The Fundamental Cross-Cultural Psychology - Essay Example

Introduction to Cross-cultural Psychology Paper The aim of the cultural psychology is to understand and find the meaning in cultural influence and deeds. In addition, cross cultural psychology tends to give explanation of the huge disparity among varying regions through critical analyzing of cultures. This paper is going to evaluate and discuss the definition of cultural psychology and cross-cultural psychology, examine the relation between the two cultural psychologies and also analyze the role of critical thinking and the methodology that are associated with them. Introduction to Cross-cultural Psychology Paper Introduction The fundamental psychological processes vary across many different cultures that exist in various regions. The scientific study of the cross-cultures psychology tries to give a better understanding of how behaviors of ethnic groups are influenced by their environment (Berry et al., 2009). The scientific analysis of the behavior of human beings, and their mental processes in the variety of different conditions of many cultures is known as cross-cultural psychology (Berry et al., 2009). This puts into account areas in which the behaviors incline to the cultural and social forces (Berry et al., 2009). The different experiences that, these cultural groups pass through leads to conventional and considerable differences in actions. Culture is the way that the varieties of groups of people get to share their way of life (Berry et al., 2009). Over the period of years, research has shown the cultural variation in behavior and the existence of different mode of communication and this has revealed the importance of developing it (Berry et al., 2009). The comparison of the different traits across the diversity of cultures has led to the study of the psychology of diverse cultures (Berry et al., 2009). This mainly includes people’s personality, acculturation, changing the family unit values, tribal group comparisons, sexual category differences (Weiner, 2003). As much as behavior is greatly influenced by natural biological tendencies, it is also influenced by the experiences that people come across (Berry et al., 2009). Definition of Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology Cross-cultural psychology is defined as the methodical analysis of the behavior of human beings and their mind processes including inconsistency in cultural circumstances (Keith, 2011). Conversely, cultural psychology is the scientific study of the ways that cultural way of life and communal practices standardize, articulate, and convert the human consciousness. It analyzes the impact of cultures and the different social practices (Keith, 2011). Its aim is to try and find the connection between customs in society and reveal how psychology impinges on an individual’s behavior and reshapes a person’s character (Keith, 2011). As much as the cultures share some similarities, they are also many differences that mark their relationship. Studying psychology pertaining cross-culture connection helps in playing a very vital part in the shaping of human experience and the whole world (Keith, 2011). Relationship between Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology According to Weiner (2003), Cultural psychology deals with a particular location, perspective and belief of the culture that a person has been raised in while cross-cultural psychology deals with learning how to be sensitive to other cultures, desires,, and beliefs (Keith, 2011). Different groups of individuals have different beliefs and thoughts. It may pose a challenge in trying to understand those of different gender and who are leading a different role in life (Keith, 2011). The cross cultural psychology gets to incorporate two important tools that help in the strategic study, observation and problem solving between nations and cultures. These tools are critical in scientific research (Keith, 2011). This division of psychology is inextricably intertwined with cultural psychology, in that it offers fundamental units for the cultural psychology’s evaluation and assessment (Keith, 2011). In this relative field, two different cultural groups are observed and their comparison identified by incorporating critical thinking. Cross-cultural psychology believes that it is very hard for someone to be able to understand the psychology of human beings without first being able to understand their native line of beliefs (Weiner, 2003). Cultural psychology tries to examine significant relations connecting a culture and the psychology of persons who dwell within that particular culture. It holds on to the understanding that, the conduct of people inside a certain culture has to be observed, within a particular societal culture circumstances for precise behavior to be meaningful (Weiner, 2003). Cross-cultural psychology covers products of people cultures and their particular psychologies and categorizes the major variations and distinctions between them (Weiner, 2003). While cultural psychology concentrates its scientific research within one specific culture, cross-culture psychology is broader and integrates many cultural studies. Cross-cultural psychology cannot be able to survive with no supplementary central study of the individual culture and its consequence on the person (Weiner, 2003). Role of Critical Thinking in Cross-Cultural Psychology According to Keith (2011), it is believed that critical thinking is an important