Social Rejection

In discussions of the barriers to achieving the American Dream, it has been noted that social acceptance is a significantly controversial topic with an enormous need to be examined. Throughout all of time, the desire and even the need to be accepted has been of great importance to humans. Americans have reached the popularity of fashions and trends and media just in time to see those trends die. They have seen rejection and exclusion. They have seen and felt the frustration that comes with the inability to keep up with popularity. Unfortunately, the result of attempting to achieve social acceptance and to reach the hierarchy of popularity is disappointment and low self esteem. Various views on this topic are pulling in different directions.

Professor, researcher, and writer of psychology, C. Nathan DeWall crafts an article called, Social Acceptance and Rejection, in which he talks about the negative impacts of rejection on those who are too deeply focused on acceptance. The professor writes, “Therefore, social rejection is experienced as ‘bitter’ in order to motivate individuals to avoid a negative state in which they do not receive the benefits of inclusion, which ultimately decreases their survival rate” (DeWall). Don’t get it wrong; “motivate” is not being used in a positive manner. DeWall is communicating to the audience that when those who care too greatly about fitting in are rejected, the results are literally life threatening. It is seen in this quote, that those who truly need the affirmation of others can be physically hurt when rebuffed, and DeWall is not the only one who believes so. A nonprofit organization called, The Association for Psychological Science, that researches psychology as well, writes an article supporting C. Nathan DeWall’s piece, called, Social Acceptance and Rejection: The Sweet and the Bitter. In this complementary article, the Association states that “people who feel isolated and lonely and excluded tend to have poor physical health” (Association for Psychological Science). Not only does rejection among those who so desire

While many would argue that to strive to be socially accepted and to be influenced by peers is not as ruinous as the data has shown, they are incorrect. Overall, the attempt to fit in is impossible and damaging and the yearning to give into peer pressure is equally as destructive, as seen throughout this essay. However, As stated again and again, hope is not lost. All can destroy the chains that hold them back from reaching the American Dream through confidence and great