Lecture 1

C14 Cross-cultural Social Psychology

Introductory Lecture - September 15th

1. Introduction

1.1. Judging others

1.2. Course outline

1.3. Assignment

2. What is psychology?

2.1. Explanation of human behaviour

2.2. Use understanding of behaviour to intervene in people’s lives

3. The process of research

Theory: A theory is an orderly, integrated set of statements that describes, explains, and predicts behaviour.

4. Is psychology culture bound?

4.1. Muller-Lyer illusion

Susceptibility to visual illusions

4.1.1. Angular structures

4.1.2. Parallel lines extending into the distance

4.1.3. Two-dimensional representations of actual objects

4.2. Serial positioning effect

4.3. Independent self

4.4. Fundamental attribution error

4.5. Social Loafing

5. How do you define cross-cultural research?

6. The world village

1. Men and Women

480 are men, 520 are women

2. Language

37 speak Arabic, 165 speak Mandarin, 86 speak English, 58 speak Russian, 83 speak Hindi, 64 speak Spanish

3. Religion

45 are atheists, 3 are Jews, 62 are Buddhists, 178 are Moslems, 329 are Christians, 167 are non-religious, 132 are Hindus, 84 are other religions

4. Places of Origin

124 are Africans, 84 are Latin Americans, 584 are Asians, 2 are New Zealanders, 4 are Australians, 52 are North Americans, 95 are Europeans, 55 are Russians

5. Age

330 are children, 60 are over the age of 65

6. Daily Life

333 have access to clean drinking water, 800 live in substandard housing, 70 own automobiles

1 own a computer

7. Wealth

200 control 75% of the wealth, 200 receive 2% of the wealth

8. Education

200 can not read

10 have a college education

From: Susan Goldstein (2000) Cross-Cultural Explorations: Activities in Culture and Psychology. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.