social status/class. I've met people who can't seem to get enough of bragging about how they went to the best shcools, how they know so many wealthy people, and what elite clubs they are a part of. For me, I could care less about those things, and it all seems so "high school-ish". What makes adults so absorbed with this?
2007-03-08 03:48:05 · 8 answers · asked by Starscape 6 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Actally, Liligirl, the person in particular I was thinking of when I posted my question is 84! His whole family is obsessed in the same way. In fact, when I was introduced to his grandson, the first thing he did was show me his Rolex watch!
2007-03-08 04:05:16 · update #1
Canman, I am a very spiritual person, I feel my life is balanced in the things that are important to me-family, pets, my the artwork that I do.
2007-03-08 04:08:27 · update #2
So many good answers! This is what makes it hard when the time comes to choose a best answer!
2007-03-08 04:13:40 · update #3
Because they get attention for it from many people, and they are working for that social attention. Often this backfires when they talk about their accomplishments in front of an audience that doesn't value the same things the same way other audiences they are in do.
Most of us need social interactions to varying degrees, and whatever gets us social approval we're going to do more of. (Yes, it's true that some people work to avoid the spotlight, too.) So if your best friend is the real-life version of Larry the Cable Guy you're probably going to get more reinforcement for discussing your sister's moles or someone's dirty underwear than if your best friend is Donald Trump. Discussing your latest financial gain with Larry won't get you nearly as much mileage as it will get you discussing it with Donald.
Basically it's about not having a varied behavioral repertoire that gives you a way to fit into a variety of social situations. If you're very used to people being impressed by your high social status, it may take you a while to "get it" that not everyone feels that way. When people get it, they either develop other ways of behaving around different people or they stop hanging around different kinds of people. OR, they get something out of saying that stuff around people who don't like it and that's good enough for them.
2007-03-08 04:00:05 · answer #1 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really wish I knew. I completely agree with you. My own family is like that and I feel like I haven't escaped completely unscathed. It's hard NOT to think like that when the entire society around you is fixated on ranking everyone and everything. It seems like it has become just a part of life.
But it's wrong. So long as people prove themselves to be mature, safe, hard-working, self-improving, etc ... it doesn't matter where they came from or how much money they make in a year ... It's just a matter of being a good citizen. Those things should be the judgment of a person, and not things that can so quickly be taken away.
2007-03-08 11:56:52 · answer #2 · answered by Natalie M 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps the fact that the media is also obsessed with this drivel, and their constant reporting of which celeb goes to which club, or owns what car convinces people that they have to behave the same way to have any worth whatsoever.
Unfortunately, many of the people who run the world are also caught up in this obsession, which means that if you don't play the game, you don't get anywhere. It's a self perpetuating circle, and if you don't subscribe, you don't ever 'amount to anything'. Yeah, right.
Glad to read you've got some sense - perhaps we can form our own elite club composed of people who don't care about being in clubs... :-)
2007-03-08 12:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by Dogstarrr 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have very good point! many people are so arrogant and egotistical that they cannot be happy without having all the best material items! the pursuit of wealth is a morally dangerous thing! one must remember, you cannot ake the rolls-royce and 500,000 dollar bank account with you when you meet your maker! ones life is not judged on how much money you are worth, but on how you helped others! christ will one day ask you: GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR LIFE"! WAHT GOOD THINGS DID YOU DO TO PROMOTE GODS KINGDOM? not: how much money do you have, or did you get that fancy car you dreamed about! many adults simply have no! spiritual life!and in their unhappiness, pursue materialism until they die, thinking they have the good life! just ask ANNA NICHOLE SMITH! if you thin k i am lying!! where is she now? huh? answer that! good question! hope you find some balance in your own life! and do not worry about getting the big car like the joneses have!
2007-03-08 11:59:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually, it sounds like you are hanging around a lot of twenty somethings, who tend to be very impressed with themselves and their sense of self entitlement doesn't allow them to consider conversation other than that which would propel their wannabee images out into a greater sphere.
Sorry for the cynicism, I have just about had my fill of the newbies under 30. They don't realize we have been there and see right through them.
2007-03-08 11:58:58 · answer #5 · answered by Liligirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is just taking the drama of highschool years to the next level, and I agree, it is very immature.
2007-03-08 11:56:31 · answer #6 · answered by thisxlifexisntxrealx2006 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were that way in high school, too. But there are those who think as you do. Your mama taught you to love your neighbor as your self.
2007-03-08 12:02:52 · answer #7 · answered by Handy man 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Capitalism pushes this behavior.
2007-03-08 11:55:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