Running Head: Ethnographic Paper 1

Ethnographic Paper
Shena Poma
Fi0052
10/19/2013

This paper will take a look into a few of my familys cultures through a
multidimensional standpoint. The three cultures I will be discussing include Sicilian,
Polish, and Scottish. I will expose the good and the bad when examining each of the
cultures own traditions, parenting styles, family structures, attitudes, values, and
much more. By the end of this paper there will have been clear distinctions between
each culture. I will explore these distinctions even further through three different
human behavior dimensions: biophysical, psychological, and social, in hope of
getting one step closer to finding the explanation for certain human behaviors.

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The purpose of this paper is to look further into our individual cultures to discover and
discuss common traditions, customs, family structures, history of behaviors and attitudes, among
a multitude of other information in relation to a multidimensional framework of human behavior.
The three main dimensions that branch off the multidimensional approach include biophysical,
psychological, and social. I will provide an overview of my culture through the eyes of each
dimension, and attempt to break down certain human behaviors. This paper will focus heavily on
getting one step closer towards an explanation to the age old question why do I behave the way
I do? For the sake of this assignment not being the length of an entire novel, I am going to
choose my three most prominent nationalities. Those three nationalities include Italian (Sicilian),
Polish, and Scottish.
Sicilian
My great grandfather, Giovanni Poma, migrated from Sicily, Italy to America by boat. While
researching my Italian culture to complete this assignment, I learned much more than I had ever
expected. This information was not just based on my family, but the history of Sicily as a whole.
First, I was not aware that Sicily had its own independence, and was considered its own country
for a short period of time. As of 1861, Sicily is now part of the Republic of Italy, although, they
do have their own distinct culture that differs from Italys culture. When I was growing up I was
always told I was Sicilian first and then finished with Italian. To be honest, before researching
for this ethnographic paper, I didnt think much of it. Now it makes sense why my family told me
I was Sicilian, rather than just saying Italian. The reason is because Sicilians has a similar to
Italian, yet unique, culture of their own because of their independence in the past. My biological
father is the family member that passed down the Italian roots to me, and I honestly do not know

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all that much about my fathers side of the family. However, I did contact one of my aunts and
she gave me the name and a photo or her grandfather (my great-grandfather) to assist me in my
search. I also found family members still living in Italy through facebook. I used google to help
translate English to Italian to ask for their help in my search into my ancestry. While I waited for
a response I spent many hours finding my grandparents information through the internet. Finally,
after hours of failed attempts, and coming a mere seconds of quitting, I found my grandfather. It
was an old black and white photo of him, and the website included the names and links to his
wife (my grandma), his parents, and his siblings. I became quite emotional while looking at all of
these old photos.
Polish
My great grandparents that also came from my biological fathers side of the family
traveled to America by boat as well. Although their destination may have been the same, they
came from a different country and a different culture than my Sicilian ancestors, they came from
Poland. Poland is located in Central Europe, and declared its own independence in 1918.
(Skrieja, 2013) World War II was a traumatic experience for Poland, with the death toll reaching
nearly six million people. (Dan,2013) During the time of World War II many families changed
their surnames, and mine was no different. Finding any ancestors farther than my grandmother
was difficult due to the change in their name. I did manage to find my grandmothers parents
names, but was unable to find further information on them or other family members. One thing I
remember about my grandmother was that she always wore slippers inside the house. While I
was researching the customs and traditions of Polish people, I came across the common custom
of taking their shoes off at the door, and wearing slippers inside the house. Whether that was a
coincidence or not will continue to be a mystery.

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As far as anyone I was able to contact knew, there wasnt any issues or serious cultural
clash when my grandmother and grandfather started dating. However, this was the first time in
each side of the family for someone to marry outside of their own culture.
Scottish
I interviewed my great grandmother (90 years old) to get more information on our family
history, and customs or traditions that originated from Scottish culture. Scotland is part of the
United Kingdom and is surrounded by various large bodies of water. (Furness, 2012) One of the
main traditions we carry on from the Scottish culture is the use of bagpipes. There are no
exceptions to this rule; all of my family members are mandated to have Scottish bagpipe players
wearing green plaid kilts outside of every wedding and funeral. Sometimes they are included in
other large celebrations such as milestone birthday parties or graduation parties as well. When I
was younger I was embarrassed of the loud bagpipes and men wearing skirts and refused to
have them at my wedding. As I got older, and my time with my great grandmother was getting
shorter, I realized how silly that thought was after all. I would be honored to have bagpipes play
at my wedding solely because it is so important to my great grandmother that we carry on certain
Scottish traditions.
Biophysical Dimension
This dimension of human behavior and social aspects relates to an individual's biological
makeup. The biophysical framework consists of biochemical systems, cell systems, organ
systems, and physiological systems. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010) These systems make up our
external and internal physical body, and hold a significant value in the understanding of human
behavior. A few theories of human behavior rely heavily on the biophysical aspect.

