Voyeurism

   

 
As humans we are all voyeurs by nature. I am no exception. We sit and people watch at the mall. Observing these strangers we start to ask questions and imagine what their lives are like. What does that woman in sweat pants, with screaming children do all day? Why is this couple together, when one clearly seems to be better than the other? We then compile our minute data and come to conclusions. This desire to know more about our fellow man is apparent in almost all subjects. All scholars are essentially voyeurs trying to determine the reason and behavior of our species.

Psychology -one of the most fascinating classes I have ever had- represents this exceptionally well. It’s beginning stems from the desire to know more about people and why they are the way they are. We classify types of personalities, disorders, behaviors and attempt to come up with generalizations that are important to the function of people and society. The same can be said about Sociology and Anthropology. People enter these fields because their curiosity can not be satisfied with a simple “because that’s the way it is.”

For most people entire sectors of the world are impossible to watch and understand because of cultural and language barriers. This is why the study of foreign languages is so relevant. In business it is simply smart to not limit your clientele. It also feeds into the need to know people and what’s going on around us. Writing and English studies also have these types of interest. In an English class you may study a character from a book, play, or film in depth to learn more about the story, theme, or author. Analyzing the structure of a sentence may reveal a colloquialism or junction that says more than the words themselves.

The most interesting things are inextricable from the function and culture of man. We enjoy learning and discovering the what, who, where, how and why. So go on my fellow voyeurs (everyone) and watch the world(s) around you.