The Maya Civilization Essays - Maya Civilization, Maya Religion

The Maya Civilization February 5, 2001 The Maya Civilization The ancient Maya once occupied a vast geographic area in Central America. Their civilization inhabited an area that encompasses Mexicos Yucatan peninsula and parts of the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, as well as Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. From the third to the ninth century, Maya civilization produced awe-inspiring temples and pyramids, highly accurate calendars, mathematics and hieroglyphics, and a complex social and political order (Collapse... 1). Urban centers were important to the Maya during the Classic period; they offered the Mayans a central place to practice religion. The Mayan culture can be traced back to 1500 BC, entering the Classic period about 300 AD and flourishing between 600 and 900 AD. The basis of the culture was farming. They cultivated food crops such as maize (corn), beans, squash, and chili peppers. They also cultivated cash crops such as cotton and cacao (Palfrey 1). Maize was the principal food of the Mayas and maize production was the central economic activity. The Mayas, forced to cultivate in a tropical rain forest, used slash and burn agriculture. The growth is so rapid in the rain forest that the nutrients provided by dead plants and animal feces get used very quickly. This causes the soil to be unfertile within a few years. The Mayans would then have to use new land. Because of this, the Mayans required huge amounts of land to feed their people. The population, throughout the Classic period, remained small. Slash and burn agriculture is also labor intensive. It required the people to spend an average of 190 days in agricultu ral work (Hooker 4). Despite the difficulty of this labor, the remainder of the year was used to build and maintain cities, develop art, and continue to enhance their literature. The cities, or urban centers, were built primarily as ceremonial centers. The priestly class lived in the cities, while the general population lived away in small farming villages. The priests would carry out daily religious duties, particularly sacrifices, and the peasants would gather periodically for religious ceremonies and festivals. They built the ceremonial centers in a specific design for religious practices. They constructed tall pyramid temples, warren-like single story palaces, and a ball court that was surrounded by a broad central plaza. The architectural features of the Mayan pyramids include towering roofs, corbel vaults, and elaborate embellishment with stucco reliefs (Palfrey 2). It is amazing to imagine the detail that the Mayans were able to create in their architecture with only primitive tools. For the Mayans, science and religion were linked. Time was extremely important and their agriculture and religious ceremonies required a system that could record time. That need for structure is probably the reason that the Mayans developed such an amazingly accurate calendar. They also developed a complex style of hieroglyphic writing that we have not fully deciphered. Through their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics they calculated the lunar cycle, predicted eclipses, and formulated a unique calendar system was very accurate. Their calendar was only one day off every 6000 years. That makes it more accurate than our calendar today (Hooker 6). Two fundamental ideas in mathematics that were discovered by the Mayans are the position value and the concept of zero. The Hindu was the only other antiquated culture to develop this and they did it 300 years after the Mayans. They are such a simple concept that is a distinct stroke of genius that these people discovered them (Dumois 1). Mayan numerals were written with only three symbols. A dot represents one, a line represents five, and a glyph of a seashell represents zero. Mayan religion was obsessed with time. Mayan religion was a part of the Mayans entire life. One important aspect of their religion is that it is based on accommodating humanity to the cycles of the universe. They believed that the universe functions in a logical, cyclical, and predicable way; human beings can exploit that cyclical nature by accommodating themselves to those cycles (Hooker 5). Religious ceremonies involved dancing, competition, dramatic performances, prayer, and sacrifice. The gods required nourishment from human beings in order to work. The bulk of sacrifice involved some form of human sacrifice. The majority of

Social Psychology essay

Social Psychology essay Social Psychology essay Social Psychology essayThe history of social psychology can be described as the history of social science that reflects multiple efforts to explain social conditions, social actions and the relationships between society and its members (Fenestra, 2013). The history of social psychology helps to better understand the nature of social world. In fact, social psychology plays an important role in helping individuals to have a better understand of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of other individuals. It is necessary to understand not only social, but also political and material influences on the conceptions of individuals. The history of social psychology is closely connected with the political history because the discipline helps to explore human nature through the application of certain scientific methods. A number of key research developments have helped to define social psychology and differentiate it from other fields of study, including ethical, cultural, behavioral and other types of research developments.   