The transition into adulthood may differ depending on cultural traditions and rites of passage from adolescence to adulthood. The transition into adulthood is also a time for relationships and romance from a normative perspective. “In North America today, typical rites of passage are baptisms, bar mitzvahs and confirmations, school graduation ceremonies, weddings, retirement parties, and funerals” (O’Neil, D., 2007).
Different ethnic groups and cultures have different ways of having weddings, graduations, and funerals, etc. Moreover, pluralism and assimilation affect the rites of passage of individuals. Pluralism is when each individual keeps their own cultures and have a difference with other cultures, but yet can still work together. On the other hand, assimilation is when the two or more different cultural groups merge into one as they each take the good side of each into a mixing pot to produce a better and new culture. I see these two concepts affect significantly on weddings. Every culture believes in something similar and different. There are rituals that can be adjusted and others must be followed restrictedly. Therefore, when a couple of two different ethnic groups were getting married, their wedding ceremony could create some serious issues. For example, if a Chinese wife marries a White husband, there would be a big issue on who pays the bill. In Chinese tradition, the groom side is supposed to pay for all; however, in the American tradition, the bride side should pay for the wedding. This alone can be a problem already.
There are four types of attachment styles: secure attachment, avoidant attachment, ambivalent/anxious attachment, and disorganized attachment. (Glendon Association, 2016) People who have secure attachments when they were children tend to build the secured personality into adulthood. They have positive influences and are optimistic. People who have avoidant attachments tend to be lonely all the time with dismissive personality. They do not value relationships as something that are important to them. They tend to be shy and anti-social. They are more pessimistic. People who have ambivalent/anxious attachments have pre-occupied personality. They are sensitive and not trusting themselves or others. They always feel insecure. They tend to feel that they would be rejected in relationships. This distrust is one of the main reasons why they fail in their relationships. People who have disorganized attachments have fearful-avoidant personality. They do not live in a balanced life; it is hard for them to make connections with others. (Glendon Association, 2016) Out of the four attachment styles, I think the secured attachment style would be the most effective in forming relationships. People who have built the secured attachment also built a sense of protecting the others. This helps protect and take care of the other half in a relationship.
According to LGBT Center, there are six kinds of attractions: sexual attraction (desire to have sexual contact), romantic attraction (desire for relationships like boyfriend or girlfriend), aesthetic attraction (being thankful to the appearance of another person), sensual attraction (desire to deal with people by hugging), emotional attraction (emotionally involved), and intellectual attraction (desire to engage with another in a smart manner). (LGBT Center, 2016) I think the type of attraction that I feel would be effective in establishing lasting relationships is the intellectual attraction. When two people are attracted, it is from each other’s talent and smartness the most valuable traits of attraction. With this connection in mind, relationships would last much longer.
- Glendon Association. (2016). What is Your Attachment Style? PsychAlive, Psychology for Everyday Life. Retrieved from http://www.psychalive.org/what-is-your-attachment-style/.
- LGBT Center. (2016). Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation. LGBT Center UNC-CHAPEL HILL, Education for Equality. Retrieved from https://lgbtq.unc.edu/asexuality-attraction-and-romantic-orientation.
- O’Neil, D. (8 January 2007). Rites of Passage. Retrieved from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_4.htm.
