05/03/2023 Nithin Lalachan BSc. Psychology 1

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Presented By,

Nithin Lalachan BSc.Psychology Semester 2KCMT Chethipuzha

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Culture is the core of a society. The embodiment of values and norms of

meaning and interpretation.

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Do the varied experiences of people from different cultures lead to cross-

cultural variations in problem solving ?

Yes, at least to some degree, as researchers

have found cultural differences in the cognitive style that people exhibit in

solving problems

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HERMAN WITKINHerman A. Witkin

was an American psychologist who specialized in the spheres of 

cognitive psychology and learning psychology. He was a pioneer

of the theory of cognitive styles and learning styles (developed in

cooperation with Solomon Asch, Donald Good enough etc.). He preferred to diagnose not by

questionnaires but by more objective means, such as projective tests, task-solving tests etc. He was the author of

the concept of field-dependency vs. field-independency

.

HERMAN WITKINIn the 1940s, he intrigued by the

observation that some airplane pilots would fly into a cloud bank upright but exit it

upside down without realizing that they had turned over .

Witkin’s effort to explain this aviation problem led to the discovery of an interesting

dimension of cognitive style.

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Culture, Cognitive Style,and Problem Solving

• Field dependence – relying on external frames of reference

• Field independence – relying on internal frames of reference

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Field dependence

1. Rely on external frames of reference 2. Tend to accept the physical

environment as it is given3. Focus on total context of a problem 4. Found more in sedentary agricultural

societies and in societies that stress conformity

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Field independence

1. Rely on internal frames of reference2. Tend to analyze and restructure the

physical environment 3. Focus on specific features of a

problem4. Reorganize the component part 5. Predominant in nomadic societies

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Create your own story...

Sun

KCMT

BMW

Dulquer SalmanKurisummoodu

Award

India

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Cognitive Styles

Cognitive styles – Refer to the preferred way an individual process of information

It is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing

and solving problems. The ultimate goal of problem-solving

is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the

issue.

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Holistic vs AnalyticalThinking

RICHARD NISBETTRichard E. Nisbett is Theodore M.

Newcomb Distinguished Professor of social psychology and co-director of the Culture and Cognition program at

the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Nisbett's research interests are in social

cognition, culture, social class, and aging. He received his Ph.D. From Columbia

University, where his advisor was Stanley Schachter, whose other students at that

time included Lee Ross and Judith Rodin

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RICHARD NISBETT

• HOLISTIC COGNITIVE STYLE

• ANALYTICAL COGNITIVE STYLE

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Holistic cognitive style East-Asian cultureFocuses on context and

relationships among the elements.Looking at the ‘BIG PICTURE’ the

‘OVERALL IDEA’ and less attentive to the details; more INTUIATIVE

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Analytic cognitive style

Western CultureFocuses on object and their

properties.Paying more attention to ‘THE

INNER DETAILS OF A SITUATION’

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Quick review :• Definitions of :

– Culture– Cognitive Style– Problem Solving

• Herman Witkin– Field Dependence– Field Independence

• Richard Nisbett– Holistic cognitive style– Analytic cognitive style

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References

Witkin,1950;Witkin et al.,1962 Witkin & Goodenough, 1981 Berry,1990;Mishra,2001 Suny Cortland:Cognitive Learning Styles Themes And Variations www.apa.com

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Nithin Lalachan BSc. Psychology

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Thank You

Nithin Lalachan BSc.Psychology Semester 2KCMT Chethipuzha