As events erupt in the Middle East, in America NO ONE should even think about participating in ethnic intimidation, of any kind as a response. Remember to treat people as you would want to be treated.
Vikki
C Y
It would be remiss NOT to talk about this situation!
Most of us, this blogger suspects, have read articles surrounding the looting of businesses that have occurred in record time. The guilty are in and out within a blink of an eye. It’s not about the individual who steals a bar of soap or food to provide for themselves or their family. That activity is wrong, also. Maybe sympathetic. Groups of individuals are partaking in these endeavors, and we need to look at what their behaviors are saying about the members.
And it speaks volumes:
First: Coordination. None of the members can even suggest to law enforcement (when apprehended) that a mental health condition made them participate in these behaviors.
Second: Antisocial. Members of the group were involved in an activity (i.e., stealing) and have demonstrated antisocial behaviors with little (none?!) regard to public safety.
Third: Worker Safety: Have they thought about the consequences of worker safety within these establishments while engaging in these activities?
Fourth: Placing their own lives in danger. Why have they jeopardized their lives with the possibility of a confrontation with police officers? Do we need another fatal shooting that tears at the fiber of this country?
Fifth: Narcissism, maybe not, but definitely self-centeredness. All of us require a certain amount of selfishness to succeed in life. However, the looters’ self-centeredness is way out of control and could potentially lead to dangerous outcomes.
Sixth: Moral Compass. Where is the moral compass that says to a person, “No. I will not engage in these behaviors because I have too much respect for myself and, thus, for others.”
Seventh: Respect For Boundaries. Where is the respect for boundaries? When entering a business, it’s about making selections and then purchasing. That’s it! It’s not about purposely inserting oneself, disrupting, and causing panic among the companies, customers, and other innocent bystanders.
Finally, Envy may be the worst trait. Because of the activity, envy is the crux of the matter: “I want what you have.”
The fallout: People who own and run businesses have sacrificed to earn and maintain livelihoods for themselves, workers, customers, and other interested parties. Neighborhoods lose when impacted leaders make the business decision to leave those areas.
Vikki
“Self awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions” (Pathway to Happiness, 2017). Also, the concept provides us the ability to gain comprehension about others, their perceptions of us, our dispositions and interactions with them (Pathway to Happiness).
The following is an excellent resource on self awareness:
[Video] Roy Baumeister – What is Self Awareness?
Vikki
The day will come when all of us will reflect on our lives. As is the case, most reflections are performed brutally honest. The following are important issues to consider:
May everyone have peace, happiness, love, an abundance of life, and positive reflection on that special day.
Vikki
Warning: The third video contains graphic images.
Social Psychology is defined, “…as the scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought to social situations” (Baron, Byrne, and Branscombe, 2006). Organizing a luncheon with friends and going along (conformity) with the majority of the group’s preferred restaurant; emulating dangerous activities viewed on television (negative conformity); whether co-workers get along, or have conflicts; persuading a potential client to enter a business venture; having the mindset (stereotype) that beautiful people are automatically good people, and comparing ourselves with others to learn if a reality is true (social comparison) are some of the examples and concepts involving social psychology.
Dr. Milgram was a major contributor to Social Psychology, and his work greatly influences the discipline in contemporary society. You’ll see his famous experiment shortly. Additional information about him and his work can be found right here.
Pay close attention to the body language of the young man described in the video before he answers questions, especially the last one. He may have experienced cognitive dissonance (competing thoughts resulting in psychological distress).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddU_mx3If_U
How many times over the decades have we emulated behavior in similar fashion?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0e6zG8IbE8
And here is Dr. Milgram’s famous experiment. Before viewing, it has to be noted that no one was harmed in this study. Dr. Milgram’s contraption emitted no electronic shocks whatsoever. The experiment was to understand if participants were willing to harm others based on orders of authority.
Commentary
Negative Obedience. The next time we hear about someone who engaged in deadly activity as part of a gang initiation, teachers complying with orders from the head of a school district to inflate grades, employees jumping into lockstep with their project manager to lie about the dangers of a new product soon to go on the market, and other related items we hear about in the media these days, we can remember Dr. Milgram showed us that some people will comply in behaviors which goes against conscience and societal mores.
Reference
Baron, R. A., Byrne, D., & Branscombe, N. R. (2006). Social Psychology. (11th ed.). MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Vikki
Victoria Sutton's Psychology Blog 