Journeys End and A Long Long Way Essay Example

Journeys End and A Long Long Way Essay From the start, Sherriffs play Journeys End and Barrys novel A Long Long Way present two very different social class viewpoints of the Great War. Sherriffs play focuses on the viewpoint of the public school educated officers of the C Company and Barry presents his novel through the eyes of an ordinary Irish boy, Willie Dunne, who not having reached the height required for him to follow his father into the police force, opted to volunteer for the war. The biggest difference between both texts is the language. The novels narrative focalisation often shows the working class viewpoint of Willie whereas the play is full of public school register. The reader and the audience are aware, as a result of the difference in social class views and are provided with ample opportunities to compare the differences in both texts. Both the texts are a reflection of the times they were written. The play being written just after the war and during a time where theatre-going was a solely upper class phenomenon would not have been at all popular if it was focused on the lives of the working class soldiers rather than the lives of the officers. We will write a custom essay sample on Journeys End and A Long Long Way specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Journeys End and A Long Long Way specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Journeys End and A Long Long Way specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Similarly, the text being very much a modern novel makes use of social changes and therefore has no qualms about portraying the true nature of working class soldiers. Also, novels are not restricted to a particular social class of people, especially in this modern day and age, where the class differences have become increasingly blurred. The first few pages of both texts are an indication of the opinion of the respective writers as well as those portrayed in the texts. A Long Long Way starts with a dark and somewhat bleak picture of the streets of Dublin. With its rain-lashed streets and its cabmen huddling in their mucky gabardines it is the epitome of the harsh grind of working class life. The language is very earthy and realistic in the sense that it does not detract from the reality of the maternity ward in hospitals circa the late 19th century. The babies who cried like wounded cats in the laps of the nurses with their aprons of butchers in the hospital with its stony ox-skulls and draperies facade resembles in the readers mind the image of abattoirs. It is very much a working class setting for the reader to delve into. On the other hand, Journeys End could not be any more different. It starts off with a conversation between the outgoing company commander and the 2nd Lieutenant of the incoming company. It is filled with public school register and very controlled language. It most importantly displays the classic stiff upper lip nature of the British upper classes. Hardy commenting on the soldiers being frightfully annoyed with dirt in their tea after a bomb, is such an example. This is therefore an explicit illustration of the differences between social class within the interactions and the lives of the Officers and the ordinary men. Social class differences portrayed within the texts are also evident. Journeys End, a play from the Officers stance, is very much discriminatory towards the generally working class soldiers. The army in those days consisted of two groups, the Officers and the men. Stanhope is very insistent on the dividing line between the two groups. He, as part of the upper class system, seems to consider the loyal soldiers under his command as separate from his staff, comprising of the lieutenants. His objective view of the soldiers below him is what causes him to separate them and portray them to the audience as a completely different entity. His reference to the soldiers as the men as well as his incredulity at Raleigh feeding with the men is an illustration of his sense of superiority and separate nature from the common soldiers. Whereas, in Journeys End the commanding officers as well the lower ranking officers remain aloof and separate from the soldiers, A Long Long Way presents a much more humanitarian side to the company commanding officers. Captain Pasley accompanying Clancy, OHara and Willie for a swim in the river running through the reserve lines is something that the audience cannot picture Stanhope doing. The company captains in A Long Long Way are much more liberal. Talking about the big liming job as well as bawling out those happy words, Can you sling them on your shoulder Like a lousy fucking soldier Do your balls hang low? seems something common soldiers would sing about. However, it is Captains Pasley and Sheridan, respectively, who talk about the farming or sing songs that are popular with the men, with obvious enthusiasm. One observation that comes to mind is that in Journeys End the company officers are English, whereas in A Long Long Way the company commanders are Irish as well as the men. It would seem that the rural nature of Ireland was the overriding factor, that an Irishman coming out of Sandhurst would never be the same as a middle or upper-class Englishman. It can be seen within the two texts that social class differences even play a role in a persons sense of honour and duty. Journeys End being a play based on the experience of the officers in a company, one would have presumed that the sense of honour and duty would be prevalent throughout. However, this is not the case. We see that Hardy is not at all concerned with any proper sense of honour and duty. His duty to his country