Cultural Specificity Research Articles

Examining Malaysian mothers' causal attributions of maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behaviors in young children

AbstractObjectiveThis study provides insight into how cultural beliefs influence parents' causal attributions of maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behaviors in young children.BackgroundUnderstanding how parents from different cultures explain difficult behavior in young children may inform culturally sensitive approaches for early intervention and prevention. To date, work on Malaysian parents' causal attributions of maladaptive behaviors in young children has received little empirical attention.MethodWe employed a semistructured interview method to assess Malaysian mothers' (N = 16) open‐ended explanations for maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behavior in their young children, as depicted in hypothetical scenarios. Mothers' responses were coded according to a coding system of parental attributions.ResultsWe identified cultural specificity in Malaysian parents' attributions of children's behaviors, with mothers endorsing reasons for children's maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behaviors that were not previously captured by the existing coding system. Mothers' attributions were informed by religious and spiritual beliefs.ConclusionsParents' causal attributions for children's maladaptive behaviors are culturally specific and are best captured by open‐ended approaches.ImplicationsCultural frames of reference shape parental beliefs, which are crucial to the effective formulation of early intervention and prevention approaches. Caution should be taken in general against universally operationalizing parents' attributions of children's behaviors.

Musical Culture of the Kyrgyz People

The musical culture of the Kyrgyz people is a valuable heritage that reflects its traditions, history, and spiritual values. This study is relevant because in the modern pedagogical process the emphasis on the integration of national cultural features, including music, is becoming increasingly important. It promotes multicultural education and the development of students’ national identity. The purpose of this study was to develop ways to integrate the musical culture of the Kyrgyz people into modern pedagogical education and recommendations for their optimisation. The following methods were used in the study: analytical, specifically, historical analysis; comparative; method of synthesis; as well as methods of generalisation and systematisation. The most revealing was the historical analysis, through which the historical context of the development of Kyrgyz musical culture and its influence on education in different periods of history was studied. The results of the study suggested that the inclusion of elements of musical culture of the Kyrgyz people in the pedagogical process can serve as an effective tool for the development of students’ cultural self-awareness, as well as the development of their emotional and social competence. However, to achieve the best results, clearly formulated methods are needed that consider the specifics of Kyrgyz musical culture and the features of the modern pedagogical process. Among such techniques, the following were identified: cultural immersion, integrated lessons, project-oriented method, organisation of creative working groups, case method, creation of interactive music laboratories, differentiated approach, and application of the method of critical analysis in lessons. The findings of this study can be useful for teachers, students at pedagogical universities, researchers in the field of pedagogy and ethnomusicology, as well as educational authorities.

The specifics of the monetary culture of students

In modern society, monetary culture of students plays a significant role in the context of forming their competent financial behavior. The financial sphere is constantly changing and influencing money management, which makes it interesting to study money culture. Based on the existing studies of students' monetary culture, the author's sociological research aimed at studying the monetary culture of student youth was conducted. Students of the Financial University acted as the empirical object of the study. The subject of the study was the peculiarities of monetary culture of student youth. The purpose of the study is to identify the specific features of students' monetary culture. A questionnaire survey (n=434) was chosen for the sociological study. The scientific novelty of the research consists in conducting a study according to the author's methodology aimed at quantitative analysis of the characteristic features of monetary culture in the context of its structural components. The main result of the study can be considered the analysis of monetary culture in the context of its structural components: monetary knowledge, monetary values and monetary behavior. The main conclusion of the study was the identification of fragmented formation of students' monetary culture. The index of cognitive component formation was higher than the index of behavioral component formation. At the same time, a significant part of students has no demonstration of conscious, rational monetary practices and attitudes. Understanding the specifics of monetary culture allows us to analyze the problem areas of student youth in the field of financial management, in this regard, the practical significance of the research results, on the one hand, opens opportunities for further research, and on the other hand, acts as an information base for the creation and implementation of strategies and techniques to improve financial literacy of young people.

