Cultural Psychology

PSYCH 345 Exam 1

What is culture?

Systems that provide information on how to navigate social environments.

What is the key role of culture in psychology?

It shapes how we think, behave, and interpret situations (construals).

What do individualistic cultures emphasize?

Independence, personal identity, and self-expression.

What do individualistic cultures prioritize?

Individual needs over group needs.

What do collectivistic cultures emphasize?

Relationships, social roles, and group harmony.

What do collectivistic cultures prioritize?

Group/ingroup needs over the individual.

Can someone be both individualistic and collectivistic?

Yes

Why is culture not just about country?

Because values vary within groups.

Factors that influence culture within a group?

• Gender

• SES

• Age

• Religion

• Urban vs rural

• Political ideology

What is the “culture as a cycle” idea?

Society shapes individuals, and individuals reinforce culture.

At what levels does culture operate?

• Societal level (norms, institutions)

• Individual level (behavior, beliefs)

What is an independent self?

Defined by traits and personal identity.

Example of independent self-description?

“I am outgoing, hardworking.”

What is an interdependent self?

Defined by relationships and social roles.

Example of interdependent self-description?

“I am a daughter, a friend.”

What does “including others in the self” mean?

Seeing the self as connected with others (“we”).

How do individualistic cultures describe themselves?

Traits, preferences, feelings.

How do collectivistic cultures describe themselves?

Roles, relationships, group identity.

What affects how people describe themselves?

• Culture

• Context (e.g., school vs home)

What is analytic thinking?

Focus on objects, rules, and logic.

Key belief in analytic thinking?

Contradictions cannot exist.

What is holistic thinking?

Focus on context and relationships.

Key belief in holistic thinking?

Contradictions can coexist.

What gene is linked to cultural behavior?

Oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR)

What is OXTR associated with?

Social sensitivity and relationships.

Are biological findings about culture always consistent?

No, results are mixed and not always replicated.

Where does culture appear in daily life?

• Behavior

• Facial expressions

• Ads

• Social norms

How do ads differ across cultures?

• Individualistic → standing out

• Collectivistic → group harmony

What does WEIRD stand for?

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic

What % of participants are from WEIRD societies?

~96%

Why is the WEIRD problem an issue?

Findings may not generalize to all humans.

Key takeaway from WEIRD problem?

There is no “generic human.”

Does autonomy predict happiness equally across cultures?

No, it varies by culture.

What does this suggest about psychology?

Cultural context changes outcomes.

Why is cultural diversity important in research?

• Better problem-solving

• More perspectives

• More accurate understanding

How does diversity affect well-being?

Feeling included improves well-being.

Focusing on relationships and roles reflects what?

Interdependent self

Focusing on traits reflects what?

Independent self

Focusing on context and relationships reflects what thinking style?

Holistic thinking

Believing contradictions cannot exist reflects what thinking style?

Analytic thinking

Which statement is FALSE?

“All culture can be explained by individualism vs collectivism.”
A: FALSE