Week 7 - Post 3

            One concept from the assigned reading that we have not discussed yet that has interested me is about stereotypes and prejudices. The textbook describes stereotypes as “generalized 2^nd-hand beliefs that provide conceptual biases from which we make sense out of what goes on around us”. Stereotyping is very similar to judging in that we make assumptions about people. Everyone has been guilty of stereotyping. For example, if you so someone walking down the street wearing all black with gauges in their ears, and black hair, people might think they are gothic. That would be you stereotyping that person into a specific category because of what they look like, and what you think all gothic people look like. Prejudice is described as a special kind of stereotype in that a negative social attitude held by members of one group toward members of another group. I can honestly say that I have not witnessed an account of prejudice, but I have seen plenty of movies, such as The Help, that deal with prejudice. All types of stereotyping is not the right thing to do, and hopefully people will be able to reduce the stereotypes they have about groups of people. 

Week 7 - Post 2

        I believe in the rationality and mutability premises, although I only believe part of the perfectibility premise. The rationality premise is described as “the belief that most people are capable of discovering the truth through logical analysis”. I believe that this premise requires an educated person, because they have the ability to analyze certain things. The mutability premise is described as the assumption that human behavior is shaped by environmental factors. The textbook also claims that the way to improve a person is to improve their physical and psychological circumstances. This premise is telling us that human nature is highly susceptible to social and cultural influence. The reason that I only believe part of the perfectibility premise is because the textbook stated that is it based on the old Puritan idea that humans are born in sin and have the capability to achieve goodness. I personally do not believe that we are born into sin because of my religion and how I grew up, although I do believe that humans have the capability to perfect themselves and strive for goodness. The social institutions that are based on these beliefs are our country’s democracy, trial by jury, and free enterprise. 

Week 7 - Post 1

         I completely agree with Ruth Benedict’s idea that we are “creatures of our culture” and that our habits, beliefs, and impossibilities are shaped by our culture. Benedict claims that from the moment we are born, we are exposed to a certain culture. We grow up learning to talk and communicate in a specific way that we are exposed to. Although, I do believe that the older we get, the more choice we have to decide weather to continue that behavior, culture, and way of communication or not. One example that comes to my mind is the movie Blindside, which is about a poor boy who grows up in a terrible, run-down environment. The other boys who live in the same environment end up getting into drugs and violence, but the main character gets the chance to change his culture and in the end, his communication skills. That example shows how we can break through the limits of our cultures. Although some guidance and help may be necessary, it is definitely possible to change our culture. 

Week 6 - Post 3

          One concept from the reading that we have not already discussed in chapter five is about physical appearance. At the beginning of the section, the textbook suggests that when we go outside, “we take with us a material self that is created by the way we look and dress” (p. 123). This quote struck me as extremely true. For instance, if you go to an interview wearing leggings and t-shirt, your chances of getting the job are slim. While if you go to that interview wearing slacks and a blazer, you present yourself in a professional, more responsible manner. I will admit that I am guilty of going places in my pajamas, but when you have somewhere important to go such as an interview or dinner with your significant other’s parents, you choose your outfits in modesty. The way you dress is a nonverbal message to every person who lays their eyes on you. If a girl is wearing a very low cut shirt, she is sending different nonverbal messages to people that probably aren’t the most positive. On the other hand, if people are modest and even stylish, people tend to read your nonverbal message as you being a responsible, dependable person. 

Week 6 - Post 2

         Nonverbal messages can definitely be interpreted contrarily in different cultures. For example, I am Italian and in my culture, touch is a nonverbal sign of affection, such as hugs and kisses or even a touch on the arm. We usually use this type of nonverbal communication to accentuate our verbal messages, but there are times when our touch is not accompanied by a verbal message. We use touch to signify our love for someone, even if that person is only a close friend, but in other countries and cultures, people like their space and privacy and can be territorial. Also, other cultures see touch as a romantic gesture, and it is considered scandalous if you give a big hug to someone you are not pursuing. Although touch can take on many different meanings in any culture, it depends on how friendly the gesture is. Different types of touches such as on the arm could be considered flirty in one culture, offensive in another, and a sign of friendship in a different culture. 

Week 6 - Post 1

         I am usually pretty good at interpreting nonverbal messages, but one thing I occasionally get confused with is sarcasm. Sarcasm can be considered a nonverbal code with a verbal message. The textbook would categorize sarcasm under contradicting, since the definition the authors provide is a “nonverbal message that undermines the verbal message, often causing confusion and uncertainty”. I definitely use my fair share of sarcasm, and I can typically catch on to the sarcasm that people use, but there are times when I get very confused. When I’m having a normal conversation with people, sometimes they will blurt out a sarcastic remark and I will completely take it seriously, which will confuse me. For example, my roommate is normally a serious person, but she said something really sarcastic to me out of the blue one day and I took it so seriously that she couldn’t stop laughing at me. Of course I laughed after I found out it was only sarcasm, but she is usually so serious that I completely misinterpreted what she said. People can increase the accuracy with which they interpret sarcasm by observing facial expressions and tone of voice.