manifests itself in his enquiry about looking every inch the soldier. However, this is contrasted by Osbornes strong sense of duty. He is dutiful and very loyal to Stanhope while Hardy being the shirking type, incredulously remarks Osborne is fussy and God! you are a worker. This difference is seen within the same class system. Both of them are obviously not working class soldiers but their attitudes on honour and duty differ. It therefore stands to reason that there will be such differences, if not more contrasting ones, from either side of the line. The audience is not disappointed, but the differences are somewhat unexpected. Hibbert, an officer of the company, is a weak and ineffectually individual. From the start Sherriff immediately establishes him as someone that does not contribute fully to the team, and because of this, we do not feel sympathy for him. In contrast to this, Mason, a fighting soldier, acts as a cook and as well as a servant. He is evidently hard-working and keen to serve, and Osborne and Trotter discussing his dirty dishcloth also provides some light humour. Mason serves as a reminder that normal activities still need to continue, and his all-round good nature endears the audience to him. He obviously has no fears of stepping on to the front line from the relative safety of his dug-out kitchen. When Stanhope tells him to finish up in the kitchen and join the platoon in the line; his reply is a simple and straightforward very good, sir. Having seen the differences that an individuals social class can have on their outlook on not only life, but also how it affect their dealings with others as well as their commitment and contribution to life in the trench; it is obviously the case that the two social classes will behave differently. We see in A Long Long Way the true nature of the ordinary soldiers. The use of foul language as well as the very realistic portrayal of men dealing with their fellow men is most apparent in the interaction of Willie, Christy Moran the Sergeant Major and Pete OHara. The sexual realism that is portrayed, such as Willies need to masturbate to stop himself from exploding worse than any bomb is also a depiction of how the common soldiers behaved. The novels Sergeant Major, the highest ranking soldier amongst the men, is by far the truest soldier amongst his men. He is a full time soldier and as a result he sees no problem in using foul language on a frequent basis. Even the most simple of directions or observations have to be interspersed with a fucking or a shite. But despite the rough demeanour, the soldiers liked him, all the guff and gristle that he was. However, when this is compared to the captains of Willies company, it would seem that their behaviour is as varied as they themselves. Captain Pasley is portrayed as the typical upper-class officer. He is seemingly unaware of the risks that come with raising your head above the parapet with alarming indifference. However this could just be the typical bravado displayed by middle and upper-class men, who would suffer unbearably, sometimes for no good reason, rather than show any sign of weakness. His observation that the night and land are beautiful and of the river that he is sure is absolutely full of trout is all a caricature and Barry mocking his obvious public school upbringing. The other captain of the company, Captain Sheridan, is however vastly different. He has a very merry way about him and is insistent on keeping troop morale high. This he does by singing songs whilst on the march. He is sufficiently versed in the working class nature of the soldiers to enjoy singing Charlotte the Harlot and Do your Balls Hang Low. On the other hand, Sherriffs Journeys End does not at all mirror the way Barry has written his novel or his presentation of characters from two different social classes. The behaviour of the various characters within the play, compared to the novel, is very frigid. There is no interaction between the regular soldiers and the officers of the company. Trotter and Mason, both working class soldiers, although Trotter has been promoted to a Lieutenant, are in a sense breaths of fresh air amongst the very reserved atmosphere that can be felt within the dugout. As the plays central focus is on public school life, talk of rugby, cricket and schoolmasters, acts as a bond between the men. It helps the upper-class soldiers deal with the stresses of war if they think of the war as an extension of their public school-life. With public-schools at the time being single-sex establishments, the men having to live and work together in the small space of a dugout would not have been to fazed because they would have had undoubtedly shared rooms back in school. Such a shared background is clearly significant. Osborne measures distances by relating them to rugby fields and Raleigh relates his fatal injury to one he suffered whilst playing rugby. It is for them a way to escape from all the horrors of the war. As a result, it would seem that the rest of the officers stay aloof from either Trotter or Mason. To some extent, the separation between them and Mason is justifiable, in the sense that servant and officers dont mix. But Trotter, who is also an officer, cannot escape the stereotype associated with him by his public-school bred colleagues. He is seen by the others as a genuine sort of chap who makes things feel natural. Stanhope thinks he has no imagination and believes that Trotter is always the same or never get sick to death of everything. It is obvious that Trotter has come to terms with the slightly patronising behaviour and the presumed lack of intelligence he has to endure within the army. He shows his fierce commitment