Could Political Rancor Trickle Down?
Could the intense political rancor that we have seen displayed in Washington recently trickle down to create new expectations and norms in how we interact with others? Observational learning theory would suggest that this could be an unintended consequence of political fighting and may be a very worrisome trend if you value civility and ethics.
Political fighting is nothing new. What might be new is the fact that we can observe it 24/7 on cable news, the internet, and other media outlets. What also might be new is the intense level of disrespectful behavior among political extremists who just refuse to listen to anyone other than those who think exactly like they do. The recent debt ceiling debate among politicians is a prime example.
Observation learning theory tells us that we observe others and tend to model their behavior (especially if the models are reinforced). My worry is that by being frequently exposed to the remarkable disrespectful and aggressive verbal behavior demonstrated among our elected officials that this style of interacting will trickle down to others throughout our culture. Sadly, I think it already has done so.
Search for a mental health professional near you.
If we expect people to behave using generally agreed upon ethical principles such as respect, responsibility, integrity, competence, and concern (i.e., RRICC) in dealing with others yet don’t see these behaviors modeled in our elected officials who obtain lots of public attention and the limelight day after day, then how can we expect our neighbors, children, co-workers, and community members in general to behave any differently? Furthermore, this style of behaving among others is also often highlighted (and reinforced) on popular reality shows with these “stars” also reinforced with money, fame, and other perks. In fact, if we tend to reward particular egregious behavior with more attention then perhaps we are really unlikely to have a community where compassion, respect, and politeness is valued and supported.
We have the curious tradition of referring to our elected officials as “the Honorable.” It is a very odd tradition given the behavior of so many of these individuals.
If we want to live in an ethical community we need those who get the most attention to model the kind of behavior we value as a community. It seems that we have a very long way to go on this front if we want a culture and community that not only values but expects a high degree of ethical behavior that is highlighted by respect, civility, and compassion.
So, what do you think?
Similar Posts:
- Stop Transmitting Silence!
- Are you trans? Gender non-conforming? Genderqueer? We need your help!
- JetBlue Incident Shows That in Air Travel, ‘Things Won’t Go As Planned’
- Safety Experts Warn of Fireworks Dangers
- What You Should Know About Assisted Living
