Wednesday, December 25, 2019

The Complex Odyssey of Odysseus Essay - 1152 Words

According to both Greek and Homeric values humans should have reason, but very often they express passion, which leads to contradictory emotions and obstacles in life. Odysseus, a man with a complex life, struggles with many internal, personal contradictions that have a collective impact on his decisions throughout his existence. The most important contradictions Odysseus faces are loyalty and betrayal; humility and hubris; and wisdom and folly, Throughout the Odyssey Odysseus faces an internal battle between loyalty and betrayal in the presence of numerous temptations. Odysseus’s first situation was with Kalypso. Although Odysseus does cheat on Penelope with Kalypso, he still remains loyal, and his love for her hardly wanes. Kalypso†¦show more content†¦Odysseus is deceived by Kirke’s beauty and falls for her mysterious ways, but his devotion continues for Penelope. Kirke, deceiving Odysseus with her quick mind, says, â€Å"your cruel wandering is all you think of, / never of joy, after so many blows† (Homer 179). Kirke’s desire for the men and her persistence captured Odysseus’s logic, and he ends up living with her for quite awhile, but thankfully his reason comes back. Odysseus’s odyssey was so complex that even small occurrences like the sirens and the lotus plants make him reconsider his priorities and what is truly important to him and his future. Odysseus has a sense of hubris that leads to adversity and causes him harm, he also has humility; however, the lack of balance between these emotions takes Odysseus through many tough obstacles. When Odysseus tricks Polyphemos, he does it logically, and he uses his mind and reason; however, his hubris comes out when he feels the need to expose his true identity thus leading to his difficulty to return to Ithaka and future problems. Odysseus’s men beg him to stop harassing the beast, but Odysseus has one other plan in mind when he says, â€Å"Kyklops / †¦ Odysseus raider of cities, took your eye: / Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaka!† (Homer 160). This provoking of Polyphemos that Odysseus displays is a cause for the pain Ithaka is going though, as well as personal and direct grieving directed at Odysseus and his immediateShow MoreRelated The Odyssey Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages Throughout vast journeys of many heroes, no other hero had a more co mplex journey than Odysseus. This journey is called The Odyssey, written by Homer. It is an epic poem or story told of a hero name Odysseus on a 20-year voyage trying to get back home from the Trojan War. The great epic poem known as The Odyssey and attributed to Homer was probably first written down around the eighth century BC, but the origins of the ancient story in myth, legend, and folklore and art appear to be much older.Read MoreThe Odyssey By Homer, Annotated Bibliography Essay1234 Words   |  5 Pageshe Odyssey, as written by Homer, intricately and excitingly weaves Colin Renfrew’s Subsystem Theories throughout the entire play. Many of the five subsystem theories can be seen and support understanding of the novel. Of the five systems, trade/communication, social/ political hierarchy and symbolic subsystems will be the focus of analysis in this paper. All of these subsystems come together in The Odyssey to explain the characters and their lives, and also how they fi t into the society which theyRead MoreO Brother Where Art Thou Character Analysis1694 Words   |  7 Pages The Coen Brothers’ film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, is loosely based on Homer’s famous Greek epic, The Odyssey, in that certain features in the film resemble those found in Homer’s epic, but the film still reveals its own sense of originality by making it more relatable to the modern world. While The Odyssey is set in Ancient Greece and O Brother, Where Art Thou? is set in the southern part of the United States during the 1930’s, the works are similar in following a protagonist who encountersRead MoreAnalysis Of Xenia And The Odyssey 889 Words   |  4 PagesHomer: Hospitality in the Illiad and the Odyssey The concept of Xenia was extremely significant in ancient Greek culture. As such, it played a prominent role in the works of authors, most specifically Homer. In fact, some of the most significant information we have about the concept of Xenia, as it relates to cultural norms come from the work of Homer, and the examples of hospitality demonstrated in the protagonist’s journeys in the Iliad and the Odyssey. More specifically, Xenia is presented byRead More Important Role of Women in Homers Odyssey Essay examples1721 Words   |  7 Pages   For the Greeks, Homers Odyssey was much more than just an entertaining tale of gods, monsters, and men, it served as cultural paradigm from which every important role and relationship could be defined.   This book, much more so than its counter part The Iliad, gives an eclectic view of the Acheans peacetime civilization.   