Graduation Year

2023

Date of Submission

4-2023

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Reader 1

Professor Shana Levin, Ph.D.

Abstract

This research is a comprehensive exploration of the intricate concept of honor and its implications for psychology, culture, and society. This study recognizes that honor is a complex and multifaceted construct that varies in meaning across different cultural contexts. Despite the existence of frameworks that attempt to delineate and categorize different dimensions of honor and honor cultures, they fall short of encapsulating the dynamic nature of honor. Therefore, this research argues that group honor codes represented by political or national honor goes beyond traditional gendered honor codes represented by masculine and feminine honor. Political or national honor is especially relevant in collectivist cultures, where individual honor is embedded in a larger national or collective identity. The study aims to explore this dimension of honor and how it interacts with other dimensions to shape individual behavior and social dynamics. The research employs a transdisciplinary approach that draws on literature from various fields such as social psychology, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. It addresses significant questions regarding the role of honor in promoting social cohesion, the cultural significance of honor, and how emotional reactions to honor vary across cultures. Furthermore, the study examines the influence of power and privilege on the appreciation and comprehension of honor in diverse cultural contexts. Specifically, the study recognizes that honor is intrinsically linked to power, privilege, and identity. This thesis contributes to a more holistic framework that recognizes the heterogeneous ways in which honor is valued and understood across cultures.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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