It is hard to deny that cultural background plays a vital role in shaping one’s identity. Every culture has certain significant features that make it unique: family values, religion, and the country’s history are only some of the aspects that influence one’s traits, worldviews, and beliefs. Researchers also claim that it is essential to be aware of how the social and economic aspects of one’s culture influence an individual’s attitude towards life. By analyzing the connections between the cultural background and personality, it is possible to identify the factors that have most of the influence on personal development.
At the same time, it is essential to understand that not only culture but also relationships in the family and certain life conditions may have an effect on an individual’s personality. It is possible to suggest that the identity of a person is altered by culture to some extent, depending on the real-life environment of every individual. Therefore, in this research paper, the issue of cultural influence will be discussed with the use o fpersonal examples.
Cultural and Family Background
In this part of the research paper, I would like to briefly introduce my cultural and family background and my personality in order to analyze their interaction. My last name is Minervino, which is also the name of an Italian town. My parents come from different cultures: my father is Italian, while my mother is Irish. My attitude towards family was influenced by both Italian and Irish cultures, where it is one of the significant parts of one’s life. We often spendtime together during various activities, such as family dinners, cooking, singing, and dancing.
At the same time,my family members and I are different in personality traits. I could describe myself as a shy person, though my younger brother is more outgoing. My father is a hot-tempered person, which is typical for Italians. My mother, on the contrary, is not so emotional; however, she has astrong character despite her gentle nature. My parents are encouraging and caring people; at the same time, my father seems to be overprotective in some cases. Further, the connectionbetween my family background, cultural values, and identity will be discussed and analyzed in detail.
The Role of Family and Moral Values in Identity Formation
Family values and cultural beliefs are strongly connected and should be discussed in a complexway. As it is claimed by Chuang and Costigan (2018), relationships between parents and children should be analyzed within a cultural context. For example, family relationshipsare the basis of one’s personal development in Italian culture. A typical Italian family is a unit with strong family ties, where all relatives care about each other. In order to maintain tight relationships, Italians often organize family dinners: they buy products together and discuss each other’s problems and news. It is related to our family as well: cookouts and family dinners allow us to spend more time together and support each other in life challenges.
It is important to mention the Irish side of my family and its significance.Irish people also have tight family relationships and enjoy various bonding experiences. Outdoors activities and festivals, for example, Saint Patrick’s Day,are significant in this culture.The Irish family traditions are valued and passed down through the generations. The attitude of parents towards children in both cultures is similar:my parents are highly protective of my brother and me.
The prevailing religion of Italy and Ireland is Catholicism, which is highly important, as my parents were brought up according to the same moral values. Religion plays a vital role in both of the cultures, as it has a unifying and a formative function.Religious holidays in Italy and Ireland are an opportunity to bring families together. Moreover, Catholic books and scriptures teach people to be honest, equally respectful towards people of different races and gender, and also to develop unconditional love and trust towards family and friends. Therefore, in our family, we are sincere with each other and we make all the important decisions together.
The Influence of Historical, Social, and EconomicFactors
Italy is a country where several cultures combined to form a versatile mixture.Habits and beliefs of Italians vary depending on their geographical location and the neighboring regions.The history of Italy is known for itspolitical interaction with France, Switzerland, and Greece. The culture ofIreland also shares certain featureswith England, Scotland, and Wales, though it can boast its inimitable characteristics. In both cases, the historical legacy and the resulting mixture of cultures are highly important.
Italy and Ireland are the countries with a high number of migrants. Representatives of both cultures are tolerant and welcoming towards people who come to these countries due to various reasons. Irish people, however, have slight prejudices towards people from England due to the oppression of Ireland back in history. At the same time, the Irish authoritieshelp all migrants assimilate and feel comfortable in the country. Presumably, this positive attitude and the fact that my family is also a mixture of two countries influenced my views about migration and other races. I am against any form of racial prejudice and am open to foreign cultures and intercultural exchange.
Even though Italy is a flourishing country with rich culture, there is a negative tendency in its economic situation. Nowadays, many people in Italy are unemployed; they struggle to get a good education and find a stable source of income. I can suggest that this is the reason why my parents have always emphasized the essential role of education anda well-paid job. They encouraged me to develop my skills and study hard in order to ensure financial stability in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to say that cultural and family backgroundshave a significant influence on one’s personality and beliefs. Judging from my experience, I can say that I would identify myself as half Italian and half Irish, with two cultures having an equal impact.However, I believe that the cultures of central Europe and British countries have also influenced my ethnic identity, as they are closely connected with my dominant cultures. The mixing of these cultures made me thekind of person who values family relationships, has a strong will, and is ready to work hard for the benefit of my family and myself.
At the same time, it is possible to say that self-development, life challenges, and social environment also play a vital role in identity shaping. I share the same cultural values with my younger brother, although he seems to have different character traits. Besides, unlike typical Italians, I am more shy than emotional and outgoing.To sum up, it is possible to suggest that culture and family have the most significantimpact on an individual’s beliefs and values, together with other external factors. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the cultural and family backgrounds to understand one’s identityprofoundly.
References
Chuang, S., & Costigan, C.L. (Eds.). (2018). Parental roles and relationships in immigrant families: An international approach.Cham, Switzerland: Springer.