Empirical Research on Individual Conformity to Group Pressure

Introduction Human beings are social and interact with others in different social arrangements. Many times the associations take place in group settings that require individuals to work jointly to meet set goals. At the work place, groups are commonly formulated to complete tasks meant to grow an organization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Empirical Research on Individual Conformity to Group Pressure specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the advancement in technology experienced globally, the concept of work teams has been taken to an even higher level. It is therefore common to come by virtual teams that are constituted by individuals who may or may not be geographically dispersed. With the help of tools such as wikis and blogs, virtual teams are able to carry out activities with very minimal face to face encounters. As stated by Griffin and Moorhead (2011), individuals influence groups as much as groups also influence the individuals. Within a group, an individual with a strong character can easily determine the others act while the use of very strict group norms can compel members to conform either willingly or against their will. According to Mowday (1993) one is able to understand organizational behavior by studying the link between individuals, groups and the organizational culture. These three are interrelated and determine how far an organization can go in offering services to the public. This paper presents a critical evaluation of research that has been done by different authors on the subject of individual conformity to group pressure. Groups and Social Norms According to Bendor and Swistak (2001), a group norm is defined as a rule or behaviour that triggers punishment if violated by an individual who is a part of the group. Norms exist to provide stability to a group so as to ensure that the group is able to accomplish stipulated tasks as planned. In a study by Brown (2009), o rganizations have for many years been encouraged to build strong cultures that can help in the achievement of goals.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Organizations that are keen to realize greater performance have a culture of creating and reinforcing strong group norms to ensure that groups are used to benefit the organization. Further claims indicate that the presence of a strong organizational culture will inspire works teams to execute tasks as required and complete them within the stated time period (Brown, 2009). Durlauf and Blume (2008) observed that the main purpose of social norms is to govern the interactions within groups and to successfully coordinate the varying expectations of the individual team members. The group norms are particularly valuable when a group is made up of people with diverse backgrounds. Durlauf and Blume (2008) further argued that once a group has created the norms, all its members required to conform and act in accordance with stipulated rules. Even though there is a general belief that group norms greatly enhance the performance of a group, good management is, however, critical for success to be realized. Durlauf and Blume (2008) described three different approaches to do this. These include coordination, threats of a member being punished by the group if he or she deviates from what has been agreed and specifying an agreed code of conduct. Although norms may not formally appear anywhere or even be discussed quite often in the context of a working group, they are a very powerful tool in guiding the behaviour of a group and ensuring that goals are met. McMahan Kacmar (1991) argued that the concept of group norms is extremely essential for an organizational consultant and although it they have indicated that it may not be easy to identify all the key requirements in forming or strengthening group norms, they agree that stri ct control measures must be adhered to if a work team is to work effectively. Subsequently, they have identified four reasons why group norms must be enforced. These include the need to ensure those work teams survive, managing the behaviour of a group, dealing with interaction problems that could cause embarrassment to group members and making sure that the group lives up to its intentions (McMahan Kacmar, 1991).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Empirical Research on Individual Conformity to Group Pressure specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to a study by Bettenhausen and Murnighan (1985), social norms tend to be invisible even though they play an incredible role in helping organizations control the ultimate behaviour of work teams. Brief and Weiss (2002) argued that effectiveness of a work team is to some extent affected by the personality traits of the individual members team. While some team members m ay be willing to abide by the group norms, others may be uncooperative. Nadler Tushman (1980) also observed that the whole process of creating and managing groups is quite complex and the fact that it is never easy to really understand the individual members in a group makes it even more difficult. Development of Norms Bettenhausen and Murnighan (1985) claimed that while organizations do appreciate the fundamental role played by group norms to guarantee the success of groups, they pay little attention to the process involved in developing these norms. Using nineteen different groups, they did experiments to try and establish how group norms develop. Even though organizations may accomplish tasks using informal and loosely structured teams with no strict guidelines, results often end up being pathetic. Where unstructured work teams are created, they will be made up