Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate free essay sample

The next step in this evolution was using goal setting as a motivational tool. Through laboratory and field research if was found that workers assigned hard goals performed better than those workers assigned moderately difficult or easy goals. In addition, if the goals were specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timed, they created greater motivation and provided clear expectation for workers expected to reach their goals. Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate The problem of motivating employees has been a difficult and frustrating task for employers for more than 100 years. One reason this problem has been so difficult to solve, is the fact that motivation ultimately comes from within each individual and therefore cannot be observed directly by supervisors. What could be observed was the low productivity of unmotivated workers and the destructive consequence it has on the workplace. There are several barriers to workplace productivity which are common to low productivity, including problems with measuring workload, employee working conditions, management style, and lack of employee motivation. We will write a custom essay sample on Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Employers have used several incentives over the years, with money being the primary incentive, like job enrichment, behavior modification, and organizational development with various degrees of success. Through a number laboratory and field research studies one technique, goal setting, has emerged as a more effective motivation method than other technique and maybe the most important component by which the other incentives (pay, job enrichment, behavior modification and organizational development) affect motivation. There are numerous benefits to employers who use goal setting for their employees, but none more important than increased employee motivation. Goal setting for employee creates a set of benefits for the employees, as well as for the employer that cannot generally be obtained more effectively through other ways. If the goals set are definitive goals, they will have a motivational effect throughout the entire organization. Setting both individual and group goals can give employees a sense of ownership in the organization. Goal-Setting Concepts Participative or Assigned Goal Setting Participative goal setting is the process of identifying, adopting, and articulating relevant goals from higher-order objectives, mission, and purpose, and integrating, translating, and adapting them at the group level. Participative goal-setting is instrumental in helping group to achieve and sustain high-performance. Participative and assigned goal setting had no significantly different effects on performance if the goal was held consistently difficult, except participating groups members set higher goals. Groups using specific, difficult goals, participative or assigned, consistently had higher performances than did groups using the abstract or generalized goals such as the typical supervisor advice â€Å"do your best†. The employee needs to have the reassurance from the employer that their job is valued. The unity created between employee and employer through active goal setting along with sharing results of the achieved objectives provides the employee the necessary gratification to continue. Although objectives may not always be achieved as planned, sharing this information between employer and employee most certainly provides the â€Å"sense of ownership†. Most individuals are proud of the work they do and respond well when they know their input is effective in helping an organization reach its goal. Setting the Goal Goals that are difficult and specific lead to better performance than goals that are easy, and whenever possible they should have a time limit for accomplishing the goal. There is a balance you must maintain when setting goals, â€Å"if the goals are perceived as unreachable, employees will not accept them†. Obtaining Goal Commitment If goal setting is to be effective, management must ensure that employees accept and remain committed to the goals of the organization. Management has to provide simple instructions, positive support, and show restraint from threat or intimidation to ensure maximum acceptance from subordinates. In addition, a manager must be well versed on the objective, so that they can effectively communicate this to the subordinate. If a manager waivers from their ability to provide sound guidance to the subordinate, problems most often arise and objectives will fall by the wayside. Therefore, a manager who not only knows what needs to take place, but is also Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate willing to work side-by-side, sometimes as a matter of speaking, other times as one whom directly impacts the outcome of an objective; this type of manager will assist in providing he most effective and productive work outcome that is possible. One of the key ingredients to securing employee’s commitment is their trust of management. If employees perceive the set goals as fair and reasonable and not a means of exploitation of workers, they will be more likely to accept the challenge of reaching the goals. Providing Support Elements Providing employees with adequate resources like money, proper equipment, time, and the freedom to use them to attain goals, and ensuring company policies do not block the ability to attain goals. In addition, having the employees provide input into the setting the actual goals, but still requiring management approval of the task; would give the employees ownership in ensuring their goals are attainable, while allowing management oversight to ensure that the goal are still reachable. Moreover, it is this open communication that allows for a more productive work environment facilitating attitudes of the employees to remain positive and productive. Providing support elements would definitely be beneficial to the entire organization. SMART Goal Setting The S. M. A. R. T approach to motivational techniques makes the employee feel they are part of the overall process, and allows the employee to share in the responsibilities of corporate productivity. This acronym, SMART, summarizes the characteristics of effective goal setting: †¢Specific †¢Measurable †¢Attainable †¢Relevant †¢Time based Specific Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do. Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model. Measurable If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the is a success. However, there are usually several short-term or small measurements that can be built into the goal. Attainable When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals (Realistic) Relevant This is not a synonym for â€Å"easy. Realistic, in this case, means â€Å"do-able. † It means that the learning curve is not a vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldn’t break them. Timely Set a timeframe for the goal, if you don’t set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there’s no urgency to start taking action now. Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic. When employers set clear expectations for their employees, they have defined what is expected of them. Both small and medium company have placed a premium on trying to keep Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate their employees motivated not just with pay, but also with advancement and responsibility goals. By incorporating SMART goal setting on a project-by-project basis goal setting can be straight forward and simple, but it will not make up for workers who are underpaid or for poor management. If not used properly goal setting could cause more problems than it solves, if for instances, goals are set that are perceived to be unfair or unreachable, could result in poor performance. But when goals are reached, they can have an effect of instilling pride and accomplishment in employees. Abstract This paper will look at how successful managers use the six principles of persuasion to bring scientific rigor to the business world by securing consensus, cutting deals, and winning concessions. Although the skill of being a â€Å"gifted† speaker, with the power of persuasion, cannot be passed on to others, the six principles of persuasion can be taught, learned, and applied. During the past 50 plus years, scientific research has identified six fundamental principles of influence. These principles have proven to be effective in social influence of people, including their attitudes and actions. The following principles will be discussed in the following pages: The Principle of Liking; the Principle of Authority; the Principle of Consistency; the Principle of Social Proof; the Principle of Reciprocity; the Principle of Scarcity. This paper will discuss how the six principles of persuasion can be applied by looking to scientific experiments. Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate Throughout history there have only a handful of truly gifted speakers, who had the natural ability to capture an audience, sway the undecided, and convert the opposition through the use of charisma and eloquence. The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was such a speaker. Many people considered Mr. Lincoln to be one of our nation’s greatest attorneys, who was enormously gifted at giving persuasive and successful closing arguments. President Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg, viewed by many historians as the greatest closing argument in history, was a great example of Lincoln’s ability to sway a bitterly divided country. Unfortunately, these born persuaders cannot just pass along their gift of charisma and eloquence, which is similar to the challenge faced by managers every day, motivating their work force. Through decades of scientific research, scientists have concluded that the â€Å"power of persuasion† works by appealing to a set of deeply rooted human drives and needs. In other words, persuasion technique can be taught, learned and applied. The six fundamental principles of persuasion may not transform you into a speaker as eloquence as President Lincoln, but you will have the knowledge to understand the factors that affect the way in which people can influence others attitudes and actions. The Principle of Liking â€Å"People prefer to say yes to those they know and like†, research shows that several factors affect how much one person like another; physical attractiveness, compliments, and cooperative effects. This research also shows that the best ways to get people to like you are to show them how you are similar, and that you like them. In a demonstration of the effects of similarity on influence, researchers mailed a set of surveys, each with a cover letter, some letter had names similar to the person receiving the survey, and others received surveys with none similar names. The results of the survey were very telling, people who received survey from people who similar-sounding names have responded twice as often as those people who received survey from people with dissimilar names. Uncover real similarities and offer genuine praise. The Principle of Authority There’s no way for anyone to have a deep understanding of everything, so what most people do is follow the lead of experts, even if they are asked to do something they would not ordinarily do. Because people respect authority, they more easily influenced by those whom they perceive to be experts or legitimate authorities. For instance, when the main stream news media present acknowledge expert point view on a new topic, the effect on the general public opinion is very dramatic. According to a 1993 Public Opinion Quarterly study, a single expert-opinion news story had a 2% shift in public opinion American Political Science Review (1987), showed that an expert’s opinion, after airing on national television, shifted public opinion by nearly 4%. Other studies have showed that just the appearance of authority actually increases the likelihood that people will comply with requests by authority, even if the authority is illegitimate. Expose your expertise; don’t assume it’s self-evident. The Principle of Scarcity In the fundamental economic theory, scarcity relates to supply and demand. The harder it is to attain something and the more competition there is for it, the more attractive people find it, and the more urgently people will want it! There have been many studies and studies after study have shown that as items and opportunities are seen to be rarer, the more valuable they become. The Science of the Six Principles of Persuasion In the now infamous 1985 Coca-Cola Company switched from their â€Å"old recipe† to the â€Å"new taste of Coca-Cola†, the company’s executives had overlooked the principle of scarcity. In the initial texts results the â€Å"new