Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

I just dont understand it.

If someone dressed different or dyes their hair pink or gets a lot of pericings theyre conisdered a "weirdo" and a "freak". For example, theres this one girl in my school who kind of goes to her own beat. She loves japanese and harajuku culture, she also mixes and matches things and creates her own look. Shes dyed her hair a couple of unnatural colors to. Shes actually incredibly pretty, but everyone just makes fun of her all day and says horrible things to her all day every day.

But why? Why are people that are different so criticized for standing out and being an individual? I really just dont understand, so if someone could explain it to me it would be very helpful.

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

This is a good question, but I believe there is more than one possible answer. First of all, I knew people in high school that wore some really bizarre clothes. While I thought they looked ridiculous, I did not go out of my way to make fun of them and I would only have done so if one of them tried to insult me.

Motivations are usually behind why one makes fun of another and why one wears "weird" styles to stand out as an "individual." Making fun of another is a way of putting oneself above that person, i.e. "At least I am not like him/her..." Perhaps the one doing the insulting feels that they are all too often the target of insult. Some of the most malicious people are often the weakest, or most insecure.

Now, on to the "freak." It is really beyond me why some people dye their hair unusual colors or wear strange clothing. I, personally, think it is stupid and it has no place in school. I am sure there are enough distractions in school today with all the indoctrination being pushed in favor of real education, that strange hair and clothing just adds to the distraction. But perhaps the girl you know likes the attention, even if it is negative attention.

In terms of individuality, I could never understand that one. The only way I wanted to distinguish myself in school was through superior academic achievement, varsity sports, and working out. These things help prepare you for life. Academics make you smarter, working out makes you stronger, and sports help you learn about teamwork and competition (what it really means to win and lose) while making you mentally tough. The "individuality" being expressed by the girl you know is only skin deep.

One more point. Most of these "individuals" in high school have to drop their image if they ever want to get a real job. Most employers do not hire people that do not present themselves in a professional manner. I know a few people that looked ridiculous in high school and you would never know it today because of this reason.

I hope this helps, but like I said, there isn't any one definite answer.

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

It's the fear factor. People tend to fear what they don't understand. And since many people cannot understand anything different from their own preferences, they fear anything different from themselves. It's associated with prejudice and bigotry, which are due to the same fear of difference.

These people are in denial, believing they are somehow superior that the person who is different, but in reality, it's fear.

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

Don't worry about those types of people. "Carpe Diem" or seize the day as it's called. Life is short. Don't trifle with small minded people.

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

Human nature to recognize the oddity or abnormality, and human nature to criticise without regard for the consequences of their overt criticisms.

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

Hey! Im a psychology student and ill try to explain: Humans are like herd-animals. They want to be a part of a group. The ingroup. One of the things that makes them a group is to have a common enemy. Someone who doesn閳ユ獩 belong to their group (outgroup) This girl can be an enemy because she doesn閳ユ獩 look or act the same way they do. So picking on her is not a threat to them. Its all about wanting to belong to a group.

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

because they might be scared. their parents also r involed by telling them that it's wrong to be gay or black or to be different.

there r alot of prepsin my school but there r also ppl that aren't and i'm 1 of them. i have blue streaks in my hair and i shop at hot topic,spencers and pacsun,getting a ew things from other places 2. i don't want to fit in and i like to be different instead of being a slutty prep. i will never want to fit in and i like ppl staring at my since i am different....

Why are people so afraid and unaccepting of differences?

This is just a theory, I once read, I'm not sure what to think of it, thoug...

Apparantly we like to be in our groups of similar people. Similarities help us to determine weather or not somebody is inside or outside of a group.

One theory is that we have accents if we speak a foreign language because accents show the tribe that somebody doesn't belong to them.

We seem to have the wish to form groups for security, to reduce the risk of being harmed by strangers...

Why are people racist? Just because they are stupid and narrow minded? Or is there more behind it?

Regarding this girl: I think it would be really cool of you if you could try to show her your respect and if you have the guts to even stand up for her, if people say stupid things about her. They are just insecure as it's so easy to make fun of people that are different. People that make fun of others are nasty though, and they have a low self esteem, even if they seem to be the "the cool" guys. I guess this is also a group effect. The "cool people"make fun of one person, and then the not so cool people make fun of this person as well, because they are so happy that they are not the target of the ridicule themselves and because they can do to somebody what is normally done to them.

If you are too afraid to stop this vicious circle yourself, you could at least write this girl a letter and tell her, that you like her individuality and that you think she's pretty and that you don't like the way people are treating her. I bet she would feel a little bit better, reading this.

However, I think it's your responsibility not to be one of the idiots and speak up your mind! I bet you will find people who have similar thoughts but just are afraid to say them out loud, like you...

All the best, Julia