A2 PSYCHOLOGY – ISSUES AND DEBATES

Psychology and cultural differences

USE YOUR MINI WHITEB OARDS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

I have chosen some answers that I think are

particularly good. If you come up with one of those

answers you would have received a cake (had I

remembered to bring them)!

The cup cake icon will appear next to the answers

which are to be rewarded.

CROSS CULTURAL STUDIES

We have looked mainly at studies carried out in the

US and UK. Write on your board any studies/topic

areas which you consider to be cross cultural.

The definition of mental illness in other countries

Pavlov’s dogs !

Obedience studies - Meeus and Raajamkers

Charlton – effects of media on children

ETHNOCENTRISM

Write a definition of ethnocentrism on your board.

Ethnocentrism is a type of bias and it means being focused on

one’s own culture.

It is impossible to avoid.

It links to Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory. Social norms

and rules are part of our socialisation and people are likely to

understand information and view people using their own cultural

understanding and schema.

UNDERSTANDING BIAS IN ORDER TO AVOID IT

We must try to understand someone else’s world to

avoid bias and be aware of our own biases.

It is important to be aware of ethnocentrism when

diagnosing disorders. Hearing voices may indicate

schizophrenia here but in other parts of the world it

is considered to be a spiritual experience.

AN EXAMPLE OF CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH

Littlewood & Lipsedge (1997) have suggested there is bias in the system, not a greater vulnerability in certain groups in society.

They describe the case of Calvin, a Jamaican man arrested for arguing with the police when a post-office clerk wrongly believed he was cashing a stolen

postal order. After he was arrested the psychiatric report noted: “This man belongs to Rastafarian - a mystical Jamaican cult, the members of which think they are God-like. The man has ringlet hair, a straggly goatee beard and a type of turban. He appears eccentric in his appearance and very vague in answering questions. He is an irritable character and has got arrogant behaviour." As written by a British prison psychiatrist.•A psychiatrist must have knowledge of cultural factors before making a diagnosis e.g. in Puerto Rican

culture believing that evil spirits can possess a person is a general belief, not schizophrenia!

When testing a non-English speaker in English, the differences in language cause assumptions to be made.

CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH

What is the benefit of cross cultural research?

It can show whether characteristics are universal or

unique to a particular culture

This shows whether nature or nurture is responsible

for that characteristic

EVALUATION OF CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH

Write down one strength and one weakness of cross cultural

research.

Strengths

Universal behaviours and characteristics can be uncovered

Cross cultural research can identify different approaches to

certain issues between cultures. What is seen as useful in one

culture can be introduced in another

EVALUATION OF CROSS CULTURAL RESEARCH

Weaknesses

The methodology may be more appropriate to one

culture than another. This could affect the findings.

The data may be interpreted differently because of

the cultural background of the researcher.

READ P164-165 TEXT BOOK

Ensure you have made notes on the meaning of

cultural relativity and that you can give an example.

How can you use Littlewood (1997) as evidence of

the usefulness of cross cultural research?

Q U E S T I O N F O R W O R K S H O P : T O B E R E V I S E D A N D W R I T T E N A S A T I M E D E S S A Y

Describe two examples of the application of cross-

cultural studies in Psychology and discuss the

potential effect of cultural bias in their interpretation

(12 marks)