Participant Observation and Grand Theory Essay

Bronislaw Malinowski, with his ground-breaking field work of the Trobriand Islander community in the beginning of the 20th century still today counts as a pioneer, if not the founder of the British Social Anthropology. In his famous book Argonauts of the Western Pacific. An Account of Native Enterprise and Adventure in the Archipelagos of Melanesian New Guinea that was first published in 1922 he develops an elaborate methodological framework for ethnographical research, also known as ‘participant observation’. This method will highly influence the anthropological way of approaching its field of study and hence its theoretical landscape from then on. Looking at Malinowski’s description of the clan system of the Trobriand community, his descriptive and specifying style of formulation becomes apparent: â€Å"Each of the four clans has its own name: Malasi, Lukuba, Lukwasisiga, Lukulabuta. (†¦) There are special combinations of the clan names with formative roots, to descrive men and women and the mixed plurality belonging to the same clan: Tomalasi – a Malasi man; Immalasi – a Malasi women; Memalasi – the Malasi people (†¦). Near the village of Laba’I, on the northern shore of the main island, there is a spot called Obukula, which is marked by a coral outcrop. Obukula is, in fact, a ‘hole’ (dubwadebula), or ‘house’ (bwala); that is to say, one of the points from which the first ancestors of the linage emerged. † (Malinowski 1929: 496 f. , italics in original) This very nuanced and case specific example of the material gained from his methodological approach gives rise to the question if Malinowski’s heritage of participant observation has forever distanced Anthropology from bringing forward grand theories? To be able to consider and discuss this question, it is important to first define what Malinowski circumscribed when he laid out his dogma for ethnographical research by the term participant observation. Secondly, a closer inspection of the dictum ‘grand theory’ is indispensable for our purpose and will be clarified in the second section of this essay. Subsequently, we will look at these two concepts and their relationship to one another in section three in order to approach the question whether Anthropology can be viewed as a science able to produce grand theories. I. Participant observation In the foreword to Argonauts of the Western Pacific Malinowski states that he has â€Å"lived in that [Trobriand Island] archipelago for about two years (†¦), during which time [he] naturally acquired a thorough knowledge of the language. [He] did [his] work entirely alone, living for the greater part of the time right in the village. † (1966: xvi). This statement already contains the essence of participant observation in fieldwork. The hallmark of this methodological way of collecting data is the immersion of the researcher into her or his field of study over a long period of time and the personal part taking in the interactions of the people in the community studied. When Malinowski defined this new approach of ‘first-hand’ observation he broke with the, at that time prevailing tradition of ‘armchair’ ethnography. In this prior approach, ethnographers compiled data gained from historical sources to deduce theories about certain aspects of a usually ‘native’ community (Osterhoudt 2010). One of the main contributions of Malinowski’s new method to anthropological theory was that by participating and observing behaviour in the sample community he found out that a discrepancy between actual behaviour and narrative statements exists. â€Å"The smoothness and uniformity, which the mere verbal statement suggest as the only shape of human conduct, disappears with a better knowledge of cultural reality. † (Malinowski 1979: 83). This discovery in itself already composes a point of criticism towards the preceding ethnographical ‘arm-chair’ approach to data collection and evaluation. Even though participant observation is based on a seemingly broad and intuitive research design, it would, however, be incorrect to assume that this approach would be free of any directive principles on how to collect relevant data. Therefore, Malinowski describes how first, the researcher must â€Å"possess real scientific aims† (Malinowski 1966: 6) and be familiar with the theoretical background of anthropology. Further, the researcher should live in the field among the natives all by herself/ himself, and lastly the researcher has to stick to special and strict scientific methods, such as drawing â€Å"tables of kinship terms, genealogies, maps, plans and diagrams† (idib. 1966: 10) to collect, prepare and record her/his data. The previous example of the clan system provides a sense of the detailed and case specific information that is obtained by the application of participant observation. Besides the kind of the data collected, it should also be looked at the area of research and Malinowski’s suggestion of the subject to be studied. He proposes that the â€Å"field worker observes human beings acting within an environmental setting, natural and artificial; influenced by it, and in turn transforming it in co-operation with each other. † (Malinowski 1939: 940). Thus, he focuses on the individual as a starting point and its relation to, and mutual dependence on a social group. The inquiries of a researcher will hence have to include a â€Å"specific study of the individual, as well as the group within which he has to live and work. † (idib. 1939: 950). The collective life within that group or society is widely to be seen in certain types of activities, ‘institutions’ such as the â€Å"economy, education, or social control and political system in place† (idib. 1939: 954). These institutions, as he points out, can be seen as a fruitful base to investigate the individual’s motives and values and they will provide â€Å"insight into the process by which the individual is conditioned or culturally formed and of the group mechanisms of this process. † (idib. 1939: 954). II. Grand Theory In the following, the dictum ‘grand theory’ will be specified and by doing so distinguished into two different tendencies of understanding the concept. Wiarda (2010) defines a grand theory in his book Grand Theories and Ideologies in the Social Sciences as â€Å"those large, overarching explanations of social and political behavior—liberalism, Marxism, socialism, positivism, corporatism, political culture, institutionalism, psychoanalysis, rational choice theory, environmentalism (Jared Diamond), sociobiology, and now chemistry and genetics—that give coherence to the social sciences, help us to organize and think about change and modernization, and give us models to understand complex behavior. † (Wiarda 2010: x) This definition of grand theory as an ‘overarching explanation’ is in line with Anthony Good’s (1996) understanding of a ‘generalizing science’ that produces â€Å"universal, descriptive and predictive laws† (idib. 1996: 34). Here a grand theory is understood as a theorem providing a universal and structural framework that gives meaning to particular and individual phenomena ‘on the ground’. In this process the â€Å"importance of the local and the contingent, (†¦) the extent to which our own concepts and attitudes have been shaped† (Skinner 1985: 8) builds also a part of the universal framework. The second tendency to conceive the idea of grand theory goes a step further and is mainly characterized by C. Wright Mills application of it. He vigorously criticised the concept in his book The Sociological Imagination (1959): â€Å"The basic cause of grand theory is the initial choice of a level of thinking so general that its practitioners cannot logically get down to observation. They never, as grand theorists, get down from the higher generalities to problems in their historical and structural contexts. This absence of a firm sense of genuine problems, in turn, makes for the unreality so noticeable in their pages. † (idib. 1959: 33) As this quote shows, Mills’ understanding of a grand theory goes beyond our first definition. In this second understanding Mills implies that scientists generating grand theories are engrossed in their endeavour to build abstract, normative and all-embracing frameworks and thus neglect the study of the ‘meaning’ behind their constructs. The individual with its particular values and interpretations, as well as variety on the scale of the actual area of research fall behind. III. Participant Observation and its relation to Grand Theory Taken the just outlined conception of grand theory influenced by Mills and putting it in relationship with Malinowski’s methodology of participant observation, the