The Center for Cross-Cultural Research, a part of the Department of Psychology at Western Washington University, was founded in 1969 by Robert Meade (director) and Walter J. Lonner.The Center was started in response to the Euro-American biases in psychological theory, research, and practical applications that were common at that time.The Center’s mission is to promote the scientific study of and education about cultural influences on human psychological functioning.

The Center has been connected to the development of two important institutions involved in the growth of Cross-Cultural psychology: the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology and the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology. The Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology (JCCP) is the most visible and continuous contribution that the Department of Psychology and the Center have made to psychology on an international scale.  JCCP was inaugurated in 1970, one year after the Center was established, and became affiliated with the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) in 1972. Primarily through CCCR’s historical connection with the JCCP, it has been closely tied to IACCP’s organization of some 700 psychologists from about 75 countries. In 1998, CCCR hosted the 14th International Congress of IACCP, which was also the association's Silver Jubilee conference. Separate information about IACCP, including its publications and how to join at either regular or student rates, can be found at the IACCP website. Since 2004, by contract, JCCP has been published by Sage Publications for the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology in cooperation with the Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology Subscription and related information

Since 1969, there have been many significant developments regarding the influence of culture in all aspects of psychological functioning. Through the collective activities of its associates, the Center has made substantial contributions to this growth. It is unusual for a Psychology Department to have so many of its faculty interested in the broad area concerning culture's influence on behavior; this interest certainly indicates the increasing importance that psychologists place on culture and ethnicity in their thinking and research. Associates of the Center have spent significant periods of time in countries throughout the world, often on sabbatical leaves or supported by special grants such as Fulbright awards. Several associates of the Center are members of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) and have been officers in that association.

Above image: Western Washington University campus.