Application of Psychology to societal problems | Psychology for UPSC Optional (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

• Social psychology seeks to understand the social challenges faced by individuals and society as a whole. In such circumstances, individuals may conform to internalized social norms, meaning their actions and reactions are influenced by how they perceive their society behaving in social situations or in response to social problems. For example, issues like same-sex or inter-caste marriage, abortion, racism, caste system, girls' education, dress code, voting, and certain restricted professions are considered social problems.
• Social problems arise from conflicting opinions and factors that extend beyond an individual's control. It is recognized that the study of human behavior is influenced by a combination of social situations and mental states. Psychological factors such as thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can be measured among individuals.

Poverty

• Poverty, recognized as one of the most urgent social issues globally, has been extensively studied across various disciplines. While economics has traditionally been its fundamental domain, poverty has recently gained significant attention in the realm of social sciences. Similar to other social problems, poverty is intertwined with a range of psychological processes and underlying causes. Taking a social-psychological approach to poverty is believed to contribute to the development of strategies to combat it effectively.
• Poverty can be defined as a lack of resources, encompassing power, money, and other essential means. In other words, individuals experiencing poverty face multiple consequences such as exploitation, dependency, unemployment, health issues, racism, discrimination, increased crime rates, reduced power, and a lack of voice. From a psychological perspective, poverty profoundly impacts human cognition, including diminished confidence, low socioeconomic status (SES), limited educational attainment due to financial constraints, lower IQ scores, decreased self-esteem, feelings of depression and stress, and reduced engagement in social interactions.
• Moreover, poverty can significantly influence mental health in both children and adults, stemming from societal stressors, stigma, and traumatic experiences. Mental health issues can also arise due to poverty-related factors such as job loss, underemployment, and the breakdown of social relationships. Alleviating poverty is a primary goal for any healthy society, and the social sciences aim to generate knowledge that can be applied to address this complex issue. While poverty has been extensively studied in the field of economics, it is also a psychological concern. The social psychology of poverty explores individual and social processes that occur within the context of poverty, shedding light on its multifaceted nature.

Unemployment

• It refers to a situation where individuals desire employment, including placements, but are unable to secure suitable positions that align with their education, qualifications, requirements, and basic criteria. This circumstance can hinder the development and progress of a country, making unemployment a grave social issue. The impact of unemployment is particularly severe on the younger generation, as they face significant challenges in finding employment opportunities.
• Unemployment has various psychological consequences on individuals, including feelings of depression, emotional distress, insecurity, low confidence, agitation, and frustration. These factors can contribute to poor mental health, financial crises, limited prospects in the job market, a higher risk of social exclusion, exploitation of youth, and insufficient resources. To address unemployment, it is crucial to provide social support, assistance, and implement new initiatives for job placements in both the government and private sectors. This includes fostering activities and promoting qualifications that align with current demands. Additionally, it is essential to ensure suitable candidates are matched with appropriate job opportunities based on the specific requirements.
• Measures should be taken to protect unemployed youth and combat the root cause of poverty, as unemployment and poverty are closely intertwined. These actions should aim to provide suitable support systems and initiatives that can effectively alleviate the negative impact of unemployment and contribute to the overall well-being of individuals and society.

Violence

Violence takes the form of aggressive acts that involve physical harm, abuse, damage, or injury inflicted upon others through the use of physical force or power. It encompasses intentional behaviors aimed at physically, sexually, psychologically, or emotionally harming individuals, whether they are human beings or animals, and can occur anywhere in the world. The field of social psychology offers theories that help explain aggressive behavior exhibited by individuals or groups, shedding light on the influence of situational factors and the consequences for mental health and social functioning. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies three primary categories of violence:

• Self-directed violence: Refers to acts of violence perpetrated by an individual against themselves, such as self-harm, suicidal attempts, or suicidal ideation.
• Interpersonal violence: Involves violence committed by others, including organized groups.
• Collective violence: Involves violence carried out by either small or large groups, such as acts of terrorism.

