Human Cope in Changes in the Environment upon Immigration - Essay Example

How Human Cope in Changes in the Environment upon Immigration Introduction One of the most difficult stages in the development of human would be the change in environment. Immigration has been amplified today because of advancement in technology and transportation. Anup Shah (2006) explains varieties of reason why people migrate, for the record his journal states that approximately “191 million immigrants” are scattered across the world, however, people encounter disadvantages upon moving to other places despite of its advantages. Relocating a particular person would be crucial on his/her maturity. Factors in human development must be cautiously study because it has a great impact on their personality. Family, school, work place, peer groups, religion, culture and the like are some of the factors that influence in the growth of people. When these factors suddenly change, an immense change will likely to occur in one’s personality. Issues in their development usually arise and people will soon likely to try to resolve these issues within the period of their living in a host environment. Thus, natural adaptation of man can always be manifested throughout the environment. Human Behavior       In early times during hunting and gathering stage of human evolution, people move from one places to another in order in satisfy their needs and to survive. Becoming accustomed to every change is a basic manner in order to be fitted as hunter and gatherer. In this sense adaptation becomes natural to human. Adaptation is a common mechanism of man in order for them to cope to the uncontrollable changing environment. Behavioral adaptation is much necessary to understand because of the social context involved in the analysis of immigration and relocation. It refers to the change in behavior of an individual in a particular set of environment in order to manage the continuing changes in the surroundings. An example of this is the reaction of certain individual relevant to the activities of a particular group. Intense pressure in social environment is very much important to consider especially in the case of immigration. This, somehow, creates a common dilemma to those people who wish to transfer their family. That is why people must consider and prepare themselves for the major changes of the environment before deciding to settle in a new environment. Role of the Family       Internal factor, such as the family, would have tremendous effect on how a person creates his/her personality. Family plays a major role in socialization process- a constant ways of understanding of the environment that lead in forming one’s individuality (Stark, n.d.). Usually, the family is responsible to give basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. But it does not end there. Aside from these physical things and security given by the family, another important function is the maintenance of emotional needs by every individual (Stark, n.d.), thus, making it the most influential factor in one’s development. In the period of immigration, depression and anxiety, usually comes out within an individual. Since the family is the first to interact to an individual, a major responsibility and obligation is to pacify this emotional angst. Stabilizing these certain emotional problems is essential to the progress of every individual in the family.       In the case wherein the whole family migrates, albeit the family does not change, their sense of perception to their environment would definitely affect a particular member of it. If the parents are well equipped on how to handle the changed in the environment, the members would likely to have the same perception of handling the change of their environment. For example, a very supportive wife can be of great help in cooperating to her husband on how to attain proper adjustments and vice versa. Wife’s attitude is important factor in goal attainment of their husband in the workplace (Dowling and Welch, 2005, 99). Consequently, the two will be able to integrate this kind of positive outlook to their children. A child will then be ready to face further changes because of the proper handling of changes within the family. On the other hand, neglecting parents will definitely increase the adjusting period of a child before finally coping to the new environment. This is the problem that the family must avoid for the reason that it will also affect the whole family if any one of the members of it is not well adjusted to the new environment. Other cases, however, in which migration results of change of family in the forms of marriage or remarriage, adoption, and the like, a great impact on one’s perception is inevitable. Charles Faupel (n.d.) reports that family can be changed depending on their society. A person living in a completely different family setting will feel so alienated. Here the family may either help or hinder a person in achieving proper adjustment. The likelihood that it will become a hinder is greater because of different perspective in comparison to the previous family. An example of this is when a couple bounded by cultural differences has decided to settle. The different values may create conflicting scenarios upon living in a new family. Even in the case wherein living in the same culture, still, the difference of their upbringing of their own family might contribute to their adjustment. Nevertheless, in a long run, bargaining of these values may help both parties to create a suitable family environment in which both will benefit and a more enhance values can be created primarily because of exchange of values. This kind of relationship within the new family will soon make a person prepare to tackle the other changes in environment which is somehow external to the family. Function of the School External factors, relative to the family, such as school and work place play another role in the life of settler. This new environments will probably change one’s attitude because of usual interaction in it given that student spent most of his/her time inside the classroom. For example a new transferred student must try to follow some odd rules and regulations upon studying. This might interfere in learning process because of he/she must exert extra effort in dealing with new classmates, new teachers and of course new authorities of academic institution. Another is the standards being set by the school’s administration are generally different to such extent as the academic year, grading system etc. Not surprisingly that in the beginning of the school year, transferees have a low performance academically.       