Select a real-life scenario, describe it, choose two psychological theories, apply them to the scenario, compare the theories, and reflect on the value of psychological analysis. Submit a well-organized, error-free assignment with proper citations, addressing how theories enhance understanding of human behavior and cognition.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Psychological Analysis of Decision-Making in a High-Stakes Business Scenario
Scenario: Imagine a high-stakes business scenario where a company is faced with the decision to launch a new product in a highly competitive market. The potential success of the product could significantly impact the company’s profitability and market position. The decision-makers must carefully evaluate various factors such as market demand, competition, financial implications, and consumer behavior before making their final decision.
Psychological Theories: In analyzing the decision-making process in this scenario, we can apply two psychological theories: Prospect Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory.
Prospect Theory: Prospect Theory, developed by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, explains how individuals make decisions under conditions of uncertainty and risk. This theory suggests that people evaluate potential gains and losses differently and exhibit risk aversion when considering gains but risk-seeking behavior when facing losses.
In the business scenario, decision-makers will consider the potential gains and losses associated with launching the new product. They may weigh the potential market share, revenue growth, and increased brand reputation against the risk of failure, financial loss, and negative consumer perception. Prospect Theory helps us understand that decision-makers may be more cautious when considering potential gains but may be willing to take higher risks when facing potential losses.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory: Cognitive Dissonance Theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, posits that individuals experience discomfort or dissonance when their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors contradict each other. To reduce this cognitive dissonance, individuals may either change their beliefs or seek information that supports their existing beliefs.
In the business scenario, decision-makers may experience cognitive dissonance when facing conflicting information about the potential success of the new product. They may encounter data suggesting both positive market demand and intense competition. Cognitive Dissonance Theory helps us understand that decision-makers may seek additional information that confirms their initial beliefs or try to reconcile the conflicting data by adjusting their evaluation criteria or market assumptions.
Comparison of Theories: Prospect Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory offer different perspectives on decision-making in this scenario. While Prospect Theory focuses on risk evaluation and the differential weighting of gains and losses, Cognitive Dissonance Theory emphasizes the discomfort caused by conflicting information.
Prospect Theory suggests that decision-makers will carefully assess the potential gains and losses associated with launching the new product. They may be more conservative in their decision-making due to the aversion to potential losses. On the other hand, Cognitive Dissonance Theory highlights how decision-makers may experience discomfort when faced with conflicting information about the product’s potential success. They may seek additional information or adjust their evaluation criteria to reduce this cognitive dissonance.
Value of Psychological Analysis: Psychological analysis enhances our understanding of human behavior and cognition in real-life scenarios by providing frameworks and insights into decision-making processes. By applying psychological theories like Prospect Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory, we can gain a deeper understanding of how individuals make decisions under uncertainty and how they cope with conflicting information.
These theories guide us in comprehending the psychological factors at play and help decision-makers navigate complex situations more effectively. By recognizing the biases, risk preferences, and cognitive dissonance that may influence decision-making, individuals can make more informed choices and minimize potential errors or biases.
Psychological analysis is valuable not only in business scenarios but also in various domains such as healthcare, education, and personal relationships. Understanding human behavior and cognition allows us to design interventions, strategies, and policies that align with individuals’ needs and motivations.
In conclusion, psychological analysis provides valuable insights into human decision-making processes. By applying theories like Prospect Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory to real-life scenarios, we can gain a deeper understanding of how individuals evaluate risks, assess gains and losses, and cope with cognitive dissonance. This analysis enhances our ability to make informed decisions, design effective interventions, and create a better understanding of human behavior and cognition in various domains of life.
