Do people differ psychologically based on their culture? Do you and I behave differently based on the culture in which we were brought up? Before you continue reading this post, I would like to know your thoughts on this.
To me, it has been as clear as day that we are different. In Nigeria, it is so funny that we have comedy dedicated to how Nigerians behave when they are about to go to the Western world, when they come back from the Western world, and how they behave differently when they adopt Western ways.
Reading more about it has excited me for a specialty...it is possible that the psychology practiced in my country might be very different from that practiced in the West.
In some of my older
posts, I have shocked people with the way Nigerian parents handle discipline, which is an interesting topic in cross-culture. I think much of what we know as behavior in Africa and the differences fit well into cross-cultural psychology.
Cross-cultural psychology is a field of psychology that is interested in how cultural factors affect human behavior. It refers to the beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and values that are transmitted from one generation to another.
Many psychologists think that there has been a special preference placed on Western psychology in the world and have dubbed this specific form WEIRD, to stand for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. In a bizarre way, I think this is very insulting to the West and to those who are non-Western.
There are many differences between cultures that lead to culture shock when the norms, values, and beliefs of the group are thrown at the individual at a quick pace.
Culture, just like religion and tradition, was designed to protect, but sometimes it can fall far away from protection.
Culture can shock you
I saw a YouTube short where they made a compilation of the scariest spirits that are believed to exist in different country tribes and cultures...I think it was a top 10 scariest compilation and I waited for them to bring up one that was Nigerian- content creators are always adding one Nigerian thing or another so that they can have more clicks, but this time, to my surprise, they didn’t.
In Nigeria, there are very scary traditions and spirits that have been said to be evoked at several instances. There is the god of thunder known as Sango, the god of war, Ogun...
I am very oblivious to my culture and its ways, but the Yoruba culture is very popular in Nigeria. I'd like to apologize to my Yoruba audience as I use them as an example of feared practices in Nigeria.
Our brothers in Yoruba tribes have one of the highest birth rates for twins, and twins are thought to possess supernatural powers, which places them in a spot to be respected. At the same time, some Yoruba cultures out of the fear of their nature sacrificed twins to Sango (I think).
This is a pure case of the destruction culture can bring, and it is why so many are so anti-culture in Nigeria too. Some people only attribute culture to its wrongs.
But in the same Yoruba culture, they have one of the best welfare systems in Nigeria, and it is all based on the respect they have for their elders.
According to the World Health Organization, the Yoruba culture has the second-highest life expectancy after the Igbos.
A Study on Fear
A
study was conducted to compare the
level of fear among children from
Nigeria and
Kenya and to compare the levels with those seen among children from the United States, Australia, and China using a survey.
According to this cross-cultural and religious study, it would appear that Nigerian children are not taught how to cope with fear as the levels of fear observed in the study were highest in Nigeria.
This study also showed that Muslim children of the same age and sex were better adjusted to deal with fear than Christian children.
More studies need to be done to ascertain the relationship between fears experienced by Nigerian children and their religious and traditional beliefs.
You can send me a message on WhatsApp at +2348134530293, and we can have a conversation, or you can speak with a licensed therapist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, culture plays a significant role in shaping human behavior. Cross-cultural psychology is a field of psychology that focuses on how cultural factors influence human behavior. Cultural differences can lead to culture shock when an individual is exposed to a different culture's norms, values, and beliefs.
Many think there is a tendency to place a special preference on Western psychology in the world, referred to as WEIRD, to stand for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. However, this is not fair to Western cultures and non-Western cultures.
Although culture can have negative effects, such as the sacrifice of twins in some Yoruba cultures, it can also have positive effects, such as the welfare system based on respect for elders in the Yoruba culture.
A study comparing fear levels among children from Nigeria and Kenya, as well as those from the United States, Australia, and China, revealed that Nigerian children showed the highest levels of fear. This study also showed that Muslim children were better adjusted to deal with fear than Christian children.
Inkscape.org
Understanding cultural differences is crucial in promoting mutual understanding and acceptance in our increasingly diverse world.
Do you think people from different cultures have different psychological traits and behaviors? How do you think cultural factors affect human behavior?
Have you experienced culture shock when visiting or living in a different country? How did you cope with it? What are some cultural beliefs or practices that you find particularly interesting or different from your own?
Do you think there is a preference for Western psychology over non-Western psychology in the world? Why or why not?
References
