Friday, January 31, 2020

Capital Asset Pricing Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Capital Asset Pricing Model - Essay Example The underlying theme associated with CAPM is investor’s relationship and the advantages which an investor can attain by the application of this model. The investors are linked in two ways with this technique; one is the time value of money and the other is the risk factor involved in a project. The time value of money can be depicted using the risk-free (Rf) rate in the formula which can then be compensated with the investors for placing money in any investment after a certain period of time. The risk part of CAPM formula is used for representation of risk and calculates only the amount of compensation which any investor can undertake for facing any additional risk. These financials can be calculated using the risk measurement tool i.e. beta, which has the ability to compare the returns of the asset towards the market after a certain period of time having definite market premium. According to the CAPM tool, the expected return of a security calculated on a portfolio is equal t o the rate of a risk-free security, which is further raised by including a risk premium. If this is expected return is not able to be ascertained or is not able to even beat the expected return then the required return and the investment will not be undertaken. Practical Implementation of CAPM This pricing model which is regarded as CAPM was put forwarded in the year 1960 and since then it is under deep influence of criticisms. The argument of such critics involves hypothesis that CAPM does not put forward realistic market conditions.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

An Evaluation of Case Studies and Their Contribution to Cognitive Neuro

Cognitive psychology is the study of the brains internal processes that guide behaviour; to study cognition, psychologists examine case studies of patients with damaged brains that can infer areas, and functions involved in particular processes. Patient studies have provided insights into the processes that take place within our minds, and have enabled psychologists to create models, which can be tested and fractionated. Cognitive neuropsychology has developed from cognitive psychology to become a discipline in its own right; it investigates the function and structures of the brain involved in cognitive processes and should not be confused with cognitive neuroscience, which is primarily concerned with neural structures and their functions. Cognitive psychologists investigate processes using case studies of brain-damaged patients, these are then analysed to build models that represent normal cognitive processes. This essay will examine the contribution case studies have made to the development of cognitive neuropsychology as a discipline in its own right and draw attention to issues surrounding the use of brain damaged patients to infer cognitive functions and processes. At the same time, it will evaluate the contribution that case studies have made to our understanding of cognitive processes. Cognitive processes are the unseen systems used by our minds to complete tasks such as solving problems, recognising an object, or learning a language. These unseen mental processes take place in the brain, which is a complex piece of equipment often compared to a computer. When the internal workings of a computer are exposed, all that we see are microchips, circuit boards, hard drives and other assorted pieces, which, all work and ... ...gy; therefore, case studies have contributed to the development of this branch of psychology as a discipline in its own right. Works Cited Caramazza, A., & Coltheart, M. (2006). Cognitive Neuropsychology twenty years on. Cognitive Neuropsychology, Vol. 23, pp. 3-12. Gazzaniga, M. (2011). Interview with Michael Gazzaniga. Year in Cognitive Neuroscience, Vol. 1224, pp.1-8. Jansari, A. (2010). Cognitive neuropsychology In H. Kaye (Ed.), Cognitive Psychology Methods Companion (2nd ed., pp.59-101), Milton Keynes: The Open University. McKone, E., Kanwisher, N. & Duchaine, B. C. (2007). Can generic expertise explain special processing for faces?. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Vol 11, pp.8-15. Young, A. W., Newcombe, F., Haan, E., Small, M., & Hay, D. C. (1993). Face perception after brain injury. Brain: A Journal of Neurology, Vol. 116, pp. 941-959.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Jonathan Edwards

In Jonathan Edwards’ personal narrative, he uses language to convey a remorseful attitude towards his own spiritual condition. The imagery of hell as seen by Edwards creates a punishment in â€Å"the lowest place in hell. † He feels like he is the â€Å"very worst of all mankind. † In the simile, â€Å"as bad as the devil himself,† his followers make him feel as though his â€Å"wickedness† and â€Å"vileness† are greater. This portrays his remorseful attitude.By utilizing the simile, â€Å"like an infinite deluge or mountains over my head,† Edwards depicts the severity of his wrongdoing as being of such magnitude that it is â€Å"swallowing up all thought and imagination. † The use of repetition in â€Å"Infinite upon infinite— Infinite upon infinite! † supports Edwards’ view of his wickedness as â€Å"an abyss infinitely deeper than hell. † This expresses his internal pain and anguish. Edwards proce eds to use the phrase, â€Å"nauseous and detestable to me,† to describe his sense of self-loathing.He feels as if he does not morally deserve to be â€Å"exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fullness and glory of the great Jehovah. † Throughout the narrative, Edwards is vividly describing his belief that if it were not for the â€Å"sovereign grace† of his Lord, that the earth would simply not bear him or all humanity for a single moment because as far as he is concerned, we are all corrupt individuals- creatures even, that spend our lives in the service of God’s enemies. It is through all the aforementioned that he illustrates his remorseful sentiment in his personal narrative.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Accuracy Of An Individual s Memory - 1506 Words

Eyewitness report or testimony refers to an account by people of an event they have witnessed. These are commonly used for criminal conviction by judges and jurors. It is a product of reconstructive memory where we piece together bits of stored information that seems real and accurate. The accuracy of an individual’s memory comes into question as it could lead to wrongful conviction. Some factors affecting accuracy of eyewitness reports include confirmation bias, misinformation effect and influence of violence and anxiety. The first part of the essay will explain these factors; the second part will discuss the ability to retrieve information from our long-term memory. Eyewitness testimony can be affected by confirmation bias. It is defined as â€Å"a tendency for eyewitness memory to be distorted by the eyewitness’s prior expectations†, (Eysenck and Keane, 2015, p.321). Barlett (1932) argues that schema causes the distortion. Schemas are generalized ideas or pack ets of knowledge stored in long-term memory. It is a cognitive framework to help us organize and construct memories based on expectations and our existing assumptions about the world. In the event of new situations like witnessing a crime, the information encoded into memory will not correspond exactly to what was encountered. An example would be study conducted by Bartlett (1932), where British participants were asked to memorize a Native American storybook. The story became significantly shorter, details were lost, andShow MoreRelatedAccuracy Of The And How Fast A Person Can Complete A Certain Amount Of Math Problems1567 Words   |  7 Pages Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff in Mathematics Unjanee’ Wright Wright State University Psychology 3020L-05 TA: Joseph Glavan â€Æ' The purpose of this study is to determine how accurate, and how fast a person can complete a certain amount of math problems within only a few mins; then, determine how this relates to stress. It is important to see how much mathematics a student knows, and how the pressure affects them. Doing this study could decrease students’ anxiety levels when it comes to taking a mathematicsRead MoreDetermining The Accuracy Of Testimony Of Eyewitnesses?1166 Words   |  5 Pages6. What factors should be taken into account when evaluating the accuracy of testimony of eyewitnesses? (10 points) Eyewitness testimony plays a huge role in the courtroom for juries. There are several factors that should be taken into account when evaluating the accuracy of testimony of eyewitnesses; if the witness was able to see the offender, the level of the witness’s attention, how accurately the witness described the offender, the witness’s confidence, and the amount of time between seeingRead MoreEyewitness Testimony Essay1166 Words   |  5 Pages The Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony is a major topic in our society. Eyewitness Testimony is often used during crime scene investigations. Although a Testimony by a bystander or a victim regarding an incident is a great tool for further investigation, testimonies are often times false and can lead to false accusations. The research question, how accurate is eyewitness testimony, will be studied. The purpose for this project is to determine the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. The hypothesisRead MoreEssay on Problems with Eye witness Testimony1395 Words   |  6 Pagesof our criminal justice system. Although, there has been many controversy debates on whether to allow the continuation of these testimonies in court, and allow it to be used as evidence. Eyewitness testimony can either be harmful or useful for an individual. We must fully analysis and see what certain factors (psychological, and age wise) come into the equation before coming up with final conclusions. A case study titled Problems with Eyewitness Testimony talks about a famous Canadian case in whichRead MoreFinding False Memories Of The Mall1446 Words   |  6 Pagespeople might argue that getting lost in the mall is too common of an experience to demonstrate false memories. For this argument, Hyman et al. constructed an experiment to show the occurrence of false memories in less that common childhood events including spilling punch at a wedding and a sprinkler system going off a at grocery store. For one variation of this study, Hyman et al. implanted the memory of an overnight hospitalization with a high fever, and possible ear infection. The participants wereRead MorePersonal Narrative Memories : A Phenomenon That Occur Directly From The Discovery Of A Shocking Event Essay1493 Words   |  6 PagesFlashbulb memories are a phenomenon that occur directly from the discovery of a shocking event. People who witness tend to report that they remember very clear details about the sit uation surrounding the event such as, the place they were at the time and what they where doing. Some experiences are unique and distinctive such as 9/11 and this kind of an event has been considered to be a main contributor to the accuracy of flashbulb memories (Brewer, 1988). The study states that people who where closeRead MoreThe Population Keeps Aging, Alzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1549 Words   |  7 PagesIntro As the population keeps aging, Alzheimer s Disease (AD) is becoming a more significant public health issue. The prevalence of AD is expected to reach 34 million worldwide by 2025 (Mount 2006) and with the aging demographic, early diagnosis and treatment of AD is gaining importance. Cognitive decline and altered brain function related to AD has been shown to be present years before the clinical onset of the disorder through functional brain imaging techniques (Prvulovic 2011). Emphasis hasRead MoreDoes Face Recognition Play A Part Of How Quickly People Are Able Recall Names Or Occupations?819 Words   |  4 Pagesfact that it requires a lot of processing before our memory essentially recognises the object. They were 30 digital images of faces from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces database which were used for the study (Lundqvist, Flykt, Ãâ€"hman, 1998). The 30 digital images were all males, wearing grey t-shirts; and had their eyes and mouths fixed to coordinate for image st andardization. It was hypothesised that it would be challenging for an individual to remember someone’s name than it would be to rememberRead MoreStill Alice. Living With An Insidious Cognitive Declining1656 Words   |  7 PagesStill Alice Living with an insidious cognitive declining illness, individuals diagnosed with early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease often fear losing their sense of self (Borrello et al. 2495). This theme is carried out in the film through the character of Alice, a 50 year old linguistics professor at Columbia University. The inevitable decline in memory, communication, and eventually independence strike those with the disease (Borrello et al. 2494), which will quickly affect not only themselvesRead MoreThe Verbal Comprehension Index Measures The Ee107’S Ability1016 Words   |  5 PagesThe Verbal Comprehension Index measures the EE107’s ability to access and apply acquired word knowledge. Specifically, this score reflects her ability to verbalize meaningful concepts, think about verbal information, and express herself using words. On the Similarities subtest, EE107 had challenges with identifying how two words are alike. Similarly, on the Vocabulary subtest, EE107 could provide correct definition of basic words, but she struggled to provide definitions of higher level words. On