coke† outperformed the original coke, and when taste testers were told which product was the â€Å"new coke† sample, people like it even more. But less than 90 days later, the public was demanded a return to the original coke. â€Å"When people know what it is they can’t have, their desire for it will shoot up†. Because the original coke was being replaced by the Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate â€Å"new coke† and people realized it was the original coke they could no longer have, it became the coke people now wanted. Highlight unique benefits and exclusive information. The Principle of Consistency People do not like to back out of deals, and there are more likely to do something after agreeing to it verbally or in writing. People for the most part like to appear consistent in their thoughts and actions. Accordance to Dr. Cialdini, strong evidence shows that a choice mad actively, one that’s spoken out loud or written down, is considerably more likely to direct someone’s future conduct than the same choice left unspoken. There is also research that suggests that written commitments become even more powerful when they’re made public. In a 1987 voter’s turn-out experiment conducted by scientist Anthony Greenwald, voters who publicly committed to voting on the previous day proved more likely to actually vote. The experiment approached potential voters, the day before the election, and asked each of them if that they would vote, of those 86. 7% actually voted, compared to 61. 5% of those who were not asked. Studies also show that the older we get, the more we value consistency. Make their commitments active, public, and voluntary. The Principle of Reciprocity A simple demonstration of the principle of reciprocity can be conducted by smiling at a many people as possible when you go into the office tomorrow, you will find that almost everyone you smiled at will return the smile. â€Å"The implication is that you have to go first†, says Dr. Cialdina. If you do something for me, I feel obligated to something for you—even if I didn’t ask for a favor in the first place. One of the basic human tendencies is to treat people the way we are treated. In 2005, Dr. Randy Garner published an experiment that tested whether sticky notes could persuade people to respond to a marketing survey. Dr. Garner sent one-third of the surveys with a hand- written sticky note, with a request for completion. He sent out another one-third of the sticky note, with all of these notes being blank. Finally, he sent one-third of the survey without any sticky notes. The results were that more than 75% of the people who received sticky notes request with the survey filled in and returned the survey. The people did not receive a sticky note with their survey only returned 36% of surveys. The sticky notes were seen as a personal request, which prompted a reciprocity response? Give what you want to receive. The Principle of Social Proof â€Å"Social creatures that they are, human beings rely heavily on the people around them for cues on how to think, fee, and act. When people are uncertain about a course of action, they tend to look to those around them to guide their decision and actions. If you have ever attended a live comedy show, and have heard the â€Å"laugh tracks† played, crowd almost always responds with laugher after hearing the laugher of others. When faced with a decision, people look to The Science of the Six Principles of Persuasion social evidence of the best course of action, according to Dr. Cialdini, â€Å"one of the fundamental lessons of human psychology are that people follow the crowd†. People especially want to know what everyone else is doing—especially their peers. Dr. Cialdini performed an experiment with the managers at an upscale hotel in Phoenix, AZ. The experiment conducted with his colleagues, was to see which type of signs would most encourage hotel visitors to reuse their towels. They used four different signs. 1. Help save the environment 2. Help save resources for the future generations 3. Partner with us to help save the environment 4. Join your fellow citizens in helping to save the environment Compared to the first three signs, the final sign increased tower reuse by an average of 34%. When the other guest found out that others who stayed at the same hotel reused their towels, they were more likely to comply with the request. Use peer power whenever it’s available. Using Goal Setting and the Six Principles of Persuasion to Motivate Although the six principles and their applications can be discussed separately, they should be applied in combination to compound their impact. Dr. Robert Cialdini spent more than 30 years conducting research, experimentation, and observation to uncover the science behind the â€Å"art of persuasion†, which led him to the develop the six principles of persuasion. Since most people can’t explain why they made a particular decision, being able to identify the factors that influence decisions means that they understand how to get more positive responses from people. â€Å"No leader can succeed without mastering the art of persuasion. But there’s hard science in that skill, too, and a large body of psychological research suggests there are six basic laws of winning friends and influencing people. References Periodical: Latham, Gary P. Locke, Edwin A. (1979) Goal Setting – A Motivational Technique That Works Online Periodical: Priya Johnson, http://www. buzzle. om/articles/goal-setting-theory. html, Goal Setting Theory http://ezinearticles. com/? Goal-Setting-Theoryid=2178488 Goal Setting Theory http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Goal_setting Arthur Rizer, Lincoln’s Counsel: Lessons from America’s Most Persuasive Speaker, Nov 2010 Robert B. Cialdini, Roselle. Wissler, Nicholas J. Schweitzer, The Science of Influenc e – Using six principles of persuasion to negotiate and mediate more effectively (Arbitration Ethics: A Chill Wind Blows) 2002 Robert B. Cialdina, Harnessing the Science of Persuasion, 2001 Berry M. Staw, Psychological Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, 3rd Edition, 2004

Research Paper Essays - Writing, Essay, Lead Paragraph, Free Essays

