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buy custom Theories of Societal Development essay Fear is a normal human sensation; the degree, however, may be aberrant, and therefore may refer to some experiential underpinnings in the individual's human development that led to this abnormality. In human development, there are certain milestones that are associated with distinct age ranges. The early years from infancy to early childhood and into adolescence, are pivotal in laying down the neural foundations that control persons later in life (Tiedens, Leach, 2004).When fear presents in an aberrant fashion, such as through severe anxiety, depression, or anger, early years in human development must be examined to analyze why that fear exists in the degree that could be harmful the affected individual personal and social life (Rutledge, 2002). The Creation and Perpetuation of Fear According to Hunter (2004), The energy of fear can be shocking, like shards of glass or stabs of electricity (p. 60). Hunter also states, Sometimes the energy can be useful, as preparing for a sporting competition (p. 60), and Sometimes the energy can be paralyzing, as when were about to speak in public and find no words available (p. 60). Hunter added that, Fears are subjective and changeable, and self-generated fears are easier to tolerate than those that surprise us from external sources (p.60). In order to expound on the concept of fear, this study also discusses experiences such as the creation of hyper-vigilance and post-traumatic stress that are associated with harmful fear. Fear and athletics Outstanding performance within elite sport competition often requires simultaneous information processing, decision making, and reactions that are dependent on acquisition of the most relevant visual data from the environment (Singer, 2000). Athletes react differently to same information right before them. As stated by Davis and Sime (2006), Within elite athlete populations, where physical talent and skill differences are often minute, inter-individual differences in performance are often great, and fluctuations within individual performances are common (p. 364). Sport psychology tries to address the fact that although some athletes are physically talented enough to complete a task, something prevents these athletes from performing the task. Sport psychology researchers have suggested that anxiety might prevent the completion of sporting activities. Anxiety, in sports and in other life events that require some type of performance, may be based on a fundamental, though aberrant, fear response. Davis and Sime (2006) state that, the conventional wisdom that has developed within the field is that much of the variance in performance can be attributed to the effects of heightened levels of pre-competition anxiety. The feelings and emotions that are generated from fear can be positive or negative depending on the manner in which they are used. Not only must athletes be able to perform the physical task asked of them with limited error, but they must be able to process the information that is before them, eliminate any negative emotion, and thus perform the task. According to Davis and Sime (2006), majority of coaches use instructional time to develop physical talents and skills of their athletes. Although many coaches require their athletes to focus or concentrate of instructions given, few athletes fully understand the meaning of those concepts, and they are often left wondering, How, exactly do I do that? (p. 364). Fear and academics At the onset of my research, I asked a faculty member about his experiences after working with a team. The same factors were present in a team atmosphere as in the classroom and cooperative learning. As we discussed learning styles and genetics, I formulated the following questions to drive my research: How do genetics make one person more prone to fear and nervousness than another? How can educators effectively manage a cooperative or learning group? How important is controlling the consequences for individuals who cannot participate effectively? Why was there a complete lack of participation from the individual and would the lack of participation be the most detrimental on a team or in a cooperative learning setting? The process of improving a school program is a continuous one; it evolves as needs arise to reflect new societal needs. Therefore, conceptualization and implementation of these changes are not easy. Teaching process therefore needs to be constantly assessed and tested to be sure the program still works for immediate demands. The sample I am using has several features that allow for the use of up-to-date information and/or cutting-edge procedures. It also allows for creativity from both teacher and program director (Rutledge, 2002). The experiential perspective contains cultural experience which guides the individuals in a particular direction. In my field of study, the widespread Behaviorist revolution shifted interest from conscious processes to the results of these conscious processes. The largest circle of this influence came from American society as it transformed from an agricultural sea of island communities to an industrial state with immense international influence (Wiebe, 1967). People migrated from rural places built on traditions to cities filled with industry and unfamiliar faces. Thus, they had to learn new ways to socialize and new skills, placing value on the need for social adjustment. This form of behavior continued, and argument that perception and consciousness had value only if they produced adaptive behavior came to the fore. At this point, theorists also realized that behaviorism could not be defined any further. The culture and behavior of an individual will directly affect the way he or she perceives the experiences in his or her life which are discussed in two later sections, the importance of adults and culture. The