Psychological Anthropology Research Articles

The Ethics and Aesthetics of Care

This article is positioned at the intersection of linguistic, medical, and psychological anthropology and reviews scholarship on the communicative processes that constitute moral/ethical care. Varying notions of care have become a leitmotif in efforts to include the analysis of agency and creativity in discussions of the lived experience of marginalization. Understandings of care have in common an emphasis on relationality and activity: Communicative activities of care both constitute and are made relevant by morally/ethically framed relationships with others and oneself. Embodied communication is central in both care activities and the constitution of moral/ethical care. From a phenomenological standpoint, communicative activities of care are simultaneously social action and embodied experience. This article reviews three key themes: ( a) the embodied linguistic constitution of care, ( b) the performance of care, and ( c) exclusion from care. Together, these themes reveal common moral/ethical–aesthetic processes that are shared across diverse social and cultural contexts.

The past of dreams: gender, memory and Tuareg oneiric inspiration

AbstractThis article is built upon both an observation and a paradox. The observation is that the dream is nowhere to be found – at least at first glance – as a theme in Tuareg oral sources and ancient poetic tradition. The paradox expresses itself in the visceral relationship poets maintain with the dream, because oneiric inspiration – from the creative and visionary dreams of poets of the past – is pervasive in their work. Using an interdisciplinary approach at the crossroads of psychological anthropology, oral history and the ‘archival turn’, the article explores the theme of the dream in Tuareg historical sources and in relation to contemporary practices.

The Revival of Psychological Anthropology: a New Understanding of Interrelation Between Cultural and Psychological By Virtue of Cognitive Anthropology and Cultural Psychology

The Revival of Psychological Anthropology: a New Understanding of Interrelation Between Cultural and Psychological By Virtue of Cognitive Anthropology and Cultural Psychology

Existential economics: Mexican-American dream strategies to predict and understand business outcomes

This study unites psychological and economic anthropology by examining dreams that predict future economic outcomes, specifically the dreams of a Mexican-American owner of a corner store who faced a dilemma in 2007 about whether he should add a small bakery to his business. The study shows not only the ambiguity and complexity of the owner's dream interpretations but also, most importantly, how they led to profound reflections on economic value, risk, temporality, and his place in the transnational United States–Mexico economy. It thereby shows how broad social and economic issues are made meaningful at a personal, existential level through dream interpretations.

Child and Ancient Man: How to Define Their Commonalities and Differences

Developmental psychology is not only a psychology of development from childhood to old age but a psychology of human development in world history. Eighty years of cross-cultural empirical research findings indicate that the adolescent stage of formal operations evolved late in history and is not a universal development of adult humans across cultures and history. Correspondingly, preoperational or concrete operational stages describe adult psychological stages in past or premodern cultures, as Jean Piaget and some of his followers have mentioned. Developmental psychology is likewise a historical or anthropological psychology capable of describing humans in premodern cultures. The article develops a general anthropological or psychological theory answering the many questions that arise from the correspondences between (modern) children and ancient adults. On this psychological basis, the new structural genetic theory program is capable of explaining, better than previous approaches, the history of humankind from prehistory through ancient to modern societies, the history of economy, society, culture, religion, philosophy, sciences, morals, and everyday life. The accomplishment of this task was once demanded of some classical founders of psychology, sociology, history, and ethnology but was largely avoided by the postwar generations of authors for political and ideological reasons.

Overcoming the Eurocentrism in Psychological Anthropology with Lexical Universals: A Response to Naomi Quinn

Overcoming the Eurocentrism in Psychological Anthropology with Lexical Universals: A Response to Naomi Quinn

Culture, ambivalence, and schismogenesis: Mothering double binds and gendered identities within Cape Verdean and Indian migrant families (Portugal)

This article offers a comparative analysis of two ethnographic case studies on double bind interactions within the mother–child relationship. In-depth interviews with, as well as participant observation among Cape Verdean and Indo-Mozambican migrant families settled in Portugal provide insight into the way in which mothering double bind interactions influence the dynamics of change and resistance involved in the gendered identities of their adult sons and daughters. In the analysis, we draw upon Bateson’s dynamical theory about communication, as well as on theories of Psychological Anthropology that reiterate an intersecting dialectic of levels at which ambivalence exists and structures human experience. We argue that confusing or conflicting messages in the mother–child communication are an integral part of a differentiation process ( schismogenesis) structured by socio-cultural contradictions that are yet amplified in a context of migration.

