Cross-Cultural Psychology  -  PSYC 384

Longwood University - Spring 2005

Instructor: Chris Bjornsen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology

Office: 101-B Wynne

Office phone: 395-2736

Office Hrs: 11:00-12:00 M-R, & by appt.

email: bjornsenca@longwood.edu

Class times: 4:00-5:15 M,W

Classroom: Wynne 127

Course description

An in-depth investigation of the relationships between the cultural and human development, and the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of individuals in a different cultures. Focuses on human traits, development, and interactions from a multicultural and multiethnic perspective.  3 credits.

Required Reading

Additional readings: Placed on reserve in the library, or given to you by the instructor, or available online. 

Course objectives

2. To help students understand that Americans and their culture reflect only one way of being and living life, rather than the only way or even the best way to live. 

3. To help develop an appreciation for the wide variations there are in human behavior, and that there are common threads among all humans in most aspects of behavior.

4. To encourage an appreciation for the mutual relevance of psychology and other disciplines (e.g., anthropology, sociology, psychiatry) in studying human behavior in a broad intercultural perspective.

5. To help prepare students for other courses, and occupations, where an understanding of culture and its effects is relevant.

6. To aid in the process of being better able to deal with and understand variations in human behavior, thus making cross-cultural interactions more productive and enjoyable. An informed and enlightened person should be able to understand and appreciate world events and everyday behavior of people from other cultures at a fairly sophisticated level.

7. To give the student more insight into his or her own behavior, attitudes, and values, as a result of gaining an understanding of how culture influences the thoughts, emotions, and behavior of all individuals.

8. To help students improve their speaking skills through the completion of the group presentation. (This course satisfies one of the speaking intensive course requirements.)

Course requirements

Tests 

Tests will consist of essay questions of varying lengths. Tests will cover textbook readings, article readings, class lecture material, and class discussion information. In other words, anything that is assigned reading and any information presented or discussed in class will be included on the tests.

Extensions on assignments, make-up tests, etc. may be given, at the discretion of the instructor, only for the following reasons: (1) Prior to the exam date or assignment due date, the student has requested an extension because the assignment/exam conflicts with a college-sponsored activity (such as a class field trip or LC sport team event). (2) The student has requested an extension, prior to the exam/assignment due date, due to a serious illness or family emergency. (3) The student was hospitalized and could not request an extension prior to the exam date or due date of the assignment. No other reasons for missing an exam or assignment will be considered. Students will be given a grade of zero for assignments/quizzes/tests missed. The final exam will be given on the date and time assigned by the University, as printed in the official exam schedule.  If a student has more than two exams on one day, he or she may request that he/she be given the exam on a day that is agreeable to the professor and student. 

Group presentation

Students will work in small groups (3 - 4 students each group) to create a Power Point and oral presentation that will be given in the last two weeks of the semester. The presentations must last between 20-30 minutes. All students are required to attend these presentations. 

This year, students must select a country or culture that is not reflected in our text. Since there are 193 countries in the world, and only 29 discussed in our text, students have much to choose from. One web site that lists all countries is:  http://www.countrywatch.com/@school/number_countries.htm. However, there are cultures within countries that your group may choose. For example, you could choose "Native American Indian" or "The Lapps of Northern Sweden and Norway" or "Sunnis of Iraq" or "Shiites of Iraq". These groups certainly comprise unique and separate cultures within a country.

Of critical importance this semester is the degree to which groups present information on a culture in a way that (1) utilizes the five dimensions of basic cultural values described in our text (power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity/femininity, and time perspectives), and (2) describes the culture using the cultural metaphor technique used by the author of our text. In other words, using a prominent cultural event or activity, explain how that event or practice reflects the true nature of the people of the culture. In order to accomplish this goal, students will spend a significant amount of time researching a particular culture before settling on the information that adequately explains the culture in the required ways. It is strongly recommended that students begin working on this project immediately. 

