Discussion Post: Culture and Social Interaction
Post thoughtful responses and comments to the following questions:
• Define ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in your own words. Why is the cultural relativity so important in studying cultures other than one's own?
• Explain Erving Goffman's major ideas of the presentation of self and impression management. How do you engage in the presentation of self in everyday life situations and manage your images to others?
• Make list important statuses in your own life. Indicate whether each one is ascribed or achieved. Do you see any connections between ascribed and achieved statuses? Explain using examples.
• Culture shock can often occur when you encounter a culture or subculture that is very different from your own. Please share an example of culture shock that you have experienced? Why do you think you felt this way? How can we overcome culture shock?
• Define self-fulfilling prophecy. Think of a self-fulfilling prophecy that you've experienced. Based on this experience, do you agree with the Thomas theorem? Use examples from current events to support your answer.
• What values, norms, symbols, and material objects are unique to military life? Which aspects of these are shared with civilian life?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.