Friday, January 31, 2020

Romulus My Father Essay Essay Example for Free

Romulus My Father Essay Essay Through the exposition of Raymond Gaita’s non-fiction biographical memoir ‘Romulus my Father’ it is evident that one’s strong culture and heritage can often heighten a sense of belonging within an individual group however in some cases can act as a barrier to belonging to society as a whole. We are shown Romulus’s strong connection to his culture and religion, which ultimately enhances his positive sense of belonging to his original heritage. â€Å"Many were Bible stories and their memory nourished his deeply religious spirit throughout his life. † The use of descriptive language â€Å"nourished† enhances to the reader Romulus’s strong sense of religion which is inscribed into him as a major part of his moral and ethics. However this strong connection to this heritage acts as a barrier for Romulus and ultimately ostracises him, leading to his alienation within the Australian context. â€Å"Even after more than forty years my father could not become reconciled to it. He longed for the generous and soft European foliage, but the eucalyptus of Baringhup, scraggy except for the noble red gums on the river bank, seemed symbols of deprivation and barrenness.† This quote explores the contrasting environments, showing Romulus clinging to old ties with his native country and then experiencing isolation within the Australian context. The description of the European landscape as â€Å"generous† and â€Å"soft† highlights Romulus’s obvious preference for his home country, this experience juxtaposes with the contrast of the â€Å"scraggy† harshness of the Australian landscape, ultimately showing Romulus’s separation from the notion of belonging within the Australian context. It is evident through the comparison of these quotes that Romulus’s strong sense of belonging within his heritage results in barriers for him in belonging within Australian society. Another example of Romulus’s isolation within Australia is obvious with his disparity with the Australian people. This quote highlights that Romulus is not familiar with the Australian land which ultimately ostracises him.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Essay Comparing Hemingways A Very Short Story and Fitzgeralds This Si

Comparing Hemingway's A Very Short Story and Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise When you first read a tragic, melodramatic love scene you feel like your heart is breaking too. Sometimes you cry. It is only after the initial rush of feelings that you begin to feel cheated. Usually the kind of writing that gives you the urge to be demonstrative does not stay with you as long as something more subtle. In Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise, the reader is presented with such a love scene in the form of a play. I admit to having sobbed for a solid minute after reading about the ill-fated romance between Amory Blaine and Rosalind Connage. However, the same subject, with different characters, told in a much more concise, objective manner in Ernest Hemingway's A Very Short Story had a much deeper effect on me. It may be that the honesty of experience had much to do with the differences between the stories. This Side of Paradise is often seen as a loosely based autobiography, but there is no direct basis in reality for the Amory and Rosalind episode. Fitzgerald did have a turbulent relationship with his wife Zelda, but the tragic parting in the novel and Rosalind's later marriage to another man firmly place the story in the realm of fiction. Hemingway's account of the meeting and parting of two lovers, on the other hand, comes directly from his own life. While there is a feeling in This Side of Paradise that Fitzgerald is trying too hard to make the story realistic, Hemingway's account cannot help but convey the honesty that is generally found when a writer draws directly on his own experience. The style and structure of the Hemingway story also make it more believable and more effective. Even the... ...ing in a taxi cab through Lincoln Park," that Hemingway's protagonist tried to forget about his lost love by indulging in the more shallow gratification of easy sex. Fitzgerald's Amory Blaine turns to alcohol instead, but the concept is the same. However, after nine pages of Amory's bar exploits we have already begun to forget what the problem was in the first place. Two more disparate accounts of a short-lived love would be difficult to find. Each is successful in its own way. The Fitzgerald version elicited an immediate and powerful reaction from me, but it was the Hemingway story that made me understand the subject more deeply. While A Very Short Story, at first glance, may seem unable to convey the depth and breadth of feeling of the longer Fitzgerald passage, it actually accomplishes its aim more quickly without sacrificing meaning.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Admission Paper in Finance Essay

Every person has his/her story and so do I. I’m writing this statement of purpose to solicit an admission into the prestigious Finance Phd Program. Many people endeavor into PhD to do high-level research and teach but my primary reason for entering is to be my own boss. Not to sound conceited, I have earlier worked in 7/11 from 6 am to 12 pm for many years and under unmanageable coworkers to support my living and schooling expenses as I come from a very humble background. I understand that being one’s own boss or in more euphemistic terms an independent researcher does not come easy, one has to first go through many years of rigors and challenges of academic world. My Masters in Quantitative finance have built the foundation or framework to withstand any challenge that academia will put forth in the near future. Courses that I have taken in my masters include Mathematical finance, real option analysis, Microeconomic theory, Financial Derivatives, Statistics, Econometric s 1, Econometrics 2, Financial modeling, Financial application, and so forth. See more: Homeless satire essay I took few research and quantitative classes because I know they will inadvertently prepare me for PhD . The reason I chose Quantitative Marketing is because the statistics, economics and mathematics that’s involved in it mesmerizes me. In this country the advertisers have known from the beginning that â€Å" The heart rules over the head.† So by allowing the mass majority of people with easy personal and mortgage loans, they have jeopardized the economy. What I would like to research is if this was a zero-sum game or not, and if yes, then who benefitted from it? Because of securitization, the bank did not seem to make any money, and neither the homeowners that lost their home. If banks knew people were going to default, then why did they still offer loans? This whole thing is like a mathematical paradox that is yet to be solved. Marketing is what separates the product from its competitors. In my research I’d like to learn how adverstisers use athletes to add val ue to the product. Nike’s whole business model was based on Marketing. Top sportsman like Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant and so on are paid several millions by Nike. Many people perceive that by wearing the same brand as their idol does, he/she could improve their game. But what about â€Å"the Rolex† watch that Roger Federer advertises? How can a watch improve anyones tennis game? Maybe , the ad implies that only â€Å"Winners† or so called â€Å" achievers† can wear it? People looking to lose weight may take up a sport and watch their favorite athlete drink â€Å"Gatorade† to rehydrate or replenish their energy, but fail to realize that the 46 grams of sugar in Gatorade itself is the primary reason that’s defeating their weight loss goal. Ab rockets, Ab lounges are advertised by professional trainers who have spent their life doing sports. It is impossible for a 9 to 5 working person to achieve the same results, yet countless people fall prey to thes e infomercials. It is definitely fascinating to learn more about the profound effect that Marketing has on us. Neverthless, schemes like â€Å" buy one get one 50% off, zero percent down payment for 12 months, buy now pay later† are a sure sell. What begs the question is whether the scheme is benefitting the consumer or the economy. After research the second most important thing for a phd is to teach. Even though I do not have formal teaching experience I have been teaching GRE to students from all walks of life. I definitely do not have a stellar GPA nor a GRE but I do my job well when needed. The fact that I love people makes my job of teaching extremely simple. I can wake up middle of the night and walk an extra mile to give a talk on a topic that inspires me. Having taken immeasurable courses at community colleges and universities, I’ve become very fond of academia. I now dote reading, learning, relearning, and writing. Of course, my past high school and university grades donâ€⠄¢t walk the talk but the fact is I have overcome all of that with my independent learning. A majority of my high-school teachers and family members doubted if I’d ever finish high-school. Not only did I finish high school , I now also have two advanced United States degrees. Much of these didn’t come easy for me. Every parents teacher meeting and every result day from grade 3 to grade 12 was like a doomsday for me. I used to literally pray that we never had a result day or a parents teacher meeting. My dad physically whopped me and my brother together till he injured us for passing our classes with a B or a C grade. It still gives me nightmare just thinking about it. He beat us because he compared us to his wealthier colleagues or brothers kids who were excelling in school while we weren’t. He never realized that each kid is unique and has different talent. Perhaps, his lack of education or short-temperedness made him violent or even so because he could not flaunt to others that his kids have the highest grade . Believe me this is what parents in South Asia are discussing at parties or family gatherings, â€Å"whose kids are getting the best grades.