Culture & Personality. Outline. How Do We Compare? Kimberley A. Clow. What is Culture Approaches to Culture. Summary. Comparative Approach

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1 Culture & Personality Kimberley A. Clow Office Hour: Thursdays 2-3pm Office: S302 Outline What is Culture Approaches to Culture Comparative Approach Emic vs. Etic Types of Culture Evoked Transmitted Universal Summary How Do We Compare? In some ways We are like all other people We are like some others We are like nobody else How does culture shape who we are? 1

2 What is Culture? Definitions Shared system of meaning that provide the standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating, communicating, and acting among those who share a language, a historic period, and a geographic location The way people understand their world and make sense of it through a shared system of meaning Why Study Culture? Reasons Discover whether concepts of personality that are prevalent in one culture are also applicable in other cultures Discover whether cultures differ in the levels of particular personality traits Discover whether the factor structure of personality traits varies across cultures Discover whether certain features of personality are universal Approaches to Culture How to handle cultural differences Denial Deconstructionism Comparative Approach Three Major Types of Cultures Evoked Culture Transmitted Culture Cultural Universals 2

3 Culture in Personality Theories Psychodynamic Approach Freud s Theory Jung s Archetypes Learning Approach Allport Culture is part of what it means to be a person Trait Approach Do factors hold up across cultures? Comparative Approach Etic Universal Objective Outsider s view Emic Specific Subjective Insider s view An Example Personality in Spain Do people use the same personality traits in the U.S. and Spain? Emic Approach Indigenous assessment of personality Spanish personality adjectives Etic Approach Imported assessment of personality Translated Big Five questionnaire 3

4 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS Well-balanced 64 Moderate 54 Reasonable 53 Hasty -42 Reckless -43 Crazy -49 OPENNESS Bohemian 38 Mystical 40 Quaint 42 Gossiping -36 Disclosing -34 Nosy -30 Resulting Factors AGREEABLENESS Easy-going 54 Good-natured 49 Docile 46 Stormy -45 Unreconciling -47 Unyielding -48 PLEASANTNESS Happy 54 Engergetic 53 Relaxed 48 Stressed 53 Depressed 54 Unhappy 56 ENGAGEMENT Ardent 43 Seething 36 Intense 35 Cold -34 Idle -30 Unemotional -37 Circumplex Model of Affect Aroused Engagement Fearful Hi Negative Hi Positive Enthusiastic Affect Affect Sad Unpleasantness Pleasantness Happy Lo Positive Lo Negative Sluggish Affect Affect Calm Disengagement Sleepy Etic vs. Emic INDIGENOUS SPANISH BIG 5 IMPORTED BIG 5 Agree Consc Open Pleasant Engage Agreeableness 71 Conscientious. 60 Openness 22 Extraversion Neuroticism

5 Evoked Culture A way of considering culture that concentrates on phenomena that are triggered in different ways by different environmental conditions A universal underlying mechanism Environmental differences in activating that underlying mechanism Example Southern Culture of Honor Southern Culture of Honor Transmitted Culture Representations (ideas, values, beliefs, attitudes) that exist originally in at least one person's mind that are transmitted to other minds through observation or interaction with the original person Might explain cultural differences in Morals & Values Self-Concepts 5

6 Etiquette: East vs. West Displays of Temper Tone of Voice Modesty vs. Pride Laughing Compliments Using First Names Touching Disclosures Offensive Gestures Agreeing Formality Face The Self goals activities interests attitudes physical psychological Japan USA Structural Framework - USA Historical Background Religion: Protestantism: Personal god Philosophy Descartes: I think, therefore I am. Politics -Declaration of Independence -Bill of Rights Cultural Practices Linguistics: Decontextualized "I" Advertisements: "Just do it", "Different is good" "Have it your way, right away" Legal System: - Free will - Reponsibility Specific Episodes Guests told to "help themselves" Children have own rooms, choose their own clothing Compliments to colleagues "Are you happy/having fun?" Psychological Tendencies - Individual control and responsibility - Consistency - Positive and unique self 6

7 Structural Framework - Japan Historical Background Religion: - Buddhism (compassion, Nirvana) - Confucianism (roles, respect for ancestors) Cultural Practices Linguistics: Word for "self" = "my share" Proverbs: "a nail that stands out is hammered down" Legal System: - duty - remorse Specific Episodes Host decides for the guest. Children eat, sleep, learn in groups. Compliments are refused. "Aren't you ashamed?" Psychological Tendencies - Focus on group context - Self is context dependent - Improvement "Fitting in" Independent Self Mother Father Sibling Self Co-Worker Interdependent Self Sibling Mother Father Co-Worker Self 7

8 Individualism vs. Collectivism 0.5 Variation Within Cultures America Indonesia Individualism -0.5 Low Identification High America Indonesia Collectivism -0.5 Low Identification High VERTICAL India USA COLLECTIVISTIC INDIVIDUALISTIC Israel? Sweden HORIZONTAL 8

9 Cultural Values Hofstede studied IBM employees in 50 different countries Found four cultural value dimensions Power Distance Canada vs. India Uncertainty Avoidance Japan vs. Hong-Kong Individualism / Collectivism US vs. China Masculinity / Femininity Brazil vs. Mexico A Different Take Trompenaars Individualism vs. Collectivism US vs. China Universalism vs. Particularism Germany vs. Hong-Kong Neutral vs. Affective Relationships Japan vs. Mexico Specific vs. Diffuse Relationships Achievement vs. Ascription UK vs. India Cultural Universals Attempt to identify features of personality that appear to be universal, or present in most or all cultures Some Examples Gender Stereotypes Emotion Personality Factors 9

10 Emotional Expressions Universality in Emotional Expressions Summary Cultural psychology studies the influence of cultural factors on people s personality Every approach to personality needs to account for cross-cultural differences Global cross-cultural differences do not imply uniformity within each culture Subcultures do exist! Individual differences are also present 10