Vygotsky s Theory Of Cognitive Development - 1149 Words

Piaget and Vygotsky are two well-known individuals in the history of psychology. The two psychologists held different beliefs regarding Cognitive Development in children. According to the text, â€Å"Piaget’s theory of cognitive development proposes that a child’s intellect, or cognitive ability, progress through four distinct stages† (Pg. 25). The stages are Sensorimotor Stage, Preoperational Stage, Concrete Operational Stage, and Formal Operational Stage. Piaget found that each stage occurs as a child ages. He also suggested that child cannot skip a stage. According to the text, Vygotsky’s concepts on cognitive development is based on two ideas (Pg. 33). Vygotsky believed that development occurred through â€Å"sign systems†. Sign systems are†¦show more content†¦Certain people seem to be untrustworthy to him, including his father. At times, the child does not accept being with different individuals well. I think it’s because he do es not associate with that individual often. The child has a strong sense of trust with his mother because she satisfies the child’s needs. The text stated, â€Å"The mother, or maternal figure, is usually the first important person in the child’s world. She is the one who must satisfy the infant’s need for food and affection† (Pg. 46.) I would think the child’s psychosocial development is negative due to him rejecting most people. †¢ Stage 2: Autonomy versus Doubt: According to text, â€Å"the child’s desire for power and independence clash with the wishes of the parent† (Pg. 46). Stage two occurs during the age range of 18 months to 3 years. While talking to a friend, his son refused to drink water. Apparently, the child drunk milk and became constipated. He couldn’t properly use the restroom and became frustrated. His mother and father told him drinking water would help. However, the child refused. It seems that the child became more frustrated with the parents’ wishes because he wanted to use the restroom without their help. I would think the child’s psychosocial development is positive due to his urge to be independent. †¢ Stage 3: Initiative versus Guilt: My mother has a friend whose son is currently in stage three. He’s very aggressive and vigorous towards his environment. Once, IShow MoreRelatedVygotsky s Theory Of Cognitive Development917 Words   |  4 Pages Hoy and Margetts (2012) demonstrate that cognitive development is much more than the addition of new facts and ideas to an existing store of information - maturation, activity and social transmission influence cognitive development. One very respected researcher of cognitive development and, in particular, sociocultural effects on such development, was Lev Vygotsky, whose original Russian journal articles are now available in English. Vygotsky’s theory revolves around peer-mediated learning, andRead MoreVygotsky s Theory On Cognitive Development Essay733 Words   |  3 Pages â…“ of a page on vygotsky Lev Semionovich Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist and constructivist learning theorist who was known for arguing against the theories of psychologist Jean Piaget. Piaget believed that in order for any learning to occur there had to development within the individual first, but Vygotsky argued the contrary. He argued that in order for development to occur, the individual would first have to have learning take place through instruction and example in a given appropriate environmentRead MoreVygotsky And Vygotsky s Theory Of Cognitive Development Of Thought And Language Essay1060 Words   |  5 PagesAilà ­n Florencia Thought and Language: independent processes. With the passing of time, the development of thought and language has been the object of study for psychologists such as Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. The former drastically influenced the study of thought and speech with his theory of cognitive development and his clinical method. The latter also made his contribution with his sociocultural theory. Although language and thought may be analysed as associate one to the other, both of themRead MoreVygotsky s Theory Of Cognitive Development1365 Words   |  6 PagesVygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development the Biopsychosocial Framework In researching various development theories, one of those that stand out is cognitive development theory. Cognitive development theory studies â€Å"how people think and how thinking changes over time† (Kail Cavanaugh, 14). One of the leading theorists in this area was Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. He was one of the first theorists to consider the sociocultural influences on a child’s development. His research allowedRead MoreComparing Piaget And Vygotsky s Theory Of Cognitive Development813 Words   |  4 Pagesand Lev Vygotsky are considered to be very prominent figures in the area of cognitive development. Both of these men considered themselves a constructivist, which entails a viewpoint that is concerned with the nature of knowledge. In their lifetime, both of them made contributions in the area of education and even after death, their theories still influence teaching methods. The purpose of this paper is to show some similarities as well as differences in the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky and whatRead MorePiaget And Vygotsky s Cognitive Development Theory1114 Words   |  5 PagesWhen you think about cognitive development, you cannot help but to think about two specific