Influence of Reference Groups Essay Example for Free

Influence of Reference Groups Essay When you think about reference groups, there are a number of perspectives that one has to consider. According to Hawkins (2010), a reference group is a group whose presumed perspectives or values are being used by an individual as the basis for his or her current behavior. Thus, a reference group is simply a group that an individual uses as a guide for behavior in a specific situation (p. 227). Groups may be classified according to a number of variables. Four criteria are particularly useful: membership, strength of social tie, type of contact, and attraction. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. A sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominately Black college educated women, the Sorority currently has over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. The Sorority was founded in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University. These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities (Delta Sigma Theta, 2010). Delta Sigma Theta’s website is about heritage. This site speaks volumes about how these women wanted to be a part of an organization that consists of excellence. These women have a lifetime membership within the sorority. The influence that this organization has, as well as the site, is remarkable. The information on this site will allow younger women that have the desire to go to college and be a part of an organization that helps one excel, not only in school, but also in the workforce as well. This site has all the criteria of a basic reference group. The social ties that this organization has within the world are by far the best for young women that are willing to be a part of change. People that have â€Å"made it† when it comes to financial stability may feel that they are affluent in the society. There are people that have made millions and they do stand alone when it comes to affording â€Å"the better things† in life. Bentley’s website is attractive because the vehicle shows class. The influence that this vehicle has on a person’s financial status is undoubtedly the car of all cars. A Bentley is unmistakable – all it takes is a glance at the twin headlights, matrix grille or the high waistline to know one. The paradox of the car is that although it is instantly recognizable, it takes time and effort to hand-build each one. That’s the assured Bentley hallmark. A hand-built car using the finest quality natural materials takes time. Yet, while others may do things ‘meticulously’ or ‘painstakingly’, Bentley has always been about passion. In fact, our entire reputation rests on the experienced skills and passion of our people, handed down through generations. Many of our people say that they work on each Bentley as if it were going to be their car. They want to get it right. It’s no wonder that every machinist who creates a set of upholstery signs the back of it with his or her initials (Bentley, 2010). Once again Bentley’s website is about class and luxury. This site tells a story about smoothness when it comes to highway. There is nothing like being comfortable while traveling on highway or down the street to the mailbox. People that are attractive to the glitz and glamour will definitely enjoy riding either in the backseat of a spacious vehicle or driving behind the wheel. The six-time success at Le Mans has made Bentley more than a car it has come to stand for a way of doing things: with spirit, flair, courage, instinctive intelligence and teamwork. Endurance racing has always been a way for us to test, strengthen and improve the cars.

