Introduction
Cultural factors influence personality development among individuals. In this context, different individuals exhibit diverse personality traits. Concurrently, cultural backgrounds play significant roles in this process. Culture entails the shared meanings and mechanisms that generate diverse standards (Penke, Denissen & Miller, 2007).
These factors vary potentially amongst different groups of people. Individuals sharing one culture must have similar language and geographic locations in order to remain relevant. Particular cultural aspects play a role in the development of individuality. Personality means the mixture of rational, physical, and moral attributes. These help to distinguish people. Individuals born in a particular culture may relocate to totally new places.
Consequently, they may have their personality reformed according to the new cultural factors. For instance, African children who later relocate to America experience a personality development. Normally, they adopt the American culture. There are several investigations on how cultural factors manipulate personality development. Personality is a critical feature in defining a person’s individuality. Evidently, it also forms an individual’s destiny.
An individuals’ way of life may be defined by his or her cultural orientation. It is notable that culture not only entails peoples’ conscious principles, but also dictates their suppositions about the way things appear. Human beings normally distinguish and believe things according to their cultures (McCrae, 2009).
Therefore, cultural aspects contain significant features that models human personality. This proposal analyzes the hypothesis that, “cultural factors influence personality development.” It seeks to qualify the notion that humans’ surroundings and social settings have a clear relationship with their personality.
The cultural factors of any society create unique features in the socialization of youngsters. Based on similar socializing mechanisms, common personality features are eminent in children. The similarities in socialization aspects or mechanisms can indicate a pattern of personality characteristics. Within every cultural orientation, there are one or various personality features that youngsters must copy.
Individuals from European cultures are associated with personality features such as friendliness. The family structure and systems, which develop according to the cultural features, also convey such features to children (Matthews, Zeidner &Roberts, 2012). Furthermore, the level at which children conform to the personality features transmitted by their families is controlled at community level.
There is an apparent relationship between personality development and cultural factors. This is because personality forming entails the internalization of the features of a culture. Personality is a solitary aspect of society under stable and incorporated cultures. In addition, culture emerges as a collective characteristic of personality in such conditions.
In every society, leading cultures coexists with other subcultures. Socialization that occurs within some subcultures is vital. They add particular elements to the main individuality features. Therefore, differentiated personality features emerge in relation to the subcultures. It is possible to distinguish the individual personality with regard to their cultural background.
There are some features of personality that have been found to vary across cultural backgrounds. For example, children from American and Asian origins show slight variations in their idea of self. Children from America frequently depict themselves in terms of their personality attributes, principles, and their accomplishments. They also tend to conceptualize and practice self reliance in their early years of life. They value the art of contest with others and the significance of their uniqueness.
Conversely, children from Asian origin portray the idea of self and mutual dependence (Matsumoto & Juang, 2012). Asian cultures enable children to portray themselves according their belongingness to certain groups. Furthermore, their culture enables them to learn reliance on others. They are also able to show modesty in their accomplishments, and integrate into appropriate groups. From childhood, individuals conceptualize being human by interacting with diverse people within their cultures.
The absence of social motivation, affection for others, modelling, and interaction depict great significance. This is because the youngsters can fail to develop as typical social creatures. Evidently, they also fail develop their language and expressive emotions. Additionally, they lack the anticipated social awareness.
Personality cannot exist in isolation from culture. This is because culture intervenes in the thoughts of all individuals. Individuals’ experiences and interaction with others under social settings form personality. In this case, personality is connoted by several factors. These may include thoughts, interaction abilities, actions and traditions. In addition, there may be beliefs, principles, and institutions of a national, ethnic and social group category.
Hereditary and environmental influences shape individuals personality. The transmission of cultural factors takes place through language (Kluckhohn & Mowrer, 1944). It is also transmitted through behaviour modelling. This occurs when people find opportunities to communicate using their shared language. People living within a similar historic period and have enough proximity to sway each other also lead to the transmission of culture.
Additionally, people are carriers of their cultural legacy. This forms a critical part of their personal identity. Although people find it possible to alter the understanding of their culture, doing so might be difficult. It is, therefore, impossible for people to completely separate their personality from culture. People judge the personality of others by how best individuals manage to emerge according to the cultural factors within their settings.
Notably, ecology is one of the elements that shape cultural factors. In turn, cultural factors shapes the way people socialize thus forming their personality. Generally, it is important to note the various factors that mainstream individuals’ personality. There have been extensive and diverse investigations on the concept of personality and culture. Cultural factors play significant roles in the lives of people. These factors also determine family factors.
The growth and developments within individuals is influenced by many factors. Family factors are more important in these roles. However, it is notable that family factors largely emanate from the specific cultures. Basically, a family forms the basic representation of the general community (McCrae, 2009). This also embodies the issue of culture and taboos. Therefore, the norms usually observed within families originate from the larger society’s practices.
