Tupac Shakur In The Event Of My Demise Analysis
In the Event of My Demise
An Analysis of Tupac Shakur
Kahlil M. Green
Howard University
Introduction In selecting a historical figure to analyze, there lied the need to evaluate an individual who possessed multiple roles in society. In addition, it was essential to select theorists/theories that could capture the impact of the historical figure’s developmental factors, as well. It was under this consideration, that Tupac Amaru Shakur appeared to be the optimal historical figure. As the theorists D.W. Winnicott and Clayton P. Alderfer, would provide theories Object Relations and Existence, Relatedness, and Growth theory (ERG). D.W. Winnicott’s Object Relations Theory will examine the relationships Tupac had with his parents …show more content…
and how that shaped his personality, his perception of his self as man, and how it influenced his outlook on society.
Clayton P. Alderfer’s, ERG Theory explores how Tupac’s constant struggle to appease his basic “existence” ,“relatedness”, kept him in a regressive state, as well as him reaching towards self-actualization.
History of the Historical Figure
Prior to examining Tupac Shakur’s developmental factors and major conflicts in his personality, there was first an investigation of his historical background. According to Makaveli.com, Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996) was a highly influential, best-selling American hip hop artist, considered by many to be one of the greatest and most legendary rappers of all time. The themes in Tupac’s music concerned growing up around violence, hardships in ghettos, racial inequality, and sometimes his feuds with fellow rappers in the United States. MTV’s 22 Greatest MCs countdown also listed Tupac as their number 1 MC, as voted by the viewers.” Understanding the origin someone’s of names and how they got …show more content…
their name, can give a backdrop to their development and cultural upbringing. In exploring this, one discovered the names “Tupac Amaru” and “Shakur” mean Shining Serpent or Royal Serpent in Quechua and Thankful (to God) in Arabic, respectively. The name “Tupac Amaru” comes from Túpac Amaru II, grandson of the last Sapa Inca (Túpac Amaru). It was later discovered, Tupac Amaru was not his first given name; his mother re-named him shortly after birth and had his birth certificate changed to reflect the name by which we know him. Tupac Shakur was born Lesane Parish Crooks in The Bronx, New York City on June 16, 1971 to Afeni Shakur, and a member of the Black Panthers. Serving jail time on bombing charges while pregnant with Tupac, his mother faced a sentence of up to three years in prison. Serving as her own attorney, she was exonerated from the charges and was released one month before Tupac’s birth. At the first opportunity, Afeni had Tupac’s birth certificate changed to reflect his real name, Tupac Amaru, which means “royal serpent” and was the name of an Inca leader and warrior who came to power in 1570.
Shakur stated, “I never knew where my father was or who my father was for sure.” His godfather, Geronimo Pratt, was also a high-ranking Panther. His step-father, Mutulu, was a drug dealer who, according to Shakur, was rarely present to give him the discipline he needed.
The majority of Tupac’s rearing revolved around the Black Panther philosophy. This meant that you were to be an active participant and resource in the advancement of all oppressed people. At an early age Afeni Shakur instilled the importance of critical thinking and social commentary in Tupac and his sister Sekyiwa (pronounced Setchua). She did this by having them report on what they read in newspaper and what were the implications of the information they read. This had a profound effect on how Tupac saw the world around him. Impoverished in the majority of his childhood, Tupac, with his mother and sister, moved between homeless shelters and meager lodgings around New York City. Due to his families frequent uprooting’s, he retained few friends and relied on watching TV, writing poetry and diary entries to keep himself entertained. At the age of 12, Shakur joined a Harlem theatre group and acted as Travis in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. In the film “Tupac Resurrection” Tupac described the following experience, “It was here where I caught that buzzed everyone talks about. The curtains came up and it was like whoa, I want this!”
