Need a perfect paper? Place your first order and save 5% with this code:   SAVE5NOW

Exploring the Psychological Underpinnings of Unusual Behavior

A Case Study Analysis of Kanye West’s Anti-Semitic Remarks

Introduction

Recently, the music field and entertainment world were shocked after Kanye West, the famous artist, was discovered to be involved in some controversial behavior. By weighing anti-Semitic speeches and passionate public behavior, he draws enormous attention in the media and is judged by the general public. The consequences, however, are not restricted to the siblings alone, as it triggers a wide-ranging query about such not-explored psychological factors that might have provided an impetus for uncommon and detrimental behavior. This paper intends to explore the possible relevant psychological theories and precepts that may be applied to better understand the factors that might have contributed to Kanye West’s suicide. By studying important psychological aspects related to education, emotional illnesses, personality problems, stress situations, cognitive processes, and social impact, we will be able to gain a profound understanding of how different factors interact when it comes to deviations from social norms.

The behavior of Kanye West allows us to dive deeper into human psychology and its expressions in real-life contexts; the views of each member of the audience will vary significantly. We can not only uncover some of the behavioral roots of the case through psychological theories and principles, which help us to assess individual behavior accurately but also widen the horizons of human nature and behavior in general. This research aims to analyze Kanye West’s behavior using psychological theories and concepts. The theory of learning will be used to explore factors that influence Kanye West’s behavior and environment. Emotion theory will be used to analyze emotional processes and determine whether Kanye West’s behavior is a symptom of a personality disorder or a health condition. Stress will be explored as a risk factor or stressor for Kanye West’s behavior. Social psychological factors, such as social norms, group processes, and media relations, will also be investigated. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide a thorough explanation of Kanye West’s behavior and contribute to the discussion on the psychological behavior of humans. The goal is to understand the intricacy of human nature and the multi-angle factors contributing to its expression in specific situations.

Discussion

The Theory of Learning

Social learning theory, which Bierrag proposed. Albert Bandura gives us a satisfactory understanding of how Kanye West’s uncertain behavior might be adopted. This theory underscores the central nature of what is known as modeling, whereby people seem to master new ways of doing things by what is called observation. At the same time, they imitate others, especially those who are celebrated or become prominent (Gibson, 2023). In Kanye West’s situation, it is also likely that his contact with specific social circles, systems of ideologies, or the beliefs that he held also played a pivotal factor in the shaping of his anti-Semitic view. The need to fit in and follow the pattern of the group or practice may have gradually been instilled in Kanye West based on careful watching and imitation of other members of this community.

Hence, the social learning theory states that a person imitates the observed behavior when they have the perception of positive reinforcement or the provision of a reward for such an act. Kanye West’s popularity, richness, and the power of his position within the entertainment industry could have led to a reinforcement of his controversial activities at the unconscious level, as he may have viewed the acceptance and appreciation of some people, fans, or his social circle as confirmation or comment (Driscol, 2022). Social learning theory suggests that the outcomes of their actions stimulate people and anticipate positive or negative consequences. In the case of Kanye West, being highly publicized and potentially controversial might be self-reinforcing, providing him with attention and notoriety. Strosberg (2023) said that social cognitive theory emphasizes cognitive factors like attention, retention, and motivation during learning. The energetic Kanye West’s impact on the masses may have influenced more people to emulate his actions. Additionally, social learning theory suggests that observational learning, where individuals look up to others and follow rewarded behaviors, may have made Kanye West more independent in his controversial actions.

