Transcript Intercultural Relations - Educational Psychology

Intercultural Relations
Dr. K. A. Korb
University of Jos
3 June 2009
Multicultural Societies
Plural Society: Many different cultural
groups reside together in a shared social and
political framework
Interact with
other cultural
groups
Maintain Cultural Identity
Yes
No
Yes Integration Assimilation
No Separation
Marginalization
Multicultural Societies
Early policies in migrant-receiving
countries focused on assimilation

Assimilation does not work
Multiculturalism: Maintain cultural
identity while interacting with members of
other cultures
Multicultural Societies
Factors required for a multicultural society:
Accept the value of a culturally diverse society
 Low levels of prejudice
 Positive mutual attitudes among cultural groups
 Sense of attachment to the larger society by all
groups

Intercultural Relations
Ethnic Stereotypes: Cognitive categories
used to bring order to diversity
Useful psychological tools in multicultural
societies
 Problems arise in overgeneralizations of ethnic
stereotypes and negative evaluations directed
toward members of cultural groups


Inaccurate or negative evaluations of an individual
based on group membership
Contact Hypothesis
Contact Hypothesis: Meaningful contact with
members of an ethnic group reduces prejudices
A meta-analysis of research (Pettigrew & Tropp,
2000) examining the contact hypothesis found that
contact with members of other cultural groups
reduces prejudice across:


Voluntary and involuntary contact
Social contexts

Highest reduction in prejudice for work, lowest for tourism
Support for the Contact Hypothesis is strong and
generalizes across contexts
Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity: Set of beliefs and
attitudes about oneself in relation to their
cultural group membership

Highlighted when somebody comes in contact
with members of another cultural group
Acculturation
Behavioral Changes


Culture Shedding: Loss of existing cultural
practices
Culture Learning: Acquisition of new ways
of living
Two basic issues
1.
2.
Continuity or loss of culture and behavior
Quality of contact between cultural groups
Culture and Education
One major purpose of education is to
transmit important aspects of the culture to
the next generation
Whose culture is to be transmitted?
 What language is to be used?
 Whose values, knowledge, and beliefs should
be shared?

Revision
What is a multicultural society? What factors
influence positive relationships between members
of different cultures?
To think about for future class:



Is the education system in Nigeria working? Why or
why not?
What is the overall purpose of education?
What changes in the Nigerian education system might
facilitate improvements in the society?