The following theoretical constructs are inherent in social psychology principles include the â€Å"commonality corollary, the sociality corollary and the fragmentation corollary† (Rogers, 2013, p. 157). The role of ethics in behavioral research is crucial because any form of behavioral research requires not only observation, analysis of human behavior, but also it requires the analysis of by-products of human behavior, such as public opinions. Ethics in behavioral research influences the attitudes of personnel, the behavior of the participants, and other aspects that may have certain impact on society. Some of the ethical dilemmas that researchers face include the issues associated with specific national or cultural context, maintenance of the respect for privacy and confidentiality, etc. One of the examples of an ethical violation that occurred in a human research study includes the violation of moral principles in the form of racial ineq uality, which leads to racial discrimination and racism. The study well-known as the Tuskegee Syphilis study demonstrates the actual violation of moral norms in relation to African Americans. The methodology used by researchers was observational. Considerable changes could have been made to improve the ethical nature of the research, including the improved ethical standards and the proper control.

International Job Search Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Job Search - Essay Example It is crucial to note that the firm provides feedback and responses to online applications. Coca-Cola embraces creative recruitment strategy that focuses on talent management. These methods have interactive sessions during interviews. Most importantly, the firm has recruiters that traverse the globe, in search of management and production experts. These recruiters are involved in processes that require self-selection (Griffin, 2007). This means that the recruiter carryout the selection and separation processes or stages of the recruitment exercise. Additionally, the firm has arranged group interactions that allow potential candidates to interact and express their feelings. These sessions focus on the evaluation of character, working knowledge and levels of interest. Job Classifications at Coca-Cola The job classifications at Coca-Cola are based on academic and professional qualifications and requirements for the job. These classifications include administrative assistant to the offic er, international customer relations, international company representatives and officer coordinators. The classifications are grouped into productions and human resources. These job classifications are spread out for the regional and international markets (Griffin, 2007, p. 145). The assumptions that can arise from these classifications include academic requirements, social requirements such as age, language and personal background such as place of origin, educational background, family status and criminal records. For instance, an individual may assume that the firm does not consider the criminal records of the job applicants. International Assignment The international assignment is crucial when determining optimal mix of home and host country employees. For instance, the job opening may be present in a distant location such as Malaysia, which leads to the requirement for a person with knowledge concerning this region. The firm will look for a host country employee because the pers on understands the culture and economics of the host country (Griffin, 2007). The Culture and Language Preparedness of the Employee These are also crucial because in case the employee is not prepared in terms of culture and language, then he is not fit for the job. It is crucial to acknowledge that language is a crucial factor because it determines communication. Culture is crucial because it influences communication and interactions (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt, 2007, p. 416). The employee should be, culturally, and linguistically prepared for the job. This influences the mix because the firm must seek for an individual with the background of the host nation. The Length of the Assignment In this case, the firm can give the job to a home employee because this does not depend on cultural or linguistic aspects. Additionally, the firm can give this position to a host country employee, which will be logical in terms of stability, settlement and travel expenses. For instance, in case the j ob is located, in South America, it is logical to give the job to a South American (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt, 2007, p. 437). However, the firm can also give the job to an American. Giving the job to a South American facilitates operational stability because issues such as the discontinuation of work because of travel will not affect the operations. The Host and Home Country Recruitment and Selection Practices These are crucial for consideration because

