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MrunalEthics(E2/P2):Moral&PoliticalAttitude:RoleofSocialmedia

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[Ethics]E2/P2:Moral&Politicalattitude:Types,FactorsAffecting,
RoleofSocialMedia,MilgramExperiment
PostedByMrunalOn02/10/2015@9:05pmInEthics|17Comments
1. E2/P2:VideoLectureby
2. MoralAttitude:Meaning
3. MoralAttitude:Implicationsof
4. RoleofSocialMediainMoralAttitude
5. PoliticalAttitudeandideologies
6. FactorsaffectingPoliticalattitude
7. RoleofSocialMediainPoliticalAttitude
8. StrengthofAttitude
9. AccessibilityofAttitude
10. MilgramExperiment

E2/P1:VideoLecturebyKavanLimbasiya(AIR198/CSE14)
Inthepreviouspart(E2/P1),weunderstoodthemeaning,structureandfunctionofattitude.Nowwell
seethemoralandpoliticalattitudes,forUPSCGeneralstudiespaper4(GS4)

YoutubeLink:https://youtu.be/1oUiCAN3IT0
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MoralAttitude:Meaning
NotallattitudesareconcernedwithMorality.E.g.Myattitudetowardssnakeshasnothingtodo
withmorality.Butmyattitudetowardsdemocracywillhavemoralundertones.
So,MoralattitudesarebasedonmoralconvictionsofwhatisRightandwhatiswrong.
Moralattitudesarestrongerthanmoralbeliefs.
Family,society,religionandeducationplayimportantroleinframingthosemoralconvictions.

MoralAttitude:Implicationsof
PositiveImplications
Tiedupwithstrongemotions.
Hencepreventsdeviantbehaviors
amongnormalfolksduetofearof
socialOsctricizatione.g.child
molestation,incest.
Motivatesapersontowards
Altruism,volunteerism,social
service.

NegativeImplications
Personcanuseittojustifyviolencebehaviorandlunacy
andstillsocietywillacceptitbecausemoralattitude=
strongemotions.Example
April1919:AviolentmobattacksanEnglishmissionary
MarcellaSherwoodinPunjab.GeneralDyerusesthisto
justifyJaliawallaMassacre,andhesgivenheros
welcomeinEngland.
Motivatesapersontowardsriots,genocideandterrorism.
Sincemoralattitudeistiedwithstrongemotions,people
dontgetalongwiththosewhodontsharetheirmoral
attitude.
Result?Intolerance.Beforebuying/rentingahouse,
peoplewillinquireaboutthecaste/religionofthe
neighbors.
Religiousattitudehastrickledowneffect.E.g.Hindusvs.
Muslimifthereisnegativitytowardsotherpersons
religiousoutlook,thentheyllfinddifferencesevenin
politicalandeconomicoutlooks.Ultimatelyitlltransform
fromreligioustocommunalattitude.

RoleofSocialMediainMoralAttitude
Throughfacebook,whatsappetc.youngstersareexposedtovulgarjokes,MMS,porneveryday.
ThisAdolescentcuriosityaboutsex/pornvs.morallessontorespectwomen=cognitive
dissonance.
Accordingtostudies,suchboyshavelessempathytowardsrapevictims,aggressivebehavioral
tendencies,increasedinterestincoercingpartnerstowardsunwantedsexandsoon.
Bad/carelessparenting+indifferentattitudeofteachers+Peerpressure+exposureonTV/internet
=ATeenagersmoralcompassdoesntpointtostraightnorth.
Suchteenagersfeelattractedtowardsdoingwrongthingsthroughinternet,becauseinternet
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givesthemfollowingadvantages
1.Anonymity
2.Actionat
distance

6waysInternetcatalyseswrongbehavior
Youcanremainunknown/untraceablebypolice.
Youdontneedtocomenearthevictim.

Throughcomputerscripts,youcancirculatesamemessage/photosonthousandsof
onlinegroupswithinfewkeystrokes.
4.Accessibility Dataplansgettingcheapeveryday
Textimageswillmultiplyandexistindefinitely.So,evenifsayanMMSisremoved
5.Perpetuity
fromonewebportalbycourtorder,itllcontinuetocirculateamongothers.
3.Automation

1.Hacking

Endresult=6formsofCyberviolenceagainstWomen
Unauthorizedaccesstosystemtoacquireinformation

2.Impersonation

CreatingfakeprofileofawomanonFacebooktoembarrassher.
Creatingfakeprofileondatingsitetoentrapwomaninsextrade.

3.Surveillance

TrackingavictimthroughherGPSmobile,trackingkeystrokes.
Plantingspycamsinladieswashrooms.
RecordingofMMSinhotelrooms/gardens.

4.Harassment

Throughpersistencecalls,messages,emails

5.Recruitment

Sextraffickersusewhatsapp,chatroom,messageboardstocommunicate
withclients.
Fraudsterspostfakejobvacanciestolurewomenintosextrade.

