CPE Essay: Social behaviour vs. individual expression


Centuries ago humans lived in tribes, conforming to their group norms. Anyone not doing so was alienated by the crowd, being doomed to death. Times have changed, and people have evolved to express themselves in the most creative of ways. But how far is self-expression celebrated presently?

It seems that individual behavior is not always welcomed by others. This is especially true for cross-generational misunderstandings in some cultures. For example, while young people consider it a norm to use mobile gadgets in transport, the elderly may not think that way. I believe the key to addressing generation gap issues is to acknowledge different conventions of behaviour. But misunderstandings can arise even among peers when teens, for example, adopt unconventional looks to stand out from the crowd. This can raise eyebrows among their friends, let alone those who are much older than them.

On the other hand, if we do not express ourselves fully, we can stifle creativity and diminish our self-esteem. Robert Greene, the author of the bestseller 48 Laws of Human Nature, had to oscillate from one career to another while his writing potential lay dormant only to be unveiled in his late 30s. He felt an enormous sense of accomplishment when he presented the public with awe-inspiring books that enlightened countless minds. Unleashing your full potential may benefit society in the best case, but is sure to provide self-fulfillment and peace of mind.

However, at times self-assertiveness can be  disruptive. For instance, by playing heavy metal from morning till night when there are elderly people next door, you show disregard for others at least, and disrespect for the elderly the most. It is obvious that disrespectful behavior cannot and should not be tolerated. Misconduct will ultimately turn people against you.

It follows that times have changed, but there are still social conventions to be followed unless we want to be ostracized. As long as we express ourselves in ways that are not outrageous, we have to respect others’ self-expressions and require respect for ours. After all, who knows how many Robert Greenes will surface once we nourish our true identities?



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