Writing an Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Writing an Argument - Essay Example Obesity is not a simple disease resulted from one factor. But it is rather a chronic condition that develops as a result of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors. In addition, it is associated with heart disease, heart stroke, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Undoubtedly, obesity is sky high as two-thirds of the American population is obese. It is evident that children in this current generation has a shorter life expectancy due to high rates of obesity as opposed to children 2 decades ago, which is highly shocking. According to this article, â€Å"Obesity has become a huge phenomenon that is big of a hazard as smoking is adolescence.† Without a doubt, obesity is a prevalent problem that is detrimental to society and must be addressed for the health and the wealth of the future generations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity along with physical inactivity caused 400,000 U.S. deaths. In addition, obesity is linked with major health problems such as diabetes,  heart disease,  high blood pressure, arthritis, and  stroke. According to healthamericans.org, almost 60% of children in America are  obese and the rates continued to increase in an alarming rate in 23 states. With the current economic recession, obesity rates will continue to increase since nutritious foods will become more expensive. Clearly obesity has detrimental effects on individuals, and attempt to understand the root causes of obesity. Medical experts after intensive research have contributed four major factors that cause obesity. One of the main causes of obesity is due to lack of physical activity. Physical inactivity remains as a top cause for obesity than any other factors. A study conducted by medical experts proved that a lack of vigorous physical activity is the main contributor to obesity for adolescents. This has been a huge issue especially with the advent of technology. Young adults are more likely to stay home and indulg e in TV rather than engaging in physical activity. This concern has been prevalent in American society as obesity rates have staggered amongst teens. The key element is to ensure that adolescents get the necessary physical activity in order to prevent them from being obese. The second leading cause of obesity that plagues our society is poor nutrition. According to womenfitness.net, intake of excess calories and consumption of food that are high in fat, sugar, and sodium are proven to be linked to obesity. In addition, studies conducted by the National Institute of health, implementing a meal plan that is rich in lean protein, high in fiber and minerals, limiting sugars and fats can drastically lower the chance of obesity. Poor nutrition has been a huge factor that has prolonged this issue. Recently, many schools have rectified this issue by eliminating trans-fat or sugary snacks out of their cafeteria. This has somewhat rectified the issue and made students make healthier alternati ve choices. Another major issue trending in the realm of nutrition is junk food. It is evident that the young generation which is constantly being bombarded with â€Å"supersized meals.† If the younger generation understands the consequences of their nutritional habits, they are more like to modify their lifestyle that can benefit their health. In addition, the younger generation understands the importance of having a good sex appeal, which can push the youth to eat healthy, exercise and adapt a healthy lifestyle. For instance, the education system and the food industry clearly promote an unhealthy eating habits couple with no physical activity for children. It is evident that these factors are key elements towards the rise of obesity rates in society, which must be addressed as

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Essay Example Balducci, who brings the prisoners, claims that the accused had killed his cousin because of a family squabble over grain. However, it is surprising that there are high rates of insecurity in the region because Balducci has to return to El Ameur to watch over the territory. In as much as several concepts and themes are evident in the narration, the author highlights the theme of injustice, loneliness, and deficiency; consequently, it is necessary to analyze the story based on literary concepts. Analysis of the Guest by Albert Camus The title â€Å"guest† is suitable for the story based on varied reasons. Initially, several things that are happening in the story are alien to the inhabitants of the region. The meetings between people who are unknown to each other signify the need for tolerance. The Arab and Balducci are the guests in the story. According to Camus (2), the story and the characters become anxious because a guest is expected. Indeed, the guest is a character in the story that the author does not disclose directly to the audience. Omnipresent narration is used figuratively to describe the characters in the tale. The narration works well because the reader can understand the events that followed the period after the drought. According to Camus (7), people are dealing with different forms of insecurities. Consequently, the prisoner in the story should receive punishment for his wrongdoings. The Guest depicts a time when people were encountering several forms of challenges in their societies. This is clear because the region where the story is set experiences instability. The author states that the place had experienced war and its negative effects for a while. The characters in the story are instrumental in painting a picture of the real condition that the author describes (Camus 4). For example, Daru is indecisive