Johnson Ch6 "What It All Has to Do with Us"

1) Johnson's main argument in this chapter is that people act differently depending upon the situation that they are in.

2) The author illustrates this by giving an example of playing the game Monopoly. He talked about how while playing the game the players act greedy by taking each other's money in order to win. He then continues to talk about how when people are not playing Monopoly that they do not act like, because the situation is different and they do not need to act greedy. He talks about how people are individuals, yet they are not because they act in the ways of others, and follow the "path of least resistance". Johnson talks about "the path of least resistance" is usually always chosen because it is easier for people to choose that path because they are then accepted by society. He mentions how hard it is to change the paths, but it has happened. Johnson talks about four African American students in Greensboro, North Carolina. This group went into a lunch counter were they were not welcomed, and stayed there in hopes to change the future. They stayed there, on a different path, and eventually helped to change the future.

3) Why has society made a path of least resistance?
How can different situations affect a person's actions, or a group's actions?

4) I believe that there is a path of least resistance because our society has formed those paths based on what it knows, and has accepted life to be. I believe that it is hard for a person to stand up for something that they believe in if their belief is something that will not be accepted by the majority. There are times in everyone's life were they want to not follow that path of least resistance, but they cannot help to because it is easier. They go along with the flow because if they do not they are viewed to be different and are then rejected and questioned by society. People are afraid to stand up because they do not know what will happen. Either the future will change, or they will be ridiculed by society. The fear of being ridiculed can easily convince a person to not speak up for what they believe in or what they believe against. People refuse to stand up against they do not agree with because it is easier to keep quiet and because they will not be viewed as being stuck up for disagreeing.