Cross-cultural human development: A growing interdisciplinary field

Wisdom is often considered to be the pinnacle of human development. Though it is universally cherished, it is unclear whether the concept of wisdom can be applied similarly across cultures. We review the emerging research on this topic, exploring extant scholarly definitions, portrayals of wisdom in the world’s philosophies, folk beliefs concerning wisdom and its development, and empirical insights evaluating expression of wisdom-related characteristics. There appears to be a large amount of convergence in scholarly and cross-cultural folk concepts, suggesting that wisdom involves certain aspects of pragmatic reasoning, with less clarity concerning emotion regulatory and prosocial aspects of wisdom. Folk beliefs about wisdom vary across cultures in the degree to which they emphasize social components and characterize development of wisdom as an incremental ability (vs. an immutable entity). Cultures also vary in the likelihood of expressing wisdom. We conclude by calling for a culturally-grounded understanding of the distribution and function of wisdom-related psychological phenomena.

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Dialecticism across the Lifespan: Towards a Deeper Understanding of the Ontogenetic and Cultural Factors Influencing Dialectical Thinking and Emotional Experience

10.31234/osf.io/9agdp ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Igor Grossmann

Keyword(s):

Human Development ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Cultural Psychology ◽

Emotional Experience ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Future Directions ◽

Developmental Models ◽

Empirical Inquiry ◽

Cultural Processes ◽

Dialectical Thought

Before dialecticism became a topic of empirical inquiry in cultural psychology, scholars in related disciplines has discussed dialecticism as a model of human development, as an essential component of maturity and wisdom. This review chapter bridged these two perspectives, comparing conceptualizations of dialecticism in developmental and cultural psychology. After reviewing historical portrayals of dialecticism in various philosophical traditions, this chapter provides comparison of historical characterizations with the contemporary treatment of dialecticism in human development and cultural psychology. Both streams -- developmental and cross-cultural -- are proposed as essential for an integral understanding of the construct. Subsequently, the chapter discusses the emerging developmental models of dialecticism across the lifespan and reviews the accompanying empirical evidence, situating it in a cross-cultural context. It concludes with an outline of future directions of research on dialectical thought, with attention to psychological and socio-cultural processes engendering dialecticism across the lifespan.

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Dialecticism across the Lifespan

10.1093/oso/9780199348541.003.0005 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Igor Grossmann

Keyword(s):

Human Development ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Cultural Psychology ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Future Directions ◽

Developmental Models ◽

Empirical Inquiry ◽

Sociocultural Processes ◽

Dialectical Thought

Before dialecticism became a topic of empirical inquiry in cultural psychology, scholars in related disciplines had discussed dialecticism as a model of human development, as an essential component of maturity and wisdom. This chapter bridges these two perspectives, comparing conceptualizations of dialecticism in developmental and cultural psychology. After reviewing historical portrayals of dialecticism in various philosophical traditions, the chapter provides a comparison of historical characterizations with the contemporary treatment of dialecticism in human development and cultural psychology. Both streams—developmental and cross-cultural—are proposed as essential for an integral understanding of the construct. Subsequently, the chapter discusses the emerging developmental models of dialecticism across the lifespan and reviews the accompanying empirical evidence, situating it in a cross-cultural context. It concludes with an outline of future directions of research on dialectical thought, with attention to psychological and sociocultural processes engendering dialecticism across the lifespan.

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The Evolution of the Psychodynamic Approach and System

International Journal of Psychological Studies ◽

10.5539/ijps.v10n3p1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Russell Fulmer

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Human Development ◽

Dynamic Theory ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Psychodynamic Therapy ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Theory And Practice ◽

Dynamic Approach ◽

Psychodynamic Approach ◽

The World

AbstractPsychodynamic theory and practice has evolved from its psychoanalytic roots. The modern psychodynamic approach is among the most inclusive and versatile schools of thought available to therapists. With both cross-cultural application and a growing evidence base, psychodynamic therapy is practiced in many countries and cultures around the world. The dynamic approach is a system that touches on human development, personality, mental disorders, and of course, therapy. This article presents an overview of contemporary dynamic theory, its underlying philosophy, and its main objectives.

