How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.
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responsibilities is found in the trick so often employed by neurotics to make their lot easier. This consists in setting up artificial conditions which must first be satisfied before the individual will contribute. For instance, a man will not work because a woman is his superior—but he will be unable to find any other job than the one at which he cannot work. Or a woman will say she would marry, but the “ right ” man has not appeared on the scene. When questioned as to the qualifications of a possible mate she will describe a paragon of male virtues that has never existed in the flesh. This form of evasion is especially popular with spoiled children, young and old. The spoiled child will not work in school unless the teacher makes a “pet” of him ; and the same spoiled child, grown up, will not take any job or assume any responsibility unless he is certain that the whole world will watch and cheer and praise him for the accomplishment of some minor everyday task. Another favourite device belonging to this group is the trait of hypersensitivity. People who are for ever having their feelings hurt, others who are for ever being insulted, others again who are for ever walking about with a chip on their shoulder, utilize these traits to avoid the give and take of everyday life, while they arrogate a position of unique importance to themselves. The meaning of hypersensitivity is this : “ Take care ! I am a very sensitive creature. You must not disturb my delicate emotional balance ! ” Viewed in this way the un-social quality of hypersensitivity becomes obvious. The hypersensitive individual not only raises himself artificially to a position of great importance, but also shifts the responsibility for any failure to the unthinking people who do not take his great hypersensitivity into account every moment of the day. Most of the hyper¬ sensitive souls demonstrate the validity of this point by being in continual conflict with the majority of human beings with whom they come in contact. Some people evade the major implications of living the full life by going through their daily activities as if they