"Oftentimes, Who We Truly Are Manifests When the Roles or Conditions Change"
Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in a mirror and wondered, "Who truly is this person staring back at me?" Human lives are shaped by various existential circumstances, as well as, change in roles, which can sometimes conceal the true nature of the person behind the mirror. But what happens when circumstances change or when fortunes smile on someone and one adopts counter roles? Do we discover new but unknown aspects of ourselves, or do we remain the same old self?
Furthermore, you may have also noticed that some people's true personalities, values, and character traits are revealed when they face new challenges, take on different roles, or experience changes in their circumstances? This phenomenon is more common than we think, and it reveals a lot about human nature. For example, have you noticed how some former gentle servants become quite bossy, tyrannical, and inhuman to others in their former state or to those beneath their elevated status? Or how a presupposedly humble, humane, respectful poor person who comes into sudden wealth. Often regarded in Nigerian parlance as money miss road becomes too arrogant, maltreat, and denigrate other people?
In this article, an attempt will be made to examine the intriguing relationship between circumstances, counter roles, inherent character or behavioural patterns, and the person behind the mirror – our authentic self.
Carl Jung(1928), in The Social Masks Theory, also known as the "Persona" Concept, opined that some people wear social masks to conceal their true selves. These masks are a collection of traits, behaviours, and attitudes adopted to fit in with societal norms, please others, or achieve given goals. However, when roles or conditions change, the masks may slip, revealing the individual's authentic selves. Hence, the saying, the real personality of an individual, is revealed when the person comes into wealth or authority.
On his part psychologist Jean Piaget (1952) in The adaptation theory suggests that people adapt to new situations by adjusting their behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. This adaptation process can bring out the true nature in people as they respond to new challenges and learn to navigate unfamiliar environments. Implicitly, it can bring out either positive or negative behaviourial patterns.
A veritable example is
reflected in the story of the managing director who disguised himself as a poor rural farmer and visited the company's outlet in the city centre. The salesperson treated him with disdain, revealing a bias that was both disheartening and eye-opening. As he changed his disguise to that of a middle-income earner, the reception improved slightly. However, it was not until he revealed his true identity as a wealthy and influential individual that the sales representatives fawned over him, exposing their true priorities.
Also, in a separate incident, a wealthy and popular woman, known for driving an old car, was involved in a minor accident with a rickety bus. The bus driver, oblivious to his fault, attempted to confront her. However, a passerby intervened, warning him that those behind her are too powerful and will ensure that he faced severe consequences if he touched her. The driver immediately prostrated himself, begging for forgiveness. This encounter highlights how circumstances and counter roles can unveil the person behind the mirror, revealing true character traits when social dynamics alter.
The above stories demonstrate that the real person in the mirror is a reflection of nature and nurture. Nature denotes inherent character traits that are often hidden or dormant. And also inherited- o di na agburu. Nurture has to do with learned and observed experiences and behavioural patterns orchestrated by environment or prevalent circumstances. Consequently, circumstances and counter roles can bring out the true personality of individuals, often in unexpected ways.
Conclusively, it is important to note that whatever the personality revelation is, whether caused by circumstances or counter role, the individual merely acts true to self and equally responsible.
Hon. IBEKWE, Nnamdi Chimdi is the Lawmaker representing Bende North Constituency Abia State
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