Record: 10 Title: Cross-Cultural Psychology. Subject(s): ETHNOPSYCHOLOGY; CULTURE; PSYCHOLOGY Source: Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Jan2000, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p129, 19p Author(s): Kagitcibasi, Cigdem; Poortinga, Ype H. Abstract: A selection of current and presumably future issues is addressed in four sections. The first section deals with the pervasive controversy between relativistic and universalistic orientations. In the second section, the authors discuss how the notion of culture is used in empirical studies, drawing attention to, among other things, the low emphasis on cross-cultural similarities that emerge from many data sets. The third section addresses three themes that may well become more important in the future, namely questions concerning the degree of coherence in cross-cultural data spanning larger ranges of behavior, the integration of findings from non-Western societies, and an increase in research on human development in cultural context. The fourth section emphasizes the responsibility of cross-cultural psychologists to apply their expertise, especially to problems of economic and social inequality, to contribute to human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] AN: 2667493 ISSN: 0022-0221 Database: Academic Search Elite CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY Issues and Overarching Themes A selection of current and presumably future issues is addressed in four sections. The first section deals with the pervasive controversy between relativistic and universalistic orientations. In the second section, the authors discuss how the notion of culture is used in empirical studies, drawing attention to, among other things, the low emphasis on cross-cultural similarities that emerge from many data sets. The third section addresses three themes that may well become more important in the future, namely questions concerning the degree of coherence in cross-cultural data spanning larger ranges of behavior, the integration of findings from non-Western societies, and an increase in research on human development in cultural context. The fourth section emphasizes the responsibility of cross-cultural psychologists to apply their expertise, especially to problems of economic and social inequality, to contribute to human well-being. In this final contribution to the special issue, we draw attention to some overarching themes. The authors of each of the previous articles in this issue were asked to address one domain or aspect from the wide array that constitutes the field of cross-cultural psychology. This article will aim at some integration as well as reflect our views on some important current issues and trends in cross-cultural psychology. Our writing, as well as this whole special issue, is necessarily selective, limited as it is by our own knowledge, perspectives, and interests. The first section deals with the contrast between relativistic and universalistic perspectives. With most of the other authors, we agree that ways are needed to bridge the gala and to formulate positions that allow for both cultural communality and cultural differences. The issue will probably be seen more and more as a fruitless dichotomy, but, somewhat unlike others, we think that the issue, in a sense, will stay because it cannot really be resolved. The second section deals with the question of how the notion of culture is dealt with in everyday