Sociology

To complete this assignment, choose a day that will be your “Day of Compassion” and try your absolute best to live each minute of that day as compassionately as possible. In other words, for a full 24-hour period you should do your best to reduce suffering of others, help those in need, be considerate and respectful, and avoid causing harm to any living being.

When carrying out this assignment, leave no behavior unexamined from watching TV to eating lunch to decisions about giving time or money to others (for example, have you ever considered visiting the cats at the animal shelter or taking a shelter dog for a walk?). That is, don’t limit yourself to simply holding the door open for a stranger or petting a lonely dog; think about all the unnecessary suffering in the world, and strive for the greatest impact and deepest level of compassion without being phony or insincere. It is up to you to define what compassion is and to decide how best to realize it.

If you are already quite compassionate, try being compassionate toward groups you don’t often focus on, and even if your actions don’t differ much from how you normally behave, carefully observe and analyze what transpires during the day. If outside events make it difficult for you to participate on the designated day, or if you feel dissatisfied with your performance of the assignment, feel free to repeat the exercise on a later day.

Instructions:

1. Choose an Observation Site: Select a location where you are likely to be able to have compassionate interactions (e.g., a volunteer event, a charity fundraiser, a public park).
2. Observe and Record: Pay close attention to the interactions between you and other individuals. Note the verbal and nonverbal communication, the setting, and any props or symbols used.
3. Analyze Through the Lens of Dramaturgy: Consider how individuals manage impressions, present themselves to others, and use the setting and props to convey meaning. Identify instances of front-stage and back-stage behavior.
4. Analyze Through the Lens of Exchange: Analyze the interactions in terms of costs and benefits, reciprocity, and the potential for building social capital.

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Part II: Write About Your Experience

Submit a social psychological analysis of what the day was like using at least 4 class topics, concepts or theories and references to class material. Please address the following questions:

• How did you define compassion, and who were the recipients of your efforts?
• If your behavior was different than normal, which person did you like more: the “Day of Compassion you” or the “normal you”? If you preferred the “Day of Compassion you,” what are the factors that prevent this “you” from coming out?
• What are the social and psychological costs and benefits of behaving compassionately? In your opinion, do the benefits outweigh the costs?
• How did others respond to your compassion? Do you think they noticed a difference in your behavior? What attributions did people make for your behavior, and why?
• How can social psychology be used to foster compassion? Which topics/concepts/ theories covered in class so far best relate to this exercise?
• Discuss how the principles of dramaturgy and the exchange approach helped you understand the complexities of compassionate behavior in real-world situations. Provide specific examples from your observations to support your analysis.
• A 35-page Word Document
• Must include a title page, abstract, and references. These are not counted in the page count/slide count.