Discussion – Character Counts

Discussion – Character Counts

By definition, an epidemic is when there is a rapid spread of a certain disease within a certain geographic area or in a specific population, taking place over a particular period. An epidemic occurs when the number of new cases reported of a disease considerably exceeds the expected numbers, meaning the disease is spreading rapidly. An example of this is the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In the video Character Counts, the speaker refers to a character epidemic (TEDx Talks 1:46)

Character is defined as “those interpenetrable and habitual qualities within individuals, and applicable to organizations that both constrain and lead them to desire and pursue personal and societal good” (Wright and Tyler 27). These qualities include honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility. As such, the speaker in the video Character Counts uses the term metaphorically to suggest that there is a rapid and widespread decline in character and a moral decline that is pervasive, the same as a disease does in an epidemic. This means that behaviors like no accountability, lack of integrity, dishonesty, and disrespect are prevalent in society, causing damage to personal and professional relationships and potential for collapse of societal structures.

According to Shapiro, delayed integrity is when guilt-ridden people, sometimes either through verbal or nonverbal means, reveal their wrongdoings to others. Instead of acting with integrity while in the moment, a person decides to make a poor moral choice and later admits to their wrongdoing. Notably, people often act this way when it is convenient for them or when under pressure to do so. Consequently, this can cause trust issues and affect one’s credibility. However, when a person would have gotten away with their wrongdoing but decided to come forward with the truth, I believe this serves the opposite effect in that it helps build trust and credibility as opposed to when they do it due to self-serving reasons.

Works Cited

Shapiro, Debra L. “Response to Wright’s Analysis of When “Delayed” Integrity Occurs: A Guilty Conscience Needs No Accuser, but Rather, a Community.” Journal of Management Inquiry, vol. 13, no. 4, Dec. 2004, pp. 304–311. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492604271033.

TEDx Talks. “Character Counts | Thomas Wright | TEDxUniversityofNevada.” YouTube, 28 Mar. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7rbjrGYCHY.

Wright, Thomas A., and Tyler L. Lauer. “What Is Character and Why It Really Does Matter.” Business Faculty Publications, vol. 2, 2013, fordham.bepress.com/gsb_facultypubs/2.

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Discussion – Character Counts

https://youtu.be/-7rbjrGYCHY?si=s2Ma8PCenWTxxIFs

After watching the video Character Counts, what does the speaker mean when he says we are in a “character epidemic” describe the phrase delayed integrity? Write 250 words.