Culture and Psychology: Perspective of Cross-Cultural Psychology

Abstract

In spite of the heritage of cultural orientation the mainstream psychology accords only a peripheral place to culture in the study of behaviour. In its practice it became culture blind as well as culture bound. Experimental psychology eclipsed culture. However, as humans are natural and cultural beings there is need to have a culturally rooted psychology. The cross- culture psychology has recognised this and different kinds of culturally relevant studies have been undertaken. They vary with reference to the entry of culture in the psychological arena. Now culture is being treated as a system having bi-directional influences. Recent works from non-western cultures have increasingly shown the relevance of culture in understanding psychological processes.