Theory ANTH 331 Culture and the Individual Kimberly

Theory ANTH 331: Culture and the Individual Kimberly Porter Martin, Ph. D.

Theory: A Definition • A set of related hypotheses that provide a better explanation than any single hypothesis. • A grounded theory is one that is based on empirically testable hypotheses that have been supported by evidence.

Theoretical Dimensions • • • Genetics (Nature) vs Culture (nurture) Absolutist – Universalist – Relativist Action Theory Sociocultural Theory Indigenous Psychologies Culture Comparative Research

The Nature/Nurture Controversy • Early debate during the first half of the twentieth century • Nature perspective partly rooted in racial determinism linked to colonial and post colonial attitudes • Racial determinism and environmental determinism were combined to predict both cultural factors and personality qualities. • Based on limited knowledge about how genetics and environment interact.

Absolutism, Universalism & Relativism • Restatement of the old Nature/Nurture controversy with a middle ground position added.

Absolutism • • • Biologically/genetically based Limited influence of environment Identifying species-wide traits Imposed etic assumptions Concepts defined in modern Western cultural terms • Straightforward comparison

Universalism • Interaction of biological and cultural factors • Culture has a substantial impact • Examining variations in species-wide processes • Derived etic methodology with attention to how Modern Western methods can be adapted in other cultures • Modern Western concepts with adjustment for cultural differences

Relativism • Culturally based • Culture is the primary causal factor in developing behavior and personality. • Emic methodology • Comparison is difficult • Context specific definitions for concepts • Local measurement units and instruments are used.

Confidence in Labeling Universal Traits • Conceptual Universals – highly abstract with no empirical measurement possible (national character) • Weak Universals – concepts for which there is empirical support for measurement in a variety of individual cultures. • Strong Universals – measured with the same metric across cultures.

Indigenous Psychologies • The movement to create (recognize? ) multiple theory sets about what human psychological traits are like. • Leads to culture specific methodology • Makes cultural comparison difficult • May be a necessary step toward developing a universal, cross-culturally valid psychology.