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Cross Cultural Psychology
Many aspects of human thought and behavior are universal, however cultural differences can lead
to often surprising differences in how people think, feel, and act.
The field of cross-cultural psychology can be briefly described as the
study of the relationships between cultural context and human
behavior. It is comparative study between different cultures and how
the behaviours of people belonging to different cultures differ from
each other. When it comes to the comparative study, critical thinking is extremely important. Some
cultures, for example, might stress individualism and the importance of personal autonomy. Other
cultures, however, may place a higher value on collectivism and cooperation among members of
the group.
Cross cultural psychology not only studies the difference in cultures but also the similarities among
different cultures. For example, do all the cultures have similar mindset towards divorce?
Culture:
Culture is defined as the set of attitudes, behaviours and
symbols shared by a large group of people and are passed
on from one generation to the next.
 By Attitudes we mean the values, morals, political
beliefs, religious beliefs, opinions, superstitions
and stereotypes.
 By Behaviours we mean habits, customs, traditions, norms, roles etc.
 By symbols we mean important buildings, archaeological sites, slogans, any specific color
or sound.
There are two characteristics of culture:
1. Explicit characteristics of culture are the observable behaviours, rituals, symbols and
heroes of a culture. These include the way people dress, the kind of food they eat, music
etc.

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2. Implicit characteristics of a culture are the underlying values, the unwritten norms of
behaviours that guide people regarding which behaviours are considered appropriate or
inappropriate. They are not written anywhere, but every member of that culture knows what
they are.
Knowledge in Cross Cultural Psychology:
Knowledge is an awareness of the existence of something or understanding about anything in the
world. Knowledge has its own purpose and every person has their own way of explaining
knowledge. For example, astrologists explain dreams as something related to persons past or future
events while at the same time a scientist would explain a dream as some biological process.
When it comes to cross cultural psychology, knowledge can be divided into four different types:
1. Scientific knowledge:
Scientific knowledge is based on the systematic observations, measurement and evaluation and
when it becomes related to psychology then a wide range of psychological phenomenon are
observed, measured and evaluated. Once these steps are followed then theories are formed. These
theories are then empirically verified and experimented.
Throughout the history, Scientists always brought forward new theories which were then
continuously tested, verified and later transformed into scientific facts and laws but as the times
passed and new knowledge was acquired those theories that once became laws and facts somehow
got replaced or were modified and some were even rejected. For example, in the history of
psychology, Greeks used to relate human behaviours and psychological issues to the bumps on the
skull or even demonic powers, and they even used to make holes in their skulls as a way of cure
for the psychological issues however as the time passed by and new knowledge came forth, that
type of experimentation was strongly rejected as being ridiculous and non-scientific.
2. Popular knowledge:
Popular beliefs or folk theories, about the psychological phenomenon is often referred as everyday
knowledge that is formulated by the people for the people. This type of knowledge is far from
scientific theories. Its more about the superstitious beliefs. Even though these beliefs have no
scientific basis, still somehow people get affected by it psychologically. For example, black cat

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labelled as a sign of bad luck, palmists and astrologists claiming to predict our future, movement
of stars effecting our lives, people believing in lucky numbers etc.
Scientific knowledge and popular knowledge remain in a constant competition with each other.
For example, in some cultures especially South Asian, people still believe that schizophrenics are
possessed by demons or spirits. In many countries people with psychological disorders are held
accountable by society or being victimized and some people believe that people with psychological
disorders are being punished by God for their past immoralities.
Some people consult the professionals while there is still a large population throughout the world
that go to psychics, shamans, monks, parapsychic, spiritualists and witch doctors for the cure of
psychological disorders.
Another popular knowledge that still prevail is associating certain personality traits to a specific
ethnicity. For example, Americans are rude, Chinese are obedient etc.
3. Ideological knowledge:
Ideological knowledge emerges from the stable perception about the world i.e. the concept of right
and wrong, evil and good, human values and purpose of life. This type of knowledge is the opposite
of popular beliefs because it is based on the stable principles which do not require empirical
research. Since ideological knowledge is value based, it is not questioned or challenged. For
example, human belief that soul and body are separate from each other and that soul is immortal
substance. Ideological knowledge emerges from religious beliefs.
4. Legal knowledge:
Legal knowledge is our laws and regulations. It consists of sets of rules which are supposed to be
followed by our authorities and people in order to judge the psychological aspects of human
behavior. Important decisions about life and death, marriage and divorce, people’s rationality and
sanity etc. are part of legal knowledge. For example, there is a legal age of marriage in almost
every country and under-age marriage is the violation of law which is legal knowledge. The issue
funeral process in western countries has little to do with their religious belief. Parents throughout
the world smack or spank their children as a punishment and have set their own boundaries to this
but in US any act of physical violence against kids is considered inappropriate.

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Traditional Cultures Non-traditional Culture
1. Rules, symbols and principles that are
passed on from generation to
generation.
1. Based on new principles and ideas that
are often called “modern”.
2. Tends to be conservative and
intolerant towards change.
2. Tends to be dynamic and absorbing.
3. Image of reality is based on certain set
of ideas that are associated with
religion, ethics or customs.
3. Image of reality is not restricted to
anything and people are allowed to
make individual choices.
4. People are bound to society and are
given little choice of action.
4. Supports individualism and freedom
of action.
5. People are taught the right from wrong
and evil from good based on religion
and societal beliefs.
5. People learn about the right and
wrong, evil and good through
comparison and experience.
6. People are bound to set of actions and
behavior that is considered worthless
or useful.
6. People are not judged based on
anything.
7. Truth is established and it doesn’t
change.
7. Truth is revealed through the
competition of ideas.
8. People who consider traditional
culture acceptable, are reluctant to
accept new ideas and knowledge
especially about the psychopathology.
8. People are always open minded
towards new ideas and knowledge.
9. Some people are too comfortable in
their own world and avoid any new
knowledge that might take them out of
their comfort zone.
9. People are always curious towards
new ideas that might open some new
world for them.
10. People tend to be less stressful when
they have to make choice from a few
options.
10. People usually tend to be more
stressful because they have so many
choices but are unable to decide.
11. People are unwilling to lose their
cultural identity.
11. People embrace their individualism
and freedom.
12. Example: conservative attitude
towards divorce or psychological
disorders (victim blaming).
12. Examples: do not feel shame to
consult psychologists, treating divorce
as a part of bad experience and
empathizing with the ones who suffer.