Prior to posting your
essay, perform an anonymous act of kindness. Examples include: helping someone
carry groceries, paying for a stranger’s coffee, donating time or money to a
cause you believe in, and so forth. Describe what you did and what your
experience was.
Numerous years ago a tire on my car blew out while I was taking a weekend
trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on highway I-15, and apparently my spare
tire was flat. However, several cars pulled over to check on me seeing that I
had part of my car jacked up but I was not changing the tire, and also I was in
the desert. One gentleman (whose name I have forgotten) offered to drive me to
the nearest gas station so I could put air in my spare tire and see about
getting a new tire to replace my blown tire. Also, this gentleman drove me back
to my car which was in the opposite direction that he was traveling; with a new
tire and a blown up spare. Ever since that day I tend to stop and help anyone I
see who is having car trouble in order to help in any possible way. Just a few
days ago I noticed a gentleman trying to push his truck out of the street
through a curve and into a parking lot; therefore, I pulled to the side of the
rode and helped him push. Also, another gentleman got the same idea and also
helped push the other gentleman’s truck out of the road. Whenever I stop to
help anyone I never expect anything in return except for a thank you.
Compare the respective
roles of altruism, personal and professional social responsibility, and
codependency. Also, discuss how altruism applies to psychology or psychological
principles?
Altruism is the reverse of selfishness; therefore, an altruistic
individual is helpful and concerned for other individuals even when benefits
are not expected or offered in return (Myers, 2010). Altruism is also a motive
to increase other individuals’ welfare with a conscious disregard for the
altruistic individual’s self-interest (Myers, 2010). Also, altruism that is
empathy-induced can boost psychological and physical well-being (Bolt, 2004). Social-responsibility
is a belief whereas individuals ought to help other individuals who are seeking
help without concern for rewards or exchanges in the future both on a personal
and professional level. Co-dependency is a behavior that an individual learns and
or a behavioral condition that can affect his or her ability to form or
maintain a mutually satisfying and healthy relationship.
In regard to how altruism applies to psychology or psychological
principles, it is through a means of psychologists helping clients or patients
through any means necessary without crossing ethical boundaries.
How does altruism improve
the human condition? Are there limits to altruism? What are some personal and
professional responsibilities related to altruism? What is the future of
psychology, specifically in relation to altruism?
Altruism that is empathy-induced can boost psychological and
physical well-being (Bolt, 2004). Therefore, the inner rewards of altruism,
such as when individuals feel good about themselves after helping an individual
up off the floor after they have fallen or holding a door open for an
individual can offset negative feelings and thoughts that are detrimental to
the human condition. Such behavior also offsets the negative feelings and
thoughts of the individuals who were helped. Indeed there are limits to
altruism. The limits of altruism are when such unselfish regard can potentially
jeopardize the well-being of patients or clients or oneself. Professional and
personal responsibilities related to altruism are that professionally and
personally individuals must behave in an unselfish regard for devotion to other
individuals when appropriate and necessary.
In order for psychology to have a positive future and maintain a furthered
positive future of helping individuals with psychological and behavioral
disorders and problems, altruism must be a factor. Current and future
psychologists and other psychological professionals must be altruistic psychologists
and psychological professionals who are helpful and concerned with the
well-being of their patients or clients without regard for rewards, exchanges
or future exchanges. The future of psychology depends on psychologists and
other psychological professionals acting in accordance with altruistic ideas
and by aiming to serve patients and clients authentically before taking part in
fulfilling personal agendas.
How do you see psychology being
applied to improve the human condition?
In meeting challenges in the past and
continuing to do so in the future, the application of psychology will continue
to shift toward intellectual energy; therefore, studying the positive aspects
of experiences of humans to improve the human condition. Therefore, through its
application, psychology will continue to be and improve being a science of
positive individual traits, of positive subjective experiences, and of positive
institutions that make the promise of improving quality of life and of
preventing numerous pathologies that manifest when life feels meaningless and
bleak.
Which subdiscipline or subdisciplines
within psychology do you believe will become increasingly important in the
future? Why?
Sub-disciplines of psychology such as
comparative, biological, clinical, developmental, cognitive, social, and
industrial/organizational will each become increasingly important in the
future. How so important will one become more so than another is unknown. Therefore,
for instance, industrial/organizational psychology is one sub-discipline that
will become increasingly important because the well-being of individuals is
often affected by an individuals work environment and each week individuals
spend numerous hours in a work environment away from home, intimate partners,
and families. When the work environment affects well-being aversely it can
aversely affect relationships and intimate relationships with other
individuals; therefore, industrial/organizational psychology will become
increasingly important to foster the well-being of individuals and foster the
well-being of their relationships and intimate relationships with other
individuals.
Myers, D. G. (2010). Social
Psychology (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
