Cultural Interview Reflection Paper

I interviewed my friend, Chris, for this assignment. The primary and secondary dimensions and the responses to the questions he provided during the interview showcase his culturally influenced attitudes and values that shape who he is as a person. I also realized that we share common fears and hold common values, while maintaining differences as well. I learned that there are common fears and needs that are universal and felt by everyone. Based on this interview, I can see the culturally influenced attitudes and values that Chris has blended into his life. When I conducted my “cultural profile” of Chris, I wrote simple primary and secondary characteristics that I had stored in my memory from previous conversations. Some of the primary characteristics I remembered were his age, sex, and native language. I also knew some secondary characteristics such as his occupation and educational attainment. However, I learned many new things about him that showcased his …show more content…
When I was comparing our answers to the statements, I realized that many of them were very similar. Even if a person seems very confident or successful, they still have fears and needs that contribute to his or her life. As stated in the “Universal Fears and Needs” document, humans have a fear of death, strangers, the future, chaos, and insignificance (Stork, 2011, pg. 1). They also have a need for “security, belonging, order, a plan, and significance” (Stork, 2011, pg. 1). These fears and needs were shown throughout both Chris’ responses and my responses. We wish to be loved and cared for, safe, liked by others, and goal-driven. I learned that everyone is similar in this way. This is important in understanding others and drawing people together based on common similarities. No matter what position a person holds in life, there are basic fears and needs that apply to everyone’s