issue 78-model essay

tesolchina_RAUID：3675555

People’s attitudes are determined more by their immediate situation or surroundings than by society as a whole.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

11:22  

The society as a whole, the attitudes of individuals towards different issues and the immediate situation or environment interact with one another to create the complex human experience as we know it. In my opinion, our attitudes are fundamentally shaped by the society through education, media and government policies which also, to a large extent, determine the situation and surroundings in which we find ourselves.  

Education is an important social institution that determines our attitudes as well as our social environment. Take the simple example of priority seating in public transportations. As schoolchildren, we learned the social etiquette of offering our seats to those in need, e.g. pregnant or sick passengers. Such practices are encouraged in our education based on the golden rule: “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” Our attitudes towards our fellow passengers are shaped by this belief developed through education. Meanwhile, the society would also make sure the environment reflects the same principle that is consistent with our attitudes. Priority seats are clearly marked in buses and subway trains to remind us this social etiquette.  In other words, the society would first shape our attitudes and then design our environment that would facilitate the related practices.  

Our attitudes are also determined by the society via the mass media and the corporates. This is particular true in today’s consumer-oriented society. Through extensive advertising campaigns, we are brainwashed into the belief that we need all the luxurious products and services to be happy. We come to believe that our value as human beings is determined by the material goods we buy as advertised in the media. Meanwhile, the society would shape our environment in such a way that shopping and buying these items are effortless. The Amazon’s 1-click ordering, for example, enables the online shoppers to place their orders with just one click without even confirmation.  Such arrangement in our surrounding, along with the advertising and promotion in the media, reinforces the attitudes we hold towards consumption.  

Finally, the society may also influence our attitudes through government policies. In recent years, gay marriages have become increasingly acceptable in American and European societies as the governments have adopted more lenient policies towards the civil unions or marriages of homosexual couples.  Despite the fierce opposition from certain social groups, the public attitudes towards gay marriages have gradually changed from hatred or reluctance to acceptance.  On the other hand, the changes in government policies also stimulate the industries for gay romance and wedding.  New products and services become increasingly available for homosexual couples to celebrate their relationships and bondings.  Again the social environment would respond to the shift in government policies and public attitudes.

In conclusion, I do not believe that our attitudes towards different issues are determined by our immediate surrounding. Rather, our attitudes are shaped by the larger society through institutions such as education, media and government, which, at the same time, would shape our social environment and make sure that it is in harmony with our attitudes and behaviours.

11:49





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