Sunday, January 19, 2020

The Subculture Created Through Environmental Interaction

Within each environment and within each group interaction, there tends to arise a subculture. As social beings we have a tendency toward conformation, going along with overall group goals (both explicit and implicit). A huge power of culture is its ability to activate various facets of our psyche, driving us to behave in various ways. And depending on our own individual tendencies, we might find ourselves going along with, or attempting to fight against the hidden tides and undercurrents. Culture can reveal different facets of who we are as humans.

Being exposed to multiple subcultures means exposure to different potentialities. We touch different frames of mind, which may help to amplify or inhibit our most current mindset. Those individuals seeking "inspiration", may be attempting to take advantage of our tendency to try to conform with those we come into contact with, attempting to reside within a mindset that helps one go toward individual goals, trying to borrow the influence of another's mind to further one's own goals. Individuals who are suddenly thrown into an environment very different from what they are used to, may find themselves changing in their own behaviors drastically as they are suddenly immersed into another subculture or culture.

Each subculture contact may leave residual effects in the psyche, leading to a kind of necessary dance, trying to deal with the different frames of mind or ways of seeing or being. One may find natural attraction or affinity toward one set, but not another. Or one may find that the influence of one subculture helps go toward some goals, but not others, leading to a quandary of which set of goals to prioritize. Tasting what it feels like to swim in one ocean may lead to longing if suddenly thrown in a very different and contrasting ocean. The dynamic dance of coexistence reveals itself, with the tendency to conform coming into contact with the desire to maintain one's own individual integrity. The drama of being a social being is made clear.

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