Capstone Psychology Essays

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.

Reference

Bolt, M. (2004). Pursuing Human Strengths: A Positive Psychology Guide. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Myers, D. G. (2010). Social Psychology (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.