answer to our question whether or not Malinowski’s heritage barred the way of Anthropology to ever produce grand theories appears unambiguously to be ‘yes’. Participant observation in its very nature is close to the individual and aims to explore, over a long period of time, which social and cultural forces influence the human being in a specific setting. Therefore, with regards to Mills conception of grand theory, Anthropology has a birth defect called participant observation that will always prevent it from producing highly abstract grand theories, which stand in no relation to the circumstances from where they were deduced from. A closer look reveals that Malinowski’s understanding of the anthropological formation of theory aligns with Mills criticism towards highly abstract grand theories: â€Å"It would be easy to quote works of high repute, and with a scientific hall-mark on them, in which wholesale generalisations are laid down before us, and we are not informed at all by what actual experiences the writers have reached their conclusions. (†¦) I consider that only such ethnographic sources are of unquestionable scientific value, in which we can clearly draw the line between, on the one hand, the result of direct observation and of native statements and interpretations and on the other, the inferences of the author, based on his common sense of psychological insight. † (Malinowski 1966: 3) Here Malinowski differences between two approaches of data processing. One approach leads to mere ‘wholesale generalisations’ and the other approach also includes the ‘actual experiences’ the researcher faced on the local level that explain on what assumptions and observations her or his generalizations are based on. He hence supports the notion of Anthropology as a science of producing generalisations, as long as they are comprehensible and in direct relation to the reality on the ground. Malinowski’s ethnographies exist to a vast amount of descriptive details that are very specific to certain social groups or individual preferences and he has hence often been criticized as an ‘empiricist’ (see Firth 1957). Also, one could argue that his attempt to put his findings in a neat structured box with columns, as he has done in his article Group and Individual in Functional Analysis (1966) seem rather compelled. Nevertheless, he was able to provide social science with universal and generalizing frameworks on, inter alia, on how social institutions function in relation to society. He states that â€Å"social institutions have a definite organisation, (†¦) they are governed by authority, law and order in their public and personal relations, while the latter are, besides, under the control of extremely complex ties of kinship and clanship. † (Malinowski 1966: 10). Malinowski’s suggestion to use institution as a starting point for social and cultural analysis has â€Å"produced integrated descriptions instead of loosely classified catalogues of traits, and has stimulated the fuller recording of case material from actual behavior as a supplement to the listing of ideal patterns. † (Murdock 1943: 443). Following Malinowski’s ethnographic method and theory construction therefore aims to create a firm framework of the â€Å"social constitution† that â€Å"disentangle[s] the laws and regularities of all cultural phenomena from the irrelevances. † (Malinowski 1966: 10f. ). His approach is thus far more that only an accumulation of meaningless observations of an individuals life in a very specific society. Considering these arguments, Malinowski approach can, indeed, be seen as congruent with our first tendency to understand grand theory. The answer to our initial question should hence be that Anthropology is a science that can certainly produce grand theories in the sense of generalized frameworks and universalistic theories, without neglecting the importance of the â€Å"local and the contingent† (Skinner 1985: 12). Furthermore, Anthropology can be viewed as an established science with its own field of study being the human being and its social group as well as their mutual dependencies and influences. â€Å"Anthropology stands in a clear relationship to the other basic science, because it is concerned with studying phenomena at one clearly discriminate level vis-a-vis those other sciences. † (Good 1996: 32) IV. Conclusion and Outlook As just set out, if the question is, if participatory observation was the downfall of grand theory in the anthropological work field, my answer to it would be ‘no’, depending on the definition of grand theory. The science of Anthropology certainly had to withstand some rough winds of criticism, for instance as Wood (1996) lays out, with its strong focus on ‘meaning’ and â€Å"actors’ understanding of ‘facts’ rather than ‘facts’ themselves† (idib. 1996: 31). Some might even buy into Radcliff-Browns (1977) proposal that due to its inconsistency of attribution of meaning to commonly used scientific terms â€Å"social anthropology reveals itself as not yet a formed science. † (idib. 1977: 28). In my opinion, however, it was not the launch and implementation of participant observation as introduced by Malinowski in the late twenties of the 20th century that caused a rupture in Anthropology as a grand theory producing science. A more significant menace came 50 years later when Malinowki’s diaries that he wrote, while he was conducting research at the Trobriand Islands were published. These diaries unveiled the he spend a lot of time with Europeans during his fieldwork, and it unfolds the emotional difficulties that Malinowski as fieldworker experienced. Statements such as â€Å"this drives me to a stage white rage and hatred for bronze-colored skin† (Malinowski 1989: 261) imply that he was a man thinking in discriminating racial terms, who did not have such a good rapport with the people he studied after all. These disclosures and inconsistencies between his ethnographies and his emotional encounters raised serious doubts on the validity of Malinowski’s theoretical conception and methodological approach of participant observation, and thus questioned the anthropological stance as an established science in general. Especially James Clifford’s critique on Malinowski and his later to be published book Writing Culture: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography (1986), together with George Marcus has created a controversy and critical debate with a strong impact on the anthropological work field. The writing culture debate resulted in a ‘crisis of representation’ that implied to question every ethnographical voice. This shaped a new postmodern â€Å"genre of self-reflective research report† (Clifford 1993: 119; trasnl. C. R. ), where the unanimous voice of the author has to be subject to a consistent reflexion process and the emphasis is put on polyphony and complexity. In my opinion, this postmodern ‘angst’ of the anthropological author to be too determinate in her or his statements and conclusions, led to a trend that was far more hazardous to Anthropology as a grand theory producing science, than the introduction of Malinowski’s participant observation methodology. To make myself clear, I am not claiming that the criticism on Malinowski’s diaries and the postmodern episode was in itself a curse on Anthropology. I highly value the positive impact it had, such as, inter alia, the sensitization of the ethnographer. He or she has to be aware of her or his own position of power in the society studied, and her or his mutual influences on the informants. However, when it comes to extracting and generating universal laws, I believe it is majorly important for Anthropology as a science to not dwindle in a postmodern bulge of relativizations, but confidently create grand theories with regards to the actual phenomena observed. Thus, I strongly agree with Anthony Good (1996) who states that â€Å"if anthropology is not a generalizing science, it is not worth doing. † (idib. 1996: 30; italics in original). Bibliography Clifford, James; Marcus, George E. , (1986) â€Å"Writing Culture. The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography. †, Berkley,: University of California Press Clifford, James, (1993) â€Å"Halbe Wahrheiten† In: Rippl, Gabriele (Hg. ): Unbeschreiblich weiblich: Texte zur feministischen Anthropologie, Frankfurt am Main,: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verl. Firth, Raymond, (1957) â€Å"Man and Culture: An Evaluation of the Work of Malinowski†, New York,: The Humanities Press. Good, Anthrony, (1996) â€Å"For the Motion: Social Anthropology is a Generalizing Science or it is Nothingâ€Å" from Ingold, Tim (ed. ), Key Debates in Anthropology pp. 30-36, Oxon,: Routledge.

