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Click Here To Order NowSOCIAL BEHAVIOR SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN EUROPE DURING THE 1960s
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN EUROPE DURING THE 1960’S
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Introduction
Social behavior as a subject of discussion has come much far in terms of social development, in accordance with mankind evolution. Social behavior can is a human behavior that has been directed towards society or among two or more people with the aim of provoking a response without necessarily acting directly on the receiver of such action (Stevenson, 1995, p 51). It further explains that human social behavior is the result of the interaction of the immediate social situations with mental states. These thoughts and feelings are usually psychologically measurable variables.
The study of these differences and similarities started after the World War II to establish the power of persuasion and propaganda of the various militaries during the world war. Research was carried out during the sixties to establish social behavior, regarding the social problems like racial prejudice and gender and development issues. This encompassed social behavior in regard to obedience and authority, cognitive dissonance, and how it influenced aggression and bystander-intervention (Estrada, 1999 p.35). The study on social behavior and how it is influenced by attitudes and cognition and mob psychology was carried out in Western Europe. This was a period around when radical situations approach proved to be a challenge in the study of differing social behavior.
Many theories have put forward in an effort to explain social behavior. The theories are by nature, not topic specific, therefore, making them abstract. These theories may represent the same ideas, and they articulate the particular important factors and the degree to which they have been empirically developed and tested (Jeffery, 1996, p.114). One way of testing these theories is researching on the similarities, as well as, the differences of the social behavior of different people from different geographical areas. In this effort to compare and contrast the different social behaviors, consider two areas that have almost similar factors that can affect these behaviors and accessing the differences and similarities. This is in order to establish the causes of this differences and similarities.
Comparing social behavior between western and Eastern Europe in the nineteen sixties sets a perfect ground of studying the differences and similarities. Take into account that this was during the post-world war two period and both areas had felt the effects of the world war. The study of these differences showcases how the different sides approached social behavior in regard to achieving their development objectives, having suffered losses during the world war. These similarities and differences are going to encompass the social behavior in relation to health, economy, culture and even social attitudes regarding racism and education, and their impact on the youth of then, who are now the major influencers of social behavior in the present times through their mentorships as parents, teachers and the leaders of the present day society. These similarities and differences can be noticed through the careful analysis of the change in family structures and dynamics in western and Eastern Europe. A change is noticed in smaller households and the Western Europe being characterized by extended families mutating to nuclear families due to the harsh economic times while Eastern Europe was characterized by a steadily increasing fertility among the women through increased child rearing. (Allport, 1985 p 44). The similarities and differences of social behavior can also be noted by analyzing economic development, political opinions and alignment towards communism and capitalism by both the western and Eastern Europe countries. The impact of world war two in relation to social behaviors and attitudes will also be analyzed.
The research is also going to encompass the similarities and differences on social behavior regarding political opinions and behaviors influencing democracy. This is going to give more insight on how these differences affected foreign policy in regard to the relationship between the eastern and western European countries. The research is also going to highlight the similarities and differences in relation to social behavior and attitude on military strategies and policies on wars between the two regions. Both the similarities and differences are going to be discussed under the same subheading but in each section I am going to state what were the similarities in social behaviors and the differences in social behavior, in section two by using the same subtopics.
Similarities in Social Behavior between Western and Eastern Europe during the SixtiesIn relation to families:
After the World War II, most countries in Eastern and Western Europe suffered a major loss in relation to the general population. This was characterized by many families in both eastern and western Europe reducing the rate of giving birth to newborns with the fear of an uncertain future for their newborns survival (Becker, 1988 p. 73). After the fall of Hitler and the dawning of a new horizon, many governments across Europe started emphasizing on the need for more births with a promise of a better future with better living standards. The similarity comes in where the population growth in terms of new born started growing at a steady rate, due to factors like improved standards of living, increased life expectancy and a general and steady growth of the European economy.
