Culture, Self, And Identity Worksheet Exercise 11 Read Each ✓ Solved

Culture Self And Identity Worksheetexercise 11 Read Each Statement

Culture, Self, and Identity Worksheet Exercise 1: 1. Read each statement below and write the degree to which you agree or disagree with the statement by using seven-point scale. I strongly disagree I strongly agree. ( ) I sometimes feel guilty. 2. ( ) I sometimes feel ashamed. 3. ( ) I know more about myself than I do about others. 4. ( ) I know more about others than I do about myself. 5. ( ) Silence is embarrassing. 6. ( ) Silence is comfortable. 7. ( ) Success depends on my abilities. 8. ( ) Success depends on help we receive from others. 9. ( ) Friendships are fairly easy to establish, but often not very intimate. 10. ( ) Friendships are difficult to establish, but are generally very intimate. 11. ( ) Being dependent on others would be very hard on me. 12. ( ) Being excluded from my group would be very hard on me. 13. ( ) I generally socialize in pairs. 14. ( ) I generally socialize in groups. 15. ( ) It is important that my behavior and attitudes correspond. 16. ( ) It is important that my behavior is appropriate for the situation. 2. When you finish, add your scores in the statements of odd numbers, which indicates a total score of your tendency of “independent” self. Add your scores in the statements of even numbers, which indicates a total score of your tendency of “interdependent” self. Your total score for each tendency ranges from 8 to 56, and a higher score indicates a stronger tendency of either type of self-construal. Your score of independent self: Your score of interdependent self: Exercise 2: Reflection Question 1: Based on the results, do you think your self-construal is more independent or interdependent? Reflection Question 2: It goes without saying that Markus and Kitayama’s concept increased our awareness of the influence of culture on self and individual behaviors. However, some scholars, such as Triandis (1994) and Matsumoto (1999) argue that it is possible for one individual to hold both aspects of self. Here, they point out the importance of taking contextual variables, such as an individual’s experience and cultural situation into consideration in assessing self-construal. To what degree can you accurately answer the questions above without taking your experience and cultural situation into consideration? For example, considering reflection question 1, are there certain cultural situations or experiences in which you might feel more guilty, or less? Or are there certain situations in which it would be easier or even more desirable to be dependent on others? Based on these considerations, do you think that it is possible to make a determination of the degree of influence in general that culture has on self, or does this always have to be considered based on the context and situation? Reflection Question 3: Describe two situations in which you have acted based on independent construal of self. Reflection Question 4: Describe two situations in which you have acted based on interdependent construal of self. Exercise 3: Write twenty different statements in answering the question, “Who am I?” Do not spend too much time to write each statement. There are no right or wrong answers. After that, answer the questions that appear later. 1. I am 2. I am 3. I am 4. I am 5. I am 6. I am 7. I am 8. I am 9. I am 10. I am 11. I am 12. I am 13. I am 14. I am 15. I am 16. I am 17. I am 18. I am 19. I am 20. I am Question 1: Which statements do you think are associated with the dimension of “independent construal of self?” Write the numbers of the statements. Question 2: Which statements do you think are associated with the dimension of “interdependent construal of self?” Write the numbers of the statements. Reflection Question 1: Based on your results to questions 1 and 2, do you think you are more independent or more interdependent? What other factors could be considered to give a more accurate assessment?

Paper For Above Instructions

The concepts of culture, self, and identity are vital for understanding how individuals perceive themselves and their relationships in varying contexts. This essay embarks on a reflective journey through self-assessment based on the provided worksheet and encourages a thoughtful exploration of cultural influences on self-construal.

Firstly, the seven-point scale offers a spectrum for individuals to express their agreement or disagreement regarding various statements about feelings of guilt, shame, and attitudes toward success and relationships. For instance, if someone scores high on feeling guilty or ashamed, it may reflect an interdependent self-construal—suggesting a strong connection to social values where group dynamics significantly influence personal identity.

Conversely, if an individual expresses a stronger agreement with statements indicating knowledge of oneself over others, or emphasizes personal achievement, this may align with an independent self-construal. The evaluation of these statements ultimately reveals the duality within a person's identity, reflecting tendencies toward either interdependence or independence.

In reflection question 1, participants are prompted to consider their self-construal tendencies. For example, through personal experiences, one may recognize instances where cultural settings influence their ability to act interdependently, such as familial expectations during gatherings where community support is essential.

Reflection question 2 necessitates a more nuanced understanding of how context influences self-perception. Scholars like Markus and Kitayama (1991) have posited that self-construal is not merely a product of individual tendencies but is shaped by cultural narratives and relationships. Thus, attempts to characterize one's self without considering these contexts may lead to an incomplete self-assessment. This realization underpins the complexity of identity, as it often requires a balance between independent actions and interdependent relationships.

For instance, an individual may feel more independent in professional contexts where personal accomplishments are rewarded. However, the same individual might feel an increased obligation towards family in social settings, thus leaning toward a more interdependent self. This illustrates how self-conception is fluid and subject to the expectations and norms dictated by varying cultural contexts.

Reflective question 3 encourages the exploration of personal experiences aligned with independent self-construal. A situation where one might have acted independently could involve pursuing personal career goals without seeking external validation, thereby affirming a strong sense of self-identity. Conversely, in reflection question 4, experiences tied to interdependence may include collaborative projects or family decisions where collective input was crucial, indicating a reliance on social connections for personal identity.

A key exercise in the worksheet involves writing statements of identity. When answering "Who am I?", one might consider attributes such as "I am ambitious" or "I am a loyal friend." Some statements may resonate more with independent self-construal (e.g., "I am a leader"), while others reflect interdependent aspects (e.g., "I am a helper"). These designations help to reveal the deeper layers of self-identity.

The final reflective questions reiterate the importance of contextual understanding in defining one's self. Factors such as cultural backgrounds, personal experiences, and social dynamics play indispensable roles in shaping individual identity. The exercise urges an examination of how these factors interweave to create a person's narrative—one that embodies both independence and interdependence.

In conclusion, the exploration of self through the lens of cultural context reveals the intricate relationship between individual autonomy and social interdependence. The insights garnered from this reflective exercise illustrate that while one may demonstrate preferences toward independent or interdependent self-construal, the reality is often a complex interplay of both. Reflection and awareness of these dimensions can facilitate personal growth and a more profound understanding of oneself and one's relationship to the world.

References

• Markus, H., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and self: Implications for cognition, emotion and motivation. Psychological Review, 98.
• Matsumoto, D. (1999). Culture and self: An empirical assessment of Markus and Kitayama’s theory of independent and interdependent self-construal. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2(3).
• Triandis, H. (1994). Culture and social behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.
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