YouTube link - https://youtu.be/kIKIU-aMKUo
(Use YouTube app to access VR capabilities)
Chapter 1: Where am I?
Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity
1. Cultural Identity
You may not know it now, but everyone is special in their own unique way.
Your cultural identity is not the same as another.
It is a critical piece of your personal identity (and worldview) that develops as you absorb & adopt the 'ways of being' of the communities in your life.
When we unite toward a common objective, a culture begins to form. there are beliefs, norms, values, and behaviours that emerge.
Some affiliations may be assigned at birth; family, race, gender, sexuality, religion... some emerge as you experience life; school communities, social clubs, online communities.
Think of watching your favourite sports team live... or even something as small as how your family prepares dinner... there are common objectives, norms, and behaviours.
Now for instance having dinner with your friend for the night. How does it feel? Does it feel unfamiliar? Does it feel strange to have dinner at 6pm rather than 7:30pm?
When our cultural identity become challenged... we may want to run and hide.
The truth is... our cultural identity is everchanging, it is dynamic and evolves alongside our affiliations with different groups.
Think about some of the beliefs you had as a child that have since changed. As you become exposed to new ways of thinking and doing... what you resonate with become absorbed into your cultural identity.
Everyone has a cultural identity that influences every aspect of their lives... reflect on what has shaped you, and follow the flow of the stream.
You may not know it now, but everyone is special in their own unique way.
Your cultural identity is not the same as another.
It is a critical piece of your personal identity (and worldview) that develops as you absorb & adopt the 'ways of being' of the communities in your life.
When we unite toward a common objective, a culture begins to form. there are beliefs, norms, values, and behaviours that emerge.
Some affiliations may be assigned at birth; family, race, gender, sexuality, religion... some emerge as you experience life; school communities, social clubs, online communities.
Think of watching your favourite sports team live... or even something as small as how your family prepares dinner... there are common objectives, norms, and behaviours.
Now for instance having dinner with your friend for the night. How does it feel? Does it feel unfamiliar? Does it feel strange to have dinner at 6pm rather than 7:30pm?
When our cultural identity become challenged... we may want to run and hide.
The truth is... our cultural identity is everchanging, it is dynamic and evolves alongside our affiliations with different groups.
Think about some of the beliefs you had as a child that have since changed. As you become exposed to new ways of thinking and doing... what you resonate with become absorbed into your cultural identity.
Everyone has a cultural identity that influences every aspect of their lives... reflect on what has shaped you, and follow the flow of the stream.
(OBJECTIVE: Follow the pathway)
2. Cultural Perspectives
Now think about where you’re from... your physical cultural environment and background that forms the basis of your identity.
feelings of sadness, loss, and distress are universally experienced, the expressions of these feelings vary widely across different cultures. They may be identified as nothing out of the ordinary.
These difficulties with the self may not be recognised... it may be hard to talk about them
The cultural perspectives of the individual may also be different. Is one viewed as an independent entity striving for individual achievement? Or are aspects of family or society more important?
Our norms about our perspective, responsibilities, and obligations are shaped by culture.
Negative feelings within individualistic cultures may stem from feelings of restriction and limitation, whereas a collectivistic culture would relate to feelings of usefulness and competency.
These aspects shape how we feel about ourselves. new ways of thinking and doing... what you resonate with become absorbed into your cultural identity
Everyone has a cultural identity that influences every aspect of their lives... reflect on what has shaped you, and follow the flow of the stream.
Now think about where you’re from... your physical cultural environment and background that forms the basis of your identity.
feelings of sadness, loss, and distress are universally experienced, the expressions of these feelings vary widely across different cultures. They may be identified as nothing out of the ordinary.
These difficulties with the self may not be recognised... it may be hard to talk about them
The cultural perspectives of the individual may also be different. Is one viewed as an independent entity striving for individual achievement? Or are aspects of family or society more important?
Our norms about our perspective, responsibilities, and obligations are shaped by culture.
Negative feelings within individualistic cultures may stem from feelings of restriction and limitation, whereas a collectivistic culture would relate to feelings of usefulness and competency.
These aspects shape how we feel about ourselves. new ways of thinking and doing... what you resonate with become absorbed into your cultural identity
Everyone has a cultural identity that influences every aspect of their lives... reflect on what has shaped you, and follow the flow of the stream.