Through Odyssey, we gain an understanding of what is proper or improper in relationships between father and son, god and mortal, servant and master, guest and host, and--importantly--manRead MoreOdysseus As The Epic Hero In Homers Odyssey1019 Words   |  5 PagesOdysseus as the Epic Hero in Homer’s The Odyssey A style of work often explored in Greek literature is that of the epic. An expansive poem of a wide scope centered on and regarding the wondrous deeds of the main, heroic figure, on whose actions depend the fate of a nation. The definition of an epic can be used to describe The Odyssey by Homer. In The Odyssey we are introduced to our main character, Odysseus, the former king of Ithaca and a Trojan war hero who has been trapped on an Island by theRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Odysseus And The Odyssey951 Words   |  4 Pageslives. Humans can, in some ways, reject the attention of the gods. In The Odyssey, Odysseus deals with all three in order to return home. The cause of Odysseus’ decade long journey home from Troy cannot be narrowed down to one entity; instead, it is caused by a complex combination of the gods’ meddling, the fate’s predictions, and humans’ free will. The Fates, gods, and humans in The Odyssey each have a certain role in Odysseus’ problems. In ancient Greece, the Fates are three immortal women who spunRead MoreThe Odyssey : The Epic For Artistic Inspiration1289 Words   |  6 Pagesculture, there are countless allusions and references to Homer’s literary works, specifically, The Odyssey, due to its impact upon readers, capturing their imaginations and inspiring countless works of art, literature, cinematography and music. Within the music world, there are numerous references to The Odyssey made by song writers and performers. Drawing upon the trials and tribulations of Odysseus and other characters within the plot of the epic for artistic inspiration, who serve as referencesRead MoreDivine intervention dealing with Greek myths, especially The Odyssey and The Iliad.1474 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature that tell a great deal about this fiery goddess. This is not a passive goddess. This is an active, involved goddess who, in both the Iliad and the Odyssey, assumes divine leadership and challenges even Zeus himself. In The Odyssey and other Greek myths, Athena is an essential character and contributes many elements of her complex mythological personality to Greek writing. Athena is one of the most important goddesses in Greek mythology. In Roman mythology she became identified with theRead MoreHomer s Odyssey : The Odyssey1236 Words   |  5 PagesOdysseus is arguably one of the most admirable classical heroes in all world literary masterpieces. However, although he expresses the commendable traits of manliness, conduct, and intelligence, there are also numerous faults in this round character— most notable being his excessive pride. Many of his praiseworthy qualities also prove to work against him at times, and extend his journey in The Odyssey by several years. Homer constructs Odysseus by attributing both godly and human characteristics

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Memoirs Of Hadrian By Marguerite Yourcenar - 1377 Words

Memoirs of Hadrian is a timeless historical novel that describes the life and accomplishments of the great Roman Emperor Hadrian and the impact he had culturally on western civilization. The story is told from Hadrian’s own point of view when he is an old man looking back on his life and is written as a letter to Marcus Aurelious who he had chosen to be his successor as emperor. This book sheds light on the achievements that Hadrian made during his reign while also providing an interesting perspective since the novel is written from a first person point of view. Overall I feel that the author Marguerite Yourcenar did a wonderful job of bringing such an interesting character to life while still remaining factual in regards to the important historical aspects of Hadrian’s reign. The book begins with Hadrian as an old man nearing his deathbed and wanting to give his adopted successor Marcus Aurelious a personal account of his life and reign in order to help prepare him for the role he is going to undertake soon. Hadrian tells Marcus that he was born in Italica and his family was Spanish. His father was a Senator but Hadrian’s family was not one of wealth. His father passes away when Hadrian is only twelve years old and his mother never remarries, remaining a widow the rest of her life. Hadrian goes to Spain to receive his education where he becomes fascinated with the more philosophical subjects, especially anything relating to Greek culture. In the book Hadrian feels that

Monday, December 9, 2019

Diversity Issues in Human Resource Management

Question: Discuss about the Diversity Issues in Human Resource Management. Answer: Introduction: This assignment takes into consideration a detailed study on managing diversity in human resource management (HRM). This paper mainly includes the issues along with objectives of managing diversity based upon the various practices of human resource management (HRM) in the organization. Organizational behavior has been referred to as an important aspect of HRM. It refers to the study in which the people communicate with one another. Diversity management in organizations has been referred to as the sub topic under organizational behavior (OB). It refers to a interface between humans and organization. Diversity in workforce can be viewed, in many ways that is on the basis of age, sex, gender, religion, ethnicity, region culture. Whereas, the main issue for diversity in every country is different. But, the main type of workforce diversity can be seen in regards to gender inequality which is being faced worldwide especially in India Middle East. Multi culturalism has also been referred to as a pre-dominant diversity pertaining in the Western countries i.e. Australia, New Zealand Europe where large number of people from different cultural backgrounds work together (Chen, 2011). Racial equality is predominant in USA South Africa where discrimination can be seen against blacks ethnic minorities. This paper critically