Culturally based lay beliefs as a tool for understanding intergroup and intercultural relations

Dialectical thinking represents a constellation of culturally based lay theories about the nature of the world in which social objects are viewed as inherently contradictory, fundamentally interconnected, and in constant flux. In this paper, we argue that dialectical thinking gives rise to cultural differences in numerous social cognitive phenomena (e.g., stereotyping) that are known to influence intergroup and intercultural relations. Specifically, we present psychological evidence relating dialectical thinking to cultural (East–West) differences in social categorization, causal attribution, group perception, stereotyping, ingroup/outgroup attitudes, cooperative/competitive behavior, and cross-cultural adjustment and competence. Dialectical thinkers are hypothesized, for example, to be less vulnerable to essentialistic, rigid thinking about social groups and more open to stereotype change and intercultural adaptation. We note important topics in need of further investigation and offer predictions regarding possible cultural differences in as yet unexplored social cognitive domains.

► We outline the theory of naïve dialecticism (Spencer-Rodgers, Williams, & Peng, 2010).
► We argue that dialectical thinking gives rise to cultural differences in social cognition.
► Topics are: social categorization, causal attribution, stereotyping, intergroup attitudes.
► Topics are: cooperative behavior, cross-cultural adjustment and competence.