Debates in leadership. This is your opportunity to engage in independent research. This assignment has two components. In the first component, you select one or more of the current debates in the field of leadership psychology that you will defend in your position paper and write a literature view on the topic. In the second component, you use this literature review as a framework to write the position paper. The final position paper is due in Module Seven.
Use the following resources to write the literature review:
SNHU Psychology Research Guide https://libguides.snhu.edu/Psychology_UG_Grad
What Is a Literature Review and How do I Write One? https://libanswers-snhu-edu.ezproxy.snhu.edu/faq/8664
Video: An Introduction to Literature Reviews (15:09) https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://methods.sagepub.com/video/an-introduction-to-literature-reviews
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Literature Review: Current Debates in Leadership Psychology
Introduction
Leadership psychology is a dynamic field that continuously evolves with changing organizational landscapes and societal contexts. Within this discipline, several debates and controversies have emerged, shaping the understanding of effective leadership practices. In this literature review, we will explore some of the current debates in leadership psychology and examine the diverse perspectives and research findings that underpin these discussions.
Transformational vs. Transactional Leadership
One of the enduring debates in leadership psychology revolves around the comparison between transformational and transactional leadership styles. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate followers through a shared vision, while transactional leaders focus on exchanges and rewards for performance. Research by Bass (1985) and Avolio (1994) suggests that transformational leadership is associated with higher employee satisfaction and performance, while transactional leadership may be more effective in certain contexts where clear directives are needed.
Leadership Traits vs. Situational Factors
Another debate centers on whether effective leadership is primarily determined by inherent traits or situational factors. The trait theory of leadership posits that certain characteristics, such as intelligence, charisma, and decisiveness, are innate and define successful leaders. In contrast, contingency theories like Fiedler’s Contingency Model (1967) argue that situational variables, such as task structure and leader-member relations, play a crucial role in determining leadership effectiveness.
Authentic Leadership vs. Servant Leadership
The debate between authentic leadership and servant leadership focuses on the leader’s role in serving others versus being true to oneself. Authentic leaders prioritize self-awareness, transparency, and moral integrity, fostering trust and ethical behavior within organizations. On the other hand, servant leaders prioritize the needs of their followers, emphasizing empathy, humility, and service to promote employee well-being and organizational success (Greenleaf, 1970; Avolio & Gardner, 2005).
Gender and Leadership
Gender diversity in leadership has been a prominent debate in recent years, with discussions on the impact of gender stereotypes, biases, and discrimination on leadership opportunities. Research by Eagly and Carli (2007) highlights the differences in leadership styles between men and women, challenging traditional notions of leadership effectiveness and calling for more inclusive and equitable leadership practices.
Conclusion
The debates in leadership psychology reflect the complexity and multidimensionality of effective leadership theories and practices. By examining contrasting perspectives on transformational vs. transactional leadership, leadership traits vs. situational factors, authentic vs. servant leadership, and gender dynamics in leadership, researchers and practitioners can gain valuable insights into the nuances of leadership effectiveness. As the field continues to evolve, addressing these debates can contribute to the development of more inclusive, adaptive, and impactful leadership models that align with the diverse needs of modern organizations and societies.