examines the various diversity practices as an important aspect of organizational behavior which can be used by the organizations so as to manage diversity (Dickie Soldan, 2008). With rapid industrialization globalization the significance of workforce diversity has been enhanced. It has been seen that, people from all over the globe come together and work as a team in the organization and therefore diversity in workforce has become an important topic amongst the corporate educational areas. It shall be seen that, proper diversity management strategies shall be adopted amongst the organizations in order to provide a position against workforce discrimination. There has been a detailed debate over certain areas such as equal opportunity (EO) affirmative action. Diversity management not only takes into consideration values but also harnesses differences within the workforce faced by the employees such as cultural background, religious beliefs individual characteristics so that the goals of the organization are met in a most effective and efficient manner. It shall be taken into consideration that, diversity management starts internally by creating an atmosphere as well as practicing equality amongst the workforce (Wrench, 2007). Diversity Management refers to a study in HRM which helps the organizations to overcome various workforce issues as well as take into consideration the inequalities on the following basis i.e. race, gender class. Diversity management in the organization also takes into consideration the individual differences in order to maximize their potential EEO. It shall be seen that, there are range of objectives which the organization wishes to achieve with the help of effective HR diversity management (Dickie Soldan, 2008). Some of the objectives are employee retention, creativity, employee flexibility and better marketing capabilities. With the help of diversity management, the diverse teams will aim at achieving greater innovation creativity which will help the organization to outperform homogenous teams. According to Robbins Judge, 2007, the benefits of diversity management will help in practicing equality, absenteeism attracting the best workforce/ highly qualified employees. There are various diversity management practices which are followed by the organizations so as to attract, direct maintain human resource within the enterprise. It shall be seen that, the role of HR in the organization has increased substantially. It covers the entire management process of the organization. Recruitment selection refers to the first diversity management practice which is followed by the employees and managers to provide an equal chance for any person to enter a particular organization. It has been seen that, many organizations have been recruiting women and people from the minority/ lower middle class so as to attract the new customers (Robbins Judge, 2013). Some of the big corporates i.e. IBM, Xerox JC Penney are working towards increased work force diversity. Alcoa recruits as well as retains high caliber people to increase the creativeness of its employees. Based upon a survey conducted by Allen, Dawson, Wheatley White 2004, 400 employees were questioned from various Australian companies so as to practice more than 15 diversity practices. It was seen that, more than 93% of companies were reported with zero level of tolerance due to discrimination within the organization. Before the 1979, amendments i.e. ICA accesses to skilled positions were controlled by well-established white trade unions. In the last 30 years, the weightage of black population as well as other minorities in management has considerably increased. Training and development (TD) refers to the second HRM diversity management practice which is being given importance by the various organizations and its management (Dickie Soldan, 2008). Robbins Judge, 2009 states that , the skilled white labor union denied access of training development (TD) programs for the South African Blacks. It has been seen that, some of the big companies have not been successful in training as well as retaining the women candidates the minority class. Evidences reveal that, training and development (TD) programs are not provided to women staff which leads to barrier in career development for the same. Women are also kept away from informal networks as they might have problems in maintaining relationships with the group (Robbins Judge, 2007). Such incidents prevent the women class not to attain top positions and have an upper hand over the working men. The third diversity practice which is being adopted in the organization is performance appraisal. It has been seen that, majority of the companies such as Westpac, Esso, etc take into account AA EEO in their performance appraisal account. The Australian companies tend to draft as well as implement objectives which are fai r in nature. High levels of discrimination is seen where women get lower ratings from the top officials as compared to their male counter parts (Robbins Judge, 2007). The last diversity management practice which is followed by organizations refers to pay scale of the employee. It has been seen that, inequality in pay leads to dissatisfaction demotivation amongst the employees working in an organization. Based upon the report by Robbins, 2003, it is witnessed that most Australian organizations practice diversity in remuneration. A strong union in the Australian organization has helped and prevented wage discrimination amongst the employees (Dickie Soldan, 2008). Various studies have been implemented in this regards but inequality remains a global problem. To