why must we adapt to situtions?

[Reserved]

I have been pondering reasons why we must adapt our behavior to suit different situations and I can't explain it and it is really bugging me. Could someone please elaborate on the idea...it's doing my head in.

So far I got:
If you don't change behavior it will be cause for conflict
It's a sign of mental Illness. Children who suffer ADHD struggle to adapt and become fidgety, noisy and... generally annoying.

Edit:
I'm not quite sure what I'm asking (which is problem) but the ideas I want raised will be bolded

Well... Identity is the distinct personality and character of an individual and depending on the situation some aspects of identity change and adapt. If our identity was unable to adapt it will it cause stress and conflict in everyday situations and interactions with others? After all I have observed many people act more masculine to those who intimidate them regularly in everyday life.

Could another cause of identity change be that we cannot control what life throws at us, but we can control our response to it? A quote from Charles Darwin is (something like this) “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change” and likewise, people who are not able to adapt to changes in their personal or professional environments rarely thrive.
Is that why our identities change?

I don't really want answers but more of peoples views, opinions and examples on changes in people's behaviors in different situations and with different people.
Sorry if this confusing everyone because it is certainly confusing me. Maybe I just need a cuppa to clear my mind.

[teen.jpg]

That's pretty vague for a ROTW thread ...

[Camazotz]

That's pretty vague for a ROTW thread ...

^ This.

There are a thousand different reasons why you might want to change your behavior depending on the situation:

1. Stop making inappropriate jokes where someone might get offended- not telling racist jokes in front of that race
2. Acting professional in a work setting vs. acting casual in a casual setting- not swearing or displaying "inappropriate" interests
3. Pretending to be someone else to seem interesting- meeting new people
4. Pretending to be someone else to save your life- pretending to not be a Jew in 1943
5. Acting differently to be accepted- undercover cops

If you clarify what you want to convey, perhaps we can give you better examples or help you.

[Reserved]

That's pretty vague for a ROTW thread ...
Maybe I mean Identity instead of behavior
Well... Identity is the distinct personality and character of an individual and depending on the situation some aspects of identity change and adapt. If our identity was unable to adapt it will it cause stress and conflict in everyday situations and interactions with others? After all I have observed many people act more masculine to those who intimidate them regularly in everyday life.

Could another cause of identity change be that we cannot control what life throws at us, but we can control our response to it? A quote from Charles Darwin is (something like this) “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change” and likewise, people who are not able to adapt to changes in their personal or professional environments rarely thrive.
Is that why our identities change?

[ksdnfkfr]

I'm not sure how to try answering this, but I can try giving what might be an example. As someone with autism I'm constantly working at adapting. A lot of things that come naturally to most people, like interpreting body language and social cues are things that I have to learn and adapt to them to function better in society.

Is it maybe that you are asking why do I have to adapt, rather than society accepting that I don't operate the way most of them do?

[Twilly F. Sniper]

So many answers.
1. Adaptation allows preparation.
2. I don't have time to explain everything.
3. Toodles.

[Reserved]

This is really difficult question to answer and it is one that I don't know answer...guess that's why it does my head in.

I'm not sure how to try answering this, but I can try giving what might be an example. As someone with autism I'm constantly working at adapting. A lot of things that come naturally to most people, like interpreting body language and social cues are things that I have to learn and adapt to them to function better in society.

Is it maybe that you are asking why do I have to adapt, rather than society accepting that I don't operate the way most of them do?
Actually, I was hoping for post like this. To be honest I don't really want answers but more of peoples views and opinions on changes in people's behaviors in different situations and with different people.

(Will edit op)

[ksdnfkfr]

This is really difficult question to answer and it is one that I don't know answer...guess that's why it does my head in.


Actually, I was hoping for post like this. To be honest I don't really want answers but more of peoples views and opinions on changes in people's behaviors in different situations and with different people.

(Will edit op)

Yes, I understand. I would say with someone like me the changes are much more pronounced, practiced and calculated. Some people with autism are of course too far into the spectrum to make any such transition. In earlier times I would have probably just be regarded as the same as a child with Down's syndrome. It took me from about the age of 8 to 10 to get a grasp of how neurotypical (non autistic people) behave and why. Most of it has been through training and mimicry.

I'm going to say it wasn't as much of a matter of me having to adapt, me being able to adapt and having a desire to do so. If I hadn't I would have faced a life of assisted living. Now if things continue as they have, I should be able to live fully independently once I'm of age.

But I prefer my autistic self in many ways since it's the real me, while my neurotypical self is really just an adaptation.

[sqishy]

Not sure how to answer a question I don't get fully, but I'll give my view on this topic.

We adapt to the world by changing with it, sort of like evolution. We tend to identify ourselves in relation to what is around us, like how "normal" or different we are compared to others. We have a want to be in a group and be accepted, as it is instinct from our distant past where safety in numbers was important. Change is the only constant. When we resist change, we usually start to have problems with how we identify ourselves and the world we are in. Going with the flow keeps things running smoothly, but being an individual means having something that defines you from the rest of the world. Going against the flow in certain circumstances makes things leap. It's the uncommon things and outliers that make the world advance.

[JamesSuperBoy]

I have been pondering reasons why we must adapt our behavior to suit different situations and I can't explain it and it is really bugging me. Could someone please elaborate on the idea...it's doing my head in.

So far I got:
If you don't change behavior it will be cause for conflict
It's a sign of mental Illness. Children who suffer ADHD struggle to adapt and become fidgety, noisy and... generally annoying.

Edit:
I'm not quite sure what I'm asking (which is problem) but the ideas I want raised will be bolded

Well... Identity is the distinct personality and character of an individual and depending on the situation some aspects of identity change and adapt. If our identity was unable to adapt it will it cause stress and conflict in everyday situations and interactions with others? After all I have observed many people act more masculine to those who intimidate them regularly in everyday life.

Could another cause of identity change be that we cannot control what life throws at us, but we can control our response to it? A quote from Charles Darwin is (something like this) “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change” and likewise, people who are not able to adapt to changes in their personal or professional environments rarely thrive.
Is that why our identities change?

I don't really want answers but more of peoples views, opinions and examples on changes in people's behaviors in different situations and with different people.
Sorry if this confusing everyone because it is certainly confusing me. Maybe I just need a cuppa to clear my mind.

I can see what you mean but "Identity" is maybe not the word I would use
we modify behaviours to suit a given set of circumstances. Often to get what we want or need, or to give - say support - love or comfort.

I think when darwin mentioned adapting it was more about practical issues - can people adapt quickly to extreme changes of diet - climate - sleep pattern etc. Those that could face extremes and hardships survived.