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Private Trouble and Public Issue al Affiliation) Private Trouble and Public Issue The video “Linda Hamilton- What would you do?” is sufficient to indicate the level of stereotyping among human beings. The video focuses on aspects of social wellbeing in terms of being ‘neat’ and homeless. However, for most people, it is more of a psychological phenomenon that drives them to ignore people in help, regardless of their wellbeing. Such a phenomenon is referred to as “The Bystander Effect.
” People will delay helping someone in trouble because they believe that the next person will do so. In this case, people helped Stephanie, a neatly dressed woman, but ignored Michael, a homeless man. It is evident that people would help the neatly dressed woman but ignored the homeless man due to their social wellbeing. In the other case where Michael collapsed with a beer can on his hand, it is probable that people stereotyped him as a reckless person and were reluctant to offer assistance.
Public Issue The public issue, in this case, falls between stereotyping and the bystander effect phenomenon. People would be reluctant to help an individual due to the image he or she portrays. For example, it is evident that it took six seconds to help Stephanie whereas it took three minutes to help Michael. The reason behind the time difference is due to the bystander effect and stereotyping, which define the public issue.Private Trouble The private trouble is simply a phenomenon whereby everyone minds his or her own business.
As such, people will be reluctant to offer assistance because the issue is none of their business. The converse is also true; people will offer assistance if an issue touches on their daily affairs. The Difference The difference between the public issue and private trouble lies on individualism. The public issue focuses on failing to offer assistance due to the perception that someone else will act whereas the private issue focuses on failing to offer assistance because it does not touch on the private affairs.
ReferenceLinda Hamilton - What would you do? (n.d.). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49YQhTLoGuA
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