In regards to the case question, it is obvious that individuals’ perceptions were reflected. The reasons why these three perceptions came about are based on emotions and status. When we comprehend the value of life as a series of unique opportunities to experience existence, it affects us in two major ways: on a personal level, and in our attitude toward others. Life is basically defined only by our perception of it; we ultimately control whether the events that make up existence have a positive or negative affect upon us. This realization must also apply to our interaction with others since, due to this principle; our lives must be of an equivalent nature.
Smith (2005) noted that the types of events that people perceive as bad are caused by their own errors in judgment, circumstances beyond their control, or a combination of the two. The mistakes we have made in life can range from the minor events that, upon reflection, invoke feelings of embarrassment; to the major errors that can haunt us for a lifetime. These past mistakes are specific to our own perceptions of the situation, and may be seen in a negative way only by ourselves.
In Clara’s situation, it is possible that others may construe her actions as terrible, whereas we remember them as positive or unimportant. People deal with the memories of their poor decisions in a variety of ways, usually the wrong ways. Many repress these events, attempting to forget that they ever occurred; only to have the recollections return at unfortunate times, or become manifest in an abstract and harmful manner. Others will mentally manipulate the details of an experience in order to justify their behaviour. Critser (2003) highlights that some project the unpleasant aspects of an event onto other participants, which allows them to pretend that they themselves are not responsible. Individuals often dwell upon their errors, and relive the guilt and unhappiness for many years; worse yet, they use these past occurrences to...