Influence of Media and Culture on Self Image - 1724 Words

Is culture today experiencing information overload leading to self confusion? Having access to information twenty-four hours a day does not necessarily have a positive impact on society and self image. Media content despite its public charge does not exactly mirror real self image. Mass communication with television ads and movies offer an unrealistic view of the everyday person in various aspects of life. Media can have a positive or negative influence on culture and the way people view their lives compared to those in the public eye. There is much speculation about how the media can affect self-concept, self-identities and self-evaluations. Media also has the power to sway beliefs, morals and behaviors. Research has shown how media†¦show more content†¦Ethnic groups relate to each other based on a shared sense of identity (Miller, 2007. pg 248). When groups in the media are portrayed unrealistically, the audience members who share characteristics with those persons (e.g., gender or ethnicity) may be disappointed. Negative erroneous images may affect people in the sense that the media has altered the real identity of the social definition of the group in question (Aubrey, 2007). A second major aspect of self is identity. Society puts people into categories, with a specific role already defined to that group so, if a person is not sure of who they are it would be difficult to fulfill the role defined (Miller, 2007 p. 244). Relating the self to society shows how over time people decide their likes and dislikes. The results of a media research were published in West Germany offer some insight to personal image. According to the research results, no person carries in his head the exact replica of their self image. For example, on some shows young women are shown to be very slim and always pretty. This image is not realistic to today’s women. The everyday women come in all shapes and sizes (Parlikar, 1972). The sense of self identity is critical to ones status as a person. One has to have a sense of self if in order to acquire and achieve good self esteem. Sexual identity and genderShow MoreRelatedWesternization Vs. Eating Disorders1645 Words   |  7 PagesWesternization Vs. Eating Disorders Historically, through an array of cultures worldwide, individuals have transformed their appearances in order to conform to the beauty ideal of relevant culture. Those that are apart of the Pa Dong Tribe, which reside among the boarder of Thailand, practice the elongating of the neck through the use of brass rings. African and Amazonian tribes consider beauty through the stretching of their lips that is achieved using large lip plates. Tribes in Africa striveRead MoreMedia Effects Body Image1656 Words   |  7 PagesApril 6, 2014 The Effects of Mass Media on African American Women Body Images Over the past 10 years, mass media and the access to social networks has evolved substantially causing the effects of negative self-image and what is considered beautiful. Body image expectations for both African-American male and female share the battles of society’s expectations, yet African American women body images come with a stricter and more unhealthy stigma; growth of social media such as Facebook, Instagram andRead MoreThe Factors That Shape An Individual s Self Concept Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pageslf-concept refers to the mental image or idea that an individual holds regarding themselves. An individuals’ self-concept continually develops in each of the life stages and is seen to be closely related to the social as well as the emotional development. 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The research questions I propose to explore: â€Å"Are the images that young girls are exposedRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On Body Image1538 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Over the time, the concept of body image is influenced by external factors as culture, society norms, especially with the development of modern social media, it has grown up to be an important element in affecting the perception of body image to shape the body image. The influence of mass media may be related to the social comparison process of appearance in female and male. The ideal media body image, it is easy to compare in everyday life, and that will result to dissatisfactionRead MoreEffect Of Gender And Gender Representation On Media1735 Words   |  7 PagesThe effect of gender and gender representation in media has been widely researched in various academic disciplines, including anthropology and communication studies. Similar gender role expectations are not just restricted to Western culture either. A study on gender representation in East Asian advertising by Michael Prieler is a demonstration of the influence of gendered communication. The research examines the male and female representation in the advertising of East Asian countries like HongRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Media On Young Girls And Women Alike1474 Words   |  6 PagesSocial media plays an immense role in the way that stereotypes about attractiveness is conveyed in regards to body image. As Gerbner and Gross wrote in 1976, the cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages and the belief that they are real and valid. The subjection to social media can cause an idealistic view amongst young girls and women alike. Among the mechanisms of human agency none is more central or pervasive than beliefs of personalRead MoreResearch Paper on the Effects of Mass Media on the Perfect Body Image1569 Words   |  7 Pagescan you determine what body image should be? The desire for the perfect body has been prevalent throughout society for a vast majority of time. What makes teenage girls feel the need to strive for this â€Å"perfect body†? Some have asked, â€Å"†¦a rapidly growing body of research addresses the question of whether body perfect ideals in the mass media are a core risk factor for negative body image, particularly in women† (Dittmar, Helga) My hypothesis is â€Å"Does the media influence adolescent girl’s weight concernsRead MoreShould Social Media Be The Increase Of Eating Disorders?1592 Words   |  7 PagesSocial media be the cause for the increase of Eating Disorders? In today’s world, the idea of the perfect body is displayed on an endless list of websites and on a variety of social media. The world is addicted to accessing social media every day and as a result we have been brainwashed into how a woman should look. When you consider those with eating disorders that are afraid to eat because they are concerned of becoming overweight. it is difficult not to feel hostile towards the media. ThereRead MoreThe Effects of Media on Adolescent Girls Essay1029 Words   |  5 PagesMedia has become a significant component within society. While media provides many pros, it supplies various cons as well. One very prominent fault that the significance of media has is its visual depiction of women. There is an abundance of media portraying women to have ideal bodies, and this undoubtedly has a negative effect on adolescent girls. Two of the many effects of media on females are depression and self esteem issues, as well as eating disorders. Unfortunate ly, body dissatisfaction caused

Jimmy Cross’s Final Decision in OBriens, The Things They...