Divergence Profiles of Communication Processes between Latvia and Russia

The article, based on scientific literature and a large number of sources: sociological studies, various statistical and analytical materials, regulations, materials from mass media and social networks, provides an analysis of the deepening split in historically similar (according to G.Hofstede’s criteria) neighboring societies of Latvia and Russia. 12 groups of communications are considered that determine the content of the information space of Latvia in relation to Russia: foreign policy, economics, attitude towards Russia and Russians, education, science, culture, media, non-profit organizations, youth, religious and interreligious, freedom of movement, interregional communications. The results of the study show that Latvians and Russians are divided not so much by ethnic characteristics or the specifics of culture and traditions, but by their attitude to political history. At the same time, the negativization of the Russian state and Russians is undertaken mainly not by the population, but by the ruling political elite of Latvia, whose behavior is entirely determined by the interests of the countries of the Anglo-Saxon world. At the same time, the currently obvious divergence (divergence) in the development paths of historically similar societies that have been in the same civilizational space for centuries has led to differentiation in the manifestations of communication. Signs of an accelerating divergence in communication processes between Latvia and Russia are manifested in foreign policy communications, attitudes towards Russia and Russians, in culture, in the media and some other areas. Profiles of containing the divergence of communication processes – in religious and interreligious communications, youth, scientific communications, freedom of movement, etc. The results obtained allow us to hope with cautious optimism for the restoration of good-neighborly communication relations between Latvia and Russia in the foreseeable future.

Linguistic and cultural specificity of euphemistic gender nominations (on the material of Uzbek, Russian and English languages)

The research work is devoted to euphemistic nominations, created according to the pragmatic principle of politeness, which contain national and cultural information. The object of the research work was the euphemisms of gender (about 100 units), obtained by continuous sampling from the most representative explanatory dictionaries of the Uzbek, Russian and English languages. The subject of the research work is the linguistic and cultural specificity of euphemistic nominations of gender. The purpose of the research work is to identify the linguacultural specifics of euphemistic gender-related nominations. Since euphemistic substitutes are used in a particular community and are influenced by socio-cultural factors, they are strongly marked by socio-cultural features used by male and female representatives of Uzbek, Russian and English society. Using the cross-cultural method, we found that in addition to the idiosyncratic national context, there are phenomena in language systems, both universal and differential, including semantic universals and linguo-pragmatic maxims. The novelty of the research work lies in the comparative analysis, which makes it possible to identify universal and differential approaches to the use of euphemistic nominations in different cultures and social contexts. This is an innovative approach that contributes to the understanding of how sociolinguistic factors influence the formation and use of euphemisms in different languages. The results of the research work showed that gender-polite euphemistic nominations that arose within the framework of politically correct ideology contribute to the preservation of the communicant's cognitive space, recognizing the rights of women and expressing respect. They prevent insults but are not necessarily sincere expressions of sympathy and interest, rather, as the analysis of the study showed, these are formal and etiquette constructions. It has been proved that the specifics of the national culture and lifestyle of the Uzbek (in family relations, male family members refer to the female gender by certain word forms), Russian and English peoples, as well as the unique features of their mentality, are the basis for using euphemistic nominations to describe the gender-thematic group.

Cultural and Linguistic Specifics of a 19th Century Manuscript from the National Library “Ivan Vazov” in Plovdiv

The present article explores a short Bulgarian manuscript preserved in the National Library “Ivan Vazov”. It dates back to the early 1830s and contains 12 pages. Eleven of them are written in Turkish with Cyrillic script and includes over 100 Turkish prov-erbs. The last 12th page contains a marginal note that is written in Bulgarian. The manuscript precedes the appearance of the first editions of printed books in Turkish with Cyrillic script in the early 1840s and is one of the earliest written representations of 19th century Bulgarian-Turkish bilingualism. Several problems are addressed in the article – the authorship and exact date of the manuscript, the specifics of the lan-guage, structure and content of proverbs.

Communicative and pragmatic peculiarities of euphemisms in Russian and Uzbek languages