cite an example, in France, disparity between male and female workforce was more than 20%. Inequality in terms of gender ranges from 10% - 50% in the urban companies and 20% - 45% in the rural sectors (Bennington Wein, 2000). According to Allen, Dawson, Wheatley, White2004, there has been high levels of disagreement and lack of consensus amongst the HR managers on the diversity principles. It has been seen that, global organizations shall promote diversity in different forms. There are many authors who have suggested different techniques in order to improve diversity management. Within an organization, effective diversity management requires a culture i.e. cohesiveness, teamwork participation of all the employees. Furthermore, diversity culture emphasizes on the vision, mission and business strategy. Formalization of the organizational behavior (OB) practices within the organization is a vital part of the organization as the number of firings of women workforce is greater than hiring of the same. A critical analysis of the various diversity practices mentioned above i.e. recruitment selection, training development, pay scale and performance management shall be done by each and organization. Such type of analysis will help to overcome unfairness as well as eradicate tokenism. Periodical audits regarding the diversity practices in the organizations shall be performed so as to manage diversity in an effective manner (ACIB, 2000). Hence, it can be concluded that diversity management practices have gained momentum due to high pressures on business as they have become competitive internationally (Storey, 1999). This literature review takes into consideration three main diversity issues. Firstly, the levels of discrimination in the employment are very high. Secondly, HR is restricted to hire by numbers. It has been seen that, people from the lower sections or the minority class are retained for less popular positions and given less opportunity for a better future. Unequal pay is another major HRM diversity issue being faced by the employees. Ineffective diversity management practiced might lead to demotivation of the employees leading to poor organization performance. Hence, diversity management has been referred to as a hot topic and organization behavior has been influenced with variety of decision making concepts. References ACIB (Australian Centre for International Business). (2000). The International Business Case forImmigration and Multicultural Affairs in Cooperation with the Australian Center for International Business. Allen, R., Dawson, G., Wheatley, K., White, C. (2004). Diversity practices: Learning responses for modern organizations.Development And Learning In Organizations,18(6), 13 15. Bennington, L. Wein, R. (2000). Antià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ discrimination legislation in Australia: fair, effective, efficient or irrelevant?.Int J Of Manpower,21(1).172 192. Chen, S. (2011).Diversity management. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Dickie, C. Soldan, Z. (2008).Diversity management. Prahran, Vic.: Tilde University Press. Diversity Management, Program for The Practice of Diversity Management. Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in Cooperation with the Australian Center for International Business. Klarsfeld, A. (2010).International handbook on diversity management at work. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Robbins, S. (2003).Organizational behavior. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Robbins, S. Judge, T. (2007).Organizational behavior. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Robbins, S. Judge, T. (2009).Organizational behavior. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. Robbins, S. Judge, T. (2013).Organizational behavior. Boston: Pearson. Wrench, J. (2007).Diversity management and discrimination. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Effects of Sports on Life

Introduction In today’s world, sports form an integral part of the society’s culture. Participating in sports is an important aspect of child development that has many benefits. Sports improve the health status of participants and foster the development of fundamental skills that are important in facing challenges in life (Ahmadi, 2010, p.43). Other benefits of sports include fostering social co-existence and peace, encouraging community development, financial gains and foster international unity. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Effects of Sports on Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sports have made significant contributions in enhancing the implementation of certain policies that are important and that affect the welfare of the society. Healthy human development is a requisite for sustained societal development. Without a healthy population, it is impossible to achieve the goals a nd objectives that stimulate growth and development. