Why are people obssessed with things that are unrealistic?

Question

It would be great if you guys could help me out. I was wondering why all sorts of people (specifically U.S.) are obsessed with unrealistic desires. For example, world peace, its a good goal, but it remains unrealistic. WHY are we obsessed with this desire (and others larger or smaller) or want it so bad if we know that its probably not realistic? You don't have to use this example, (i.e. don't just answer the world peace question, that's not what this question is about) but I wanna know why we are so obsessed with, basically, what we cant have. Like is it that we only obsess over certain things (we know is unrealistic that we'll get it) because we don't want others to have things and we want them for ourselves? For example,i really want to win the lottery (because I'm so obsessed with money) but its pretty unrealistic because of how hard it is to win the lottery, but yet i continue to obsesses with how great and how possible it is (yeah right) for me to win it. You guys can use your own examples of like what you would want, why its unrealistic, and why you keep holding out for it. PLEASE HELP its for an english paper, and i need a good grade!

Answer 1

I personally think its human nature to obsess over things we can't have, and I always wanted a perfect body like you see on TV, but I know that will never happen, but because I watch TV and read magazines, I see those women that do have those body's and that just reinforces it and makes me want it even more, but in a logical sense I know it won't happen, but the illogical side of my brain tells me I should keep dreaming for it and obsessing over it.

Answer 2

This paper could go the sociology way.  I'm a senior in college and just started taking an intro class to sociology (it meets graduation requirements...)and this is exactly what we were talking about today in class actually.

What is reality?  Reality is socially created.  Society is a human product and man is a social product.  Think about it?  If we did not have the desire around us to be pretty, would you want to be pretty?  If there wasn't such a huge separation in the rich-poor dichotomy, would people want to so desperately get rich or win the lottery as you stated?  

We as humans become obsessed with certain ideas because we see others around us enjoying the benefits of having "better" things such as more money, more beauty, more love, more assets....etc.

However, because we are humans and we have the ability to desire more than what we have, we also have the ability to dream.  We have the ability to see the bigger picture and know what we COULD potentially have.  This leads humans to overly obsess for certain things.

Additionally, you CANNOT forget that Americans as a whole are materialistic...so of course we want anything that someone else has.  We want the big screen tv.  We want the nice house and car.  We want the designer clothes.  However, if society did not put a value on these things and did not allow for the material what ever it is to become almost a monetary form of status, then people would not desire these things.  So...this means that humans make other humans act the way they do.  Hence, this is what sociology is....the study of humans and how they interact.  Status quo is another way in putting it....whoever has the most of something is the most powerful.

Moreover, we as humans are the ones that determine what is realistic and unrealistic.  To some people certain dreams aren't realistic and to some they are.  So, it depends on how each person looks at the situation.  Everyone looks at things differently.

I suggest that you look up sociologist for this topic.  It may be an English paper, but it is dealing with the science of sociology.

Answer 3

It's just human nature.  The way our brains are built.

Answer 4

How can a human determine what is unrealistic? Just as something is improbable it is those that make the effort that makes it probable.

If one was to want to 'win' the lottery, that one person would never succeed if that one decided it was just too improbable.

Its a gamble, just like the chances of getting to work unhurt, but we don't think about that because it is a negative improbability.

Keeping the upbeat of improbabilities makes life seem like it can pay off at some point no matter what improbable goal is in mind.

Answer 5

its called hope. people have hope and that's better than thinking like that-otherwise we would all be dead. think about it.

Answer 6

world peace is only unrealistic because we make it that way

america was built on unrealistic goals