8-year old boy coerced into confessing to murder

On November 19th, it was reported that an 8-year old Arizona boy had confessed to premeditated double-murder. Some have questioned the interrogation tactics used on the boy, asserting he was coerced into a confession. Two articles, “Boy, 8, gives taped account in shooting deaths” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/18/arizona.boy.murder/index.html?eref=time_us) and “Experts: Interrogation of boy, 8, ‘out of bounds’” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/19/boy.confession.tactics/index.html) describe the issue. The interview began with the boy being treated as a witness, not a suspect. However, the tone changed drastically as one officer doubted the boy’s story. "You're sure?" the officer asked. "Because I heard something that somebody said that somebody was calling your name and you weren't answering." The boy subsequently admitted to shooting both men twice. The topic of obedience is central to this story. Stanley Milgram’s famous experiment illustrated the tendency of people to obey the orders of their superiors. In this case, the boy’s superiors – the officers – forced him to obey and answer the questions a certain way. Because the boy was only eight years old and therefore had a relatively undeveloped brain, he was especially susceptible to this. Legal analysts cited in the article did not believe the boy’s statements would stand up in court.

Flight attendant saves the day

In January, an Air Canada co-pilot had a mental breakdown and was forcibly removed from the cockpit, forcing a flight attendant to assist in making the emergency landing. An Irish Investigation concluded in November and was detailed in an article entitled, “Report: Co-pilot had breakdown, flight attendant helped land jet” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/19/pilot.breakdown.ap/index.html). The co-pilot was not in good professional shape on the day of the flight and his conditioned only worsened during the flight. He was forcibly removed from the cockpit by several flight attendants, one of which was injured in the process, and sedated by two doctors onboard. The flight attendants then asked if any of the passenger’s was a qualified pilot. None responded and only at this point did one of the flight attendants admit she had a commercial pilot’s license and she assisted in landing the aircraft. This shows the topic of diffusion of responsibility on the part of the flight attendant. She assumed someone else would step up and handle the problem when the co-pilot became unable to fly the jet. When there was absolutely no one else available, all of the responsibility rested on her and she helped land the aircraft. This situation fits into multiple studies showing people’s tendency to help. When a person is with others who are capable of helping, they are less likely to offer assistance than when they alone have the opportunity to help.

Self promotion through social networking websites

“Crafting your image for your 1,000 friends on Facebook or MySpace” (http://www.physorg.com/news146249706.html) brings up the interesting issue of self-presentation in this modern era of social networking sites like Facebook. These sites allow users to present the self they want to present. They can choose which pictures and information they want to present to others. Not only that, but in many cases, people collect friends on these sites like accessories, according to CSU, Los Angeles psychology professor Kaveri Subrahmanyam says. It really is the ultimate form of self-promotion. “These websites intensify the ability to present yourself in a positive light and explore different aspects of your personality and how you present yourself. You can try on different things, possible identities, and explore in a way that is common for emerging adulthood. It becomes psychologically real,” says UCLA psychology graduate student Adriana Manago.

Peer pressure at frat parties

In early November, a pledge died at a University of Delaware fraternity party. A United Press International article, “Pledge dies at U. of Del. Frat party,” (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/08/Pledge_dies_at_U_of_Del_frat_party/UPI-12831226206357/) describes the event. Brett Griffin was a freshman wrestler at Delaware who had pledged the Sigma Mu Alpha fraternity. A preliminary finding determined the cause of death to be alcohol overdose. Although the details of the incident were not made clear at the time the article was written, it seems likely that Griffin’s death arose out of peer pressure, as is the case in many college fraternity alcohol-related deaths. Pledges in fraternities feel a need to conform to the norms. Because everyone in the fraternity has gone through the same ordeal when they were pledges, there is no alternative for the current pledges. In addition, there is most likely a sense of obedience that pledges feel toward the older members of the fraternity.

Superstar good samaritan Tony Romo

In mid-November, reports surfaced that Tony Romo, star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, took a homeless man to the movies with him. In addition, he has recently attended a high school pep rally and helped a couple fix a flat tire. Paul Kix examines Romo’s helping tendencies in “Why is Tony Romo such a good Samaritan?” (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3714553). Kix offers two separate theories on the issue. First, he says Romo’s helping may be a way of impressing his celebrity girlfriend, Jessica Simpson. This would be an example of helping to appear good. Second, Kix offers that “Romo may just be a good Midwestern boy.” In other words, Romo may just be truly altruistic. It is important to note that Romo did not seek publicity in any of the three incidents, rather it was other people who leaked the story to the press. For that reason, it would seem that altruism makes more sense than helping to appear good.

