Ebook: Psychological Aspects of Social Axioms: Understanding Global Belief Systems

"This work provides ways to characterize cultures, and gives researchers a set of lenses for looking at cultures. When researchers know what people value and how they use the axioms, they can predict what people will do in their cultural niche - how they are likely to interact with each other, how they are likely to relate to outsiders, how they are going to react to their jobs, what emotions they are likely to feel in different circumstances, and how are they going to deal with conflict."

-- Harry C. Triandis, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Illinois, U.S.A.

Positive and negative beliefs about human nature and the social world, the role of fate in life events, and the belief in the existence of a supreme being: social axioms as general beliefs exist both explicitly and implicitly in cultural values and traditions the world over. In Psychological Aspects of Social Axioms, an international team of researchers brings new depth to the study of these culture-bound belief systems as they inform interpersonal and organizational behavior, are passed from parents to children and sustained by social institutions, and contribute to both national character and individual personality.

The editors offer an insightful introduction to the social axiom framework and its basic issues, introducing studies from a variety of countries that explore the influence of these widespread beliefs as humans solve problems, pursue goals, and make sense of their lives.

A sampling of the topics:

• Transmission of social axioms during times of social change (Germany, Spain).
• Social axioms and behavior of college students (India, Indonesia).
• Relationships between axioms and locus of control (Italy, Greece).
• Proactive coping in Christians and Muslims.
• Cynicism in romantic and political relationships.
• Social axioms in the U.S.: ethnic and geographic studies.

With its groundbreaking constructs for intercultural understanding, Psychological Aspects of Social Axioms will find a wide and interested audience in cultural and clinical psychologists, cross-cultural trainers and educators. The book will also provide upper-level students in psychology and cultural studies with new directions for future research.

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While value-based frameworks have offered revealing insights about culture, other conceptual tools need to be explored and deployed for a comprehensive understanding of both culture and individuals and how culture shapes individual processes and outcomes. To achieve this end, the authors and editors of Psychological Aspects of Social Axioms propose the construct of social axioms to augment values in interpreting culture and the behavior of individuals in their cultural contexts. Social axioms are defined as generalized beliefs about oneself, other people, the social environment, or the spiritual and physical world, and are central to a person’s belief system. Their function is to enhance the survival and functioning of the person in his/her social and physical environment.