Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications

This international best-selling textbook provides an interdisciplinary review of the theories and research in cross‐cultural psychology. The dynamic author team brings a diverse set of experiences in writing this text that provides cross-cultural perspectives on a wide range of applied topics.

Written in a conversational style that transforms complex ideas into accessible ones, the text incorporates a unique critical thinking framework, including Critical Thinking boxes, which helps students develop analytical skills. Exercises interspersed throughout promote active learning and encourage class discussion. Case in Point sections review controversial issues and opinions about behavior in different cultural contexts. Cross‐Cultural Sensitivity boxes underscore the importance of empathy in communication.

New to this eighth edition:

• An entirely new chapter addressing modern social justice movements, LGBTQ+ issues, reproductive rights and abortion, environmental justice, digital culture and social media, nationalism, health care, spirituality, and holistic treatments.
• Updated sections to reflect research on traditional vs. nontraditional cultures, global trends, DSM-5-TR, gender identity, race, acculturation, cultural customs, immigration, indigenous populations, cultural syndromes, and the treatment of mental disorders.
• New pedagogical boxes analyzing issues such as critical race theory, gender pronouns and language ownership, cultural appropriation, Putin and international aggression, colonization, political propaganda, parenting styles and the Tiger Mom personality, the Twittification Effect, cultural relativism, prayer and healing, and morality and religion.
• Updated online resources for teachers (including test banks, figures, tables, and graphs) and students (chapter abstracts, key terms, relevant links).
• Over 240 recent references, particularly on studies of non-Western regions such as Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, as well as the United States and Europe.

Bringing cross-cultural perspectives on key psychological topics such as cognition, sensation, perception, consciousness, intelligence, emotion, motivation, human development, psychological disorders, social perception, personality and more, this text is an essential resource for all students of cultural psychology. Its numerous applications also prepare students for working in various multicultural contexts such as teaching, counseling, business, health care, and social work.

Eric B. Shiraev, PhD, teaches at George Mason University, USA. He is an author, a co-author, and co-editor of more than 20 books and numerous publications in the fields of cross-cultural studies and political psychology. Besides his teaching and scholarly work, Dr. Shiraev writes policy briefs and opinion essays for government agencies, NGOs, and the media.

David A. Levy, PhD is an award-winning professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, USA. He is also a practicing psychotherapist, media consultant (CNN, CBS, NBC, PBS, NPR, Fox, NatGeo), and author (Cross-Cultural Psychology, Tools of Critical Thinking, Life Is a 4-Letter Word).