Beyond east and west : rethinking cultural psychology through Sub-Saharan Africa
Event Title
International Interdisciplinary Conference: Advances in Comparative Culturology
Location
MBG06, Lam Woo Lecture Theatre, Patrick Lee Wan Keung Academic Building, Lingnan University
Start Date
15-5-2025 10:30 AM
End Date
15-5-2025 11:45 AM
Language
English
Description
In two recent publications-one in American Psychologist (Kitayama et al., 2022) and another in Annual Review of Psychology (Kitayama & Salvador, 2024)-my colleagues and I have argued that, outside of the Western world (e.g., Western Europe and North America), many cultures are deeply interdependent, meaning that members of these cultures define themselves through their commitment to their group and embeddedness within social relationships. However, the form of this interdependence varies widely, shaped by long-standing ecological and historical factors. One region that has been largely overlooked in cultural psychology is Sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, we identify a unique form of interdependence: self-promotive interdependence. Within this cultural system, within-group competition is not merely tolerated but embraced as a mechanism for skill development and group success. Individuals see their identification with the group and their competitive engagement as mutually reinforcing. Moreover, success is viewed as a shared social experience. As a result, people express both socially disengaging positive emotions (e.g., pride, self-esteem) and engaging emotions (e.g., connection, warmth) in response to both personal and ingroup success. This emerging evidence challenges existing frameworks of interdependence and opens new avenues for cultural psychology research. I will discuss these insights and explore their implications for future studies.
Document Type
Keynote Presentation
Recommended Citation
Kitayama, S. (2025, May 15). Beyond east and west: Rethinking cultural psychology through Sub-Saharan Africa. Presented at the International Interdisciplinary Conference: Advances in Comparative Culturology, Lingnan University, Hong Kong.
Beyond east and west : rethinking cultural psychology through Sub-Saharan Africa
MBG06, Lam Woo Lecture Theatre, Patrick Lee Wan Keung Academic Building, Lingnan University
In two recent publications-one in American Psychologist (Kitayama et al., 2022) and another in Annual Review of Psychology (Kitayama & Salvador, 2024)-my colleagues and I have argued that, outside of the Western world (e.g., Western Europe and North America), many cultures are deeply interdependent, meaning that members of these cultures define themselves through their commitment to their group and embeddedness within social relationships. However, the form of this interdependence varies widely, shaped by long-standing ecological and historical factors. One region that has been largely overlooked in cultural psychology is Sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, we identify a unique form of interdependence: self-promotive interdependence. Within this cultural system, within-group competition is not merely tolerated but embraced as a mechanism for skill development and group success. Individuals see their identification with the group and their competitive engagement as mutually reinforcing. Moreover, success is viewed as a shared social experience. As a result, people express both socially disengaging positive emotions (e.g., pride, self-esteem) and engaging emotions (e.g., connection, warmth) in response to both personal and ingroup success. This emerging evidence challenges existing frameworks of interdependence and opens new avenues for cultural psychology research. I will discuss these insights and explore their implications for future studies.
Additional Information
Speaker
Shinobu KITAYAMA (University of Michigan, USA)
Shinobu Kitayama, the Robert B. Zajonc Collegiate Professor of Psychology and Research Professor at the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the University of Michigan, is a pioneering figure in socio-cultural psychology. His groundbreaking exploration of the cultural diversity of mental processes has placed him at the forefront of this dynamic field. Kitayama's research spans diverse areas, from cultural neuroscience to the study of interdependence in non-Western societies, offering profound insights into the psychological underpinnings of culture. His transformative work has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award, the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the American Psychological Association, and the William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science (APS). In addition to his scholarly contributions, Kitayama has held prominent leadership roles, serving as APS President from 2020 to 2021. He currently serves as President-Elect of the Federation of the Associations for Behavioral and Brain Sciences.