Hawthorne Effect
The Hawthorne effect simply suggests that when employees are the subject of attention they tend to perform their tasks better and are more productive in the process. It is not a basis for micromanaging or putting video recorders throughout workplaces, but is simply an observed human response to being on display. We tend to make an effort to present ourselves in the best light. This phenom is not new to human behavior. It has existed from even before humanity dotted this blue and green sphere called Earth. Good leaders have understood this behavior before industrial organization psychologist took the honor of giving this force of human behavior the appellation Hawthorne.
.jpg) |
| Source: Capitol Rehab of Winchester blog |
A bit of History on Hawthorne Effect
The phrase was coined in the 1950's by Henry A Landsberger as he observed the results of studies that occurred during the mid-1920's to mid-1930's at Hawthorne Works located in Cicero, IL.
Apparently, a study ensued where management wanted to know the impact adjusting the lighting in the facility had on production.
The assumption was that it would increase production if more light occurred and decrease production with less illumination.
Those who facilitated the experiments we baffled when production increased no matter the level of illuminations.
The employees knew they were being observed and put on their collective best performance--not out of fear--but because they knew someone was watching them.
Telling them they were being observed produced a temporary productivity. This, by today's standard, is a tainted experiment and worth no real data.
It would have been better to do the luminescent changes and observe production to get unbiased data. However, because this was not the route those experimentalists knew to take, an old phenomenon was identified. We tend to behave when we know we are being watched!
Psychological Hawthorne
Most, people behave when they know their behavior is being observed. It is a given that the majority of the people behave most of the time. Many people behave in stores because they know that cameras are watching their every move--or a store clerk or manager behind a one-way mirror!
It is psychologically valid for most decent people to put up a facade when first meeting people to assure wounded feelings do not occur for either party. We fear the unknown, so we pretend to be someone else so the real self could never be injured. By typing this, no indictment against normal humanity for following basic instincts for self-preservation exists in this admittance.
Source: Hitler
The first impression means a great deal in America that it is a false representation of the reality of the person being observed.
Hitler was an example of first impressions. He was a leader who promised the triumph of Germany.
What he did not tell the people at first was how he intended to obtain that triumph-- the genocide of Jews!
The Germans desperately wanted a leader to pull them out of their depression. Hitler did it! He killed six million estimatedly of the Jews and other minorities in Europe!
In society, we tend to put too much stock in the way people look. Age and beauty rule the nation to some extent.
Americans want young attractive and slightly muscular males and thin, intelligent and attractive females.
Our society spends billions on products to make average looking people stand out in crowds. It works! Everyone assumes people look fabulous all times of the day--some do.
For the world, we put ourselves on display trying to look our best all the time. We also try to pretend that every problem or issue in our lives are handled.
In fact, when asked "How are you?" our automatic reply is "Fine, how are you? We expect an automatic answer in return. Really, we do not care about the fortune or misfortune of our neighbors.
We have polite society. In polite society, polite things are spoken--not troubling things. Just like at the Hawthorne Works Co., when we get to our private places or are no longer on display we allow our true work to come out. We hide because we fear being judged and hearing the truth about how others may see us as a society.
Spiritual Hawthorne
Source: www.fanpop.com
In many, if not all, spiritual traditions a god or being sits above all humanity and looks down upon it with an omniscient mind to judge with prudence the lives of all.
This supreme being, or God's penetrating eyes, ears and mind can see, hear and perceive all things about all humans.
Priests, ministers, sorcerers and wizards alike have used such faith to usurp nations and hold power--stating that those who do not heed them will offend God! Usually, the god that these people offend is one who cannot be contacted by the average person and a priest minister or soothsayer is needed to collect honors and alms for the god.
Independent of the evil designs of humans, the pure desires of individual followers cross themselves with belief and uphold the laws of their God by strong faith and love.
The Hawthorne Effect of faith is different because the watcher, God, never stops observing His adherents.
Therefore, people of faith who espouse such a relationship with the divine will always find a reason to be on their best behavior. Not necessarily out of fear, but because they know Someone is observing.
Other Article by Rodric Johnson
- Dead Body Poses in a Soldier's Memory Book
Understand the solider who took pictures of the enemy defeated and judge less. - Education - Five Basic Elements of Language Defined
An exploration of language and what building blocks make language. - Have Power - News
Knowledge of the atom and its rotation allows physicist to split the nucleus and create a cascading effect that produces energy. Einstein had faith unto action; then flourished knowledge through experiences. Power over that act of splitting the atom - The Truth about Same - Gender Marriage
Many pundits of same gender marriage cite exceptions to the historical male/female relationships to justify homosexual relationships. The fact that there are exceptions to normal marriage in the past does not take away the fact that homosexual marria - The Obama Effect - What it Means to be Black
Over the course of the four years President Obama has served our country, the attitudes of many African Americans have changed towards him.
No comments:
Post a Comment