Cross-Cultural Psychology
What is cross-cultural psychology? Well, cross-cultural psychology is a branch of psychology that also examines cultural influences that affect thought processes and behavior. However, this branch of psychology explores patterns between various cultures. It is more specific in nature then cultural psychology. Cross-cultural psychology was first introduced during the 1970s, but remains a force in modern psychology. The main function of a cross-cultural psychologist is to determine how various cultures affect human behaviors. These psychologists examine universal and “unique” characteristics and traits, in an effort to identify patterns amongst cultural groups. The goal is to identify how culture impacts thought processes, behaviors, goals, social experiences, educational and career aspirations, self-esteem/self-confidence, and relationships. Cross-cultural psychologists are most concerned with how culture impacts individual personalities and social behaviors.
In a sense, cross-cultural psychology is a more in-depth analysis of cultural patterns and behaviors, than cultural psychology. For example, a cultural psychologist examines how culture, in general, causes some people to be submissive, while it encourages others to be more aggressive. A cross-cultural psychologist takes a deeper look into the phenomena by investigating how traditional Asian women, in general, are more submissive than modern American women. The cross-cultural psychologist researches the patterns (i.e. similarities and differences) between the two cultures (i.e. personalities, behaviors, thought processes, beliefs, feelings, opinions, traditions, etc.) in an effort to better understand the human race.
Moreover, these psychologists invest large amounts of time and effort into learning cultural and societal norms, so that they can better communicate with different cultural groups. The hope is that learning about various cultures will help the human race better understand each other.