Stereotypes In America

Stereotypes are an idea that an Individual has against another Individual or even an event. Stereotypes could also mean that there is a view a Culture has against other culture. Stereotypes in general, can be a positive or negative view against another. Stereotypes can also be based upon Fact or Fiction. In regards to Stereotypes, according to the textbook, it mentions how “Having Stereotypes, therefore, may be a universal phenomenon, and the content of many stereotypes may also share some universal features” (Juang & Matsumoto, Chapter 14, pg.388). This is true; Stereotypes in general can be a broad subject to discuss upon because it can be diverse. Meaning that, stereotypes can be found from all across the world. For example; some individuals

might have heard the stereotype that there is dog or cat meat in Chinese food. This is a typical stereotype against the Chinese Culture.

Or how, America can be stereotyped as being an obese country. This is a typical stereotype against Americans. We see or hear stereotypes being formed every-day from different angles in regards to states, different cultures or other things to events. Furthermore, the textbook mentions how “Stereotypes are products of normal, everyday psychological processes, including selective attention, attribution, concept formation and memory” (Juang & Matsumoto,Chapter 14, 385). This is true, as mentioned above, stereotypes can be found from all across the world and how this common action that individuals or even cultures may act upon based upon their own personal values and beliefs. However, I do believe that how one might view stereotypes or what they believe what a stereotype might be can be different among

many.
The Cultural Term for Stereotypes would be called “Ethnocentrism”. Of course, we know that Stereotypes may be universal in some shape or form but how can stereotypes be formed in general? The textbook mentions how “Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view the world through one owns cultural filters. Within this definition, and knowledge about how we acquire those filers, it follows that just about everyone in the world is ethnocentric. That is, everyone learns a certain way of behaving, and in doing so learns a certain way of perceiving and interpreting the behaviors of others” (Juang & Matsumoto, Chapter 14, pg. 390). Interesting! Stereotypes are the view that someone or culture might have against another. Either Fact or Fiction, it is a belief on what they believe may be true based upon how they were taught. There for, everyone in the world is Ethnocentric because we are all taught, learn how to perceive and interpret the actions of others differently. For that, this is how we form stereotypes. This is also why stereotypes may be universal culturally because we are all ethnocentric.
Five Factor Model of Personality is an interesting concept to learn about.

According to the textbook, it mentions how “FFM is a conceptual model built around five distinct and basic personality dimensions that appear to be universal for all humans and how it consists of: Neuroticism, openness, extraversion, agreeableness and also conscientiousness” (Juang & Matsumoto, Chapter 10, pg.269-270). The textbook also mentions how, “the FFM was conceived after a number of researchers noticed the similarities in the personality dimensions that had emerged across many studies, and both within and between cultures” (Juang & Matsumoto, Chapter 10, pg.269-270). Yes, the FFM is valid as well as universal culturally. This is because researchers noticed similar personality traits among individuals of all different cultures because of the studies they have done. We as humans, no matter what culture we might originate from experience as well as express many different personality traits. However, how one might view and express the personality trait may be different from another. Of course, no individual is the same and how some individual may express personality traits more often than others. Anxiety is a common action that Humans experience from time to time and this is action is commonly associated with Neuroticism (Table 10.1, pg.271). Anxiety can be found among various different individuals within different cultures, especially when tragedy strikes. We humans, all experience ideas and

