The Dynamic Construction of Culture, Self and Social Relations

Abstract

Selves emerge in development through intersystemic co-action. To illustrate this position the case of pride, a self-evaluative emotion, is used. It is argued that language and other semi otic vehicles of culture are instrumental in the social mediation of the shared meaning systems that frame the development of self-evaluative emotions. Illustrations from interviews with participants from India and the US suggest similarities as well as differences in the kinds of ideologies, values and myths that are employed to talk about and structure pride experiences. The American individual endorses a system of pride relevant cultural values that is organised around low interdependent themes, which are prominent among Indians. However there are commonalities between the American and the Indian participants too. The themes such as "helping others", "taking care of one's children and family'; "helping those who are in need" and "working hard" were common to both. It is suggested that it might be useful to think of the cultural differences as embedded within similarities.

Individual and relational conceptions of self in India and the United States

“…Thus, in Western moral systems, beyond the requirement to refrain from actions that impinge upon others' liberties, an individual has no moral obligations toward others (for example, to help another person in need). In contrast, the Hindu concept of duty (dharma) specifies systems of supererogatory obligations, involving self-sacrifice (Mascolo and Bhatia, 2002;Miller, 1994), that occur within relationships. Social responsibilities toward the other are mandatory rather than optional.…”

“…Note that an encompassing sense of self does not necessarily imply a blurring of boundaries between self and other. One person may know what is expected of him or her even if this duty is experienced as burdensome or sacrificial (Mascolo and Bhatia, 2002). In this way, the sacrificing person is aware that her sacrifice reflects her own suffering.…”

Unrealistic Optimism: East and West?

“…India is the location for a set of cultures characterized as having an interdependent concept of self (Roland, 1988; Mascalo and Bhatia, 2002; Mascalo et al, 2004) 1 . Many aspects of parent-child interaction in India are frequently used to exemplify the development of the interdependent self (Shweder et al, 1995; Saraswathi and Ganapathy, 2002; Kapadia and Miller, 2005).…”

Whose Decision is it? Organ Donation Attitudes Among Young UK South Asians

“…Indian culture has also been examined from the point of view of culture and the interdependent self. In consideration of Hindu society, much has been written on the integral relationship between the self, duty and the fulfilment of supererogatory obligations (Mascalo and Bhatia 2002;Miller 1994). The importance of hierarchy to Indian social life has been stressed by psychoanalytic writers (Roland 1988) and also by social psychologists who in developing the notion of the encompassing self understand hierarchy not as coercion but as an active relationship involving moral duties whereby, for example, the parent protects the child and the child respects the parent (Mascalo et al 2004).…”