(OBJECTIVE: Jigsaw puzzles - repair bridges physical ‘pieces of knowledge’)
3. Ways Forward
As you venture into other cultural areas, you carry your own wellbeing strengths and strategies drawn from your culture. These different types of strengths show the different forms that ‘wellbeing’ takes which interconnect to form a whole and healthy person.
TAHA WAIRUA - Spiritual
Explores your relationship with the environment, people, and heritage.
TAHA HINENGARO - Mental & emotional
It is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts, and feelings. It’s about how you feel, as well as how you communicate and think.
TAHA TINANA - physical
About how your body feels and how you care for it.
Sometimes, one’s body may not be where they’d like it and it might be beyond their control, but refueling the body helps you to feel mentally well.
TAHA WHANAU - family & social
About who makes you feel you belong, who you care about and who you share your life with.
These four forms of wellbeing are different for everyone whether it be in the past, present, or future.
They are dependent on the foundation, WHENUA (land), which nourishes and provides stability. When the present land is transported to new land, there opens a pathway to new nutrients, foundations, and ways of being. But you are also fragile and prone to cultural stressors while... undergoing vast adaptation and change.
You must transfer you knowledge from your previous lands to begin your new whenua. What is your previous whenua? Think about the strategies you have used to maintain your mental wellbeing. It is important to retain past whenua as it provides the framework for the future.
As you venture into other cultural areas, you carry your own wellbeing strengths and strategies drawn from your culture. These different types of strengths show the different forms that ‘wellbeing’ takes which interconnect to form a whole and healthy person.
TAHA WAIRUA - Spiritual
Explores your relationship with the environment, people, and heritage.
TAHA HINENGARO - Mental & emotional
It is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts, and feelings. It’s about how you feel, as well as how you communicate and think.
TAHA TINANA - physical
About how your body feels and how you care for it.
Sometimes, one’s body may not be where they’d like it and it might be beyond their control, but refueling the body helps you to feel mentally well.
TAHA WHANAU - family & social
About who makes you feel you belong, who you care about and who you share your life with.
These four forms of wellbeing are different for everyone whether it be in the past, present, or future.
They are dependent on the foundation, WHENUA (land), which nourishes and provides stability. When the present land is transported to new land, there opens a pathway to new nutrients, foundations, and ways of being. But you are also fragile and prone to cultural stressors while... undergoing vast adaptation and change.
You must transfer you knowledge from your previous lands to begin your new whenua. What is your previous whenua? Think about the strategies you have used to maintain your mental wellbeing. It is important to retain past whenua as it provides the framework for the future.
(OBJECTIVE: Block-puzzle)
Chapter 2: Who am I?
Self-Concept
1. The ‘self’
Now lets talk about you... the ‘self’.
Lets think of the concept of ‘self’ in three aspects... Actual; who do you think you are? What do you think of your talents? intelligence? looks? Ideal; what do you wish you would or could be. and Ought; what do others think you should be? your parents?
It’s important to note that your perception of the ‘self’ is always changing based on what you are consciously aware of.
When we are focused on tasks or on events in the external world, we may ‘lose ourselves in our work’, losing all awareness of the self in the moment... This is similar to the effects of meditation. Why don’t try a small breathing exercise; IN 4S, HOLD 2S, OUT 4S.
(DURING BREATHING EXERCISE) Have you experienced being lost in an activity? What are they? How did it feel... were you happy? content? relieved? It is important to do some activities that give you joy from time to time. When we lock ourselves away from long periods of time, we often pick and choose the good and bad parts of ourselves.
Now lets talk about you... the ‘self’.
Lets think of the concept of ‘self’ in three aspects... Actual; who do you think you are? What do you think of your talents? intelligence? looks? Ideal; what do you wish you would or could be. and Ought; what do others think you should be? your parents?
It’s important to note that your perception of the ‘self’ is always changing based on what you are consciously aware of.
When we are focused on tasks or on events in the external world, we may ‘lose ourselves in our work’, losing all awareness of the self in the moment... This is similar to the effects of meditation. Why don’t try a small breathing exercise; IN 4S, HOLD 2S, OUT 4S.
(DURING BREATHING EXERCISE) Have you experienced being lost in an activity? What are they? How did it feel... were you happy? content? relieved? It is important to do some activities that give you joy from time to time. When we lock ourselves away from long periods of time, we often pick and choose the good and bad parts of ourselves.
