Social Identity, Personality, and Gender Part I

Enculturation: The Human Self and Social Identity We start learning our culture the day we are born, and we are still learning things at the time of our death. We start learning our culture the day we are born, and we are still learning things at the time of our death. All cultures are subject to change. However, the speed with which cultures change may vary enormously from place to place and time to time. All cultures are subject to change. However, the speed with which cultures change may vary enormously from place to place and time to time.

Enculturation: The Human Self and Social Identity (cont)

Enculturation begins before an individual is born. Enculturation begins before an individual is born. The mother is the most important member of the child’s enculturation, while gradually more and more individuals are integrated. The mother is the most important member of the child’s enculturation, while gradually more and more individuals are integrated. Beginning with birth, all humans then pass through development phases, each characterized by an increase in the capacity to deal with the physical and social environment. Beginning with birth, all humans then pass through development phases, each characterized by an increase in the capacity to deal with the physical and social environment.

Enculturation: The Human Self and Social Identity (cont) Self-awareness is the ability to identify oneself as an individual creature, to reflect on oneself, and to evaluate oneself. Self-awareness is the ability to identify oneself as an individual creature, to reflect on oneself, and to evaluate oneself. An important aspect of self-awareness is the attachment of positive value to one’s self. An important aspect of self-awareness is the attachment of positive value to one’s self.

Enculturation: The Human Self and Social Identity (cont) A naming ceremony is a special event or ritual to mark the naming of a child. A naming ceremony is a special event or ritual to mark the naming of a child. The development of self-awareness requires. The development of self-awareness requires.  object orientation  spatial orientation  temporal orientation  normative orientation

Personality: Personality is the distinctive way a person thinks, feels, and behaves Personality is the distinctive way a person thinks, feels, and behaves Dependence training is child-rearing practices that foster compliance in the performance of assigned tasks and dependence on the domestic group, rather than reliance on oneself. Dependence training is child-rearing practices that foster compliance in the performance of assigned tasks and dependence on the domestic group, rather than reliance on oneself. Independence training is child-rearing practices that foster independence, self- reliance, and personal achievement. Independence training is child-rearing practices that foster independence, self- reliance, and personal achievement. Each culture embraces some level of dependence/independence training along the continuum. Each culture embraces some level of dependence/independence training along the continuum.

Personality (cont) Group personality: we may speak of a generalized ‘cultural personality’ for a society, as long as we do not expect to find a uniformity of personalities within that society. Group personality: we may speak of a generalized ‘cultural personality’ for a society, as long as we do not expect to find a uniformity of personalities within that society. Modal personality: the body of character traits that occur with the highest frequency in a culturally bounded population. Modal personality: the body of character traits that occur with the highest frequency in a culturally bounded population.

Personality (cont) National character studies were flawed, mainly because they made over-generalized conclusions base on limited data, relatively small samples of informants, and questionable assumptions about developmental psychology. National character studies were flawed, mainly because they made over-generalized conclusions base on limited data, relatively small samples of informants, and questionable assumptions about developmental psychology. Core values are those values that are especially promoted by a particular culture. Core values are those values that are especially promoted by a particular culture.