Research Paper Essays - Writing, Essay, Lead Paragraph, Free Essays Research Paper ESSAY OUTLINE FORM Main (Controlling) Idea of the essay: Three main points of argument (1)(2)(3) INTRODUCTION: [Introduction should start on a general level with lead-in statements and gradually focus in on the specific topic of the essay. In the introduction, the reader should find the main idea of the essay expressed in the thesis sentence. Also in the introduction, the reader should be able to tell what specific points about the main idea will be discussed and in what order they will be developed. The lead in statements could (1) make a striking assertion, (2) use a split anecdote ( a story that is begun in the introduction and is finished in the conclusion), (3) use an interesting detail, statistic, or quotation, or (4) ask a provocative question. The introduction should make the reader want to continue reading.] Lead-in statements: Thesis (which includes points of argument): BODY: [Each topic sentence should be a major point of argument which supports the thesis statement. Primary support sentences are general statements which support the topic sentence. The secondary support sentences (or concrete illustrations), which support the primary support sentences, provide specific details, quotes, statistics, or real-life examples.] Body Paragraph 1 (develops first point of argument): Topic sentence Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Body Paragraph 2 (develops second point of argument): Topic sentence: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Body Paragraph 3 (develops third point of argument): Topic sentence: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: CONCLUSION: [The concluding paragraph should include a general summary statement which recaps the thesis, a sentence which restates the major points of argument, and a wrap-up statement. The conclusion could also contain the end of a split anecdote which would finish the story begun in the introduction. The wrap-up statement could contain insights of the essay writer, encourage the reader to take action, emphasize the importance of one of the points of argument, or create a solid sense of finality.] General summary statement which recaps thesis: Recap major points of argument: Wrap-up statement (consequences and insights): Handouts Bibliography ESSAY OUTLINE FORM Main (Controlling) Idea of the essay: Three main points of argument (1)(2)(3) INTRODUCTION: [Introduction should start on a general level with lead-in statements and gradually focus in on the specific topic of the essay. In the introduction, the reader should find the main idea of the essay expressed in the thesis sentence. Also in the introduction, the reader should be able to tell what specific points about the main idea will be discussed and in what order they will be developed. The lead in statements could (1) make a striking assertion, (2) use a split anecdote ( a story that is begun in the introduction and is finished in the conclusion), (3) use an interesting detail, statistic, or quotation, or (4) ask a provocative question. The introduction should make the reader want to continue reading.] Lead-in statements: Thesis (which includes points of argument): BODY: [Each topic sentence should be a major point of argument which supports the thesis statement. Primary support sentences are general statements which support the topic sentence. The secondary support sentences (or concrete illustrations), which support the primary support sentences, provide specific details, quotes, statistics, or real-life examples.] Body Paragraph 1 (develops first point of argument): Topic sentence Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Body Paragraph 2 (develops second point of argument): Topic sentence: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Body Paragraph 3 (develops third point of argument): Topic sentence: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: Primary Support: Secondary Support: CONCLUSION: [The concluding paragraph should include a general summary statement which recaps the thesis, a sentence which restates the major points of argument, and a wrap-up statement. The conclusion could also contain the end of a split anecdote which would finish the story begun in the introduction. The wrap-up statement could contain insights of the essay writer, encourage the reader to take action, emphasize the importance of one of the points of argument, or create a solid sense of finality.] General summary statement which recaps thesis: Recap major points of argument: Wrap-up statement (consequences and insights): Handouts

Argument Paper on Exercise Essay Example for Free

Argument Paper on Exercise Essay 1-The Benefits of Exercise and Sports Participation for Kids- e Diet Star This article focuses how benefitical it is for young kids to participate in sports and to exercise regularly. It talks about how exercise and sports offer social relationships, physical challenges and honest competition. Also, exercise and sports can increase a child’s self-esteem and academic performance while preventing the chances of disease or drug use. All these things can help the development of children by not only making them healthy but giving them life experience. 2-Fitness Benefits For Teens- This article list the specifics on the benefits for teens to be fit. It says that physical activity doesn’t have to be time consuming but it is necessary for everyone. Some of the facts about teen exercise given by this article are that nearly half of American children ages twelve through twenty-one are not regularly active. About fourteen percent of young people report no physical activity at all. Also, only nineteen percent of all high school students are active for twenty minutes or more, five days a week. The main focuses point of the article are the physical activity helps build healthy bones, muscles and joints. It helps control weight, build lean muscle, and reduce fat. 3-Find Mind-Blowing Benefits of Exercise- This article tries to get a point across, it starts by saying that exercise isn’t all about getting toned abs and losing weight but that it makes you feel happy. There are five main points that this article talks about. The first once talks about how exercise reverses the detrimental effects of stress. Second, it talks about how exercise can help get rid of depression. Next, it is discussed how exercise can improve learning by increasing brain chemicals called growth factors. Furthermore, exercise builds self-esteem and improves your body image. Lastly, it leaves you feeling euphoric which means that the push and intensity of a workout makes you feel happy and excited. Argument Paper on Exercise. (2017, Jan 19).