of people with no prior history of interacting with one another and this can generate problems incase no policies are i n place to support the work of the group. Characteristically, these work teams spend so much time getting to know each other so as to agree on the way forward rather than embarking on the stipulated tasks right away (Bettenhausen Murnighan, 1985). A similar argument is presented by Mowday (1993) who also observed that unless interpersonal relationships are fully dealt with, groups will not be able to function well and it will difficult to get the expected output. The continued use of such an approach will lead an organization to a consistent state of poor group performance. This being the case, Bettenhausen and Murnighan suggested that it is important for organizations to take time and develop scripts that will govern group operations as they are formed.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although these scripts may need to be adjusted based on the unique requirements of individual groups, a common script must be made available for team members to reference. Availability of a common script to be used by all the members of a team has the effect of boosting the confidence level of the individuals in the team. It also makes it possible for members to trust one another and response time is reduced as work teams will be able to act quickly (Bettenhausen Murnighan, 1985). Research has also demonstrated that informal norms can be very detrimental to the productivity of an individual and must be avoided at all costs. By clearly understanding how norms are developed and thereafter transferred to the work team, an organization can address the challenges of poor group performance. The understanding will also empower group members to later be able to deal with group pressure more positively (Bettenhausen Murnighan, 1985). According to Feldman (1984), group norms are essential f or two main reasons. They determine the productivity of a group and can also be used by the management to shape the behaviour of the group as well as that of individuals. Groups can also influence the culture within an organization and in cases where group members have a past history of interacting with one another better results are feasible (Mowday, 1993). Boonstra (2004) found out that the behavior of an individual is strongly rooted in groups and as such, groups are a very useful means of changing the behavior of individuals. To change the way an individual responds to situations, one only needs to focus on altering the behavior of the group to which the individual happens to belong. When effectively used, groups will also help in transferring knowledge to members within a work team (Argote Ingram, 2000). Enforcement of Group Norms Feldman (1984) pointed out that groups aim at operating in a manner that will amplify success while minimizing failure and argued that a group will only create and enforce norms that are regarded as being relevant to the activities of the group. As stated elsewhere in this paper, one of the motivations for enforcing norms is to eliminate any possibilities of interpersonal embarrassment and hence, groups will therefore be very enthusiastic about ensuring that members are always comfortable. (Feldman, 1984). Conformity and Resistance Goldman, Haberlein and Feder (1965), studied the response of individuals to group pressure by classifying them into two main groups. While one group was considered as being made up of conformists or people who follow without showing any resistance, the other one included those seen as resisters. The categorization was based on how individuals reacted to group pressure. Conformers would very easily go with the flow of the group while resisters would resist any pressure from the group and instead, choose to act differently to the disappointment of the group. Goldman et al (1985) argued that when one ea sily conforms to group pressure he or she is very likely to perform in a stressful manner and this would get worse if an individual refused to conform to the demands of the group as there is fear of being admonished by the rest of the group if one does not abide by the rules. Apparently, there is a high chance of a conformer doubting his or her own intelligence in making sound decisions. In comparison to resisters, conformers will take a much lesser time to perform a given task. This is true considering that characteristically, resisters will take time to come to an agreement before finally embarking on an activity. Smooth communication in a resister group is also ruined by the existence of competitiveness and hostilities among the group members (Goldman et al., 1965). Although it might actually appear that conformers would be able to solve a problem much faster than resisters, this may not be necessarily the case as in some situations where individuals happen to have differing answ ers to the same problem, a resister group could arrive at an answer much faster. According to Mills, Mills, Bratton and Forshaw (2006), group norms should be democratic enough to encourage individual members of a group to conform. Any attempts to make rules that are unfavorable will only result in resentment and poor group performance. Attraction to the Group and Conformity to Group Norms Kiesler (1963) observed that the willingness of any individual to cooperate with a particular group is directly related to the level of attraction the individual has to the group. This makes sense especially because people will want to be associated with what they really like. If it so happens that all the members of a group like to be associated with it, then chances of the group succeeding will be quite high. The opposite is true as men and