In Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath, he proposes the idea that what we may consider a setback could be the very thing that makes us successful based on how we respond to it. He uses the terms “direct hits,” “near misses,” and “remote misses” when discussing the Blitz in World War I, but those terms can also be applied to our everyday lives and difficulties. Gladwell applies those concepts to a few other interesting situations in the book while discussing the topic of “desirable difficulty” as well. Everyone will have some kind of hardship or difficulty; how we respond to those will shape the person we become. In terms of bombing, “direct hits” are those who are killed. Gladwell quotes Canadian psychiatrist J. T. MacCurdy, the author
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This category of people would have been right near the bomb when it detonated; they felt the blast, were traumatized by the wounds and chaos around them, and may have even been wounded themselves. MacCurdy expresses that, “…they survive deeply impressed. ‘Impression’ means, here, a powerful reinforcement of the fear reaction in association with bombing,” (131). In reference to the previous example about “direct hits” today, a “near miss” in that situation could be a bystander who saw one of their friends get run over or was harmed by a protestor or another bystander. This group has a difficult time getting over the traumatic event, and they may be in an unsettled or staggering state for a while. In my life personally, I was in the “remote miss” category when I found out my sister was pregnant. I was shocked for a while, uncertain of what to say to her, unable to open up to my closest friends, and anxious about what other people would say to or about her. This situation is not as extreme as a bomb or a terror attack, but it reiterates the same principles in a way. My sister’s choice has affected me and my decisions regarding certain relationships and will continue to affect me whether or not I always realize …show more content…
Gladwell defines this group as,
“…the people who listen to the sirens, watch the enemy bombers overhead, and hear the thunder of exploding bombs. But the bomb hits down the street or the next block over. And for them, the consequences of a bombing attack are exactly the opposite of the near-miss group. They survived, and the second or third time that happens, the emotion associated with the attack, MacCurdy wrote, ‘is a feeling of excitement with a flavor of invulnerability.’ A near miss leaves you traumatized. A remote miss makes you think you are invincible,” (131-132).
Someone who would be in the “remote miss” category of the terrorist attack would be a person who perhaps was out on the street moments before the people were attacked, or they were right around the corner when it happened. It may stun them for a second, but then they realize that they are unharmed. They did not get hit; it gives them power because the attacker can no longer control them with fear. The people are able to snap back faster once they realize this. In volleyball, I get terrified to play on the back row when the other team’s best hitter is in on the front row because I do not want to get hit in the face. Once they spike it for the first time, however, and I am able to pass it, I am no longer afraid to play back row. Moments similar to that in life help make me unafraid to attempt difficult tasks or persevere in a challenging
This category of people would have been right near the bomb when it detonated; they felt the blast, were traumatized by the wounds and chaos around them, and may have even been wounded themselves. MacCurdy expresses that, “…they survive deeply impressed. ‘Impression’ means, here, a powerful reinforcement of the fear reaction in association with bombing,” (131). In reference to the previous example about “direct hits” today, a “near miss” in that situation could be a bystander who saw one of their friends get run over or was harmed by a protestor or another bystander. This group has a difficult time getting over the traumatic event, and they may be in an unsettled or staggering state for a while. In my life personally, I was in the “remote miss” category when I found out my sister was pregnant. I was shocked for a while, uncertain of what to say to her, unable to open up to my closest friends, and anxious about what other people would say to or about her. This situation is not as extreme as a bomb or a terror attack, but it reiterates the same principles in a way. My sister’s choice has affected me and my decisions regarding certain relationships and will continue to affect me whether or not I always realize …show more content…
Gladwell defines this group as,
“…the people who listen to the sirens, watch the enemy bombers overhead, and hear the thunder of exploding bombs. But the bomb hits down the street or the next block over. And for them, the consequences of a bombing attack are exactly the opposite of the near-miss group. They survived, and the second or third time that happens, the emotion associated with the attack, MacCurdy wrote, ‘is a feeling of excitement with a flavor of invulnerability.’ A near miss leaves you traumatized. A remote miss makes you think you are invincible,” (131-132).
Someone who would be in the “remote miss” category of the terrorist attack would be a person who perhaps was out on the street moments before the people were attacked, or they were right around the corner when it happened. It may stun them for a second, but then they realize that they are unharmed. They did not get hit; it gives them power because the attacker can no longer control them with fear. The people are able to snap back faster once they realize this. In volleyball, I get terrified to play on the back row when the other team’s best hitter is in on the front row because I do not want to get hit in the face. Once they spike it for the first time, however, and I am able to pass it, I am no longer afraid to play back row. Moments similar to that in life help make me unafraid to attempt difficult tasks or persevere in a challenging