In 1986 Tupac’s mother brought him and his sister to live in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Shakur’s lived on Greenmount Ave. in East Baltimore. There, Tupac was teased because of his looks, name, and lack of trendy clothing. It was is in Baltimore, Tupac was accepted to the Baltimore School for the Arts. It was here he began to thrive and enjoy his classes. Classes like studying theater, ballet, and other arts. It was at this point Shakur became acquainted and close friends with fellow classmate Jada Pinkett. Despite his age, Shakur was blunt on the subject of racial equality. His teachers remembered him as being a very gifted student. He was an avid reader, delving into books on eastern religions, and even entire encyclopedia sets. Hiding his love of literature from his peers, he gained the respect of his peers by acting like a tough guy. Shakur composed his first rap in Baltimore under the name “MC New York”. The song was about gun control and was inspired by the fatal shooting of one of his close friends. Two years later, a drug-addicted Afeni was having trouble finding work. She moved the family again to live with a family friend in Marin City, California. Tupac described this period as “where I got off track”. He showed disdain for law enforcement, being hassled occasionally for playing music loudly. In August of 1988, Shakur’s stepfather Mutulu was sentenced to sixty years in prison for armed robbery after being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for several years. Shakur
soon moved in with a neighbor and started selling drugs on the street, but also made friends who helped spark his interest in rap music. One of these was Ray Luv, and a mutual friend named DJ Dize (Dizz-ee); they formed a rap group called Strictly Dope. Their performances brought Tupac enough exposure to land an audition with Digital Underground. In 1990, Shakur joined Digital Underground. His early lyrics were lackluster, and he was viewed ambivalently for his tendency to be over the top and for his occasionally intense personality. On a song for the Nothing But Trouble movie soundtrack, Same Song, Tupac was given his first opportunity to rap on a big-time record. Tupac became quite a sensation, earning praise for his musical and acting talent as well as condemnation for his explicit, violent lyrics. Many of his songs told of fights, gangs, and sex. His aggressive gangster rap persona would give him trouble with the in the 1990s. In 1994, he spent several days in jail for attacking director Allen Hughes and was later convicted of sexual assault in another case. Shakur himself fell victim to violence, getting shot five times in the lobby of a recording studio during a mugging. The next year, after recovering from his injuries, Shakur was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in the sexual assault case. His third solo album, Me Against the World (1995), started out in the number one spot on the album charts. This album had tracks like "Dear Mama" that showed a more genuine, reflective side to the rapper. The probability of an early death runs through several songs on these recordings. After serving eight months in prison, Shakur returned to music with the album All Eyez on Me (1996). He was reported Death Row Records CEO Marion "Suge" Knight paid a bond of more than $1 million as part of Shakur 's parole. In his latest project, Shakur as the defiant street thug was back in full force on this recording. The song "California Love" featured a guest appearance by famed rapper-producer Dr. Dre and made a strong showing on the pop charts. "How Do You Want It" also was another smash success for Shakur. It appeared to be a golden time for Shakur. Besides his hit album, Shakur continued to pursue his acting career. He landed several film roles around this time.. Before his untimely death, Shakur completed work on two other projects—Gridlock 'd and Gang Related—that were released in 1997. During his career, Shakur had become apart of a feud between East Coast and West Coast rappers. He was notorious for insulting other artist on songs. On a trip to Las Vegas to attend a boxing match, Shakur was shot while riding in a car driven by Knight on September 7, 1996. He died six days later, on September 13, 1996, from his injuries at a Las Vegas hospital. Shakur was only 25 years old at the time of his death, and his killer has never been caught.
Cultural Factors
Tupac Shakur was gendered as Black male in a society that did not cater to his needs. It appears the only conflicts in Tupac’s gender identity, were the ones that dealt with how he would apply and assert himself as a man, especially since he did not have an active father figure present in his life. The environmental stressors in Tupac’s life consisted of poverty, inconsistent living arrangement, the crack epidemic and violence in his communities. As stated earlier, Tupac found himself to be withdrawn from others and he found personal solace in writing poetry, to past the time. Although Tupac had a strong foundation of education in his household, he still felt the effects of drugs and violence in his own household. Both parents were withdrawn from him due to drugs. For example, his Mom became a user of Crack cocaine and his father figures were drug dealers. He was nurture in environments where he was surrounded by people he knew being killed, arrested, or addicted to drugs. Culturally, he states his later maturation is based upon his interactions with three main individuals Drug Dealers, Pimps, and Prostitutes. While he was homeless in Marin City and Oakland these were the people who care for him when no one else did not. However, what makes his maturation unique was his exposure to cultural while in the Baltimore Arts School and that his family was Black Panthers.
