Cultural Influences on Health and Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for judging people from other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture?

Cultural primatology

Cultural relativism

Ethnocentrism (correct)

Cumulative cultural evolution

What is one potential explanation for the differences in health observed between French and American populations?

Greater access to healthcare services in the U.S.

Higher levels of exercise among Americans

Increased rates of smoking in France

Varied dietary patterns impacting weight (correct)

Which adaptation allows humans to direct more energy to the brain?

Longer digestive tract

Larger muscle mass

Increased body fat

Smaller muscles (correct)

What role does culture play in the understanding of mental health conditions?

It influences how symptoms are expressed and interpreted. Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural learning uniquely characterized by in humans?

Biases in imitation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a culture-bound syndrome?

Koro in Southeast Asia Signup and view all the answers

How does human cultural learning differ from that of chimpanzees?

It is cumulative Signup and view all the answers

How does socioeconomic status influence physical health?

It can lead to disparities in access to resources and care. Signup and view all the answers

What concept is emphasized when discussing ecological and geographical variations in culture?

Evoked culture Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misinterpretation of the symptoms associated with illness, sickness, and disease?

Symptoms can be emergent properties of social and cultural contexts. Signup and view all the answers

What does cumulative cultural evolution allow humans to achieve compared to other species?

Improved tool-making skills Signup and view all the answers

What research bias is noted regarding the origins of most cultural research?

Most research originates from WEIRD societies Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of genetic resistance to malaria in different populations?

It shows how environments impact genetic variance. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the understanding of cultural variability?

It involves both evoked and transmitted culture Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological disorder's symptoms can differ greatly across cultures due to various cultural scripts?

Anxiety disorders Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes how some symptoms of distress are understood in different cultural contexts?

Culturally specific symptom expression Signup and view all the answers

What motivates European Americans to view their lives?

The choices they make Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts describes the integration of multiple cultural identities?

Bicultural identity integration Signup and view all the answers

What can result from denied choices according to the principles discussed?

Feelings of helplessness Signup and view all the answers

How does exposure to North American culture affect self-esteem?

It enhances self-esteem Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of self-enhancement compared to self-effacement?

Increased agency and control Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'meaning maintenance' primarily address?

Search for coherence in life experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which type of motivation focuses on achieving positive outcomes?

Promotion motivation Signup and view all the answers

In cultures with a strong focus on agency, how are choices generally perceived?

As empowering opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What primarily influences subjective well-being across different cultures?

Income level Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as affecting subjective well-being?

Travel experiences Signup and view all the answers

How do cultural display rules relate to emotional expression?

They dictate what emotions can be expressed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the nature of emotions across cultures?

Varied and influenced by culture Signup and view all the answers

What is the main premise of the bottom-up approach in studying emotions?

It emphasizes individual experiences and expressions Signup and view all the answers

Which researcher's work primarily represents the top-down approach to understanding emotions?

Paul Ekman Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of culture can predict differences in emotional expressions?

Cultural specific emotions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an undesirable affect as described in studies?

Persistent sadness Signup and view all the answers

How do individuals in different cultures view happiness differently?

They believe a combination of positive and negative feelings is acceptable Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'emotional dialects' refer to?

Cultural differences in expressing emotions Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the phenomenon where individuals are unaware of their own knowledge biases in a group setting?

Pluralistic ignorance Signup and view all the answers

Which approach focuses on the behavioral aspects of cultural interactions?

Cross-cultural psychologists Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains how cultural persistence is related to environmental conditions?

Cultural persistence tracks environmental stability Signup and view all the answers

In terms of selective retention, which mechanism primarily involves psychological reactions such as fear or surprise?

Emotional mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

What is a key focus of cultural psychology compared to cross-cultural psychology?

The effects of culture on individual psychology Signup and view all the answers

What theory discusses how humans evolve to establish and maintain cultural practices?

Cultural evolution theory Signup and view all the answers

What method in cross-cultural research emphasizes the use of qualitative data collection?

Field studies Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the effect of current conditions influencing past cultural beliefs and practices?

Historical threads Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the area in which a child can achieve a higher level of understanding with assistance?

Zone of proximal development Signup and view all the answers

What do selective retention mechanisms in culture primarily affect?

Preservation of cultural knowledge Signup and view all the answers

How do psychocultural frameworks explain the continuity of cultural norms over time?

Through emotional engagement Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the interplay between individual thoughts and cultural contexts?

Mutual constitution Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a challenge in conducting cross-cultural research?

Respondent biases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects the influence of early life conditions on cultural development?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a common aspect of American cultural models concerning self-perception?

Most individuals rate themselves positively. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best characterizes the difference between individualism and collectivism?

Individualism prioritizes personal goals; collectivism emphasizes group harmony. Signup and view all the answers

What is a misconception about Western business professionals living in collectivist cultures?

They struggle to integrate due to cultural differences. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential outcome of a focus on independence for first-generation college students in the U.S.?

Increased likelihood of struggling academically. Signup and view all the answers

Which one of the following best explains the term 'acculturation'?

Maintaining one's original cultural practices while integrating new ones. Signup and view all the answers

What enables individuals to 'frame-switch' between two cultural identities?

