Imagine That You Are Stranded on a Deserted Island

question 62

Essay

Imagine that you are stranded on a deserted island. There is enough food and water for the survivors, but resources are scarce enough to make people wary of each other. Due to your advanced sociological training, you understand that you have a responsibility to lead these scared people. How would you gain authority over the remaining survivors? In other words, which method would you use to gain legitimate power? Why would you choose this method?

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Definitions:

Biological Drives

Innate impulses in living organisms that contribute to their survival, such as hunger, thirst, and the instinct for reproduction.

Contact Comfort

The psychological and emotional comfort that an infant derives from being in physical contact with its caregiver, suggesting the importance of touch in social and emotional development.

Signs of Distress

Indicators or symptoms showing that an individual is experiencing emotional or physical discomfort.

Separation

The process of distinguishing oneself from others or from previous conditions, often used in psychological contexts to describe individualization.