According to several investigations, personality remains as a basic factor amongst individuals. Personality remains as a fundamental aspect in defining a person’s distinctiveness. Additionally, it helps in directing a person’s course in the entire life. Culture refers to the overall manner in which people live life. It entails a lot of concepts. This might include conscious values as well as the manner of beliefs.
In most investigations, people have been nurtured in relation to their personality and native culture. Observably, individuals behave in relation to their most experienced culture. This has also been noted to influence personality development. Therefore, culture is one of the most vital factors that influence personality modelling. There is great need to investigate the relationship between culture and personality (Johnson, Penke & Spinath, 2011).
Certain cultures have been associated with negative personality. It is indicated that certain individuals have diminished personalities. This might be due to their culture and the manner in which they are brought up. The diminished culture minimizes their capacity to effectively associate and integrate with others.
Normally, such personalities are associated with chaotic and unproductive lifestyles. The analyses of these two factors are important in several ways. For instance, it is vital to have an understanding of the growth as well as development of an individual. Particularly, this comprehension is important for recognizing social identity. This occurs with a comprehensive analysis of the association eminent from the surrounding social situations.
Distinct cultural aspects within any community remain critical. Ideally, they help to generate some distinctive characteristics. These characteristics or features are always recognized in the socialization processes of different individuals. A society embodies different people (Camperio, Capiluppi, Veronese & Sartori, 2007).
These different people have diverse personalities. These diverse personalities provide a potential source of choices from which the younger people can choose from. Thus, within any society, the role-model effect has a significant role in shaping an individual’s personality. The general implication is that people must be aware of this association. The comprehension of these factors is vital. This is because individuals might apply the various facts to shape their individual personality to be constructive.
Literature Review
Cultural factors emerge from socializing elements or mechanisms. A given society might adopt similar cultural practices that influence individual personality. Certain personalities are largely associated with specific or particular cultures. In every community, there exist single or diverse kinds of personality (Matthews, Zeidner &Roberts, 2012). These include some of the diverse options that developing children or individuals have to choose from.
The disparities between personalities are observable within the global context. For instance, there are studies that have identified diverse personalities notable within most Europe cultures. In these investigations, there were diverse personality features identified. Some of these included sociability, kindness and co-operation. Other personalities identified included competitiveness, punctuality as well as orientation to duty and efficiency.
These personality traits have been noted to vary expansively amongst different cultural settings or backgrounds. The importance of family factors and beliefs in the transformation of an individual’s personality is notable. Basically, a family is the basic representation of the general cultural picture within a society. The family as well as elements of socialization conveys to the young people the basic features that determine personality.
The conformation of these factors of personality is mainly regulated within the society. These incidences indicate the basic relationship in culture and individual personality. Analytically, these two elements co-exist and relate to create one basic form of a rational human being. Perhaps, this is one of the fundamental reasons why most organizations endeavour to provide multi-cultural orientations to their employees.
Evidently, organizations identify with one culture within the general market place. This has a very important implication on the level of performance of the organization (Matsumoto & Juang, 2012). Generally, positive cultures are associated with constructive personalities within individuals. The general behaviour and personality types within a particular society or community might vary. This occurs due to several sociological factors eminent within the society.
Observably, cultural stratification is a major contributory factor in this notable disparity. Other notable cultural interplays including religious factors and processes interact to create a uniform cultural outlook within the general society. In the ultimate, these form a stratified system or way of life within populations.
Individuals adopt various personalities that resonate to the varied cultural practices. These are notable within the stratifications observed in the community. As indicated in most investigations, these interrelations are critical in the process of human development. They shape basic sociological processes and lead to the formation of effective behaviours and personalities within the general society. Personality is among the aspects of human beings which are complex and difficult to understand (McCrae, 2009).
This is because its development is shaped by the societal and personal experiences that are hard to comprehend. Human personality development is a product of interaction of diverse cultural factors. It is notable that diverse communities have varying cultural aspects adopted by individuals in the process of their development. As people adopt their cultures, they show different personality traits depending on their origin.
In most instances, people from similar cultures show similar personality traits. However, in rare cases some people have depicted varying personality. This is relative to the rest. The basic fact is that culture influences personality development. All individuals show differing individuality. This is an indication that certain aspects of a similar culture can affect personality development. Personality development takes place in different environments.
These are eminent within the same culture (McCrae, 2009). The personality of school going children develops at home, school, and within the society as a whole. On the home environment, a wider personality development takes place. As a general rule, the influence of culture on individuals’ development is as a result of the patterns within the specific culture.
Cultures are shaped by ecologies while personalities are shaped by cultures. There are significant links between socialization patterns and individual personality. Children personality development is highly controlled by how their family members interact with them. Youngsters who are accepted by their families develop strong personality.