The masses of both regions had the similarity of having a regular birth rate with a reduction in infant mortality rates due to an improvement on the health care system across Europe. The improved health care was as a result of the medical discoveries made during the World War II through conduction on experiments on the Jews (Becker, 1988 p. 73). Although the means of finding and experimentation were quite unfortunate, especially regarding the human rights of the Jews being put into context, it still had a positive impact on Europe, especially in the sixties. The social behavior towards large families and sex was similar in both regions. This was then characterized by many families becoming bigger in number with an average household consisting of eight people, inclusive of the mother and father. In regard to sexual behavior
The bracket for the first sexual intercourse dropped from an average age of between nineteen to twenty one years among the young adult women, to around sixteen to eighteen years. (Lawson, 1999. P 18). This was as a result of the loss of moral values and self-confidence among women due to societal expectations and the male chauvinism which was rampant in the regions. There was a total lack of women empowerment cutting across the board in Europe not discriminating whether it was western on Eastern Europe. Another reason was that many of the young adults were born as a result of rape during the second world war ii. Because of this, societies in both regions had deteriorated in their moral values, with the catholic church in eastern Europe trying to hold on to teachings on moral values and the Anglican church in western Europe trying to rally back the masses to biblical teachings on moral values. For men, a decrease was somehow less because they already had an earlier sexual experience. Another contributing factor to this similarity in social behavior between western and Eastern Europe was the discovery of penicillin during the World War II as an anti-biotic medicine that treated many illness including sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis (Jeffery, 1996, p.114). The surety of the cure of the sexually transmitted diseases saw an increase in pre-marital sexual encounters among the young adults in both western and Eastern Europe with a surety of treatment.
In relation to healthcare development
The Second World War was characterized with a significant milestone in relation to discoveries made in the medical field, in terms of cures to many diseases, like smallpox and the sweating plague (Dalton, 1984 p.66). By the sixties, the discoveries had been fully researched and implemented. These social behaviors of the inhabitants of the European nations, especially the ones in eastern Europe that were most hit by the Hitler experimentations on Jews was mostly characterized by a negative attitude and mistrust of government health facilities (Becker, 1988 p. 73). This was due to the fears of being experimented on, without one’s consent. However, with the development and revisions of the constitutions of these countries forming a stronger human rights act, and the gradual development of democracy, the people of these countries started putting more trust on government medical facilities. This was characterized by many government workers in berlin and London subscribing to the respective governments healthcare programs. This was an indication that their social behavior and attitude towards the improved healthcare system had improved.
In relation to the economy
Western and Eastern Europe had a significant difference in economic policies. Western Europe exercised a capitalistic approach to the economy while Eastern Europe emphasized on Marxism and communalism. The social behaviors of these two regions towards economic growth were almost similar to the extent that they led to the lifting of trade barriers within European countries. Although it was met by a little resistance from the eastern European countries, the trade barriers lifting was eventually successful indicating that their social behavior towards economic growth objectives were related. This was even further strengthened by the efforts put in place by European countries to develop a universal currency to combat the strength and impact of the dollar in the world economy (Bartolini, 2000 p.208). As a result, this was occasioned by most Western Europe countries engaging in a mixed economy that led to western European exceptionalism in fast paced economic growth. In relation to education
The increased competitive nature of the world economy in relation to recovery from world war two led to led to a rise in the need for professional graduates. Increased pressure was put on educational institutions to train more technical graduates in regard to engineering and technology and economics (Dalton, 1984 p.69). The similarity in social behavior was showcased by an influx of the training organizations with students. Each region strived to train more graduates in the engineering and technological field, in line with the industrial growth and development objectives in conjunction with economists to achieve economic growth. Despite their different economic strategies and opinions, the social behavior towards striving in education was similar. This was characterized by state sponsorships on graduate trainee programs and development of research and development departments across different universities in Europe. In relation to technology