Theory of Emotion

This theory stands for the assumption that emotions come as a result of an individual’s cognitive interpretation of a situation/the circumstances going around and the potential outcome for them and their well-being/their goals. According to Gibson (2023), the accusatory rhetoric lodged against the Jews by Kanye West and his somewhat defiant actions could most likely appear as reactions veering from buried real acrimony, extreme antipathy, or even suspicion. The matter of these emotions might have these origins in his personal history, agreement, or unfortunate assumptions towards his identity position within the music industry or even broader society context. The cognitive-motivational-relational theory suggests that emotions are influenced by learning processes and appraisals (Driscol, 2022). Kanye West’s emotional reactions, rooted in irritation, desire for recognition, and desire to be noticed, may have influenced his controversial communication. Appraisals shape emotional experiences, and Kanye West’s experiences may have distorted his perception of the situation and others, leading to agitation and potentially hostile reactions. The theory also emphasizes the importance of individualized emotional reactions, influenced by factors like character, coping strategies, and past experiences (Miles-Novelo & Anderson, 2022). The case of Kanye West demonstrates how personality disposition, creativity, and history can affect emotional states and behavior. Emotions are constantly changing and depend on the situation, with personal relationships, career pressures, and societal trends playing a dominant role. Overall, the theory highlights the importance of understanding and managing emotions in various situations.

Personality Disorder or Mental Health Condition

I am discovering mental conditions such as personality disorders or mental illness. It is essential to be mindful of the risks of jumping to conclusions about an individual’s mental well-being without a professional assessment. However, Kanye West’s behavior should make us think about whether or not there exists a personality disorder or mental condition. Maybe it is a relationship with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). NPD is specified by the appearance of bragging, an enhancement of self-worth, and an inability to empathize with others (Strosberg, 2023). Kanye West’s legendary personality, including his pompous proclamations, aristocratic airs, and apparent disregard for others’ feelings, can be taken as hints that he might suffer from this condition.People who possess NPD usually try to impress and get validation from others. This results in them trying out various attention-seeking activities and having an inflated sense of superiority. Kanye West’s consistent public rants and his showmanship might be an unambiguous indication of his unconscious yearning for admiration and praise.

It can also be mentioned that empathy is not a capability for people with NPD, as they have problems understanding and relating to the emotions and experiences of other people. It may be the case that what Kanye West seems not to care much about is nothing less than the consequences and the effect of his words and behaviors on others (Grazzini et al., 2023). This is the same detachment that may be the core of his NPD. Nevertheless, it has to be emphasized that a clinician’s broad psychological evaluation is necessary to pin down the diagnosis. Although character traits like materialism, a focus on attention or admiration, and balanced achievements may reveal NPD, other factors like cultural influence, personal experience, or stressors in particular circumstances may also be to blame. In addition, the circumstances causing the behavior may be stress rather than a disorder of the personality or particular circumstance. This is especially the case when a celebrity’s fame, media attention, and personal challenges may combine to enhance or mask a particular characteristic or lead to sudden and wild behavioral changes, depending on the situation. NPD would look somewhat like a reasonable answer to Kanye West’s behaviors (Fox & Saunders, 2023). Thus, more inquiry and assessment by a mental health expert would be needed to verify any diagnosis. It is essential to be extremely careful when engaging in conversations related to mental health to ensure that there are no stigmas and that individual cases are dealt with, taking into consideration their unique personalities and ways of behaving.

Social Psychological Phenomenon

Groupthink, also called the social psychological phenomenon of group polarization, may explain Kanye West’s personality based on the effects of his social surroundings and the people around him. One of the crucial phenomena of group decision-making is the polarization of groups. It reflects the nature of the group’s pressures on individuals to be more inclined towards extreme ideas and compelling viewpoints when they have dialogue and interaction within a group composed of fellow-minded individuals. Besides the impact that Kanye West’s affiliation with particular social classes or ideological groups might have had on the strengthening of his controversial opinions and stances, this affiliation could have exacerbated the effect of these opinions and stances (Grazzini et al., 2023). Kanye West may have experienced the so-called polarization effect here, through which his initial thoughts or resolutions may have turned out more extreme, accompanied by using the same people who shared similar ideas or approved of his actions. In addition, the “echo chamber” effect can have a considerable influence on a persona. Online networks and selected information sources can provide an environment where subjects spend the majority of their time surrounded by views that are in line with their beliefs and serve to boost these very perceptions, shaping the conceptual world of the people they are related to (Parks & Cooper, 2022). As for Kanye West, it could have been his unique role on social media with the audience exchange principle that supported the expansion and validation of his extreme views among his fans and finally helped the emergence of his attitudes and beliefs.

