HISTORY Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HISTORY - Article Example This theory emphasis on mass communication as an agent to change. This theory is another example of planned change. Planned change has high probability of relapse and regression. Emergent change is sudden and not anticipated. The societies as well as individuals are always prone to change. Change basically refers to making or becoming different in some particular way without losing permanently the original characteristics. It may also mean, to become different in essence. Change can either be sudden or might be planned such that it is bound to happen, at one time or another. Change can either be individual, intergroup or social. In individuals change is further categorized into emotional, behavioral and cognitive. In inter-personal or relationships, change involves; contact hypothesis, de categorization and re-categorization and also acknowledgement, mourning and forgiveness. (Zaltman, 1977, p. 45). Basically, change can be emergent or planned; this whole issue depends on the type of change that we are talking about. If for instance we are talking about individual change management, Kurt Lewin in his model of change states that, there are 3 stages in this process. The first stage is called 'unfreezing'. (Harris 2004, p56.). According to Kurt, this stage involves overcoming inertia and dismantling the existing mindset of the individual. At this stage the natural defense mechanisms have to be by passed. Change occurs in the second stage. ... The final stage according to Kurt is known as the "Re-freezing" stage. The new mind step is beginning to get into place and one's comfort level is returning to the earlier levels. (Macredie 1998, p.53). An example in this model would be a drug addict who is determined to quit drugs. During the initial stages or otherwise known as the unfreezing period, the person is trying hard to stop the abuse. He/she has to contend with withdrawal symptoms and some are even likely to go back to drugs. They enter the second stage. The second stage is characterized by confusion. One doesn't know what they want. They are out of drugs but still looking for alternative replacements. The 'unfreezing' stage marks the complete metamorphosis form drugs to a drug free person. One is also comfortable with his/her new life style. (Bennis 1976, p.38). According to this theory, we can therefore see that change was planned because it has to undergo all those stages. According to Kubler-Ross's model change can also be emergent. The stages in this model describe the personal and emotional states that a person encounters when dealing with loss of a loved one. This type of change happens without prior arrangements or plan. Indeed, in some cases, people have gone mad after learning that their dear ones have died. The impact of that news is so strong that someone who was jolly and completely happy may even faint after hearing bad news. (Zaltman, 1977, p.63). Other people's lives never remain to be the same after such an ordeal. A young man, who was always happy and kind to almost anyone, developed emotional problems as well as temperament problems after he had an accident and realized that he was never going to walk again because he had been paralyzed. The derivatives of Ross's model can