Minutes before the publication of this post I wrote this for my SEL class.
One belongs to a group when they (1) can connect with them emotionally and (2) feel free to behave authentically when with said group. This is different from “fitting in”, which is deliberately altering one’s behavior to appeal more to a group. If someone tries to “fit in” they, subconsciously or not, think that the group will reject or ostracize them if they act as they naturally would. People usually are fine with differing in interests from their friends if they feel belonging.
Because “fitting in” is contrived behavior, the friendships made under it to are necessarily more tenuous and superficial than ones resulting from belonging. One decides that they belong with a group because they feel understood by and comfortable with them; they decide that they fit in because they’re acting in a way the group finds unobjectionable.
No comments:
Post a Comment