Introduction
Work is one of the vast parts of human lives. Occupation contributes to the moral development of the people and is closely connected with the process of personality forming. The constant focus of people’s lives on work is undeniable. Particular work direction forms the understanding of who they are. The occupation of interest can make people genuinely happy. People strive to achieve something regarding career advancement and have much more development opportunities as a personality. Many psychologists believe that self-realization regarding work contributes to the feeling of freedom and security. Work is vital in the process of personality development and identity formation.
Arguments from Work is a Blessing by Russel Honore
The work makes people feel needed to realize their own value. In his paper called Work is a Blessing, Honore touches upon the topic of the positive impact of the work on personality (Honore). The work allows people to realize that their activities can be helpful to others in society. From the psychological perspective, the personality formation process is directly related to socialization. People cannot develop without realizing their role in relation to others. Work helps people understand how they can be a part of the society.
Honore also emphasizes that the people without jobs are deprived of moral freedom. The concept of morality exists only in the context of society. The moral freedom to be a decent community member can be achieved only when a person has particular work. In other words, freedom from the author’s perspective is the possibility to follow one’s moral beliefs within the society’s order. The author emphasizes that the people such as criminals, drug dealers, and other dangerous personalities are deprived of freedom because they cannot normally exist in the community (Honore). As a result, their personality development is significantly damaged.
Work is an integral part of the life of the average member of society. Work is the moving engine of society’s order. All the jobs are indirectly related with each other. Moreover, it becomes possible for people to live everyday life in modern society only when they have decent work (Honore). People strive to find the field they are interested in because the primary aim of human life is to be helpful through their work. Highlighting the occupation as one of the central factors in identity formation, the author strives to show that work-centered life is ethically-correct (Honore). Thus, the work contributes to people’s personal development, giving them the freedom to be full-fledged members of society.
Arguments from Serving in Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich
Identity formation can be considered from different perspectives. Honore discusses the ethical aspects of the connection between work and people’s identity and sense of living. On the contrary, Ehrenreich considers the religious side of the work. The author reflects on the role of the work in religious servings in Florida (Ehrenreich 1). The job is essential to be a part of the community and share common values with others. Sharing God’s world through work is a vital aspect of any serving. Work is the way to show other people’s dedication to God’s word. Religious beliefs are crucial in establishing the rational development of the personality. As far as work is an integral part of the servings, personality formation, and self-identification processes are directly connected with the job. Therefore, focusing on the job contributes to people’s development.
The author also emphasizes the essential role of work in building relationships with other people. The working conditions contribute to establishing trustful relationships with colleagues, which is vital from the religious perspective. Personal relationships and connections are essential in personal development, socialization, and identity formation. As a result, when focusing on the work, people learn to understand themselves and others better, being requiered to build efficient and trustful communication.
However, the author of the current work also addresses the other aspects of the self-realization process. For example, the necessity to focus on friends and family is highlighted (Ehrenreich 2). Concentrating on different aspects of life enhances a more critical analysis of work and personal development. Thus, the human identity formation process is not centered primarily on the job. Work is complex, touching different spheres such as interpersonal interactions, socialization, and personal development.
Arguments from Clean Sweep by Ryan Kohls
The work called Clean Sweep, written by Kohls also addresses the role of job in personality formation. The author describes the emotions and experiences of the workers who are responsible for cleansing the stadiums after the games and other events (Kohls). Based on the information provided by the author, it is rational to state that cleaning teams are vital in allowing people to enjoy the game. The emotions of the unity between the people visiting games and workers can be highlighted. The benevolence feeling can be noted in this story. Considering the self-identification issue, the cleansing teams feel the vital role of their work, helping people experience more positive emotions.
This fragment shows that all the jobs are correlated with other people and society in general. People feel that they work to help others or make the world better by being a part of the community. As a result, their self-realization is shaped under the influence of benevolence. Moreover, the author of the story also mentions how the cleaning teams design new working strategies to make the cleaning process faster and more efficient (Kohls). This can be associated with personal development through completing tasks. The advancing of individual skills and implementing new strategies are also vital in the development of any person.
Conclusion
Thus, the job is one of the major factors defining people’s identity. Work is influential because it touches on many aspects of human personality formation. The socialization process, career, self-esteem, interpersonal communication, and many other elements are directly connected with the job. From the psychological perspective, work is a complex notion that includes various aspects of the individual’s development. It would not be better to work “in perspective” or, in other words, be detached from the work. On the contrary, any job provides people with unlimited growth opportunities. By analyzing the work conditions, their skills, and personal traits, people can understand who they are. Moreover, work is a regulative instrument helping to sustain society’s order. People can comfortably live and make life choices only based on beliefs inherent to society’s values. Therefore, being afraid of the fact that work occupies most of the people’s lives is irrational. Such a situation is unavoidable due to society’s system values. More importantly, people should be able to efficiently use their working time to develop their identities and understand themselves better.
Works Cited
Ehrenreich, Barbara. “Serving in Florida.” SJSU, Web.
Honore, Russel. “Work Is a Blessing.” Chapter for Comparison, Web.
Kohls, Ryan. “Clean Sweep”. Maisonneuve, 2014, Web.