¶ … human development that you selected. Then, compare the major components of the two theories. Finally, describe which theory best explains the influence of culture on human development and why. Support your responses using the resources attached and current literature.
Theories of human development:
Indigenous psychology vs. transactional models
The field of psychology has grown increasingly sensitive to the need to take into consideration cultural differences when evaluating theories of human development. Previously, theories such as Piaget's concept of cognitive stages and Terman's conception of intelligence tended to view development as a universal trajectory, applicable to all cultures. In contrast, "Indigenous psychology advocates examining knowledge, skills, and beliefs that people have about themselves, and studying them in their natural contexts" (Kim & Park 2006: 289).
Theories of indigenous psychology can help explain seemingly inexplicable...
Self-efficacy theory has long linked high self-esteem to high levels of achievement in school. Intelligence and success is usually seen as rooted in the individual's character. But in South Korea, individual achievement and self-efficacy not valued as highly in the culture. Instead, a strong cultural belief in hard work and fulfilling social obligations has resulted in a high level of academic achievement compared with the United States. Korean values reflect the Confucian ideal of character: character is something that must be worked at and willed, rather than something that is simply ' expressed' as in the United States belief system. This translates into high levels of academic success for Korean students. Students believe that they must work hard to honor their parents and hard work will pay off in the form of great academic success. Indigenous psychology helps explain why certain pressures which might be viewed as 'negative' --…