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain good health in individuals in order to enable them to use their potential to stimulate growth and personal development (Ahmadi, 2010, p.45). Sport is an important tool that has the ability to motivate and empower individuals to achieve their health, economic and social goals. Sports are important in the society because they improve the overall quality life, foster social inclusion and help to eradicate anti-social behaviors in young people. In addition, they improve the health status of individuals and their self-esteem and confidence (Ahmadi, 2010, p.49). Health benefits of sports Research has shown that physical activity contributes in improving the health of individuals who participate in sport activities. Sports help to improve cardiovascular fitness, hence vital in management of body weight. Sports serve several functions that make them beneficial and important to individuals and the s ociety. Sports activities help reduce body fat and build muscles, slow down the aging process, improve body balance and coordination, and minimize risks of injury (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.27). Sport is an effective tool that can be used to pull resources together to fight diseases. Research by the World Health Organization has shown that regular physical activity affords people numerous physical, social, economic and mental health benefits. Sport activities augment strategies that improve diet and counter the widespread use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.29). These drugs have adverse effects on the health of users. Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People experience the benefits of sport in two main ways. First, through direct participation and secondly, through indirect participation as spectators. Sport initiatives that are designed to improve health are beneficial and have an impact at both levels. People who directly participate in sport activities benefit more that those who participate indirectly. Sports play a vital role in averting the adverse effects of chronic diseases on the society (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.31). Research has revealed that the effect of chronic diseases is augmented by physical inactivity and poor eating habits. Participation in sports is one of the ways through which people become active. It is an effective method of staying active because it is enjoyable and individuals benefit greatly. Apart from improving the physical fitness of individuals, sports help to reduce the impact of risk factors that expose individuals to illnesses (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.36). Sports help reduce potential risks of high blood pressure, stress, high cholesterol levels in the body and use of drugs and other harmful substances. In general, participating in sports helps improve general body fitness, he lps individuals relax, helps in management of body weight, and improves body coordination and posture (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.41). Research has shown that sport activities enhance healthy growth and development in children and helps strengthen the heart. A strong, healthy heart reduces the risk of individuals succumbing to heart failure or stroke. In today’s society, the effects of inactivity are evident from the large number of children who are succumbing to obesity (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.42). Children spend a lot of time watching television, playing video games and surfing the internet. This encourages inactive lifestyles that have adverse health consequences. Health practitioners are very concerned and troubled by this modern trend because obese children grow into obese adults. Obese adults are at an increased risk of diabetes, heart diseases and many other chronic diseases that affect people with inadequate immunity against diseases (Sharkey and Gaskil, 2007, p.43). The United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) maintains that engaging in sport activities helps develop active lifestyles that help reduce risks of disease infection. A report by USDHHS in association with the European Heart Network revealed that active individuals are at low risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer and hemorrhagic strokes. Social benefits of sports Sports provide individuals with opportunities to integrate into the society and the surroundings in the community. In children, sports provide an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and improve social skills (Woods, 2011, p.34). Children are thus able to develop self-esteem, confidence and sense of belonging through social interactions. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Effects of Sports on Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, sports promote heal thy growth and development in children because they help them develop relationships that are vital in their development process. Through participation in sports, children acquire important skills of teamwork and leadership that are vital in their development and success in life (Woods, 2011, p.38). Sports inculcate values such as hard work, perseverance and discipline. The benefits of participating in sports go beyond the individual level into the community level. Young people interact extensively with other people in their community through participating in sport activities. This not only improves the social disposition of individuals, but also improves the socioeconomic status of the community (Woods, 2011, p.41). Therefore, the participation of young people in sports has both individual and communal benefits. Drug use and abuse is a problem that has affected young people for many years. It is a common occurrence among young people in the modern society. Participation in sport act ivities helps reduce involvement of young people in anti-social behaviors such as drug use and violence (Woods, 2011, p.42). Young people engage in unethical behaviors because of peer pressure and idleness. Sports help eradicate idleness and involvement in unethical activities because it gives young people a chance to be active and constructive. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to learn important values such as discipline and responsibility that help reduce unethical behaviors (Holt, 2008, p.41). Sports contribute significantly in helping people learn how to interact effectively in social situations. They foster social inclusion by bringing people together and helping them establish strong and effective social networks that cultivate a strong sense of belonging (Delaney and Madigan, 2009, p.62). The quality of social relationships determines the health status of individuals to a certain degree. Therefore, it is important for people to participate in sports because physical activity encourages healthy lifestyles. Sports have been used in many communities to eradicate social stigma and segregation that is experienced by minority groups (Holt, 2008, p.46). For example, in most societies, people with disabilities are marginalized because of their physical conditions. Through sports, other community members are able to accept these individuals. They cone to earn that the disability of these people does not translate to inability because they can engage in physical activities too (Delaney and Madigan, 2009, p.66). Sports create an environment that contributes significantly in eradication of negative perceptions and attitudes against certain races, ethnicities or groups of people. Sports enable people to focus on common experiences and traits, and help them ignore the differences that exist between them (Coakley, 2004, p.35). Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is an important aspect of helping people in minority groups improve their sense of belonging and self-esteem. Sports programs that involve participation of people from all social classes foster and develop the concept of belonging. By participating in common sport activities, people break down the socioeconomic barriers that exist among them. Sports serve as an effective tool for communication and social mobilization (Delaney and Madigan, 2009, p.72). The great attraction of sports entertainment has made it an influential tool for communication. Large organizations and companies use professional athletes to convince young people to change their lifestyles in order for them to experience the benefits of being active (Coakley, 2004, p.41). In addition, not-for-profit organizations use professional athletes and sport organizations to gather resources to sponsor health programs such as obesity awareness campaigns. In local communities, sport gatherings give health care practition ers opportunities to educate people on critical health matters. People receive information on the importance of vaccination and the different ways to control and prevent diseases in their community (Coakley, 2004, p.44). Economic benefits of sports Sports have numerous economic benefits both to individuals and to the government. Professional athletes earn a living from sports and are able to support their families. Sports such as basketball, football, tennis and athletics are very lucrative and form a core part of the economy. Sports contribute to the economy significantly. First, they create jobs for people who have interest in the physical education field (Theokas, 2009, p.84). Jobs in the sports sector include coaching, medical therapy, team doctors and instructors. Secondly, when countries host sport functions such as the World Cup or the Olympics, they benefit financially. These events generate income and market the host country internationally (Theokas, 2009, p.84). Thirdly, the government benefits from the taxes paid by professional athletes. Since they earn a lot of money, they pay high taxes, which are used to develop the economy. The cost of treating illness that are caused by inactivity is very high. For example, obesity predisposes people to stroke, diabetes and heart failure, which are very expensive to manage. However, by being active through participation in sports, these conditions and illnesses are avoidable. Sports are effective in reducing these costs because they act as a health promotion tool that helps people live healthy lifestyles (Theokas, 2009, p.85). Consumer expenditure on sport-related merchandise such as clothing and footwear, satellite TV subscriptions, participation in sport clubs through subscriptions and purchase of sport equipment generate income for individuals and organizations. Education benefits of sports Sports have several benefits that lead to improved academic performance. Sports improve performance in school becaus e individuals have high energy levels, improved cognitive functioning and positive values such as discipline and hard work. In addition, people who engage in sports have high self-esteem and confidence, which enable them handle academic work confidently (Shulman and Bowen, 2011, p.92). A research study conducted by Hastie (1998) revealed that students who participate in sports are more skilled and possess strong interpersonal behaviors. These attributes arise from exposure to challenging environments that encourage responsibility and accountability (Hastie, 1998, p.24). In addition, the study found out that students who participate in sports make better and more rational decisions than students who do not participate in sports. Sports give students a chance to make personal decisions without the influence or interference of instructors. This develops the values of accountability and responsibility. Through sports, students are able to develop organizational skills that are useful b oth in the field and in the classroom (Shulman and Bowen, 2011, p.95). Sports inculcate skills such as concentration, hard work, planning and creativity. High self-esteem and confidence is one of the educational benefits of participating in