THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
Course Outline
Part I
Course Title
: Being Chinese: Insights from Cross-cultural Psychology
Course code
: GEC1001-01E
Department
: Psychological Studies (PS)
Credit Points
:3
Contact Hours : 39
Pre-requisite(s) : Nil
Medium of Instruction: English
Level
:3
Class hours
: Wed. 8:30am-11:30am; D2-LP-18
Lecturer
: Dr. Emma BUCHTEL
Office
: D1-1/F-01
Tel
: 2948-8756
Email
: buchtel@ied.edu.hk -Email is the easiest way to contact me.
___________________________________________________________________________
Part II
1. Synopsis:
Being immersed in our own culture, we may not be able to articulate its impact on how
we act, think and feel. By introducing students to theories and research in cross-cultural
psychology, and to the effect of Chinese cultures in particular, this course aims at
enhancing students’ ability to systematically analyze and critically evaluate the impact of
Chinese culture on behaviour and ways of thought.
The course is structured around two major themes. Various approaches to conceptualize,
characterize and compare cultures in cross-cultural psychology will first be examined.
This provides a more general knowledge-based heuristic background to compare diverse
cultural groups, and to use cultural knowledge responsibly. This is then followed by
discussion of more specific psychological outcomes of culture-specific beliefs and
practices to highlight the influence of Chinese culture on the mind, and its manifestations
in daily life.
Students are expected to relate their personal experiences to what they have read in
psychological literature for more substantial analysis of the relationships between culture
and behaviours and more critical examination of validity of conceptual knowledge. It is
hoped that a more informed understanding of cross-cultural similarities and differences
will stimulate students to reflect on their cultural identity more deeply and have more
appreciation of and respect for other cultures.
2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
CILO1
CILO2
understand and evaluate major approaches to conceptualize and compare cultures
identify the major characteristics of Chinese psychology identified in multicultural
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CILO3
CILO4
comparisons and make evidence-based comparisons of Chinese with other cultural
groups
apply cross-psychological knowledge to analyze and evaluate the influence of
Chinese cultural characteristics on the psychology of Chinese people
develop sharpened awareness of and respect for cultural differences and one’s own
cultural identity
3. Content, CILOs and Teaching & Learning Activities
Course Content
CILOs
Suggested Teaching &
Learning Activities
Lecture with class
discussions, videos,
student pair work
Classic dimensions of diversity: What is culture?
—Hofstede’s dimensions of national cultures
—Religion and socio-economic status as cultures
CILO1,2
Non-essentialistic understandings of culture
—Cultural evolution, transmission and
socialization
—Stereotyping vs. Sociotyping: How to avoid
misusing culture-specific knowledge
CILO1,2,4
Lecture with class
discussions, videos,
student pair work
Chinese culture and psychology in a global
context:
—Self-concept and personality: Interdependent
self-concepts; Chinese dimensions of
personality
—Motivation: Face and Prevention vs. Promotion
focus; Social-oriented vs. individual-oriented
achievement motivation
—Values & morals: Chinese values;
Confucianism and collectivism
—Emotions: Expression of emotions; ideal
emotions in Chinese cultures
—Communication styles: indirect vs. direct
communication
—Perception and Cognition: Holistic vs. Analytic
thinking styles; Taoism and Dialectical thinking
—Acculturation and Multiculturalism: Hong
Kong as a Chinese-Western mixture
CILO2,3,4
Lecture with class
discussions, group
discussion of assigned
readings, analysis of films
and other media resources,
role play, group
presentation
4. Teaching Schedule
Session
Date
1
2
3
4
5
Topic
Sept. 7 Introduction: What is culture? Why is studying it so important?
Sept. 14 Classic dimensions of diversity
Sept. 21 Non-essentialistic understandings of culture
Sept. 28 Self-concept and personality
Oct. 5: Holiday (Chung Yeung Festival). Independent Learning Activity #1.
[Oct 11, 11pm: Short Essay due online]
Oct. 12 Motivation [8:30am: Short Essay hard copy due]
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Heine
text
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
6
7
Oct. 19
Oct. 26
8
9
10
Nov. 9
Nov. 16
Nov. 23
Values and Morals
Emotions & Communication Styles
Nov. 2: No Class. Independent Learning Activity #2.
Perception and Cognition
Acculturation and Multiculturalism
Group Presentations: Film Analysis
[Dec. 6, 11pm: Final Essay due online]
[Dec. 9, 4pm: Final Essay hard copy due]
Ch. 7
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Ch. 12
5. Assessment
Assessment Tasks
(use one per box)
a. Group presentation (Nov. 23)
Choose a film relevant to Chinese culture. Interpret the major
plotline, themes, or behavior of the people in the film through the
topics learned in class, showing how the film reflects one of the
discussed characteristics of Chinese culture and psychology, in a
scripted 12 to15-minute (depending on class size) presentation that
shows examples from the film.