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One of the most popular and well known of those theories includes evolution. This theory
continues to be a controversial topic in society, and it the cause of many heated debates within
the US public school systems. The history of evolution is one filled with its own evolution, as
many scientists added bits and pieces to the theory over time. Charles Darwin receives most of
the credit for this famous theory despite earlier scientists that posed a similar hypothesis.
However, numerous scientists have since then built upon Darwins explanation for human
behaviors. Evolution is a complex theory, but it boils down to a single phrase: survival of the
fittest. This means that humans have evolved over these past millions of years to adapt to our
environment. Gregor Mendel was one of the scientists that contributed to the evolution of the
evolutionary theory. Mendels work occurred only a few short years after Darwin coined the
phrase survival of the fittest, to summarize the concept of natural selection. Mendel was the
pioneer in acknowledging genetics role in inheritance and human behaviors. His research added
onto the theory of evolution, and assisted in providing a more detailed explanation of human
characteristics. (Miko, 2008) There have been multiple branches of this theory since it became
mainstream. Current evolutionary psychologists continue to search for a better understanding on
adaptive functions certain cultures, or humans as a whole, possess. (ONeil, 2013)
Physical and mental illnesses can sometimes be predicted by the biophysical dimension
of their family history. Therefore, having knowledge about your familys history with diseases
and illnesses is crucial to take extra precautions. It is always easier to nip something in the bud,
which makes regular check-ups essential to ensure early detections. Doctors can also suggest
solutions to promote disease prevention with the help of proper family health history. Genetics is
something that can often times be underestimated, and understanding the genes that have been
passed down to you, can assist you in decision making in relation to your health. Robert Plomin

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was a researcher that suggested that nearly 50% of intelligence was based on genetics, that
personality characteristics carried almost a 40% genetic similarity, and various forms of
psychopathology show 30% of a genetic component. Finally, Plomin concluded that criminal and
delinquent behaviors all shared a genetic component. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010)
Multifactorial disorders are those that hold a strong genetic component, however, they
generally are dependent on environmental factors for the disorder to appear. One researcher,
Caspi, dedicated twenty long years to do an extensive study on a disorder that seemed to have the
world scratching their heads when looking for an explanation. This disorder was depression, and
although many theories surrounded depression, Caspi wanted to dig deeper. During his study, he
found that there was indeed a specific gene associated with depression. Caspi also discovered
that this gene (5-HTT) has two different types of alleles: either two short alleles (SS), or two
long alleles (LL). He examined the two different types of alleles mixed with environmental
stressors. Caspi concluded that those who have two short alleles attached to the 5-HTT genes had
an increased risk of developing depression at sixty-three percent. This was compared to those
who had two long alleles that had nearly a thirty percent chance of developing depression. Many
other researchers in this field have referred to this study as an important demonstration on the
explanation of the development of depression. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010) Caspi also identified a
specific set of genes that are associated with aggressively driven behaviors. Other diseases and
disorders that hold biology as partly responsible for the development and progression include
cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and addiction.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, it is now believed that genetics have
up to 60% of the responsibility when it comes to chronic diseases such as addiction. When a
parent is an addict that child is eight times more likely to become an addict themselves. Also,