Violence can take many different forms, all of which pose significant dangers. These forms of violence often intersect and can be used to exert power and control over vulnerable individuals, particularly children, elderly people, and women who are victims of abuse. Let's explore some specific types of violence:

• Physical violence: This includes actions such as hitting, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, shoving, grabbing, throwing, scorching, hair-pulling, arm-twisting, tripping, confinement, and the use of weapons.
• Sexual violence: Involves acts of sexual assault, forced sexual activity, refusal to use contraception, forced abortions, unwanted sexual touching, non-consensual exposure to pornography, and sharing intimate images without consent.
• Emotional or psychological violence: This form of violence entails isolating individuals from others, instilling fear, threatening to report them to authorities, and manipulating them into believing they are "crazy" or mentally unstable.
• Financial or economic violence: Includes controlling access to money and bank accounts, withholding funds, restricting employment opportunities, and coercing individuals into precarious jobs against their will.
• Forced marriage: Refers to the act of compelling women, girls, and boys into marriage without their consent.
• Cyberbullying: Involves using electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, and social media platforms to monitor, harass, or intimidate someone.
• Child abuse: This encompasses threatening or attempting to take children away, inflicting harm upon them, and using children to relay abusive messages or threats.
• Human trafficking: Defined as the illegal recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of individuals for purposes such as sexual exploitation or forced labor, often using unethical means such as force, abduction, fraud, coercion, or deception.

Criminal behavior

• Criminal behavior is a term used to describe actions that are considered illegal, unlawful, and socially unacceptable. It encompasses a wide range of activities that are deemed crimes by society or authorities. Criminal behavior reflects the psychological characteristics of individuals involved in unlawful activities such as homicide, assault, rape, sexual harassment, burglary, theft, arson, robbery, and property crimes.
• There are two factors that contribute to criminal behavior: biological and psychosocial factors. Biological factors include traits such as temperament, impulsivity, lack of empathy, and low self-esteem. For instance, individuals who engage in substance abuse, such as alcohol or drugs, may be influenced by these biological factors. On the other hand, psychosocial factors also play a significant role in criminal behavior. These factors encompass feelings of stress, hopelessness, depression, and insecurity, which can be linked to physical health issues like heart diseases.
• It is important to recognize that criminal behavior is a complex issue influenced by a combination of biological and psychosocial factors within individuals.
• Criminal psychology, also known as the study of criminal behavior, focuses on understanding the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, intentions, actions, and responses of individuals involved in criminal activities. While each criminal has their own motivations and circumstances, psychologists believe that there are several broad variables that can contribute to criminal behavior.

Biological Risk Factors

Biological factors, such as autonomic arousal, neurobiology, and neuroendocrine functioning, have been found to increase the likelihood of individuals engaging in criminal behavior. While biology does not determine someone to be a criminal, certain biological characteristics can predispose individuals to criminal tendencies, such as impulsivity and a lack of empathy.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Children who have experienced extremely negative circumstances during their upbringing are more likely to engage in criminal activities later in life. Studies have shown that convicted criminals are four times more likely than non-criminals to have had a high number of adverse childhood events. These experiences can have a profound impact on an individual's development and contribute to criminal behavior.

Socialization

Socialization, the process through which children are taught how to behave, plays a crucial role in shaping their moral values and socially acceptable behavior. If children are consistently taught appropriate behavior through positive and negative reinforcement, they internalize these norms and understand them as inherently correct. However, inconsistent or inadequate socialization can result in impaired social judgment and criminal activity.

Education

Education levels have been found to play a significant role in the manifestation of criminal behavior. Individuals with learning disabilities, for example, have a higher likelihood of engaging in violent behavior. Educational achievement is linked to various factors such as financial success, self-esteem, and adherence to societal norms. Higher IQ and academic success tend to be associated with lower propensity for criminal activity.

Negative Social Environment

Living in high-crime areas and experiencing a negative social environment can increase the likelihood of individuals engaging in criminal activity. The stress and struggles associated with poverty can also contribute to criminal behavior as individuals may turn to crime as a means of survival.

Substance Abuse

There is a strong connection between criminal behavior and substance abuse. A significant proportion of individuals involved in criminal activities have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. Substance abuse alters physiological and psychological functioning, impairing self-control and decision-making, thereby increasing the risk of criminal behavior. Additionally, individuals addicted to substances may engage in criminal activities to support their addiction.

Other Socio-biological factors

Several other factors, such as poor diet, impulsivity, hyperactivity, hormones like testosterone and cortisol, and exposure to environmental contaminants, can influence an individual's biological inclination towards criminal behavior. Parenting style, peer pressure, antisocial influences, media coverage, injustice, and undesirable punishment are other factors that psychologists have identified as potential contributors to criminal activity.

It is important to note that these factors interact with each other in complex ways, and individual circumstances vary. Understanding the multiple influences on criminal behavior can aid in developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.