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Psychology of Psychology of the Mexicansthe Mexicans

Don KilburgDon Kilburg

(2004)(2004)

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PurposePurpose

To introduce you to some broad trends in To introduce you to some broad trends in Mexican PsychologyMexican Psychology

To give you some practical suggestions for To give you some practical suggestions for understanding & interacting with Mexicansunderstanding & interacting with Mexicans

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Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Attempts by Mexicans to identify a Attempts by Mexicans to identify a Mexican MindsetMexican Mindset

DDííaz-Guerrero’s “Psychology of the az-Guerrero’s “Psychology of the Mexican”Mexican”

A Contemporary Perspective: SimpatA Contemporary Perspective: Simpatííaa

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Attempts by Mexicans to Identify a Attempts by Mexicans to Identify a Mexican MindsetMexican Mindset

Jose Vasconcelos (1925), writerJose Vasconcelos (1925), writer

La Raza CLa Raza Cóósmicasmica

Samuel Ramos (1938), philosopherSamuel Ramos (1938), philosopher

El Perfil del Hombre y La Cultura El Perfil del Hombre y La Cultura en Men Mééxicoxico

Octavio Paz (1959), poetOctavio Paz (1959), poet

El Laberinto de la SoledadEl Laberinto de la Soledad

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DDííaz-Guerrero’s az-Guerrero’s Psychology of the Mexican (1976)Psychology of the Mexican (1976)

Love and PowerLove and Power

Mexican: Affiliation-HierarchyMexican: Affiliation-Hierarchy

American: Power-EqualityAmerican: Power-Equality

““the mother is the dearest person in the mother is the dearest person in existence”existence”

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A Contemporary Perspective: A Contemporary Perspective: SimpatSimpatííaa

SimpatSimpatííaa: the search for social harmony : the search for social harmony coupled with expressive displayscoupled with expressive displays

Experimental evidence of relational stylesExperimental evidence of relational styles

(Sanchez-Burks, et al., 2000)(Sanchez-Burks, et al., 2000)

Practical Suggestions: Practical Suggestions:

Socioemotional consciousness raisingSocioemotional consciousness raising

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Cultural Styles, Relational Cultural Styles, Relational Schemas, & Prejudice Schemas, & Prejudice

Against OutgroupsAgainst Outgroups

Cognitive frameworks: Cognitive frameworks: American – TaskAmerican – Task Mexican – Task + SocioemotionalMexican – Task + SocioemotionalResearch Question: Research Question: would subjects’ perception of would subjects’ perception of workgroup performance vary as a fxn of workgroup style, workgroup performance vary as a fxn of workgroup style, workgroup ethnicity, and/or subjects’ ethnicities?workgroup ethnicity, and/or subjects’ ethnicities?Lab Experiment:Lab Experiment: w/ video’d workgps. in tutoring w/ video’d workgps. in tutoring session session Field Experiment:Field Experiment: w/ student advisory committees w/ student advisory committees

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Practical SuggestionsPractical Suggestions

Overseas assignment failure rate: 30-40% Overseas assignment failure rate: 30-40% (Herring, 2003); Insufficient cultural preparation(Herring, 2003); Insufficient cultural preparation

Task and Socioemotional orientations not Task and Socioemotional orientations not necessarily a trade-offnecessarily a trade-off

In MBT terminology, TIn MBT terminology, TF and JF and JPP

Consider the stereotypes for working models, Consider the stereotypes for working models, but don’t cling to thembut don’t cling to them

Culture Shock! MexicoCulture Shock! Mexico: :

One single lesson…FlexibilityOne single lesson…Flexibility