My Personal Cultural Background
Kim Stringfield-Davis
University of Phoenix
Soc/315
November 20, 2008
My Personal Cultural Background Within this paper this student will discuss how the aspects of ones cultural background can shape and define the structure of their being. By analyzing each source of ones cultural programming, one can define the how and why of different behaviors, beliefs, and morals. Individuals draw from multiple sources that form their personality and character and this paper will discuss those factors that defined this student. While reflecting on the different cultural elements that have influenced my life, it is hard to determine which would be classified as the most significant or the most
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Though my siblings taught me a lot in regards to hierarchy, they also taught me about loyalty and trust. Whenever our parents were “on us” we always could bond together and present a united front. Having this support system gave me confidence and security when dealing with others in social situations. Being born in a rural Tennessee town has contributed to my cultural programming as well. The atmosphere of this town was one of extended family, security and safety. This was especially so as a child. People were open and caring, communities felt a responsibility to other families in their community and everyone “looked out” for one another. After becoming an adult and moving north to Maryland, it was such a stark contrast to the environment in which I grew up. People were very private, families were made up of only blood relatives, and it was unheard of to show signs of family discord. Having experienced both regions, it only made me appreciate the environment in which I was raised, and was able to raise my children. Being female in this region has also contributed in my cultural makeup. Southern men, or the majority of them, hold a deep respect for women and the place they hold in society. In the early sixties, women were mainly homemakers and mothers, but that stigma has slowly deteriorated and now being female has rarely held me back from achieving any professional position I desired. I have been employed
Day 2: How does your culture contribute to the way that you interact with your social world? Culture is one of the primary reasons we act the way we do. There are many types of cultures like professional, national, religious, family, and educational. Your family culture is the number one type of culture that affects you in your adult life. It shapes the foods you enjoy, the activities you like to participate in, and specific belief systems you take part in. Additionally,
Culture builds up and shapes how people view the world and the people in it. It determines how we judge and view the way others act, look, and even how they think. In the texts “Where worlds collide”, “An Indian Father’s Plea”, and “Two Kinds”, it is shown that a person’s views of others and the world are solely determined by their culture.
On top of this, my parents always specifically looked up to me for being a leader in the house. The reason for this is, my parents knew very little English, and needed assistance with almost everything they would do. Also, I am the first child; the child that has to fall and learn from the mistakes without any older siblings advice or wisdom. Because of this, I make sure that once I learn the most efficient and effective ways of doing tasks, I then pass it down to my younger siblings. I make sure that they learn from my mistakes and accomplishments, while doing my best to lead them in the right direction to attain
There’s various things that describes everyone, but there’s only a few things that make each and every one of us unique, which is, our cultural background. As far as cultural background, it defines the individual’s upbringing. The cultural background includes ones religion, race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, linguistic and values. These values can be shaped by family, friends, society, or authoritative level. This paper is a great way for one to define my identity or at least understand who I am.
I would consider being from a small town a cultural influence on my life. In my small town, we have a population of 2,318 and my high school has a little over 200 students. This allows our teachers to individually cater to every student’s needs. However, being from a small town can shelter you and make you naive. You know everyone, trust everyone, and aren’t exposed to crime like the bigger cities are.
Have you ever wondered why do we do things that we do? Why do we act in a certain way? What compels us to follow a path or formulate habits? One perspective among many others is the sociocultural perspective. A sociocultural perspective is an approach to understand why humans behave the way they do. It seeks to understand human behavior and personality development by examining the influence of rules of social groups on individuals who are members of those social groups. Sociocultural approach is an emerging topic that looks at the important contributions that society makes to an individual. The sociocultural approach is based on the assumption that our personalities, beliefs, attitudes and skills are learned from others. It refers to a point of view that is built upon the idea that society and culture are major factors that influence personalities. This approach believes that people are heavily influenced by their social environment. What makes and defines us as individuals is the application of sociocultural approach. For example, if you look outside the window and see a man talking to a tree, what conclusions will you draw? You may think the man is a lunatic and needs some kind of medication. But would your opinion change if you knew that the man was Native American and Native Americans believe in a spiritual philosophy that trees can speak if you listen to them. So you see, the context of culture makes a huge difference in how you ascertain someone’s behavior and that’s
Culture plays a paramount role in our lives. “It is what shapes who we are and how we view the world” (Thorp & Sanchez, 1998,
No individual can arrive at the threshold of his potentialities without a culture in which he participates. Conversely, no civilization has in it any element that the last analysis is not the contribution of an individual. Where else could any trait come from except from the behaviour of a man or a woman or a child? (253)
While culture, in a general sense, can be defined as the collective arts and customs of a population, it is also important to consider the broader collective aesthetic of said community. Being such, it is necessary to understand culture before interacting or entering a society as this allows one to better understand tradition and the attitudes towards various aspects, such religion and customs. When I look at my own culture, there are various aspects that shape my daily interactions with society at large and how I approach a situation. As a white male of a higher socioeconomic standing, I am afforded some level of impunity and status within my contemporaries, this due to the history of America and the culture that has been developed. Being that I wish to attend Lund University for the study abroad experience, there are
A major part of one’s identity involves a system of morals and beliefs which are too influenced though one’s culture and experiences in life. The
In this paper I will begin by defining personal culture and national culture. After, I will then elaborate my own personal and national culture. I will continue to talk about the subject with the person that I have chosen for my cultural group, my mother, and I will identify her personal and national culture. Lastly, I will talk about my own personality and how it has a connection with my own natural culture; knowing this is important, it lets us know who we are, and how we act with people who are from different cultures.
Although one’s culture is based on their experiences they have had, it is also based on values of family and education that help shape one’s opinion and view.
(Origin) When thinking about my family and our roots I identify my family’s places or origin as Germany and Ireland. A majority of my family is of German ancestry and the one exception is my grandmother and she is Irish. I identify these too places as where my family came from due to stories that I have hear from family members and to the traits that each member of my family carries. A majority of my family are all blonde hair, with blue or brown eyes which have a lot of similarities to people from Germany. My family as very few of the traits from the Irish side but the only ones the I have been told are that some people in our family freckle a lot
Culture defines people’s values, beliefs, and personal interests. Culture is important because it allows people to maintain a unique identity society. Many cultures have common interests, while others may have customs that differ greatly from that of another. Technology has had a huge impact on present day cultures. Many culture have been altered including my own, and some have been created due to the rise of technology. Cultures differ so greatly that someone belonging to one culture may not agree with the values of another, which then causes social and ethical issues. My culture shares many similarities with others around the world; most of which have connected more people in recent years than ever before. Cultural gaps, and lack of