Blog 10:
I believe this course exceeded my expectations. I have gained so much vital knowledge that I know I will utilize and remember for the rest of my life. I have developed an entirely knew viewpoint of my fellow man. I feel an interconnection with the people of this world that I have never felt before. I can relate to every person in every culture without even knowing them. I feel a sense of togetherness and unity. I observe behaviors, communication, and perceive phenomena differently than before, even more scientifically and analytically. I feel aware and present. Academically, I feel more rounded in thought in all of my courses and in the knowledge I’m gaining as I have several new ways of filtering and processing information. Before this course I hadn’t truly grasped the context of culture, and everything that breeds the word. Now I feel like I understand the causation, and the effects and how it intrinsically effects everyone. Because of all this, I believe I have easily met the course objectives and gone beyond them.
If I took this class again I would take it without any other classes. I find myself wanting to spend all of my time reading the text and researching theories I’m learning but I don’t have as much time to put into the course as I would find most ideal. It is a tremendous amount of information and I would have liked to have had more time to really delve into the text. I’m actually contemplating buying my textbook so that I may re-read it in the future. There are many aspects though, that I know will carry on through my entire life. One aspect I know has developed indefinitely is being more aware and appreciative of diversity but knowing that at the core we are all much more similar than not. Before this course, I found it difficult to relate to others who could not speak my language and because I could not speak theirs. I truly see now and understand that connections can run deeper and beyond a language barrier. It definitely benefits us more though to speak the same language, and I implore everyone to become bilingual. In my professional life, I know I will be more cognizant of the importance of diversity in the professional world, including cultural diversity and gender diversity. I’ll also be more knowledgeable of creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment. I won’t be ignorant of others, and I’ll make sure others aren’t as well. This course has highly benefited me and I am excited to see more development in the field.
After this course I feel even more confident in my career pursuits and aspirations. One of these being the Critical Language Scholarship Program. I recently applied for the Korean language program and I want to be accepted more than anything. It perfectly aligns with my career path, and I feel confident that I would be an indispensable participant and ambassador of the U.S. in this program. I believe with my current knowledge and outlook on the world, especially after this course, I actively uphold what truly makes America great: inclusion, diversity, culture, equality, and freedom.
Blog 9:
One of the greatest aspects I have learned in this course is all that the term “culture” truly encompasses. Before taking this course I thought of culture as a solely tangible attribute that was only found in ethnic/national cultures. Through this course I am now aware that culture is in everything and everywhere. There is group culture, ethnic culture, familial culture, etc. The aspects that influence the development of culture also fascinate me and I had not known them before. I had not thought about survival needs, ecology, affluence, and more in terms or developing culture. These aspects were found in my first Assignment takeaway and first blog post as well. They are an integral takeaway from this class. Another core takeaway from this course for me was just how many aspects of humanity are universal. I feel more interconnected and close with my fellow man then I ever have before. We all share the same aspirations, hopes, dreams, and emotions.
I was writing a paper on culture for my Intro to Human Communications course, and at the same time I was writing about differences in emblematic gestures but the universality of having them, I also ended up writing on self-construals. Throughout the entirety of both of these courses, they were so interconnected in concepts and theories that I would often mix up the assignments and which class I had learned what in. I could not have hoped for a better class to take at the same time as this one. I feel much more rounded in knowledge and like I have been able to retain the information much better. One, out of the numerous concepts that were connected between these two courses, was Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. In the Comm class we discussed the cultural dimensions and how these relate to the communication with the cultures and cross-culturally.
Here are some screenshots of my notes from my Intro to Human Communications course:
Blog 8:
I do not think that fairy tales share the same cultural values and norms. I believe fairy tales are typically culture specific but some cultures could share the same fairy tales or different adaptations of them. Like in the blog post about the most recent Disney adaption of “Beauty and the Beast,” fairy tales are rearranged to suit current life and the current culture. We will always have the original fairy tales but these are easily antiquated and hold no current relevance to the lives of modern people. The cultures during the time when these fairy tales were initially created are strikingly different from today’s. For stories to thrive and continue to be passed down, they need to be modernized. And Disney understood just that. The way individuals are portrayed in stories have a huge affect on the audience.
This image is from the Wilhelmshaven – Norfolk exchange in 2013. Two culturally different groups came together to experience each others cultures first hand and formed an atmosphere of inclusion. Inclusion is a key factor when it comes to media. In order to stay current fairy tales portrayed modernly continue to change their inclusion, as does the rest of media. There are many groups today that need to be portrayed in “normal” media. If you’re pansexual and Filipino you’re going to have trouble totally relating to a heterosexual European woman. Media must represent the diversity of its audience and/or potential audience. I believe Disney, and many other companies are understanding this which is a huge step towards the positive future of media.
Blog 7:
If I were to have read this article two or three years ago my answer would be markedly different. I arrived at a point in my academic career where I was so physically and emotionally exhausted that I believe I lost a good sense of my autonomy, competency, and relatedness. More so, I lost the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation that went along with these. Now, I find each level easy to achieve, and the motivation along with it. Academically, I find autonomy a balancing act. I am pursing this degree for me, and no one else. I am not being forced or coerced to remain in school. I believe this autonomy offers me a beneficial intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. More specifically, I can easily see the correlation of identified regulation and integrated regulation in my own academic pursuits. I strive for my academic pursuits to reach fruition therefore, that helps satisfy my need for autonomy.
