Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll Belonging Analysis

Over the past 20 years during my career as a behavioural psychologist, I have studied the ways in which accepting others impacts upon an individual’s sense of belonging. There have been a variety of differing opinions and results, some have emphasised its necessity whilst others have suggested otherwise. Today, I present to you my findings and conclusions.

One of the greatest boundaries my clients have faced in belonging is the opposing opinions or lifestyles of others. I have found that this problem has been explored in fictional settings such as Ray Lawler’s classic “Summer of the Seventeenth Doll”, in characters such as Pearl. Like many of us, Pearl initially struggles to accept the rebellious lifestyle that Olive and her friends lead.
Sometimes in life, it isn’t always so easy or simple. Most of you would likely be familiar with the television show ‘House M.D’, and how the main protagonist Gregory House pushes the boundaries of this idea. House possesses many opinions and ideals which are controversial, in comparison to the opinions of his team. He regularly demonstrates these opinions, going to extreme lengths to prove his point. Practically everyone complains about these tendencies, rejecting his morals completely. And yet, he still manages to somewhat belong to the dynamic of his friends. Who knows? Perhaps he’s just lucky, or the writers have taken upon a immense artistic license.

Ultimately, the question of whether accepting others allows for a sense of belonging is debatable. Whilst it is challenging, there are certainly potential consequences to not doing so. In my mind it simply comes down to individuals and their scenarios. If our beloved fictional characters have taught us anything, it is certainly to challenge the meaning of what it is to truly accept or reject someone. From there, individuals should decide what is best for them, and what works within the context of who they wish or do belong