PSY-4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion

Introduction to PSY-4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion

The Owlisdom, PSY-4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion focuses on the complexities of cultural enculturation in adoption and the relationship between subjective well-being (SWB) and wealth. By researching and analyzing scholarly sources, students will understand these topics comprehensively and learn to evaluate the various factors influencing cultural identity and well-being critically.

This how-to guide aims to enhance your understanding of the complexities of cultural enculturation. 

Include the challenges that parents might face as they try to teach their children about a foreign culture. 

Process of Enculturation 

To begin the PSY-4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion, we will first address question 1 of part 1 of the discussion about enculturation.

• Research the concept of enculturation and how it is learned incidentally through family, community, and societal interactions.
• Discuss the importance of early enculturation and the role of adoptive families in facilitating cultural learning.
• Explore strategies adoptive families can use to teach the child about their biological culture.
• Discuss the role of cultural symbols, rituals, and stories in preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge.

Example

The process of enculturation begins early in life and is often learned incidentally through daily interactions with family, community, and society. When an adoptive family adopts a child from a drastically different cultural group, they can try to teach the child about their biological culture.

Would the educational process be more difficult for cultures with an oral tradition? What about all the customs and practices taught through demonstration and imitation? 

Oral Traditions and Demonstrative Practices 

• Research the importance of oral traditions in preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge.
• Identify critical elements of oral traditions, such as storytelling, songs, and proverbs, and their role in cultural education.
• Explore the challenges of teaching customs and practices traditionally taught through demonstration and imitation.

Example

Cultures with solid oral traditions rely on storytelling, songs, and sayings to preserve and transmit cultural knowledge. Teaching these traditions can be challenging for adoptive parents who may not be familiar with the nuances of oral storytelling (Lilomaiava-Doktor, 2020).

Consider what happens as the child grows up and interacts with others in the society. Does the age of adoption or physical appearance (e.g., the child has skin color and hair that is different from his adoptive family) play a role in whether the adoptive family should make an effort to teach the child about their former culture? Explain your answer. 

Age Or Physical appearance

• Analyze how the age at which a child is adopted can affect their ability to learn and retain their biological culture.
• Discuss on the developmental stages of cultural identity formation and how age influences this process.
• Examine how physical appearance, such as skin color and hair texture, can influence a child’s cultural identity and societal experiences.
• Discuss the importance of representation and how adoptive families can help the child navigate societal interactions and potential identity challenges.

Example

Younger children may adapt more quickly to new cultural environments but lose touch with their original cultural roots if not actively maintained. Older children might have a stronger sense of their original culture, but integrating into a new cultural environment can be challenging (Gong et al., 2021).

Do wealthier people report greater SWB than people who are not wealthy? Discuss the relationship between SWB and wealth—consider the spectrum of socioeconomic levels from those who cannot meet their basic needs to those who have an abundance of material possessions. Is the relationship between SWB and wealth positive and linear, or does it become less linear as people become extremely wealthy? In the context of this course, discuss whether there are cultural differences in SWB that do not seem to be related to wealth. 

 Relationship Between SWB and Wealth

Now, we PSY 4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion will move towards answering the questions for Part 2 of the discussion.

• Define SWB and explain its components, such as general satisfaction, moods, and emotions.
• Investigate whether wealthier people report higher SWB levels than those with fewer resources.
• Discuss the spectrum of socioeconomic levels, from individuals who struggle to meet basic needs to those with abundant material possessions.
• Analyze whether the relationship between SWB and wealth is positive and linear or less linear as wealth increases.
• Consider social support, cultural values, and community ties.

Example

Research indicates that wealthier individuals often report higher subjective well-being (SWB) levels than those with fewer resources. This relationship is particularly evident when comparing individuals who struggle to meet basic needs with those who have an abundance of material possessions (Tan et al., 2020). However, the relationship between SWB and wealth is not strictly linear. As individuals become incredibly wealthy, increases in SWB tend to plateau. 

Some studies indicate that there is another variable that is important for maintaining a high level of SWB. State the variable and discuss whether there is some universal aspect to this finding. (Does the outstanding variable stay relatively consistent across cultures?) 

Happiness as a Measure of SWB 

• Search for scholarly articles on happiness and well-being in the South University Online Library and other reputable sources.
• Identify another important variable for maintaining a high level of SWB, such as social relationships or a sense of purpose.
• Discuss whether this variable remains consistent across different cultures and what its impact is on SWB.
• Analyze whether the identified variable has a universal aspect, affecting SWB similarly across various cultural contexts.
• Provide examples and evidence from research to support your discussion.

Example

Happiness is a standard measure of SWB. Scholarly research indicates that other variables, such as social relationships and a sense of purpose, are crucial for maintaining high SWB (Nikolova & Graham, 2022). These factors tend to have a universal aspect, remaining relatively consistent across different cultures. For instance, strong social bonds and community support are vital for well-being in both collectivist and individualist cultures.

Some societies have a relatively even wealth distribution. Discuss how the societal wealth distribution impacts the SWB of a cultural group. 

Impact of Societal Wealth Distribution on SWB 

• Investigate how equitable wealth distribution in societies impacts SWB.
• Discuss the positive and negative impacts of even wealth distribution on the SWB of different cultural groups.
• Provide examples from societies with relatively even wealth distribution and analyze their SWB outcomes.
• Analyze the broader societal implications of wealth distribution on SWB, including social cohesion, equality, and overall happiness.

Example

Societies with relatively even wealth distribution tend to have higher overall well-being and social cohesion. Equitable resource distribution can reduce social tensions, enhance access to education and healthcare, and promote a sense of fairness and community. Conversely, societies with high-income inequality often experience lower levels of trust, increased stress, and poorer health outcomes, all of which negatively affect SWB.

Please respond to at least two other students. 

Peer Response

• Ask open-ended questions that encourage further discussion and critical thinking.
• Highlight strengths in your peers’ posts and suggest areas for improvement backed by specific examples.
• Be courteous and constructive in your responses, avoiding any language that could be perceived as disrespectful.

Response 01

Hey Max! Your analysis of adoption and cultural enculturation is spot on. I appreciate your highlighting the challenges adoptive parents face, especially with oral traditions and demonstration practices. Your suggestions for involving cultural mentors and experiential learning are excellent. Regarding SWB and wealth, your point about the non-linear relationship is compelling. It’s insightful how you emphasize the importance of social relationships and a sense of purpose in maintaining high SWB across cultures. Your discussion on the impact of equitable wealth distribution on societal well-being is particularly relevant. Great job integrating these complex topics into a cohesive conversation!

Response 02

Responding to peers is vital to the PSY-4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion. We need to provide at least two peer responses. I have provided one example post. You can write your peer responses keeping the above points in mind.

Conclusion

By completing the PSY-4030 Multicultural Psychology Week Five Discussion, students will learn about critically evaluating the impact of cultural enculturation in adoption and develop a deeper understanding of these complex issues. The key takeaway is the importance of cultural competence and sensitivity in fostering a well-rounded perspective in psychology.

In the next module of the PSY-4030 we will explore Multicultural Psychology Week Five Project.