Books by Lisa Vaughn

Guatemala - Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

by Russell Maddicks, Lisa Vaughn

The largest and most populous Central American country, Guatemala is a land of contrasts and contradictions. It offers great physical beauty alongside ancient Mayan ruins and is unique in Central America in that more than half its population is of indigenous origin. Today the country reflects a combination of its ancient Mayan heritage, Spanish colonialism, and modern Western influence. Culture Smart! Guatemala introduces you to the complexities of Guatemalan society and shows how history has shaped the values and attitudes that you will encounter. It describes different aspects of Guatemalan life, from festivals and cuisine to socializing and doing business. This new and updated edition provides key insights into the minds and hearts of Guatemalans today and offers practical advice on how to make the most of your visit while being an informed and considerate guest.

Psychology and Culture Thinking, Feeling, and Behaving in Global Contexts

by Lisa Vaughn

With increasing globalization, countries face social, linguistic, religious and other cultural changes that can lead to misunderstandings in a variety of settings. These changes can have broader implications across the world, leading to changing dynamics in identity, gender, relationships, family, and community. This book addresses the subsequent need for a basic understanding of the cultural dimensions of psychology and their application to everyday settings.

The book discusses the basis of culture and presents related theories and concepts, including a description of how cognition and behavior are influenced by different sociocultural contexts. The text explores a broad definition of culture and provides practical models to improve intercultural relations, communication, and cultural competency.

Each chapter contains an introduction, a concise overview of the topic, a practical application of the topic using current global examples, and a brief summary. This up to date overview of psychology and culture is ideal reading for undergraduate and graduate students and academics interested in culturally related topics and issues.