Courage is The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe Essay -- Tom Wolfe

Courage is The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe Tom Wolfe's novel The Right Stuff, gives an accurate description into the lives of the first astronauts and rocket-powered aircraft test pilots, from their careers before, during, and after their selection to become astronauts, through to their private home lives. All throughout his book, Wolfe refers to "the right stuff" and "this righteous stuff" without ever saying upfront what "the stuff" really is. I have concluded that throughout the story, "the right stuff" is simply courage. I would personally define courage as: The willingness to put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. It is never easy to put yourself into a dangerous position, this is because our brain is programmed for survival, but there are ways to better equip our brain so that these situations become less dangerous. A couple of these ways are with our natural instincts and good training. When you have natural instincts for something, it makes that task easier than for someone who doesn't have the same instincts. There was a good part of Wolfe's book that described how instincts led to Gordon Cooper being selected into the Mercury Program. It was when he was doing the initial interview sessions when the "NASA psychologists were asking candidates about their family lives, Cooper was able to sense the correct answers and describe his family life as terrific, when in fact they were separated". Cooper's natural people person instincts helped him recognize what this line of questioning was about, kept him in the running for an astronaut position-which he later received-and was able to reconcile with his wife so they looked like the model family. Throughout his book, Wolfe describes training that these men ... ...flight". So after reading stories of astronauts, their families, and test pilots, I take Tom Wolfe's phrase "The Right Stuff" to mean courage that was obtained from natural instinct and training. Without any of these special traits, I believe that finding a person to fly strapped onto a rocket into the heavens would have been a very difficult one for the military and NASA. They are the intangible items that make the difference between life and death when a person is placed in a dangerous situation. BIBLIOGRAPHY Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 2001. Wolfe's novel describes the early years of the manned rocket flight era. He tells stories from legends like Chuck Yeager, Allen Shepard, Neil Armstrong, and Gordon Cooper. These stories tell about their histories from screenings to become astronauts to being record-setting test pilots.

Adolescent Identity Exploration: A Test of Erikson

Theory of Transitional Crisis Kidwell, Dunham, and Richard (1995) investigated Erikson’s theory that adolescent identity exploration is associated with a variety of symptoms, such as fluctuations in ego strength, mood swings, rebelliousness, and heightened physical symptoms. They sampled a total of 82 high school students (43 males, 39 females) between the ages of 14 and 17.These students were academically superior high school students who attended the Florida State University Summer Science and Mathematics Camp during the summers of 1988 (30 students) and 1989 (52 students). The minimum requirements for admission to the program included percentile ranks of 90 or more on standardized achievement tests, as well as sustained high academic performance. The students were from the middle-to-upper-middle class socioeconomic status. They responded to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Ego Identity Interview (Grotevant & Cooper, 1981).Results showed that ad olescents who were actively engaged in identity exploration were more likely to produce a personality pattern characterized by self doubt, confusion, disturbed thinking, impulsivity, conflict with parents and authority figures, reduced ego strength, and increased physical symptoms. Although results were interesting, there are several limitations in the study that must be considered. The Ego Identity Interview (Grotevant & Cooper, 1981) was based on Marcia’s (1964) operationalization of Erikson’s theory (1968) regarding adolescence as a time of increased exploration and commitment.The semi-structured interview was designed to gather evidence of exploration and commitment in six domains: occupation, religion, politics, friendships, dating, and sex roles. Family relationship was not one of the domains in the Ego Identity Interview. Family should be included as one of the domains to be measured because it plays a big role in an adolescent’s life. Adolescents who are exploring may tend to have poor social judgment and may be rebellious and hostile toward parents and authority figures whom they tend to blame for their own problems (Feldman, 2003).As such, it is important to include the family domain in the interview to assess adolescents’ commitment and relationship with their immediate family members. Next, Erikson’s theory does not apply to people in reduced economic circumstances who cannot afford a moratorium in adolescence to explore different roles and develop an ego identity. Moratorium is a period in which an adolescent avoids commitment. This stage may be a luxury available only to those with means to attend college or take time out to travel (Slugowski & Ginsburg, 1989 as cited in Schultz & Schultz, 2005).The socioeconomic status of the families-of-origin for the student samples was middle-to-upper-middle class. Therefore this fits with the criteria of adolescents to confirm Erikson’s theory. Generalizations could not be made to all adolescents, especially those coming from the lower socioeconomic status. Furthermore, this study was carried out in the United States, as such, it could not be compared to other adolescents across other cultures. Erikson argued that the period of active exploration is likely pronounced in the gifted, just like the sample in this study.A similar pattern of findings may not be revealed in a less select group of comparable age. Perhaps the â€Å"crisis† will surface at a later age, or perhaps the profiles will differ. Such questions remain to be addressed in future research. Also, the adolescent in this study were involved in a new and unfamiliar environment, being in a camp away from their families and living on a college campus for a period of six weeks. This may imply that the exploration process may be encouraged by the exposure to the new and different environment.The adolescent may likely to be experiencing a need to explore and learn about the new sett ing they are in. This may lead to confusion and uncertainties which may result in the skewed results of the study. When Erikson developed his theory, he suggested that males and females move through the identity versus identity confusion period differently. He argued that males are more likely to proceed through the social development stages in order, developing a stable identity before committing to an intimate relationship with another person.In contrast, he suggested that females reverse the order, seeking intimate relationships and then defining their identities through these relationships (Feldman, 2003). These ideas should be considered by the researchers when designing this study. Gender differences in identity formation should be explored. This also suggests that Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development may not always progress in the order he proposed. Despite the limitations, Erikson’s theory had a great deal of popular appeal, as he shifted the focus away from the more psychosexual emphasis of Freud’s toward a more psychosocial focus.Erikson elaborated on Freud’s stages of development. Whereas Freud emphasized on early childhood, Erikson suggested that development continues in a succession of 8 stages over the entire lifespan. Erikson made efforts to collect cross-cultural data, which is something that Sigmund Freud never did. His theory has been validated in cross cultural studies for example by Nurmi, Poole, & Kalakoski (1996) who studied Australian and Finnish adolescents. This helped to show that his theory had explanatory power that extended beyond a limited population.References Feldman, R. S. (2003). Development across the life span. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Kidwell, J. , Dunham, S. , & Richard, M. (1995). Adolescent identity exploration: A test of Erikson’s theory of transitional crisis. Adolescence, 30, 1-7. Retrieved May 8, 2008 from EbscoHost database. Nurmi, J. E. , Poole, M. E. , & Kalakos ki, V. (1996). Age differences in adolescent identity exploration and commitment in urban and rural environments. Journal of Adolescence, 19, 443-452. Retrieved May 8, 2008 from EbscoHost database. Schultz, D. P. & Schultz, S. E. (2005). Theories of Personality. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Hollister Brand Of Products - 750 Words

Hollister BMOR ll. INTRODUCTION (Abby) Hollister, often called Hollister or HCo is a widely popular retail brand of products including logo tees, knits, shirts, sweaters, jeans, pants, shorts, outerwear, winter wear, tanks, sleepwear; necklaces, bracelets, caps, hats, scarves, totes, belts, and flip flops. It offers colognes, perfumes, lip shine and gloss products, lip balms, and body care products, as well as gift cards. Best known for its California vibe, Hollister is one of the most popular brands of clothes worn by teens ages 14-18. Hollister is owned by the American fashion brand known for its trendy collegiate-inspired casualwear accessories, Abercrombie Fitch. Hollister is one of many AF’s subsidiaries. AF classifies their company as an â€Å"upscale American retailer that focuses on upscale casual wear for young consumers.† Just like Hollister, AF does very well in the retail market. Two of the most known brands worn by the average teenager as of today. Although their company is doing relatively well, AF previous CEO, Mike Jeffries has stepped down last year due to the significant remarks he said during an interview. â€Å"A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong, Jeffries famously said in the Salon interview. