Cross Cultural Psychology Paper

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Cross-Cultural Psychology Cathy Perry Psy 450 November 14, 2011 Professor Sayida Peprah Cross-Cultural Psychology One of the more noteworthy developments in psychology during the past 35 years has been the rapid ascent of cross-cultural psychology (Lonner, 2000). In cross-cultural psychology individuals from at least two different cultures are studied. This branch of psychology aids the psychologist in using scientific research and critical thinking as a means for problem solving and observation between cultures (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Cross-cultural psychology has a vision to captivate a common link a culture and its inhabitants. This psychology is extremely complex and is a definite link with cultural psychology. Cultures are rarely homogeneous so within the same setting individuals have to be assessed in a culturally appropriate manner. Defining Cross-Cultural Psychology Cross-cultural psychology uses critical thinking and comparative studies of the cultural effects on human psychology (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). In this comparative field, at least two cultural groups are observed and compared by the essential component of critical thinking. 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
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