Cross-Cultural Psychology

Question 1

Describe how membership, influence, integration and fulfilment of needs, and shared emotional connection lead to a sense of community (David McMillan and David Chavis 1986).

Answer 1

There are a number of factors that influence whether a group feels a sense of community. McMillan and Chavis (1986) suggest four key factors that make a community: membership; influence; shared emotional connection; and integration and fulfilment of needs.

Question 2

consider what is meant by culture

Answer 2

Culture is the rituals, beliefs and values that are instilled in an individual based on their group membership. These include religious beliefs, shared rituals and events, and ways of thinking

Question 3

Distinguish between multriculturalism and pluralism

Answer 3

Multiculturalism is where people form many different cultures coexist and live by one set of rules for all. Pluralism is where two or more cultures exist in the same location, but keep their own rules, traditions and rituals.

Question 4

exaime the psychological challanges of immigration, including culture shock, acculturation and assimilation

Answer 4

Immigration occurs when people move from their native land to a new country or place. There are various psychological challanges that can occur during and as a result of immigration.
Culture shock: is the name given to how people may feel when they move to a new place, and refers to the psychological difficulties experienced when cultural expectations and values in the new place are different to what they are used to.
Assimilation: is the acceptence and adoption of the host culture’s beliefs and values.
Acculturation: occur when the minority culture is able to keep aspects of its culture, rather than give up everything.

Question 5

Consider how culture diversity can sometime be a source of conflict, with reference to prejudice expressed as racism (implict and explicit)

Answer 5

Cultural diversity is the range of cultural norms or cultural traditions that exist within society. Cultural diversity can be beneficial, but it can also be detrimental if conflicts arise, which could result in racism. Racism is discrimination against individuals based on their race.

Question 6

describe ways to reduce prejucdice, with reference to intergroup contact, superordinate goals, mutual interdependence and equality (equal-status contact)

Answer 6

Intergroup contact: increasing opportunities for the two group that have prejucdice against each other to have contact with one another
Sustained contact: Lengthening the amount of contact time between groups that feel prejucdice against each other
Superordinate goals: Goals that are common to both groups that feel prejudice towards one another
Mutual interdependence: The superordinate goal must require both groups working together to succeed in a common goal.
Equality: Neither group must have more power than the other.