First Class Behaviours for First World Nations. Public behaviour in Singapore

Anthology from the year 2018 in the subject Sociology - Culture, Technology, Peoples / Nations, James Cook University Singapore, language: English, abstract: Singapore has come a long way to become what the International Monetary Fund and World Bank define as an advanced economy or developed country or a first world nation (FWN). To be a FWN requires more than just a claim or a certain standard of living or per capita GDP. It also requires certain behaviours of the nation's people, herein defined as First Class Behaviour (FCB).

In other aspects like education, science and technology, and more importantly, the intellectual and cultural realms, is Singapore still within FWN standards? That is not to say that people of other FWNs always exhibit FCBs. Even other FWNs have undesirable behaviours. Ideally, people of all nations should exhibit FCBs all the time.

The suggestions of the book are not meant to hurt feelings, but to identify behaviours that could be modified or improved upon for the betterment of everyone in Singapore and beyond. Each of the chapters is intended to resonate with a particular area of human behaviour. Several other major themes carried in this book include awareness of others, social etiquette in various interactions and settings, use of public facilities, perceptions of junk, and finally the virtue of savings.

Public behaviour is a function of awareness of our immediate social setting and response to it. The "feel good" factor is evident when we can board a train where people are mindful and considerate to make the extra space for others so that they too can get to their destination on time with comfort. Inconsiderate toilet behaviour is also comparable to the way deviant acts are found on public buses where used tissue papers are strewn on the floor, stuck between seats and sometimes stuffed into an air-conditioner vent by the passenger seat.

This book is thought of as a provocative must read for those in public policy, teachers, students and parents to understand social norms and share important virtues that are necessary to elevate a society to First Class Behaviours in a First World Nation.