how do you ever know yourself and how do others get to know you?

A chameleon constantly changes its colour to adapt to its habitat and hide from its predator and prey. If a predator of the chameleon perchance sees the same chameleon twice, it will theoretically not be able to identify it as, the chameleon is always changing colour.


A human being regularly modifies its behaviour to adjust to social situations and fit in with its surroundings. Assuming a human is simply an existing animal, if another human being meets the same human twice, it will hypothetically be incapable of recognising the same person as it is always modifying its personality.


A chameleon uses such a strategy as a matter of survival. A human uses its approach as a way of continuing to exist also. How detrimental the success of each animal’s strategy is to their lives differs greatly though. For a chameleon, it means death. For a human, it means being socially outcast.


Despite the evolutionary advances humans have made, we are still animals. Animal behaviour is therefore naturally still strongly present in the activities of humans and its’ society as a whole. By looking at human behaviour subjectively we can begin to understand our everyday actions.


However, as we are no longer an established part of the animal kingdom (we have complete control of it through our technological advances), have developed an inner consciousness and do not have to worry about everyday survival in the same life-or-death way as the chameleon, why do we constantly change our ‘appearance’?


Consider appearance for the moment to encompass both physical presentation and ones personality. We naturally alter our physical presentation: hair, clothes, nails etc, to suit the social situation. Humans also alter their personality to fit in with other people. So what am I trying to probe at?


WHY do people change their personality and appearance to fit into society? It is reasonable to attribute such adjustments to the natural and animalistic instinct to fit into one’s own community but, what excuse is there for such changes beyond that?


If one is constantly changing their appearance (physical presentation and personality) to fit in with those around them, how is it possible for other human beings to ever become familiar with them? Neh. To understand themselves. Humans adjust their behaviour to please others, however, if this constantly pre-occupies them they will never establish themselves. Moreover, other humans will never know with whom they are attempting to know. If you step back and look at human behaviour subjectively, it starts to sound rather draining and pointless. Imagine explaining the number of changes we undergo to a chameleon. They would simply stare at you in bewilderment and wonder why you waste so much energy ‘changing colour’ to simply please other people.


Human interaction has developed in to a much more complex domain. The social decorum that is nurtured within families, society and then humans is a precious thing that must be looked after. If you find yourself changing your appearance for others beyond that of social etiquette and consideration, think of the chameleon’s behaviour.


One can never know themselves nor expect any others to do so if they are repeatedly changing their appearance.