FINAL PAPER

Final Paper

Final Paper

Introduction

Today there are many fields of psychology but cross cultural psychology is the only one that focuses on the study of human behavior in diverse cultures. Cross cultural psychology has flaws just like any other type of psychology. This paper will examine the critical thinking and methodology involved with cross cultural psychology.

Diversity In Psychology

Cross cultural psychology is a field of psychology that has been around since 1972. This branch of psychology is different from any other and has continued to grow. Cross-cultural psychology examines psychological diversity and the underlying reasons for such diversity. In particular, cross-cultural psychology studies from a comparative perspective the links connecting cultural norms and behavior (Shiraev & Levy, 2007). Cross cultural psychology also examines the way in which particular human activities are influenced by diverse, sometimes dissimilar social and cultural forces. Cross-cultural psychology cares not only about differences between cultural groups; it also establishes psychological universals, that is, phenomena common for people in several, many, or perhaps all cultures.

Culture is an array of attitudes, behaviors and symbols communal by a large group of people and is usually passed down from generation to generation (Shiraev & Levy, 2007). Although some cultures may seem very similar, no two cultures are exactly alike (Shiraev & Levy, 2007). Many varieties of culture exist. Ethnic cultures such as the African American culture, Greek culture, Indian culture, and American culture each have his or her style in art, values, religion, household structure and food. Each specific generation within America also has their own culture due to their particular age group. The age of the, "Baby Boomers," will differ from the previous generation. Music, dress, beliefs, and goals are in general contradictory. There is the different culture of a particular age such as the Pre-historic civilization, which drastically has changed due to modernization. Culture is a particular group of people's way of life. What that culture has idealized, moralized, and valued (Shiraev & Levy, 2007). Culture defines ones learned behavior, if it be the rules that define the customary ways of our thinking, feeling, social expectations, and our community laws. Culture brings about human social behavior. What an individual does or does not do, like and dislike, believe and do not believe, and value and discount are all based on culture. Human social behavior is based on culture and because culture is not innate, human behavior must be learned (Shiraev & Levy, 2007). The sociological classification system consists of three major dimensions of culture: the normative (standards for behavior), the cognitive (knowledge and beliefs), and the material (tangible objects). An elaboration on each of these dimensions helps us to better comprehend the nature of culture.

The difference with cross cultural psychology is that it does not focus on how parents and friends impact human behavior but instead culture has a powerful impact on an individual's actions. Cultural psychology seeks to discover meaningful links between a culture and the psychology of individuals living in this culture (Shiraev & Levy, ...