Expectations In Sociology

Not only do individuals develop expectations of life and relationships, they also develop expectations of God. One branch of modern psychological thinking, influenced by Sigmund Freud, understands that our image and expectations of God derive largely from our experience of our father, or more broadly from both our parents when we are young (Ross, 2001). Being cared for and protected is a primal need in young children. The struggles and challenges of adult life call into remembrance that primary need. Our early experience of our parents becomes the image, whether positive or negative, into which we create God in order to feel secure in an uncertain world. This way, God becomes whatever we need, and our expectations of God are merely psychological constructs. While this may explain many people’s understanding of God, it does not disprove God’s existence.

Sociology, on the other hand, tends to view religion as a social construct, created by societal values, or expectations, in order to guide, “sustain and renew the group” (Datta & Milbrandt, 2014, p. 481). This concept, pioneered by Émile Durkheim (2008), argues that society creates its ideals and practices, such as religious rites, to preserve its values

As a child, I had an expectation of rejection. Consequently, when stressors arose, I did not initiate positive problem solving strategies. Rather, I tended to avoid the problems and withdraw from relationships, which resolved nothing. When I became an adult, inaccurate expectations from childhood continued to compromise my ability to navigate life and relationships successfully. Failures in education and career just two are examples of consequences I suffered. As I began to recognize and change my inaccurate expectations, I began to notice that my friends expectations were not necessarily accurate either. Unfortunately, the misunderstanding that resulted cost me several