1. Culture and Social Interactions, Gender, and Emotions Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos 1 June 2009

2. Universals in Social Behavior (Aberle et al. 1950) Assignment of Roles Communication Shared set of goals Regulations of how to achieve goals Regulation of emotions Socialization Control of misbehavior Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

3. A. B. Asch-type task (Asch, 1956) Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

4. Conformity Conformity: Degree to which individuals will go along with the group norms Conformity varies across cultures More conformity in societies with high compliance training Densely populated and highly stratified societies High values of conservatism, collectivism, and preference for status ascription Less conformity in societies with low compliance training Sparse and unstratified societies High values of autonomy, individualism, and status achievement Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

5. Values Values: Broad tendency to prefer certain states of affairs over others More general than attitudes Relatively stable in individuals and cultures Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

6. Values Three basic concerns of all societies: How individuals relate to their group Embedded or independent How people consider the welfare of others Vertical or Horizontal Relationship of people to their national world Dominate and exploit or live within it Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

7. Individualism and Collectivism Individualism: Primary concern is for oneself Collectivism: Primary concern is for one’s in- group Dimensions: Definition of self as personal or collective Personal goals or group goals having a priority Emphasis on exchange or communal relationships Importance of personal attitudes or social norms in behavior Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

8. Individualism and Collectivism Correlation between individualism score and Gross National Product (GNP) is.82 (Hofstede, 1980) Directionality of Correlation Measurement issues: Collectivist societies might be more prone to social desirability, acquiescence bias, and extremity set than individualist countries Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

9. Gender Key Question: Are societies similar or different in how they interpret initial biological differences between males and females? Gender stereotypes: Widely shared beliefs within a society about typical males and females University students in 27 countries (Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South America) 300 Adjective Check-List – Determine whether the adjective is more frequently associated with men or women “Report the characteristics generally said to be associated with men or women in your culture.” Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

10. Gender Stereotypes Adventurous Daring Affectionate Strong Sentimental Stern Submissive Emotional Progressive Sensitive Dominant Pleasant Boastful Loud Attractive Softhearted Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

11. Gender Stereotypes Consensus of adjectives attributed to males and females across countries was so large that researchers concluded psychological universals in gender stereotypes (Williams & Best, 1990) Interpretation: Original biological differences influence cultural practices of treating males and females similarly across cultures Limitation: Acculturation of sample Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

12. Psychological Differences in Gender by Culture Key Question: Are differences between males and females on psychological variables the same across cultures? Males tend to be better at spatial tasks than females Only true in agricultural societies No differences (or reversed) in nomadic and hunting societies Conclusion: Gender differences in spatial abilities are not universal. Ecological and cultural factors influences gender differences on spatial abilities Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

13. Psychological Differences in Gender by Culture Females are more susceptible to conformity than males Large differences in conformity between males and females in tight, agricultural societies No differences in conformity between males and females in loose, nomadic societies Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

14. Emotion Emotion: A feeling state that results in physiological arousal and expressive behaviors Six basic emotions reflected in the face Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Surprise, Disgust Most cultures can identify these six emotions in photographs of individuals of other cultures Participants can also identify emotion in the voice without understanding the language Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

15. Emotional Expression Display rules: Cultural norms about the expected management of facial display of emotions Japanese and American participants were shown a stressful film (Ekman, 1973) Half viewed the film alone, half viewed the film with an experimenter When viewing the film alone, the Japanese and American participants showed the same facial expression When viewing the film with an experimenter, the Japanese students showed fewer negative expressions than the Americans Conclusion: Cross-cultural similarities in underlying emotions but cultural differences in display of emotions Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

16. Revision What are some social conventions that are similar across cultures? What are some social conventions that are different across cultures? What are some gender differences that are similar across cultures? What are some gender differences that are different across cultures? What are similarities and differences in emotion between cultures? Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos