PSYC A190: Cross-Cultural Psychology
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 10/07/2020 |
| Top Code | 200100 - Psychology, General |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S) |
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
This course is an introduction to essential theories and research in cross-cultural psychology. The course will explore how culture influences human behavior and psychological processes including cognition, lifespan development, emotion, language, personality, mental health, self concept, and social behavior. Topics include identity development, worldview, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, enculturation, acculturation, cultural competence, and mental health, with particular emphasis placed on the influence of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion. Examination of these topics will prepare students to more fully engage in an increasingly diverse society where cross-cultural contact is a routine occurrence. Enrollment Limitation: PSYC A190H; students who complete PSYC A190 may not enroll in or receive credit for PSYC A190H. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Students will be able to critically evaluate theoretical perspectives, research, and applications in cross-cultural psychology.
Course Objectives
- 1. Evaluate the various ways that the term culture has been defined.
- 2. Distinguish between the objective and subjective elements of culture.
- 3. Assess the importance of culture in better explaining psychological processes.
- 4. Distinguish among the various methods of conducting multicultural and cross-cultural research.
- 5. Distinguish between individual and cultural levels of analysis in cross-cultural research.
- 6. Identify the potential sources of bias when conducting and interpreting cross-cultural research.
- 7. Examine the various elements that contribute to enculturation.
- 8. Analyze how culture affects developmental processes such as temperament, attachment, cognitive development, and moral reasoning.
- 9. Analyze how culture influences cognitive processes such as perception, thought processes, and consciousness.
- 10. Evaluate how culture affects the definition, understanding, and measurement of intelligence.
- 11. Compare gender roles and gender stereotypes across cultures.
- 12. Identify variations in verbal and nonverbal communication patterns across cultures.
- 13. Examine how personality attributes, such as the Big Five and locus of control, are affected by culture.
- 14. Examine variations in the prominence of psychological disorders across cultures, differences in mental health among ethnic minorities, migrants, and refugees, and differences in attitudes towards and utilization of mental health services.
- 15. Evaluate the influence of culture on the development of self-concept.
- 16. Analyze how culture influences the development of attributional styles.
- 17. Describe the influence that culture has on our perceptions of others.
- 18. Describe the influence that culture has on mate selection, love, sexual behavior, and marriage.
- 19. Define ingroups, outgroups, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, and apply them appropriately to descriptions of cross-cultural situations.
- 20. Examine the process of acculturation and evaluate the impact it has on an individuals perception of the home and host cultures.
- 21. Assess how variations in culture and cultural values (e.g., power distance, individualism-collectivism, and long versus short-term orientation) affect work environments.
- 22. Consider how ones unique cultural background has contributed to current life circumstances.
Lecture Content
Culture and Psychology The Cultural Perspective of Psychology Defining Culture The Objective and Subjective Contents of Culture The Influence of Culture on Human Behaviors and Mental Processes Cross-Cultural Research Methods Types of Cross-Cultural Research Types of Cross-Cultural Comparisons Designing Cross-Cultural Comparative Research Bias and Equivalence Enculturation Enculturation and Socialization Culture, Parenting, and Familieis Culture and Peers Culture and Education Culture and Developmental Processes Culture and Temperament Culture and Attachment Cognitive Development Moral Reasoning Culture and Cognition Culture and Attention Culture, Sensation, and Perception Culture and Thought Processes Culture and Consciousness Culture and Intelligence Culture and Gender Sex and Gender Gender DIfferences Across Cultures Culture, Gender Roles, and Stereotypes Modification of Gender Roles Culture and Health Cultural Differences in the Definition of Health Differences in Health Genetic, Psychosocial, and Sociocultural Influences on Physical Health and Disease Differences in Health Care and Treatment Culture and Emotion The Evolution of Human Emotion The Biological Bases of Basic Emotions Cultural Regulation of Basic Emotions Cultural Construction of Concepts, Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs about Emotion Culture, Language, and Communication Cultural Influences on Verbal Langauge Cultural Influences on Nonverbal Communication Intracultural and Intercultural Communication Bilingualism, Multilingualism, and Culture Culture and Personality Defining and Measuring Personality across Cultures Cross-Cultural Research on Personality Traits Integrating Universal and Culture-Specific Understanding of Personality Culutre and Psychological Disorders Culture and the Categorization and Assessment of Psychological Disorders Cross-Cultural Research on Psychological Disorders Culture-Bound Syndromes Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities, Migrants, and Refugees Culture and Psychotherapy as Treatment for Psychological Disorders Culture and Psychotherapy Receiving Treatment and Barriers to Treatment Culture and Clinical Training Culture, Self, and Identity Culutre and Self Culture, Self-Esteem, and Self-Enhancement Culture and Identity Culture and Attributions Culture and Social Behavior Culture and Person Perception Love, Sex, and Marriage Across Cultures Culture, Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience Culture and Intergroup Relations Acculutration Culture and Organizations Cultural Differences in Work-Related Values Organizational Culture and Climate Culture and Attitudes about Work Culture, Motivation, and Productivity Culture, Leadership, and Management Styles Culture and Negotiation
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Lecture, explanation, and application of topics, concepts and terms. Verbal feedback to small discussion groups. Written feedback to student papers and tests. Various handouts provided by instructor. Review sheets to support student preparation for tests. Use of white-board, or document camera. Videos and DVDs. PowerPoint supported by appropriate computer and projection equipment. Exams to assess student progress and mastery. Online or hybrid class - Instructors will use live and/or pre-recorded online audio and/or video resources (e.g. Canvas, ConferZoom, Big Blue Button, Powerpoint) for lectures and labs. Students will have access to lecture slides on Canvas. Instructors will also communicate with students using announcements, chat rooms, and email. Online office hours will be held weekly and the syllabus and schedule will be posted daily throughout the entire semester. Engagement with students: Discussions will be uploaded on Discussion boards where students can interact with other classmates and the instructor. Instructors will provide timely feedback to students on assignments and papers using the comment tool on Canvas. Exams will take place online and instructors will provide feedback after exams are graded.
Reading Assignments
Students will spend 2-4 hours per week engaged in reading activities that include textbook chapters, contemporary research articles, and supplementary texts that will be assigned throughout the semester.
Writing Assignments
Students will spend 2-4 hours per week engaged in written self-reflection exercises, summaries of in-vivo observations, and review of cross-cultural research articles.
Out-of-class Assignments
Students will spend 2-4 hours per week engaged in self-reflection exercises, observations of in-vivo interactions, and literature searches on class discussion topics.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
In-class quizzes Written assignments Exams Self-reflection exercises
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Written outcomes of self-reflection exercises Essay questions on exams Review of multicultural or cross-cultural research research articles
Eligible Disciplines
Psychology: Masters degree in psychology OR bachelors degree in psychology AND masters degree in counseling, sociology, statistics, neuroscience, or social work OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Matsumoto, D., Juang, L. Culture and Psychology, 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning , 2017