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keep in mind that the social environment is a factor as well. The predisposition of addiction is
hardwired into the brains chemistry. There are certain areas in the brain that control the pleasure
and reward systems, and these areas have been studied with addicts and those who are not.
Addicts consistently have had much more activity in these areas of the brain when handed
something that causes pleasure such as food or sex. This is only one of the many biological
differences that addicts have than those who are not prone to addiction. (Klean, 2012) The
predisposition to addiction is strong on the Scottish side of my family. This side of my family
(my mothers side) is full of addiction, alcoholism, mental disorders, and sleep disorders. This
leads me to believe that genetics may be an underestimated pawn in the game of human
behavior. As a matter of fact, we have hosted mini Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at family
gatherings because our entire family is affected by addiction in some shape or form.
Other diseases and disorders that are linked with mental health, such as depression,
anxiety, bipolar, and schizophrenia, all have been proved to possess a genetic component. Mental
health is a strong indicator in an individuals actions and reactions. It can dictate a persons
thought process, therefore, dictating their behaviors as well. The Scottish side of my family has a
recurring link to mental health disorders. The most common issues many of my Scottish family
members have battled, me included, is depression and anxiety disorders. I have personally seen
the way flare ups of these disorders can alter your common sense, and its ability to hinder your
good judgment. Luckily, this side of my family is not ashamed of seeking professional help.
Almost all my family members that have noticed mental health issues blocking their happiness,
and creating further challenges in their daily routine, have sought help in some type of way. My
Scottish side has allowed their shortcomings to be public knowledge, and put the resolution of
their mental health issues before embarrassment from the community.

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I was unable to acquire that much information on the Polish side of my family and their
biological influence on my health. The only information I know for sure is that my grandmother
died from cancer. Just like my Polish grandmother, my Sicilian grandfather also succumbed to
the same fatal illness. Another disorder that was passed down from my great grandfather, and
continues to affect each generation, including myself, is sleep disorders. All of the Sicilian men
were diagnosed with sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with narcolepsy which shares some distinct
similarities with sleep apnea. The Sicilian side of my family did not share the same openness and
attitude with seeking help that my Scottish side did. They were both diagnosed much later in life,
and they only went to satisfy their spouse after decades of constant nagging. Also, my teenage
brother has been newly diagnosed with ODD (Oppositional Deficit Disorder), and is obviously in
need of professional help. Unfortunately, asking for help, especially when it comes to mental
health issues, continues to be attached with a negative stigma within the family. The men appear
to be having a much harder time with swallowing their pride. Eventually after multiple
episodes that included police involvement, my father took him to the doctors. I thought that he
finally understood what I had been telling him all along, until he told me about the doctors visit.
My dad took him to the family doctor, and was surprised that they would not talk more in depth
about behavioral issues. I realize that taking my brother to any type of doctor is a step in the right
direction, but his actions proved how hard getting professional help for his son really was for
him, and how deeply the mental health stigma was ingrained in his mind. My father was
absolutely stunned and confused when he learned about my addiction, depression, and anxiety.
His attitude towards those diagnoses was that I chose to live that way, and that I should just stop.
Maybe one day he can finally put his ego aside, and lower his pride, to save a loved one, or his
own life.

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Psychological Dimension
The psychological dimension of human behavior serves the purpose of acknowledging and
using our biological and social resources to attain goals. The psychological system plays a vital
role in avoiding danger, and organizing or motivating thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
(Ashford & LeCroy, 2010) There are many theories that were formed to provide an explanation
to human behaviors from a psychological standpoint. Theorists that emphasize on the
psychological dimension of human behavior tend to focus heavily on methods of learning,
cognitive development, processing information, perception, memory, language, communication,
attitude, identity, and emotions.
One of the theories, Psychodynamic Theory, was developed by Sigmund Freud. If you
have taken any psychology classes during high school or college, this name will likely sound
familiar to you. Freud was the first to explore human personality, and put a specifically heavy
weight on the personality of individuals suffering from a variety of mental disorders. The basis
of the Psychodynamic Theory relied on childhood experiences being a major motivator in the
formation of adult personality. One of his most famous contributions to psychology included the
three components of personality: Id, ego, and superego. According to Freud, each and every
human behavior is directly influenced by the special energy he called the libido. The libido
theory is based on sexual instincts being at the center for all behaviors. He states that even as
infants we are driven by unconscious pleasure seeking urges that determine our behaviors.
(Ashford & LeCroy, 2010
Other theories that fall under the psychological dimension of human behavior include
learning theories. John B. Watson is known as the father of behaviorism, and heavily impacted
current psychology with his theories. Watson took an extreme view on human behavior, and

