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Cultural diversity

Illustration of a nurse pouring a drink for a seated man at a table with flowers and books.

Cultural diversity

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What we lose by being overly scientific about healthcare

Empirical studies tell us about treatment outcomes, but they overlook the cultural dynamics that can help us feel better

by Ana Todorović

Photo of a busy night street market with people and colourful tricycles in the Philippines, lit by street lights and signage.

Communication and language

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The tentacles of language are always on the move

An evolutionary biologist explains how human language can shift as slowly or rapidly as organisms adapting to life on Earth

by Klaus M Stiefel

Clay sculpture of a standing female figure with folded arms against a dark background, worn and aged with visible markings

History of emotions

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To ancient Assyrians, the liver was the seat of happiness

Cutting-edge computational techniques are shedding light on how the emotional experiences of past cultures compare to ours

by Juha Lahnakoski & Ellie Bennett

People at a rally holding flags and banners with various languages, advocating for voting rights and unity, standing behind a barrier on a city street.

Community

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Does embracing local customs help immigrants feel at home?

Moving from Belgrade to Toronto, learning the social ‘rules’ fostered my sense of belonging. But there’s an important caveat

by Ljiljana Radenović

Two traditional-style pagodas in a grassy field under a blue sky with scattered clouds, with mist and mountains in the background.

Rituals and celebrations

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Together forever: ‘at-home burial’ in southern Vietnam

What might a traveller along the Mekong Delta learn about the beliefs and traditions behind the country’s elevated tombs?

by Gina Elia

A muslim woman in a colourful orange sari reaches up to touch a decorative panel above a shrine

Mental health across cultures

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Why a Sufi approach to healing mental illness is so powerful

In Sufi shrines, rituals offer sufferers a path beyond the fear and isolation of their mental distress

by Bhrigupati Singh

Two men near a graffiti-covered wall with chipped paint, one standing and gesturing, the other sitting on the pavement.

Cultural diversity

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Cultural differences are far more nuanced than East vs West

It’s simply not the case that ‘Eastern’ cultures are relationally-minded, while ‘Western’ societies are individualistic

by Matt Huston

Bas-relief showing scenes of interrogation and torture, featuring restrained figures and text describing the use of plastic bags and water dunking to terrify victims.

Cognitive and behavioural therapies

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CBT is the ‘gold standard’, but is that just for white people?

CBT is supported by a strong evidence base. However, effective cultural adaptation of the therapy is a work in progress

by Shayla Love

A bustling plant market with numerous people shopping and mingling, surrounded by various stalls and potted plants.

Civic life

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The surprising way to tackle prejudice in the real world

The good news is there are many effective anti-prejudice interventions, but the most promising remains relatively unknown

by Wing Hsieh

Aerial view of a mountain range with rugged terrain, valleys and ridges under a hazy sky.

Cultural diversity

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The Quechua idea ‘pacha’ urges us beyond narrow self-concern

The Quechua term ‘pacha’ embodies an Andean worldview that sees everything as related, transcending narrow self-interest

by Jorge Sanchez Perez

Crowd celebrating with vintage car, confetti, and food in foreground; reflections in glass show people, decorations, and American flags.

Race and ethnicity

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If racial identity can be fluid, who changes their race?

Understanding how individuals change their self-described race helps us decode racial dynamics in the US and beyond

by Alexander Agadjanian

A crying baby being held by an adult near a large costumed figure with a moustache during a festival.

Mind and brain

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Why do we make snap judgments based on facial appearance?

Even snap judgments that appear at a very early age can be inculcated by the imagery and messages shared within a culture

by Richard Cook & Harriet Over