cross-cultural psychology
DESCRIPTION
Cross-Cultural Psychology. Psychology 3053.001 Raymond T. Garza, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Spring 2010 M.W. 4:00-5:15 http://www.utsa.edu/lhri/PSY3053.html. Cross-Cultural Psychology: Introduction and Overview. How does culture affect human behavior? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Cross-Cultural PsychologyCross-Cultural Psychology
Psychology 3053.001Raymond T. Garza, Ph.D.Professor of Psychology
Spring 2010M.W. 4:00-5:15
http://www.utsa.edu/lhri/PSY3053.html
Cross-Cultural Psychology: Cross-Cultural Psychology: Introduction and OverviewIntroduction and Overview
How does culture affect human behavior?
Is psychology relevant in developing countries?
How do child-rearing practices differ across cultures?
Do multi-cultural work groups perform well in organizations?
Is crossing cultures stressful? What methods should you use for
conducting cross-cultural research?
Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives
Examine the role of culture in the development and validation of psychological theories at the conceptual level.
Increase awareness and understanding of the critical issues in the application of psychological theories developed in the United States and Western Europe to other cultural groups, including ethnic minority subgroups in the United States and elsewhere.
Course Objective Course Objective (continued)(continued)
Examine the cultural appropriateness of various research methods and procedures.
Examine the role of culture in personality and social development.
Review cultural issues in specific content areas including human developmental processes, inter-group relations and communication, leadership and organizational behavior, and clinical assessment and treatment.
Overarching TopicsOverarching Topics
Defining culture Factors that influence culture Groups that have cultures Contrasting culture, race, personality and
popular culture The psychological contents of culture How does culture influence human
behaviors and mental processes? The contribution of the study of culture
What is Culture?What is Culture?
We use “culture” to describe and explain a broad range of activities, behaviors, events and structures
Descriptive, historical, normative, psychological, structural, genetic
General characteristics, food & clothing, housing & technology, economy & transportation, individual & family activities, community & government, welfare, religion & science, sex & life cycle
As a result, much confusion and ambiguity
One of the most well-known and quoted often definitions was put forth by Kroeber & Kluckholm (1952):
“Culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiments of artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e., historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may on one hand be considered as products of action, on the other as conditioning elements of further action” (p. 181).
THE STUDY OF CULTURE THE STUDY OF CULTURE IN PSYCHOLOGYIN PSYCHOLOGY
Cross-Cultural Research and PsychologyCross-Cultural Research and Psychology
Most theories in psychology are based on studies with American university students
Do these theories hold true for all people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, class or lifestyle?
In part, Cross-Cultural Psychology attempts to answer this question by studying the attitudes and behavior of people from differing cultural backgrounds.
Cross-Cultural Research and PsychologyCross-Cultural Research and Psychology
Elements of cross-cultural psychology
Research method employed test the cultural parameters of psychological knowledge by comparing data from participants from more than one cultural background.
Cross-cultural psychology is scientific paradigm based on a philosophy of science
Not topic specific
Cross-Cultural Research and PsychologyCross-Cultural Research and Psychology
Scientific contribution of Cross-cultural Psychology
Tests limitations of our knowledge in psychology by examining whether theories are universal or culture-specific.
Promotes methodological change in psychological research by examining the impact variations in cultural background of the samples being studied.
The Growth of Cross-Cultural The Growth of Cross-Cultural PsychologyPsychology
Cross-cultural psychology has had a substantial impact on psychology worldwide, especially in the in the past two decade.
In part, this popularity is due to increased awareness of importance of culture and increasing frequency of intercultural conflicts.
Lately there has been a significant increase in the number of cross-cultural studies published in cross-cultural and culture and psychology journals, and increasingly, in top-tier mainstream journals.
Figure 1.1Figure 1.1
Number of publications
400
800
1200
1600
1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003
Publication year
Num
ber
Proportion of publications
0.000
0.005
0.010
0.015
0.020
0.025
1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003
Publication year
Pro
port
ion
Number of publications
400
800
1200
1600
1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003
Publication year
Num
ber
Proportion of publications
0.000
0.005
0.010
0.015
0.020
0.025
1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003
Publication year
Pro
port
ion
Where do we Start?Where do we Start? What are its theoretical underpinnings?
Is culture real?
Can it be studied scientifically?
What role can it play in the overall development of the field of psychology?
Where does culture come from?Where does culture come from?
Figure 1.2
Human Nature and Culture
Universal Biological Needs and Functions
Universal Social Motives
Context
Cultureadapta
tion
Where does culture come from?Where does culture come from?
In order to survive, biological needs (e.g. reproduction, eating AND social motives (e.g. negotiating complex hierarchies) must be met.
All humans need to come up with solutions on how to adapt to environment to address needs and motives – environmental adaptation involves culture.
Where does culture come from?Where does culture come from?
These solutions are dependent on context (e.g. physical environment, social factors, types & sizes of families and communities).
Where does culture come from?Where does culture come from?
Solutions to these challenges require manifestations of culture
Product of interaction between universal biological needs, social motives and context
Solution to the problem of individual’s adaptation to their contexts to address their social motives and biological needs
Is culture a uniquely human product?Is culture a uniquely human product?
Many aspects of human culture are shared with other animals
Therefore culture is NOT uniquely human product
What is unique about human culture?What is unique about human culture?
Unique human skills 1) Language
2) Complex social cognition
3) Ratchet effect
As a result, human cultures have three characteristics: complexity, differentiation, institutionalization
Humans evolved to have human culture
The difference between society and The difference between society and cultureculture
Society is “a system of interrelationships among people” Both humans and non-human animals have society
Culture embodies meanings and information associated with social networks Humans give social groups unique meaning Non-humans do not have human culture associated
with social groups
Factors Influencing CultureFactors Influencing Culture
Ecological Factors geography, climate, natural resources
Social Factors population density, affluence, technology,
government, media, religion
Biological Factors temperament, personality
A Meta-theoretical A Meta-theoretical FrameworkFramework
How can we categorize the various systems and variables that make up culture?
1. The Ecology:
- physical environment, resources, geography.
2. The Subsistence System: methods of exploitation of the ecology
to survive – agriculture, fishing, gathering, industrial work.
A Framework…A Framework…3. The Socio-cultural System:
institutions, roles, norms and values as they exist outside the individual.
4. The Individual System: perception, learning, subjective
culture, including the perception of elements of the cultural system.
5. The Inter-individual System:- patterns of social behavior, including child rearing methods.
Groups that have CultureGroups that have Culture
Nationality Country of origin and each country has own culture
(as well as subcultures)
Ethnicity Racial, national or cultural origins
Gender Behaviors society/culture deems appropriate for men
and women
Groups that have CultureGroups that have Culture
Disability Some type of physical impairment in senses, limb, or
other parts of bodies
Sexual Orientation Person with whom one forms sexual relationships