Category: Relationship

People decide to enter into intimate relationships with to fulfill self-interests. However, an individual might face problems in keeping the relationship alive since it has never been an easy task. Human beings rarely compromise on their interests yet marriage calls on each person to accept challenges and to adjust according to fit in the system (Coontz 54). Because of defective information circulation in marriages, many couples have divorced, with some moving to courts to obtain what rightfully belong to them. Studies show that individuals can sustain their relationships in case they observe certain principles.

In this article, at least five components of a lasting relationship are discussed, with specific examples drawn from the Odyssey Homer, Oedipus the King, Hippoltus, and the Ramayana. In these examples, life experience is discussed extensively where members are engaged activities that either support or interfere with normal living in a family setup. Additionally, the paper gives real life examples to show that the five components discussed are very important in maintaining positive relationships among individuals. These components guarantee a satisfying relationship, as well as building a strong foundation for a flourishing life given the fact that stable marriages have an impact on the successfulness of an individual.

The first component that enables peaceful coexistence in the family is communication. Family members are advised not to go to bed when angry meaning that they have to speak out their problems, as solutions might be provided before the issue escalates into a major conflict. When people live together, chances are high that arguments will arise, but what matters is when and how the conflicts are addressed.

A family that employs an open communication strategy has the potential of doing well as opposed to the one that does not consider information sharing. An individual is requested to listen to his or her partner because this plays a role in maintaining the relationship. Oedipus was one of the individuals who never had peace in his life because he never received the right information from his parents. In one of the phrases, he requests his audience to listen to what he had to say, For what you ask me-if you will hear my words and hearings welcome them and fight the plague, you will find strength and fight the plague (Grene 6).

In this sentence, it is true that listening to the wishes and the desires of other family members empowers an individual and facilitates understanding. Oedipus insisted that his actions never killed the king, but other members were reluctant to understand meaning that lack of proper communication skills might bring unnecessary conflicts. In a different encounter, Teiresias claimed that everyone in the family knew nothing and she would not share her tribulations with them, as she considered these problems personal. Oedipus requested her to share anything she knew with the rest of the family. According to Oedipus, keeping quite was dangerous since it would destroy the entire city and it was a form of betrayal as well.

The second component of a good marriage is intimacy, which means maintaining physical affection among family members and focusing on sexual relationships in the case of couples. If a couple maintains a robust sex life, chances are high that other problems will fade off because happiness will always characterize the marriage. Members are requested to be honest when dealing with other people in the family, as this will pave way for sharing feelings and information. If a couple finds it difficult to talk about sex, writing is suggested as an alternative because it will help expose the thing that cannot be said easily.

In the Odyssey, the writer shows how Odysseus had difficulties establishing an intimate relationship with his partner mainly because of the constant migration that characterized his life. Unfortunately, he perished in the remote island of Ogygia when he refused to resist an attempt by the Calypso goddess who fell in love with him (Homer 12). He betrayed his family by getting married to another person, even though she was a goddess. In his home, several suitors and comforters were busy courting his wife in Ithaca. When his son grew up, he faced many problems trying to keep off many admirers of his fathers estate who wanted to take over his mother and all available properties.

Odysseuss son convened a meeting with his fathers friends to request the city governor to banish all the suitors from his estate. Odysseus was not a faithful husband because he allowed the goddess to interrupt his relationship with the family while his wife, Penelope, was not also a good wife because she tried to misappropriate family wealth by inviting foreigners in the estate. This forced the son, Telemachus, to do something, which was shameful to his mother. In other words, it is suggested that lasting relationship is maintained through intimacy whereby members play their roles faithfully, with the couple ensuring that they do not deny each other conjugal rights.

The third element of a lasting marriage is respect, which implies partners have to encourage each other always, as this ensures collective goal achievement. Additionally, members of the family should have shared values meaning that each person has to adjust his or her personal objectives to suit those of the family. In case any family member resorts to physical abuse as a conflict resolution mechanism, the relationship will definitely collapse meaning that this should never be accepted as an alternative to the established strategies of conflict resolution. Narayan observes in the Ramayana that some family members never valued their children, as well as spouses and decided to sell them out after organizing abduction. He noted that women were tricked to marry foreigners whenever the family needed some resources to take care of its welfare (Narayan 87). This does not support a lasting marriage because conflicts will always emerge.

Similarly, Euripides talks about the dangers of non-commitment in the relationship by giving an account of a prince who was never concerned with family matters preferring instead to engage in an economic activity. The prince believed in purity, something that made him worship the goddess of virginity when he was expected to associate with the goddess of love (Euripides 36). The prince ended up dying, which proves that commitment is an additional component of love that ensures a lasting marriage. Commitment has to be accompanied with forgiveness whereby a member for the family has to empathize with others and extend his or her love through amnesty. Hippoltus was never serious with his family, something that angered the gods to an extent of cursing him to fall in love with the stepmother. Euripides shows that non-commitment has serious consequences.

