Krysskulturell psykologi - PSY6110 (10 sp)

Om emnet

Emnet krysskulturell psykologi har som mål å gi økt forståelse for hvordan kultur er en relevant faktor i menneskers utvikling.

Krysskulturell psykologi handler om hvordan kultur påvirker menneskers psykologi, herunder hvordan kultur påvirker individets utvikling og individets ulike måter å uttrykke seg på. Dette emnet er en fordypning i sosial- og personlighetspsykologi. Krysskulturell psykologi er en gren innenfor sosialpsykologi som undersøker og sammenligner menneskets psykologi på tvers av kulturer. Krysskulturell psykologi er også knyttet til personlighetspsykologi i den forstand at emnet ser nærmere på forholdet mellom personlighet og kultur. Hvordan et individ definerer seg selv, egen atferd og tanker kan i betydelig grad være formet av kulturelle normer og forventninger. 

I en stadig mer flerkulturell verden, vil dette emnet være nyttig og relevant for deg som planlegger å jobbe med mennesker. Hvilke kulturelt betingede praksiser har vi som yrkesutøvere? Hvordan kan dette påvirke vårt arbeid? Hvilke kulturelt betingede praksiser har våre klienter eller deltakere? Og hvordan kan dette påvirke deres respons? I arbeidet med mennesker er det viktig å ha en forståelse for brukergruppen man skal jobbe med, samtidig som man evner å være reflektert rundt egen rolle, enten det er i et hjelpe-yrke, i forskningslitteraturen eller i hverdagslige kontekster. 

Information in english

Cross-cultural psychology

Cross-cultural psychology is concerned with how culture affects people's psychology, including how culture affects the individual's development and the individual's different ways of expressing themselves. This subject is an extension of social and personality psychology. Cross-cultural psychology is a branch of social psychology that examines and compares human psychology across cultures. Cross-cultural psychology is also linked to personality psychology in the sense that the course takes a closer look at the relationship between personality and culture. How an individual defines himself, his own behavior and thoughts can be significantly shaped by cultural norms and expectations.

This course will take a closer look at the extent to which psychological phenomena and theories will be equally applicable to people with different cultural backgrounds. The course’s aim is for students to gain an understanding of how cultural norms and values  play significant roles in the development of individuals, and that such norms and values can be expressed in different ways. The course focuses on critical thinking and will encourage future practitioners and researchers to be curious and engage with complexity. They will also learn to use critical thinking around culture as a tool in working life and research. Students will gain knowledge about various culturally conditioned understandings that we humans have, and how this can affect our work as professionals.

This course also aims to be relevant for students planning to work with people in an increasingly multicultural world. An important outcome is that students gain an understanding of the various cultural groups they will be working with in the future, while at the same time reflecting on their own role and cultural background, whether as practitioners or researchers.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
- Has knowledge of key concepts and phenomena within cross-cultural psychology
- Has knowledge of the value of culture and the importance of culture for human development
- Has knowledge of the importance of cross-cultural psychology for central social psychological phenomena, such as social perception and social interaction
- Has knowledge of the importance of cross-cultural psychology for key areas of personality psychology, such as personality traits, the self and motivation.
- Has knowledge of the value of culture and the importance of culture in the understanding of mental disorders

General competence
- Can convey central subject matter in cross-cultural psychology
- Can show an understanding of the value and relevance of culture in established psychological knowledge.
- Can explain and discuss various culturally conditioned understandings that can affect judgment and perception an interpret and present research findings in cross-cultural psychology

Skills
- Can apply and include culture as a contributing factor in the assessment of situations and behaviour
- Can apply and include culture as a factor in the formulation of research ideas and research questions
- Can reflect critically on current knowledge and practice within cross-cultural psychology

Work requirements

Approved work requirements are a prerequisite for being able to sit for the exam. The work requirements consist of:

Approved written submission (outline) of 400 words (+/-10%)

The exam
The grade in this subject consists of an individual portfolio submission of 2400 words (+/- 10%) according to the stated format requirements and APA template for referencing. The portfolio submission consists of 3 different tasks, where all 3 are delivered together at the end of the semester.
The exam content is the learning outcomes. The exam answers are censored and given a graded grade, A-F.