practices of a community and whatever else is reinforced on a consistent basis, although external influences, will contribute to the internal motivation of the developing mind of a child who exists within that particular community (Tiedens Leach, 2004). Cooperative learning must be well structured so that learning can take place. The teacher or coach must choose groups from his/her students through which he can facilitate team work. In both academics and athletics, these groups reflect a diversity of viewpoints, abilities, gender, race, and other characteristics. Giving students opportunities to choose groups that suite them best may consequently result to homogeneity that reduces acquisition of social skills hence reducing their focus on the learning task (Rutledge, 2002). Howe (1960) examined quantitative motivational differences between volunteers and non-volunteers for a psychological experiment (p. 115). He explains some approaches to fear but not all. In his experiment, Hypothesis 1 predicted that using two different threats of electric shockstrong and weakmore people would volunteer for the weaker electric shock. Hypothesis 2 predicted volunteers would show a stronger approach and weaker avoidance compared with non-volunteers. The strength of the threat was the main independent variable; the increase in anxiety due to the anticipation of the threat was the main dependent variable. But would pre-existing characteristics, such as anxiety, affect the response to the threat? The first variable, cash, differentiates the motivation between volunteers and non-volunteers. The second variable, the level of shock treatment, demonstrates motivation behind harm avoidance and shock avoidance. The author established rules so that the experiment could be observed with clear results and the findings from those observations would be easy to comprehend. This way there were no biasness, and the experiment presented the facts of the experiment clearly, including their methods, subjects, materials and procedures. Two introductory psychology classes at Brooklyn College, each comprised of 89 students, were used as subjects. Each group of students was given a short 20-item form during class session. The class was also told that this was for the purpose of research, and the overseer of this experiment announced that the students would receive cash; the offer of cash was intended to help the experiment appear enticing. The experiment was described to the class including a mention of electric shock. To one class it was described as weak shock, and to the other class it was described as moderately strong shock. Students were then asked if they would like to participate immediately (within the next 30 minutes), or to delay their participation for 7, 14, or 21 days. On the back of the request form was a short questionnaire for the students to fill out. The form stated that there is currently an increasing amount of experimentation taking place involving shock and stress and a problem getting enough students to serve as paid subjects. The questionnaire contained three critical items dealing with the subjects anxiety about electric shock, fear of pain, and fear of injury. The sum of these items was entitled Shock Avoidance. Three other items were presented that dealt with the subjects present and future need for cash. The sum of these items was entitled Cash. A comparison was first made between weak shoc k and strong shock, followed by a comparison of male versus female regarding the avoidance of shock. It was concluded that more subjects volunteered for the weak shock group, but not significantly more, and there were significantly more males than females who volunteered overall. The results showed that volunteers tend to be low rather than high in avoidance motivation. However, these conclusions were more suggested than supported. For instance, the students who postponed the experiment rather than attend it immediately were considered more anxious. I am not in agreement with how the study was conducted or the way the results were interpreted. I believe there was not enough information provided concerning the subject, specifically, exploring the possibility that one or more of the subjects may have had a pre-existing anxious personality. The experiment would then only enhance a condition that was already present. The article provided some good facts, but there was no background information given on the subjects initial level of anxiety. An experiment described by Constantine and Sue (2007) in Perceptions of Racial Micro-aggressions Among Black Supervisees in Cross-Racial Dyads presents a different view. The purpose of this study was to examine the way a Black supervisee perceived racial micro-aggressions in a White supervisor. Racial micro-aggressions are brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, communicating negative or denigrating messages to people of color. Although the framework for this study seems like a natural phenomenon, it was created to obtain retrospective descriptions from Black American trainees of perceived racial micro-aggressions from White supervisors. This study was also an effort to gain an understanding of how micro-aggressions occur and their lasting effects on the supervisees. The qualitative approach to this study allows for a how and why analysis of racial micro-aggressions. This method also allows for interviews, observat ions and interaction between the author and each participant. Qualitative methods also allow for the discussion of feelings in this study versus straight facts. The studys procedure was to select a group of doctoral students in clinical supervision who had experience with this phenomenon. The criteria for participation in the study was a Black supervisee relationship with a White supervisor within the past two years, a belief that subtle racism exists, and personal experience with racism in supervision. Ten Black