Saturday, April 13, 2013

Social Identity


How we perceive ourselves and the actions we take based on that understanding are determined by our social environment. A self-image is cultivated by the groups and circles we belong to. When asked to describe yourself, common answers would be your occupation, gender, or where you live, traits that are shared with many other people. When deciding on actions, people often weigh what others would do in the same position. Though overcome-able, we are constrained by these social forces. If you want to live and participate in society you will have to largely conform to its rules at the expense of individuality.
                From a young age I was conditioned to believe in a set of steps I would take in life, which are graduating high school, attending and completing college, getting a career, marriage, owning a home, and taking care of a family, typical of middle class American citizens. I'm attending college right now with the aspirations of getting a career which is necessary for me to take care of myself and live the lifestyle I am accustomed too; a lifestyle shared by my parents. Though is possible, it’s not probable that I’ll get a job without some kind of higher education. I got to select the college I wanted, and even got to pick my vocation within a certain pay scale I believed would give me a comfortable life and though there is wiggle room, it all falls within a framework. I can pick my hobbies and interests and those help define me, but when it comes to the decisions that truly affect my life it has more to do with what is necessary and expected of me than any individual desire or it is the case that I have been conditioned so that my individual desires align with what is expected.
                Moral responsibility should be high in concern for family, friends, and those who help you and be limited outside that. Society often makes moral decisions for you, such as taxing you and spending that money helping society with the out of work, impoverished, or education system.

2 comments:

  1. You did a great job of explaining how our lives are affected by society. You should have added more detail about moral responsibility because that was the main point of the blog post. I agree that we should be morally responsible for family and friends, but explain why you feel that way.

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  2. Moral responsibility should be at high concern for family and friends but why should it be ? I do agree with the fact our parents always want the best for us starting with school to get to where you need to be in the world.

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