Globalization Flashcards
(6 cards)
The effect of the interaction of local and global influences on behaviour
Globalization has significant psychological effects on the construction of individual identities, attitudes and behaviours. The co-existence of global culture and the local culture has changed individuals’ understandings about themselves and the world. The global culture is based on individualism, free-market economies and democracy, whilst the local culture refers to the traditional culture in which a person is raised. As social psychologists suggest, culture influences individual behaviours because, in certain situations, the difference between global culture and local culture would cause inevitable conflicts which eventually transform the identity formation in modern society. Individuals may either develop a bicultural identity which combines both the local and the global culture, or experience identity confusion which causes them to withdraw from the society due to a sense of marginalization. Individuals may also develop a strong identification with their local culture in comparison to another culture. Therefore, the psychologists apply different methods to research the effects of globalization on human behaviour as well as identity formation.
Definition of globalization
Globalization is the process of interaction and integration among economies, nations, corporations, cultures and people from different countries. In modern society, globalization has both local and global influences on our identity, attitudes and behaviors. As cultures interact with each other more rapidly, the psychologists started to investigate the positive and negative effects on behaviors in terms of change in attitudes and identity construction that arise from globalization.
Discuss how globalization may influence behaviour and cognition
This essay will discuss (offer a balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypothesis) the influence of globalization on behavior. Globalization is the process of interaction and integration among economies, nations, corporations, cultures and people from different countries. The social psychologists believe that culture influences human behavior, because we establish the rules and cultural values which are essential for survival. They also believe that humans have a social self which reflects their group membership, therefore it is important to establish a positive social identity in a globalized world. In modern society, globalization has both local and global influences on our identity, attitudes and behaviors. As cultures interact with each other more rapidly, the psychologists started to investigate the positive and negative effects on behaviors in terms of change in attitudes and identity construction that arise from globalization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, globalization influences human behavior in various aspects, such as identities. From the case studies Chiu et al and Uchinda et al, the psychologists found out people have the need to establish the social self from their cultural group, however the interaction and conflict between local and global culture would influence their social identity as individuals would either develop a positive local identity or result in negative social isolation behavior. The findings are evident to support the idea that culture influences human behavior in a global context, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the effects of globalization in social psychology.
Uchinda et al
A: to test the effects of globalization which cause hikikomori
M:
• Sample of Japanese university students
• Firstly, the participants were given a standardized test to see whether they were at high risk or low risk for hikikomori
• Then they were given a test to measure their attitudes about social harmony and social conformity (perception of the current self, the ideal self and the Japanese society as a whole)
• They were given a test to measure their sense of local identity(collectivism) and global identity (individualism)
The method involved a sample of Japanese university students who took 3 tests. A standardised test to see whether they were at high or low risk for Hikikomori, a test which measured their attitudes about social harmony and conformity and a test which measured their sense of local and global identity.
R:
• Both groups agreed that social harmony and conformity were highly valued in Japanese society
• High-risk students for Hikikomori ranked social harmony much less than low-risk students (high-risk students were less likely to conform to the Japanese society to seek social harmony)
• High-risk students scored lower than low-risk students on both local and global identity
• Whilst Japanese youths do not identify with global culture, they are also not willing to conform to the local culture norms.
• Therefore, this study shows that there is the conflict between local and global culture which might affect behaviour.
E:
• Sampling bias–the students are only at “high-risk” rather than developing the actual disorder
• The results could not be generalized as it only includes Japanese university students
The emic approach–The results are not transferable as it could only apply to certain cultural group
Chiu et al
ACCULTURATION + GLOBALIZATION
Aim
To investigate whether exposing European American participants to another culture would increase their stereotypes about their own culture
Method:
• 58 European American undergraduates were placed in an independent samples design (random assignments to groups for comparison)
○ “Single Condition” : Participants were shown a Nike sports advertisement with a male Caucasian model
○ “Joint Presentation Condition” : Participants saw same advertisement placed next to an advertisement for a Chinese sport shoe with a group of smiling Chinese young men wearing similar clothes and facial expressions
• In both conditions, participants were asked to rate the “likeability” of the Nike ad (though this not being the goal of the experiment)
• Participants then took a test to measure attitudes towards dimensions associated with American and Chinese culture
Results:
• Participants in joint presentation condition rated Americans much more individualistic and having control over their lives, and less likely to be collectivistic, believe in duty to family or the need to conform to social norms
• Results were strongest in individuals with high identification with their local identity
Conclusion:
By being exposed to two cultures at the same time, American identity and values became much more salient than group who only saw American advertisement.