Weighting
CILO
(%)
20%
3,4
b.
Class participation
Quality of individual participation in class discussions and activities
will be rated on a 3-point scale for every class period. Students who
arrive on-time, participate enthusiastically, and display thoughtful
and relevant comments and questions will receive high marks. Late
class attendance will result in an automatic deduction of 1 pt per
session, and unexcused absences will result in no participation
points for that session. Please contact Dr. Buchtel to discuss
extenuating circumstances.
10%
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c.
Individual essays
70%
Two essays, one due before Session 5 (Oct. 11) and one due Dec. 6.
Essays must be submitted online through Blackboard before the due
date/time (a link will be provided closer to the due date). A hard
copy must also be submitted. More details on these assignments will
be provided closer to the due dates.
1-4
1. Short essay (due on Blackboard by 11pm, Oct. 11, Tuesday;
hard copy due in Session 5, Oct. 12.): Reflect on your own
cultural background and on stereotyping (600 words, 20%):
Describe your own personal cultural background. What types of
cultures are you affected by (for example: national, ethnic, or
SES)? How have they influenced you? To what extent do you
think you are a typical member of your cultures? Finally, briefly
discuss how this reflection affects how you should understand
other people from other cultures.
2. Final essay (due on Blackboard by 11pm, Dec. 6, Tuesday; hard
copy should be submitted to or arrive by mail to the PS
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department (D1-2/F–05) c/o Dr. Buchtel before 4pm Friday,
Dec. 9): Application of course knowledge (1500 words, 50%):
Choose 1 of the below 2 options:
a) Describe an event in your life (such as a big decision, a
conflict with someone, an interpretation you made of someone
else’s behavior, etc.) that you believe was affected by Chinese
culture. Analyze this experience using what you have learned
about Chinese cultural and psychological characteristics,
showing that what you have learned in class has helped you
understand yourself (and/or others) better.
b) Describe a Hong Kong social-cultural phenomenon (a
popular TV show, an important cultural event or holiday,
phenomena such as competition for university places etc.) that
you believe is affected by psychological aspects of Chinese
culture. Analyze this experience using what you have learned
about Chinese cultural and psychological characteristics,
showing that what you have learned in class has helped you
understand Hong Kong culture better.
5. Required Text(s)
Nil
6. Recommended Readings
Berry, J.W., Poortinga, Y.H., Segall, M.H., & Dasen, P.R. (2002). Cross-cultural psychology.
Research and applications (2nd ed.).Cambridge University Press.
Bond, M.H. (Ed.) (1996). The handbook of Chinese psychology. Hong Kong: Oxford
University Press.
Bond, M.H. (Ed.) (2010). The Oxford handbook of Chinese psychology. Oxford, New York:
Oxford University Press.
Heine, S.J. (2008). Cultural psychology. New York: W.W. Norton.
Hofstede, G.H. (2001). Culture's consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions,
and organizations across nations. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage.
Kim, U., Yang, K.-S., & Hwang, K.-K. (2006). Indigenous and cultural psychology:
Understanding people in context [electronic resource]. Boston, MA: Springer
Science+Business Media.
Markus, H.R., & Kitayama, S. (1994). The cultural construction of self and emotion:
Implications for social behavior. In S. Kitayama and H.R. Markus (Eds.), Emotion
and culture: Empirical studies of mutual influence (pp.89-130). Washington, D.C.:
American Psychological Association.
Smith, P. B., Bond, M. H., & Kagitcibasi, C. (2006). Understanding social psychology across
cultures: Living and working in a changing world. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Vinken, H., Soeters, J., & Ester, P. (Eds.) (2004). Comparing cultures. Dimensions of culture
in a comparative perspective. Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill.
The below Chinese texts are recommended for independent further study, but should not
be cited in Short or Final Essays:
Bond, M.H. 著 ; 楊德 譯 (1993) ：<<難以捉摸的中國人 : 中國人心理剖析>>， 香港，
牛津大學出版社。
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楊國樞，余安邦（主編）(1994）：《中國人的心理與行為︰理念及方法篇（一九九二）》，
台北，桂冠。
楊國樞，余安邦（主編）（1994）：《中國人的心理與行為︰文化，教化及病理篇（一
九九二）》，台北，桂冠。
陳烜之、梁覺（主編）(2000)：《邁進中的華人心理學》，香港，中文大學出版社。
楊中芳（主編）（2001）：《中國人的人際關係，情感與信任︰一個人際交往的觀點》，
台北：遠流。
楊國樞，黃光國，楊中芳（2005）：《華人本土心理學》(上、下)，台北，遠流。
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