because he questions the events surrounding his life as apparent in numerous instances. He is supposed to deliver the Arab to the au thorities in Tinguit; however, he is unwilling to do so. Daru talks about the bags of wheat that would be used by the families facing hunger (Camus 1). From the analysis of the story, farming plays a decisive role to livelihood of the characters in the plays. The author further states that learning is no longer taking place at the school compound. As witnessed in the story, the schoolmaster arrives at a deserted. He is annoyed with the prevailing conditions in his country as apparent in the conversation. The guest revolves around the theme of justice. There is a lot of anxiety among the characters in the scene (Camus 6). None of them is certain about his future following the drought and wars. The divergent themes in â€Å"the guest† are instrumental because they highlight the uncertainties in the contemporary European community. It is surprising to state that the Arab is also a guest yet he had committed a crime initially. Indeed, referring to a wrongdoer as a guest represent s sarcasm in the story. The theme of morality is also present in the play using different scene. For example, it is questionable when Daru chooses to sleep naked yet he is a grown up person (Camus 6). The behavior is expected only among children in the society. Symbolism is equally evident in most part of the story. It is evident that people were suffering because of their own mistakes after carefully looking at various instances of imagery (Camus 3). For example, the prisoner will suffer for having

The difference between management and leadership

The difference between management and leadership Management and leadership are critical elements in the ongoing success of any business. Yet, there has been, and continues to be, a long standing debate over whether good management or good leadership is more important and holds more value to a companys success. Each of these topics have been both written about, and discussed, heavily over the years and drawn countless opinions from both sides about each ones importance Some believe that management holds greater importance because of its reliability and stability, and tends to deal the daily results and performance while others believe that leadership is most critical because it is believed to deal with higher thinking and creativity relying on an individuals character traits, does not appear to be teachable, seems to be inherent in some people and not others, and is responsible for setting direction and laying out the pathway that a business will follow. In the opinion of this writer trying to set one above the other is a flawed approach and that those who hold these ideas have yet to come to the realization that management and leadership are two sides of the same coin. Without one the other is incomplete, and it is a balance of each of these in varying measures at varying times that will yield success. Both good management and good leadership represent very different traits within people and it is a combination of these traits that is necessary for both individual and company performance. This becomes more evident after carefully examining the arguments for both management and leadership, the different traits and characteristics that managerial and leadership ability possess, and how each contribute to positive outcomes. When these traits are put in the context of a crisis situation it becomes apparent how vital both are to the result. Management has long been considered by many organizations to be the most important aspect of an organization. This is why many organizations find that defined and structured management practices are more useful than leadership because it focuses on the structure of an organization, where as leadership is more focused on social interactions and innovation (the so-called big picture), whose outcomes many times are unknown, thus making them a little instable (Kearsley, 2005). For this reason many managers use innovation not to change how things are done, but to improve the ability of its people and its resources control to improve its efficiency (Elliott, 2002). This becomes useful in the day to day activities placing leadership as a secondary contributor. Still, in a changing society and marketplace where organizations are forced to constantly evolve effective leadership that can develop and communicate a vision becomes a necessity to not only compete, but excel both today and in the f uture. Managements focus has mainly been in administrative duties such as the what and when, where as leadership is more imaginative and emotional, which focuses on the why and how (Kearsley, 2005). The why and how the questions are the ones needed to find innovated new ways of doing things, which will assist them in developing and keeping a competitive advantage. A challenge because even though the outcomes of the innovations of leadership can at times be questionable they are essential to an organization especially when the work environment becomes unstable and innovation can assist an organization adapt. What accentuates the need for leadership even more than maintaining a competitive edge is the fact that it in todays society the hierarchical aspect of organizations have become more intricate and ones superior (manager) has become less defined (Rogers Tierney, 2004). As such, leadership becomes important in the completion