University Of The People

Some agents affecting attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors

ESSAY
Unit 2

MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Although some beliefs such as projection fall into the category of defense mechanisms, Self-

awareness and Self-evaluation are the best tools we have to be better at a personal level and

consequently, at an organizational level; for these, help me to discern what affects me

positively and negatively as a person and member of an organization. To give a clearer idea

of those things that I believe can affect me at a personal and organizational level, I would like

to bring to the table the definitions of only three types of beliefs that regularly arise in

people's minds.

The first one we will define is Stereotype.

Definition: McLeod cited that a stereotype is a belief in which an idea is generalized about a

group of people or a specific group. (as quoted in Cardwell, 1996).

We will now define prejudices

Definition: Usually (but not always) a negative attitude towards an individual solely because

of his or her membership of a social group. (McLeod, 2008).

Finally we will define the projection:

Definition: These are thoughts, motives and feelings that, as part of their defense mechanism,

one individual attributes to another. (McLeod, 2019)

Starting from the general idea that some of the beliefs that are present in individuals are part

of the defense mechanism, it becomes necessary to define this as well.

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used unconsciously to protect a person

from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings. (Freud, A. 1937).

Considering that the acts of others towards me do not determine who I am, and usually only

talk about the condition of others and their perception of themselves and those around them,

my attitudes, perceptions and behaviour should not be affected; however, when talking about
stereotypes, prejudices and projections, we not only talk about how these manifest themselves

in the people around me, but also, how in myself, these can be present and how they can lead

to undermine my performance and discourage synergy in a team. For this reason, I need to be

clear about how my perceptions affect me positively or negatively.

Firstly, discerning what affects me positively and negatively is known as self-awareness; this

goes hand in hand with self-evaluation and together, they help me strengthen my values as a

person and member of an organization.

Secondly, stereotypes, prejudices and projections manifest both one's own perceptions and

those of others; in this sense, we have "an investment of energy" that instead of contributing

to the individual, many times what it does is wear him down and introduce him into a state of

constant loss of self-image, ideas, performance, productivity, among many other losses,

which ends up affecting the synergy of the work team.

Finally, the most important reason to affirm that the mentioned beliefs, should not be the ones

that receive more energy and wear in our life, because applying self-awareness and self-

evaluation, these help me to discern what affects me positively and negatively as a person and

as a member of an organization and to have clear the most important perceptions and to

which I should apply more energy, are those that help me to grow as a person and to be well

with myself and as a consequence, also with others.

In conclusion, there is no better defense mechanism than knowing yourself and giving

yourself personal value. And for this, self-awareness and self-evaluation are the best tools we

have as people.
References:

Cardwell, M. (1996). Dictionary of Psychology. Chicago IL: Fitzroy Dearborn.

Mcleod, S. (2015). Stereotypes. Retrieved February 9, 2020, from

https://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html

Mcleod, S. (2008). Prejudice and Discrimination. Retrieved February 9, 2020, from

https://www.simplypsychology.org/prejudice.html

McLeod, S. A. (2019, April 10). Defense mechanisms. Simply psychology:

https://www.simplypsychology.org/defense-mechanisms.html

Freud, A. (1937). The Ego and the mechanisms of defense, London: Hogarth Press and

Institute of Psycho-Analysis.