The object of the research is the linguistic means of explication, namely euphemisms, which were collected by continuous sampling from English and Uzbek dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference and journalistic publications. The subject of the research is the communicative and pragmatic peculiarities of euphemistic units containing information about the moral values and ethical prescriptions inherent in society. The purpose of the research is to identify the communicative and pragmatic peculiarities of euphemistic nominations in the Russian and Uzbek languages, taking into account the national and cultural specifics of the compared languages. With the help of the cross-cultural method, we found that in addition to the uniqueness of the national context, there are phenomena in language systems, both universal and differential, including semantic universals and linguo-pragmatic maxims. The novelty of the research is a comparative analysis of the communicative and pragmatic peculiarities of euphemisms, taking into account the national and cultural aspect, which indicates the scientific novelty of the study. The results of the research showed that euphemism is not just a lexical substitute, but a broader concept, a form of discursive maneuvering. It has various strategies that perform the function of non-proximal manipulation of the discursive space, through which the speaker tries to increase the symbolic distance between himself and the mentioned event, on the one hand, and on the other hand, in certain situations, the use of a euphemistic unit may be due to the desire to mask real circumstances. The research work also shows that there is no relationship between the choice of euphemism strategy in the compared languages. Another important discovery is that Russians and Uzbeks resort to taboos when dealing with death and lies, but almost never sexual relations in Russian. Euphemistic language is influenced by the cultural and religious beliefs, lifestyle and norms of its speakers, especially in Uzbek, as we found when describing sexual relations and when addressing elders.

Cognitive entailments among "the true, the good, the beautiful": a mainland Chinese sample.

Philosophers and cognitive scientists have long debated about the entailments among "the true, the good, the beautiful" (TGB hereafter). In the current article, we directly probed mainland Chinese subjects' cognitive entailment among TGB. Using 1-7 (Experiment 1) and 1-6 (Experiment 2) Likert scales, we convergently observed that mainland Chinese subjects tend to think that the beautiful is not the true, and that the good is the beautiful. Additionally, Experiment 1 also revealed that mainland Chinese subjects tend to think that the true is not the beautiful. Some of these results may reflect anthropological universals, and some others may reflect cultural specifics. Experiment 3 revealed that the most popular translation of TGB in Chinese into English is rather "the true, the kind, the beautiful", suggesting that the three concepts mapped to TGB in Chinese is not one-to-one mapped to the three concepts mapped to TGB in English. Therefore, caution should be exercised when making cross-linguistic or cross-cultural comparisons about TGB in the future.

SYMBOLISM OF ZOOMETAPHOR IN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH LINGUOCULTURES

The purpose of the article is to determine the features of zoometaphors in the Ukrainian and Polish linguocultures and the role of these features in the formation of national, cultural and ethnic specifics of language pictures of the world of Ukrainians and Poles. The object of the analysis is zoometaphors, which are used to refer to people by certain characteristics in the Ukrainian and Polish languages. The subject of this research is a comparative characteristic of the semantics, functioning and symbolic load of zoometaphors in Ukrainian and Polish linguocultures, in particular, their role in the formation of social, psychological and cultural stereotypes. Conclusions. Linguistic analysis shows that the national and cultural zoometaphors of Ukrainians and Poles can have both universal and unique symbols. They represent the vision of the environment of each nation and the identification of its ethnic culture. The symbolism of zoometaphors in the Ukrainian and Polish languages is closely related to the stereotypes that exist in these language cultures. The prospects of the study lie in the possibility of further study of intercultural differences and similarities through a comparative analysis of zoometaphors in Slavic languages.

Reflective smartphone disengagement as a coping strategy against cyberbullying: A cross-country study with emerging adults from the United States and Indonesia

Cyberbullying is a highly prevalent phenomenon among emerging adults, and it may lead to severe psychosocial harm for some targets. Understanding how emerging adults can cope with cyberbullying by altering their media use but without risking one of their crucial social lifelines, mobile social media, during the process is essential. To this end, this study examines a stress-coping process that involves cyberbullying as a stressor and reflective smartphone disengagement as a well-balanced coping strategy, accounting for gender-related, dispositional, and cultural specificities of emerging adults (aged 16–25, N = 4029) from the United States and Indonesia. With substantial invariance across countries, findings show that cyberbullying is related to higher perceived stress, especially for men and people with high levels of self-esteem, which, then again, is associated with reflective smartphone disengagement, in particular among American men and people with higher self-esteem.