of tasks especially with the heavy emphasis placed upon a groups successful performance within an organization today and a leaders ability to form a group into a cohesive unit. Before this hierarchical change there was a specific top down flow to an organization so that only those at the top needed leadership abilities because everyone else followed what they said, so management was more important to the organization. Now that we compete globally this dynamic has changed and control cannot be achieved without having a more flexible approach to management and leadership as a result of the expanding environment they have come to be in. In this way leadership has dev eloped into a more significant and critical aspect relative to that of management because leaders dont control; they influence (Rogers Tierney, 2004, p. 79). This goes beyond the scope of good management. Management is supposed to maintain a set structure within an organization through the use of control. If control has become less attainable, and stifles the flexibility of a company to effectively adapt and innovate then one now needs to be able to exact influence rather than control an organization and must adapt to continue to be a viable enterprise. This represents one reason as to the necessity for both management and leadership in cooperation to yield success. Management sets what must be done and leadership helps them accomplish that despite a lack of direct control. This effectively debunks the argument in favor of management over leadership. But, what about the arguments supporting the value of leadership and its role to the organization? Many hold the idea that leadership is more important to an organization. One argument in favor of this idea is that education. They believe that leadership is inherent and cant be taught. Leadership has been likened to that of a pathfinder. Being innovators they are searching for something never before done and as such they have nothing from which to learn from (Hodgson, 1987, p. 13). Innovation is creativity, you arent taught it you just know it. In a sense this is true, most scholars readily agree that leadership is based upon experience, but many fail to realize that experiences can be taught. When looked at in the form of learning a sport a person can study the rules of a sport and it will help their understanding of the game, but to be truly good at something it is necessary to go out and play (Doh, 2003). So, the key to teaching leadership is to put people in situations where they are forced to lead. But, a person must understand that teaching can only go so far and just becaus e you have been taught something doesnt mean you will be a master at it, nor does it mean that youll successfully administer leadership (Doh, 2003). When dealing with people a leader faces diverse challenges in personality and capability and their ability to be flexible and provide both the direction and opportunity for those under their influence to be successful and feel they are contributing is critical to the success of the endeavor. An example would be that many people have been taught how to play chess, but even though they know how to play doesnt mean they are going to masters (Doh, 2003). Another argument in favor of leadership is that it can be seen a form of social problem solving in that it is necessary in resolving conflict within to help direct it along the path that management has set down to reach an organizations goal making leadership and management necessary for an organization to achieve its goal (DeChurch et al.,2011, p. 153). But this is only half what defines the necessity of both aspect within an organization. It is also necessary to consider the views of time that each aspect takes. That management has its eye always on the bottom line, the leader has his eye on the horizon meaning management focuses on the present and leadership focuses on the future (Kearsley, 2005, p. 265). It is necessary for an organization to have both if it wants to be successful. This can be examined within the firefighter, firelighter debate within the Leadership Debate. This debate explains that management within a project takes the stance of a firefighter with regards to its problems, only facing them when they occur, where as leadership takes the firelighter approach in that they try to anticipate and prevent problems from occurring (Leadership, 2005). When looking at the two one could say the author believes the firelighter is the more desirable approach in by focusing on the future and preventing problems from occurring could increase efficiency and success, but this is only useful so far as problems can be predicted or anticipated, which in a fairly unpredictable world is generally difficult. As such it is necessary to also hold not only the leadership approach, but management approach as well because if a person fails in predicting a problem the management approach is able to account for this failure and more expediently correct the problem. A study done by the British Royal Navy in the effort to find management and leaderships effect on performance showed that leadership characteristics were more emotional in nature while managements were more im personal and focused on order and consistency to complex operations, but neither alone brought about top performers, but a blend of both were necessary for the success in an increasingly complex and volatile business environment (Young Dulewicz, 