Cross Cultural Psychology

Main Discussion: Attribution

When students do not perform well on a test, they typically explain the results in one of two ways. The first is stating that they did not study hard enough, an explanation that indicates an internal locus of control. Individuals with internal locus of control explain events based on causes they can control. If they study harder for the next test, they can expect to do better.

The second way is to view the test as unfair—that the teacher did not allow enough time or the test information was not covered in class. This explanation indicates an external locus of control. Individuals with external locus of control are more apt to view events in terms of factors they cannot control. If the test is not fair, the student cannot change anything to get a better score. They can only hope the next test will be fair.

You may already have a sense of whether you respond more often from an internal or external locus of control. For this Discussion, you will determine, or confirm, your own locus of control. Then you will apply your insights in analyzing a common workplace situation with two quite different employees.

To prepare:

· Review Chapter 10 of the course text, focusing on attribution, and the Chapter 11 section on locus of control.

· Complete the locus of control assessment in the Week 5 Learning Resources. It should take approximately 10–15 minutes. You may want to print out the web page of your snapshot results.

· Reflect on insights you have gained about yourself and how to apply that knowledge toward understanding others.

· Review the media piece Workplace Attribution in your Week 5 Learning Resources. Think about differences in the two employees and consider how knowledge of attributional styles and locus of control may be applied in a workplace environment.

· Consider the relationship between culture and attributional style. Select a culture that you do not know well and research in the Walden Library or other scholarly sources for the culture’s attributional style and expectations of workers. Imagine the video scene taking place in that cultural setting. Be prepared to present your ideas in your Discussion post.

By Day 3

Post: a response in which you do the following:

· Explain the attribution each employee makes regarding job performance and what you can infer about the employee’s locus of control.

· Describe how this scenario would look in a different cultural setting. Use the particular culture that you researched as your example, and explain how the attributions involved might be similar or different.

Note: Be sure to support the responses within your initial Discussion post (and in your colleague reply) with information obtained from the assigned Learning Resources, including a reference list for sources used. For information regarding how your Discussion will be evaluated, please review the grading rubric located in the Course Information area of the course.

By Day 5

Respond by agreeing or disagreeing with at least oneof your colleagues, responding in one or more of the following ways:

· Ask a probing question and provide insight into how you would answer your question and why.

· Ask a probing question and provide the foundation, or rationale, for the question.

· Expand on your colleague’s posting by offering a new perspective or insight

· Agree with a colleague and offer additional (new) supporting information for consideration.

· Disagree with a colleague by respectfully discussing and supporting a different perspective.

Support your reply to a colleague’s post with at least one reference (textbook or other scholarly, empirical resources). You may state your opinion and/or provide personal examples; however, you must also back up your assertions with evidence (including in-text citations) from the source and provide a reference.

Important Note: For all Main Discussions in this course, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleague’s postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!

Rubric

Responsiveness and Demonstration of Knowledge
(25 points)

25 (45.45%)
Accurate, detailed responses to each assignment prompt with sufficient examples and/or supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

21 (38.18%)
Responses to each assignment prompt, but some responses are lacking in accuracy, sufficient details, examples and/or supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

17.5 (31.82%)
Responses to each assignment prompt, but several responses are lacking in accuracy, sufficient details, examples and/or supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

15 (27.27%)
One or more assignment prompts are not answered and the responses provided are lacking in accuracy, sufficient details, examples, and/or there is no supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

0 (0%)
Assignment post is incomplete; answers are inaccurate and/or insufficiently explained with little or no supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

Reply to a Colleague’s Assignment Post
Criteria
– Thorough and complete response
– Accurate, substantive, and original
– Promotes scholarly conversation
– Supporting information is documented (citation(s) and a reference list)
– Organized writing free of MUGS errors
(15 points).

15 (27.27%)
Required criteria all met.

12 (21.82%)
Lacking in one or two criteria.

10.5 (19.09%)
Lacking several criteria.

9 (16.36%)
Lacking most criteria.