It is concluded that various factors contribute to the lasting marriage and it is upon an individual to conquer oneself constantly to achieve this. Through a review of the works of various writers, it is observed that love is an elusive issue that has to be approached cautiously. Unfortunately, a relationship cannot last without love. In the Oedipus the King, the writer shows that family members have to trust each other while Narayan proves that respect is equally an important aspect.

Works Cited

Coontz, Stephanie. Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage. New York: Viking Press, Penguin Group, 2005. Print.

Euripides. Hippolytus. Lanham: Start Publishing LLC, 2013. Print.

Grene, David. Oedipus the King. Chicago: University OF Chicago, 2012. Print.

Homer, Stanley. The Odyssey. New York: Hackett Publishing, 2000. Print.

Narayan, Ruth. The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. London: Penguin, 2006. Print.

Sometimes, relationships get broken for seemingly no reason; you just abruptly drift away from each other. Indeed, even the closest of people can grow apart without a reason and that is it. That is what we have to accept as we move on with our lives, and not let it haunt us into avoiding new relationships.

As we progress with our growth throughout life, we develop new habits and traits  and that relates to the emotional aspect of our personalities, too. Changes in character are fundamental to our nature  as Ginor (2017) states, our environment, our society is the very drive for the evolution of our personalities, especially in the adulthood. Thus, it is completely normal to grow past some relations with our friends or family, as we acquire new patterns of behavior and social aptitudes. Moreover, we might also grow out of the interests we previously shared with others, which is especially relevant today, as we have so much information and knowledge at our disposal. Everyone changes with time, and if these changes between previously close people happen to not align anymore, then it is perfectly normal to grow distant over time.

I have had a friend whom I thought was my soulmate  we shared so much in common, and we always had something to talk about. However, as the time went, I have noticed that the periods of silence between our conversations stretched and grew, until one day, the silence was never breached anymore. After almost two years of grieving this lost friendship, I came to a conclusion: it was never my or her fault. We just grew out of each other, and now I can accept it, letting go of my grief, cherish my time with her, and move on forward.

That is what I am encouraging you to do, too: stop looking at your broken relationship from the point of grief and try to emphasize with it. By looking at a broken relationship from this perspective, you might find the strength to stop feeling guilty about yourself  or angry about the person you lost  and actually cherish the time you had together.

So, to conclude all that was said: in order to be able to move on, you need to accept the loss of your relationship and let it go. Every experience matters, but only if you learn from it and embrace the outcome, and that applies to interpersonal connections, too.

Reference

Ginor, F. (2017). Sociological work: Method and substance. Routledge.

Introduction

Since ancient times, people have learned to find and apply specific methods and means to interact with others. Moreover, these sorts, types, and forms of relations began to be framed and acquire more specific formats. Some of the most famous connections are friendly, business, family, and love, which also, in turn, have several categories and subcategories. For example, polyandry is one of the types of romantic affinities in which a woman is in several marital unions with different men. Polyandry, by its nature, is undoubtedly one of the rare forms of polygamy and is not widespread on a larger scale.

Relationship Type

Based on the clips content, the following key points should be noted regarding the type and form of human relations. The young woman from the video openly admits that she has three husbands at once. According to this information, a viewer will note that this is a romantic type of relationship. Moreover, speaking in more specific and precise terms, polyandry is manifested there as one of the forms of triangle polygamy.

Dynamics of Polyandry

There are several features of the dynamics and development of polyandrous connections. Primarily, as in most cases, people get to know each other, interact, and form a willingness to develop interpersonal relationships further. At the following stages, the views and interests of the partners converge; they support each other. In particular, individuals are also brought together by the same religion, as well as cultural, all generally accepted aspects common in a certain region (Kramer, 2020). As a rule, those few who remain faithful to their chosen ones do not do it out of romantic motives. In addition, such couples often move away from their friends, especially in the first, more passionate stages of the affinity. Consequently, people in polyandrous relationships experience love and emotional attachment and are ready to be close to each other for better or for worse.

My Thoughts on This Relationship Type

Unfortunately, even in the advanced 21st century, there are many stereotypes about polyandry. Someone considers this form of relationship to be a manifestation of debauchery and disrespect for a partner. Someone holds the opinion and believes that lovers are not able to properly love and therefore look for an excuse in a beautiful term. Nonetheless, there is no benefit from such negative beliefs; they only contribute to an increase in the number of social conflicts and misunderstandings.

Most likely, if I am asked how I feel about polyandrous relationships, I will answer that I treat them in a neutral context. Indeed, everyone has the right to define and separate right and wrong for themselves, taking into account individual beliefs and views on certain events and phenomena. Accordingly, it seems to me a little strange and unreasonable to discuss and condemn people who are in non-monogamous relationships.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the provided clip contains some knowledge and ideas about non-monogamous relationships and polyandry in general. Hence, polyandry is a unique and less common type of connection between one woman and several different men. Moreover, such affinities, however, like many standard ones, develop smoothly and gradually. They also require commitment, love, reciprocity, and respect from partners. Despite the wide range of existing facts and rumors, I treat such relationships in a neutral form because I assume that everyone decides for themselves what is acceptable for a person or not.

