Expectations

Is it better for people to have higher or lower expectations on us?

This was a question that was raised when I read Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. When Charlie was still mentally disabled, no one really scolded him for doing things wrong because they did not expect anything from him. I thought this was sad because this basically meant that no one had any hope that he could do things right.

So in a way when we're reprimanded by others for doing something wrong, we should feel glad because this means that we are still competent enough that people would rely on us to accomplish something. It is when no one even bothers to scold us for our wrong-doings that we should feel miserable.