sociocultural approach: the influence of globalisation on individual behaviour Flashcards
globalisation, what is it and what is it driven by
the process of interaction and integration among people of different nations, resulting in a unifying global culture
is a process driven by international trade, travel, international companies, flow of information (the internet) and investment aided by modern information technology
what causes globalisation
Technology and internet
Trade of goods
Travelling
Immigration
effects of globalisation
Less chances of acculturative stress
Change in diet
Rise in consumerism, more materialistic
Rise in secularism
Change in attitudes
an effect of globalisation on mental health
hikikomori
Hikikomori
Japanese phenomena, a mental health disorder could be caused by globalisation
A disorder that some argue is a response to feelings of marginalisation that occur by wanting to be part of the global internet community, but not being able to escape one’s own culture
Hikikomori (social isolation syndrome) is a culture-bound syndrome, primarily found in Japan. Young Japanese may lock themselves in their rooms and refuse to come out for years at a time
3 key characteristics of Hikikomori
No motivation to participate in school or work
No signs of other psychological disorders
Persistent social withdrawal for at least 6 months
who does Hikikomori primarily affect
Primarily affects young men, lifetime prevalence of 4.6% of Japanese young people ages 15-34
goal of young people with Hikikomori
to avoid possible social interactions with others who may know them and judge them
how has the number of hikikomori cases changed over the years, what does this cause psychologists to consider
The disorder was relatively rare in the past but it has been rising significantly over time → could globalisation be playing a role in the rise of hikikomori?
why may Japanese youths develop Hikikomori
Japanese youth may not see the benefit of conformity and social harmony which is characteristic of Japanese society and yet do not feel that they are part of the globalised community and its values → leads to identity confusion and marginalisation
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), aim
To explain the origins of hikikomori by applying Berry & Sam’s acculturation model.
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), participants
195 Japanese university students because getting access to people who suffer from hikikomori is very difficult
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), method
Participants took a standardised test to see whether they were at high risk or low risk for hikikomori
Researchers gave participants a test to measure their attitudes about social harmony and social conformity. This test looked at 3 levels: perception of their current self, their ideal self, and general Japanese society
Also took a test to measure their sense of local identity (high on social harmony and collectivism) and global identity (high on individualism and achievement)
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), results
Both groups agreed that social harmony and conformity were highly valued by Japanese society
When assessing current self and ideal self, High risk hikikomori: ranked social harmony values much lower than the low-risk students, means that high-risk students would ideally like to be lower in harmony seeking and conformity than what they perceive to be the case in Japanese society
High risk students scored lower than low-risk students on local identity and global identity → marginalisation
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), conclusion
Local culture may alienate many Japanese youths who may then decide not to conform to the cultural norms but do not identify with or know how to access the globalised culture, and so they withdraw from society
Marginalisation and acculturative stress as an effect of globalisation
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), strengths
Standardised → same experience, reliability
Sample was large → more likely to be representative
Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014), weaknesses
Not using people with hikikomori → may not apply to the actual condition and doesn’t tell us about the mental illness
Cognitive processes → not directly observable, subjectivity → bias in the materials
Correlation is not causation
Self-report → people could lie
second effect of globalisation on mental health
eating disorders
Becker et al (2002), aim
To study if the introduction of television would lead to an increase in disordered eating attitudes and behaviours among Fijian adolescent girls in two secondary schools in Nadroga (district just outside the capital city of Nadi)
Becker et al (2002), background
Fijian culture focuses on having a large appetite, a larger body mass is not seen as unattractive but as desirable. Up until the study, there was only one reported case of anorexia
Becker et al (2002), procedure
Prospective study
Natural experiment, TV was not an IV manipulated by the researcher, it was naturally occurring
Qualitative and quantitative methods
Becker et al (2002), participants
Adolescent girls from Fiji, aged 16-18
Independent groups design
1st group: 1995, only a few weeks after the introduction of TV
2nd group: 1998, 3 years later
Becker et al (2002), method
1995 girls given the EAT-26, a standardised (Western) test to determine eating attitudes
After completion, semi-structured interviews were used to confirm the test results if there was evidence of bingeing and/or purging behaviours
Measured weight and height
1998 sample took the EAT-26 with the follow up interview
Addition questions regarding dieting practice, body image and difference in generational values
Becker et al (2002), results
Significant difference in the EAT-26 scores of the two groups
1995 = average 12.7% 1998 = average 29.2%
1998, scored of above 20 were correlated with dieting and self-induced vomiting
1995 = no girls reported purging behaviours
1998 = 11.3% of the sample reported purging behaviours
Self reported binge-eating = no significant change, 7.9% and 4.6% respectfully
1995 = dieting was rare
1998 =
69% of PPS reported that they had dietted to lose weight
74% felt they were too big/fat
77% reported that television had made them think differently about their body shape
40% felt that weight loss would improve their job prospects
31% felt that parent’s generation wanted them to consume too much food
Becker et al (2002), conclusion
Participants admired TV personalities and wanted to alter their looks to be more similar to them
Identifying with role models on TV changed body image in the period of the study
Cultural values about dieting/weight were changed between the girls
Interviews revealed that there was little awareness among the participants that television images are heavily edited
Becker et al (2002), strengths
High ecological validity
Prospective study, can compare behaviours and infer a cause-and-effect
Becker et al (2002), weaknesses
Cannot be replicated
Different PPS in both groups, we don’t know in the girls from the 1998 sample had disordered eating in 1995 too
Natural experiment, IV was not manipulated, could be other factors affecting eating disorders
Etic approach, tries to generalise results to other cultures, ignores cultural differences
EAT-26 is a westernised test, may not truly reflect mental health in Fiji, possibility of eating disorders existing before
No control group
Self reported, socially sensitive topic, demand characteristics, social desirability bias, lowers credibility & validity