values based upon how we were raised and what our culture might believe in and this common action is commonly associated with Openness (Table 10.1, pg. 271). As well as, we humans all experience positive emotions such as doing things that make us feel positive like spending time with friends, family or loved ones. This action is commonly associated with Extraversion (Table 10.1, pg. 271). No matter what culture we might originate from, we all experience many different types of emotions whether good or bad. The only difference is that each and every one has different personality traits, and how one might express some personality traits more so than others.
As we know, the FFM is a model that was built upon that fact that there are five distinct personality dimensions that can be found universally to all humans no matter what culture we might originate from. However, a non-FFM would be the Indigenous personalities which is different than the FFM. Unlike FMM, the “Indigenous personality is a type of behavior that was created within a certain culture as a whole that is only relevant to that certain culture”(Juang & Matsumoto, Chapter 10, pg.281). An example would be the Eskimos or known as Inuit. This type of culture is Indigenous because of how they behave in their culture and how they have been doing this type of behavior since the beginning of time despite how modern the world is becoming. This culture has a set language that is only expressed within that culture only. This culture believes in hunting and fishing in a certain way that their ancestors had done in their culture and still participate in it to this day. The culture believes in using wolf-breed dogs to help them transport goods across the ice. The FFM is just based upon the distinct personalities traits that are found commonly across all human culturally, the Indigenous personalities are just behavioral traits or even a certain language that the culture has that is just associated with their culture and have been doing from generation to generation that it is different than another culture.
According to the Multicultural Guidelines by American Psychology Association, there were two studies that were conducted called the “Multicultural Approach” and the “Color Blind Approach”. The color-blind approach was conducted in order to try to reduce inequities, however; Psychologists have found that “this type of approach was less effective than the Multicultural approach after they conducted numerus studies” because the information they found in regards to social categories assumptions were negatively viewed. When it comes to the “Multicultural approach, it was more effective because this approach concentrates on the acknowledgement of differences within cultures and how that worldviews are different among cultures as well” (Wolsko et al. (2000), American Psychology Association- Multicultural Guidelines). For example; Wolsko et al. (2000) mentions how when white students who conducted the Multicultural approach results were stronger when it comes to stereotypes among other cultural groups as well as more positive feedback in regards to other cultural groups. Wolsko et al, (2000) also found that the students who conducted the Multicultural approach had more perceptions of differences more accurately than the students who conducted the Color-blind approach and how the social categories assumptions within the Multicultural approach were viewed as diverse within cultures “Wolsko et al., (2000), American Psychology Association).
The textbook also mentions how, “Students in training to be clinicians ‘must learn to use their own identity, both in terms of self-understanding and with, awareness of how they appear to others…as a tool to explore patient identity, illness meaning, and the social context of illness and adaptation, and the clinical relationship itself’” (Kirmayer et al., (2008), Chapter 12, pg. 339). I believe this is the best recommendation for Students in training to understand. As we know, there are many different cultures within our country and they all have different values and beliefs. There are also many techniques that might be helpful for some, but not others. In order to fully help those in need, one must understand the individuals cultural back-ground and understand the individual that need help in order to come up with ways that will best fit the patient that needs help. One must have awareness and knowledge of various cultures with correct yet sensitive-non-judgmental approach. Typically, most patients tend to get help from those who are similar in their background because they understand their culture. So, in order to grow those in training must understand cultures as well as take into consideration the patient’s cultural back-ground to come up with best solutions that will help the patient improve successfully, yet comfortably.
One of the biggest themes that I have learned within this course was how important Culture is in regards to Psychology. Culture is critical to know and understand because Culture influences an individual on how they decide to live there life including: there values, beliefs, there worries, there desires and so much more. We, as humans are all simply different and come from several of different cultures with several different of values and beliefs we believe and follow on a daily day basis. It is important to understand that there are different cultures and beliefs and how it is important to take that into consideration in regards for a Psychologist trying to treat patients with Mental illnesses or even help Psychologist understand behavior more clearly as well as how important Culture is when it comes to the development within a society as a whole. Culture can have a huge effect on how a country develops. Another important theme is how there are many different emotions and how individuals will react to emotions differently. Cultural influences can also affect emotions as well on how we decide to interpret and perceive different kinds of emotions. Even though, no matter what culture we might originate from we all experience several of emotions. It is important to understand that emotions are expressed and could mean differently within different cultures.

Sources:

Matsumoto, David, and Linda Juang. "Culture & Social Behavior." Culture & Psychology. 5th ed. Belmont: Jon-David Hague, 2013. 388, 385, 390. Print.
Matsumoto, David, and Linda Juang. "Culture & Personality." Culture & Psychology. 5th ed. Belmont: Jon-David Hague, 2013. 269-270, 271, 281, 282. Print.
Matsumoto, David, and Linda Juang. "Culture & Psychotherapy as Treatment for Psychological Disorders." Culture & Psychology. 5th ed. Belmont: Jon-David Hague, 2013. 339. Print.
"Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists." American Psychological Association, Aug. 2000. Pg. 26. Web. .
YouTube Links:
Examples of Non-FMM personality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btz4LNaxF4c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDNbaU33TA