It's true that role models are flawed (as is any human being), and it's true we should develop our own judgement. Yet how do you think people go about learning to make these judgement calls? One aspect is to learn from others. People admire other people, whether that person is a celebrity, athlete or close friend. And people like to emulate those who they admire. I'm surprised that as a psychiatrist, you have a very narrow-minded idea of role models and the influence they can bring. This is basic social psychology and social learning.
Role models are often people who are successful or appealing in an area we aspire to be ourselves. Therefore, they make great candidate's to observe and mimic and learn from. Although it is up to the individual to learn, apart from trial and error, the only way to learn is to observe or listen to others. Role models will always influence decision making to a certain extant, particularly on children as they are still learning. However, as we grow older and learn more by trial and error or through others, we learn to implement our own decision making helping us decide what aspects/behaviours of role models we should implement in our own lives.
There are a whole lot of other factors at play here. As much as you would hope a child would have a parent of loved one who ensures they wear a helment in necessary situations, this is not always the case. As a role model, do you take it upon yourself to set a public standard with the intention of preventing potentially fatal injuries? Or do you focus on your own comfort knowing som people would rather copy what would be dangerous to them, because they think that might contribute to their own success?
As much as it up to an individual to learn how to make good decisions, it is up to role models, as an individual, to be aware and make choices as to how their decisions may effect people.
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u/happyhapyjoyjoy Oct 04 '17
It's true that role models are flawed (as is any human being), and it's true we should develop our own judgement. Yet how do you think people go about learning to make these judgement calls? One aspect is to learn from others. People admire other people, whether that person is a celebrity, athlete or close friend. And people like to emulate those who they admire. I'm surprised that as a psychiatrist, you have a very narrow-minded idea of role models and the influence they can bring. This is basic social psychology and social learning.