Cultural Influences and Psycho Social Needs

Psychology Culture

Introduction

When comparing and contrasting the social behaviors of my African American culture with that of white culture, there are both similarities and differences. For example, we may both shake hands when greeting someone, but African American culture has made more of an art of shaking hands than white culture has. African Americans may engage in a more elaborate custom of greeting with hand shaking, slapping, embracing, and so on, whereas white culture is typically more staid and less exhibitionist. But the way we speak to elders is likely to be different also. In my culture, it is respectful to address elders as "Sir" or "Ma'am", while in other white culture this may not be the case, depending on the situation: in some cases, it is expected that blacks will be more polite and respectful to non-blacks because of their inferior social setting—and this is something that black authors have written about extensively, as for instance in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man (Parker et al., 2016). Additionally, cultural influences such as religion and family structure may also differ. For instance, in many African American families, extended family members often live close by and play an active role in raising children. Additionally, church is a major focus of many homes in African American culture, and if it is not there tends to be trouble for those African American families that do not have this support (Avent & Cashwell, 2015). This is not always the case in white culture, where religion is playing less and less a central role in white families’ lives (Smith, 2021). Finally, when regulating emotion, African Americans tend to express emotions openly and freely, while people of white culture may bottle them up more. When it comes to communication and language, African Americans typically use a lot of hand gestures and body language when speaking, while people of white culture tend to be more reserved and less expressive in general. These are just some of the ways that my African American culture differs from others.

Social Behavior

Social behavior is shaped by a variety of influences, including culture, family, peers, and media. African American culture is unique in many ways, and one of the most notable aspects is the way it shapes social behavior. The media plays a role in shaping social behavior, and African Americans are often portrayed in a negative light in rap music, on television and in movies. For decades, African American culture was depicted in media as thuggish, dominated by gangs, which glorify in criminal activity (like with NWA and “Straight Outta Compton” and so on). Drug use, promiscuity, father abandonment, prison life, and more negative tropes have all been part of the media’s depiction of African American culture for decades (Majavu, 2020). Part of this may have to do with the fact that black culture suffered an identity crisis in America in the 20th century, as Alice Walker shows in “Everyday Use,” which is about a young daughter returning home from college with a new ethnic identity totally fabricated and foreign to her actual background and upbringing (Marciano & Watson, 2021). So media is not the only influence—school, peers, and groups are other big influences, as Bandura (2018) explains. By understanding the influences of social behavior in African American culture, we can gain insights into the unique way that this community functions. But white culture is impacted by the same influences—it just so happens that those influences carry different meanings, expressions, and forms.

For instance, whites in popular media are depicted in a more positive light generally and have been for as long as popular media has existed in this country. From movies to songs to commercials and so on, there appears to be more successful, more harmony, and more stability in the lives of whites than in the lives of blacks in popular media. This difference in representation can have a significant impact on social behavior, especially when it comes to race relations. For example, it could be that white people who were exposed to media with a high ratio of white to black characters may be more likely to harbor racial bias against blacks. In contrast, people who are exposed to media with a more balanced ratio of white to black characters could be less likely to display such bias. Media can influence both cultures and affect the way people observe themselves and how they feel about other cultures. When whites are portrayed as being more successful, competent, and even-tempered than blacks, it can lead to real-world consequences, such as increased racial tension and discrimination. As such, it is important to be aware of the potentially harmful effects of these depictions in order to create a more inclusive and equitable society. This does appear to be happening to some degree, as films like Black Panther have attracted a wide audience, and Creed and other films have shown that there are positive stories that can be told about African Americans. However, there are still many negative influences in media.

Social Learning

Ultimately, social learning plays a big part in how media, peers and groups affect both cultures (Bandura, 2018). In order to maintain social order, both white and African American cultures use social learning to regulate feelings of fear and insecurity. For example, white culture may highly value self-reliance, hard work, and personal responsibility, which can lead individuals to feel that they must constantly prove their worth to others. As a result, they may be quick to judge and dismiss those who do not meet their standards. On the other hand, African American culture may place more emphasis on cooperation and collective action. This can create a sense of community and belongingness, but it also means that members of this culture are more likely to look out for each other and intervene when they see someone in need. In both cases, social learning helps to ensure that individuals feel securely within the bounds of their culture and that they are able to effectively contribute to social order.

And there are many psychosocial issues that both cultures have to face in order to be healthy (Moadel et al., 2007). White culture can lead to depression for many people as individuals in this culture fail to achieve the kind of illusory success they were promised in films and TV—and that is one of the main points of the virtually all-white film Fight Club, which is a vision of white culture imploding because there is nothing of substance holding it together. On the other hand, African American culture faces so many external stressors, like poverty and racism, that blacks also have many psychosocial needs that have to be addressed and many carry with them historical trauma that goes unexamined.

Language

Language is a tool that humans use to communicate with one another. It is a system of symbols that we use to represent our thoughts and ideas. Language plays a significant role in shaping our culture and our identity. It influences the way we communicate, think, and interact with others. Each culture has its own unique way of using language. For example, African American English (AAE) is a dialect of English that is spoken by many black people in the United States. AAE differs from Standard English in terms of its grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Many people consider AAE to be a substandard form of English. However, it is a rich and complex dialect that has been shaped by the history, experiences, and culture of African Americans. AAE is an important part of black identity and culture.

White culture, on the other hand, is often associated with Standard English. This is the variety of English that is used in schools, colleges, and universities. It is considered to be the correct or proper way to speak and write English. Because of this, white people are often seen as being more educated or intelligent than those who speak non-standard varieties of English. This can lead to feelings of inferiority among non-white people. It can also lead to negative attitudes towards white people. Language plays a powerful role in shaping our cultures and our identities. It can be used to promote understanding and communication between different groups of people. However, it can also be used to create division and inequality.

Health

There are a number of significant differences between the cultural views on health and healthy living in white culture versus African American culture. For one, African Americans generally have a much higher level of mistrust of the healthcare system than whites. This is due to a long history of discrimination and mistreatment within the healthcare system, dating back to the days of slavery when black people were used as medical experiments without their consent. This kind of abuse continued into the 20th century with the Tuskegee experiments. It continues today with many people of African American culture begin distrustful of the health establishment. For instance, many black leaders and celebrities are on record refusing to get “the jab”—i.e., the coronavirus vaccine—because they do not trust the science or the people selling it. As a result, African Americans are more likely to delay seeking medical care, even for serious conditions. They are also more likely to believe that alternative treatments such as herbal remedies and acupuncture are effective.

In contrast, whites are more likely to view conventional medicine as the only legitimate form of healthcare. They are also less likely to believe that alternative treatments are effective. These differences can be traced back to cultural values and beliefs about health and illness. African Americans tend to see health as a holistic concept that includes not just the physical body but also the mind and spirit. In contrast, whites tend to view health as primarily a physical concept. These different perspectives can lead to different approaches to maintaining health and preventing illness. African Americans may be more likely to focus on natural remedies and preventive care, while whites may be more likely to rely on conventional medical treatment. Ultimately, cultural views on health play a significant role in how people approach maintaining their own health and well-being.

There are many factors that influence the health of individuals within a culture. In white culture, some of the primary influences include access to healthcare, education levels, and income. In African American culture, some of the primary influences include historical trauma, racism, and stress. These different factors can lead to disparities in health outcomes between the two groups. For example, studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They are also more likely to experience higher levels of stress and anxiety. While there are many factors that contribute to these disparities, it is clear that culture plays a role in shaping the health of individuals.