Reference

Kramer, S. (2020). Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions. Pew Research Center. Web.

Young people who have reached marriage age today are involved in cohabitation relationships, especially people who want steady partners. Cohabitation offers various advantages to the couple as they get real-life learning experience on how to love, and they also adjust to each other on equal terms. The partners get the opportunity to become psychologically aware of their partners weaknesses and strengths; and, as such, assess their compatibility.

The partners can judge whether the bond between them is influenced by infatuation or love. The partner gets the opportunity to continue winning over the other partner. The partners had the opportunity to honestly evaluate the quality of their would-be long term relationship and consider the adjustments they both need to make to enable the relationship work. The partners learn to appreciate each others unique characteristics and cope with each others individual behavior and characteristics.

Thus the couples learn to understand one another and become tolerant of each other. The couple also can learn to commit themselves to one another and develop a common purpose for their future lives. They can discuss and preset the objectives of their future marriage and to plan their lives as if they were one (Johnson & Wadsworth, 1994).

They get to understand one another better, and they, therefore, develop a common purpose that suits both of them. Such couples can integrate their beliefs and develop shared values essential for the success of their future married life. They develop positive communication between themselves, and as such, they can share virtually everything that affects their lives. By helping solve the other partners problems, the couples close the gap between them and become more open to each other.

They learn to stick with each other in times of joy and even during hardships. The partners are therefore able to gauge the level of concern that the other partner has towards him or her and the level of sacrifice that the other partner is willing to make him or her comfortable. This would also enable the partner to assess the other partners level of responsibility and commitment to meet marriage requirements.

The partners have the opportunity to learn the level of receptiveness of the other partner. The couples come to understand whether their partner has wholeheartedly accepted their relatives and friends. This enables the couple to choose friends who meet both their expectations and to be able to influence the other partners attitude towards his or her relatives and friends. Therefore, they can appreciate each others background and the factors that have shaped his or her life. By understanding and enjoying one anothers experience, respect between the couples is enhanced. This also improves the quality of communication between couples.

The relationship developed between couples during cohabitation leads to a subsequent stable relationship. The physical relationship during cohabitation forms the basis for a lifelong relationship. Cohabitation enables the couple to develop a security level that creates happiness in later marriages as they develop self-respect and personal pride in the relationship.

Reference List

Johnson, A, & Wadsworth, J. (1994). Sexual attitudes and lifestyles. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Why do so many romantic relationships come to an end? Are people incapable of having true feelings these days? Where are Romeos and Juliets? Are they too afraid or busy to be attached to someone? Every case is unique, and there are usually many reasons for relationships to fail. Some people tend to see failed relationships as a horrific loss that is worth ending ones life. However, when people understand that a failed romantic relationship is a gain and reflect on this experience paying a lot of attention to their needs, expectations, and personal traits, they will make a tremendous leap towards their living happily ever after.

It is vital to see any failed relationships as a perfect experience to learn. For example, I had a long relationship that was doomed as we both simply tried to maintain something non-existent. We were both wrong about each other and each others expectations. My friend helped me see that failure as a lesson to learn. I understood that the affair was not a waste of time but a step towards successful relationships. I identified the major mistakes that brought me to misery and despair. It turned out that the major problem was not my partner, as it was me.

Self-reflection and the focus on my feelings, thoughts, and behaviors enabled me to understand my most serious mistakes. It was rather difficult to analyze my personality and behaviors as an individual always has quite a distorted picture of oneself. At least, this was the case with me. Nevertheless, I managed to look into my previous relationships. I was surprised to acknowledge that I was attracted to a particular type of person and behavior. Such things as a danger, enigma, and risk attracted me most. At that, those features were not what I needed. I needed trust, intimacy, and support. Another crucial mistake I made was the focus on a certain ideal that existed in my head. I simply tried to develop relationships that were often featured in films. I never listened to myself or my partner.

Moreover, I realized that I never truly knew my partner. I loved a person who lived in my head rather than in my house. The reflection helped me make the next step.

Self-development is the final step before meeting the one who can make you happy and the final stride before developing successful relationships with this Mr. or Ms. Right. For instance, I learned to be sincere with myself. I stopped looking for dangerous and mysterious people who could make my life more exciting. I stopped creating relationships promulgated through the media. I started looking for particular traits that were really important to me. I cannot say that my current relationship is all bed of roses. However, we work on these relationships together. We self-develop and help each other in this endeavor.

In conclusion, it is possible to note that failed affairs were a considerable gain for me that helped me (and can help anyone) develop healthy romantic relationships through self-reflection and self-development. The saying that any relationship is hard work for both parties involved is true to life. People should understand themselves and their true needs to form successful romantic affairs. Of course, it can hurt immensely when your relationship comes to an end, and it may even seem that your entire life is over. However, it is necessary to pull yourself together and move on. People who are not afraid of being sincere with themselves and their partners become truly happy.

Introduction

There are many things that the course in group dynamics has helped me to realize. Studying theoretical concepts discussed during this course, it becomes possible to understand the nature of relationships within any type of group. Moreover, it helps any person to comprehend his or her role in the group and improve the behavior and performance in order to bring something important to the group environment.

