What Is Cross-Cultural Psychology?

Cross-cultural psychology examines how cultural factors impact human behavior. Learn how this field looks at individual differences across cultures.

January 17, 2025 · 8 min · 1550 words · Susan Collins

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Cross-Cultural Psychology?HistoryTypesUsesImpact

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Cross-Cultural Psychology?

History

Types

Uses

Impact

Close

Cross-cultural psychology is abranch of psychologythat looks at how cultural factors influence human behavior. While many aspects of human thought and behavior are universal, cultural differences can lead to often surprising differences in how people think, feel, and act.

Some cultures, for example, might stressindividualismand the importance of personal autonomy. Other cultures may place a higher value oncollectivismand cooperation among members of the group. Such differences can play an influential role in many aspects of life.

This article discusses the history of cross-cultural psychology, different types of cross-cultural psychology, and applications of this field. It also discusses the impact it has had on the understanding of human psychology.

What Is Culture?

The goal of cross-cultural psychologists is to look at both universal behaviors and unique behaviors to identify the ways in which culture influences behavior, family life, education, social experiences, and other areas.

History of Cross-Cultural Psychology

Cross-cultural psychology is an important topic. Researchers strive to understand both the differences and similarities among people of various cultures throughout the world.

The International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) was established in 1972, and this branch of psychology has continued to grow and develop since that time.Today, increasing numbers of psychologists investigate how behavior differs among various cultures throughout the world.

After prioritizing European and North American research for many years, Western researchers began to question whether many of the observations and ideas once believed to be universal might apply to cultures outside of these areas. Could their findings and assumptions about human psychology be biased based on the sample from which their observations were drawn?

As a result, cross-cultural psychologists suggest that many observations about human thought and behavior may only be generalizable to specific subgroups. To develop a broader, richer understanding of people that can be applied to a wider variety of cultural settings, it is essential for researchers to also look at people from diverse cultures.

Despite recognizing that research has a strong Western bias, evidence suggests that this bias persists today. According to one analysis of six prominent psychology research journals, around 90% of participants in psychology research are drawn from Western, industrialized countries, 60% of which were American.

RecapCross-cultural psychologists work to rectify many of thebiasesthat may exist in the current researchand determine if the phenomena that appear in European and North American cultures also appear in other parts of the world.

Recap

Cross-cultural psychologists work to rectify many of thebiasesthat may exist in the current researchand determine if the phenomena that appear in European and North American cultures also appear in other parts of the world.

Types of Cross-Cultural Psychology

Many cross-cultural psychologists choose to focus on one of two approaches:

It is also common for cross-cultural psychologists to take a combined emic-etic approach.

In other words, taking an ethnocentric point of view means using your understanding of your own culture to gauge what is “normal.” This can lead to biases and a tendency to view cultural differences as abnormal or in a negative light. It can also make it difficult to see how your cultural background influences your behaviors.

Cross-cultural psychologists often look at how ethnocentrism influences our behaviors and thoughts, including how we interact with individuals from other cultures.

Psychologists are also concerned with how ethnocentrism can influence the research process. For example, a study might be criticized for having an ethnocentric bias.

Topics in Cross-Cultural Psychology

Cross-cultural psychology explores many subjects, focusing on how culture affects different aspects of development, thought, and behavior. Some important areas of study include:

How to Find a Culturally Sensitive Therapist

RecapCross-cultural psychology seeks to understand how culture influences many different aspects of human emotion, thought, and behavior. Cross-cultural psychologists often study child development, personality, and social relationships. Mental health professionals should be culturally sensitive to differing norms in the context of culture.

Cross-cultural psychology seeks to understand how culture influences many different aspects of human emotion, thought, and behavior. Cross-cultural psychologists often study child development, personality, and social relationships. Mental health professionals should be culturally sensitive to differing norms in the context of culture.

Uses for Cross-Cultural Psychology

Cross-cultural psychology touches on a wide range of topics, so students interested in other psychology topics may choose to also focus on this area of psychology. For example, a child psychologist might study how child-rearing practices in different cultures impact development.

Cross-cultural psychology can help teachers, educators, and curriculum designers who create multicultural education lessons and materials learn more about how cultural differences affect student learning, achievement, and motivation.

In the field of social psychology, applying a cross-cultural view might lead researchers to study howsocial cognitionmight vary in an individualist culture versus a collectivist culture. Do people from each culture rely on the same types of social cues? What cultural differences might influencehow people perceive each other?

Impact of Cross-Cultural Psychology

Many other branches of psychology focus on how parents, friends, and other people impact human behavior. However, most do not take into account the powerful impact that culture may have on individual human actions.

Cross-cultural psychology focuses on studying human behavior in a way that takes the effects of culture into account.

The study of cross-cultural psychology and the inclusion of more representative and diverse samples in psychology research is essential for understanding the universality and uniqueness of different psychological phenomena. Recognizing how different factors manifest in various cultures can help researchers better understand the underlying influences and causes.

