ISS 210 1st Edition Lecture 20 Outline of Last Lecture I II III IV V VI VII Syllogistic Argument Nature and Nurture A False Dichotomy Vygotsky and Development Language Acquisition Language Development Gender Differences Gender Role Training Outline of Current Lecture I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI Cultural Communities Communities overlap and conflict Middle Class European American Culture Euro American Values It takes a Village Demographic Transition Model Chinese Government Policy Parental Child Rearing Goals Resignation and Emotional Balance The Strange Situation Extended Nuclear Families Current Lecture I Cultural Communities Community is not merely a collection of individuals with a single identifying characteristic Communities are groups of people with common and continuing organization values understanding history and practices that transcend in a community Participants in a community Try to accomplish some things together using these shared elements Provide each other support and are familiar with aspects of each others lives Engage in conflicts disputes and intrigues Adapt to changing times accepting or rejection new ideas to maintain core values Not limited to people who are in face to face contract or living in geographic proximity II Communities overlap and conflict Individual may identify with and participate in a number of overlapping communities One or two may be primary for defining his or her way of life while participating in others Which one is salient may depend on context Cultural heritage and audiences Membership implies the person fits within some established boundaries Participation is more flexible involving cultural practices traditions values and understandings III Middle Class European American Culture Less visible because it is taken for the social norm Must experience difference to know they exist Based on cultural habits regarded as natural derived from the past and commit us to going on in a certain way in the future IV Euro American Values Characterized by high levels of formal schooling and associated occupations Ambivalence towards authority Individualism consider themselves separate individuals who are responsible for their own situation in life and their own destinies Very young children encourage to express themselves and make choices Binds some to the fact that they share a culture with others Features Privacy Discomfort with deference but using other status cues Control of the future new is better than old Time is a resource to be well spent Prioritizing efficiency accomplish more with fewer resources Engaging in small talk Check boxes Cultural communities V It takes a Village Responsibility for children New houses and community Attitudes toward children Cultural practices are inherited across generations and revised by new generations with novel circumstances and new ideas Passing traditional family recipes VI Demographic Transition Model In traditional society children contribute to household production and provide for parents in their old age High infant mortality requires high birth rate If mortality rate falls and birth rate remains constant population increases If mortality continues to fall birth rate begins to decrease creates a demographic bubble Birth and death rate rebalance population continues to increase due to longer life expectancy Birth rate and population begin to decline with urbanization VII Chinese Government Policy Prior to 1949 high infant death rate necessitated a high birth rate 1949 restricted access to birth control and abortion eliminated disease 1956 introducing birth control to avoid strains on standard of living education and national reconstruction 1957 reversed policy and populating growth took off 1959 high birthrate and lower infant mortality led to a population increase of some in 4 years 1964 new concern about population growth 1970s introduced single child policy with strict use of birth control and absorption 90 of 9 years old in Chinese cities are only children One child for 2 parents 4 grandparents psychological pressure on children Affects cultural patterns for child care giving and individual development In rural areas second child permitted it 1st is a girl In urban areas second child permitted in both parents are only children No controls for endangered ethnic minorities VIII Parental Child Rearing Goals In communities with high infant and child mortality parents must first consider a child s physical survival and health When mortality is less an issue focus shifts to preparing children to maintain themselves economically in maturity When 1st and second goals are met parents focus on child s potential to maximize religious piety intellectual achievement personal satisfaction and self realization IX Resignation and Emotional Balance Innate maternal scripts such as bonding or maternal instincts are both cultural and history bound Resignation of the face of high infant mortality includes learning when to let go Infanticide and child abandonment X The Strange Situation Reaction of child when separated from caregivers Secure attachment evidence if child explores room and acts friendly before separation and are comforted and do not show anger when reunited with care giver Anxious resistant evidence if child shows distress when left and not easily soothed when reunited but seeks contact Anxious avoidant evidenced if child show low distress when left but avoids caregiver when reunited Culturally patterned Japanese children not used to being left with strangers show anxious resistance African American infants are used to several caregivers encouraged to be friendly to strangers outgoing in the laboratory and still attuned to their caregivers a room full of toys and a friendly stranger who entertained them XI Extended Nuclear Families Who do children belong to Japan to the house Middle class European American Nuclear family Relative isolation from kin with reliance on institutions for assistance with child care even with relatives nearby Daycare preschools babysitters Emphasis on individuals and competition Serial monogamy multiple ounces one at a time Unrestrained by relatives or kin husband may batter wife and children protected by the privacy society values so highly Children are expected to leave home to form their own separate families