psych 250 exam 3 - culture and development

why are cross-cultural comparisons important in developmental psychology?

they help distinguish universal behaviors from those shaped by culture-specific experiences

what can cross-cultural research reveal about development?

whether developmental processes are biologically universal or culturally constructed

what are WEIRD societies?

western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic populations

why are WEIRD samples a limitation in research?

they are not representative of most of the world, limiting generalizability

what is one major limitation of current psychological research?

overreliance on WEIRD populations

why is relying on WEIRD samples problematic?

findings may not apply to non-western or less individualize societies

what is generalizability?

the extent to which findings apply across different populations

how can cross-cultural research improve psychology?

by including diverse populations to produce more accurate theories

what is cultural bias in research?

interpreting behavior through one’s own cultural lens

key takeaway about cross-cultural research?

culture is essential for fully understanding human development

what is cultural learning?

the process of acquiring knowledge and behaviors from one’s culture

what are the three main types of cultural learning?

limitation, instruction, and collaboration

what is imitation?

copying others’ actions

what is instruction?

learning through direct teaching

what is collaboration?

learning through shared activities with others

what is the difference between imitation and emulation?

• imitation = copying exact actions

• emulation = achieving the same goal in a different way

why is cultural learning important?

it allows transmission of knowledge across generations

how is human cultural learning unique?

humans rely heavily on teaching, imitation, and shared knowledge systems

how do parent-child interactions differ in WEIRD socieites?

emphasize independence, self-expression, and choice

how do parent-child interactions differ in non-WEIRD socieites?

emphasize obedience, respect, and interdependence

what is an example of WEIRD parenting behavior?

encouraging children to make their own choices

what is an example of non-weird parenting behavior?

expecting children to follow family or group expectations

how do these differences affect development?

shape children’s values, identity, and behavior

what is the key takeaway about parenting across cultures?

parenting goals reflect cultural values

what is autonomy in WEIRD contexts?

independence and self-direction

what is interdependence in non-WEIRD contexts?

reliance on and connection to others

what is individualism?

emphasis on personal goals and independence

what is collectivism?

emphasis on group harmony and interdependence

how does individualism affect identity?

promotes on independent sense of self

how does collectivism affect identity?

promotes an interdependent sense of self

how do these cultural values influence behavior?

they shape decision-making, relationships, and priorities

why is this distinction important?

it explains differences in development across cultures

how do parents model sharing differently across cultures?

some emphasize fairness (equal sharing), others emphasize obligation to group

what is parental modeling?

children learn behaviors by observing parents

what are modesty lies?

false statements made to appear humble

in which cultures are modesty lies more accepted?

collectivist cultures

why are modesty lies valued in collectivist cultures?

they promote social harmony and group cohesion

how do western cultures view modesty lies?

often seen as dishonest rather than socially appropriate

how does understanding modesty lies help psychologists?

shows moral judgements vary across cultures

developmental pattern of modesty lies?

increase with age as children learn social norms

what is socioeconomic status (SES)?

a measure of income, education, and occupation

how does SES influence cognitive development?

affects language exposure, education, and learning opportunities

how does SES influence emotional development?

higher stress can impact emotional regulation

how does SES influence identity?

shapes opportunities, goals, and self-concept

what is chronic stress in low SES environments?

ongoing stress due to economic hardship

how does chronic stress affect children?

impairs brain development and emotional regulation

why is SES important for development?

it affects nearly all aspects of a child’s life

what is sociocultural context?

the broader social and cultural environment a child grows up in

how does sociocultural context influence development?

shapes identity, cognition, and emotional expression

key takeaway about SES and development?

environment strongly influences developmental outcomes

what challenges do migrant children face?

language barriers, discrimination, identity conflict

what is acculturation?

adapting to a new culture

what is acculturative stress?

stress from adapting to a new cultural environment

what is bicultural identity?

integrating two cultural identities

what is assimilation?

fully adopting the new culture

what is integration?

maintaining both original and new cultures

what is marginalization?

losing connection to both cultures

how can migration affect family dynamics?

children may adapt faster than parents, creating tension

what is cultural mismatch?

conflict between home culture and school/society

what supports positive outcomes for migrant children?

strong family support and successful integration