Conducting research on social interactions.
Let’s think like global psychologists conducting research on social interactions. Think of a recent situation where you had to encounter new people. What did you notice about the different interactions that took place? Did you speak to strangers in the room? Did you not? What influenced this decision? Consider your worldview, ethnicity/cultural background (including religion, sexuality and gender) in this scenario.
Sample Answer
I recently attended a conference where I had to interact with many new people. I noticed that the interactions were very different depending on the cultural background of the people involved. For example, people from some cultures were more likely to make eye contact and smile, while people from other cultures were more likely to stand further apart and avoid eye contact. I also noticed that people from different cultures had different expectations about how conversations should be initiated and maintained. For example, people from some cultures were more likely to ask personal questions, while people from other cultures were more likely to stick to small talk.
I did not speak to strangers in the room, because I was not sure how they would react. I am from a culture where it is not customary to speak to strangers, and I did not want to make anyone uncomfortable. I also considered my gender and sexuality in this scenario. I am a woman, and I am aware that some people may be uncomfortable talking to a woman they do not know.