Relationships in different cultures Flashcards
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In our experience, we tend to view the whole process of relationships from the perspective of our own culture. We are naturally biased.
Our exposure to cultural stories of love and friendship structure what we might expect and how we would act in our relationships with others.
Since cultures are vastly varied, we would expect vast differences in how relationships are viewed and undertaken.
What is the difference between western and non-western relationships?
In the west we live in predominantly urban settings, many opportunities to interact socially thus large pool for contenders for romantic relationships- vast choice
Non-western cultures lack urban settings and have less geographical and social mobility. People thus have less choice in their social interactions and their potential partners. Relationships are frequently tied to economic resources and most frequently family.
What is the difference between individual and group-based relationships?
We live in an individualistic society, emphasising the rights, happiness and wellbeing of the individual.
In the east, society is collectivist. The group (family) is of primary importance.
How do culture and romance relate?
A psychologist called Erikson believed that the establishment of an intimate relationship is an essential part of development which, if successful, will lead to social isolation.
In the west, marrying for love is seen as a vital component of long term relationships. However, Chinese couples are encouraged to put responsibilities towards parents and families before romance. Spontaneous romance and sex outside of marriage is seen as entirely inappropriate.
What did Moore and Leung find about Australian and Chinese-Australian students?
The aim was to test the predicted cultural difference.
212 Australian students vs 106 Chinese-Australian students were asked about their attitudes towards romance and different romantic styles.
68% of Australian students were in romantic relationships.
38% of Chinese-Australian students were in a romantic relationship.
Chinese-Australian students reported significantly more loneliness.
Australian male students were less romantic and more casual about relationships than females.
Postive attitudes to romantic love were endorsed by both groups of students, contrary to the stereotypical view.
Conclusion: support was not found for the prediction.
What is an arranged marriage?
In the west, romantic love is seen to be the primary basis for marriage. In countries with a collectivist orientation, there tend to be different reasons for marriage including arranged marriage for the merging of two families based on economic circumstances. In the west, individuals meet, fall in love and get married with or without parental consent.
In the east, your partner is chosen for you and arranged by your parents.
What are the different types of arranged marriage formed by Qureshi?
- Planned- Parents plan the entire process and the bride and groom do not meet until the day of the wedding.
- Chaperoned interaction- Males tell their parents about their desires and the parents try to find them a match.
- Join venture- Both parents and children are involved in selecting a mate.
What did Batabyal find?
Batabyal carried out a series of reviews into the process involved in arranged marriage.
He suggests that they are founded on the idea that young people may be ‘blinded by love’ and therefore unable to make the right choice when choosing a lifetime partner because physical attraction takes over. Physical attraction is unlikely to produce a long lasting, stable relationship.
Batabyal found that in actual fact in contrast to western opinion, individuals have a lot of choice of their partners being suggested to them by their parents, and the option to refuse potential partners.
What did Srivinvasulu find?
Srivinvasulu comapared preferences for arranged or love marriages in Indian female students.
They were happy with the idea of arranged marriage if both parties were in agreement, and were comfortable with the idea of love marriages providing parents were happy with this idea.
Therefore, in modern India the basic theories of collectivism were found to apply- concern and emphasis is still placed upon the family.
What did Gupta and Singh find?
Set out to compare love and liking in arranged and love marriages. They studied 50 couples in Jaipur who had gone through an arranged marriage, and 50 who had gone through a love marriage.
Love and liking were found to be high at the outset of love marriages but to have declined over time (5 and 10 years later).
However, love and liking were not high at the outset of arranged marriages but found to increase over time.
This supports research by Batabyal, but directly contradicts research on arranged marriage in China by Xiohe and Whyte (1990) which found women in love marriages were much more happy and satisfied.
What did Zaidi find?
Carried out a study of attitudes towards arranged marriage in a group of Pakistani and Muslim women in Canada.
20 single women between the ages of 16-30 were interviewed and it was found that most preferred the idea of a Western view of marriage- having a choice of partner and marrying for love.
Many also reported that their fathers were against the idea.
