Is this human nature? Why do people act different in front of different people?

Question

I do this too, I act a certain way in front of school friends then a diffirent way in front of old friends and even my cousins. I've noticed this amongst people as well.

Answer 1

I wouldn't call it "Human Nature". It is part of the "rewards system" you (and many others) have developed to take care of yourself. Some call it, "Looking out for NUMERO UNO."

It was developed as a response to lack of trust of people in general. I'm not saying this is all bad; nor am I saying it is good. It just is. That is the world we live in. Con-men take advantage of this in the "found wallet" ploy.

You find a wallet with 600 dollars in cash and a bank note for $4400.00 in it. Someone is always right there to "find it with you." Greed and mistrust. How to split the money of your find with them? Don't give them $1400 and the original $600 to make that up and try to cash the bank check for $4400 cause its worthless.

If it were your mother, you'd just give her the wallet. If it were a school friend, you might be tempted to "split" the money. What do you "get" when its your mother? What do you get when its a little trusted friend. Competitive morality is at fault, not whether you are good or bad. If you look at everything you do in life as an economic transaction, and I do mean everything, you realize why you make those decisions. But when you make decisions based on the heart, emotions, suddenly the logic that would have been there to warn you, is no longer there,

Thus, you've learned to treat people differently, based on how much you trust them. This is how we've learned to deal with people that wish to take advaqntage of us. AND, THAT INCLUDES GIVING AWAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF. Its self-protection.

As I've said: It ain't good; it ain't bad; it just is.

Answer 2

I think it is human nature. I do it also there are only a few close people that I feel I am truly myself with. I think I do it partly because I don't get close with a lot of people. I am friendly to everyone(well mostly,lol) but the way I act depends on the relationship I have with the person and the way they act with me.

Answer 3

It's because they want to be politically correct and don't want to be judged.

For instance, if you're at a church function, you want to conform to everyone there. If you're at your close friends' party, you feel free to act the way you wanted. If you’re at a political rally, you act accordingly.