Psychoanalytic theory of selfishness

 One of the main plus points of studying Psychology is that it broadens your perspective and makes you realize that there are all kinds of people in the world- the friendly ones, the shy, the bold, the hyper. In recent times, i have been trying to figure out what is it in a person that moulds them to be who they are. Freud's theory worked wonders in helping me with this, (to some degree) that the outward behavior is influenced by the unconscious. So, it is something in the environment or some event that has taken place in the life of the individual that makes him acquire certain distinct characteristics. For example, a girl who was physically abused during childhood, tends to develop hatred against men. But this does not explain selfishness wherein people talk about a certain event just to make another person feel terrible about it, or to rub it in their face. Guess it makes them feel good about it, but what ever happened to the conscience of these people? Do they not feel guilty for going that? Or don't they know what they are doing?

What i haven't been able to figure out so far is what exactly makes a person be selfish? Being possessive is one thing, but there are people who talk to you only when they need your help, or else, your existence does not matter to them; they are with you as long as they feel they need you and the minute they meet someone new or someone who they feel are better than you, they do not even give you a glance. None of the theories on personality have been helpful in stating a reason for this; it cant be an acquired trait because it does not classify as a basic feeling so how could one acquire it or learn it from the environment unless, a child is taught to put his needs first and not give a thought about anything else? I am sure no parent would invoke that feeling in their child. So, it's not a learnt trait, does not fit the social theory, is definitely is not explained in the Humanistic Approach, then what is it. I think i just confused myself. :|

Apparently, I happen to be blessed in meeting a good lot of such people and since i am the only one who seems to see this trait of theirs, i am getting bored. I need a variation, a different trait to break my head upon. Selfishness is getting plain monotonous and annoying.

Isn't this reason enough for you to get a dog? :)

The Ban On Plastic

This decision, by far, has been the wisest decision taken ever by the Government and i realized this when I went for my daily ritual of Golguppa. 

Every morning, i pass this huge heard of cattle and i cant help (i love cows and there is a particular bull in the herd that has the sweetest of faces!) but notice them trying to chew through the bazillion plastic covers in an attempt to get to the food that is inside. I have been around animals all my life, especially cows. My parents have been taking us to our farm house every summer and i have spent most of my time there in the cow shed, either feeding the cows or measuring the length of their tongues. I guess that's how my love towards animals started, i never let anyone use the bullock cart then and I still make a fuss when people around me suggest to use an animal for transport. :|

When i started reading of deaths of dogs and other animals due to suffocation caused by them trying to eat plastic, i made up my mind to give everything plastic for recycling; shampoo bottles, milk covers and even plastic covers. But since plastics like biscuit covers were not accepted because they could not be recycled, we had to throw them and this meant that there could be more animals killed (I still do not understand why people do not pay much heed to an animal that is killed due to their carelessness and get it stuck in their head that since it cannot speak for itself, it's ok if the animal suffers and eventually dies. Humans!)

Thankfully, the ban on plastic that is less than 40microns (above that, the plastic can be recycled) has been taken seriously and people seem to be following it by carrying their own shopping bags and many brands have shifted to using paper bags(that better be recycled too). Amen, to that.

So now, i can eat all my junk food in peace, without worrying about the damage my cookie's packaging cover is going to cause to the animal kingdom! Long live the animals! Oh and yes, thank you, dear Government.

It went bang, bang, bang, straight through my heart

Obsessing over this song now. Ah, there is something very catchy about this song, just cant seem to get enough of it. What, with the exams going on, its the perfect song to listen to over and over and over again. (2 hours straight). Didn't even know that K'naan had a second awesome song (the first being waving flag, of course and though we have had an overdose of that one, cant deny the fact that it was one good song) and Adam Levine! =)

Note To Self

• Never force your pet to eat. He probably isn't hungry or is sulking (wonder where they learn that stuff from) because he wants a change in his food. Forcing him to eat is only going to lead to one of the two things- A) He'll throw up, and very conveniently on your bed, while cleaning which you'll notice the presence of awful deformed things that you did not expect to find in his puke. Plus, that will be one more addition on your list of Important Things To Be Done since dog puke has this thing of seeping all the way to the other end of the mattress. And B) He'll turn out to be a spoilt brat who refuses to eat until he is fed. In my case, this animal has to be coaxed to eat. We have to promise him treats once he finishes breakfast/lunch. A change in diet is not appreciated either unless we resort to letting him have pizza with extra cheese everyday.        
                                    
• Do not watch a horror show right before you hit the sack, not even the lame Hindi one. It seems to have some sort of a lasting effect on your brain (If only I could remember class-related topics this well) and the next thing you know, you are waking up a zillion times that night and you don't even know why.
   
