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Culture, ecology, and grounded procedures
Jung Yul Kwon1, Arthur M Glenberg1, Michael E W Varnum1
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287-1104.jungyulkwon@asu.edu arthur.glenberg@asu.edu mvarnum@asu.eduhttps://psychology.asu.edu/research/labs/culture-and-ecology-lab-varnum https://psychology.asu.edu/research/labs/embodied-cognition-lab.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|February 18, 2021
Summary
Grounded procedures, involving sensorimotor experiences and cultural norms, may explain psychological differences across diverse cultures. This research offers new predictions linking social and physical environments to cultural variations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Psychological variations across cultures are well-documented.
- Existing explanations often focus on abstract cultural values or societal structures.
- The role of embodied experiences and ecological factors remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel framework explaining cultural psychological variations.
- To investigate the interplay between social and physical ecology, sensorimotor experience, and cultural norms.
- To generate testable predictions based on this integrated approach.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical framework development.
- Integration of concepts from ecological psychology, sensorimotor neuroscience, and cultural anthropology.
- Formulation of novel hypotheses linking environmental and embodied factors to psychological outcomes.
Main Results:
- The proposed framework suggests that differences in physical and social ecologies shape chronic sensorimotor experiences.
- These sensorimotor experiences, in turn, influence the development of specific cultural norms and psychological tendencies.
- Novel predictions are offered regarding how specific ecological contexts might predict particular psychological profiles.
Conclusions:
- Grounded procedures and sensorimotor experiences offer a promising avenue for understanding cross-cultural psychological differences.
- This approach highlights the embodied and ecologically situated nature of human psychology.
- Future research should empirically test the generated predictions to validate the proposed framework.
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