Pressure, as it Relates to Perception.

             In the previous entry, I spoke briefly on the matter of pressure.

             Pressure is a constant in life, much like change, and the two are quite thoroughly connected. Pressure is capable of driving change, good or bad. People face pressure every day- from advertisements, social situations, work and recreation. Additionally, while these pressures may, for better or worse, encourage a person to change, they may also do the opposite— mandating that one must remain as they are and do things as they have always done.
            Therefore, societal pressures may stand in the way of Acceptance Theory- think of children in school subjected to peer pressure, making fun of less popular children in order to avoid being bullied themselves. Ignorance or limited information may be causes of such pressure. As I’ve mentioned before, differences are neutral things, and more often than not, the fear, disdain, or hatred that arises toward a group of people is rooted in some misinterpreted practice, or  an incorrectly assigned value on their customs or cultures.
            The pressure that arises from ignorance can be interpreted(perception), or perhaps more accurately ‘implemented’ in a number of ways, again, good or bad. There are those who are pressured by their ignorance to learn more- we typically call this curiosity. However, there are others who prefer to use ignorance as an excuse to marginalize the unknown, people who resist the opportunity for change because of the difficulty associated with it. Comments like “Who knows why they do what they do?” come to mind, where a person suggests that further understanding is impossible, or comments like “Well, they’re all just *insert (often derogatory)term here*” suggest a complete understanding is already present.
            Even pressure made with positive intent can have negative effects. If a message is perceived as hostile, it cannot be received by the listener, regardless of what content is to be conveyed. The best intentions may cause conflict, insult or slight, exacerbating the condition, rather than soothing it. Put simply, the ends do not justify the means. In our interactions with one another, it is easy to forget the effect our words and actions have on others, especially if we are focused on how we feel as a result of someone else’s words or actions.Bear in mind that if we hurt others with our words carelessly, or even intentionally because we have been hurt, there can be no healing, nor improvement of conditions. We must be careful with our words and actions in order to minimize misunderstandings. Failure to do so may cause others to assume things that are not true about us, and therefore perpetuate the cycles of intolerance and separation.
            In this way, perception and pressure are intertwined. We pressure because we perceive(a need for change, perhaps), and on the receiving end, our understanding of our own (subconscious)perceptions places us under pressure to alter not the way we see things, visions of the self included(as we should), but the way others see us. The best way to alter perception involves clarification and elaboration, but not necessarily the changing of the self(except perhaps, to a more discerning individual). We must explain and be explained to. We must understand(acknowledge) and be understood(acknowledged). This does not mean that there must be agreement. Part of Acceptance is, as I have said, accepting when others do not agree. Disagreement is no justification for disrespect.