Monday, December 30, 2019

Terror in Tim O´Brien´s on the Rainy River - 1058 Words

â€Å"How many years can some people exist before theyre allowed to be free...How many times can a man turn his head pretending he just doesnt see?† The lyrics of Blowin’ in the Wind strike the painful feeling when our dignity is smothered by unbearable fear. In the short story â€Å"On the Rainy River†, Tim O’Brien explores the idea that we cannot follow our heart in the face of terror. Through his experiences, O’Brien suggests that when our insecurity clashes with our self-respect, our moral conscience is often torn into pieces until we are left with no choice but to accept the ruthless reality with a desperate heart. A society, a place, an attitude, an expectation---all of these contribute to a character’s response to threatening forces. Tim’s†¦show more content†¦At night, Tim tosses and turns in bed, half awake and half dreaming. The anguish of moral split is impossible to overcome. Elroy remains indifferent, yet feels sympathetic towards â€Å"a kid in trouble†. His â€Å"silence and watchful presence† gives Tim hope. Elroy helps Tim to open his paralyzed heart and discover his self-respect. He tells him â€Å"there is Jesus†. With Elroy by Tim’s side, he must soon face the inevitability between his dignity and insecurity. In life, every action precipitates a reaction, and facing challenge become significant. On the sixth day, Elroy take Tim on the Rainy River to fish, which becomes instrumental to guide Tim to his epiphany. When he is â€Å"on the margin of exile†, the collision of self-respect and insecurity aggravates. On the bow, Tim listens to the treacherous waves hitting the boat and feels the brisk wind pounding his face. The sound of silence coerces him into making a decision. There is a â€Å"hard squeezing pressure in [his] chest†. He is terrified. He does not know what to think. I do not want to leave my family and my childhood and my dreams and all I have behind! I am not ready to die! What am I suppose to do? Jump? Or stay? He tries to swallow his tears; instead one runs down his face after another. The safe haven---Canada reaches out a helping hand and pleads, â€Å"You must jump! At least you get to live a normal life!† He grips on the edge of the boat, leans forwar d, ready to jump overboard; a force is dragging himShow MoreRelatedThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien1459 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the mid 1950’s, the Vietnam War turned to be the modern pinnacle for battles resulting in the deaths of 58,000 American soldiers and millions of Vietnamese death. It saw the viable destruction of modern technology such as the newly fashioned M-16 rifle and the Apache, a helicopter made for mass destruction. For the soldiers experiencing Vietnam, it was truly an experience which would shape their hearts and minds forever. As evidenced in Tim O’ Brien’s The Things They Carried, The Vietnam

