Culture as Embodiment (eBook)

The Social Tuning of Behavior

Paul Voestermans, Theo Verheggen (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB | PDF

2013
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
9781118454091 (ISBN)

Infos

Culture as Embodiment utilizes recent insights in psychology, cognitive, and affective science to reveal the cultural patterning of behavior in group-related practices.

• Applies the best of the behavioural sciences to contemporary issues of behavioural cross-fertilization in global exchange
• Presents an original theory to be used in the gender and integration debates, about what the acceptance of newcomers from different cultural backgrounds really entails
• Presents a theory that is also applicable to youth culture and the split in modern society between underclass, modal class, and the elite
• Contains an original approach to the persistence of religion, and relates religious thought to the cognitive capacity of generic belief

Paul Voestermans is Emeritus Associate Professor in Cultural Psychology at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He also taught at the Bogaziçi University in Istanbul. He has contributed articles on culture and behaviour in Theory & Psychology, New Ideas in Psychology, and has written several books in the field.

Theo Verheggen is Associate Professor in Cultural Psychology and History of Psychology at the Open Universiteit Nederland. He has published several articles on the development of an enactive perspective for cultural psychology in various books and journals.

Inhalt

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xii

Part One Towards a New Psychology of Culture 1

1 Understanding Culture 3

2 Inventing Culture Theory 27

3 A Psychological Perspective on Culture 70

Part Two Sex, Status, Age, Ethnicity, and Faith 109

4 Sex: The Shaping of Sex and Gender 113

5 Status: The Body of Class and Organized Compliance 141

6 Age: The Optimal Balance of Love and Challenge 160

7 Ethnicity: Cultural Arrests and Bicultural Competence 188

8 Faith: Religion as a Man-made Order 211

Part Three Psychology and Globalization 243

9 A Psychology of Globalization 245

10 Epilogue 287

Bibliographical Essay 292

Index 319

Rezensionen

"What I liked most about Culture as Embodiment is its positioning of psychological principles and behavioral patterns within the context of everyday life. This aspect of the book should not come as a surprise, given its focus on culture. But it is noteworthy, nonetheless, because in covering what are at times quite abstract concepts in psychology and beyond (e.g. metaphorical reasoning) the authors manage to force readers to traverse multiple terrains across history, economics, political science, and anthropology." PsycCritiques, July 2014

"In sum, with rich analyses and admirable aims, Culture as Embodiment reimagines what a psychological science of culture can mean for the 21st century, providing a compelling alternative to prevailing cultural psychological theories." Theory and Psychology, July 2015

Voestermans and Verheggen provide a thorough critique ofsuperficial views that treat culture as an invisible determinant ofhuman behavior--analogous to the way magnetism determines thebehavior of iron filings. Their perspective is integrative, seekingto link the biological and social levels, as well asinteractionist, focusing on the ways that members of primary groupsrelate to each other. This book will be invaluable to researchersin academic disciplines such as anthropology, organizationalbehavior, psychology, and sociology as well as to those who arevitally interested in the ways that cultural influences shape thedevelopment and constrain the application of a wide variety ofpublic policies.
--Professor Michael K. Lindell, Texas A&MUniversity

Yet another book on culture? If the reader thinks he or she hasread too many already, think again! Readers interested in thesubject, whatever their perspectives or backgrounds, will find afresh look at the subject with much to stimulate their thinking andemotions. The book views it through the unique prism of behavioralpatterns embedded in specific social categories--includinggender, status, age, ethnicity, and religion. Its breadth andscope, variety of theoretical terrains and illustrative examplesexplored, and the stark nature of the argument provides afascinating paradigm for understanding globalization and itscultural discontents.
--Khaled Adham, Associate Professor, UAE University

This book, written in a fascinating and powerful style, offers arevolutionary perspective on what culture is, how it is formed, andhow it shapes behavior. It should be read by everyone who takesculture seriously.
--Professor Zeynep Kiziltepe, BodaziçiUniversity, Istanbul

In this thoughtful and thought-provoking study, the authorspresent a refreshing and genuinely new theory of culture that ismore bottom-up than top-down, that is rooted in habits rather thanthe result of normative coercion. Their theory cannot becategorized as purely psychological or sociological, because it isa challenge to both disciplines. Voestemans and Verheggenre-examine existing social theory as well as pressing contemporaryissues to offer a bold and new way of thinking about them.
--Stjepan Mestrovic, Texas A&M University

This work takes a fresh look at what we mean by culture andanalyzes the way in which psychology and culture have passed eachother by on so many occasions. Voestermans and Verheggen showus how socially patterned behavior can meaningfully and usefullyenhance an understanding of culture not as a mysterious entity butrather as a human accomplishment. A work of profound insight,this book is a valuable tool in helping us grapple with the deepcultural dislocations of the present.
--Henderikus J. Stam, Editor: Theory &Psychology

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 17.7.2013
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Sozialpsychologie
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften
• Schlagworte: argue • Behavior • behavioral • cogently • Culture • Diversity, Culture & Ethnicity • Embodiment • First • group behavior • grouprelated • Kulturelle u. ethnische Vielfalt • longstanding notions • notion • patterning • Practices • Precisely • Psychologie • Psychology • recent insights • responsible • Reveals • true cultural • voestermans
• ISBN-13: 9781118454091 / 9781118454091