The Pressure of Today's Society

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The Pressure of Todays Society In todays society, many people feel pressure from others to do things that they are not always comfortable doing. This happens with people of all ages, starting in early childhood, all the way up to when you grow old. In the story “Through the Tunnel” by Dorris Lessing, the main character Bobby feels the pressure from other boys of his age to do something that he isn’t comfortable doing. Being in this position makes him feel very left out, so he wants to try what the others are doing, even though it may not be safe. On the other hand, his mom is faced with a similar situation; she is a recently widowed mother that is having trouble letting go. Even though she knows she needs to let him do his own thing, she is having trouble doing so. No matter what the age, someone may come to this situation and have trouble knowing what to do. Individuals who allow themselves to open up and try new things without worrying about what others think, can accomplish goals which they originally thought weren’t possible; accomplishing these goals can be the way to prove to yourself and others that you are ready to take the next step, no matter what that step is. When people feel insecure, they may try to impress others, instead of doing what they know is the right choice for them. In the book “Advances in Culture and Psychology,” in chapter seven it is quoted saying “Results indicated that a VI (HC) orientation, measured at the individual level, predicted greater exploitative (benevolent) behavior in a negotiation, and also greater intentions to behave in ways aimed at impressing others.” (Shavitt 330). This is a prime example of how trying to impress others can impact your decision making process. You often times hear in the news people or groups of people who want to get into a clique like a sorority are told to do unreasonable things to get in. This
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