1. i. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
ii. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a theory based on the theory of human motivation. This theory is based around the fact that people have five basic needs that need to be met. Although there are five needs to this theory they are broken up between three categories. The first two needs are in the category of basic needs, the second two are categorized as psychological needs and the last and most upper tip is in the category of self-fulfillment needs. The first need that needs to be met is the psychology need. This basically states that before anything, humans need food, water, warmth, and good health. After that need is met they have the need of safety. This need includes security and safety of your overall well-being. The next need is belonging and love which includes the need for intimate relationships and friends. The second to highest need on the pyramid is esteem needs which involves the need for prestige and feeling of accomplishment. The last need and the tip of the triangle is self actualization.
iii. When comparing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs into this public relations plan, it fits the theory very well. The first two needs on the pyramid are psychology and safety, both of these needs fall under the category of basic needs. These needs are the requirements that every human has to have food, health, warmth and water, security and safety. All of these things listed are what Project Cure provides by delivering medical supplies and medical volunteers to third world countries. These developing countries do not have these basic needs and do not know what life with these needs met is like. By delivering the resources Project Cure does, it will provide them with these needs and change their lives.
2. i. Dissonance Theory
ii. Dissonance theory, also known as cognitive dissonance, is the theory that revolves around the idea that people avoid things that make them uncomfortable. The theory states that because we don't like things that make us uncomfortable, we focus on things we like and avoid what we don't like.
iii. Dissonance theory applies to Project Cure and this PR plan because it is why we got into the problem that Project Cure is trying to solve. Like stated before, we as Americans have so many resources that we don't know what to do with them. We have known that people in other places of the world have almost nothing and need help. I believe the reasoning behind it is dissonance theory. People do not thinking about other people suffering from having a lack of medical resources or not enough money. Therefore, they choose not to think about it. As the people with all of the resources, if we do not help people with nothing, the problem will never be solved.
3. i. Broken Windows Theory
ii. We learned about broken windows theory through Malcolm Gladwell in The Tipping Point. This theory states that maintaining and monitoring urban environments to prevent small crimes such as vandalism, helps to create an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, which will prevent more serious crimes from happening.
iii. So again, I believe broken windows theory compares to the Project Cure similarly to the dissonance theory. I think they are similar in the sense that people looking in, see the environment of these developing countries as already so bad that there is no need or way to fix it so they don't do anything to help or contribute. I think the broken windows theory is a main reason we have a such large poverty gaps all over the world.
4. i. Persuasion theory
ii. Persuading is the goal of the vast majority of public of public relations programs. Persuasion is basically getting another person to do something through advice, reasoning, or simply arm-twisting. Persuasions theory has a multitude of explanations and interpretation. People are persuaded by different things so persuasion can be considered more of an art than a science.
iii. Persuasion theory fits into the PR plan of Project Cure in the first portion of the plan. To get this plan in action the essential thing we need is medical volunteers who will give their time and resources. In order to make this happen we need to persuade people to want to participate and get involved with Project Cure and everything they stand for.
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