women will tend to be less devoted to a group they are not really interested in. This is a good tip for the managers to keep in mind when forming groups. As m uch as possible, groups should be made up of individuals who have interest in the subject matter. Realistically, however, creating such groups may be a challenge and hence, some compromise may be necessary. Kiesler also stated that, there are instances where people with a lesser attraction to a group conformed to the group’s norms more than those with a slightly higher level of attraction. Nevertheless, some attraction is desirable for the members of a work team to conform. Where there is negative attraction to a group, conformity to its norms will be in jeopardy and group progression may be hindered (Kiesler, 1963). Although attraction could be induced, individuals conforming because of some promised benefit will easily resist when their expectations are not met. Attraction can also be nurtured by accepting members in a group. When individuals feel accepted in a group, it becomes easy for them to conform to the norms of the group (Kiesler, 1963). Although helpful in getting members to conform to the requirements of a work team, rewards and benefits could have some negative effects in some cases and must therefore be used sparingly (Rousseau, 1997). Conditions that Lead to Conformance or Defiance Hornsey, Majkut, Terry and McKimmie (2003) described some conditions that could lead to either conformity or resistance to group pressure. Individuals would either be consumed by what the society expects of them or based on an individual’s own judgment it is possible to figure out what other people would probably do in similar situations; whether or not they would share his or her opinion (Hornsey et al., 2003). When people act under the influence of other people, this is referred to as informational influence as they get to do things based on the information they have. On the other hand, normative influence happens when societal norms only influence people to some degree that makes them desire to fit in a group. It is the influence that leads one to wan t to act in a way that will help him or her be accepted by a group of people (Hornsey et al., 2003). Unlike informational influence which is genuine and leads to real change of attitude, the outcome of normative influence is an attitude that is not genuine and often, individuals simply make efforts to fit in a group (Hornsey et al., 2003). Normative influence is a behaviour that organizations must watch out for as it can easily lead to the creation of groups with members who are not fully committed. In the end, a highly motivated group could get demoralized by the less motivated individuals and sadly, the performance of the group will receive a severe blow. According to Brief and Motowidlo (1986), it is possible to use pro-social behaviors to boost the performance of work teams. Pro-social acts are undertaken to support the well being of others and include behaviors such as cooperating, sharing ideas or material things, giving donations to worthy courses and volunteering for the goo d of others. The pro-social acts are meant to directly benefit a beneficiary who could be a colleague, or a client. It may involve helping a workmate to accomplish an assigned job task or even deal with personal matters. One may also volunteer to take on additional responsibilities at no extra pay (Brief Motowidlo, 1986). Conformity as a Means of Defense An experiment undertaken by Hoffman (1957) showed that conformity can be used as a good defense mechanism by individuals who actually find it difficult to conform to pressure from a group. People who are unwilling to go by the demands of a group have been found to resist genuine group influence by simply conforming and taking a low profile. It therefore follows that although an individual may seem to go with the flow and do or agree with what the group wants or says, it does not necessarily imply that his or her conformance is backed by good intentions (Hoffman, 1957). Thinking about the effect of this to an organization, it is imp ortant to note that despite the fact that determining whether or not an individual is truly conforming is such a difficult task, an organization must make an effort to establish to what extent an individual is genuinely conforming to a work team (Hoffman, 1957). Conclusion Organizations can greatly benefit from work teams when groups are created based on well formulated group norms. As has been demonstrated in this paper, group norms play a very key role in ensuring that work teams get to succeed and deliver as they should. However, it is helpful when organizations take interest in developing and enforcing group norms. Although a number of options are available to assist organization with the enforcement of group norms, choices must be made in a way that will ensure that work team performance is not affected. Poor choice of tactics may lead to the failure of work teams and consequently, poor delivery. According to Zhou (2011), groups can have both negative and positive effects. It i s therefore necessary for organizations to ensure that the groups are well planned. Placing an individual in a group that does not correspond to his or her job responsibilities, for example, would lead to discouragement (Zhou, 2011). In spite of all the challenges encountered, there are great benefits that can be realized when work teams are formed and managed in the right way. It is therefore important for organizations to spend a considerable amount of time studying out the process of creating and strengthening group norms which are essential to the success of a group. Reference List Argote, L. Ingram, P., 2000. Knowledge Transfer: A Basis for Competitive Advantage in Firms. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 82 (1) 150 –169. Bendor, J. Swistak, Piotr., 2001. The Evolution of Norms. American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 106, No. 6 (May 2001), pp. 1493-1545. Web. Bettenhausen, K. Murnighan, J. K., 1985. The Emergence of Norms in Competitive Decision-Makin g Groups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 30 (1985): 350 – 372. Boonstra, J.J., 2004. Dynamics of Organizational Change and Learning. England: John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Brief, A. P. Motowidlo, S. J., 1986. Prosocial Organizational Behaviors. Academy of Management Review, 11 (4) 710 – 725. Brief, A. P. Weiss, H. M., 2002. Organizational Behavior: Affect in the Workplace. Annual Review of Psychology, 53:279–307. Brown, M., 2009. The Cultural Work of Corporations. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Durlauf, N. Blume, L. E., 2008. New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, Second Edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Feldman, D. C., 1984. The Development and Enforcement of Group Norms. The Academy of Management Review, 9 (1) 47 – 53. Goldman, M.., Haberlein, B. J., Feder, G. J., 1965. Conformity and Resistance to Group Pressure. Sociometry, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Jun., 1965), pp. 220 – 226. Web. Griffin, R. W. Moorhead, G., 2011. Organizational Behavior. Stamford , Connecticut, U.S: Cengage Learning. Hoffman, M. L., 1957. Conformity as a Defense Mechanism and a Form of Resistance to Genuine Group Influence. Journal of Personality, 25 (4) 412–424. Hornsey, M. J., Majkut, L., Terry, D. J. McKimmie, B. M., 2003. On being loud and proud: Non-conformity and counter-conformity to group norms. The British Journal of Social Psychology, Sep 2003; 42, 319 – 335. Kiesler, C. A. 1963. Attraction to the Group and Conformity to Group Norms. Journal of Personality, 31(4) 559 – 569. McMahan, G. C. Kacmar, K. M. 1991. The Diagnosis of Work Group Norms: Practical Implications for Change. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 4 (4) 24 – 33. Mills, A. J., Mills, J. C. H., Bratton, J. Forshaw, C., 2006. Organizational Behaviour in a Global Context. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Mowday, R. T., 1993. Organizational Behavior: Linking Individuals and Groups to Organizational Contexts. Annual Review of Psychology, 44: 195 – 229. Nadler, D. A. Tushman, M. L., 1980. A Model for Organizing Organizational Behavior. New York: AMACOM. Web. Rousseau, D. M., 1997. Organizational Behavior in the New Organizational Era. Annual Review of Psychology, 48: 515 – 46. Zhou, Mark., 2011. Communications in Computer and Information Science. Hong Kong: Springer. This essay on Empirical Research on Individual Conformity to Group Pressure was written and submitted by user Melody Gentry to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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However, around c. 1700 BC, frescoes were discovered to be used in the Minoan Art of Crete (Berman, 1997). This perhaps would be the earliest piece of fresco during that time. During 2008, Dietsch provided a better picture of modern murals that were found in the Pompeii Exhibit. She described how the frescoes took a turn toward naturalism, wherein every detail is exact and precise. Birds and statuary indicated that there was a garden nearby the original location of the fresco, since it was an ancient Pompeian residence which was only excavated during 1978 and 1983. In an awestruck tone, Dietsch continued to describe the beauty of the Pompeian fresco as it became a bridge between the physical objects of that era, to the objects depicted on the fresco. Italian painter Constantino Brumidi created such a fresco filled with flowers, birds, and beasts which is a classic grotesque painting during 1856 to 1880. This fresco was able to picture clearly the daily events of human life, such as the flowers one would see every day, and captured it in a frozen moment that will last for all time. True to the frescos purpose, it was able to provide accurate representations of that era (Geracimos, 1997). A fresco conservator who was restoring Brumidis fresco noted how she was able to see how visitors are in awestruck amazement of the fresco as she is. Geracimos (1997) mentioned during the interview that the conservator was quoted to have said, There is a friendly, happy feeling around the frescoes. I have a sense that people see the recovery of the spirit and dignity in the original. Frescoes and murals alike were used to convey the story of a particular era, as well as to release emotions from those who will see them. They do not only beautify a place, but add to the atmosphere as well. An example of such fresco being able to depict feelings would be the Last Judgment in Romes Sistine Chapel. For a church, the breathtaking and forbidding fresco on the ceiling was able to both awe the churchgoers with its beauty and majesty, yet is also able to make them feel a little daunted by their sins. The fresco clearly illustrate the thin line between heaven and hell, and for every churchgoer who would look up and glance at its beauty, they will be reminded that they will have to live in the right side in order to avoid being in hell when the last judgment comes. Types of frescoes The 1300s to 1800s brought with them the boom of frescoes as they were painted on walls and ceilings of public buildings, churches, and private residences (Gealt, 1997). Among the many methods of wall painting in the early days, frescoes could be said as the more popular method of wall painting. There are two types of fresco: a buon fresco (or