Report of Research of HTM editors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Report of Research of HTM editors - Essay Example It supports several coding languages which gives the user the ability to create an entire website in one program. For beginners, the multi-language support allows you to see which part of your website is made up of HTML and how your CSS (cascading style sheet – or design style sheet) effects your finished page. About.com rate Komodo Edit as the best free XML editor available. It includes a lot of great features for HTML and CSS development, and extensions are available to add on languages or other useful features. 3: HTML-Kit Tools is an excellent program for experienced designers; it has a strong set of features with no frills. But it does take some time to get used to the User Interface and general navigation. It is not a WYSIWYG editor, but it does have a Preview mode where you can see code changes as you make them. Other features include color co-ordinated code indicators, and direct links to help files straight from tooltip popups that appear if you leave your cursor above a tag for a couple seconds. These make navigating unfamiliar code much easier.   Overall it is a lightweight, smooth running program that never crashes. With macros, customizable hotkeys and plug-ins available, HTML-Kit Tools can be adapted for any web project. Newcomers might find HTML-Kit Tools difficult to use, but experienced designers will be very happy with it. 4: NetObjects Fusion 11  has everything you need to build exciting interactive websites; it has earned critical praise worldwide as one of the fastest, easiest programs to build and manage Web sites. In contrast to other code-based programs, NetObjects Fusion 11 was developed for creative users: desktop publishers, graphic designers and layout specialists. From advanced Flash intros to classic HTML-based FAQ pages, NetObjects Fusion 11 can do it all. Features include WYSIWYG interface, FTP,

What Democracy Is and What It Is Not Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Democracy Is and What It Is Not - Essay Example The Zimbabwe issue is center stage at the moment and is a clear example of how democracy can be exploited and manipulated to suit a select few. As a requirement for making democracy possible, a competition was available against those who held center stage in the political arena for more than a decade. The race was carried out and there was no majority consensus of more than fifty percent of the electorate. Less than 90 days later the same electorate returns to power a person they had initially rejected, even narrowly Is it safe then to say that within the ensuing time between polls a massive change of heart had come over the nation's electorate and can it be a majority decision when less than fifty percent of the eligible voters turned out the second time around (p97). To use the nation in transit democracy scoring system (2006), I would give the nation a score of 6.00 to 7.00! Suffice to say that the authors may have listed the conditions that make democracy possible which can be substantiated by several texts but they failed to move me from the position where I believe that as long as we are human with individualistic personalities with the need to put self first, a complete democracy will remain a utopia.