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Ossianic History and Bluestocking Feminism

A Feminine Enlightenment ◽

10.3366/edinburgh/9780748695942.003.0002 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

JoEllen DeLucia

Keyword(s):

Human Development ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Historical Development ◽

Historical Consciousness ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Scottish Enlightenment ◽

James Macpherson ◽

Civilizing Process ◽

Women's Role

This chapter examines the Bluestockings’ role in the development of the Scottish Enlightenment’s cross-cultural theories of human development and in the popularization of their literary equivalent, Macpherson’s Ossian poems. In addition to recovering the epistolary record of Elizabeth Montagu’s influence on major figures of the Scottish Enlightenment as well as the popular Ossianic feasts she incorporated into her London salons, it discusses the Ossianic imitations of Catherine Talbot, Montagu’s friend and contemporary. Montagu’s Ossian-themed feasts—attended by James Macpherson, other Scottish literati, and her Bluestocking circle—enacted the equivalent social relationships and produced the refined social sentiments conjectured in Macpherson’s poems and theorized in the Scottish Enlightenment. Montagu’s correspondence documents the Bluestockings’ responses to the work of their Scottish contemporaries and their contribution to the new maps of historical development generated by the Scots at mid-century. The final portion of this chapter argues that Catherine Talbot tested this emergent historical consciousness in her Ossianic imitations, which reflect on the Seven Years War and women’s role in the civilizing process.

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Tools Deepening Cross Cultural Collaboration and Leadership

Advances in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development - Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Leadership in Modern Organizations ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8376-1.ch001 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Nancy D. Erbe ◽

Swaranjit Singh

Keyword(s):

Conflict Resolution ◽

Reflective Practice ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Peace Building ◽

Interdisciplinary Field

The authors have led cross cultural collaboration in their organizations for twenty two and thirty years respectively. They have also been in a cross cultural partnership for the last decade. In this chapter they share the practices, attitudes and insights earned over years of cross cultural collaboration with an emphasis on professional reflective practice, or evaluation of impact, and tools and skills from the interdisciplinary field of negotiation, conflict resolution and peace building. Based on their experience, particularly author Erbe's work with those from an estimated eighty countries, they advocate these practices for all cross cultural collaboration and leadership in modern organizations. Rather than introduce relevant literature and research separately from pragmatic tools, the chapter integrates scholarship to help explain skills and empower readers to immediately begin practicing what is advocated here.

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Culture, Context, and Development

The Handbook of Culture and Psychology ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190679743.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 187-208

Author(s):

Harry W. Gardiner

Keyword(s):

Cross Cultural Psychology ◽

Human Development ◽

Cultural Psychology ◽

Social Issues ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Contextual Influences ◽

Future Directions ◽

Theoretical Perspectives ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Future Path

Cross-cultural psychology and human development are currently experiencing an exciting period of growth. Segall, Lonner, and Berry have noted that when all psychology finally takes into account the effects of culture on human behavior (and vice versa), terms like cross-cultural and cultural psychology will become unnecessary. At that point, all psychology will be truly cultural. In this chapter, the author defines cross-cultural human development; theoretical perspectives and models; emerging themes, such as contextual influences; applications to social issues; and future directions. As the author has earlier stated, tremendous challenges and opportunities lie ahead and speculating about the future path of cross-cultural psychology is difficult.

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Introduction

Transnational Migration and the New Subjects of Work ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781529204544.003.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 3-18

Author(s):

Banu Özkazanç-Pan

Keyword(s):

Theoretical Approach ◽

Transnational Migration ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Migration Studies ◽

Cultural Management ◽

Interdisciplinary Field ◽

Work And Organizations ◽

Cross Cultural Management

The introduction provides the reader with a context for transnational migration studies and its importance for studying people, work and organizations today. Starting out referencing contemporary trends, such as Brexit, the election of Trump and general rise of anti-immigrant, righ-wing regimes globally, the introductory chapter lays the foundation for a transnational migration perspective. Key ideas from transnational migration studies, an interdisciplinary field born out of sociology, are explained and their relevance for theorizing and studying difference in the context of globally-mobile people made explicit. The chapter then outlines how existing approaches to the study of people and work under these new times and in the context of mobility has taken shape in the management, focusing explicitly on diversity and cross-cultural management areas. These two scholarly areas represent the dominant approach to the study of people and difference albeit there have been critical interjections into static notions of identity, place and work in these areas. Altogether, the introduction lays the foundation for the book in terms of the need for and importance of transnational migration studies as a much-needed theoretical approach for rethinking identity, difference and work in the diversity and cross-cultural management fields.

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