†. Nevertheless, at first it was a big challenge to just learn English, but as time passed, my innate ability taught me reading, writing, and speaking. In fact, English has now become my primary language. Also during undergrad I have written myriad papers and thus writing has become a fact of my life. The writing skills I have acquired during a long period of my stay in the academic world will unarguably be useful during my PhD. If not, at least I like to think so. I choose Lubbock because it’s a small college town and the professor who mentored me during my masters has his PhD in finance from Texas Tech . He in fact referred me to this school. Nevertheless, a small quite town would also enhance a person’s learning since he/she will be free from all distractions. While writing this essay I hold an undergraduate sociology 101 t ext book. According to the book, being a university professor is considered one of the most prestigious occupation in the United States, ranking way ahead than an athlete, Dentist, programmer, Actor, and so forth. The author took the abstract from, â€Å"General Social Survery, 1972-2002. Cumumlative codebook (Chicago national opinion research center.† ) Such findings did stir my up my mind to pursue PHD. I really saw this in my text six years ago as a young teenager . This explains I truly have the passion to be a professor from a long time. The excellent faculty at Texas Tech with their wide variety of research interests , and student placements will definitely make my ambition of becoming a university professor come true. What I like about research is it removes the bias from the illimitable information we have today. Integrating information from google, scholarly journals, publications, magazines, foreign newspapers, and so forth and coming up with my own analysis is something I loo k forward to do. Another thing that I like about research is it’s about finding patterns and relationships that are not obvious to others. My poor undergraduate GPA could be attributed to the fact that I was part of Texas Wesleyan Table Tennis Team. We have won 4 national collegiate championship, having me represented TWU as a varsity player in all four of them. Apart from playing NCTTA tournaments we were obligated to play open tournaments all over America. I did get a chance to play and win several open tournaments in different cities across the US. For winning the national collegiate championship, the United States House of Representative personally awarded me a certificate of excellence. I’ve enclosed a copy of that certificate along with this essay. Nevertheless, team practice and tournaments took up a lot of time and energy; once tired, college and books were the last thing in my mind. Somehow, I still managed to complete my undergrad degree keeping in mind the famous American say ing , â€Å" It doesn’t matter how many times you fail, but it does matter how you finish.† Nevertheless, I realized I have criticized my dad earlier in the essay but this piece of work that I have penned down today could not have been possible without his support. Moreover, I could never make him happy with my low grades, but I always saw him rejoicing each time I won a tournament. Table tennis taught me invaluable lessons in life. When I lost a tournament or an important match I used to feel devastated, but it then made me realize that it’s not the end of the world. By accepting defeat, I learned that I have to train harder and come off strong for the next tournament. Similarly, in business and research only after failing several times did great thinkers emerge. Lastly, I thank the dean, chairman, and admission committee members for taking out their valuable time to read this essay and also for considering my application.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Political Journeys Of The President Of Lyndon B. Johnson

The political journeys of the 36th president of United States, Lyndon B. Johnson and that of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy was different but to some extent similar. While the two had different ideologies, they were focused towards making America a better place for the local population. However, their differences were very vivid even in public sphere. They differed on the best strategies and ideologies to implement in order to spearhead the growth and development of the American economy. Johnson was born in United States and attended Texas States University. He started teaching but his interests towards politics made him to quit and later became a legislative secretary. His political ambitions faced several hurdles especially due to†¦show more content†¦He was a charismatic leader who relied heavily on his personal magnetism and influences to attract people towards his ideologies. Unlike Johnson, Kennedy adopted highly personalized forms of decision making and demanded t otal loyalty from the associated. He would criticize the liberals for their blatant manipulation especially on the investigatory powers of the country’s senate. Furthermore, he had the conservative zeal that increased his urge of putting behind bars all those he considered as local enemies. He was a great promoter of civil rights and a stern oppose of the Vietnam War. The reason is that he believed the country was not ready for another intensive war especially putting into perspective that there were numerous economic challenges that were affecting the people. He was leading a moral and political uprising to fight poverty that was afflicting the American cities and rural areas. He was straightforward in his talk and actions especially on problems that were affecting America. He agitated for racial reconciliation and expanded opportunities for all American people regardless of their racial or political affiliation. However, his popularity which was growing very fast was rubbin g his opponents the wrong way. This is one of the aspects that led to his assassination. On the other hand, Lyndon Johnson was highly obsessed with his place in history. He was ready to go to any extent in order to write his name in the American history

