Cultural Influences on Personality

Question 1

Define: Culture

Answer 1

A program of shared rules that govern behavior of members in a society (values and beliefs get passed down through generations)

Question 2

Define: Individualist Culture

Answer 2

• personal independence takes precedence over needs of the group
• the self is defined by personality traits or occupational terms

Question 3

Define: Collectivist Culture

Answer 3

• group harmony takes precedence over needs of the individual
• the self is defined by relationships and community

Question 4

In which culture is it harder for them to see through the eyes of another person?

Answer 4

Individualist

Question 5

Which culture encourages helpfulness over independence?

Answer 5

Collectivist

Question 6

Which culture has a more analytic style of cognition?

Answer 6

Individualist

Question 7

Which culture places importance on “playing your social roles” to promote harmony, and believes in a flexible personality?

Answer 7

Collectivist

Question 8

Which culture proves to have the least altruistic (unselfish), and most egoistic (seeking attention) children?

Answer 8

American culture

Question 9

How do people regard time in the individualist culture compared to collectivist culture?

Answer 9

Individualist time:

• precious commodity
• being late is a sign of disrespect
• multitasking is enforced

Collectivist time:

• friends and family take precedence over appointments
• time being more important than a person is unthinkable

Question 10

Define: Culture of Honor, which started out in the American South

Answer 10

• emphasis on male aggressiveness and vigilance, originating in “herding” cultures
• small disputes put a man’s reputation on the line, requiring him to restore his status through violence

Question 11

Compare: northerners and southerners in their reactions to aggression

Answer 11

• northerners respond more calmly to direct insults

- southerners are more prone to aggression when faced with a direct insult

Question 12

Who has better overall manners? Northerners or Southerners?

Answer 12

Southerners

Question 13

What problem do Cultural Psychologists face?

Answer 13

Describing cultural influences on personality in a way that does not oversimplify or imply stereotypes.