Operant Applications Essay Example for Free

Operant Applications Essay Self actualization is at the pinnacle of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which examines the order by which human actions are geared towards. According to Maslow, in order to have the other needs, the basic needs have to be satisfied first . Only upon satisfying the physiological needs are the other needs considered. As such, the graduation in level suggests that self-actualization is the most difficult level to attain because of the preconditions that need to be satisfied in order to advance. According to Maslow, this is the most difficult to achieve due to its nature. It is not an absolute fact but is relative and therefore difficult to attain. The teachings of Maslow have shown that due to the relative nature of self actualization it is possible that a person may have achieved this but has not realized such and is therefore incapable of self actualization. In order to be self actualized, Maslow stated that there is a need for inner exploration and action. Man needs to realize his internal self and come to terms with such. It is this motivation which leads a person to self-actualization. This is problematic on several levels which explains why Freud had a different perspective on the matter. While Maslow derived his theory from Freud, Freud’s teaching was different in that these innate impulses are caused by the developments in the human psyche and the subconscious. There is no innate mechanism but rather the logical effect of the interactions of the different personalities and parts of the human mind. The motivation comes not from the desire for self-actualization but from human behavior. From a cognitive point of view, this hierarchy of needs and self actualization is a function of the perturbations that an autonomous system needs. It is not so much self actualization, from this perspective, as it is the perceived competence to satisfy the basic needs in due time. There are, therefore, three main components, material, cognitive and subjective. As such, self actualization is hampered by subjective incompetence which is caused during childhood that act as an inhibitor preventing the further development of cognitive competence.

Sexual Selection as a Determinant of Certain Traits :: essays papers

Sexual Selection as a Determinant of Certain Traits If you were a male would you rather have a beautiful, impressive, long tail that attracts a lot of women or would you rather have a shorter, less attractive tail that enables you to escape from predators more easily? Living out in the wild among many potential predators, a shorter tail would seem more logical since it would be a more useful trait than a good-looking one. Though the most logical choice, it is not always the case. In many species, traits that would normally be considered awkward or cumbersome are actually favorable. Hard to believe as it may be, these seemingly maladaptive traits can prove to be very useful to certain members of many different species as shown by Darwin’s Theory of Sexual Selection. They enhance the ability of the individual to obtain mates and are therefore very important in the reproductive and evolutionary success of many animals. It is first necessary to understand the basics of Natural Selection before being able to show how Sexual Selection leads to extravagant traits. The main idea behind natural selection is that living organisms change and adapt in order to enhance their ability to survive and reproduce. Those animals that adapt will be more likely to survive and produce more offspring than other animals in the same environment that do not (Boyd and Silk 2000, p. 5), as maintained by Darwin’s second postulate. Phenotypes that are favored by Natural Selection include the ability to care for offspring, acquire resources, and avoid predators. The correlation between Natural Selection and Sexual Selection is the next necessary step to understanding how Sexual Selection accounts for awkward traits. The later of the two can be considered a special category of natural selection. It involves selection for traits only concerned with increasing the probability of mating (Krebs and Davies, 1993, p. 89). It is expressed most strongly in the sex whose access to mates is most limited. In mammalian males, sexual selection tends to have a greater impact on behavior and morphology than does other forms of natural selection. Due to the combination of females investing more in the care of the offspring and the one-to-one population sex ratio, males are usually the ones in competition for females. Male reproductive success also varies much more than that of the female.

An Analysis of the Final Scenes of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Essay

