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¶ … capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions. Albert Einstein
Culture is often defined as a way of life that evolves and is developed over time, shared by a group of people, and permeated by the nature of the group that uses it to organize, educate, and assign behavior. While there are different cultural formations, subgroups, schisms, etc., humans seem innately attracted to belonging to a group and allowing that group to mold their views and behaviors. Within these cultural groups, one of the predominant characteristics is organizational communication. Organizations are established to perpetuate the culture -- unfortunately, that also means at times it perpetuates mediocrity.
A huge part of our life is devoted to this organizational communication -- we use the informal systems to belong all the time and they have a rather structured, but hierarchical way of organizing our behavior. We learn what to say, what...
It is not always completely overt, either -- subtle signals of acceptance or rejection abound, and certainly once we are old enough to understand the media we are barraged by messages about how to think. When we get to school we are either an outsider or part of the group -- not so subtle social displays of belonging and thinking. This continues throughout our school years and at times becomes almost overwhelming. When we start a new job we see different verbal or non-verbal signs of how to get along within that organization both in formal structures and informal 'water-cooler' behavior. It is to our advantage to become part of the dominant culture, the dominant group. Everyone wants to feel like they belong, everyone wants to feel part of the team, the group, and on the inside. But, unfortunately, at times this means letting go of some very basic principles of critical thinking, judgment, and self-controlling maps about interpreting the world.
While Einstein was referring to the manner…
While Einstein was referring to the manner in which cultural prejudice impacted many individual's feelings about agnosticism and atheism, the core message is one of critical thinking -- or the lack thereof. Critical thinking is not something one can find by purchasing a book or a course; it is a process and approach to life. It is a way of looking at information, taking that information, processing it, and being able to bring past knowledge, other materials, and synthesize that information so that one either comes up with something new, or is able to discern more analytically the messages being said or views.
The basic aspect is simple -- the application difficult. One must thinking about the source material (ideas, etc.) and analyzes to decide on its relevance and truth. For example, just because something is posted on the Internet is it true; the same being if it is published in a book. One must read and think about the sources of the material. A critical thinker also uses other senses to establish their opinion of the stimuli, be that visual, audible, or even body-language (in the case of speech, etc.). Using critical thinking to process information requires that you not only analyze the source material "critically," but that you think about the opinions and views being presented. Certainly, it is not as easy to read, write, and process critically, one has to think about what one says, how one says it, and whether the arguments are made to buttress the argument, but the idea of critical thinking is a great stimulation to one's own brain and learning. To this writer, this is what Einstein wished for -- that society would not blindly believe just because they saw it in a picture, on television, or read it somewhere. It is far too easy to manipulate pictures, events, scenes (what is there and what is not), and evens statistics to blindly believe without some level of verification. Only partially humorously, one is reminded of a famous drawing by American humorist and satirist Gary Larson:
(Source: http://www.danielrorex.com/blog/2007/03/01/gary-larsons-sheep/)
One of the primary reasons that non-white minorities are so disproportionately affected by the reduction in federal aid for higher education expenses, and/or the availability of affordable programs and institutions, is that they have not had equal economic access, either. This is something else that Lui et al. note in their description of the development of American culture and society. A lack of education as well as a prejudiced belief
It is not always easy to keep childcare arrangements running smoothly and problems may arise from time to time. . In addition to these stresses, familial stresses might occur. For instance, Grandparents and parents may have different views about raising children. Parents' expectations of grandparents may exceed their resources. Grandchildren may not always obey or comply with grandparents' rules. Grandparents may not like the role of strict disciplinarian when discipline
Healthcare Practices in Nursing Today Over the last 50 years, health care systems all over the world have experienced rapid and significant changes. Some of these changes have been the result of innovative developments in medical science and technology that have greatly benefited patients, prolonging and saving the lives of millions. Some of these changes, however, have had the unfortunate result of limiting patient access to prescribed treatment and diminishing
Walden Two: Human Nature and Society The bourgeoisie naturally conceives the world in which it is supreme to be the best. Karl Marx People throughout history, since the beginning of time began, have been expressing dissatisfaction with the way the world is and trying to find ways to make it better. Along the way various fictional societies called "Utopias," after the book of the same name written by Thomas More in 1515 and
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