scholarly journals Indexical and Sequential Properties of Criticisms in Initial Interactions: Implications for Examining (Im) Politeness across Cultures

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 904-929
Author(s):  
Michael Haugh ◽  
Wei-Lin Melody Chang
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Mandarin Chinese ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Linguistic Behaviour ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

Cross-cultural studies of (im)politeness have tended to focus on identifying differences in linguistic behaviour by which speech acts are delivered, which are then explained as motivated by underlying cultural differences. In this paper, we argue that this approach unnecessarily backgrounds emic or cultural members’ understandings of (im)politeness. Through a comparative analysis of criticisms in initial interactions amongst Taiwanese speakers of Mandarin Chinese and amongst Australian speakers of English, we draw attention to the way in which similarities in the locally situated ways in which criticisms are delivered and responded to (i.e. their sequential properties) can mask differences in the culturally relevant meanings of criticisms (i.e. their indexical properties) in the respective languages. We conclude that cross-cultural studies of (im)politeness should not only focus on differences in the forms or strategies by which speech acts are accomplished, but remain alert to the possibility that what is ostensibly the same speech act, may in fact be interpreted in different ways by members of different cultural groups.

Cross-Cultural Studies of Symptomatology in Schizophrenia*

1968 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ihsan Al-Issa
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Cultural Variations ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences ◽  
Pupillary Responses ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

This paper is an attempt to review some of the main cross-cultural studies of symptomatology in schizophrenia. Although it is shown that there are cultural variations of symptomatology, the reliability of these observations seems to be questionable. The inclusion of behaviour of different description into the concept of schizophrenia throws serious doubts on the usefulness and desirability of this concept as presently used in cross-cultural studies. However, problems of reliability or validity of observations at the cross-cultural level pose similar problems, encountered at the inter-individual. A more reliable and rigorous system of classification is needed to differentiate between normal and schizophrenic behaviour in different cultures or within the same culture. Cross-cultural studies suggest that some responses (e.g., conceptual) are more amenable to the influence of culture than others (e.g., physiological). Thus if it is demonstrated that different cultural groups show similar responses on some relatively culture-free tasks (e.g., EEG. pupillary responses) it would be plausible to suggest similar processes cross-culturally. These processes may underlie behaviour disorders such as schizophrenia despite the inter-individual or cross-cultural differences in their manifestations.

Attributing Human Uniqueness and Human Nature to Cultural Groups: Distinct Forms of Subtle Dehumanization

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 789-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bain ◽  
Joonha Park ◽  
Christopher Kwok ◽  
Nick Haslam
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Implicit Method ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Ethnic Chinese ◽  
Human Uniqueness ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

Research on subtle dehumanization has focused on the attribution of human uniqueness to groups (infrahumanization), but has not examined another sense of humanness, human nature. Additionally, research has not extended far beyond Western cultures to examine the universality of these forms of dehumanization. Hence, the attribution of both forms of humanness was examined in three cross-cultural studies. Anglo-Australian and ethnic Chinese attributed values and traits (Study 1, N = 200) and emotions (Study 2, N = 151) to Australian and Chinese groups, and rated these characteristics on human uniqueness and human nature. Both studies found evidence of complementary attributions of humanness for Australians, who denied Chinese human nature but attributed them with greater human uniqueness. Chinese denied Australians human uniqueness, but their attributions of human nature varied for traits, values, and emotions. Study 3 ( N = 54) demonstrated similar forms of dehumanization using an implicit method. These results and their implications for dehumanization and prejudice suggest the need to broaden investigation and theory to encompass both forms of humanness, and examine the attribution of both lesser and greater humanness to outgroups.

scholarly journals Weird people, yes, but also weird experiments

2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 84-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Baumard ◽  
Dan Sperber
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Economic Games ◽  
Psychological Differences ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

AbstractWhile we agree that the cultural imbalance in the recruitment of participants in psychology experiments is highly detrimental, we emphasize the need to complement this criticism with a warning about the “weirdness” of some cross-cultural studies showing seemingly deep cultural differences. We take the example of economic games and suggest that the variety of results observed in these games may not be due to deep psychological differences per se, but rather due to different interpretations of the situation.

