Culture bias Flashcards
Where does most research and key studies come from?
The USA
In 1992, 64% of the world’s Psychology researchers were American.
Cultural bias
A tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena through the lens of one’s own culture.
Cultural relativism
The idea that a behaviour can only be properly understood in the context of the norms and values of the society or culture in which it occurs.
Ethnocentrism
The belief that one culture is inherently superior or ‘better’ than others. This manifests as behaviours not matching the Western norms being seen as deviant or inferior.
Universality
The belief behaviours are the same for all cultures and can be applied equally across the globe.
Imposed etic
Looks at behaviours from outside of a culture, trying to apply universal laws.
Emic approaches
Studies cultures from within, looking at what behaviours are specific to a culture.
Individualistic
•Value independence
•Focus on the individual
•Value freedom
•Individual goals
•Self-actualisation
Collectivist
•Value togetherness
•Focus on the group
•Value working together
•Meeting the goals of the group
•Wider community focus
Ways to overcome culture bias
•Don’t attempt to apply findings/theories to cultures that aren’t represented in the research sample
•Taking a reflexive approach
•Carry out cross-cultural research rather than research either a sole culture
Research support
P: Research has found there are some universal features of human behaviour.
E: Elkman suggests that facial expressions and emotions are the same all over the world.
T: This means not all behaviours are culturally relative.
Contradictory research
P: There is also contradictory research into the different between collectivist and individualistic cultures.
E: Takano and Osaka analysing 15 studies comparing an individualist culture and a collectivist culture and found no evidence of difference in behaviour in 14 of them.
T: This suggests cultural differences may not be as big a factor in research as previously thought.
Too simplistic
P: The division between individualistic cultures and collectivist cultures is too simplistic.
E: Due to globalisation, many cultures around the world have become interconnected and adopt aspects of other cultures. For example, in the UK there are many individuals living here today who are originally from collectivist cultures and bring parts of their culture to the UK with them.
T: It’s not appropriate anymore to assume all of the UK adopt individualistic values.
