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MrunalEthics:Casestudiesonattitude,behaviorchange,prejudice

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[Ethics]E2/P4:CasestudiesonAttitude,BehaviorChange,
Persuasion,Prejudice,Discrimination
PostedByMrunalOn04/10/2015@8:30pmInEthics|44Comments
1. CaseStudy:AshleyMadison&ExtraMaritalAffairs
2. Casestudy:Transgenderrights
3. CaseStudy:Organdonation
4. CaseStudy:NidoTania
5. CaseStudy:JessicaLal
6. CaseStudy:BhaihatesJugaad
7. CaseStudy:RoadRage
8. Casestudy:Raju,theGuide
9. CaseStudy:Aashiqui2
10. CaseStudy:SuicideofaUPSCaspirant
11. DescriptiveQuestions
MakesureyouvereadtheEthicsarticleseriesonAttitude(CodenameE2P1toE2P3)before
attemptingthesequestionsandcasestudies.

CaseStudy:AshleyMadison&ExtraMaritalAffairs
AshleyMadison.comisanonlinedatingwebsitemeantformarriedpeoplewhowantextramarital
relationship.ItssloganisLifeisshort.Haveanaffair.In2015,AhackergroupTheImpact
Teamstoletheuserdataandthreatenedtoleakitunlesstheownersstoppedthisunethical
websitethatencouragesadultery.
SocialscientistswhostudymarriageandfidelitysaythatAshleyMadisondoesntcreateamarket
forcheating,thesiteonlyhelpsfacilitateourbiologicalpredispositiontogetanewpartnerfor
procreation.Maleaffairstendtobephysicallydriven,whilewomenhaveaffairsforemotional
reasons.Justlikewaterwillfinditslevel,suchmaleorfemalewillfindextramaritalrelationship
irrespectiveofAshleyMadisonwebsiterunsorshutsdown.Henceitisnotunethicalforan
entrepreneurtoownandoperatesuchwebsite.
AnswerfollowingQuestions:
1. IsImpactteamsactionjustifiableonethicalgrounds?Yes/NoandWhy?
2. DoyouagreewiththeviewsgivenbySocialscientistsinabovepassage?Yes/NoandWhy?
3. Youngstersthesedays,donthavethesameattitudetowardsloveandrelationshipasthe
oldergeneration.Discussthefactorshaveledtothischangeinattitude?
4. Listthefoundationalvaluesofmarriageandexaminethefactorsshakingthosefoundations
inModerntimes.
5. Yourbestfriend,whohelpedyouineverycrisis,hascometoseekfinancialassistancefrom
you.HisageandattemptlimitinUPSCandothercompetitiveexamsisover.Heisunableto
findanyotherjob/business.So,nowhewantstostartsuchcheatingwebsiteforIndian
couples.Hewantstoborrowmoneyfromyoutorenttheserver.Whatwillyoudo?
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6. Inabovequestion,supposeyourbestfriendborrowedmoneyfromyouwithoutdisclosinghis
intenttostartadulterywebsite.Youlatercometoknowabouthisbusinessthroughthird
friend,youconfronthim,hesaysheshallreturnyourmoneywithinterestaspertheagreed
termsbutwillnotshutdownthewebsite.WouldyouconsiderfilingaPIL/complaintagainst
hiswebsitetotheauthorities?Yes/NoandWhy?
7. SupposeyoucomeacrosstheAshleymadison.comsuserdataleakedbythosehackers
and.
a. Oneoftheusershappenstobeyourfriendswife.Butheisunwareofheraffairorthis
websiteorthishackeddata.Willyouinformhim?Yes/NoandWhy?
b. Ifoneoftheusershappenstobeyourwifeorhusband,whatwillyoudo?

