Why do people classify themselves?
353284
Well...it is not a question of living for who we are...or maybe it is - what I am trying to say is we, as humans, define ourselves through others, through belonging to a group (whatever this maybe - your family, your country, your friends) - you need to be around people who share the same interests, who have something in common with you. I mean...this is why people get into wars (because most times they are not personally attacked, or to be more exact -not they as individuals) but people do take it personal and they do risk their lives because it is a part of them which is threatened. \n\nAnd whatever people say, we all try to integrate in some kind of a group as we all crave for social acceptance and recognition.\n\nThis is a quote from the website below (btw -check it out - it's really interesting): "Indeed, it is probably not incorrect to say that the human group is the very foundation of human existence—without our interactions with each other, we would simply not be people, and there would be no human culture."
643152
People look to others do define them, because they don't know what they are nor who they are ... what they also do not know is that the people to which they are looking for their definition of self are as equally clueless themselves.  They don't know what they are, but we look to them to find out about ourselves.  This is a predictament.\n\nNow lets say that others tell us that we are fine and nifty, handsome and attractive, smart and fetching.  This would seem to be great, but it is not.  When everybody loves you, you brim with confidence and put on a smile, but now you must maintain that good opinion through work, work, and work.  You live for others approval, and are always looking for a way to keep people impressed.  This chore is impossible.  So, to keep people from finding out what you are really like, somebody in this position is always inviting people near with one hand while pushing them away with the other hand.  They want you to like them, but they also want you to only know the appearance of them that they are constantly managing ... not the real person underneath the happy exterior.  They live in nearly constant lying and use anger and intimidation to scare people away who get too close.  Maintaining your image is all there is.\n\nThe other side of the coin are those that are not MAINTAINING but trying to change their image.  They don't like the messages that others have used to describe them.  When they looked for identity, others told them they were ugly and silly, dumb and slow, easy and cheap, everything that added up to worthlessness.  The only hope for these people is to do something or be something that people will have no choice but to appreciate them for a change.  This is work, work and work, because you are always trying to improve.  Lying comes in almost as easily as above.  \n\nBoth paths have one thing in common ... darkness. \n\nDarkness is living behind an image, that is not truly who you are, and vesting yourself in the image.  No light gets to the real you, because that is hidden behind the fantasy you that you  are projecting for others. \n\nDarkness is vexing. \n\nThe answer is Light .... to know yourself authentically and truly.  And to then project nothing but exactly what you know yourself to be.  \n\nI walk in the Light.  Jesus is that Light.  My life is hidden in Him, who loved me and gave Himslef up for me.  ... He knows me, more then I know myself.  He knows me because He created me.  He is obsessed with me.  nobody knows me like He knows me ... and the same is true for you.\n\nYou can be loved ... warts and all.  You can lay down the mask and quit hiding in darkness.  Trade all your failure and weakness for His victory and strength.  \n\nHe is only a prayer away.
975600
People stereotype because the human mind likes order and attempts to see patterns in disorderly situations.   It is much more comfortable to have a routine and a set of instructions that allow certain outcomes than it is to challenge our own minds.  \n  People can also become a bit lazy and not make the effort to change their outlooks.  To change our outlooks would be to look far within and this can be frightening for many.  \n  People stereotype by projecting certain traits unto others.  For example:  The assumption by the ignorant that women like shopping or that men like football.  There is no evidence to suggest that women like shopping and that men like football.   Some people like football and some people like to shop.  Others do not like football and others do not like to shop.  Our minds try to create differences and in those differences, we can feel separate and therefore whole or even better than others.  \n    It makes us feel special because we aren't like "them".
1137514
all people are not created equal some are cleaver some are stupid, some are strong others weak etc.  it is human nature to ask where we as individuals fit in.  also it helps to be able to predict the behaviour and desisions another person may make so we look for patterns. e.g. when getting cash out of an atm we don't expect to get mugged by a 90 yearold woman behind us but will be more careful if its a black guy even though the chances are small.