2008, p. 28). From this study it can be extrapolated that managerial and leadership approaches are counterpoints within a business. This becomes apparent when looking at organizations within a time of crisis. When examining an organization in a time of crisis one must focus on the managerial aspect, which are the operations and contingency plans, as well as the leading aspect which focuses more on people and emotion. In looking at leadership in a crisis it becomes twofold because many see a crisis as an opportunity to change; as such leadership must first stabilize the organization so they can adapt to the crisis (Heifetz, Grashow Linsky, 2009). This is contrary to the view held by management that a crisis is in fact an emergency and a company needs to make an effort to weather the burdens. In this way leadership becomes a necessity in a crisis due to its ability to cope with social pressures. In a time of crisis when an organization is forced to adapt there are many conflicting emotions within the workers. A leader has the capability to orchestrate the inevitable conflict, chaos, and confusion of change so that the disturbance is productive rather than destructive, which will enable the organization to work as a cohesive unit to further their goals (Heifetz, et al., 2009, p. 66). This is possible because those who possess leadership capabilities tend to possess emotional intelligence, which enables them to understand their own emotions and control them. As a result they can better empathize with others members of the organization (Young Dulewicz, 2008, p. 26). This helps gain loyalty and trust towards a leader, improving their ability to work towards a common goal. Despite the necessity for leadership during a crisis management is just as important as change being an adaptation of an organizations original practices rather than a complete overhaul of their practices (Heifetz, et al., 2009). A good example of this is when Best Buy changed its strategy to one established in store boutiques to better capture the female buyers interest rather than solely focusing on the male buyer in an effort to avoid a looming crisis (Heifetz, et al., 2009). They were effective beca use despite a drastic change the majority of the overall business scheme was left intact and the manager who put this ups the ability to effectively convince others that it was necessary and gains their support to follow through. However, not all change occurs in time to prevent a crisis. In such instances an organized plan, which is constantly monitored for flaws, is necessary to ensure transitional ease throughout this period of adaptation. This is the idea of a contingency plan; which can only be successful through the application of skilled management. Contingency plans are necessary during a crisis because that occasion is usually characterized by complexity and dynamism (Elliott, 2002, p. 146). This complexity makes it difficult to enact change unless an organization has made preparation in case of troubles to lessen the affect felt by the crisis and to support these changes throughout the crisis. This explains the necessity for a systematic approach for dealing with real crises so that the organization continues to function normally in most of its operations (Keefe Darling, 2005, p. 49). In order to achieve this goal it is necessary to have administrative skills, which can only exist within good management skills. Also due to necessity of a flexible nature of a contingency plan they must be constantly updated to account for a changing environment (Mitome, Speere Swift, 2001). This requires someone to constantly monitor the plan to ensure it is up to date and / or make effective changes and adaptations to the plan as required a nd communicate them to the organization without interfering in daily operational activities. As has already been stated leadership is useful for social interaction and decisiveness, through the use of innovation. As such it is lacking in the necessary qualities to set up and maintain a contingency plan. However contingency plans are not solely managerial functions. Two problems found within an organizations contingency plan require the additional support of leadership abilities in order to fix. The first was because the chaotic environment and unpredictability of a crisis made it very difficult to build a contingency plan that could cover every eventuality. Resulting in necessity to keep the plan flexible so that it is possible, no matter the situation, a plan could be adapted to suit whatever need (Mitome et al., 2001). This flexibility makes leadership necessary so that in the case of crisis the organization can be decisive in its adjustments, thus decreasing the time of adaptation. As has already been stated leaders are pathfinders (Hodgson, 1987, p. 13). So during a time of crisis when things are unknown it is up to a leader to see the solutions and managers to follow that solution they are give. This would hopefully enable an organization to return to normal business practices in a timely manner. The other problem is in how contingency plans are used during a time of crisis. It is common for organization to use small teams to find a solution for their problem because, generally, they outperform individuals (Elliott, 2002, p. 148). This makes it necessary to have a leader who can unify the team to a common goal and improve the coherence of team members to quicken the development