Introduction to Cross Cultural Psychology

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Introduction to Cross-Cultural Psychology Alice F. Brown Psy 450 May 21, 2013 Shally Vaid Introduction to Cross-Cultural Psychology Culture is defined as a set of attitudes, behaviors, and symbols that are shared by a group of people and passed down from generation to generation (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Cultural psychology is about finding links that are meaningful between a culture and how an individual thinks who lives in the same culture (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). How an individual internalizes his or her culture is the basis of cultural psychology. Cross-cultural psychology is the study of cultures in a comparative and critical method by psychologists. Cross-cultural psychologists are interested in the similarities and differences in all cultures. The study of cultures in thinking, feeling, and behavior is compared by research in cross-cultural psychology (Shiraev & Levy, 2010). Relationship Cross cultural psychology and cultural psychology are both dealing with individuals living in a culture. Cross-cultural psychology goes a little further and compares the behavior of individuals in cultures around the world. 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). Examining how individuals think and act
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