Final answer:
Individuals and organizations often rationalize behaviors, which involves justifying actions by attributing more acceptable reasons than the actual ones. This process is related to social and psychological domains, such as conformity, obedience, and prejudice, which govern behavior and attitudes within organizations and wider society. Change requires informed decision-making and embracing values like decency and tolerance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals and organizations often face real or perceived pressures that can lead to the process of rationalization, which is the act of justifying behaviors by substituting acceptable reasons for less-acceptable real reasons. This phenomenon is linked to various social and psychological concepts such as attitudes, cognitive dissonance, persuasion, conformity, obedience, prejudice, and discrimination. While seeking to reduce cognitive dissonance, individuals and groups may alter their behavior, cognition, or add new cognitions. In the context of organizations, such pressures and rationalizations can, over time, lead to the exclusion of groups and the empowerment of oppressive ideologies. Moreover, the role of collective action problems, authority, and social influences can compel or incentivize individuals to join utilitarian organizations, often for tangible benefits or due to social pressures.
Advertising and various forms of persuasion play a significant role in shaping attitudes and beliefs, particularly through routes like central persuasion with facts and information or peripheral persuasion using positive associations. The dynamics within organizations and society also include issues like the unwillingness to accept personal responsibility for global challenges, with individuals and collectives alike tending to blame external factors for their predicaments.
Ultimately, the prospect of change in attitudes and prejudices within a global society depends on individual willingness to accept facts and exhibit values such as citizenship, decency, tolerance, and respect. This reflects the imperative for both institutions and individuals to gain legitimate power and influence without coercion, basing their actions on support derived from informed and ethical decision-making.