of a solution. Without a leader to coalesce the efforts of management in a directed problem solving approach any answer might be delayed and result in a sub-optimal conclusion. It becomes quite apparent the necessity for both leadership and management are necessary within a crisis situation because they must develop next practices while excelling at todays best practices (Heifetz, et al., 2009, p.65). In other words management is important because it can help prepare for crisis helping to minimize the damage it causes and through the continuation of normal practices so that the organization still has the ability to develop next generation practices. The importance of management and leadership in a time of crisis can be seen by the failure in relief distribution in the aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake which resulted because of the lack of a contingency plan that took into account the conflicts that could arise between various authorities and agencies and determine ways to prevent them. This still might have been prevented, but if not for the lack of leadership within the organization which failed to come to an agreement (Piotrowski, 2010). This shows that b oth a strong contingency plan and leadership abilities is needed because if the contingency plan is strong everything is planned and little can go wrong, but in the case that it fails leadership can minimize the damage. It has become clear of the necessity for both management and leadership. The comparison between a leader being a pathfinder and management being a path follower is in part true (Hodgson, 1987). But managements do not merely follow a path they reinforce it and improve its foundation enabling leadership to continue to grow. Their relationship is similar to that of a building. Leadership goes up, while management builds within. If a company was devoid of effective leadership it may not be able to maintain a competitive position within the market place through the effective identification and development of plans, strategies, tactics and business acumen to target positive results. And, without effective management a leaders vision, ideas, and direction may not be sustainable which might limit a businesses long term competitive position and success. The reason being that leadership is within focus of people while management is the focus administrative duties. An organization needs both le adership and management to be effective just like Yin and Yang to provide balance to the ongoing performance within an organization. While leadership provides vision, resources, and communication management provides execution identifies challenges and opportunities and communicates both throughout the company, and back-up to the leaders who can in fact adapt plans and direction continuously for success.

Mental Imagery on Athletic Performance Essay -- Athletics Sports Neuro

Mental Imagery on Athletic Performance What is Mental Imagery? Mental imagery, also called visualization and mental rehearsal, is defined as experience that resembles perceptual experience, but which occurs in the absence of the appropriate stimuli for the relevant perception (plato.stanford.edu/entries/mental-imagery/). Whenever we imagine ourselves performing an action in the absence of physical practice, we are said to be using imagery. While most discussions of imagery focus on the visual mode, there exists other modes of experience such as auditory and kinesthetic that are just as important. However, for the purposes of this paper, only visual imagery will be discussed for it is the most relevant mode concerning athletic performance. Claims Although sports psychology is becoming more prevalent in today’s society, there is a surprising lack of web sites that endorse and offer visual imagery skills for sports. The few advertisements that I found endorse tapes which claim to rapidly improve your athletic skill, concentration, and endurance. Visual imagery advocates purport that this technique increases energy and avoids injuries as well. Not only will visualization improve athletic performance but the ads also claim that it will enhance motivation and overall enjoyment of the sport (www.health-o-rama.org/superlearning/spec-s.htm). Peak Performance Sports looks to sell tapes that has the "latest methods in sports psychology", one of them being mental imagery, which will elevate your game to a new level. The tapes will increase confidence, focus and self-composure which will in turn, improve your athletic performance. These tapes can work for any type of athlete, whether they are profes... ...xercise Psychology, 17(1), 54-69. Murphy, S. (1990). Models of Imagery in Sport Psychology: A Review. Journal of Mental Imagery, 14 (3&4), 153-172. Orlick, T., Zitzelsberger, L., LI-Wei, Z., & Qi-wei, M. (1992). The Effect of Mental-Imagery Training on Performance Enhancement With 7-10-Year-Old Children. The Sports Psychologist, 6, 230-241. Pavio, A. (1985). Cognitive and Motivational Functions of Imagery in Human Performance. Journal of Applied Sports Science, 10, 22-28. Porter, K., Foster, J. Visual Athletics. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Publishers, 1990. Roure, R., et al. (1998). Autonomic Nervous System Responses Correlate with Mental Rehearsal in Volleyball Training. Journal of Applied Physiology, 78(2), 99-108. Suinn, R. Psychological Techniques for Individual Performance. New York, New York: Macmillan, 1990. p 492-506.