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Burning the identification cards Essay The leadership style shown in the 1982 film Gandhi is based not on force or intimidation, but on a more subtle, inspirational, and principled approach. Where many leaders rely on charm or fear and have only their own benefit in mind, Gandhi led by setting a clear example and aiming to teach his followers and subordinates, setting a solid example and using his powers of persuasion to keep his movement morally exemplary, nonviolent, and ultimately successful. Throughout the film, Gandhi follows this approach consistently. For example, at his first public act of civil disobedience (burning the identification cards that South Africa forced Indians to carry), he acts to inspire others to follow his example, though clearly he faces the perils of police brutality and arrest. At a large meeting shortly thereafter, he uses reason and principle to reach his audience, some of whom vow to use violence against South African police for violating their rights. He does not lose sight of his own commitment to nonviolence and appeals to their sense of superior morality; by defying injustice but refusing to answer violence with violence, Gandhi illustrates for the audience both the methods and the intended effects. Later, after he returns to India and becomes involved with the growing home rule and nationalist movements, he sets himself apart from more politically ambitious leaders (like Nehru and Jinnah) by living and dressing like India’s many poor peasants and, again, adhering rigidly to his nonviolent civil disobedience. He does not behave deviously, compromise himself, use people, or contradict his goals; instead, he leads not for his own glory, but for the much greater benefit of India itself. In doing so, Gandhi does not issue orders but certainly commands his followers’ respect. In my own experiences, I have often responded best to leaders who lead not by using and intimidating their subordinates, but by consistently following their own principles, clearly conveying why certain things must be done, and never losing sight of the bigger goals. Indeed, this inspires confidence because such leaders do not behave hypocritically or immorally; they do not let ego get in the way of accomplishing the chief task and assume the same risks their followers face, thus subordinating themselves to their goals without being misled by their own personal ambition or benefit. This relates well to one of my favorite employers, who led by setting examples, instructing, and persuading rather than bullying. While we were certainly not engaged in any epic struggles, she led in a similarly non-commanding manner, without ulterior motives or excess self-interest. She functioned more as a mentor, instructing rather than micro-managing and placing the greater purpose (our tasks and projects at hand) above her own desire for power or authority. Instead of demeaning her subordinates, she related to us directly, giving us credit for our intelligence and feelings and appealing to our sense of right and wrong to get points across. In doing so, she let us focus on our work without creating resentment or undermining us (or the company), and she knew that employees who feel respected are often more productive. Also, she did not separate herself very rigidly from her subordinates; while she did not present herself as our friend, she was nonetheless friendly, approachable, and patient. She also assumed some degree of risk by defending her employees, rather than feigning support and then denying it when risks appeared. By treating us as capable, intelligent individuals, rather than devices for her own advancement, and she did not behave with the hypocrisy often seen in employers whose â€Å"do as I say, not as I do† approach is often counterproductive. Like Gandhi, she was often conciliatory rather than directly commanding, which made us feel more at ease and thus open to her commands (which appeared more like friendly requests). In general, I find that effective leaders share Gandhi’s sense of perspective; they do not lose sight of the goals they wish to achieve, and as leaders they do not place themselves ahead of what they want to achieve. BIBLIOGRAPHY Gandhi. Dir. Richard Attenborough. Perf. Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Martin Sheen, Ian Charleson, Saeed Jaffrey. Columbia, 1982.