A person’s ability to cope in the environment can be well integrated by the school because it is recognized institution [provided by the government] in socialization process (Faupel, n.d.). It also in a form of standardized in terms of teaching and enhancing human development. Some schools have programs to facilitate the interactions of their students. This kind of program promotes a friendly environment not only for regular students but also to those transferees or exchange students. This may also create a much broader perspectives among students because of the two way process of learning Changes in the Workplace       In a situation of working person, an instant change of working environment will also affect his/her performance as employee. Some see this new environment as a challenge for them and eventually become more enthusiastic in working. This, in turn, makes them productive in a company. However, some difficulties are still unavoidable because of transition of workplace. The routines that were usually done in the previous employment may vary a lot in many ways. The efficiency of working will be less for the reason that the mastery of working place has been loss and a new start of learning to be able to develop a new way of well-organized routine. Another aspect to consider is the nature of other employees especially those in high position. If the co-employees are accommodatingly enough, it will greatly help a person in handling the job. Otherwise it will prevent the improvement of one’s skill in taking the job. In terms of social relation to higher officials within a firm, a more necessary thing to do is to build rapport to smoothen the flow of interaction within the firm. In many companies, one of the standards being required in selecting employees is the “Cross-cultural Suitability” (Dowling and Welch, 2005, 99). Accordingly this kind of attitude is expected by the firm from any person hired. By doing so, a much sociable place can be achieved that may result in an increase productivity of a person. Influence of Peer Groups Durkheim believes that "society has to be present within the individual," (Coser, 1997) and people are often longing for a sense of “belongingness” as explained by Huitt in “Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs” (Huitt, W., 2004). Thus, interaction with peer groups is common to people. This need must be address once a person migrated. It is quite difficult to establish a new circle of friends in a new environment because of many differences. A person might get intimidated by the people within the new environment. Depending on how the people in the host environment respond to the existence of new member. Others are uncooperative and sometimes destructive. In school for example, bullies are common element. Bullies usually target transferees to humiliate to other students. This is very much evident to most schools. But still school does not only include bullies but also a diverse sets of students in which a new student can find a social group in which he/she can be accepted. “Re-socialization”, in which a person’s behavior is dependent on the anticipation of other people because of drastic change (Faupel, n.d.), sometimes occur. Having friends in school extends the possibility of having a constant companion in the vicinity that may influence a person on certain behavior. It can be a good or bad influence to them depending on whether a person is easy to persuade or not. But because of pressing need to have a peer groups, accepting certain practices of newly found friends is expected. If a person has no intense bond to his/her family, the tendency is to get a greater influence to peer groups. But having friends makes a person feel much comfortable and that can be of assistance in adjusting period. This may extend within the new community in which a person lives. Eventually the family as a whole becomes much welcome to the community upon knowing the people and getting the sense of belongingness within the area. Importance of Religion Another way of achieving social group by an individual is to base it in religion in which he/she belongs. Religion units the people bounded by moral codes and common practices. The common belief can build a strong relationship between its believers even if the people are not closely related to one another. The ritual being practiced gives a chance for interactions among its members. In Roman Catholic, for instance, attending mass every Sunday and giving service to the church is regular in most of the countries. The same way in Muslim practices regardless of difference in rituals. This occurrence forms a warm and sociable environment for migrants to mingle to other people. Most probably acceptance is easily achieved by any migrants in this sense. Dealing with “Culture Shock” Being exposed to groups of people will enable a person to identify and analyze the culture that defines a particular society. A well-known problem encountered by many migrants is “culture shock”. Dr. Carmen Guanipa believes that it involves bodily as well as “emotional” instability of a person facing a different