Acceptance

The term acceptance is a noun with various different meanings.[2] When the person to whom a proposal is made signifies their assent, it is an "acceptance" of their offer, also called an agreement. For example, if someone gives a gift and another receives it, then they have accepted the gift; therefore, having acceptance.

Another definition of acceptance is related to positive welcome and belonging, favor, and endorsement: one approves of something. For instance, one can like someone and accept them due to their approval of that person.

Another description is that acceptance can be an act of believing or assenting. The definition overlaps with toleration, but acceptance and tolerance are not synonyms.

In contract law, acceptance is "[a]n express act or implication by conduct that manifests assent to the terms of an offer in a manner invited or required by the offer so that a binding contract is formed. The exercise of power conferred by an offer by performance of some act. The act of a person to whom something is offered or tendered by another, whereby the offered demonstrates through an act invited by the offer an intention of retaining the subject of the offer."[3]

Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher, defines acceptance as a "surrender to the Now" response to anything occurring in any moment of life.[4]

To simplify, acceptance means allowing; allowing unwanted private experiences (thoughts, feelings, and urges) to come and go without struggling with them.

Acceptance is treating whatever happens, the actual event which is the outcome of all combined previous events, as something that is either positive or neutral. Acceptance typically contains the concept of approval; the psycho-spiritual use of the term implies a non-judgmental mindset. Acceptance is contrasted with resistance, a term that has strong political and psychoanalytic connotations that do not apply in most contexts.

Groups and individuals can show acceptance of various events and conditions in the world; individuals may accept elements of their own thoughts, feelings, and personal histories. For example, psychotherapeutic treatment of a person with depression or anxiety can involve fostering acceptance either for whatever personal circumstances may give rise to those feelings or for the feelings themselves. Psychotherapy can also involve lessening an individual's acceptance of various situations.[5]

Notions of acceptance are prominent in many faiths and meditation practices. For example, Buddhism's first noble truth, "All life is suffering", invites people to accept that suffering is a natural part of life. The term "Kabbalah" literally means tradition within the Judoist language.[6] Minority groups in society often describe their goal as acceptance, whereby the majority will not marginalize the minority's full participation in society. A majority may be said to tolerate minorities when it confines their participation to certain aspects of society but does not accept them.

Acceptance is the fifth stage of the Kübler-Ross model (commonly known as the "stages of grief").

The book Alcoholics Anonymous describes the importance of acceptance in the treatment of alcoholism. It states that acceptance can resolve situations where a person feels disturbed by a "person, place, thing or situation – some fact of [their] life – [which is] unacceptable to [them]". It claims that an alcoholic person cannot find serenity until they accept that "nothing happens in God's world by mistake" and that the condition of alcoholism must be accepted as a given.[7]

Social acceptance

Changes in attitudes toward cohabitation in the US

Social acceptance affects people of all social and age groups. Social acceptance can be defined as tolerating and welcoming the differences and diversity in others because most people attempt to look and act like others do in order to fit in.[12] Data shows that those with high self-acceptance scores tend to accept others and feel accepted by others.[13]

Children and teenagers tend to desire to be accepted by friends, and act upon that desire through peer pressure. Peer pressure sometimes determines how people style their hair and clothing to "look cool". A desire to be accepted by those whose friendship one values can determine one's openness towards popular behavior including smoking, drinking, and swearing.[14] People exhibit and avoid certain behaviors out of the desire for the approval of their friends, which may include drinking or taking drugs.

When it comes to mental disorders, social acceptance plays a big role in recovery. Many people don't understand mental illness, so they are unsure of how to embrace people who have a disease, leaving these people with feelings of isolation in friend groups.[15] Being accepted by a friend and having support can help with mental health and give a healthy sense of self.[16]

Conditional

Standards specify acceptable and hazardous gaps in infant beds

A type of acceptance that requires modification of the initial conditions before the final acceptance is made, is called conditional acceptance, or qualified acceptance.[17] For instance, in a contract involving two parties, adjustments or modifications may be made to ensure it aligns with the satisfaction of both parties. When a person receives an offer and is willing to agree to it, provided that certain changes are made to its terms or certain conditions or events occur, it is referred to as conditional acceptance. In a business contract between a company and an employer, both parties have the option to change and modify the terms until mutual agreement or acceptance of the contract's details is reached.

Acceptance is fundamental to the core beliefs of most Abrahamic religions; the word "Islam" can be translated as "acceptance", "surrender", or "voluntary submission",[20] and Christianity is based upon the "acceptance" of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and acceptance of God's will. Religions and psychological treatments often suggest a path of acceptance when a situation is both disliked and fated, or when change may be possible only at great cost or risk. Acceptance may imply only a lack of outward, behavioral attempts at possible change, but the word is also used more specifically for a felt or hypothesized cognitive or emotional state.

Within Christian beliefs, acceptance is characterized as embracing the reality of a situation based on one's trust in God's perfect will and control. In the Muslim community, acceptance of Allah is similar to people that are considered Christian and how they accept God as their higher being.[21] Jewish people accept the Commandments as a way to live and have a good and fulfilling life.[22]

Beliefs and acceptance overlap in meaning. Belief is taking something as true or it to be the way it is. The acceptance of one's beliefs is important to show commitment and structure of one's life. Not only is it vital for survival, but it is used in everyday relationships.[23] Being accepted by a friend has shown to positively affect an individual's self-esteem, well-being, and emotional outlook.[24] Lack of acceptance could lead to a host of psychological issues.[25]

• "The 5 stages of grief." Assortment Articles: Free Online Articles on Health, Science, Education & More. 12 Apr. 2009.
• "The Last Phase of Grief: Acceptance, Reorganization and Integration." Getting Past Your Past. 14 Apr. 2009.
• "The need for social acceptance and approval — its power." The Way. Art of Living. Essays. Topically arranged scripture, proverbs, precepts, quotations. Teachings of Jesus. Conservative Christian outlook emphasizing self-discipline, self-denial, integrity, principle, character, chastity, goodness, morality, virtue. 16 Apr. 2009.
• "Self Acceptance." Archived 2009-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Become Who You Want To Be. 16 Apr. 2009.
• "What A Difference A Friend Makes: Social Acceptance Is Key to Mental Health Recovery." Mental illness, mental health information center. 10 Apr. 2009.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Acceptance.

• Art of Accepting