In archaeological terms, the Roman period is exceptionally data rich. Most people are familiar with iconic monuments like Hadrian’s Wall and the city of Pompeii. Yet infinitely more important for understanding people’s lives across the Roman world are millions of … Continue reading
Several theories propose that self-esteem, or positive self-regard, results from fulfilling the value priorities of one’s surrounding culture. Yet, surprisingly little evidence exists for this assertion, and theories differ about whether individuals must personally endorse the value priorities involved. We … Continue reading
A few years back, a brilliant student from China began to work with me on questions of social psychology and reasoning. One day early in our acquaintance, he said, “You know, the difference between you and me is that I … Continue reading
People in different cultures have strikingly different construals of the self, of others, and of the interdependence of the two. These construals can influence, and in many cases determine, the very nature of individual experience, including cognition, emotion, and motivation. … Continue reading
A large body of research documents cognitive differences between Westerners and East Asians. Westerners tend to be more analytic and East Asians tend to be more holistic. These findings have often been explained as being due to corresponding differences in … Continue reading
Cultural differences in human behavior have been widely documented and interpreted by various psychological theories that emphasize cognitive or affective mechanisms. However, it remains a challenge to provide a coherent neuroscience understanding of culturally discrepant behaviors. Cultural neuroscience research has … Continue reading
What explains the staggering diversity of cultures in the world? Why are there so many languages, even within small areas? Why do we rejoice in rituals and wrap ourselves in flags? In Wired for Culture Mark Pagel, the world’s leading … Continue reading
Central and East Europeans have a great deal in common, both historically and culturally, with West Europeans and North Americans, but tend to be more interdependent. Interdependence has been shown to be linked to holistic cognition. East Asians are more … Continue reading
We propose a theory of how systems of thought arise on the basis of differing cultural practices and argue that the theory accounts for substantial differences in East Asian and Western thought processes. We find East Asians to be more … Continue reading
Static models of culture’s influence have given way to a dynamic view, which identifies not only differences across cultures in people’s judgments and decisions, but also the situations and conditions in which these differences do or do not appear. Theory … Continue reading
