Culture and the Formation of Identity 1

Please respond to the following question and to at least two responses of your classmates.  In addition, I have invited Mr. Jack Miller to participate in the discussion.  You must also respond to his responses as well.

Question: To what extent are we shaped by what we live for and what we desire?

17 thoughts on “Culture and the Formation of Identity 1”

  1. To what extent are we shaped by what we live for and what we desire?

    The extent we are shaped by depending on what we live for i believe depends on our culture, our beliefs what we grew up seeing, hearing, and copying. These beliefs, things we believe should be followed because they have worked for us all our lives, for example saying good morning and good evening, working for what you want, living in a manner that is acceptable to society, and of course our moral values are all things that help shape our lives.
    The extent we are shaped by depending on what we desire i believe has some differences. Some desires can be influenced by our cultural beliefs, like wanting to graduate college, getting married, buying a house, these are desires but in a way they are desires that are expected, you do these for society. But there are desires, things that would make you happy, things you want to do for you, some of these desires may not be acceptable to society or are they? Desires like the job you do, the way you dress, even you sexual preferences but they are your desires and although some may not be acceptable to society they also help shape the the way we live our lives.

    1. I agree with you in saying that our goals are culture based. It’s true that a person from the south might have different goals for themselves than a person from California. Goals are very much so ingrained in our beliefs and ideals. A lot of people do have different goals based on their background and their families

  2. For this I can say that we are more likely shaped by what we live for than we desire. We have many successful people in this life who worked hard from their young age so they can accomplish their dream to be rich, be a professional football player, be singer, just to name a few. I know that not all of them will reach the top, some may even fail at the beginning of their journey for ample reasons. But many of them have a greater chance to have a smile on their face. For instance, we have Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and much more as examples of those aforementioned successful people who were shaped by what they live for. When it comes to what we desire, I believe that we are less likely shaped by it. How many people do not have a desire of something? I think very small number, so for those greater number who all have some desire, how many of them put on work to grab what the desire? and again very few. Finally, we can boil down by saying that if you live for something, you work for it. But if you desire something, you may or may not work go grab it.

    1. Won’t you say wanting a house, a new car could be a desire, can you remember wanting a bike so much you were willing to clean the yard, clean your room anything to get that bike you desired ? Did you just grab it, no!! You still have to work for it sometimes just as hard as working for things that you live for. It is said that nothing in life comes easy, I guess I agree with you halfway.

    2. I agree that a lot of people shape their whole lives around their goals for themselves and their future. It’s true these goals may be hard to obtain and sometimes may never come to fruition. But It’s important to still have them in mind. Goals have a way of keeping people hopeful for their future

  3. I agree with part of what you said that we are shaped by depending on what we live for , our culture, our beliefs what we grew up seeing, hearing, and copying. For example like you said saying good morning and good evening.
    I would to add that the way we live for and what we desires impact and shape us. Like the choices and paths we take.
    The way we live our lives mold us in way where we would be acceptable to society. Also what we desires may not or not be acceptable in society.

  4. I agree what everyone side because the way you were raised and what you have watched has an impact on what you want in life. One example could be living in a rich neighborhood and seeing mansions and cars which you probably wanted since you were a kid. Another could be what you belief and religion because those thoughts might have changed you as a person and what you think life is to you.

  5. To what extent are we shaped by what we live for and what we desire?
    To what extent are we shaped by what we live for is something that relates to our culture and society. Every people came from a different culture. No matter where you are born, you will always be the part of a culture where your parents came from. We all follow some rules in our society. Society tells us what to do what not to do. It teaches us what’s right or wrong. society and culture are shaped by how we live for.
    What we desire is something what we want to be in our future. Every person has a goal in his/her life to become something. sometimes those desires are acceptable to the society and the culture and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes we do not follow what our parents or grant-parents did. We do what we desire to be in our life.

    1. “We all follow some rules in our society.” Fact, that’s why there is a saying that states: tell me who is your friend and will tell you who you are. Because your friends are your folk group, hence part of your society, so this is likely that some of your behavior would be influenced by them. Even beyond your friendship, you are easily to be shaped by the society you live in.

    2. “We all follow some rules in our society.” Fact, that’s why there is a saying that states: tell me who is your friend and will tell you who you are. Because your friends are your folk group, hence part of your society, so this is likely that some of your behavior would be influenced by them. Even beyond your friendship, you are easily to be shaped by the society you live in.

  6. I think our desires shape everything we do to a degree. From when we are babies, our parents and guardians set goals for us and things they want for our lives. As time moves on, we realize what we want for ourselves and want it takes to attain those things. From there we go our lives striving to meet those goals. These goals don’t have to be gigantic either, it could be as simple as trying to be on time to work. Or even beating a difficult level of a game.
    In terms of how we are shaped by what and how we live, I think that fuels us to a high extent as well. If you’re accustomed to living a middle-class lifestyle, it would be a goal to maintain that or end up doing better for yourself. Even though things happen, it’s not a common desire to do worse than you already are. It’s always a goal for most people to live better or the same as they are.

    1. Nice post. I agree that your surroundings fuel your desires. A good example is a person growing in poverty and having a desire to have a better life. In order to do this they go to college and get a good paying job. When a person has a strong will power to have a better outcomes they will work towards it even if it takes a lifetime.

  7. To what extent are we shaped by what we live for and what we desire?

    I believe that what we are exposed to community, family, friends influence how we view the world. These views I believe aid as a contributing factor in shaping our thoughts and feelings which consequently results on our impact in the world. But despite this, I believe if a person has a strong desire to accomplish their goals they will spend their lives trying to attain it.

    1. “We all follow some rules in our society.” Fact, that’s why there is a saying that states: tell me who is your friend and will tell you who you are. Because your friends are your folk group, hence part of your society, so this is likely that some of your behavior would be influenced by them. Even beyond your friendship, you are easily to be shaped by the society you live in.

  8. “We all follow some rules in our society.” Fact, that’s why there is a saying that states: tell me who is your friend and will tell you who you are. Because your friends are your folk group, hence part of your society, so this is likely that some of your behavior would be influenced by them. Even beyond your friendship, you are easily to be shaped by the society you live in.

  9. I agree what everyone says because in order to bring your wish to come true you have many other obstacles that you have to face in order to reach the highest potential. In order to be a doctor you spend 8 to 10 years in school in order to be a doctor or a nurse.

  10. To what extent are we shaped by what what we live for and what we desire ?

    We are shaped from the information we receive from our family. It’s contructs a foundation to set in a path who you are. Romodels and what you love to do can effect why are you placed in this world and what valuebles you may want to Acquire

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