W7 – from Prenatal Development to Beyond
I found this chapter one of the most joyful ones to read. For instance, I was impressed by the initial crying melody that differs across cultures, which gives the idea that culture starts to shape us even before birth/at the prenatal stage. I could not comprehend how this change happened, but I assume that even talking with the baby during pregnancy is quite a culture-based act. I cannot imagine my great-grandmother, working in the lands while she was pregnant, or women of older generations in our society telling their babies things that would improve their self-worth or spending special time on it.
The broad impact of whether or not one received formal education, from family organization and the regulation of home to values, and beliefs, showed how critical economic conditions were to culture and hierarchy.
In Eastern communities, babies have several caregivers, such as siblings or alloparents. Aligned with this, my father was raised mostly by his sister, just at the age of 7. She provided hygiene care and cooked for my father. It is thought-provoking that social roles are formed by giving such a responsibility at a young age. Therefore, I guess it is predictable that ‘respect’ is a major concept in our societies.
Considering separation anxiety disorder, Ugandan babies are still comfortable with the disappearance of their caregivers may be an example of how culture affects psychopathology.
Because I remember from previous chapters that ages between 4-6 are especially critical considering culturally shaped ideas and values, the chapter disappointed me by examining the culture and development relationship mostly on infants, despite analyzing attachment theory in the context of culture is quite beneficial, it gives clues about what is universal and what is cultural.
‹ W6 – Culture and Emotion W10 – Social class and our preferences ›
Thank you for contributing your wonderful opinions, the reasoning you laid out behind respect for hierarchal societies is really logical, realizing this correlation made me understand the structure in a deeper level, I agree with the last part as well. Although your delivery is very clear and relevant I would’ve expected a bit more eloboration or examples on the sub topics you have separated by paragraphs.
RENEWED VERSION:
I found this chapter one of the most joyful ones to read. For instance, I was impressed by the initial crying melody that differs across cultures, which gives the idea that culture starts to shape us even before birth/at the prenatal stage. I could not comprehend how this change happened, but I assume that even talking with the baby during pregnancy is quite a culture-based act. I cannot imagine my great-grandmother, working in the lands while she was pregnant, or women of older generations in our society being able to tell their babies things that would improve their self-worth or spending special time on it since they have so much everyday work to survive. We even know stories of many giving birth in the fields rather than in a hospital or with a doctor, in this sense cultural acts have a strong connection with economy and social class.
The broad impact of whether or not one received formal education, from family organization and the regulation of home to values, and beliefs, showed how critical economic conditions were to culture and hierarchy.
In Eastern communities, babies have several caregivers, such as siblings or alloparents. Aligned with this, my father was raised mostly by his sister, just at the age of 7. She provided hygiene care and cooked for my father. It is thought-provoking that social roles are formed by giving such a responsibility at a young age. Therefore, I guess it is predictable that ‘respect’ is a major concept in our societies.
Considering separation anxiety disorder, Ugandan babies are still comfortable with the disappearance of their caregivers may be an example of how culture affects psychopathology. A subject that can be a clinical diagnosis in Western society did not lead to such a result in Uganda, meaning that being together with the parent at all times was not seen as such a need. At this point, the universal and unique needs in infancy are an important research topic. I suppose the attitude of the caregivers when leaving the babies may have played a role in this result, perhaps in Western society not only the baby but also the caregiver becomes anxious when leaving.
Because I remember from previous chapters that ages between 4-6 are especially critical considering culturally shaped ideas and values, the chapter disappointed me by examining the culture and development relationship mostly on infants, despite analyzing attachment theory in the context of culture is quite beneficial, it gives clues about what is universal and what is cultural.