L11 Culture and SWB Flashcards
What is culture?
More than dress of food- deeper
Many define as basically everything about a group- norms, values, behaviors and practices, beliefs that a group shares
Fish don’t notice the water- you don’t notice your culture
America
Conformists?
Ads- being happy advice
- uniqueness vs. fitting in
Pen experiment
Kids choosing a pen from a collection
Asians vs. Californians
- Asians will chose the pens that are one of many
- Californians will chose the pen that is different
Imperialist approach to culture
Contrasting your culture with others’ culture
- your culture is always “better”
Complete relativism
Anthropology- until recently
Franz Boas & Margaret Mead
No such thing as good or bad culture- all can only be understood from own view
No universals- each is unique
No well-being- what it is will differ completely form culture to culture
Cultural relativism vs. “sick” cultures
Relativistic view
- all cultures are equal, can only judge from within, can’t compare them
- Boaz and Mead
Broad human needs view
- universal causes of SWB based on fulfilling universal needs
- some cultures are better than others for human flourishing
- Edgerton
Broad Human Needs View
Robert Edgerton
- universal causes of SWB based on fulfilling universal needs
- some cultures are better than others for human flourishing
Newer wave
There are many universals
- names, groups, rituals, etc
But there are also better and worse societies
- ex. Nazis
- Edgerton
Differences in mean levels of SWB between cultures
Income differences, r=0.80 Positive affect - lower in Africa and Asia Negative affect - higher in South America and Middle East Life satisfaction also differs by group - multimillionaires, amish (in diff locations), maasai, sex workers, homeless, mental patients, etc - neutral pt is 4
Cultural universals in the causes
Basic needs Social support Mastery and growth Autonomy ? (Self-determination theory) Purpose in life? - weaker in poor nations
Differences in causes of SWB between cultures
Individualistic
- Self-esteem
- Consistency across situations
- Own feelings
Collectivistic
- Judgments of friends
- Situational norms of how to be
Differences in the composition of SWB between cultures
What feelings are valued?
Extreme relativism – no cross-cultural comparisons are possible, as the concepts, labels and words, etc. are completely different. “Emotions” is only a social construction.
What is well-being – even the meaning of that varies
Measurement challenges
Literacy and survey literacy Word meaning, translation Response differences – humility, avoiding extremes, social desirability, etc. Different patterns or composition
Geography
Life satisfaction
- high in Europe
Positive affect
- high in Latin America, Laos, Iceland and Canada
Low negative affect
- Asia (and Austria)
Asia
low positive and low negative affect
Latin America
high positive and high negative
Africa
low positive affect
Middle East
high negative affect, bad life satisfaction?
low positive affect?
Europe
high life satisfaction
eastern Europe has low LS though
Gross Happiness Product
Bhutan Aspirational: Gross National Happiness - environment and trust in government high - but intolerance and poverty (Nepalese) - Nepalese refugees- without a country
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Individualism
- focus on individual
- individual rights, choice, uniqueness, analytical
Collectivism
- focus on group
- group harmony, fitting in, conformity, holistic
Individualistic cultures are higher in SWB
- but possible income confound
Two forms of collectivism
- Pacific Rim, Confucian cultures
- achieve, fit in, don’t embarras
- always please father - Latin cultures, N. & S. America
- social support unconditional
- family commitment
Collectivism
Upsides
- social support
- weaker members embedded and guided (aunts and uncles)
Downsides
- little choice in occupation, mate, etc
- do what is expected, not own strengths
- frequently distrust and dislike strangers (problem with urbanization)
- external validation = materialism
- being evaluated a lot
Individualism
Upsides
- free to choose own course (marriage, job, where to live, etc)
- get credit for achievement
Downsides
- entitlement, narcissism, self-focus
- pride and aroused PA preferred
- wealthier, but more crime and social pathology
