Cultural Psychology - Lecture 4: Cross Cultural Psychology

Question 1

Cross-cultural psychology definition

Answer 1

Variance and invariance of human behaviour and mental processes under diverse cultural conditions.

Question 2

What does cross-cultural psychology compare?

Answer 2

Comparing the psychological functioning of peoples from different nations or ethnic groups (across different contexts)
-> Looking at similarities and differences across groups

Question 3

Difference between cultural psychology and cross-cultural psychology

Answer 3

Cultural psychology is understanding mental processes and behaviour of people within their cultural context, whereas cross-cultural psychology compares this across different cultural contexts

Question 4

What do emotions acts as?

Answer 4

They act as queue to understand how people are reacting to a particular situation but also display our own effective attitudes towards something

Question 5

What is the primary way of communication through?

Answer 5

Face

Question 6

Are emotions universal?

Answer 6

Yes - Evidence for universal basic emotional facial displays, but also evidence for cultural differences in emotional facial displays and interpretations
-> Some elements of emotions are present in all cultures - but differences are present as well

Question 7

Are complex emotions universal?

Answer 7

Complex emotions may be more culturally‐specific, or

there may be varying cultural display rules for emotions

Question 8

How does culture affect emotion?

Answer 8

Cultures in which we grew up in can influence how we display our emotion, so although we may have the same/similar physiological responses, our behavioural responses may differ

Question 9

How does language relate to emotion?

Answer 9

Languages that describe emotions or emotional
arousal we experience but don’t have words for in
English - Language can ascribe a lot of meaning to things we’re experiencing
-> Languages create meaning for a lot of the experiences we have which may not be shared across cultures, but can give us insight into meanings we’re trying to make for ourselves

Question 10

Write out individualism/collectivism table in terms of:
Concept of self
Interest
Independence/interdependence
Pursuit
Behaviour
Norm
4/3 normal qualities

Answer 10

Refer to slides

-Also is a continuum along which cultures/ppl may be range from being independent to inter-dependent

Question 11

Individualism/Collectivism and the self concept - 3 parts of the self concept

Answer 11

Idiocentric self-references, group cognitions, allocentric cognitions

Question 12

Idiocentric self-references

Answer 12

Personal qualities that don’t relate to others

Question 13

Group cognitions

Answer 13

References to group memberships or demographics

Question 14

Allocentric cognitions

Answer 14

Qualities of interdependence, interest in the viewpoints of others

Question 15

Does the individualism/collectivism of a nation apply to those of an individual too?

Answer 15

Not all ppl living in that nation follow the same way, as there are a variety of ethnicities in countries (like NZ) and may act in accordance with their ethnic culture, although people may act more individualist/collectivist in certain situations

Question 16

Limitations of cross-cultural psychology

Answer 16

• Cultural differences VS National differences?
• Ethnicity or Nation assumes Culture as a variable
• Group VS Individual level of analysis
• Assumptions of universality

Question 17

Limitations of cross-cultural psychology - Cultural differences VS National differences?

Answer 17

Depending on the way we are looking at something, we could explore cultural differences within a nation (e.g. different ethnic groups in NZ), or cultural differences across nations (e.g. NZ and Aus). This means if there is cultural variability within a nation, how can we be absolutely certain of cultural variability across nations.
-> The 2 nations may have same different ethnic groups in them so although within a nation there may be cultural differences, can’t really tell is there are national differences in terms of culture

Question 18

Limitations of cross-cultural psychology - Ethnicity or Nation assumes Culture as a variable

Answer 18

If we are comparing e.g. NZ and Aus, our independent variable in this instance would be Country (not culture). We are then assuming that if we find any differences that this is due to culture, but may not have anything specifically looking at culture. Eg. Let’s say we find a difference in a measure of self-esteem between adolescents in NZ and Australia. It would be problematic to assume that any differences we find are due to cultural differences in how self-esteem is culturally influenced, if we have no way of assessing different cultural values in relation to self-esteem.

