Essay: What I Say Versus What I Do Assignment
Kida Nakamura
PSYC101: General Psychology (B02)
Professor Sundi Donovan
June 6, 2023
Essay: What I Say Versus What I Do Assignment
Studies in social psychology consistently show a significant difference between what
people think and say they would do in certain situations and what they do when put in those
situations. The Bible acknowledges the difference between actions and thoughts in Romans 7:15
(ESV) when Paul writes about his confusion about the matter. These findings shed light on the
intricate interaction of cognition, social influence, and situational factors in shaping human
behavior.
Obedience to authority is a strong topic of study in social psychology. Individuals
frequently behave in ways that contradict their moral values and personal beliefs when an
authority figure instructs them, according to studies such as Stanley Milgram's obedience
experiments. Many participants complied with the experimenter's demands despite stating
beforehand that they would refuse to administer harmful electric shocks to others. “The “learner”
was hooked up to electrodes, and the “teacher” was told they would be responsible for
administering electric shocks to the “learner” when they made mistakes. Of course, the “learner”
was not actually another participant but a confederate trained to provide incorrect answers
throughout the experiment. Participants were even connected to the electrodes at the beginning
and given a mild shock so they would feel what they would be administering to the “learner
(George et al., R., 2021, pg. 134).” This demonstrates a significant gap between what people
believe they would do and how they behave in the presence of authority.
Furthermore, conformity studies show that people adjust their opinions and behaviors to
align with those of the majority, even if they privately disagree. Asch's conformity experiments,
for example, demonstrated that participants would frequently choose an incorrect answer to
match the responses of others. “When researchers questioned participants in the Asch experiment
about their conformity, participants often stated that they knew all along their responses and
those of the confederates were not correct. Yet, they still reported it incorrectly. It should be
noted, however, that not all participants followed the incorrect answers of the confederates.
About 25% of participants never conformed to the incorrect majority, with others sometimes
conforming (George et al., R., 2021, pg. 134).” Again, this reflects the gap between what people
say they would do to keep their judgment and how they act to conform to the group.
The implications of these findings are crucial for research in social psychology and the
use of self-report measures. Self-report measures, such as questionnaires and interviews, rely on
individuals' introspection and verbal expression of their thoughts, beliefs, and intentions.
“Although personality inventories and other measures have proven useful in a number of
situations, it is important to remember that all personality measures are flawed and incomplete.
For this reason, the interpretation of test scores requires both restraint and wisdom. Tests such as
these can be dangerous in the hands of those who are not fully aware of their weaknesses
(George et al., R., 2021, pg. 134).”However, these measures need to capture the complexity of
human behavior accurately. People may not accurately predict their behavior in specific
situations, as their actions can be influenced by situational factors, social norms, and
psychological processes that operate outside conscious awareness. Therefore, solely relying on
self-report measures may lead to an incomplete understanding of human behavior.
From a biblical standpoint, the gap between what people think they would do and what
they do can be explained by concepts such as human fallibility and the consequences of sin. The
Bible recognizes human nature's inherent limitations and the propensity for individuals to act in
ways that contradict their stated intentions or beliefs. In Romans, for example, the apostle Paul
writes 7:15 (ESV), "For I do not understand my actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the
very thing I hate.” This implies that humans are vulnerable to internal conflicts, weaknesses, and
influences that can lead to behaviors that contradict their stated intentions.
God's viewpoint on human behavior emphasizes the importance of humility,
self-reflection, and reliance on Him for guidance and strength. Recognizing our inherent
fallibility and the potential gaps between our thoughts, words, and actions can lead to a better
understanding of human behavior's complexities. It supports self-awareness, moral discernment,
and reliance on God's grace and transformative power to align our actions with our professed
beliefs.
In summary, studies in social psychology consistently show a gap between what people
think and say they would do in various situations and what they actually do when put in those
situations. This has important implications for social psychology research because it highlights
the limitations of self-report measures in capturing the complexities of human behavior. From a
biblical standpoint, this disparity can be explained by acknowledging human fallibility and the
need for reliance on God's guidance and transformative power.
References
Romans 7:15. (n.d.). BibleGatewaypassage:Romans7:15-EnglishStandardVersion.
Bible Gateway.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%207&version=ESV
George, S., Kelley, B., & Piferi, R. (2021). Chapter 4: Personality and Social Psychology.
In IntroductiontoPsychologyfromaChristianWorldview:Acustomizedversionof
Psychology...inacomplexworldbyJenniferBonds-RaackeDesign(pg 134). essay,
KENDALL HUNT. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from
https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9798765736036/epubcfi/6/22[%3Bvnd.v
st.idref%3DChapter02]!/14/16/1:581[re%20%2Cmak].
