CH 18

cultural psychology

the study of how behavior and personality are both embedded in culture and, at the same time, influential in shaping that culture

cultural/indigenous approach

focuses on studying the unique aspects of a culture without reference to another culture

emic

from a perspective that is inside the culture

cross-cultural approach

focuses on understanding human behavior and thought in diverse cultural settings for the purpose of finding universal aspects across all cultures

cultural relativism

the principle that a people's customs, beliefs, and attitudes should be viewed from a neutral, unbiased perspective and that there are no standards by which to judge cultures

anthropology

the study of human societies and cultures

individualistic culture

the needs and desires of the individual take priority over the needs of the groups

collectivistic culture

the group takes priority over the individual

ecology

the physical environment, including natural resources, terrain, and climate

norms

are group-determined standards or expectations of behavior

cultural syndrome

a pattern of behaviors unique to a specific culture

collectivism vs. individualism

according to Triandis it is the most significant cultural syndrome

values

the lasting beliefs in a culture about right and wrong

construal

how people perceive themselves and interpret interactions with others

independent self-construal

people define their identity by looking at qualities they have within them

interdependent self-construal

social relationships take priority, not their selves as individuals

cognition

how you think and what you think

ego-focused emotions

centered on internal independent attributes

other-focused emotions

experienced in a social context or relational situations