Cross-Cultural Psychology Raymond T. Garza, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Spring 2010 M.W. 4:00-5:15 http://www.utsa.edu/lhri/PSY3053.html

Cross-Cultural Psychology: Introduction and Overview How does culture affect human behavior? Is psychology relevant in developing countries? How do child-rearing practices differ across cultures? Do multi-cultural work groups perform well in organizations? Is crossing cultures stressful? What methods should you use for conducting cross-cultural research?

Course Objectives Examine the role of culture in the development and validation of psychological theories at the conceptual level. Increase awareness and understanding of the critical issues in the application of psychological theories developed in the United States and Western Europe to other cultural groups, including ethnic minority subgroups in the United States and elsewhere.

Course Objective (continued) Examine the cultural appropriateness of various research methods and procedures. Examine the role of culture in personality and social development. Review cultural issues in specific content areas including human developmental processes, inter-group relations and communication, leadership and organizational behavior, and clinical assessment and treatment.

Overarching Topics Defining culture Factors that influence culture Groups that have cultures Contrasting culture, race, personality and popular culture The psychological contents of culture How does culture influence human behaviors and mental processes? The contribution of the study of culture

What is Culture? We use “culture” to describe and explain a broad range of activities, behaviors, events and structures Descriptive, historical, normative, psychological, structural, genetic General characteristics, food & clothing, housing & technology, economy & transportation, individual & family activities, community & government, welfare, religion & science, sex & life cycle As a result, much confusion and ambiguity

One of the most well-known and quoted often definitions was put forth by Kroeber & Kluckholm (1952): “Culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiments of artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e., historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may on one hand be considered as products of action, on the other as conditioning elements of further action” (p. 181).

THE STUDY OF CULTURE IN PSYCHOLOGY

Cross-Cultural Research and Psychology Most theories in psychology are based on studies with American university students Do these theories hold true for all people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, class or lifestyle? In part, Cross-Cultural Psychology attempts to answer this question by studying the attitudes and behavior of people from differing cultural backgrounds.

Cross-Cultural Research and Psychology Elements of cross-cultural psychology Research method employed test the cultural parameters of psychological knowledge by comparing data from participants from more than one cultural background. Cross-cultural psychology is scientific paradigm based on a philosophy of science Not topic specific

Cross-Cultural Research and Psychology Scientific contribution of Cross-cultural Psychology Tests limitations of our knowledge in psychology by examining whether theories are universal or culture-specific. Promotes methodological change in psychological research by examining the impact variations in cultural background of the samples being studied.

The Growth of Cross-Cultural Psychology Cross-cultural psychology has had a substantial impact on psychology worldwide, especially in the in the past two decade. In part, this popularity is due to increased awareness of importance of culture and increasing frequency of intercultural conflicts. Lately there has been a significant increase in the number of cross-cultural studies published in cross-cultural and culture and psychology journals, and increasingly, in top-tier mainstream journals.

Figure 1.1

Where do we Start? What are its theoretical underpinnings? Is culture real? Can it be studied scientifically? What role can it play in the overall development of the field of psychology?

Where does culture come from? Figure 1.2

Where does culture come from? In order to survive, biological needs (e.g. reproduction, eating AND social motives (e.g. negotiating complex hierarchies) must be met. All humans need to come up with solutions on how to adapt to environment to address needs and motives – environmental adaptation involves culture.

Where does culture come from? These solutions are dependent on context (e.g. physical environment, social factors, types & sizes of families and communities).

Where does culture come from? Solutions to these challenges require manifestations of culture Product of interaction between universal biological needs, social motives and context Solution to the problem of individual’s adaptation to their contexts to address their social motives and biological needs

Is culture a uniquely human product? Many aspects of human culture are shared with other animals Therefore culture is NOT uniquely human product

What is unique about human culture? Unique human skills Language Complex social cognition Ratchet effect As a result, human cultures have three characteristics: complexity, differentiation, institutionalization Humans evolved to have human culture

The difference between society and culture Society is “a system of interrelationships among people” Both humans and non-human animals have society Culture embodies meanings and information associated with social networks Humans give social groups unique meaning Non-humans do not have human culture associated with social groups

Factors Influencing Culture Ecological Factors geography, climate, natural resources Social Factors population density, affluence, technology, government, media, religion Biological Factors temperament, personality

A Meta-theoretical Framework How can we categorize the various systems and variables that make up culture? 1. The Ecology: - physical environment, resources, geography. 2. The Subsistence System: methods of exploitation of the ecology to survive – agriculture, fishing, gathering, industrial work.

A Framework… 3. The Socio-cultural System: institutions, roles, norms and values as they exist outside the individual. 4. The Individual System: perception, learning, subjective culture, including the perception of elements of the cultural system. 5. The Inter-individual System: - patterns of social behavior, including child rearing methods.

Groups that have Culture Nationality Country of origin and each country has own culture (as well as subcultures) Ethnicity Racial, national or cultural origins Gender Behaviors society/culture deems appropriate for men and women

Groups that have Culture Disability Some type of physical impairment in senses, limb, or other parts of bodies Sexual Orientation Person with whom one forms sexual relationships