1-I think choice plays a huge role in how we make decisions. It is the
choice th
1-I think choice plays a huge role in how we make decisions. It is the choice that makes it
difficult because you are given different solutions but sometimes it is hard to choose. Often
times people want to make their own decisions so they know who to blame. A lot of time
people have the ideology that if a choice affects you, you should be the one to make it. In
different areas people have a different way of handling things for example Americans report
more negative feelings toward death than the French. This is taught because through
culture you learn and pick up emotions and how to handle things from those you surround
yourself with. With choice we are able to look at different translations of the narratives. I
appreciate that she touches on how if you open yourself to the work of possibilities you will
have far more to gain than to loose. I would like to look at choice as a win win in every
culture. Even if you pick something that does not turn out to be the most sensible you have
the ability to learn from your mistakes. Although cultures are different they are all given the
ability to choose. 2-I found Dr. Sheena’s study and ideas within her TEDTalk to be really
helpful in demonstrating the independent and interdependent self. After listening to Dr.
Sheena share her findings, it became much more apparent to me just how much our choices
are a reflection of culture. Her first example really stuck with me because even something as
simple as tea was a huge cultural boundary while she was traveling to Japan. By
deconstructing American assumptions about choices, it was clear that Western culture
values power in choices. However; in other interdependent cultures, Dr. Sheena
demonstrates that there was a consensus among these cultures that there is no need for so
many choices. Furthermore to truly exemplify the American ideal and the independent self,
it is assumed to make choices to benefit yourself regardless of the effects it has on others.
Dr. Sheena addresses this in her TEDTalk by stating that “Not everyone thrives under the
pressure of choosing alone” (7:52). How we go about deciding a course of action heavily
depends upon psychological processes that are directly influenced by culture. Parents have
certain ideals based on culture of what role choices play in life. They define how you should
make decisions to benefit either yourself or the community of important relationships in
your life.