Chapter 3

Marginal Man

Stonequist's concept of how one feels when one is caught between two worlds

Delay of Gratification

The ability to wait for a more desirable reward instead of taking a less desirable reward immediately

Human Activity

The distinction among being, being and in becoming, and doing. "Being" refers to an individual's being accepted just as he/she is. "Being and in becoming" refers to an individual's evolving into something different and presumably better. "Doing" refers to an individual's being valued for the activity in which he or she is engaged

Social Relations

The distinction among lineal, collateral, and individualistic. "Lineal orientation" is a respect for the hierarchy within one's family. "Collateral orientation" is essentially the same as collectivism. "Individualistic orientation" is the same as individualism

Locus of Control

The focus of control over outcomes of one's life, be it internal or external control

Locus of Responsibility

The focus of responsibility for one's position in life, be it internal feelings of responsibility, or external, societal responsibility

Guilt

A prominent negative emotion in individualistic cultures that involves an individual's sense of personal regret for having engaged in a negative behavior

Worldview

A psychological perception of the world that determines how we think, behave, and feel

Collectivism

A social pattern in which individuals tend to be motivated by the group's or collective's preferences, needs, and rights when they come into conflict with those of the individual

Individualism

A social pattern in which individuals tend to be motivated by their own preferences, needs and rights when they come into conflict with those of a group or collective in which the individual is a member

Masculine-Feminine Dimension

A continuum of authority from hierarchical (masculine) to egalitarian (feminine)

Shame

A prominent negative emotion in collectivistic cultures that involves an individual's sense of regret for having engaged in a negative behavior that reflects badly upon his or her family and/or upbringing

Etic Perspective

An attempt to build theories of human behavior by examining commonalities across many cultures; examines cultures from the outside to build theories that develop universal aspects of human behavior

Emic Perspective

An attempt to derive meaningful concepts within one culture; examines only one culture from within that culture

Time Focus

An orientation that values a particular time perspective. Some cultures value the past, some value the present, an some value the future. Although all cultures value all three, some cultures value one of these perspectives more than do other cultures

Allocentrism

Collectivistic tendencies that reside within an individual. Collectivism refers to the society, whereas allocentrism refers to an individual

Idiocentrism

Individualist tendencies that reside within an individual; Individualism refers to the society, whereas idiocentrism refers to an individual

Face Giving/Giving Face

Extolling the virtues of another person in public; it would be considered boastful and individualistic if the individual did this himself/herself

ALANA

Helm's acronym for African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans

VREG

Helm's acronym for members of visible racial/ethnic groups

People/Nature Relationship

How people relate to nature, be it subjugated to nature, in harmony with nature, or mastery over nature

Countercultural Individuals

Idiocentric individuals residing in a collectivistic culture, or allocentric individuals residing in an individualistic culture

Losing Face/Saving Face

Loss of face involves being publicly revealed for negative behavior; face saving involves being able to protect one's public persona

Imposed Etics

The imposition of one's culture's worldview on another culture, assuming that one's own worldviews are universal