SOCIAL BEHAVIOR SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN EUROPE DURING THE 1960’S

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SOCIAL BEHAVIOR SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN EUROPE DURING THE 1960’S

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different people from different geographical areas. In this effort to compare and contrast the different social behaviors, consider two areas that have almost similar factors that can affect these behaviors and accessing the differences and similarities. This is in order to establish the causes of this differences and similarities.

Comparing social behavior between western and Eastern Europe in the nineteen sixties sets a perfect ground of studying the differences and similarities. Take into account that this was during the post-world war two period and both areas had felt the effects of the world war. The study of these differences showcases how the different sides approached social behavior in regard to achieving their development objectives, having suffered losses during the world war. These similarities and differences are going to encompass the social behavior in relation to health, economy, culture and even social attitudes regarding racism and education, and their impact on the youth of then, who are now the major influencers of social behavior in the present times through their mentorships as parents, teachers and the leaders of the present day society. These similarities and differences can be noticed through the careful analysis of the change in family structures and dynamics in western and Eastern Europe. A change is noticed in smaller households and the Western Europe being characterized by extended families mutating to nuclear families due to the harsh economic times while Eastern Europe was characterized by a steadily increasing fertility among the women through increased child rearing. (Allport, 1985 p 44). The similarities and differences of socialbehavior can also be noted by analyzing economic development, political opinions and alignment towards communism and capitalism by both the western and Eastern Europe countries. The impact of world war two in relation to social behaviors and attitudes will also be analyzed.

The research is also going to encompass the similarities and differences on social behavior regarding political opinions and behaviors influencing democracy. This is going to give more insight on how these differences affected foreign policy in regard to the relationship between the eastern and western European countries. The research is also going to highlight the similarities and differences in relation to social behavior and attitude on military strategies and policies on wars between the two regions. Both the similarities and differences are going to be discussed under the same subheading but in each section I am going to state what were the similarities in social behaviors and the differences in social behavior, in section two by using the same subtopics.
Similarities in Social Behavior between Western and Eastern Europe during the Sixties
In relation to families:

s with the fear of an uncertain future for their newborns survival (Becker, 1988 p. 73). After the fall of Hitler and the dawning of a new horizon, many governments across Europe started emphasizing on the need for more births with a promise of a better future with better living standards. The similarity comes in where the population growth in terms of new born started growing at a steady rate, due to factors like improved standards of living, increased life expectancy and a general and steady growth of the European economy.

The masses of both regions had the similarity of having a regular birth rate with a reduction in infant mortality rates due to an improvement on the health care system across Europe. The improved health care was as a result of the medical discoveries made during the World War II through conduction on experiments on the Jews (Becker, 1988 p. 73). Although the means of finding and experimentation were quite unfortunate, especially regarding the human rights of the Jews being put into context, it still had a positive impact on Europe, especially in the sixties. The social behavior towards large families and sex was similar in both regions. This was then characterized by many families becoming bigger in number with an average household consisting of eight people, inclusive of the mother and father.

In regard to sexual behavior

The bracket for the first sexual intercourse dropped from an average age of(Jeffery, 1996, p.114). The surety of the cure of the sexually transmitted diseases saw an increase in pre-marital sexual encounters among the young adults in both western and Eastern Europe with a surety of treatment.
In relation to healthcare development

In relation to the economy

Western and Eastern Europe had a significant difference in economic policies. Western Europe exercised a capitalistic approach to the economy whileEastern Europe emphasized on Marxism and communalism. The social behaviors of these two regions towards economic growth were almost similar to the extent that they led to the lifting of trade barriers within European countries. Although it was met by a little resistance from the eastern European countries, the trade barriers lifting was eventually successful indicating that their social behavior towards economic growth objectives were related. This was even further strengthened by the efforts put in place by European countries to develop a universal currency to combat the strength and impact of the dollar in the world economy (Bartolini, 2000 p.208). As a result, this was occasioned by most Western Europe countries engaging in a mixed economy that led to western European exceptionalism in fast paced economic growth.

In relation to education

The increased competitive nature of the world economy in relation to recovery from world war two led toled to a rise in the need for professional graduates. Increased pressure was put on educational institutions to train more technical graduates in regard to engineering and technology and economics (Dalton, 1984 p.69).The similarity in social behavior was showcased by an influx of the training organizations with students. Each region strived to train more graduates in the engineering and technological field, in line with the industrial growth and development objectives in conjunction with economists to achieve economic growth. Despite their different economic strategies and opinions, the social behavior towards striving in education was similar. This was characterized by state sponsorships on graduate trainee programs and development of research and development departments across different universities in Europe.
In relation to technology

