In cultural psychology the mental processes are compared with the society and the individual who has grown up in that society. Comparatively, cross-cultural psychologists systematically research behavior across cultures in different cultural situations (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Critical Thinking Critical thinking in cross-cultural psychology is important because cross-cultural psychology is about identifying the similarities and differences in individuals and how they function in his or her culture. Critical thinking is about making realistic, valid and reasonable evidence. Critical thinking is described as maintaining an attitude that is open=minded and doubtful (Shiraev & Levy, 2010).
Philosophers have identified two different ways in which we may attribute emotional and mental states to others: Theory Theory (TT) and Simulation Theory (ST). Describe the characteristics of these two theories, indicate what their strong and weak points are, and explain what the relevance of each may be for an understanding of the social deficits in autism. Theory theory (TT) and simulation theory (ST) have been identified by philosophers as two different ways in which we may attribute emotional and mental states to others. TT is often named a folk psychology theory (Churchland, 1990) and defined as being useful in the demands of everyday life as it is carried out without realisation. Churchland (1991) defines two classes for TT; the first he suggests should be named fully intentional concepts, which allows an individual to understand the expression of different personal beliefs and decisions.
These big ideas can be categorized under social thinking, social influence, or social relations. The idea that we construct our social reality falls under social thinking, it describes the natural human urge to explain behavior, by attempting to attribute it to a cause, in order to make it seem orderly, predictable, and controllable (Myers, 2010). According to social psychology our social intuitions are powerful and sometimes perilous, suggesting that the human ability to understand something immediately, molds or influences behavior because it also shapes fears, attitudes, impressions, and relationships (Myers, 2010). It is also believed that social influences shape behavior as does behavior shape social influences. Myers (2010) provides an example as to how behavior is shaped by social influences making humans social creatures, “We speak and think in words we learned from others (Social psychology, p. 7).
Support Networks in Cognitive Dissonance In “Then and Now: Creating a Self Through the Past,” author Susan Engel references a theory of “cognitive dissonance” by sociologist Irving Goffman. Engel writes, “Goffman described the ways in which we create different faces, or selves, in response to different social situations. [He] illustrates the ways in which people collude in helping [us] to maintain a given self, or self-presentation” (Engel p.198). This theory of people “colluding” to help with self-presentation is also demonstrated in Engel’s quote, “We draw upon memories as a source for the present […] this archeological work happens in the company of others, even when those others are representations in our mind” (Engel p.193). The autobiographical essay, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant,” authored by Jose Antonio Vargas will provide validity to this theory of colluding to help with self-presentation.
Interaction with others is vital in all aspects of life whether it be at home, in the work place or out in public. I believe communication is an ongoing process and society can only get better at it the more we learn and grow. What also intrigues me about communication is the numerous ways we are able to communication with each other. When thinking about what communication is, it is hard not to instantly think about two or more people having a conversation. However actions play a major role in communication, which I think is often overlooked.
Running head: Personality Theories Personality Theories PSY/211 Personality Theories The existence of personality theories correspond to how scholars analyze and assess the development of human identity and behavior. Each viewpoint provides a specific understanding of what cultivates personality and the corresponding factors that influence such behavior. One way to analyze personality is through the lens of psychoanalytic theory. The main argument of this theory is that problems or issues pertaining to psychology can be rooted to one’s unconscious (McLeod, 2007). Specifically, the problems are influenced by latent issues surfacing in the conscious mind.
Unconscious urges are described by Freud in his psychoanalytic theory. Observable behavior is emphasized in Albert Bandura’s social learning theory. The interaction of nature and nurture is emphasized in social learning theories · Which theories emphasize the impact of early experience on development? · How does each theory view the child? · How do the theories view adult development?
Susan Mckinley Compare and contrast the views of Goffman and Foucault on how social order is produced. The many theories of social order are fundamental in social science research. This essay will explore the creation of social order and why it is important. It will examine the similarities and differences between the perspectives of Erving Goffman and Michael Foucault on how social order is produced whilst reflecting on how these perspectives relate to studies of social disorder. As a human, each one of us is an individual being with feelings, thoughts and experiences, living within our own physical body, but we are also social beings who need contact, support and interaction.
Cross-cultural psychology studies the relations between cultural standards and behavior and also in the manner how certain activities influence individuals by dissimilar cultural forces (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). According to Bhugra & Kalra (2010), “Cross cultural diagnosis involves various theoretical considerations as diagnostic categories, pathoplasticity of psychiatric disorder, and differential reporting of symptoms and expression of signs from one cultural group to another” (pg. 51). Cross-cultural psychology studies the interactions between cultures, defines their differences, and determines commonalities and psychological commonalities between them. The studies concentrate
Perception The Role Perception Plays in Decision Making Tracey Redmann Axia College of University of Phoenix Perception 2 What is perception? Before looking at the role perception plays in the decision making process one should have a clear understanding of what perception is. According to Oxford Reference Online Premium (2009), perception is: The faculty of acquiring sensory experience. Study of the processes by which we gather and interpret visual information is largely the province of social psychologists, who have identified several general principles (‘laws’) of perception, and also some effects upon it of (among other things) motivation and attention. The former includes the phenomenon of the ‘figure-ground contrast’; that is, how we perceive objects distinctly from their surroundings.