Psychology and Globalization: Understanding a Complex Relationship

Globalization is both a process and product; the globalization process and product are reciprocally determined; the primary drivers of globalization are all events, forces, and changes that are transnational, transcultural, and transborder, especially: capital flow, ownership, trade, telecommunications, transportation, political and military alliances, and international agencies (Marsella, 1997, 2001).

Possible outcomes for societies (Pieterse, 2004):
Cultural differences may never be resolved leading to states of constant tension and conflict.
“McDonaldization,” in which Western corporations impose a uniform or homogenized global culture rooted within Western values, priorities, and life styles.
“Hybridization,” in which Western globalizations processes and products interact with traditional processes and products in an ongoing process of mixing and generating new patterns with neither side of the interaction dominating.