692348
The REASON IS : nature of Human mind .... Human mind engages in forming a conclusion about what ever it confronts. Now when your mind says: 'they are old friends', you "know" what they are and mind refuses to take a "fresh" look at them. Where as when you look at people who are 'classified'  by your mind as "Strangers", they are on 'watch' list, and your mind continues to receive inputs about them . Hence you 'feel' like you know more about strangers better than 'own' friends ! Average people are generally caught up in this 'familiarity' TRAP. Intelligent people CONSCIOUSLY take a fresh look at even known people and obviously learn more things and benefit from CONSTANTLY UPDATED INFO !
351477
What is normal? we all have things about us that make us different. That is why we are all unique, because we are our own individuals. I would NEVER want to be labeled, and definitely not labeled as normal.
1148224
You can't satisfy anyone without pulling yourself apart trying to accomodate them. You can't make everyone happy. We try to seek approval from others because it adds to what we think our self worth is. We want people to be proud of us and like us, it is just the way we were taught to put others opinions and values over our own.
239655
a lot of teens label themselves.  some teens do not know what their label is like me.  but i have seen teens who i would say are preps [have a bunch of money, or dress like they do, and party on the weekends.]  but the preps dont think they are preps.  we have talked in class.  also a lot of teens that call themselves geeks, think that they are because of their hobbies.  its like a tree hugger is a tree hugger because the love the envirnoment.  i know, tho, that i do not identify with a group, because i do not know what group i belong in.  my friend told me i am part prep, part goth, and part artsy.  i just think im me.  as i think my friend is, well my best friend i can not label with one word.  she is a bunch of different things.  some people are just easy to label and some arent.
469318
People are the most comfortable with others that seem to be similar to themselves.  It IS just human nature
449951
Sometimes we are consumed by the roles we play in life which confuses our identity.  By that I mean, when someone asks you who you are, do you answer with "student, mother, daughter, or a job description?"  Or, do you answer with the unique qualities that make you special and represent the kind of person you are (i.e. I'm kind, thoughtful, intelligent, funny, focused, friendly..)\n\nWhen we confuse who we are with what we are our self-concept suffers because it is not being expressed. A lot of women experience this crisis when they go through a divorce because the label of wife is expunged and replaced with divorcee.  For me that is when I realized, my identity was too wrapped up in roles instead of the kind of person I became because of the roles I used to express the kind of person I am.\n\nIt really helps to list out both on paper. You'll find that the roles you play really are not that unique because a lot of people in the world play the same roles. BUT, in being who you are you play that role in a way only you can because of who you are. It assisted me in crystallizing in my mind the person I was and the person I wanted to become.
370510
b/c they feel comfortable around their own types due to the fact they are uncomfortable with who they are or what they represent.  This also lets them hide from dealing with the difficulties of the "real world" as others with balls do daily.
42605
Because they lack an identity of their own.  They don't know who they are, so they try to fit in with someone that they aren't.  They think by acting like a different group of people, that different group will accept that as "one of their own" instead of accepting them as who they are when they aren't acting.
1064408
Labels only labels used to categorize us and put us in groups artificially. i dont like to categorize myself and I dont like that we use these categories in negative ways. I never thought of this when I was a child and perhaps that is the problem we teach our young that different is bad not just different\n\nGood Luck and God Bless!!
530080
The person has to define themselves by their strengths. Unfortunately, our current culture is highly focused on print forms of communication. However, there are more aspects to a person's identity than ability to read. An LD person's self-esteem can be boosted by helping them focus on what they CAN do, rather than what they can't. They must see print as a tool (albeit a difficult one to use), rather than a definition of self.
1140821
Within the boundaries of wikipedia's definition We all are either trashy on an ongoing basis or prone to trashy behavior depending on one's mood.  We also have the ability to display ourselves as fine upstanding examples of the human race when it serves our purpose (IE. applying for a new home loan or job)
270621
Self justification.  Same reason people call themselfs sexy, and they just are not.  People are generally.... dumb.
402573
A strong cultural identity can lead to labeling due to the arrogance of the person for there culture which would trigger a misunderstanding to others in the way they might feel a sense of that person acting as if they where better then you and thus lead to stereotyping through making fun of that culture. I cultures would take the time to explain why they do things in different manners even down to the history of why it might help people relate to there culture and they might even see that there are many similarities with certain things there culture do.