Social Identity Theory Essay Example for Free

Social Identity Theory Essay Although there are some members of the IMML group that are as foreign to us as the BBAs, we feel more comfortable working with IMMLs because they have the same behavioural characteristics as us, as well as sharing common goals. Tajfel suggests that a reason for this is the need to treat the teams values as our own. Examples of this include: the aim of finding a placement or business school in our respective countries, with a well respected degree in a relatively unique course from a renowned university. Concerns about placements cross language boundaries, and unites all IMMLs. A group thinks and behaves in characteristically design team ways3. This supports the social identity theory of when IMML first attended the Organizational Behaviour lecture of semester 2 with Kate McArdle. Throughout the past 2 years it has become acceptable to enter the management classes late, strolling slowly to the seat and even talking or waving to friends while the class has already started. However, when Kate McArdle started teaching the course this norm was not acceptable to her. By trying to change the group norm (apologising if late), IMML had temporarily modified their behaviour: the number of students being late was reduced, and if they were late they apologised out of courtesy to the entire class. However, when Foster Fei started teaching the class in Week 5, IMML reverted back to their initial behaviour. We can thus say that in this case it is difficult, almost impossible, for the minority to impose a change on a majority, especially if that norm has had time to evolve for 2 years. If a group majority were to accept the new group norm, they must all conform to the new norm. In summary we can say that because the majority of the IMML course was not convinced of the necessity of being on time, Kate McArdle only changed the group norm temporarily. * FIMML. GIMML. SPIMML. According to Tajfel in order to evaluate their own opinion and abilities, individuals not only compare themselves to other individuals with whom they interact, but also compare their own group with similar and distinct, out groups. 4 After the exam results were released, one characteristic of the members in FIMML was that they then tried to compare their results with others in their small seminar group, and secondly in a more general way against the other language groups. This comparison produced concrete (if biased i. e. ask the people you know will have the results to back up your stereotypes and our assertions of other groups) evidence to reinforce the stereotypes of the other groups and emphasizes our opinion of our group being superior. This minimises the perceived difference in the in-group (seminar B) and maximises the difference from the out-group (IMML as a whole) Cross theory example One student, Harry*, who joined group B at its formation was fluent in French. At the start of the year he spoke often in class, offered answers almost constantly and talked very quickly. This was not very well received by the group at first. The student realised this and decided to answer only when no one else did. According to Tajfel: this was so that others could have a chance. Harry sacrificed his own interests for the good of the group as a whole. This shows how Harry moved from thinking individually (personal identity), doing what benefited him, to feeling and thinking as a representative of a group. This also complies with Aschs theory about how groups influence individual attitudes and behaviour. Observing norms is of such benefit to us that we are prepared to suppress any personal desires and are thus willing to limit our individual freedom and abide by them5. Harry therefore supports both the theory of Tajfel as well as Aschs. As a second example of this we refer to an IMML Spanish student, Steve*, who came into the IMML French group in the second year. The French group felt that the new student was violating pivotal norms of our group. Such norms were: speaking a lot during the classes; criticising teachers; and overtly expressing his opinions without taking others opinions into consideration. His norms could either derive from the norms he had learned in his first year in the Spanish group, or due to his individual differences that he has gained through his culture, since his French nationality is exceptional to that of the group. After being in the French IMML group for a few weeks, there was tension between the new student and his language group, whereas the seminar group B didnt seem affected by the new presence because the new student was not in the same group. This example disproves Aschs theory. The new student didnt conform to the group pressure put upon him. In our opinion, his judgement and actions were not affected, even when the group vocalised their general disagreement to him being there. Neither did the group break up as a result of this. * Small (formal informal) Groups In this section of the essay we will use the example of Steve again because he is relevant for this part as well. However, we will do this in the context of small informal or formal groups looking at it from a whole different angle. As long as individuals see themselves as more important than the group, then the latter cannot function effectively. 6 Steve joining the French group lowered our self-awareness and heightened our group awareness. The group has had no influence over his behaviour and showed animosity to him by for example sighing or laughing when he talks. This is the case even now, 6 months after his coming into FIMML. He did not adapt to the norm of the group. Perhaps this insinuates that Steve does not see IMML as one of the groups that form his social identity. In this way he would not be influenced by the group, conform to it or attempt to convert the group to his way of thinking as it bears little or no importance on his self concept, and furthermore his social identity. In not recognising IMML as a key part of this social identity he does not feel that it is necessary to conform to the behaviour. Steves action supports Tajfels theory as mentioned above. This could be due in part to our perception of his elitist attitude, where he feels superior to the rest, stopping the group from functioning. Group members even left his class. For us to conform to him, we feel that he would have to conform to us first. We could perhaps propose therefore that established groups do not conform to newcomers, but rather newcomers conform to previously established groups. When he joined seminar group A, he changed the group norms. He had an outspoken personality and his loud confident attitude contradicted the previously quiet oral class. At first this resulted in others leaving the group, but the remaining students still did not conform to him and so eventually he was forced to leave. As soon as he left, the other group members returned.

