Summary Of Being WEIRD: How Culture Shapes The Mind

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Culture can have an impact on the way one shapes their thinking about college or their thinking in general. Culture might not seem like a big deal, but when its put into perspective you see how it molds our thinking and perception. In “Being WEIRD: How Culture Shapes the Mind,” Ethan Watters talks about how Joe Henrich’s ultimatum game really showed the effect a culture has in an individuals mindset. When the Machiguenga performed the game they took any amount offered, whereas, the Americans decided to not accept the money. This shows how minds differ due to the difference in culture. Americans are selfish and like to be independent, on the other hand, the Machiguengans are indigenous people who are isolated, which means they are most likely to stick together and help each other out. The universal idea of college is that one will probably live in a dorm, spend their weeks in the library and the weekends at some fraternity party, but the reality is that not everybody’s college experience will be that way. The reason is because we are all different and we come from different cultures. If you where to put an American college student and a Machiguengan college student their experiences would be completely diverse. “The interdependent self…connects …show more content…

It teaches one to use money wisely. Not to spend money on wants but on needs. “When Henrich asked Fijian women…lead us in life’s dance.”(500-501). This quote from the reading shows how the culture around us influences how one reacts to certain situations. For example, as a naïve high school student I really didn’t see the behind the scenes of managing money. I was always given money when I needed it. But now that I’m a college student I see how much money is invested into a college career. Now I actually see the importance of saving money and keeping a smart budget. This situation shows how my parents knowledge of managing money rubbed off on