contributors to this area of study, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. First, let us discuss what exactly is cognitive development. Cognitive development is the process of how thought is constructed. This includes language learning, problem solving, reasoning, decision-making, as well as any other mental abilities. Cognitive development begins in childhood and continues to develop all the way through adulthoodRead MoreVygotsky s Concepts Of Cognitive Development Theory2311 Words   |  10 Pagesthen, that I did want to end up like them. I also remember thinking that if I had any children that I would do my best not to expose them to the same environment I was exposed to when I was growing up. According to Vygotsky’s concepts of cognitive development theory, my interactions with others in my neighborhood caused me to alter my environment which guided me, regulate me and redefined who I am now. So to answer the question, why did I not end up like some of my friends? I don’t know. I think thatRead MoreJean Piaget And Vygotsky s Theory On Children s Cognitive Development1507 Words   |  7 PagesJean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, have shared their knowledge on children’s cognitive development. Both psychologists had their own vision of what stimulates and helps a child grow. Jean Piaget s theory was shaped through the thinking and understanding of how knowledge is built through a series of four stages; preoperational, sensorimotor, formal operational and concrete operational. He believed that the development was with the child themselves. On the contrary, Lev Vygotsky s theory is shaped throughRead MorePiaget s Eight Stages Of Development And Vygotsky s Theory On Cognitive Development Essay2193 Words   |  9 Pagesthrough life has helped me to understand that everything that happens is just apart of life. Two theories that I would like to focus on that I believe have had the biggest impact in my life are, Erikson’s eight stages of development and Vygotsky’s theory on cognitive development. Erikson’s theory is based off of 8 stages ranging from ages â€Å"zero† (birth); where we learn to either trust our caregiver(s) or we develop mistrust where we may become suspicious or anxious. Up until death, where we end withRead MoreVygotsky And Piaget s Theory Of Cognitive Development Innate Or Learned?1241 Words   |  5 PagesComparing Vygotsky and Piaget Jayne Enneking Northcentral University Comparing Vygotsky and Piaget Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Is cognitive development innate or learned? These are two age old questions that have been discusssed extensively. The purpose of this paper is to offer insight into the answer of the latter by briefly comparing and contrasting Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theories. Both psychologists’ theories will be outlined, as will the similarities

A Stereotypical Representation Of Females During Victorian...

Daphne Du Maurier and Charlotte Brontà « present their narrators as a stereotypical representation of females during Victorian period. Throughout history the archetypes of the heroine have vastly changed from being dependant victims to independent strong females. Jane Eyre and the narrator are both oppressed by patriarchy, where men were the makers and enforcers of social and political rules. The unnamed narrator and Jane could be seen as a microcosm of their respective societies, as females were demarcated as â€Å"timid†, â€Å"dependent† (AQA Critical Anthology) unlike males who were physically and mentally strong. Both Brontà « and Du Maurier instantly evoke sympathy for the characters by representing them as weak, indecisive and timid through;†¦show more content†¦Du Maurier uses the Rebecca to subvert from the norm in terms of gender expectations. It is only after Maxim tells the narrator the truth does she feel comfortable and confident with the tit le of being Maxim’s wife and to implement authority on Manderley. Unlike Du Maurier, Brontà « presents Jane Eyre as a timid, little thing having no clear identity. Contrasting to the narrator, Jane Eyre is not overwhelmed by the fact she is not as beautiful as others or by the difficulties she is presented with. All the power emboldens her personality from which she learns how to live and how to be strong. Jane Eyre creates a new image for women as she represents those middle-class working women who were struggling for recognition of their basic rights and equality. Brontà « provided the narrator with the name â€Å"Jane† which has contradictory meanings. The name â€Å"Jane† is an old name meaning is wonderful. It is often associated with strong and powerful women however, it is seen a morbid and simple name associated with timid victims. For a vulnerable and short one-syllable name, the name provides the character with the correct balance of victimisation compared to assertion. It is thought that people with the name Jane have a deep inner desire for a stable family life which she described to be â€Å"restrained and simplified, it sounded more credible. Jane dreams of anShow MoreRelatedComparing Vampire And The Vampire Diaries1660 Words   |  7 Pageswithout Dracula. Without Bram Stoker’s novel, there would be no stereotypical vampires that capture the culture’s conscious. Aside from telling a story on vampires, Dracula also explores ideals about the women of the time in which it was written, which is the Victorian Era. Throughout the Victorian period, one of the predominant concerns was the role