Academic Catalog

PSYC 2: CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2023
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Advisory: PSYC 1 or 1H, and one of the following: ENGL 1A or 1AH or ESLL 26.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of major theories and research findings in the field of cultural psychology.
  • The student will be able to analyze research methodology in cultural psychology (including quantitative research, qualitative research, measures, and research paradigms).
  • The student will be able to apply the principles and theories of cultural psychology to social justice issues and daily life situation.
  • The student will be able to examine and apply evidence for empirical claims in cultural psychology research to other subfields of psychology (e.g., cognition, neuroscience, emotions, gender, time perception, development, language, relationships, motivation, physical health, mental health).

Description

Focuses on the empirical investigations of the cultural factors on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes in humans. Topics include, but are not limited to: the impact of culture on the self, development, personality, gender, cognition, emotion, language and communication, health, psychological disorders and their treatments, social behaviors, organizations and the effects of systemic oppression. Emphasis on analyzing theories, research methods, and empirical evidence, as well as their applications to everyday life. Importance of reflecting on cultural assumptions and their associated implications, as well as learning about cultural similarities and differences.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of major theories and research findings in the field of cultural psychology
  2. Analyze research methodology in cultural psychology (including quantitative research, qualitative research, measures, research paradigms)
  3. Examine and apply evidence for empirical claims in cultural psychology research to other subfields in psychology, including cognition, neuroscience, perception (time, space, color), language, emotions, lifespan development, gender, motivation, behaviors, identity, morality, relationships, personality, physical health, and mental health
  4. Identify and explore how emotions, cognitions, values, and choices may impact and influence culture and vice-versa (i.e., mutual constitution)
  5. Apply the principles and theories of cultural psychology to social justice issues and daily life situations
  6. Gain a better understanding of self and others in the world, especially as it relates to one's cultural lens
  7. Develop an understanding of issues of intersectionality, prejudice, microaggressions, discrimination, privilege, and their roles in eliminating bias and discrimination

Course Content

  1. An introduction to culture and psychology
    1. Psychology with a cultural perspective
    2. What is culture?
    3. Contents of culture
    4. Influence of culture on human behaviors and mental processes
  2. Cross-cultural research methods
    1. Types of cross-cultural comparisons
    2. Designing cross-cultural comparative research
    3. Bias and equivalence
  3. Enculturation
    1. Cultural learning
    2. Enculturation and socialization
    3. Culture, parenting, and families
    4. Culture and peers
    5. Culture and the educational system
  4. Culture and developmental processes
    1. Culture and temperament
    2. Culture and attachment
    3. Cognitive development
    4. Moral reasoning and justice
  5. Culture, self, and identity
    1. Culture and self
    2. Culture, self-esteem, and self-enhancement
    3. Culture and identity
  6. Culture and personality
    1. Defining personality
    2. Cross-cultural studies on personality traits: The five-factor model and five-factor theory
    3. Cross-cultural studies on other dimensions of personality
    4. Indigenous personalities
    5. Integrating universal and cultural-specific understanding of personality
  7. Culture and gender
    1. Sex and gender
    2. Gender differences across cultures
    3. Culture, gender roles, and gender stereotypes
    4. Changing cultures, changing gender roles
  8. Culture and cognition
    1. Culture as cognition
    2. Culture and attention
    3. Culture and perception
    4. Culture and thinking
    5. Culture and memory
    6. Culture and consciousness
    7. Culture and intelligence (e.g., racism, eugenics)
  9. Culture and emotion
    1. Evolution of human emotion
    2. Biological bases of emotion
    3. Cultural influences on emotions
    4. Cultural regulation of basic emotions
    5. Cultural construction of emotional experience
    6. Cultural construction of concepts, attitudes, values, and beliefs about emotions
  10. Culture, language, and communication
    1. Co-evolution of language and human culture
    2. Cultural influences on verbal language
    3. Cultural influences on nonverbal communication
    4. Intracultural and intercultural communication
    5. Bilingualism and culture
  11. Culture and health
    1. Cultural differences in the definition of health
    2. Three indicators of health worldwide
    3. Genetic influences on physical health and disease
    4. Psychosocial influences on physical health and disease
    5. Sociocultural influences on physical health and disease (e.g., childhood adverse events)
    6. Differences in health care and medical delivery systems
  12. Culture and psychological disorders
    1. Defining abnormality
    2. Culture and the categorization and assessment of psychological disorders
    3. Cross-cultural research on psychological disorders
    4. Cultural syndromes of distress
    5. Mental health of ethnic minorities, migrants, and refugees
  13. Culture and treatment of psychological disorders
    1. Culture and psychotherapy
    2. Receiving treatment and barriers to treatment
    3. Treatment issues
    4. Culturally competent services
    5. Indigenous and traditional healing
    6. A community approach to treatment
    7. Culture and clinical training
  14. Culture and social behavior
    1. Cultural differences in how we perceive people
    2. Culture and attributions
    3. Mate selection, love, and marriage across cultures
    4. Culture and conformity, compliance, and obedience
    5. Culture and cooperation
    6. Culture and intergroup relations
    7. Culture and aggression, violence, and war
    8. Acculturation
  15. Culture and organizations
    1. Cultural differences in work-related values: Hofstede's cultural dimensions
    2. Organizational culture and organizational climate
    3. Culture and attitudes about work and organizations
    4. Culture, motivation, and productivity
    5. Culture, leadership, and management styles
    6. Culture and decision-making processes
    7. Culture and negotiation
    8. Systems of oppression

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

When taught as an online distance learning section, students and faculty need ongoing and continuous internet and email access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Quizzes
Examinations (e.g., mix of multiple choice, short answer, and/or essay questions)
Problem-solving exercises
Paper(s) integrating personal observations/experiences to theories and research findings in cultural psychology
Research project (individual or group)
Interviews of other cultural group members
Oral presentations

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Class discussions
Active learning exercises
Group work
Films, videos
Service learning and/or community building activities
Field trips may be included

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Matsumoto, D., and L. Juang. Culture and Psychology. 2106.

Heine, S.J.. Cultural Psychology. 2019.

Cohen, D., and S. Kitayama. Handbook of Cultural Psychology. 2019.

Holmes, R.M.. Cultural Psychology: Exploring Culture and Mind in Diverse Communities. 2020.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading assignments (examples):
    1. Past and current journal articles on various topics in the field of cultural psychology
    2. Websites
    3. Popular media sources (e.g., YouTube, social media, TV shows, news, magazines)
  2. Writing assignments (examples):
    1. Conducting/writing an interview
    2. Watching a select film and reflecting on cultural similarities and dissimilarities
    3. Self-reflection paper on student's own cultural identity
    4. Observational report on national and/or global conflict due to cultural values
    5. Analysis of daily life situation (e.g., grocery stores, places of worship, restaurants, schools, family dynamics) among different cultural groups

Discipline(s)

Psychology