This period was characterized by fast paced movements towards technological development, regardless of the objectives of both regions. Western Europe technological advancement projects were mostly directed towards the achievement of economic and industrial growth. Eastern Europe projects were mostly directed towards achieving military technological advancements. (Lawson, 1999 p. 56). Their social behavior towards advancement in technological developments was virtually similar. This was characterized by increased government budgetary allocations on the technology industry to fund research and development projects on technology. Greater emphasis was placed by the then governments of the different nations on universities and training institutions to train more graduates in the technology sector (Bartolini, 2000 p.208). Another indicator of their related social behavior towards technological development was the brain drain practice of taking the brighter students from the less developed countries and offering them scholarships to study in their respective universities. They later used them in the development and research projects on advancement of the technology. In relation to politics and democracy development
Even though both regions shared different political views regarding politics with Eastern Europe characterized by dictatorships, the fast developing democracy fever from Western Europe was catching up fast with the eastern European countries (Dalton, 1984 p.133). Most of the masses from both regions shared a similarity of social behavior attitude and opinion intended at achieving political democracy and equality across Europe. This was witnessed by mass actions and revolting in most Eastern Europe countries with support of the western European countries towards achieving full democracy in the nations. In regard to religion
The end of the world war was followed by mass backsliding in relation to religion. Most Western Europe nation’s inhabitants were Anglicans, while eastern European countries inhabitants mainly consisted of Catholics and few Jews (Becker 1988 p.22). Due to the massive losses suffered during the Second World War, most Europeans’ social behavior and towards religion was that of a second thought, as most of them concentrated on the real issues of development and economic growth.
In regard to culture
The nineteen sixties were mainly characterized by the ‘Counter culture’ movement that spread from the United States to Western Europe and finally Eastern Europe. This was one example of social behaviors that were present in both western and Eastern Europe. It was characterized by the youth and young adults of that time revolting against conservative cultural norms and excluding themselves away from mainstream liberalism, particularly of the rising level of materialism that was growing fast during this season (Estrada, 1999p 42). The rebellion of most youth actioned this by disregarding most cultural practices, and led to a rampant increase in social ills, as the practice of pre-marital sex and increased cases of abortion. Even though this was around the time the birth control pills were developed, their social awareness regarding its use was low. The people in general saw a drastic decline in cultural views even with the adult people engaging in social behavior in both western and Eastern Europe as prostitution and solicitation were against most cultural practices in Europe.
In relation to the young adults and the youth
The social behavior of youths was the greatest similarity in both western and Eastern Europe from an increased rates of alcohol and drug abuse behaviors across the board to mass riots and European student movement’s demonstrations as a channel of airing out their grievances. Most of these students did not demonstrate or show any interests in politics and yet they were the ones in the front lines in resisting radical ideas based on Marxism, since they considered the authority, especially the police as using illegitimate and excessive force. These were actions collectively against totalism and absolutism aimed at promoting equal rights at all levels (Flacks 1970, p.345) In relation to military strategies and war
The social behavior and belief regarding military strategies and war in both the western and Eastern Europe at this time were quite similar. They both believed in the protection of state interests as territory integrity and political sovereignty from international threats. Threats regarded as a hindrance to the above should be met with extreme military force (Bartolini, 2000 p.82). This was as a result of the less forceful countries suffering the highest blow during the Second World War. As a preventive measure, they decided to build a strong and well-equipped army to deal with these cases if they arise.
In relation to racism and sexism
Another similarity in social behavior of both western and eastern Europe during this time was the uprising revolution against racism and sexism, and the rising need of knowledge for women. In addition, there was also the need for women empowerment and the guaranteeing of equal rights for people of all races, regardless of the gender (Becker, 1988 p.65). This shared social behavior and thinking was as a result of learning a lesson from what racism can do with practical examples learnt from Adolf Hitler’s treatment of the Jews. Although the rate of development and awareness was different in both regions, they still shared the same ideologies regarding women empowerment, racism and discrimination.