The Importance Of Intimacy And Effective Communication Theology Religion Essay

The Importance Of Intimacy And Effective Communication Theology Religion Essay The Bible gives us deep insight into the biblical principle of communication within our human relationships. God shows us in His Word that He is more concerned about understanding than He is about speaking. Paul tells us that the objective of prophecy is to build up, and if something is said that does not build up, it should not be said. Paul also instructs us about order speaking when its your turn in order to avoid confusion and to pursue peace. When God speaks to us from heaven, 1) it is decent and in order, 2) we will know what He is talking about (we have an understanding), and 3) there is a purpose behind it- to build us up! Communication is a skill! Communication is defined as taking what is inside of us and conveying it to another person. I have also heard it characterized as an exchange of sincerity. Not being able to communicate constitutes the bulk of our marital problems, which is why I decided to give this tool its own chapter. Communication is the process by which we share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas in such a way that others understand us. The goal of communication is to make things common. To do this, we define terms and reduce everything down to its common denominator. If we do not define terms and find commonality frustration will result, leading to conflict. The divorce rate in our country is greater than 60%, and research indicates that one of the biggest problems that lead to divorce is communication issues peoples inability to talk with one another This chapter is designed to help you and your partner learn the art of successful communication, whether that partner is your spouse, your friend, or your significant other. When we make things common, we have communion. When we have communion, we have community, which is belonging or relationship. Unfortunately, with the way that we currently communicate, what is meant, what is sent, what is received, and what is interpreted are different conversations! Before you begin your journey to learning successful communication, realize that this investment will take some effort! Effective communication is not for wimps! Communication is or involves: Dialogue Hard work Time consuming Reveals your perspective Requires courtesy Requires body talk Must happen at the right moment Succeeds with positive regard for the other person Getting an understanding I pray much success as the Holy Spirit guides you in your efforts to learn how to speak, listen, understand, and be understood through the art of successful communication. I also pray that you develop tolerable communication. The Importance of Intimacy and Effective Communication Intimacy is necessary for skillful communication. Intimacy is from the Latin word innimus meaning innermost. We share our innermost thoughts, opinions, feelings, and goals. When we are able to share these things with others, we can connect on another level. Reflection: Have you ever felt like you were talking about something, but the person you were speaking to never quite got what you were saying? How did it feel when you could not connect? A consequence of not being able to communicate due to a lack of intimacy is that it creates distance as opposed to the closeness that we desire from our partner. Reflection: Did you sense a distance between yourself and your partner when you did not connect? Intimacy or the ability to speak freely from your inner being is a must if there is going to be effective communication patterns in the relationship. The stage of negotiation will be ineffective if intimacy does not exist. Why? Because people will not be honest with each other; they will simply say what causes the least amount of stress and conflict. Here are five keys to intimacy the five (5) musts for intimacy: Access you must possess the ability to link spiritually, emotionally, and physically. In order to have access to your partner, your values must be compatible and in the same camp. Exercise: Does your partner share the same values that you do? List three values that you share with your partner. Availability making sure that both you and your partner are available for one another physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Do you and your spouse have a space and a time where you just chill out and talk and laugh? Is there a time for you to access each other? Exercise: Does your partner ever complain that you are not available to him/her? What practical, reasonable steps can you take to ensure that you are available to the extent that it makes your partner comfortable? Argot an inside language that you develop with your partner. No one else may know what you are talking about because this is a language specific to your relationship such that you can have a conversation in the midst of other people and they have no idea what you are talking about. Exercise: Give three examples of the types of words, phrases, or gestures used in the relational argot between you and your partner. Abandonment you have to be willing to become transparent and self-disclosing. If you are unable or unwilling to reveal yourself, you cant become intimate. Exercise: Describe an instance in the past when you or your partner revealed something about yourselves to the point where you understood him/her (or vice versa) on deeper, more intimate level. Application you must be willing to apply yourself in your relationship. Exercise: Give an example of how you might apply yourself even further towards developing a quality relationship with you partner. After having lived with a spouse for a number of years, it is apparent that the couple becomes unable to communicate in a normal, meaningful fashion. If either spouse is unable to avoid exchanges that invariably result in conflict, a communication breakdown in the marriage has occurred. In extreme cases, especially if accompanied by abusive tendencies or other symptoms of dysfunction, a growing inability to deal with any verbal exchanges without conflict could be indicative of a much more serious problem that requires the attention of a mental health professional. More often than not, however, growing differences between the spouses, which may have their roots in the above-mentioned causes, are to blame for communication breakdowns. Treatment: James 1:19-20, Ephesians 4:15, 29-32, Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing Failure to Communicate In any relationship, communication is essential. One needs to let the other person know what is on his or her mind. You cannot keep on second-guessing the other person. Open communication becomes critical, so misunderstanding can be minimized. Problems arise when one partner expects the other to read his or her mind you will agree with me that this is close to impossible. The following five things hinder the creation of a context of toleration of communication. Five Hindrances to Communication The Complexity of Communication Communication is not simply about peoples ability to access vocabulary words. It is a skillful exchange between two people. There are listening styles and communication styles that exist in order to help facilitate this. If your spouse is a visual communicator and you are auditory, saying I love you will never reach them as much as actually seeing a symbol of your love, such as flowers, a card, a nice gift, etc. Many times, we are talking the wrong language to our spouse. Low Self-Esteem If you have low self-esteem, you will not talk, because you feel that what you have to say is not important. At some point in time, you will talk, but that time you may explode. You must learn to value your feelings enough to share them with your spouse. Understand that your unwillingness to share your thoughts can destroy the future of the relationship. Fear of Criticism and Judgment Some people live in fear that what they say may be interpreted in a way that they did not intend, or they are unwilling to allow their words to be potentially judged or criticized negatively. Rather than risk this potentially negative backlash or misunderstanding, they can be hesitant to communicate clearly with sincerity and with honesty. Lack of Knowledge of Internal Happiness You really do not understand what is going on inside yourself, so you are unable to put your true feelings into words. Thus, your words and what is going on inside of you are totally disconnected, and you feel unfulfilled. Inability to Put Thoughts and Feelings into Words Some people put thoughts and feelings into actions, such as being mean, slamming doors, withholding physical intimacy, and name-calling, because they are unable to verbally communicate exactly how they feel. If you can be comfortable without any talking with your significant other, there is something wrong and dysfunctional with your relationship. Exercise: Choose the hindrance that most affects communication within your relationship and then list two alternatives to overcoming those hindrances. Communication involves talking with objectives and the following are the objectives behind talking. Determine which ones you are trying to achieve when talking with your spouse. Information Talking informs you or makes you aware of something you do not know. We must talk in order for others to understand us. We cannot expect others to know what we are thinking or feeling. Some people tend to say, He should ALREADY know! But this is not the case. Simply because we articulate what we want over and over does not mean that our partner gets the message. Revelation Information is based on words; however, the basis for revelation is self. Revelation is the self-disclosure behind the words. The objective of communication is not just words, because words are inadequate to holistically explain what we are trying to say. Communication There is a difference between talking and communicating. Communication is the process by which we share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas in such a way that others understand us. The goal of communication is to make things common. To do this, we define terms and reduce everything down to its common denominator. If we do not define terms and find commonality, frustration will result, leading to conflict. Exercise: Pick one issue or need that you feel your partner has not responded to in ways that satisfies you, and answer the following questions regarding this issue: Have I fully expressed to my partner what it is I want? Yes No Have I revealed to my partner what it is I want? Yes No When I expressed these issues and revealed myself to my partner, based upon the definition of communication, was I simply talking or were we truly communicating? How can I more effectively communicate this particular need to my partner? The 5 Levels of Communication There are, what I refer to as, five levels of communication that at some level are correlated with the objectives of talking, but differ due to the emotional involvement in communication vs. talking. Level 1 Clichà © Shallow level of communication we use when talking with strangers. We dont talk about anything of significance because we are not trying to relate. Level 2 Reporting Facts A simple exchange of data. This occurs frequently in relationships, as people may simply report the details of their day to one another. A husband and wife may talk about the kids, what happened on their jobs during the work day, whats for dinner, and what bills need to be paid, rather than anything on a deeper level. Level 3 Sharing of Ideas and Opinions This is the first level of risk communication, because it taps into the core of who we are. On this level, we risk possible conflict and/or rejection that may result from disagreement. What if your partner shares his/her ideas or opinions about this and you do not agree? For this reason, most people stay away from this level and stick to Level 2. Many couples have tried this level and found it to be too challenging. Level 4 Revealing Emotions This level of risk is the I feel level where you communicate your joys and sorrows to your partner. The problem with this level is that if a woman communicates her emotions to a man, he will tend to blame himself for causing the woman to feel this way. Rather than hear the emotions of the woman, the man may move into a posture of defense that might thrust him into warfare. People may not mind communicating the joyful emotions on this level, but they often do not like to communicate negative emotions on this level. Level 5 Complete Disclosure -The riskiest, but most rewarding level of intimacy, is the unrestrained, honest sharing of ones innermost desires, whether they are popular or not to a partner The partner, in response to the sharing of emotions on this level, will then respond in a loving, accepting way that acknowledges the problem and assists their partner in resolving the problem Exercise: Complete the following chart regarding your relationships communication style. For each level of your relationship, write down you and your partners level of communication at that particular point in time. Check only those relationship levels that apply to your own relationship and skip the levels that do not apply. Relationship Level Communication Level When you first met your partner One year after you met your partner The day you married your partner One year after the birth of your first child Five years into your marriage Ten years into your marriage Your relationship today If you noticed a change in the level of communication, to what might you attribute this change? At what level would you like your communication with your partner to be? If we want to have a tolerable relationship that is healthy, we must be attentive to our communication style. Sometimes we engage in negative communication styles beyond our own consciousness. Virginia Satir offers a model that accentuates what she refers to as the four styles of communication. Four Negative Communication Styles Placater The Yes person who tries to avoid conflict at any cost. Blaming The fault finder who tries to find fault in your argument or something he/she can be critical of in an argument Computing The Cool, Calm, Collected, and Correct person who is always right. They never get excited or emotional, because they know they are right. During their turn in the conversation, they will explain to you all of the facts. They tend to believe that their partner has lost the