Gauging aging: Expert and public understandings of aging in America

Understanding how people make sense of social issues is a fundamental aspect of communications research. In this piece, we apply theory from psychological anthropology to provide a new perspective on this core feature of communication and argue for the importance of considering culture in applied communications research. Drawing on a study of the implicit understandings and patterns of reasoning that Americans use to think about the process of aging and older adults, we show how the theory of cultural models can be applied to arrive at a deeper view of the ways in which members of the public make meaning of aging issues. We discuss the implications of this research for those communicating about aging and other social and scientific issues. The article provides information on public understanding that is directly pertinent to those communicating about aging and demographic change in the United States.

On the deep structure of social affect: Attitudes, emotions, sentiments, and the case of "contempt".

Contempt is typically studied as a uniquely human moral emotion. However, this approach has yielded inconclusive results. We argue this is because the folk affect concept "contempt" has been inaccurately mapped onto basic affect systems. "Contempt" has features that are inconsistent with a basic emotion, especially its protracted duration and frequently cold phenomenology. Yet other features are inconsistent with a basic attitude. Nonetheless, the features of "contempt" functionally cohere. To account for this, we revive and reconfigure the sentiment construct using the notion of evolved functional specialization. We develop the Attitude-Scenario-Emotion (ASE) model of sentiments, in which enduring attitudes represent others' social-relational value and moderate discrete emotions across scenarios. Sentiments are functional networks of attitudes and emotions. Distinct sentiments, including love, respect, like, hate, and fear, track distinct relational affordances, and each is emotionally pluripotent, thereby serving both bookkeeping and commitment functions within relationships. The sentiment contempt is an absence of respect; from cues to others' low efficacy, it represents them as worthless and small, muting compassion, guilt, and shame and potentiating anger, disgust, and mirth. This sentiment is ancient yet implicated in the ratcheting evolution of human ultrasocialty. The manifolds of the contempt network, differentially engaged across individuals and populations, explain the features of "contempt," its translatability, and its variable experience as "hot" or "cold," occurrent or enduring, and anger-like or disgust-like. This rapprochement between psychological anthropology and evolutionary psychology contributes both methodological and empirical insights, with broad implications for understanding the functional and cultural organization of social affect.

The Formation of Russian Christian Psychology

This article deals with the place of Christian psychology in the system of psychological knowledge. The author points to the need to distinguish between the two systems of knowledge: the psychology of the mind and the psychology of the person. The psychology of the mind is the science devoted to the process of the formation of a particular mental form. The psychology of the person is the science that studies established mental forms, which are already present in our minds and “exist according to their own laws.”The author proposes a distinction between the different logics of research and the description of its results. He supposes that there are three such logics: the first works with object ignorance or ignorance of the object of study, the second works with ignorance of history and the laws that govern the formation of a certain phenomenon, and the third works with ignorance of the meaning and purpose of a phenomenon. He encourages researchers and practitioners to move from the first, object-based logic, to the third, which works at the juncture between “mind and body” and “soul and spirit.”For this purpose, according to the author, it is necessary to harmonize Christian, psychological, and pedagogical anthropology and, as a result of the anthropological paradigm in human knowledge systems, distinguish between three types of psychological knowledge: the psychology of the mind, the psychology of the human, and Orthodox (Christian) psychology, which is the psychology of the life path.

Section News

AbstractSection Columns from: National Association for the Practice of Anthropology; Association for Political and Legal Anthropology; Society for Urban National And Transnational/Global Anthropology; Society for Visual Anthropology; Society for Medical Anthropology; Association for Feminist Anthropology; Culture and Agriculture; Association of Black Anthropologists; Anthropology and Environment Society; Society for Linguistic Anthropology; Evolutionary Anthropology Society; Middle East Section; Society for Psychological Anthropology; Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges; and Society for the Anthropology of Europe

The Conceptual Foundations of Developmental Psychology

This article covers two central chapters from a three book series “Basis of psychological anthropology”. The approach focuses on the development of subjective reality of an individual. Selected chapters are from the second book “Psychology of human development”. The first part of the text focuses on the analysis of the basic paradigms and scientific approaches to the psychology of development. The authors aim at an anthropological paradigm and subject-related approach in their analyses. A special focus is description of the principle of development in psychology. The second part constructs a model of subjective reality and its development in an individual's life. The analysis results in a model of integral periodic development of subjective reality in individual life trajectory. This model is presented in earlier issues of this journal.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Psychological anthropology is one of the most current academic discipline; theintellectual study of the association between the individual and culture debatably instigatedin the late nineteenth century, when W. H. R. Rivers and his contemporaries commenced anexpedition to Melanesia to examine the perceptions of the local people. Objective: objectiveof the study is to find relationship between old age and psychological disorders. StudyDesign: Cross sectional. Study Locale: The study was conducted in Rawalpindi city. Materialand method: A structured questionnaire was designed to investigate all the variables of thestudy. A sample of 500 respondents were drawn from the older population (older persons) ofRawalpindi city by using convenient sampling technique. Data entry and analysis was doneby using SPSS. Results: There was a significant relationship found between old age andpsychological disorders. According to this study, older people are suffering from psychologicaldisorders namely; anxiety, sadness, depression, isolation, insomnia, dementia, and feelingof being useless. Conclusion: Older persons are more vulnerable to the mental illness andpsychological problems. Some problems are prevailed in high proportion among elder personssuch as anxiety, insomnia and feeling of being useless. Good mind is bound with good health,this clearly depicts that older persons are not suffering from poor psychological health but alsothey are facing adverse health conditions. Statistical observations show that some of the olderadults facing more than one psychological problem, their ratio is 6.2% of total sample.