supervisees volunteered for this studyeight females and two males, eight identified as African American, one West Indian and one Black Dominican American, ages ranging from 25 to 38. Six of the supervisees said that their supevisor was a White woman, and the other four said their supervisor was a White man. An interview protocol was created, including literature on aversive racism, racial micro-aggression, cross-cultural and multicultural supervision and supervision outcomes, racial identity theory, and Black Americans experiences of racism. The interviews took place in a private office and ranged from 60-95 minutes. None of the par ticipants were reported to have an adverse reaction to the interview, and none of the participants were compensated for their participation. The interviewer chose to use the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the goal of which is to explore in detail the processes participants use to make sense of their experiences. However, with this type of analysis, the participants interpretations are bound by their ability to express their thoughts and describe their experiences. The primary researcher read over the transcripts several times to obtain a further understanding of each participants account and identified specific passages that seemed most helpful. The researcher constantly referred back to these passages, comparing them with the other participants accounts to identify common themes. Seven themes were found by Constantine and Sue (2007) which are invalidating racial-cultural issues, making stereotypic assumptions about Black clients, making stereotypic assumptions about Black supervisees, reluctance to give performance feedback for fear of being viewed as racism, focusing primarily on clinical weakness, blaming clients of color for problems stemming from oppression, and offering culturally insensitive treatment recommendations (pp. 142-153). Elaborating on these themes, invalidating racial-cultural issues meant that many of the Black supervisees in this study indicated that their White supervisors minimized, dismissed, or avoided discussing racial-cultural issues. Making stereotypic assumptions about Black clients was reported by several Black supervisees, indicating that their supervisors believed various stereotypes about Black clients. Making stereotypic assumptions about Black supervisees meant that supervisees were offended because their supervisors upheld blatant stereotypes, and attempts at open discussion were to no avail. Reluctance to give performance feedback for fear of being viewed as racist meant that many supervisors did not give feedback for fear of being labeled as such (Constantine Sue, 2007). Focusing primarily on clinical weakness was reported by supervisees who stated that their supervisors focused on their weaknesses with no feedback regarding their strengths. Blaming clients of color for problems stemming from oppression was derived from supervisors blaming clients for their difficulties instead of directly addressing issues of racism; clients were told to accept the fact that racism exists and to deal with it. Offering culturally insensitive treatment recommendations meant that supervisors treatment recommendations were not sensitive to Black culture when they dealt with clients family members ((Constantine Sue, 2007, pp. 142-153). As a Black man in a White majority environment, I experience micro-aggressions all the time, but this study was difficult to execute because it dealt mostly with the subjects feelings. The presence of micro-aggressions cannot necessarily be proven, and that makes them hard to address. That is also one weakness of this article. The strengths of this article are in both the group that was chosen and the pool of questions they were asked. These questions, combined with the themes and the referring to specific experiences by the participants gave the study credibility. Gaenter and Dovidio (2005), state: This dilemma reflects the tension between central principles of equality and fairness in the society and the daily operation of systematic prejudice and discrimination, at an individual and societal level, which produces racial inequality and reinforces racial disparities (p. 617). Schools are responsible for more than the overt transmission of knowledge, as they also participate in socializing students into approved norms and values. If there are implicit thought or a hidden curriculum being delivered by the instructor schools can transmit lessons that were not intended. However, transmission of this hidden curriculum is not obvious to its participants, nor is it expressed in stated educational objectives. Educators seek to make this hidden curriculum apparent in order to eliminate bias and ensure equity. Fear and its development How and when does fear develop? These are the core questions to this study. In order to ensure the issue of fear and its development is addressed to the latter, I included contributions of four human development theorists. The purpose is to compare and contrast their views on fear. I will analyze their contributions and relate them to the effect fear has on success and failure of students whether in class work or other extracurricular activities in school. The four theorists and their theories are: Jean Piagets cognitive development theory, Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs, B. F. Skinners behavioral operant, and Albert Banduras reciprocal determinism. From Piagets cognitive development, I will examine the sensorimotor stage: from birth to age 2 years (children experience the world through movement and senses and learn object permanence), the preoperational stage: from ages 2 to 7 (acquisition of motor skills), the concrete operational stage: from ages 7 to 11 (children begin to think logically about concrete events), and the formal operational stage: after age 11 (development of abstract reasoning). From Maslows