facts in all of their emotion. Distracting The person who changes topics like crazy because the conversation becomes too conflicting, personal, and intimidating. Circle the Communication Style that best describes YOU: a. Placater b. Blaming c. Computing d. Distracting Circle the Communication Style that best describes your PARTNER: a. Placater b. Blaming c. Computing d. Distracting How do you think either of your negative communication styles has impacted the communication in your relationship? Communication Styles Characterized by Animals Shark The Competitor Gets what they want no matter what it takes by shouting, sulking, withholding physical intimacy whatever works. This type does not mind having disharmony in the home. Bear The Accommodator Keeps peace at any cost Fox The Negotiator Specialist in compromise such that everyone wins a little and everyone loses a little. Both Bear and Fox tend to walk away half-pleased. Turtle The Avoider Pretends that problems do not exit in the relationship. Their partner tends to be the shark-style communicator. This person feels conflict, so he/she becomes passive and withdrawn. Some people think they have happy marriages, because they are married to turtles. The Owl The Collaborator The win-win person who will try to get a resolution for all. Tends to operate with wisdom. Exercise: List the potential strengths and weakness of your animal-type communication style and that of your partner. Communication and Non-Verbals Communication is more than the words you speak. Communication encompasses what you say, how you say it, and how your body is reacting to what you are saying. Research shows that communication is: 7% Words 24% Tonality 69 Body Language and Expressions Reflection: What would happen if your partner shouted to you, I AM interested in what you are saying! while turning away from you to intently watching his/her favorite show on the television? Would you believe the words that he/she was communicating? The tonality and the non-verbals would outweigh the words that were spoken. Key Dynamics of Communication Listening is one of the most important functions of communication there is. If both people are slow to listen and quick to speak, there will be chaos and lack of communication because there will be no understanding. There is a difference between HEARING and LlSTENING! Hearing the auditory reception of sound Listening the ability to hear, interpret, and understand Exercise: Give an example of how your partner may have heard something you said rather than listen to what you said: Listening involves commitment! A commitment to understand, empathize, to put aside ones own interests and prejudices long enough to see the relationship through the eyes of the other person. The goal of listening is to understand, learn, and enjoy helping. Listening involves compliment! Because our partner listens, we tend to feel that we matter. Roadblocks to Listening Most men dread hearing the words, Can I talk to you about something? or We need to talk. They tend to ask themselves, What did I do now? They dread that they will now have to engage in an activity that so many of us are unprepared for the art of intentional listening. The following are roadblocks to listening in which many of us engage in with our relationships: Mindreading ignoring what is being said while trying to figure out what is meant. In other words, ignoring the obvious in favor of the imaginary Rehearsing preparing what is going to be said. You cannot listen you are trying to get your argument together against your partner Filtering keeping the things that you do want to hear or that you do agree with and blocking out all you do not want to hear Judging Listening to criticize, to judge, and to find blame Daydreaming not paying attention or tuning the other person out Advising jumping in to try to fix the problem with a solution rather than hear what the person is saying. Just because your partner has a problem does not mean that he/see wants you to fix it all of the time! Exercise: Evaluate the following scenario. Jesse is listening to his wife complain once again about the gas tank of their car being left on empty after he has driven it all weekend. As his wife proceeds to give him a play-by-play of who drove the car that weekend and when and where it was driven, he is trying to pinpoint in his mind exactly who should have stopped to fill the cars tank rather than hearing his wifes issue. After she finishes, he has already concluded whose fault this whole issue was, deciding actually it was her fault. Which roadblock is Jesse employing? a. Mindreading b. Rehearsing c. Filtering d. Judging e. Daydreaming f. Advising Dynamics of Active Listening Step 1: Pay Attention. Listen without any roadblocks. Step 2: Paraphrase. Restate your understanding of what your partner has spoken to you. Step 3: Clarify. Your partner comes back with what he/she actually meant if you did not get the intended message. Step 4: Collect Yourself and Get Feedback. The feedback should address what you just clarified with your partner. Deal with the facts on the floor and respond with what you feel about what was communicated. The goal of communication is not agreement or convincing your partner. Rather, the goal of communication is to be heard and understood! Exercise: Choose a neutral topic to discuss with your partner, and allow your partner to practice utilizing the four Dynamics of Active Listening while you explain your topic. After you have had your turn, allow your partner to use the same exercise. Write down the results of how this exercise transpired and how active listening made each of you feel. Very few people actually make contact in communication, i.e., two people ending up at the same place, knowing where they are when they get there. We tend to be on different frequencies when we communicate, and thus never end up on the same channel. Everyone wants to grow close with their partner, but when people realize how difficult this is through communication, they tend to shy away from this type of relational intimacy and decided not connect on a deeper level. Communication allows our partners to know us, who we are, and how we think or feel. We want them to enter our world of feelings so that we can enhance them, support them, help them, or simply enjoy them. Expression of oneself is the ability to give voice to ones emotional feelings. The only way to do this is through the process of self-awareness. Youve got to learn how you feel and what it is that you are feeling and then put a voice to it so that the other person can understand it. If you find yourself constantly saying, You dont ever listen to me, you might consider asking the question, Am I listening to myself?, because you might be communicating the wrong way. The Pillars of Communication The following charts are exercises to begin learning about you so you can clearly articulate your issues. Pillar #1: How to Express Yourself Prepare to Talk Step Task 1 Identify what it is you feel (Is it a good or bad feeling?) 2 Ask yourself, How important is this feeling to me? (Is it really important enough to talk about?) 3 What is the feeling saying to me? (Something positive, negative, affirming, etc.) 4 What do I want to do about this feeling? (What do I want or expect to happen?) 5 What past experience does this feeling remind me of? (Have I ever felt this before?) 6 Name your feeling (annoyed, happy, sad, playful, jealous, etc. you cannot explain it you if you cannot name it!) 7 Define the word for the feeling in terms of intensity (Very, a little, not at all) 8 Define the word or feeling in terms of duration (How long youve held the feeling?) 9 Define the feeling in cause and context (When the feeling came, where were you were, and in what context?) 10 Define the feeling in terms of its historical context (Have you ever felt this way at another stage in your life? Pillar #2; Scripting Your Needs Planning in Advance How to Ask for what you want Step Task 1 Say exactly what you mean 2 Send the message effectively by using the right words and action 3 Obey the 10 Commandments of Clean Communication 10 Commandments of Clean Communication Commandment 1 Avoid Judgment Words and Loaded Terms (Words that communicate your partner is flawed, incorrect, and in error) Commandment 2 Avoid Global Labels (Stay away from generalizations and name-calling, as this will shut down communication) Commandment 3 Avoid You Messages of Blame and Accusation (Stay away from always and never, and use I rather than You statements when talking about your feelings) Commandment 4 Avoid Old History (Stick to the issue at hand and discuss one issue at a time) Commandment 5 Avoid Negative Comparison. (Dont ask, Why cant you be like Frank?) Commandment 6 Avoid Threats (Threats bring insecurity in a relationship and causes people to be less self-disclosing with you) Commandment 7 Describe your feelings rather than attacking with them. (Your goal is not to make your partner feel bad, but to express how you feel) Commandment 8 Keep Body Language Open and Receptive (You speak louder with your body than with your words) Commandment 9 Use Whole Messages (Use your thoughts, your feelings, and your emotions) Commandment 10 Use Clear Messages (Make sure youre specific, and do not ask loaded questions of your partner) Exercise: Complete the following exercise by listing which commandments the following statements are violating (some may violate more than one). Statement Commandment Violated You have the biggest stomach in the whole class. Why cant you lose weight? You have one more time to hang the telephone up on me before I walk out for good! I wish I would have known that you were this stubborn before I married you! I am very upset about the way you treated me yesterday. Why did you totally ignore me? This is just like when you almost had an affair three years ago. Youve never changed! I can listen and do my paperwork at the same time. My hands are occupied, not my ears! Sometimes I think that you dont like me anymore. Thats all I have to say. Well, maybe if you werent so uneducated, you wouldnt be so closed-minded! You always decide to call one of your friends on the phone when I say we have an issue to resolve! Yes, I am jealous, and its all your fault! You dont have to hug people like that in front of me! How to Communicate with Your Body The following are steps that you and your partner can exercise to communicate more effectively with your body language: Maintain Eye Contact Lean in Close to the Person Nod and Give Short Verbal Affirmations Smile or Frown, Whichever is Appropriate Keep Your Posture Open. Arms Unfolded, Towards Your Partner Actively Move Away From Distractions Exercise: Evaluate the following scenario: Lynn certainly thinks that she looks like she is listening to her partner. She is seated in a comfortable chair, leaning forward with her arms unfolded, and she is making direct eye contact with him. However, she is neither nodding nor shaking her head, she says nothing, and her face is expressionless. Even further, when her partner finishes talking, Lynn remains in her same posture, gazing intently at him, but not saying a word. Her partner thinks that she is in a daze. What is Lynn communicating to her partner with her body? Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who [are] spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Galatians 6:1 Sometimes you are talking to someone who hurt you, but you have to be eager to restore the relationship. However, if the goal of communication is not restoration, there really is no need to talk. There are certain parameters to fair communication that each partner in a relationship should employ. Dos and Donts of Communication Donts Be judgmental Expect too much from one session Bring up your mates past Butt in or be rude Overstate by saying you a1ways or You never Lose your temper Pout or give the silent treatment Tell endless stories Compete Think in terms of winning and losing Belittle your male Dos Be accepting and tolerant Plan to talk again Be forgiving Be courteous as to a stranger Be accurate by saying Sometimes, Many times, To me it seems Be in control of yourself Be positive, outgoing. and unselfish even when you dont feel like it Be concise See yourself as an equal partner Be cooperative and not combative Be affirming and build up your mate Exercise: Choose three Dos listed and list the possible positive consequences of the chosen behavior. Then, choose three Donts listed above and list the possible negative consequences of the chosen behavior. Difference in the Way Men and Women Communicate There are a number of differences between the communication styles of men and women. For example, you have a 96% chance of the conversation continuing when the man initiates it, and yet, you have only a 36% chance of the conversation continuing when a woman initiates it. Also, because men have a larger ego, this ego drives a mans awareness of what is received and what is blocked out in communication. Differences do not have to hinder our communication if we acknowledge, understand, accept, and learn to work with them. Men and women must have positive regard for the differences that exist between them. Men Women Focus on achievement Focus on relationship Focus on solving problems with the facts Like to share their feelings Need an agenda when communicating Tend to use intense adjectives Tend to interrupt more Tend to be more descriptive in conversation Talk more in public settings than they do in private Tend to talk more in small groups Talk loudly and tell lots of stories Talk more quietly with focuses on fewer topics Talk about reports Talk about rapport Assume you are sharing what you want revealed Ask a lot of questions Tend to be competitive in their dialogue Tend to be cooperative Tend to be exclusive Tend to be inclusive Information Intuition Listen for whats important Listen for details Need time to process their thoughts and feelings Process immediately Say women are too emotional Say men are not sensitive enough Say women talk too much Say men dont listen How God Broke Down Differences to Communicate with Humanity The incarnation was a divine example of communication that transcended differences. In John 1, the incarnation taught us that communication has to be reflective. The Word accurately described what God was feeling. The word God spoke was so reflective of God that it was God Himself. We have to take time to come up with the words that accurately reflect what i

