Culture and Psychosocial Crisis of Autonomy, Essay Example

Cultural practices will inevitably affect how children respond to the psychosocial crisis of autonomy versus shame and doubt. One of the most fundamental source of cultural difference here is that of individualism versus collectivism: in societies with largely individualist attitudes, what matters is the goals, aspirations, needs and rights of the individual, rather than the group (Newman & Newman, 2012, p. 45; Rathus, 2011, p. 314). By contrast, cultures that are collectivist place a much greater emphasis on the needs of the group, which tends to promote an ethos of harmony and interdependence (Newman & Newman, 2012, p. 45; Rathus, 2011, p. 315). These difference profoundly effect how children in these societies deal with shame and doubt versus autonomy.

For example, in one comparative study of child-rearing practices in American and Japanese families, the researchers found that although neither group of families were disciplinarian or strict, there were important cultural differences in how they disciplined their children: the Americans preferred external punishments, “such as sending children to their room,” while the Japanese “more often used verbal commands, reprimands, and explanations” (Rathus, 2011, p. 314). America, needless to say, is a highly individualist society; Japan is a highly collectivist society. American culture places more emphasis on developing autonomy and self-esteem; shame and doubt are more likely to be perceived as a result of not having enough self-esteem. By contrast, Japanese culture puts more emphasis on societal standards (p. 314). As a consequence, in collectivist cultures shame and doubt are more likely to be experienced as a result of not adhering to group norms for proper behavior, while autonomy is more likely to be perceived in terms of one’s scope for action within one’s own highly interdependent social role. In both types of cultures, shame and doubt threaten resilience and wellness, while the approval of others promotes resilience and wellness.

References

Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2012). Development through life: A psychosocial approach (11^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Rathus, S. A. (2011). Childhood: Voyages in development (4^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.