Throughout â€Å"Death of a Salesman,† it was very clear to me that the play was an excellent representation of the idea of â€Å"The American Dream,† amongst other broader themes. This notion, as I understand it, relates to the belief that there are countless opportunities for everyone to reach out and grasp, no matter who they are or where they come from. The main characters of the play; Willy Loman, Linda Loman, Biff Loman, Happy Loman and their next door neighbour Charley, all seem to have very different ideas about this belief. In my opinion, this allows the reader (or audience) to relate to whichever character shares their views, making the play very appealing. The play offers a wider insight into a social system in which the Loman family finds themselves. Willy and Linda have had to work incredibly hard to keep themselves afloat over the years, and are justly proud of their achievement of paying off their 25 year mortgage. However, a stark contrast is highlighted between Willy and Howard, his boss. Willy has worked at the company for his whole career, and even names Howard when he is born for his father. However, when Howard has grown up he inherits all of his father’s wealth and the company. Also, when Willy turns up to ask for a weekly wage of around $70 per week, Howard says that it was ‘only $100’ for his new tape recorder. Willy laughs along with him, saying that he should get himself one. In terms of the plays portrayal of family relationships, I believe that it offers an excellent incite, showing the effects that an affair can have on a family, and the both emotional and financial pressures that are placed on families. Biff’s relationship with his father is very volatile, but deep down it is very clear that they both truly love each other. Happy, however, expresses no love or emotion other than shame towards or about his father. This is both highlighted and summed up by the scene in the restaurant when Happy is talking to Miss Forsythe, and says ‘, that’s not my father, that’s just some guy. ‘ Linda is utterly devoted to her husband but can also see, in part, his self-destruction. However, she almost seems to deny that it is happening by not confronting Willy or doing anything about it herself, especially in relation to the length of rubber pipe behind the fuse box in the garage. The point at which these problems, relationships and pressures are most clear to both the characters and the audience is when the boys return from their abandoned evening with their father to find their mother in a rage. We see a lot of harsh truths realised, the first between Biff and Happy. In the restaurant, Biff had come to the conclusion that Happy did not really care about Willy’s wellbeing at all, only his own. We see this when Biff exclaims ‘, I sense it, you don’t give a good goddam about him. ‘ When they return to the house, Biff says (â€Å"with a flare of disgust†) ‘Go away from me! ‘ In this scene, possibly the biggest revelation is that of Biff and Willy’s true feelings towards each other. When Willy is planting seeds in the garden and talking to his brother, almost in another reality, he is horrified by the thought of Biff thinking of him or talking of him as a coward, should he commit suicide. When Biff tries to take him inside to talk to Linda and tell her that he is leaving, Willy seems to think that he is talking about telling her about his affair years earlier, which Biff discovered. However, after some considerable arguments, in which Biff is accused of having nothing but spite for his father, Willy realises that Biff actually just does not want to fail him, having been so pressured to succeed in his earlier life. He also sees that all Biff ever wanted from him was pride and love, saying ‘Loves me. Always loved me. Isn’t that a remarkable thing? ‘

Personality in the Workplace - 1462 Words

Personality in the Workplace Personality in the Workplace Personality can be thought of as the sum total of ways in which an individual interacts and reacts to other individuals (Stephen amp; Robbins, 2013). Research has shown that measuring personality is a useful tool in making hiring decisions and helping organizations forecast who is best for each unique position. The Big Five Model Personality Model does a great job of predicting how individuals will behave in a wide range of real-life situations, including in an individual’s work life (Stephen amp; Robbins, 2013). After taking the assessment, my results showed that I scored highest in openness to experience/intellect and lowest in agreeableness. Though not surprising, these†¦show more content†¦These traits are great for higher performance in the workplace, enhanced leadership, and greater longevity within an organization (Stephens amp; Robbins, 2013). Research shows that conscientious may be the highest predictor of overall job performance, proving its importance to o rganizational success. My score of being in the 64th percentile corresponds to the success I have had in my position as Client Success Manager at a leading research and advisory firm. My job requires an extreme level of organization and dependability as I act as a personal advisor to multiple c-level executives at top organizations. For my position, conscientiousness is the most important personality factor needed to achieve success and high job performance. Extraversion is the personality dimension that captures an individual’s comfort level with relationships (Stephens amp; Robbins, 2013). Individuals that score high in extraversion tend to be assertive and sociable. With a score in the 53rd percentile, I am neither particular social or reserved but rather somewhere in between. As a child I was very shy and borderline anti-social, but as I got older I learned to be more outgoing and comfortable interacting with others. Being 6’4† since the seventh grade, I had a hard time being the center of attention and would shy away from social gatherings and bringing any more attention to myself than I already had being so unique. Now as a woman inShow MoreRelatedPersonality and the Workplace1487 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract The workplace is difficult enough without us having to worry about the different personalities we encounter each and everyday. Our jobs are a place where we come in contact with many people, both co-workers and clients, and each of their distinct personalities. 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For example employers set goals and encourage involvement