Toward More Holistic Explanations: Cross-Cultural Research and Cross-Level Analysis

Abstract

Arguably, anthropologists and others can achieve a better sense of sociocultural process (how institutions interact with one another) by attending to mediating variables at the psychological level. A concern with lower level processes not only improves our under standing of higher level phenomena, but can also lead us to perceive important interrelationships that might otherwise be overlooked. This is particularly true in the arena of cross-cultural research where this approach has often, and sometimes unknowingly, been employed. Examples in support of this argument are taken from a variety of cross-cultural studies including works by McClelland, Whiting, Bolton, and the author. Finally, a simple set ofprocedures that accomplishes this objective, yet avoids the pitfalls of both reductionism and reification, is suggested.