Running head: PAY IT FORWARD 1

Pay It Forward
Margaret C. Berry
PSY 490
August 25, 2014
Radha Shankar
PAY IT FORWARD 2


Pay It Forward
In this paper I will explain how my family, coworkers and I unfortunately had the
opportunity to assist several displaced individuals in their time of need after the storm called
Hurricane Katrina. This was not done for the gratification of self, but because of the seriousness
of the event that lead up to the event of the horrible storm of Katrina in the southern states. I did
find helping those grief stricken by the loss of family members and their homes as a deed of
volunteerism for the displaced individuals and their families. My family and I did not perform
the act altruistically, but the action was felt as our responsibility to those from our hometown.
The behavior of assisting the displace families truly became our social responsibility.
I remember watching in horror at the news reporting the state I once called home get hit
with the most evil storm I can image. Seeing bodies float in the streets and not able to reach
family members that might have been affected was a feeling no-one should have to go through.
When the word that Houston was going to host a facility to the displaced was a relief, because I
and my family felt not only will we have an opportunity to find family member but to help others
with food and needed supplies. My place of employment at the time gathered every trace of
items that could be utilized and loaded three of our trucks to the max capacity and went to the
Astrodome and handed out supplies. My family gather money and helped place individuals in a
motel for a night or two just to wash up and get at least one night of sleep. It was not much but
just a little meant more than a lot.
Altruism, Personal and Professional Social Responsibility, and Codependency
The purity of altruism, the act of giving beyond expecting any form of compensation and
looking for the gratification of hearing a thank you (Trivers, 1971). Not the same as altruism that
is the authentic, real and generous care for those in need in an aspect of their personal,
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professional, and social responsibility in the behavior that can benefit the entire society as a
whole. The condition of the emotion and the behavior pertaining to individuals that exhibit a
sense of decreased self-esteem and try to grasp the meaning of life and happiness around them
can be known as codependency. It is a rare deed of altruistic, even if it truly exist (Trivers, 1971),
it is common for the act of social responsibility, this despite the act that is done with actual
personal interest. The process of individuals codependency is when the others that are giving
reciprocate the need of those that are in need, and contrariwise. I feel that the action of my
family, coworkers and myself we done out of pure social responsibility.
Applying Altruism to Psychology or Psychological Principles
The field of psychology, of practicing licensed and degreed professionals there are no
altruistic deeds, many are simply trying to access the main need and provide a needed service to
those that seek their help. The principles in psychology are created to help encourage and also
support individuals to secure and fulfill a better life. The principles were designed to help the
afflicted and remove the suffering front heir life, it was not intended to bear profit, not to satisfy
any personal agenda, or to boost the agenda of a political party. The behavior of altruistic is the
affliction that is a part of the principles of psychology.
Altruism as it Improves the Human Condition
I feel I never felt a sense of goodness when I was helping those individuals that had to
endure the horrible conditions that had to go through. I believe it was as sense of sadness and
respect. I mentioned respect because they still have the strength to keep their heads up and fight
to move forward. In the altruistic behavior profile, it provides a betterment for either parties that
play a part of the pay-it-forward syndrome that the ability to see one person doing well by his/her
community will get others up to do the same (Berkowitz & Daniels, 1964).
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Personal and Professional Responsibilities Related to Altruism
I feel the responsibility to put your best foot forward and your ability to emulate the
behavior of altruistic when needed, even if other dont feel they are capable, just try. As a
professional in the field of psychology, the main goal is to provide an efficient ground for their
patients to be able to move forward and live productive. Fulfilling the behavior of altruistic act,
there are many professionals that go out into the community to give back without charge to
somehow balance the feeling of charging for their service (Plante, 2011).
The Future of Psychology in Contemporary Society
It is the future responsibility to preform accordingly to the ways of altruistic and provide
a service as close to perfect as they can get to help society become a better place. With the rising
conflicts in the economy and social/ family problems mental illness will continue to incline and
this calls for more professional psychology major to come out of college with the intent to serve
whether individuals financially capable to pay or not. We are in need of selfless, caring, and
devoted individuals that see a need and willing to change the society they will serve.
Conclusion
Whether an act is performed for whatever reason, professional or not. It is everyones
responsibility to at least help one person in their capacity to help make our community healthy
and safe. There is always someone and situations that could use a hand at uplifting hopes and
dreams of others. There are children without families that could use a visit from individuals that
just sit with them and give them a sense of family on a regular basis. It dont take money to just
let someone know you will be there in their time of need.

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References
Berkowitz, L., & Daniels, L. R. (1964). Affecting the salience of the social responsibility norm:
effects of past help on the response to dependency relationships. The Journal of
Abnormal and Social Psychology, 68(3), 275-281. doi: 10.1037/h0040164

Plante, T. G. (2011). Contemporary clinical psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Trivers, R. L. (1971). The evolution of reciprocal altruism. The Quarterly Review of Biology,
46(1), 35. doi: 10.1086/406755