Or in other words, "To Be, or Not to Be?" - Socrates
From Merrium Webster's Medical Dictionary: 'culture' (n.)
-"the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, speech, action, and artifacts and depends upon the human capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations
-"the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group"
Cultural diversity: good or bad?
It is common for individuals who experience a 'culture shock,' as with immigrants, to feel at first overwhelmed and confused. However, when personal family upbringing of what is right or wrong is questioned, individuality is strengthened, having to decide with whom they now agree on a specific subject and to what culture and traditions they wish to keep and pass on to future generations. Those who choose to change a particular family tradition or behavioral pattern is called a transitional character.
Marriage is another example of a time individuals may experience a culture shock, as they try to fit in with their in-laws, or fight against the grain. Since the family unit is one form of social group, it is our first introduction to to culture, and thus leaves a lasting impression on our perceptions as we grow. If you want to shape society, shape the family. It is in the home that we lay our foundations. Differences can help us grow as we all try and learn to get along living here together on planet earth.
From Merrium Webster's Medical Dictionary: 'culture' (n.)
-"the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, speech, action, and artifacts and depends upon the human capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations
-"the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group"
Cultural diversity: good or bad?
It is common for individuals who experience a 'culture shock,' as with immigrants, to feel at first overwhelmed and confused. However, when personal family upbringing of what is right or wrong is questioned, individuality is strengthened, having to decide with whom they now agree on a specific subject and to what culture and traditions they wish to keep and pass on to future generations. Those who choose to change a particular family tradition or behavioral pattern is called a transitional character.
Marriage is another example of a time individuals may experience a culture shock, as they try to fit in with their in-laws, or fight against the grain. Since the family unit is one form of social group, it is our first introduction to to culture, and thus leaves a lasting impression on our perceptions as we grow. If you want to shape society, shape the family. It is in the home that we lay our foundations. Differences can help us grow as we all try and learn to get along living here together on planet earth.
The verdict? My opinion is 'mostly good', the issue arises when we are not patient with each other. It's like transplanting a plant--if the transplant is not properly cared for in transition, it will experience a Major Traumatic Experience (when adverse conditions outweigh internal resources).
So I suppose the real issue is that individuality must be kept in its proper place. We are here on earth to learn from and teach one another; at the same time, we are also here to support and encourage one another. Brotherly love requires of us to practice patience with others and ourselves and we work together to understand one another, get along, and appreciate differences and commonalities.
(Image created using Microsoft Co-pilot)
The great British prime minister Winston Churchill said, "We shape our environments; thereafter they shape us."
I add: And they have the potential to shape us as well as our posterity for many generations. It is in our families that children learn from a young age what is acceptable, how to interpret non-verbal cues, and even definitions of words. Development of moral conduct and personal interests begin in the home. To belong, to feel needed and loved or accepted, is a basic need of mankind. We tend to associate with those who we have most in common. We long to be validated; when we receive approval in a particular belief or action, we most often allow such truth, lie, or preference to become a part of us.
Change is a necessary part of continued healthy development. While some changes are not always the best, it is to our advantage to at times be challenged in those things we once accepted. It is when we no longer feel validated externally or internally that we initiate personal change in the respective interest. If challenged where a dramatic change would be required to reduce the dissonance, the individual often becomes stressed to frantically find new sources for validation. If none can be found then the individual either may either experience negative emotions or choose to accept the challenge for accommodation.
I add: And they have the potential to shape us as well as our posterity for many generations. It is in our families that children learn from a young age what is acceptable, how to interpret non-verbal cues, and even definitions of words. Development of moral conduct and personal interests begin in the home. To belong, to feel needed and loved or accepted, is a basic need of mankind. We tend to associate with those who we have most in common. We long to be validated; when we receive approval in a particular belief or action, we most often allow such truth, lie, or preference to become a part of us.
Change is a necessary part of continued healthy development. While some changes are not always the best, it is to our advantage to at times be challenged in those things we once accepted. It is when we no longer feel validated externally or internally that we initiate personal change in the respective interest. If challenged where a dramatic change would be required to reduce the dissonance, the individual often becomes stressed to frantically find new sources for validation. If none can be found then the individual either may either experience negative emotions or choose to accept the challenge for accommodation.
Or in other words, when a belief is challenged, we get to make a choice: to change our belief, or to change our belief about the challenger. Making this alteration in our thinking reduces the anxiety of being made aware of the dissonance or idiosyncrasy with our environment. We solve the dilemma, choose to let the anxiety stay or grow, or choose to make another focus more worthy of our attention.