Anarchy :: essays papers

Anarchy Anarchy is the theory of life and conduct under which social interactions exist without government interference or assistance. It is not chaos, nor terrorism, and has no connection to senseless violence; anarchy is simply existing without being governed. Harmony in such a society would be obtained not by submission to laws, or by obedience to any form of authority, but by freely entered agreements between individuals. The United States has strong ties to anarchy, a rather paradoxical situation. It was conceived by, and is even to this day constantly being refined by anarchists; people who maintain the view that the highest attainment of humanity is the freedom of individuals to express themselves unhindered by any form of external repression. Men such as the likes of Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers, whose views can best be summarized in something he preached, "If you think people incapable of exercising their choices with wholesome discretion, the solution is not to take away their choices, but to inform their discretion." So where did the concept of anarchy come from? Could it be inherent in human nature, a hold over from adolescence perhaps? Could it be people are naturally opposed to being told what to do? Abraham Lincoln, during the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, said something that summarizes human view towards being governed, "No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent." The modern concept of anarchy as being a sort of ethical civil society came during the French Revolution, around 1848. A man named Pierre Joseph Pfoudhon envisioned a society in which people's ethical nature and sense of moral responsibility would be so highly developed that government would be unnecessary to regulate and protect society, and is thus credited with fathering modern anarchy. Anarchy requires a lot of commitment on the part of the individual. How does the old saying go With freedom comes responsibility. On an individual level, no one wishes to be dominated, but at the same time the individual does not want to be infringed upon by others. A Russian-American anarchist and women's rights activist named Emma Goldman wrote, "I want full freedom and cooperation to evolve as a human being, to gain wisdom and knowledge." She does not refer to freedom of others, merely herself. Greed of freedoms is understandable because it is so hard to trust others to always do what is good. Socrates might respond, "To know the good is to do the good." Can the idea of an ethical civil society, a term coined by Adam Michnik in Anarchy :: essays papers Anarchy Anarchy is the theory of life and conduct under which social interactions exist without government interference or assistance. It is not chaos, nor terrorism, and has no connection to senseless violence; anarchy is simply existing without being governed. Harmony in such a society would be obtained not by submission to laws, or by obedience to any form of authority, but by freely entered agreements between individuals. The United States has strong ties to anarchy, a rather paradoxical situation. It was conceived by, and is even to this day constantly being refined by anarchists; people who maintain the view that the highest attainment of humanity is the freedom of individuals to express themselves unhindered by any form of external repression. Men such as the likes of Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers, whose views can best be summarized in something he preached, "If you think people incapable of exercising their choices with wholesome discretion, the solution is not to take away their choices, but to inform their discretion." So where did the concept of anarchy come from? Could it be inherent in human nature, a hold over from adolescence perhaps? Could it be people are naturally opposed to being told what to do? Abraham Lincoln, during the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, said something that summarizes human view towards being governed, "No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent." The modern concept of anarchy as being a sort of ethical civil society came during the French Revolution, around 1848. A man named Pierre Joseph Pfoudhon envisioned a society in which people's ethical nature and sense of moral responsibility would be so highly developed that government would be unnecessary to regulate and protect society, and is thus credited with fathering modern anarchy. Anarchy requires a lot of commitment on the part of the individual. How does the old saying go With freedom comes responsibility. On an individual level, no one wishes to be dominated, but at the same time the individual does not want to be infringed upon by others. A Russian-American anarchist and women's rights activist named Emma Goldman wrote, "I want full freedom and cooperation to evolve as a human being, to gain wisdom and knowledge." She does not refer to freedom of others, merely herself. Greed of freedoms is understandable because it is so hard to trust others to always do what is good. Socrates might respond, "To know the good is to do the good." Can the idea of an ethical civil society, a term coined by Adam Michnik in

An Evaluation of Immanuel Kant’s “The Enlightenment”

