A Critical Reflection on Yourself in relation to Your Ideas, Values, Feelings and Behaviour - Coursework Example

Running Head: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ONESELF A critical evaluation of oneself Date A critical evaluation of oneself Having a balance between the society and the issues like ethnicity, class, race, sexuality, gender and religion is a very critical issue. This is because a human beings we cannot be separated from the society in which we live. We need therefore to develop ways of coping up with these issues so that we create a harmony. The main theories which we studied in this unit have assisted me to discover myself and understand what relationship I have with the society. Critical humanism theory, for instance, which states that human beings differ in their form of thinking made me understand more about how my ideas, behaviours and beliefs are placed in the society. I learnt that through my own unique thinking I can be able to handle issues which face me in a unique way from other individuals. The difference in ideas from one person to another which this theory bases on also helped me to understand what others view my behaviour to be like (Leonard, 1984). The psychoanalytic theory has also helped me in a great way to understand who I am. This theory, whose major contribution was by Sigmund Freud states that the mind is the processing unit of an individual and it states that through a critical analysis individuals are able to solve problems which they encounter in their lives. This theory has further categorized people into several categories like the ideologists and the critical thinkers (Burkitt, 1991).Ideologists are those who view the world as it is and therefore life to them can take any direction. The critical thinkers are those individuals who criticize about the occurrence of a particular issue in their lives. They often look at an issue an offer a suggestion on what is to be done so as to improve such a condition. These theorists have made me to be very critical about my life and have therefore contributed immensely towards the values and behaviours which I attribute to. The behaviours which I hold today therefore are as a result of psychoanalytic theory (Burkitt, 1991). The postmodern theory has also made me have a direction in the way I handle the ideas, behaviours, values and feelings. This theory is thought to be the movement of a certain group of people who exist in the current century. In essence this theory states that individuals are affected by the change of events and times (Adam, 1978). Aspects like lifestyle and fashion are the main concerns of this theory. Through this theory, I have been able to account for the development of the behaviour which I posses today in the society. The ideas which I posses so much reflect the contemporary period of time which is the main emphasis of the postmodern theory. I also attach various values to issue in life by following the current changes in the system of the society. Unlike in the past, many things have changed and therefore I tend to have different feelings from a person who might have lived in the past (Adam, 1978). Materialistic theory states that individuals are often influenced by the material things which they posses. This implies that the rich who have a lot of things tend to have a different form of behaviour from those who do not have. This accounts for the differences in behaviours, feelings, ideas and values that individuals have. This theory has thought me that I am whom I am today because of my backgrounds (Burkitt, 1991). The background accounts for the ideas which I posses, the way in which I handle issues and the way I behave. The feminist theory has also influenced my ideas and behaviour in that it has created a sense of balance of gender in the society. This is because this theory states that the general society needs to have a sense of equality in sex. Women also need to be recognized as very important people in the society, just like men are. This will create a balance of issues in the society and finally development of a particular set of behaviours and values in the society (Burkitt, 1991). Status refers to the aspect of associating with some group of people in the society. It can either be lower class, middle class or upper class. The lower class are considered lesser in the society in terms of material things, knowledge and skills and ideas. The upper class is the group of individuals who are respected because they are thought to have great ideas, possess material things and are valuable. Status can also be associated with the class, culture, gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, religion and ability or disability (Leonard, 1984). The general outlook of a person is often seen from a point of view of who he is, where he comes from, the ethnic backgrounds, religion or class. My status in relation to these aspects has shaped my life in a great way. The opportunities which I have encountered and the challenges I have faced are because of the fact that I belong to a certain class in the society (Leonard, 1984). Because of my class I have been able to study in a better college and get a good job. This state has made me to have many other opportunities like meeting very influential people in the country and visiting some places which are restricted to some people from the society. I have also been able to be recognized in social gatherings where individuals have gathered for a particular function. I am often given the opportunity to speak in such social gatherings. Perhaps what has made me even to be recognized more is the fact that I have a very good personality and values on other people (Adam, 1978). My ethnicity and religion have however been of great hindrance to me in terms of job and selection of students to join a college. They have been great challenges especially in job selection. In many instances, I have often passed well in an interview but there is always a factor which will be created so that I do not qualify. Instead, a different individual from a different and a familiar ethnic group to the panel on the interview often emerges the overall winner even though they might have not got the expected credentials (Adam, 1978). Social institutions are very essential elements in shaping the character of an