Culture and Personality

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Anthropology

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Jan 9, 2024

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For this discussion, explain how your own culture may have impacted your personality. Does your personality match your culture? If so, or if not, how has that impacted your happiness and lifestyle? Secondly, research a culture very different from your own and briefly summarize it for us. Hypothetically, how might your personality be different if you were raised in that culture? If you were suddenly dropped into that culture, explain how well (or poorly) your personality would fit in that culture. In your two peer responses, consider the different cultures presented by your peers. How well would your personality fit into the cultures they described? Explain how living in those cultures might influence your personality. To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric . My Italian-American Culture and My Personality My upbringing in an Italian-American culture has dramatically impacted my personality, shaping my dedication and self-achievement. The Italian-American culture emphasized an intense work ethic and "hustle," which stems from our Italian-American ancestors being poor and struggling (Rozendal, 2007, p. 30). Also, Italian-Americans place a high value on secondary and tertiary education (Rozendal, 2007). I was taught that education is instrumental for growth, avoiding poverty, and boosting prosperity, hence, self-achievement. Additionally, an essential element of Italian-American culture is the concept of family; it defines who we are as people. For example, children are taught the meaning and importance of respect (Rozendal, 2007). I value others' feelings and views, even when I disagree, and I feel and treat all individuals as my equals, giving them the same consideration I expect for myself. Besides family, Italian-Americans value their catholic faith, which gives them pride in who they are (Rozendal, 2007). This sense of pride differs from what most people think; it is not a form of pride as feeling boastful or superior to others, but rather a feeling of confidence and self-assuredness—for instance, being confident in myself and being grateful for what I have been given. Moreover, the culture emphasizes direct communication and openly expressing emotions (Rozendal, 2007). I am always honest with others and avoid ambiguity in conversation. I am also opinionated and talkative, and I often use hand gestures and animated facial expressions when talking to others. Finally, a significant facet of Italian-American culture is socialization- having deep relationships on both formal and informal levels (Rozendal, 2007). I am the type of person who loves being around others and enjoys interacting with the outside world (the isolation due to COVID-19 was hard). Different Culture from My Own Being from Ohio, one culture that has always fascinated me is that of the Amish. Though considered a subculture in North America, the Amish culture traces its roots to the 16th-century Protestant Reformation (Mathews, 2022). One of the most prominent facets of Amish culture is their separation from the rest of the world. For example, the Amish culture rejects modern technology such as electricity, television, radios, and personal computers (Mathews, 2022). Rather than automobiles, horse and buggy or bicycles are used as modes of transportation (Mathews, 2022). Finally, known for their farming, the Amish do not use farming machinery but horse-drawn implements (Mathews, 2022).

Another facet of Amish culture is their clothing style, which encourages humility and, again, separation from the world (Nguyen, 2023). Clothing is made at home of plain fabrics and is primarily dark in color, including shades of purple, blue, wine, brown, grey, and black (Nguyen, 2023). Lighter colors are used for younger children, and summer shirts and dresses for adults in some groups (Nguyen, 2023). Moreover, Amish men wear straight-cut suits and coats without collars, lapels, or pockets, while women wear a head covering and, usually, a three-piece dress that includes a cape and an apron (Nguyen, 2023). The family is the most important social unit in the Amish culture. It is not uncommon for a family to consist of seven to ten children (Weyer et al., 2003). Chores are divided by sexual roles in the Amish home- the men usually work on the farm, while the women do the washing, cleaning, cooking, and other household chores (Weyer et al., 2003). Spending time together as a family and their connection with each other is also important. They run family businesses together, eat meals together, and attend church services, barn-raising, and other community events together (Weyer et al., 2003). Additionally, it is not uncommon for several generations to live under the same roof; older family members are respected and cared for by the family (Weyer et al., 2003). Similarly, the community is also an important social unit in the Amish culture. Community members freely give their time and skills to help one another (Weyer et al., 2003). For example, community support in barn raising- the community comes together to help a family build a barn (Weyer et al., 2003). Whether it is raising a barn, offering wisdom to fellow community members, consoling a family that is suffering a loss, or providing financial assistance, the members of the community support each other (Weyer et al., 2003). Dependency on the church community is strong, and church members are urged to help each other in everyday life and in times of difficulty and disaster (Mathews, 2022). Finally, religion is the cornerstone of Amish life. Their religious beliefs call them to live a life of faith, discipline, dedication, and humility (Weyer et al., 2003). Amish attend church every other Sunday in a church member's home (Mathews, 2022). The Amish community governs itself strictly, and baptized members are morally committed to church rules (Weyer et al., 2003). From them, life is a spiritual activity, and they demonstrate their religious beliefs daily through their own actions of discipleship, plainness, nonresistance, forgiveness, and non-violence (Weyer et al., 2003). Amish Culture and My Personality There are many ways that my personality would be different if I were raised in the Amish culture. For instance, rather than being a confident individual, I would be more humble. Moreover, I also would be open and honest or express my feelings. As mentioned, humility is the hallmark of Amish beliefs; mild and modest personalities are esteemed (Wittmer, 1970). Amish are also encouraged to surrender their personal aspiration for the sake of the community (Wittmer, 1970); thus, rather than being a self- achieving person, I would be more cohesive and group goal-oriented. Furthermore, Amish are quiet and reserved (Wittmer, 1970), unlike my loud, talkative self. Finally, Amish are typically seen as obedient and conform (Wittmer, 1970). Rather than be an open, opinionated individual, I would most likely be compliant and amendable. These differences alone show that my personality would poorly fit into the Amish culture. Conclusion

The culture in which we live in is one of the most critical environmental factors that shape our personality. More importantly, individuals from different cultures differ from one another in distinctive ways. For instance, Italian-Americans tend to be extroverts, whereas Amish tend to be introverts. I have learned that by learning and understanding different cultures, we understand why people act and behave as they do. We are also given an opportunity to identify with other people and sympathize with their behaviors and situations, thus facilitating understanding and preventing misunderstandings of others. References Nguyen, K. (2023). The Amish Culture: Through photography. PSA Journal , 89 (8). https://doi.org/10.1108/17506200710752566 . Mathews, D. J. A. (2022). Amish Culture. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Rozendal, N. (2007). Understanding Italian American cultural norms. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services , 25 (2), 29–33. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.3928/0279-3695-19870201- 07 Weyer, S. M., Hustey, V. R., Rathbun, L., Armstrong, V. L., Anna, S. R., Ronyak, J., & Savrin, C. (2003). A look into the Amish culture: What should we learn? Journal of Transcultural Nursing , 14 (2), 139. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1177/1043659602250639 Wittmer, J. (1970). Homogeneity of Personality Characteristics: A Comparison between Old Order Amish and Non-Amish. American Anthropologist , 72 (5), 1063– 1068. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1970.72.5.02a00050

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