Contributions of Cross-Cultural Psychology to Research and Interventions in Education and Health

Abstract

Cross-cultural psychology has made important contributions to research and interventions in education and health. In education, cross-cultural research includes the application of Piagetian tests cross-culturally and the discovery of cultural variability in styles of learning. Research using the constructs of individualism and collectivism has shown that a variety of cultural values and parenting styles can be related to school success, and awareness of such differences has been used to enhance the effectiveness of educational intervention. In health, cross-cultural psychology has contributed to the identification of culture-specific patterns of illness and beliefs about illness. Research has shown complicated relationships between cultural expectations of behavior and cross-cultural variability in children’s observed behavior. The role of cultural beliefs and related practices is highlighted in research on temperament. Theoretical models derived from cross-cultural research are shown to be useful in creating a framework for systematic consideration of education and health in cultural context.