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Prison Is The Most Common Form Of Criminal Punishment

INTRODUCTION: A prison is a facility that holds offenders who have been convicted, or found guilty, of serious crimes. The government use prisons to keep them in the custody of the state and under a controlled environment for a certain amount of time, which varies depending upon the circumstances of their confinement; also, these facilities are used to separate them from society. Prisons propose education and health care to their inmates, but also offer danger to them. Prisons are a serious place with a variety of ethics. Development of Prisons: Before the use of prisons, offenders were typically punished in cruel and horrific ways. According to Frank Schmalleger (2015), â€Å"corporal punishments were the most common form of criminal punishment† (p.414). In those days, people would follow the eye for an eye code. This means an equal punishment should be established for the offender. For example, a man was publicly beat, broken, and killed for murder in 1721 (Schmalleger, 2015, p.414). As the years went by, this barbaric behavior was slowly becoming unacceptable in the United States. The concept of imprisoning someone as punishment became the ideal way to deal with criminal acts. As of now, the United States no long barbarically punishes criminals for breaking the law. Instead, they are imprisoned in specific prisons that house a variety of offenders. Types of prisons: There are variety of prisons that have been created by the Government. First, Minimum security prisons.Show MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty: An Appropriate Punishment Essay examples1517 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment has been a punitive consequence of multiple societies in many different countries over the years. The death penalty has been witnessed in many different forms, depending on the society or culture. It is viewed as an act of justice due to its deeply embedded historical tradition. Over the centuries, many cultures have used capital punishment because it ensures the safety of society. Criminals continue to use violence as their way of solving a problem. Capital punishment deters crimeRead MoreSolitary Confinement Is A Form Of Punishment918 Words   |  4 Pagesthe worst and any criminal who cannot be left in general population. Supermax prisons is a form of tool where the wardens and security guards can manage any disobedient prisoners. Many state wardens believe that solitary confinement does provide order and safety to the correctional staff and the inmates as well. This form of housing unit is needed because those who are not cooperative to any form of treatment and who are a threat to those around them need this form of punishment. â€Å"Supermax is a mechanismRead MoreBanning the Death Penalty1620 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Should the death penalty be banned internationally as a type of punishment? This form of punishment has been quite a controversial issue worldwide for quite a few years. The death penalty for hundreds of thousands of years has been a punishment for criminals throughout the world; in the past ranging from what we would now consider small crimes to huge ones, to the present where most if not all those punished with death penalty are for fairly large crimes. Actual laws involving deathRead MoreThe Failure Of The American Prison System940 Words   |  4 PagesThe Failure of the American Prison System What if someone broke into your house and stole everything of value and sold it so they could buy their next dose of heroin? Would you rather see them spend the next ten to fifteen years in prison? Or would you prefer the crime never happened because they got the rehabilitation they needed so they never robbed you for drug money?   The United States correctional system uses both punishment and rehabilitation when dealing with offenders. There are many waysRead MoreJuvenile Crime Has Become More Valuable Members Of Society?938 Words   |  4 Pagesof these criminals. Incidences of juvenile crime skyrocketed in the 1980s and 1990s, and policymakers pushed for laws that sent children as young as thirteen years old to trial, and even made them eligible for prison sentences. The general public has expressed a common desire to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and find effective legislation to discipline these youths, but there are questions about these methods. What is more effec tive, incarceration or rehabilitation? Does criminal punishmentRead MorePenitentiary Ideal and the American Prisons1292 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Penitentiary Ideal and the American Prisons: Prisons have developed to become famous institutions in the modern society to an extent that its difficult to remember that these institutions have a history of slightly over two centuries. Prisons emerged in Europe first before the United States as a product of the dual transformation that established the basis for contemporary capitalism. The institutions are famous because they are an integral part of the criminal justice system that house condemnedRead MoreImagine Having A Criminal, Who Has Escaped From Multiple1663 Words   |  7 PagesImagine having a criminal, who has escaped from multiple prisons; the system cannot contain him. He has been charged with multiple crimes, including murder. He is very powerful and has lots of money. What should happen to this extremely dangerous criminal when he is caught again? This is where capital punishment would come into play. Some people say the capital punishment should not be banned in any U. S. state and many people say capital p unishment should be federally banned. However, bothRead MoreDeath Penalty As A Form Of Capital Punishment895 Words   |  4 Pagesstates they practice death penalty as a form of capital punishment. The death penalty has been around since the country has been founded and is defined as the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime. Legally there are only a number of ways one can be executed here in the U.S, those include; lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad, with lethal injection being the most common form. For centuries people have argued for orRead MoreEssay on The Death Penalty Does NOT Reduce Crime1533 Words   |  7 PagesTodays system of capital punishment tolerates many inequalities and injustices. The common arguments for the death penalty are filled with holes. Imposing the death penalty is expensive and time consuming. Each year billions of dollars are spent to sentence criminals to death. Pe rhaps the most frequently raised argument against capital punishment is that of its cost. Other thoughts on the death penalty are to turn criminals away from committing violent acts. A just argument against the death penaltyRead MoreEssay on Criminal Sentencing Purpose1300 Words   |  6 Pages Criminal Sentencing purpose There was once a Television show name â€Å"Berretta† and the show theme song said do not do crime if you cannot do the time. That is a true saying, one that should be on every criminal mind why they are committing a crime. Sentencing a criminal for crimes for which they have been convicted of is their due punishment according to the severity of the crime committed. The Courts have for centuries punished criminals according to the belief of the

