Defining and Describing Culture

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that defining and describing cross-cultural similarities and differences is best accomplished by using culture-general rather than culture specific dimensions. The paper defines culture and discusses the problems associated with culture-specific information, particularly in that one usually finds exceptions rather than the general rules of the culture.

From the Paper:

"By adopting the perspective that cultures begin with some universal similarities, research into cross-cultural differences takes on more widely understood parameters. The scientific community itself, by adopting certain universal standards so that everyone can communicate the same information is certainly an example of this. While generalizing about different cultures may have some drawbacks, it is certainly an acceptable risk when compared to the bias that can result when researchers attempt to look more closely at particulars and judge them without having an overall framework of understanding."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Block, R. A., Buggie, S. E., & Matsui, F. (1996). Beliefs about Time: Cross-Cultural Comparisons. Journal of Psychology, 130(1), 5-22.
• Bond, M. H., & Smith, P. B. (1996). Cross-Cultural Social and Organizational Psychology. 205-214.
• Dana, R. H., & Dana. (1996). Culturally Competent Assessment Practice in the United States. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66(3), 472-487.
• Gielen, U. P. & Roopnarine, J. (Eds.). (2004). Childhood and Adolescence: Cross-Cultural Perspectives and Applications. Westport, CT: Praeger.
• Leung, K., & Stephan, W. G. (2001). 19 Social Justice from a Cultural Perspective. In The Handbook of Culture & Psychology, Matsumoto, D. (Ed.) (pp. 375-402). New York: Oxford University Press.

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