phi210

• Enculturation refers to the process through which we learn about the culture we live in. Through enculturation, we learn what behaviors, values, language, and morals are acceptable in our society. We learn by observing other members of our society, including our parents, friends, teachers, and mentors.

  • Think about your enculturation. Can you identify anything that you accepted as the norm as a child, but found out later that this was not the case for everybody?

  • As an example, it can be something as simple as food. Take Thanksgiving dinner. First of all, not everyone celebrates that holiday. But for those that do, there are some very specific rituals that can accompany it, and if breached can cause problems (if not outright family feuds). For example, is your family a stuffing family, or a dressing family? Pumpkin pie or sweet potato? Cranberry relish – or the unmistakable bloop of the jelly sliding out of the can?

  • Are there any areas of enculturation you still strongly embrace or have moved on from?

phi210

• “Looking at the Other Side of the Coin” This next section of the Wk2 thread is to get you started on the Wk3 paper. (Yes, you can use the same topic you pick here for that paper.) From the www.procon.org Website, select one (1) topic of your choice and read the Pro section and the Con section on the selected topic. Next, mentally choose three (3) reasons listed under the Pro section and three (3) reasons listed under the Con section. Based on the biases discussed in Chapter 2 and the reasons presented at the Procon.org website:

  • State your position on the selected topic. Determine the biases you experienced as you examined the reasons for and against your position.

  • Describe your reaction to your experience of these biases.