Casestudy:Transgenderrights
InApril2015,SupremeCourtonTuesdayrecognizedthetransgendercommunityasathirdgender
alongwithmaleandfemaleandorderedthegovernmenttotreatthemassociallyand
economicallybackwardclassesandprovidethemreservationingovernmentjobsandadmissions.
Answerfollowing:
1. Whydoordinarypeopleshownegativeattitudetowardstransgender?Examinethereasons
andsuggestremediestochangetheirattitude.
2. Supposeyouarethedeanofagovernmentinstitutewhereinatransgenderhaveavailed
admission.Listthestepsyoullinitiatetoensureshedoesntfacediscrimination.
3. SupposeyouaretheHeadofagovernmentdepartmentwhereinsometransgenderhavegot
job.Listthestepsyoullinitiatetoensuretheydontfacediscrimination.

CaseStudy:Organdonation
InAustralia,adeadpersonsorgancanbedonatedonlyafterconsentfromnextofkin.Butthe
consentrateisdismal.RecentStudiesgavefollowingreasonswhyfamilymembersdecline
consent:
I. Religiousbeliefthatbodyintegritymustbemaintainedduringburial.
II. Familymemberscantsitandwatchastheirlovedonediesandimmediatelywheeledoutof
anintensivecareunitfororgandonation.Itsverytraumaticsightforthem.
III. Whendoctordeclaresapersonbraindead,hisbodybecomeseligiblefordonation,butoften
familymemberssuspectdoctorsjudgementandbelievethatbysomemiraclethepatientwill
gainconsciousnessagain.
IV. Theyfeartheirlovedonesorganswillbesoldinblackmarketillegally.
V. Theysuspectthatdoctorhasnottriedhardtosavetheirfamilymemberbecausehewasa
willingorgandonor.
Answerfollowing
1. Whatshouldbedonetochangetheattitudeofordinarypeopletowardsorgandonationof
theirlovedones?
2. AsanAustralianlawmaker,wouldyouconsiderremovingtheconditionofnextofkin
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consentaltogetherinorgandonationprocess?Justifyyourstand.

CaseStudy:NidoTania
On29thJanuary2014,NidoTania,a20yearoldStudentfromArunanchalPradeshhadgoneto
LajpatNagarinDelhiandwaslookingforanaddress,whensomeoneatasweetshopallegedly
beganmockinghishairs.Nidorespondedbybreakingaglassdooratthesweetshopandthe
incidentescalated.Nidowasbeatenupwithsticksandironrodsbyagroupofaroundsevenmen.
Policehadreachedthespotandbrokeredcompromiseaftertakingbribes.Subsequently,Tania
returnedtohisSafdarjunghomebutdiedinsleepbecauseofinternalbleeding.
Answerfollowing:
1. MurderasaresultofHatecrimeshouldbepunishabletodeath.Doyouagree?Justifyyour
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standinthelightofNidoTaniacase.
2. Discussthefactorsbehindtherisingincidentsofprejudiceandviolenceagainstmigrantsand
minoritiesworkingMetrocitiesofIndia?Suggestremediestochangetheattitudeofpeople.
3. Ifagroupofstrangersbeginmockingyouforyourhairs/clothes/facialfeatures.Whatwould
youdo?(A)arguewiththem(B)sufferinsilencebecauseyoucanwindupdead(C)
somethingelse.Justifyyourchoice.

CaseStudy:JessicaLal
OnthemidnightofApril29,1999,ManuSharmawalkedinwithhisfriendsanddemandedtobe
servedliquor.BarmaidJessicaLalrefusedtoserveManuSharma,eventhoughHewasreadyto
offerJessicaRs.1000forit.ManuSharmathenproduceda.22calibrepistolandfiredittwice:the
firstbullethittheceilingwhichwastoserveasawarningtoJessicanottorefuseliquor,butwhen
Jessicarefusedagain,SharmafiredagainandthesecondhitJessicaintheheadandkilledher.
Answerfollowing:
1. IfyouwereinplaceofJessica,wouldyouhaveservedliquorafterthefirstwarningshot
fromManuSharmaspistol,tosaveyourlife?Justifyyourstand.
2. WhydotherichandaffluentbratsinNorthernIndialiketobrandishwealthandweaponin
publicviewandcreatenuisance?Whatshouldbedonetochangetheirarrogantattitude?

