Discussion 1: Values and Culture

Cultures vary widely in the values to which members adhere. For example, some cultures may highly value personal achievement, where other cultures value religious convictions as a core value. One culture may emphasize the importance of being independent while another culture may focus on the importance of being a supportive group member.

As you review the Learning Resources for this Discussion, think about your own culture and the many values you hold dear. Then, think about the other cultures you will read about and why their value systems may be different from your own. How might understanding values and culture help you to develop as a professional and promote a sense of appreciation for others personally?

For this Discussion, you will examine how the basic concepts from social psychology i.e., socialization, social roles, social cognition, and social behavior are all influenced by culture.

To Prepare:

• Select two dimensions or values described in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Then, select two cultures other than your own found in this week’s Learning Resources.

By Day 3

Post and briefly define the two dimensions or values you selected. Next, describe and discuss examples of how these two dimensions or values are expressed in the two cultures you selected. In your explanation, make sure to explain how socialization, social roles, social cognition, and social behavior are influenced by culture.

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Bond, R., & Smith, P. B. (1996). Culture and conformity: A meta-analysis of studies using Asch’s (1952b, 1956) line judgment task. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 111–137.

Schönherr, J. (2017). What’s so special about interaction in social cognition? Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 8(2), 181–198. doi:10.1007/s13164-016-0299-y

Hofstede, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing cultures: The Hofstede model in context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1).

Credit Line: International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, & Hofstede, G. (2011). The Hofstede model in context. Retrieved from ​dx.doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014​. Used with permission of International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.

Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An overview of the Schwartz theory of basic values. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1).

Credit Line: Schwartz, S. H., & International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. (2012). An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values. Retrieved from ​dx.doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1116​. Used with permission of International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.

Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (2010). Cultures and selves: A cycle of mutual constitution. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(4), 420–430.

Dion, K. K., & Dion, K. L. (1996). Cultural perspectives on romantic love. Personal Relationships, 3(1), 5–17. 

Credit Line: Karandashev, V., & International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. (2015). A Cultural Perspective on Romantic Love. Retrieved from ​dx.doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1135​. Used with permission of International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.