Going further, the social comparison model can help explain Western look behavior. According to this theory, people estimate themselves by noting their viewpoints, skills, and traits that are similar to those of others. This is a process of comparison. In addition, with the introduction of Kanye West’s celebrity status, he might carry out some social comparisons between other famous figures in the entertainment business or within his social network (Miles-Novelo & Anderson, 2022). Comparing himself with others might be the reason why he starts exhibiting undesired behaviors or making uncommon decisions.

Moreover, social identity theory might be one of the ideas that are vital to consider in analyzing Kanye West’s behavior (Parks & Cooper,2022). This idea suggests that people form their personalities and self-worth from social groups that they regard as part of their identity. Kanye West’s conduct, starting from the controversial statements and actions all the way to his attempts to defend and support the values and norms of the group he belongs to or identifies with, can be seen as a blatant case of him trying to express his attachment and allegiance toward specific social groups.

Conclusion

Analyzing the peculiarities of Kanye West’s behavior through different psychological perspectives and theories revealed the depth of those factors set into play, leading to their abnormal and detrimental outcomes. Highlighting that no one theory can completely understand the complexities of human behavior, a study of what makes people learn, what emotions lie behind people’s actions, and the mental conditions they face, alongside the study of social psychology phenomena, grants one priceless insight (Parks & Cooper, 2022). The possibility seems to exist that Kanye West’s conduct has been determined by both “nature” and “nurture” elements. A social learning theory says that, for example, during the educational process, in certain conditions and with such a background, he could borrow the views that are confusing today. Additionally, a variety of emotions, such as hostility and bitterness, as well as a desire to prove his importance, may have helped him commit the atrocities by facilitating his mental health.

The presence of such a disorder as personality narcissism cannot be eliminated, and it may be the cause of this behavior. Still, there should be a possibility of making a professional diagnosis to find out the real reason for this behavior. Besides, the psychological power of social phenomena, which work in favor of group polarization and do not allow people to hear alternatives to the extremists’ views, is also exposed through this issue. To this end, the current examination is meant to represent the need to consider human conduct from a multi-pronged psychological perspective. First and foremost, by acknowledging the range of elements that can lead to deviant or unacceptable conduct, we can design better intervention methods and offer support for them. Secondly, this will increase the degree of empathy and understanding in society as a whole.

References

Driscoll, C. M. (2022). White Devils, Black Gods: Race, Masculinity, and Religious Codependency. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Fox, C., & Saunders, J. (Eds.). (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Media Ethics. Routledge.

Gibson, A. J. (2023). Conspiracy Theory and Consciousness in Hip-hop Music (Doctoral dissertation, University of Bristol).

Grazzini, L., Mazzoli, V., & Zarantonello, L. (2023). Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Effect of Allied Brands Negative Publicity on Brand Managers’ Decision-Making. Industrial Marketing Management113, 300-311.

Miles-Novelo, A., & Anderson, C. A. (2022). Climate change and human behavior: Impacts of a rapidly changing climate on human aggression and violence. Cambridge University Press.

Parks, G. S., & Cooper, F. R. (Eds.). (2022). Fight the power: Law and policy through hip-hop songs. Cambridge University Press.

Strosberg, B. B. (2023). Negative Psychology of Anti-Semitism: Fear of the Uncategorizable (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University).

 

Don't have time to write this essay on your own?
Use our essay writing service and save your time. We guarantee high quality, on-time delivery and 100% confidentiality. All our papers are written from scratch according to your instructions and are plagiarism free.
Place an order

Cite This Work

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

APA
MLA
Harvard
Vancouver
Chicago
ASA
IEEE
AMA
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Copy to clipboard
Need a plagiarism free essay written by an educator?
Order it today

Popular Essay Topics