Enlightenment Established by the Community Essay -- Philosophy, Socra

Sophocles’ Oedipus, Plato’s ship owner, and Plato’s prisoner in the cave share a common theme of reluctance to learn from the truth, and show the role that others play in facing self-identity. All three, Oedipus, the ship owner, and the prisoner in the cave illustrate the theme of deliberation manifested by a society. Enlightened by others, Oedipus finally learns that he has committed murder and incest. Similarly, the ship owner is shown his limitations and thus understands that he is not qualified to navigate his vessel when the sailors quarrel over who would be next in command. Furthermore, the prisoner in the cave is dragged out by others (community of enlightened individuals) and given the opportunity to view the real world for the first time. Therefore, with the assistance of others (community), Oedipus, the ship owner, and the prisoner in the cave are able to acknowledge their identities and face the truth about their erroneous behavior. Through Sophocles a nd Plato, civic deliberation comes into these three approaches: (1) with the evidence given to him by the public, Oedipus learns the truth of his identity, and accepts the judgment and punishment he had imposed on the culprit before he knew; (2) through the violent actions of the sailors, the ship owner acknowledges his limitations; and (3) the prisoner is dragged from the cave into the world of sunlight, exposed to the truth and returns to the cave to deliberate with others to come out. Hence, all three cases show the process of civic deliberation is achieved through community. Oedipus at first finds the implications of killing his father and sleeping with his mother difficult to tolerate as a factual manifestation of his past. He disputes the fact that he had caused suc... ...liance with the truth. Socrates states, â€Å"The truth of the matter is that it makes no difference whether you’re rich or poor: if you fell ill, you’re bound to dance attendance on a doctor, and if you need to accept authority, you must dance attendance on someone in authority who is capable of providing it† (Plato 209-210), in order to convey that a individual requires a society or a third party to become enlightened. Oedipus ultimately becomes aware of his errors when the community shows them to him. The ship owner becomes aware of his incapability when the sailors threaten to overthrow him. The prisoner in the cave acknowledges the truth when others force him out of the cave. Thus Socrates serves as a model of civic deliberation when he illustrates their behavior and, questions through dialogue with his interlocutors, the ability to find truth and be enlightened.

Animal Farm/V for Vendetta Essay

In many great texts concerning the politics, it can be observed that the context in which the piece was created greatly influences the ways in which values and themes are presented and the form in which it is produced. Major ground shaking events have the power to transform paradigms of individuals and whole societies, and in turn morph and influence the themes a text created in the same time period implores. Warner Brother’s 2005 film â€Å"V for Vendetta† and George Orwell’s 1945 novelette â€Å"Animal Farm† both deal with concepts present in the political climates of their times and the problems associated with them; the cost of apathy towards injustice, propaganda and its influence, and the crippling aspect of fear. The representation of the themes present in the two texts contrast and compare in many ways due to the diversity in the contexts under which each was created and the universal continuity of the themes present. Read more: Us constitution tyranny essay Orwell’s 1945 text was created at the end of the Russian social revolution that left the once optimistic Russian people in tatters and under the boot of a brutal fascist regime, while the Hollywood movie was created post 9/11 in a time where people turned to their government for protection from unknown threats, willing to sacrifice their liberty for safety. It was situated in a future dystopia as opposed to Animal Farm’s historical setting and warned of what could be the outcome of choosing to blindly follow the neo-conservative politics of film’s time such as Bush’s and Thatcher’s parties. Both texts make political statements that are influenced by the historical and personal context of their creation and contrast and compare greatly in form and values. Primarily, the theme of apathy, and the cost of silence is explored similarly in the two cross-generational texts. Written after the solemn failure of socialism when applied to a practical setting, Orwell pessimistically recounts the outcome of the apathy that Russian citizens expressed in the face of blatant corruption in his fable, â€Å"Animal Farm†. Orwell’s novel is written in the form of an allegory, which recounts the events of the Russian revolution as though it took place on a British farm, and uses various types  of animals to symbolize the different classes of the soviet union (Molly the horse represents the bourgeoisie, Boxer, the proletariats). Animal farm sets out to become a utopia where â€Å"all animals are equal†; working together under the inspiration of a Marxist boar named major (who represents the revolutionary leader Lenin), the animals drive out their human oppressors in a violent rebellion. The pigs take power on the farm due to their à ¢â‚¬Å"superior knowledge† and leadership qualities. Though as the pigs become corrupted by their power, it soon becomes clear to the animals smart enough to comprehend the concept of corruption, that things aren’t as they should be. They become aware of the pig’s greed; they hoard food that should be shared evenly amongst all animals, they twist the truth to better suit their political motives, and