Culture and Psychological Science: Introduction to the Special Section.

The field of psychology is witnessing a revolution of sorts of which it may not be fully aware. From the neuropsychology to globalization, this volume makes clear that culture research is beginning to permeate all areas of psychological science. The special issue includes articles on culture and neuroscience (Park & Huang), culture and memory (Ross & Wang), culture and decision making (Weber & Morris), culture and self (Markus & Kitayama), culture and development (Angelillo, Rogoff, Morelli, & Chavajay), culture and personality (Church), culture and organizational processes (Gibson & McDaniel), culture and national well-being (Oishi & Schimmack), acculturation (Sam & Berry), and intersubjective culture (Chui, Gelfand, Yamagishi, Shteynberg, & Wan). Collectively, the articles highlight the fundamental nature of culture research in psychological science. Culture, as a key source of sustained experience, intricately affects such phenomena as neural structure and function; memory; decision making; the self; personality; and developmental, group, organizational, and national processes. In turn, such processes reinforce and sustain the very cultural contexts in which they are embedded. These articles demonstrate how culture research is critical to globalize our science, reconceptualize constructs, revise models, and extend critical boundary conditions in traditional theories. They illustrate the importance of attending to both ‘‘etics’’ (culture general) and ‘‘emics’’ (culture specific) in psychological science. And they highlight new, diverse, and exciting approaches to the study of culture and cultural dynamics. Above all, the articles in this special issue make clear that culture should play a key role in all areas across the discipline of psychology. Doing so will not only ensure that we have a global science, but will also produce knowledge that has practical relevance for managing interdependence in an increasingly flat world. From issues of immigration, globalization, conflict and terrorism, and preserving the environment, culture research in psychological science is of great practical importance. We extend our gratitude to Micaela Chan for her assistance in putting this special issue together, as well as Glenn Adams, Jack Blanchard, Yamalis Diaz, Chi-Yue Chiu, Ryan Fehr, Ashley Fulmer, Ying-yi Hong, Lynn Imai, Janetta Lun, David Matusmoto, Shigehiro Oishi, Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, Gary Shteynberg, Hsuchi Ting, and Harry Triandis.