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stated that we are born a blank slate. That statement suggests that genetics do not play a role in
human behavior, and has been disproved since then. However, his contributions, classical
conditioning in specific, were a major player in finding the overall explanation to human
behavior. Skinner was another famous behaviorist that built upon Watsons learning theory.
Skinners name is often brought up when talking about operant conditioning. Operant
conditioning included two concepts: reinforcement and punishment. Through his several studies
he proved how powerful these two concepts can truly be when relating to behaviors. Learning
theories reach farther than just behaviorism; other areas include cognitive psychology and social
learning theories. Albert Bandura contributed to the psychology of human behavior through the
social learning theory. This theory surrounds the notion that role models are an important part in
the development of an individuals personality. Bandura suggests that behaviors are learned
through observational learning. Observational learning is simply mimicking behaviors through
observation, and processing that information into their memory. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010)
Various cultures may hold different views when it comes to areas of parenting, and
appropriate forms of punishment or reinforcement. The Scottish side of my family believed in a
very different form of parenting than the Sicilian side. I have not heard of anyone from the
Scottish side ever lifting a finger to punish a child. If that did occur, it was few and far between
and only happened after an extreme situation. However, the Sicilian side of my family was quick
to use physical force. The father is typically the one to do the punishing, and they were easily
pushed overboard with little control of their anger. It was not uncommon to get a whooping
with any nearby object. This type of harsh punishment was passed down to each generation,
including my father. However, my father married a headstrong woman who made sure he
understood the rules regarding her child, and putting your hands on her with the intentions of

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causing harm is the number one rule of what not to do. Unfortunately, my fathers second wife
was not quite as strong as my mother, and unfortunately for her children, she also believed in
physical punishment. Who would have guessed their son would grow up with severe issues
regarding authority, violence, and aggression? They are still scratching their heads on that one,
even though I warned them this would be a likely outcome due to their parenting style many
years ago.
Social Dimension
The final dimension included in the multidimensional framework of human behavior is
the social dimension. This area discusses the impact social systems have on our behaviors.
Multiple guidelines are necessary to assist in defining social systems: taking in account that
interactions of one system include other systems, social structures include support and
opposition, social systems are highly interrelated and the points of intersection are critical in
understanding the process of social domination and social injustice, and finally, and analysis of
social, cultural, and individual experience cant ignore key multicultural foundations. (Ashford &
LeCroy, 2010)
Carol Germain was a social work theorist that incorporated the ecological perspective to
the social work practice. Ecology is the study of interrelationships of organisms with another and
with the environment. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010
The social systems we partake in, especially our family, play an important role in
molding adult behaviors. When you mix negative life experiences, particularly in the
developmental years of childhood, with a biological predisposition to mental disorders such as
depression, addiction, and antisocial disorders, it is likely the disorder will eventually emerge. If
you were to take the same predisposed person and set them in a functional family system with a

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mind full of happy childhood memories, the chances of a disorder appearing dramatically
decreases.
Karl Marx is a famous theorist who focused on conflict and human behavior. His theory
revolved around coercion and conflict of power within the social order. He emphasized on the
power struggle that lies beneath many peoples behaviors. Marx paved the way for other conflict
theorists such as Denisoff and Wahrman.(Ashford & LeCroy, 2010)
There were several personal examples that came to mind while I read about the conflict
theory. The first thought was about the power struggle that occurred during their divorce, and
agreeing on custody issues. It was apparent to me at an early age that my father had serious
underlying issues relating to power. He enjoyed feeling like he was in control, and many of his
behaviors obviously stemmed from power. I was an easy pawn in his game of overpowering my
mother. A second prime example of conflict as a motivator in human behavior within my family
is racism. The Sicilian side of my family continues to hold onto racist beliefs that the generations
before believed in, and implemented into their childrens mind. The fact that my father and his
family members still include racist beliefs and stereotypical perspectives to maneuver certain
behaviors is something I have a hard time understanding. It is also rumored that my great
grandfather was a member of the mafia, and organized crime is no stranger to conflict or power
struggles. Being a part of an organization that relies so heavily on hierarchy is bound to have
underlying factors such as control dictating behaviors.
I interviewed my great grandmother (Scottish/mothers side) who shared her story of
growing up in the Great Depression, and being a single mother of five children living in poverty.
I have always looked up to my great grandmother as a role model and admired her constant
optimism towards almost any situation. Homan was another researcher that contributed to the