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: How Language Influences How We Express Ourselves

A Word From Verywell

Cross-cultural psychology plays an important role in the understanding of behavior throughout the cultures of the world. While much of psychology research remains primarily Western and Eurocentric, there is a stronger awareness of the importance of representation and diversity in the research process.

How Social Psychologists Conduct Their Research

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mathews G.Happiness, culture, and context.Int J Wellbeing.2012;2(4):299-312. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2.i4.2Lonner WJ.On the growth and continuing importance of cross-cultural psychology.Eye on Psi Chi.2000;4(3):22-26. doi:10.24839/1092-0803.Eye4.3.22International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology.About us.Henrich J, Heine SJ, Norenzayan A.Most people are not WEIRD.Nature. 2010;466(7302):29-29. doi:10.1038/466029aThalmayer AG, Toscanelli C, Arnett JJ.The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American?American Psychologist. 2021;76(1):116-129. doi:10.1037/amp0000622Wang Q.Why should we all be cultural psychologists? Lessons from the study of social cognition.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(5):583-596. doi:10.1177/1745691616645552Cheung FM, van de Vijver FJ, Leong FT.Toward a new approach to the study of personality in culture.Am Psychol. 2011;66(7):593-603. doi:10.1037/a0022389Keith KD.Visual illusions and ethnocentrism: Exemplars for teaching cross-cultural concepts.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(2):171-176. doi:10.1037/a0027271

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mathews G.Happiness, culture, and context.Int J Wellbeing.2012;2(4):299-312. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2.i4.2Lonner WJ.On the growth and continuing importance of cross-cultural psychology.Eye on Psi Chi.2000;4(3):22-26. doi:10.24839/1092-0803.Eye4.3.22International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology.About us.Henrich J, Heine SJ, Norenzayan A.Most people are not WEIRD.Nature. 2010;466(7302):29-29. doi:10.1038/466029aThalmayer AG, Toscanelli C, Arnett JJ.The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American?American Psychologist. 2021;76(1):116-129. doi:10.1037/amp0000622Wang Q.Why should we all be cultural psychologists? Lessons from the study of social cognition.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(5):583-596. doi:10.1177/1745691616645552Cheung FM, van de Vijver FJ, Leong FT.Toward a new approach to the study of personality in culture.Am Psychol. 2011;66(7):593-603. doi:10.1037/a0022389Keith KD.Visual illusions and ethnocentrism: Exemplars for teaching cross-cultural concepts.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(2):171-176. doi:10.1037/a0027271

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mathews G.Happiness, culture, and context.Int J Wellbeing.2012;2(4):299-312. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2.i4.2Lonner WJ.On the growth and continuing importance of cross-cultural psychology.Eye on Psi Chi.2000;4(3):22-26. doi:10.24839/1092-0803.Eye4.3.22International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology.About us.Henrich J, Heine SJ, Norenzayan A.Most people are not WEIRD.Nature. 2010;466(7302):29-29. doi:10.1038/466029aThalmayer AG, Toscanelli C, Arnett JJ.The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American?American Psychologist. 2021;76(1):116-129. doi:10.1037/amp0000622Wang Q.Why should we all be cultural psychologists? Lessons from the study of social cognition.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(5):583-596. doi:10.1177/1745691616645552Cheung FM, van de Vijver FJ, Leong FT.Toward a new approach to the study of personality in culture.Am Psychol. 2011;66(7):593-603. doi:10.1037/a0022389Keith KD.Visual illusions and ethnocentrism: Exemplars for teaching cross-cultural concepts.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(2):171-176. doi:10.1037/a0027271

Mathews G.Happiness, culture, and context.Int J Wellbeing.2012;2(4):299-312. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2.i4.2

Lonner WJ.On the growth and continuing importance of cross-cultural psychology.Eye on Psi Chi.2000;4(3):22-26. doi:10.24839/1092-0803.Eye4.3.22

International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology.About us.

Henrich J, Heine SJ, Norenzayan A.Most people are not WEIRD.Nature. 2010;466(7302):29-29. doi:10.1038/466029a

Thalmayer AG, Toscanelli C, Arnett JJ.The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American?American Psychologist. 2021;76(1):116-129. doi:10.1037/amp0000622

Wang Q.Why should we all be cultural psychologists? Lessons from the study of social cognition.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(5):583-596. doi:10.1177/1745691616645552

Cheung FM, van de Vijver FJ, Leong FT.Toward a new approach to the study of personality in culture.Am Psychol. 2011;66(7):593-603. doi:10.1037/a0022389

Keith KD.Visual illusions and ethnocentrism: Exemplars for teaching cross-cultural concepts.Hist Psychol. 2012;15(2):171-176. doi:10.1037/a0027271

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?