The cross-cultural study of mind and behaviour: a word of caution

Abstract Nobody doubts that culture plays a decisive role in understanding human forms of life. But it is unclear how this should be integrated into comprehensive explanatory model behaviour brings together naturalistic and social-scientific perspectives. Cultural difference, cultural learning, determination do not mix well with the factors are normally given full value more approaches to study behaviour. My purpose paper alert some theoretical vulnerabilities or concerns cross-cultural mind might entail. I classify these three, loosely defined, categories: epistemological, ontological ethical. The first have what anthropology was once labelled as ‘butterfly collecting’. What kind supplementary, additional, general knowledge we produce when add research different, particularistic, culturally determined, ways knowing? Ontological refer underlying reality those knowing meant disclose. If there so many world, where known? Ethical entailed ‘othering’ unqualified likely participants.