By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Cross-cultural psychology touches on a wide range of topics, so students interested in other psychology topics may choose to also focus on this area of psychology.

The study of cross-cultural psychology and the inclusion of more representative and diverse samples in psychology research is essential for understanding the universality and uniqueness of different psychological phenomena. Recognizing how different factors manifest in various cultures can help researchers better understand the underlying influences and causes.

Recap

Cross-cultural psychologists often look at how ethnocentrism influences our behaviors and thoughts, including how we interact with individuals from other cultures.

The etic approach studies culture through an "outsider" perspective, applying one "universal" set of concepts and measurements to all cultures.The emic approach studies culture using an "insider" perspective, analyzing concepts within the specific context of the observed culture.

Recap

Many of the findings described by psychologists are focused on a specific group of people, which some researchers have dubbed Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, often referred to by the acronym WEIRD

To develop a broader, richer understanding of people that can be applied to a wider variety of cultural settings, it is essential for researchers to also look at people from diverse cultures.

Culture refers to many characteristics of a group of people, including attitudes, behaviors, customs, religious beliefs, and values that are transmitted from one generation to the next.

This article discusses the history of cross-cultural psychology, different types of cross-cultural psychology, and applications of this field. It also discusses the impact it has had on the understanding of human psychology.

Key Takeaways Cross-cultural psychology studies how culture affects human behavior and thoughts.Different cultures may have varying views on individualism and collectivism.Researchers often rely on samples that are primarily Western, industrialized, rich, and democratic, which may limit the study's applicability to other cultures.

Sport & Exercise Psychology is primarily concerned with the application of psychology to increase exercise participation and motivational levels in the general public, while also studying the factors which influence performance and behaviour of athletes during competition and training.

Occupational Psychology focuses on the performance of people at work and how individuals, small groups and larger organisations behave and function.

Neuropsychology looks at the structure-function relationships in the living brain, their development across the lifespan, and the impact and potential for rehabilitation following a brain injury or other neurological disease.

Forensic Psychology involves working with people who have been affected by crime or other legal systems (e.g. family courts), while also exploring and understanding offending behaviour, the factors associated with the risk of further offending, and potential opportunities for recovery and rehabilitation.

Did you know that the time of factory workers' tea breaks is all down to psychology?So too is the reason cash machines give you your card back before your money – and why celebrities are so regularly used in adverts.

Educational and Child Psychology looks at how children and young people experience life within the context of their school and home environment and how different factors in these environments interact with each other.

Counselling Psychology involves a range of life issues including bereavement, domestic violence, sexual abuse, traumas, and relationship issues, working with an individual's unique subjective psychological experience to empower their recovery and alleviate distress.

Health Psychology focuses on studying the psychological processes underlying health, illness and health care.

Psychology applies sound scientific methodology to understand why people act the way that they do. We can then use that knowledge and understanding to address real-world issues.

Discover what psychology is, the different types of psychology, and explore the career options in this field.

Coaching Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour, cognition and emotion to deepen our understanding of individuals' and groups' performance, achievement and wellbeing, and to enhance practice within coaching.

Clinical Psychology involves the study and assessment of a wide range of mental and physical health problems, including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues, using a variety of methods such as psychometric tests, interviews and direct observation.