World Cultures: Friends and Family

"frientimacy"

Shasta Nelson's triangle of meaningful relationships consisting of 1.) Positivity 2.) Consistency 3.) Vulnerability

Fred Pearce

Author of the article “TV as birth control” who reported how researchers demonstrated how soap operas gave poor women a role model of financial and social indepence ( which resulted in smaller families)

fertility rate

The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime in a population

fertility rate of 2.3

What it takes to keep the global population at zero

health risks of loneliness

depression, anxiety, and dementia, as well as increasing your likelihood to die by 50%

Percentage of people affected by loneliness

22%

Vivek Murthy

US Surgeon General and author of the book "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World"

intimate loneliness

Vivek Murthy’s first type of loneliness that is felt when someone wants but does not have a spouse, significant other, or best friends to rely on for emotional support, especially during personal crises

relational loneliness

Vivek Murthy’s second type of loneliness that is when someone wants but lacks friendships from school and work and family connections

collective loneliness

Vivek Murthy’s third type of loneliness that comes from the absence of remote relationships and the social identities we derive from social groups (like attending the same school or rooting for the same sports teams)

Marisa Franco

Psychologist and author of the book "Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends" argues that friendships are often perceived as more satisfying than romantic relationships because they have less social pressure around them.

"Liking gap"

Franco's concept of how our minds lie to us--we perceive that others think less of us in social situations than what is actually the case.

"covert avoidance"

Franco's concept explaining how a person may be physically present in an anxiety provoking situation, but will not fully engage in it. For example they will turn to their phone rather than talking to strangers at a party.

"beautiful mess effect"

Franco's concept of describing how people who express vulnerability in their relationships create deeper friendships.

Batja Mesquita

Psychologist and author of “ Between Us: How culture creates emotions”

Augustine

One of the great fathers of the early Christian church and author of "Confessions" where he described God's grace to him as an infant.

Socialization

Learning to behave as expected within a social/cultural situation

Enculturation

The preference of certain values and assumptions because a person belongs to a certain culture.

Modern (mindset)

The emphasis within a culture on one's individuality--being independent and in charge of one's own thoughts and uncontrolled by anyone else.

Postmodern (mindset)

The critical evaluation of the modern mindset where people realize they are often products of their environment and do not independently value their preferences, but favor them because of their unique environment/community.

primordial grace

David Smith's term describing the nature of receiving an identity from a nurturing context (culture) we did not construct.

bigotry

Smith's label for the process of placing all the benefits of culture onto one side and all the effects of sin onto another culture.

relativism

Smith's label for the process of recognizing our cultural differences and deciding that none is better than any other ("live and let live")--various cultures are a type of colorful carnival that we can enjoy or ignore.

fatalism

Smith's label for the process of assuming we are trapped in the cages of our own culture--and there is nothing you can do to get out of it.

Darrell Bock's insight into the Good Samaritan parable

"love the foreigner as yourself"

John Topel's insight into the Good Samaritan parable

The golden rule ought to be applied culturally for Christians: \n 1.)He says that if we want foreigners to understand our language, we should learn theirs. \n 2.) If we want foreigners to understand us, we should first work to understand them. \n 3.) If we want foreigners to listen to what we have to say, we should listen to them first.

Amy Oden's insight into the Good Samaritan parable

This parable is dangerous for Christians if they think of themselves as the hero, and the guest as the victim, the act of hospitality easily becomes an act of "condescension and failure to see Jesus in the experience of the weak and needy."

John Nolland's insight into the Good Samaritan parable

The Good Samaritan parable reminds up the "ditch perspective"--people who are in need do not care about the ethnicity, political affiliation, gender etc. of those who are helping them.

Golden Rule

Do unto others as YOU would have them do unto you

Platinum Rule

do unto others as THEY would want done unto them

“If you are not paying for the product YOU are the product”

Tristan Harris’ critique that “free” apps are using people to mine data/information about our behavior to keep us on our cell phones so that these companies can sell advertisements for higher rates.

growth hacking

social media designs to keep consumers using their apps. (Eg: photo tagging)

Jaron Lanier’s definition of the “product” (in social media)

the gradual, slight, and imperceptible change in your own behavior and perception

Shoshana Zuboff

Thinks that social media companies can sell “certainty” by doing two things: 1.) making great predictions 2.) Having lots of data to back up those predictions

surveillance capitalism

the widespread collection and commodification of personal data by corporations (example: knowing that X% of teenagers are using TikTok at at specific time is profitable for companies who want to advertise to that demographic)

Social Media’s 3 main goals

1. Engagement (keep you using their apps)

2. Growth (keep you inviting other people to use the app)

3. Advertising (make money as #1 and #2 are happening)