Current Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychology

Current issues in cross-cultural psychology:

Research topics, applications, and perspectives

Miriam Spering Institute of Psychology

University of Heidelberg, Germany December 2001

Content

Summary        4

1. Approaches to the psychology of culture: Historical foundations and conceptual challenges        5

1. What is culture?        5
2. Brief historical overview of cross-cultural psychology        5
3. Cross-cultural, cultural, and indigenous psychology        7
4. Conclusion        8

1. Theories and models of cross-cultural psychology        9

1. In search of a unified theory        9

1. The trait approach        11

1. Individualism vs. collectivism        12
2.  Independence vs. interdependence        12
3. Challenges to cultural dichotomies        13

1. Alternative trends and theoretical approaches        15

1. Cognitive-constructivist approach        15
2. Dynamic constructivist approach        16
3. Moving beyond cognition        17

2.3        Conclusion        17

1. Cultural variables and behaviour        18

1. Psychological constructs and culture        18

1. Social behaviour        18

1. Social perception: Thinking about ourselves and others        18
2.  Social interaction: Relating to others        20
3. Social influence: Changing attitudes and behaviour        21
4.  Gender behaviour        23

1. Personality        23

1.  Traits across culture        23
2.  Emotion        25
3.  Intelligence and specific abilities        26

1. Cognition        27

1.  Thinking styles        27
2.  Language and memory        27
3.  Learning        28
4.  Sensation and perception        29

3.2        Conclusion        29

1. A challenge for applied cross-cultural Psychology: Contact zones

between cultures        30

1. The psychology of intercultural contact        30

1. Groups in intercultural contact        30

1.  Tourists        30
2.  Sojourners        31
3.  Immigrants        31
4.  Refugees        31

1. Dimensions and outcomes of intercultural contact        32

1. A model of the acculturation process        32

1.  Berry’s model of acculturation strategies        32
2.  Acculturation and identity        33

1. Social Identity Theory        34
2. Culture shock and techniques for crossing cultures        35

1. Cross-cultural research of organisational behaviour and work        36

1. Cross-national studies on cultural dimensions        38

1.  Hofstede’s study and its implications        38
2.  The GLOBE research program and its implications        39

4.1.2.3   Conclusion        41

1. Cultural variables and organisational behaviour        42

1.  Communication and negotiation        42
2. Leadership and participation        45
3.  Decision making        46
4.  Work motivation and behaviour        47

1. Translation of research results into different areas of organisational

behaviour        48

1.  Selecting and training personnel        48
2.  Performance management        52
3.  Cultural influence on groups        53
4. Job design in a cross-cultural perspective        54
5. Organisational culture        55
6.  Organisational development        55
7.  Organisational conflict        56
8. Management and business practices in different countries        56

1.  Conclusion        57

1. Directions for future research & practical implications        58

1. Implications and guideline for intercultural practice        58
2. Implications for research        58

1. References        61

Summary

Psychology has long ignored culture as a source of influence on human behaviour and still takes little account of theories or data from other than Euro-American cultures. This review deals with topics emerging in cross-cultural, cultural, and indigenous psychology and focuses on theoretical perspectives that shape current cross-cultural psychology. Theories at