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Essay / Ruth Benedict's Theory of Cultural Relativism - 1739
These cultures are the Zuñi Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, the Dobu Tribe of New Guinea, and the Kwakiutl Indians of the Pacific Northwest. These three societies have different cultural fabrics. Benedict hypothesizes that the structures within these cultures represent a "cultural context" and that much of what is considered "human nature" must be due to the influence of a culture (Benoît) . Individuals, at birth, are locked into a mold dictated by society. If an individual does not conform to the norms of a society, they are automatically considered an outcast or abnormal. After presenting these cultures, Benoît describes the different attributes of their respective cultures. The Zuñi Pueblo Indians, she describes, are gentle and austere, because that is what their society dictates. As part of their culture, Zuñi Indians avoid dealing with frustrating situations and conflicts. Southwestern cultures in general continually push back on situations likely to generate frustration. Zuñi culture therefore shapes people's actions within society because they are surrounded by calm people. On the other end of the spectrum, the Kwakiutl Indians of the Pacific Northwest respond immediately to a situation. This culture emphasizes a strong and fierce attitude within the company. Anyone who does not conform to this ideal is considered abnormal. The Kwakiutl Indians and the Dobu tribe of New Guinea overlap their values and morals in this situation because they too often fight and this is their first impulse (Benedict). All of these cultures and individuals in society are influenced by their society and the rules that individuals have in place. Human nature is most certainly influenced by society and the way certain situations are handled in a manner