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Cultural Background Paper
Noah A. McDonald
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
COUC 504 – Human Growth and Development
Dr. John Bradley
July 16, 2023
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Cultural Background Paper
In today’s time and society, one’s cultural background might not always be
straightforward and obvious. People today are a melting pot of races, ethnicities, sexualities, and
more cultural factors that make up their cultural background. However, our cultural backgrounds
are a key factor in our identity and how we form our worldview. Our perspectives, behaviors,
and even our interactions with others are shaped in one form or another by our cultural heritage,
traditions, values, customs, beliefs, or attachment styles. Understanding our background can be
key to awareness of our own biases, prejudice, privilege, and beliefs and is also crucial for
fostering empathy, respect, and inclusivity for other cultures that are unlike our own. This
awareness can also be the first step in eradicating injustice and becoming an advocate for social
justice and reform.
The two cultures that I feel shape my family background the most are Western culture
and Protestant Christianity culture. My father comes from Irish and Scottish descent while my
mother comes from Swedish descent, however both families have lived here in the United States
for generations and no longer associate themselves with our European roots. I was born and
raised in rural Alabama where I also received my education, first set of peers, lawcode, and
practiced Christianity. My immediate family is and has always been protestant Christians (church
of Christ), and so are the generations before them as far back as we know. When it comes to race,
ethnicity, religion, and economic background, my peers and family were predominately white,