and loyalty when he is made second in command. He evidently feels honoured by the promotion and promises Stanhope that he will do his best and not let him down. The social class difference also transcends into the way the soldiers and officers talk to each other. In Journeys End, the two main working class characters are Mason and Trotter. Mason speaks in a Cockney accent and Sherriff indicates this through the spelling and dropped letter at both the beginning as well as the end of words. The meat that he serves at the beginning of the play has a noo shape and asnt got that smooth wet look that liver has. Trotter also speaks differently from the other officers. His use of the phrase I reckon where Raleigh and the others would you I suppose is a clear example of this. His exclamations are more frequent as well. They consist of damn and bloomin' as well as blinkin' whereas the other officers would say things like beastly, frightfully and, very rarely, damned. Another clear illustration of this is when Trotter comes to see Osborne just before the raid. His simple, yet crude rhymes contrast with Osbornes evocative references to Alice in Wonderland. Trotter declaims, Tell me, mother, what is that / That looks like strawberry jam? / Hush, hush my dear; tis only Pa / Run over by a tram with its obvious reference to death. While in contrast, Osborne talks of the gently smiling jaws of the little crocodile, with a more subdued indication of life and death. The two officers have different ways of expressing their response to the war. Where Trotter explicitly refers to the situation; Osborne, on the other hand, refers to it in a more controlled and implicit way, typical of most public-school characters. Moving away from the war for just a moment, it is clear that where in the trenches, social class played a major role in the way soldiers were treated by one another, it also meant that lives outside before the war were very different, to say the least. The rich upper-class, public-school educated boys would all have had their lives set out for them. For some, the war came as a welcome break from the monotonous and dreary, controlled and restrained lifestyle. For many, it was an adventure. It was a way for them to go and see the world. What also helped was the fact that many of these young lads had some sort of Combined Cadet Force training, very much in line with the old Imperial tradition. However, for the working-class men, some had no choice but to go. It was for them a way of not only gaining recognition but also a way of earning money to feed the hungry mouths within their homes. It was for some, a lifeline. It was a way to make something out of their lives. It would have been an amazing story to tell the grandchildren by the fire. Many went for aesthetic reasons, and had help making decisions from the countless pro-war propaganda campaigning that was going on. One such advert with the slogan, Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War, would have no doubt sent many a young father off to the War, some destined never to return. The life of the upper-class, public-school soldiers is clearly showed in Journeys End. Osborne was a schoolmaster who refereed Rugger games. His revelation that he played for the Harlequins as well as for England on one great occasion is greeted with an almost reverent Oh, but, good Lord! that must have been simply topping from Raleigh. In comparison, Willie from A Long Long Way is but a mere builder working for Dempsey, the most renowned construction contractor in Dublin. This again shows in full force the gap between the working-class soldiers and their public-school counterparts. In conclusion, it can be seen that social class differences played a major role in how men acted and were treated within the army. Both the texts have a wide variety of differences with regards to the social class differences within the soldiers of one company. However, it must be noted that in a way, the war made all that difference worthless. The great shadow of Death did no differentiate between who had a public-school upbringing in Eton or Repton and who was brought up on a farm or in the slums on the outskirts of Dublin. Perhaps this is why towards the end of the war the line dividing the public-schooled upper classes from the common working class man became increasingly blurred. This is shown in both texts, with Trotter, a working-class soldier, being promoted to second in command of the C Company; and in A Long Long Way, with Christy Moran being made the surrogate captain of the Dublin Fusiliers. At the start of the First World War, only men who were public-school educated could be commissioned officers. However, as can be seen from both texts, the class system was changing and the traditional officer class no longer existed. After the first year of the war, it became possible to gain promotion without having to be privately educated. It would seem that this is how Sherriff himself became a captain in the East Surrey regiment. But it did not stop there. After World War II, the people of Britain had become exasperated with the right-wing, middle-class dominated Conservative party. The political party of Churchill was overthrown by the people in favour of a more socialist party. A party, that was devoted to the fairness and equality that was demanded by so many of the people in Britain. This serves to illustrate exactly how social class attitudes can change in the face of trials and tragedy. Britain underwent a massive social change and in 1945, twelve weeks after the end of the War, the socialist, left-wing Labour party won the national election in an amazing landslide; such that it was equated to a political earthquake.

