culture psy ch1

An Introduction to An Introduction to Culture and Psychology Culture and Psychology

Chapter 1

The Goals of PsychologyThe Goals of Psychology

Create body of knowledge about people

Applying knowledge to improve people’s lives

Cross-Cultural Research and PsychologyCross-Cultural Research and Psychology

Most theories in psychology based on studies with American university students

Cross-cultural research involves the inclusion of people of different cultural backgrounds (gender, race, ethnicity, culture, class or lifestyle)

Cross-cultural research tests whether people of different cultures are similar or different

Cross-Cultural Research and PsychologyCross-Cultural Research and Psychology

Tests possible limitations in our knowledge; examines whether psychological theories and principles are universal (true for all people of all cultures) or culture-specific (true for some people of some cultures)

The Growth of Cross-Cultural The Growth of Cross-Cultural PsychologyPsychology

Cross-cultural psychology has made substantial impact in psychology worldwide in the past decade or two

Popularity of cross-cultural psychology is due to increased awareness of importance of culture and frequency of intercultural conflicts

Six general categories used to define “culture”Six general categories used to define “culture”

Descriptive highlights different types of activities or behaviors associated with a culture

Historical refers to the heritage and tradition associated with a group of people

Normative describes the rules and norms of the culture

Psychological emphasizes learning, problem solving, other beh approaches of the culture

Structural emphasizes organizational elements of the culture

Genetic refers to the origins of the culture

Where does culture come from?Where does culture come from?

In order to survive, people had to meet biological needs (e.g. reproduction, eating) AND social motives (e.g. negotiating complex hierarchies, attracting mates, child rearing )

Universal need to come up with solutions on how to adapt to environment to address our biological needs and social motives

Where does culture come from?Where does culture come from?

These solutions dependent on context (e.g. physical environment, social factors, types & sizes of families and communities).

What is unique about human culture?What is unique about human culture?

Unique human skills 1) Language (promotes inter/intracommunication)

2) Complex social cognition

-executive functioning of brain

-cause and effect

-morality

3) Ratchet effect: advance/improve culture by constantly moving forward

What is unique about human culture?What is unique about human culture?

Humans have evolved to have human culture

Human cultures ensure a great diversity in life

Increased diversity greatly aids in survival

The difference between society and The difference between society and cultureculture

Large distinction between society and culture

Society is “a system of interrelationships among people” Both humans and non-human animals have society

Culture is meanings and information associated with social networks Humans give social groups unique meaning

Factors Influencing CultureFactors Influencing Culture

Ecological Factors Geography

Climate (i.e., clothes worn, food eaten, diseases/infections, weather-related activities

Natural resources(i.e., land void of natural resources encourages teamwork)


Social Factors Population density (high density require more social order)

Affluence (promotes greater independence)

Technology (work globalization; isolation)

Government (limit/expand interdependence)

Media (expand world view)

Religion (support system)


Biological Factors Temperament

Personality

Groups that have CultureGroups that have Culture

Nationality Country of origin and each country has own culture

(as well as subcultures) Unique sociocultural history, government, economic

base

Ethnicity Common racial, nationality, geographic origin,

culture, or language

Groups that have CultureGroups that have Culture

Gender Behaviors society/culture deems appropriate for men

and women

Disability Some type of physical impairment in senses, limb, or

other parts of bodies

Sexual Orientation Person with whom one forms sexual relationships

Culture and RaceCulture and Race

Race is not culture

Race is a social construction

Boundaries & definition of race different for different cultures

Need clear understanding of underlying causes of similarities and differences observed between races

Psychological ContentsPsychological Contents

Hofstede’s cultural dimensions p20

Schwartz’s values p20

Leung and Bond’s Social Axioms p21

Hofstede’s Cultural DimensionsHofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

Individualism: responsible for self, immediate fam

United States, Australia, Great Britain, Canada

country-wealthy Collectivism: members responsible for the entire

group;

Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Taiwan;

country-poor


Power Distance

-low power distance culture 1) general feeling of equality 2) certain distrust for authority

-high power distance culture 1) direct confrontation and assertiveness, 2) great respect for authority 3) rely more on symbols of power (Dr., Chef, Professor)


Uncertainty Avoidance

-degree to which people feel threatened by

the unknown

-develop beliefs, rituals, institutions to avoid

fears


Masculinity, Femininity

-Masculine cultures emphasize success;

socialize people to be assertive, ambitious, competitive

-Feminine cultures emphasize the quality of life and close interpersonal relationships;

socialize people to be modest


Long, Short Term Orientation

-degree to which culture encourages

delayed gratification of material, social and

emotional needs

Schwartz’s ValuesSchwartz’s Values

Embeddedness: degree culture

-emphasizes maintenance of status quo

-fosters social order, respect for tradition,

family security, and self-discipline

Hierarchy: degree culture

-legitimacy of social power, authority,

humility or wealth


Mastery: degree cultures

-emphasize getting ahead through active self-

assertion

-fosters ambition, success, competence

Intellectual Autonomy: degree cultures

-promote and protect independent ideas and rights

to pursue intellectual interests

-fosters curiosity, broadmindedness, creativity


Affective Autonomy: degree cultures

-promote and protect independent pursuit of

positive experiences

-fosters pleasure, exciting life

Egalitarianism: degree cultures

-emphasize transcending selfish interests

-fosters equality, social justice, freedom,

responsibility, honest


Harmony: degree cultures

-emphasize fitting in with the environment

-fosters unity, protecting environment

Leung and Bond’s Social AxiomsLeung and Bond’s Social Axioms

Dynamic externality: outward-oriented,

simplistic grappling with external forces

-high: more collectivistic, conservative;

-high unemployment, less freedom, fewer human-

rights activities;

-high aspiration for security, material resources,

longer life

Leung and Bond’s Social AxiomsLeung and Bond’s Social Axioms

Societal cynicism: predominately cognitive

apprehension or pessimism of the world

-high: people are surrounded by negative

outcomes;

suppressed by powerful others

Behavior and WorldviewsBehavior and Worldviews

Cultural worldviews: Culturally specific belief systems (attitudes,

beliefs, opinions and values) about the world

Having cultural worldviews is universal but content of it is culture specific

Cultural worldviews and behavior are sometimes not related to each other

Therefore cultural differences in worldview may or may not be associated with cultural differences in behavior

Understanding culture in perspective: Understanding culture in perspective: universals and culture-specificsuniversals and culture-specifics

Universals: psychological processes in which all humans engage

Ex) all humans make attributions about reasons underlying human behavior

Culture-specifics: differences among cultures dues to specific, unique environments of cultures

Ex) different cultures may differ in the way they make attributions

Cultural influences on behavior and Cultural influences on behavior and mental processesmental processes

This system is dynamic and interrelated

Although culture is an important factor influencing behavior so are other factors like personality, context

Depending on context, cultural influences on behavior may change

culture psy ch1

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