Psychological Variability and WEIRD Populations

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the key difference between etic and emic approaches in indigenisation?

Etic and emic both emphasize the importance of local culture.

Etic focuses on indigenous theories while emic adapts Western theories.

Etic creates local theories and emic adapts imported theories.

Etic adapts imported Western theories while emic creates locally-derived theories. (correct)

Which cosmology is characterized by a holistic view of interconnectedness among land, people, and nature?

Taiwanese cosmology

Indigenous Australian cosmology (correct)

Filipino cosmology

Indian cosmology

What does self-construal refer to?

A psychological condition of independence from social influences.

How a person defines themselves in relation to others. (correct)

The level of self-awareness an individual possesses.

The content of an individual’s self-concept.

Which of the following best describes independent self-construal?

Valuing stability and independence in self-definition. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Indigenous Australians live in regional areas?

20% Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is not a characteristic of indigenous cosmologies?

Defining rigid roles within a community. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of self-awareness?

To reflect on one's own thoughts and emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of relational interdependence?

Emphasizing close relationships as part of self-definition. Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym WEIRD stand for in psychological research?

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the difference in perception between industrialized and non-industrialized societies?

Non-industrialized people are more accepting of smaller amounts of money now. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of holistic thinking in non-Western cultures?

Viewing things as interconnected. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of psychological studies is conducted in WEIRD countries?

96% Signup and view all the answers

What primary limitation is associated with the high representation of WEIRD participants in studies?

They may not accurately represent global psychological phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

In transgender research by Cameron & Stinson (2019), what is highlighted about gender measurement?

It is predominantly measured through a binary male/female system. Signup and view all the answers

What motivates individuals in Western cultures according to the content provided?

A higher motivation for consistency. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated about the majority of psychological authors based on the statistics provided?

They predominantly hold positions in Western universities. Signup and view all the answers

What is one major consequence of using binary measurements for gender identity?

Misclassification leading to invalid results Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes indigenous psychology?

It studies psychology from the perspective of indigenous peoples. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of indigenous psychology related to research methodology?

Culturally relevant methods and concepts should be used. Signup and view all the answers

According to Martinez Cobo, which of the following is a characteristic of indigenous people?

They aim to preserve cultural practices. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'colonization' refer to?

The invasion and subjugation of a group by outsiders. Signup and view all the answers

How did indigenous people in Australia experience government policies from 1883 to 1967?

They were controlled by government policies. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of indigenisation in psychology?

Adapting psychology to local cultural contexts. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key feature of indigenous peoples as defined by Martinez Cobo?

A goal to assimilate fully into dominant society. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychological and Behavioral Variability

Psychological and behavioral variability refers to differences in stimulus response intensity, response type, and direction.
Researchers in the 1980s recognized the importance of including diverse participants and cultures in research to understand these variations.

WEIRD Population

WEIRD stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic.
68% of psychological study participants come from the USA.
96% of psychological studies are conducted in WEIRD countries.
WEIRD participants represent only 12% of the global population.
73% of psychology authors are from US universities.
99% of research participants come from Western countries.

WEIRD Problems & Limitations

Miss important aspects of psychological variation.
Focus on unusual behaviors in a global context.
Lead to uneven and incomplete understandings.
Results may not apply to non-WEIRD populations.
Researchers often ignore issues relevant to non-WEIRD regions.
Social psychologists should aim to understand human behavior universally.

Differences in Perception: Industrialized vs. Non-Industrialized Societies

Visual Illusions: Non-industrialized individuals perceive equality in lines more quickly and accept smaller amounts of money immediately. Industrialized individuals require larger differences in visual illusions and prefer to delay satisfaction for larger rewards later.
These differences reflect different cultural values around immediacy versus delayed gratification.

Cultural Differences

These differences in perception and behavior are rooted in cultural values.

Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse Research

Gender Binary: Most studies use a male/female binary system for gender.
Problems: This binary approach erases the identities of transgender and gender-diverse people, causing psychological harm, invalid results due to misclassification, and ethical issues.
Impact of Misclassification: Transgender individuals may experience identity denial or erasure. Incorrect gender measurement can reduce study validity and reliability. Participants might adjust responses when their gender is misclassified, affecting the study.

Indigenous Psychology

Indigenous psychology focuses on indigenous perspectives, methods, and concepts.
This approach uses culturally relevant methods for a more comprehensive understanding.
Key features: Focus on local perspectives, using indigenous culture as a source for psychological concepts, and research reflecting sociocultural values and community relevance.

Indigenous Australian Facts

Indigenous Australians comprise 3.3% of the total population.
The average age is 22.
Population distribution includes 35% in cities, 20% in regional areas, and 22% in remote areas.
There were 260 distinct languages at the time of colonization.

Indigenous Australian Cosmology

Indigenous Australians view the world as interconnected.
Spiritual connection with land, kin, and community is important for well-being.
Seminomadic lifestyle demonstrates ties to specific lands.

Indigenous Cosmology

Cosmologies explain the origin of the universe and humanity's role within it, often incorporating values about life's purpose.
Different indigenous groups have unique cosmologies, including Filipino, Taiwanese, and Indian perspectives.

Self and Self-Concept

Self-awareness refers to reflecting on one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Self-concept includes individuals' personality, gender, relationships, and other attributes.
Chronicity is defining oneself based on differences from others.
Self-construal describes how people define themselves in relation to others.

Subtypes of Interdependence

Relational interdependence: Defining oneself based on close relationships, commonly observed in women.
Collective interdependence: Defining oneself based on group membership, commonly observed in men.

Cultural Definitions of the Self

Culture shapes human existence by setting apart groups with distinct beliefs, values, norms, and practices.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores psychological and behavioral variability, particularly focusing on the WEIRD population. It examines the implications of predominantly using Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic participants in psychological research. Understand the limitations and challenges this presents to the study of psychology globally.