Differences in Social Behavior between Western and Eastern Europe in the Sixties In relation to the economy
During this period, the western and eastern economies had completely opposite approaches to economic development. Western Europe social behavior regarding economic growth was that of capitalism while that of eastern European countries was communism (Thompson, 2001 p. 96). This was particularly challenging especially when it came to trading transactions happening between the two blocks. This resulted in decreased trading activities between these two regions as each country preferred trading with the country that they share the same economic policies, because of the different social behavior attitudes toward achievement of economic growth. In relations to families.After suffering a great loss in terms of people due to deaths during the Second World War, the population in western and Eastern Europe dropped drastically. However, Eastern Europe was the worst hit due to Adolf Hitler’s massacre on the Jews (Lawson, 1999 p. 56). The then sitting governments after the war started to encourage their respective citizens to increase their child rearing rate with the promise of a better, sustainable economy with better healthcare services and good standards of living (Dalton, 1984 p.133). The western European countries because of their faith in their government were quick to follow the recommendations, as compared to the Eastern Europeans. However the eastern European inhabitants were skeptical about this recommendation because of their lack of trust in the then government which was still practicing communism. The uncertainty about the future in the Eastern European nations led to a drop in child rearing rates, and a decrease in family sizes from an average of six to three people. Western Europe was experiencing a steady increase in childbearing and infant mortality due to the difference in their social behavior. In regard to social practices.
Even with rapid and rampant spread of the ‘counter culture’ movement across Europe from the United States, the western European countries adopted this culture more than the eastern European countries. The easterners’ social action regarding the adoption of this movement practices was limited because of their conservative cultural practices (Estrada, 1999 p.42).
For example, in the countries where the Jewish religion was dominant Jewish teachings were strongly against the participation in social ills as the results were very severe as compared to the results of the western European countries dominated by the Anglican religion which are flexible. Another factor that made social behavior different in the western European countries different is the strict nature of the authorities in regard to engaging in rebellious acts that might undermine the authority of the state as this would have been met with excessive force. In regard to political views and democracy.
The nineteen sixties were characterized with alignments on two political views. Capitalism is a social system of economics that is based on ownership of capital and production inputs privately for the production of goods and services, aiming at making a profit. Communism, is a social system of economics and organization that is based on communal holding of property. The activities are controlled and owned by a state, commonly dominated by a single ruling political party (Becker, 1988 p.65). Capitalism was mainly associated with the western European countries, while communism was associated with the eastern European countries. Communism was popularized by the then defector leader of the Germans Adolf Hitler. It was mostly associated with dictatorship and oppression of its citizens. Therefore, the social behavior regarding political views was totally different between eastern and western Europe although most of the people shared the political agenda of achieving democracy. In regard to sexual behavior.
During the Second World War, too many women suffered the effects of war through the rampant rape cases by the soldiers who were participating in the war. The worst hit women, population, was the Eastern Europe women because of the aggressive nature and response of German soldiers who perpetrated mass rape and murder (Estrada, 1999p 42). This in return affected the eastern European women’s attitude and social behavior towards the sexual topic as a whole because of the emotional trauma and fear. Most women developed a negative attitude towards sex. Even by the end of the World War II, the culture and attitude of male chauvinism still existed in most eastern European men. They still perpetrated rape, crime, and, because of ignorance and fear, the women never came forward to report these cases for fear of stigmatization and rejection by society, especially from their fellow women. This is where the social behavior difference comes in since the western European women underwent post war guidance and counselling programs and, since this vice was not rampant in their region, their social behavior regarding sexual attitude and behavior was different.
In relation to healthcare development
In terms of healthcare development, Eastern Europe had made tremendous progress in terms of research and discovery of new cures and treatments of various diseases in the world, but surprisingly enough the healthcare system of Western Europe was better and preferred to that of eastern (Flacks 1970, p.345).This was only because of the negative attitude and social behavior of the people of Eastern Europe as they did not have trust in most of their healthcare system with the fear of an experiment being conducted on them in their cause of treatment in the government healthcare facilities. This fear was brought about the Adolf Hitler experiments on the Jews during the world war. This has led to increased cases of infant mortality since most women preferred to conceive in their homes to government hospital. That is the difference between the social behaviors of the eastern European towards their medical services as compared to western European people who fully utilizes the subsided healthcare services. In relation to Education.
The differences in social behavior and attitude towards education was that European countries put more pressure on their institutions of higher learning to produce more graduates in the technology sector in respect to the envisioned industrial growth (Dalton, 1984 p.133).There was a negative attitude and social relationship towards pursuing careers in the medical field, since no student wanted to be associated with the already tarnished medical field name of Eastern Europe. While it was quite different in the western European countries as they trained adequate graduates in each respective field with economic growth goal in mind.
In relation to military interventions and war
The social behavior and attitude towards military intervention of Eastern Europe was quite different from that of the western European countries. The Easterners believed in a more direct and quick response approach, as opposed to the western European nation’s social behavior of beginning with the most basic approach of negotiation and agreement (Lawson, 1999 p. 56). This is the reason why during this period, the Eastern European countries focused more energy and funds on military projects as opposed to other sectors of the economy as they prioritized the country security and military muscle, as opposed to other objectives like economic growth that was being pursued by most Western European countries. In relations to technology
Although the western and eastern Europe countries technological advancement levels were almost at par, the eastern European countries social behavior laid more importance and laid more emphasis on technological advancement in the military section (Estrada, 1999p 42). This was in terms of weapon development and biological weapons research, and they did this by allocating most of their budgeted funds to military projects and training while the western European nation’s social behavior and goals were economic growth.
In regard to racism and sexism
The western European countries had seen an increased number of former slaves from their previous colonies while the eastern European countries had seen an influx and an ultimate deflation of immigrants, especially the Jews, Arabs and Indians in their countries. Due to the strong campaign and willingness of the western European countries to embrace affirmative action and unity the issues of racism were steadily decreasing. This was due to a change in their social behavior regarding racism and sexism (Becker, 1988 p.65). The difference in social behavior comes in where the Eastern European countries still had the racism ideology since world war two, and believed in racial purity and male chauvinism. They used women as a tool of sex. Few other races resided in their country, and if so only as modern day slaves under immense suffering. Although the governments of Eastern Europe purported to implement the human rights law in their respective countries, there were several efforts aimed frustrating the full implementation of the various acts. The difference exists in social behavior towards racism between the two regions.
In regard to the young adults and the youth
Although the social behavior of youths in both western and eastern Europe was similar in the beginnings of the sixties, the differences in social behavior came in when the eastern European countries laid more emphasis on a large number of youth joining the military. This led to these youth’s social behavior to becoming more arrogant and aggressive, especially to their female counterparts, while the young adults and youth of western European countries focused more on studying strategic courses that could influence economic growth (Estrada, 1999, p 42). The difference is where the western European youth social behavior was accompanied by etiquette and respect in contrast with their counterparts in Eastern Europe.
Conclusion
Social behavior as a subject of discussion has come a long way in terms of social development since the creation of mankind. It has grown from the basics of behavior like communication and interaction, to more detailed behaviors like etiquette and decorum. This paper has given more focus on group level phenomena by analyzing social behavior similarities and differences in western and Eastern Europe during the nineteen sixties. The contrast of the two regions was as a result of looking for a suitable area that have almost similar environmental factors and trying to find out what might be influencing these similarities and differences. Differences and similarities are evident in relation to families, sexual behavior, healthcare development and the economy. It has also highlighted on European social behavior towards education and technology. By also analyzing social behavior in relation to political opinions and democracy from the old people to the youth, some differences and similarities are evident. There is also a good insight on the social behavior evolution and development throughout the years, and also how it has affected military decisions and strategies. The essay has also shown how social affected the affirmative action of racism and gender discrimination.
The above analysis has led to the conclusion that social behavior can be best studied and analyzed in a natural non controlled environment so as to achieve non biased results. And focusing on the key areas of general analysis. This is because social behavior study goes hand in with the attitude. This is in terms of attitude formation, structure, and function of the case study and its subsequent awareness. Since if the case being studied are aware of the ongoing research they might tend to deviate from their normal behavior either out of fear or excitement. (Estrada, 1999p 42).Social behavior is adaptive especially to human beings since they have a mind of thinking logically and critically, and it is usually awkward if they act differently than expected. The adaptive nature of social behavior increases our fitness and our overall reproductive success over the period of our lifetime.
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