Understanding Conflict: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Latin America, China and Europe (2024-2025)

Background

Latin America suffers from some of the highest levels of interpersonal violence in the world. Despite the prevalence of violence and conflict in the region, most research on the psychology of conflict and its resolution has been based on samples from Western cultures. When cultural difference has been taken into consideration, the focus has been on comparisons between East Asian and Western populations.

To begin to fill this knowledge gap, researchers must examine what situations escalate to conflicts in Latin America compared to other parts of the world and how people from Latin American cultural contexts approach the resolution of conflict relative to people from other cultures. This research will provide crucial insights into new training for culturally informed conflict resolution.

Project Description

This project team will take a cross-cultural approach to understanding cultural differences in responses to conflict, comparing Latin American, European and Chinese populations. The team’s findings will provide crucial insights into what events can escalate into conflict as well as how to best approach the resolution of conflict in Latin America.

Team members will survey participants in two countries in Latin America that have high rates of violent conflict (Mexico and Colombia) and one country that has lower rates of violent conflict (Chile) to examine both regional and country variation across levels of conflict severity. 

The team will then compare these participants to individuals from European majority cultures high in conflict (Ukraine) and lower in conflict (European American/White participants United States), as well as a sample from East Asia (China).

As part of the study, participants will describe the most severe conflict they experienced, how the conflict ended and what emotions they felt. Team members will then code the data and categorize the situations in which conflict was experienced into distinct themes. After the data has been coded, team members will test for cultural differences in the themes. 

This project, no matter the results, will yield important insights into cultural similarities and differences in what escalates to a conflict as well as how conflict resolution is approached across cultures. These findings will form a foundation to later develop culturally informed training on conflict resolution in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Moreover, the method may be expanded to understand survivors of direct violence in Colombia and examine conflict in other groups.

Anticipated Outputs

Comparison data on conflict in Latin America; culturally informed conflict training in partnership with PAHO; grant applications related to culture and conflict

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this project team will include 2 graduate/professional students and 7 undergraduate students with interests in psychology, public policy, philosophy, cultural anthropology, sociology and international relations – including Latin American and Asian studies. Students with Mandarin language skills are particularly in need to aid the translation of the studies in China.

Initially, the team will meet weekly to discuss project goals, conduct literature reviews and submit an IRB application. Students will then break into three subteams to translate the survey and finalize the coding scheme. Once data is collected, the team will begin coding and data analysis to prepare findings conference presentations and publication. 

Team members will gain skills in conducting scientific literature reviews, qualitative coding, quantitative data analysis, and preparing conference posters and presentations. 

All interested students may submit their work to present at the Associate for Psychological Science conference and PAHO in May 2025.

Timing

Fall 2024 – Summer 2025

  • Fall 2024: Seek IRB approval; translate materials; conduct literature review; pre-register study; conduct survey online; conduct qualitative coding
  • Spring 2025: Finish qualitative coding; analyze data; prepare posters and present research at APS conference; present outputs for PAHO; prepare manuscript for publication
  • Summer 2025 (optional): Possibility to attend the Association for Psychological Science conference (May 22-25) and PAHO in Washington, D.C.

Crediting

Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters; summer funding available

Heads.

Team Leaders

  • Cristina Salvador, Arts & Science-Psychology & Neuroscience
  • Xinyu Pan, Arts & Sciences-Psychology & Neuroscience

/yfaculty/staff Team Members

  • Felipe De Brigard, Arts & Sciences-Philosophy