Name
Capella University
PSYC FPX 3520
Prof. Name
December, 2024
Exploring Human Interactions: The Dynamics of Social Psychology
It defines how individual thoughts, feelings, and behavior are altered by the presence or activity or even the mere inferred presence of others. Social influence is widely regarded as one of the key concepts of the subject matter, which includes such phenomena as obedience, conformity, and compliance (Clark et al., 2019). Conformity is the action or decision to change to meet the expectations of a group out of a desire to become part of that group or escape rejection. For example, about conformity, Solomon Asch’s line judgment experiments showed that people could be pressured into action that they would otherwise doubt. As mentioned earlier, compliance is behavioral change triggered directly by a request, here a favor, or as expected by others. Obedience, according to Stanley Milgram, shows how the authorities can overpower decisions, and sometimes make people act against their ethics code. Such dynamics suggest an inconceivable role that social environments and relations play in human activity – often unconsciously.
Analyzing the Case Study: Susan’s Social Journey
This paper focuses on the real-life application of principles of social psychology by reflecting on Susan’s social journey. As discussed below, she experiences conformity pressure as soon as she joins a new workplace: she observes her colleagues take extended lunch breaks, which is prohibited at work. Though she holds the personal values of integrity and punctuality, she bowed to this norm in order not to be different and this reveals I-informational social influence. Later, Susan’s team leader invites Susan to participate in a charity begun by the latter. Therefore, she is willing to participate in the charity event without spare time though she is busy with other tasks to work in a combined team. Lastly, she is forced to contribute to coming up with a decision that on a moral front was wrong; however, she complies, demonstrating obedience.
Understanding Unrequited Love: A Psychological Perspective
Romantic love is in which one of the individuals involved gets thoughts of the other, but the other does not. The psychological consequences for the subject are mainly rather negative (Dwyer, 2020). First of all, this may cause such psychological disorders as feelings of rejection, loneliness, and low self-esteem. Desiring love from a person who cannot give it in return results in developing a state of mind that works with cognitive dissonance since the individual’s want is out of sync with reality. The inner conflict can at times lead to rumination when the person is trying to make sense of his emotions and situation and this only worsens his anxiety and depression. They note that unrequited love has an impact on attachment style for two reasons; those who experience unrequited love may become more anxious seeking love and validation from other people in a pathological way (Gheaus, 2021). Said unresolved feelings of unrequited love can create long-term diminished self-esteem plus future relationship prospects if they never work out or come to terms with it. All in all, the psychological framework of the concept of unrequited love offers the intricate and very empathic perspective of the organization of feelings and actions that comprise such experience as well as coping and psychological well-being when encountering this type of experience.
Applying Social Psychological Theory to Susan’s Dilemma
Cognitive dissonance and social influence theories are applicable in the case of Susan and will well help to elaborate her thought process. All of these are evident when, one day, Susan is in an ethical dilemma of discretely supporting a dodgy decision at the workplace; this is the result of psychology known as cognitive dissonance, a feeling of discomfort felt when a person’s actions are in contradiction to her beliefs (Cikara et al., 2022). To minimize such feelings, Susan may justify the given actions, stating that she had had to maintain only the peace or the authority figures, she tended to obey, who knew what was best for the group and were probably expecting her to act in a certain way. Fear of losing colleagues’ friendship and fear of being ill-presented at the workplace makes her act contrary to what she believes; power and given status make her obey even if this is against her ethics. It allows one to comprehend the individual and environmental factors influencing the given subject’s behavior, social factors, as well as the moral dilemma in the organizational environment, studying which the given subject is placed.
Navigating Ethical Terrain: Susan’s Moral Awareness
Moral awareness rises to prominence as a key concept in a study when it enters the domain of the chosen subject’s work environment, as it does with Susan. First of all, it can be discussed her decisions lack full ethical implication awareness, which can be seen when she follows organizational culture standards, such as long lunch breaks, or agrees with her leader’s suggestions without thinking about possible outcomes. However, when Susan is faced with an ethical dilemma on how to proceed in front of the team, moral awareness starts to emerge in her. She gets socialized into the ethical dilemma between the personal ethics and management expected from any authority. This Sensitive awareness makes her start thinking about what real integrity is, what is it that she is accountable for, and what she is going to be doing to herself and others. It is within this process that Susan conflicts between personal morality and compliance and the start of her understanding of her moral subjectivity.
Embracing Critical Thinking: A Multifaceted Perspective
Critical thinking, in embracing this ability, is the ability to interact with the subject matter in ways that facilitate making strong judgments as well as sound decisions from several perspectives (Steć et al., 2021). The issues in a business context are never isolated, and thus, when analyzing them one has to take into account such aspects as social, ethical, emotional, and rational. It calls people to challenge their prejudice or choices either implicitly or explicitly, so that, in the end, there might be enhanced wisdom through such questioning. For practical application, embracing critical thinking entails assessment of validity in arguments, but not only that: such as not knowing the reasons why certain things are done or, equally, what repercussions might be had from particular actions. For instance, in a business context, judgment concerns reasoning when solving ethical issues at the workplace, other than just incorporating values into decision-making; it involves recognizing organizational objectives individuals’ self-interests, and the needs of others. It also implies a lack of knowledge about something and constantly being willing to change and learn from others. Finally, engaging the entire multicultural self as a more critical reflective stance will enable people to make reasonable, moral, and balanced decision-making in life and career.
PSYC FPX 3520 assessment 4 Conclusion
It calls people to challenge their prejudice or choices either implicitly or explicitly, so that, in the end, there might be enhanced wisdom through such questioning (Kouchaki, 2024). For practical application, embracing critical thinking entails assessment of validity in arguments, but not only that: such as not knowing the reasons why certain things are done or, equally, what repercussions might be had from particular actions. For instance, in a business context, judgment concerns reasoning when solving ethical issues at the workplace, other than just incorporating values into decision-making; it involves recognizing organizational objectives individuals’ self-interests, and the needs of others. It also implies a lack of knowledge about something and constantly being willing to change and learn from others. Finally, engaging the entire multicultural self as a more critical reflective stance will enable people to make reasonable, moral, and balanced decision-making in life and career.
PSYC FPX 3520 assessment 4 References
Clark, E., Votaw, K. L. B., Hasan, M., & Fernandez, P. (2019). Unrequited love: The role of prior commitment, motivation to remain friends, and friendship maintenance. The journal of social psychology, 120(3), 293-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2019.1648234
Dwyer, B. (2020). The need for a scientific cure for feelings of heartbreak and unrequited love. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/42105233/The_Need_for_a_Scientific_Cure_for_Feelings_of_Heartbreak_and_Unrequited_Love
Gheaus, A. (2021). Unrequited love, self-victimization and the target of appropriate resentment. The journal of ethics, 24, 487-499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10892-021-09368-0
Cikara, M., Martinez, J. E., & Lewis, N. A. (2022). Moving beyond social categories by incorporating context in social psychological theory. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(9), 537–549. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-022-00079-3
Kouchaki, M., & Smith, I. H. (2024). Moral decision-making in organizations. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-110622-045715
Steć, M., Kulik, M. M., & Wendołowska, A. (2021). From supporting moral competence to fostering spiritual growth: the psycho-didactic potential of the Konstanz method of dilemma discussion (kmdd®). Religions, 12(8), 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12080646