Objective 4.3 Using one or more examples, explain “emic” and “etic” concepts

Objective 4.3Using one or more examples, explain

“emic” and “etic” concepts

Key Points/Critical Content

1)Define and give examples of emic and etic concepts.

2)Using an example, explain the mistake researchers often do when carrying out cross cultural research.

Understanding the two perspectives of cultural researchAs previously stated, the sociocultural level

of analysis of psychology focuses on the study of the culture and relations of people.

We have previously define culture as a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior.

How can we study culture? What the ways in which we can understand a group?

Understanding the two perspectives of cultural research

The concepts “emic” and “etic,” which were derived from an analogy with the terms “phonemic” and “phonetic,” were coined by the linguistic anthropologist Kenneth Pike (1954).

Understanding the two perspectives of cultural researchHe suggests that there are two

perspectives that can be employed in the study of a society’s cultural system, just as there are two perspectives that can be used in the study of a language’s sound system.

In both cases, it is possible to take the point of view of either the insider or the outsider.


Etic - relates to extrinsic properties of a society that are important for scientific observation. This is often viewed as the objective view of culture.

Examples of etics are marriage, concepts of intelligence, time, the education of children, and stress and mental disorders. These are general concepts of culture independent of cultural interpretation.


Etic constructs are accounts, descriptions, and analyses expressed in terms of the conceptual schemes and categories that are regarded as meaningful and appropriate by the community of scientific observers.


An etic construct is correctly termed “etic” if and only if it is in accord with the principles deemed appropriate by science (i.e., etic constructs must be precise, logical, comprehensive, replicable, and observer independent).


Etic approaches aim to discover what all humans have in common. It addresses the universals (or etic) of human behavior.

Etic approaches have been used extensively in cross-cultural studies. In such studies theories developed in one particular culture (usually Western) are tested cross-culturally.

Discussion QuestionWhen would it be beneficial to study

culture objectively?


Etic concepts are used to study cultures cross-culturally in order to distinguish between interpretations of concepts.

Kashima and Triandis (1986) used an etic research concept to look at differences between American and Japanese interpretations of success.


The American participants tended to explain their own success by dispositional attributions whereas the Japanese participants made situational attributions.

American participants demonstrated the self-serving bias and Japanese participants demonstrated the self-effacing bias.


- Emic - relates to the subjective values of the society that are important to its members. The native members of a culture are the sole judges of the validity of an emic description.

- Examples of emics are specific definitions of marriage and intelligence, what is valued in educating children, and how stress is experienced and the symptoms of mental disorders.


- Emic constructs are accounts, descriptions, and analyses expressed in terms of the conceptual schemes and categories that are regarded as meaningful and appropriate by the members of the culture under study.

- An emic construct is correctly termed “emic” if and only if it is in accord with the perceptions and understandings deemed appropriate by the insider.

Discussion QuestionWhen would it be beneficial to study

culture objectively?


Emic approaches are not interested in cross-cultural comparisons but rather in culture specific phenomena.

A culture’s uniqueness is explored by such studies through the discovery of its distinctive behaviors (or emics).

Understanding the two perspectives of cultural researchEmic studies do not import theoretical

frameworks from another culture. It is assumed that the meaning of behavior can only be defined from within the culture studied.

Differences between the two concepts

The etic approach highlights the similarities cultures may have, as well as bringing an outsider’s perspective and considers the patterns in behaviors to be universal.

The emic approach is quite the opposite from the etic approach by emphasizing the differences between cultures, seeking the natives’ perspective of their behaviors, and considering the patterns in behaviors to be unique to the culture being studied.

ReflectionTake a few minutes to review your

notes on these two concepts.

Documents

Objective 4.3 Using one or more examples, explain “emic” and “etic” concepts