Interpersonal Relationships in Diverse Cultural Contexts

Flashcards on Interpersonal Relationships in Diverse Cultural Contexts

Social Support

Assistance or comfort accessible to an individual through social ties to other individuals, groups, and the larger community to cope with various stressors.

Emotional Support

Providing warmth and nurturance to another person and reassuring that the person is valuable (e.g., comfort, reassurance, compassion).

Instrumental Support

Problem-solving and provision of tangible resources for coping with a stressor (e.g., financial assistance, services, specific aids or goods).

Informational Support

One person helps another to better understand a stressful event and to ascertain what resources and coping strategies may be needed (e.g., advice, guidance).

Culture and Emotional Expression

In individualistic cultures, freely expressing emotion is encouraged as it is deemed authentic and reflects autonomy. In collectivistic cultures, emotional expression may disrupt relationship and group harmony.

Cultural fit hypothesis

The type of support that fits cultural norms is more effective in reducing stress and promoting health.

Explicit Support

Support directly recruited from others via disclosure of one’s needs.

Implicit Support

Emotional comfort derived indirectly from close others, without discussing or disclosing one’s problems.

Solicited Support

Provided in response to an expressed need or request.

Unsolicited Support

Provided spontaneously or proactively in response to a perceived or anticipated need.

Face (mian zi/mien-tzu)

Amount of social value given by others if one fulfills obligations and expectations associated with a position.

Self-face

Concern for one’s own image.

Other face

Concern for another’s image.

Mutual face

Concern for both parties.

3 Hs of Face Culture

Hierarchy, harmony, humility.

Self-improvement

Identifying potential weaknesses and working to correct them to minimize the risk of losing face.

Aggression

Any behavior enacted with the intention to harm another person who is motivated to avoid that harm.

Culture of Honour

A complex set of beliefs, attitudes, and norms about the importance of personal reputation.

Honour Norms

People engage in behavior to maintain good reputation based on morality and integrity.

Culture x Person x Situation (CuPS) Approach

Culture helps define psychological situations and provide specific meanings to behaviours.