a true fresco) is created by applying a fresh wet layer of plaster on a wall surface, and is painted with pigments that are mixed with water (Gealt, 1997). This is the most utilized form of fresco, as the output would be very impressive and beautiful. Then there is the other type of fresco which is referred to as a secco fresco (or dry fresco). This is used by painting a dry surface with adhesive binder flakes (Gealt, 1997). Unlike buon fresco, this type of fresco is not permanent, and could be removed once the owner has used it to his or her preference. Wall Painting now Though a lot about wall painting has changed, there are some things that remain constant. Though there are more materials, and more purposes of murals and wall paintings, such as beautifying a home, or covering an ugly street, they still provide a sense of culture during the present time. What began as symbolic wall paintings that were sacred in caves, churches, and other early dwellings, became common and usual household paintings. Murals, frescoes, and other forms of wall painting are even see in government buildings, schools, and subway stations throughout the country (Hiester, 1989). Wall painting changed depending on culture, from the Roman and Greek warfare, to the epics of the Greek and the early Christian charges, to the Renaissance and revolutionary murals depicted to show life as it progresses. Heister (1989) continues with the changes in the mural setting, as she and her colleagues in the Education department team up with students to paint a mural for their school. They used everyday materials, such as Latex wall paint and foam brushes. The technology provides more uses for murals and frescoes than never before. An example would be Heister building a paneled mural for the school, as well as it being utilized in interior decoration by middle-class families. What used to be a declaration of wealth before is now something casual and usual, thanks to technology which enabled middle-class people to have access to frescoes (Geracimos, 2006). Murals and frescoes are now being used in interior designing. An interior decorator could also paint on a canvas as thin as wallpaper, so that the home owners will be able to take the canvas with them if they decide to move homes. It is also very mobile, such as what Hiester (1989) did with their mural, wherein the panels could be removed to accommodate new murals of future students that are more fitting for the time. In a way, murals are still used to beautify homes. Geracimos (2006) says that the trend is part of a larger pattern around the country that has people investing heavily in their domestic environment, the trend being the personalized murals in each home. There are many ways of taking advantage of murals in a home, such as painting a fairytale theme in a childs room, or something that might be able to ignite a childs imagination. Main rooms are also given the impression that they are bigger, thanks to murals. The materials being used are not as restricted as well. Nowadays interior decorators could create walls to look like limestone, burlap, or linen only by using paint. Such technology was unavailable before, but nowadays people can take advantage of this wonder (Geracimos, 2006). What is disheartening is that despite the boom of wall painting in the present era, there is a sad price that artists have to pay. Nowadays people do not see frescoes and murals as what they really are (which are pictures that have captured life and is a way of bringing into the present some of the past, which provides continuity); instead what people see is a murals shallow beauty. To illustrate better this point, Lothar (2007) writes about Lavaudieu village in France, describing the place as unspoiled stone village, no shops, no bars, no nightlife, just a restaurant or two. This quiet is supplemented with Lothars next words which are, what makes the village worth a visit are the exquisite 11th-century Benedictine abbeyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the refectory is a glow with Byzantine-influenced murals. With that simple sentence, Lothar was able to depict the murals in the area as something that was supposed to be appealing and peaceful. Never mind if, say for example, the murals painted on the abbey is filled with demons and angels fighting for the Lord. The people stopped caring about things that really matter, such as what a piece means, and instead preferred to think about just how shallow a murals image is. From sacred images, graffiti, and interior decoration It is clearly emphasized in the paper that the previous purpose of murals would be to beautify homes and to preserve the culture of one society. It has evolved to the purpose of beautifying homes, to draw epic tales and to encourage beautiful stories throughout history. With each technological advancement and marvel come different application of murals and frescoes. The Egyptians used murals to show their rich history in terms of their celebrations, deaths, and other important occasions, while there are those that showed war, revolution, and hunger on the walls. Now everywhere one looks, there are murals and paintings on the streets and walls. Politicians use walls as another way of campaigning, teenagers and gang members would put graffiti in the blank and clean walls. Did it grow or diminish over the years? From the sacred images in churches that were able to raise fear and astonishment to those who see it, to the common graffiti that are being splattered on blank walls in the neighborhoods. Thanks to the developments of todays technology, murals are accessible to everybody. Yet this accessibility could also wreck the beauty of murals, as they could be taken for granted.