Friday, December 13, 2019

Psychological Factors Affecting Consumer Behavior Free Essays

It has been stated that â€Å"marketing management rests upon some conception or other of how consumers behave (Foxall 2001).† I will proceed to demonstrate, beginning with an overview of consumer behavior as it relates to the psychological factors that cause one to comply with a given request, through to an examination of the various trends in marketing which are reflective of consumers changing demands as they respond to world events and societal evolution, why it is vital that marketers understand and evaluate consumer behavior. I will also demonstrate, through the use of examples, how various organizations are employing specific strategies based upon their understanding of consumer behavior to produce record growth and profitability in the marketplace. We will write a custom essay sample on Psychological Factors Affecting Consumer Behavior or any similar topic only for you Order Now Psychological Factors Affecting Consumer Behavior As one social psychologist has termed the â€Å"weapons of influence,† there appear to be certain driving forces in human nature, or automatic psychological triggers, that propel individuals to respond in predictable ways to given requests (Cialdini 1993, p.3). One such force is the principle of Reciprocation, whereby one feels obligated to return a favor that has been provided him (Cialdini 1993, p.17). This principle is most clearly evidenced by the consumer’s natural tendency to buy a product from someone after he has been extended a kindness or favor from him. It has been demonstrated that this psychological principle of the pressure to return a favor with a favor is so strong, that it even surpasses the need to like the individual extending the favor (Cialdini 1993, p.21). One example of the rule of reciprocation at work has been evidenced by the wildly successful marketing strategy of the Hare Krishna Society, an eastern religious sect known for its solicitation of funds from passersby in public places (Cialdini 1993, p.22). Having been mostly unsuccessful at raising funds through traditional methods of chanting on the streets while begging for donations, the group devised a brilliant strategy that essentially invoked the principles of reciprocation (Cialdini 1993, p.22). As an individual would pass by, a Society member, rather than ask for a donation initially, would hand the unsuspecting person a flower, offering it as a free gift from the Society and not accepting its return under any circumstances. Only then would the Society member ask for a donation (Cialdini 1993, p.22). The response was overwhelming, and a testament to the extraordinary power of reciprocation. The individual, aware that he had been given a gift and feeling the pressure to reciprocate, was often compelled to respond with a donation (Cialdini 1993, p.24). Another powerful psychological principle in a marketer’s arsenal of tools is the commitment and consistency factor (Cialdini 1993, p. 37). It has been discovered that people feel a very powerful drive to be consistent once they have committed themselves to something (Cialdini 1993, p. 37). An example of this principle at play is witnessed through the offering of testimonial contests by such big-name companies as Proctor Gamble and General Foods (Cialdini 1993, p.39). In these contests, the companies ask participants to write short essays, often for large prizes, which include praise for the companies’ products. Usually no purchase is required; what is more important is that by forcing potential customers to record, in writing, praise for the company’s product, the company relies on the psychological drive of the individual to believe what he has written (Cialdini 1993, p 40). Apart from the psychological triggers that persuade individuals to comply with given requests, marketers must seek to understand the equally intriguing psychological processes at work in the unconscious mind that cause consumers to choose one particular course of action, or product, over another (Zaltman 2003, p.53). One example of such an unconscious process can be seen in the overwhelming tendency of customers to choose a product offered for $9.99 over an identical one offered for $10.00 (Zaltman 2003, p64). Consumer Need: Practicality Or Emotionality? It has been stated that, contrary to popular belief, people do not so much buy things they don’t need, but that the need is often based more upon emotions and feelings than it is upon concrete physical necessity (Danziger 2004, p.1). Though the gross domestic product in the United States has largely been generated by consumer spending since 1929-a full 60 to 70 percent of it- â€Å"the way consumers [generally] spend their money has changed significantly over the past 70 years (Danziger 2004, p.3).