Case Study 1 – Mark and Joe: In Love at the Party
Mark invites Susan to their party and Susan accepts. She has enjoyed their conversations in the coffee shop
and decides she needs to get out.At the party, Joe and his date meet Susan and they are very impressed
with her. Susan is attractive, intelligent, and displays self-confidence in this social setting. Joe gets a chance
to speak privately with Mark while the women chat to get to know each other better.
Joe: “Wow, Mark! Susan is terrific! Good looking and smart like you said. Way to go!” (They high-five.)
Mark: “No kidding! I think this could be the one, Joe! She’s given me the eye and lets me hold her hand, so I
know she’s into me big-time. I never fall fast for someone but I’m thinking by the end of tonight, she’s gonna
be my girl.”
Joe: “I can’t believe this! My best friend Mark, in love, after only one date! I never took you for the romantic
type, Mark.”
Mark: “Sometimes you just got to reach out and grab what’s yours, Joe.”
Throughout the party, Mark continues to demonstrate his strong attraction to Susan. Because she has been
out of the social scene for a while, Susan appreciates Mark’s fondness for her and she returns the favor by
being mildly affectionate and agreeing to Mark’s friend request on Facebook. Mark takes this as another sign
that this is the real deal. But by the end of the party, Susan thanks Mark for a pleasant evening and takes a
cab home. Mark is devastated.
Mark: : “She took a cab home! I can’t believe it! She led me on all night long, giving me looks, holding my
hand, even friending me on Facebook. Everything she did showed she was into me and our relationship.”
Joe: “Women! What are you gonna do, Mark?”
Mark: : “I’m not giving up. I’m going to track her down at the coffee shop, post about our new relationship on
her Facebook page, and let her know old Mark is serious about this love affair.”
Joe: : “You tell her, Mark! Don’t let a good one like her get away. She’s your girl!”
Choose a case study
Case Study 1 – Mark and Joe: In Love at the Party
Choose a theory
Reciprocity: The obligation to return in kind what another has done for us. You can find more information on
this theory in your text in Chapter 9, pages 295-296.
Choose a concept
Moral Awareness: Moral awareness is the ability to detect and appreciate the ethical aspects of a decision
that one must make. For more information about this concept, review the What You Need to Know activity in
Unit 7.
Choose a concept
Confidence in Reason: Having confidence that your interests and those of mankind are best served by
reasoning. For more information about this concept, review the What You Need to Know activity in Unit 8.