In today’s society everyone feels the need to belong. Always looking for the next best thing; the new miracle diet, ways to get rich quick, whatever someone can to fit into Society’s definition of what you should be. Magazines are filled with pages of airbrushed, photo-shopped models practically screaming to women and men this is what you have to look like, otherwise you won’t fit in. Not only are these standards way out of reach, they are ridiculous. No one is perfect, but somehow people are willing to go to the extremes to be just that. Why has society become so obsessed with what others think of them? When is enough, enough? What extremes will you go to in order to fit in and belong?

It’s a natural feeling to want to be accepted by everyone. But fact of the matter is, you aren’t going to be able to please everyone in the world. So why push yourself over the top to belong in a certain group? Peer pressure doesn’t just happen in adolescence. Peer pressure is everywhere, effecting everyone to feel the need to belong and doing whatever they can to.

Humans from day one had feelings of wanting to belong. Back in the days of cavemen being in groups helped to ensure your survival. They learned to fit in so they wouldn’t become an outcast, which could lead them to dying without the help of their group.

Today’s society hasn’t made that feeling any better. Children grow up seeing society tell them what is acceptable and if you don’t follow them, your not normal. No one wants to be looked down on as odd or abnormal. Parents try their hardest to help their kids fit in and make friends, because they know how society is.

At the same time belonging to something gives someone the satisfaction that they are wanted. Humans are social creatures, being able to belong and to feel accepted as you are makes you feel good about yourself. You can get benefits by belonging to a certain group as well. For example, being on a sports team gives you a chance to be with people that are as interested as you are in that particular sport. You create a bond with someone who understands the way you feel. Sports teams help you make friends, learn new skills, and is great exercise. So, feeling the need to belong isn’t always a bad thing.

Feeling the need to belong is psychological and every human being has those feelings in their life. The key is to understand you are who you are, and there are people who will accept you and love you, just the way you are. You don’t need to belong to Society’s Standards of normal, but it’s always nice to belong to something that you love and respect. Go out for a club in school, join a sports team, go to a weekly book club, figure out what you are interested in and find out of there is an organization for it, if not, make one. Your want to fit in will be satisfied just by meeting others who share a common interest with you.

Sources:

www.debelkin.com/NEED_BELONG.pdf
www.wasabiburger.com/how-to-satisfy-our-need-to-belong/