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Feyisayo Anjorin

Freelance Director, Afro-Carribean Media Group

TEDCRED 50+

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Is it possible for an individual to be without ethnocentrism?

Ethnocentrism involves using the ideas and beliefs of one particular culture to judge other cultures.
It is so similar to pride in the sense that we loath it in other people/cultures; but we are hardly conscious of it in our own culture.
Our beliefs and worldview is as a result of years of living in our community and seeing things done in a particular way; years of familiarity with the material culture, social structure, religion, history, philosophy and ideals.
We usually percieve our culture as the logical, reasonable and normal way to live; and we often wonder "How anyone could ever live like THAT?!"
It is usually the chief enemy of marriages. The husband has grown up in a different home environment, under different circumstances, and with a different experience. He would wonder why the wife is behaving in a certain manner that is contrary to his ways; and so does the wife.

Is ethnocentrism inevitable?

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    David Hamilton 50+

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    Sep 4 2012: I would actually say, it's not just possible... but, it's a yin and yang. As much as we desire to interact with people who make us "comfortable", or conform to our social norms. Human beings are also naturally curious, and fascinated by difference. I would almost suggest that in reality, the individual is as heterocentric, as he or she is, homocentric. The violence created by homocentricity, and ethnocentricity however, is so palpable, that it makes us almost unaware of the part of our brain that says "Oooooh... That's exotic, unique, rare.... What's that all about?"

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