Glossary · Term
Possessiveness
Being possessive means believing you own something or someone; it serves to limit the freedom of others and to maintain selfishness; it produces frustration, inability, insecurity, rejection, and annoyance toward the other person.
In the Foundation's Topics
The enemies of trust are, essentially, a bad temper, touchiness (taking offense is forbidden in true loving relationships), aggressiveness, sentimentality, possessiveness (or the “control tower”), and overprotectiveness.
By using the chart, we will reach agreements on meals, schedules, and the time your child will devote to each activity; on the appropriate use of places and things—avoiding possessiveness—; on respect for others and socialization—relationships with parents, siblings, classmates, and teachers—and on behavior outside the home.
As for possessiveness, we need to understand that we do not own anything or anyone; we are merely stewards of the material things entrusted to us, which we share with other people.