Discuss one or more effects of the interaction of local and global influences on behaviour.

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term "discuss" requires candidates to offer a considered review of the effects of the interaction of local and global influences on behaviour.

Behaviour in this instance may include attitudes, identities or any other accepted behaviour. Candidates may discuss the effect of the interaction of local and global influences on specific aspects of human behaviour or address behaviour in general. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

Relevant studies on the effects of the interaction of local and global influences on behaviour may include, but are not limited to:

• Verma and Saraswathi’s (2002) study on bicultural identity that combines local identity with an identity linked to global culture
• Arnett’s (2002) study on identity confusion where people find themselves at home in neither the local culture nor the global culture
• Hermans and Dimaggio’s (2007) study on conceptualization of self in which global and local voices are involved in continuous interchanges and negotiations
• Morris et al.’s (2011) study on the exposure to situations mixing foreign and heritage cultures which may lead to closure response
• Chiu and Cheng’s (2007) study on how simultaneous activation of cultural representations may facilitate creative performance
• Chen et al.’s (2008) study on bicultural identity integration as an important antecedent of beneficial psychological outcomes
• Berry’s (1987) study on acculturative stress.

Critical discussion may include but is not limited to:

• methodological and ethical considerations such as how the effects of the interaction of local and global influences are measured
• the extent and the limitations of the interaction of local and global influences on behaviour
• to what extent do people develop a bicultural identity with one identity rooted in the local culture and one based in the global culture (acculturation)
• whether identity confusion is related to cultural distance from the global culture
• the importance of studying self on three levels: individual, local and global.

This was the essay that candidates struggled the most with and it was clear that most who attempted it were ill-prepared. Stronger responses to this question were in the minority but were able to explicitly address the key focus of the question, which was the effects of the interaction of local and global influences on behaviour. Such responses made reference to appropriate studies investigating the required interaction and went on to provide a well-developed and balanced discussion on how this interaction influences behaviour. Weaker responses were unable to show a clear understanding of the interaction aspect and focused on research that investigated only globalization, acculturation or enculturation. Many candidates gave studies about 'learning local culture' through the process of social learning and/or studies referring to 'global culture' or acculturation. Therefore, the interaction aspect of the question was completely ignored.