Main Post

In this discussion, we are asked to evaluate the social psychology tenants that Jason, a hypothetical college student, who is accused of synthesizing and distributing amphetamines might employ. Jason is committing a federal felony if he is indeed perpetrating this crime. He will lose any chance of his desired admission to medical school. Furthermore, he will face the possibility of federal imprisonment.

            Social psychology evaluates the individuals’ real, or imagined interactions with others. Thus, Jason’s social motivations, with respect to needs, wants, power and acceptance are useful in explaining his behavior. Laws may be thought of as an extension of social agreements within any given society, or community. Jason’s decision to manufacture, and distribute methamphetamine is at odds with the social contract in American society. While personality psychology suggests that Jason may evaluate his decision with respect to his own consideration of self, and resultant behavior. Conversely, social psychology suggests that Jason will need to justify his aberrant behavior with respect to amphetamine drug manufacturing, and dealing in a social context. Said another way, it will be necessary for Jason to reduce the cognitive dissonance his behavior produces between himself, and his society.

            It is possible that Jason has the ‘Walter White Syndrome’. That is, he believes his social position, and affect will immunize him from the detection, and subsequent punishments that society imposes. That is, he doesn’t think he’s going to get caught, and his social position will remain within his college culture, unaltered. Jason may be able to reduce cognitive dissonance, knowing that as a college student, dealing methamphetamine, as opposed to its free base (crack), he is much less likely to be arrested and prosecuted. This belief is compounded by evidence of racial bias. If Jason is Caucasian, he may rationalize further that the social consequences are less, and that he is less likely to face criminal proceedings (Aronson et al. p. 410, 2019). If Jason successfully reduces his cognitive dissonance by rationalizing that he will not get caught, he may also assume that his manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine will not affect his medical school applications. In addition, Jason may perceive his interaction with his fellow college students as a means of acceptance. Jason may rationalize that his methamphetamine business is a means to normative conformity (p. 422).

            As reported by Low and Gendaszek, over 30% of college students self-report the illicit use of amphetamines (2002). Acceptance of drug distribution in this population may be greater than that of the general populace, and in Jason’s rationale, a means for social acceptance. In addition, Jason’s amphetamine dealing may provide him with a sense of power within his social group. As reported in a review of the neuropsycho chemistry of methamphetamines, this drug produces a high degree of physiologic dependence (Homer et al. 2008). This may operate in Jason’s favor in two ways; the first, a sense of power, in that students who purchase are indeed dependent on him, and second, he may also reduce his cognitive dissonance by rationalizing that he is providing a needed service in this collegiate social construct.

            There may be an intrinsic motivational component. Jason may find his ability to successfully synthesize methamphetamine an intrinsic motivation (Aronson et al. p. 134, 2019). That is Jason may consider his chemical prowess a source of pride. Said another way, in a social psychology context, his manufacturing ability is a source of pride as it is affirmed by how this influences Jason’s imaginary or real social interactions. Nonetheless, he may be without an intrinsic motivation of interest, in the de facto synthesis.  Jason’s manufacture and sale of methamphetamine may be the result of extrinsic motivation. He may feel the need to maintain his position, for the acceptance of those fellow college students using his product. Jason’s extrinsic motivation maybe because of reward and/or pressure (p. 422). Another example of extrinsic motivation could be the need for money. In the scenario presented, Jason’s economic status is unknown. This may be either a true financial need to remain solvent, or a desire to meet social norms, by the purchase of typical goods and services of his classmates, and the more general population.

            In summary, Jason, as hypothesized in the presented scenario, has both personality, and social psychological behaviors associated with his illicit manufacturing, and sale of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. These may be resultant from either, or both, his self-perception, and his interaction with his social community.

References

Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (Eds.) (2019). Social Psychology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Homer, B. D., Solomon, T. M., Moeller, R. W., Mascia, A., DeRaleau, L., & Halkitis, P. N. (2008). Methamphetamine abuse and impairment of social functioning: A review of the underlying neurophysiological causes and behavioral implications. Psychological Bulletin, 134(2), 301–310. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.301

Low, K. G., & Gendaszek, A. E. (2002). Illicit use of psychostimulants among college students: a preliminary study. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 7(3), 283–287. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/13548500220139386