SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT DEFINITION

social environment

The social environment of an individual, also called social context or milieu, is the culture that he or she was educated and/or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom the person interacts.
refers to an organised structure created by the patterns of relationships between people who function in a group which in turn contributes to establishing the boundaries of behaviour.
the direct influences of a community of individuals’ in integrated contributors as groups and individuals and who are in constant communications and/or within indirect and direct involvement with every individual within its integrated and significant cultural or influential socio-economical, as

definition

(define) specify: determine the essential quality of
a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
A statement of the exact meaning of a word, esp. in a dictionary
An exact statement or description of the nature, scope, or meaning of something
The action or process of defining something
clarity of outline; “exercise had given his muscles superior definition”

social environment definition – Human Behavior

Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Shifting Paradigms in Essential Knowledge for Social Work Practice (4th Edition)

Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Shifting Paradigms in Essential Knowledge for Social Work Practice provides readers with a variety of traditional and alternative perspectives on human services issues, including diversity, feminism, client empowerment, individual development, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The author includes new and updated coverage of spirituality, global issues, diversity/cultural competency, aging theory, disabilities, and the impact of technology and the Internet on human services, and reflects the spirit and intent of the new CSWE Educational Policies and Standards (EPAS).

before

JESUS the swarthy Jewish dude

What does it mean to have images of a White Jesus, Asian Jesus etc.?

Most of the time we don’t really think about how we depict Jesus, but perhaps it is important that we think of it with more intent.

Historically a depiction of a white, western European looking Jesus has been the most prominent.

Arthur Maxwell’s “The Bible Story” and the Hanna-Barbera video series “The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible” are two examples of how mainstream Evangelical Christianity has made Jesus white.

But incorrect ethnic depictions of a “black” Jesus can be seen in the Ethiopian Orthodox church, and South American Christians have utilized a Latino Jesus.

We unfortunately create Jesus in our own image.

So who was Jesus?

Jewish as a Hebraic Jew, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but his earthly mother, Mary, and his earthly father, Joseph, were from the northern parts of Galilee.

Jesus would not have been white; he would have been olive-skinned.

JESUS the Jew called Yeshua

The closest thing in our day and age would be Middle Eastern Arabs or Middle Eastern ethnic Jews.

Jesus would have looked like a multi-ethnic Jew.

He would have most likely had Jewish traits, a prominent nose and jaw, and dark hair, but he would have most likely also had traits and blood from various ethnic and cultural lines (look at the inclusion of Ruth (a Moabite), Rahab (a Canaanite), and others in Jesus’ genealogy).

Additionally, as the son of a carpenter and a young man who trained in carpentry, we can deduce that Jesus was probably tanned by the sun and at least in decent shape.

Archeologist put pieces of history together and actually deduced that Jesus maybe looked similar to this . . .

(The photograph above!)

Why do we create in our own image?

Generally, I believe we depict Jesus in our own image because we are ethnocentric and prideful.

We want to normalize and validate our own race, ethnicity, and/or history. Some times that comes with elements of power.

Although it isn’t a comfortable reality, a white Jesus normalizes Christianity as a “white man’s religion.”

Historically, within the American context this has been painstakingly true. Native-Americans/First Nationers, Black Americans, and Asian-Americans have struggled with the possibility of Christianity, partly because it meant that they would have to follow a “white man.”

Obviously, folks within these groups became and are Christians nonetheless, but Christianity’s presentation of Jesus was incorrect and a hindrance for many.

But this is not a “white issue.” It is a Christian issue. A lot happens when we create Jesus in our own image. We have Aryan depictions which fueled Nazi Germany & the KKK, We have Black depictions that form an Afro-centric/Black Power Christianity. We have European depictions that encouraged the Crusades.

We have Latino depictions that lead South Americans to violence.

Having a Jesus that looks like us makes us – even if not consciously – feel entitled to view our expression of faith as true, sometimes despite the unbiblical reality of our expression.

* I must establish that rich art is something different than normal depiction. For example, the artistic depiction of Jesus as an African-American slave says something much more than Jesus is Black.

In fact, it doesn’t say that at all. It says that Jesus can identify with the suffering of Black slaves in the United States and suffering as a whole. To depict Jesus as an Italian immigrant can speak of Jesus’ extraterrestrial alienation in this world.

It is not art that is of our concern. In fact, Jesus art should be celebrated.

We run into trouble when we normalize the race and ethnicity of Jesus to our own presuppositions rather than truth.

Does it matter what Jesus looks like?

Some say that Jesus’ physical appearance doesn’t matter, that it is superficial, but that isn’t reality.

Jesus’ social environment was impacted by his culture and his appearance.

Jesus was a Jew.

That means people treated him like a Jew.

We have a temptation to want to be nice and color-blind or ethnic-blind (probably a better fit, but not as catchy).

We wish we didn’t see difference, but that again isn’t reality. I am black, specifically African-American.

To assume that my ethnicity hasn’t shaped my perception of the world and the world’s response to me is preposterous.

My African-American”ness” doesn’t ultimately define me, but it is a part of who I am and who God made me.

Maybe you are European-American, maybe you are Kenyan, maybe you are Black Jamaican, maybe you are Chinese-American, etc.

Whatever ethnicity/race you are does not define you, but it is a part of your definition.

Jesus’ jewish”ness” connected him with humanity, with a people who had suffered, who had ruled, who had been in favor with God, and who had felt the hand of God.

Jesus dealt with – in neither an explicitly positive or negative way – being a Jew in a Roma

In tune with…

A place in the shade

social environment definition

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