Examine how marital practices are similar and different between India and America, as well as to apply theoretical perspectives to arranged marriage.

Assignment Directions:
You are a developmental psychologist who has been tasked with exploring arranged marriage in Indian culture.

Your goal is to examine how marital practices are similar and different between India and America, as well as to apply theoretical perspectives to arranged marriage.

STEP 1
Assigned Documentary: A Suitable Girl

Watch the assigned documentary “A Suitable Girl.” As a PSCC student, you have FREE access to Kanopy, which is where you will access the documentary:

1. Go to this link:
https://pstcc.kanopy.com/video/suitablegirl
2. Kanopy will open. Click the “log in” box in the top right corner.

3. If you do not have an account already, click the small text at the top that says “Don’t have an account yet? Get started”

4. Set up an account. Use only your PSCC email address. (your @pstcc.edu email address). Any password you choose will work.
5. Once you are logged in, Kanopy should bring you back to the initial video. If not, close the page and click the link again (without logging out).

STEP 2
Develop your Assignment:

Open a Word document and set it to doublespacing, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.

Discuss how family is involved in the process of arranged marriage: Which family is involved in the process? Whose voices are heard, and whose voices are NOT heard?

Based on your observations from the documentary, compare and contrast how arranged marriage is both different from and similar to how marriage occurs in the United States.

Apply Erikson’s psychosocial theory, to arranged marriage, using Stages 1, 5, and 6. (Chapters 4, 10, and 11, respectively)

Explain how you believe Stage 1 (trust vs. mistrust) is related to arranged marriage? How is this crisis resolved (or not resolved) in the Indian culture?

Explain how you believe Stage 5 (identity vs. role confusion) is affected by the situations you saw in the film. How is this crisis resolved in the Indian culture?

Explain how you believe Stage 6 (intimacy vs. isolation) is affected by what you saw in the film. How is this crisis resolved in the Indian culture?

Identify and apply TWO (2) types of love you saw demonstrated/evolve in the film, in accordance with Sternberg’s triangular theory of love. Identify and apply at least TWO forms of love; more are welcome. (FREE Social Psychology eBook provided as a resource)

Refer to chapter 4 in your textbook: Using the cognitive term working model, explain what marriage means in Indian culture. Describe how this differs from how marriage is viewed in the United States.

Refer to chapter 13 in your textbook: Examine Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Discuss which needs you believe are unmet in the arranged marriages shown in the film. According to arranged marriages in Indian culture, which needs seem to be prioritized the most?

Discuss which woman’s story (Dipti, Amrita, and/or Ritu) affected you the most. Explain why you were affected the most by that womans story.

Examine how marital practices are similar and different between India and America, as well as to apply theoretical perspectives to arranged marriage.
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