You may not be as good as you think you are
We live in parlous times here in the US. Would you hide an undocumented person from ICE? Would you physically intervene in an ICE arrest if you knew the arrestee was a citizen or in the US legally? Would you resist physically if you were unjustly arrested? Do you expect US soldiers to resist an illegal order?
“Whether you have a rebellious personality or not, most people imagine they are better at overcoming pressure to violate their own principles than they really are, finds a new study.
“Researchers found that most individuals think they would be more likely than the average person to disobey an immoral or unlawful order from an authority figure.
“This phenomenon, called the “better-than-average effect,” reveals that people are fairly resistant to internalizing beliefs that may harm their self-perceptions.
“In extreme cases, ignoring how everyone is subject to social pressure could leave a person vulnerable to the desires of malicious actors.
“Social pressures are way more powerful and impactful than we give them credit for,” said Philip Mazzocco, lead author of the study and an associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.”
I’ve wondered about this. As a retired person, I can’t lose my job, so I’m immune from that threat. I have no dependents. But if I have to mount a legal defense in court, I could exhaust my retirement funds defending myself. Even if I “win,” I could end up destitute. I don’t flatter myself to believe that I’d be a profile in courage.
Social pressure and moral courage
“Whether you have a rebellious personality or not, most people imagine they are better at overcoming pressure to violate their own principles than they really are, finds a new study.
“Researchers found that most individuals think they would be more likely than the average person to disobey an immoral or unlawful order from an authority figure.
“This phenomenon, called the “better-than-average effect,” reveals that people are fairly resistant to internalizing beliefs that may harm their self-perceptions.
“In extreme cases, ignoring how everyone is subject to social pressure could leave a person vulnerable to the desires of malicious actors.
“Social pressures are way more powerful and impactful than we give them credit for,” said Philip Mazzocco, lead author of the study and an associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.”
I’ve wondered about this. As a retired person, I can’t lose my job, so I’m immune from that threat. I have no dependents. But if I have to mount a legal defense in court, I could exhaust my retirement funds defending myself. Even if I “win,” I could end up destitute. I don’t flatter myself to believe that I’d be a profile in courage.
Social pressure and moral courage
I think it’s one of those things you’ll never know ’till the time comes
If people would just start standing up for themselves, be surprised …
@Ten,
I’d be happy to be surprised. My reading of human history teaches me that humans are a tribal species and most will rationalize following their tribe, not their conscience.
I believe it is important to state your beliefs if you see something being done you believe is wrong or know is wrong. To not do so allows the other to come to some occasion to which is uncalled for then or maybe ever.
By doing such, you may damage yourself as the majority may and can find you wrong or falsely wrong in your beliefs. It does come with a price. Disobeying a military order can put you in the Brig. The same holds true for disobedience to a police officer.
There were many people who stood by witnessing a Derek Chauvin knee on George Floyd neck. The impact of which cut off oxygen. George Floyd died as a result. People did plead with the officer to get off of him. The pleas were ignored.
There were many people who protested the war in the sixties. As individuals, some resisted the draft. Some left the country and others were prosecuted. Those that left can still be prosecuted.
The bigger question is if you were the only one there, would you say something to the effect of a warning that George’s life was imperil? The risk being your being accused of impeding an action by a police officer. Should you do what you believe is right and face the risk?