individual. They instill the expected character traits in an individual and they give a person a sense of belonging and identity. The school, work, family and the church are very important institutions since they often determine the nature of a person in terms of character and the values which they hold. The school for instance harmonizes the character traits of individuals and tries to make them obtain values which are similar. This is because the school comprises of children who are drawn from several backgrounds but at the end of the day they are supposed to play and study together. Through this, they will be able to develop some attitudes basing on the role models of the teacher and other peers. The school is also a venue in which the child develops mentally and psychologically so that he can be able to solve issues critically in the society without hurting anyone (Rose, 1990). The church is a very good avenue which instills some very important values in an individual. It is thought to influence the behaviours that individuals develop in life. In many circumstances it is easier to trust someone who is church going than a person who does not. This is because the church is thought to gain values like love, peace, happiness and joy in an individual. Such an individual will therefore be in a position to be seen in the society positively and responsible in whatever he or she is doing (Rose, 1990). Work place is a very good avenue for individuals to develop psychologically and mentally. This helps them to create an atmosphere where they can work as a group and deliver the set objectives of the organization. Through the work place an individual will be able to gain skills like teamwork and responsibility (Leonard, 1984). These social institutions have been of great importance and influence in my life because I hold the values I have today because of the influence I had when in church and school. My family has also contributed immensely to the character traits that I have. The support that my parents gave me in terms of counseling and at times rebuking negative behaviours that I would have developed when I was young gave me a very strong support in my character. Although my family have influenced my life positively, it ahs also led to some constraints in my life. One of these constraints is the picture I have often portrayed to others. Due to our social status, many have always been seen me negatively and often associate other bad things about me. I value everyone in the society today because of what the church has thought me ‘to always love everyone because Jesus is love’. I have often got opportunities in my career as well as my endeavors because of the values which have been instilled to me by these institutions. One situation I recall, which made me know the importance of social institutions is when I was joining college. We had a form to fill regarding several aspects and one aspect was on whether I attend church or not. Later on I got an invitation letter to join the counseling unit in college, a position which is highly esteemed. This was because I stated that I was a church goer and I had proved that by actually attending the services in college (Adam, 1978). In my work place, I have developed several traits which have been of great importance to me. I have learnt how to work together as a team with the others and how to handle a situation which is challenging whenever I am faced with it. I have also learnt how to mix with different people regardless of their ethnicity, religion and status. The values which I have developed in my work place have made me to be promoted in to higher ranks. I have often been remunerated simply because I have shown very good traits in the organization. I have got the chance to be part of the committee which is accountable for the development of the key policies in the organization, a position which is very superior and highly esteemed in the society and in my work place (Rose, 1990). So as to tackle the obstacles I have encountered in life through my status in relation to gender, religion, culture, class and ethnicity I have always learnt to be neutral in all that I do. I have always taken issues impartially so as to be fair to everyone whom we meet with. Even though many regard me as from a different ethnic groups and therefore shy away from me, I have always tried to create a viable environment which can allow discussion with anybody regardless of their religion, culture and class. In college, I have always tried to love all regardless of their backgrounds. This has made me to be social to everyone and therefore avoid instances where there can arise some misunderstanding. Another resistance I have found in my life so as to be able to curb with this situation is developing a respecting everyone. I always try to value everyone regardless of their backgrounds. In instances where an individual is from a different race or ethnic group, I always treat with respect just like any other person (Burkitt, 1991). This has always made me to cope with many of these diverse people who would have otherwise seen me negatively. In college, I engage in forums which are meant to strengthen relationships which exist between me and others and this has really assisted me in learning how others relate in the society and at the same time understanding the main barriers which can hinder my relationship with these people (Burkitt, 1991). There are however some obstacles which come from the outside sources which are not at my disposal. Such obstacles include language barrier and religious orientations. Although I have always tried to mix with others freely in the society, whenever I meet people a different language, it becomes so hard for me to associate because I cannot be in a position to comprehend what they really want. The difference in religion i.e. the aspect of Christianity and Muslims is also a factor which has caused a hindrance which is outside my control. References: Adam, B. (1978) Survival of Domination: Inferiority and Everyday Life. New York: Elsevier Burkitt, I. (1991) Social Selves: Theories of Personality and Social Formation, London: Sage Plc. Leonard, P. (1984) Personality and Ideologies in modern world, London: Macmillan Publishers Rose, N. (1990) Governing the Soul: The Shaping of the Private Self, London: Routledge Plc. Read More