they change the constitution of animal farm without public consent. Few animals possess the ability to comprehend that the pigs do not wish to help the public, and Benjamin the donkey comes to be the most prominent advocate for apathy in the novelette. He is one of the smartest animals on the farm and is not fooled for a second by any of the pig’s ruses that work so effectively on the others. He remains neutral to any conflict seen in animal farm; when the hens stage a coup to stand up against their oppression and are subsequently executed, not a word of protest is spoken, and when asked for his opinion on any debate only replies â€Å"donkeys live a long time† to cryptically cynical way of saying â€Å"it all ends up the same†. Benjamin is passive to any change whether it is good or bad; in the honeymoon phase of the revolution in which the pigs express plans for equality and freedom for all, he remains sceptical. He is cynical to any positive outcome as he has believes only that the cycle of power and corruption will repeat its elf, as it has in the past. His silence in the face of the pig’s corruption is broken only at the novel’s climax as his friend Boxer is driven off to the â€Å"knackers† in a truck the other animals believe to be transporting him to the vet. â€Å"Fools! Fools!† he shouts furiously, â€Å"Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?† The animals can’t read the writing of course, but Benjamin could all along, as he could read Animal Farm’s constitution being changed overnight. Benjamin saw the dark path that the revolution was taking and in its early phases had the ability to turn it around. But the apathy he showed landed all of animal farm manipulated and trapped in a position where resistance  was futile and the pigs could rule with an iron fist. Benjamin was cynical with his belief that â€Å"Life would go on as it had always gone on – that is, badly† but in the same way he was a realist, as in the end of animal farm things di d continue as they always had – badly. It is questionable whether Animal Farm’s revolution, and the revolution of its allegory counterpart would have reached a different outcome in Benjamin, and those smart enough to sense the corruption had discarded their apathy and made their awareness known. V for Vendetta similarly deals with the concept of public apathy in the face of social injustice. Set in a future dystopian England, where a totalitarian government has come to power and dominates all aspects of their citizen’s lives, the film’s protagonist â€Å"V† addresses the masses to stir guilt and inspiration in the hearts of the masses in a public service announcement. On a velvet backdrop to the sound of a nationalistic anthem, he speaks powerfully in a direct mid shot behind a podium to enforce the power of his speech. He outlines the myriad of problems plaguing England in an uncensored speech the likes of which many people in London hadn’t heard since the rise of the Norsefire party, and after asking the rhetorical question of â€Å"How did this happen?† answers â€Å"truth be told†¦if you’re looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror†. V blames the oppressed for letting themselves reach their situation with hopes for gaining order in a world of instability. V for Vendetta’s dystopian London fell to the control of the â€Å"Norsefire† dictatorship by letting itself sacrifice liberty in hopes of safety from unknown threats. The context in which V for Vendetta was created is reflected in the film; a wave of neo-conservative politics had embraced the U.S and Britain under the Bush and Thatcher governments, and it could be seen that post 9/11, xenophobia and prejudice had started to consume and fear monger in society. The film warns of the dark outcome that could eventuate if the populous chose to give in to their fear of the unknown and sacrifice free will for a stable yet domineering establishment. Although diverse in contexts, Animal Farm and V for Vendetta approach the issue of apathy and silence similarly. They both criticise the concept by the portrayal of extremely negative outcomes that lead to create oppressive  dystopias, devoid of free will and justice. Furthermore, Animal Farm and V for Vendetta both deal with the political concepts of propaganda and exploitation in similar ways although hailing from diverse time periods. Animal Farm sees the corruption of an idyllic utopia into and oppressive dictatorship, in which the animals are exploited by their pig oppressors, and influenced strongly by their convincing propaganda. The novel once again aligns itself with factual events that occurred in the midst of the Russian revolution and symbolises them respectively. In the novel, Squealer is â€Å"a brilliant talker† with â€Å"the ability to turn black into white†. The pigs utilize squealer’s persuasive talents to convince the rest of the animals of Napoleons benevolence, justify their monopolization of the farm, and turn Snowball into a public enemy that could be pinned with all of the farm’s failures. Squealer uses the memory and intelligence of the animals against them to exploit them by reinforcing a series of convincing lies, and instilling a powerful maxim; â€Å"four legs good, two legs bad†, in the minds of the less intelligent animals, that could be used as a chant to drown out any logical argument. Squealer’s character corresponds with the Russian newspaper, â€Å"Pravda† which at the time held the power to turn black into white the same way as the pig. George Orwell is making a statement on the power of language to exploit and manipulate the masses in the form of propaganda, and warns us to be critical of political media in light of the events from his life. Similarly, V for Vendetta comments on the media’s power to sway the opinions of the public, and the ways in which governments use it to