6.Malicious
distribution

SpurnedloverputtingMorphedphotosorexboyfriendpostingintimate
photosonsocialmediatoembarrasswoman.

Cyberviolenceagainstwomen,isprevalentinalltypesofcountries
Firstworld:pornography,andsitessuchasAshleyMadisonthathelpmarriedpeopletocheaton
theirpartners.
Developingcountries:~2lakhchildrenarekidnappedandsoldeveryyearinChinathrough
onlineportal(2014UNGenderreport)
LeastDevelopedcountries:Currentlymobilephonesaremostcommonlyusedtoolsforcyber
violenceinNigeria,KenyasuchasViralrapevideos/MMS.
SelfStudy:GovernmentofIndiadecidestopartiallyliftthebanonpornographicsites.

PoliticalAttitudeandideologies
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Itdefinesyourlikeordislikeforapoliticalperson,partyorideology.
Ideology

Character
Theysupportbasicideasofliberty,equalityanddemocracybutwantreformsin
Liberal/Moderate thesystemalbeitnotinextreme/violentmannerbutthroughconstitutional/legal
means.
Conservative
WantStatusquo.Theybelievechangesorreformswillnotimprovethesituation.

Progressive

Progressive:slowlyreformthesystem
Radical:immediatelyreformthesystem,e.g.Marx:Confiscateallthe
privatepropertyimmediately.
Nehruwasaprogressivehebelievedstateownershipbutinagradual
manner.

Reactionary

TheyreonestepbehindConservativesI.e.Conservativeswantstatusquo,
whilereactionarieswanttogobacktoprevioussystem.
ExampleTaliban/ISISwantingtorunnationwithliteralinterpretationof
Sharia/Quran.
Religiousorganizationsinvolvedinpolitics=theyreusuallyreactionaryin
nature.

Extremist

Extremelyunhappywithcurrentsystem
wantcompletechangetoanewsystem,andjustifyviolenceasamean/tool
toachievetheend/goal.(RecallTeleologicalethicsandconsequentialismin
E1/P2 )

Pacifist

Theyrealsounhappywithcurrentsystembutrejectviolenceasatoolto
achievethegoal.
Example:Gandhi,Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.

FactorsaffectingPoliticalattitude

Religion

ReligionshapesapersonsmoralattitudeE.g.ChristianitydefinesMarriageasa
unionbetweenmanandawoman.Therefore,adevoutChristianwillopposesame
sexmarriage.
Moralattitudewillpredictpoliticalattitude.E.g.devoutChristianmorelikelyto
voteforRepublicanpartyinUSA,sinceRepublicansareopposedtosamesex
marriage.
Olderpeoplemoreconservativeandleantowardspoliticaldemocracy.(Younger
peoplewanteconomicdemocracy).
Youngpeoplemoreliberal/radical.Theyreinterestedinchange,becausetheyll
livetoenjoyfruitsofthosechanges.

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Buttherearenohardandfastrulese.g.WhenRonaldReganwasyoung,hewasa
supporterofDemocratsandwantedgovernmentinterventioninmarket.Butwhen
hegrewold,heleanedtowardsrepublicanparty,andworkedformarketoriented
reforms.

Age

Economic
Status

Residence
Family
Race
Gender
Education

Poorwillaligntowardscommunist/socialistideology.Hellvoteforaparty
promisingtogetfood,fertilizerandkerosenesubsidy.
Richwillaligntowardsrightwingfreemarket,capitalism.Hellvoteforaparty
promisingtoremovewealthtax.(recalltheUtilitarianfunctionofAttitudeinE2/P1).
So,whydidSocialismthriveinpostcolonialdemocraticthirdworldcountries
from50sto80s?Becausepeopleweremostlypoor.
Localunemployedyouthmorelikelytoalignwithpartythatpromisesactionagainst
themigrantsorreservationbasedonregion.
Childrenmorelikelytoespousethepoliticalideologyoftheirparents.
Ifaracefeelstheyredeprivedofopportunitiesbecauseofotherraces,thenmorelikely
toleantowardsapartyofferingradicalsolutionsagainstotherraces.E.g.German
AryansjoiningNaziparty.
Femalesmorelikelytoleantowardsliberalideology.
Schoolsyllabusplaysanimportantrole.AChinesemayfindIndiandemocracyas
repulsive,becausehehasbeentaughtthatMaosCommunistideologyisbest.

Conception
about
human
nature

Hobbessaid,Apersonisfundamentallyevil.Therefore,astrongpowerfulstate
isrequired.
Lockesaid,Manisagoodrationalperson.Therefore,stateshouldbekeptweak,
andmenshouldbemadestrongbygivingmorefreedomandrights.
Thus,ifwebelievepeoplehavefeelingofaltruism,wellsupportcommunist
ideology.

