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Cultural and individual differences in the generalization of theories regarding human thinking

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2011

Kyungil Kim  and
Youngjun Park
Kyungil Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Korea. [email protected]@ajou.ac.kr
Youngjun Park
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Korea. [email protected]@ajou.ac.kr
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Abstract

Tests of a universal theory often find significant variability and individual differences between cultures. We propose that descriptivism research should focus more on cultural and individual differences, especially those based on motivational factors. Explaining human thinking by focusing on individual difference factors across cultures could provide a parsimonious paradigm, by uncovering the true causal mechanisms of psychological processes.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , October 2011 , pp. 259 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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