Each student will turn in an proposal that outlines in detail what will be presented. The proposal should include a comprehensive outline of the focus and elements of the ideas and facts that will be included in the presentation. This proposal is due no later than March 23rd. This means students will research a topic and will know if enough high quality information is available by that time. No topic changes will be allowed after January 31. The proposal should outline a topic that is not covered in detail in our textbook, but adds something new and useful to our understanding of humans in different cultures. At the beginning of the presentation, the group will give the instructor a printed version of the presentation, with two slides per page.  Students will receive an individual, rather than a group, grade for presentations.

Honor's student project

Students enrolled in the Honor's section will need to discuss an additional individual or group project that will be accomplished during the semester and will enhance the student's understanding of Cross-Cultural Psychology. In the past, students have conducted a research project for this assignment, but the professor is willing to discuss other types of projects that will benefit the student.

Grading policy

Attendance

Regular class attendance is important if you want to succeed in this course. I believe you are adults and are capable of deciding whether or not you will take this advice and attend class. Do not misinterpret this to mean that the professor "doesn't care" if you come to class or not. If you miss class, you are still responsible for what was discussed or taught in class that day. The professor will not provide students with handouts or notes or lend students videotapes shown in class, unless a student missed a class for an emergency or University-sponsored event. It is always best to ask the professor beforehand if your reason for missing class would be acceptable or not. The professor will likely take attendance at the beginning of each class in order to learn students' names and keep track of who is and who is not attending class on a regular basis.

Honor Code and Student Conduct

Longwood students founded the Honor Code in 1910. Its purpose is to create and sustain a community in which all persons are treated with trust, respect, and dignity. Students are expected to assume full responsibility for their actions and refrain from lying, cheating, stealing, and plagiarism. University penalties for infraction of the Honor Code are detailed in the Student Handbook, which students can find on-line within the Longwood University web pages and are responsible for understanding and following. If the professor believes a student has violated the Honor Code, the student will receive a course grade reduction or, more likely, an “F” for the course. The professor may also file Honor Code charges against the student.

During class students are expected to be “on task” and paying attention at all times. The following are disruptive to teaching and learning and will not be tolerated: talking to other students while the professor is lecturing or having a class discussion with students, falling asleep during class (putting your head down on your desk means you are asleep), eating food during class, failing to turn one’s cell phone off before class begins, arriving late, walking out of class early or briefly (bathroom breaks take place between classes, not during class), packing up early, or making disruptive, irrelevant, self-serving comments during class. Engaging in any of these behaviors may result in the student being dismissed from class, and a reduction in the student’s final course grade. Serious or repeated violations of proper class behavior may result in a grade of “F” for the course. It is the responsibility of your professor to protect and promote a respectful, positive classroom environment. Indeed, one of the reasons for which a Longwood professor can be fired is for “failure to maintain discipline”. As such, the professor will enforce these expectations for classroom conduct. When these rules are violated, the professor will determine the degree to which such disruptions will affect the student’s grade. Students should be aware that the Student Handbook states that interfering with the duties of a student, faculty, or staff member is a Judicial Code offense, and can result in academic probation.

Course Schedule

Saturday, May 14, Commencement

Additional sources for Cross-Cultural Psychology:

Goldstein, S. B. (2000). Cross-Cultural Explorations: Activities in Culture and Psychology. Allyn & Bacon Publishers.

Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., Segall, M. H., & Dasen, P. R. (2002). Cross-Cultural Psychology: Research and Applications. New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press.

Smith, P. B. & Bond, M. H. (1999). Social Psychology Across Cultures (2nd Ed.). Allyn & Bacon Publishers.

Pedersen, P. (1999). Multiculturalism as a Fourth Force. Brunner-Mazel Publishers.

Lee, Y-T., McCauley, C. R., & Draguns, J. G. (Eds.). (1999). Personality and Person Perception Across Cultures. Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers.

Triandis, H. C., et al., (Eds.). (1980, 1981). Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vols 1-6.  Allyn & Bacon Publishers.

Journals that focus on Cross-Cultural Research:

Behavioral Science Review, Culture and Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Cross-Cultural Research, Ethos, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, International Journal of Psychology, Journal of Comparative Family Studies, Journal of Ethnic Studies, Journal of Latin American Studies, Journal of Social Psychology, Latin American Perspectives, Modern Asian Studies, World Psychology.

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the above syllabus during the semester if necessary, with proper notification provided to students during class.