© 2013 Cengage Learning

OutlineOutline

Cultural Psychology – Psychology with a Cultural Perspective The Goals of Psychology Cultural Psychology and Cross-Cultural Research The Contribution of the Study of Culture on

Psychological Truths The Contribution of the Study of Culture in Our Own

Lives The Growth of Cultural Psychology and Cross-

Cultural Research

Outline (cont'd.)Outline (cont'd.)

What Is Culture? Where Does Culture Come From? A Definition of Culture Is Culture a Uniquely Human Product? The Difference Between "Society" and "Culture" Groups That Have Cultures Contrasting Culture, Race, Personality, and Popular

Culture

Outline (cont'd.)Outline (cont'd.)

The Contents of Culture Objective Elements Subjective Elements

How Does Culture Influence Human Behaviors and Mental Processes? Understanding Culture In Perspective: Universals and

Culture-Specifics Etics and Emics Changing Culture

The Goal of This Book

CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY – PSYCHOLOGY WITH A – PSYCHOLOGY WITH A

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

The Goals of PsychologyThe Goals of Psychology

Psychology is well-equipped to meet the challenge of cultural diversity First goal: build body of knowledge about people Second goal: take body of knowledge and apply it to

intervene in people's lives

Applied psychologists engage in lifelong learning process to help intervene in people's lives

Theories tested for validity both in science and on streets

Cultural Psychology and Cultural Psychology and Cross-Cultural ResearchCross-Cultural Research

WEIRDOS (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic cultures) are not representative of all humans

Is what we know about human behavior true for all people?

Cross-cultural research: tests cultural parameters of psychological knowledge Involves inclusion of people of different cultural

backgrounds

Cultural psychology: phenomenon of understanding cultural influences on behavior

The Contribution of the Study of The Contribution of the Study of Culture On Psychological TruthsCulture On Psychological Truths

Important to incorporate a cultural perspective in mainstream psychology

Knowledge created in psychology should be accurate and descriptive of all people

Cross-cultural research tests whether what is true for some is also true for others

Cultural diversity in findings and cultural differences in research are widespread

Multicultural psychology incorporates psychologies of cultures around world

The Contribution of the Study of The Contribution of the Study of Culture In Our Own LivesCulture In Our Own Lives

Practicing cultural psychology is an exercise in critical thinking: Is what we know true for all people regardless of their

cultural backgrounds? Under what conditions do differences occur, and

why? What is it about culture that produces such

differences? What factors other than culture contribute to these

differences?

The Growth of Cultural Psychology The Growth of Cultural Psychology and Cross-Cultural Researchand Cross-Cultural Research

Cultural psychology has made substantial impact in psychology worldwide

Popularity of cultural psychology due to importance of culture on behavior

Intercultural conflicts led to much interest in cross-cultural research

Theoretical models are increasingly incorporating culture

Increased interest in cultural psychology is a normal and healthy development

WHAT IS CULTURE?WHAT IS CULTURE?

What is Culture?What is Culture?

Many people use culture, race, nationality, and ethnicity interchangeably

Culture: Describes activities or behaviors Refers to heritage or tradition Describes rules and norms Describes learning or problem solving Defines organization of group Refers to origins of a group

Where Does Culture Come From?Where Does Culture Come From?

Ecology: types of places where people live has major impact on how they live

Resources: natural and monetary affect culture People: group living, needs, and motives

influence culture Universal psychological toolkit: aptitude and

cognitive abilities help people adapt to environment

Individuals differ in how much they have or use their toolkits, but all have similar toolkits

A Definition of Culture A Definition of Culture

Function of culture: Provides guidelines or roadmaps on what to do, how

to think, and what to feel Ways of living take advantage of toolkits to meet

basic human needs

Definition of culture: Unique information system, shared by group, and

transmitted across generations Allows group to meet basic needs, pursue well-being,

and derive meaning from life

CultureCulture

Culture is the human-made part of the environment.

Plus a process for transmitting it to future Generations

Culture is to society what memory is to individuals

Therefore - Culture is a shared pattern of beliefs, attitudes, norms, role perceptions, and values

Material and SubjectiveMaterial and Subjective

Material culture – Objects: clothes, food, houses, highways, tools, and machines.

