Posted by Eddie Sylvano on September 23, 2002, at 15:17:51
In reply to Re: Jesus is admirable/other ruminations » Eddie Sylvano, posted by Mal on September 20, 2002, at 17:11:50
> But now you've got me thinking... Why is it that some people seem to be born more susceptible to the emotional suggestions of group psychology? Fortunately, (IMO), I have never been one of them, but my Mom is MUCH more open to that sort of thing. Is it nature or nuture? Is it chemical? Are there drugs I could get (legally or otherwise) that would make me more "spitirual"? (I'm not ACUTALLY interested in doing so, I'm just making a point). Fascinating to think about...
--------------------------It'd be hard to answer that. One of the hallmarks of unhappy people that I've noticed is a distinct lack of self esteem. More specifically, these people don't feel that their own ideas or opinions have any merit. Therefore, they always look to other people for indications of what to think/do, and to validate their thoughts (or sometimes invalidate). Why this happens to some people, I don't know. It could be partly biological. If their temperment leads them to be less successful in current societal terms (they're quiet, don't meet as many people, don't get job leads, etc), they might see themselves as defective, and look to others for "better" ideas. Also, I'm sure that if you were raised in an environment where the social leaders (parents, kids in school) belittled your ideas/actions, you'd just come to believe it. In any case, you end up needing the advice and approval of others in order to make desicions.
Still, the disparity between the most and least socially controlled people isn't that big. It's incredibly rare (beyond mental disorders) that anyone really, truly doesn't care what other people think about them, to the point that they behave however they please in public.
poster:Eddie Sylvano
thread:920
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20020715/msgs/939.html