What does Banduras study of Aggression tell us about development Essays

What does Banduras study of Aggression tell us about development Essays What does Banduras study of Aggression tell us about development Paper What does Banduras study of Aggression tell us about development Paper * Banduras research suggested that we learn our behaviour from our social environment. * Bandura used this research to develop his Social Learning Theory. This theory sets out one way in which children develop their behaviour as they grow older. * The theory (SLT) suggests that we can learn from role models or significant others, simply by observing their behaviour no reinforcement is needed. The role model must be someone who is of high social status for that individual an adult, teacher, popstar, or older peer. This person is seen as successful and worthy of copying. * Bandura found that children will model their behaviour on an adult role model. The model acted in an aggressive way (and showed the same types of aggression imitation) than children who had observed a non-aggressive model. This was only true of children who observed the same sex role model, which suggests that females are not significant others for boys. * These findings would suggest that a childs development can be easily shaped into any form of behaviour. According to this theory, a child could develop anti-social or pro-social behaviour by observation. * One other finding was that the children who observed the non-aggressive model also showed some aggression (non-imitative aggression). This would suggest that they had either learned to be aggressive in some previous situation or that aggressive play was innate (built-in). What does Banduras Study tell us about early childhood experiences? This study tells us the following: * That we can learn from our social environment at the age of 37-69 months. * We learn from role models or significant others who are of high social status or significance to us. In this study it was an adult (male and female) * It would suggest that we only have to see something once for it to influence our behaviour. * It would suggest that we as children are very vulnerable to outside influences and that our behaviour can be shaped for good (pro-social) or bad (anti-social) by those around us. * His findings for the power of the same sex role models suggest that Males influence boys and females influence girls. * Thus for a child to develop in a way which would make them pro-social, the child would need to be surrounded by pro-social models. * The study does not tell us anything about free-will (can we make our own judgements). Comment on the Generalisability of the findings from Banduras study (sampling) * The study was of 72 children with a mean age of 52 months, ranging from 37-69 months and 36 boys and 36 girls were in the sample. * A matched pair design was then used with 24 children in each of the 3 conditions. * The question remains, were these children representative?.. * The sample is relatively small, especially when it is broken down into 3 groups. This might mean that there was a likelihood of biases in the sample or that not all types of children would be included in the group. * The children were volunteers (self-selected sample). The danger with this type of sample is that subjects who volunteer or who belong to families who volunteer them may have some personality characteristic or may be from a social group or location which is not representative of children as a whole. * The children were from the USA. Would the findings have been the same for all cultures. Some cultures have a norm of non-violence (Amish People) where as the USA is a very violent society (ethno-centrism). The study was done in (1961) are the findings still generalisable to children today? How could you make sample more generalisable? * Bigger (more representative) * Random (less likely patterns of bias) * Variety Cultures (more representative) * Variety of locations (more representative) * Variety of age ranges (more representative) * Are the finding representative of all ages? How did Bandura investigate development / How has development been investigated. * Bandura used an experiment to investigate child development. * The experiment was lab-based (Procedures + Conditions standard) * The study had 2 experimental conditions and control groups. * Subjects were allocated to groups following a matched pair design. * The IV was whether the subjects observed aggression or non-aggressive play. * The DV was the level of aggressive play which was imitative. * Bandura collected the data by observation. * So Bandura used scientific methods to investigate development. What does Banduras study tell us about the influence of other people on our behaviour the nature/nurture debate. * Bandura constructed his theory of Social Learning (Social Learning Theory) * His experiments with aggression and the bobo doll form a key piece of evidence which supports this model/theory. * The theory is a social determinism in that it only recognises that our behaviour is the product of our social environment. There is not reference to free-will or individuality. * We learn our behaviour by observation of significant to us (Peers, Parents, teachers, media, sports stars). * We are also much more likely to model ourselves on same sex role models. * Thus the main findings of Banduras study would support the nurturist view of human behaviour. * However, the findings are with young children, would adults be influenced in the same way it is unlikely. * Some children showed non-imitative aggression this might suggest that they were innately aggressive (nature) * Problems of generalisability. What are the implications for society of Banduras study? * Banduras study showed how