Cultural Models

GB: Department of Anthropology and Cognitive Studies Initiative, Northern Illinois UniversityVcM: Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at New Paltz

"Bennardo and de Munck have produced a landmark work synthesizing an enormous range of material dealing with the concept of culture from a cognitive perspective. Through its brilliant and thoroughly up-to-date discussions of the history, methodology, and ethnographic application of cultural models theory, Cultural Models convincingly reaffirms the centrality of anthropology's culture concept for the social sciences." Bradd Shore, Goodrich C. White Professor,Director of MARIAL Center, Emory University"The authors summarize the current state of research in cultural modeling through the provision of an interdisciplinary review of the field and directives for research, a comprehensive discussion of mixed methods, assessment of empirical work in distinct world regions, and consideration of applied research and potentials. In the process they propose a coherent view of culture as a mechanism governing both human sociality and individual experience. With thisvolume they have effectively established ongoing progress in the cognitive study of culture and have clarified the relevance of cultural modeling for vital world problems and social issues. They offerconceptual and analytical foundations for future work that should enrich the interpretive significance of received models and enable scholars of diverse disciplines to advance intercultural understanding." Janet Dixon Keller, Professor Emerita, Anthropology, University of Illinois"The authors define cultural models research broadly to include quantitative as well as qualitative descriptions of shared mental representations. Their review of a wide range of such studies conducted throughout the world is very useful. I thought I knew about most cultural models research, but I learned about many more gems from reading this valuable compendium." Claudia Strauss, Pitzer College, Department of Anthropology

• Acknowledgements ; List of Figures and Tables ; Chapter 1: Introduction ; Chapter 2: The Development of Cultural Theory as Pertinent to a Cultural Model Approach ; Chapter 3: Structure and Culture in Mind: Genesis of Cultural Models ; Chapter 4: Methodology in Research about Cultural Models ; Chapter 5: North American Cultural Models ; Chapter 6: European Cultural Models ; Chapter 7: Native-American and Latino-American Cultural Models ; Chapter 8: Asian and Pacific Cultural Models ; Chapter 9: African Cultural Models ; Chapter 10: Applied Research on Cultural Model ; Chapter 11: Typology, Future Research, and Conclusion ; References ; Index