Psychology
Introduction
The concept of cross-cultural psychology can be regarded as a comparative and critical study regarding the effects of culture on human psychology. It is often linked to cultural psychology, but the two concepts encompasses separate characteristic. Cultural psychology deals with the interaction between culture and psychology while cross-cultural psychology is more a comparative field. The discussion will highlight the context of cultural and cross-cultural psychology by examining a case study in order to draw out relevant definitions. In addition, the two concepts will be analyzed to determine relationship and identify the methodology associated with cross-cultural psychology research. Lastly, the context of how ethnicity, race, and worldviews are different yet related concepts would be determined based on the findings from the case study.
The study aims to investigate the differences in perceived competence in communication during conflict between the Chinese and Western culture. The context of the study measures the effectiveness and appropriateness of the communication approach employed by the Western and Chinese individuals during conflict through cognitive appraisal of competence. The study examined appraisals of communication of 30 Singaporean employees recalling incidents of intercultural conflict. The second part of the study involves 128 Australian and 108 Chinese university students where effectiveness and appropriateness of judgment were measured to determine communication competence in during conflict. The results show that Australians have demonstrated effectiveness in judgment that improves post-conflict relationship while the Chinese showed less competency in the measured variable than Australians (Brew et al., 2011).
The Relationship between Cultural Psychology and Cross-Cultural Psychology
Cross-cultural and cultural psychology shares the same place in the field of study. While the name implies the same meaning, the two concepts encompass both similarities and differences in terms of definition. Given that cross-cultural psychology is different from cultural psychology, the two are linked together in terms of approach to issues relating to culture and the field of psychology. Cultural psychology determines how cultural elements play a role in the psychological development of the people within a particular culture (Matsumoto et al., 2008). Meanwhile, cross-cultural psychology determines how it affects people across various cultures. For example, cultural psychology determines the cultural factors causing anxiety Americans. However, determining how anxiety affects individuals in Mexico in relationship to how anxiety affects individuals in Japan is determined through cross-cultural psychology. In a way, the two concepts are interrelated because cultural psychology attempts to explain the context culture in psychology. Upon establishing the cultural factors that influence the psychological development of individuals in one culture, cross-cultural psychology steps in to determine the differences between cultures based on the findings of cultural psychology study.
Methodologies Associated with Cross-Cultural Psychology Research
In cross-cultural psychology, all the possible methods can be used in the investigation process including empirical, experimental, survey, psychobiography, content analysis, focus groups, and among other procedures. The fact that almost all methods can be used in a cross-cultural psychology research, the majority of the findings can be similar, but the most important research tool is the statistical method particularly the correlational method. Since cross-cultural psychology determines the correlation, variation, and/or similarities between cultures, it means the approach is more on the comparative side (Shiraev and Levy, 2010). This means that it is important to establish relationship between variables through the use of t-test method in which the difference between the samples are tested if they only occur by chance.
In cross-cultural research both the qualitative and quantitative approach are being used as the framework of the study. The qualitative research can be done in a non-research setting where the participants are being observed in their normal activities. On the other hand, different aspects of human activities are being measured in cross-cultural psychology using the quantitative method to draw out the comparative perspectives. The most important aspect of cross-cultural research is the approach in choosing the variables to examine, which is often done empirically as opposed to superstitions, beliefs, and intuition (Shiraev and Levy, 2010).
Understanding the Relationship between Ethnicity, Race, and Worldviews
The case study was able to provide a clear perspective on how ethnicity, race, and worldviews are separate, but related at the same time. First, the context of ethnicity and race constitutes common characteristics shared by people and such characteristics become the trademark of cultural identity. For example, in the study by Brew et al. (2011), the subject of communication competency in conflict interaction was perceived to be different between the Western and Chinese cultures. The majority of East Asian cultures tend to demonstrate the avoidant conflict approach because of the hierarchical social structure associated with collectivist orientation (Brew et al., 2011). On the other hand, the Western culture such as Australia is more an individualistic culture, which gives emphasis on one’s goals, interest, and needs. Such difference provides a clear perspective on the relationship between ethnicity, race, and worldview, which was determined in the level of competence in conflict interaction. For some people difference in ethnicity and race can be a reason for conflict emerging from the lack of understanding of each culture. One of the ways in which conflict can potentially arise between cultures is the manner of communication where the individualistic Western tend to confront the issues at hand to effectively improve post-conflict relationship, while the conflict avoidant East Asian tend to demonstrate ineffective communication approach. Conflict can potentially emerge between the two cultures based on the comparative analysis of two orientation where the individualist Western finds the avoidant East Asian frustrating the expression of one’s concern, which hampers the effective achievement of one’s goal.
The Role of enculturation in the Case Study
Conclusion
Understanding the psychological development of individuals from different cultural settings requires a deeper exploration of the their cultural variability. On the other hand, analyzing how one culture’s psychological processes differ in another culture is a broad, yet important area to be researched in order to provide a well-informed worldview of the variability in behavior and mental processes between individuals of varying cultures. More importantly, cross-cultural psychology can be regarded as way to understand diversity through psychology.
References
Brew, F., Tan, J., Booth, H., & Malik, I. (2011). The Effects of Cognitive Appraisals of Communication Competence in Conflict Interactions: A Study Involving Western and Chinese Cultures. Journal Of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 42(5), 856-874. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022022110381121
Matsumoto, D., Seung Hee Yoo, & Fontaine, J. (2008). Mapping Expressive Differences Around the World: The Relationship Between Emotional Display Rules and Individualism Versus Collectivism. Journal Of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 39(1), 55-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022022107311854
Shiraev, E., & Levy, D. (2013). Cross-cultural psychology. Boston: Pearson Education.