of women and the place they fill in their society. Dracula is one of many Victorian novels that explore the varying roles women filled. Two of the charactersRead MoreWomen During The Nineteenth Century1562 Words   |  7 PagesWomen both in Europe and America during the nineteenth century were living in a society that was characterised by gender inequality (Wwnorton.com, 2015). In the early periods of the century, women were expected to remain passive and subservient to the male counterparts. They were denied many of the legal, social, or even political rights, which in the modern world we consider as a right (Wwnorton.com, 2015). Thus, generally speaking women who belonged to the middle and upper classes remained home;Read MoreWomen s Rights During The 19th Century1606 Words   |  7 Pages watching over the house, cooking, and cleaning. They were property of their husbands. During their equal rights re volution, women pursued careers like doctors or lawyers and fulfilling their sexual desires for purposes other than bearing children. As today’s society may never know the struggles and misfortunes during the Victorian era, Dracula leaves a time capsule behind to elaborate on the realities during such a prominent generation (Podonsky). Considering this given criteria, a new woman comesRead MoreShort Story : Seduced By Oranges 1377 Words   |  6 PagesPark to 46 Gordon Square in London’s Bloomsbury district. It was at 46 Gordon Square that a new way of life and art would begin for the young artist at the age of twenty-five. Describing Bell’s abandonment of their childhood home and her role as a Victorian â€Å"mistress of the house,† her sister Virginia wrote: â€Å"She had sold, she had burnt; she had sorted; she had torn up. Sometimes I believe she had actually to get men with hammers to batter down- so wedged into each other had the walls and the c abinetsRead MoreFemale And Female Gender Roles3513 Words   |  15 PagesLiterature throughout history has displayed to us the evolution of the male and female gender roles in society. Women have been described as ‘the angel in the house,’ whilst men are typified as dominant and prevailing in comparison to women. The gothic genre in literature is used to personify and exaggerate these stereotypes, by using gothic motifs such as dream sequences and themes such as horror and terror. Not only does the gothic exaggerate the stereotypes, but it also allows them to be contravenedRead MoreWomen s Representation Of Women1438 Words   |  6 Pagesand economic equality for both women and men. During the period between 19th and the early 20th century, several noted feminist writers examined women’s role in the patriarchal society then further reflected their philosophy of life and aided in an identification of women. The era coincides with the modernist literature, as man y authors deciphered feminism and its attributes in their literary work. It is understood that women are deemed as stereotypical beings, which are assigned roles and are perceivedRead MoreFeminist Critique Of Simon De Bevour s The Second Sex1398 Words   |  6 Pagesthe biological body called women; while, gender‘ came to be widely recognized as social, cultural and historical construction of the said biological body. Thus, sex‘ and gender‘ began to be equated respectively with what we commonly understand to be female‘ and feminine‘. In a nutshell, all the roles and behaviour, being the social constructions based on the biological category of women, have been incorporated within the purview of the term gender‘. Tennessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named DesireRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Alice s Adventures 1773 Words   |  8 Pagesorder to enhance Carroll’s tale. The plot of â€Å"Alice in Wonderland† still follows Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) as the protagonist but focuses on her later years as it attempts to incorporate film and book. Alice in Wonderland takes place in Victorian England a time where a youthful woman’s career was to be innocent, virtuous and ignorant of intellectual opinion. Alice, at the prime age of 19, is expected to accept the son of Lord Ascot, Hamish to be her husband. Alice’s life is such as beingRead MoreCharacteristics Of Kate Chopin Contributions To Regionalism771 Words   |  4 Pagesto the reunification of the country after the civil war. It was also said to rebuild our nation identity toward the end of the 19th century. During Kate Chopin lifetime she had remained invisible in the field of literary and was not discovered until after her death in the early 1900’s. Chopin centered most of her work around repression of women in Victorian America. ‘Local colorist’s â₠¬Ëœauthor’s, like Chopin, were once thought to write in a derogatory tone until recent attempts to reappraise it, emphasizingRead MoreThe Colonial Implications in Jane Eyre and Great Expectations3008 Words   |  13 Pagesthat imperialism, understood as Englands social mission, was a crucial part of the cultural representation of England to the English. (Spivak, 1985, p, 12) Can these claims of Spivak be applied to Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre and to what extent do these novelists draw from the colonial discourse in their representation of the `non- Western world? The Victorian novel has performed an important service in Eurocentric epistemologies and colonial ideologies

Prose Fiction Essay Example For Students

