Societal rejection of LGBT individuals has been a significant issue for many years now. It can be attributed to various factors such as lack of understanding, ignorance, and prejudice towards members of this community. The effects of societal rejection go beyond just emotional pain but also affect their overall wellbeing and mental health. This paper explores how societal rejection impacts the cognitive, emotional, and moral development of LGBT individuals throughout their lives.
Cognitive Development
The cognitive development of an individual is affected by societal rejection through several ways. Firstly, it can lead to low self-esteem which results in low confidence levels, making them doubt themselves and their abilities. They may feel inferior to others, leading to fears of failure or even depression. Secondly, it can lead to internalization where they begin to believe that they are less valuable than others simply because they are different from what society considers "normal." Thirdly, social rejection often leads to isolation, and loneliness which further hinders cognitive development since there is no one to provide support when needed.
Some members of this group end up being unemployed due to discrimination in the workplace, which limits access to resources required for growth and development.
Emotional Development
Social rejection can cause feelings of anxiety, guilt, shame, anger, and frustration among members of the LGBT community. These negative emotions are often caused by external factors such as bullying, harassment, homophobic remarks, and exclusion from social circles. Such emotions can impair an individual's ability to form meaningful relationships with other people, causing them to become isolated or fearful of forming new ones. The result is a lack of proper emotional bonding and attachment during their early years, making it challenging for them to trust or rely on anyone else later in life.
Moral Development
The moral development of individuals who experience social rejection is also affected negatively. It can lead to feelings of guilt and shame due to societal pressure regarding morality. This can manifest into self-doubt and low self-esteem, affecting their overall wellbeing. In addition, they may feel pressured into hiding their sexuality out of fear of judgement or discrimination, leading to suppressed behavior that negatively impacts mental health.
Social rejection causes them to lose faith in society, which leads to cynicism towards others.
How does societal rejection of LGBT individuals impact their cognitive, emotional, and moral development across the lifespan?
LGBT individuals experience various forms of societal discrimination that can negatively impact their cognitive, emotional, and moral development throughout their lives. The most common form of discrimination includes homophobia, which manifests as prejudice against LGBT individuals based on their sexual orientation.