sports. Self-esteem is defined as the quality of a person’s self worth and personal appraisal that is governed and determined by how they view themselves. Self-esteem is an important factor in education that motivates young people to work hard by believing in their ability and potential. Sports help improve self-esteem and confidence because they give individuals opportunities to acquire vital life skills that improve the quality of their lives. In addition, sports help young people to value teamwork (Hastie, 1998, p.26). Improved self-esteem helps students change their way of thinking and as such, face challenges and difficulties confidently. Negative effects of sports Despite their numerous benefits, sports have negative effects too. N egative effects of sports include injuries and poor coaching (France, 2008, p.84). In all sport activities, measures are put in place to avoid injuries. However, risks involved in sports are many and even with safety measures in place, injuries happen. In sports that involve physical contact between players such as football, basketball and rugby, injuries are inevitable. Types of injuries include groin strain, hamstring strain, nose injuries, ankle sprain, concussion and dental damage (France, 2008, p.86). Sports injuries have adverse effects on the athlete, the athlete’s family and the spectators. Some injuries such as concussions and dental damage can cause severe and long-lasting damage to the life of the athlete. Poor coaching can have adverse effects on the behavior, attitudes and motivation of young people. Some coaches and instructors are aggressive, abusive and argumentative. A coach who possesses these qualities instills them in players who express them in their beh aviors (France, 2008, p.86). They become rude and aggressive because when treated with aggression or rudeness by their coach, they respond in a similar manner. These behaviors affect other areas of life such as social interaction and education. Young people become impatient and rude, and it becomes hard for them to establish and maintain relationship. Conclusion In today’s world, sports form an integral part of the society’s culture. Participating in sports is an important aspect of child development and has many benefits. Sports improve the health status of participants and foster the development of fundamental skills that are important in facing different challenges in life. Other benefits of sports include fostering social co-existence and peace, encouraging community development, financial gains and fostering international unity. Sports activities help reduce body fat and help build body mass, slow down the aging process, improve body balance and coordination, an d minimize risks of injury. Sport is an effective tool that can be used to pull resources together to fight diseases. Research by the World Health Organization has shown that regular physical activity affords people numerous physical, social, economic and mental health benefits. The benefits of participating in sports go beyond the individual level into the community domain. Young people interact extensively with other people in their community through participating in sports activities. This not only improves the social disposition of individuals, but also the socioeconomic status of the community. Sports encourage students to develop organizational skills that are useful both in the field and in the classroom. Sports inculcate skills such as concentration, hard work, planning and creativity. Development of high self-esteem and confidence is one of the social benefits of participating in sports. Despite the numerous benefits, sports have negative effects too. Negative effects of sports include injuries and poor coaching. In all sports activities, measures are put in place to avoid injuries. However, risks involved in sports are many and even with safety measures put in place injuries happen. Poor coaching can have adverse effects on the behavior, attitudes and motivation of young people. Some coaches and instructors are aggressive, abusive or argumentative. A coach with these qualities instills them in players and they express these traits in their behaviors. Sports are important in the society because they improve the overall quality life, foster social inclusion and help to eradicate anti-social behaviors in young people. In addition, they improve the health status of individuals thus promoting their well-being. References Ahmadi, H. (2010). Complementary Effects of Sport on Health. New York: Strategic Book Publishing. Coakley, J. (2004). Sport in Society: Issues and Controversies. New York: McGraw Hill. Delaney, T., and Madigan, T. (2009). The Sociolog y of Sports: An Introduction. New York: McFarland. France, R. (2008). Introduction to Physical Education and Sport Science. New York: Cengage Learning. Hastie, P. (1998). Applied Benefits of the Sport Education Model. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation Dance, 64(9), 24-26. Holt, N. (2008). Positive Youth Development through Sport. New York, NY: Routledge. Sharkey, B., and Gaskil, S. 92007). Fitness and Health. London: Human Kinetics. Shulman, J., and Bowen, W. (2011). The Game of Life: College Sports and Educational Values. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Theokas, C. (2009). Youth Sport Participation: A View of the Issues. Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 303-306. Woods, R. (2011). Social Issues in Sport. New York: Human Kinetics. This research paper on The Effects of Sports on Life was written and submitted by user Sydney Y. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.