Theorist Perspective
Object Relations Theory D.W. Winnicott
Obj. Relations Theory is a derivative of psychoanalytic theory that emphasizes interpersonal relations, primarily between the family unit and particularly between the mother and child. Dr. Winnicott emphasized the belief that how a child and mothers interaction played out over time was very crucial in the development of the infant’s growth and development. Adequate parental care was seen in three overlapping stages 1. Holding (physical and psychologically), 2. Mother and Father living together 3. Father, Mother and Infant all three living together. As the child goes from dependent to independent, these terms begin to evaluate the relationship, good enough care, good enough environment, average expectable environment, and facilitating environment. The major contributions of this theory included the following;. Transitional objects are the infant’s first not-me possessions, like a blanket or doll. They are tangible-can be held onto, grasped, hugged. They lessen the stress if separation and soothe the infant. Transitional phenomena are behaviors—repetitive actions like rocking, or fantasies, which serve the function as transitional object. Dr. Winnicott conceptualized the self in two forms, the True self and the false self. True self – this being the part of the infant that feels spontaneous, creative, and real. False self – is “built up on the basis of compliance.” With “good enough” care the true self can emerge, but without it the false self emerges.
Theory and Conflict
According to Dr. Winnicott theory, Tupac’s issues of loneliness and abandonment could be directly linked to his experiences with the “overlapping stages” of his development. For example, Tupac constantly recalls how he felt his mom cared more about the people than her people. This speaks to how in the holding phase; Tupac felt a lack of connection to his mother because she was still very active as a Black Panther. This also brings an issue from the third stage; Tupac was not living in the same household as his father. Although she did raise to Tupac to be a self-assertive highly critical thinking individual, Afeni was not able to provide an environment that Tupac could be self-assured as a young man. Thus, forcing his false self to emerge and that led him to withdrawal. His transitional objects would be the TV, journals, and books he would read to pass along the time. The transitional phenomena for Tupac would be the fantasizing of having the life of the characters from the TV shows he watch like ‘Different Strokes”. He said that, “ I believed if I could act like the characters I saw on, then maybe I would not be so lonely and I could have some of their happiness too. It was within his first encounter with acting as child where began to see that he could fill that void of no attention. The other concept that could shed some light on Tupac’s behavior could be the anti-social tendency. This pre-delinquent behavior described by Winnicott, as a cry for help and not a diagnosis. Psychologically normal individuals can display this tendency as well someone who is neurotic or psychotic. He went on explain that the “ Antisocial activity is the child’s direct response to a sense of loss or a disturbance of an earlier integration the carried within him. Looking at Tupac’s how he interactions with the under belly of society, one can begin to see how he was looking for some security from those individuals that he did not get growing up. From his consistent altercations authorities and his sexual interactions with different woman, could very well all stem from his lack of belonging and security he encounter as a child.
Clayton Alderfer
ERG Theory
The ERG Theory is a revision model of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs; Alderfer contribution to organizational behavior was dubbed ERG theory (Existence, Relatedness, and Growth), and was produced to align Maslow’s motivation theory to empirical research. Existence Needs co-relate to Maslow’s first two levels. This group of needs is concerned with providing the basic requirements for material existence, such as physiological and safety needs. Relatedness Needs co-relate to Maslow’s third and fourth levels. This group of needs focuses on the desire to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with family, friends, co-workers and employers. Growth Needs refers to Maslow’s fourth and fifth levels. These needs are about the fulfillment of desires to be creative, productive and to complete meaningful tasks in order to build and enhance a person’s self-esteem through personal achievement. The revisions to the ERG Theory have improved upon the inadequacies of Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy: Alderfer ERG theory shows that more than one need can motivate simultaneously. A lower motivator need not be substantially satisfied before one can move onto higher motivators. The ERG theory also accounts for cultural differences in need preferences better than Maslow 's Need Hierarchy; the order of needs can be different for different people. This flexibility accounts for a wider range of observed behaviors. For example, it can explain the "starving artist" who puts growth needs above those of existence. This theory also recognizes that if a higher-order need is frustrated, an individual may regress to increase the satisfaction of a lower-order need which appears easier to satisfy. This is known as the frustration-regression principle.
Theory and Conflict
Now this theory can provide the argument, that Tupac always had the access to his Growth Needs even when the other needs were being altered or not being met. Case in point, as an adolescent, Tupac was recalls not having a steady living situation, eating habits, nor a consistent group of friends. However, it was his desire to be creative, productive, and to make an impact in society that drove him towards his success. Of course, it cannot be denied that if the needs from the other two categories would’ve been met then he would came to his Growth Needs much sooner. I would to pose the completely opposite argument. It was from his pain that Tupac was able to propel his self in to stardom. He was the starving artist literally and he channeled all those emotions in his craft as a Emcee and an Actor. His internal esteem and self-actualization was always present, even when he was he was incarcerated he still wrote and found ways to make his situation optimal for him.
