Analysis of Cross-Cultural Psychology - Case Study Example

Cross-Cultural Psychology; Case Study College Case Study Analysis Overview Mundane conflicts are part of everyday life. They are frustrating and test the limits of someones patience. Effective communication or competence hold the key to diffuse or escalate the situation. The study by Brew et al. (2011) investigated the differences between Western and Chinese cultures on their perception of competence. Competence was defined in terms of appropriateness and effectiveness. A pilot study with 30 employees in Singapore studied the appraisals of communication competence during intercultural conflict incidents. While the Western expatriates judged the other group on the criterion if their communication style was engaged and direct. This data was supposed tell their score on the effectiveness scale. This study suggested that different parts of this world hold different notions of incompetent communication during an interpersonal conflict. This study opens new doorways into conflict research. Conflict research has been fixated for so long on behavioral manifestations. Definition and example of cross-cultural psychology Cross-cultural psychology is the study of human behavior and its variability in different cultures. It is a research methodology and not an entirely different field of psychology (Lonner, 2000). Ecologies define cultures and these cultures shape personalities. There are two kinds of variations in a personality; the universal and the cultural specific (Triandis & Suh, 2002). The cultural specific aspects usually mean the cultural syndromes such as collectivism, individualism, complexity and tightness (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Many of the past studies suggest that the big five personality factors develop in different cultures. But such universality is probably an exaggerated claim. The reason is that most of the studies have not yet included the enculturation or the cultural specific traits (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Moreover, such literature is highly inclined towards Western cultures. Relationship between cultural and cross-cultural psychology It is a common perception that cultural psychology and cross-cultural psychology are fundamentally the same concepts. But there are significant differences between these phases in their methods, assumptions and scope. For instance, cross-cultural psychology deals with statistical aspects of culture, whereas cultural psychology is more focused on cultural dynamics (Triandis & Suh, 2002). The methodology used in the two fields is also distinct. Cross-cultural psychology usually compares two or more cultures on several variables to find out similarities and differences in psychological functioning (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Cultural psychology, on the other hand, concentrates on understanding how the mind and culture define one other in sociocultural contexts (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Although the two concepts are distinct yet they are related to each other. Methodology associated with cross-cultural research Cross-cultural research is mandatory for both practitioners and the scholars. The methodological issues related with this kind of research have long been acknowledged in the literature, however, recent studies have confirmed that standards required by earlier studies have not been met yet (Buil, Chernatony, & Martínez, 2012). Greater methodological rigor is required in survey research conducted across culture and countries so that more robust theories and relevant market research can be developed (Buil, Chernatony, & Martínez, 2012).The fundamental methodology associated with cross-cultural research is not very different from the one used in other psychological fields. However, there are certain concerns that need to be accounted for in its methodology. The three aspects; equivalence, response bias and interpreting and analyzing the data, form the basis of cross-cultural research. If there is lack of equivalence then it will lead the study towards bias. It also means that the researcher should consider if there is enough comparability in cultural concepts. A researcher can do justice in equivalence by being careful about the linguistics, sampling and the measurements (validating the results across cultures) of research. Conducting research across nations and cultures poses different challenges. An important question for researchers and managers is the relevancy of theories in each research context (Buil, Chernatony, & Martínez, 2012). The translation of research instruments like questionnaires is also prone to ambiguity and confusion (Buil, Chernatony, & Martínez, 2012). The selection of samples is also a highly complex task (Buil, Chernatony, & Martínez, 2012). The core goal in conducting research across different cultures should be to establish comparability and equivalence at every stage of the research process (Buil, Chernatony, & Martínez, 2012). Researchers of psychology also suggest that diversity in research methodologies. The current multicultural progress in psychological research gets support by the success in using different research methodologies to validate psychological hypothesis about the diversity in cultural groups; if this diverse database is not incorporated into the research then psychologists would be prone to creating biased exemptions about the influence of culture on behavior (Stuart, 2005). All in all, the diversity of culture is biggest challenge in cross-cultural research methodology. Ethnicity, race, and worldviews are separate yet related concepts Race, ethnicity and worldviews might seem separate concepts but they are all interconnected. An interesting study by Fincher et al. (2008) on pathogenic diseases reveals that such diseases impose selection pressures on social behavior. This study also reveals that psychological phenomena appears to perform anti-pathogenic functions. The assumption of the study is that cross-cultural differences exist in human cognition and behavior. These behaviors are shaped because of the relative presence of pathogens in local environment. The difference in individualistic versus collectivist values, is the key fundamental cultural variable. It is key to understanding the differences in human cognition and behavior across cultures. Collectivism can cause the transmission of pathogens. Which concludes that collectivism characterizes cultures in places that have had higher prevalence of pathogens. The worldwide data and cross national surveys support this claim. The regional prevalence of pathogens have a strong positive correlation with cultural indicators of collectivism. On the contrary, they have a strong negative correlation with individualism. The role of enculturation Enculturation is directly related with cross-cultural psychology. Because enculturation means acquiring a particular behavior that satisfies the need of a cultural environment. The concept of enculturation is not only limited to social conditioning. It touches broader concepts such as cognition and the ability to learn skills. The human mind comprehends information to abstract symbols. These symbols come from cultural representations. The brain performs complex calculations based on the abstract concepts learned from the environment (enculturation) and then expresses them through numbers (Ansari, 2008). This implies that cross-cultural distinction exists and significantly influences the human cognition through abstract symbols. Cross-cultural psychology is an ever expanding field of psychology. A relatively small research exists in this field. It is also been explained that it is not a distinct field of psychology but rather it is a research method used in case different psychological fields require incorporation of cultural data. To study the cognitive differences due to enculturation is the main aim of cross-cultural psychology. The research methodologies are not unique but rather complex because of the cultural diversity. And as a result diversity in research methodologies is highly encouraged by scholars and researchers. Race, ethnicity and worldviews are different in different parts of the world. However, if enculturation is the main factor that shapes these concepts then enough social conditioning can also modify a pre-existing concept. In this sense the concepts of ethnicity or race might seem distinct but they are connected. References Ansari, D. (2008) Effects of development and enculturation on number representation in the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 9, 278-291   Buil, I., Chernatony, L. & Martínez. E. (2012) Methodological issues in cross-cultural research: An overview and recommendations. Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis for Marketing. 20: 223–234. Brew, F. P., Tan, J., Booth, H. and Malik, I. (2011) Interactions: A Study Involving Western and Chinese Cultures; The Effects of Cognitive Appraisals of Communication Competence in Conflict. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 42: 856 Fincher, C. L., Thornhill, R. Murray, D. R. & Schaller, M. (2008) Pathogen prevalence predicts human cross-cultural variability in individualism/collectivism. The Royal Society of Biological Sciences. 275(1640). pp. 1279-1285. Lonner, W. J. (2000). On the Growth and Continuing Importance of Cross Cultural Psychology. Psi Chi. 4 (3). pp. 22–26. Stuart, R. B. (2005) Multiculturalism: Questions, not answers. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(5), 576. Triandis, H. C. & Suh, E. M. (2002) Cultural influences on personality. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2002. 53:133–60 Read More