simple it is for young children 52 months (37-69months) average age to learn from another person. * From the research it would suggest that that person must be an adult and of the same sex. * The study showed that even an anti-social behaviour can be learned in this way. * These findings would suggest that as a society we must take great care about the examples we set our children and great care over who we set-up as role models for children. * Parents need to be aware of the power of role models on young children. The media has a very important role as there are many potential role models on TV and films which children watch. The media has a very important role as there are many potential role models on TV and films which children watch. The media must put forward pro-social role models for children. So must the world of sport. Children must not watch films etc after the 9.00 OClock watershed. Video games should be made less aggressive so that children do not model their behaviour on anti-social characters. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Banduras study. Strengths: * Was an experiment which used scientific methods it could, therefore, show a cause and effect relationship and the results are of a high status. * The study was lab-based so that Bandura and his colleagues could control all extraneous variables and standardise conditions for all of the subjects as necessary. Also easy to repeat. * The study used a matched pair design so that any comparisons made between groups would be based on groups of subjects who were much the same in terms of their aggression levels. * Bandura used a control group which could act as a point of comparison or as a base-line to measure the other group against. * Bandura used observations of subjects so that actual behaviour was measured and not recorded / reported behaviour such as in questionnaires. * Bandura also used a team of observers and checked the inter-observer reliability with a correlation test. The result was .90 very high. This showed that observers were collecting data in the same way. * Bandura standardised the role models by showing the role model on a film rather than in real life where each performance could be slightly different ? much harder to check imitative aggression levels. (later experiments) Weaknesses: * The lab may have low ecological validity. * The behaviour may not have been natural because of experimental demand. (they guessed that the experimenter wanted them to be aggressive). * The sample was relatively small and may have been unrepresentative of wider populations. * The sample was made-up of volunteers. There may have been biased in some way because volunteers or their parents might have some personality characteristic which makes them prone to modelling behaviour. * The sample were children from the USA. A very violent society. Are the findings biased or representative of other cultures. * The use of a bobo doll was artificial. Children are bound to play in an aggressive manner with such a toy it is designed to do so. Would the children do the same in a real life situation with a real person. * Ethics: Bandura may have harmed children by teaching them to play aggressively and an adult playing aggressively may have frightened some children.

A New Kind of Didactic Novel

A New Kind of Didactic Novel A New Kind of Didactic Novel A New Kind of Didactic Novel By Maeve Maddox Didactic fiction is nothing new. Aesops tales are didactic, as are Langlands The Vision of Piers Plowman, Bunyans The Pilgrims Progress, Hesses Siddhartha, and Orwells Animal Farm. The authors of all these works desired to teach readers a lesson about the moral significance of human behavior. The word didactic is from a Greek verb meaning both to teach and to learn. There was a time that authors could admit to wanting to create a didactic novel and critics were willing to praise such novels for their moral effectiveness. The success of Harriet Beecher Stowes didactic novel Uncle Toms Cabin (1852) illustrates the effectiveness of using fiction to promote an authors social ideals. Beginning in the 1700s, American abolitionists churned out thousands of tracts in their fight to abolish slavery in the United States. None of them produced the effect of the extended abolitionist tract that Mrs. Stowe framed as fiction. tract noun: a pamphlet, leaflet, or folder issued (as by a political or religious group) for propaganda. In the nineteenth century, Uncle Toms Cabin was the best-selling novel in the world. According to what may be an apocryphal anecdote, when Mrs. Stowe met Abraham Lincoln in 1862, he remarked, so you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war. Modern readers expect a textbook or how-to book to be didactic, but modern critics usually perceive didacticism in a work of creative fiction as a flaw: George Orwell was better at essays than at novels. His most famous novels,  1984  and  Animal Farm,  are clunkily didactic, especially  Animal Farm.   George refers to Dickens on the first page of her earnest but perhaps overly didactic novel, What Happened Before He Shot Her. OConnor has been criticized for being overly  didactic. Odetss inability to escape this 1930s pigeonhole is reflected in the intensely ideological, even didactic, nature of his plays.   Unlike many other Soviet filmmakers, whose works are boldly and aggressively didactic, Alexander Dovzhenkos cinematic output is personal and fervently private.   