社会身份焦虑感刍议——以奥斯卡·王尔德为例

On the Anxiety of Social Status: Exemplified by Oscar Wilde

西方社会中个体的身份焦虑感伴随着资本主义制度的发生、发展而滋生和扩散。人们在解决了身体温饱需求后,开始争取社会地位,以求赢得他人的尊重。这种心理的"温饱度"能够帮助人们判断自己的能力和价值,获得自我存在的确定性。王尔德一生中令人费解的种种行为可作为社会身份焦虑感的极佳诠释。透过他我们可以看到,个体对身份的焦虑应被更高层次的价值追求所代替,才能实现真正有意义的人生。

The individuals＇ status anxiety formed, developed and expanded with the formation of capitalism in Western countries. People began to pursue social status after their needs for food and clothing were satisfied in order to win others＇ respect. This mental satisfaction can help people to judge their capability and value, and to construct the certainty of their existence. Oscar Wilde＇s life was full of inexplainable behavior, which can serve as an example to illustrate social anxiety. From him, we can see that individuals＇ anxi- ety for status should be replaced by some higher value pursuit, so that they can realize the real meaning of life.