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social dimension of human behavior. Homan believed that all behaviors will be repeated if
rewarded. However, one of the propositions included in Homans social exchange theory is that
people become angry if they are not given a fair distribution. Although I agree with this
statement, my great grandmother proves that to not be true for everyone. Her story is full of
financial struggles, living in shelters, having little resources, family members dying, her mother
as an angry alcoholic, and both of her sons becoming addicted to heroin. She was not given a fair
shake at life, yet she never stops smiling. She has a gift in finding a silver lining in any
experience. She passed down that trait to almost all the women in my family. With my fathers
family drowning in negativity, and my mothers side unrealistically optimistic, I found myself
somewhere in the middle teetering from side to side.
The family structure I grew up in, and the values they implemented on me, has shaped me
to be the person I am today. The Polish, Sicilian, and Scottish side of my family portrayed
traditional gender roles of women tending to the house and children, and the men as the provider
and dominant member of the household. However, the last generation of each culture has slowly
redirected gender roles towards becoming more equal. Religiously based social systems can be
particularly influential in human behavior as well. The Scottish side of my tends to lean towards
spirituality rather than religion. The Sicilian and Polish side of my family always placed religion
in a much higher order, which created the backbone to many of their conservative beliefs. Other
than racism, they looked down on homosexuality and anyone that doesnt have the same faith as
them. These conservative and narrow minded ways of thinking are still currently being passed
down.

Culture and Social Work

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It is unlikely that my culture should ever pose an issue while practicing in the social work
field. The three ethnicities I listed are the ones I am more prominent in, although, I am mixed
with several other ethnicities as well. I respect that everyone has their own culture and way of
doing things. Social workers have a professional responsibility to put the differences they may
have with their clients aside. Many people social workers come in contact with do not share the
same values, beliefs, and morals as they do. An important quality that a social worker ideally
possesses is empathy and understanding whether you agree with them or not. A large portion of
the training social workers receive is based on diversity. The world is full of oppression,
discrimination, negative stigmas, stereotypes, and social injustice. It is important for social
workers to be knowledgeable about each culture and the challenges they face. The more you
know, the better position you will be in to help you client. I can relate to being stereotyped and
judged based on culture, and on life experiences. When I tell people that I am Sicilian I usually
get a response including the mafia or being temperamental. I also get comments regarding eating
pasta all day and being loud or obnoxious. Ive also come to realize how many people mistake
Irish and Scottish culture and use them as interchangeable references. Many people have made
comments about my drinking, or being a drunk, when I mention my Scottish heritage. This one
gets under my skin the most because I am an alcoholic, but it has nothing to do with my Scottish
descent.
Peggy McIntosh wrote a riveting essay regarding the privileges of being Caucasian or
male. She pointed out that these privileges may be invisible to those receiving them; however,
they are very apparent to those who are not. I personally was fascinated with some of her
thoughts on this issue, and felt that it was important for all social workers to be aware of this
possibility. In my opinion, the statements she made were spot on and made me think about the

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challenges non-white people may face on a daily basis. As a female I have noticed the
differences in treatment of males versus females. Social workers should consider McIntoshs
theory when trying to put themselves in their clients shoes. (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010)
My cultural identity might influence my values as a social worker by motivating certain
behaviors and perspectives on various situations. If I was raised by my biological father I can
imagine that I would carry on his negative outlook on life and racist thoughts towards other
cultures. He is a very narrow minded individual, and lives in a narcissistic fantasy land. Luckily,
my mother was extremely liberal and open minded. She placed value on family, honesty,
understanding, encouraging people, helping people, education, individualism, politics, respect,
and equality. During my childhood she would take me to various organizations to volunteer. My
mother emphasized the importance of helping other people throughout my entire childhood, and
she still does today. I am truly lucky to have such a wonderful role model and my own personal
cheerleader in life. She greatly influenced my values, which will help my career in the social
work field.
In summary, human behavior is a complex study that includes many dimensions. Nothing
is black and white when exploring behaviors, there is plenty of grey area in the middle. Family
and culture can be major motivators in peoples actions and reactions. It has become apparent
that a combination of the biophysical, psychological, and social dimension is necessary. Just like
social systems, the dimensions interact with each other and effect each other. Maybe one day we
can answer the age old question of why do we behave the way we do? Until that day comes,
the curiosity will fuel humans to keep on searching.

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