Now, however, a fictional genre called the startup novel has emerged, written by experienced and wanna-be entrepreneurs. These novels encapsulate blueprints for successful entrepreneurship in plots that employ action and intrigue. Apparently, entrepreneurs are reading them to learn the techniques of starting a business. Entrepreneur Orr Ben-Zvy says that after reading almost every [nonfiction] book on Amazons 50 best sellers for business and the next 50 for entrepreneurship, he discovered something counterintuitive: fiction [is] much more useful than nonfiction. His search for a fictionalized account of how to achieve financial success with a startup company led him to Eliot Pepers novel Uncommon Stock (2014), a book credited with being the first of its kind. According to a blurb on Amazon, the Uncommon trilogy has attracted a cult following in Silicon Valley and is the #1 top-rated financial thriller on Amazon. The genre that romanticizes and describes the process of starting a business has blossomed since 2014. An Amazon search for financial thrillers brings up pages and pages of titles. I havent read one yet, but I intend to. Im curious to see what kind of moral message this new didactic genre has for its readers. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†Ten Yiddish Expressions You Should KnowCareful with Words Used as Noun and Verb

Prescription, Nonprescription, and Herbal Medication Research Paper

Prescription, Nonprescription, and Herbal Medication - Research Paper Example As the essay declares the aging process is defined by numerous impairments of several regulatory processes that play a critical role in cells and organs. In addition, other physiological changes are evident in advanced age, and have the capacity to affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. The geriatric population exhibits cardiac dysfunctions. The relaxation and contraction of heart muscles change remarkably a one ages. Blood flow becomes slower, a factor that may affect drug distribution. In addition, aging brings about the reduction of renal mass. Fewer nephrons define the reduction of renal mass. According to the research findings there is a notable delay in the kidney functions, a factor that affects the elimination of drugs. The gastrointestinal system is also affected by aging because elderly people have lower rates of hydrochloric acid and pepsin. Research has highlighted that aging may contribute to potential changes in the enzyme secreting cells or hormonal glands a factor that minimizes the efficiency of the gastrointestinal system. In the small intestines, absorption of some substances reduces with age, while in the colon, the transit time may prove to be slower. Other digestive enzymes such as lipase and trypsin usually decrease as one age. The liver is a critical organ in the metabolism of drugs. With advancing age comes a remarkable reduction in the liver blood flow. In other cases, the liver structure may change over time while enzymes may cease to function effectively.

Five Essay Questions-Operations Management Assignment

Five Essay Questions-Operations Management - Assignment Example That is the only way an organization can get its resulting products and services to the right market and in the right manner while considering the time and cost aspects of the processes. It is through the knowledge of OM that an organization develops its innovation towards competitive advantages, which exist inextricably alongside processes. The processes range from the use of emerging and appropriate technology to the use of existing resources to create new ones and new values. It is only when operations are managed in ways that create the notion of differentiation that such processes lead to organizational success (Chase, Jacobs & Aquilano, 2007). CPM/PERT analyzes the tasks involved in a certain project in terms of the required time to complete each. The use of CPM/PERT techniques for managing projects is founded on the concept that a certain set of critical activities that constitute the longest path through the network of activities will control the entire project. The identification of the critical activities is important because they can then be assigned to responsible teams, allowing the management resources to be used optimally by concentrating on the key activities that determine the entire project’s fate. As a statistical tool, its design is intended to map, schedule and manage complex projects and analytically represent the necessary tasks to complete a project, employing time as the variable reflecting planned performance specifications. Advantages of CPM/PERT techniques include defining dependencies and making them visible and also potentially reducing project duration. This is possible because precedence r elationships between the structures of work breakdown are better understood, facilitating the potential to reduce a project’s lifecycle. However, the disadvantage is that individual dependency relationships can

Theories of Motivation: Analysis of Maslow and McClelland

Theories of Motivation: Analysis of Maslow and McClelland â€Å"Why are there multiple theories of ‘motivation in organizational behaviour? Discuss this question by including a critical evaluation of two theories of motivation.† The purpose for writing this essay is to describe different motivational theories by concentrating on how managers motivate employees in an industry with a high level of turnover and low levels of motivation. This essay will mainly evaluate Maslows hierarchy of needs theory and McClellands Needs of Achievement theory and it will include other theories to support the argument.   