In this scenario you have a teenage cousin who complains to ✓ Solved

In this scenario, you have a teenage cousin who complains to you about their classmates, saying, "They all think and act the same way. No one has any originality. They are all sheep!" As you are learning, there are various social, cultural, and ideological factors that lead us to conform to the attitudes and behaviors of our in-group. For your initial post, review the videos The Stanford Prison Experiment; The Milgram Experiment, The Heist; and The Bystander Effect. Then respond to the following: Do the videos suggest that we are aware of our tendency to conform?

Do you think that our choices are based on free will, or do expectations about our implied roles guide our choices? Social influence can be so subtle that we often conform to group norms without realizing it. Describe a scenario that demonstrates how a person can conform to norms or obey authority without being aware. Despite our desire to be ourselves, our behaviors do not always reflect our authentic attitudes. Describe an instance in your life in which you experienced cognitive dissonance.

Given the varying influences of social and cultural norms on attitude and behavior, in what ways might our tendency to conform to norms differ across cultures? How do the concepts of dispositional and situational attribution, fundamental attribution error, conformity, cognitive dissonance, obedience, and central and peripheral persuasion routes apply to any of the following programmatic course themes: Self-care Social justice Emotional intelligence Career connections Ethics DISCUSSION 2 You are currently working at a large academic medical center in an urban community. For the last several weeks, you have heard that other health care organizations are looking to build within a 10-mile radius of your organization.

Your CEO has asked you to research the other organizations and how their services are similar to and different from what you currently offer. Discuss the following questions: What are some business and financial implications of the differences between community not-for-profit hospitals and large academic medical centers that may affect staffing, programs offered, and policies and procedures? What financial impacts could result if a for-profit organization was built within your community? What are some of the financial benefits of being an academic facility rather than a not-for-profit facility?

Paper for above instructions

Introduction
Human behavior is deeply shaped by social, cultural, and psychological forces—even when we believe we are acting independently. When a teenage cousin complains that their classmates “all think and act the same way,” this reflects a misunderstanding of how conformity works and how powerful group norms can be. The Stanford Prison Experiment, the Milgram Experiment, The Heist, and the Bystander Effect together show that people often conform without awareness, driven by roles, authority, and implicit social expectations. This essay responds to the discussion prompts by critically examining conformity, free will, social influence, cognitive dissonance, cultural variation, and attribution processes. In addition, Discussion 2 evaluates financial and organizational implications of differences between community not-for-profit hospitals and academic medical centers. Together, these analyses highlight how psychological and organizational dynamics shape personal choices and institutional outcomes.

Awareness of Conformity: Insights from Classic Experiments

The videos strongly suggest that most people are not aware of their tendency to conform. In the Stanford Prison Experiment, participants quickly internalized the roles of guard and prisoner, behaving in extreme ways they did not anticipate. Their behavior changed not because they consciously chose cruelty or obedience, but because social roles created powerful situational pressures (Zimbardo, 2007). Similarly, the Milgram Experiment demonstrated that ordinary individuals obey authority figures even when doing so conflicts with personal morality (Milgram, 1974). Participants believed they were shocking another person to the point of danger, yet continued when the experimenter instructed them—illustrating obedience driven by authority rather than free choice.

The Heist further shows how easily social cues and group dynamics manipulate behavior, even in high-stress situations. Participants coordinated actions—even illegal ones—because they trusted the group and responded to perceived authority. Finally, the Bystander Effect highlights how people fail to act in emergencies because they assume someone else will intervene (Darley & Latané, 1968). In none of these videos were individuals fully aware that conformity shaped their decisions.

Free Will vs. Implied Roles

While we like to believe our decisions are based on free will, research suggests that implied roles and social expectations guide much of our behavior. Social role theory argues that individuals adjust attitudes and actions based on perceived expectations associated with their role (Eagly & Wood, 2012). For teenagers navigating identity and peer acceptance, conformity often occurs automatically. Social identity theory posits that people conform to in-group norms to avoid isolation and maintain belonging (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). Thus, our choices are a blend of free will and deeply embedded social pressures.

Scenario Demonstrating Unconscious Conformity

A common example involves dress codes. Imagine an employee on their first day at a new job. There is no official uniform, but most colleagues wear neutral colors. Without consciously deciding to do so, the new employee begins dressing similarly. They are not instructed to match the group; they simply conform because it feels socially appropriate. This mirrors the subtle influence known as normative social influence, which encourages people to fit in without realizing they are changing their behavior.

Personal Example of Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance occurs when attitudes and behaviors conflict. One personal example involves agreeing to participate in an activity I did not support—signing up for a club to avoid disappointing a friend. My private attitude (“I don’t want to join”) contradicted my behavior (“I signed up”), leading to discomfort. I later reduced dissonance by rationalizing that “it might help me meet new people.” Festinger’s theory (1957) explains that individuals alter beliefs or attitudes to reduce psychological tension.