atmosphere (1998). Evidently enough, people having this kind of shock usually feel odd in dealing the culture. And this may affect on how an individual act as a new member of the society. This certain process is unavoidable and migrants must be able to surpass if they want to have more suitable environment to live in. Besides, overcoming this “culture shock” is a chance of acquiring fresh perceptions of many things that are sometimes astonishing plainly because of preconception of the prior culture (Guanipa, 1998). Undeniably, it is quite difficult to handle it at first. For example, a conservative and religious family moves in place wherein divorce, same sex marriage among others is a common feature of the new environment. They may need a lot of time to assimilate these kinds of unfamiliar concepts especially to the parents who is also responsible in giving explanation to their children. As the process continues, however, people might be able to learn some strategies in surmounting this crisis. Strategies can be formulated by an individual on their own because he/she is the one who will face this process. Experiencing this kind of challenges is essential for them in educating themselves. For sure, even an individual has knowledge of “culture shock” and how to deal with it, in reality, a person will be more aware once they experience it. When migrants are able to study the culture, they can have the freedom to choose which of the elements of the new culture will be beneficial to them in achieving comfortable way of living. For example, if a person will be better off upon subjecting himself/herself to the tradition, he/she will mostly prefer so. He/she may also avoid being ridiculed by the majority. Unfortunately, there may also be a trade off in the process. Losing one’s practices is very much hard especially if it was brought in him for a very long time. A sad thing but a true nature of the process that is very much disappointing. Others may somehow decide to suppress it for quite some time but not truly lose it. In the end a person can get a well integrated culture within himself/herself consciously or unconsciously. This makes a person a much more flexible to the changes in the environment. When place in new environment, he/she is well equipped in dealing with the changes that is cultural in context. However wearisome the process of “culture shock” is, he/she will eventually surpass it. Summary and Conclusion Immigration is not as simple as it may look like. There are many factors to consider upon migration. The tedious process of transferring from one environment to a new one is not the only one to think about, but also the repercussions of this event to one’s development. This kind of event will create major impact in a life of any person who desire to migrate to other place. That is why it is important to study carefully on a person may react to certain changes. The analysis of behavior of people upon migration can be of great help in decision making. A person may be able to foresee some problems that might be overlooked because of excitement. Careful study of the pros and cons of the immigration can be use as a tool in weighing whether to continue migrating or not. It appears that a drastic change in the environment has generated negative effects on particular person and also to the people that surround him/her. Nevertheless there are numerous ways of overcoming these negative effects. Family can play a vital role in managing the different uneasiness of an individual. Furthermore, certain crisis has a place within the family to discuss and resolve the problem before external factor might influence it. Subsequently, migrant (in the case of child) might be exposed to school after the family and the awareness to the possible effects that this institution is another thing to be considered. In case of adult, the next would be the workplace. Preparation for the immediate changes in these situations should be address because this can sometimes be unconstructive to lives of migrants if not properly handle, the same with religion and culture. Human development is always at risk whenever an individual migrated to other places. The complexities of the process of immigration may prevent the growth of an individual. Different crisis may interfere along the journey of an individual towards growth. Fortunate enough, people’s critical thinking is a precious gem that made him/her understand his own behavior as well as the manners of the society as a whole. An individual becomes crucial in understanding issues regarding the advancement of human and vigilantly evaluating the ever changes in environment to continue to exist and achieve growth and maturity in life. Reference: Coser, Lewis A., Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social Context, 2nd Ed., Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1977: 136-139. 07 Nov. 2006. http://www2.pfeiffer.edu/~lridener/DSS/Durkheim/DURKW3.HTML Dowling, Peter and Denice Welch. “International Human Resource Management”. Gray Publishing, Tunbidge Wells. 2005. Faupel, Charles. “Chapter: Agent of Socialization”. Introduction to Sociology. Academic Publishing Services. 06 Nov. 2006. . Huitt, W. (2004). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved [date] from, . Shah, Anup. “Immigration”. Online posting. 17 Sept. 2006. Human Rights Related Issues.. Stark. “Soc1001 Introduction to Sociology”. University of Colorado at Denver and Health Science Center.2006. Guanipa, Carmen. “Culture Shock”. 17 Mar. 1998. San Diego State University. 07 Nov. 2006. < http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/CGuanipa/cultshok.htm>. From Lewis A. Coser, Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social Context, 2nd Ed., Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1977: 136-139. 07 Nov. 2006. http://www2.pfeiffer.edu/~lridener/DSS/Durkheim/DURKW3.HTML. Read More