CBB Seminar | Social Seminar ~ Mohammed Atari, PhD, U Mass Amherst

Social Seminar ~ 

Mohammed Atari, Assistant Professor, U Mass, Amherst

Culture of Honor Revisited ~ The concept of a culture of honor—often associated with aggression, violence, and revenge—has long been recognized as a powerful force shaping behavior, relationships, and societal structures across diverse contexts. Many Middle Eastern and North African societies, in particular, have been labeled as classic examples of honor cultures. However, in this talk, I contend that much of what is commonly understood about honor cultures is incomplete—perhaps even inaccurate. I begin by presenting findings from a qualitative study on the concept of "Qeirat." I then present cross-cultural survey data, followed by a historical-psychological analysis tracing "Qeirat" over two millennia of Chinese history. I'll conclude by discussing the cultural evolution of honor cultures.

As with all the CBB and Social talks this semester we will be meeting on Thursdays, 12:00-1:15pm. Due to the ongoing construction in WJH Plaza, we have been assigned  CGIS South S010 Tsai Auditorium.