They include excellent social skills, expressive stability, and high self esteem (Matthews, Zeidner &Roberts, 2012). Furthermore, such children have a highly positive world view. Conversely, children who face rejection from their families develop into adults with undesirable personality. They show high level of hostility, instability and low self esteem. Furthermore, the children would develop and act negatively in terms of their perceptions.
Statement of Hypothesis
It is believed that personality development in humans is a process that takes place over time. It is influenced by some factors. There are different factors that are involved in forming personality. Cultural factors include some of these. This paper seeks to prove the existence of a relationship between personality development and cultural factors.
The Process of Testing Hypothesis
A coherent process of hypothesis testing is applicable in the review of the association between cultural factors and personality. The process begins by comprehensive definition of the study hypothesis. The hypothesis states that “cultural factors have a significant influence in the development of individual personality.”
The parameters for the study include the various cultural factors eminent within diverse societies. These may include religious beliefs, taboos, traditions and social norms within specific communities or societies. In this context, the null hypothesis is developed for the review. Additionally, an alternative hypothesis becomes appropriate to enhance the process (Camperio, Capiluppi, Veronese & Sartori, 2007).
The null hypothesis refutes the existence of the relationship between these two factors. However, the alternative hypothesis supports the existence of this notable association between the two variables. It is vital to note that in setting up the parameters, the independent and dependent variables must be established. The concept of personality development remains as a dependent variable. On the other hand, cultural factors are also identified as the independent variable. These variables are the basic elements of the study.
A statistical method is applicable in testing the level of correlation and significance of these two noted variables. The establishment of the level significance is very also critical. This is because it forms the basis for testing the level or extent of the correlation between these two variables. After these processes, a two tailed prediction of the study must be developed. The basis of the two tailed analysis is to help in the approval of the existence of positive association.
The basic hypothesis is applicable as the main reference point for the analysis. Assessment of the normality of the distribution must be conducted after the setting of the significant levels. It is notable that in achieving this, there is utilization of secondary data. The sources mainly comprise of the literature of related information and studies (McCrae, 2009). The studies were chosen on the basis of the topic of cultural factors and personality issues.
Based on the chosen dependent and independent variable, an appropriate statistical test must be utilized. The t-test is appropriate in the analysis of the relationship between these two chosen variables. These processes must be culminated by running a statistical test. Statistical tests were run on the available secondary data. These were majorly from the internet sources.
The interpretation of these results is critical. Basically, the application of statistical methodologies remains appropriate (Penke, Denissen & Miller, 2007). After running the statistical test on the secondary data, an important conclusion is arrived at. The test results must be appropriately interpreted and the null hypotheses rejected. The general implication of this process can be noted. Basically, the process confirms the presence of a positive correlation between personality development and cultural factors.
However, it is imperative to note the impacts of various cultural factors on personality. This indication is normally notable amongst different groups or communities. The process applied for testing the hypothesis is most applicable for the quantitative investigations. It is vital to emphasize the outcome of this review. Indeed, cultural factors have notable influences on the development of individuals’ personality.
Conclusion
A considerable association between cultural factors and personality development is evident. The disparities noted within different personalities have significant implications. This is because different cultures influence personality uniquely. Therefore, within a multicultural environment, individuals must adjust. This increases their appropriateness. This concept has widely been applicable within most organizations and teams.
The observations have crucial implications in the study and practice of psychology. People’s behaviour and personality can largely be attributed to their cultural orientation. Indicatively, it is also vital to recognize the influences of other factors associated with culture. For instance, family factors form pertinent components of sociological constructions. The role of social and situational factors in the development of personality cannot be underestimated. This proposal indicates the need for more investigations in this psychological field.
References
Camperio, A. S., Capiluppi, C., Veronese, A. and Sartori, G. (2007). The adaptive value of personality differences revealed by small island population dynamics. European Journal of Personality, 21 (1), 3–22.
Johnson, W., Penke, L. and Spinath, F. M. (2011), Discussion on ‘Heritability in the Era of Molecular Genetics: Some Thoughts for Understanding Genetic Influences on Behavioural Traits. European Journal of Personality, 25 (4), 267–286.
Kluckhohn, C. and Mowrer, O. H. (1944), “CULTURE AND PERSONALITY”: A CONCEPTUAL SCHEME. American Anthropologist, 46 (1), 1–29.
Matsumoto, D. R., & Juang, L. P. (2012). Culture and psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Matthews, G., Zeidner, M. and Roberts, R. D. (2012). Emotional intelligence: A promise unfulfilled? Japanese Psychological Research, 54 (2), 105–127.
McCrae, R. R. (2009). Personality profiles of cultures: Patterns of ethos. European Journal of Personality, 23 (3), 205–227.
Penke, L., Denissen, J. J. A. and Miller, G. F. (2007). The evolutionary genetics of personality. European Journal of Personality, 21(5), 549–587.