in the hospitality industry. The company has strong brand equity with an Internet presence and sufficient IT solutions. The company has been attentive to specialized market segments and brand differentiation. Marriott International has a strong market position because of its expanded and diversified business across the globe. Marriott International has a large market share in the industry as it provides a wide range of high-quality products and services to its customers. Marriott International boasts a strong customer relationship. Its ability to offer satisfying products and services to its clientele has helped the company earn customer loyalty. Weaknesses The Marriot International Company is over-dependent upon luxury brands in the United States’ market. The company lacks low-cost lifestyle brands that are now gaining popularity in the developing nations. As a result of its huge expansions in business, Marriott International is becoming weak in its management system. Marriott International is facing backwardness in infrastructure, especially in management of information technology. Due to its huge debts, the market share of Marriott International is declining. Marriott International operates in a highly concentrated industry. As such, there is a high rate of competition, and customers have a variety of substitute products. Opportunities Marriot International can try to merge its firms and businesses across the world, particularly those in the European countries. Joining the businesses together will help the company regain its power in the market. Studies reveal a considerable growth in the tourism industry and Asian travel. The low-cost market segment is trending, and Marriot International can benefit from capturing the segment through investment. Environmentally friendly operations and eco-tourism can have significant success in helping Marriott International gain its position in the marketplace. Marriott International has the opportunity to enhance its business and grow its services in the market to achieve more customers’ loyalty. Marriott International should take the necessary steps to grow in the market. For example, the company can improve its direct marketing plans such as in the advertisement to ensure its content for the ads is relevant to capture more customers. Threats In the contemporary world, the element of timeshare is losing its charm. Economic problems in Europe are affecting consumer spending. This is because the crisis have affected the travelling ability and purchasing power of the customers. The risk posed by political instabilities in some countries and government involvement are creating tensions for the company because of its hotels operating in the countries. The economic recessions in some countries may pose a threat to the company, since this will influence the prices that the company should charge for its products as well as the cost of labor, technologies, and raw materials. MISSION STATEMENT â€Å"To enhance the lives of our customers by creating and enabling unsurpassed vacation and leisure experiences.† (Marriott Jr. 6). VISION STATEMENT â€Å"To become the premiere provider and facilitator of leisure and vacation experiences in the world.† (Marriott Jr. 6-7). COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES In its primary line of operation, Marriott International employs strong competitive strategies that have enabled it to maintain its competitive advantage over its rivals in the mature hotel industry (Renner 5). Since it has been established, Marriott International has believed in a continued long-term success achieved by over 80 years of experience, customer preference, strong brands, as well as an effective business model. As mentioned earlier, the portfolio of the company consists of over 4,200 properties in more than 80 countries across the world (†About Marriott International†). By 2009, about 137,000 employees had been part of the company’s workforce that helped generate sales of 11 billion dollars, a figure that was projected to continue increasing in subsequent years (Renner 9). Irrespective of the many challenges faced by Marriott International such as the global recession, inflation and international forces that have cut back on travel, the company has been able to remain on top through the use of extraordinary customer service. Marriott International focuses on the use innovative technical programs and technology to enhance the customers’ experience (Marriott Jr. 98). By so doing, Marriott International has been able to differentiate itself from its rivals and attain a strong competitive position. Besides, the company owns a center piece programme, Marriotts Automated Reservation Systems for Hotel Accommodations (MARSH), which ensures customers receive personalized attention (Marriott Jr. 98). In a nutshell, Marriott International’s competitive strategy is a hard mode of operation that rivals in the industry strive to match. Marriott international is a globally recognized brand that manages and franchises lodgings and hotels. The paper has performed an analysis of the company and its environments. From the analysis, Marriott International operates in a highly concentrated industry where completion is quite high. The main competitor for the company is Hilton Hotels Corporation. Despite the competition in the industry, Marriott has been able to maintain its position and become a world leading business through the use of its unique competitive strategies. The company’s main focus has been excellent customer service and growth efficiency.