Prose Fiction Essay Write an essay in which you explore how Cormier has attempted to shape your response to terrorism in After the First Death. One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. This quote allows us to view the topic of terrorism from a much broader perspective. The word terrorist has negative implications whereas a freedom fighter is viewed as a hero. Robert Cormier attempts to shape my response to terrorism by maintaining a balanced understanding between the opposite sides and presenting terrorist activities from multiple perspectives. Prior to reading the novel, my response to terrorism had never included the terrorists point of view, nor had I ever bothered to take an interest in their history, or the reasons for their radical actions. I was always prone to see things from the victims point of view, and firmly believed that all terrorists were fanatics who had very low standards of morality, and no respect for the law. This is because terrorism is presented to us by the media which is limited in its reach and restricted to a few minutes on television, or limited coverage of the footage in the newspaper. However, Cormier does the opposite by presenting the reader with the details of the hijacking event from both the victims and the terrorists point of view, fully informing us of the kind of lives the terrorists have led, the origins and development of their organization. Because of Cormiers careful attention to selection of detail, he informs the reader of the terrorists private thoughts, their reasons for being and even exposing the kind and caring side of their nature. The readers are encouraged to view them as human beings, no different to us. The character Miro, although a terrorist, is presented by Cormier as being as a normal human being with human emotions such as anger, fear and frustration, and their by no different to the rest of us. Because the writer reveals his gloomy background and depressing childhood, the reader is made to understand the reasons for him being drawn into the lifestyle of a terrorist. Cormier reveals through characters such as General Marchand, that the good guys are not necessarily what they appear to be, and in fact, are capable of morally wrong behaviour no different from a terrorist. The leader of Inner Delta, General Marchand, who is supposed to be the hero in the story, is eventually exposed as a sick man, who manipulates and sacrifices his own son in order to simply further his career. By placing his sons life in extreme danger and allowing him to fall into the hands of the ruthless terrorists, Cormier reveals his brutality. The author cleverly reveals General Marchand, Miro and Artkin to be of similar kind, in their aims and ambitions Cormier not only presents the terrorists as angry, depraved lunatics, but also in the case of Miro, through his characterization, presents a likeable, obedient and caring young person. His human side is shown best when he interacts with Kate, as he always feels upset with himself after having a conversation because he has let his guard down. We see that when Miro starts talking about subjects which has no resemblance to terrorism, such as the famous singer Elvis Presley, we no longer see him as a terrorist and instead, just an ordinary individual. Cormier shows more human behaviour from Miro by exposing his shyness when Kate complements him. By displaying his human emotions and behaviour, Cormier attempts to sway the reader that there is no need to classify him as a terrorist because in fact, he is very similar to us. Cormier presents some of the terrorists in the novel of having some form of relationship, and in this manner, we are able to relate to the characters and feel less hatred towards them. The strong connection between Miro and Artkin is evident from the early chapters. .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 , .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .postImageUrl , .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 , .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:hover , .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:visited , .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:active { border:0!important; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:active , .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8 .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc2791c1979701f01d07d2d21498d67b8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The poet Edna Vincent Millay EssayThey almost share the typical father and son relationship, where the son (Miro) shows a great deal of respect and obedience towards the father (Artkin). It seems a part of Miros motivation for his terroristic activities is to impress his father-like role model, Artkin. Another type of relationship is the powerful connection between Miro and his older brother, Aniel. Cormier displays Miros strong compassion for Aniel and emphasizes his importance in his life. This affected me in such a way that I felt very drawn into the characters because such relationships are apparent in my life, and allowed me to see them as real human beings rather than terrorists. Clearly, Cormiers attempt to shape my response to terrorism in After the First Death has resulted in me forming an opinion of terrorism in a way that took me by complete surprise. Previously, my black and white approach to terrorism has changed as a result of reading the novel. I now have a much more balanced approach and no longer view terrorists as immoral fanatics and instead, see them as human beings no different to us.

