S2 Topic 4 - Culture

Question 1

Define culture

Answer 1

a set of cognitions and practices that characterize a specific social group and distinguish it from others

Question 2

What characterizes a culture? (4)

Answer 2

• a product of human interaction
• patterns of behaviour
• social collectives at different levels (racial, ethnic)
• impacted by social influence and group processes

Question 3

How did the focus of social psychology shift over time?

Answer 3

Focus shifted from:
groups–>individual–>culture

Question 4

What are 3 ways of constructing the self?

Answer 4

• Secularization
• Industrialization
• Enlightenment

Question 5

Define secularization

Answer 5

an active pursuit of personal fulfillment

Question 6

Define industrialization

Answer 6

a portable personal identity that doesn’t depend on one’s family, but is related to social structures

Question 7

What are new notions in psychology related to culture? (3)

Answer 7

• personality is formed by culture
• culture impacts psychological development
• cross-cultural research contributes to child development theories and theories of socialization

Question 8

Explain the Etic-Emic Distinction?

Answer 8

the difference between:

• psychological constructs that are culture-universal
• psychological constructs that are culture-specific

Question 9

Distinguish between Etic and Emic
Give an example for each

Answer 9

Etic - analyzing behaviours by focusing on what is universal and be applied to all cultures

e.g., intimate relations

Emic - analyzing behaviours specific to a cultural setting

e.g., weddings

Question 10

Distinguish between the independent self and the interdependent self (6)

Answer 10

Independent:
- impermeable boundary
- strong, unique traits are internalized
- traits of significant others are muted and external

Interdependent:
- permeable boundary
- strong traits are shared with significant others
- unique and internalized traits are muted

Question 11

Define values

Answer 11

broad constructs used by individuals and societies to orient people’s specific attitudes and behaviour in an integrated and meaningful way

Question 12

What are the 4 dimensions of culture?

Answer 12

• Power distance
• Uncertainty avoidance
• Masculinity vs Femininity
• Individualism vs Collectivism

Question 13

Explain the cultural dimension of Power Distance (6)

Answer 13

Low power distance :
- democratic bosses
- limited dependence on bosses
- equality among workers

High power distance:
- autocratic bosses
- dependence on bosses
- inequality among workers

Question 14

Explain the cultural dimension of Uncertainty Avoidance (8)

Answer 14

Low UA:
- few rules
- leader is facilitator
- open-ended learning
- less resistance to change

High UA:
- more formal rules
- leader is expert
- structured learning
- more resistance to change

Question 15

Explain the cultural dimension of Masculinity vs Femininity (8)

Answer 15

Masculinity:
- conflict resolution by fighting
- stress on competition
- assertive and ambitious
- money and things are important

Femininity:
- conflict resolution by compromise
- stress on solidarity
- humility and modesty
- people and warm rels are important

Question 16

Explain the cultural dimension of Individualism vs Collectivism

Answer 16

Individualistic culture: needs of individuals are more important than the needs of a group

Collectivist culture: interconnectedness between people play a central role in each person’s identity

Question 17

What are the traits of individualistic cultures? (4)

Answer 17

• uniqueness
• autonomy
• independence
• self-sufficiency

Question 18

What are the traits of collectivistic cultures? (4)

Answer 18

• promoting selflessness
• working as a group
• doing what’s best for society
• families/communities have a central role

Question 19

Which are the 2 main dimensions of all cultures and which of the 4 cultural dimensions do they match?

Answer 19

Openness to change vs conservatism - individualism vs collectivism dimension

self-enhancement vs self-transcendence - power distance dimension

Question 20

Distinguish between tight and loose cultures (2)

Answer 20

Tight - clearly defined and restrictive norms - hence violation of norms is strictly sanctioned

Loose - loosely defined norms - hence violation of norms is more tolerated

Question 21

When is outgroup discrimination highest?

Answer 21

when individual orientation is collectivist and the ingroup is comparative

Question 22

What moral principles do religions bring to a culture? (3)

Answer 22

• autonomy - individual rights
• community - interpersonal relational duties
• divinity - perceived natural ordained order of things

Question 23

What is acculturation?

Answer 23

the process whereby individuals learn about the rules of behaviour characteristic of another culture

Question 24

Name and explain the 4 different paths which lead to acculturation

Answer 24

• Integration - maintaining home culture but also relating to dominant culture
• Assimilation/inclusion - giving up home culture and embracing dominant culture
• Separation/segregation - maintaining home culture and being isolated from the dominant culture
• Marginalization/exclusion - giving up home culture and failing to relate properly to dominant culture

Question 25

Which path to acculturation is the one most chosen by immigrants?

Answer 25

Integration