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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page discussion of the distinctions which exist between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. The author uses examples from the Islamic/Western conflict and examples from research in child development (particularly the work of Piaget and Spelke) to illustrate the differences. Bibliography lists 12 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: AM2_PPethnoc.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
The separation between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism is quite subtle. Ethnocentrism, however, is a limitation in the way that one views other cultures. races, and ethnicities.
It entails a cultural bias on the part of the observer. Cultural relativism, in contrast, is an approach that takes a culture, race, or ethnicity for what it is.
Cultural relativism entails a certain objectivity rather than bias. Cultural relativism is the opposite of ethnocentrism. Cultural relativism demands that we view behavior and situations in a
world context rather than from the closely defined views of one culture (Kowner, 1996). There are many examples of both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in todays society. There
are also many examples in the literature. Typically our cultures are divided into two distinctive categorizations separating those that are from our own
cultural and ethnic background and those that are not (Little, Sterling, and Tingstrom, 1996). This tendency for categorization results in the outlook of "us" verses "them" (Little, Sterling, and
Tingstrom, 1996). When we view world events or even simple everyday happenings from the closely defined expectations of our group we are utilizing an ethnocentric approach or a prejudiced
approach. When we are more open to facts rather than our own expectations we are utilizing a cultural relativist approach. Given the
turbulence which has resulted with the war in Iraq and the events leading up to that war one of the most ready examples of how we can distinguish between ethnocentrism
and cultural relativism lies in the Islamic/American conflict. This prejudice is particularly evident in the tension which exist between Muslims and Jews in the West (Ruttenberg, Zea, and Sigelman).
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