The Dynamics of Transcultural Insight in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Literary Universe

Blending literary and cultural studies, the essay discusses the manners in which Jhumpa Lahiri’s literary universe constructs a gradual unfolding of a layered transcultural vision. The paper argues that in the shift from fictions of migration to autobiographical narratives of self-redefinition, the Bengali-American author advances cultural scenarios of transformation that enable the reshaping of cultural identities through the transcendence of fixed cultural loyalties. Invoking perceived lacks in their native cultural traditions and intuiting the incompleteness of cultures, her characters are haunted by the urge to cross cultural boundaries in order to gain a sense of personal fulfilment. Ultimately, Lahiri herself replicates this pattern as she relocates to Italy and writes in a new language (Italian). The last stage in Lahiri’s transcultural scenario is represented by an attempt to dissociate cultural specificity from the notion of identity, as she takes refuge in the realm of abstraction through minimalist aesthetics. Relying on a close reading of her texts, the essay will scrutinise the author’s peculiar outlook on transculturality, which appears to embrace various cultural spaces while seemingly avoiding specific attachments. The analysis aims to establish whether Lahiri succeeds in transgressing the very idea of cultural belonging in her quest for a freeing path.

NATIONAL-CULTURAL SPECIFICITY OF THE OF THE EAST SLAVIC CONCEPT OF LAZINESS IN COMPARISON WITH THE CHINESE 懒 (LAN) (BASED ON THE MATERIAL OF THE FAIRYTALE DISCOURSE)

The purpose of the work is to reveal the national and cultural specificity of the Eastern Slavic Laziness concept in comparison with the Chinese one 懒 (lan). The object of research is Eastern Slavic and Chinese folk tales. In folk tales, the conceptual sphere inherent in folk consciousness is best reflected. In Chinese folk tales, laziness is condemned because it is perceived as a vice. The result of the study is the revealed specificity of the East Slavic mentality, which is expressed in the correlation of the concepts Laziness and Success/Luck. Conclusions. Russian fairy tales can show different values. There are Russian fairy tales in which laziness is assessed as a defect and condemned; in others, the lazy person receives a reward, because he is kind and compassionate to other people's misfortune. The main components of the concept of Success / Luck in the Russian fairy-tale picture of the world are the absence of the need for hard work, a successful marriage, material well-being and the opportunity to demonstrate one's success to those who previously did not believe in it. Chinese folk tales unequivocally condemn laziness. Lazy people suffer from troubles and do not have happiness and wealth. The practical application of the research results lies in the possibility of their use in translations of East Slavic folk tales into Chinese.

Anthropology and ethnobotany in health mediation: an illustration of a clinical, personalized approach for Haitian migrants in a French Guianese hospital.

In French Guiana, a European territory in Guiana shield in the Amazon area, close to 40% of the current population was born abroad. In this context, it is important to listen to the experiences of migrants to better understand the difficulties encountered within the healthcare pathways. This is the aim of ANRS Parcours d'Haïti project, an epidemiological, biographical and socio-anthropological study conducted on a representative sample of the Haitian community in French Guiana and focusing on the social determinants of health. Within the framework of this study, the Infectious and Tropical Diseases clinical team of Cayenne Hospital has established close collaboration with health mediators and the ethnobotanist anthropologist of the study. To illustrate the contribution of a personalized approach to health mediation, we report the case of a migrant woman of Haitian origin admitted to the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit. We highlight the different socio-cultural aspects addressed and their place in the care process through a thematic discussion and socio-anthropological analysis of the care relationship, based on participatory ethnography and inductive analysis of an in-depth interview with the patient. This example illustrates the need for a multidisciplinary approach to ensure culturally adapted care for patients. Personal interviews are important because they allow to better take into account the cultural specificities of patients' experiences and the socio-cultural environment in which they live (and especially, in the case of Haitian patients, their religious affiliation). By allowing them to speak and express themselves freely, they integrate not only their own cultural baggage, but also their own expectations and representations of the disease they suffer from and how it should be treated. Ultimately, this tripartite collaboration between patient, caregiver, and anthropologist or health mediator leads to a better therapeutic alliance. The analysis of this health care relationship is emblematic of the issue of cultural competence and pre-conceptualizes what intercultural mediation in health care could be, as close as possible to the caregiver and the individual.

Переводческие стратегии сохранения имплицитно выраженных аксиологических смыслов художественного произведения (на материале южнокорейских стихотворений и их переводов на английский язык)

The current research is dedicated to identifying axiological meanings implicitly expressed in a text which is due to its specific semantic organization (unique cultural content, culturally conditioned way of sending and receiving information). The article explores possibilities for cultural and pragmatic adaptation during the translation of such axiological meanings. The aim of this research is to uncover basic translation strategies of allocation of values encoded in the text culture. The scientific uniqueness of the research lies in the fact that in linguistics and Translation Studies, the possibilities of linguistic and cultural translation of axiological meanings, implicitly expressed in a text in an Eastern language (South Korean), to a Western language (English) have been demonstrated for the first time, which is due to cardinal differences of dominant perception in Eastern and Western cultures. Acquired results have shown that in the process of translation the “invisible” part of the text’s cultural content is transmitted by means of strategies of elimination of national and cultural specifics (skipping, compensation, substitution) and explication of national and cultural specifics (in-text explanations, translator’s comments, as well as bilingual publications with linguacultural information).