Steps Toward an Integration of Psychological and Visual Anthropology: Issues Raised in the Production of the Film SeriesAfflictions: Culture and Mental Illness in Indonesia

Afflictions: Culture and Mental Illness in Indonesia, the first ethnographic documentary film series on mental illness in the developing world, examines the lives of people with neuropsychiatric disorders and mental illness on the islands of Bali and Java and considers the impact of personal experience, family, culture, and community on the course of their illness. This article reflects on issues that arose in production and explores the theoretical underpinnings of the films in order to highlight the rich potential of psychologically oriented ethnographic films and advocate for them as a genre. While ethnographic film provides an opportunity to explore the theories and methods of psychological anthropology, psychological anthropology's insights into the nature of subjectivity and emotion can help craft stirring and character-driven ethnographic films. Psychologically oriented ethnographic films can inject new life into data presentation, illuminate the interpenetration between culture and mental health, and illustrate contemporary anthropology's relevance to current global issues. The article concludes by suggesting future directions for both research and filmmaking.

PROBLEMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE XXI CENTURY

The author presents some legal, social and culturological problems at the basis of the research orientation of the psychological anthropology. The directions of researches, missions and separate principles of psychological anthropology are shown.

Section News

AbstractSection Columns from: Society for Psychological Anthropology; Association for Feminist Anthropology; Society for Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology; Society for Medical Anthropology; Society for the Anthropology of North America; Society for Visual Anthropology; Society for East Asian Anthropology; Society for Linguistic Anthropology; Society for Urban Nation and Transnational/Global Anthropology; Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges; Association of Black Anthropologists; Archeology Division; Society for Economic Anthropology

Section News

AbstractSOCIETY FOR URBAN NATIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL/GLOBAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Susan Falls, ed. “Review of the film ‘Tokyo Waka’” by Raluca NagyASSOCIATION FOR AFRICANIST ANTHROPOLOGY | Jennifer Coffman, ed. “AfAA Award Winning Books and Papers” by Betty J Harris, JR Osborn and Bennetta Jules‐RosetteASSOCIATION FOR POLITICAL AND LEGAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Leo Coleman and Allison Fish, eds. “APLA Events at AAA 2014 in Washington, DC” by Joshua Clark, Heath Cabot and Jeff MartinMIDDLE EAST SECTION | Rehenuma Asmi, ed. “A Preview of Palestine‐Israel Programming at the 2014 Annual Meeting” by Kirsten ScheidSOCIETY FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF EUROPE | Yuson Jung, ed. “William A Douglass Prize in Europeanist Anthropology” by Pamela BallingerSOCIETY FOR MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Megan Carney, ed. “Thinking with Kuru” by Barbara AndersenSOCIETY FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF FOOD AND NUTRITION | Alyson Young and Meredith Gartin, eds. “Profile of Amy Trubek, SAFN Vice‐President” by Amy TrubekASSOCIATION OF LATINA AND LATINO ANTHROPOLOGISTS | Alex E Chavez and Santiago Guerra, eds. “Amar el Pueblo: The Embodied Politics of Autonomy” by Christopher LoperenaASSOCIATION FOR AFRICANIST ANTHROPOLOGY | Jennifer Coffman, ed. “Lessons from Directing a Study Abroad Program in Tanzania” by Laura DeLucaCOUNCIL ON ANTHROPOLOGY AND EDUCATION | Melissa Fellin, ed. “Increasing English Education in Japan” by Tyler BarrettSOCIETY FOR LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY | Aaron Ansell and Susanne Unger, eds. “Scales of Repair” by Eve Danziger, Brook Hefright and Mark SicoliASSOCIATION FOR FEMINIST ANTHROPOLOGY | Damla Isk and Jessica Smith Rolston, eds. “More New Books in Feminist Anthropology”SOCIETY FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF WORK | Susanna Donaldson, ed. “Reflections from the Field” by Aaron LeoANTHROPOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY | Patrick Gallagher, Ariela Zycherman, eds. “Anthropology and Environment Society at AAA 2014” by Megan A Styles and Lara ZanottiSOCIETY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Nadia El‐Shaarawi, ed. “SPA AAA Annual Meeting Preview and Save the Date for the SPA Biennial”SOCIETY FOR VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Jens Kreinath and Jennifer F Reynolds, eds. “Visual Anthropology at AAA 2014” by Fiona McDonald

