Abstract
M.Ed.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of conditioning on the
realization of a person's full potential from a personal leadership perspective. As
humans our perception of ourselves and our capabilities are subject to many
conditioning influences, for example family, education, society, culture and the
media. Conditioning influences can lead to the formation of habits in the way
people think and act. A problem arises because many of these conditioning
influences have a negative impact on the way in which a person perceives
himself and his potential, by focussing mainly on possible limitations and by
overemphasizing conformation.
A field of study that focuses on the overcoming of self-imposed boundaries and
that strives to promote personal growth and the realization of a person's unique
potential, is personal leadership. Personal leadership was defined in the study as
an ongoing process of introspection and self-examination and a commitment to
self-improvement, change and personal growth on the way to realizing one's
unique potential.
The general aim of the study was to investigate the nature of the concept
'conditioning' and the influence it has on a person's perception of himself and his
potential, as well as to search for ways in which the negative influence of
conditioning on personal growth can be identified and overcome, all within a
personal leadership framework.
The research methodology used in the study included hermeneutic and
descriptive strategies. The research methods that were used included a word and
concept analysis of the concept 'conditioning' as well as a literature study in
order to identify and describe ways in which conditioning affects personal growth
and how negative conditioning influences can be eliminated.
The following are the most important findings of the study:
• Both classical and operant conditioning are learning processes that play a role
in establishing habits of thoughts and actions, by means of the formation of
stimulus-response associations.
• Conditioning can be a powerful inhibiting factor in personal growth, because
it can lead to the formation of a poor self-image and limiting beliefs regarding
personal potential.
• Conditioning influences like family, education, peer groups, culture and the
media can condition a person to believe that he has limited potential.
• Conditioning influences can inhibit a person's ability to adapt to change and
may also cause a person to become satisfied with the average and loose his
motivation to actualize his full potential.
• Through personal leadership a person can overcome the negative influence of
conditioning by becoming aware of conditioning influences in his life and by
realizing that conditioned habits are formed by his own free will and that it
can be overcome by equipping himself with knowledge of how to successfully
implement the desired change.
• By overcoming the negative influence of conditioning in his life, a person can
progressively realize personal goals that will lead to realizing of his unique
potential and personal fulfillment.