hierarchy of needs, Maslow arranged needs in a hierarchy in terms of their potency. Although all needs are instinctive, some are more powerful than others. The lower the need is in the pyramid, the more powerful is the drive to meet it. The higher the need, the weaker its force and the more distinctly human it becomes. The lower needs on the pyramid are similar to those possessed by non-human animals, but only humans possess the higher needs. From Skinners behavioral operant, the study focuses on the organism's response to its environment while from Albert Bandura, I will examine reciprocal determinism. I will use all four theories to examine and compare two types of students and two types of athletes. The first type of athlete performs well in a game but not in practice; the second athlete does well in practice but not in the game. Similarly, the first type of student does well on tests but not on homework assignments, and the second does well on homework assignments but not on tests. Jean Piagets cognitive development theory Piagets theory of cognitive development was highly acclaimed and widely used in the field of developmental psychology. Its main concern was the growth of intelligence. Piagets definition of intelligence was the ability to accurately represent the world and to perform logical operations on representations of concepts grounded in the world. His theory uses schemata to describe how a persons view of the world changes as he or she develops mentally. Let us look at the two types of students and athletes in relation to the four theories, starting first with the athlete who performs well in a game but not in practice. Piaget and the Athlete The knowledge of biological sciences is important in understanding the development of fear. In biological terms, the existence of fear may indicate the presence of change to the normal structure or operation of the body, and fear may also indicate an imbalance in the bodys proper functioning. Does an athlete equate his or her advancements on the field with the same cognitive growth as in the classroom, or does he or she excel on the field but fail to bring those skills into the classroom? Piagets assimilation-accommodation model of cognitive growth emphasizes the active, constructive nature of a child. His model allows one to view cognitive development as a gradual, step-by-step process of structural acquisition and change, with each new mental structure growing out of its predecessor through the continuous operation of assimilation and accommodation. Flavell (1996) summarizes Piagets views on this subject and he points out that children are not empty slates that take what the environment offers without passively and without choosing. According to Flavell, Children posse reasoning abilities that enable them to selects the input that is meaningful to them. More so, they have the ability to represent and transform what they select so that it can reflect their cognitive structures Flavell (1996). Therefore, according to Piaget, childrens cognitive structures determine what take or ignore. The cognitive structures in children enable them to assimilate what they take from their environments and consequently this make them manufactures of their own development (p. 998). This means that children notice what is important to them; they notice what seems to define them or bring them meaning. So the question is at what point does a child place more importance on his or her performance on the field rather than in the classroom? A child interprets actions and words not necessarily how they were intended, but how they will help the child believe in him- or herself. As the childs body changes, his or her mind changes also, but there must be a balance between physical and mental development. (Jones, 2004 Piagets Cultural Aspect A culture is primarily comprised of its surrounding, structured environment. Our family, friends, religious beliefs, and the languages we speak give us our identity. Piaget recognized that a childs cognitive behavior is intrinsically rather than extrinsically motivated. He also recognized that the cognition of an individual is impacted by his or her environment; he believed that to some degree, social reinforcements affect a childs curiosity and cognitive exploration, that is, that children are built to think and learn (Flavell, 1996). Piagets ideas point towards the importance of environment in the development of a childs mind. Development is the key concept, as a child adapts to and assimilates culturally and biologically to what is presented to him or her on day to day life. Maslow and the Hierarchy of Needs Maslows hierarchy of needs is a theory that psychologists, sociologists and educators can use to help them understand how a given individual chooses to act (Jones, 2004). Maslows theory encompasses physical needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs and the need for self-actualization. Can Maslows hierarchy of needs be used only in the fields of psychology, sociology, and education, or can it be applied to specific settings? This theory is based on the assumption that all people have the desire to maximize their potential and strive to do what they are capable of doing. It also point out that after individuals meet the needs in the four lower categories, they will then strive to meet the needs in the fifth category (Jones, 2004). In this category, a person strives to meet the need to excel at something, which can involve choosing to act differently (Jones, 2004, p. 1). Also at this point in the needs hierarchy, fear or discouragement is learned. It is also at this point that a student or athlete relates his or her self-worth, value, morals and hard work to his or her performance in society, whether on the field or in the classroom. Fear and anxiety is believed to be more in the fifth level since the student has gained popularity and slight mistake could be very effect to