Positivism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Positivism - Essay Example Contrastingly, the school of positivism which followed, introduced the scientific method of the natural sciences for studying criminal behavior. Though the main elements of the two concepts: classical criminology and positivism focus on different issues as causal factors, both emphasize the role of social factors in fuelling crime, as well as psychological, biological and economic reasons underlying criminal behavior. The classical school’s emphasis on the free will of individuals resulting in behavior patterns, which could be corrected by appropriate punishment, was replaced by the positivist school which was geared only towards practical goals such as the elimination of anti-social conduct (Taylor et al, 1973), and not hampered by irrelevant philosophical, ethical, religious, and retributory beliefs of classical criminology. Originating in eighteenth century Europe, classical criminology was the study of human criminal behavior, in which the basic theory was that people are rational human beings who choose to commit criminal behavior, and can be discouraged from doing so by the threat of punishment as consequence for criminal behavior (Burke, 2005). Classical criminology, based on social contract theories formulated by Hobbes, Montesquieu and Rousseau, was developed by reformers such as Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794). This approach described the motive behind the crime, and the method for its control. It was meant to be a more moderate and just approach to crime and punishment, instead of public executions which served to frighten people into obedience. On the other hand, positivism is the branch of social sciences that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences as a basis for studying criminal behavior. According to positivism, human behavior results as a manifestation of several forces: social, b iological, psychological, and economic (Siegel, 2007). In the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, for

Leading and Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leading and Managing Change - Essay Example Studies of leadership put into perspectives various ways in which different issues can be approached and dealt with according to certain leadership approaches. Good leadership is often attributed to leaders that understand set objectives and works out all ways to achieve them; they understand the importance of teamwork and peoples different skills and talent endowment. On the other hand, lots of misplaced priorities and failure to achieve set objectives characterize leadership that is often questioned by people. Leaders who cannot manage people effectively in various businesses and organizations exemplify this kind leadership. Businesses and organizations are often described by the kind of existing management structures in the achievement of set objectives, in this case, management describes the function charged with coordination of people’s efforts towards accomplishment of goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively (Mullins 2007 45-6). In organizations, leaders who know and understand how to deal with different kinds of people direct sound management systems that achieve set objectives. It is often said that said that as far as business and organizational leadership is concerned, people are the most important resources available. The ability to work with people effectively, understanding and fulfilling their needs is the basis for any success in businesses and organizations. Employees are the biggest and highly valuable assets for any organisation, the performance and attitude towards the business and organisation are crucial towards the success and failure of the organisation (Wellington 2011 24). To the manager, one of his most difficult duties is to manage his people effectively, as part of his management responsibilities, he is supposed to provide leadership, motivation, training, inspiration and moral support at all times during his life