Martha Cottam’s Introduction to Political Psychology: Analysis Essay

Opinion PaperIn Introduction to semipolitical Psychology, Martha Cottam uses scientific methodology and procedures to unravel the mental reasoning behind social and domestic mankind policies. As we have journeyed by dint of the first weeks of Govt 319, we have experienced the themes in Cottam in our day-to-day group exercises, class activities and lectures. In particular, we have washbowlvass the imposing influence of magisterial rule on personalities. In the joggle we apothegm a group of high school students empowered through fascism/ bossy rule, mobilized by a larger ideal, take power.In the Stanford prison Experiment we saw how dictator power corrupts, how even the most righteous of people can be driven to do horrendous acts. Lastly, the crash exercise we examined the complexities of group kinetics and roles, how an authority figures can persuade individuals from other than logical choices, but as well examines how individuals keen to compromise in groups. In each of these activities we experience, the pages of Cottam and the psychological complexities of politics relevantly in play.See more(prenominal) how to start a paragraphIn the Wave teacher Rainer Wenger is adapted to mobilize his students into a small authoritarian regime. Herr Wenger himself loses sight of reality and becomes obsess with his absolute power over the students. Throughout the movie we see the students evolve fascistic authoritarian behaviors and procedures. Ironically maculation there are no more social insecurities between the members of the Wave united by their label, even so they neglect those not within the group. Moreover, while the students argued in the beginning that Ger more could neer undergo another fascist government, they themselves unconsciously evolve into a fascist regime by the end of the movie. Themes in the movie appear regularly in Cottam, using Altemeyer as referencePsychologically, right wing dictatorship is submission to perceived authori ties, particularly those in the establishment or schematic system of governance (Altemeyer, 1996). The students relyd so much in the power and leaders of Herr Wenger that they became submissive to the teacher, as he was the living form of an ideal. This too relating covering to fascist governments, where people felt submissive and inferior to the power of the primaeval figure. In the Stanford Prison Experiment we saw how seemingly regular college students can be turned into brutal, pitiless individuals, when given authoritarian power. Tasked with the role of prison guard, the students treated their peers rather ruthlessly.In this, they tortured their fellow classmates, much without find out for the mental well being of the inmate. The experiment may be compared to fascist Nazisms in which, people were paid and tasked with the responsibility to pull down millions in what we know now as the Holocaust, to them it was simply work. Commentating on these disposition traits Cottam e xplains Groups demand loyalty, compliance, and obedience and those psychological factors can override even potently held values for example, perpetrators of genocide in the Holocaust who explained their behavior in damage of obedience to the norms in the group (e.g., I did it because I was wandered to do so) (Cottam 10).While in the interviews the students spoke with great shame, they did not hold seat while in the experiment. It became so that torturing the inmates became amusing, and the guards lost all humanity in the inmates. This sympathy was ever present in the Holocaust, where so legion(predicate) stood by and simply did as they were told, not consciously being fazed by the acts they were committing.In the shipwreck exercise we studied group dynamics using the scenario of a shipwreck. In this the group must rank a series of possibly useful equipment, without argument and tension. We saw how people shied absent from confrontation from the authority figure, opting to simp ly go with the group. Using Altemeyer Cottam explains Those high in right-wing authoritarianism have greater difficulty than low scorers in engaging in critical thinking. They are more likely to equalise with a statement of fact without examining it critically (Altemeyer 1996).While there were authoritarian figures within the group, those who were confident in their belief of the equipments rank, there was also a desire to care for each other and sacrifice. Citing the Authoritarian Personality playing area Cottam talks about these dynamics But social identity goes beyond group dynamics. People are influenced by groups, but are also personally driven to support groups to which they are affectionately attach. They commit sacrafices that are sometimes extraordinary, for the sake of the group (Aderno et al 50). In many cases we as a group felt the need to compromise, in order to satisfy the congeniality of the group.This I feel is an ever relevant considering that while there is a n atural authoritarian desire, to have things go your way, it is moreover natural to be kind, and sympathetic to others. In each of these activities we saw how authoritarian rule can manipulate the most regular of people into committing the rack up of crimes. In both the Stanford prison experiment and the Wave we saw the shame of power on the contrary in the shipwreck exercise we saw how groups were also keen on sympathy and compromise. In this I believe that it natural to be sympathetictowards all groups, though when a strong authoritarian figure is present it is also easy to be manipulated.BibliographyAdorno, T., Frenkel-Brunswick, E., Levinson, D., & Sanford, P. (1950). The authoritarian personality. New York Harper Altemeyer, B. (1996). The authoritarian specter. Cambridge, MA Harvard University Press Cottam, M. (2010). Introduction to Political Psychology. NewYork Psychology Press.