Cultural Variation in Conformity

Cultures differ significantly in how strongly people conform. Collectivist cultures—such as Japan, China, and South Korea—prioritize harmony and group cohesion. Individuals tend to conform more to avoid disrupting group unity (Markus & Kitayama, 1991). In contrast, individualistic cultures—such as the United States—value independence and personal expression, yet still show conformity under social pressure. Research shows collectivist cultures emphasize situational explanations for behavior, whereas individualistic cultures favor dispositional attributions, increasing the likelihood of fundamental attribution error (Heine, 2010).

Application of Social Psychology Concepts to Programmatic Course Themes

Self-Care: Understanding conformity and cognitive dissonance helps individuals manage stress by recognizing when social pressure is influencing unhealthy decisions.

Emotional Intelligence: Awareness of attribution biases enhances empathy and improves interpersonal communication.

Ethics: The Milgram and Zimbardo studies reveal ethical risks associated with unexamined obedience, reinforcing the importance of ethical decision-making.

Social Justice: Conformity can perpetuate discrimination if individuals adopt harmful group norms. Recognizing situational influences promotes more equitable viewpoints.

Career Connections: Leadership requires resisting destructive conformity, promoting ethical workplace cultures, and supporting psychological safety.

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Business and Financial Implications of Differences

Large academic medical centers (AMCs) differ significantly from community not-for-profit hospitals. These differences impact staffing levels, programs offered, and internal policies.

1. Staffing
AMCs typically employ specialists, researchers, and faculty physicians, which increases labor costs. They often operate residency programs and require advanced clinical staff. Not-for-profit hospitals emphasize general care and may hire more cost-efficient community physicians. As a result, AMCs may experience higher staffing expenses but provide more complex services.

2. Programs Offered
AMCs emphasize clinical research, specialized departments, trauma centers, and innovative treatments. They are more likely to offer cutting-edge therapies. Community hospitals prioritize routine care and may lack advanced specialty departments.

3. Policies and Procedures
AMCs follow stringent academic standards to maintain teaching accreditation and research compliance. Policies must support clinical trials, IRB oversight, and evidence-based approaches. Not-for-profit hospitals operate with simpler structures and more cost-sensitive policies.

Financial Impacts if a For-Profit Hospital Enters the Community

A new for-profit hospital nearby may dramatically shift local healthcare economics:

• Increased competition leading to patient volume declines at existing facilities.
• Cherry-picking profitable services such as orthopedic surgery, leaving complex, costly cases to AMCs.
• Reduced reimbursement rates due to competition contracts with insurers.
• Potential workforce poaching with higher salaries or sign-on bonuses.

These financial pressures could reduce AMC resources for research and indigent care.

Financial Benefits of Being an Academic Medical Center

Despite high operating costs, AMCs benefit from several unique financial advantages:

• Federal and state funding for graduate medical education (GME).
• Research grants from NIH, foundations, and industry.
• Prestige and patient draw as regional centers of excellence.
• Higher reimbursement rates for advanced specialty care.
• Opportunities for partnerships with universities, biotech firms, and global health organizations.

These advantages help AMCs sustain innovation and provide high-level care that community hospitals cannot match.

Conclusion

Social psychology demonstrates that conformity, obedience, attribution biases, and cognitive dissonance profoundly shape human behavior. Classic studies such as Milgram, Zimbardo, and Latané reveal that individuals often act in ways inconsistent with personal values due to unrecognized social influence. Applying these psychological principles to real-life situations helps individuals develop emotional intelligence, ethical awareness, and cultural sensitivity. In contrast, the second discussion highlights organizational factors shaping healthcare delivery. The differences between AMCs, not-for-profit hospitals, and for-profit competitors reveal how financial structures influence staffing, policies, and services. Whether examining group conformity or hospital economics, understanding the forces influencing behavior allows individuals and organizations to make more informed, ethical decisions.

References

1. Darley, J., & Latané, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
2. Eagly, A., & Wood, W. (2012). Social role theory. Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology.
3. Festinger, L. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford University Press.
4. Heine, S. (2010). Cultural psychology and attribution. Psychological Review.
5. Markus, H., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self. Psychological Review.
6. Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority. HarperCollins.
7. Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. (1986). Social identity theory. Psychology of Intergroup Relations.
8. Zimbardo, P. (2007). The Lucifer Effect. Random House.
9. American Hospital Association (2023). Economic impact of healthcare competition.
10. NIH Research Funding Report (2022). Academic medical center funding structures.