Shopping While Black - Social Experiment

This experiment turns into a pretty emotional one. While some people are unaffected by the discrimination they observe, others are completely offended on behalf of the victim. One man who objects to her treatment can relate because of his own experiences, but other people (two different white women) seem completely offended by the idea that anyone would be treated in such a way.

Consider (though we haven't talked about this year) what is it about some people that makes them step forward on behalf of a stranger? Some people are content to witness something in their surroundings but are somewhat unaffected by it, while others are compelled to act. What is the motivating factor? Could it have anything to do with each person's place in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, maybe? The stronger ones who are higher in the chart, closer to self-actualization, may feel more comfortable stepping forward while others, less secure in themselves and their level of needs, stand back? If the basis for Maslow's needs is that people act to remove deficiencies or continually move up in the levels, what's the motivating factor when the person themselves are not in danger? Ie: If you want to move to step three (social needs) and therefore have attained safety / security, would you feel threatened personally if someone near you were in (a type of ) danger like this woman? Or maybe they're at the fourth level (esteem needs) and taking responsibility of their surroundings.

You may notice, as well, the three things necessary in Motivation: 1) Arousal (something triggers your attention), 2) Direction (a goal-oriented movement to act) and 3) Persistence (affecting the intensity and duraction of your action).

Maybe some people are just especially emotional - is it by their hormones (biological), their mental and emotional empathy for others(Cognitive), or maybe they are just weaker and more insecure than others and threatened by things they see (again... cognitive). What do you think?

You could also reflect on the facial expressions, as seen on the woman's face before the video plays. She's very effectively communicating her response.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• social
• behaviour
• psychology
• experiment
• cognitive
• emotional
• motivation
• maslows
• hierarchy
• of
• needs

[xNAILEDxITx]

@MrsMindless143love Freedom of speech and insulting a individual are 2 different things... especially for kids...

Do you know how much kids commited suicide because of this? Freedom of speech was meant to protect political views, not racism.

[daviely06]

Sorry, but the white woman that came to her defense was British... Based on this video the US is still very much fucked up.

[SuperSuperswan]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if a smartly dressed white person walked in a black neighbourhood and a smartly dressed black person walked in a white neighbourhood. The question would then be "Who do you think would be mugged?"

[Soldier957]

JFC... This stuff makes me physically ill... It's crazy how people will do anything to fit in (like the uh-oh-guy).

[ELLDEE321]

if there is one thing i hate, it's a fucking NIGGER

[theyumnation]

Unfortunately the world will never be free of racism

[Myafriend91]

White ppl commit the same crimes as everyone else, but when they do it's that one persons Fault. When a black person commits a crime it's because they're black and an entire race gets put down even more.

For thousands of years, colored ppl hav been treated with less respect.

I'm white, but I hate seeing/ hearing another person being put down because of the color if their skin, that they DID NOT CHOOSE!!

[evileyesneo12]

Racist is bad and people do have a right to speak their mind but if i was a store owner i wouldnt have it its just bad business one could lose customers and i think that comes first racist or not

[evileyesneo12]

Hahaha everyone with colored skin and foreigners helped the women except for the american people dam they are racist and ignorant example was the first couple bastard lied

[freethinker77]

I would love for those who believe that all races are equal to tell me the reasoning behind their belief. It's certainly not based on science, as every single study that has ever been done in the subject would very much disagree with the notion that the races are equal. So, what is it? Is it because it was hammered into your head during your school days? Is it because you know a few good or intelligent black people? It means nothing - on any bell curve you will have exceptional people...

[freethinker77]

@xNAILEDxITx: When our constitution was adopted, slavery was still very much present, so it's a rather laughable position to say that freedom of speech was never meant to protect racism. Freedom of speech was meant to protect basically all forms of speech, with only a few exceptions. Ex: You will get in trouble if you falsely shout 'fire' in a crowded movie theater.

[freethinker77]

Maybe the reason why people treat black people differently is because they ARE different? Statistically speaking black people engage in far more crime per unit of population. Black people also have much lower average IQs than that of other races. Frankly if you believe that the only difference between black people and other races is the color of skin, then you're a tool who never bothered to research and look at the facts. My opinion may be unpopular, but it is truth.