Which anthropologist focused on the relationship between culture and personality development in Samoa?

Which anthropologist focused on the relationship between culture and personality development in Samoa?

• A. Margaret Mead
• B. Mary Douglas Leakey
• C. Emile Durkheim
• D. Levy-Bruhl

Answer: (A)

The anthropologist who focused on the relationship between culture and personality development in Samoa is Margaret Mead. Mead's seminal work, particularly her study "Coming of Age in Samoa," explores how the cultural environment of Samoa influences the development of personality in adolescents. She emphasized that the socialization practices and cultural norms of the Samoan society contribute significantly to shaping individual personality traits, contrasting these with the more restrictive and stress-inducing contexts of Western cultures. Her research highlighted the interplay between culture and personal identity, suggesting that personality development cannot be separated from cultural influences. This pioneering approach helped establish the field of cultural anthropology and illustrated the importance of context in understanding human behavior and development.

The anthropologist who focused on the relationship between culture and personality development in Samoa is Margaret Mead. Mead's seminal work, particularly her study "Coming of Age in Samoa," explores how the cultural environment of Samoa influences the development of personality in adolescents. She emphasized that the socialization practices and cultural norms of the Samoan society contribute significantly to shaping individual personality traits, contrasting these with the more restrictive and stress-inducing contexts of Western cultures. Her research highlighted the interplay between culture and personal identity, suggesting that personality development cannot be separated from cultural influences. This pioneering approach helped establish the field of cultural anthropology and illustrated the importance of context in understanding human behavior and development.