This period was characterized by fast paced movements towards technological development, regardless of the objectives of both regions. Western Europe technological advancement projects were mostly directed towards the achievement of economic and industrial growth. Eastern Europe projects were mostly directed towards achieving military technological advancements. (Lawson, 1999 p. 56). Their social behavior towards advancement in technological developments was virtually similar. This was characterized by increased government budgetary allocations on the technology industry to fund research and development projects on technology.Greater emphasis was placed by the then governments of the different nations on universities and training institutions to train more graduates in the technology sector (Bartolini, 2000 p.208)

In relation to politics and democracy development

Even though both regions shared different political views regarding politics with Eastern Europe characterized by dictatorships, the fast developing democracy fever from Western Europe was catching up fast with the eastern European countries (Dalton, 1984 p.133). Most of the masses from both regions shared a similarity of social behavior attitude and opinion intended at achieving political democracy and equality across Europe. This was witnessed by mass actions and revolting in most Eastern Europe countries with support of the western European countries towards achieving full democracy in the nations.
In regard to religion

The end of the world war was followed by mass backsliding in relation to religion. Most Western Europe nation’s inhabitants were Anglicans, while eastern European countries inhabitants mainly consisted of Catholicsand few Jews (Becker 1988 p.22). Due to the massive losses suffered during the Second World War, most Europeans’ social behavior and towards religion was that of a second thought, as most of them concentrated on the real issues of development and economic growth.
In regard to culture

The nineteen sixties were mainly characterized by the ‘Counter culture’ movement that spread from the United Statesto Western Europe and finally Eastern Europe. This was one example of social behaviors that were present in both western and Eastern Europe. It was characterized by the youth and young adults of that time revolting against conservative cultural norms and excluding themselves away from mainstream liberalism, particularly of the rising level of materialism that was growing fast during this season (Estrada, 1999p 42). The rebellion of most youth actioned this by disregarding most cultural practices, and led to a rampant increase in social ills, as the practice of pre-marital sex and increased cases of abortion. Even though this was around the time the birth control pills were developed, their social awareness regarding its use was low. The people in general saw a drastic decline in cultural views even with the adult people engaging in social behavior in both western and Eastern Europe as prostitution and solicitation were against most cultural practices in Europe.

In relation to the young adults and the youth

The social behavior of youths was the greatest similarity in both western and Eastern Europe from an increased rates of alcohol and drug abuse behaviors across the board to mass riots and European student movement’s demonstrations as a channel of airing out their grievances. Most of these students did not demonstrate or show any interests in politics and yet they were the ones in the front lines in resisting radical ideas based on Marxism, since they considered the authority, especially the police as using illegitimate and excessive force. These were actions collectively against totalism and absolutism aimed at promoting equal rights at all levels (Flacks 1970, p.345)

In relation to military strategies and war

The social behavior and belief regarding military strategies and war in both the western and Eastern Europe at this time were quite similar.They both believed in the protection of state interests as territory integrity and political sovereignty from international threats. Threats regarded as a hindrance to the above should be met with extreme military force (Bartolini, 2000 p.82). This was as a result of the less forceful countries suffering the highest blow during the Second World War.As a preventive measure, they decided to build a strong and well-equipped army to deal with these cases if they arise.
In relation to racism and sexism

Differences in Social Behavior between Western and Eastern Europe in the Sixties

In relation to the economy

During this period, the western and eastern economies had completely opposite approaches to economic development. Western Europe social behavior regarding economic growth was that of capitalismwhile that of eastern European countries was communism (Thompson, 2001 p. 96). This was particularly challenging especially when it came to trading transactions happening between the two blocks. This resulted in decreased trading activities between these two regions as each country preferred trading with the country that they share the same economic policies, because of the different social behavior attitudes toward achievement of economic growth.
In relations to families.
After suffering a great loss in terms of people due to deaths during the Second World War, the population in western and Eastern Europe dropped drastically. However, Eastern Europe was the worst hit due to Adolf Hitler’s massacre on the Jews (Lawson, 1999 p. 56). The then sitting governments after the war started to encourage their respective citizens to increase their child rearing rate with the promise of a better, sustainable economy with better healthcare services and good standards of living (Dalton, 1984 p.133). The western European countries because of their faith in their government were quick to follow the recommendations, as compared to the Eastern Europeans. However the eastern European inhabitants were skeptical about this recommendation because of their lack of trust in the then government which was still practicing communism. The uncertainty about the future in the Eastern European nations led to a drop in child rearing rates, and a decrease in family sizes from an average of six to three people.Western Europe was experiencing a steady increase in childbearing and infant mortality due to the difference in their social behavior.
In regard to social practices.

Even with rapid and rampant spread of the ‘counter culture’ movement across Europe from the United States, the (Estrada, 1999 p.42).

For example, in the countries where the Jewish religion was dominant Jewish teachings were strongly against the participation in social ills as the results were very severe as compared to the results of the western European countries dominated by the Anglican religion which are flexible. Another factor that made social behavior different in the western European countries different is the strict nature of the authorities in regard to engaging in rebellious acts that might undermine the authority of the state as this would have been met with excessive force.

In regard to political views and democracy.

