CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCHOLARLY DISCIPLINE - ON THE FLOWERING OF CULTURE IN BEHAVIORAL-RESEARCH

A history of cross-cultural psychology shows it to be an increasingly important part of modern psychology. Despite widespread agreement that culture is an indispensable component in the understanding of human b ehavior; there are noteworthy conceptual differences regarding the way s in which culture and behavior interrelate. Perspectives include abso lutism and relativism, each with methodological consequences for such contemporary research concerns as values (including individualism-coll ectivism), gender differences, cognition, aggression, intergroup relat ions, and psychological acculturation. Societal concerns relating to t hese topics are briefly described. When all of psychology finally take s into account the effects of culture on human behavior (and vice vers a), terms like cross-cultural and cultural psychology will become unne cessary.