In the essay â€Å"What is Enlightenment,† Immanuel Kant (1784) cited his views on â€Å"enlightenment† and how it affects the general public. He wrote:  Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of understanding, but in lack of resolve and courage to use it without guidance from another.Kant asserted that it is only after an individual liberates himself from guidance of others that he will be able to use the freedom he wants to exercise. In carrying out his duty, for example, man can argue but he cannot revolt as it most definitely will result to failure.Public and Private ReasoningTalking about achievement of enlightenment, Kant identified two types of reasoning: public and private. Public reasoning is being utilized when an individual makes an argument for the purpose of marking progress. On t he other hand, rational workers who use reason in completing their specific jobs exercise private reasoning as the public need not know about their use of reasoning. Besides, people who make use of private reasoning must know how to obey otherwise the completion of the task is impossible.Many examples have been cited by Kant in explaining the difference between public and private reasoning. An example is when military men refused to follow commands. If this happens, their group could no longer be considered military. In a different case, a soldier may follow commands which contrast his personal beliefs but later on will critique what he believes. In this example, he exercises private reasoning in following the commands while his public use of reasoning is demonstrated in voicing out his complaints.As Lewis Beck (1959) wrote:Kant seemed to favor public reasoning over private reasoning as he stated that the public use of one’s reason alone can bring about enlightenment among me n. The private use of reason, on the other hand, may often be very narrowly restricted without particularly hindering the progress of enlightenment.  An example involving clergymen and the case of changing the symbol of the church was provided. Kant described clergyman’s performance of duties as a private use of reason while making use of public reasoning in fulfilling his responsibilities to the public in making progress. He stated, â€Å"For if he believed he had found such in them, he could not conscientiously discharge the duties of his office; he would have to give it up.†Enlightened Age or Age of Enlightenment?According to Kant, we do not live in an enlightened age, but rather an age of enlightenment. He stressed:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"As things now stand, much is lacking which prevents men form being, or easily becoming, capable of correctly using their own reason in religious matters with assurance and free from outside direction. But, on the other hand, we have clear in dications that the field has now been opened wherein men may freely deal with these things and that the obstacles to general enlightenment or the release from self-imposed tutelage are gradually being reduced.†His assertion gave a clearer picture of the difference between an enlightened age and an age of enlightenment. In the former, people become religious without clergymen because they would know when to follow rules and when to disobey them. During the age of enlightenment, however, people make progress by utilizing both kinds of reasoning which eventually results in competence or the balance of both public and private use of reason. We must know how to determine when it is right to obey and right to argue. It enables us to become the managers of our own freedom.Strengths and Weaknesses of Kant’s ArgumentsKant offered several brilliant ideas in his essay. Specifically, his notions about public and private use of reasoning help us gain management of our own freedom. A nd if we know how to live by the rules of reasoning, we will be competent. This later on translates into moving closer to an enlightened age.  While there are really good points in his work, I disagree with some of his views. I personally do not approve of the statement that an enlightened individual should be one who is free of having anything done for him. I strongly believe that man is naturally dependent of other people. We as social beings still have to learn from others and must know how to follow rules in the society. It is never wrong to accept the guidance of others as long as we know that it will eventually result to marking personal progress which shall then help in recording societal progress. ReferencesBeck, Lewis. Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals. Kant, Immanuel. What is Enlightenment. Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis, 1959.Beck, Lewis. Studies in the Philosophy of Kany. New York: Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis, 1956.