Disposition

SomepeoplehateorderandpreferchaoslikeJokerintheDarkKnight.Theyll
naturallybeinfavorofanarchy/radicalism.
Ifapersonisbornandraisedinamilitaryfamily,hedbeinfavorofstrongstate,
discipline,order,authoritarianism.
Japanisadisciplinedsociety,youllfindthesameintheirbuildingArchitecture
andpoliticalfunctioning.

Social
media

Theinformationprocessedandsharedonsocialmedia,moldsapersonspoliticalviews.
SocialmediahasplayedbigroleinswingingtheopinionofyouthtowardsModi/BJP
during2014Generalelections.

Keepinmindthatapersonspoliticalattitudeisshapednotbyanysingle,butcomplexcombinationof
allabovefactors.E.g.APoorMuslimyouthmaybeproCongress/SPbutaRichDawoodiBohra
MuslimmaybeproModi.

RoleofSocialMediainPoliticalAttitude
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In2014generalelection,~16crorevoterswere1824agegroupfirsttimevoters.Insuch
demographiccomposition,socialmedia/internetplayshugeroleinshapingpoliticalattitude.
SocialmediahashelpedbothModiandKejriwaltoreachsurprisevictoriesinelection.
SocialmediaisfullofbothHinduvs.Muslim,IndiavsPakistan,Shiavs.Ateenagerexposedto
suchgroups,islikelytodevelopextremeradicalorreactionarypoliticalviews.
ISISisusingsocialmediatorecruitsoldiersfortheirwar.
Muzaffarnagarriotswerearesultofaviralvideoabouteveteasing.Heremoralattitude(about
dignityofwomen)+Religion+politicscreatedadeadlystew.
WhatsapphasbecomeanAppforactivismandempowermentforcoordinationofpoliticaland
violentagitation.DuringrecentPaatidaragitationinGujarat,mobileinternetwasbannedto
preventperpetratorsfromcoordinatingtheirattacks/spreadingfalserumors.
SelfStudy:Section66Aandfreedomofspeech

StrengthofAttitude
GovernmentofMaharashtrahasimposedbeefbaninthestates.Howdoyoufeelaboutthis?
Strengthofattitude
Strong
Neutral
Mild

Result?
YoullgooutindharnaaPradarshanfor/againstmeatban
Youllnotsay/doanythingthinkingthisdoesntconcernmeatpersonallevel.
Youmaymurmuraboutittoyourfamilymemberswhilewatchingnews.

Inshort,wecanpredictbehaviorbymeasuringstrengthoftheattitude.

AccessibilityofAttitude
Conscious
Youreaware.ThoseCABcomponentsimmediatelylightinyourbrain.
Hidden(unconscious) Youreunaware.CABwontimmediatelyreflectinyourthoughts.
Study:ParticipantswereaskedwillyouvoteforObama?
Thosewhoimmediatelyraisedhands(conscious),theyllgoforvotingontheelectiondate.
Thosewhoraisehandsafterfewminutestheydidnotgotovoting.

MilgramExperiment

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Hitlerwasanevildictator.ButevenordinaryGermansparticipatedinatrocitiesagainstJews.
Why?
Prof.StanleyMilgramofYaleUniversity(1961)beganexperimenttostudyit.
Theparticipant(teacher)wouldaskaseriesofquestionstoanotherparticipant(learner).
Theteacherswereinstructedtoshockthelearnerswheneveranincorrectanswerwasgiven.
Thelearnerwasnotaparticipantatallbutactuallyanactorwhowouldpretendtobehurtbythe
shocksandyelloutinpainwhenthebuttonwaspushed.
2/3rdoftheparticipantsgaveshocksuptofatallevel(450volts).
Becausebehindparticipant,therewasadoctor,hellkeepsayinggoonincreasethevoltage,
personwillnotdie.

Moralofthestory
1. Lackofaccountability,overwritesyourconscience:Doctoristheauthoritarianfigure.
Individualparticipantsconscienceisoverpowered,whenparticipantthinksitsnotmy
responsibility,Imonlyfollowingorders.
2. Authoritarianfigurecanoverwriteyourconscience:Hitlerwasagreatoratorhecouldsway
thecrowdinhisfavorjustbyaspeech.
3. Peerpressureisstrongerthanobedience:Iftherearetwoparticipants,secondparticipants
refusestogiveshocktothesubjectandstormsoutoftheroom,thenfirstparticipantmayalso
walkaway
4. Thus,Strengthwise:peerpressure(Conformity)>obedience>conscience.
Thiscanexplain
Nuremberg
Germanofficersjustifiedtheiractionssayingwewerejustfollowingorders(obedience).
trials
Mass
movements Peerpressure.Youvetoparticipate,ifothersareparticipating.(conformity).Examples
Mass
ofMassHysteriaGanpatidrinkingmilk
hysteria
Inthenextpart(E2/P3)wellseethefactorsresponsibleforattitudeformation,prejudice,discrimination
andhowtochangebehaviorofpeople?Andfinally(E2/P4),wellseethecasestudiesandquestions
relatedtothistopic.
VisitMrunal.org/EthicsformorestudymaterialonEthics.
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