Jenny and I had a short conversation about peer pressure today. It was mainly about how we see peer pressure affect some of the people around us in certain areas of life, yet I realize that I fall to peer pressure far too often.
I can think of people that I'm far more likely to use "colorful" language around, or those that I'm more likely to pray around, or those that I'm more likely to say please and thank you around.
I can think of people I'm more likely to eat vegetables around, to wear different clothes around, even to fake happiness or excitement around.
It isn't that these things happen everytime, but I must admit that I too fall to peer pressure.
It makes me wonder how "individual" we really are.
I have had similar observations and reflections in the past. However, I've come to understand that the ability to adapt one's behavior appropriately according to the social setting, situation, or individual is actually an indication of one's Emotional Intelligence - something researchers have identified as a stronger predictor of success in life than one's IQ. Adjusting one's behavior appropriately shows respect for others. Of course, if you are conforming to certain behaviors against your will, out of fear, or simply to pretend to be something you're not, perhaps there really is peer pressure at work.
ReplyDeletedoes colorful language mean swearing?
ReplyDeleteit is also funny how much our significant other influences us? If we are not influenced or persuaded, we are sleeping on the couch!
Of course "colorful" means swearing, though some "swear" words are far more "colorful" than others.
ReplyDeleteThere are many words I use in conversations that some might define "swearing" and around them, I hope i have the emotional intelligence to adapt, while other words, I have found myself to be more vulgar than helpful in communication.
With many of those, the company does not even matter, I simply won't use them.
My vocabulary is full of many colors of the rainbow though.