The Cultural Perspective in Personality and Psychopathology Assessment

Abstract

Culture affects personality through the ways that people are represented psychologically. Global or etic approaches to the study of culture and personality compare universal dimensions across cultures, whereas focal or emic approaches interpret and identify indigenous dimensions on the basis of local phenomena and experiences. In this chapter, the etic and emic approaches are discussed, and the contributions of a combined emic–etic approach in developing a culturally relevant personality and psychopathology assessment based on the experience of the Cross-Cultural (Chinese) Personality Assessment Inventory and the South African Personality Inventory are illustrated. This chapter reviews the relationship between culture and personality, and the factors that influence personality and psychopathology assessment across cultures, making reference to practical and methodological challenges. The chapter highlights the need for cross-cultural research to consider multiple methods of personality and psychopathology assessment beyond self-report inventories, particularly performance-based assessments and interviews using the principles of therapeutic assessment. The chapter argues for current techniques to take cognizance of understandings of personality and psychopathology beyond Western contexts and to adopt a more inclusive stance in research and practice. The chapter further highlights the need for incorporating cross-cultural training as an integral part of psychology in order to enhance the cultural relevance in practice and research in personality and psychopathology assessment.