CaseStudy:BhaihatesJugaad
Recently,RBIGovernorDr.RaghuramRajanobserved,Jugaad,orworkingarounddifficultiesby
hookorbycrook,isathoroughlyIndianwayofcoping,butitispredicatedonadifficultor
impossiblebusinessenvironment.Anditencouragesanattitudeofshortcutsandevasions,noneof
whichhelpthequalityoffinalproductsorsustainableeconomicgrowth.
Answerfollowing:
1. ItistheeconomicfactorratherthanattitudeofIndians,responsibleforJugaadDoyou
agree?Justifyyourstand.
2. IndiansindulgeinJugaadbecausetheirMoralcompassisnotpointingtothestraightNorth.
Doyouagree?Justifyyourstand.
3. SuggestremediestochangethetypicalIndianattitudeofshortcutsandevasionsobserved
byDr.Rajan.
4. IfwechangetheJugaadattitudeofIndians,thenGrassrootinnovationwillstop.Doyou
agree?Justifyyourstand.

CaseStudy:RoadRage
PannaLalwasamigrantlaborerresidinginDelhi.AshereachedGandhiroad,hisbicyclebrushed
byacar.PannaLaldraggedthedriveroutofhiscarandbeganabusinghim.Thedriverwhipped
outaknifeandstabbedLalthriceandfledfromthespot.OnlookersdidnotrushPannaLalto
hospital,Policearrivedlateandhediedofexcessivebleeding.
Answerfollowing:
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1. IfyouwereinplaceofPannaLal,whatwouldyouhavedoneIfsomecardriverbrushed
yourbicyclebecauseofhisirresponsibledriving?
2. Ifyouwerethecardriver,whatwouldyouhavedoneIFyourtempobrushedHiraLals
bicyclebecauseofPannaLalsirresponsiblecycleriding,andyetheisaccusingyouand
demandingmoneyforrepairs?
3. Ifothersaredrivinginirresponsiblemanner,youshoulddonothing,sufferinsilenceandgo
aboutyourway,becausetheycanmurderyouinroadrageinbroaddaylightandno
onlookerswillhelpyou.Wouldyougivethisadvicetoyourchild?Yes/NoandWhy?
4. Often,peopleshowindifferent/passiveattitudetowardsroadaccident/roadragevictims.
Discussthefactorsresponsibleandsuggestremedies.
5. ListthefactorsresponsibleforrisingincidentsofroadrageinIndiancities.Suggest
remediestochangeattitudeofdrivers.