Section News

Anthropology NewsVolume 55, Issue 5 p. e46-e76 Section News Section News First published: 08 October 2014 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-3502.2014.55506.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract ASSOCIATION OF LATINA AND LATINO ANTHROPOLOGISTS | Siobhán Mattison and Adam Boyette, eds. “The Discriminatory Politics of Typesetting” by Rocio Magana CULTURE AND AGRICULTURE | Elizabeth Olson and Greg de St Maurice, ed. “Robert M Netting Best Student Paper Prize” SOCIETY FOR EAST ASIAN ANTHROPOLOGY | Heidi Lam and Yi Zhou, eds. “The Anthropology of Confucius Institutes” by Jennifer Hubbert MIDDLE EAST SECTION | Rehenuma Asmi, ed. “Interview with Neha Vora, Author of Impossible Citizens: Dubai's Indian Diaspora” SOCIETY FOR LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY | Aaron Ansell and Susanne Unger, eds. “Auctioning American Democracy” SOCIETY FOR URBAN NATIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL/GLOBAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Susan Falls, ed. “(De) Criminalizing Homelessness in Columbus, OH” by Maegan Miller SOCIETY FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF RELIGION | Christian S Hammons, ed. “Review of ‘The On and the Many’” by Rachel Jones ASSOCIATION FOR FEMINIST ANTHROPOLOGY | Damla Isik and Jessica Smith Rolston, eds. “Transforming Discourses and Practices through Informal Dialogue” by Aisha Rios ASSOCIATION FOR POLITICAL AND LEGAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Leo Coleman and Allison Fish, eds. “Demystifying the APLA Section Presidency” by Susan Bibler Coutin SOCIETY FOR MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Megan Carney, ed. “Developing Obesity Prevention Programs and Resources Targeting Preschool and Kindergarten Children in Mississippi” by Ginger Cross, Julie Parker, Sydney Hall, Lisa Long, Sara Gallman, Gloria Broughan, Laura Walton, Donna Loden and Chiquita Briley NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRACTICE OF ANTHROPOLOGY | Jo Aiken, ed. “NAPA Career Profiles: Ted (Edward C) Green” by Kristy Keller SOCIETY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | Nadia El-Shaarawi, ed. “SPA 2013 Prize Winners and Lemelson Funding Recipients” SOCIETY FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF NORTH AMERICA | Maggie Dickinson, ed. “Kim Hopper, Carol Vance and the Precarious Professoriate” SOCIETY FOR ANTHROPOLOGY IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES | Barbara Jones, ed. “Food for Thought at SACC Fest 2014” NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRACTICE OF ANTHROPOLOGY | Jo Aiken, ed. “LTG Associates Receives Grant to Explore Childhood Obesity Prevention” by Nathaniel Tashima, Cathleen Crain, Reiko Ishihara-Brito and Lillie Dao COUNCIL ON ANTHROPOLOGY AND EDUCATION | Melissa Fellin, ed.“Anthropology is Elementary and Can Be Taught There” by Christopher D Lynn, Virgil Roy Beasley, Anna S Cohen, H Francois Dengah II, J Lynn Funkhouser, Kelsey Herndon, and A Brooke Persons ASSOCIATION OF BLACK ANTHROPOLOGISTS | Diana Burnett and Tiffany Cain, eds. “US Prisons” by Orisanmi Burton Volume55, Issue5May 2014Pages e46-e76 RelatedInformation

Note from the editor

Note from the editor

Becoming a Moral Child amidst China's Moral Crisis: Preschool Discourse and Practices of Sharing in Shanghai

AbstractThis article explores the moral development of Chinese children through the discrepancies between the ideologies and practices of adults and children. School educators and parents promote an egalitarian norm of sharing—“share with everyone”—in the hope of cultivating altruism and cooperation, values seen as a corrective to China's universally deplored “moral crisis.” By contrast, young children spontaneously engage in strategic sharing—“extend favors so others can help you”—in their everyday interactions. Such practices resonate with the adult norm ofguanxi(exchange of favors) that is the object of ambivalent attitudes in modern Chinese discourse. This study combined ethnographic and experimental methods to examine children's spontaneous choices and their implication in current discourse, showing how the anthropology of childhood may contribute to a finer‐grained understanding of contemporary Chinese cultural dynamics as well as the conversation between psychological anthropology and developmental psychology on the emergence of prosocial dispositions in cultural processes.