Leader Research Paper Sir Richard Branson

Introduction Strong leadership is necessary if an organization is to achieve its goal of higher performance and increased productivity. For this reason, effective leadership is rightfully regarded as a critical factor in the success of all organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Leader Research Paper: Sir Richard Branson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There exist many leadership styles and their effectiveness depends on the particular business environment as well as the personal traits and values of the individual leader (Bartlett Goshal, 2000). One individual who has emerged as a successful leader is the Virgin group’s CEO, Richard Branson. He has built himself a reputation by being a successful entrepreneur who has founded many profitable groups of companies. This paper will set out to review the leadership styles used by Branson. Specifically, the paper will analyze his dominant leadership sty les and cite specific behaviors that have been critical to the success of Branson. Specific behavior by Branson that would ensure a student’s future life success will be highlighted. A review of behaviors from Branson that leaders should avoid will also be made. A brief biography on Richard Branson Richard Branson is an English business entrepreneur who is most renowned for founding the Virgin Group of companies. He was born in 1950 and although an underachiever in school, he had great practical intelligence and possessed numerous creative abilities. Richard Branson began his business career while studying at Stowe, an exclusive private boy’s school. His first venture which was a magazine called â€Å"Student† which became a success.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This motivated Branson to abandon school and pursue his business interests in 1968. His ma gazine attracted significant readership due to its elective style and its venture into subjects that were not addressed by the well established magazines. The next venture undertaken by Branson was mail order records and this venture was chosen since it required no up-front investment and no working capital which made it ideal for Branson who had little money at his disposal. The name â€Å"Virgin Records† was chosen for this commercial entity. The success of the retail store led to expansion into record publishing with great financial success for the company. A fundamental notion held by Branson is that â€Å"small is beautiful† and as such, when a unit grows too large it is split apart. Virgin Atlantic Airways which is Branson’s grand jewel was founded in 1984 following a proposal by a Californian lawyer for Branson to start an intercontinental cut-price airline. Unlike the previous ventures, the airline business required a lot of capital and by 1985, the fina ncial needs of the airline were creating a cash squeeze for Virgin (Kets de Vries, 1998). This led to the Virgin Group going public so as to gain the needed capital. However, Branson was unhappy with the public status of his company and in 1987; he bought out external shareholders and therefore made Virgin a private company again.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Leader Research Paper: Sir Richard Branson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By the early 1990s, the airline had become the centerpiece of Branson’s interests and the capital needs of the airline made it necessary for him to acquire more capital. The capital was to be acquired by selective divestment. Specifically, Branson sold Virgin Music (which was his most profitable business) for close to $1 billion and then used the money to support new business ventures and also to expand the airline. Virgin Atlantic gained a competitive edge over the more e stablished airlines because of its reduced prices and the superior and innovative customer services. Kets de Vries (1998) notes that the airline was able to offer its business class travelers amenities that exceeded those offered to first class passengers by its competitors therefore making it appealing to many travelers. Virgin airline showed innovation in customer service and for this, the airline has won numerous awards and experienced significant success on the global market. Even so, the Airline has had to constantly compete with major airlines most notably of which are British Airways. The company has relied on Branson’s innovativeness to remain profitable in the tough airline industry and therefore defend its strategic position.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Branson’s Dominant Leadership Style Transformational Leader Richard Branson engages in transformational leadership where the leader â€Å"looks for potential motives in followers, seeks to satisfy higher needs, and engages the full person of the follower† (Burns 1978, p.173). The most distinctive attribute of transformational leaders is that they demonstrate significant consideration of follower’s needs. Branson strongly believes in the importance of his staff as is elaborated by his maxim â€Å"staff first, customers second, and shareholders third†. Kets de Vries (1998) reveals that Branson strongly believes in this concept and to him, people are the greatest asset that his business empire has. In an interview with CNBC Business (2007), Branson reveals that his leadership approach entails motivating people and looking for the best in them while at the same time keeping criticism at a minimal. Branson demonstrates his transformational style by granting hi s employees opportunities to exhibit great personal and professional growth. For example, when a company becomes too big, he splits it up and promotes the assistant managers of the original company into becoming heads of the new company. All employees are therefore motivated to set aside their own self-interest and work collectively to achieve organizational goals since this will help them to achieve even higher goals (London, 2002). Such a policy gives employees an opportunity to experience professional growth and it also makes the employees