Spitzer prostitute ingratiates herself to America

Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the prostitute at the center of the Eliot Spitzer scandal, recently issued an apology to Spitzer’s wife. In the article, “Prostitute to Spitzer’s wife: ‘I’m sorry’” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/20/spitzer.prostitute.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories), Dupre says she was stricken by the pain on Silda Wall Spitzer’s face. “Dupre, 23, envisions a future for herself in music, fashion and writing books.” For that reason, the issue of self-presentation is central to her apology. It makes one question her apology and wonder if it was merely a move to advance her career. Perhaps it was just a way to ingratiate herself to America. She claimed she would “never again” be involved in prostitution, but one has to wonder how an upper-middle class girl like her got involved with the business in the first place. The instant fame she received from the Spitzer scandal may just have been her jumping off point.

Risk aversion in the stock market

Risk aversion is a very prevalent topic as it relates to economic issues of the day. Particularly evident is people’s tendency to be risk averse in the stock market. In mid-November, the stock market woes were described in “Stocks Are Hurt by Latest Fear: Declining Prices” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/business/economy/20econ.html?scp=1&sq=fear%20in%20the%20market&st=cse). Stocks fell to their lowest point in nearly six years on November 19th. Part of the decline in stock prices is simply caused by fear in the market. People fear that all of their assets are plummeting to zero and sell while they can, even though this practice of selling low usually will hurt in the long run. It is an indication of the risk-averse nature of the average person. Studies by Tversky and Kahneman, for example, show that people’s answers to a problem tend to be risk-averse even only the wording is changed.

Terror management through HIV support groups

“Despite H.I.V., Fighting to Maintain Health and a Positive Attitude” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/nyregion/18divas.html?scp=9&sq=self-esteem&st=cse) describes support groups organized through Iris House, a women-centered AIDS service center in Harlem, NY. The aim of the group is to keep the women’s self-esteem up despite their affliction. Ingrid Floyd, executive director of Iris House, notes that many clients she sees have battled domestic violence and drug addiction, claiming that low self-esteem has put obstacles in their paths. Women in the group say it “has helped them talk openly and honestly about sex for the first time in their lives. They not only look back on how they were infected, but also discuss expectations for future relationships.” They look back not only on their past partners, but also possibilities for future relationships. Death is inevitable for these women, which makes terror management theory very relevant. The theory suggests that people defend their worldviews and thereby keep their self-esteem high in order to stave off thoughts about death. Women use these support groups in a similar fashion, that is to not think about death.

Child soldiers in the Congo

Lindsay Branham’s “War is stealing Congo’s young” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/24/branham.congo/index.html#cnnSTCText) describes the plight of children forced into war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rebel leaders come to schools to abduct children to use in their war. “These boys are abducted from their schools and homes and forced to hold a weapon and use it against their own government,” Branham writes. The abducted boys receive three days of training, including indoctrination, before they are forced into battle. They are put on the front lines and shot by the rebels if they look backwards. This article illustrates some of the negative points of groups. The children undergo deindividuation and lose self-regulation, acting in ways they would not otherwise (i.e. killing other people). They are told to identify with their new group – the rebels – and hate the other group – the government. They are obedient to the older leaders, doing whatever they are told.

South African teen commits racist murders

“South African teen gets 4 life terms for racist murders” (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/21/safrica.racial.killings/index.html) demonstrate a discriminatory attack in South Africa. An 18 year old white South African, Johan Nel, killed four black South Africans while injuring another seven, shouting racist slurs the whole time. Nel’s attorney claimed there were compelling circumstances in the killings – for example, Nel was home-schooled and never learned to socialize with other children, particularly black children. The judge sentenced Nel to 4 life terms anyhow. This is a clearly an act motivated by prejudice. Prejudice is very deep-seeded in that area of the world. Apartheid is not very far removed from society in South Africa. It is difficult to pinpoint which of the three perspectives – economic, motivational, or cognitive – the prejudice originated with, but it is certainly very apparent. There were likely a number of factors contributing to its root cause.