Main body

Speaking about my personal experience with groups connected to different spheres of my life, I can say that I have always been surrounded by many people belonging to different generations and I consider myself an enthusiastic person. I have had many hobbies and each of them encouraged me to become a part of some group whose members understood my values and interests. Thus, I have been a member of many groups since childhood. As for my school experience, I suppose that nothing special can be said about it. Although I have had many friends, our class could not be called a cohesive team due to many reasons. Apart from being a member of my class at school and a member of my family, I have also been a part of a dancing group and a volleyball team. I regard these groups as ones that encouraged me to do my best in order to support other people and add to their efforts. Due to this experience, I managed to realize the importance of mutual respect within the team. Besides, I have also helped other people to organize charity events, and I remember them as the team that has helped me to unlock my potential.

It is important to say that I like the course because of the content that we discuss. Personally, I believe that this course is essential for everybody who would like to understand the mechanisms that help different groups to appear and exist for a long time. Thanks to this knowledge, any person gets an opportunity to have a fresh look at many things that seem to be quite ordinary. To be more precise, I like almost all the topics already covered but I pay special attention to the notion of group motivation. I completely agree with those believing that strong motivation is a distinctive feature of a successful and cohesive team (Levi, 2015). Furthermore, I suppose that the topics devoted to group structure are also very significant. Although many groups are created with regard to the principle of equality, it is extremely important for all people to pay attention to the internal structure of the group and realize why some members can make important decisions whereas others cannot do the same. Therefore, it is essential for any member of the group to distinguish one role within the team from another. Moreover, it is important to remember that individual tasks are good motivation for people (Haslam, van Knippenberg, Platow, & Ellemers, 2014, p. 45). To continue, I also consider the topic of conflicts within the group to be very important as it allows people to understand the causes of mutual discontent deeper and address these challenges in a more effective way.

I regard the discussed course as one having certain practical significance for me and other people. Speaking about skills that the course materials encouraged me to develop, I would like to mention the ability to understand my personal role within the team and decide which details I should pay more attention to in order to fulfill my task more effectively. What is more, the course has helped me to understand the ways of reducing conflict and helping other team members to reach a compromise. I am convinced that these skills will be extremely important for me in my future career as they will allow me to regard any problem from the perspective of the final target. Speaking about the things that I need to improve my performance, I would say that it could be necessary to pay more attention to establishing good personal relationships with other members. Although I understand their importance, sometimes I tend to focus my attention only on the goal. Due to that, some people may come to false conclusions about me and this situation may have a negative impact on further work. Nevertheless, I have already managed to improve my knowledge and performance related to many aspects such as the ways to bring the members of the group together and inspire them to do their best for the good of the team. I suppose that this improvement has become possible due to rethinking my previous negative experience.

As for the strengths that I possess when it comes to group work, I would say that I can perform as quite an effective leader if the team has been created to fulfill the goal that I believe to be really important. Furthermore, I am able to inspire other people when it is necessary to remind them about our common goal. As for the things that I can bring to a group environment, I believe that my sense of purpose and willingness to work hard makes me a good example for people in my class and my close friends.

Conclusion

In the end, the course has helped me to change my attitude towards the personal problems of team members. Due to the topics explained, I have managed to become more conscious about the split of responsibilities within the team and the ways to resolve conflicts.

References

Haslam, S. A., van Knippenberg, D., Platow, M. J., & Ellemers, N. (2014). Social identity at work: Developing theory for organizational practice. New York, NY: Psychology Press.

Levi, D. (2015). Group dynamics for teams. London, UK: Sage Publications.

Human to Human Relationship Model: Meaning

The conceptual model under consideration is Joyce Travelbees human-to-human relationship model. The primary assumption on which the theory is based is that every patient is a unique human being who deserves to be provided with hope, motivation, and meaning while experiencing the illness. The central concept of the model under discussion is nursing intervention. She also transformed the meaning of the patient concept, as she stated that it should not be a mere label. This concept is supported by ideas of trust, hope, and rapport because Travelbee considered the establishment of trusting relationships to be the crucial aspect of caregiving.

According to Travelbee, caring & involves the dynamic, reciprocal, interpersonal connection between the nurse and patient (Staal, 2015, p. 76). Therefore, it is possible to observe that relationships between concepts within the theory are based on personal involvement from both nursing professionals and people experiencing illness. Regarding the effect of different concepts on each other, it should be mentioned that the concept of nursing intervention is the most important and influencing aspect of the model. Other concepts and sub-concepts are included in the theory as they all work towards one goal within the frame of the model.

Origins of Joyce Travelbee Theory

It should be stated that in the period in which Travelbees theory was being developed, nursing science was experiencing a lack of formal conceptualization and theorization. Also, it is possible to mention that relationships between nurses and patients were perceived as purely formal and did not involve a personal approach. Therefore, as the basis for the development of her theory, Travelbee decided to merge her experience as a nursing professional and her religious background. Religious values were the factor that had the most important impact on the development of the scientists patient-centered theory.