Casestudy:Raju,theGuide

Rajuwasaboyinfifthstandard,untilhisdrunkardfatherforcedhimtoleavestudiesand
workatasnackandsouvenirshopinthenewlyopenedrailwaystationafterthedeathofhis
mother.
Rajugrowsuptobecomeafreelancetouristguide.Heishiredbyawealthyandaging
archaeologistMarcoandhisyoungwifeRosie.RajulearnsthatRosiewasdaughterofa
Devdasiwhohadtogiveupherpassionofclassicaldancingaftermarriage,because(1)it
wasanunacceptableprofession/hobbytoMarco(2)UPSCwasnotaskinganyculturerelated
questionsduringthatpreCSATera.
Later,uponlearningaboutMarcosextramaritalaffairfromtheleakeddataof
Ashleymadison.com,RosietriestocommitsuicidebutRajuencourageshertoleavehusband
andguidesherintobecomingaclassicaldancer/actress.Asmoneybeginstoflowinwithher
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success,RajuspossessiveinstinctandgeneralcorruptionalienateshimfromRosie.
MarcocomesbacktowinRosie,butJealousRajudoesnotwanthimtohavecontactwith
Rosieandforgeshernameonthereleaseofpropertyindivorcesettlementpapers.
Subsequently,RosieandRajudriftapart.Rajuisconvictedofforgery,resultinginatwoyear
jailsentence.
Uponrelease,RajubecomesaSadhu,preachingthevillagerstoeducatetheirchildren,
respectwomenandrejectsuperstitiouspractices.Ultimately,hedieswhilefastingtoremove
optionalsubjectsfromUPSC.
Answerfollowing:
1. RajuspossessiveinstinctandgeneralcorruptionalienateshimfromRosie.JealousRaju
doesnotwantMarcotohavecontactwithRosie.Towhatextentcanweblamelackof
educationandparentalnurturing,forRajusattitudetowardsRosie?WouldRajuhaveacted
differentmannerhadhecompletedadegreefromIIT/IIM?Justifyyourstand.
2. Aftercompletingjailsentence,Rajucomestoyouseekingjobinyourtravelcompany.
Duringinterview,hedemonstrateshavingalltherequisiteskillstomanagethetravel
businessandhowkeepthetouristsentertained.Willyouhirehimknowingfullywellthathe
isaconvictedfraudsterwhohascompletedhisjailterm?Justifyyourstand.
3. Inabovequestion,supposeRajudoesnttellyouabouthisjailterm,youhirehim,andlater
onyoucometoknowabouthiscriminalpastfromanewspaperphototaggedinRajus
friendsfacebookprofile.WillyoufireRaju?Justifyyourstand?
4. Suppose,Rajucomesoutasareformedmanfromjailandlaunchesapoliticalpartywith
genuineintendtoworkforthenation.Buthecontinuestoreceiveunfavorabletreatmentin
printmediaandtrolls/cyberbullyingonsocialmedia.AsRajusPRmanager,whatwillyou
dotochangetheattitudepeople,andpersuadethemtovoteforRaju?
5. WhathaveyoulearnedabouthumannatureandbehaviorfromthispassageaboutThe
transcendofRajufromaguideoftourists,totheguideofRosie,toaguideofreligion?
6. DeathofRajuasasaintvindicatestheperversegoodnessofmankind.Elaborate.
7. AstheBritishViceroyofColonialIndia,supposeyouenactedalawbanningDevdasi
system,whichleadstocivicunrestbyorthodoxIndians.Yourdeputiesadviceyoutorepeal
thelaw,forthemaintenanceoflawandorder.Whatwillbeyourcourseofaction?
8. AsindependentIndiasfirstministerforwomenandchildwelfare,whatwouldyoudoto
changeattitudeofIndianstowardsDevdasis?

CaseStudy:Aashiqui2
Arohi,anaspiringsingermeetssuccessfulmusicianRahulJaykarwhohelpsherbecomea
Bollywoodsingerandbothfallinlove.ButwhenpeopleandrivalsbegintogossipthatRahulis
usingherforpleasureandmoney,helapsesintoalcoholaddictionandhisownsingingcareer
suffers.ArohiattemptstorehabilitateRahul,sacrificinghersingingcareerindoingso.Rahul
understandsthathehasbecomeaburdeninherlife,andthatleavingherishisonlyoptiontosave
her.Thenextdayhebidsherfarewellandjumpsfromabridge,killinghimself.
Answerfollowing:
1. DissecttheCognitive,AffectiveandBehavioralcomponentsofRahulsattitudetowards
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Arohi.
2. Rahulsincapacitytohandlecriticismwasresponsibleforhisdeath.Doyouagree?Justify
yourstand.
3. WhatwouldyouhavedoneasRahulsbestfriend,tochangehisattitude?