influence citizens. V for Vendetta is based in a society where free speech is non-existent and censorship washes over all aspects of the media. The single minded force of the media, represented by the bold and domineering â€Å"Voice of London†, allows the government to impose only one â€Å"truth† on the public; only one perspective to any event so that it is the only one to believe. After V’s first November 5th bombing and hijacking of the television station in order to instil hope for a revolution in the populous, Sutler’s government begins to twist and re-fabricate the entire event to make it appear as though V were a terrorist meaning to harm the public. Using  emotive and connotative language; â€Å"A psychotic terrorist†, â€Å"Attacked unarmed civilians†, â€Å"to spread a message of hate†, to attach fear and stigma to the vigilante, whilst glorifying the police force; â€Å"during this heroic raid the terrorist was shot and killed† to inspire loyalty and pride in citizens. The propaganda aims to turn public the public opinion from anarchy to fear and in turn compliance. V for Vendetta was composed at a time in which xenophobia allowed politicians to blame many faults on â€Å"Terrorists† typically associated with people of Muslim belief. The labelling of someone that the government believes to be a social deviant as a â€Å"terrorist† was a solution to political issues, and this can be seen reflectively in V for Vendetta. Both texts, written in entirely different contexts, deal with the issue of propaganda and manipulation, and have been strongly influenced by historical examples of gov ernment use of these political tools. Both texts in their respective contexts suggest that fear incapacitates the masses from revolting against oppression. They suggest that fear cripples the hearts and wills of those it dominates, and convinces it’s victims that nothing is worth fighting for. Animal farm reflects the tyrannical reign of Joseph Stalin, Russia’s communist dictator that controlled his people through a network of fear tactics that among many things entailed the murder of millions of civilians he believed to be â€Å"enemies of the state†. In the Russian revolution, the oppressed became the oppressors; Stalin’s government rose to power on a just and fair cause, but sullied it by becoming an oppressive dictatorship, hardly different to the one that the people primarily fought to escape from. In Animal Farm, violence and the fear of violence bends the animals of the farm into submission; Napoleon orders the mass execution of those conspiring against him, and by its end â€Å"the ai r was heavy with the smell of blood, which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones†. It is ironic that things seem to be just as bad on animal farm as they were in the days of jones, yet Squealer’s propaganda still continues to loom the omnipresent fear of the farmer’s return over their heads as if to say; â€Å"No matter how bad things get, they could never be as bad as they were,† and continually states the rhetorical question â€Å"surely you wouldn’t want jones to come back?†. The Fear of Jones’s return keeps the animals of the farm in submission, and once discarded the animals become  capable of great deeds. Major’s speech inspires and motivates the animals to stand up to their oppressor, by morphing their fear into fury. He does this by declaring that once Benjamin becomes too old he will be sent to the â€Å"knackers†. Orwell criticises fear’s power to cripple and paralyse and suggests that once discarded, people become capable of great feats of justice. Animal Farm expresses the representation o f fear and its ability to cripple by aligning it with the contextual events of the Russian revolution. V for Vendetta addresses the concept of fear and violence in a very similar way in its representation of the totalitarian state of England under the â€Å"Norsefire† party. In light of recent events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the film details an alternate timeline in which the western world has let governments turn their fear of the unknown against them, and let them unwittingly sacrifice their liberty for promises of stability and freedom. The â€Å"Norsefire† government uses threats of terrorism and disease to reduce the populace into a state of fear, and convince them that they â€Å"need† the government in order to protect them from the outside world, when in fact all they want is absolute power. An example of the Norsefire government’s use of fear to manipulate the public is when they feel their power slipping away in favour of the masked revolutionary â€Å"V† High Chancellor Sutler says â€Å"what we need right now is a clear messag e to the people of this country this message must be read in every newpaper heard on every radio and seen on every television, I want everyone to realize how close we stand to the edge of oblivion. I want every man woman and child to know how close we are to chaos. I want everyone to remember why the need us!† The message resounds with a series of dreamatic television reports showing the chaos of the outside world, water shortage, civil war, disease. The reports however fail to influence public opinion, as they have already been convinced by V that the government will lie excessively to prove their points. V for Vendetta’s representation of the governments use of fear tactics to attempt to persuade public opinions and elude from real issues resonates with political ploys used to convince the public of the threat of terrorism in the early 2000’s by the Bush and Thatcher governments. When support from the public was needed to justify the invasion of Iraq, they used the media to fear monger and persuade the masses. The contexts of animal farm and V for Vendetta deal  similarly with the issue of fear and it’s use by governments to coerce the public.