In the story, â€Å"The Things They Carried†, author Tim O’Brien described specific items that each of his soldiers carried with them to the Vietnam War front. The items that the soldiers carried were for mental protection; they believed that the things they carried would take their minds off all the terror and violence that was going on around them. The protagonist, Lieutenant Jimmy cross, carries out letters from a girl named Martha, which leads to him losing his focus for the war and a lack of protection for his fellow soldiers. The death of Ted Lavender tested Lieutenant Cross’ loyalty to his men, his imagination of Martha, and the significance relating to each of the items the soldiers’ carry. Lieutenant Cross’ love for Martha’s†¦show more content†¦One of his biggest fantasies about Martha was her being a virgin. In his mind, it was as if Martha belonged to him already from the way he fantasized about her. The way he fanta sized about Martha can be described as â€Å"over the limit†. He often wondered who was taking pictures that Martha sent him because he could see the shadow of another person. All Lieutenant Cross wanted was to be with Martha on the shoreline of Jersey walking barefooted and caring about nothing but Martha. The author, Tim O’Brien gives us a detailed prescription of each item that the soldiers carried with them. â€Å"The things they carried were determined by necessity† (389). Each soldier took something that has huge significance and impact with them to the war front. Also a vivid description of the reason why what was kept where gave a better insight into how important each item was to the soldiers. The use of â€Å"slangs† to describe certain things, like MM, which meant medical supplies (392) is also a significant topic in the story. â€Å"what they carried varied by mission†, â€Å"When a mission took them to the mountains, they carr ied mosquito netting, machetes, canvas tarps, and extra bug juice† (393). The reality with which one can relate to soldiers’s reason for carrying what they carried, is vividly described by the author. It describes how â€Å"Kiowa always took along his

The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Work Places

Question: Non-Verbal Communication Is More Important Than Verbal Communication? Answer: Introduction Communication at work place is so important especially in the companies. This is because it gives companies good chances to be very productive and carry out its operations effectively. Many organizations fail to realize the importance of adopting effective communication strategies and this article therefore aims at highlighting how to utilize communication to improve organizational performance. There is an experience of some increase in commitment, morale and productivity by the employees provided they communicate well across the chain of communication in their places of work. The transmission of information among people in an organization is referred to as work place communication and this could involve the use of notes, one on one talks, emails, text messages etc. Arguments to be used Communication skills are very important at work place and this can be seen when the communication is good and of high quality. Meaning the kind of communication used should aim at preventing conflict, misunderstanding and miscommunication of issues (Burgoon, Blair, and Strom, p. 586). In this regard effective communication leads to productive work and performance which in the end has positive impacts on the companys bottom line. In order to increase the effectiveness of internal communication managers have to put in mind the relevance of effective communication. If communication at work place is poor employees are likely to quit job and seek for better working conditions (Hancock, p. 458). This is the reason why important communication skills are usually listed among the top job skills in determining both the employer and employee satisfaction. Increased stress and job dissatisfaction comes as a result of misunderstanding whatever is being said. Overview of verbal and nonverbal communication Good communication skills lead to better relations at work places and the stronger your skills are the better placed one is for hiring and job promotions. Effectiveness of verbal communication is more than just talking (Granhag and Vrij, p. 86). It involves both the delivery of messages and how one receives information. All workers that convey information in a clear and effective manner are highly valued by employers. All the employees that are good at interpreting messages and acting appropriately on the needed information are better placed in excelling at their jobs. Verbal communication takes