The effect of positive emotion on foreign language teacher engagement and well-being: A cross-cultural comparison

Foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE) has recently been introduced as a broad positive emotion experienced by foreign language (FL) teachers, despite obstacles embedded in FL teaching. However, identifying its psychological outcomes – and the cultural specificity of these outcomes – has received scant research attention across different contexts. The present cross-cultural study aims to investigate whether teachers’ FLTE can predict and influence engagement and well-being in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context of Iran and China. A series of structural equation models (SEMs) indicated that EFL teachers’ FLTE affected their work engagement and well-being in both Iranian and Chinese samples, with structural invariance tests confirming the group-level differences between Iranian and Chinese EFL teachers in the light of FLTE outcomes. The study provides insight into the positive outcomes of positive emotions in FL teaching as framed by the lens of positive psychology. In addition, a rare non-Western cross-cultural comparison contributes to the ongoing discussions in literature regarding the influence of cultural contexts on the experience and outcome manifestation of positive emotions.

The Xenology of the Powder Keg of Europe: the Reflection of the Peculiarities of the Friend Oo Foe Dichotomy intThe Balkan Model of the World in the Xenopejorative Vocabulary of the Languages of The Balkan Sprachbund. Articulation of Issue

This article discusses the reflection of the features of the “friend or foe” dichotomy in the Balkan model of the world in the xenologic pejorative vocabulary of the Balkan sprachbund languages: Albanian, Aromanian, Bulgarian, Modern Greek, Macedonian, Romanian and Serbo-Croatian. The author gives a brief review of the historical, cultural and geopolitical specifics of the Balkan-Carpathian region, which influenced the local peoples’ ideas about strangers; some traditional mythological beliefs of the Balkan peoples related to the conceptual field of otherness are also presented. Based on the analysis of the internal history of the word, an attempt is made to define the main models for constructing derogatory names for strangers in order to compare the data for various Balkan languages and, to the extent possible, build an integral image of the concept of alien in the Balkan conceptual worldview. According to the results of the study, the xenopejorative vocabulary of languages of the Balkan sprachbund shows significant similarities both in terms of form and content. Pejoratives with undifferentiated evaluativity predominate, which could account for the richness of the Balkan derivational morphology and a large number of lexical borrowings in each of the languages; pejoratives with an indication of appearance, features of language and peculiarities of behaviour are also widely represented; however, the first are referentially limited, while the second and the third are universal, from which it is concluded that the prototypical Balkan alien is someone who speaks differently and behaves different-y. At the same time, the most common target for pejorative vocabulary in the Balkan languages among all strangers is the Romani people, which is due both to a number of stereotypical ideas about the physical and behavioural features of this ethnic group, and to the historical isolation caused by the nomadic way of life and the closedness of the Romani community from outsiders.

Unveiling Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: A Qualitative Analysis of Vietnamese Women's Narratives

This study explores the dynamics of gender discrimination in the workplace through the qualitative narratives of 30 Vietnamese women across various professional sectors. Using a purposive sampling method, the research employs semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights into the participants' experiences, which were analyzed through thematic analysis. Key findings reveal prevalent workplace gender discrimination, characterized by subtle biases, traditional gender role enforcement, and challenges linked to maternity and career advancement. These issues manifest through both overt marginalization and covert devaluation of women's professional contributions, highlighting the resilience and coping strategies women employ to navigate such environments. While the study focuses on formal employment sectors and may not capture all employment types in Vietnam, it provides valuable perspectives for policymakers and organizational leaders aiming to mitigate gender disparities. Recommendations include enhanced diversity training, transparent career advancement policies, and improved work-life balance support. This research contributes original insights into the complexities of gender discrimination, emphasizing cultural specifics that influence workplace dynamics in Vietnam.