Critical Response to David Gutersons Snow Falling on Cedars Essay

Critical Response to David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars David Guterson's novel Snow Falling on Cedars undoubtedly holds high acclaim in its reputable attempt to show the prejudice between the Americans and Japanese after World War II and more importantly the prejudice that is unavoidably apart of human nature. The author of the criticism recognizes and brings to light the things done by Guterson throughout the novel. He refers to the animosity between people brought about by differences, the unwillingness to accept change, and also states that things end in a moral and justified manner. The author refers to â€Å"old passions, prejudices, and grudges† surfacing throughout the novel taking place off the Washington coast. In referring to â€Å"old passions† the although beings up a valid point of the passion that exists between Ishmael and Hatsue, although it is not necessarily â€Å"old† as Ishmael is still vibrantly in love with Hatsue throughout the novel up until the very end. Their so called passion begins in the cedar tree where they spend their childhood escaping from the prejudices of society, but form a passionate connection that cannot be broken. Referring to the â€Å"prejudices and grudges† the author is most evidently talking about the resentment between the Heine and Miyamato families regarding the purchase of Ole Jugersons land. The grudge aroused because the land rightfully belongs to the Miyamatos as they had it land leased but when the Japanese were sent to internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor there became co nfusion. Out of this confusion the land ended up in the hands of Carle Heine. If the land dispute would have been between two similarly colored people it would not have been as significant. Being between the Japanese and American protagonists it becomes an issue of prejudice rather than ownership as Karl, the ideal white male, keeps land from the hard-working Japanese who fought for a countries freedom in which he is not even viewed as equal. The simplistic idea of land ownership boils down to a much more complicated issue of the impurities of American democracy. The author also refers to Gutersons courtroom, where the entire novel takes place, as being â€Å"cleverly constructed.† In doing so he alludes to the imagery portrayed through the novel by Guterson, which gives life to the seemingly standard courtroom making it a clear repr... ...as a possible motive, points to Kabuo as the murderer. Meanwhile, Hatsue Miyamoto, Kabuo's wife, is the undying passion of Ishmael Chambers, the publisher and editor of the town newspaper. Ishmael, who returned from the war minus an arm, can't shake his obsession for Hatsue any more than he can ignore the ghost pains in his nonexistent arm. As a thick snowstorm whirls outside the courtroom, the story is unburied. The same incidents are recounted a number of times, with each telling revealing new facts. In the end, justice and morality are proven to be intimately woven with beauty--the kind of awe and wonder that children feel for the world. But Guterson communicates these truths through detail, not philosophical argument: Readers will come away with a surprising store of knowledge regarding gill-netting boats and other specifics of life in the Pacific Northwest. Packed with lovely moments and as compact as haiku--at the same time, a page-turner full of twists. Works Cited Guterson, David. Snow Falling on Cedars. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. 75-428. "Snow Falling on Cedars." Kirkus Reviews. 24 Mar. 2005 < . Snow Falling on Cedars. Sparknotes. 24 Mar. 2005 .

Illusion of Love in Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay

Illusion of Love in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream The play A Midsummer Night's Dream is centered around themes that are seemingly apparent and clear: those of true love, false love, love's blindness and the inconstancy of love. However, this pattern of the themes of love dissipate to reveal that these themes are only apparent to the reader who wants them to exist. We want Lysander and Hermia to be in love; we want Demetrius to love Helena as she loves him, but the question arises as to whether these lovers are actually in love. Is Shakespeare providing us with a wholesome tale of true love or is he conveying something more raw, more provocative than that? When taking a closer look at this play, one sees a recurring pattern and another common theme - that of lust and sexuality. The love theme in this play is but an illusion, the reality is that this play is centered around sex and desire. A common focus in A Midsummer Night's Dream is that of eyes and sight. The words "eye," "sight," and "see" occur a total of one hundred seventeen times throughout the play (Berry). One may suggest that this eye imagery conveys the theme of love more strongly as "love is blind" or that love enters through the eyes (Vaughn, 73). However, the eyes are based on the physical world; love is not based on sight alone. The physicality of Shakespeare's use of sight is a direct consequence of lust. One does not love with their eyes, one loves with one's heart and mind; one desires with one's eyes. Similarly, the physicality of the play is also maintained through the constant profession of physical beauty. Helena laments that she wishes she looked like Hermia: O, teach me how you look, and with what art, You sway the motion of Demetr... ...xual undertones and reminds us that often lust and sexual attraction are interpreted as true love and, as humans, we often comply with this illusion of true love and happiness rather than face the realization of the inconstancy sexual attraction. Bibliography Benet, Sula. "May Day." Encyclopedia Americana: Deluxe Library Edition. 1992. Berry, Ralph. Shakespeare's Comedies. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1972. Fredal, James. "Herm Choppers, the Adonia, and Rhetorical Action in Ancient Greece." Online posting. National Council of Teachers of English. 28 Feb. 2003 http://www.ncte.org/pdfs/subscribers-only/ce/0645-may02/CE0645Herm.pdf Greenblatt et al., ed. "A Midsumer Night's Dream."The Norton Shakespeare: Comedies. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1997. Vaughn, Jack A. Shakespeare's Comedies. New York: Frederick Uncar Publishing Co., 1980.

George Orrs Torture by His Dreams in The Lathe of Heaven Essay

George Orr's Torture by His Dreams in The Lathe of Heaven George Orr is tortured by his dreams because sometimes they come true. The world he wakes up to has changed into the world that he dreamed, sometimes radically, sometimes violently. As a teenager he dreams the death of his aunt and he awakens to finds that she was killed in a car accident six weeks before. He is horrified, and attempts to control his dreaming, but over the years some of his dreams and nightmares come true. Finally by the time he is thirty ( in the year 2002) he is becoming psychotic and he contemplates suicide but then turns to pep pills to stay awake to prevent dreaming. When he nearly overdoses, his landlord calls a medic who saves him but turns him in for illegal drug use - a minor offense that requires psychiatric therapy. That's how he meets Dr. Haber, the novel's antagonist. Haber, a large, powerful, active man with curly brown hair and beard who prides himself on his professional psychiatric skills and his talent for manipulating his patients (for their own good of course), specializes in sleep disorders and dream research. He occupies a windowless office in a non-descript office building in Portland, Oregon, the setting for the novel. By using hypnotic suggestion and a brain wave generator called the "Augmentor", Haber is able to tell George what to dream and to his astonishment actually verifies George's ability. George senses that Haber wants to use him, but because of his congenitally passive nature and fear of his uncontrolled dream states, allows the therapy to continue. After a few therapy sessions George seeks legal help so he can stop the therapy and really get cured. That's when he meets the lawyer, a black female who clicks and snaps and wears bangles and brass buckles and is reminiscent of a black widow spider waiting in her office when George arrives. Though outwardly very different (George is slight ,fair and quiet) they experience an inner chemistry and George later dreams that she is his wife, but at that point everybody is gray anyway. Her name is Heather and she gets dreamed in and out of the story at various points, appearing and disappearing as needed. Instead of trying to cure him, Haber uses George's "effective dreaming" to create benevolent, far reaching changes in the world including population control, disarmament, and ecological regulations.... ...h idealized and exaggerated characters. What might they stand for ? 2. How would you answer Haber's assertion that the purpose of man is to " do things , to change things?" 3. Could you offer any evidence to either support or refute George's statement that the universe is not a machine? 4. The aliens play a pivotal role in the resolution of the conflict between Haber and George because they give George the power word which he uses and Haber fails to use. What is the purpose of this word? 5. If Haber and George are personifications of opposites, how would you characterize the aliens? 6. Why do you think the aliens are described as "sea turtles?" 7. Each chapter in the book is headed by a quote. The quote for chapter 3 is: "Those whom heaven helps we call the sons of heaven. They do not learn this by learning. They do not work it by working. They do not reason it by using reason. To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment. Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the lathe of heaven." - Chuang Tse. In the light of this quote, how would you interpret the title of the book?