Human Spatial Behaviour: The Spacing of People, Objects and Animals in Six Cross-Cultural Samples

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 245-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Høgh-Olesen
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Personal Space ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Interpersonal Distance ◽  
Spatial Behaviour ◽  
Climate Zones ◽  
High Level ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

AbstractThis study examines the principles we apply, when people, objects and animals are to be organized in relation to other representatives of their kind. Most cross-cultural studies on personal space focus on cultural differences, but here we look for proxetics (universals) as well as proxemics (cultural differences). 793 subjects from six countries (Greenland, Finland, Denmark, Italy, India and Cameroon) situated in four different climate zones are tested with a projective simulation measure (the 'IPROX'). A number of cross-cultural similarities are documented, and it is suggested that six of these are examples of high-level universals in the sense of Norenzayan and Heine (2005). But spacing also differs, and participants from Greenland, Finland, and Denmark systematically keep a larger interpersonal distance than subjects from Italy, India and Cameroon, which confirms the classic difference between southern 'contact-cultures' and northern 'low-contact cultures'. It is documented how personal space shrinks or expands depending on context and depending on whether a person occupies a territory or arrives at a territory occupied by somebody else. Personal space may even 'rub off ' on a person's belongings, and this opens up for a whole new area of spatial relations not studied before.

Montesquieu hypothesis and football: players from hot countries are more expressive after scoring a goal

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Sorokowski ◽  
A. Sorokowska ◽  
I. E. Onyishi ◽  
P. Szarota
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Emotional Expression ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Simultaneous Analysis ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

Abstract Analysis of sportsmen behavior enabled the authors to conduct simultaneous analysis of emotional expression of people from many distinct countries and cultures. In the study, participants from Nigeria and Poland watched all the goals scored in group matches of the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups and assessed the emotions players expressed after scoring each goal on three scales (happiness, anger, and excitement). Based on the assessment of the participants, emotional expression of football players from 51 countries was analyzed. Basing on “Montesquieu hypothesis”, it was shown that players born in warmer climates (controlling for HDI of their country) express more excitement and happiness after scoring a goal. Further cross-cultural differences were also found. The results are discussed in context of previous cross-cultural studies regarding emotional expression

Culture and Personality

2019 ◽  
pp. 401-430
Author(s):  
Jüri Allik ◽  
Anu Realo
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Strict Sense ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Theoretical Position ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

In this chapter, the authors discuss the relationship between culture and personality. A standard theoretical position that these two concepts are inseparably entangled is challenged. Understanding of the relationship between culture and personality has developed under the pressure of two opposite principles, one of which postulates that all human beings, regardless of their culture or race, share the same basic psychological and cognitive make-up, and the second, which maintains that everything around us is produced by culture, which penetrates even the deepest layers of the human mind. Because little in nature and especially in culture meet universality criteria in the strict sense, universalism and relativism are not two mutually excluding alternatives. Universal and culture-specific aspects of personality and psychopathology are discussed. Although personality psychology has been very fascinated by all kinds of cultural differences and unique details, it has predominantly been the psychic unity of humankind that has emerged from cross-cultural studies.

scholarly journals Menumbuhkan Sikap Keterbukaan Terhadap Yang Lain: Perspektif Silang Budaya (Cross-Cultural)

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-110
Author(s):  
Andi Eka Putra
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

Various perspectives in fostering an attitude of openness to others (the others). One of them is a cross-cultural or cross-cultural perspective. Cultural crossing or cultural crossing is a way of combining two or more cultural elements which are then crossed, grafted, mated or reconciled, so that new, fresh and creative cultures emerge. Cross-cultural studies were introduced by Edward Burnett Tylor and Lewis H. Morgan in anthropology which later developed into the realm of culture. Cross-cultural perspectives can now be applied freely to something that refers to anything about the comparison of cultural differences, including the comparison of religion. The main goal is to minimize conflict and build a co-existence or sincere openness with others.

scholarly journals The Cultural Shaping of Compassion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Koopmann-Holm ◽  
Jeanne L. Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Valuation Theory ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

In this chapter, we first review the existing literature on cross-cultural studies on compassion. While cultural similarities exist, we demonstrate cultural differences in the conception, experience, and expression of compassion. Then we present our own work on the cultural shaping of compassion by introducing Affect Valuation Theory (e.g., Tsai, Knutson, & Fung, 2006), our theoretical framework. We show how the desire to avoid feeling negative partly explains cultural differences in conceptualizations and expressions of compassion. Specifically, the more people want to avoid feeling negative, the more they focus on the positive (e.g., comforting memories) than the negative (e.g., the pain of someone’s death) when responding to others’ suffering, and the more they regard responses as helpful that focus on the positive (vs. negative). Finally, we discuss implications of our work for counseling, health care, and public service settings, as well as for interventions that aim to promote compassion.

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