Question 19

Limitations of cross-cultural psychology - Group VS Individual level of analysis

Answer 19

There are different levels at which we can do research e.g. National level, groups (e.g. a sample of 500 people), or individuals. We could potentially mask differences if our group definitions are too vague. For instance if we use a category such as “Asian” we may miss more nuanced differences for “Indian” and “Chinese”, likewise we can’t assume that all people within these groups have the same histories or cultural orientations.

Question 20

Limitations of cross-cultural psychology - Assumptions of universality

Answer 20

Ideas usually generated within a particular cultural context and then those ideas being transported around the world assuming its expressed in the same way across different cultures

Question 21

Acculturation

Answer 21

“the changes and consequences that occur for individuals as a result of crossing from one sociocultural context to another” (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2012, p.
673)
-> Acculturation is generally a 2 way process - when people come into country, change also occurs in host country (where people have moved to) as well as ppl adjusting to their new country

Question 22

Different types of acculturation

Answer 22

Acculturation Typologies / Strategies

Question 23

Acculturation - experiences for immigrants to host country

Answer 23

Experiences influenced by host country

-> Being able to see yourself within country means country does change

Question 24

Assimilation

Answer 24

High host culture acquisition and low home culture maintenance
What people want to see in a country and can be forced upon others -> People adopt themselves into different cultural context

Question 25

Separation

Answer 25

Low host culture acquisition and high home culture maintenance
Supporting on what you know more rather than orienting yourself to a new country/culture

Question 26

Integration

Answer 26

High host culture acquisition and high home culture maintenance
Able to be yourself and participate in new society - tend to be happier and better physical health outcomes

Question 27

Marginalised

Answer 27

Low host culture acquisition and low home culture maintenance
Move from one context to another and separated from their cultural values and that of host e.g. detention camp

Question 28

Is the model of acculturation choices people make?

Answer 28

Not necessarily, generally it’s due to societal influence
-> Generally people might adopt a range of those things depending on where they are in a particular time e.g. home vs work

Question 29

Ethnocentrism

Answer 29

People of one culture using their own values, standards, attitudes and behaviours as a yardstick against which
they judge the way others think and behave.

Question 30

Stereotypes

Answer 30

A belief (or set of beliefs) that all members of a group share the same attributes or traits
• More specific beliefs than general attitudes
• Cognitive - look at the way we think about the world

Question 31

Prejudice

Answer 31

Attitudes and feelings (+ve or –ve, conscious or unconscious) that people have about members of other
groups
• Affective (but also behavioural and cognitive) - way we feel

Question 32

Discrimination

Answer 32

Behaviours that follow from evaluations or attitudes towards members of other groups - behaviours manifested from prejudiced attitudes
• Behavioural - differential behaviour ppl make

Question 33

Intergroup relationships

Answer 33

Stereotype - cognitive - How do I categorise ppl?
Prejudice - affective - How do I feel about ppl?
Discrimination - Behavioural - How do I act towards ppl?
-> 3 behaviours are linked and this intergroup relationship influences how we understand others and how it influences our own understandings

Question 34

Racism

Answer 34

The pervasive and systematic assumption of the
inferiority of certain groups, as well as the different and
unfair treatment of those groups on the basis of that
assumed inferiority
-> can be both one-to-one also but social psychology focuses on group level

Question 35

Structural racism

Answer 35

“Macrolevel systems, social forces, institutions, ideologies, and processes that interact with one another to generate and reinforce inequities among racial and ethnic groups” (Gee & Ford, 2011)

Question 36

Example of structural racism

Answer 36

Wanting to submit assignment in Maori (can bc it’s an official language), you can do so, but makes it more difficult for people to express themselves in a different language/way due to extra paperwork etc
-> importance of having authentic representation of diversity within our different communities

Question 37

What is cross-cultural psychology the study of?

Answer 37

The study of how culture influences psychological processes