work harder in the hope that they will get the opportunity to be promoted or even head their own company. Branson expects his followers to achieve more than their initial personal goals and empowers them to be successful. When speaking about his staff, Branson states that â€Å"Virgin staff are not mere hired hands; they are not managerial pawns in some gigantic chess game. They are entrepreneurs in their own right† (Dearlove, 2010, p.10 4).considering the current economic environment, his statement addresses one of the most fundamental issues, which is success. A common goal which Branson has set for his employees is that they should aim to expand into bigger markets and gain higher loyalty among customers. Dearlove (2010) reveals that these goals are well articulated to all employees and everybody involved is expected to provide the best services to the customers and look for opportunities to expand the business. This approach works and Virgin workers are constantly coming up with proposals which Branson reviews and then follows up on if they have merit. Charismatic Leader Branson has also set himself apart as a charismatic leader. Kunstler (2008) suggests that Branson has been successful in his role as the figurehead of Virgin group, that he has grown to be more important than the brand itself. This thought is further supported by Dearlove (2010) who declares that a charismatic leader should have ample ability to sell a vision of trust, tranquilly and dedication to a prescribed cause to all employees. Through his character, Branson has not only proved to his employees that integrity and dedication lead to success, but also, a sense of belonging and purpose. Such, virtues promote commitment, all the while propelling the belief that as employees, people have it in them to make a significant difference. A charismatic leader creates an environment that is conducive for the followers to exercise creativity and take some risks without fear of consequences. Branson encourages his staff to be innovative and creativity is rewarded in the organization, which makes the employees more likely to innovate and try new approaches. The business consultant Don Cruickshank deduced that Virgin is structured around its energetic chairman whose enthusiasm has led to the continued success of the company (Dearlove, 2010). Branson is charismatic since he shows a lot of enthusiasm and self-confidence which makes it possible for him to influence his followers. He is therefore able to motivate his followers to do more than they normally do and make personal sacrifices for the good of the organization. The charismatic leaders is also a visionary who is willing to take risks in order to achieve his vision while at the same time remaining sensitive to how the vision meets followers needs. The success of Virgin Airlines and Virgin mobile is largely attributed to the charisma exuded by Richard Branson. Dyck and Neubert (2008) assert that Branson used his power of personality and ability to communicate a compelling vision in order to lead his followers to take risks and achieve great success in the airline and wireless industries. Branson is the reason why Virgin is one of the world’s most recognized brands. It is as a result of his charisma that he is able to attract investors who supply the majority of the capital for his new ventures. Dearlove (2010) admits that over the years, Bransonâ€⠄¢s personal reputation has been the most effective tool of recruiting the best staff for Virgin group. He states that many of the company’s most able managers were drawn by what they had seen and heard about the way Branson runs his business. Branson is really good at motivating others and passing on his confidence and belief that every new project will succeed and by doing this, he acts as a catalyst for the development and success of new business ventures. When he set up Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Branson was going head to head with big airlines such as British Airways which held a huge market share (Kets de Vries, 1998). However, he was able to convince his staff that they could compete favorably against these giants and emerge victorious. Based on his personal convictions that they would succeed, he was able to inspire his followers to work hard and realize his high expectations. Specific Behavior that is Important to Branson’s Success Branson is well known for his risk taking attitude and his believe that one can succeed even in the face of numerous odds. This quality has been the reason behind the numerous success experienced by the Virgin group. One of the riskiest business ventures Branson undertook was by entering into the railway business in the late 1990s. He took over some segments of Britain’s railway network which was old and inefficient. By making use of technological advances, Branson was able to increase the efficiency of the railway network and hence make the railway more appealing to customers. While Virgin Trains has not achieved the monumental success that Virgin Atlantic has, it has made some progress in spite of the negative outcomes that many analysts predicted (Dearlove, 2010). The visibility of Virgin Group’s products is greatly enhanced by Branson’s genius at promoting his company. He does this through daring personal exploits which help him to get the attention of extensive media coverage. For exam ple, Shavinina (2006) records that Branson has broken a number of world records by crossing the Atlantic in a hot air balloon and also by boat. His latest exploit has been in successfully kite-surfing across the English Channel and therefore becoming the oldest person to do so. His flamboyant nature also generates a lot of free publicity for his companies. For example, to avoid incurring the huge costs required to advertise the new airline in the mainstream media in 1984, Branson appeared in a World War 1 flying outfit to celebrate the first flight of the newly formed Virgin Atlantic. Branson takes advantage of investment opportunities even when the competition seems high. He has also shown that one