Sunday, December 29, 2019

The King Of The Bible - 1928 Words

It’s recorded in the Bible that there were judges. Judges were different in the Bible compared to judges now in the twenty first century. Judges back then were deliverers chosen by God to deliver Israel’s people from their enemies. Judges now are public officials chosen to decide cases in a court of law. Othniel The first well known judge in the Bible was Othniel. Othniel is first spoken about in Judges 1:13. Othniel is the son Kenaz who was the younger brother of Caleb. Othniel married Aksah the daughter of Caleb. God called on Othniel to rescue Israel because Israel weren’t serving God they had been serving Baals Asherahs. God was so enraged that he led them into the hands of Chushan-Rishathaim the king of Aram for eight years. Then†¦show more content†¦Deborah The forth judge was Deborah who was the first only female judge in the Bible. Deborah was called upon by God to rescue the Israelites. The Israelites did evil so God put them in the hands of Jabin the king of Canaan who cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the Israelites cried to God for help. Deborah was the wife of Lappidoth was chosen by God to rescue the Israelites. Deborah sent for Barak the son of Abinoam into Naphtali told him â€Å"The God of Israel commands you to go take ten thousand men of Naphtali Zebulun lead them up to Mount Tabor. While I lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots his troops to the Kishon River give him into your hands.† they did as was said. Barak pursued the chariots his army all of Sisera’s troops fell onto their swords; not a man was left. Sisera on the other hand had left on foot to Jael’s tent. Jael let Sisera enter covered him with a blanket gave him something to drin k. Sisera told Jael to stand in the doorway to insure if anyone had come by asked her if anyone was there say no. Jael took a tent peg a hammer. While Sisera was fast asleep Jael drove a tent peg through Sisera’s temple into the ground he died. God subdued the king of Canaan before the Israelites eventually the Israelites destroyed the king of Canaan then the land had peace for forty years. Gideon Gideon was the fifth judge to be called to rescue the IsraelitesShow MoreRelatedThe King James Version Bible1483 Words   |  6 PagesAmy J. Helgeson Beth Baxley Advanced English 9, Period 5 20 April 2015 To Preach or Not to Preach The King James version bible states in ‘Genesis 1:26-27’ that â€Å"Gods image is shared equally by women and men†. ‘Exodus 36:1’ says, â€Å"use your skills to honor God†. Despite what the bible seems to be saying, women do not have the same opportunities as men in Christian religious settings. Imagine a woman in the Christian faith who has the qualifications to preach the word of God and the eagerness to serveRead MoreThe King James Version Of The Bible1517 Words   |  7 Pagesonly one example of the many in the King James Version of The Bible, that tells one who Joseph really was. Joseph was only 17 years old when he was introduced in the Bible. Joseph, was his father’s favorite out of all his brothers, he knew it-and so did they. He received a coat of many colors, which back in this time period everyone had coats; however, the coat given to Joseph was ankle length and in beautiful colors (meaning royalty). The coat, according to th e Bible, was given to Joseph by his fatherRead MoreA Better M The King James Bible854 Words   |  4 PagesA Better Man: As written in the King James Bible, chapter 5 verse 8 in first Peter it talks about to be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Therefore if I resist the devil, meditate on your precept and consider your ways. I will live a prosperous life and have good success. The Bible also says in the book of Joshua. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, soRead MoreThe King James Bible : Old And New Testament1637 Words   |  7 Pages The King James Bible (Old and New Testament) 13) The Creation of the World; the Garden of Eden; Adam and Eve; Original Sin; the Fall The beginning of the Old Testament starts by explaining how God created everything within seven days. He creates night and day, the sky and the ocean, vegetation, the stars, sun and moon, sea creatures, land creatures, and for the seventh day he rests. The Garden of Eden was the paradise where man once lived until Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit thus creatingRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice And The King James Version Of The Bible1348 Words   |  6 Pagescombination of prudence and ambition. Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, and the King James Version of the Bible supply examples where characters’ success is based on their ambition and their prudence. Ambition must be tempered with prudence in order to achieve any sort of good result; sole ambition leads one to failure and/or destruction. In the Merchant of Venice and the Bible Bassanio, Eve, and Jacob are able to mix their ambition with prudence and as a result are successfulRe ad MoreThe Old Testament, By King James Version Of The Bible2071 Words   |  9 Pagesportrayed in the Old Testament are that land is an inheritance, land is to be shared with all of humanity, and land can be both a gift and a curse depending on the ability of the people to follow God’s commandments. Often times in the King James Version of the bible we hear of the people of Israel â€Å"conquering† or â€Å"possessing† the land. This can lead the reader astray in that it portrays the stories of the Old Testament as a series of wars ordained by God in order for the people to inhabit the landRead MoreThe King James Bible Remains The Most Significant Book1137 Words   |  5 PagesThe King James Bible remains the most significant book of all English literature to date, however, a substantial part of the population appears to be ignorant of the history of Bible translation. In this essay, the reader will go through some of the principal names in the history of Bible translation. Particularly important questions will be answered such as, â€Å"What are the consequences that ran upwards to the translation of these texts?† â€Å"What are the pros and cons of this translation?†, in additionRead MoreEssay on 3.13 Final Draft630 Words   |  3 PagesThe bible is used in kings letter because it is Holy and holds the truth which gives King a chance to correct it with his life and make people believe in his words and actually see what he is saying. The bible is included in kings writing with the structure of allusion. Kings uses allusion and combines the Bible with his letter. The bible is Holy and holds only the truth, which makes people believe in it. He knows you can’t doubt a Bible about the true facts in it so he uses it so people can herRead MoreExplain The Difference Between Reading The Bible Confessionally And Critical939 Words   |  4 PagesI. 1. Explain the difference between reading the Bible confessionally, and reading it critically. The difference between reading the Bible confessionally, and critically is, your approach to your reading. To read confessionally means you are reading it as the (â€Å"word of God†) theologically. Where, as if your reading the Bible critically you are reading to find deep understanding of the material through analyzing, evaluating and self-reflection. 2. Explain the three big â€Å"T† obstacles a readerRead MoreWilliam Coverdale ( 1488-1569 ), The Great Bible911 Words   |  4 Pages William Coverdale (1488-1569), The Great Bible The atmosphere changed in England as Rome and Henry the VIII came into conflict. Henry the VII wanted to divorce his Catholic wife, Katherine of Aragon, the Catholic Church refused. When the Pope refused, Henry VII renounced the Catholic Church and appointed himself head of the Church of England. To spite the Catholic Church and unify his kingdom, he ordered the Bible printed and translated into English, and placed in all the churches

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The Mental Illness Of Jake s Disability - 889 Words

Jake has started taking strenuous classes this semester and has developed an anxiety disorder. This is a mental illness that causes constant worry and fear. In psychology, there are many ways to look at the development and treatments for this affliction. Behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive are three approaches that look at Jake’s disability in a similar, yet a contrasting manner. The behavioral approach studies how one behaves and reacts in situations that trigger anxiety. Jake is psyching himself out by his recently harder classes. In other words, he dreads taking these classes because he associates them with anxiousness. This learning is processed through paired association. In this example, the unconditioned stimulus would be the advanced class and the unconditioned response would be Jake becoming anxious. Systematic desensitization can treat this due to that fact that it is learned from the environment. Jake will go through gradual steps to reach full treatment. First, Jake must learn to relax through training. Second, Jake will create a list of objects or situations in school that makes him uneasy. Lastly, he will face the stimuli in a relaxed state. As an illustration, Jake tells the therapist that the tests in his new classes worry him. The therapist will guide Jake to become less tense while studying and taking the test. This will make his apprehensio n decrease and treat his anxiety disorder. Psychologists view this today as having the ability to clearly measureShow MoreRelatedThe Color Purple Chapter 11267 Words   |  6 PagesVampires† In this chapter, Foster talks about the deeper meaning for the purpose of vampires and ghosts and how they do not just give the readers a scare. Vampires can be about sex and exploitation, while ghosts can be a messenger warning, or mental illness. While these monsters are vampire and ghosts, they can also be shown as human beings. As a kid, Celie gets continuously raped by her stepfather, which strips her of her innocence. Celie is later forced