• Listening to the "One Missed Call" ringtone is funny ONLY during the day. Try not to even think of it after sunset. You may think that since it did not have much affect on you during the day, the same holds good for the night too. You do not want to be proved wrong. So it is best when avoided.
  
• Never ask your friend, with a vivid imagination, to scare you. And if you do, DO NOT try to imagine the scene. You do not have to prove your bravery to anyone. They say the mind is not accustomed to seeing another image of your self, with the exception of your image in the mirror (and identical twins). Hence, when you imagine seeing another reflection of yourself in the mirror, it freaks you out. I watch way too many horror films and i know i have to stop.
  
• Remember that this is all your fault. No one forced you to watch "Shutter", the Korean version of all things! You did this to yourself so you have no one to blame except for yourself.
  



I know this is a very gruesome
image. :|
But then it is not like
the lizard was
 given a choice
to make before it was
born as a lizard so
i think i feel sorry for it.
And it DIED, sticking to that glass.
Pretty amazing, huh?

• Curiosity DID kill the cat and as for that lizard, it died of natural circumstances. Try not to wonder where the blood clot came from. Plus, try not to think of it while finishing lunch, though it might be an easy way to skip the boring food, you do not want to feel nauseous and give your sibling a reason to tease you for the rest of your life.

• Instead of just "thinking of finishing the portions" a week before the exam, try to actually finish studying everything AT LEAST two days before. It is not going to be easy, but it will give you a sense of satisfaction and plus, you do not have to wake up before sunrise on the day of the exam and you can get adequate amount of sleep the night before.

• The next time someone calls you a nerd, do not think twice before whacking them and you do not have to explain why you are not a nerd.
  

• You may not be a teen anymore but that still does not change a few things. Remember this especially before you decide to take in a homeless dog/cat.
  
  
• Your mom will not let you take in a kitten and she will not give in even after listening to the sad plight (half of which you made up, just to convincer her) of the homeless animal and she will bring all your faults to your notice- about how you just want a cat to play with and she is compelled to do the other dirty works such as toilet-train it and you know it is a losing battle.Mothers can be really tough that way.
  
• It is not easy to get a kitten to shut up and they continue to shriek and bring the roof down even after being put in the closet just so that your parents find out that you took in another kitten and started the process of turning home into an animal shelter all over again.
  
• Do not try to figure dogs out, because you cant.  Either they are thinking of something so deep that it is beyond your understanding capacity or they are plain weird. While Bruno thinks that he is curing some kind of an itch that his lady-bug shaped pillow has, Benzy sits around staring into empty space which makes me wonder if she is possessed (which she probably is).

• Some dogs are genetically thin so do not try to get them to put on weight or you too will end up being the proud owner of a deranged (this has nothing to do with her half black-half white mask face) dog whose stomach is inversely proportional to her face and her legs continue to look like they would break if you sat on it. You are over feeding a dog that likes to laze around and sleep at home all day, she is bound to put that energy to use by randomly barking in the middle of the night.
  
• Too much of anything is bad. This includes watermelons and mangoes.
  
• You think you can fix your laptop, but then you also thought you could fly so sometimes, it is good to seek help.
  
• No matter how many years pass by, you will always be your older brothers vent machine. Live with it.

• It is alright to chop your hair short in the summer. It will grow back, do not worry.
  
• Some girls will never update their level of thinking; not in a million years. It is best to maintain your distance from them. You are diplomatic and nice. So what if the don't return your sweetness? You do not have to do the same because then, there would be no difference between them and you now, would there? =)