A Study on the Uncertainty Reduction Theory and the Evolutionary Process of the Human Brain

A Study on the Uncertainty Reduction Theory and the Evolutionary Process of the Human Brain Humans brains have evolved to see patterns. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory states that people tend to gather information about people to reduce uncertainty about them. This uncertainty is common not only when meeting other people for the first time, but it is present in all types of new situations. It is essential to our survival to constantly assess the environment and threats, whether they are real or perceived. Uncertainty Reduction Theory gives us a guideline on how and why we react to new situations. The Uncertainty Reduction Theory can be linked to our evolutionary past in which we had to assess the threat level of potential predators and detect their presence. â€Å"Heider’s notion that man seeks to â€Å"make sense â€Å"out of events he perceives in his environment,† is reminiscent of Neil deGrasse Tyson explaining why human brains tend to create patterns (Craig and Muller, 2007, p. 327). The reasoning was that our ancestors who were constantly under threat of predators would sometimes face situations in which there may or may not be a predator in that bush or high grass. If you look up at a tree, your brain naturally creates patterns among the leaves and branches where you may visualize some type of shape that may look like a lion, a person’s face, or a triangle. In the physical reality, there is no lion, that’s just the way the tree is shaped, or there actually is a lion there. Those that created patterns and visualized the lion whether a preda tor was there or not, ran away and survived. Those that didn’t create the patterns would have either survived(if there was nothing there) or have been killed(if there actually was a lion). In a type of Pascal’s wager, those that evolved brains to create patterns and in turn, took no chances on their livelihood survived. This same evolutionary pressure to â€Å"make sense† or create patterns of environmental stimuli to assess threat level can be adapted to interpersonal communication among individuals of a species. Humans can communicate verbally through language and that would be the ideal way to detect the threat level of an individual or group after assessing body language. Finding certainty in the uncertainty of whether there’s a lion in the bushes or whether a person is a potential friend or foe is essential to survival and interpersonal communicative behaviors is the medium in which uncertainty can be converted to certainty. Survival relies on awareness and our consistent surveying ability. It is optimal behavior to gather as much information as possible when new people or situations arise. Gathering information is crucial to making ideal decisions. Decision making becomes easier when you have as much information as possible.

Finial Paper Worksite Development Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Finial Paper Worksite Development Paper - Essay Example The executive do not show any respect or loyalty towards the leader. The only emotion visible on their faces after submitting their work for feedback and discussion is fear and loathing. The entire team is well qualified and intelligent yet they are not able to collaborate, the problems if any are not brought into the open till the last moment, there are sub groups in the team and they mistrust the "outsiders" to their group, even healthy comment and criticism is viewed with suspicion. The project manager has full faith in the abilities of the team leader and his executives but they are not able to 'get along' and this shows in the quality of their output. They rarely come forward with suggestions, just carrying on the instructions of their leader half heartedly to fill the working hours and get out of the office. It seems that the team leader is tone deaf to his subordinates. He is obsessed with getting them to work and deliver, yet forgetting that they are not machines which can be switched on at 9 in the morning. He lacks motivational skills, also while reviewing the work the feedback is more of a character assassination than artful critique, (Goleman p, 172). A plan has been chalked out by the HR division wherein the team leader would be asked to take self assessment tests on emotional intelligence. Lead... A plan has been chalked out by the HR division wherein the team leader would be asked to take self assessment tests on emotional intelligence. The tests being self assessment based would show him that he needs to improve his people handling skills in terms of motivational skills, conflict resolution, inter personal skills. Leadership is "getting the job done through high quantity and quality standards of performance, and (2) getting the job done through people, requiring their satisfaction and commitment" (Luthans, 1998, p 427). Thus he will have to develop empathy and trust towards his team. It does not mean that the empathy and trust are only towards the team, but it is the change in personality traits which would ultimately help his team mates. To have empathy he would necessarily be aware of his own emotions first, all the joys and disappointments that life offers. Once the sensitization happens towards own feelings, the same will be developed towards others emotions and perspectives as well. Once these two traits are well entrenched there will be definite change in body language which will communicate to the subordinates as well. He will be more open to new suggestions and willing to share ideas, lend sympathetic ear to knotty problem and lend a helping hand. The other trait which needs polishing is the art of giving feedback which motivates rather than destroys confidence and enthusiasm. He needs to recognize that getting angry and blowing up on employees only clamps them, makes them defensive and stubborn and shirk responsibility sometimes even losing a well trained and educated employee. Here the art of critique as proposed by Harry

Sainsbury's analysis and valuation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sainsbury's analysis and valuation - Essay Example It generated ?131 million PBT in 2010. 4- Sainsbury’s banking which is the result of a joint venture with Lloyds bank. It created such services as insurances, credit cards and loans and generated ?7 million PBT in 2010(j.Sainsbury our business 2011). According to J.Sainsbury RAQs (2011), there are different competitors of Sainsbury for each of its areas. For example, for supermarket, which is the biggest activity in the company, competitors are Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Morrison. However, the competitors for banking service are the traditional high street banks, Tesco and M&S financial services, Egg, MNA, Capital one, Direct Line and Cahoot. This paper will analyze the Sainsbury Company through a look into its macroeconomic environment, industry, five forces model, business model, and financial conditions. Business investors may use the recommendation made in this paper to see whether to buy, sell or hold Sainsbury’s share. Macroeconomic Environment: Interest Rate and Inflation Rate UK interest rate in March’ 2011 had been registered at 0.5% which is a record low (BBC, 2011). In February 2011, inflation rate of UK rose to 4.4% (BBC, 2011). Interest rate has a major impact on time value of money. Changes in the rate of inflation generally result in alterations in the interest rate. These two factors are the key factors employed in the decision making for investment since they have a direct impact upon the ‘investment yield’. In case of UK, the record low interest rate will support the investment on shares. Rising interest rates retard the growth of inflation. Lower rate of interest increases the borrowing from businesses, which can have an impact on Sainsbury’s. This can make investment in durable consumer goods products such as automobiles, capital equipments and buildings appealing. The lower rate of interest can also affect the value of currency by making the currency weak. This can in turn enhance the market value of Sainsbury’s for the foreign purchasers. This will also help to increase the profitability of the company (Economy Watch, 2009). Rise in inflation rate coincides with the increase in cost of fuel, food and clothing items. Rise in inflation generally takes place due to increase in wholesale price index, which can have an effect on retail spending of a consumer and can weaken the consumer demand. Inflation rise also increases prices of products and VAT (value added tax) on a product that generally affects the sales volume. Factors like high level of inflation, subdued growth of wage and indecisive economic viewpoint generally reflect in terms of consumer spending. Therefore, the inflationary scenario in the UK can have a big impact of the sales and profitability of Sainsbury (RTE News, 2001). 1-PEST analysis: Political According to Lawrence (2010a), the government intends to limit the role of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and remove the ‘traffic light’ food label ing system, which has long been opposed by leading supermarkets like Tesco. As a result, the food industry will face little to no regulation for self and voluntary regulation (Lawrence 2010b). Leading supermarkets will have a ‘strong presence’ as far as accompanying the government on the forming of new