Why do we sometimes behave in dumb or irrational ways?

The answer quite often is because of other people – something social psychologists have comprehensively shown.

The studies linked to within the article go on to delve deeply into this concept, but what a lot comes down to for me is this: you are not what people call you, you are what you answer to. You have the choice, in every situation and interaction: are you going to be in control of you, or are you going to leave control of you to someone else? You have control, power beyond what anyone else realizes, to be the best you possible. That we all have so much potential is what brings me some of my strongest hope. That we squander so much of our potential is what brings me some of my greatest sorrow and feeling of loss.