
Is Social Conditioning Impacting You?
Actually, the question in the title is a loaded one, because the answer is simple for everyone. Yes, we are all impacted by social conditioning. It is just that many people are unaware of the impact that it does have. Our beliefs are powerful and from the time we are children we are shaped by the beliefs of those adults who have a place in our lives. Years ago I came across a song that tells a story that is far too prominent in the world today.
The song, “Flowers are Red” by Harry Chapin tells the story of a little boy who loves coloring flowers in all different colors of the rainbow. He did this until he had a teacher who held the belief that flowers were red and green only. When the little boy attempted to keep coloring using all of the colors, he was punished by the teacher until he got it right. Eventually, he complied and began to follow the idea that flowers are red and green.
Well, the little boy eventually moved and he went to school and had a different teacher. The new teacher believed that kids should use all of the colors of the rainbow. But the damage had already been done. The little boy had already been conditioned to believe that flowers were only red and green. He no longer used all of the colors, because to him, doing so equated with punishment.