Practical vs. Supernatural in The Hound of the Baskervilles Essay

The novel The Hound of the Baskervilles is written by a British author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1859. Following â€Å"nine years in Jesuit schools, he went to Edinburgh University, where he received a degree in medicine in 1881. He then became an eye specialist in Southsea, with a distressing lack of success† (Doyle 1). Doyle’s financial letdown in Southsea created a need for an alternative way for him to generate profit, so he became an author. In the first of his many stories A Study in Scarlet, Doyle brings Sherlock Holmes to life; he is a detective and the protagonist of the story. Doyle’s inspiration and idea for an observant detective came from Dr. Joseph Bell of the Edinburgh Infirmary. Dr. Bell had brilliant powers of observation, analysis, and inference. Doyle’s story was rejected several times before a British publisher bought it for  £25 (Doyle 1). â€Å"From early on, the worldwide popularity of Holme s annoyed his creator, and with a cause: the detective’s adventures, wonderful as they are, tended to overshadow everything else Conan Doyle wrote† (Dirda 42). Doyle eventually becomes so weary of Sherlock Holmes that he chose to kill off his character. However, Doyle had to later resurrect Holmes’s character due to popular demand for additional stories (Doyle 1). It was while playing golf one day, Robinson told Doyle a story of an ancient tale about a hound that haunted Dartmoor; â€Å"he was so inspired by this local legend that he resurrected Holmes, whom he’d killed off eight years earlier, in The Final Problem, at Switzerland’s Reichenbach Falls† (Cook). According to a 1996 article from New Statesman, â€Å"For well over 100 years, the great sleuth of Baker Street has been a staple of our imaginati... ... Doyle is cherished as the creator of one of the best-loved detectives in English literature--but his talents as an author ranged far and wide, from science fiction to swashbucklers.† New Statesman [1996] 7 Nov. 2011: 41+. Academic OneFile. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. Doyle, Sir Author Conan. Sherlock Holmes The Hound of the Baskervilles. England: First Signet Classic Printing, 1986. Print. Sangeetha, K. â€Å"Kinesics in Arthur Conan Doyle.† Language In India Nov. 2011: 694+. Academic OneFile. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. â€Å"The Hound Of The Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel.† Publishers Weekly 256.34 (2009): 49. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. â€Å"The Science of Sherlock Holmes: from Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective's Greatest Cases.† Science News 29 Apr. 2006: 271. Academic OneFile. Web. 11 Apr. 2012.