Hilarious Flaws

Hilarious Flaws BY Fana-Rashld Karrie Yusefzad English 12 Instructor Wilder 6 November 2013 Whether it is via film, late night television shows, newspapers, comics, or literature, satire is tound virtually everywhere. Satire reminds and teaches us as humans to laugh at ourselves every once In a while, as well as directs us to acknowledge and accept our own imperfections as we strive to become perfect people Satire helps us ds humans take d step back and see what life Is truly about.Late night television shows such as Saturday Night Live, which has been on television since 1975, are reated Just to satire humanity. actors make Jokes out ot polltlcal and social situations on the weekly segment Weekend Update. These Jokes, wherever they are from, help us understand who we are and who we want to be It allows us to celebrate the life that we live, no matter how bad It can get, In fact making the situation humorous may even make it easier to handle.Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Talesâ⠂¬  celebrates and satires humanity, especially the â€Å"everyman†, in his story he included to characters in particular, one representing the best of humanity and the other illustrating the worst Chaucer ractically Idolizes the Knight, who represents everything us humans aspire to be. â€Å"He was of sovereign value in all eyes. And though so much distinguished, he was wise and In his bearing modest as a maid. He never yet a boorish thing had said In all his life to any, come what might; he was a true, perfect gentle-knight. (Chaucer 69-74) Chaucer says that though the knight had been through so many brave and amazing situations, from Alexandria to Prussia, fought against the Turks, and In Granada, he had never once been over confident: he remained as modest as one ould be. The Knight symbolizes everything good In a human, Chaucer does not satire him at all; however, it is the complete opposite with the Pardoner. The Pardoner symbolizes the lowest a man could get, he chea ts, he steals, and he lies all for the benefit of himself.Chaucer narrates that â€Å"he had the same small voice of goat has got. His chin no beard had harbored, nor would harbor, smoother than ever chln was left by barber. I Judge he was d gelding, or d mare. † Chaucer describes the Pardoner as a mare because making fun of others is one of many ways of making urselves teel better, yet still a way to see that all humans are flawed. Similar to Chaucer, Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live does a great, hilarious, yet interesting way of satiri7ing others, making us feel better as humans, and still show us how to celebrate life.Not only does he satlrlze politicians, but he also finds d way to satirize common people. In a recent episode of Saturday Night Live he states â€Å"A man In Hawaii came face to face with a shark while surfing survived by punching the shark in the face, meanwhile saw a cockroach in the bathroom and now I shower at he gym† (SNL S39 E4) Examples such as this one show that humans make funny decisions, yet It still finds a way to celebrate life because the guy lived and the people but still makes fun of himself.Humans are flawed, and it is better and easier to satire the flaws, rather than try so hard to become perfect. Satire is seen every day, everywhere, whether it is television, literature, movies, comics, newspapers, etc. It is a great way to show the flaws, but helps all of mankind to aspire to become better people as well as celebrate the unperfected yet beautiful life we have.

Advantages And Disvantages About Television Essay

How many hours a day do you watch television? Television has had a deep impact on everybody’s life. This powerful appliance has become an addiction for most people. Children, teenagers, adults and also babies spend hours and hours in front of the screen. Nowadays, it cannot be denied that this technological window is one of the main massive media; however not everything it offers is favorable. Many advantages and disadvantages can be discussed about the TV set. The main media of the world has been and remains to be television. Many advantages can be accounted for this. First of all, news is broadcast around the world immediately. People are notified about politics, social problems, natural catastrophes, of any part of the world without delay. Moreover, entertainment programs are so popular events in people’s life that families enjoy a variety of top-rated TV shows and films without the necessity of going out from their houses. Last but not least, it is important to remark that educational programs can be imparted through this communication channel from which, even in the furthest places, a man could benefit from. On the other hand, there are also many drawbacks to TV. One of the main problems that current society has is sedentariness; people spend too many hours immersed in this world, what turns them into lazy beings, who will eventually shirk their duties. For children and babies times of outdoor activities seem to have finished, consequently the goggle box is now known as the mechanical nanny. At last, in the same way that this TV set imparts education, it also shows immoral programs, violence and an inappropriate use of language, which most of the times has a deep influence on every member of the human civilization. To my way of thinking there should be a control system on what television shows, or at least schedules specifying suitable timetables for some kinds of programs, not without forgetting that people must be conscious about their own use of this boob tube. Sedentariness: sedentarismo. I took references from Oxford Dictionary.

Business Plan in Bangladesh

Yangon Institute of Economics Department of Management Studies MBA Programme Business Plan for POINT footwear manufacturing and distribution Submitted by : Nay Zar Myo Roll No : 36 15th Batch MBA Plan Outline 1. Executive Summary 2. Company Summary 3. Products 4. Market Analysis Summary i. Market Segmentation ii. Distribution Strategy iii. Market Trends 5. Competition and Buying Patterns Competitive Edge 6. Strategy and Implementation Summary Sales Strategy 7. Management Summary 8. Financial Plan i. Important Assumptions ii. Break-even Analysis iii. Projected Profit and Loss iv. Projected Cash Flow v. Projected Balance Sheet vi.Business Ratios 1. Executive Summary POINT is a recent start-up manufacturer of an upscale ladies foot wear line (in order to substitute Foreign foot wears market) targeted at females between the ages of 16 and 65. POINT not only develops the foot wear line, but supports it with advertising and promotion campaigns. Pyay Lai Manufacturing and Trading Company pl ans to strengthen its partnership with retailers by developing brand awareness. POINT intends to market its line as an alternative to existing foot wear lines, and differentiate itself by marketing strategies, exclusiveness, sophisticated design and technologies and high brand awareness.The key message associated with the POINT line is classy, upscale, versatile, and inexpensive footwear. The company's promotional plan is diverse and includes a range of marketing communications. In the future, the company hopes to develop lines of accessories, raw materials (rubber, leather, velvet) and foot wears for men, women, and children. The Figure is drawn based on the Income Statement of the year 2000, 2001 and 2002 when the company manufactured and distributed only traditional slippers (leather and velvet) for men, women and children. Keys to Success 1. Seek out feedback from our customers (teens and ad

The Middle Passage

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Myself† Is a traumatic narrative of the horrors suffered by the Africans slaves of the 18th century, which has touched my heart. No human being should ever have to endure what the African slaves and their families endured during slavery and voyage through the â€Å"The Middle Passage†. The Middle Passage was called the route of the triangular trade through the AtlanticOcean in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade. The author starts by giving details of the terrible conditions that he encounters on board of a slave ship. An example of the terrible condition in which the slaves lived is narrated by Equiano (2013) as: â€Å"The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so Intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time†¦ † (1388) â€Å"The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the umber In the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us† (p. 388). The conditions the Africans slaves endured during the Middle Passage were horrific; no human being should be force to live in such deplorable conditions. The lack of freedom on the slave ships caused great distress to the enslaved Africans. They were treated as cargo, chained one with the other and had to perform their bodily functions while chained. They were also forced to sleep cramped together few of them barely escaped without their limbs atrophying. They rarely had enough to eat or drink, and would grow sick in drove, than many of them wanted to die instead of living a life full of cruelties.The slaves were so tired of the detrimental conditions In which they have been forced to live In slave ships, under the most abominable and hellish hyglenlc conditions that they preferred to die, as Olaudah Equiano (2013) write s, â€Å"two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (l was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the ettings and Jumped into the sea; immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of iron, also followed their example† (p. 388) Some slaves did everything in the power to end their life; some tried to throw themselves into the Atlantic Ocean, but many were prevented from doing so by the crew and then they were nearly beaten to death to serve as an example, to prevent other slaves from doing the same.Most of the slave encounter white men for the first time when they were brought to the ship, to them those white men with red faces and long loose hair where a strange creature speaking a language they could not understand. They were suddenly separated from their families and forced to live with strangers whose languages they could not understand. I cannot even imagine th e turmoil these families when through. For most of the Africans slaves the Middle Passage marked the beginning of their emise, a life of detrimental treatment, torture and horrible living conditions.For others the Journey thru the Atlantic Ocean marked the end of their lives. Those of them that survived, however, were faced with the agony of a long horrendous Journey to an unknown land where an unknown future awaited them. The Middle Passage The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Myself† Is a traumatic narrative of the horrors suffered by the Africans slaves of the 18th century, which has touched my heart. No human being should ever have to endure what the African slaves and their families endured during slavery and voyage through the â€Å"The Middle Passage†. The Middle Passage was called the route of the triangular trade through the AtlanticOcean in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade. The author starts by giving details of the terrible conditions that he encounters on board of a slave ship. An example of the terrible condition in which the slaves lived is narrated by Equiano (2013) as: â€Å"The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so Intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time†¦ † (1388) â€Å"The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the umber In the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us† (p. 388). The conditions the Africans slaves endured during the Middle Passage were horrific; no human being should be force to live in such deplorable conditions. The lack of freedom on the slave ships caused great distress to the enslaved Africans. They were treated as cargo, chained one with the other and had to perform their bodily functions while chained. They were also forced to sleep cramped together few of them barely escaped without their limbs atrophying. They rarely had enough to eat or drink, and would grow sick in drove, than many of them wanted to die instead of living a life full of cruelties.The slaves were so tired of the detrimental conditions In which they have been forced to live In slave ships, under the most abominable and hellish hyglenlc conditions that they preferred to die, as Olaudah Equiano (2013) write s, â€Å"two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (l was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the ettings and Jumped into the sea; immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of iron, also followed their example† (p. 388) Some slaves did everything in the power to end their life; some tried to throw themselves into the Atlantic Ocean, but many were prevented from doing so by the crew and then they were nearly beaten to death to serve as an example, to prevent other slaves from doing the same.Most of the slave encounter white men for the first time when they were brought to the ship, to them those white men with red faces and long loose hair where a strange creature speaking a language they could not understand. They were suddenly separated from their families and forced to live with strangers whose languages they could not understand. I cannot even imagine th e turmoil these families when through. For most of the Africans slaves the Middle Passage marked the beginning of their emise, a life of detrimental treatment, torture and horrible living conditions.For others the Journey thru the Atlantic Ocean marked the end of their lives. Those of them that survived, however, were faced with the agony of a long horrendous Journey to an unknown land where an unknown future awaited them.