to marry Albert, an abusive man, who rapesRead MoreWellness Programs: Disease Management Essay1564 Words   |  7 Pagesculture, health status, and health needs of the populations of which they are a member (Association of American Medical Colleges, 1999). Wellness Programs Wellness programs are organized and coordinated programs with a goal of enhancing the physical, mental, and emotional status of individuals (Watt, Verma, Flynn, 2008). The functional elements of a wellness program utilize a combination of educational, executive, and environmental behaviors designed to support actions conducive to the health of individualsRead Morecommuntiy service assignemnt Essay1544 Words   |  7 Pagesof the child 3. How would you prepare to make a report? Answer q3 1. time and date sign all documented 2.follow all policy and procedures in your work place 3.details of child ,dob name , address phone number, parent or carer if child has disability any back ground if known 4.document what the mother has stated 4. Who would you notify and when? Answer q4 1.immediately discuss situation with your supervisor after you suspect the abuse to the child 5. What actions/work practices youRead MoreJake Fuller. 05-16-2017. Hec 357. Music Therapy How It1621 Words   |  7 PagesJake Fuller 05-16-2017 HEC 357 Music Therapy; How it effects emotional and physical health. Purpose of Study The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects that music therapy has individual and family health. The purpose of study relates directly to benefitting the community. Research Questions How can music therapy effect an individual with a disability? How does music therapy effect an individual’s emotions? How can music therapy help with health issues? Definitions and Terms Music Therapy-Read MoreAsperger’s Syndrome: Madness, Savantism, or Genius2985 Words   |  12 Pageswhether or not Asperger’s and other conditions (such as ADHD-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) should be part of the autism spectrum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR) lists the diagnostic criteria of Asperger’s syndrome as being: (a) Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate socialRead MoreChild Abuse And Neglect Within The United States2211 Words   |  9 Pagesagree that child abuse, its impacts, as well as its victims, merit consideration in the context of solutions and overall prevention. Keywords: child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, emotional maltreatment Delineating Child Abuse in the U. S. There are a plethora of life altering events that can befall a child in the United States. Some of those are poverty, lack of equitable educational opportunities, and child abuse. The information in this essay will focus on the latter. The adventRead MoreA Jerney in to the Deaf World15812 Words   |  64 Pagesis the narrator and introduces us to Jake Cohan, Laurel Case, Roberto Rivera and Henry Byrne. Ben is a CODA, Child Of Deaf Adults, and like many CODA’s tried to stray from the deaf community be was eventually drawn back to it. He is currently teaching at the only deaf college called Galludet University. Each of these characters describes there lives growing up deaf from when they became deaf, to how their parents reacted, to how they feel about it now. Jake describes himself as a CODA, his parentsRead MoreCase Study for Autism13506 Words   |  55 PagesAbstract At a training session in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), statistics were shared of the number of students in the school system with an ASD diagnosis. It has become the third most common childhood illness. In the LCPS 10.6% of Individualized Education Programs (IEP) are dedicated to students with Autism (Buswell, 2009). These figures indicate teachers need to understand how to modify teaching strategies to empower these students to succeed. CharacteristicsRead MoreOcd - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment131367 Words   |  526 PagesLondon, England. My interest in OCD and unwanted intrusive thoughts was sparked by the stimulating discussions and innovative research of the clinical faculty, most notably Jack Rachman and Padmal de Silva. My doctoral thesis on the psychophysiology of mental control and unwanted intrusive thoughts was an outgrowth of their insights into the pathology of obsessional thought. vii viii Preface In the late 1980s, I was introduced to the cognitive perspective on clinical disorders by Aaron T. BeckRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesand permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturers

Friday, December 13, 2019

Psychological Contracts Free Essays

