What I Say vs What I Do

We all have attitudes, and psychology textbooks tell us that an attitude is defined by a "prevailing and consistent tendency to think, feel or act a certain way about something or someone in the world around us"( George, S. Kelly, B. Piferi,2023). Attitudes influence our behaviors, but can be altered by perception of the ability to change behaviors, which leads to the attitude being altered to accommodate the behavior. This leads to the question asked this week about how we say we would act and how we do act in situations.

I think that what studies and social psychology show us is that there are so many variable factors in the difference between what we say we would do and what we do when placed in different situations. One interesting observation is that more distance can make it easier for a person to inflict any kind of harm on another person, even though they are bothered by it. In an experiment where the participant was led to believe that they were shocking a person for answering a question incorrectly the participants still continued shocking the person because the researcher instructed them to. ( George, S.Kelly, B.Piferi, 2023) Another example was a prison experiment where participants were brought in to the prison and signed up for a prison experimental study. They assumed their roles right away, voluntarily inflicting inhumane and cruel actions, with one "prisoner" confused about reality after only six days. He told one of the researchers who was interviewing him that he would not be released because he did not have a lawyer, which showed that the line between simulated reality and reality had become blurred for him.

There is a term called "bystander behavior" which explains the difference between what we say we would do and what we do, as witnessed in studies. The presence of other people can affect our response to situations when we believe that someone else will help the situation or is better qualified to assist. or if we are afraid to overreact and look foolish as a result of helping.

In an experiment involving a smoked- filled room, participants who were alone were 75% more likely to report the smoke. If they were in the same smoke-filled room with three other naïve people, they were only 38% likely to report the smoke. And when in the same room with two passive and non-reactive "confederates"(part of the experiment team) only 10% of the participants reported the smoke. According to the authors of "Introduction of Psychology From a Christian Worldview", this research is important because it explains why people do not always act in the way that they would be expected to in an emergency. That when people are asked what they would do, they do not take into account that there may be others there that may influence their own actions.

Biblically, God knows our heart and our thoughts before we do and that is why we were given the Holy Spirit, to guide us away from sin and towards a more pure relationship with Him. He gave us an advanced nervous system to communicate with him and have a relationship, but we still have human attitudes and behaviors.

"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will do, but I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do what I will not do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me." ( Romans 7:14-17). Here we see Paul cognitive dissonance, conflicted over what his mind tells him is right and what his flesh desires, and he blames it on our inherent sin nature.

The results of these experiments not notable due to claims that non-conformity and disobedience is more prevalent today than 50 years ago (Burger, 2009). These findings show that the social environment is still a very strong predictor of behavior today, and obedience is still a relevant social construct.( George, S.Kelley, B.Piferi, 2023)

The enemy is always crafting ways to cause our psychological physical demise, but the Bible was written in such a way that teaches us how to care for in a manner that enables a sound mind." For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."(II Timothy 1:7)

George, S.Kelley, B. Piferi, "Introduction to Psychology From a Christian Worldview", 2nd Edition, Kendall Hunt, 2023

So the next time you're talking about what you would do in a certain situation and the situation arises, and you don't do anything close to what you said you would do, don't worry. You're not alone. It's amazing how our attitudes change in a situation and how we may not do what we say we would. It's human nature-