The chapters of this book are written by seasoned scientists who have devoted most of their research careers to cross-cultural or cultural psychology. Many achievements are reported and for good reasons. Over the last half century the field has grown in methodological and theoretical sophistication and a large number of empirical studies have been conducted. More important, the field has contributed greatly to the now widely held conviction that cultural context matters a great deal for human behaviour, including its covert aspects, such as thoughts, meanings and values.

The overall tone of the volume is positive, as was to be expected from researchers who often have contributed extensively to the topics they describe. This does not imply complacency; most chapters contain critical comments and all of them portray the need for further development. For example, Bond (this volume), who radiates an infectious enthusiasm, also describes as unfinished his long-term voyage from a Canadian background into Chinese culture. A few others like Jahoda (this volume) and Eckensberger (this volume) raise broader criticisms on the current state of the field. For reasons to be explained further on I tend to share such uneasiness.