Similarities between the theories
The biggest similarity observed in both of these theories, display how the needs of the individual can drive and motivate that person to compensate or deviate from the lack of a need.
Limitations of Theories
Object Relation Theory D.W. Winnicott
Object Relation Theories limitations really fall on the fact that they only really focus on the significance of the family unit, specifically the mother’s interaction with the child. It does not take into account of the resolve of the child nor does it consider the cultural background that may help the child who does not have a strong family unit. The True Self and False Self are compelling concepts but they do not consider how the oppressed can maintain a sense of self. Ultimately, it was its specification that limited its scope on an individual.
ERG Theory Clay Alderfer
The main limitations of the ERG Theory are the following: Alderfer 's ERG Theory is difficult to use as it tends to approach a set of experimental generalities, the theory is difficult to analyze with our current tools and research methods, and it does not specify a motivational value for each motivator. What is ironic about ERG Theory it was designed to be more practical for empirical research.
References
1. Dr. Clayton Alderfer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.leadership-central.com/erg-theory.html
2. . Lazin, L. (Director) (2003). Tupac Resurrection [Web series episode]. MTV Productions Retrieved from www.documentarylovers.com/tupac-resurrection/In Text (Lazin, 2003)
3. Adlerfer/ValuedBasedManagement.net, C. (2013, June 12). Summary of ERG Theory - Clayton P. Alderfer. Abstract. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
4. Adlerfer/ValuedBasedManagement.net, C. (2013, June 12). Summary of ERG Theory - Clayton P. Alderfer. Abstract. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
Daniels, V. (n.d.). Object Relations Theory. Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/daniels/objectrelations.html 5. Adlerfer/ValuedBasedManagement.net, C. (2013, June 12). Summary of ERG Theory - Clayton P. Alderfer. Abstract. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
6. Daniels, V. (n.d.). Object Relations Theory. Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/daniels/objectrelations.html
7. Long/ Xenon Pictures, S. (2001, August 28). Tupac Shakur Before I Wake 2001 (Part 1) (Documentary). Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9femopBskZQ
An Analysis of Tupac Shakur
Kahlil M. Green
Howard University
Introduction In selecting a historical figure to analyze, there lied the need to evaluate an individual who possessed multiple roles in society. In addition, it was essential to select theorists/theories that could capture the impact of the historical figure’s developmental factors, as well. It was under this consideration, that Tupac Amaru Shakur appeared to be the optimal historical figure. As the theorists D.W. Winnicott and Clayton P. Alderfer, would provide theories Object Relations and Existence, Relatedness, and Growth theory (ERG). D.W. Winnicott’s Object Relations Theory will examine the relationships Tupac had with his parents …show more content…
and how that shaped his personality, his perception of his self as man, and how it influenced his outlook on society.
Clayton P. Alderfer’s, ERG Theory explores how Tupac’s constant struggle to appease his basic “existence” ,“relatedness”, kept him in a regressive state, as well as him reaching towards self-actualization.
History of the Historical Figure
Prior to examining Tupac Shakur’s developmental factors and major conflicts in his personality, there was first an investigation of his historical background. According to Makaveli.com, Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996) was a highly influential, best-selling American hip hop artist, considered by many to be one of the greatest and most legendary rappers of all time. The themes in Tupac’s music concerned growing up around violence, hardships in ghettos, racial inequality, and sometimes his feuds with fellow rappers in the United States. MTV’s 22 Greatest MCs countdown also listed Tupac as their number 1 MC, as voted by the viewers.” Understanding the origin someone’s of names and how they got …show more content…
their name, can give a backdrop to their development and cultural upbringing. In exploring this, one discovered the names “Tupac Amaru” and “Shakur” mean Shining Serpent or Royal Serpent in Quechua and Thankful (to God) in Arabic, respectively. The name “Tupac Amaru” comes from Túpac Amaru II, grandson of the last Sapa Inca (Túpac Amaru). It was later discovered, Tupac Amaru was not his first given name; his mother re-named him shortly after birth and had his birth certificate changed to reflect the name by which we know him. Tupac Shakur was born Lesane Parish Crooks in The Bronx, New York City on June 16, 1971 to Afeni Shakur, and a member of the Black Panthers. Serving jail time on bombing charges while pregnant with Tupac, his mother faced a sentence of up to three years in prison. Serving as her own attorney, she was exonerated from the charges and was released one month before Tupac’s birth. At the first opportunity, Afeni had Tupac’s birth certificate changed to reflect his real name, Tupac Amaru, which means “royal serpent” and was the name of an Inca leader and warrior who came to power in 1570.