The ability to adapt and respond to situational cues. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the term 'marginal man' in the context of cultural integration?

Someone who feels rejected by both cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cultural model that offers a perspective on individualism and collectivism?

Independence-Interdependence model. Signup and view all the answers

How do East Asian cultures generally view the concept of self compared to American cultures?

They see the self as fluid and context-dependent. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cultural Psychology

Psychological processes are shaped by experiences
Culture is any information acquired from one's species through social learning, influencing behaviours.
Groups sharing a context, exposed to similar messages, comprise a culture, but cultures are dynamic and change over time.
Cultural variability exists among individuals within a culture.
Case studies like the Sambia initiation ritual highlight cultural practices shaping behaviour.
Psychological processes exist in all cultures but may not be used to solve problems in the same way or be equally accessible.
Cultural processes are used to solve problems but varying degrees of accessibility across cultures.
Ethnocentrism- judging other cultures by the standards of your own.
There are symbolic codings and cultural learning practices unique to humans
Cultural learning is biases in imitation
Cultural knowledge builds and modifies over time.

Cultural Information

Cultural ideas, like democracy and loans evolve and accumulate over history.
Encephalization quotient (ratio of brain weight to body size) is higher in humans compared to other species.
Humans have evolved cognitive abilities to maintain relationships of around 150 people, a significant part of living in social groups.
Humans are capable of cultural learning from others, contributing to cultural evolution.
Cooking and food preparation practices vary by culture and influence subsequent genetic evolution.
Cultural learning is cumulative and grows in complexity.

Cultural Primatology

Cultural primatology examines aspects of cultural learning in non-human primates.
Cultural primate studies reveal behaviors that appear unique to humans.

Cultural Psychology- History

Wilhelm Wundt- foundational figure- focused on psychology as a scientific field, including cultural aspects.
Emil Kraeplin- work on clinical psychology, symptoms different across cultures, considering in terms of how people in the local society view their symptoms.
Lev Vygotsky and Aleksandr Luria- Russian psychologists who viewed child development as interacting with cultural practices

Cultural Psychology- Conducting Research

Methodological equivalence: for meaningful comparison across cultures, participants need to understand situations or questions the same way.
Translating measures can be challenging; response biases, such as socially desirable responding, may occur.
Cultural factors (motives, expectations, reference groups) affect responses to questions, leading to potential bias.

Cultural Psychology - Studying Cultures

Identifying relevant cultures and exploring them in depth (ethnographic approaches).
Using natural settings, minimizing influence on participants, and understanding the culture’s language as methods to study behaviors.

Cultural Psychology- Survey Considerations

Consideration of cultural differences in how people answer surveys/questionnaires.
Bias in surveys can arise from: socially desirable responding moderacy bias extremity bias reference group effects

Cultural Psychology- Emotions & Values

Emotions can vary culturally- East Asians may express more subtle emotions than Westerners.
Cultural display rules influence outward expression of emotions.
Cultural emphasis on individual autonomy versus interconnected relationships can influence emotional experiences.

Differences in how people view themselves (independent vs. interdependent self-construal) impact how people perceive themselves and others.

Cultural Psychology- Developmental Niche

Ecological realities influence development.
Cultural norms and processes shaping a child’s development
Cultural values, practices, and beliefs, influence child development.

Cultural Psychology- Models of Integration

People living in multiple cultures can adjust by blending or switching between cultural frames depending on situation/people
Some evidence that people with higher bicultural identity integration express more integrated responses across cultures.
Bi-cultural identity may lead to experiencing feelings of confusion at first, and that increased exposure and understanding can lead to an ability to act consistently with several different cultural roles and be comfortable with situations where there is conflict among these expectations.

Cultural Psychology- Morality & Religion

Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning, which suggest moral development progresses through different stages across cultures.
Specific moral considerations in different cultures vary greatly- some cultures focus on actions that harm others as important moral transgression; other cultures focus on obligations in interpersonal relationships as morally central.
Culture influences moral values and the principles that govern how behaviors are evaluated in that culture.

Cultural Psychology- Biological Variability

Human genetic diversity results from adaptation to different environmental conditions over many generations.
Culture can influence biological adaptations- in examples such as lactose tolerance and various disease and food-related responses or even mental and physical health
Differences in physical characteristics due to various causes- such as diet, exposure to the environment over time, and even interactions with various people.

Cultural Psychology- Illness & Disease

Illness and symptoms are not universally experienced or interpreted the same way across cultures.
Cultures may have different perspectives on the causes of illness.
Cultural variations in how illness and well-being are perceived may stem from language differences, differences in social support systems, and differences in expectations of how a person is expected to behave and react toward symptoms.

Cultural Psychology- Mental Health, Stress, and Well-being:

How culture influences self-esteem.
How people respond to stressful events may differ across cultures.
How different groups cope with and recover from stressful events varies.

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Description

This quiz explores the intersection of culture, health, and psychology. It examines concepts such as cultural learning, health disparities between populations, and the impact of socioeconomic status on physical health. Test your understanding of how culture shapes mental health perceptions and practices.