Cultural Psych. Ch.11 pg. 433-448 451-456

Question 0

Examples of culture-bound syndromes (study ALL of them, not just those discussed in class)

Answer 0

1. Moken people swim underwater to retrieve seafood (Thailand). They have developed twice the underwater visual acuity as Europeans.
2. Wearing shoes changes the shape of your feet, Machiguena (Peruvian tribe) rarely wear shoes so their feet are wider, shorter and bigger space between toes.
3. The custom of applying painfully tight binding to the feet of young girls to prevent growth. China (custom abandoned in 1900’s).
4. Mossi and Rimaibe have genetic resistance to malaria but Fulani thrive who us not genetically immune fails to due from malaria because of high SES.
5. New Yorkers more likely to die from acute and chronic stress, ischemic heart disease.
6. Oscar winners live longer lives than nominees who list and who won more also lived longer than those whom only won one.
7. Azande of west Africa primary cause of illness is attributed to witchcraft.

Question 1

Doctors’ preferred treatment for ailments in different countries and why?

Answer 1

1. French doctors prescribe more long rests, spa visits and longer hospital stays. Dirt and germs can strengthen the body thus less emphasis on daily bathing.
2. Americans view the body as a machine, more likely to do surgery to fix malfunctioning parts. Germs are a key threat to health thus doctors prescribe more antibiotics than anywhere else. We also use higher doses of medicine than anywhere else.

Question 2

Chernoff figures (what are they, etc.)

Answer 2

(Face images expressing, happy, sad, frowning people). Elements of facial features are tied to attitudes about good.

1. Males in all cultures have fairly positive attitudes towards food, especially French and Belgians.
2. Females have much less positive attitudes towards food especially American women.

Question 3

Levels of agreement between doctors and laypeople in different countries

Answer 3

1. In a multinational study, doctors and laypeople were asked questions about diet, eating, and health in five Western countries.
2. Doctors’ answers were highly correlated with laypeople’s answers, but not with answers of doctors in other countries.

Question 4

Historical and cultural differences in height

Answer 4

1. Height is increasing dramatically. In 1865 Americans were on average 5’8 and Dutch men were 5’5. Today Americans average 5’10 and Dutch men are 6’1
2. Not due to genetics
3. Height increases as average income increases.
4. More nutrients and vitamins in critical periods in infancy and adolescence
5. Japanese increased 5 inches after WWII, more milk and meat consumption
6. Americans have stopped growing taller, fast food lack of growing nutrients in critical periods, more poor people pulling average height down

Question 5

Obesity rates (across cultures, reasons for cultural differences)

Answer 5

1. Obesity rated increasing dramatically around the world, especially US and UK
2. Not due to genetics
3. Highest include US, UK, Samoa, Canada
4. Lowest include China, Japan
5. Due to high caloric foods, sodas, large portion sizes, less active life style, web surfing, more driving and less exercise.
6. Portion sizes are 2-5 times larger and are continuing to increase
7. We have conflicting attitudes towards food

Question 6

The “French paradox”

Answer 6

1. French have one fifth obesity rate as US
2. French eat rich high fat and sugar and have high blood cholesterol but lower rates of heart disease.
3. French eat significantly lower calories per day as Americans (smaller portions)
4. Have positive attitudes about good, eating is leisurely and enjoyable
5. US medium French fries are 70% larger than in France
6. Spend 50% longer eating their food than Americans

Question 7

The relationship between socioeconomic status and health (and causes for the relationship)

Answer 7

1. Health and income has high predictive power
2. High SES individuals tends to live longer
3. Link found in industrialized and non-.industrialized nations
4. Not due to access to health care, dietary habits or smoking rates
5. Key variable involved between health and SES is stress
6. Stress leads people to engage in unhealthy habits
7. Stress weakens the immune system
8. Stress can be induced from feeling a lack of control, lower SES individuals report less control.
9. Even feeling poor results in stress