Theories we love and we try to understand

[learninshweta]

We all have read so many theories in our lifetime, courtesy – so many disciplines to study, such as, physics, chemistry, math, psychology etc.

A lot of times we are able to understand them, not understand them, mis-understand them or love them coz we can relate so much to them. Why relate, coz:
1. you too have felt the same before, “o my gawd! I thought I was the original thinker!”
2. they amazed you just once again at the capabilities of the human mind!

In my school days, I abhorred these theorists but now I feel marveled anytime I come across one because of the above mentioned reasons.

So, this thread is open to you to share your favorite theory and do follow the below mentioned pattern to explain it.

Discipline:
Name of the theory and Publishing Date:
The Theorist:
The Real Theory: (explain as briefly as possible)
Why YOU got amazed by it:

And in case you feel lost – write your own theory

What according to you is a theory anyway,
- a thought process??,
- just another gimmick by those 'oh, I am so amazing' celebrities OR
- another complication in life??

[learninshweta]

For the starters, below mentioned is one of my fav one:

Discipline: Psychology

Name of the theory and Date: Client-centered therapy, 1951

The Theorist: Carl Rogers

The Real Theory: Now this therapy has come from a theory of his which says that ‘ALL living organisms are not intrinsically evil, they do their best towards others and themselves’. In this, he beautifully describes the need of positive regards and how a person becomes incongruent if he/she’s not able to fulfill the ‘conditions of worth’
His therapy included a technique called ‘reflection’ or ‘mirroring the client’. In this, the basic values to be taken care of are – Congruence, Empathy and Respect towards a suffering client. A must read!!

Why I got amazed: because this technique not only assisted me in realizing the importance of a positive regard to all and myself but also that it made me feel the importance of the above mentioned virtues, i.e., congruence, empathy and respect towards others!!
Now, this has assisted me in – resolving/managing conflicts, avoiding a state of self-denial. I might not always succeed (with the given violent traits of my personality ), however, a lot of times I stay controlled too!




For further reference, click here:
Carl Rogers

[the_egonomist]

Must say it has been an interesting read. Though I admit some of it did go over my head.

Getting positive regard on “on condition” Rogers calls conditional positive regard. Because we do indeed need positive regard, these conditions are very powerful, and we bend ourselves into a shape determined, not by our organismic valuing or our actualizing tendency, but by a society that may or may not truly have our best interests at heart. A “good little boy or girl” may not be a healthy or happy boy or girl!

Such behaviour arises from parents mistakingly encouraging kids to perform with material rewards. The result being that this kids become inherently wrong in equating success with materialism. The way I perceive it is that this conditional positive regard propagates the very fiber of materialism.

There are few who recognize the incongruity that exists in their lives. Hence, the need for people to reinvent themselves. This often leads to people getting into spirituality, charity, major life changing decisions etc.

Like I said fascinating.

Comments/ Observations?

Cheers.

[learninshweta]

Originally Posted by the_egonomist

Such behaviour arises from parents mistakingly encouraging kids to perform with material rewards. The result being that this kids become inherently wrong in equating success with materialism. The way I perceive it is that this conditional positive regard propagates the very fiber of materialism.

>>Yes, this is a very common, well-proven myth that rewarding a person for doing somehing good leads to he/she becoming materialistic. I don't completely oppose it either, however, what I do agree to is that if a person does something good, the person deserves, the least of all, an applause at least.
Yes, you would be right when you say 'an everytime reward' is not good coz it can lead to spamming .
And as Einstein says, "If people are good only because they fear punishment or expect a reward then we are a sorry lot indeed!"
A pat on the back too is a reward, isn't it??

[learninshweta]

Hey, I came across another one today. Here it goes...

Discipline: Management

Name: Stovepipe Management

The theory: It talks about the hierarchy of an organisation when it is structured like a 'stovepipe'. This structure restricts the channel of communication from up to down only. This originates through a rigid succession of the defined roles which arouses through distrust towards others, cultural values or if there are multiple sites for the same kind of work.
The structure not only suffocates the staff due to lack of explicit communication between both ends (which ultimately leads to attrition) but also decapitates the growth of the organization.

Why I got amazed: because I could so easily relate to it. Now, I am not bad-mouthing any organization. I am sure we all have come across something like this at some point of time.
Also, it makes me believe in the value of constant communication!!

[the_egonomist]

Originally Posted by learninshweta

Hey, I came across another one today. Here it goes...
The structure not only suffocates the staff due to lack of explicit communication between both ends (which ultimately leads to attrition) but also decapitates the growth of the organization.

While I completely agree with your take, some companies which have ISO certification do need to maintain channels of communication. Its pointless but it has to be done.

Moreover, a corporation which is big does need to have an official communication. After all thats the way scape goats are made and how unscrupulous employees are caught

Cheers.

[learninshweta]

Originally Posted by the_egonomist

While I completely agree with your take, some companies which have ISO certification do need to maintain channels of communication. Its pointless but it has to be done.

Moreover, a corporation which is big does need to have an official communication. After all thats the way scape goats are made and how unscrupulous employees are caught

Cheers.

ISO certification?? This theory doesn't have a connection to it!! ISO just talks about documentation of every project – what and how it holds daily routines. And it is important


Let me give an example, Department 'A' runs:

• team-meetings regularly – they discuss issues, brain-storm ideas for improvement of the process,
• whenever somebody comes up with an idea, it is shared with all and, if required, everybody's views are considered.
• they indulge in 'Best Practice Sharing' and
• believe in a 360 degree feedback – a concept, where feedback is given by all and by everybody.

Atmosphere: happy, friendly

Whereas, the Department 'B' runs and has:

• constant accusations because nobody was ever consulted before the project was to run and it just went awry.
• threatened people because they just don't know that what needs to be done or are never clear of the objectives and anybody can blame them anytime.
• people fettered to their seats.

Atmosphere: __________ fill in the blank!

One more activity for you...which department belongs to the stove-pipe one.

Also, you can see traits of this in those families too where children are treated as children always where papa says, "do homework only, right now." instead of asking, "you do understand my reasons for asking you to study, don't you."

[estranged_gnrs]

Discipline: Sociology
Name of the theory and Publishing Date: Broken Windows in March 1982
The Theorist: James Wilson , George Kelling
The Real Theory: (explain as briefly as possible) :
"Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside. Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars." Read more here

Why YOU got amazed by it: I came to know about this theory while reading "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Being a moderator at PaGaLGuY.com , this theory helps me everyday. The moment you allow a profane word, or any of the things which are not acceptable to the community, the unacceptable spreads and after sometime it becomes the norm.

I apply this theory not just at PaGaLGuY.com but in relationships and work as well.

Cheers,
Rohit

[learninshweta]

What according to you is a theory anyway,
- a thought process??,
- just another gimmick by those 'oh, I am so amazing' celebrities OR
- another complication in life??

[nikhilkulk]

Can we discuss the Babel fish theory for non-existence of God here?