Shakur stated, “I never knew where my father was or who my father was for sure.” His godfather, Geronimo Pratt, was also a high-ranking Panther. His step-father, Mutulu, was a drug dealer who, according to Shakur, was rarely present to give him the discipline he needed.
The majority of Tupac’s rearing revolved around the Black Panther philosophy. This meant that you were to be an active participant and resource in the advancement of all oppressed people. At an early age Afeni Shakur instilled the importance of critical thinking and social commentary in Tupac and his sister Sekyiwa (pronounced Setchua). She did this by having them report on what they read in newspaper and what were the implications of the information they read. This had a profound effect on how Tupac saw the world around him. Impoverished in the majority of his childhood, Tupac, with his mother and sister, moved between homeless shelters and meager lodgings around New York City. Due to his families frequent uprooting’s, he retained few friends and relied on watching TV, writing poetry and diary entries to keep himself entertained. At the age of 12, Shakur joined a Harlem theatre group and acted as Travis in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. In the film “Tupac Resurrection” Tupac described the following experience, “It was here where I caught that buzzed everyone talks about. The curtains came up and it was like whoa, I want this!”
In 1986 Tupac’s mother brought him and his sister to live in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Shakur’s lived on Greenmount Ave. in East Baltimore. There, Tupac was teased because of his looks, name, and lack of trendy clothing. It was is in Baltimore, Tupac was accepted to the Baltimore School for the Arts. It was here he began to thrive and enjoy his classes. Classes like studying theater, ballet, and other arts. It was at this point Shakur became acquainted and close friends with fellow classmate Jada Pinkett. Despite his age, Shakur was blunt on the subject of racial equality. His teachers remembered him as being a very gifted student. He was an avid reader, delving into books on eastern religions, and even entire encyclopedia sets. Hiding his love of literature from his peers, he gained the respect of his peers by acting like a tough guy. Shakur composed his first rap in Baltimore under the name “MC New York”. The song was about gun control and was inspired by the fatal shooting of one of his close friends. Two years later, a drug-addicted Afeni was having trouble finding work. She moved the family again to live with a family friend in Marin City, California. Tupac described this period as “where I got off track”. He showed disdain for law enforcement, being hassled occasionally for playing music loudly. In August of 1988, Shakur’s stepfather Mutulu was sentenced to sixty years in prison for armed robbery after being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for several years. Shakur
soon moved in with a neighbor and started selling drugs on the street, but also made friends who helped spark his interest in rap music. One of these was Ray Luv, and a mutual friend named DJ Dize (Dizz-ee); they formed a rap group called Strictly Dope. Their performances brought Tupac enough exposure to land an audition with Digital Underground. In 1990, Shakur joined Digital Underground. His early lyrics were lackluster, and he was viewed ambivalently for his tendency to be over the top and for his occasionally intense personality. On a song for the Nothing But Trouble movie soundtrack, Same Song, Tupac was given his first opportunity to rap on a big-time record. Tupac became quite a sensation, earning praise for his musical and acting talent as well as condemnation for his explicit, violent lyrics. Many of his songs told of fights, gangs, and sex. His aggressive gangster rap persona would give him trouble with the in the 1990s. In 1994, he spent several days in jail for attacking director Allen Hughes and was later convicted of sexual assault in another case. Shakur himself fell victim to violence, getting shot five times in the lobby of a recording studio during a mugging. The next year, after recovering from his injuries, Shakur was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in the sexual assault case. His third solo album, Me Against the World (1995), started out in the number one spot on the album charts. This album had tracks like "Dear Mama" that showed a more genuine, reflective side to the rapper. The probability of an early death runs through several songs on these recordings. After serving eight months in prison, Shakur returned to music with the album All Eyez on Me (1996). He was reported Death Row Records CEO Marion "Suge" Knight paid a bond of more than $1 million as part of Shakur 's parole. In his latest project, Shakur as the defiant street thug was back in full force on this recording. The song "California Love" featured a guest appearance by famed rapper-producer Dr. Dre and made a strong showing on the pop charts. "How Do You Want It" also was another smash success for Shakur. It appeared to be a golden time for Shakur. Besides his hit album, Shakur continued to pursue his acting career. He landed several film roles around this time.. Before his untimely death, Shakur completed work on two other projects—Gridlock 'd and Gang Related—that were released in 1997. During his career, Shakur had become apart of a feud between East Coast and West Coast rappers. He was notorious for insulting other artist on songs. On a trip to Las Vegas to attend a boxing match, Shakur was shot while riding in a car driven by Knight on September 7, 1996. He died six days later, on September 13, 1996, from his injuries at a Las Vegas hospital. Shakur was only 25 years old at the time of his death, and his killer has never been caught.
