Influence of Culture on Values and Expectations in Ones Life - Essay Example

Influence of Culture on Values and Expectations in One’s Life Culture has a direct influence on our attitudes and life styles and it forces us to reassess our values and expectations via the images received through magazines, advertisements, films, music, and television. As the level of one’s expectations rises, the sense of satisfaction is generally lowered because people are prone to attribute such high expectations from their careers and relationships that they are unable to achieve what they aspire.

Consequently, they get disillusioned from the real goals of their lives. Each individual has a unique way of defining personal values and expectations depending upon his/her upbringing, personal views and experiences. Images from print and electronic media entice the imaginations of people to such an extent that people actually want to become like someone else. Our expectations from life generally revolve around our careers and our relationships. Career choice has been rapidly influenced by the corporate culture that inadvertently inspires each graduate of a business school.

Likewise, Boston Legal, a popular TV series related to legal practice has set the expectations of law students to a different level. The media may generally depict people in stereotypical ways such that consumers are encouraged to adopt expectations about the roles that those people occupy. Following the example of female attorneys, if the media depicted few females in the role of attorney, then consumers of the media might come to think of males as much more likely to be attorneys. (Sparks, 200)The field of journalism as portrayed by the various news channels is now associated with thrill and adventure that drives many students to choose it as their career.

Similarly, more and more young people are lured towards entertainment industry in a dream to become a super star.Fresh graduates wish to climb the ladder of success quickly in an effort to reach the executive level positions in any organization. Thus a major shift in their priorities has occurred and their goal is no more to achieve professional excellence. The expectations of people from their careers are not limited to high salaries alone but have extended beyond to meet other expectations in life; the images of business tycoons flying across the world in their private jets; or owning private mansions in Europe; etc.

have become a common dream for many people.Once people reach the executive level jobs, they must confirm to the norms of sending their children to private schools and paying hefty fees; buying branded clothing and accessories; and living in posh localities, even if they have to live in debt for the rest of their lives. Images in print and electronic media have promoted commercialism to such an extent that people are tempted to adopt a lifestyle they can hardly afford. This is one of the reasons for heavy borrowing for personal loans.

Young couples spend recklessly on expensive honeymoons and people cannot resist the strong pull of popular culture which is streaming in their lives from everywhere. Such expectations from careers exert undue pressure on people who strive to adopt a luxurious lifestyle as seen through the streaming images in print and electronic media. If they are not met, disillusionment and dissatisfaction is sure to happen. Whether it is success in careers or relationships, peer pressure generated by culture has given it a different meaning.

Expectations from relationships have also been affected greatly as people have set new parameters for contentment and happiness in life in general. The values of love, understanding, and letting-go in relationships have gradually disappeared due to the influence of culture. Couples break up when they realize that expectations in their relationships are not being met. Instead of bringing the level of expectations from each other down to reality, they break up as a result of dissatisfaction and disillusionment.

While it may be not easy for people to resist the trends of popular culture, it is worthwhile to introspect on whether it is really important to confirm to the norms of culture by compromising their personal satisfaction and contentment or not. Setting high expectations from careers and relationships make people forget that the real essence of success lies in their satisfaction and contentment.Work CitedSparks, G. Glenn. Media Effects Research: A Basic Overview. 3rd ed. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.