Arguably, the primary motivational factor that impacted Travelbees decision to develop a theory was the intention to change to the current state of the healthcare system. Also, she considered that it is appropriate to retrieve valuable knowledge not only from textbooks but also from interpersonal communication with patients. In the process of developing her theory, Travelbee incorporated the provisions of Peplaus theory. However, due to the lack of coherent methodological guidelines of nursing theorizations, she dwelt primarily on her professional and personal experience.

Travelbees Human to Human Relationship Models Usefulness

It could be stated with certainty that Travelbees human-to-human relationship model is highly useful in practice. Since this framework is based on the combination of theorization and practical nursing experience, it is highly applicable to the majority of caregiving facilities and situations. Travelbee successfully merged personal values and academic approaches to the development of her method, and thus her theory is used by nursing practitioners. The model comprises five distinct stages: observation, interpretation, decision-making, action, and appraisal; and thus, it is possible to understand and predict patient outcomes because a nurse carefully follows the patients path to health. Staal (2015) describes the 1989 case, in which a group of nurses implemented Travelbees model in their practice for six months. As a result, they increased their performance and job satisfaction (Staal, 2015). Also, the participants reported that they improved their relationships with patients and the overall environment in the workplace (Staal, 2015).

Testability of Human to Human Relationship Model

It is worth mentioning that the theory under discussion has been developing for a considerably long period of time, and its testability was proved numerous times. First of all, the model was tested in practice by Travelbee, and it was supported by academic research on the topic by herself and her contemporaries. Further, as the theory has established, it generated continuous research in the field of nursing practice. Staal (2015) mentions qualitative and quantitative studies that were conducted by various scholars. Butts and Rich (2015) argue that numerous scientists contributed to the establishment of the theorys testability. However, Mohammed et al. (2016) state that the most important aspect of Travelbees model is that it became the basis for the development of a patient-centered care framework, which is widely used in contemporary nursing. The theorys propositions, or statements of critical, logical points of the theory, were testable enough to generate massive research and change the overall direction of the nursing science.

Joyce Travelbee Theory: Overall Evaluation

Overall, it is possible to conclude that the conceptual model under discussion is comprehensive and elaborated. However, it is possible to state that Travelbees theory is not considered specific since it possesses significant universality. It could be used in various clinical environments due to its universal approach, but it does not have distinct and specific methods for a particular nursing situation. This aspect could be considered the theorys primary weakness. Nevertheless, the model provides a nursing professional with the ability to connect with his or her patient meaningfully. Another strength that should be mentioned is that the theory provides distinct guidelines for the process of caregiving. I would use this theory in my advanced nursing practice at least to some extent because it is highly applicable to the majority of clinical environments and nursing situations.

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (Eds.). (2015). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

Mohammed, K., Nolan, M. B., Rajjo, T., Shah, N. D., Prokop, L. J., Varkey, P., & Murad, M. H. (2016). Creating a patient-centered health care delivery system: A systematic review of health care quality from the patient perspective. American Journal of Medical Quality, 31(1), 12-21.

Staal, J. (2015). Joyce Travelbees human-to-human relationship model and its applications. In M. C. Smith & M. E. Parker (editors), Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed.) (pp. 76-81). F. A. Davis Company.

Introduction

The doctor-patient connection requires open communication and trust between the medical professional and the client. A cooperative connection between patients and healthcare professionals is one in which the individual deliberately requests the doctors help and the clinician willingly acknowledges the individual as a patient. Fundamentally, the doctor-patient relationship can be characterized as fiduciary since by accepting the client as a patient; the general practitioner commits to upholding the patients rights, maintaining confidentiality, disclosing all alternative treatments, obtaining informed consent, and delivering the highest degree of care. A formal description of the doctor-patient relationship, nevertheless, does not adequately describe its vast and comprehensive scope. Patients occasionally share concerns, anxieties, and emotions with doctors that they have still not shared with intimate family members and friends. As a result, doctor-patient relationships promote the physical and mental health of the patient and assist the doctor in providing the highest level of treatment.

Doctor-Patient Relationship from the Perspective of Competitive Advantage

Prior to now, clinical decision-makers failed to see the deeper value of the patient-physician relationship. Nevertheless, doctors and health care providers now view and refer to this connection as a strategic management function for several essential factors. In the contemporary competitive world, doctors performance is dependent on patient satisfaction, which creates severe rivalry similar to that found in many other businesses (Blount, 2019). Secondly, the treatment is viewed by patients as a credibility service, which is challenging to assess impartially (Berger et al., 2020). As a result, trust becomes apparent as a crucial component in developing a solid and meaningful relationship. Thirdly, studies in medicine have demonstrated that a close bond between a doctor and patient improves the quality of the treatment received (Berger et al., 2020). Thus, doctor-patient relationships is the foundation of a successful healthcare organization and allow the institution to build a competitive edge.