Competence is an easy one. I already believe that I am exceedingly competent and capable in my academic pursuits. Before I started my first semester at ODU I was anxious and somewhat self-sabotaging because I was not sure what to expect and how well I would fit in with my desired major and if I would thrive. I find that with the validation of my grades and feedback from my teachers and peers I am developing a better sense of self once again in relation to my studies and as a student. One of my favorite parts about Communications and Psychology is that you can immediately see and experience the phenomena, theories, and information you are learning at the time. Its instant gratification, as much as the term frustrates me.
I believe relatedness is also something I’ve found to be easier to achieve than I thought. I’ve made several new connections and networked more than I expected for my first semester at ODU and all of the feedback from these connections have been very positive and even supportive. Relatedness is key for me in terms of intrinsic or extrinsic motivation. I am often times highly susceptible to other’s emotions and feelings, so positive relatedness may have the biggest impact on me academically. No matter how autonomous or competent I feel, if my relation with a teacher or person that may influence the causality of my extrinsic motivation is negative, I will not flourish. Positive and constructional feedback highly benefits me and directly influences whether I’m motivated or not.
I’m currently applying for the Critical Language Scholarship program which I believe is due to my intrinsic motivation in relation to the three aspects. This is an opportunity that I want to do outside of what I have to do. The program is 8-10 weeks in a country where the target language (which is what you are applying for) is spoken. I am applying for the Korean language program and its an opportunity of a lifetime. Fingers crossed.
Blog 6:
For neuroticism I scored, “average.” The description was “generally calm and able to deal with stress, but you sometimes experience feelings of guilt, anger, or sadness. I believe this is very true to my personality. I’m typically in good spirits but I do suffer from anxiety and have my down days as well. When I’m anxious or stressed I think about my times spent laying in a hammock in Belize in between work and all of the other activities we did. Time is not as important there.
For extroversion I scored “very high,” which is described as, “extroverted, outgoing, active, and high spirited. You prefer to be around people most of the time.” I am not so sure about this one. I’m an ambivert, therefore I wax and wane between extroversion and introversion. I need to be alone during some part of the day in order to recharge but I also love being around people. This scoring is still relatively true overall, the only questionable statement is the last one.In terms of openness, I believe my score was very accurate. I scored “very high,” as I am, “open to new experiences [and] have broad interests and [am] very imaginative.” I am always ready and excited to experience new things. For instance, on both of my trips to Belize, I was able to eat Iguana and I enjoyed being able to partake in an experience indicative of the culture there. I also had the opportunity to climb a 13 story Mayan Ruin at Xunantunich.
Agreeableness was also “very high” and I agree with this verdict as well. I do think I’m very “compassionate, good-natured, and eager to cooperate and avoid conflict.” I also agree with the score on the last trait, conscientiousness. I scored average and this describes me as, “dependable and moderately well-organized, [and] generally have clear goals but are able to set [my] work aside.” I am not organized in all aspects of my life, but I am where it counts. I have goals but they are not all consuming and I am able to easily set work aside and do other activities. I believe this test was significantly true to my personality and enjoyed having my personality traits validated!
Blog 5:
“Who am I?”
- I am…the type of person that blends science and the abstract well.
- I am…incredibly understanding of everyone’s unique backgrounds and the history of their culture.
- I am…compassionate and empathetic to everyone.
- I am…existential in my thought processes.
- I am…a feminist and liberal.
- I am…a mixture of all of the cultures and all of the people I love.
- I am…a sister, a daughter, a friend, a confidant, and activist, and so much more.
- I am…a 23 year old university student.
- I am…a communications specialist.
- I am…independent woman but I need to be part of something more.
1, 4, 7, 6, 8, 9, 10 are associated with independent construal of self.
2, 3, 5 are associated with interdependent construal of self.
Independent proverbs: “Take care of yourself,” “every man for himself,” “don’t be a follower, be a leader,” “you’re not like everyone else,” and “tell it like it is”
Interdependent proverbs: “Don’t be selfish,” “work together,” “share your possessions (toys, etc.),” “show respect,” “love your neighbor as you love yourself,” “you’re just like everyone else,” “we’re in this together”
Surprisingly it was easier for me to think of the interdependent self-construal proverbs. I believe as I grow in intellect and education, I am becoming more and more interdependent. I struggled for a long time understanding independence even though I’ve been socialized in America. We’re a very individualistic culture, and I’ve never quite accepted that. I have always been an androgynous communicator so I’m very people oriented. I think about others, and how they are affected by all aspects of their lives. I like to be part of a community that cares about others. I think I have a combination of interdependent self-construal and independent self-construal at this point in my life.
I fall under many descriptive terms. I am a student, a feminist, a liberal, a daughter, a confidant, and more. I am compassionate, empathetic and incredibly understanding. I am fascinated by cultures and love to blend science and the abstract. I believe I am more independent still, rather than interdependent, but I feel that shifting.
