Culture And Personality Flashcards
is a broad concept
that refers to many aspects of an individual’s unique
characteristics. We define as a set of
relatively enduring characteristics, traits, or
predispositions that people take with them to different
contexts and that contribute to unique individual
differences
“Personality”
is a characteristic or quality distinguishing a
person. It refers to a consistent pattern of behavior,
feelings, and thoughts that a person would usually
display in relevant circumstances
trait
According to Allport, an individual’s personality is
influenced by their ___________ this was a groundbreaking hypothesis.
childhood experiences, present
environment, and the interaction between the two
concepts;
However, the psychology of personality that Allport was
pursuing is inherently _______, an approach that
emphasizes individuality. Strictly speaking, no two
people can have exactly the same trait. Thus, all traits
are inherently individual traits.
idiographic
MAJOR PERSPECTIVES IN THE STUDY OF
PERSONALITY ACROSS CULTURES
Physical Anthropology
Cross-Cultural Perspective
Cultural Indigenous Perspective
This perspective forms the basis of the notion of a
“national character,” which refers to the perception that
each culture has a modal personality type and that most
persons in that culture share aspects of it.
Physical Anthropology
This perspective views personality as something discrete
and separate from culture, and as an etic or universal
phenomenon that is equivalently relevant and
meaningful across cultures (which allows for
comparisons to be made).
Cross-Cultural Perspective
This perspective views personality as developed in a
particular culture and found only in a specific culture;
personality and culture are not separate entities, but are
mutually constituted with each other.
Cultural Indigenous Perspective
The perception that each culture has a modal
personality type, and that most persons in that culture
share aspects of it.
NATIONAL CHARACTER
Constellations of personality traits and characteristics
found only in a specific culture. They are
conceptualizations of personality developed in a
particular culture that are specific and relevant only to
that culture.
INDIGENOUS PERSONALITIES
, there’s a focus on
community and interdependence
collectivist cultures
cultures emphasize personal agency and independence
such as Cultural narratives, Communication styles, and
Cultural values.
individualistic
: Personality is shaped by the
culture you grow up in, including its values and
beliefs.
Cultural Influence
How you see yourself is
influenced by the stories and norms of your
culture.
Self-Identity:
: Some
cultures value teamwork and community
(collectivist), while others prioritize personal
freedom and self-reliance (individualistic).
Interdependence vs. Independence
: Societal rules guide how we
behave and express traits like assertiveness or
cooperation.
Cultural Scripts
: Family and community teach us
cultural values that shape our personality traits.
Socialization
: Being able to adjust your
personality in different cultural settings is
important for social interactions.
Adaptability
Core values from your culture influence
what traits you develop, like loyalty or ambition.
Values and
Beliefs
Different cultures have unique
ways of expressing emotions, affecting traits like
empathy and emotional control.
Emotional Expression
Cultures differ in how
people communicate (directly or indirectly),
impacting personality development.
Communication Styles:
are conceptualizations of
personality developed in a particular culture that are
specific and relevant only to that culture. Not only are
concepts of personality rooted in and derived from the
particular cultural group under question, but the methods
used to test and examine those concepts are also
specific to that culture.
Indigenous personalities
of personality are important because they give us a glimpse of how each culture
believes it is important to carve up their psychological
world.
Indigenous conceptions
Berry and colleagues (1992) examined three indigenous
personality as consisting of
FIRST LAYER
SECOND LAYER
THIRD LAYER
found at the core of the person and personality,
embodies a spiritual principle.
FIRST LAYER
involves a psychological vitality principle.
SECOND LAYER
involves physiological vitality principle.
THIRD LAYER
postulated amae as a core concept of
Japanese personality –
Doi (1973)
“sweet”.
refers to a passive, childlike dependence of one
person on another rooted in mother-child relationships.
Amae
Different cultures also have specific concepts that are
crucial to understanding individuals in their culture.
These include the;
● Korean - cheong (human affection)
● Filipino - pakikipagkapwa (shared identity)
○ pakikiramdam (sensitivity, empathy)
○ pakikisama (going along with others)
● Indian - hishkami karma (detachment)
● Chinese - ren qing (relationship orientation)
● Mexican - simpatia (harmony, avoidance of
conflict)
Two Domains of Personality
Involving Traits
Involving identity
are more enduring aspects of a person’s
personality, referring to underlying dispositions for
thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Involving Traits
loose term that refers to perceived
roles in life, aggregate role and life experiences,
narratives, values, motives, and the conceptualization
and understanding of oneself, should be less influenced
by biology and more influenced by culture because
these are in large part cultural constructions of the
meaning and value of one’s thoughts, feelings, and
actions.
Involving identity
are endorsed
even implicitly across cultures, supporting a universal
perspective, while there are cross cultural differences in
self perceptions of traitedness, which supports an
indigenous perspective (Church et al., 2006;Church et
al., 2008).
traits
