Culture & Theory :Culture & Theory Fall 2005


Outline :Outline History of (cross) cultural psychology. Reasons why mainstream psychology is resistant to incorporate culture. Theories of how culture is viewed in psychology. Different fields of studies in psychology that examine the role of cultural variables.


When did (cross) cultural psychology begin? :When did (cross) cultural psychology begin? Mainstream Psychology (1900’s) Ethnocentric beliefs and values (i.e. White, middle-upper class, heterosexual, male view). Research participants limited to White, male, middle-upper class, heterosexual, male. Ironically...support for the important role of culture in the field.


When did (cross) cultural psychology begin? :When did (cross) cultural psychology begin? 1972: International Association of C-C psychology established. Thereafter...Ethnic Minority Psychology, Multicultural Psychology


Slide 5:To what extent do we now recognize cultural variables in the study of mainstream psychology?


Cultural Psychology Journals :Cultural Psychology Journals


Cognition :Cognition


Motivation :Motivation


Emotion :Emotion


Resistance to Studying Cultural Variation in Psychology :Resistance to Studying Cultural Variation in Psychology 1. science (psychology) based on reductionism 2. Lack of cultural contact 3. Fear of creating or reinforcing stereotypes 4. Rejection of the historic American goal of assimilation 5. The dominant political and economical power of the U.S. in the world


1. Science (psychology) based on reductionism :1. Science (psychology) based on reductionism Focus on (over)simplification Simplification  ignore cultural variability Challenge in obtaining diverse sample


2. Lack of cultural contact :2. Lack of cultural contact Fish out of water metaphor Myopic perspective until we encounter people from another culture Myopic lens  neglect focus on cultural variations


2. Lack of cultural contact (cont) :2. Lack of cultural contact (cont) Ethnocentrism: tendency to view the world through one’s own cultural filters. Flexible ethnocentrism: ethnocentric thoughts learned to be put on hold,however temporarily, based on cultural filters; others’ behaviors can be interpreted from others’ perspective (empathy). Inflexible ethnocentrism: inability to go outside own perspective and view behavior of others from others’ cultural perspectives.


3. Fear of creating or reinforcing stereotypes :3. Fear of creating or reinforcing stereotypes Ignore cultural variability due to fear of creating/reinforcing stereotypes; promoting discrimination. Fine distinction: “color/culture blind” vs. “not stereotyping”


4. Rejection of the historic U.S. goal of assimilation :4. Rejection of the historic U.S. goal of assimilation Recognizing cultural differences = rejection of goal of “assimilation” ???? U.S. society’s subscription to the “Melting Pot Theory.”


5. The dominant political and economical power of the U.S. in the world :5. The dominant political and economical power of the U.S. in the world U.S. power has contributed to independence and often to an isolationist stance. U.S. way = best way Psychology reflects this political stance.


Resistance to Studying Cultural Variation in Psychology :Resistance to Studying Cultural Variation in Psychology 1. science (psychology) based on reductionism 2. Lack of cultural contact 3. Fear of creating or reinforcing stereotypes 4. Rejection of the historic American goal of assimilation 5. The dominant political and economical power of the U.S. in the world


Slide 18:How do we study culture in psychology?


Orientations in studying “culture” :Orientations in studying “culture” ABSOLUTISM: Assumption: underlying common (“true”) nature to all human beings. Treats cultural variation as a “nuisance” in attempt to establish iron-clad “laws” of human behavior. RELATIVISM: Assumption: human behaviors only exist and function within a given sociocultural environment. Human behavior has no meaning without cultural context. UNIVERSALISM: Assumption: recognizes need for both culture-general and culture-specific stance in understanding human behavior.


Slide 20:Emphasis on Cultural Context Emphasis on Commonalities in Human Experience Limited possibility for systematic explanation of human nature. ABSOLUTISM RELATIVISM UNIVERSALISM NO YES NO YES


Three orientations to culture and psychology :Three orientations to culture and psychology Biological Biological and Cultural Cultural Limited Substantial Substantial


Three orientations to culture and psychology (cont.) :Three orientations to culture and psychology (cont.) Species-wide Basic processes Species-wide Basic processes Generally unexamined Non-cultural factors Culture- organism interactions Cultural influences Directly available Difficult to achieve Usually impossible


Mainstream Psychology :Mainstream Psychology Generally, absolutist perspective - ignores importance of cultural variables Theories developed and generalized without consideration of cultural factors Testing theories via experiments and instruments that do not incorporate ethnic minorities


Cultural Psychology :Cultural Psychology Relativist point of view. Focuses on interrelationships among behaviors within a specific culture; not concerned with cross-cultural comparisons. Use of qualitative research methods (i.e. interview, case studies)


Slide 25:Cross-Cultural Psychology Critical and comparative study of cultural effects on human psychology (Shiraev, 2001). Minimum of two cultural groups Attempts to understand if psychological principles are “culture-general” or “culture specific” (Matsumoto, 2000). Striving towards identifying universal principles of human behavior. Universalism point of view.


Cross-Cultural Psych Methodology :Cross-Cultural Psych Methodology TOP-DOWN APPROACH: Begin with a phenomenon observed in the study of culture and apply it cross-culturally to test theories of human behavior (Betancourt & Lopez, 1993).


Indigenous Psychology :Indigenous Psychology Subdomain of C-C psychology Universalist point of view Utilizes concepts and methods that arise from within the culture of interest (Kim& Berry, 1993). Bottom-Up Approach: Begin with a phenomenon observed in the study of culture and apply it cross-culturally to test theories of human behavior.


Multicultural Psychology :Multicultural Psychology Recognition of equality for all cultural and national groups. Promotes various cultural groups’ right to follow own unique paths of development and unique activities, values, norms Lean more toward Relativism


Ethnic Minority Psychology :Ethnic Minority Psychology Study of behavior and experiences of members of specific ethnic minority groups. Applied primarily to the psychologies of historically marginalized groups in North America.


Putting It All Together :Putting It All Together Absolutism Universalism Relativism Cross-Cultural Psychology Indigenous Psychology Cultural Psychology Mainstream Psychology