Cultural Psychology: Exploring Wisdom Across Cultures And Religions

Wisdom is a broad term that is often thought to encompass ideas such as knowledge, life experiences, outlook, and more. As a concept, wisdom has been studied and discussed for millennia, and a number of philosophies, religions, and branches of science have attempted to define and categorize it. Many researchers believe that cultural differences can shape ideas about what wisdom is or how to cultivate it. In this article, we’ll explore whether wisdom varies across cultures and religions. We’ll also discuss some of the ways wisdom may be categorized and understood.

How do we define wisdom?

You may have heard the term “wisdom” used to describe knowledge or advice, but pinpointing a precise definition may be challenging. This could be partly attributed to the differing definitions of wisdom based on context, culture, and other factors. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, wisdom can be defined as “knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life,” “the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand,” or “knowledge of what is proper or reasonable.” 

Meanwhile, researchers have attempted to find a more precise definition of wisdom. For instance, the Encyclopedia of Geropsychology defines wisdom as “a complex construct that combines cognitive components, such as broad and deep knowledge, and noncognitive components such as emotion regulation competencies and openness to new ideas and experiences.” Other possible features of wisdom have also been proposed, such as the ability to reflect on one’s experiences and learn from one’s mistakes.

Ways of examining wisdom

Beyond working to identify which traits are shared by wise people, researchers, scholars, and philosophers have also proposed a variety of frameworks for explaining wisdom. One approach may be to distinguish between different types of wisdom, such as:

• Practical wisdom: Originally explored in ancient Greek philosophy, practical wisdom, or “phronesis,” may be defined as wisdom that can be applied to practical situations, including the use of good judgment to make everyday decisions. 
• Personal wisdom: Personal wisdom may be defined as wisdom that is relevant to an individual’s own experiences or insight that they might use when addressing situations in their own life. 
• General wisdom: In contrast to personal wisdom, general wisdom may refer to the wisdom that a person might use to address situations in other people’s lives. This type of wisdom may not be developed through their own personal experiences.

Researchers have also proposed various frameworks for categorizing the different aspects of wisdom, such as the pursuit of knowledge or new life experiences. The three-dimensional wisdom scale is one example of such a framework. It separates wisdom into three distinct “wisdom dimensions”:

• Reflective: The reflective dimension of wisdom may encompass a person’s desire to understand why things are the way they are.
• Cognitive: The cognitive dimension of wisdom may refer to an individual’s ability to question their own beliefs, explore multiple points of view, or learn from their mistakes and experiences.
• Affective: The affective dimension of wisdom may be defined as a person’s ability to show compassion toward others. 

Methodologies for measuring and analyzing wisdom continue to evolve. Other tools have been proposed, including the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS), the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE), and the Situated Wise Reasoning Scale (SWIS). Still, there is no single, all-encompassing model for quantifying wisdom. 

Do culture and religion affect conceptions of wisdom?

Now that we’ve looked at a few of the frameworks that may be used to examine wisdom, we’ll explore whether the concept of wisdom might vary based on culture or religion. This has been a topic of research in the realms of cultural psychology and human development. 

A 2019 cross-cultural comparison discovered “ in scholarly and cross-cultural folk concepts, which suggests that wisdom involves certain aspects of pragmatic reasoning…” However, the study also found that different cultural perspectives and belief systems may place different levels of emphasis on the social aspects of wisdom. According to the study, those from more individualistic cultures may tie wisdom more closely to personal experiences than interpersonal ones. 

Wisdom And Mental Health

In addition to studies on wisdom in a cultural context, a variety of studies have also been conducted on wisdom’s relationship to mental health, physical health, and life satisfaction. One such study found that wisdom in older age may be associated with improved psychological and physical well-being. 

Therapy may be an effective strategy for those interested in exploring the realm of wisdom and mental health in more detail. Speaking with a licensed therapist may provide an opportunity to discuss your beliefs and emotions or to gain insight into your thought patterns, worldviews, and ways of managing difficult situations.

If you’re interested in speaking with a therapist but don’t have time for traditional in-office therapy, you might consider online therapy, which numerous studies have found to be effective. A 2017 study found online cognitive behavioral therapy to be a useful form of treatment for various mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder.