Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Dr Varkha Chulani feels, "Our curiosity about other people's lives gives us fodder so that our lives, which are often dull and dreary in comparison, get some lift. Psychologically, we love scandals. That way at least our small slip-ups don't make us feel guilty or increase self-loathing. Hence, in a way, prying, especially for the celebrities' slip-ups, can make us feel easy about ourselves." Yes, humans are intruders. The concept of privacy doesn't go down well with us. Whether we pry into our children's cupboards or read their private diaries, open our spouses' mail, we as a community feel we have a right to know everything.
Psychologist and relationship counsellor Dr Malini Shah says, "The idea that we need to know everything about others denotes an indirect sense of control and hold over others. It can be between parents and children or partners and friends. The concept of personal space is important as it gives a sense of independence." If we can violate privacy of our own kith and kin, what about the celebrity? We believe if a person is a celebrity in public life, we should know about his private life as well. "We take great pride in gossiping about how much we know about, say Shah Rukh Khan. In a way, we are so well-informed and up-to-date with what's going on in a celebrity's life.
Hence, we drop names, spread half-truths so that we may be accepted and looked upon for information at parties and social gatherings. That's the only two minutes of fame we enjoy. Never mind that it's at the cost of another," adds Dr Chulani.
Psychiatrist Dr Parul Tank says, "Privacy has acquired a different meaning in today's social and cultural life. Earlier, families were open and all issues were discussed in an open forum. Today, the portals of communication and rules of privacy have changed. We have social networking sites, which proclaim with great elan about day-to-day activities, but we refuse to communicate and face people when it comes to our private issues. On the other hand, due to these media sites, a lot of private issues come out and are discussed in the open. This often leads to emotional turmoil, stress and anxiety."
It is an undeniable fact that the web has introduced people to a lot of benefits that were hitherto unavailable, but privacy or the lack of it has also become an issue with celebrities where they are photographed and quoted on various Internet sites, which was not the case before. "It's important we take the issue of privacy in our hands, and draw a firm stand on what we wish to discuss and what we don't, especially on the Internet. This is because it no longer remains confidential on the Internet once the words are written or the message is sent," adds Dr Tank.
Psychiatrist Dr Jyoti Sangle says, "We live in a world that is virtually very active. People are simultaneously branding themselves in this world of connectivity when it suits them and at the same time trying to maintain their privacy. The two sound contradictory, but at the same time deserve very serious thinking. Perhaps people are branding the profession and capabilities in them, and then requesting privacy for their humanselves."
Dr Sangle reiterates that privacy is the need of an individual to filter information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively. There is something that is considered inherently special or personally sensitive and so may be deserves to be known by a selected few. Hence, it is out of mutual respect for each human being that this has to come naturally to us.
Source: TOI
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