Culture, and its Psychotherapeutic Influences on Emotions, Cognitions, and Motivations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47604/ijp.3241Keywords:
Culture, Psychotherapy, Cognition, Emotional well-being, MotivationAbstract
Purpose: This study explores the psychotherapeutic influences of culture on emotions, cognitions, and motivations. It emphasizes culture's role in shaping individual identity, well-being, and behavioral outcomes.
Methodology: The research involves a literature review focusing on cultural definitions, emotional development, motivational drivers, and their therapeutic applications.
Findings: Key findings reveal the dynamic and evolving nature of culture, its foundational role in shaping cognition and identity, and its impact on emotional and motivational processes. The study underscores the necessity of culturally competent psychotherapy to address diverse sociocultural challenges, foster therapeutic connections, and promote mental health.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study highlights the importance of understanding culture as a critical clinical discipline to better address its influence on individual and collective experiences.
Downloads
References
Anagnostopoulos, D. (2017). Bridging culture and psychopathology in mental health care. European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(2), 263–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0922-6
Bojuwoye, O., & Sodi, T. (2010). Challenges and opportunities to integrating traditional healing into counseling and psychotherapy. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 23(3), 283–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2010.505750
Brown, W. S., & Reimer, K. S. (2013). Embodied cognition, character formation, and virtue. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 48(3), 832–845. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12025
Colella, K. M., Gaeta, L., Friedland, E. B., Hudson, M. A., & Busacco, D. (2020). Being mindful of cultural and linguistic diversity in everyday practice. Audiology Today, 32(4), 28–34.
DeGraff, A. N., O’Neal, C. W., & Mancini, J. A. (2016). The significance of military contexts and culture for understanding family well-being: Parent life satisfaction and adolescent outcomes. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(10), 3022–3033. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0471-0
Denton, J. M., Esparza, S. D., Fike, D. S., & González, J. (2018). Improvements in cultural competence in athletic training and rehabilitative science students through classroom activities. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 25(1), 32–37.
Drinane, J. M., Owen, J., & Tao, K. W. (2018). Cultural concealment and therapy outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(2), 239–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000246
Edge, D., & Lemetyinen, H. (2019). Psychology across cultures: Challenges and opportunities. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 92(2), 261–276. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12229
Fernández-Dols, J.-M., Hurtado-de-Mendoza, A., & Jiménez-de-Lucas, I. (2004). Culture of peace: An alternative definition and its measurement. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 10(2), 117–124. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327949pac1002_3
Flynn, P. M., Betancourt, H., Emerson, N. D., Nunez, E. I., & Nance, C. M. (2020). Health professional cultural competence reduces the psychological and behavioral impact of negative healthcare encounters. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 26(3), 271–279. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000295
Garcia-Marques, L., & Ferreira, M. B. (2009). The scaffolded mind: The why of embodied cognition? European Journal of Social Psychology, 39(7), 1272–1275. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.694
Gutchess, A. H., & Goh, J. O. S. (2013). Refining concepts and uncovering biological mechanisms for cultural neuroscience. Psychological Inquiry, 24(1), 31–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840x.2013.765338
Henderson, R. (2020). What propels cancel culture? Human nature may lead people to magnify moral transgressions. Psychology Today, 53(2), 36–38.
Holstein, J., Liedberg, G. M., Suarez-Balcazar, Y., & Kjellberg, A. (2020). Clinical relevance and psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the cultural competence assessment instrument. Occupational Therapy International, 2020, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2453239
Ignatow, G. (2009). Culture and embodied cognition: Moral discourses in internet support groups for overeaters. Social Forces, 88(2), 643–669. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0262
James, S., & Foster, G. (2003). Narratives and culture: “Thickening” the self for cultural psychotherapy. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 23(1), 62–79. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0091228
Kirby, J. N., Sampson, H., Day, J., Hayes, A., & Gilbert, P. (2019). Human evolution and culture in relationship to shame in the parenting role: Implications for psychology and psychotherapy. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 92(2), 238–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12223
Kuška, M., Trnka, R., Tavel, P., Constantino, M. J., Angus, L., & Moertl, K. (2016). The role of cultural beliefs and expectations in the treatment process: Clients’ reflections following individual psychotherapy. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 31(3), 259–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2014.1001354
Lakes, K., López, S. R., & Garro, L. C. (2006). Cultural competence and psychotherapy: Applying anthropologically informed conceptions of culture. Psychotherapy, 43(4), 380–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.380
Lee, H. J., Oh, H. G., & Park, S. M. (2020). Do trust and culture matter for public service motivation development? Evidence from public sector employees in Korea. Public Personnel Management, 49(2), 290–323. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091026019869738
Liden, R. C., Wayne, S. J., Liao, C., & Meuser, J. D. (2014). Servant leadership and serving culture: Influence on individual and unit performance. Academy of Management Journal, 57(5), 1434–1452. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.0034
Lorrimar, V. (2019). Mind uploading and embodied cognition: A theological response. Zygon, 54(1), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12481
Martin, T. E., Parker, L. M., & Mugambi, C. M. (2019). The impact of an international medical mission trip on the cultural competency of healthcare providers. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 26(2), 76–51.
Oyserman, D., & Lee, S. W. S. (2008). Does culture influence what and how we think? Effects of priming individualism and collectivism. Psychological Bulletin, 134(2), 311–342. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.2.311
Ren, H., & Gray, B. (2009). Repairing relationship conflict: How Violation types and culture influence the effectiveness of restoration rituals. Academy of Management Review, 34(1), 105–126. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2009.35713307
Sato, T. (1998). Agency and communion: The relationship between therapy and culture. Cultural Diversity and Mental Health, 4(4), 278–290. https://doi.org/10.1037/1099-9809.4.4.278
Schaaf, M., Bakker, A., & ten Cate, O. (2019). When I say … embodied cognition. Medical Education, 53(3), 219–220. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13678
Walle, E. A., & Dahl, A. (2020). Definitions matter for studying emotional development. Developmental Psychology, 56(4), 837–840. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000887
White, C. (2004). Culture, influence, and the “I-ness” of me: Commentary on papers by Susan Bodnar, Gary B. Walls, and Steven Botticelli. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 14(5), 653–691. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481880409353131
Winchester, D. (2016). A hunger for God: Embodied metaphor as cultural cognition in action. Social Forces, 95(2), 585–606. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/sow065
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Farah Haq

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.