Western Developmental Psychology In Non-Western Cultures - Term Paper Example

Western Developmental Psychology In Non-Western CulturesIn the recent past there has been a need for standardization of cultures to meet the international standards which have been majorly set by the western countries and disseminated through such avenues as the social media. Even as people strive to merge cultures for the sake of uniformity, it is evident that all nonwestern countries have their own traditional practices and cultures. Most of these cultures have come a long way due to assimilation from one generation to the other.

In a recent research, it was determined that nonwestern cultures hold different ideas on intelligence. Cultural researchers, therefore, have a challenge of balancing between the two different definitions by assessing the people in western and nonwestern cultures. This is basically possible by setting a standard measure that will help analyze both cultures in light of their concepts, believes and values (Greenfield, 2009, p 411).The nonwestern cultures for instance East Asia have developed a polarized cognitive style from that of America.

While the westerners view intelligence as a get way to devising divisions in the society, the easterners recognize intelligent members in their communities and nurture them into playing the complex social roles in society. Practically this is mostly applied in Taiwan and China where they lay emphasis on understanding the intelligent quotient of others for the benefit of the society. Therefore, as the issue of applicability of western developmental psychology springs up, it is worth understanding that intelligence plays a crucial role in determining the applicability of cross cultural psychology.

Western cultures are derived from knowledge based on reason which has turned westerners into self-centered capitalists who only mind about their happiness and fight for their rights. Individualism has promoted competition in western countries thus promoting development and advancing civilization. These values and ideas have made nonwestern countries to view westerners as having advanced cultural practices. Western cultures led to scientific development, the American Revolution and enlightment which mean that the culture is evenly spread all over the world yet it is not that prominent in nonwestern countries.

Western cultures are, therefore, dominant in western and central Europe and several other countries inhabited by Europeans. Among the nonwestern countries where western cultures are first taking their toll are; South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. The influence has become widespread in China and India. Western culture has little significance in Africa and the Middle East (Miao & Wang, 2003, p 259). According to recent findings, western cultures are fast becoming applicable in nonwestern countries.

Developmental psychology has shifted from western approach to include diverse groups and settings since western cultures are based on reason and objective reality which emphasizes on universal human nature. Western culture is by itself a humanity culture which can be admired by all the nonwestern countries since it has universal practices but a shift from pure practice of western cultures should be encouraged by psychologists as they counsel people. The eminent shift from the typical western approach is a big boost to the emergence of racially and ethnically diverse clients in the business world.

With more and more countries such as China embracing western cultures, the culture has become diverse with people immigrating into western countries while others integrate these cultures with nonwestern ones making it diverse (Pinquart & Silbereisen, 2004, p 291). For psychologists to effectively conduct their work, they need to cover diverse groups and settings in order to facilitate their clients coping with the changing cultural practices.ReferencesGreenfield, P. M. (2009). Linking social change and developmental change: Shifting pathways of human development.

Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 401-418. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohort.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=phd&AN=dev-45-2-401&site=ehost-live&scope=siteMiao, X, & Wang, W. (2003). A century of Chinese developmental psychology. International Journal of Psychology, 38(5), 258-273. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohort.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=a9h&AN=12209830&site=ehost-live&scope=sitePinquart, M. & Silbereisen, R. K, (2004).

Human development in times of social change: Theoretical considerations and research needs. International Journal of behavioral development. 28(4), 289-298. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohort.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=a9h&AN=13310783&site=ehost-live&scope=site