Doctor-Patient Relationship as a Healing Accelerator

The patient-physician connection has historically been organized based on the idea of what is often described as the therapeutic paradigm, which understands the shared commitment in a pragmatic and teleological way. The client is thought to have an illness brought on by either an outside force or a broken down system that is the cause of their suffering. If this ailment is identified and successfully treated, the patients health will be restored. This examination highlights a lot of common medical procedures (Berger et al., 2020). On the contrary, the relational model is concerned with the effectiveness of the patient-doctor communication process (Berger et al., 2020). The connection has now become one in which both participants participate while exchanging information, altering the doctors previous position as an authority who simply provided technical competence and knowledge to the client. The patient changes from a neutral observer to a vital and active agent in the recovery process (Berger et al., 2020). Communication that fosters mutual trust is essential to the success of any cooperative partnership, but it is especially important in interactions involving services of this nature.

To provide further point, the first factor to which the doctor-patient relationship contributes is the quicker rehabilitation process. In addition to being the best indicator of patients happiness, the doctor-patient connection has been found to have an impact on the perceived severity of symptoms. A stronger doctor-patient connection was linked to enhanced interpersonal communication and patient activity, which in turn favorably impacted the condition and resulted in a reduction in patients anxiety and confusion (Riedl and Gerhard, 2017). The reason behind it is not only reduced anxiety but the mutual trust and care, which allows the patient to feel supported both physically and mentally.

At this point, a hospitable and compassionate environment during treatments might additionally potentially boost the placebo effect. In a sense, enhanced doctor-patient interactions have been linked to increased patient activation, which is the immediate effect of the doctor-patient connection on medical status (Riedl and Gerhard, 2017). As a consequence, the statement implies that enhanced patient-physician relationships are linked to greater disease-related behavior, and improved health and conditions for their patients.

Increased Self-Management

Another factor that makes doctor-patient relationships essential in the healthcare field is the increased self-management of the patients that comes with mutual respect and trust from the physician. Participatory decision-making significantly promotes patient engagement, which in turn can enhance medication compliance and improved health state. What is meant by this is that confusion over their condition and therapy can be a major problem faced by the patients. By evaluating the individuals informational preferences, informative demands may be lowered, and patients would be more satisfied if their informational requirements are met (Riedl and Gerhard, 2017). When patients have access to the knowlege from a trusted source, such as a physician, they do not have to search it elsewhere. Additionally, with an appropriate introduction of the information to the individual, one will have a sense of autonomy and a guide on proper self-care. Therefore, the health condition, adherence, and quality of life of the patients will be significantly impacted by better information delivery and health education. Furthermore, longer visits with patients will not be necessary as a result of improved patient education.

Medical Compliance

The last factor that is provided by the doctor-patient relationships aside from self-management is the compliance with the treatment plan. The goal of therapies focusing on relationships and information sharing is to help patients control their conditions better. One of the main factors affecting compliance is the patients desire to participate actively in the care of their condition (Blount, 2019). Stronger degrees of patient activation have been attributed to the doctors empathy, positive interpersonal interactions, and more equality in the course of therapy; better patient engagement has also been linked to higher prescription compliance (Blount, 2019). Research has demonstrated that effective patient communication may help people feel increasingly autonomous from medical guidance (Blount, 2019). Additionally, it will help them acquire control over complicated conditions and experience an improvement in quality of life. Therefore, the successful integration of physicians approaches to build strong relationships will lead to patient compliance with the recommended interventions and treatment plans.

Conclusion

In sum, doctor-patient connections help the patients physical and emotional health and allow the doctor to provide the best possible care. The patient-physician relationship has traditionally been structured around the concept of what is sometimes referred to as the therapeutic paradigm, which views the shared commitment in a practical and teleological approach. To make a further point, the quickest rehabilitation process is the first component that the doctor-patient interaction influences. The higher level of patient self-management that results from a doctors mutual regard and confidence in the patient is another aspect that makes doctor-patient interactions crucial in the healthcare industry. In addition to self-management, the doctor-patient relationship also influences compliance with the treatment plan.

References

Berger, Ron, Ben Bulmash, Netanel Drori, Ofir Ben-Assuli, and Ram Herstein. The PatientPhysician Relationship: An Account of the Physicians Perspective. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research 9, no. 1 (2020): 1-16.

Blount, Alexander. 2019. Patient-Centered Primary Care: Getting From Good to Great. Germany: Springer International Publishing.

Riedl, David, and Gerhard Schüßler. The influence of doctor-patient communication on health outcomes: a systematic review. Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie 63, no. 2 (2017): 131-150. Web.

Introduction

Being in a close romantic relationship is a significant lifestyle change in comparison with being single. Apart from the self-evident impacts on loneliness and happiness, it may influence how much a person values another human being compared to all others or even themselves. This perception of a close one as more valuable could logically extend to risky behavior and resulting anxiety. Life is full of potential risks and dangers, and with interpersonal relationships being a significant part of life, it may be worthwhile to examine the connections between the two. Ghassemi, Bernecker, and Brandstätter (2020) propose that when an individuals loved one engages in risky behavior, it produces more anxiety than if it was the individual facing that risk themselves, and the closer their relationship, the larger the discrepancy. The purpose of the study is to examine how the degree of interpersonal closeness can shape risk perception, and how much interpersonal relationships can impact emotional response to risk, as well as other relevant contributing factors.

