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2/17/21; Week 7: Response to Culture and Psychology
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Have you ever heard about "Culturally-Created Ought Self"?
According to Professor John J. Ivers from the BYU-Idaho University, "culturally-created ought self" accounts for tendencies that a culture bestows prestige or shame depending on certain activities. That means that in some cultures certain talents, abilities, appearance, and practices are exalted while in other cultures the same talents, abilities, appearance, and practices are minimized or even debased. For example, as I mentioned in this POST a couple of weeks ago, a woman in Tongo is considered beautiful if she's not thin when in the USA (and in Brazil too) is the opposite.
Every culture has its own "culturally-created ought self", and, of course, there is a real self that sometimes does not correspond to that. Professor Ivers explains that "the higher the correspondence between the real
self and the ought self, most likely, the higher self-esteem one will enjoy. But the lesser the correspondence between the
culturally-created ought self and your real self, then it is harder to have
that self-esteem".
In my home culture, Brazil, there are many "culturally-created ought self" that are irrationally causing people to have low self-esteem. Let me point out some of them: a real man is one who has his own house, a great car, a Bachelor's Degree, and a brilliant career; a real woman is one who has a great career too, but at the same time can handle all the responsibility for the household and the kids, and, of course, have a thin, perfect body.
I would like to emphasize the last element. Brazil is one of the Top 3 countries in the world that more makes plastic surgery. Our culture says that for a woman to have value she needs to have an "amazing" body and show it. However, this culture has killed a lot of women who have been submitted to unnecessary surgeries made by unprepared doctors.
Recently I've got to know about a Brazilian woman and digital influencer who died after a liposuction.This "unattainable search for an ideal of feminine beauty that does not exist" is rooted in our culture so strongly that has costed a high price, the life of many women, and also the sadness, frustration, and shame of others who try so hard to achieve this ideal.
We need to open our eyes and see what really matters. As teachers, we have a great power and responsibility to help our students to set attainable and reasonable goals for their studies and for themselves.We have to put value on things that are everlasting. We need to be grateful for what we have and for who we are. When we understand that those "culturally-created ought self" exist in all nations and cultures it will be easier to get through them and not to be psychologically harmed by them.
Hi Larissa, I liked how you approached the topic by mentioning current facts that are happening in our culture. Unfortunately we are far from living in a society free from judgements but we can do our part by exercising self-love and encouraging our students to do the same. That was a great post!
How Do Different Cultures Perceive Time? Monochronic vs. Polychronic Have you ever been invited to a Brazilian party? If you haven't, I need to tell you two things? First, it will be very fun, you will find a friendly environment and a lot of food. Second, it won't begin at the time scheduled. Now you can ask me "Why won't a super cool party begin on time? Well, this is because Brazil, as well as many other countries around the world, is a polychronic country. Professor John Ivers from the BYU-Idaho University mentions the words of the anthropologist Edward T. Hall to explain that cultures around the world can be divided by monochronic and polychronic. Professor Ivers explains that "i n a polychronic world, they're [people] not ruled by the schedule. They're ruled by relationships and family". Then Professor Ivers quotes Hall saying that monochronic time , "on the other hand, is oriented to tasks, schedules, and procedures.” 👇Below you can...
Do you remember that teacher in your early years of school who made you feel excited about what you were learning? That teacher who built a real connection with you, who made you feel important, and even made you think of maybe becoming a teacher too? Well, I am pretty sure you have someone in mind as I do. Why do you think that teacher influenced you? What have she/he done in the classroom? I know that there may be many answers to that question. However, some specific practices that teachers embrace can be more effective than others. I would like to highlight just two. 1. Engaged in a great work: In the article " "Is the Great American Teacher Dead?", Professor John J. Ivers (2012) mentioned something about that, he says " Teachers should not fear to be a little more exciting, a little more courageous, a little more entertaining, a little more ...
Hi Larissa,
ResponderExcluirI liked how you approached the topic by mentioning current facts that are happening in our culture. Unfortunately we are far from living in a society free from judgements but we can do our part by exercising self-love and encouraging our students to do the same.
That was a great post!