THE NEGLECTED 95%

Criticism of U.S. (and Western) psychology

    People anywhere are representative of
    people everywhere

    The cultural context of people’s lives can be
    ignored

    Conclusions about human functioning can
    be based on 5% (at most 12%) of the world’s
    population

Organization of article

    Analysis of 6 APA journals
    Demographic profile of the world
    Reasons for psychology’s narrow focus   
    What can be learned about the majority?
    Suggestions for a contextualized psychology
    
2003-2007 journal analysis (and 1988, 1993, 1998)

    U.S. dominates journal content
        U.S. first authors: 65-85%
        U.S. other authors: 74%
        Remaining first and other authors
            English-speaking and European
        Pattern similar over time

    U.S. editors and editorial board dominate
        Editors: 100%
        Associate editors: 82%
        Editorial board: 82%
        Others English-speaking and European

    U.S. dominates sample composition
        U.S.: 68%
        English-speaking: 14%
        European: 13%
        Pattern similar over time

    More concerns about sampling
        Ethnicity of U.S. samples (2007)
            European American: 77%
            Unreported: 7-60%
        Psychology undergraduates

Current world population = 6.5 billion
U.S., English-speaking, Europe = 800 million

Are humans across the world similar?

    2050+ population estimates
        OECD: stable or declining
        Developing: 50% growth

    Income  
        OECD: 9 of 10 in top 20%
        80% of the world < $6,000/year
        Widening rich-poor gap
        Income impacts behavior/well-being

    Education
        OECD: 50% tertiary
        Developing: 80% in primary, 50% in HS
        Stubborn gender gap
        Education affects cognition/development

    Health
        OECD: 76 years life expectancy
        Developing: 63 years life expectancy
        Malnutrition: 50% of child deaths
        Diseases (e.g., HIV/AIDS – 20% mortality)
        Illness impacts well-being and relations

    Culture
            Individualistic vs. collectivistic
            Gender roles

Why the neglect of cultural context?

    Research resources in wealthy countries
    But, a lot of research in the developing world
    But, much non-Western research in English

    Philosophy of (natural) science

        Identify basic processes/principles
            Experimentalism
            Reductionism

        Current emphasis intensifies neglect
            Behavioral genetics
            Cognitive neuroscience
        
What can psychology learn from the neglected 95%?

    Clinical
        Demands of romantic love
    Developmental
        Reduced importance of peer relations
    Educational
        Structure schools, content of schooling
    Family
        Childcare and socialization practices
    Health
        HIV/AIDS – mortality, victims, orphans
    Social
        Persistence of gender stereotypy

Suggested solutions lead to discussion questions:

➢    Why would a non-U.S. psychologist want to publish in an APA journal?  Why would they be interested in an editorial mentor program?

➢    How would you feel about having to take at least two courses in anthropology or cultural psychology and at least one semester abroad in a                 non-Western country?  What do you see as the costs and benefits?

➢    Why should U.S. agencies fund international research vs. research on the ‘hard’ specialties in psychology?