Cultural Factors
Tupac Shakur was gendered as Black male in a society that did not cater to his needs. It appears the only conflicts in Tupac’s gender identity, were the ones that dealt with how he would apply and assert himself as a man, especially since he did not have an active father figure present in his life. The environmental stressors in Tupac’s life consisted of poverty, inconsistent living arrangement, the crack epidemic and violence in his communities. As stated earlier, Tupac found himself to be withdrawn from others and he found personal solace in writing poetry, to past the time. Although Tupac had a strong foundation of education in his household, he still felt the effects of drugs and violence in his own household. Both parents were withdrawn from him due to drugs. For example, his Mom became a user of Crack cocaine and his father figures were drug dealers. He was nurture in environments where he was surrounded by people he knew being killed, arrested, or addicted to drugs. Culturally, he states his later maturation is based upon his interactions with three main individuals Drug Dealers, Pimps, and Prostitutes. While he was homeless in Marin City and Oakland these were the people who care for him when no one else did not. However, what makes his maturation unique was his exposure to cultural while in the Baltimore Arts School and that his family was Black Panthers.
Theorist Perspective
Object Relations Theory D.W. Winnicott
Obj. Relations Theory is a derivative of psychoanalytic theory that emphasizes interpersonal relations, primarily between the family unit and particularly between the mother and child. Dr. Winnicott emphasized the belief that how a child and mothers interaction played out over time was very crucial in the development of the infant’s growth and development. Adequate parental care was seen in three overlapping stages 1. Holding (physical and psychologically), 2. Mother and Father living together 3. Father, Mother and Infant all three living together. As the child goes from dependent to independent, these terms begin to evaluate the relationship, good enough care, good enough environment, average expectable environment, and facilitating environment. The major contributions of this theory included the following;. Transitional objects are the infant’s first not-me possessions, like a blanket or doll. They are tangible-can be held onto, grasped, hugged. They lessen the stress if separation and soothe the infant. Transitional phenomena are behaviors—repetitive actions like rocking, or fantasies, which serve the function as transitional object. Dr. Winnicott conceptualized the self in two forms, the True self and the false self. True self – this being the part of the infant that feels spontaneous, creative, and real. False self – is “built up on the basis of compliance.” With “good enough” care the true self can emerge, but without it the false self emerges.
Theory and Conflict
According to Dr. Winnicott theory, Tupac’s issues of loneliness and abandonment could be directly linked to his experiences with the “overlapping stages” of his development. For example, Tupac constantly recalls how he felt his mom cared more about the people than her people. This speaks to how in the holding phase; Tupac felt a lack of connection to his mother because she was still very active as a Black Panther. This also brings an issue from the third stage; Tupac was not living in the same household as his father. Although she did raise to Tupac to be a self-assertive highly critical thinking individual, Afeni was not able to provide an environment that Tupac could be self-assured as a young man. Thus, forcing his false self to emerge and that led him to withdrawal. His transitional objects would be the TV, journals, and books he would read to pass along the time. The transitional phenomena for Tupac would be the fantasizing of having the life of the characters from the TV shows he watch like ‘Different Strokes”. He said that, “ I believed if I could act like the characters I saw on, then maybe I would not be so lonely and I could have some of their happiness too. It was within his first encounter with acting as child where began to see that he could fill that void of no attention. The other concept that could shed some light on Tupac’s behavior could be the anti-social tendency. This pre-delinquent behavior described by Winnicott, as a cry for help and not a diagnosis. Psychologically normal individuals can display this tendency as well someone who is neurotic or psychotic. He went on explain that the “ Antisocial activity is the child’s direct response to a sense of loss or a disturbance of an earlier integration the carried within him. Looking at Tupac’s how he interactions with the under belly of society, one can begin to see how he was looking for some security from those individuals that he did not get growing up. From his consistent altercations authorities and his sexual interactions with different woman, could very well all stem from his lack of belonging and security he encounter as a child.