(OBJECTIVE: Breathing activity)
2. The ‘self’ in depression
When depressed, one may become so absorbed in internal processes that focusing on external events/activities become difficult. the ‘different self’ inhabits a world that is perceived in a ‘different way’.
...become more sensitive to indicators supporting their negative views
...believe themselves to be a burden within their social networks, lose sense of belonging, social events not enjoyable -> social withdrawal, which reinforces negative beliefs.
When pervasive negative external experiences occur, we can become deeply affected internally. What we think of ourselves gradually falls away from what we wish we could be... this is called the ‘actual-ideal mismatch’.
(EG WITH VISUAL) Lets say you think of yourself as a hard-working, smart student. But as you start university you experience some negative communication with classmates... you start feeling down on yourself causing you to have worse grades. Thus the actual-ideal mismatch is widened.
The degree of this mismatch also determine your self-esteem -> low self-esteem contributes to depression.
People with low self-esteem have a harder time adapting to stress and feeling pride.
All of these factors may become enhanced for international students experiencing a completely different culture. Acculturative stress is related to the stress that comes with adapting to a new country and culture. It is the psychological impact of adaptation to a new culture... experiencing issues relating to English fluency, social support satisfaction and social connectedness.
Let’s introduce you to another concept; the personal-enacted identity gap, which arises from acculturative stress.
International students studying in a foreign country may experience discontinuities between their self-concepts and how they are seen by domestic students. These inconsistencies, that theoretically may arise from cultural differences and communication barriers, are called ‘identity gaps’. The ‘personal’ aspect encompasses the idea of an individual’s self-view. The ‘enacted’ aspect is the self expressed or performed in external communication.
EXAMPLE: One can see oneself as open-minded, but in certain situations may avoid discussion with people of differing opinions. The identity that is enacted, one unwilling to engage in conversation, is different from the self-image of one who is open-minded.
Difficulties around communication may you feel as though you a socially disadvantaged, where you feel you can not express the proper you in a different culture. It may feel like your self-view is the real you; your culture, values, habits. As if you can not express this ‘you’. These factors can negatively impact your social standing and create loneliness.
NEGATIVE COGNITIVE TRIAD; This is all a never ending cycle; Negative views about oneself -> Negative views about the world -> Negative views of the future -> START. It is a vicious cycle that may make one feel like they are lost in a maze, with no way out.
(OBJECTIVE: puzzle - maze)
3. Ways Forward
You must look towards yourself. You need to reflect on these negative assumptions and change them.
Change your self talk from negative to positive. Start acknowledging change as a possibility.
Switch to internal guides. Your negative thoughts are clouding your ability to see the opportunities on the outside... so switch to the inside. Once you develop a sense of possibility, imagine the outcome you want, then think of it as already done. You can then focus on what you need to change to channel it externally. Work inside-out.
You must also become an observer of your thoughts. Do not judge your thoughts, yourself. Understand that these negative thoughts are not attached to you, be self accepting, be kind to yourself. Reframe your goals to become better than you were, not ‘perfect’.
Focus more on what you need to do rather than what you need to prevent... then you may find the exit of the maze.
You must look towards yourself. You need to reflect on these negative assumptions and change them.
Change your self talk from negative to positive. Start acknowledging change as a possibility.
Switch to internal guides. Your negative thoughts are clouding your ability to see the opportunities on the outside... so switch to the inside. Once you develop a sense of possibility, imagine the outcome you want, then think of it as already done. You can then focus on what you need to change to channel it externally. Work inside-out.
You must also become an observer of your thoughts. Do not judge your thoughts, yourself. Understand that these negative thoughts are not attached to you, be self accepting, be kind to yourself. Reframe your goals to become better than you were, not ‘perfect’.
Focus more on what you need to do rather than what you need to prevent... then you may find the exit of the maze.
Chapter 3: Who are they?
Social Identity
Social Identity
1. Social Identity
Take a moment to think about the people around you. Not just you friends at school or your flatmate... but your parents, siblings, and communities. Your religion, country, job. How have they shaped who you are?
Our social identity relates to how we identify ourselves in relation to others according to what we have in common.