The Role of Human Capital in the New Global Economy Essay

The Role of Human Capital in the New Global Economy - Essay Example It is seen that human capital plays a major role in the labour market developments in nations. This emphasizes on the role of labour market institutions across the world. The idea is to remove the possibilities of skill shortage or skill crisis which forms one of the most critical components of a productive economy (Davis & Reeve, â€Å"Human capital and the global economy†). The role of human capital in the new global economy It is seen that with the growth of the population towards their age of retirement, nations tend to face a shortage of labour. The economy faces a labour shortage crisis which fails to meet the desired level of skill requirement of the society and economy on the whole. Thus it is crucial that nations maintain a certain amount of skill within the economy which meets its output and productivity requirement. In other words nations need to maintain a balance in their labour markets (Turner, â€Å"Executive Summary†). Technological advancement has also played a significant role in the increasing competitiveness of nations. Moreover it forms a primary component behind the competitiveness and competitive advantage of nations in the international market. This has called for a labour force which is highly competent in the field of information technology in order to sustain and survive in the global markets. Nations suffering from less advancement in technology and communications has suffered skill shortage and labour efficiency which is the reason why they have lost their competitive position in the market among global competitors (Turner, â€Å"Executive Summary†). With globalization, the prevalence of trade and commerce has also increased substantially. Global economies’ reliance on international trade has increased substantially over the years. In order to survive in the global competition and improve performance nations’ businesses need to create wealth and the colleges and universities in the nations need to keep producing high skilled and educated personnel who would be responsible for driving that economic development. Skilled and educated labour force forms a major component of a nation’s ability to compete in the international market. Globalization has come with a lot of challenges for nations. While a number of them have been able to adapt themselves to the global reality in terms of their operations, a number of them have failed to develop their human resources policies, practices, services and structures which support globalization. The major human resource challenges that organizations are confronted with are the creation of a global mind set in the human capital or even maintaining the local practices and cultures and also communication of a single corporate culture across the entire organization. Organizations are required to formulate their human resource functions in accordance to its strategic business objectives. The human resource functions are to be aligned with t he long term strategies of the companies operating within their own territories or across borders (Rioux, Bernthal & Wellins, â€Å"The Global Picture†). Among the other important HR functions in organizations is the creation of a centralized relationship across the globe. There also needs to be the prevalence of a standardized development, assessment and compensation

A critical evaluation of HRM and Organisational Behaviour theories and Essay

A critical evaluation of HRM and Organisational Behaviour theories and frameworks and link with performance - Essay Example The approach is practical and there is greater tendency to change towards an informal individualistic direction (Salaman & Et. Al., 2005). In the international context, HRM issues are quite prominent and therefore an in-depth understanding of such issues is quite significant. Various theories and frameworks of HRM are present which can be applicable for managing the people working in the international arena (Lucas & Et. Al., 2007). Best Practice HRM is considered as the notion that human resource practice tends to work in an effective way if they are introduced in correlated and equally reinforcing bundles (Redman & Wilkinson, 2009). The literatures on human resource management suggest that the policies and the procedures related to the functions of human resource must be coordinated with the business strategy (Rollinson & Et. Al., 1998). On the other hand, the term ‘organisational behaviour’ (OB) implies the study and the application of knowledge regarding how the †˜individuals’, ‘people’ and ‘groups’ behave in the organisation.... Changing Landscape of HRM and Organisational Behaviour It has been mentioned by Jamrog and Overholt in their study that since last 100 years there has been continuous shift in the role of the human resource professionals and there has been addition of more responsibilities in the work of these professionals. According to the research of the authors, there has been major shifts in the functions of HR and it has developed through numerous stages starting from medieval time to industrial revolutions, from scientific management to human relations movements and finally to current strategic business partner model. In the ancient times, the HR has mainly tried to focus its attention towards the administrative facets of the human resource management. However, in the recent times, the strident call forced the HRM to become a strategic business partner. It is quite significant to comprehend the differences between the Human Resource Management (HRM) and the Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM). When the traditional HRM is taken into consideration, it is noted that traditional HRM is generally transactional in nature and aims at providing administrative support to the people working in the organisation in terms of staffing, compensation, recruitment and benefits. It has been paradigm change from the administrative facets of the human resource management that has led to the development of SHRM. In SHRM, a new set of value added roles and responsibilities have been inculcated to functions of the HRM. The prime importance of the SHRM is that of the strategic business partner. It is the SHRM that helps the companies to achieve competitive advantage and therefore assist the business managers to plan

Employee Dismissal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Employee Dismissal - Essay Example It the employer is still not satisfied with the employees' performance or conduct he then dismisses the employee or he could even opt for other sanctions. The employee is then allowed to make an appeal if at all he wishes against the disciplinary action that has been taken against him and the employer listens to all the appeals and further gives his final decision. (Honeyball 2006) According to the legislation the employees have a right to receive free, fair and just treatment from their employers. Thus when it comes to dismissing an employee the employer should handle the issue procedurally and in an acceptable manner. The employer needs to also have a valid reason for dismissing an employee. (Deakin and Morris, 2005) There comes a point in an organisation when it becomes really necessary to release an employee as a result of a disciplinary action or even because of an employee's redundancy. However whatever the reason that could be behind the dismissal of an employee there are general requirements as well as legislative procedures that should be followed so as to make the whole dismissal process free and fair. Similarly the decision making process in dismissing an employee should be very professional and there are some guidelines which are to be followed. (Honeyball 2006) If all the avenues have been explored and there is a v... Similarly the decision making process in dismissing an employee should be very professional and there are some guidelines which are to be followed. (Honeyball 2006) Steps employer must take in order to dismiss an employee fairly If all the avenues have been explored and there is a very serious damage that is being done on the businesses as well as the workplace threw may lack any other viable option than dismissing the employee. The reasons behind dismissing an employee should be fair and also legal and three of these reasons could be applied potentially. 1. The employee's capability. If an employees' capability is affected by either sickness or even accident and they are unable to carry out their delegated duties thus affecting the proper functioning of the organisation, then they can be dismissed by an employer. If an employee is dismissal could be termed as fair if it is based on their capability or even their qualifications to perform the expected duties in an organisation. 2. The employee's misconduct. If an employee misbehaves in the work place then this could be proper grounds for his dismissal after proper investigations have been conducted. Similarly if an employee's conduct is not in line with the organisations code of conduct then this could also be a fair ground for the employee to be dismissed. 3. Other substantial reasons. Other substantial reasons could be considered to be fair enough in the dismissal of an employee by an employer. If an employers reason for dismissing an employee is substantial and it can be validated then the dismissal could be termed as being just and also fair. 4. Retirement. If an employee is dismissed based on their retirement schedule then this is considered to be a fair dismissal since the employees retirement