CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY (Spring 2014)
Reggie Pawle, Ph.D. - Office # 3318
Office Hours: Tuesday 13:30-14:55 & 16:30-17:05
Who we are, how our minds work, how we behave, and how we communicate is very culturally
influenced. Cross-cultural interactions easily become problematic without understanding the
cultural aspects of the people involved. This course examines how humans are psychologically
culturally influenced and cultural factors that are important in various kinds of cross-cultural
relationships. Both Western and Asian ways of how to resolve problems that can arise are
studied. Particular attention is given to the application of the psychology of peace to the
transformation of cross-cultural conflict. Students are expected to participate in both selfexamination and cross-cultural relationship situations. Learning how one is cultural and being
willing to participate in relational dynamics is basic to this course.
Course Topics
Self and identity: Collective or Individual? We-self or I-self?
Cross-cultural research in values
Cross-cultural cognitive research
Cross-cultural communication styles
Cross-cultural relationships
Cross-cultural negotiations
Cross-cultural conflict transformation – Western and Asian styles
Psychology of bias and hate
Peace psychology
GRADING
5% Discussion paper: due Thursday March 10
25% Midterm exam: Thursday March 13
20% Movie take-home test on cross-cultural relationships: due Thursday April 17 - Movie on
Monday April 14
25% Project & Paper – Project reports Thursday & Monday May 8 & 12, Paper due May 12 Attendance required both days
25% Final take-home exam: Part A due Wednesday May 21; Part B due Thursday May 22 –
15:00 deadline
Class participation: Below Average (lowers your grade), Average (grade stays the same), Above
Average (raises your grade) = class attendance, homework, course readings, attention, non-use of
keitai and computer, and participation
Readings will be selected from the following:
Begley, S. (2007). Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain. New York: Ballantine Books.
Carter, R. (2008). The Japanese Arts and Self-Cultivation. Albany, N.Y.: State University of
New York Press.
Cooper, R. & N. (1982). Culture Shock! Thailand. Singapore: Times Books.
Doi, T. (1971). The Anatomy of Dependence. Tokyo: Kodansha International.
Dozier, R. (2003). Why We Hate. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Easwaran, E. (2011). Gandhi the Man: How One Man Changed Himself to Change the World.
Tomales, California: Nilgiri Press.
Frankl, V. (1959). Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.
Greiff, N. (2005). True Conflict Resolution. In Kaihan, Vol 5, No. 1 (Winter), pp. 1, 5, 7.
Heine, S. (2008). Cultural Psychology. New York: W.W. Norton and Co.
Hofstede, G., Pedersen, P., & Hofstede, G. (2002). Exploring Culture: Exercises, Stories, and
Synthetic Cultures. Yarmouth, Maine: Intercultural Press.
Hofstede, G, & Hofstede, G. (2005). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
Macy, J. (1991). Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory. Albany, New York:
State University of New York Press.
Marano, H. (2003). Our Brain’s Negative Bias. In Psychology Today, June 20.
Muramoto, K. (2012). (Ed.). 歴史のトラウマの世界間連鎖と和解修復の試み:国際セミナー
（南京思い起こす２０１１）の記録（Generational Transmission of War Trauma and
Approaches to Reconciliation and Restoration: Report on “Remembering Nanjing 2011.”
Kyoto: Institute of Human Sciences, Ritsumeikan University.
Naranjo, C. Gestalt Therapy: The Attitude and Practice of an Atheoretical Experientialism.
Nevada City, California: Gateways/IDHHB Publishing.
Nisbett, R. (2003). The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently …
And Why. New York: Free Press.
Pirazzi, C. & Vasant, V. (2004). Thailand Fever: A Road Map for Thai-Western Relationships.
Bangkok: Paiboon Poomsan Publishing.
Pawle, R. (2009). Negotiating for a Life in a Buddhist Way: A Case of Cross-Cultural
Communication and Ecology. In Japanese Religions, Vol 34, No. 1 (January, 2009), pp.
83-88.
Perls, F. (1969). Gestalt Therapy Verbatim. Highland, New York: The Gestalt Journal.
Roland, Alan. (1988). In Search of Self in India and Japan: Toward a Cross-Cultural
Psychology. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Roland, A. (1996). Cultural Pluralism and Psychoanalysis: The Asian and North American
Experience. New York: Routledge.
Seelye, H. (1996). Experiential Activities for Intercultural Learning. Yarmouth, Maine, USA:
Intercultural Press.
Storti, C. (1999). Figuring Foreigners Out: A Practical Guide. Yarmouth, Maine, USA:
Intercultural Press.
Student Papers, Unpublished: Sawako Kojima, Sylvia Tonui, Moe Kurachi.
Weil, P. (2002). The Art of Living in Peace: Guide to Education for a Culture of Peace. Paris:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Wile, D. (1988). After the Honeymoon: How Conflict Can Improve Your Relationship. New
York: John Wiley & Sons.
Yalom, I. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.
Yomiuri Shinbun & Japan Times, Japanese newspapers, various articles.
CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY (Spring 2014)
Reading Assignments – PRE1 (1st reading packet)
Who We Are – Cultural self
Week 1 – Reader Class #1 – introduction – identity, meaning, negativity bias
Monday – introduction- Cultural identity – Constructionism – Nature vs. Nurture vs. ?
