Observing cultural difference - observing ourselves: a Bangladeshi woman becomes a mother

Observing families from cultures very different from our own can produce complex reactions, from fascination, shock and confusion, to a tendency to be dismissive or judgemental. Perhaps the difficulty in processing these kinds of affective reactions contributes to the tendency to see culture as OUTSIDE the person. Research tends to focus on ‘cultural differences’ or cultural practices for what they tell us about the social group that they define. Can we go beyond the observation of difference by making use of affective responses to learn more about how culture affects inner lives?