Creativity and Mental Illness Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Creativity and Mental Illness Men have called me mad, but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence--whether much that is glorious--whether all that is profound--does not spring from disease of thought--from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect. Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night - Edgar Allen Poe When you are insane, you are busy being insane - all the time... When I was crazy, that's all I was. - Sylvia Plath Is creative genius somehow woven together with "madness"? According to the dictionary, "to create" is "to bring into being or form out of nothing." Such a powerful, mysterious, and even impossible act must surely be beyond the scope of scientific inquiry! No wonder creativity has for so long been "explained" as the expression of an irrational, intuitive psychic "underground" teaming with forces (perhaps divine) that are unknown and unknowable (at least to the "sane," conventional mind). The ancient Greeks believed creative inspiration was achieved through altered states of mind such as "divine madness." Socrates said: "If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the inspired madman" (8). Creative inspiration - particularly artistic inspiration -- has often been thought to require the sampling of dark "depths" of irr ationality while maintaining at least some connection to everyday reality. This dive into underground forces "reminds one of a skin-diver with a breathing tube" wrote Arthur Koestler in his influential book... ...ard Mental Health Letter, March 1996 http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p5h-cre1.html 6) Artistic Inspiration and the Brain , Another response to Dr. Bruce Miller study - FTD & creativity http://www.artsfusion.com/1999/january/awfeaturejan.html 7) The Systems View of Life , includes discussion of how creativity is fundamentally built into all living systems -by Fritjof Capra, theoretical high-energy physicist and author. Capra studied with Werner Heisenberg at the University of Vienna. He does research at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and lectures at the University of California, Berkeley. http://magna.com.au/~prfbrown/capra_3.html 8) Amazon.com, To order the book: Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic temperment - by Kay Redfield Jamison http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068483183X/themeadowlarkpre/102-1781957-3733743

Helping Children Improve their Self-Esteem Essay

To have a healthy sense of self-esteem is what most parents would want their young children to have. Special emphasis is given to self-esteem because parents know that self- esteem has a powerful effect on communication behavior. Also, many observers believe that at the bottom of the many societal problems lie in low self-esteem. Adler and Towne added that â€Å"people with high self esteem are more willing to communicate that people with low self-esteem† (48). Although self-esteem has been studied and scrutinized for many years already, specialists and educators still argue about its nature and development. Even so, they all generally agree that parents and other adults who are important to children play a major role in laying a solid foundation for a child’s development. So what or how is self-esteem defined and illustrated in the different social contexts? Self-esteem is said to be a part of self concept that involves evaluations of self worth. The basics of self-esteem laid early in life when infants develop attachments with those who are responsible for them. Babies learn to feel loved and valued when those who look after them readily respond to their cries and smiles. By being loved and accepted by the people they idolize, children come to feel loved and accepted too. Also, parents and teachers can help their children to build healthy self-esteem by teaching good values, expressing appreciation, giving challenges, and coping with defeats. As children become increasingly sensitive to evaluations by their peers, parents and teachers can be very instrumental in fostering positive relationships with the children’s peers. You can also help the child by being clear about good values and keeping the communication lines open about experiences outside the home. When adults respond to the child’s interests and efforts with appreciation rather than just praise, a child’s sense of self-worth is more likely to deepen. Imagine this, when your child shows interest in something you are doing, you might want to include the child in the activity. In this manner, you respond positively to your child’s interest by treating it seriously. On the contrary, flattery and praise can sometimes distract children from the topics they are interested in because children may develop a habit of expressing interest in a subject matter just to receive flattery. Tasks and activities that offer a real challenge than from those that are merely playful or funs are more likely to benefit children from. Involving the children in doing house hold chores will help boost self-esteem because it will give the children a sense of accomplishment. Cutright also put emphasis that rather than emphasizing constant successes and triumphs, parents and teachers can help the child develop and maintain healthy self-esteem by helping him or her cope with defeats. When love and support remain unchanged during times of disappointment or crisis, the child’s weakened self-esteem can be strengthened when parents or teachers let the child feel that. As a conclusion, parents and teachers can play a significant role in strengthening children’s self-esteem by treating them respectfully, taking their views and opinions seriously, and expressing appreciation to them. Also, parents must keep in mind that self-esteem is an important part of every child’s development. Reference: Adler, Ronald B. , and Neil Towne. Looking out/looking in interpersonal communication. 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1978. Cutright, Melitta. â€Å"Self-esteem: the key to a child’s success and happiness. † PTA Today 17 (1992): 5-6.

