A Social Psychology Perspective on the Study of Culture: An Eye on the Road to Interdisciplinarianism

Abstract

This article deals with segregation among the social sciences, an especially dysfunctional state of affairs for those disciplines committed to understanding culture and social behavior through comparative research. A necessary condition to reduce barriers is a dialogue in which disciplines define their identities and perspectives on theory and research. The article initiates such a self-analysis in social psychology. First, a historical overview of major theoretical systems and schools maps the territory of social psychology, its mission and method. Then, an examination of the strategy, design of experiments, and the interpretation of findings reveals specific sources of resistance to theorizing about cultural influences and conducting theory-driven cross-cultural research. Finally noted are barriers in ethnographic research, including restrictive definitions of culture that inhibit inquiry into mass cultures, a body of phenomena that defines a common meeting ground for fruitful exchange.

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