Talk:Situational Dynamics

The discipline of Social Psychology has embarked upon the study of how society's structure influences individuals and groups. One of its founders, W.I. Thomas, definition of situational dynamics describes how these varied disciplines might be related:

"If you define a situation as real, it is real to you in its consequences...however, your definition of a situation may be influenced by how others define the same situation." This simple paradigm calls into question the four disciplines of Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, Social Psychology and Traditional psychology and how they relate to each other and to their various definitions of society. Perhaps they should be grouped into a single discipline called Cultural Sociology. (Which would include all four disciplines and certain studies within Economics, History, Political Science, Statistics and Chaos Theory.)

The book, "Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland" describes the situational dynamics of mass murder. See Holocaust.

See: Symbolic Interactionism

Dear Mr. Poor. I've tried to contact Mr. Drye to inquire how to add a sub-section. I knew my criticisms and opines would find little harbour among the rigid formals of academia. Yet, they are important. To ask "What time is." is as paramount as knowing what water is. So, how does one create a page defining time? As for situational dynamics it is a caveat of Social Psychology that launched further studies like those of Asche, Festinger and others. Basically, we define a situation based on a complex interplay of 1) Anchors of Attitude, 2) Self Interest, 3) Social Inhibition, 4) Social interaction and 5) Situational circumstance.

Groups behave similarly. That is the beauty of situational dynamics. Take the Nazi movement of Germany. Simplistically, The German people defined their previous few decades as misery from which they were de-throned from their perch of intellectual superiority. Hitler exploited their self interest to become a super-race again. Their social inhibitions were diminshed through the use of propoganda which weakened their Anchors of attitude on human life as applied to the Jewish people. The social interaction with others helped create a majority willing to sacrifice millions for Hitler's cause.

The same thing happens when you stump your toe. Example. You stump your toe (Circumstance) after your wife is critical of some act you may have done (Social interaction). Your blood pressure rises (Weakening your inhibitions). You decided (Self interest) that you aren't mad because of your inability to walk correctly (afterall, anyone can walk), so you re-define the situation as your wife's fault for being critical and get angry with her.

While this applies readily to aggression, it also applies to almost any human emotional response as well. It was Leon Festinger who first brought up the idea of Cognitive Dissonance. (Being uncomfortable) and how humans will do almost anything to bring balance and comfort...usually in a way that makes them or the group be seen in the most favorable light.

Actually, LDC took out the addendum to Sociology -- I had specifically left that one alone. I killed the rest because they were...how to put this...too querulous for an encyclopedia article. He's welcome to put them back in if he likes, but I don't believe I'm alone in thinking them unhelpful, so I doubt they'll stay in long if that happens. The beauty of Wikipedia is that armies of eyes now decide who's out of line -- myself, or Mr. Clihor. Wouldn't be the first time, if it's the former. -- Paul Drye


 * I tried my hand at wikifying Mr. Clihor's contribution, but if it disappears again I'll concede the issue. I'm new to wikipedia, and I don't know what constitutes a valid article. At first I thought it was jest any topic that may be of interest, like boy band or Pippin.

I'm still not convinced this is a genuine field of study in any legitimate school of sociology as opposed to a term made up by some crackpot author. This is an encyclopedia, not a discussion group. If this isn't something that some school actually studies, it doesn't belong here. Please include some real information in the article about where the term comes from and who actually studies it. If it's just some book, theb point to the book and be done with it--don't make it look like something real. --LDC


 * Okay, I'm convinced now. And thanks for taking the time and trouble to explain it to me. Anything I can do to be less of a vandal and more of a contributor.


 * How about I collect Mr. C's info, put it on this /talk page, where he can assemble his article. There is a chance that his contribution will shape up thereby. Meanwhile, I'd be glad to delete Situational Dynamics as I'm not happy with the stub anyway. Fair enough? Ed Poor