Culture Influence Personality and Development of an Individual - Essay Example

Introduction Cultural theorist and personality theorists that culture designs personality patterns. An individual’s culture aid shape the emotions, attitudes, thoughts, behavior, norms, morals and values that suit one’s environment. Ruth Benedicts concentrates on the linkage between culture and the personality of an individual and Margaret Mead explains the connection between culture and nature of people. They all conclude that culture influence personality and development of an individual. In this discussion I will explore the effects of culture on my own development. Discussion There are conditions and situations in people’s life that are predefined at birth, for instance, ethnic origin, race and cultural background. People cannot control the culture and traditions in which they are born; it is given to a person. Our parents’ lifestyles become the significant influence in our lives. The culture and tradition of our caregivers and parents affect our views of life, our perception and to some extent our personality patterns. Our behavior will always relate to such an influence. People are printed in their beliefs and, possibly, in their actions and attitudes by those around them. This is the main influence upon how our moral decency and personality develops. My family and societal culture have influenced how I view the world today. I have gained the understanding of my personhood and my communication skills have been developed based on my relationship with other society members. Experts agree that culture affects how we view ourselves and fit in the environment. People learn to cope in their personal environment utilizing the same coping strategies they see illustrated in their proximate surrounding. The society and family mold our personal concept and prepare us face the reality in the world. It inculcates morals and values to enable use to fit in the wider society. For example, my cultural heritage and experiences have intensively affected my life, and I believe various people would agree with me that their own cultural backgrounds and traditions have been vital to their development and shaping, enriched and empowered their lives and influenced their life choices. How the wider community perceives one’s culture is part of his birthright. How an individual accepts himself and is perceived by others, is his personal decision and acceptance of his personhood. Some people may be labeled hostile and warlike, while others may be passive and hospitable in nature based on their cultural experiences and backgrounds. Culture is the way people lead their lives and assist us to build the foundation for our values, decisions and beliefs. Culture makes our societies, families and lives unique, making society and family a critical element that contributes to our daily lives. As culture is transferred from one generation to another, people adapt to different technologies and alterations, but cultural principles remain constant. I have no doubt that my cultural background has contributed immensely to my decision-making abilities in life, with respect to morals and values I learned since childhood. Culture is significant to enable people acknowledge and respect other people’s culture. I believe that no culture is higher or increasingly valuable than others are. In most cases, issues of tribalism and racism happen when people are not able to relate culturally with their neighbors. My family and culture advocate for equality and respect for one another irrespective of the cultural background. Being broad-minded and understanding other peoples cultures is the basis for successful tolerance and acceptance of others. Growing up in the urban setting (with diverse cultures and beliefs) has helped me accept and respect other people’s cultures and beliefs. Growing up in a manual labor farming and fishing family background during my early childhood development years gave me a vital experience and appreciation for what life entails socially, culturally, technologically, financially, ecologically and politically. That is appreciating life and challenges that one needs to overcome through hard work, a lesson that I have shared and practiced with many people (Small 90). The experience in the farming background helped me appreciate and cherish outdoor beauty. I like being moving out and being involved in outdoor events. For instance, fresh air from the natural environment, the attractiveness and purity of colors of nature and the heat and light of the sun comfort my soul. To this day, whenever I am down, feeling depressed, and anxious, sometimes being outdoor for a while gives me comfort and harmony. My family traditions and history have shaped my personality by offering faith, courage and motivation to prosper in this overwhelming planet. First, I learned hard work, determination, discipline, teamwork and tolerance from my parents and relatives. This has influence my current performance in college and workplace. May culture stress on appreciation and respect for powerful and elders, and to follow tradition. This has helped me cope and respect my seniors and authorities in college. It has also helped me keep off troubles, rumbles in school, and builds on my reputation as a student. The college culture has assisted me cherish and appreciate the beauty of unity in diversity. I love making friends, learning and interacting with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition, the beliefs and knowledge taught to me from childhood age start with family, manners and respect. Having reputable etiquette with other people outside my family is highly crucial. Respecting my surrounding, other people’s property is part of proving to others that I am a respectable person. The key objective is to respect others to earn respect from other people. I have applied this principle to all events of my life such as attending job interviews and when in a disputable argument with someone. Finally, I have learned work ethics from my both parents (family culture) and lecturers (school culture). My parents taught me about honesty and integrity in my activities, and self-determination to achieve best results (Small 109). Therefore, whether doing personal assignments, group work or classroom examination, I always strive to be open and honest in every step to achieve the best. Conclusion In conclusion, therefore, I believe my personality and behavior today is the product of my various cultural experiences both as a child and adult. Culture is our way of life; there is no doubt it defines our morals, attitudes, behavior and personalities. Works cited Small, Meredith F. Kids: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Raise Our Children. New York: Doubleday, 2001. Print. 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