The authors see a gap in the literature, where extant risk studies may have neglected the interpersonal part of risk-taking, affective response to it, and the self-other discrepancies. They focus on these aspects of risk studies to contribute to an under-researched topic. The present study is firmly rooted in risk studies and their core tenets. The risk as feelings hypothesis contributes to the core understanding of the affective response to the risk that the paper is based on. Another significant theory that contributes to the research is the interdependence theory, which describes how romantic dyads experience different feelings jointly. Many other contributing studies tangentially hint at the interpersonal aspect of risk perception. The cited works include both very recent and reasonably old studies, which provide sufficient rationale for the present study as a theoretical basis and as an indication of a gap.

The exact hypothesis of the paper is as follows: individuals are more anxious when a significant other intends to engage in risk than when they intend to engage in the same risk themselves. Several main variables, which appear in the experimental studies, can be derived from this hypothesis. The first dependent variable is the amount of anxiety experienced as an effective response to risk, the second dependent variable is the propensity to enact risky plans, and the independent variable is who faces that risk (the person, their significant other, or an acquaintance). There were several other control variables and study-specific secondary hypotheses, which, however, all revolved around the primary one and were designed to supplement it and examine it more thoroughly.

Method

The study followed an experimental design, with six experimental studies carried out to explore the primary hypothesis and their own smaller secondary hypotheses. The sixth study is not reported in the main study due to an error in data manipulation. Studies 1-4 follow very similar patterns set in Study 1, while Study 5 is performed differently to produce more grounded results. The main exploratory method was presenting participants with scenarios designed to elicit an emotional response, so there was no intervention, nor a treatment.

Study 1 had a sample of 166 individuals in committed romantic relationships, acquired from the university where the authors work, as well as research-related online resources. Study 2 had a sample of 193, presumably acquired by similar means. Study 3 used a German panel provider to get a sample of 166, 16 of which were excluded. Study 4 used 194 students recruited from the universitys subject pool. Study 5 was focused explicitly on couples, which were recruited from the university and car dealerships, 75 couples in total. Interestingly, Studies 1-4 had a predominately female sample, possibly due to the nature of the topic. All participants were promised a small compensation in the form of money or a mail-order coupon, while the students were promised partial course credit.

The experiments in the study were primarily focused on presenting the participants with hypothetical scenarios and asking them to explain their emotional reactions. As such, there are not many ethical considerations that could be violated by this study. A possible exception could be Study 5, which had the participants go on a reasonably lengthy car ride along a less-familiar route. For a research paper that treated car rides as inherently risky, subjecting the participants to that exact risk for data is ironic. That said, the participants gave informed consent, were both responsible adults and experienced drivers, and the study received the approval of the Institutional Review Board.

Results

The results of each study were statistically processed using regression models in R. As predicted, the results of Study 1 indicated that the participants regarded the partners risky behavior as more anxiety-inducing than their own. The risk posed to distant acquaintances was creating similar levels of anxiety to own risk. Additionally, women exhibited more anxiety than men in, presumably, all three scenarios. The propensity to engage in risky behavior followed similar trends, with participants recommending their significant other not face as much risk as they. Moreover, the conscious analysis of risk significantly predicted anxiety but did not differentiate among the three scenarios. Also consistent with the predictions, the strength of the relationship influenced the anxiety felt towards the partner engaging in risky behavior.

With Study 1 being the baseline, other studies added other factors to confound the experiment and more effectively prod at the hypothesis. Study 2 added scenarios where the participants faced risk together with their partners, which significantly decreased the anxiety of risk to self, but the anxiety remained much higher for the partner. Study 3 had the participants name several possible outcomes of the risky scenarios, which were more severe for the partner and acquaintance rather than self. Study 4 differentiated the closeness of the relationship and controlled for the social desirability of answering a certain way. The results indicated that anxiety increased with the closeness of the relationship and that answering a certain way was not caused by social desirability to any significant degree. Study 5, although noticeably different than the other studies, produced similar results, with anxiety over the car ride being higher when the partner was driving, and the perceived control of the situation being higher for self than the partner.

Discussion

All studies point to the existence of a discrepancy between the self and the other in affective reaction to risk. Namely, people experience much more anxiety over perceived risk to their partner, or an otherwise close person, than themselves or some distant acquaintances. Despite the differences in overall anxiety between genders, that discrepancy was universal. The authors mention that the higher severity of cognitively analyzed risks for the partner is more likely an effect of anxiety rather than the cause. They also mention the cognitive bias towards rewards for risk when thinking about own behavior, which may overshadow the adverse effects, but not appear when thinking about someone else. The limitations of the study include non-representative samples with an overabundance of women, simplistic measures, and self-report assessment. Future research should go deeper into the self-other discrepancy and prod at its causes, effects, implications, and deeper underlying mechanics of interpersonal relationships regarding the affective reactions to risk.

