January 28, 2020: Shinobu Kitayama

(University of Michigan)

https://kitayama.psych.lsa.umich.edu/wp/

Mutual Constitution of Culture and the Self: A Cultural Neuroscience Perspective

Social and behavioral scientists have long debated on the mutually constitutive relationship between culture and the self. However, it is not until recently that researchers recognized the brain as a critical mediating element anchoring this relationship. In this talk, I propose that active engagement in a cultural context results in long-term change in the cortical connectivity and organization, which, in turn, serves as a solid foundation of psychological systems of action production (i.e., agency). After a brief review of the last three decades of cultural psychology literature, I will describe our recent work on gene x culture interaction effects, emphasizing the latest neuroscience evidence. This work has begun to shed new light on the hypothesis that the human mind is biologically prepared and yet powerfully shaped and completed through social and cultural processes. I will conclude with a discussion of future directions in this research area.

The colloquium will be held on zoom. Please contact slagell.2@osu.edu for the zoom link.