William Bates

Communication 160

Christina Ivey

September Blog Contribution

            Quote: “For years I was daunted by the expectations, as though I had to live up to [my mother’s] idea of who she thought I was.” Gomez 41

            This quote is important because many people today are in a situation like this with their family or loved ones. They may expect more out of someone than they can give, and this negatively contributes to everyone’s personal development of their self. In many cases, expectations people hold of one another can cause stresses in daily life, and it can alter the ways in which people communicate with those who hold expectations of them. In a Psychology Today article by Dr. Bella DePaulo, she discusses the idea that expectations can shape behavior. She warrants that expectations in the classroom can predict overall class performance. (DePaulo 1) If someone is expected to do well, most of the time they will. This deals with realistic expectations, and the original quote chosen is referring to unrealistic expectations some people hold for one another.

            While realistic expectations can be constructive, unrealistic expectations have the potential to cause unnecessary stresses and reduce a person’s ability to develop their sense of self. Developing a personal style and sense of self is immensely important, and without this, an element of creativity is lost. This quote was able to assist in my understanding of the material through outlining a common fear and how it is able to take over the mind. Time that is spent worrying is time lost.

References

DePaulo, Bella. “Can Your Expectations Shape My Behavior?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 11 Nov. 2009, www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-single/200911/can-your-expectations-shape-my-behavior. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.