Do we need others to understand ourselves?

Question

It's my SAT essay question, but I'm really confused how should I answer. Pls help me out by giving me reasons for ur answer^^pls. I owe u guys this big time^^
(whether understanding others will help us understand ourselves better? some say yes because we're somehow similar in some aspects, but others say no becuz we're individuals)

Answer 1

I think we do. Let's put it this way, everyone in this universe is interlinked in some way or another. Whatever happens to one person, affects another person. Similarly, when we seek to understand someone, i.e why they behave in certain ways, we look back at ourselves in comparison.

Take this for an example. When you look at someone with a happy family and you don't have one, you know what you are missing because that someone serves as a comparison to yourself. As much as people like to claim they are "unique individuals", there is always some point of reference. Why do you think there are always times when people go "Does she remind you of...?"

This is also a reason why pyschology is studied in the first place, because there are similar traits and behaviorial patterns in everyone. Of course, everyone is unique in their own way, but in general terms, we do need to understand others to understand ourselves. Of course, the comprehension part is done and evaluated by the individual him/herself.

Answer 2

If you want to do well with the real SAT (meaning that you are doing it on your own), understand that the only wrong answer is an undefended one. SAT does not believe that one of these answers is better - they just want to see how well you write argumentatively.

Instead of asking others' opinions, truly think about your own answer. The key to getting a great SAT score is to:
1. Acknowledge that there are two sides (as you did in your question to us).
2. Explore each side ("having others could be correct because..." while "individuality could be correct because...") in your opening paragraph.
3. Decide what YOU believe is a stronger (not correct or right) argument, use that as your thesis statement and defend it with three points (three is the key to the SAT).

Again, the key to this is to take a stance - not look for the "right" answer :)

Good luck!

Answer 3

--To a degree, yes we do need others in reference to helping one another in, but that is limited because of jealosies, unhealthy competitions, etc.

--So we need to be careful to whom we will do the learning with or from. By that I mean, what is the morality or disposition of the one we are having a learning experience from? Note the highest recommendation that we do well to consider:

(1 Peter 2:21-23) “21 In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a MODEL(my caps) for YOU to follow his steps closely. 22 He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. 23 When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.”

--SO THEN the Bible supplies enough information to view Christ in true light, with his activities with fellow humans and his compassions, kindnesses and many other qualities that would enhance humanities desperate needs, IF adhered to!
--One can make healthy comparisons and indeed learn from this greatest of all men.

Concerning Christ's reality note this comment:

--*** gt The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived ***

--The respected historian Will Durant argued: “That a few simple men should in one generation have invented so powerful and appealing a personality, so lofty an ethic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels.”


--There is a Biblcal statement that states "iron sharpens iron......"so when humans work together in good attitude we can indeed benefit--but is that not rare?

--The Biblcal recommendations are as such:

(Galatians 6:1-5) “. . .. 2 Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and thus fulfill the law of the Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deceiving his own mind. 4 But let each ONE PROVE(my caps) what his own work is, and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person. 5 For each one will carry his own load.”

--In your SAT essay, if you are concerned about not providing Biblcal answers, just use the principles or ideas presented --

Answer 4

absolutely,we need others for a soundingboard
and testing ground,to build up experience to deal with things,and its part of the learning proces and build up good social behavior.
to become a individual is the next stage.

Answer 5

yes u do cause u need 2 know what u going though

Answer 6

i would say yes, not from the viewpoint of understanding others,,,,, but as we compare and bounce ideas off of others, both those we agree with/are similar with,,,,,, and those we are not alike/disagree with,,,,,it helps us define ourselves,, and consider our concepts and ideas and opinions,,,,, also, we learn alot from what others have learned about theirselves,,

Answer 7

I think so. We can only measure something by comparing it to something else.

Answer 8

if you new nobody you would no yourself so no you dont need others to no your self