0 (0%)
Criteria not met or post was not submitted by the due date.

Quality of Writing
(10 points)

10 (18.18%)
Writing is clear and organized with few or no errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling (MUGS). There is a preponderance of original writing (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing).

8 (14.55%)
Writing is mostly clear and organized with few MUGS errors. Writing is original (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing).

7.5 (13.64%)
Writing is somewhat clear and organized with some MUGS errors. Most writing is original (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing).

6 (10.91%)
Writing is somewhat unclear and disorganized and/or contains many MUGS errors. There is an overuse of direct quotations and/or ineffective paraphrasing.

0 (0%)
Writing is unclear and/or disorganized and/or contains many MUGS errors. There is an underuse of original writing and an overuse of directly quoted content.

Information documentation
(5 points)

5 (9.09%)
Information from the Learning Resources is properly documented with citation(s) and reference(s).

0 (0%)

3.5 (6.36%)
Information from the Learning Resources is partially documented with citation(s) and/or reference(s).

0 (0%)

0 (0%)
Information from the Learning Resources is not cited or referenced in any way.

Total Points: 55

Assignment 1: Conformity and Social Influence

How do reasonable people go along with unreasonable ideas, including mass suicide? How do charismatic leaders create their own “culture” within a specific situation and setting and then bring followers along? It is unsettling to consider that researchers have found that almost anyone will obey orders if placed in the right situation.

For this Assignment, you will explore the role of conformity and social influence in the dynamics of a cult. Keep in mind the definition of “culture” as you examine how a powerful leader can create a distinct culture, or “cult,” that others join and follow: a set of attitudes, behaviors, and symbols shared by a large group of people (Shiraev & Levy, 2017, p. 4) .

To prepare:

· Review the sections in Chapter 10 of your course text, beginning with “Universal Interaction” (p. 301), and pay particular attention to the content on conformity, obedience, leadership, and social power.

· Your Week 5 Learning Resources provide information on three different cults and their leaders in recent U.S. history: Jim Jones and the People’s Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, and Marshall Applewhite and Heaven’s Gate. You are encouraged to choose one as the focus of your Assignment. Additional Learning Resources provide insights on the dynamics of a cult.
Note: If you prefer to choose a different leader and group, check with your instructor first for approval.

· For your focus leader, review and analyze the Module 5 Learning Resources provided and additional resources you find in the Walden Library or in other sources, including reputable websites, to complete this Assignment.

· For your focus leader and group, think about how each may exemplify the concepts of conformity, obedience, and social power:

· How the leader builds a “culture” with its own rules outside of the larger culture

· What elements compel followers to conform, such as charisma, isolation, and/or fear

· Use the Learning Resources provided and those you find to analyze your leader and followers as an example of a situational development of a “culture” through conformity, obedience, and social power.

By Day 7

Submit a 2 – to 3-page research paper in which you do the following:

· Describe the leader and followers who are the subject of your analysis.

· Analyze how the leader created a distinct “culture” for followers and what elements of a culture were present in the setting.

· Analyze how the leader used social power to influence followers.

· Analyze elements that created conformity and obedience among the followers.

· Explain how your chosen leader’s use of social influence applies to the leaders in your culture (e.g., local, academic, political, or other types of leaders you identify).

Note: Support the responses within your Assignment with evidence from the assigned Learning Resources and those you found. Provide a reference list for resources you used for this Assignment.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

· Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK5Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.

· Click the Week 5 Assignment 1 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.

· Click the Week 5 Assignment 1 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.

· Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK5Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.

· If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.

· Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Rubric

Describe the leader and followers who are the subject of your analysis.
(10 points)

10 (13.33%)
Response is complete and accurate; contains sufficient details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

8.5 (11.33%)
Response is complete and mostly accurate; contains some details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

7.5 (10%)
Response is somewhat complete and/or is somewhat inaccurate; and/or does not contain sufficient details and/or explanation; includes some supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

6 (8%)
Response is incomplete or is mostly inaccurate; lacks sufficient details and/or explanation; does not include supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.