Is Learning How To Speak Spanish Worth It Professor Ramos Blog

Is Learning How To Speak Spanish Worth It I was put into dual immersion when I was five years old. Dual immersion is a program in school where you learn Spanish and English at the same time. I remember not knowing a word of Spanish but having to take a test to see if I qualified. My parents put me in this program because they felt that it would benefit me more in the future. They always told me that theres a lot more opportunities when it comes to knowing a second language. In this program, from kindergarten to 5th grade, for the most part we were spoke to in Spanish, the only time we ever spoke English is if we absolutely needed to. Leaning Spanish was really difficult for me because not a single person in my family knew how to speak it. I had literally nobody to help me with my homework whether it was to translate something or even my math because that was also in Spanish. I was adopted when I was four years old into a family that was all white, but thats a story for another time. They never really realized how them not knowing how to speak Spanish effected me. My whole life ive always been told that school comes first no matter what. Everyday after school my mom would always say, â€Å"Vyla you better get your homework done first.† That meant no video games, no playing with friends, not even doing my chores. My parents were very strict and made sure to push me to my limits when it came to academics. I remember countless nights sitting at the table for hours trying to finish my homework. Looking back at those times I realize that doing my homework without any help at such a young age benefitted me because it help me retain everything better. Elementary school was critical because thats when you learn literally everything so during this time I always asked my teachers as many questions possible. I struggled a lot with remembering certain words and not knowing how to use the tenses correctly. My favorite teacher was from 1st grade, her name was Ms. Aja. She was so nice to me and made sure to give me all the help I needed. She always had crazy hair that was different colors and she loved to give out candy, she made the learning environment fun. I can honestly say that she probably had the biggest effect on me because she was always there for me and made sure I was understanding everything she was teaching. I enjoyed dual immersion so much, I created unbreakable bonds with teachers and friendships that will last a lifetime. I have friends that Ive Known for more than eight years now all because I met them through this program. Its such a special thing when you share a learning experience with multiple people just like you. I remember having to overcome so many obstacles like presenting in front of the Spanish speaking school board and being scared out of my mind. In all honesty it made things better knowing I had classmates going through the same things, trying to impress the same people. Learning a new language takes a lot of dedication and interest, but over time you develop a passion for it. Being completely fluent in Spanish by the time I was in middle school was convenient because now instead of learning in Spanish in one classroom all day, I was learning English in multiple classrooms throughout the day. With that being said I began to realize that my family not knowing how to speak Spanish was going to be an issue again. Since all my classes were now in English I wasnt using my ability to speak Spanish anymore like I was in elementary school. Speaking from experience, the saying, â€Å"If you dont use it, you lose it† is completely true without a doubt. Therefore when I graduated to high school and had to take Spanish again to meet certain requirements, I was beyond rusty. Being fresh out of high school, going to college and getting a job is something that many people do, to me it was a necessity. I was so excited filling out applications and being able to say im bilingual on them. Something that blows my mind is that even though both teachers and my parents told me opportunities would come, I didnt think much of it until something happened to me recently. Not too long ago I got hired on the spot at subway, and it wasnt until after the interview that my boss told me he was for sure going to hire me all because I knew how to speak Spanish. When he told me that, my face lit up with the biggest smile on it, ive never been more proud and so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn Spanish. With that being said, my journey with learning Spanish definitely had its ups and downs but at the end of the day had, and will continue to have a great outcome with nothing but possibilities. I feel blessed being able to learn a different language because it made me see things in different perspectives and became a part of me that ill be able to take wherever I go.   Ã‚  Ã‚  

Travels In Alaska essays

