Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Why We Should Avoid Labeling People

By Neely Gallon


Why do some people feel compelled to put labels on things and others? It may make them comfortable to feel that person is understood and therefore, classified. However, it can be a burden for those carrying the label, which may or may not be accurate. Labeling occurs in our minds before we even know we're doing it and involves are preconceptions and biases.

When we label children we take the risk of making them feel defined by how others see them. They may feel stifled by the label and unable to break free from it. It can be harmful since labels placed on children often become self-fulfilling prophesies, whether good or bad.

It's hard for children to escape labeling. When they enter school they are often labeled by their teachers, administrators and peers. Designations like class clown, bully, brain or jock are hard to avoid.

You may think that putting labels on people is insignificant and harmless but that isn't the case for everyone. It can cause those labeled to lose their motivation and damage their self-esteem.

When a label is applied it changes the perception the public has on that person. It can make it hard for them to get along in the world. They may feel pigeon-holed in that label, whether fair or unfair.

Sometimes people who are labeled are unwilling or afraid to show how it affects them. They may feel hurt or angry and just keep those feelings bottled up inside. As a result, they may act out or end up bottling up all those emotions and closing themselves off to others.

This self-imposed isolation can be damaging. It can lead to depression, substance abuse and anti-social behavior.

In a perfect world, no one would be labeled unfairly, but that's not the reality of life. People use labels because it makes them feel safe in an insecure world. They are unlikely to stop. When we can do is recognize that someone else's perception doesn't have to define us. We can choose to be confident and rise above their need to designate things.




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