should not be intimidated by the bigger players in the market and he has proved that one can succeed â€Å"despite the odds†. For example, Branson has launched products such as Virgin Cola in a market that is dominated by the two major soft drink giants; Coca Cola and Pepsi (Dearl ove, 2010). Another behavior that has led to Branson’s success is that he always stays in touch with Virgin customers and employees. He is therefore aware of their perception of the current commodities offered by Virgin and can gain valuable information on new needs. Sosik and Dinger (2007) state that Branson spends significant amount of time looking into complaints made by customers as well as reading and responding to suggestions made by his employees. Which behavior described, would ensure student’s future life success? Branson emphasizes on the importance of innovation among his followers. This is a behavior that can be beneficial in my future since for an organization to survive in today’s business environment, one has to expand the horizon beyond personal goals and focus more on progression, which can only be accomplished by innovation (Katsioloudes Hadjidakis, 2007). A leader should therefore foster creativity and innovation among his followers instead o f having followers who only follow orders. Branson’s view in this case is indicative of a dominant leadership style, which demands for strategic empowerment in a bid to improve self-worth among employees. Branson also demonstrates concern for the welfare of his employees and he constantly states that they are the most important asset of the organization. Alimo-Metcalfe ALban-Metcalfe (2001) reveal that the transformational leader gives priority to his follower’s needs which leads to the followers having a lot of respect and admiration for their leader. Delegation is another behavior by Branson that can ensure a student’s future life success. Branson takes a back seat in the running of Virgin and lets his employees engage in the day to day running of the company with little interruption. He declares that he finds the most talented people and then gives them the space to do their job. Virgin Atlantic Airways is the exception in Branson’s hands off approach and he devotes a lot of time and attention to the airline. Dearlove (2010) states that such an approach is necessary when one is heading as many companies as Branson does since it would be unrealistic for him to involve himself in the operations of all the companies. As a student, I would want to emulate this behavior by entrusting some tasks to my followers. An effective leader should be skilled at allocating tasks and responsibilities to different followers based on their strengths. In some instances, delegation will require more than simply giving up some of the responsibilities; it may entail relinquishing of power to others. Behaviors from Richard Branson that leaders should avoid A behavior from Branson that leaders should avoid is taking too much risk in a bid to achieve goals and assuming that positive attitude and enthusiasm will lead to success. Dearlove (2010) notes that Branson rarely makes use of market research when taking up a venture; instead, he relies on his insti ncts as to what the customers want. He believes in risking it all to achieve his goals and maintains a positive attitude to each project he undertakes (Dyck Neubert, 2008) state that. Branson is known for making major risks in a bid to achieve his goals. This risk taking has led to some significant failures by Branson. For example, a number of his online retailing companies that were established during the dot.com bubble were failures making it necessary for the ventures to be abandoned. His venture in vodka and computers were also failures. While the Virgin Group of companies can afford to make a few unsuccessful ventures without dire repercussions, most leaders do not have the same luxury and one failure may break the company. Leaders should therefore avoid unnecessary risks in order to ensure the survivability and future success of their organizations. Branson has a reputation of acting at record-breaking speed when a new opportunity presents itself. He disregards bureaucracy an d does not use time consulting with middle managers about the feasibility of his latest ideas. This impulsive approach to new ventures may be detrimental to the well being of a small or middle sized organization. Another behavior that leaders should avoid is overemphasizing personal charisma. As it is, Virgin is heavily reliant on Branson as the charismatic leader. Branson has grown to be more important than the brand and there is concern as to the future of the group since it will be very hard to find a worthwhile successor to him. Den Hartog et al. (1999) warn that charismatic leaders may have a negative impact on the future of a company as is the case with Virgin. Leaders should therefore ensure that they put they do not jeopardize the future prospects of the company. Conclusion This paper set out to review the Branson’s dominant leadership styles and access the manner in which his behavior can ensure a student’s future life success. It has been noted that Branson b egan utilizing his entrepreneurial capabilities at the early age of 17 and has continued to develop many companies with great success. The paper has noted that Branson’s dominant leadership styles are transformational and charismatic. It has been articulated that Branson creates a challenging and exciting environment in which his followers can exercise their creativity and innovation instead of following him blindly wherever he leaders. The paper has also underscored the fact that creativity is a major driving force behind all operations by Branson and he seeks to impart the same spirit to his followers. The empowering attitude that Branson emphasizes leads to greater performance being obtained from his staff and this causes the organization to excel. This paper has come out with a number of lessons that can be learnt from Branson’s leadership styles. 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