Towards a cultural revision of psychological concepts

Chinese psychologists present important considerations on the individualism-collectivism dichotomy, which has become a dominant reference in cross-cultural studies since the 80s. They observe that cross-cultural psychology has failed to define the concepts of collectivism and individualism in a precise manner, making it difficult to measure accurately intercultural differences. I argue that culture is a fundamental dimension of human experience. It guides us by means of verbal and nonverbal semiotic resources, actions, and personal aspirations. It also offers us symbolic resources for reflecting on these actions and aspirations, thus constituting points of view, relatively singular ways of being and of acting, either reflectively or not. The points of view that develop from different cultural traditions establish horizons that define the limits and propose the ways for people to inhabit the world with others. Furthermore, the conceptions that emerge from each culturally grounded point of view are not easily interchangeable, given that they belong to diversely built language systems. For this reason, psychological theorizations must take into account their own cultural background, as a condition for understanding the misconceptions and misunderstandings that take place when cultures exert their exotic views over one another.