A pluralistic society is one that is richly diverse in people and ideas with different people belonging to varied beliefs with utmost tolerance to one another. The United States is one society that is highly pluralistic with sociology scholars putting forward various values and beliefs that the American people hold close to their hearts. The American people embrace pluralism given that most values and beliefs in the society are overlapping and interlocking. Various values impact variedly in the lives of individuals as explained by sociologists.
Achievement and success
Individually, there are several beliefs that I hold close to my heart and have had a significant influence on my life, my way of doing things and interacting with other members of the society. The achievement and success values are dear to me since I value personal achievements making it possible to work smart to gain an edge over other members of the society including my college mates. Different individuals hold success and achievement differently with some believing that success is about amassing material wealth, building a vast business empire while others think success is about excelling in studies. Waking up for me means I am going out there not to fail but to conquer everything that I will do.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
While undertaking my studies, I know that once in a while I might fail to achieve what I had hoped for, but the knowledge that success is not without a few instances of failure gets me going. I strongly believe that failing is a recipe for success depending on an individual’s reaction and decisions after failing.
Additionally, coming from a family that emphasizes success and achievement, I feel challenged every day to achieve more than other members have. Having such a drive enables me to put on extra efforts to attain all rounded success.
Efficiency and practicality
Efficiency provides for reduced wastage of energy, material, effort, time and money in producing desired goals. I find efficiency as a value largely connected to achievement and success. To achieve success, I realize that I have to be shrewd in my using of resources to gain the results that I desire. Maximum output of success and achievements is determined by how efficient an individual utilizes time, effort and energy among other resources at a person’s disposal. Subsequently, I value efficiency significantly to produce consistent results.
Additionally, efficiency has to be accompanied by practicality. Being practical refers to being hands-on in undertaking daily duties. Practicality in pursuing success and achievements enhances a person’s understanding of processes and therefore gaining more experience because of continued repetition of an activity.
Values that I do not support
Religiosity
Religiosity as a value can be hard to precisely define. Sociologists have shown that religion influence people’s beliefs and behavior thus creating a sense of belonging. The belief that every individual should be religious does not prove worth my consideration. I opine that despite different people acknowledging the existence of some Supreme Being, it should not be mandatory that everyone believes in religion. The overemphasis put by the Americans on the existence of a Super Natural Being does not auger well with me given that individuals should be left to make decisions about their religious affiliation.
I believe that an individual can be religious and associate with an organized religion but with utmost independence. Religiosity does not have to be measured by attending places of worship therefore, the population have choices to make without external pressure.
Group superiority
Group superiority holds that some individuals are superior to others. I believe in equality and that no group is superior to others. The proponents of group superiority contradict other significant values such as democracy, freedom, and equality. Holding that a certain group is superior to the other indicates that some people are entitled to more freedom than others. Growing up in a cosmopolitan neighborhood exposed me to different people’s cultures, beliefs, and religions. I experienced first-hand discrimination from varied individuals who thought that if a person did not share their culture or religion was inferior and should not even contribute to discussions. The experience was traumatizing, and I decided that I will never belong to the school where group superiority is popularized. In my opinion, our group differences make up unique.
Influence of value development
Developing values and beliefs can be achieved through various approaches. Several approaches may employ the use of questionable propaganda making the values being developed appear as indoctrination. However, while developing values there arise a need to develop values that are not driven by unethical motives to help build a moral and ethical society. The role of environment cannot be ignored in developing values.
Primary groups
Primary groups are a social unity with members sharing close, enduring and personal relationships. Members of primary groups have shared culture, activities, and concern for each other playing an integral role in developing personal identity. Many of my most valued beliefs have been influenced by the primary group notably intimate childhood friends and close family members. First, my value for achievement and success has largely been contributed to by my family. Having been born and raised by business-people for parents, my desire for achievement and success was ignited. The continued urge to excel in my field of study and achieve much more than my parents have achieved has always been my driver. There has to be efficiency and practicality in undertaking daily duties and responsibilities to gain success and achievement.
Secondary Groups
The secondary groups have played another role in developing my values and beliefs. There are several social values the society has held that I have come to abhor having lived in a cosmopolitan society. Group superiority is one such value that I have come to detest given how it has been held in my society with various members of the society being held differently. I opine that different groups’ variances in culture and way of doing things make them uniquely different from others and therefore all members of the society should be held equal.
Institutions
Various institutions have also had a significant influence on my social values. Learning institutions have continuously been at the forefront in championing for success and achievements. The influence that teachers have on students and the mental pictures they make on success in the minds of students last a lifetime. Additionally, the church has also acted to mold my being into a social individual valuing equality and to an extent detesting material and comfort that would lead to my being envious, lustful of make material possession some idol.
