Controversies in Psychology

"I wrote this assignment to highlight the need for diversity in psychological experimentation and study. Psychologists are abundent in the United States, but do not practice studies and theological inquiries elsewhere in the world, including different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. This is something I intend to change, as we need to have answers in science and psychology reflect accurately with the vibrant diversity that is alive in the world rather than white, middle-class persons."
- Jeannette Villatoro

Controversies in Psychology

Culture, ethnicity and race are just as vital to psychology as they are to society. We live in a world in which these factors influence how we interact with one another and furthermore flourish in our social roles.

The importance and value of understanding culture, ethnicity and race is a key component to the study of psychology. It is a known fact in the field of psychology as well as through everyday observances that all human beings are unique and have very specific differences (Feldman, 2008). In fact, it seems as if psychology is based around this notion if not inspired by it. However, there are also many other factors that influence the development of human beings, and culture and environment are significant pieces of the puzzle.

People from North American tend to relate successful achievements to natural qualities that a person happens to be born with. An exceptionally athletic individual will most likely be successful in athletics, while a person who seems to have the gift of learning will exceed in schooling (Feldman, 2008). In Asia, the belief differs greatly as most people of Asian decent attribute success to hard work and diligence rather than natural talents. Because of this standard, success is rampant in Asian cultures because one tends to work harder so that they may earn success at a certain degree (Feldman, 2008). These modest examples show the great extent that cultural influences have on individuals.

The term "minority" is well on its way to extinction, as many Americans inhabit some cultural differences from non-Hispanic whites (Feldman, 2008). It is also important to realize that any American with a different ethnicity will most likely have strong associations with their particular cultural background. Learning about and acquiring unique elements from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds will help implement a greater fluidity between different groups. And the differences between cultures, ethnicities and races are abundant with as many unique qualities as single individuals may possess. Therefore, it is important for a psychologist to not only understand these differences, but embrace them for the purpose of studying human behavior.

References

Feldman, R. (2008). Understanding Psychology (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.