Relationship Between Culture & Identity
- The levels of consumption that are acceptable or encouraged within a society shape the identity of many of the individuals who grow up within that culture. James E. Cote, from the University of Western Ontario, suggests that in cultures in which mass-production is the norm, identities are shaped by an "abundance psychology." In these types of cultures, people are constantly influenced by the people around them and try to conform to the consumption patterns of those around them, even if those patterns shift.
- The reason that people have a tendency to conform their personal identity to the culture that they are a part of is because this provides the person with a feeling of security. People do not like to feel different from those around them. Instead, they prefer to be accepted and to be included as part of a group. The more a person fulfills the cultural expectations he is surrounded with, the more likely it is that inclusion in the group will be offered to him.
- The effects of culture on personal identity can be seen clearly when you look at the identity of immigrants. Anytime a person moves from one culture to another, a possibility exists that the person will try to retain many of the customs of his home because he identifies as a member of that culture. This is seen when people move to new countries and retain aspects of their religion, cultural dress or cultural traditions that might not be the norm in the new country.
- Many factors from a culture emerge as part of the personal identity of an individual. If a person is defined by his actions and many of his actions are shaped by cultural influence, then it stands to reason that culture and identity must be intrinsically linked. Things such as the manner in which children are raised, marriage, family relations, maturation and cooking are some of the most basic details of a person's character and are influenced by the culture in which that person is raised. Although it appears that a person's identity is shaped by her culture, she also has the ability to reshape her identity based on personal choice or an exposure to new cultural influences.