Blog 4:
I find that the best way for me to study is making sure that when I am learning new information, I take the most thorough notes possible, and relate it via an example. Examples really help the information stick out in my mind. The test proved challenging, as one would expect, but filling out the study guide with my notes, and reviewing the sections that would be on the test helped me a great deal. In the future, I will allot myself more time for studying and start a little bit earlier, for more so the stress factor, than retention of the information.
Blog 3:
DF1: Definition of Culture
This one really resonated with me because culture has always been something that has intrinsically fascinated me. Through completing the discussion board, I really thought in depth about the true meaning of culture, and how it seems more like a phenomenon rather than something tangible, like I originally thought. Thinking about how culture is cultivated through necessity, ecological influences, survival, etc., and how it is unique to everyone, is new for me. I am able to grasp other cultures on a much more psychological and scientific level than I once was, its a new way of thinking. I am also able to be more attuned to making sure the future research in Cross-Cultural Psychology is as diverse and equivalent as possible. This knowledge is something that I will be able to utilize for the rest of my life.
In the picture I attached, I was visiting the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins in Belize. I wish I had known then what I know now, about how deeply culture is rooted in everything so that I could have studied the ruins more and learned more about the Mayans that still inhabit Belize. I am curious about how their ancient culture has evolved in modern times based on the changing ecology and necessities for survival. I feel much more equipped for future cultural excursions and studies.
Blog 2:
Going against current social morals and values that do not breed equality, quality of life, health, and more is something I highly value at the moment. Current social norms are being battered and bruised in a good way right now, and there is great concern over whether or not the current president may cause it to worsen or better. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that the current state of affairs is a blessing in disguise because so many horrible things are coming to light. For example, the KKK in Charlottesville, NFL players deciding to take a knee during the national anthem, and it is getting people talking. These issues are prominent and all over the media. This type of exposure is drastically different than in years passed and we are fortunate to be able to utilize that. I find activism, education, intellectual thought, etc. important in my life and in my future. I believe millennials are currently, and will continue to change this world for the better. I believe cross-cultural knowledge is extremely vital for our future and it goes hand in hand with my current life values. I value political correctness, activism, education, independence, empathy, compassion, communication, honesty, loyalty, and much more.
Exposure to culture is vitally important in my career pursuits because I want to live abroad as well as help people develop a passion for other cultures. My family, friends, and teachers have always supported me on my pursuit of higher education. My favorite teachers in high school, specifically my German teacher and my AP English/Drama teacher really encouraged me and helped prepare me for college. I have surrounded myself with people who are always encouraging and supportive of dreams and endeavors and we continually push each other to broaden our horizons and test our limits. I have attached a few photos of my amazing support system, my best friends and my incredible little sister.
I am also equally privileged to live in a country where voicing your opinion will not get you imprisoned and where attending a University is the norm. Higher education has always been on my horizon and something I always planned to accomplish. Thinking back on my life before I entered college, especially knowing what I know now, education is drastically more important to me. Being educated in a wide range of topics has completely opened up my mind to the world around me. I feel like my perception is better, my intellectual and philosophical thought is deeper and I believe my ability to understand and empathize cross-culturally is heightened as well. I know all of these together are going to set my future up for success and happiness.
Blog 1:
Culture is an integral aspect of every single part of our lives, whether it is our own, or others. Society cannot exist without a culture. The knowledge gained about culture and through culture is also knowledge gained about oneself and others. We live in a time of tremendous technology where knowledge is literally at our fingertips. In our part of the world, we are privileged to have access to said technology and should utilize it. We can access information like no other time could. The fact that we are able to take courses online, especially this course online, is incredible. So much knowledge that is easily accessible.
Being able to learn about cultures, and not just in the broad sense, but also in scientific and psychological depths is irreplaceable. I expect an entirely new viewpoint on the way I see humans and cultures to open up. I have already noticed that while reading Chapter 1 of the textbook. There are so many more factors and so much more information that goes into the study of cross-cultural psychology than I had imagined. I hope to gain an even better understanding and passion for people and culture. I enjoy having my ways of thinking shifted and being able to see things from a different perspective. I know this course will provide me with that. I like to utilize comprehensive notes from the readings, application of the learned material, and relation of said material to my current life as a way to retain the information. For me personally, that is a practice I consistently execute for optimal success.
In terms of interactions with varying cultures, I am excited to learn improved and more comprehensive ways of being properly exposed to them and being as culturally sensitive as possible. It is vital to the development of the world and its cultures that we integrate ourselves. I hope to be an advocate, through education and interactive ways, for encouraging individuals and groups to get involved in the world. To urge people to travel, learn foreign languages, strive for social and political activism, especially in the realms of racial discrimination and prejudice, and to enjoy the vibrancy around them is my goal.
(2015, March 31). Earthlight Album Cover by Horizon Fire
References:
(2015, March 31). Earthlight [Earthlight Album Cover]. Retrieved September 12, 2017, from https://horizonfire.bandcamp.com/album/earthlight
Earthlight Album Cover by Horizon Fire