IB Psychology HL 3.3.4 Cultural Dimensions Questions

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "explain" requires candidates to give a detailed account, including reasons, for cross-cultural differences in prosocial behaviour.

Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to:
- cultural norms
- different socialization processes in an individual's upbringing
- cultural dimensions (for example, individualism versus collectivism).

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:
- Whiting's (1979) research on the role of extended family
- Bond and Leung's (1988) research on in-group bias
- Levine's studies on cultural differences in prosocial behaviour
- Whiting and Whiting's (1975) research into altruism levels in children from industrialized and non-industrialized countries.

Examples of how candidates may show evidence of critical thinking may include, but are not limited to:
- analysis of the methodology and/or ethical considerations
- application of empirical support in relation to a given problem or issue
- alternative explanations of prosocial behaviour
- addressing the issue of universality (for example, kin selection theory) versus cultural differences.

Candidates may use one research study in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may use a larger number of research studies in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.