a2 psychology – issues and debates psychology and cultural differences
TRANSCRIPT
A2 PSYCHOLOGY – ISSUES AND DEBATES
Psychology and cultural differences
USE YOUR MINI WHITEB OARDS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
I have chosen some answers that I think are
particularly good. If you come up with one of those
answers you would have received a cake (had I
remembered to bring them)!
The cup cake icon will appear next to the answers
which are to be rewarded.
CROSS CULTURAL STUDIES
We have looked mainly at studies carried out in the
US and UK. Write on your board any studies/topic
areas which you consider to be cross cultural.
The definition of mental illness in other countries
Pavlov’s dogs !
Obedience studies - Meeus and Raajamkers
Charlton – effects of media on children
ETHNOCENTRISM
Write a definition of ethnocentrism on your board.
Ethnocentrism is a type of bias and it means being focused on
one’s own culture.
It is impossible to avoid.
It links to Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory. Social norms
and rules are part of our socialisation and people are likely to
understand information and view people using their own cultural
understanding and schema.
UNDERSTANDING BIAS IN ORDER TO AVOID IT
We must try to understand someone else’s world to
avoid bias and be aware of our own biases.
It is important to be aware of ethnocentrism when
diagnosing disorders. Hearing voices may indicate
schizophrenia here but in other parts of the world it
is considered to be a spiritual experience.
AN EXAMPLE OF CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH
Littlewood & Lipsedge (1997) have suggested there is bias in the system, not a greater vulnerability in certain groups in society.
They describe the case of Calvin, a Jamaican man arrested for arguing with the police when a post-office clerk wrongly believed he was cashing a stolen
postal order. After he was arrested the psychiatric report noted: “This man belongs to Rastafarian - a mystical Jamaican cult, the members of which think they are God-like. The man has ringlet hair, a straggly goatee beard and a type of turban. He appears eccentric in his appearance and very vague in answering questions. He is an irritable character and has got arrogant behaviour." As written by a British prison psychiatrist.•A psychiatrist must have knowledge of cultural factors before making a diagnosis e.g. in Puerto Rican
culture believing that evil spirits can possess a person is a general belief, not schizophrenia!
When testing a non-English speaker in English, the differences in language cause assumptions to be made.
CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH
What is the benefit of cross cultural research?
It can show whether characteristics are universal or
unique to a particular culture
This shows whether nature or nurture is responsible
for that characteristic
EVALUATION OF CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH
Write down one strength and one weakness of cross cultural
research.
Strengths
Universal behaviours and characteristics can be uncovered
Cross cultural research can identify different approaches to
certain issues between cultures. What is seen as useful in one
culture can be introduced in another
EVALUATION OF CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH
Weaknesses
The methodology may be more appropriate to one
culture than another. This could affect the findings.
The data may be interpreted differently because of
the cultural background of the researcher.
READ P164-165 TEXT BOOK
Ensure you have made notes on the meaning of
cultural relativity and that you can give an example.
How can you use Littlewood (1997) as evidence of
the usefulness of cross cultural research?
Q U E S T I O N F O R W O R K S H O P : T O B E R E V I S E D A N D W R I T T E N A S A T I M E D E S S A Y
Describe two examples of the application of cross-
cultural studies in Psychology and discuss the
potential effect of cultural bias in their interpretation
(12 marks)