Richard E. Nisbett and Takahiko Masuda explore cultural differences in how East Asians and Westerners perceive and think about the world. Westerners tend to focus on specific objects, analyzing their attributes and categorizing them to find rules governing their behavior, often using formal logic. In contrast, East Asians focus on a broader perceptual and conceptual field, noticing relationships and changes, and grouping objects based on family resemblance rather than strict categories. Causal attributions in Western thought often focus on the object itself, while East Asians emphasize context and social factors. This difference is rooted in social practices and structures. East Asians live in complex social networks with prescribed role relations, making attention to context crucial for effective functioning. Westerners, living in less constrained social environments, can focus on objects and their goals. The physical environment also influences perception, with East Asian environments being more complex and containing more objects, while Western environments are simpler. Cultural differences in art also reflect these perceptual differences. Eastern art emphasizes the field and de-emphasizes individual objects, while Western art focuses on individual objects. These differences extend to cognitive processes such as causal attribution, logic, and categorization. East Asians are more likely to use dialectical principles and consider context, while Westerners rely more on logic and rules. Social structure and practices influence these cognitive differences. East Asians emphasize role relations and social harmony, while Westerners value individualism and autonomy. These differences are reflected in everyday behaviors, such as how people describe themselves and perceive the environment. East Asians are more likely to describe themselves in relation to others and the environment, while Westerners focus on personal traits and goals. The research highlights that these cognitive and perceptual differences are influenced by social and environmental factors. The built environment, artistic products, and social practices all contribute to these differences. The study suggests that these differences are not just cultural but are deeply rooted in social structures and practices, affecting how people perceive and interact with the world.Richard E. Nisbett and Takahiko Masuda explore cultural differences in how East Asians and Westerners perceive and think about the world. Westerners tend to focus on specific objects, analyzing their attributes and categorizing them to find rules governing their behavior, often using formal logic. In contrast, East Asians focus on a broader perceptual and conceptual field, noticing relationships and changes, and grouping objects based on family resemblance rather than strict categories. Causal attributions in Western thought often focus on the object itself, while East Asians emphasize context and social factors. This difference is rooted in social practices and structures. East Asians live in complex social networks with prescribed role relations, making attention to context crucial for effective functioning. Westerners, living in less constrained social environments, can focus on objects and their goals. The physical environment also influences perception, with East Asian environments being more complex and containing more objects, while Western environments are simpler. Cultural differences in art also reflect these perceptual differences. Eastern art emphasizes the field and de-emphasizes individual objects, while Western art focuses on individual objects. These differences extend to cognitive processes such as causal attribution, logic, and categorization. East Asians are more likely to use dialectical principles and consider context, while Westerners rely more on logic and rules. Social structure and practices influence these cognitive differences. East Asians emphasize role relations and social harmony, while Westerners value individualism and autonomy. These differences are reflected in everyday behaviors, such as how people describe themselves and perceive the environment. East Asians are more likely to describe themselves in relation to others and the environment, while Westerners focus on personal traits and goals. The research highlights that these cognitive and perceptual differences are influenced by social and environmental factors. The built environment, artistic products, and social practices all contribute to these differences. The study suggests that these differences are not just cultural but are deeply rooted in social structures and practices, affecting how people perceive and interact with the world.