Culture: Human Relationships (DP IB Psychology: HL): Exam Questions

Source 2

A study investigated the effectiveness of self-disclosure as a strategy for improving relationship satisfaction across cultures.

• 120 romantic couples (60 from an individualistic culture; 60 from a collectivist culture)

• Couples completed a guided self-disclosure task once per week for four weeks

• Relationship satisfaction was measured using a standardised questionnaire (scores 0–100) with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction

The findings are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Mean relationship satisfaction scores after self-disclosure intervention.

Analyse the findings from source 2 and state a conclusion linked to the claim that culture influences the effectiveness of strategies to improve interpersonal relationships.

Source 3

Focus group interviews with adults from four cultural backgrounds explored how culture influences perceptions of what makes communication “effective” in relationships. Participants discussed conflict resolution, emotional expression, and relationship maintenance.

A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified the following themes:

• Participants from individualistic cultures emphasised open emotional expression and honesty

• Participants from collectivist cultures prioritised harmony, emotional restraint, and indirect communication

• Some participants reported that strategies learned from Western relationship advice were “uncomfortable” or “disruptive”

• Bicultural participants described adapting strategies depending on cultural context

Discuss how the researcher could avoid bias in source 3.

To what extent can we conclude that culture influences the effectiveness of strategies for improving interpersonal relationships? In your answer, use your own knowledge and at least three of sources 2–5 (opens in a new tab).