Clayton Alderfer
ERG Theory
The ERG Theory is a revision model of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs; Alderfer contribution to organizational behavior was dubbed ERG theory (Existence, Relatedness, and Growth), and was produced to align Maslow’s motivation theory to empirical research. Existence Needs co-relate to Maslow’s first two levels. This group of needs is concerned with providing the basic requirements for material existence, such as physiological and safety needs. Relatedness Needs co-relate to Maslow’s third and fourth levels. This group of needs focuses on the desire to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with family, friends, co-workers and employers. Growth Needs refers to Maslow’s fourth and fifth levels. These needs are about the fulfillment of desires to be creative, productive and to complete meaningful tasks in order to build and enhance a person’s self-esteem through personal achievement. The revisions to the ERG Theory have improved upon the inadequacies of Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy: Alderfer ERG theory shows that more than one need can motivate simultaneously. A lower motivator need not be substantially satisfied before one can move onto higher motivators. The ERG theory also accounts for cultural differences in need preferences better than Maslow 's Need Hierarchy; the order of needs can be different for different people. This flexibility accounts for a wider range of observed behaviors. For example, it can explain the "starving artist" who puts growth needs above those of existence. This theory also recognizes that if a higher-order need is frustrated, an individual may regress to increase the satisfaction of a lower-order need which appears easier to satisfy. This is known as the frustration-regression principle.
Theory and Conflict
Now this theory can provide the argument, that Tupac always had the access to his Growth Needs even when the other needs were being altered or not being met. Case in point, as an adolescent, Tupac was recalls not having a steady living situation, eating habits, nor a consistent group of friends. However, it was his desire to be creative, productive, and to make an impact in society that drove him towards his success. Of course, it cannot be denied that if the needs from the other two categories would’ve been met then he would came to his Growth Needs much sooner. I would to pose the completely opposite argument. It was from his pain that Tupac was able to propel his self in to stardom. He was the starving artist literally and he channeled all those emotions in his craft as a Emcee and an Actor. His internal esteem and self-actualization was always present, even when he was he was incarcerated he still wrote and found ways to make his situation optimal for him.
Similarities between the theories
The biggest similarity observed in both of these theories, display how the needs of the individual can drive and motivate that person to compensate or deviate from the lack of a need.
Limitations of Theories
Object Relation Theory D.W. Winnicott
Object Relation Theories limitations really fall on the fact that they only really focus on the significance of the family unit, specifically the mother’s interaction with the child. It does not take into account of the resolve of the child nor does it consider the cultural background that may help the child who does not have a strong family unit. The True Self and False Self are compelling concepts but they do not consider how the oppressed can maintain a sense of self. Ultimately, it was its specification that limited its scope on an individual.
ERG Theory Clay Alderfer
The main limitations of the ERG Theory are the following: Alderfer 's ERG Theory is difficult to use as it tends to approach a set of experimental generalities, the theory is difficult to analyze with our current tools and research methods, and it does not specify a motivational value for each motivator. What is ironic about ERG Theory it was designed to be more practical for empirical research.
References
1. Dr. Clayton Alderfer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.leadership-central.com/erg-theory.html
2. . Lazin, L. (Director) (2003). Tupac Resurrection [Web series episode]. MTV Productions Retrieved from www.documentarylovers.com/tupac-resurrection/In Text (Lazin, 2003)
3. Adlerfer/ValuedBasedManagement.net, C. (2013, June 12). Summary of ERG Theory - Clayton P. Alderfer. Abstract. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
4. Adlerfer/ValuedBasedManagement.net, C. (2013, June 12). Summary of ERG Theory - Clayton P. Alderfer. Abstract. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
Daniels, V. (n.d.). Object Relations Theory. Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/daniels/objectrelations.html 5. Adlerfer/ValuedBasedManagement.net, C. (2013, June 12). Summary of ERG Theory - Clayton P. Alderfer. Abstract. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_alderfer_erg_theory.html
6. Daniels, V. (n.d.). Object Relations Theory. Retrieved October 2007, from http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/daniels/objectrelations.html
7. Long/ Xenon Pictures, S. (2001, August 28). Tupac Shakur Before I Wake 2001 (Part 1) (Documentary). Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9femopBskZQ