† It is claimed that, â€Å"today, over 40 percent of consumer spending is discretionary†¦ based on wants, not needs (Danziger 2004, p.4).† Changing Trends And Their Affect On The Marketplace Another important factor in predicting consumer behavior involves changing trends in the marketplace. Marketers must be ever vigilant to customers’ changing needs as society evolves and new events cause consumers’ wants and needs to adjust accordingly. A clear example of this is witnessed by the fairly recent change in menu selections offered by fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and Burger King. Responding to a concern over the rising tide of obesity in the U.S. and around the world and consumers’ increasing desire to maintain healthier lifestyles, such fast-food conglomerates have been adding healthier choices to their menu selections which includes salads, apple slices instead of French fries, and so on (Plunkett Research 2005). Another example of a change in consumer behavior was reflected in consumers’ response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The airline industry, facing huge setbacks as a result of consumers’ new reluctance to travel by air for fear of another terrorist attack, was forced to undergo massive restructurings to accommodate the new environment imposed upon them (Plunkett Research 2005). Consumers, wishing to reconcile their fears and need to reduce expenditures with the desire to continue enjoying and experiencing life as usual, were searching for ways-and bargains- to enable them to do this. Hence, there began a shift in the airline industry away from luxury to economy, as discount airlines began setting the new standard for air travel by luring passengers with price, not perks (Plunkett Research 2005). With Southwest Airlines and JetBlue leading the pack, these airlines have achieved success and profitability responding to consumers’ changed needs, mainly by cutting maintenance, operating and labor costs, such as by offering a single-plane platform and an open-seating policy (Plunkett Research 2005). In the meantime, of course, as full-service airlines have struggled to compete with the burgeoning success of the discount model, some, like Delta, have begun developing their own low-cost models, which manage to keep costs down by hiring younger flight crews. Another shining example of marketers’ need to understand and predict consumer behavior comes in the form of the relatively recent phenomenon of online delivery and piracy-or theft-of copyrighted music and video files ((Plunkett Research 2005). Forced to adapt to this trend following a 2002-2003 decline in music revenues, music companies have been seeking ways to safeguard their files â€Å"from illegal download and distribution,† as well as to capitalize on the internet craze by finding methods by which to distribute their files through legal means via the internet (Plunkett Research 2005).† Responding to this need, iTunes Music Store, a digital service provided by Apple Computer, Inc.,was launched in 2003, and it offers music files for download over the internet (Plunkett Research 2005). On a different front, automobile manufacturers have been responding to consumers’ rising concern over escalating gas prices, which reached a record-high in September 2005 of $3.01 per gallon (Plunkett Research 2005). After suffering huge losses on their lines of minivans, pickups and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), the â€Å"big three† U.S. manufacturers, Ford, GM and Chrysler, are focusing on raising fuel efficiency for these bigger models (Plunkett Research 2005). In addition, as foreign car companies like Toyota, Honda, and BMW have continued to steal sales away from U.S. automobile manufacturers, partially due to a reputation for producing higher quality cars, these American manufacturers have been responding by designing new product lines, such as the hugely successful Chysler 300C, with its â€Å"eye-catching grill and boxy, elegant design (Plunkett Research 2005).† In sum, whether responding to a consumer’s instinctual drives, which dictate that he or she will likely react in a certain way to a given stimulus, or evaluating the marketplace and consumer behavior based on world events and changing needs, marketing management does indeed rest on a conception of how consumers will behave, now and in the future. How to cite Psychological Factors Affecting Consumer Behavior, Essay examples