This document discusses cognitive styles and problem solving across cultures. It introduces Herman Witkin, who developed the concepts of field dependence and field independence, referring to relying on external versus internal frames of reference. Cultures that stress conformity tend toward field dependence, while nomadic societies trend toward field independence. Richard Nisbett's research found East Asian cultures take a holistic, big picture view while Western cultures focus more on details. In summary, the document examines how culture influences cognitive processing and problem solving approaches.

1. 10/9/2016 1Nithin Lalachan BSc. Psychology

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Do the varied experiences of people
from different cultures lead to cross-
cultural variations in problem solving ?

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HERMAN WITKIN
Herman A. Witkin
was an American psychologist who
specialized in the spheres of cognitive
psychology and learning psychology.
He was a pioneer of the theory
of cognitive styles and learning
styles (developed in cooperation
with Solomon Asch, Donald Good
enough etc.). He preferred to diagnose
not by questionnaires but by more
objective means, such as projective
tests, task-solving tests etc. He was
the author of the concept of field-
dependency vs. field-independency.

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7. Culture, Cognitive Style,
and Problem Solving
• Field dependence – relying on
external frames of reference
• Field independence – relying on
internal frames of reference
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1. Rely on external frames of reference
2. Tend to accept the physical
environment as it is given
3. Focus on total context of a problem
4. Found more in sedentary agricultural
societies and in societies that stress
conformity

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1. Rely on internal frames of reference
2. Tend to analyze and restructure the
physical environment
3. Focus on specific features of a
problem
4. Reorganize the component part
5. Predominant in nomadic societies

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Create your own story...
Sun
KCMT
BMW
Dulquer
SalmanKurisummoodu
Award
India

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Cognitive Styles
Cognitive styles – Refer to the preferred way an individual
process of information

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13. Richard E. Nisbett is Theodore M.
Newcomb Distinguished Professor
of social psychology and co-director of
the Culture and Cognition program at
the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Nisbett's research interests are in social
cognition, culture, social class, and aging.
He received his Ph.D. From Columbia
University, where his advisor was Stanley
Schachter, whose other students at that
time included Lee Ross and Judith Rodin
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 East-Asian culture
 Focuses on context and
relationships among the elements.
 Looking at the ‘BIG PICTURE’ the
‘OVERALL IDEA’ and less
attentive to the details; more
INTUIATIVE

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 Western Culture
 Focuses on object and their
properties.
 Paying more attention to ‘THE
INNER DETAILS OF A SITUATION’

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18. Quick review :
• Definitions of :
– Culture
– Cognitive Style
– Problem Solving
• Herman Witkin
– Field Dependence
– Field Independence
• Richard Nisbett
– Holistic cognitive style
– Analytic cognitive style

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References
 Witkin,1950;Witkin et al.,1962
 Witkin & Goodenough, 1981
 Berry,1990;Mishra,2001
 Suny Cortland:Cognitive Learning Styles
 Themes And Variations
 www.apa.com

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10/9/2016
Nithin Lalachan
BSc. Psychology
2
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