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Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- shed light on (something) /shed lahyt on/
- pivot /PIV-uht/
- upstage /UHP-STEYJ/
- concrete /KON-kreet/
- turn your back on (something) /turn yoor bak on/
[idiom] – to help to explain a situation
The investigation is ongoing to shed light on the cause of the fire.
[verb] – to avoid talking about something by talking about something else
She pivoted the topic to something else when we asked about her experience in the cafe.
[verb] – to take people’s attention away from someone and make them listen to or look at you instead
He felt upstaged by his brother, so he tried his best to reach more accomplishments.
[adjective] – clear and certain, or real and existing in a form that can be seen or felt
The police are still looking for concrete evidence of the crime.
[idiom] – to ignore something
Never turn your back on what makes you happy.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
When our ego is threatened, somehow, it’s natural for us to emphasize other achievements in a competitive way. Why is it so, we wonder? A recent study may shed light on the matter and why people look for various forms of validation.
Seeking to restore our standing in another domain when we feel threatened is a maneuver called “status pivoting“, and it’s thought to be a coping mechanism for vulnerability or inadequacy by researchers. Status pivoting can occur in a variety of contexts, including income, morality, and so on. One area the researchers looked into is parenting. Many participants in the research who felt professionally upstaged actively “pivoted” to highlighting their parental abilities. When they brag, they usually highlight specific successes that reflect well on them as a parent: their children’s excellent grades, athletic achievements, and the school they attend. They use their sons’ or daughters’ concrete achievements to demonstrate their own parenting skills. For them, these are principal accomplishments to point to when outshining someone else during a status pivot. “Their children’s performance becomes their own transferred success,” says sociologist and visiting assistant professor Hilary Levey Friedman.
In status-pivoting circumstances, it’s important to remember that there are alternative techniques to fulfill one’s craving to feel successful. We all feel insecure when our ego is bruised, but we should never turn our back on our responsibilities and passions.
Seeking to restore our standing in another domain when we feel threatened is a maneuver called “status pivoting“, and it’s thought to be a coping mechanism for vulnerability or inadequacy by researchers. Status pivoting can occur in a variety of contexts, including income, morality, and so on. One area the researchers looked into is parenting. Many participants in the research who felt professionally upstaged actively “pivoted” to highlighting their parental abilities. When they brag, they usually highlight specific successes that reflect well on them as a parent: their children’s excellent grades, athletic achievements, and the school they attend. They use their sons’ or daughters’ concrete achievements to demonstrate their own parenting skills. For them, these are principal accomplishments to point to when outshining someone else during a status pivot. “Their children’s performance becomes their own transferred success,” says sociologist and visiting assistant professor Hilary Levey Friedman.
In status-pivoting circumstances, it’s important to remember that there are alternative techniques to fulfill one’s craving to feel successful. We all feel insecure when our ego is bruised, but we should never turn our back on our responsibilities and passions.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What is your most recent achievement?
- Do you think luck plays a part in your accomplishments? Please share your thoughts.
- If you felt threatened, would you also turn to status pivoting? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, is status pivoting a positive or negative concept?
- How do you think we can highlight our accomplishments without being competitive?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- threaten
- maneuver
- highlight
- principal
- craving