place among different people at work place and its constituent depends on the relationship existing between the communicating groups (Granhag, p. 41).For the nonverbal communication which involves use of gestures, facial expression is very key in the day to day operations of an organization (Ekman, OSullivan and Frank, p 1315). These are also referred to as signals and they often give clues a s well as additional information and proper meaning to spoken communication. Importance of nonverbal communication in work places With non-verbal communication its easier to emphasize or even modify whatever has been said in words. For instance, if one is in agreement with something they simply nod their heads but if not in agreement they seem to shrug their shoulders with some sad or discontentment expression on their faces. This kind of communication also assists people to give some feedback to the recipient, regulate the flow of communication and give out information regarding their state of emotions (Egolf, p. 1419). If one is clearly tuned into the other persons nonverbal communication cues, then they can easily determine the true meaning of what they are saying and this goes beyond the words they are saying. Communication is very important in all the working environments and should be embraced by all employees and managers for proper functioning of the organization. Effective communication can be achieved either verbally or non-verbally provided the context of the message therein is clear. To a larger extend however nonverbal communication if done effectively is more important at work place compared to verbal communication. This is because if one is able to read the mood of an employee via the body language then a lot can be done to build on something good or rectify whatever is not right. This communication is very important to an organization as it makes it productive and allows it to operate smoothly. If the communication is effective it increases an employees job satisfaction, productivity as well as positively impact on absenteeism and turnover rates. Communication at work place can either be verbal or nonverbal. For verbal communication it involves use of sounds and language to pass on a message while nonverbal communication is simply the use of gestures, body language, eye contact, posture and facial expressions to convey a message. One may be agreeing with your communication verbally but in real sense from the clues such as fidgeting, avoidance of eye contact they are not. Therefore, its important to note if someones verbal and nonverbal communications are marching so as to tell whether they are in agreement with you (Bond and DePaulo, p. 480). If the body language is well understood, then it becomes important in helping one to agree with your points. The use of mirroring techniques assists in putting others at ease. This technique should however be used in a manner that the other person does not feel teased. It should also be noted that this kind of communication is not just relevant in face to face communication (Joseph, p. 61). It can be of importance even in situations wherepeople are talking on phone. Someone who has mastered the interpretation of nonverbal communication can decipher the real feelings of the other person on phone basically by being keen on the tone used in the conversation. Is the tone sounding satisfied, dissatisfied or just not at par with what you are trying to communicate? This can be evident via intonation, tone of the voice, pauses etc. through use of nonverbal communications and especially the body language strong messages can be sent regardless of what the words may be saying (Burgoon, Guerrero and Flo, p. 128). The tone in the voice, volume, pitch, quality and speed they all affect what one wants to say. The language of ones body can easily contradict what your words may be saying, repeat your words, substitute your verbal communication or simply reinforce what you are saying verbally by adding meaning. While using nonverbal communication one can make the verbal communication more or less relevant in one way or the other (Bollingmo et al., p. 68). For example, you cannot tell someone they have not performed well verbally at work by avoiding eye contact with them. In as much as verbal communication is widely used in almost all organization it has its own shortcoming this is because with verbal communication the real feelings or intentions of an emp loyee are not clearly brought out. This is different for the nonverbal communication where if the managers are keen at reading someones body language they can easily tell what they are communicating and act accordingly either to better a situation or