The complexity of thinking across cultures: Interactions between culture and situational context

How does culture impact individual's cognitive complexity? This article rev iews evidence suggesting that the relationship between culture and cognitiv e complexity depends upon the nature of the situation in which complexity i s expressed. in addition, two new investigations are summarized. One study reveals that individuals from different cultures are differentially dogmati c on different domains of knowledge. The other study reveals that individua ls from different cultures are differentially likely to form simplistic ste reotypes within different social contexts. We conclude that it is typically misleading to suggest monolithic cross-cultural differences for complexity of thought. An interactionist approach appears more appropriate.