It provides you with a sense of self-esteem and a framework for socialising, and influences your behaviour.
memberships of social groups have direct implications for a person’s self-concept because social groups and relations can become an integral part of one’s identity.
why do group events such as a victory at national sports events rouse strong personal emotions? or why can societal phenomena such as discrimination be experienced as personally hurtful?
Social networks and groups provide more than just personal connection, it also plays an important role in mental wellbeing.
Within groups, social identification allows the receiving and providing of social support. It provides individuals with a sense of belonging. It positively influences your thoughts and behaviour. Identification with a group thus provides shared understandings and meaning.
Take a moment to think about the people around you. Not just you friends at school or your flatmate... but your parents, siblings, and communities. Your religion, country, job. How have they shaped who you are?
Our social identity relates to how we identify ourselves in relation to others according to what we have in common.
It provides you with a sense of self-esteem and a framework for socialising, and influences your behaviour.
memberships of social groups have direct implications for a person’s self-concept because social groups and relations can become an integral part of one’s identity.
why do group events such as a victory at national sports events rouse strong personal emotions? or why can societal phenomena such as discrimination be experienced as personally hurtful?
Social networks and groups provide more than just personal connection, it also plays an important role in mental wellbeing.
Within groups, social identification allows the receiving and providing of social support. It provides individuals with a sense of belonging. It positively influences your thoughts and behaviour. Identification with a group thus provides shared understandings and meaning.
(OBJECTIVE: visualisations)
2. Social Identity in Depression
A self in the depressed state may feel miserable, apathetic, and self-critical... but equally as important is the cognitive and behavioural changes that occur. During these cycles of negative thoughts, you may begin to socially isolate or withdraw. You begin to lock yourself within your black-and-white world with limited external interaction.
It will eventually lead to loneliness, loss of social networks and relationships.
Depression is typically characterised by social isolation and reduced social connectedness. One of its core symptoms is the loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities.
This most typically manifests as withdrawal from social relationships, both formally (e.g., quitting sporting groups) and informally (e.g., seeing friends less often).
All the previous learnings go hand in hand with the causes of depression relating to the loss of the social identity.
There are four very important factors
- Lack of belonging - arising from issues surrounding communication
- lack of purpose & direction - relating to loss of motivation due to external events
- lack of social support - for example the loss of familiar social networks (family)
- lack of positive influence - lack of a positive social sphere of influence
All of these factors are alleviated for international students.
This most typically manifests as withdrawal from social relationships, both formally (e.g., quitting sporting groups) and informally (e.g., seeing friends less often).
All the previous learnings go hand in hand with the causes of depression relating to the loss of the social identity.
There are four very important factors
- Lack of belonging - arising from issues surrounding communication
- lack of purpose & direction - relating to loss of motivation due to external events
- lack of social support - for example the loss of familiar social networks (family)
- lack of positive influence - lack of a positive social sphere of influence
All of these factors are alleviated for international students.
(OBJECTIVE: mirror puzzle)
3. Ways Forward
Social connectedness is a key aspect in the alleviation of these negative factors. It is vital to reconstruct your social networks. It is common to believe that you may not have such a network.
The truth is... everyone has different values, beliefs, and enjoyed activities with their own set of networks. Make an effort and go find them.
The withdrawal from meaningful activities will maintain negative effects.
Schedule activities that bring you joy... activities that were once important to you. Your social identity is one of your most important aspects of the self that can not be put at risk of neglect.
Overview of Puzzles & Activities
Chapter 1
- Jigsaw - piecing together bridges to get across a gap
- Block-puzzle - pushing blocks to create a path; represents carrying over your wellbeing strengths to build new pathways.
- Jigsaw - piecing together bridges to get across a gap
- Block-puzzle - pushing blocks to create a path; represents carrying over your wellbeing strengths to build new pathways.
Chapter 2
- Breathing exercise
- Traverse through a dark, magical cave
- Maze - collecting positive aspects will brighten your soul, you are able to see more clearly and farther (see negative overgrown)
- the sould will burn away overgrowth blocking the exit of the maze.
- a cave with negative text sprawling on walls “I will never be enough”
Chapter 3
- Visual projections of information presented (when asked to reflect upon themselves)
- mirror puzzle - use light to burn roadblocks and create connections
- creating a ‘social network’ with light
- the light needs to be recharged.
mirror also resets after light goes out
