Comparing cultures

Significance

The probability (p) that your findings are absent in the population (and hence coincidental).

WEIRD countries

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic

Cross-cultural psychology

The scientific study of human behavior and its transmission, taking into account the ways in which behaviors are shaped and influenced by social and cultural forces.

Goals of cross-cultural psychology (Berry):

1. Testing the generality of existing psychological knowledge and theories (test goal and

   transport goal: testing whether the results found from psychological studies in

   WEIRD countries are applicable in other countries.)

2. Exploring other cultures in order to discover psychological variations not present in

   one’s own limited cultural experience.

3. Integrating findings resulting from the first 2 goals to generate a more universal

   psychology valid for a broader range of cultures.

- Modify the existing knowledge, adding culturally specific information to it and

trying to come up with a broader perspective to psychology.

Psychological universals

Core mental attributes shared by all humans. Human mind as a toolbox.

Non-universal

Not all mental attributes are available to all people, therefore it is

useless to compare these strategies. Example: the use of specific calculation strategies with abacus [telraam].

Existential universal

If the mental attributes are available to and used by all people, these could still be used differently. Example: classification strategies. (bvb hoe je je kind opvoed)

Functional universal

If the mental attribution is available used in the same manner, but not the same accessibility. Example: internal attributions. (emotieregulatie)

Accessibility universal

If the mental attribute is available, used in the same manner, and accessed evenly frequently. Example: understanding the laws of physics.

Müller-Lyer Illusion

The two lines are not viewed differently by some cultures: It is not an innate feature of the human brain, but something that is learned through experiences with corners.

Two subdisciplines of cross cultural psychology 1) Cultural psychology

1. “Mind and culture influence and complement each other, and

   therefore we are often not the same”

   • -  We as persons are fundamentally different because of the different cultural

     backgrounds we have.

   • -  Focal points: non-universals & existential universals

     • -  In-depth study of particular cultures

     • -  Comparisons of a limited number of cultures

     • -  Focus on (fundamental) differences

     • -  Qualitative and quantitative

two subsdisciplines of cross-cultural psychology:

1. Culture comparative psychology: “Psychologically, we are all the same despite our cultural differences”

   • -  Focus on the similarities between human beings, despite cultural differences.

   • -  Focal points: functional universals & accessibility universals.

     • -  ‘Superficial’ study of cultures

     • -  Comparisons of a larger number of cultures

     • -  Focus on differences against the background of similarities

     • -  Quantitative

     • -  Methods and foci

Culture

Any kind of information that is acquired from other members of one’s species through social learning that is capable of affecting an individual’s behaviors.

The totality of equivalent and complementary learned meanings by a human population, or by identifiable segments of a population, and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Evoked

Biologically based behavioral repertoires are ‘elicited’ by environments. Patterns of culture exist as a response to the particular environment groups of people live in.

Transmitted Behavioral repertoires are acquired via social learning, through change (imitation, borrowing, assimilation) and stability (immunity to external influences, persistence of culture).

Behavioral repertoires are acquired via social learning, through change (imitation, borrowing, assimilation) and stability (immunity to external influences, persistence of culture).

Cultural variation comes from

Geographical environment

Evoked culture

Transmitted culture

The human genome

As a species humans have common genes that evolved due to common evolutionary pressures related to survival and procreation.

Empiricist/positivist approach

Stable meaning system

Culture ‘external’ to human nature

Explicit measure of meanings (e.g., values)

Culture as the independent variable

→ Absolutism: People from different cultures can be meaningfully compared: psychological phenomena are similar across cultures, but their quantities differ.

Interpretivist approach

Changing and continuously reproduced

Culture intrinsic part of human nature

Broader focus: practices included

Culture as the dependent variable

→ Relativism: Quantitative comparisons are meaningless because they are culturally biased.

Post

positivist (realist) approach

Perfect, objective knowledge about reality is impossible to attain.

Still we try to approximate this knowledge, acknowledging the importance of different perspectives and experiences.

→ Universalism: All people share basic psychological processes but their manifestations differ across cultures.