Iop3703 Career Psychology Assignment 1 S1/2015

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Question 1 Explain how variables such as spirituality at work and sense of belonging give meaning to people’s work experiences. (10) 1.1 Workplace spirituality Workplace spirituality is the recognition that employees have an inner life that nourishes and is nourished by meaningful work that takes place in the context of community (Ashmos & Duchon, 2000). Spirituality is the feeling individuals have about the fundamental meaning of who they are, what they are doing and the contributions they are making (Lips-Wiersma, 2002). Spirituality represents the quest to unite one's inner life and outer world (i.e. the community environment which provides constant connection to one‘s co-workers). The community environment is viewed as a place in which people can experience personal growth by being involved in meaningful work that gives a purpose to their life where they feel valued for themselves as individuals and have a sense of working together with others for a common purpose (Crawford et al., 2009). The search for meaning and purpose, and consequent realisation, provide an individual with a sense of alignment and order - a spiritual cohesiveness, which instills a sense of tightness and well-being (King & Nicol, 1999). Spiritual cohesiveness is a sense of wholeness – oneness with who we are and an awareness of how we fit with our external environment (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). 1.2 A sense of belonging in society Despite the alienating negative effects of industrial development and advancement in technology, work can provide a basis for integrating people into society by providing connections between people. Sigmund Freud maintained that two important life functions are to work well and to love well (Hale, 1980). He regarded work as an essential aspect of life because it ties the individual to reality; that is, the reality of human society. Work involves membership
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