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Word count: Date: 02/12/2011

Li Chun Ho (Alvin) IB Psychology Higher

Essay Question: Explain the role that culture plays in the formation of relationships (8 mark). Cultures various effects on human life include its involvement in forming and maintaining a relationship. Defined by Hofstede (1980) as a, collective programming of the mind which distinguishes members of one group from another, it is interpreted culture hold different values in different social groups, as well as other characteristics that help distinguish them from other social factions such as their attitudes, values and way of behavior. Different cultures hold different perception of beauty which is not often compatible with other social groups. This may hinder mutual acceptance of each other. While Karen tribeswomen construe the number of gold rings hanging on their neck that attributes to increased neck height as a sign of beauty and wealth, women in Africa, like Uganda, perceive big mouths as a symbol of beauty hence employ large lip plates to expand their mouth size. A significant disparity between perception of beauty in women of Africa and the west is the general African belief that obesity and fat is one of the key symbols of beauty, which is the contrary from a western perspective. The individualistic and collective nature of cultural dimensions in different cultures affects how relationships begin. Individualistic societies encourage individuals to look after themselves, hold individual goals, are competitive and self-sufficient, while collective societies emphasize on group harmony and collectively accepted values and aims the social group hope to achieve together. Levine et al (1995) conducted research suggesting love in individualistic societies is crucial in marriage. On the other hand, collective societies embrace arranged marriages where families of the individuals decide who their significant other should be. The research of Gupta and Singh (1982) in India signaled individuals who married because of love had greater intense feelings for each other compared to those married by assigned marriage. These case studies suggest romantic love is not important in marriage in a collectivist culture, while romantic love is central towards marriage. The types of love are also important between different cultures. This is because different forms of love seek different needs and wants from both sides of the relationship. Simmons et al (1986) conducted research suggesting romantic love was sought more in America and Germany compared to Japan. Such a difference means some relationships depend on the mutual feelings each emits to the other, while other relationships depend on the others financial security. This difference would also affect how the relationship is maintained. In addition, different cultures place love at different rankings in their relationship, as determined by Buss (1994), where America ranked love as the most important, with South Africa ranking it as seventh that followed good health, chastity and domestic skills. This research also emphasizes the influence cultural norms have imposed on relationships. The rating of love is also affected by the socio-economic nature of their countries, as concluded by Levine et al (1995). The different benchmarks used on interpreting the qualities an ideal wife or husband should have are also affected by cultural differences and the socio-economic needs. Collectivist societies, as seen by Buss 1990, have more clearly defined gender roles established either by social norms or by the families of the man and woman. A determination that either the man or the woman has skills incompatible to helping a particular social group leads to an obstacle towards forming a relationship. The formation of a relationship also is influenced by how different cultures perceive what marriage defines for them. Western cultures, due to their high individualistic ratings, have the tendency to 1

Word count: Date: 02/12/2011

Li Chun Ho (Alvin) IB Psychology Higher

Essay Question: Explain the role that culture plays in the formation of relationships (8 mark). emphasize on change and may not literally view a marriage as a permanent one. This is supported by Dion and Dion (1993) where traditional and collectivist societies treat marriages as a permanent continuity of their life and rarely would remarry and as an expression of altruistic love. The bonding of a social group in collectivist cultures suggest that marriage also connects together the families of the husband and wife together into an alliance that perhaps mitigates the possibilities of a relationship dissolution. In conclusion, the physical characteristics that define our perception of beauty are culturally varied to the complex cultural dimensions in each social faction that influence the formation of relationships. Relationships and marriages could be deemed inappropriate for cultures that have different interpretations of what are the best characteristics an ideal man or woman should have. Moreover, the types of love are similarly affected by how they define what a marriage and a relationship is. This is also influenced by societys economic status and how that may form a relationship out of financial necessity rather than romantic or altruistic love.

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