Culture & Acculturation H607: Ethnicity Context & Family Dynamics

Cultural frameworks 4 Dimensions that frame a cultural implicit ideologies Time (oriented to past, present, future) Perspective on Human Activity (being, doing, becoming) Social Relationships (hierarchical, lateral, individualist) People-Nature Relationships (subjugation, harmony, mastery) Implicit ideologies form the foundation of belief systems They are psychologically efficient!!

Prevailing cultural values and orientations

Broad Cultural Orientations Independent/Individual Interdependent/Collective Individual freedoms Uniqueness Self expression & Speech Privacy Personal achievement Personal potential Transcend self for collective good Personal strengths only for the collective good Discourage deviation Higher priority to conformity

Beliefs about the salience of each culture How does this vary across ethnic groups and generation status? Which strategy reflects the US and for whom? Berry, 2007

Parenting Essential goals… Tools of parenting (…universals?…) Internalization of values & behavioral standards Equipping youth to become productive members of a defined society or group Instill emotional wellbeing & emotional security Tools of parenting (…universals?…) Warmth and responsiveness (they are not the same) Control and demandingness Culture and context define… Desired outcomes/standards Appropriateness of parenting How parenting practices cohere Children’s interpretation of parenting practices How individuals define themselves

Socializing Independence Personal Choice Intrinsic forms of motivation--optimism Enhancing self esteem & self efficacy Self Maximization Focusing on toys and environment (cf. Keller, 2003; Tamis-LaMonda et al, 2007)

Socializing Interdependence Connection to the family & close relatives Allegiance to family Self as extension of family Interpersonal proximity Orientation toward parent Orientation to the larger group Emphasize the good of the larger community How behaviors reflect upon larger community Focusing child interactions towards people, rather than toys Respect and Obedience To achieve harmony (cf, Keller, 2003; Tamis-LaMonda et al, 2007)

My definitions… Race—both biologically and socially constructed based on physical characteristics and biological reactivity Ethnicity—group membership based on nationality and/or collective history/ancestry; individual and group conceptualizations Culture—dynamic variable including family roles, values, communication patterns, affective styles, spirituality etc., transmitted from one generation to the next that reflects effective adaptations for developing within and fitting into a context