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. This sickened many customers. According to Arthur Martinez, On Monday, Dec. 8, Jeffries didn’t arrive at work in his black Range Rover. He didn’t come into work that day. Early the nextShow MoreRelatedHollister Co : Marketing Strategies1036 Words   |  5 PagesHollister Co. was founded in 2000 and is based in Los Angeles, California. The company operates as a secondary business for Abercrombie Fitch Management. The company provides clothing and accessories for men and women. Hollister’s main target consumers are teenagers. Hollister retails its products through a chain of stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. They also sell their products online. The marketing strategies that Hollister use to promote their products are by usingRead MoreAre Hollister And Abercrombie Products Really Worth It?1718 Words   |  7 PagesQuality Over Cynicism? Are Hollister and Abercrombie products really worth it? You have probably heard the saying, â€Å"Quality over quantity† before. In this case, it is not so much as the comparison between how much there is, over how well it is produced, but how well it is produced over the knowledge of knowing the immoral actions influenced by and preformed by the ex-CEO of both Abercrombie and Hollister, Mike Jeffries. Hollister Co. is owned by Abercrombie Fitch. Both are relatively the sameRead MoreMarketing732 Words   |  3 Pageseffective time to get the most viewers and the age or gender that company is targeting. For instance if Apple is making a commercial then they are going to go for the younger audience because they are the companies target market and tend to buy their products more. Thirdly, the company wants to make the consumer remember that way they can spread their name around, telling about their commercial and hoping that they say good things for the company. Then studies have shown that if someone tells their friendRead MoreC onsumer Shopping Habits That Improve The Design And Flow Of A Store1086 Words   |  5 Pagesof products because I find it hard to match clothes and where to start. With that said, if I cannot go into a store with overcrowding of products, how can an individual go in who may be disabled in a wheel chair or blind? For my research I observed Hollister, Francesca’s and Forever 21: to determine accessibility, customer traffic flow, and overcrowding. The location of the stores I selected located in the Deptford mall categorized as retail industry. The three selected stores are Hollister, Francesca’sRead MorePromoting Brand Loyalty at Abercrombie Fitch1371 Words   |  6 PagesPromoting Brand Loyalty at Abercrombie amp; Fitch ch.6 Abercrombie and Fitch is an American retailer that focuses on casual wear for consumers aged 18 to 22. It has over 300 locations in the United States, and is expanding internationally. The company also operates three offshoot brands: Abercrombie, Hollister Co., and Gilly Hicks. The company operated a post-collegiate brand, Ruehl No.925, that closed in early 2010. The company operates 1,073 stores across all four brands. The Aamp;FRead MoreAdvertising : The Real Beauty994 Words   |  4 Pagesmany marketers. The perception of how we view ourselves is widely based of what we see and hear from them. We then take these sights and descriptions and compare ourselves against them. Meeting the standards is nearly impossible, and buying their products often feels like the only way to achieve the ideal image. The market taunts everyone saying â€Å"you will never be good enough,† and we are constantly reminded. The advertisements are on every billboard, website, highway, commercial, newspaper, and escapingRead MoreThe Advantages Of Market Segmentation, Targetinging And Targeting?1793 Words   |  8 Pagesstrategy is essential for a company to build both their brand and their name. In order to do this they will have to make decisions in regards to a range of factors. This report will clearly outline an academic discussion of the advantages of market segmentation, targeting and positioning. Following this will be a profile of the chosen organisation which is Hollister, an American lifestyle brand launched in 2000 with almost 600 stores and a brand nettled more than two billion dollars in sales. (EggersRead MoreThe Target Is You: An Analysis of Hollisters Marketing Strategies2199 Words   |  9 PagesThe Target Is You: Hollister Executive Summary The aim of this paper is to provide an insight into Hollister Co.’s marketing communications and assess whether it successfully targets my demographic of young, male recent college graduates. The paper will first introduce Hollister and provide a brief company history as well as outlining the challenges in reaching out to consumers such as myself who differ from the brand’s intended targets. It will then segue to discussing Hollister’s position withinRead MoreAbercrombie Fitch1351 Words   |  6 PagesAbercrombie Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands sells: casual sportswear apparel, including knit and woven shirts, graphic t-shirts, fleece, jeans and woven pants, shorts, sweaters, and outerwear; personal care products; and accessories for men, women and kids. The Company also operates stores and direct-to-consumer operations offering bras, underwear, personal care products, sleepwear, and at-home products for women under the Gilly Hicks brand. AF op erates over thousand stores in NorthRead MoreAbercrombie Fitch Co. Essay939 Words   |  4 Pages(AF) is a fashion retailer that sells casual apparel, personal care products, and accessories to customers across North America, Europe, and Asia. The financial and the consulting industry in the tertiary sector of the economy generate revenue through providing services, knowledge, and skills. Unlike these industries, AF is a retailer that generates revenue through selling its products. AF has two subsidiaries brand, Hollister Co. and Abercrombie Kids, which operate not as spinoffs, but as divisions