rectify whatever the problem is. Through talking one may not really bring out all that they intent to unlike in the nonverbal communication where the feelings can be read from the mood or gestures (Granhag and Hartwig, p. 193). Therefore, nonverbal communication is very important at work places unlike verbal communication where one will only tell you what you need to hear and not the real information that can be read non-verbally. To enhance nonverbal communication at work place one has to be conscious of their feelings, and physicality. You need also to be keen on watching peoples facial expression, body languages and voice intonations. To be able to adapt quickly to any situation and kind of communication at hand is one of the skills that people continuously improve on with time. Among the two forms of communication its evident that nonverbal communication actually completes verbal communication. One can only be completely sure of the message that another person is trying to put across by being keen on the nonverbal cues which in most cases should tally with what is being said verbally. Therefore, at work places every person has to work towards mastering the art of interpreting nonverbal cues in order to decipher the real meaning of verbal communication in their conversations with their colleagues. This sends some signals that you are either not sure of what you are saying or in one way or another you fear the said employee and therefore not confident of reprimanding them. Nonverbal communication ensures workplace efficiency. Its of great importance in businesses and interviews. Most of the professions such as lawyers, teachers, journalists and even doctors communicate on regular basis and therefore if their nonverbal communication is not up to standards their work is likely to suffer (Bull, p. 201). For example, interviews and meetings require a lot of eye contact which is a sign of interest and confidence. Conclusion Effective communication is important in the success of any organization. Both verbal and nonverbal communications reinforce each other and therefore should be taken seriously in ensuring smooth operations in the work place. Anyone who is keen on reading the nonverbal communication of an employee such as facial expression and gestures is better placed in having a deeper understanding of what they sincerely intent to communicate to them. Interpreting nonverbal communication is something that one learns with time and its very important to any person who would like to achieve effectiveness in communication. One can only enhance verbal communication if they are good listeners. References Bond, C.F., DePaulo, B.M. (2008). Individual differences in judgingdeception: Accuracy and bias. Psychological Bulletin, 134,477492. Bull, P. (2009). Detecting deceit: Current issues. In T. Williamson,B. Milne, S.P. Savage (Eds.), International developments ininvestigative interviewing (pp. 19006). Cullompton, England:Willan. Burgoon, J.K., Blair, J.P., Strom, R.E. (2008). Cognitive biases andnonverbal cue availability in deception detection. Human CommunicationResearch, 34, 572599. Bollingmo, G., Wessel, E., Sandvold, Y., Eilertsen, D.E., Magnussen, S. (2009). The effect of biased and non-biased informationon judgements of witness credibility. Psychology, Crime Law, 15, 6171. Joseph A. DeVito (2012). Interpersonal Communication Book, The,13/E. Published 01/05/2012 Instock. P 56-70 Burgoon, J.K.; Guerrero, L. K. K. Flo (2010). Non verbal communication textbook. Pg 120-131. Publisher: Allyn Bacon, Incorporated Ekman, P., OSullivan, M., Frank, M.G. (2008). Scoring and reporting: A response to Bond (2008). Applied Cognitive Psychology, 22, 13151317. Granhag, P.A. (2010). On the psycho-legal study of true and false intentions: Dangerous waters and some stepping stones. The Open Criminology Journal, 3, 3743. Granhag, P.A., Hartwig, M. (2008). A new theoretical perspective on deception detection: On the psychology of instrumental mindreading. Psychology, Crime Law, 14, 189200. Granhag, P.A., Vrij, A. (2010). Interviewing to detect deception. In P.A. Granhag (Ed.), Forensic psychology in context: Nordic and Nonverbal and Verbal Lie Deection 115 international approaches (pp. 7593). Cullompton, England: Willan. Egolf, D. (2010). Phasing in Three Web-Based Assignments in a Nonverbal Communication Class. In D. Gibson B. Dodge (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology Teacher Education International Conference 2010 (pp. 1418-1420). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Hancock, J.T (2004). Verbal irony use in computer-mediated and face-to-face conversations. Journal of Language and SocialPsychology, 23 447-463.

Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing

Response I do not agree that the U.S. government should regulate offshore outsourcing. Although the practice carries both positive and negative consequences, benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. For companies in the United States to receive maximum gain from offshore outsourcing, the sector should not be subjected to government regulation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Specifically, offshore outsourcing refers to the practice of outsourcing work to suppliers in foreign countries, mainly to take advantage of low cost of labor. Through outsourcing, companies typically engage foreign suppliers to perform some or all business functions in a country other than the one where the product or service will be sold or consumed. It is, however, important to ensure that the overall cost of offshore business is less than the total expen se. In general, organizations turn to outsourcing in order to reduce costs, leverage themselves ahead of competitors, and to increase adaptability to changes in the market place (Cohen 250). Offshore outsourcing is a hotly debated issue in the United States that for a very long time has received wide coverage by the media. In 2003, just after the recession, lack of employment was still a concern and the blame was directed at offshore outsourcing as the major contributor to the reduction in U.S. output and the corresponding loss of jobs. Offshore outsourcing is currently being driven by the recognition by many companies of the benefits of outsourcing as a business strategy. To a large extent, this recognition has led to less emphasis on cost reduction and more emphasis on such benefits as flexibility and speed in delivering business solutions, access to new technologies and skills, ongoing productivity improvement, and enhanced training and development of employees. Offshore outsourc ing can also have an important effect on firms by helping them to accelerate the development of innovative products and services at far lower cost.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arguments about Offshore Outsourcing An increasing number of companies in the United States have been made to believe that offshore outsourcing is critical for improving a company’s profitability. For most of these companies, failure to use offshore outsourcing strategies leads to loss of business to competitors. For a very long time, the United States and the West have reaped an excessive share of the wealth derived from the world capitalist system (Hira and Hira 118). However, with offshore outsourcing, long impoverished nations like China and India are now moving in the direction of obtaining and enjoying a larger portion of this wealth. While this undoubtedly lessens the American wealth and its standard of living, it is seen by many as an important aspect of global development. Apparently, greater global equality in wealth and standard of living is not only in the interest of nations like China and India. It could be argued that it is also in everyone’s interest. For one thing, greater global equality will likely lead to a more stable and secure world. For another, growing wealth in the Third World will greatly expand consumers and consumption and at least some of that increase will advantage the American business, economy, and society and may even lead to new kinds of jobs. Similarly, it could be argued that offshore outsourcing is good for the United States as it will force the country to continue innovating in order to find new sources of wealth and work (Ritzer 313). Why the US Government should not Regulate Offshore Outsourcing The U.S. offshore outsourcing industry is currently besieged by incoherent and confusing government regulations that hinder the effectiveness of the industry rather than promote it. Many outsourcing firms are so confused over recent legislation to the extent that their latest action has been to hire more lawyers to help determine if they should continue with offshore outsourcing strategies. According to Schniederjans and Schniederjans, research on motivations for offshore outsourcing indicates that many companies use offshore outsourcing to avoid compliance with the ever increasing regulation by governments (196). In view of these challenges and the many benefits associated with offshore outsourcing, it is necessary for the U.S. government to desist from interfering with the operations in the industry. Typically, firms opt for offshore outsourcing for a variety of reasons and the decision to outsource can be a critical one (Cohen 253). However, a firm that plans to outsource must first clarify its organizational goals and define what it wants to achieve through outsourcing. The goals of outsourcing may be t actical, such as to reduce or control costs or free up capital funds, or strategic, such as to access a specific technology.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Outsourcing is an effective cost saving strategy when applied properly and in some cases, it may be economically viable to acquire products or services from outside. A firm may decide to tactically outsource its bookkeeping function to an external accounting firm, as it may be more cost effective to do so than managing it internally with in-house accountants. Alternatively, firms may outsource activities that are not part of their strategic core competency and by diverting non-core functions, they are able to focus their limited resources on activities that are critical to the business. In this case, competencies refer to a set of skills that cut across traditional function s such as production, finance, and sales. Dell is an example of a company that outsources for strategic reasons. The company regards marketing and sales as its core competencies, which focus on what matters to its customers, and outsources virtually all manufacturing. With a direct sales model, the company concentrates on speeding products through its highly efficient supply chain. According to Hira and Hira, mainstream economists have focused on economic efficiency to explain why they believe that offshore outsourcing is beneficial for the United States (121). Unfortunately, this view is regarded as being simplistic and ignores the real, devastating effects of offshore outsourcing. Although economists assume that the U.S. workers who are displaced can quickly secure other better jobs, the reality is that most workers are forced to settle for lower paying jobs as a result of offshore outsourcing or fail to secure other jobs altogether. Conclusion As has been demonstrated in this pap er, any form of interference by the government in the offshore outsourcing business is unproductive and can easily stifle the growth of the sector. If handled appropriately, offshore outsourcing can have a positive impact on the economy of the United States as well as on its citizens. Rather than being subjected to strict government regulations, the offshore outsourcing industry should be allowed to progress at a steady natural pace. Works Cited Cohen, Eli. Information and Beyond: Part I, Santa Rosa, California: Informing Science Press, 2007. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hira, Ron and Anil Hira. Outsourcing America: The True Cost of Shipping Jobs Overseas and What Can Be Done About It, New York, NY: AMACOM, 2008. Print. Ritzer, George. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization, Malden, MA: John Wiley Sons, 2008. Print. Schniederjans, Marc and Dara Schniederjans. Outsourcing And Insourcing in an International Context, Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2005. Print. This essay on Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing? was written and submitted by user Marshall Phelps to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.