“…vegetable oil (palm fruit and/or maize germ or sunflower seed) with antioxidant (TBHQ), acidity regulators (E330, E262, E296, E260), maltodextrin, corn starch, flavorings, potassium chloride…” I put the packet back on the shelf so quickly you’d think it had bitten me!
Reading the ingredients on the label, there was nothing there I really wanted to ingest. I mean, who eats E330 or E260? The last time I checked, the things we ate had proper names, like potatoes or bananas.
The label on the food package informed me of what it contained and enabled me to make a choice that was good for me. But what would have happened if the label didn’t contain all the information, or if some of it was inaccurate?
That got me thinking about how we label people.
Why Do We Label Others?
Human beings are meaning-making being. And we make meaning in a variety of ways. One of which is sorting things and people into categories. To be able to sort them, though, we need to give them names or labels. The labels we attach to people are therefore short-form descriptions. Putting them into a category using only one or two words results in quick and easy “meaning-making.”
Compounding the meaning-making, the brain is also an excellent labor-saving device. That’s why it builds neural pathways: we can get things done much quicker when the brain knows exactly which neurons to fire up for a task we’ve done before. So once again, labels come into play – it’s easier to put people and things into existing pathways (read: labels) than to form a new one each and every time.
And how do we label them? We usually label people according to their behavior: introvert, gossip, clown, lazy, bossy, crazy. You take one characteristic (or perceived characteristic) and apply it to the whole person and everything they do.
Labeling Ourselves
If you think we only label other people, you’d be dead wrong. We’re absolute masters at labeling ourselves – often without even being aware of it! Think of the titles or descriptors you’ve chosen for yourself and what they tell the world about you.
The way we label our own actions gives us a clue to how we view others. If you’re likely to label yourself as a “failure” because of one mistake, you might find yourself being a bit harsh toward others, too.
Our self-chosen labels also speak of our existential needs such as wanting to belong, being loved, having a purpose, and being seen and recognized. We always have to be vigilant though: our self-labels need frequent examination to establish that they’re true and not self-destructive in any way.
Please Join Us!
What: #MTtalk
Where: Twitter
When: July 1 @ 1 p.m. ET (5 p.m. GMT / 10:30 p.m. IST)
Topic: The Labels We Attach to People
Host: @Mind_Tools
Beyond the Label
Have you ever noticed that when working with someone known as “difficult,” you look at all their actions through the lens of “difficult?” Or if a woman is assertive, she get’s labeled as “bossy”? If she then asserts her boundaries, you get an eye roll and a knowing look from a colleague as if to say, “See? I told you she’s bossy.”
However, when you get to know the “difficult” person you realize that they’re very detail-oriented and have high standards, but they’re not necessarily difficult. And you learn that the woman has been working hard to get where she is, and refuses to accept sexist behavior or innocuous forms of harassment. Is she still bossy? Or is she simply an assertive person with a strong character?
The labels you attach to people can feed into and reinforce your own biases, affecting how you treat others. You may also reinforce people’s negative self-concepts. The teenage “troublemaker” who comes from an underprivileged background might internalise that label, to the cost of their future.
Good Labels
Even a “good” label could have negative effects. Imagine coming from a family of mathematics superstars – and you happen to be the one that’s amazing at languages.
If you’re labeled as one of the “math whizz kids” you might start feeling that you’re not good enough if you constantly fail to live up to other people’s expectations of your mathematical abilities. In the process, the fact that you’re a fantastic writer fades into the background.
With all of that said, we must acknowledge that labels can be put to good use as well. For example, if someone is labeled as “vulnerable” it gives us a heads up that we need to be extra compassionate and understanding when working with that person.
For me, the most important take away is that we need to be careful with the labels we and others attach to people. I know how much I hated it when someone labeled me as “moody” when I was not my usual perky self because of severe premenstrual syndrome.
Instead of labeling the single mother as “irresponsible” because she’s often late, try and find out what her challenges are and how you can better help or accommodate her. Don’t label that youth as “a troublemaker” for a single misdemeanor – try and find out what their social circumstances are. Become a champion of the human, rather than a propagator of the label.
The Labels We Attach to People
In our upcoming #MTtalk Twitter Chat, we’ll be exploring how we label people, why we do it, and how it makes us feel when we’re labeled. Come and join us in our safe discussion space!
In our Twitter poll this week, we wanted to know how it makes you feel when you’re labeled negatively. The answers “Frustrated” and “Hurt and sad” topped the poll with 40 percent of the vote respectively.
We’d love you to participate in the chat, and the following questions may spark some thoughts in preparation for it:
- Why does the issue of labeling matter?
- What are examples of labels you’ve heard or used?
- How do you feel about being labeled?
- In what ways might labeling change your view of a person or group?
- How could labeling impact diversity and teamwork?
- Can labels harm workplace or personal relationships – or even help them?
Resources
To help you prepare for the chat, we’ve compiled a list of resources for you to browse. (Note that you will need to be a Mind Tools Club or Corporate member to see all of the resources in full.)
The Power of Trust: a Steel Cable
How to Manage Defensive People
The post The Labels We Attach to People – Join Our Twitter Talk! appeared first on Mind Tools Blog.
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