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How Authenticity Eases Social Rejection
New research explores the impact of being in touch with our core values.
Authenticity is idolized, especially in cultures which prize individuality. In times of upheaval, when there is a sudden change in direction, we reflect upon who we are and how we are living.
Authenticity can mean being true to one’s core values even when we don’t act in accord. The quest for authenticity when one is unclear about oneself can appear intractable. Believing one is authentic while appearing fake can be a huge problem for personal and professional relationships. Struggling with doubt constantly doesn’t help, either-unless we know what to do with it.
Research suggests that self-perceived authenticity may have less to do with behavioral consistency than with feeling good. If we try to be more authentic, how do we know we aren’t fooling ourselves? Really being authentic is more challenging in a tech-dominated world where we can be whomever we want to be on social media, and especially when we spend more time working remotely.
Being unique may mark status and drive popularity, an element of non- conformity. Conformity remains primary for social belonging, however. We try to differentiate ourselves in the right ways, not get lost in the noise-but not so much that we get…