References

Ghassemi, M., Bernecker, K., & Brandstätter, V. (2020). Take care, honey!: People are more anxious about their significant others risk behavior than about their own. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 86, 103879.

Introduction

When research is performed in any field, scientists must develop a conceptual framework for their studies to have a clear vision for themselves and articulate it to others. It is built prior to the experimental part to help researchers answer specific questions (Conceptual framework vs. theoretical framework, 2022). However, to develop the conceptual framework, it is crucial to define the concept, constructs, and variables and understand their similarities, differences, and application in healthcare research. These three terms are essential for studies since they help operationalize and conceptualize measures.

Discussion

The three foundational aspects of a theory are concepts, constructs, and variables. A concept can be defined as a phenomenon that serves as a building block for developing hypotheses in research (Introduction to nursing theories, 2020). A construct, which can be unidimensional or multidimensional, is an abstract idea used for explaining various events (Bhattacherjee, 2021). To elucidate the abovementioned terms, variables are used, which are measurable characteristics of constructs that can be dependent, independent, moderating, and controlling (Bhattacherjee, 2021). For example, a persons weight is a concept, while ones body mass index is a multidimensional construct that comprises a specific ratio of weight to height squared. In the last case, height and weight are variables used to measure the indicated construct.

As incomparable as they may seem, these three terms have some similarities. Indeed, unidimensional constructs and concepts represent one specific abstract idea (Bhattacherjee, 2021). For instance, gravitation is a concept, but it can also be viewed as a construct since it explains the phenomenon of objects staying on the ground on Earth. Moreover, concepts and variables are similar in the way that they represent one particular idea or measure.

The concept, variable, and construct differ from each other in several dimensions. Firstly, a concept is always one idea, while a construct can incorporate multiple abstractions (Bhattacherjee, 2021). Furthermore, the distinction between construct and variable is that the former cannot be directly measured while the latter is purposefully used for measuring constructs (Bhattacherjee, 2021). The difference between concept and variable is in their purpose. The latter serves as a measure, whereas the former represents a phenomenon.

The ultimate goal of these three conceptions is to operationalize and explain a variety of healthcare measures. For example, describing healthcare workers satisfaction, engagement, motivation, and burnout is conceptualized as job morale to simplify research in that field (Sabitova et al., 2020). It is sometimes challenging to explain such phenomenon as public health acceptance; hence, researchers formulate the construct of acceptability of medical interventions to be able to qualitatively or quantitatively measure it (Sekhon et al., 2018). In fact, statistical tools like logistic regression analysis are frequently used to determine the association between independent and dependent variables that constitute a health-related construct (Bodur & Atsaam, 2019). As these examples demonstrate, the three terms under discussion can be utilized in multiple ways to understand an idea or test a theory in healthcare research.

In summary, variables, concepts, and constructs are essential elements of scientific studies that allow the development of a theoretical framework and produce a measurable outcome. Indeed, concepts and constructs represent one or several abstract ideas that may explain a specific event or phenomenon. These ideas are usually measured with the help of variables that may be constant or dynamic. Overall, all three terms are crucial for healthcare research since they are implemented in measuring and elucidating certain behaviors and attitudes of people regarding public health.

Assignment 2

Table 1: Examples of Concepts and Constructs

Conclusion

Measurement in healthcare research can be done in various ways, but it requires a clear definition of variables. Indeed, defining measures is critical for developing a robust methods section and attaining the study objectives (Jensen & Laurie, 2017). For example, the outcomes research may measure morbidity and mortality after a specific surgical procedure or therapeutic intervention (Kane & Radosevich, 2011). However, not all phenomena can easily be measured; hence, operationalization, the process of translating abstract ideas into measurable components, is required (Greenstein, 2006). The measurement process involves determining the level of variable assessment, which can be nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio (Greenstein, 2006). Table 2 shows examples of concepts and constructs that were converted to different measures to estimate the outcome. Specifically, the concept being analyzed in Table 2 is insulin resistance, while the construct is the overall attitude to the chosen health plan.

References

Bhattacherjee, A. (2021). Concepts, constructs, and variables. Libre Texts. Web.

Bodur, E. K., & Atsaam, D. D. (2019). Filter variable selection algorithm using risk ratios for dimensionality reduction of healthcare data for classification. Processes, 7(4), 1-14. Web.

Conceptual framework vs. theoretical framework  And constructing each. (2022). Charlesworth Author Services. Web.

Greenstein, T. N. (2006). How do we measure concepts? In Methods of family research (pp. 51-62). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Introduction to nursing theories. (2020). Current Nursing. Web.

Jensen, E., & Laurie, C. (2017). An introduction to research design [Video file]. Sage Methods Database.

Kane, R., & Radosevich, D. (2011). Conducting health outcomes research. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Sabitova, A., Hickling, L. M., & Priebe, S. (2020). Job morale: A scoping review of how the concept developed and is used in healthcare research. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-9. Web.

Sekhon, M., Cartwright, M., & Francis, J. J. (2018). Acceptability of health care interventions: A theoretical framework and proposed research agenda. British Journal of Health Psychology, 23(3), 519-531. Web.