Introduction Psychological contracts can be defined as the informal and unwritten agreement between organisations and employees (Conway et al, 2005). An improvement in the general level of education and literacy rates has resulted in a shift from informal to formal contracts (Cullinane Dundon, 2006). The term psychological contract can be used to describe a combination of mutual beliefs and informal obligations that exist between an employee and an employer. We will write a custom essay sample on Psychological Contracts or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is quite different to written contracts that are more formal and acceptable in the court of law for the fact that they are printed on paper and can be reviewed by third parties. A growth in the volume of commercial activities made it difficult for early organisations to come up with tailor made contracts for each individual employee (Coyle?Shapiro Shore, 2007). This led to the proliferation of trade unions which sought to protect the interests of employees. Meanwhile the concept of psychological contract owes its origin to the human resource management (HRM) field and it has become an important concept in the practice of human resource management. This is because although employees sign contracts today, both the employer and employees have expectations outside the formal contracts which govern their relationships. For instance, when an employee loses a close one, many employers will make an effort to attend the funeral or even offer a cheque to support the individual to meet the funeral costs especially for deceased immediate family members. This gesture is not included in the formal contracts. Although there has been a major shift from psychological to formal contracts, psychological contracts continue to exist in HRM today. Psychological contracts change over time considering the fact that the needs and expectations of employees and their organisations also change over time (Conway et al, 2005). When an employee starts working after graduating from the university, his or her expectations are different. When the employee has worked for more than two years, their expectations become different and needs change. More elderly employees are concerned about retirement planning after their career. The younger employees who are still single would pay less attention to retirement issues and focus on themselves. Many young married women prefer jobs that will make it possible for them to take care of their kids. This is because they consider their career and family needs before accepting a job offer. In this respect, the psychological contract continues to evolve from one generation of employees to another, as each generation has a different priority (Wellin, 2007). In a like manner, organisational expectations fro m employees differ over time. When an organisation begins, it has different expectations from its employees. For the most part, many young organisations are eager about growth. They expect the employees to put in their very best to ensure that the organisation grows. However, as time goes by, the organisation’s needs begin to change. After having achieved growth, the organisation becomes concerned about consolidating its market position. During these changing times, the organisation’s expectations also evolve. Although psychological contracts are not legally binding, and are not included on paper, they continue to exist today and help to moderate the relationship between employers and employees (Truss et al, 2006). Psychological contracts are deeply rooted in organisational culture and beliefs (Cullinane Dundon, 2006). Once an organisation develops its culture, employees quickly identify the informal expectations of the organisation. On the other hand, employee associ ations such as trade unions and other labour movements also pass on information on employee expectations. Sometimes, this is manifested through strike actions and other activities that allow employers to understand the expectations of their employees. Changes in psychological contracts have continued to take place over the years. According to Rousseau (1995) three distinct eras can be identified in the evolution of psychological contracts. These three stages include the emerging phase, bureaucratic phase and the adhocracy phase (Rousseau, 1995). The emerging phase took place in the 18th Century in the beginning of the industrial revolution. It was characterised by a centralised workplace with powerful managers who exercised high levels of control over employees. Royal Doulton and Twinnings are two UK organisations that have survived the era till this present day. The bureaucratic phase began in the 1930s in top companies such as Ford. During this period, companies took care of loyal servants and were returned with lifetime employment (Rousseau, 1995). The psychological contract included loyalty and life time employment. The adhocracy phase, which emerged in the 1990s was led by successful IT businesses such as Apple and the other famous dotcom ventures. The era witnessed the proliferation of global organisations that emphasised the importance of the use of knowledge. These companies operate many different psychological contracts for various groups of employees. Comparison of Classic Modern Psychological Contracts Classic Psychological ContractModern Psychological Contract The organisation was perceived as ‘father’ to employee that was perceived as ‘child’Organisation and employees are both considered as ‘adults’ The organisation was the one that defined employees worth and valueEmployees have the capacity to define both their worth and their value The employers retained loyal workers whom it considered as goodNew employees flow in and out of the organisation with new innovative ideas Employees who obeyed all instructions were hired for lifeIt is unlikely for the Y generation