North versus South

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/410272/1/.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/410272/1/.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/410036/1/.html

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Given the current conflict, the next round of fusillade of gunfire would most probably break out at the 38th parallel. Ever since the collateral destruction at the Gaza strip, this would be the next glaring issue that the world would be scrutinizing. There has been some finger pointing done before this recent turmoil in Korea. Both parties accuse each other of conducting precarious military exercises and experiments and they are doing so because of the speculation surrounding them. We all know of North Korea’s efforts in concocting new weapons of mass destruction. The world’s superpowers had tried their best each time to come up with agreements and plans to tranquilize such aggression to maintain the peace and security.

This is what has been happening: DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) claims they have the right to test-tire for a space research program which no one actually believes that they are really doing research. This particular ‘research’ arose after the North-South relations soured and the DPRK accused the ROK (Republic of Korea), of violating summit accords caused the tension. ROK rebutted stating whatever military exercise that is being conducted has got nothing to do with harming the North. Since then, neither party has given in. USA intervened demanding that the DPRK halts the provocation and answer for the abduction of Japanese citizens to train their spies.

The communication theories discussed here would be the dissimilar cultures of the two neighbors. Here in the above example of the DPRK and ROK, their cultures had influenced and programmed the respective mindsets of the Koreans. In the case of DPRK, we see a collectivist society. The collectivist culture describes how:

1. Social behaviour is determined by the views, needs, and goals of the ingroup rather than of self
2. Social norms and duty defined by the group, rather than for self pleasure
3. Beliefs shared with ingroup rather than to distinguish oneself from the ingroup

These are especially transparent in the communist part of Korea. Citizens of North Korea also display collectivist characteristics like conformity and self sacrifice for ingroup members just to name a couple. The actions and response (test fire of long range missiles) of the DPRK in this hostile situation further depicts their communist and collectivist culture in addition to the human rights encroachment, economy, foreign relations etc.

In Seoul, we see how social behavior is largely determined by personal goals, attitudes and values of collectivities and S.Koreans are more liberal and advocate hedonism like many common westernized cultures. Now, they are are garnering support from similar individualist societies like USA who also condone such repugnant and preposterous proposition.

Lastly, I have been wondering how political leaders from S.Korea and USA are acting more like collectivists, taking the same stand against the nuclear armed North, and N.Korea thinking and acting like an individualist, isolated and driven by motives that only benefit them...

local celebrity couple splits

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_338252.html

Marriage epitomizes the true essence of sacred and holy matrimony of two individuals who have pledged to be each other’s responsibility. Sadly, these treasured vows are so often taken lightly. Statistical evidence has shown that here in Singapore, divorce rates are not only climbing but couples calling it quits are getting younger. Our self-centred younger generation shifts the blame ever so easily and reasons for separation are alarmingly frivolous. Whatever happened to ‘till death do us part’? In the story I have chosen in the link above is an instance of how our younger married couples are falling apart because of ‘career and individual differences’. Of which it evinces my point of the ‘me’ mentality. Today, young married couples are finding it strenuous to sacrifice their own benefits and privileges for the betterment of the relationship.

Interpersonal communication means establishing a relationship and by doing so, satisfy our social needs and personal goals. DeFleur et al stated three processes of communication in relationships which are engagement, management, and disengagement. From what is observed and extracted, Glenn Ong and Jamie Yeo found it difficult and pointless to manage and maintain their relationship because of, most prominently, conflicting relational needs. Then finally the inevitable dissolution occurs in a positive and justified way. According to Knapp’s model of relational development, the couple have reached termination stage whereby both parties part ways and moved on from the relationship as seen from the article when ‘they were spotted at a recent event arriving and sitting separately’. Lastly to sum it up, the typical behaviours evident in their relationship are applicable to the theories and concepts of interpersonal communication.

Phelps smoking pot?

World renowned American swimmer Michael Fred Phelps was photographed smoking pot, otherwise known as marijuana, and had it splashed across one of the British tabloid newspapers. An acclaimed and accomplished sportsman caught doping? In today’s world, this is by no means incredulous. Other than Phelps himself, sportsmen and athletes like Diego Maradona and Marion Jones were cardinal sinners who found themselves under the doping scandal spotlight. What separates Phelps is his nature and how our society affirmed his status as the ‘golden boy’. Before this, our perception of him is an illustrious Olympic swimmer who spent his lifetime training, and then sweeping gold medals and shattering records, leaving us common folk in awe of this swimming phenomenon. In 2004, people forgave his foolish act of driving under the influence of alcohol but maybe because it happened in his home country, it ended briefly. A celebrated sportsman certainly has many endorsement deals and for Phelps it includes Subway, Kellogg’s, Speedo and Mazda just to highlight some. Recently Kellogg’s decided to discontinue the endorsement and I believe this has to show how influential perception can be. The general population has revised their perception of him and I believe to maintain their revenue in this wretched economy, they made this calculated move and even promised to remove Phelps’ face from their cereal boxes.

Perception is the process of selecting, organizing and interpreting information to give meaning. We have selected positive experiences and information we have of this man. Next, our cognitive schemata organize it as such it befits the image of a ‘golden boy’. Lastly our societal interpretation of a good natured, hard-working and driven swimming sensation is formed because of prominent individual characteristics.

Human perceptions are caused by personal constructs in the case of Michael Phelps. His ‘golden boy’ image arose because of perception and it leads me to think that it is largely because of his restrained lifestyle before this. This so called fracas emerged because of our bias and first impression of him. If it were some delinquent that had smoked pot, I do not think that would have affected us. This distinguished athlete had paid a massive price for his error thanks to perception.