Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
The need to belong is a fundamental human motive. When people are socially rejected, they make a great effort to conform and regain approval to preserve their self-esteem. Social rejection also has important consequences on well-being, happiness, and intelligence.
At the same time, the need for uniqueness is also a fundamental human motive. When people are treated too similar to others, they (sometimes unconsciously) attempt to do anything to make them stand out. For instance, people who had their uniqueness threatened were quicker to endorse uniqueness-related words and were more likely to express less popular attitudes.
How can this be? How can humans have both the need to belong and the need for uniqueness? Well, humans are complicated! We have lots of motives, many of which frequently conflict with each other. This is why most people try to strike a balance between their various motives, and are satisfied with moderate levels of each motive.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201208/social-rejection-can-fuel-creativity
At the same time, the need for uniqueness is also a fundamental human motive. When people are treated too similar to others, they (sometimes unconsciously) attempt to do anything to make them stand out. For instance, people who had their uniqueness threatened were quicker to endorse uniqueness-related words and were more likely to express less popular attitudes.
How can this be? How can humans have both the need to belong and the need for uniqueness? Well, humans are complicated! We have lots of motives, many of which frequently conflict with each other. This is why most people try to strike a balance between their various motives, and are satisfied with moderate levels of each motive.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/beautiful-minds/201208/social-rejection-can-fuel-creativity