AP Psych-Chapter 3 SMORE Assignment
Kirsten Jording and Isabelle Visocan
Adoption Studies
Heritability
Cultural Influecnes on Development
Culture is the behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group or people and transmitted from one generation to the next. Even beings simpler than us, such as Primates (chimps and monkeys), exhibit their own cultures within the systems of how they do things. For example: Grooming, courtship and use of tools. Just like chimps, our culture sets standards. We have standards for how to behave, act, etc. Cultural Norms are the rules for accepted and expected behaviors. Most of the time we hardly notice the presence of culture because we are so used to being raised that way and exposed to it. If we were exposed to a whole new way of life in another country we would see more drastic changes than we would if we swapped our beliefs and routines with our neighbors. Our adaptions to culture varies due to our different beliefs and values, such as our religion or political views. Cultures also are always changing. Cultures change due to advancements in technology, economic conditions, discoveries in science and medicine. Our cultures have changed and evolved dramatically compared to that of our ancestors. There is always the pressing question of how much individualism is left due to the pressing standards of culture. Individualism is giving priorities to one's own goals over group goals, and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than a groups identification. If you were a very independent person, refusing to have your views tainted by the opinions of others, you may survive through life without being pressured into giving up your individuality to fit in with others. We find most of this pressure received from our peers and even our elders. The people who do bend and adapt to the ways of culture for others instead of themselves, demonstrate collectivism. Collectivism is giving priorities to the goals of one's group and defining one's identity. These peoples' sense of individualism is lost into the culture they adapt to.