and basic constituent of study in which psychology greatly relies upon. Processes of thinking and imaginations, mostly involved in the critical thinking, are the fundamental cognitive paraphernalia that allow clear approach for examination, observation and resolving of problems (Keith, 2011). When someone faces a certain new foreign cultural exchange situation, an involuntary human response is triggered and one gets to compel the inner perspectives to resolve the behavioral uncertainties (Keith, 2011). People who come from other cultural norms tend to measure others on the basis of the norms that are barely practiced and believed in their own culture (Berry et al., 2009). This involuntary action that arises in human beings is normal when somebody gets to take the superiority of their own culture. Critical thinking makes it possible to correctly hold evolving outlook and values towards others (Keith, 2011). Cross-cultural psychology places a lot of importance on the critical thinking and the aspect of comparing some parts of its studies by showing some of the ways that the human culture impacts the forces seen in different cultures (Keith, 2011). As it has been seen that critical thinking is a very vital aspect of learning, and it will remain an important part to provide important information that pertains with the cross-cultural study and analysis. It offers better ground for understanding and speculation, which provides better evidence for support (Keith, 2011). Methodology associated with cross-cultural psychology In order to get better comprehension between varying cultures across many regions reliable information has to be looked for and analyzed carefully. This has to be done in the most unbiased manner for clarity (Berry et al., 2009). The fundamental facts of the study of psychology have to be based on research. Without these kinds of straight forward facts and data, psychologists would be biased and be prone to creating assumptions (Weiner, 2003). The research that is found in this kind of methodology is divided into types: qualitative and quantitative. According to Weiner (2003), the fundamental aims of the research in cross-cultural psychology are as follows, description, analysis, forecast and organization. The earlier ways of research used relative perspective that incorporated the use of central propensity as median, mean and mode to be able to set up comparison, diversity and other arithmetic relations (Weiner, 2003). This new form is a special type of research that is conducted in ordinary settings or rather when some variables posses some difficulty in their measurement (Weiner, 2003). When people have to deal with occurrences that are very difficult in measuring, for example dreams, pictures and, songs, qualitative methods become very useful. For such objects, there is no any standardized manner in, which they can categorized and measured for other people to be able to comprehend some factors in them (Weiner, 2003). Conversely, quantitative research measures the activities conducted by the humans and get to make evaluation later with the experiential study using examination rather than more biased forms of indication (Berry et al., 2009). The quantitative approach mostly deals with relationships and the connection among two and more variables (Weiner, 2003). In most cases, this kind of strategy where issues are compared; it brings much emphasis on the similarities and the differences in the many cultures that exists (Keith, 2011). Conclusion: In this study and analyzing of cross-cultural psychology, the main aim is to find the differences in the many cultures and try to find out universally, common factors within them. The relationship between cross-cultural psychology and cultural psychology is seen to be interdependent and one of them cannot be able to exist without another. They both deal with complex issues that need critical analysis in order to determine the modes in which they affect and influence the human society. Throughout the many different methods of research that are conducted, psychologists are able to foresee certain behaviors of individuals, as well able to help people comprehend ways to manage and organize behavioral deeds. Necessary research has to be conducted with a number of different cultural settings for a clear view and to avoid the biasness. These cultures and their characteristics include the mind-set of individuals, behaviors, principles and traditions that are passed from one generation to another. The basic nature of the human beings is to be able to acquire characters in the years that they have lived. They also get to be influenced and change according to the environments that they live in. When the association that exists between the behavior of different cultures and people living within those same environments are analyzed sufficiently, a better understanding of the diversity of the cross-cultural psychology is well understood. Moreover, the influence brought about by the diversity of cultures can be predicted and well explained from the different regions. References: Berry, J., et al. (2009). Cross-cultural psychology: research and applications Cambridge. New York: Cambridge University Press. Keith, D. (2011). Cross-cultural psychology: contemporary themes and perspectives. Chichester, West Sussex, UK; Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Weiner, I. (2003). Handbook of psychology / 10 Assessment psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Read More