How does cultural change affect human psychology and behavior?

Yuji Ogihara (Kyoto University)

How does cultural change affect human psychology and behavior?
Individualization, interpersonal relationships, and subjective well-being in Japan

Cultural psychology has revealed substantial cultural variation in human psychology and behavior. However, much of the past research has not accounted for the fact that culture is not static, but dynamic. Therefore, in this presentation, Yuji Ogihara focuses on cultural change and its effect on human psychology and behavior.

Japanese society, which has traditionally been collectivistic, has become more individualistic in recent years as a result of globalization. How do such changes affect Japanese psychology and behavior? In this presentation, Ogihara will first show that Japanese society has become more individualistic. Next, he will demonstrate that individualization in Japan is associated with lower well-being. Finally, he will suggest a mechanism that may drive the association between individualization and well-being: People who endorse an individualistic orientation have fewer close friends, which in turn is associated with lower well-being. In conclusion, Ogihara will discuss how cultural change produces maladaptation.

Yuji Ogihara received his M.A. from Kyoto University in 2012, where he is currently a PhD candidate. He is a research fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. His research area is cultural psychology and social psychology. He is interested in how cultural change affects interpersonal relationships and happiness /Subjective Well-Being. Specifically, he is examining how Japanese “individualism”, which has been increasing in Japan due to globalization pressure, is qualitatively different from individualism in European American cultural contexts. His interest is particularly in the ramifications that increasing individualism may have for Japanese society (e.g., social withdrawn/hikikomori) and how negative consequences of increasing individualism can be prevented or resolved.

Yuji Ogihara’s recent article ‘Does individualism bring happiness? Negative effects of individualism on interpersonal relationships and happiness’ (with Yukiko Uchida) was among the top 10 most viewed psychology research articles on Frontiers in Psychology in March 2014. Read the article here.

Further information about the event: Fumiko Kano Glückstad, fkg.ibc@cbs.dk