SUBJECT

Title

Culture, Social Behavior and Socialization

Code

DPSY16-ICP-101

Type of instruction

practice

Level

Doctoral

Part of degree program
Credits

7

Recommended in

Semester 1-4

Typically offered in

Autumn/Spring semester

Course description

The course examines the interaction between culture and psychological processes. It discusses cultural determinants of human behaviors, thoughts, and emotions and how social and developmental psychology and the study of socialization deal with the role of culture in these processes.

Based on the theoretical and conceptual frameworks and methodological tools of cultural, cross-cultural and indigenous psychology, it throws new light upon, and handles with criticism, the different approaches and results of mainstream psychology while discussing topics such as values, self and social identity, person perception and attribution, helping behavior, close relationship, psychological well-being, social influence, family models, parenting, moral development, and socialization of the sexes.

Challenges, theoretical and methodological problems faced by this fast developing field are addressed together with the question how it is gaining all the stronger influence on mainstream psychology.

Readings
  • Kagitcibasi, C. (2007) Family, self and human development across cultures. Theoy and application. 2nd edition. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
  • Kim, U., Yang, K-S. & Hwang K.-K.(Eds.) (2006) Indigenous and cultural psychology: Understanding people in context. Springer Series on International and Cultural Psychology. New York: Springer.
  • Kitayama, S.& Cohen, D. (Eds.) (2007) Handbook of cultural psychology. New York: The Guilford Press.
  • Smith, P., Fischer, R., Vignoles, V.I., Bond, M.H. (2013) Understanding Social Psychology Across Cultures: Engaging with Others in a Changing World. Second Edition. Sage Publications, London.
  • Wyer, R.S., Chiu, C., Hong, Y.(Eds.) (2009) Understanding culture. Theory, research and application. Psychology Press.