The nineteen sixties were characterized with alignments on two political views.Capitalism is a social system of economics that is based on ownership of capital and production inputs privately for the production of goods and services, is a social system of economics and organization that is based on communal holding of property.The activities are controlled and owned by a state,commonly dominated by a single ruling political party (Becker, 1988 p.65).Capitalism was mainly associated with the western European countries, while communism was associated with the eastern European countries. Communism was popularized by the then defector leader of the Germans Adolf Hitler.It was mostly associated with dictatorship and oppression of its citizens. Therefore, the social behavior regarding political views was totally different between eastern and western Europe although most of the people shared the political agenda of achieving democracy.
In regard to sexual behavior.

During the Second World War, toorejection by society, especially from their fellow women. This is where the social behavior difference comes in since the western European women underwent post war guidance and counselling programs and, since this vice was not rampant in their region, their social behavior regarding sexual attitude and behavior was different.
In relation to healthcare development

In terms of healthcare development, Eastern Europe had made tremendous progress in terms of research and discovery of new cures and treatments of various diseases in the world, but surprisingly enough the healthcare system of Western Europe was better and preferred to that of eastern (Flacks 1970, p.345).This was only because of the negative attitude and social behavior of the people of Eastern Europe as they did not have trust in most of their healthcare system with the fear of an experiment being conducted on them in their cause of treatment in the government healthcare facilities. This fear was brought about the Adolf Hitler experiments on the Jews during the world war. This has led to increased cases of infant mortality since most women preferred to conceive in their homes to government hospital. That is the difference between the social behaviors of the eastern European towards their medical services as compared to western European people who fully utilizes the subsided healthcare services.
In relation to Education.

The differences in social behavior and attitude towards education was thaturopean countries put more pressure on their institutions of higher learning to produce more graduates in the technology sector in respect to the envisioned industrial growth (Dalton, 1984 p.133).There was a negative attitude and social relationship towards pursuing careers in the medical field, since no student wanted to be associated with the already tarnished medical field name of Eastern Europe. While it was quite different in the western European countries as they trained adequate graduates in each respective field with economic growth goal in mind.
In relation to military interventions and war

In relations to technology

Although the western and eastern Europe countries technological advancement levels were almost at par, the eastern European countries social behavior laid more importance and laid more emphasis on technological advancement in the military section (Estrada, 1999p 42). This was in terms of weapon development and biological weapons research, and they did this by allocating most of their budgeted funds to military projects and training while the western European nation’s social behavior and goals were economic growth.

In regard to racism and sexism

The western European countries had seen an increased number of former slaves from their previous colonies while the eastern European countries had seen an influx and an ultimate deflation of immigrants, especially the Jews, Arabs and Indians in their countries. Due to the strong campaign and willingness of the western European countries to embrace affirmative action and unity the issues of racism were steadily decreasing. This was due to a change in their social behavior regarding racism and sexism (Becker, 1988 p.65). The difference in social behavior comes in where the Eastern European countries still had the racism ideology since world war two, and believed in racial purity and male chauvinism. They used women as a tool of sex. Few other races resided in their country, and if so only as modern day slaves under immense suffering. Although the governments of Eastern Europe purported to implement the human rights law in their respective countries, there were several efforts aimed frustrating the full implementation of the various acts. The difference exists in social behavior towards racism between the two regions.

In regard to the young adults and the youth

Although the social behavior of youths in both western and eastern Europe was similar in the beginnings of the sixties, the differences in social behavior came in when the eastern European countries laid more emphasis on a large number of youth joining the military. This led to these youth’s social behavior to becoming more arrogant and aggressive, especially to their female counterparts, while the young adults and youth of western European countries focused more on studying strategic courses that could influence economic growth (Estrada, 1999, p 42). The difference is where the western European youth social behavior was accompanied by etiquette and respect in contrast with their counterparts in Eastern Europe.

Conclusion

Social behavior as a subject of discussion has come a long way in terms of social development since the creation of mankind. It has grown from the basics of behavior like communication and interaction, to more detailed behaviors like etiquette and decorum. This paper has given more focus on group level phenomena by analyzing social behavior similarities and differences in western and Eastern Europe during the nineteen sixties. The contrast of the two regions was as a result of looking for a suitable area that have almost similar environmental factors similarities are evident in relation to

The above analysis has led to the conclusion that social behavior can be best studied and analyzed in a natural non controlled environment so as to achieve non biased results. And focusing on the key areas of general analysis. This is because social behavior study goes hand in with the attitude. This is in terms of attitude formation, structure, and function of the case study and its subsequent awareness. Since if the case being studied are aware of the ongoing research they might tend to deviate from their normal behavior either out of fear or excitement. (Estrada, 1999p 42).Social behavior is adaptive especially to human beings since they have a mind of thinking logically and critically, and it is usually awkward if they act differently than expected. The adaptive nature of social behavior increases our fitness and our overall reproductive success over the period of our lifetime.

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