Sociocultural Factors Influencing Marital Satisfaction in Modern India: A Large-Scale Survey Analysis

This research paper investigates the sociocultural factors influencing marital satisfaction in modern India, focusing on how traditional and emerging sociocultural dynamics shape marital outcomes in the context of rapid societal changes. Utilizing a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design, the study collected data from 2,000 married individuals across various Indian states using structured questionnaires. The methodology included stratified random sampling and data analysis through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the direct and indirect effects of sociocultural variables on marital satisfaction. Key findings indicate that egalitarian gender roles, economic stability, and effective communication significantly enhance marital satisfaction, while urbanization and traditional family structures have complex influences. The study underscores the buffering role of traditional family support against the stresses of modernization. The results highlight the importance of tailoring marital counseling and interventions to regional and cultural specifics, suggesting that policies aimed at enhancing marital satisfaction should consider the broader sociocultural context. These insights are crucial for stakeholders aiming to develop programs that foster healthier marital relationships in a culturally diverse society like India.

Empowering Women in Agriculture: Assessing the Impact of the Food Acquisition Program (Paa) on Family Farming in the Western Region of São Paulo, Mirante do Paranapanema, Brazil

Purpose: The objective of the research was to analyze, based on the interfaces between gender and family farming, how access to a public policy, in this case, the Food Acquisition Program (FAP), influences (or not) the empowerment of participating female farmers. Theoretical framework: The methodology used in the research was a case study and interviews were carried out based on elaborate semi-structured scripts (Triviños, 1987). A bibliographical survey was carried out using HERÉDIA; CINTRÃO, 2006, BRASIL, 2011, HAESBAERT (2004), among other literature publications, and systematization of data from secondary sources with National Supply Company. Conception/Methodology/Approach: We took as empirical reference the “Associação Força Feminina” in the municipality of “Mirante do Paranapanema”, in the State of São Paulo. This Association participated of FAP between 2011 and 2016, and it was verified through data from secondary sources that there was growth in terms of values of approved projects. Findings: We consider that the PAA was an action that made it possible to expand the participation of family farming and that generated economic autonomy for women. The PAA provided advances in relation to the quality of life to the women farmers of the Associação Força Feminina, as it valued agricultural products, increased the diversity of production, brought producers and consumers closer together, offered sales guarantees and paid more advantageous prices. Research, practical and social implications: The study deals with issues related to public policies and issues of empowerment in the state of São Paulo – BR. Access to the Food Acquisition Program (SAP), aimed at rural women workers, intends to take into account the social and cultural specificities of family farming, and makes it possible to understand that public policies are an important instrument, that can change the living situation of the families involved and of their beneficiaries. Originality/Value: In this article, a careful case study was developed, based on research into the participation of women farmers in the Food Acquisition Program (PAF), establishing parameters for analysis of whether this participation increased their level of economic and personal empowerment.

Концепция души христианских учителей Ранней Церкви

The article is devoted to the teachings about the soul, which were developed in the early Christian tradition before the 4th century. There is no shortage of research on this topic, how-ever, in this article, firstly, no attempt is made to develop a uni-versal patristic teaching, but, on the contrary, an overview of the entire variety of ideas that were formed in the Early Church is give; secondly, the observation is made that the opinion ac-cepted among scientists about the unconditional adherence of Christian authors to one or the other philosophical schools are not supported by the sources. Christian writers argue with their contemporary philosophy, and at the same time rely more on the authority of St. Scriptures and the church tradition, creative-ly reworking the philosophical heritage. Christians use only the general idea of the soul, which was developed by the Greek philosophical schools. Idealistic teaching was spread among the Hellenized Jews of the Diaspora. Christian church teachers used both the «Platonic» immaterial concept of the soul, as well as the «Aristotelian» materialistic one. The author of the article concludes that the choice in favor of one or another model de-pended more on regional specifics. In those provinces of the West and East where the degree of Hellenization was higher, there is a greater attraction to Platonic idealism. On the contra-ry, in Roman North Africa, where Hellenistic culture did not spread, and as the local population as a whole tended to reli-gious literalism and materialism, typical for Punic culture, the materialistic doctrine of the soul also spread. Since it is in Ro-man Africa that Latin Christianity was born, it is in it that Christian materialism would develop. It is precisely caused by cultural specifics of the Mediterranean regions, and not by the difference in Greek and Latin languages, that is usually esti-mated as a core factor of the split between teachings of the soul in the Eastern and Western Christian thought.