Many organisations face difficulties when trying to motivate their staff to complete a given task. If the employees are motivated the company is likely to be successful and achieve set goals. To be able to understand motivation and the way it works, first we have to understand human nature itself. In some cases this could be a straightforward process however in others it could be very complex. There has to be an effective management and leadership to guide employees through the motivation stages. Many companies believe that pay is the prime motivator, however nowadays people may want to exceed acknowledgment, participation and heightened sense of worth at the workplace. This is where empowerment plays a very important part in a companys progression as it is supported by R.French. â€Å"Empowerment is the process by which managers delegate power to employees to motivate greater responsibility in balancing the achievement of both personal and organisational goals†. (French, R., Rayner, 2008, page page 184) By empowering employees this will make the staff more satisfied, productive and motivated throughout their working hours. Throughout the years many theorists have tried to explain what motivation is by designing theories describing how managers should stimulate their staff. The two approaches to motivation are Content and Progress theories and they were published in 1950s. Content theories explain the specific factors that may stimulate people within the organisation by analysing the individuals needs and trying to assume what can motivate their behaviour. On the other hand a Process theory highlights the thought process by examining how and why individuals decide one action over another at the organisation.   This theory mainly focuses on the persons beliefs and how certain performances will lead to rewards such as pay raise and promotion. While both content and progress theories are central in helping us to understand motivation this essay will focus on the content approach in particular the classic motivational theory of Maslows hierarchy and David McClelland needs for achievement.   Abraham Maslow created the Hierarchy of needs theory in 1940-50s and to this day its still popular with managers. He developed the hierarchy to understand human motivation, management training, and personal development by creating five distinct levels. Maslow designed two main strategies lower order needs and higher order needs. Lower order needs includes Physiological needs (these are the most basic human needs such as food, and water etc) moving one level up is safety needs (which would be need for security, protection and stability). After an individual has exceeded the lower order needs mentioned above, he or she moves on to higher order needs which are Social needs (need for love, affection, relationship with another person), Esteem needs (respect, self esteem, need of esteem from others etc) and after achieving the previous 4 levels the person progresses to the desired level Self actualisation will motivate both employees and employers. (French R, 2009, page160) However with every motivation theory there has always been disadvantages. Maslow himself has been critical about the theory he created and in a statement he said:â€Å"My motivation theory was published 20 years ago and in all that time nobody repeated it, or tested, or really analyzed it or criticised it. They just used it, swallowed it whole with only the minor modification† (Wilson, F.M 2004, page 146) In approaching this problem Maslows work has faced a great deal of criticism to whether or not the concepts are different depending on culture. In countries such as Japan and Greece lower order needs such as security motivates employees to work harder more than self actualisation. (R. Rayner, 2009, page 162). Unfortunately those countries have lower employment opportunities; therefore residents mainly focus on security needs rather than self actualisation. Whereas some managerial companies disregard the lower order needs and go directly to higher order needs such self esteem and self actualisation. â€Å"Hall and Nougaim have found that as managers advanced, safety needs became less important while higher order needs were more important but this could be explained by a process of career change and advancement†. Wilson, F.M (2004, page 147) The above two statements suggest that people do not follow the traditional process of the hierarchy. Maslow believes that individuals are motivated by unmet needs which are in a hierarchical order; people have to keep moving up the hierarchy in order to succeed, this method has not been followed due to cultural difference and managerial configuration. Touching onto Alderfers ERG theory he argues that Maslows theory is not flexible and as a result of this people may become frustrated as they are not able to move to the next stage. Alderfer has minimized Maslows 5 stages into 3 levels: existence needs, relatedness needs and growth needs.   This theory is more flexible as people can downgrade a level if they cant achieve the higher stage. After having evaluated Maslows hierarchy theory, this essay will now focus on McClelland need for achievement theory. Peoples needs keep changing as well as their career occupations. Some seek the need for achievement as a way of motivating themselves at the workplace. Over the years this observable fact has fascinated David McClelland. After spending 20 years studying at Harvard University McClelland and his associates tried to identify the urge to achieve. They began a long research using Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) as an evaluation of individual needs of different people. This is a technique that asks people to develop a spontaneous story for each photo. David McClelland used the feedback from people and collected data and facts on motivation. After a series of tests using the TATs technique, David McClelland was able to identify three needs, which he believes are important in understanding human motivation and behaviour. These are; the need for achievement (nAch), need for affiliation (nAff) and need for power (nPower). Need for achievement is concentrating on those individuals who seek to excel and