Travels In Alaska essays Travels in Alaska takes readers on a trip to Alaska through the vivid descriptions of the author, John Muir. The book is based on journals Muir wrote during his visits to Alaska in 1879, 1880, and 1890. These chronicles of his journey relate his observations of nature, glaciers, and the many people he met. Traveling on foot, by canoe, and dogsled Muir experienced excitement discovering unfamiliar types of lands and animals. Each summer Muir and his new found Presbyterian missionary friend S. Hall Young accompanied by Tlingit Indian guides launched extensive voyages of discovery in a thirty foot canoe. John Muir was a naturalists who loved to go to wild places and experience the wonders of nature. Chapter One of Travels In Alaska is inspired by the beautiful scenery Muir writes in his boat in route to Puget Sound. He describes the scenery, weather, and hospitality shown to him by the individuals he met during his journey through the Alexander Archipelago to Fort Wrangell and Sitka. Also, a man named Mr. Vanderbilt offered John a room and a place at his table. The Vanderbilt family occupied the best house in the fort and this is where he found a real home; with the chance to go on all sorts of excursions as opportunity offered. Muir's steamer goes first to Sitka, then on to Wrangell. The Klondike gold rush was yet to begin, but John heard of twenty-eight miners who had just gone from Sitka into the Yukon to prospect. The next summer he came across and interviewed a number of the original twenty-eight miners in S.E. Alaska in Sum Dum Bay. While in Wrangell Muir was adopted by the Stickeen tribe, and given an Indian name (Ancoutahan) that means adopted chief. Being adopted by the Stickeens was a excellent safeguard while John was on his travels among the different tribes of the archipelago. No one belonging to the other tribes would attack him, knowing that the Stickeens would hold them accountable. Muir also de...

Persuasion and Influence 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Persuasion and Influence 1 - Assignment Example The second item was a dress for my niece. I had bought the dress because that brand was running a campaign for educating the poor in Africa and 10% of the dress price was to be donated to the cause! Hence, it made me feel good that I am also part of that campaign. The two unplanned purchases had actually upset my weekly budget and as a result, that week, we had to cut down on our regular fruit diet. I realized that because of my irrational decision, my family had to compromise on essential food item. Indeed, consumer behavior is need based which is exploited by marketers (Arnould et al., 2004). Hence, I decided that I would rationalize my buying and stick to list. The perfume that was on offer of the day was actually not so as three weeks back, my friend had also bought the same perfume at same price! Indeed, they are marketing gimmicks that are essentially designed to tempt consumers (Edwin and Douglas, 2008). Thereafter, during my weekly shopping, I would wave my list in front of the salesperson and move forward to complete my shopping. I found this technique to be very

The Free-Trade Area of the Americas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Free-Trade Area of the Americas - Essay Example For the past few years, diplomats from 34 nations have been working hard to push for the establishment of a free trade area. The following are reasons why governments across the Americas are pushing for the free trade area. First, a country will only specialize in selling goods and services which it can do be and trade with other nations for its wants. This is a representation of actual supply and demand of free trade market. This is because when a certain country concentrates the products that it can do best, such a country takes economy of scale advantage and manufactures their products at reduced production costs. Secondly, these governments argue that free trade area will lead to increased imports and exports, thus increasing the availability of products in the involved nations, therefore, bringing healthier competition. Another reason why governments across the Americas are pushing for a free trade area is that it will reduce living costs, thus increasing economic growth. This i s because it will do away with governmental interventions such as taxes and tariffs thus enabling consumers to purchase products at reduced costs. This will also bring good bond between the involved countries leading to healthier governance and diplomatic global ties. Anti-FTAA group claims that free trade agreement extends treaties that were already adopted (NAFTA and FTA) from the acute North of Tierra del Fuego, Canada, and NAFTA had noxious outcomes with Mexico and the impacts negatively workers in the United States and in Canada. Therefore, the protests argue that from this example, it is evident that the FTAA will bring disastrous effects on Latin America. From the protests point of view, the accords of Free Trade are Globalization masterpieces and thus they will allow deregulation as well as the opening of new markets through the elimination of trade barriers such as worker rights and environmental protection. Additionally, these accords will contribute to commodification and privatization of things such as education and healthcare services and due to globalization, Free Trade aims at enriching â€Å"world masters† called big capitalists and financiers.