What is Social Behaviour and How Injustice Affects it
Aristotle wrote in his book "Politics" that the human being was a social animal. For the Greek philosopher, man could not be divided into an individual and into a citizen, but that it is in society where the human being becomes a moral being, on an individual and social basis.
Human beings are biopsychosocial entities. This means that we exist under the components of Biology, Psychology and Sociology. Biology refers to genetics, psychology refers to the mind of each individual, and sociology refers to how we relate to our surroundings.
Social behaviour refers to the behaviour that one has in relation to his environment, affected by the three aspects of the human being previously mentioned. In other words, the specific DNA of each one has a role in how each one acts, as well as the mental functioning that one has, and the social behavior that exists, both on a personal and global level.
Social injustice can be defined as: ¨ Denial or violation of economic, sociocultural, political, civil or human rights of specific populations or groups in society, based on the perception of their inferiority by others with more power or influence. ¨ (Levy & Sidel., 2005).
It can also be explained as a lack of morality, which defines what is considered as good social behaviour and what is not.
If there is injustice, there is behaviour based solely on self-interest, and therefore it is selfish behaviour. If there is injustice, then justice, respect, peace, compassion, love for the other, etc. are lacking.
How do you think, then, that injustice affects the individual?
We are living in an era of social behaviour, disconnected from moral consideration and consequences.
Take a moment to think about this phrase.
What is the social behaviour that exists today?
- Racism
- Sexism
- Demonstration of power
- Violence ...
How much peace is there in the world right now? How much love, kindness and compassion is expressed daily among people on the street, at work, at home etc.?
And what are the consequences?
- More violence
- Feelings of helplessness
- Rage
- Revenge
- War
- Lack of hope...
The issue of injustice in the world is a very important issue that causes human behaviour that cannot be controlled to a certain degree. You see, an unfair situation activates the cerebral amygdala automatically. This area of the brain is also the one that regulates feelings of anger and fear.
So what do you think are the consequences of feelings of injustice, anger and fear? Well, often, and more intensely in men than in women, according to studies, it causes humans to act aggressively.
Feelings of helplessness in the face of an unfair situation that does not allow you to do anything to change it cause an inexplicable feeling of anger. At the same time, fear is also very present.
Fear of what will happen now.
Fear of how I and those around me will act.
Fear of how I'm going to move forward.
Fear of never being happy because of the pain this situation causes me.
Fear that my loved ones will never be happy for the same reason.
Fear that the pain will not go away ...
The concept of justice is closely linked to the truth.
We have come to live our lives thinking of our own interest. Lying if necessary, so that I may be saved. So that I don't have to pay. So that I do not have to receive a punishment or a scolding. So that I maintain a good image. It doesn´t matter what happens to others whilst I am in better situation.
This thought causes our faith in society to be betrayed and therefore causes the disappearance of any kind of hope for a better future, and replaces it with cynicism, sadness, rage and the concept of a civil society is extinguished.
I think that humanity already has a tendency to think more negatively, but more because for many years it lived more like an animal where every day is a survival struggle. But we don't live like this anymore. The vast majority already have our basic needs met and we have much more than that.
What we have NOT developed, what is NOT taught in schools (which seems amazing to me), is:
- How to be kind to others
- How to recognize your emotions and accept them
- How to know how to manage your emotions, not avoid them
- How to recognize and respect the emotions of others
- How to respect the opinions of others
- How to embed the concept of justice among all beings
- How to LOVE all beings
- How to live in PEACE
- How to feel FREE
Daphne Christofides
