Abrasive Consultant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Abrasive Consultant - Essay Example Peter Drucker was of the opinion that â€Å"We know nothing about motivation. All we can do is write books about it.† (Spillane and Martin, 2005, pg. 46). Although Drucker had a rather hopeless view on the subject, from a psychological perspective it is possible to conjecture about an individual’s agendas. To consider the possible reasons for Julia’s behavior, we must first analyze her personality type. An abrasive personality is one that annoys others and causes hostility as a result. The dictionary meaning also lists synonyms that include ‘overly aggressive’. Abrasive behavior that is erratic, resulting in heightened conflict, the blame game, ambiguity, overt contempt, and defensiveness is typically seen as an outward symptom of hidden feelings of inadequacy and fear. In addition, there is a self-generated environment which, according to theorists, is another complex layer in the relationship between human behavior and environment. The concept post ulates a particular type of behavior produces conditions that affect future behavior. For instance, individuals who have abrasive personalities, contribute to the creation of a social environment that is hostile, leading to further aggression from them. This is a self-perpetuating cycle sustained by the aggressive individual. Granted the state of a parent’s health can be an emotional issue, but Julia could easily have made a few calls herself to verify her mother’s health. This lapse and her subsequent rant at Cathy at the office indicate a tendency toward manipulative behavior, either conscious or subconscious. Cathy’s feelings of guilt are a direct result of her being emotionally blackmailed by Julia into feeling guilty. This manipulation results in a role reversal, where Julia, who in actuality has a subordinate position, assumes a dominant role, forcing Cathy into a subservient one. Indeed, Julia may derive a secret pleasure from this short-lived but repeate d forced reversal and dominance. It also results in the vital issue of client dissatisfaction not being addressed, again, due to the manipulative tactics Julia may have adopted to avoid being warned.