his/her social life, class or in the field if the popularity is from sporting activities. Maslows Hierarchy and Biological Concept In biological tterms, life depends on an organism ability to meet its physiological and safety needs. Physiological needs, as described by Maslow and stated by Jones (2004), include food, water, clothing, security and sleep, they are by far the strongest and highly motivational (p. 2) factors. The physiological needs are necessary for life to begin and to continue. The drive and will to have these needs met will highly motivate an individual. Safety needs are another category of needs in which human beings are motivated by instinct. Knowing one is safe from harm, now or in the future, brings a sense of relief to the human mind (Boeree, 2006). This relief does not only come with physical safety but also with emotional safety. Jones (2004) states: For example, one person may avoid another person who poses an emotional threat whether may it be through intimidation or manipulation (p. 2). If a person is hungry and does not feel safe, he or she will not have the confidence to achieve a goal; if a person feels that his or her life is constantly in danger, it is likely that person will not learn about his or her abilities. All these fears have negative impacts to the ability of an individual to implement certain obligations as expected. Maslows Hierarchy and Cultural Concept The highest level of Maslows hierarchy is self-actualization. Jones (2004) describes it as the level where a person achieves competence in a certain undertaking or masters certain skills in his/her line of duty. Jones point out self actualization is more that being good at something. This is actually what makes ones soul satisfied and once the stage is reached there is no room for more improvements. This the best stage for an individual to make behavioral change since one is in control of what is happening in his/her environment. During other hierarchical stages life is full of challenges and making serious behavioral change is not possible Jones (2004). A person cannot reach this level of self-actualization if the first four need levels are not met and confidence is not established. Additionally, a child has the cognitive ability to learn from his surroundings and culture. Therefore it is evident that a child learns or feels that which is necessary to him, and fear can be one of those things (Bar-On, Maree, Elias, Maurice, (2007). If confidence is not obtained or introduced during the lower phases of Maslows hierarchy, another reaction will take its place. As each categorys needs fails to be met, a hesitation or pause occurs in the childs development before he or she moves to the next level of needs. My question is, will fear fill the void and remove the desire for a person to pursue higher goals? The answer to this question should be got by the completion of the study. B.F. Skinner and Behavioral Operant Boeree (2006) observes that Skinners entire system is based on operant conditioning. The organism is in the process of operating on the environment, which in ordinary terms means it is bouncing around its world, doing what it does. During this operating, the organism encounters a special kind of stimulus called a reinforcing stimulus, or simply, a rein forcer. This special stimulus has the effect of increasing the operant-that is, the behavior occurringjust before the reinforcing take place. This is operant conditioning: the behavior is followed by a consequence, and the nature of the consequence modifies the organisms tendency to repeat the behavior in the future (Boeree, 2006, p. 4). Although Skinners research initially used rats, his intention was to understand human beings. Skinners research showed that positive feedback is essential, but to what degree does positive feedback affect performance in the classroom or on the field? As Boeree (2006) states, positive (or in some cases negative) feedback can contribute to Skinners idea of shaping, or the method of successive approximations (p. 6). Although in many cases the two men had very different views, some of Skinners work can be traced to Sigmund Freud. Overskied (2007) states that Indeed, Freud and Skinner had many things in common, including basic assumptions shaped by positivism and determinism. Most important, Skinner took a clear interest in psychoanalysis. Freud in many areas, such as dreams, symbolism, metaphor use, and defense mechanisms, influenced his views. Skinner drew direct parallels to Freud in his analysis of conscious versus unconscious control of behavior and of selection by consequences (p. 590). Skinner felt that some types of behavior could be adapted by appealing to defense mechanisms. Skinner also believed that phobias are caused by despair, and that religious zeal stems from phobia formation as do many excessively vigorous behaviors. Skinner also stated that central aspects of his own views of punishment concurred with Freuds view of repression; his discussion of human behavior also included a connection between repression and denial. Overskied (2007) also points out that Skinner believed verbal behaviors frequently suggest an escape from suppressing forces (p. 593). Albert Bandura Albert Banduras study of behavior indicated that an individuals environment can affect the way he thinks and acts. Boeree (2006) describes Bandura as finding the cause of some phenomena such as aggression in adolescents, as more complicated than environment causing behavior. He therefore added to the model suggesting that environment causes behavior and behavior causes environment too. He called this reciprocal determinism. From there, Bandura proposed that there are three factors in the formation of personality namely environment, behavior, and a persons psychological process. By adding these terms, Bandura theorized much more effectively about two things that many consider the strong suit of the human