Naive

Being naive is a disadvantage in life that can cause tremendous amounts of damage. By not weighing up the possibilities of negatives as well as positives, a person may be placing themselves in a position to be exploited. Being naive can also cause damage to the lives of others who may be under the guidance, care or supervision of the individual. As we mature with increasing responsibilities, the ability to learn, gain experience and adapt to the environment we are in is an essential skill in order to reduce our naivety that can cause and lead to irreversible damage in an individuals personnel life and the life of others.

A naive person has lack of knowledge, experience and wisdom that can lead to that individual being exploited by others who see the opportunity in taking advantage of that individual. The individual can be exploited in several different ways that can lead to damage in that persons life which they may not be able to recover from. A naive individual is generally inexperienced in the field and therefore may be exploited by more experienced individuals who know what they are doing and the position that they may be putting the other person in. For instance, in business a business owner may present a future business partner a minority stake in the business to maintain there authority position while giving the minority business partner little to no say on the daily functioning of the business. The business partner being naive to the position that they are placed in, where they trade control of their life for a minor ownership in a business, they are caused damage to their personal life. Especially, if the business partner is doing the majority of the work while only receiving a small percentage of the profits from the business. However, we are all naive in different areas of life where we may not have much experience. A mechanic would be expected to be naive in the field of Pharmacy and is not assumed to understand and provide advice in the field of medicine. Regardless of inexperience or lack of knowledge in a field or area of life, mature adults are expected to overcome naivety to ensure competency and daily functioning in life. To overcome naivety, an individual may have to seek professional advice, gain experience in the area, and other methods to ensure competency. Naivety must be overcome to ensure that an individual is not exploited or taken advantage of.

Being naive not only causes damage to oneself but it can also cause damages to other individuals. It is important to recognise and not be naive to the responsibility of actions and words that have impacts on the lives of others. An adult cannot be naive to being a role model for their children as they grow from a child to an adult. For instance, an adult who does not recognise this responsibility could create a path for that child which is not beneficial for their future. The child may witness a parent who is abusive to their partner and think that this actions are normal creating a naivety in their life as they grow. Being naive to the actions of their adult role model that they are now copying can cause problems in their own life as they grow older. The only way for them to learn that these actions are not acceptable is by being informed or punished after they have performed the actions that causes damage to another persons life.

Through experience, knowledge and wisdom the damages of naivety can be diminished. Being naive is acceptable as an adolescent but a mature adult must ensure to not be naive to prevent being exploited by others in life. Imagine being as naive as a child at an adult age and the damages that would cause in an adults life. Growing maturity means growing responsibilities that require the ability to make the right decisions.