5.2: Factors That Make People Different

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Everyone is unique in their own particular way. Some people want to be like the majority in an attempt to fit in, but they are still unique. Some people take use their experiences and their persona in an attempt to create the life they want, which is unique to them. Either way a person’s unique life experiences help shape their world view, and where they fit into that world.

So, what makes people different? We will explore some different aspects of a person’s life that makes them different. While just one thing can make someone unique, if you combine them all together, you will be able to understand just how different one person can be from another.

Experiences

No one has had the same experiences in life. Not one person. Everyone experiences variations in their day, even when they are working at the same place or spending time together. For instance, the author has spent time in an isolated portion of the Country of Uganda with others in a small group has given him a unique set of experiences not many other in the United States may have had. And even those of us in the small group had different experiences while there even though they all did similar duties and activities. Some of the group experienced sadness of the situation and others had hope. Some saw environmental usage as progress and betterment of people’s lives, while others saw it as a waste of natural resources with long term consequences. Their previous life experiences shape their current experiences. A person’s experiences throughout their entire life are what make a person unique.

Perceptions

The way we view life is not going to match anyone else’s view. We may have moments where we perceive the exact same thing, but more often we can view the same event or issue but have a completely different interpretation than the person next to us. Again, this is often shaped by our life experiences and also our personal belief systems.

Think About It . . . What’s Your Perception?

A person possesses a handmade shirt produced in Uganda they obtained during a visit to the country. When they wear the shirt in the United States to express appreciation and respect for the culture and people of Uganda, the shirt will produce conversation. Some people appreciate the desire to share the accomplishments, struggles, and culture of the Ugandan people, and expand understanding of the region. Others expressed their displeasure when someone who is not black or Ugandan wears the shirt and described it as “culture appropriation” and it is morally inappropriate to wear such a shirt as a non-African. Exact same shirt, worn in the exact same place, but garners different reactions based on the ethnicity of the wearer. The perceptions of different people are based on their knowledge, lack of knowledge, bias, misconceptions, and prejudices. How things are perceived are often framed by our individual experiences.

Beliefs

Our experiences and perceptions in life create your beliefs. What you believe is what you perceive to be true based on what you have experienced in life. Your beliefs about yourself, other people, the world, what’s right and wrong, and everything else is never going to match up to another person’s beliefs perfectly. Additionally, beliefs can change over time based on new experiences, education, or other factors that affect our lives.

For example, Lee Strobel, a Chicago Tribune reporter was a devout atheist. He pursued a quest to prove Christianity was false but ended up becoming a Christian based on the information he compiled. In contrast, John W. Loftus, a Christian preacher who after decades of belief rejected the Christian teachings and became an atheist. Both men's beliefs changed based new experiences and perceptions.

Relationships

Relationships have a significant influence over our lives. They influence how we think about ourselves and how we interact with other people. Nobody can say they have the same relationships as anyone else. Even if two people are friends with the same people, the relationships they have with those people are going to differ on some level. Some people connect with others, some don't. Some people share certain beliefs that bind them in a different way. Some people argue with others on insignificant matters, and that has lasting effects on their relationship. The conclusion is that we all have different relationships in our lives. These relationships shape our experiences and make each person a unique individual.

Intelligence

Intelligence stems from many things, including our beliefs, social aptitude, emotional awareness, experiences, genetics, and the health of our brain. Again, this means no two people have the same level or degree of intelligence. This is why it is necessary for people to come together during problem solving situations and “brainstorm” to come to a resolution. By viewing a situation, problem or issue from different intellects can provide unique and often better solutions than when only one person participates.

An individual’s IQ is a measure of a person’s intelligence, but it does not adequately determine to a person’s true intelligence. Other factors such as desire, work ethic, and willingness to expand their abilities can shift that range up and down the intelligence scale. For example: A person with an IQ of 150 is considered highly gifted intellectually and might be able to send a spacecraft to Jupiter but has no ability to rebuild a 1967 Ford Mustang. While a person with an IQ of 95 is considered average intellectually and can build an engine perfectly but has no ability to send a space craft to Jupiter! Intelligence manifests itself in different manners, which in turn affects the way we see the world, ourselves, others, and has an influence on how we react to others and situations.

Personality

Personality combines temperament, attitude, thoughts, beliefs, behavior, principles, and character. Every person has a personality is unique to them, and it is what other people see when they interact with you. Sometimes people will describe others based on their personality. For instance, you will hear people describe others as, quiet, boisterous, kind, annoying, or rude. Our personalities will reflect how we respond to situations and other people.