People from diverse backgrounds apparently portray differences in belief systems and behavioral patterns largely due to disparity in cultural settings (Lonner, 2000). On the other hand, similarities are also inevitable in human culture. These similarities and differences in cultural backgrounds have led to emergence of cross-cultural psychology, a study on the interaction between diverse human culture, belief systems and behavioral patterns.
Cultural psychology attempts to create correlation between human mind and culture (Smith, Bond & Kağitçibaşi, 2006). However, the main challenge among theorists and researchers in this field is to understand the link between culture and functionality of human mind. Both empirical and theoretical studies have unanimously concluded that the two phenomena are interdependent.
Therefore, cultural psychology largely examines the extent and scope in which they influence each other alongside their role in shaping human behavior and belief systems. On the other hand, cross-cultural psychology explores impacts of culture in human psychology by attempting to draw comparisons (Shiraev & Levy, 2010).
Since the inception of The International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology Association in 1972, proponents of this branch of psychology have continually contributed positively towards its growth through insightful researches (Lonner, 2000). According to Shiraev and Levy (2010), cross-cultural psychology is a recent development in psychology since it entails critical analysis and comparative studies on different aspects of culture and their effect on human psychology.
A closer look at both cultural and cross-cultural psychology shows some degree of similarity since each one of them addresses interrelationship between culture and mind. However, cross-cultural psychology is extended both in perspective and variables being investigated. Cultural psychology is limited in scope bearing in mind that the major concern of researchers is to investigate individuals brought up in a particular culture. According to Matsumoto (2000), culture is observed characteristics shared among people.
This may include attitude, customs, behavioral patterns and societal values which are highly likely to be passed from one generation to another. The author is also emphatic that although world cultures exhibit some similar characteristics, remarkable differences also exist. The myriad of similarities and differences is what forms the basis for cross-cultural study.
On the same note, the main objective is identifying both unique and universal behavior that people from different cultural background demonstrate as well as finding out how the identified cultural elements affect human behavior, social experiences, education, family relations and beliefs (Matsumoto, 2000). As such, most past researches have mainly focused on studying similarities among different cultures. For instance, both etic and emic approaches have been employed when studying culture.
Irrespective of the approach used to study culture, there is overwhelming need of drawing a conclusion at the end of the. Comparative studies are unusually demanding and require high levels of critical thinking skills in course of the analysis. This assertion could be interpreted to imply that cross-cultural psychology requires critical thinking skills due to the fact that every aspect of this study area is dependent on comparative researches.
The first aspect of comparison is when researchers want to establish the interconnection between cultural practices and behavior in an attempt to establish whether people from different cultural backgrounds exhibit similar characteristics when faced with challenging situations such as death of a loved one (Matsumoto, 2000).
In addition, studies on cross-cultural interactions call for critical thinking skills in order to come up with comparative data. Matsumoto (2000) further expounds that cross-cultural researches are concerned with establishing psychological universals among people from different cultures and such studies involve scientific method of investigation which demands higher levels of critical thinking skills.
As exemplified above, cross-cultural field in psychology is exceptionally wide both in scope and methodology. In terms of scope, studying human activities in their respective cultural settings is extremely dynamic. Hence, researches can choose from three different approaches. To begin with, Shiraev & Levy (2010) refer the first approach as evolutionary.
Evolution motivated factors affect human behavior, since it is a natural foundation for human culture to exist. Scholars who chose this approach are mainly interested in investigating how evolution-motivated factors influence human behavior. The theoretical model for this approach assumes that biological laws can be effectively used to explain human behavior in cultural settings (Matsumoto, 2000).
The second approach is based on general observation which lays an assumption that social structures influence human behavior. The technique commonly known as sociological approach focuses on investigating how social structures influence people both at a community and individual level.
Sociological theory on which this approach is founded suggests that various social forces shape behavior of community as a whole. In addition, individuals tend to develop and adjust their responses to conform to demands and pressures from their own community (Shiraev & Levy, 2010).
Scholars in cross-cultural psychology also have option to use eco-cultural technique in their researches. The approach is based on the idea that individuals are inseparable from the context of their environment (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). People and the environment coexist together and eventually transform one another.
The approach views human beings not as passive and static entities in the environment, but as active entities capable of interacting and bringing changes to the environment (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Proponents of this theory say that researchers should pay attention to environmental settings that their subjects under study develop so as to gain an understanding of the culture entirely.
Apart from the above three approaches, cross-cultural researches in 21st century are exploring a new technique called cultural mixtures approach (Lonner, 2000). Though still in the trial stages, the approach is embracing the fact that globalization has brought people with different cultures together; hence the cultural mixtures approach to determine how contact between people with different cultural background is shaping human behavior.
Depending on the approach used and objectives of the study, cross-cultural researchers may either opt for qualitative or quantitative methodology or in some instances decide to use both. The quantitative mode of study is the most widely used in psychology. The main concern is to measure certain aspects of human activity in a comparative study (Shiraev & Levy, 2010).
These empirical studies explore different cultural variables through observation in order to establish the links that make them universal or unique. The subjects under study are usually aware they are being observed, unlike in qualitative mode where research is carried out in a natural setting where the participants might not have an idea they are being observed (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Qualitative researchers carry out studies in non-research settings with the aim of detecting unspoken cultural aspects that are prevalent society being study. Subjectivity can be avoided by using both methodologies.
To recap it all, cross-cultural psychology studies are important owing to the fact that the relationship between human behavioral patterns and cultural backgrounds can be understood and appreciated. This branch of psychology also provides vital information on universality and uniqueness of human beings across different cultures.
References
Lonner, W.J. (2000). On the Growth and Continuing Importance of Cross-Cultural Psychology. Eye on Psi Chi, 4(3):22-26.
Matsumoto, D. R. (2000). Culture and psychology (2nd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Shiraev, E. B. & Levy, D.A. L. (2010). Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Smith, P. B., Bond, M. H., & Kağitçibaşi, C. (2006). Understanding social psychology across cultures: Living and working in a changing world (3rd ed.). London: Sage Publications.