All people have a degree
of social responsibility, and some will willingly take on more social
responsibility than others. When an individual tries to help society, the
effort should be lauded, but the consequences for the individual concerned are
not always happy ones. Dilemmas will often later emerge to determine whether an
individual feels inclined to continue to help society.
Gaining a Good Reputation
- Helping others will give a person a good reputation in a community. This good reputation will also make it easier for an individual to use her good name to push forward additional good work. This individual's opinion will be sought within a community. Once a person has proved herself to be a socially responsible person, she will be given opportunities to become more involved in helping the community. Feeling respected will also be a nice feeling in itself.
Being Taken for Granted
- When people think of putting social responsibility into practice, they will often be encouraged by others. Problems will arise when an individual, who puts in a lot of time and effort, becomes taken for granted. Once that individual feels that his efforts are not being fairly recognized, then the motivation to carry on will sometimes be eroded. It's important that people who do take on a lot of social responsibility are made to feel appreciated for their work.
Too Much Responsibility
- Sometimes an individual will be so competent at handling social responsibility that she will be given too much. This will become draining for some individuals, or it will make some begin to feel that they are more powerful than they actually are. If a person isn't ready for too much responsibility, then she is also more likely to make mistakes. For someone who has built up a good reputation in a community, a negative change in fortunes will be devastating.