MV

Cheat Sheet – Culture & Diversity Presentation

Culture & Diversity

  • Culture = how people live, think, act (traditions, beliefs, habits).
  • Diversity = differences people bring (race, religion, gender, values, ideas).
  • Culture = blueprint; Diversity = why we’re not all the same.
  • Relation: Culture sets the patterns we follow; diversity explains the variety in how people express those patterns.

Comfort Zones

  • Feel best around family, friends, and people with similar values.
  • Also good when people are respectful, even if they are different.
  • Direct quote interpretation: “I’m chill with differences, but most comfortable when people get me.”
  • Takeaway: Comfort with similarity coexists with openness to respectful differences.

Viewpoints

  • I like being challenged by new ideas.
  • I also like connecting with people who are similar to me.
  • Balance: Both elements contribute to learning and belonging.
  • Direct synthesis: “New ideas push me, similar people support me.”

Three Elements of Culture

  • Norms = rules of behavior.
  • Values = what matters most to a person or group.
  • Language = how we connect and share meaning.
  • Summary mapping:
    • Norms = rules
    • Values = what I stand by
    • Language = how I share it

How They Impact Me

  • Norms impact behavior: e.g., respect authority at school/work.
  • Values influence decision-making and ethics: e.g., honesty, hard work.
  • Language affects connection and communication: it helps connect people but can create barriers when misinterpreted.
  • Integrated takeaway: Norms taught me respect; values keep me honest; language connects me.

Anti-Discrimination Law

  • Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII.
  • Stops job discrimination based on race, religion, sex, origin.
  • Creates fairness in hiring and promotion processes.
  • Practical implication: This law matters—without it, a lot of people wouldn’t even get a chance.

References

  • Class textbook: Psychology of Human Relations (2023).
  • EEOC.gov – Title VII Civil Rights Act.

Connections & Implications

  • Real-world relevance: Understanding culture and diversity improves teamwork in diverse environments.
  • Ethical implications: Promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunity in the workplace and society.
  • Foundational links: Aligns with core social science ideas about norms, values, and language shaping behavior and opportunity.
  • Practical applications: Strategies for inclusive communication, conflict resolution, and respectful engagement across differences.