Chinese Language Cinema Essay

During the 21st century China had been recognized to be one of the greatest distributors of movies throughout the world. China made a big influence when it comes to movie industry on different countries particularly on the American markets. Chinese movies had been widely appreciated by the United States. There are many Chinese actors and actresses who became famous in United States like Jackie Chan, a Chinese actor and director of action motion pictures who had become very famous because of his talent when it comes to acting, doing different creative stunts work, comic manners, and his talent in choreographing different fight sequences. When it comes to film industry and economic status, China was one of the top and biggest contributors throughout the world. China did not ceased in pursuing for success when it comes to movie and film industry. Their culture, state, as well as their different kinds of languages and beliefs became one of the primary reason why mainland China are having difficulties when it comes to producing and building up a great films that will satisfy the taste of different countries particularly the United States. On pursuing their goal in becoming one of the best and highest grosser of economy in the world, China did not waste any time to be able to create a big impact and influence to the American markets especially in the Hollywood (2000). Because of their efforts and patience in continuing their goal to be part of the top countries that are producing and importing top movies in the world, Chinese community became very successful in achieving their goal when it comes to movie industry. In the beginning of the 21st century, China also became very successful in their economic status as well as their entertainment film and Chinese cinemas (2002). All the trials and difficulties that they have encountered in the past few decades were quickly transformed to a successful and progressive country. Mainland China was also known as economic powerhouse because of their successful economic status when it comes to importing and exporting different products and films. Because of their success in economy, Mainland China surpassed other countries like France and Italy who are known to be one of the most successful countries in the world. Chinese cinema became a commodity for worldwide trade, electronics, clothing materials, and even precious and expensive metals. As a start of their successful and profitable business, film and movie industry became one of their major sources of capital and income. China became one of the most excellent importers of movies in the whole world especially in the United States (2003). In spite of China’s good production of movies, there are many criticism that been spreading about their entertainment. Negative and positive opinions as well as different comments were spreading to the public. Critics implied that some movies and films are seriously violating the culture as well as the beliefs of the Chinese community because of some unjust doings and immoral acts in the film. However other films that produce under Chinese films are making a big impact to the global society because the message of the film implies some important issues to the viewers. The Chinese filmmakers are now developing their movies and films so they can express the whole story as an art, and they have indicated a very resourceful material that can be reliable to the audience ideas as well as their point of views (2007). The Chinese filmmakers are very talented when it comes to creating good arrangements of auditory effects, different color effects, environmental forms, and cultural movements that can easily attract the viewers’ attention. In Chinese cinema, they considered their movies and films as an art, because of their aesthetic value and human works of beauty. The movies provided by the filmmakers are always related to their traditions, history, and also based on their social and political status in the society. They are giving some twist to the topic so the viewers or audience will be excited and satisfy from what they viewed.

Teen Pregnancy - 973 Words

Teen Pregnancy Speech Teen pregnancy rates sky rocket every year. 560,000 teenage girls give birth each year. One sixth of all United States births are to teenage girls. Teen pregnancy rates are soaring and many teenage girls are impacted negatively because they are unable to fulfill the many responsibilities such as education and financial needs. Something needs to be done to decrease the teen pregnancy rates. None of you will argue that teen pregnancy rates aren’t high. And all agree something needs to be done to bring these rates down. However, I am not sure who will actually try to make a difference. I am informing you how to decrease these rates and also persuading you to go out and help all the teens who are uninformed about†¦show more content†¦By not informing the teens now we are getting the teens into a tougher situation. I have shown you that if we do not inform teens now the teens will keep making the same mistakes as before. Why would informing teen decre ase the rates of teen pregnancy? Telling the teens the negative impacts of teen pregnancy on their lives is not such a hard thing to do. So we should all take advantage of this situation and let all the teens know the cause and effects of teen pregnancy. To inform teens it doesn’t mean you have to get a hold of every teen in the world. Even if you inform a small amount of teen it can have a big impact. One advantage of informing teens about negative s of teen pregnancy is in the future when they have kids they can also inform their kids, hopefully decreasing the rates of teen pregnancy in the future. Also, these teens will hopefully make better choices which will make them more confident about themselves. Teens will choose not to fall under social pressure and make better decisions. 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