CaseStudy:SuicideofaUPSCaspirant
InMay2013,V.Y.Manjunath,aUPSCaspirantcommittedsuicide.Policeinvestigationrevealed
following
1. HehadapparentlycreatedacharadeofhavingqualifiedfortheIASamonghisfamilyand
friendsbyfudgingdocuments,postingsonsocialmediaandevenflyingwithhisparentsto
theUPSCinDelhi.
2. FinallymyDadsaidverygoodson,saysanAugust2012FacebookpostbyManjunath
afterheliedtohimabouthavingclearedprelims2012.
3. Afterdeclarationoffinalresult,Manjunathcouldnthidethetruth,unabletoshowfaceto
family,neighborsandsociety,hehangedhimselfinanunderconstructionbuilding.
Answerfollowing
1. Discussthemoralculpabilityofthefollowing,inthesuicideofManjunath:
a. ExpectationsofParentsfromtheirchildren.
b. Manjunathsattitudetowardssuccess.
c. Societysattitudetowardsfailure.
2. Examrelatedsuicidesincidentsareroutinelyappearinginnewspapers.Suggestremediesto
addressthisissue.

DescriptiveQuestions
1. Defineattitude.Discussitsroleinshapingbehaviorofapersontowardssociety.
2. Thereisoneuniversaltruth,applicabletoallcountries,culturesandcommunities:violence
againstwomenisneveracceptable,neverexcusable,nevertolerable.Yetwefindinstances
ofgangrapesanddowrydeathsondailybasisinIndiannewspapers.Examinethereasons
andsuggestremediestochangeIndiansocietysattitudeoftowardswomen.
3. Theattitudeofmoderndayschoolteacherstowardschildrenisfullofgreed(asintuition)
andviolence(asincorporalpunishment).Examinethereasonsandsuggestremediesto
changetheirattitude.
4. AnIndianhasloyaltytothefamilybutisapathetictothecommunitywherehelives.
Discussthebehindsthisinconsistencyinhisattitude?Howcanwechangeit?
5. SupposeyouretaskedtodesignaTVadvertisementtochangetheattitudeofruralpeople
towardsopendefecation,howwillyougoaboutit?
6. Afriendofyoursinengagedingambling,debaucheryandlavishlifestylebeyondhis
income.Hebelievesthatlifeisshortandfullofuncertaintiesyoucandieanymoment,so
thereisnopointinsavingmoneyorremainingfaithfultoyourlifepartner.Howwillyou
persuadehimtochangehisattitude?
7. In2015,therehavebeenreportsofIndianyouthsbeingrecruitedbyISISthroughsocial
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media.ISISwantstoestablishacaliphateundertheleadershipofAbuBakrAlBaghdadi,
throughwhateverviolentmeansnecessary.Whydoyouthfeelattractedtowardssuchradical
ideology/views?Whatcanbedonetochangetheirpoliticalattitude?
8. TheincreasingspreadoftheInternetframestheurgencyforeffectivesocialcontrolson
attitudesonline.Elaborate.
9. Examinethereasonsbehindlackofcivilityamongdigitalcitizens.Whatshouldbedoneto
changetheirattitude?
10. CultureisthespherewherewesocializeourselvesandtheInternetglobalinitsreach,isa
dimensionofthatsphere.Inthiscontext,discusstheroleofsocialmediainshapingmoral
attitudeofaperson.
10. CompareandcontrastthepoliticalattitudeofUrbanandruralpeopleandanalysethe
underlyingfactors.
11. CompareandcontrastthemoralattitudeofWesternvs.Indiansocietyandanalysethe
underlyingfactors.
12. Attitudesareshapedbymoralconvictionsandtherefore,theytranscendtheboundariesof
culture,regionandreligion.Elaborate.
13. Narrateareallifeincidentwhereyourmoralconsciencewastested.Howdidyouhandleit?
14. Withyourpersonalexample,discusstheroleofpeerpressureinshapingonesbehavior.
15. Attitudedeterminesthealtitudeofyourlife.Elaborate.
Fromnextsession(E3/P1)weshallmovetotwonewtopicsviz.Foundationvaluesofcivil
servicesandemotionalintelligence.
VisitMrunal.org/EthicsformorestudymaterialonEthics.
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