Intelligence

There are many different forms of intelligence. “Intelligence may be described as a set of mental abilities; the capacity to acquire and use knowledge; ­problem- solving skills and knowledge about the world; the ability to excel at a variety of tasks; or as a skill that allows us to understand, adapt, learn, reason, and overcome obstacles (Shiraev& Levy, 116, 2013). Psychologists Piaget and Vygotsky were both under the belief that each individuals culture played a huge part in intelligence (Shiraev& Levy, 117, 2013). According to the article, Can Everyone Become Highly Intelligent? Cultural Differences in and Societal Consequences of Beliefs About the Universal Potential for Intelligence, two theories posit whether one cultural group has the potential to become more intelligent than another. These are the universal and non-universal theories (Rattan, Savani, Naidu, &Dweck, 787, 2012).

In studies conducted it was found that some cultures are in fact not as intelligent as another, however, these inadequacies may not fully explain how these particular individuals may excel in other areas of performance such as creativity or high visual-high spatial skills (Shiraev& Levy, 119, 2013). Furthermore, Western and Eastern beliefs of what intelligence requires may be quite different. Americans may believe that the personality characteristics of intelligence in some ways revolves around personality traits, while Easterners may believe contextually situated behaviors is more a determinant of intelligence (Rattan et al., 788, 2012). When viewed in this context, it can be determined that what is intelligent and what is intelligent behavior may differ from culture to culture as some practices or traditions are or are not readily accepted (Shiraev& Levy, 119, 2013).

Other beliefs about intelligence could be incremental where a particular group or individual believes intelligence can be changed over time or entity biased in which intelligence is fixed. Within incremental intelligence a particular group or individua may have more motivation or ability to make changes, especially in difficult situations. Within an entity based fixed intelligent belief system defense or survival becomes the only option (Rattan et al., 789, 2012).

This portrait entitled “Cat Fight,” details the incremental advantage of one opponents advance over the other entity. If the disadvantaged entity attempts to catch its fall the entity risks being beaten by the opponent. If the entity attempts to fight it risks breaking its back during the fall.

Illustration of Cat Fight provided for by Shelly Reed at Danese Corey Gallery.

The Society for Cognitive Neuroscience is a intelligence based website committed to the development of mind and brain research. This website is more specific to a scientific understanding which allows for accurate information based upon research studies. http://www.cogneurosociety.org/. The Center for Cultural Intelligence is a website designed to improve skills associated with and across a more diverse cultural setting. This website places emphasis on a global influence, yet, believes that each individual has capabilities that can be enehanced. http://www.culturalq.com/aboutcq.html.

Emotion

“Emotion, or affect, is an evaluative response that typically includes some combination of physiological arousal, ­subjective experience ( positive, negative, or ambivalent), and behavioral expression (Shiraev& Levy, 145, 2013).” The subjective nature of emotion is very diverse across a vast and variety of contexts. The expressions of emotions have a cultural component which are specific, contain valence, and are particular to a certain experience. The article, Cultural differences in the subjective experience of emotion: When and why they occur, states that understanding the difference in emotional expression and behavior across a diverse setting better allows for an understanding of cultural knowledge that can be of benefit as it sets precedent for cultural norms that can shape policy or even allow for an understanding of an individual or groups subjective experience (Scollon, Koh, Au, 853, 2011).

The subjective experience of emotion and that expression is important because different behavioral environments are the result of that emotional exchange. Expectations and practices within these environments are thought to reinforce or shape the meanings and the motivations that create the various cultural norms (Scollon et al., 854, 2011). The expression of emotion to individuals such as an artist or poet is very important because it allows for added interest in a particular matter and allows an individual to reflect upon or create a portrayal. When brought from this context emotionand expression can illustrates both human existence and create other beliefs about the soul or afterlife (Shiraev& Levy, 145, 2013).

In Russian Culture the Matreshka Doll represents the archetype of the Russian man/woman and can reflect through various expressions the embodiment of emotional expression unique to Russian Culture.

Illustration provided for by Elena Demidova Moscow Museum of Modern Art.

Both episodic and semantic experience can sometimes shape emotion and those behaviors associated with that expression. Episodic references particular or specific events while semantic may refer to emotion as it is shaped from a belief system or value. Within valence, negative or positive affect brought from emotion may have a profound effect upon both motivation and regulation. This means desirability of certain experiences may in some ways shape a cultures experience. An example could be that Westerners’ tend to up-regulate arousal type experiences in comparison to an Easterners’ desire to stay calm from certain experiences (Scollen et al., 856-858, 2011).

Self-consciousness may be more specific in how a cultures belief system is shaped by the valence of emotional experience. Some Eastern countries such Japan and India may feel less pride and more guilt from a particular experience. This correlation may reinforce the negative rather than positive valence associated with a particular experience. Because these emotions are felt in a certain way, social identity manifests its true nature out of that belief. This could affect motivation and the desire to achieve within certain paradigms or cultural groups (Scollen et al., 858, 2011).

Sparknotes is a tutorial based website that exemplifies contextual information from culture and the universal or non-universal traits of emotion. This website places emphasis on comparisons or similarities and differences. http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/emotion/section4.rhtml. Another emotion based website is brought by The University of Stanford Psychology Department and is specific to research and clinical outcomes brought from the effect of emotion and feelings. This website is unique as it has it allows for participation in research designs. http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~tsailab/index.htm.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 1058