Cultural Psychology: A Once and Future Discipline
This book is an attempt to answer two questions: "Why do psychologists find it so difficult to keep culture in mind?" and "If you are a psychologist who believes that culture is a fundamental constituent of human thought and action, what can you do that is scientifically acceptable?" The answer to the first question involves an excursion into the history of psychology, exploring the way in which experimental science became divorced from the historical sciences. In addressing the second question, Cole (communication and psychology, Univ. of California, San Diego) builds upon the "cultural-historical" school of Russian psychology and advocates a methodology based upon field studies. In an increasingly diverse society, the neglect of cultural differences or their banishment as "extraneous variables" should be troubling to psychologists, and Cole's prescriptions for a new "cultural psychology" are most welcome. All academic and research libraries should purchase this title; since it is addressed to social scientists, it is not a necessary purchase for public libraries.?Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, Wash.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.