How Does Our Cultural Identity Influence Us? with Dr. Daphna Oyserman

February 6, 2025

AI Summary

5 min read

“I had been showing up late for a year. Because it’s rare that people actually tell you that you’ve gotten it wrong. They make inferences about you as a person.” That is how Dr. Daphna Oyserman, a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, describes the moment she realized she had been living inside a cultural assumption she didn’t even know existed. She had moved from the University of Michigan, where meetings started at ten past the hour, to the University of Southern California, where three past meant you were late. She thought she was on time. Everyone else thought she was rude. The episode is a deep dive into what culture actually is—not a set of stereotypes or ethnic labels, but a largely invisible system of norms, values, and default interpretations that shape how we perceive difficulty, make consumer choices, and pursue long-term goals.

Culture as the Water We Swim In

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **What Are Cultures For?** - The episode opens by framing culture as an evolutionary solution to the problem of group survival.
2 (03:18) **The Relationship Between Culture and Identity** - Dr. Oyserman defines identity as a sense of constancy that allows us to make predictions about our future selves and choices.
3 (07:31) **The Invisibility of the Cultural Lens** - The hosts discuss how culture is difficult to see from within, as it feels like "just reality."
4 (11:27) **Does a Change in Perspective Change Identity?** - Heather asks if moving cultures changes your internal identity or just your awareness of how others see you.
5 (14:01) **Culture and Consumer Decisions** - The conversation shifts to how cultural mindset influences shopping behavior and choice.
6 (16:01) **Culture as the Construction of the Perception Box** - The hosts connect culture to the core concept of the "perception box."
7 (17:40) **How Culture Affects the Pursuit of Long-Term Goals** - The discussion moves to how identity connects the current self to the future self, especially in education.

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Show Notes

Our cultural lenses can expand our Perception Box or contract it, keeping us closed off to new opportunities. So how do we become aware of the personal influences that shape our perceptions? In this episode of Science of Perception Box, cohosts Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christoph Koch discuss the impact of cultural differences on identity and mindsets with guest Dr. Daphna Oyserman. Dr. Oyserman shares her insights on how small changes in context can significantly affect our mindset and choices, impacting our health and academic performance.

Dr. Daphna Oyserman is a Dean’s Professor of Psychology and Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Southern California. Dr. Oyserman received a PhD in psychology and social work from the University of Michigan and served on the faculty of The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, before returning to the University of Michigan where she last held appointments as the Edwin J. Thomas Collegiate Professor of Social Work, Professor of Psychology, and Research Professor in the Institute for Social Research.

Dr. Heather Berlin is a neuroscientist, clinical psychologist, and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Dr. Christof Koch is Chief Scientist for the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation and the current Meritorious Investigator and former President of the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

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Episode Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:19) - Cultural Identity and Understanding Cultural Differences

(05:26) - The Role of Culture in Society

(07:24) - Cultural Norms and Time Perception

(11:27) - Identity and Self-Perception

(13:54) - Culture and Motivation

(20:10) - Perception of Difficulty and Cultural Narratives

(23:00) - The Dilemma of Difficulty: When to Persevere or Pivot

(24:00) - Cultural Perspectives on Difficulty and Success

(28:14) - The Role of Talent vs. Hard Work in Achievement

(31:37) - Shifting Mindsets: Small Changes, Big Impacts

(34:49) - Procrastination and the Future Self

(38:21) - Teaching the Value of Hard Work to Kids

(42:34) - The Influence of Culture on Persistence

(45:57) - Concluding Thoughts and Reflections