Outline Of Chapter 17 We Have Rights

Chapter 17

We Have Rights

This essay presents the case for individual’s rights in modern society. It outlines the difficulties some people have in claiming these assumed rights and techniques to claim your rights.

All humans have the right to live in a secure, safe environment and to act in a manner that will allow them to satisfy their desires conditional on them not exploiting others. Our rights as people can be expressed as us having the right to:

• Our opinion

• Feelings and emotions expressed appropriately

• Make statements which have no logical basis and which we do not have to justify (i.e. opinions, ideas, etc.)

• Make our own decisions and cope with the consequences

• Choose whether, or not, to get involved in the problems of someone

The continual failure to stop the exploitation causes them to internalize their pain. This pain builds up as frustration and anger. However, the passive respondent never directs their anger at the cause but release it as whining and complaining to those around them. When they face the people who they should confront they are characterized as down cast and weak.

Protective Walls of Behaviour

Amongst the techniques used by those who do not assert their rights is by taking a ‘one up’ position with the people they are dealing with. They behave in ways to project the problem on to the other either by shouting, finger pointing, seducing or otherwise manipulating the other.

This responds is seen as the aggressor putting their needs above the other person. On face value and initially they may appear assertive. However, in stressful situations, their behaviour focuses much time ‘keeping others out’, they are unable to fairly negotiate to get their needs met.

Exposed Self

Some people take the opposite position. They take on the abuse and manipulation as if they deserve it. They take on the role of victim and the best they can expect is to get

Establish Needs.

To establish needs we must be aware that our psychological health is dependent on getting our human drives, those of survival, love & belonging, power, fun, freedom, learning and our spiritual needs met. We not only have to establish what our needs are at the time but we must be sure that the actions we choose satisfy these needs in the long term.

If we are faced with a situation that is hindering our ability to meet our needs we must assert our rights to do this. We need to set our goals to ensure satisfaction. This may require us to plan to overcome obstacles, others behaviours, that stand in our way. Assertive people are not just those who speak up at the time their rights are being threatened but also those who act to a plan, over time to meet their needs.

2. Esteem Others.

If we are to claim the right to have a secure environment and to get our needs met then, as responsible adults, we must ensure that none of our actions deny others the same