Subjective culture – Rules: how to live properly, how to

behave in relation to objects and people.

Subjective cultureSubjective culture

Language and economic, educational, political, legal, philosophical and religious systems are important elements of culture.

Ideas about aesthetics, and people should value and how they should live

Some Elements of CultureSome Elements of Culture

Norms - ideas about behavior expected of members of a group Tight culture - people are expected to behave exactly

as specified by norms, are interdependent and supervised closely

Loose cultures - one can deviate from norms.

Roles – Norms for correct behavior of people who hold a position in a social group.

Values – Guide behaviors and desirable states of affairs.

ValuesValues 1. Self-direction: creativity, freedom, choosing own goals,

curious 2. Stimulation: a varied life, an exciting life, daring 3. Hedonism: pleasure, enjoying life. 4. Achievement: ambitious, successful, capable 5. Power: authority, wealth, social recognition 6. Security: social order, clean, health, sense of belonging 7. Conformity: obedient, self-disciplined, politeness 8. Tradition: respect for tradition, humble, devout 9. Benevolence: helpful, loyal, forgiving 10. Universalism: broadminded, social justice, world of beauty

Is Culture a Uniquely Human Is Culture a Uniquely Human Product?Product?

Many animals are social In animal societies, clear social networks and

hierarchies exist Many animals invent and use tools Many animals communicate with each other Characteristics of human life that differentiates it

from those of animals: complexity, differentiation, and institutionalization

The Difference Between "Society" The Difference Between "Society" and "Culture"and "Culture"

Society: system of interrelationships among people

Human societies are complex Culture: meanings and information that are

associated with social networks Human cultures give concept of family own

unique meaning Different human cultures assign different

meanings to family

Groups That Have CulturesGroups That Have Cultures

Nationality Language Ethnicity Gender Disability Sexual orientation

Contrasting Culture, Race, Contrasting Culture, Race, Personality, and Popular CulturePersonality, and Popular Culture

Race is more of social construction than biological essential

“Racial" differences are of little scientific or practical use

Personality: unique constellation of traits, attributes, qualities, and characteristics

Culture is relatively stable across individuals, whereas personality is vastly different

Popular culture does not involve sharing a wide range of psychological attributes

THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTENTS OF CULTURECULTURE

The Contents of Culture The Contents of Culture

Objective elements Architecture, clothes, foods, art, and eating utensils Mass media, music, Facebook, and Twitter

Subjective elements Values and beliefs

Norms: generally accepted standards of behavior for cultural group

Attitudes: evaluations of things occurring in ongoing thoughts

Worldviews: belief systems about world

HOW DOES CULTURE HOW DOES CULTURE INFLUENCE HUMAN INFLUENCE HUMAN

BEHAVIORS AND MENTAL BEHAVIORS AND MENTAL PROCESSES?PROCESSES?

How Does Culture Influence Human How Does Culture Influence Human Behaviors And Mental Processes? Behaviors And Mental Processes?

Culture influences psychological processes Enculturation: process of learning about one’s

culture beginning at birth Culture, situational context, and individual

factors influence mental processes System by which culture influences mental

processes is dynamic Relationship between culture and individual

behaviors is a reciprocal, dynamic one

Understanding Culture in Perspective: Understanding Culture in Perspective: Universals and Culture-SpecificsUniversals and Culture-Specifics

There are many psychological processes in which all humans engage

Attributions: ability to recognize others as intentional agents while drawing inferences

Because human cultures exist in unique environments, differences exist among cultures

Making attributions is universal, but people may differ in the way they make them

Same psychological process may be done differently when comparing human cultures

Etics and EmicsEtics and Emics

Etics: universal psychological processes Emics: culture-specific processes Each culture has had different combinations of

geography, climate, resources, precious culture, and contact with other cultures

People are very similar in their basic needs Cultures have long histories of having worked

for many generations

The Goal of This BookThe Goal of This Book

Raise questions about traditional, mainstream knowledge of human behavior

Determine if human behavior is applicable to people of all cultural backgrounds

Find better ways to understand differences Impart flavor of evolution in science and

knowledge Understand, appreciate, respect, and feel

cultural diversity and its influence on human behavior