Lately I've been see articles on The Odyssey, BuzzFeed, and similar websites about how the things we do should not be for ourselves but for others. I myself have brought this up in conversation, not due to reading these articles, but to due the amount of selfishness I've experienced from others. This really got me thinking about myself. Am I that selfish? Do I expect reward for something just because I did it?
The answer is sometimes. I like many in my generation have been given praise just for completing a task. According to social psychologist giving children (in particular) rewards for participating is not healthy. We like to call this the Overjustification Effect. This effect happens when there is an external incentive that leads to a lack of intrinsic motivation to do something.Argumentatively getting something in return for doing well is nice every once-in-a-while. I like to think I'm a caring person and would give the shirt off my back if someone was in need. However, an article I read really painted a picture that made me think not about myself, but others. The article was about a Seth Adam Smith saying marriage isn't for you. He explained that one should not get married to benefit their self but for the betterment of the other person. This got me thinking that this concept can relate to everything. I am in a service fraternity (Alpha Phi Omega) and we have requirements we must meet or there are consequences. I am pretty good about meeting said requirements but why am I serving? Is it so I can meet points or because I truly want to better someone else's life? I've come to the conclusion that it can be either sometimes, but for the most part I like to serve to make someone else's life better.
So next time you find yourself complaining that someone asked you to do the a favor, or you have a points requirement, don't see it negative. See it as an opportunity to share your joy.
Bri,
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of being selfish and expecting a reward is a common theme in society today. Kids are brought up thinking that if they perform the correct action they will get something in return. For instance, parents are always providing an incentive to get their children to do a specific activity. Personally, I have fallen victim to this act. It is so easy to look at what you get out of it compared to the actual meaning of the activity. As I continue my college career, I have strayed away from expecting these rewards. Through the pharmacy curriculum, you have to complete service and outreach hours throughout your six years. I enjoy going out and helping the Ada community. Who knew ONU could have such a large impact in such a small town? In addition, as a member of Kappa Epsilon (KE) we have our service point requirements. I look forward to helping whatever group we are involved in while spending some time with my KE sisters. Overall, I think when being involved with service you have to keep in mind the end goal of the project.