species:observational learning (modeling) and self-regulation (Boeree, 2006). Banduras Bobo Doll studies show the effects of observational modeling and learning. Bandura used a blow-up doll with a particular face on it and filmed a woman punching, kicking, and hitting the doll while yelling, Sockeroo! This film was shown to a group of kindergartners who enjoyed the film. The kindergartners were then released into a room containing several of the dolls, and, as expected, they hit, kicked and punched the doll (Boeree, 2006). These children changed their behavior without first being rewarded for approximations to that behavior.While that may not seem extraordinary to the average parent, teacher, or casual observer of children, it did not fit with standard Behaviorist learning theory. He called the phenomenon observational learning or observational modeling, yet, this theory is usually referred to as social learning theory (Boeree, 2006). After conducting a number of these experiments, Bandura observed specific steps in the modeling process. These steps were attention, retention, reproduction and motivation. The Importance of Adults Parents play a large role in childrens lives, from the youngest who are not yet sure of life, to the middle-aged following a path, to older children near the end of their journey of development. In the beginning of this journey and even throughout it, parents play a role in establishing who their children are and/or may become in life. As stated by McDevitt and Ormrod (2002), Parents (like all human beings) may entertain two inconsistent beliefs at the same time without acknowledging or wrestling with the inconsistency (p. 480). For example, if a set of rules is established by a group of parents, when those rules are enforced on one particular parents child, that parent will soon find fault in those same rules. Furthermore, parents (again, like all human beings) work hard to protect their own self-image (McDevitt Ormrod, 2002, p. 480) which is reflected in their own children. For the child, the fight for independence must be won to sharpen the childs decision-making skills. The parents role in this process is to supply needed realism and adult perspective to their childs decision-making. McDevitt and Ormrod (2002) assert that by observing his or her accomplishments and/or through the development of self-efficacy, the child internalizes a sense of satisfaction that is necessary for maintaining initiative. However, the child will develop guilt regarding personal needs and desires when a supervising adult discourages him or her from completing a goal independently. As a result, the child questions what he or she is actually capable of, and may reshape future actions taking initiative and taking on challenging goals, which in turn may not reflect the childs natural abilities, but a more limited repetition (McDevitt Ormrod, 2002). The curriculum artifact that I have chosen to analyze is the hidden curriculum. The word hidden means that the school, whether it realizes it or not, gives the student(s) information that is not within the official curriculum. This information can be transmitted by the staff associating and socializing with the students, suggesting that they accept certain beliefs or values. Educational leaders must try to reveal these hidden lessons in fear that create bias and in turn create an unequal learning environment. Because this curriculum is social in nature, its content is revealed at modeling level, where the social environment or cultural climate allows it to continue (Overskied, 2007). Culture We do not know how the practices that occur in local communities add up beyond particular subsets of culture to form larger patterns; some big-pattern aspects of culture may not be simply the invention of a cultural analyst but may exist in the world. Moreover, we think of general patterns of culture without presuming that those broadly distributed patterns add up to a single whole: the culture of each whole society, or one culture for each social group within a society. However, the culture of an individual will directly affect the way he or she perceives his/her experiences in life. Bullying can be thought of as changing the patterns or growth of an individual in a negative manner with long-term effects. The impact of ongoing bullying can be long-lasting and devastating for the bullied person (Townend, 2007, p.70). Shame placed on an individual or community may contribute to negative growth. Hunter (2004) points out that Shame is not the result of our doing something bad and feeling awful about it. Shame occurs as a result of feeling responsible for something we did not do, which is why it is so paralyzing (p. 122). The claim that shame adequately designates a single system of effect is debatable; however, it serves as a starting point for exploring a systematic link between social effect and relationship (Tiedens Leach, 2004, p. 65). Researchers Kaiser and Major (Tiedens Leach, p. 65), purport that in society, some social groups are valued and respected, while others are devalued and disrespected; some social groups are provided with educational or employment opportunities and others are denied the same opportunities (p. 270). Stiff and Van Vugt (2008) put forth that reputations influence an individuals decisions concerning with whom he will interact and who he will avoid (p. 156). Bar-On, Maree, and Elias (2007) argue the importance of emotional intelligence in creating relationships, as emotional intelligence allows one to be aware of ones emotions and oneself in general, to understand ones strengths and weaknesses, and to be able to express ones feelings non-destructively (p. 2). Although an external influence, practices consistently reinforced in a community or society will contribute to the internal motivation of a childs developing mind and this includes fear. Buy custom Theories of Societal Development essay