As my boys have grown up, they have often plied me with pleading questions such as,
"Can I have an iphone?" Followed by the refrain,
"Everyone has one."
When I have questioned my kids as to
who "Everyone" is and suggested calling round to find out, it is often only one or
two friends and not the whole grade, that they are thinking about.
At times, we have all been influenced by peers, school expectations, the media and familial
relationships and dynamics, for good and for bad.
As we get into our teens and young adulthood, the
social perception of what "Everyone" thinks can take on larger than
life proportions that can influence us positively or negatively.
The critical voices in our heads may have great
bearing on our decisions. Our self-perception can be
altered, according to how much store we have set by how we think others
perceive us.
