PSYCH 307: CULTURAL
PSYCHOLOGY STUDY QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Explain different ways in which culture can be defined. - ANSWER--Kroeber & Kluckhohn created
a book (Academic definitions of culture
-Distilled all past definitions of cultures into certain categories (8)
1) Descriptive
2) Historical
3) Normative
4) Structural
5) Psychological
How is culture defined descriptively? - ANSWER--Lists all social activities that people will do in a
particular context
-Includes marriage systems, language, etiquette, and norms
-Most simplest definition of culture
Give an example of descriptively defined culture. - ANSWER-Ex: German people speak German
and eat meat
How is culture defined historically? - ANSWER--How we've passed through ancestral lines
-Particular strains of social heredity (particular groups)
-Traditions passed down
Give an example of historically defined culture. - ANSWER-Ex: Chinese people have dynastic
lineages
How is culture defined normatively? - ANSWER--Standardized social procedures and customs
(rules)
-Passed socially to form a people's way of life
,-Results in consequences when violating norms
Give an example of normatively defined culture. - ANSWER--Ex: In Korean society, younger
people need to be polite to people who are older or higher on social ladder than them
How is culture structurally defined? - ANSWER--System or organization of values that people in
a society hold
-Gives rise to specific norms or behaviours that reflect society's values
Give an example of structurally defined culture. - ANSWER-Ex: Korean society values social
hierarchy which explains their social interactions
How is culture psychologically defined? - ANSWER--Results of human- learned efforts at
adjustment
-Adaptation: how we deal with our environment
-Intersted in mental processes that create these tools
Give an example of psychologically defined culture. - ANSWER--Ex: invention of sushi
-Fish had to be transported to England and couldn't go bad
-Result: fish were transported in bed of rice with vinegar
What are the 3 challenges associated with thinking about groups people as constituting
cultures? - ANSWER-1)Fuzzy boundaries
2) Constant changes
3) Variability
Define and give an example of how fuzzy boundaries acts as a challenge to defining groups of
people as a culture. - ANSWER--Cultures exist independent of natural boundaries
-Ex: China borders Vietnam, Pakistan and India
-There is a blending of cultures at these borders
-People living in these areas can speak both languages
Define and give an example of how constant changes acts as a challenge to defining groups of
people as a culture. - ANSWER--What a culture looked like 50 years ago doesn't represent what
a culture looks like now or in the future
-Ex: US changed the view on same sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana
, Define and give an example of how variability acts a challenge to defining groups of people as a
culture. - ANSWER--There is more variability within than between countries
-Ex: Nunavut and Vancouver
-Different climates cause different cultural values
-Ex: China
-North East area includes Chinese, Mongolian and Korean
-South West area includes Chinese and Vietnamese
-North West area includes Middle East mixes (Muslim populations are present)
What are the four degrees of psychological universality? - ANSWER-1) Non-universal
2) Existential
3) Functional
4) Accessibility
Define non-universal universality. - ANSWER--Cultural invention
-Doesn't exist in all cultural groups
-NOt cognitively available, no experience with it
Give an example of a non-universal universality among cultures. - ANSWER--Abacas
Define existential universality. - ANSWER--Found in al cultures but serve different functions
(depends on the group)
-Rare
Give an example of existential universality. - ANSWER--Ex: use of criticism
-Used differently
-Either used to humiliate or demean the target or used to motivate the target
Define WEIRD. - ANSWER-Western
Educated
Industrialized
Rich
Democratic
PSYCHOLOGY STUDY QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Explain different ways in which culture can be defined. - ANSWER--Kroeber & Kluckhohn created
a book (Academic definitions of culture
-Distilled all past definitions of cultures into certain categories (8)
1) Descriptive
2) Historical
3) Normative
4) Structural
5) Psychological
How is culture defined descriptively? - ANSWER--Lists all social activities that people will do in a
particular context
-Includes marriage systems, language, etiquette, and norms
-Most simplest definition of culture
Give an example of descriptively defined culture. - ANSWER-Ex: German people speak German
and eat meat
How is culture defined historically? - ANSWER--How we've passed through ancestral lines
-Particular strains of social heredity (particular groups)
-Traditions passed down
Give an example of historically defined culture. - ANSWER-Ex: Chinese people have dynastic
lineages
How is culture defined normatively? - ANSWER--Standardized social procedures and customs
(rules)
-Passed socially to form a people's way of life
,-Results in consequences when violating norms
Give an example of normatively defined culture. - ANSWER--Ex: In Korean society, younger
people need to be polite to people who are older or higher on social ladder than them
How is culture structurally defined? - ANSWER--System or organization of values that people in
a society hold
-Gives rise to specific norms or behaviours that reflect society's values
Give an example of structurally defined culture. - ANSWER-Ex: Korean society values social
hierarchy which explains their social interactions
How is culture psychologically defined? - ANSWER--Results of human- learned efforts at
adjustment
-Adaptation: how we deal with our environment
-Intersted in mental processes that create these tools
Give an example of psychologically defined culture. - ANSWER--Ex: invention of sushi
-Fish had to be transported to England and couldn't go bad
-Result: fish were transported in bed of rice with vinegar
What are the 3 challenges associated with thinking about groups people as constituting
cultures? - ANSWER-1)Fuzzy boundaries
2) Constant changes
3) Variability
Define and give an example of how fuzzy boundaries acts as a challenge to defining groups of
people as a culture. - ANSWER--Cultures exist independent of natural boundaries
-Ex: China borders Vietnam, Pakistan and India
-There is a blending of cultures at these borders
-People living in these areas can speak both languages
Define and give an example of how constant changes acts as a challenge to defining groups of
people as a culture. - ANSWER--What a culture looked like 50 years ago doesn't represent what
a culture looks like now or in the future
-Ex: US changed the view on same sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana
, Define and give an example of how variability acts a challenge to defining groups of people as a
culture. - ANSWER--There is more variability within than between countries
-Ex: Nunavut and Vancouver
-Different climates cause different cultural values
-Ex: China
-North East area includes Chinese, Mongolian and Korean
-South West area includes Chinese and Vietnamese
-North West area includes Middle East mixes (Muslim populations are present)
What are the four degrees of psychological universality? - ANSWER-1) Non-universal
2) Existential
3) Functional
4) Accessibility
Define non-universal universality. - ANSWER--Cultural invention
-Doesn't exist in all cultural groups
-NOt cognitively available, no experience with it
Give an example of a non-universal universality among cultures. - ANSWER--Abacas
Define existential universality. - ANSWER--Found in al cultures but serve different functions
(depends on the group)
-Rare
Give an example of existential universality. - ANSWER--Ex: use of criticism
-Used differently
-Either used to humiliate or demean the target or used to motivate the target
Define WEIRD. - ANSWER-Western
Educated
Industrialized
Rich
Democratic