Muramoto, pp. 388-391 – “social body;” self-examination
Thursday – Reader Class #2– Meaning and the brain
Dozier, pp. 1-22; Marano: “Our Brain’s Negative Bias.”
Snap judgments - https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/; “Is what you see what you get?”
Week 2 – Interpretation; Cultural identity
Monday - Reader Class #3- Cultural interpretation of behavior – Prejudice & Red Flags
Seelye - red flags; Pirazzi & Vasant – “Common sense;” Hofstede & Hofstede, pp. 1-8.
Wideman, “The Seat Not Taken” article. “Australian writer jailed for royal insult.”
Thursday – Reader Class #4 - Identity - I-self, We-self
Roland, Student stories, “Different Perspectives on Individual Liberty.”
Cross-cultural questionnaire. Roland handout.
Week 3 – Cognitive styles; Value Dimensions
Monday - Reader Class #5 - Cognitive styles: perception & thinking
Nisbett, pp. 79-96 & 137-147.
Thursday – Reader Class #6 - Hierarchy-equality
Hierarchy-Equality - Hofstede, et. al.; “As American As Apple Pie, As Japanese…”
Hofstede website: http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_dimensions.php?culture1=95&culture2=50#compare
Week 4 – Value Dimensions
Monday – Reader Class #7 - Individualism and collectivism
Hofstede & Hofstede; “Being an Individual or Joining the Group;” “Unhelpful clerks …”
Thursday – Reader Class #9 - uncertainty tolerance & short-term/long-term orientation
Hofstede, et. al.; Hofstede, et. al.; article on uncertainty tolerance.
Week 5 – Value Dimensions; Discussion Paper
Monday – Reader Class #8 - gender
Gender - Hofstede, et. al.; “Steadfast young men...”
Thursday – Reader Class #10 - Communication Styles; Discussion Paper due.
Communication factors; Storti; Young, in Roland (1996).
Week 6 – Values and communication
Monday – Reader Class #11 - Review class & cross-cultural negotiation styles
Hofstede & Hofstede, pp. 338-340, 358-362; Singelis & Pedersen, 184-187; Pawle –
Cambodia story; “The Dear Leader’s heinous act.” (Confucian values)
Thursday – Midterm Exam
Reading Assignments – PRE2 (2nd reading packet)
Cross-cultural relationship negotiations
Week 7 – Relationship styles
Monday - Reader Class #12 - Relationship styles – Independent
Nisbett, pp. 56-68 & 76-77; Heine, pp. 144-146, 182-186; Yalom, need-free love.
Thursday – Reader Class #13 - Relationship styles - Interdependent
Doi; Young, pp. 63-67; Confucian teachings; Student story – Madhu.
CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY (Spring 2014)
REVISED Reading Assignments – PRE2 (2nd reading packet)
CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY: Cross-cultural interactions
Week 8 – Guest Speaker; Conflict resolution styles
Monday – Guest speaker on identity & communication in a cross-cultural context – Alex Scott
Thursday – Reader Class #14 - Independent conflict resolution styles
Wile - Communication guidelines & role play; Pirazzi & Vasant;
Week 9 – Conflict resolution styles; Case studies
Monday – Reader Class #15 - Interdependent conflict resolution styles
Pirazzi & Vasant; Cooper.
Thursday – Review and case studies
Homework – bring to class a story of cross-cultural interaction
Analyze this story according to negotiation style, communication, values, interpretation,
self (I-self/We-self)
Week 10 – Movie & cross-cultural relationships movie take-home test; Meaning
Monday - movie - “My Darling is a Gaijin” (ダーリンは外国人)
Who We Can Be? Peace Psychology
Thursday – Reader Class #16 - Meaning – Logotherapy; movie take-home test due
Frankl, pp. 82-83, 88-91, 103-111, 116-125.
Cross-Cultural Negotiation
Week 11 – Peace values; 1st person approach
Monday – Reader Class #20 - Peace Values
Weil, pp. 27-32, 36, 47-64; Dozier, pp. 31-37; Questionnaire; Seville statement; Nagler.
Thursday – Reader Class #17 - 1st person approaches in China-Japan historical relationship
Muramoto, pp. 350-363 & 406-417; “Facing demons after serving Mao.”
Week 12 – Non-violence; Dozier, Buddhist & Daoist
Monday – Reader Class #18 - Gandhi - Non-violence
Easwaran, pp. 20-23, 149-166, 187-204; Gandhi, pp. 29-33.
Thursday – Reader Class #19 – Dozier & mindfulness, non-separation & yielding
Greiff, pp. 1, 5, 7; Dozier, pp. 41-48; Hanh, pp. 1-19, 54-62, 71-75.
Week 13 – Projects
Monday – No class - Holiday
Thursday – Projects
Week 14 – Projects; Project papers
Monday – Projects; Project papers due
Thursday – Reader Class #21 - Dreams – Gestalt – Past, Present, & Future
Naranjo, pp. pp. 6-17; Perls, pp. 101-103, 128-134; “Dancer says imagination is key to a
full life” article.
Week 15 –
Take-Home Final exam Part A due Wednesday May 21; Part B due Thursday May 22 –
15:00 deadline
Tuesday – Reader Class #16 - Change & Causality
Begley, pp. 5-11, 131-137, 150-152; Macy, pp. 7-10, 91-96, 101-102.