This essay focuses on a single American participant. The 3-year-old daughter can be put in the same room as the mother and father,
to reach quite different solutions. For example, here are two possible solutions: The 3-year-old daughter can be put in the same room as the mother and father, the 14-year-old daughter can share a room with the 8-year-old son, and the 15-year-old and 11-year-old sons can be together. A second arrangement is to put the father in a room with the 8-year-old son,
put the 15-year-old and 11-year-old sons together, and put the mother in a room with both the 3-year-old and 14-year-old daughters. These two arrangements were view as the best three-room solution by 47% of the Indian respondents (see Figure 5.8). In stark contrast, not a single American participant viewed either of these as the best three-room solution. Rather, 88% of the Americans considered this the best solution. The father and mother are put in one room, the two daughters share a room, and the three sons share a room.
as best 47% of the time (there were a number of other different arrangements that were view as best by a few participants). Given the same resources, the Indians and Americans tend to come up with different solutions. The different sleeping arrangements that were prefer between the two cultures tell us much about the underlying values of the cultures. The Indians seem to be guide by four moral principles in deciding which sleeping arrangements were appropriate. The most important principle they adhere to was incest avoidance.
of the family of the opposite sex should not sleep in rooms together. The second most important principle for the Indians was protection of the vulnerable. According to this principle, young children who are needy and vulnerable should not be leave alone at night. The principle that was third most important for the Indians was female chastity anxiety. The decisions make by Americans, in contrast, were govern by a rather different of principles. Westermarck, 1922).
Two other moral principles were adhere to by Americans. The second most important principle for them was the sacre couple, in which participants believe that married couples should be give their own space for emotional intimacy and sexual privacy. This principle, prize by many Westerners, is violate in many cultures. For example, a review by Whiting and Whiting (1979) found that in