Culture, self, and meaning

Abstract

In this highly informative and interdisciplinary exploration of the relationship between culture and psyche, de Munck provides a substantive introduction to pertinent issues, theory, and empirical studies that lie at the junction of psychology, sociology, and anthropology. This engagingly written text reviews various approaches to such questions as: Where is culture located—inside or outside the head? What is the self—is there a single, unified self or do many selves inhabit the body? Do institutional structures form to meet our needs—or are our everyday lives simply a result of institutional structures? What is meaning and how do we study it? de Munck’s examination of these different approaches illuminates the importance of the topic, expands readers’ understanding of human life, and points to psychological anthropology’s relevance in affecting public policies.