Complex You

In class, on Wednesday, we sat in a huge circle and we were asked to classify ourselves in groups we are a part of. Whether we put down that we're apart of a certain sport, a family, a group of friends, or a certain sexuality, we were also asked to list our status within each group. Finally, we placed a star by the status we saw as being the most important, the status we define ourselves as. The people who thought their role/status in their family defined them said so because they were so close to their family members that, without them, they would be a different person. The people whose top choice regarded their status in sports, believed their lives are the way they are today because of the sport they play; they believe they have the type of friends they have because of this sport, they manage their time the way they do because of this sport, and their attitude is the way it is because of that sport. This activity showed me how complex people are because of one thing; one group they were involved with had such a large effect that it has made them the person they are today. People are used to developing schemas about people in their mind, and by using confirmation bias, if they see one person in their schema group that fits that schema, they will see everyone in that group as the same. This activity really showed that everyone is different; no two people are ever replicas. We should open our eyes and realize that everyone is their own, unique individual.