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Role of culture in formation of identity
Role of culture in formation of identity
What influences our personal identity
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Our lives are defined by our experiences of growing up and of who people are when people are developing. Both, in their respective regards, are something that can be difficult to alter to the individual. Gender, race, classes, and other building blocks of our identity are always shifting to who anyone is and while a person can’t affect themselves, society can, and often does change their perspective towards their own identity and how they interact with the stimulation outside of their psyche. It is a common argument about whether humans are simply who they are because of genes, the nature of who someone is, or if it’s more due to interactions with outside ideas and actions, the nurture one receives. Different research has claimed both sides,
The nature vs. nurture controversy has been one of the oldest and most incessant debates throughout history. The disputation of this debate has generated numerous hypotheses, and explorations by various researchers, however, it has not been clearly determined as to whether a person is biologically determined or whether they are shaped by the environment. Nature’s theory holds that a person’s mental ability is sustained by what he or she is born with genetically. Conversely, the argument that a person’s environment plays a large role in his or her mental aptitude is nurture. Despite the numerous and overwhelming experiments that have been fulfilled by theorists who support the nature theory, I strongly believe that the environment around a person, on the other hand, is ever-changing and offers more opportunities for growth and variation.
Nature vs nurture has been an ongoing debate for many decades among some of the greatest minds in psychology. Everyone is trying to figure out the source of human personality. Does our personality develop primarily by genetics, known as nature or is it based off of our environment and the way we were raised, nature? I believe it is a bit of both, but in my opinion nurture plays a bigger role.
Albert Camus once said, “Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.” But what makes man what he is? Is it his sheer genetic makeup, or is it the way he was raised? The nature vs. nurture debate has raged on for centuries, but neither side has been able to prove their point indefinitely. Even today we see displays of the contrast between genetics and learned behaviors, some of which are athletics, intelligence, medical histories, etc. Every person is completely unique, a combination of genetic makeup and environment make an individual who they are.
Conformity also causes a conflict in identity causing people to feel labeled by the society. In Source G, the writer states that “society is no reader to accept crippledness than to accept death, war, sex, sweat, or wrinkles. I would never refer to another person a cripple. It is the name I use to name only myself.” The writer also states “people- crippled or not- wince at the word ‘cripple,’ as they do not at ‘handicapped’ or ‘disabled.’” Another example is a visual source; Source D. The image is of a Muslim women wearing a traditional headpiece that represents her religion. The headpiece is a design of the American flag. Her facial expression is plain and very unpleasant and on her forehead is a large imprint of the word “terrorist” in black, bold ink. Above the image, it states “my
As a mother, I am shocked and dismayed by the general acceptance of the myth of genetic determinism. One's environment, including people one interacts with, has an undeniable influence on how one develops. Nonetheless, many scientists disregard the impact of environment on one's intelligence. I do not deny that one's biology is a crucial part of one's identity. Inheritance of physical traits is obvious. Children often look "just like" their father or mother, or another relative. One's genes determine eye and hair color, height and body build. I believe, however, that what makes us human is not something that can be found in...
Inheritance, by Sharon Moalem, is a nonfiction novel that elaborates on what makes us who we are and why. Moalem states that even before we are born, our genes set up determines our lives. Our genes are adaptable sequences that can be altered by instances of trauma, simple dietary change, or just a small indiscretion. Through our experiences, our genes are changing and consequently limiting us. We have an unwavering predictable matter of the genes we have inherited from previous generations. Our future children could inherit many of our specific genes, good or bad. Even if our inherited
“The term “nature versus nurture” is used to refer to a long-running scientific debate. The source of debate is the question of which has a greater influence on development: someone's innate characteristics provided by genetics, or someone's environment. In fact, the nature versus nurture debate has been largely termed obsolete by many researchers, because both innate characteristics and environment play a huge role in development, and they often intersect”. (Smith, 2010 p. 1)
Is the person we become a product of innate, inborn tendencies, or a reflection of experiences and upbringing? In other words, are we a product of genetics or our environment? I would say we are mostly products of the environment around us. Others might disagree but here is why I say that. Society is constantly changing. Is our kids going to grow up exactly like we did? The music we grow up listening to, the TV shows we watch, our families, and even politics influence us. For example, if somebody grows up around foul language then they think it is normal and just fine for everybody to talk like that. They do not know it is wrong so in turn they speak like that as well. As human beings we tend to want to be like others and fit
While weighing the role of the state in modern globalization, Wolf (2001) concludes that states are necessary for globalization, while Rothkopf (2012) believes states have a diminished role due to globalization. Each author has certain assumptions, some shared and some exclusive to one author, from which he reaches his respective conclusions. Both authors assume that globalization is a valid thesis; Wolf (2001) in his title, and Rothkopf (2012) in his first sentence of the chapter: “The history of globalization is the history of the world.” (196). Globalization is not an inherent conclusion.
Genes tell us a lot about who we are physically, socially and mentally but environment also play a key role. We as members of human species we are born to change. Our destiny we make ourselves despite the factors we have no control over them. So the answer to whether the genes determine our destiny is still out. It appears that both gene and environment may be equally important in determining who we are.
Identity is a fluid concept, and many believe they understand its roots and its formation; however, each finds themselves struggling to cover the entire surface of identity, leaving room for chance to fill. Many believe one is born the way they will always be, just waiting to bloom once they reach a certain point in their lives. Many argue that instead, they are molded by their experiences and hardships involving a lack of education blamed on a minuscule income given to their parents. Opposing both these ideas, some believe that one's identity is formed by the way others make them feel, such as facing discrimination for their gender or their race. James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" describes two brothers, who despite growing up in the same house,
The fifth stage, according to Erik Erikson psychoanalytic theory of development is the Identity Vs Identity confusion. The stage occurs during adolescence in the ages between 12 to 18 years. At this stage, the adolescents try to find a sense of personal and self-identity by intensely exploring their personal goals, beliefs, and values (McLeod, 2017). Notably, the adolescence is between childhood and adulthood. Thus, their mind is between the morality learned during childhood and the ethics they are trying to develop into adulthood. The transitioning from childhood to adulthood is the most important development for a person because the individual is becoming independent and is focusing on the future regarding career, relationships, families
Social identity theory proposed by Henri Tajfel and later developed by Tajfel and Turner in 1971. The theory is to understand intergroup relations and group processes. Social identity theory suggests that the self-concept is based on knowledge of our membership to one or more social groups; people enhance their self-esteem, which can also be boosted by personal achievement and affiliation with successful groups, in attempt to improve their self-image, which is based on personal identity or various social identities.
Nature vs nurture debate is an old argument, I believe that nature and nurture both work together. Your genes are something that you are born with but your experiences and how you were raised also make you the person you are today. Experiences and opportunities help you develop your personality. It also provides a valuable training ground for later life. Human culture, behavior, and personality are cause primarily by nature and nurture not nature or
Throughout our lives we have all been influenced by our environment and other outside forces. Our environment may change the way we think, act and behave in life. Since we are all products of our environment, it comes to no surprise that we, as humans, tend to behave in a society the same way others around us behave but at the same time we strive to find who we really are (Schaefer 73). Since birth, humans have always analyzed the world around them. With each day that passes, humans take in more and more information from the outside world. The information which humans obtain through their environment subconsciously influences the decisions people make throughout their daily life (Neubauer 16). On the other hand, our genetics also play a vital role in determining what type of person we are and what will we become.