Conflict Among Ethnic Groups
Running head:
Ethnic Group Conflict: North and South Korea
Anne Solomon
Diversity and Cultural Factors in Psychology/PSY450
Professor Iman Turner
July 31, 2011
Ethnic Group Conflict: North and South Korea North Korea and South Korea have been at odds with each other for generations now. This has affected how each culture has developed from the other. North Korea is a strict communist regime, whereas South Korea is a republic. Conformity is different for each individual culture as well as social perception and cognition. What is considered conformity in one country may not be considered conformity in the other. However, in recent years there has been an attempt to reconcile the differences in the two domains. Leaders have met and tried to find ways to reconcile the tension between the two regions. The United States has intervened and as long as the communication remains open there may be some hope for some type of agreement. Furthermore, there are social perceptions that would need to be addressed before the conflict between the two groups is resolved. The similarities between the two countries may seem obvious. They share the same geographical regions, and as far as climate and population are concerned, they are about the same. The similarities end there however with North Korea is a communist country and South Korea is a republic. North Korea has strict rules and guidelines that must be followed and adhered to, while South Korea is not as strict. In North Korea, religion is strictly regulated, while in South Korea one can choose his or her religion. North Korea has very limited contact with the outside world through media outlets. What the people of North Korea see and hear is strictly controlled by the government. Until the end of World War II, Korea was a unified nation under the control of Japan. When the Japanese surrendered at the end of the war, Korea was divided into two separate countries, which was divided by the
Ethnic Group Conflict: North and South Korea
Anne Solomon
Diversity and Cultural Factors in Psychology/PSY450
Professor Iman Turner
July 31, 2011
Ethnic Group Conflict: North and South Korea North Korea and South Korea have been at odds with each other for generations now. This has affected how each culture has developed from the other. North Korea is a strict communist regime, whereas South Korea is a republic. Conformity is different for each individual culture as well as social perception and cognition. What is considered conformity in one country may not be considered conformity in the other. However, in recent years there has been an attempt to reconcile the differences in the two domains. Leaders have met and tried to find ways to reconcile the tension between the two regions. The United States has intervened and as long as the communication remains open there may be some hope for some type of agreement. Furthermore, there are social perceptions that would need to be addressed before the conflict between the two groups is resolved. The similarities between the two countries may seem obvious. They share the same geographical regions, and as far as climate and population are concerned, they are about the same. The similarities end there however with North Korea is a communist country and South Korea is a republic. North Korea has strict rules and guidelines that must be followed and adhered to, while South Korea is not as strict. In North Korea, religion is strictly regulated, while in South Korea one can choose his or her religion. North Korea has very limited contact with the outside world through media outlets. What the people of North Korea see and hear is strictly controlled by the government. Until the end of World War II, Korea was a unified nation under the control of Japan. When the Japanese surrendered at the end of the war, Korea was divided into two separate countries, which was divided by the
References: Kelman, H. (1958). Compliance, identification, and internalization: Three processes of attitude Change. Journal of Conflict Resolution (1)51-60. Lee, H. (2001) North Korea: A Strange Socialist Fortress. Greenwood Publishing Group. Politcal Conditions (2011). North Korea Country Review, 10-45. Retrieved from EBSCOhost July 26, 2011. (Shiraev E B Levy D A 2010 Cross-cultural psychology: Crtitcal thinking and contemporary applications)Shiraev, E. B., & Levy , D. A. (2010). Cross-cultural psychology: Critical thinking and contemporary applications (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.