to work for one organisation for life Employees grew mainly through promotion and upon recommendation from managersEmployees can grow through personal development Source: Niehoff, 2011 Considering the fact that the nature of psychological contracts is constantly changing, it is important for both employees and organisation to look for new ways of meeting the expectations of each other (Bunderson, 2000). The Y generation has its own set of expectations when it comes to psychological contracts. The new generation is more educated and spend much time online. For this reason, organisation must also take into account their needs and expectations in order to meet up with the psychological contract. One of the best ways through which companies can do this is by creating an online presence and promoting online interactions to promote the sharing of experiences amongst employees (Conway Briner, 2005). Younger employees prefer to read information online rather than read books that can take much of their time. As such, organisations need to take into account the needs of their employees irrespective of their generation so as to ensure that both sides fulfil their side of the psychological contract (Feldheim, 1999). Cisco’s new report dubbed Connected World Technology Report has demonstrated that the younger generation (18-29 age bracket) are more attached to their technology than previously thought (Niehoff, 2011). Many employers are sceptical about recruiting the younger generation because they are more attached to technology than every other thing (Niehoff, 2011). The study confirmed the often vague and baseless claims that associated the Y generation to mobile and cyber technology obsession. According to the study, one in three university students surveyed said Facebook and other technology they invested in were just as valuable as air, water and shelter. Over 26% of respondents said being able to work remotely from home should be a right, and not privilege. Up to 74% of the university students surveyed said they should be able to access their corporate network in the future from their home computers in the future (Niehoff, 2011). This demonstrates the level of attachment the younger generation places on technology and the virtual world. That notwithstanding, organisations should give the younger generation the opportunity to participate in building their businesses. The fact that they are young and energetic means that they have much to contribute to the growth of these organisations. Besides, online presence is necessary for promoting and marketing businesses these days. It is therefore left to employers to know when and how to hire young people in order to benefit from their capacity to contribute to their growth. In the 2010 survey, three out of five employees believed that the office was not necessary since employees can connect virtually and get work done from home (Niehoff, 2011). In conclusion, psychological contracts have been around for more than a number of centuries. And they are not expected to stop any time soon because organisations and employees will continue to develop non-verbal expectations from each other. Irrespective of the generation of employees that work in a company, management must continue to cater for the expectations of all its employees. This can take any form, such as promoting personal development of employees who have offered their services to the organisation over the years. When organisations hire employees, they outline the tasks which they expect these employees to perform. That notwithstanding, they expect the employees to do much more than what is written on paper. For instance, Apple does not expect its employees to go online and make comments that market Samsung smart phones. This is because they are competitors. Apple expects its employees to promote its services even in their social gatherings and amongst family members. Ho wever, this is not included in the formal employment contract. Reference Bunderson, S. (2000) â€Å"How work ideologies shape the psychological contracts of professional employees: doctors’ responses to perceived breach†, Journal of Organisational behaviour, Volume: 22, Page: 714-741 Conway, N. and Briner, R. (2005) Understanding psychological contracts at work: a critical evaluation of theory and research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Conway, Neil Briner, Rob B. (2005) Understanding Psychological Contracts at Work: A Critical Evaluation of Theory and Research. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, (2005) Coyle?Shapiro, J. and Shore, L.M. (2007) The employee?organization relationship: where do we go from hereHuman Resource Management Review. Vol 17, No 2, June. pp166?179. Cullinane, N. and Dundon, T. (2006) The psychological contract: a critical review. International Journal of Management Reviews. Vol 8, No 2,pp113?129. Feldheim, M. (1999) Downsizing. 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(2006) Working life: employee attitudes and engagement 2006. Research report. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Wellin, M. (2007) Managing the psychological contract: using the personal deal to increase business performance. Aldershot: Gower. How to cite Psychological Contracts, Essay examples