therefore tend to avoid low and high risks situations. They have a desire to achieve something superior and get to the bottom of problems as well as completing difficult tasks. They need regular feedback from managers in order to view their progress of their achievement. On the other hand need for affiliation is about creating harmonious connections with other individuals. This group of people may perform well in customer service and consumer interactions situations. Last of David McClelland needs is need for power, this assemblage of people are mainly focused on taking control over others, manage their behaviour or be in charge. Like Maslows Hierarchy theory, David McClellands acquired needs theory has its disadvantages and criticism from other theorists. Erikson proposes that ‘The need to achieve is a behaviour that is only acquired and developed during early childhood therefore if its not mastered at an early stage it cannot be achieved in adult life. French, R. Rayner C, Rees. G, Rumbles.S, Organisational Behaviour, 2009 However on the other hand McClelland argues that the need to achieve is behaviour and it can be done through training in adulthood Ref: R, French, Organisational Behaviour, 2009, page 164 McClelland has already put into practice training in countries such as Kakinda and India and taught people to think, talk and act as high achievers. Other critics have disagree with the influencing attributes of entrepreneurs are dominant. High needs of achievement individuals are continuously competing with standards of excellence. Further, they are involved with tasks of moderate difficulty. ‘The argument that need for achievement is the dominant motive disposition for entrepreneurs may be in conflict then with other research (Langan- Fox and Roth 1995) Wilson, F.M (2004). Organisational behaviour and work. Oxford University press, page146 (Lowry 1982:63) TAT test was also criticised by organisations due to the length of the examination and the complexity in conducting it. Taking an overlook at the most well know motivational theories, I have been overwhelmed by the demand and expectations each author expects from the individuals. Theorists such as Maslow believe that individuals are motivated by unmet needs which are in a hierarchical order; people have to keep moving up the hierarchy in order to succeed.   Whereas Herzberg states that satisfaction and dissatisfaction are not on the same range. He believes motivation can cause satisfaction or no satisfaction, as well as hygiene factors can cause dissatisfaction when absent and no dissatisfaction when present. McClellands need for achievement takes it future as he underlies Maslows Hierarch theory self-actualization. However McGregors Theory Y equals much of Maslows self-actualization level of motivation. His theory focuses on self-direction, self-control, and maturity control motivation. Reward systems are an important factor when managers want to motive their staff.   I believe that fulfilling extrinsic aims is a very common method used to motivate individuals at their work place. Managers can not follow just one of the above theories as each individual has different ways in which they are motivated. I believe that motivation cannot be forced onto an employee; it has to come within them. If a certain person does not enjoy their work environment it will be impossible for them to be motivated. Over the years theorists have tried to create a theory to accommodate the needs both employers and employees, therefore at the present time we have a huge variety of motivational theories to choose from. Having closely looked at Maslows hierarchy of needs theory and McClellands acquired needs theory ,I have come to a conclusion that both theories demonstrate peoples motivation needs, however this a complex process because most individuals are not aware of their motives, their needs and expectations keep chancing.   Each of the above theories has its advantages as well as disadvantages; its up to the individual to choose which one of them works best.

Popular Piety Refers to Religious Practices Essay

1) Popular piety refers to religious practices that arise and occur outside of the official faith. Typically the term is used within the context of the Catholic Church forms of popular piety can be seen from as far back as Ancient Rome when the people would practice pious exercises to their goods, family and homelands. 2) –Sinulog is an annual festival held n the third Sunday of January in Cebu city and maasin city, southern Leyte, Philippines. The festival commemorates the bisayan people’s pangan origin and their coceptance of Roman Catholicism. -Santacruzan religious historical beauty held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during month of Mary. -Simbang gabi or misa de Gello is a nine-day novena, honoring Mother Mary is a centuries old-of Jesus Christ, it begins on Dec.16 and ends on the mid of the 24th of Dec night which is the midnight mass. -Black Nazareno known to devotees in Spanish as Nuestra Padre Jesus Nazareno is a life dark wooden scripture of Jesus Christ carrying the cross believed to s miraculous by many Filipino Catholics. -Pahiyas is the time when people in Lucban, Quzon give thank to san isidro Labrador for a good harvest – pahiyas means â€Å" decor† every may 15 the fronts of house are elaborately decorated with brightly colored. 3) Because some confided their petitions were granted. Whatever the intentions may be, it certainly is an opportunity to thank the Lord for blessings received, especially for reaching another Christmas and a New Year. The nine-day Misa de Gallo is also one of the best ways of preparing  spiritually for the blessed season of Christmas which has become more and more materialistic and commercialized.