Reflection About Culture

Raymond Williams (Hutchison, 2011) said “culture is one of the two or three most complicated words in the English language” (p. 247). When I thought of culture, I used to picture food, festivities, clothes and country. Just like the nurse, I thought that if learned about one culture, I understood everybody in that culture. But as I started expanding my knowledge the meaning of culture started becoming harder to define. Different subjects seemed to have different definitions of what culture is. The idea expanded until it was not just a check list but “a set of common understandings, manifest in act and artifact. It is in two places at once: inside somebody’s head as understandings and in the external environment as act and artifact” (Hutchison, 2011, p. 246). The definition above explains why social workers need to learn cultural humility. It clarifies that because culture is both behavior and act, it is interpreted differently by different people. In other words, two people can be from the same exact place and still have different cultures.

During this class, Ministry, Culture, and Contextual Analysis we were instructed to observe a faith tradition unlike our own, to expose ourselves to a cross culture awareness and experience, and interpret what we observe.

Deep Culture means more than where you come from, what you believe in & what you skin color is. Deep culture is your internal make-up that shapes you into who you are on the inside. For instance, personal space, body language, notions of leadership etc. are all examples of deep cultural make-up. Being aware of your own and others deep culture is important, because it helps fulfill your needs, understand other people, and even learn from others. The aspects of “deep” culture include, cultural universals and cultural archetypes. They show awareness of your deep culture, and that leads you to find more aspects in common with peers and distinctions. Ultimately, no one is left behind because everyone is aware of themselves as well as others.

The cultural assignment allowed me to gain a new perspective on the differences of others. I have grown up in a household of dissimilar belief systems. My mom is a dedicated Christian while my dad is unassociated with any religious beliefs. Though, he grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness. There differing belief systems have been the cause of various conflicts within their relationship. I often wondered if people with contradicting beliefs could effectively and peacefully discuss their belief systems. This cultural experience showed me that a peaceful discussion is possible between individuals of dissimilar beliefs.

I am currently working on an internship credential as a high school counselor at Carlsbad High School which is a large public comprehensive high school in Carlsbad, California. In the 2015- 2016 academic school year Carlsbad High School had a total enrollment of 2,459 students in the 9th-12th grade. 21% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, 3% are English Language Learners and 10.2 % are students with disabilities (School Accountability Report Card, 2016-17).

The paper is based on the following questions asked by my advisor, Dr. Larry G.Murphy

Conventional wisdom was supported in 2003 by research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which found evidence to support the long held general belief that exercisers profit from many physical and psychological benefits of physical activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003; Plante, Cage, Clements, & Stover, 2006). Plante, Cage, Clements, and Stover (2006) sought to further the idea behind Plante, Aldridge, Bogden, and Hanelin’s (2003) study (which built off of the CDC’s 2003 research) concerning virtual reality’s role in the psychological benefits of exercise. Plante, Aldridge, Bogden, and Hanelin’s (2003) study included virtual reality scenes of walking through a college campus that were viewed by participants. This team of researchers paired virtual reality with exercise, and found that virtual reality paired with exercise can improve the psychological effects of exercise in a positive way (2006). Plante, Cage, Clements, and Stover (2006) looked to replicate similar results as well as investigate indoor vs. outdoor exercise benefits.

I think the culture and kind of people you grew up with and around shape who we are immensely and influence our beliefs and bias. Even though most form their own opinions and morals we grow older we still have cognitive bias that we were born and raised with. Our culture makes us who we are, it is the foundation that our lives were built on even before we were born. Saying this there are so many different cultures and with this comes different experiences and bias for each one. The culture I grew up with and around was the traditional southern baptist culture which is a culture with very distinct beliefs and values. Any culture I think shapes your perspective on everything but especially any culture that is mostly rooted in religion. This culture shaped my perspectives from the start and they were the same as my parents and everyone else I was around. As I have grown older that has changed I have developed my own opinions and ideology for different things but the fundamentals from what I grew up in and will continue to grow up around will stay with me. I think the southern culture sometimes gets put on as something that it is not but it is what has taught me to respect everyone, to value family and friends over anything, it has taught me to take responsibility for me, and cherish the small thing in life.

From my understanding culture is the traits that are shared between a group of people and not every single person that is a part of that culture thinks the same way and that is their cultural identity. For me two cultures I can think that I am a part of is my family’s culture and I am a part of my friend’s culture and that is where most of my beliefs and ideals come from. More specifically the part of our cultures I am talk about is our behaviors when we are around each other because I am sure like most people I act differently when I am around my parents and when I am around my friends.

Culture is, learned, shared human patterns or models for living; day- to-day, these patterns and models pervade all aspects of human social interaction. Personally I have lived In the religious culture environment of Christianity since birth. Christianity is what I believe defines who I am for the most part. Although I believe that culture can be learned, it is different from actually experiencing it, therefore one should actually live the culture to become fully knowledgeable in it .

1. Culture is perceived as a way of thinking that influences the behaviors of a group of people.

This paper will cover multiple topics. Those topics will include reflective practice and career goals with the author. Following this, a literature review regarding cultural influence on learning styles, and potential ways to improve on cross-culture class needs. Then there will be a case scenario examining an ethical lapsing scenario involved with cross-culture, and how it can be addressed. The author will finish by going over their personal biases with and possibly during the scenario.

The definition of culture according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group. When one is born into a certain culture, the teachings and traditions of the said culture influences the individual’s thoughts and actions, thereby, shaping their lives. Having mentioned this effect, It is worth reiterating that culture is not to be thought of as a single entity but rather as a collective product of various societal convictions. These fundamental convictions are embedded in aspects within the said culture. These aspects include, and are not limited to gender socialization, familial life and individual roles. Growing up in an Asian household, I was taught at an early age that women in my family were expected to take on the role of homemakers and were expected to conduct themselves in accordance with traditional values. And while I spent 18 years of my life under the supervision of various family members and in three different homes, I developed a slight sense of rebelliousness that stemmed from questioning the purpose of the roles expected of me and whether or not these roles bore any significance. This imperative shift came about during a turbulent period of transition in my teen years. Coupled with the struggle to conform to gender and cultural norms, my self-awareness, self-concept and self-esteem played a pivotal role in my decision to ultimately leave my hometown and enlist in the United States Marine Corps where I was immersed in a entirely new culture. I am proud to say I am a product of both cultures and as far as my hometown, I have not looked back since.

“Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful.” Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy and director of the Behrman Undergraduate Society of Fellows, Princeton University.

Living in the United States there so many different cultures. By living here I’m always curious about another one’s culture. Being that I’m a public health student I have to be expose and learn about other people cultures. It helps to keep an open mind about the community. I did an interview with a professor here at NCCU. His name is Marco Polo Hernandez Cuevas. He’s my Spanish professor. He has really opened my eyes about the Caribbean island and Latin American culture. We talked about how he was raised, how his culture come together as a family, and the negative side of his culture.