This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module will explore how culture influences human experience including behaviour, thoughts, and emotions by providing a comprehensive introduction to general theories and methods related to culture and diversity. It will provide students with a short history of cultural psychology and cover many topical areas in psychology such as motivation, human development, and cognition from a cultural perspective and explore the methodology used by cultural psychologists. The module also aims to stimulate critical thinking and analytic skills generally, and help students think about their own values and norms from a cultural perspective.
Total contact hours: 22
Private study hours: 128
Total study hours: 150
Optional to Psychology undergraduate programmes
Available as an elective module.
Available to Short Term Credit students at the discretion of the school/module convenor.
Examination 2 hours 80%
ICT 45 mins 20%
Reassessment methods: Like for Like.
Reading list (Indicative list, current at time of publication. Reading lists will be published annually)
Core text:
Heine, S. J. (2016). Cultural psychology (3rd Edition). New York: Norton.
Recommended reading:
Cohen, D., Nisbett, R. E., Bowdle, B. F., & Schwarz, N. (1996). Insult, aggression, and the Southern culture of honor: An experimental ethnography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 945-960.
Henrich, J., Heine, S. J., & Norenzayan, A. (2010). The weirdest people in the world? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 33, 61-83.
Kitayama, S. & Cohen, D. (Eds.) (2018). Handbook of cultural psychology (2nd edition). New York: Guilford.
Kitayama, S. & Uskul, A. K. (2011). Culture, mind, and the brain: Current evidence and future directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 62, 419-449.
Masuda, T., & Nisbett, R. E. (2001). Attending holistically versus analytically: Comparing the context sensitivity of Japanese and Americans. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 922-934.
van de Vijver, F. J. R. Chasiotis, A., & Breugelmans, S. M. (Eds.) (2011.). Fundamental questions in cross-cultural psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Online readings in cross-cultural psychology: http://www.wwu.edu/culture/contents_complete.htm
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Define culture and its basis of shared meaning and practices and explain how this is integrated into psychology
8.2 Examine the influence that culture has on human experience including behaviours, thoughts, and emotions by covering research examples from different cultural contexts that show diversity and uniformity in psychological processes
8.3 Understand one's own (and others') experiences and actions as contextualised by cultural meanings and practices
8.4 Understand the terminology and basic principles of cross-cultural research methods, both experimental and non-experimental
8.5 Develop the critical thinking necessary to evaluate the universality of psychological processes as discussed and researched in the western world
The intended generic learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Critically think of psychological theories and related empirical evidence
9.2 Appreciate diverse ways of thinking and being
9.3 Demonstrate the ability to express opinions, argue rationally and engage in critical thinking.
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