Richard Nixon Essay - 628 Words

Richard Nixon History will inevitably forgive Richard Nixon. Despite his obvious unlawful mistakes, he made a good president. Until 1968, most Americans saw Richard Nixon as a political has-been, a dour pre-McCarthy hunter of Communists. In 1968, however, Nixon won the Presidency by presenting himself as a healer of divisions. He demonstrated that he had greater ability to reinvent himself than any other modern politician. More than any other figure between the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his own resignation in 1974, Nixon was the pivotal postwar President. The architect of detente, he also was the President who ordered secret bombing raids on Laos and Cambodia and then invaded Cambodia. The architect of the conservative†¦show more content†¦He repudiated his anti-Communist past and became the first US president to visit the Soviet Union when he traveled to Moscow in May of 1972. He sought peace with the opposing super-power and initiated negotiations with the Soviet Union to limit nuclear weapons, which resulted in the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT). At the same time, he was making secret contact with the other great communist nation, the Peoples Republic of China, which he visited publicly in February 1972, thus opening official diplomatic relations with China for the first time since the communist takeover in 1949. But no#8212;Nixon is not remembered for his good deeds; the mistakes he made seem to overshadow his accomplishments. Nixon never committed perjury before a Grand Jury. Nixon never had oral sex in the Oval Office with an intern half his age. Nixon never tampered with witnesses who could testify to such an affair. Nixon never sent his wife on national television to blame all his problems on a vast left-wing conspiracy--although a much better case couldve been made - the Left wing media loathed Nixon ever since he uncovered Alger Hiss in 1948. Nixon never sold nuclear missile technology to the Communist Chinese in exchange for illegal camp aign contributions. They have a word for that; it is called treason. Nixon neverShow MoreRelatedRichard Nixon : The Silent1491 Words   |  6 PagesRichard Nixon was a president that dealt with many problems while he was in office, such as Vietnam, China, and civil rights. Nixon was a great politician and appeared to want the best for America. In Nixon s silent majority speech he wanted to end the war in vietnam while sparing the â€Å"democratic† citizens in southern Vietnam, but for him to do this he needed to bargain with the citizens of America and the leaders of the western world in order to accomplish his goals without too many problems, suchRead MorePardon of Richard Nixon1193 Words   |  5 PagesControversial Pardon of Richard Nixon HIST102 American History Since 1877 Instructor: 22 February 2014 Former President Richard Nixon is most well-known for his role in the Watergate crisis in the early 1970’s. The Watergate crisis started in June of 1972, when the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters was broke into by members of Nixon’s re-election committee. The press took this breaking news and began to dig deeper into what the Whitehouse (President Nixon) was hiding. Over theRead MoreThe Legacy Of Richard Nixon1104 Words   |  5 PagesRichard Nixon, though created a large credibility gap within the US, he accomplished a lot for the country. He served five years in the presidential office as a republican (1969-1974), and he was the only president to resign from office in history. Although through his presidency he had accomplished many things, such as creating revenue sharing, ending the draft, and creating anticrime laws, he still had a rough time rebuilding his reputation after many assumptions of corruption in his office. ThoughRead MoreThe Presiden cy Of Richard Nixon1856 Words   |  8 Pagesthe 1970s, under President Richard Nixon, the people felt the first serious inflation since after World War II. Also under Nixon, a scandal of political sabotage caused fear and mistrust towards the government. The crises in the 1970s represented the first time in American history when the public perceived their government had fail them and it did through mistrust in the government, foreign crises, and a strong decline in the economy. Under the presidency of Richard Nixon, a wide-spread of fear withinRead MoreEssay Richard Nixon1491 Words   |  6 PagesRichard Nixon Born in 1913 in Yorba Linda, California, Richard Milhouse Nixon was raised in a Quaker home with his four brothers, mother and father. His family led a docile life by abstaining from all dancing, swearing, drinking and other common Quaker practices (Barron 12). Financially, the family struggled and he could not afford to attend Harvard University even with a full-ride scholarship. Instead, Nixon enrolled at Whittier College, a popular Quaker college close to home (Barron 39). NixonRead MorePresident Nixon : President Richard Nixon Essay1878 Words   |  8 Pagesbe the downfall of President Richard Nixon. Nixon had a significant amount of experience in government before becoming president, which ultimately influenced how domestic policy, economic policy, and foreign policy was shaped during his tenure. I. EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE PRESIDENCY: As documented by the Miller Center, Richard Nixon’s start in national politics began in the late 40s with his successful campaign for the House of Representatives in California (Richard Nixon: Life Before the Presidency)Read More Richard Nixon Essay2727 Words   |  11 PagesRichard Nixon The President of the United States is often considered the most powerful elected official in the world. The President leads a nation of great wealth and military strength. Presidents have often provided decisive leadership in times of crisis, and they have shaped many important events in history. The President has many roles and performs many duties. As chief executive, the President makes sure that federal laws are enforced. As commander in chief of the nations armed forcesRead MoreNixon Vs. President Richard M. Nixon1304 Words   |  6 PagesTrace Haven Mrs. Molzahn American Literature May 17, 2017 Nixon vs. People   Ã‚  Ã‚   President Richard M. Nixon once said, â€Å" I can see clearly now†¦ that I was wrong in not acting more decisively and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate† (Watergate Quotes). The Watergate scandal began when five men attempted to break into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Complex. The government had to create an act in order to have the right to view all surveillance footageRead More Richard Nixon and the Election of 19691107 Words   |  5 PagesRichard Nixon and the Election of 1969   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Richard Nixon, was born on January 9th, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. Fifty-six years after he was born he became the 37th president of the United States. In the election Nixon only defeated the democratic candidate, Hubert Humphrey, by about 500,000 in the popular vote. Nixon is considered one of the most controversial politicians of the twentieth century. He used his political experience, his background, the communist scare of the late fortiesRead MoreEssay about Richard Nixon1343 Words   |  6 PagesLARSEN//PD7 RICHARD NIXON 11/26 Richard Nixon; the name alone brings to mind terrible words along the lines of scandal and failure. Nixon was the 37th president of the United States. He was also the first and last president to resign from office. However, the scandals leading to Nixon’s resignation definitely overshadowed his humble beginnings and the accomplishments he made as president during the notorious decades of the Cold War. Richard Milhous Nixon was born to Francis and Hannah Nixon on January