Beyond the 'East-West' dichotomy: Global variation in cultural models of selfhood
Author(s)
Date
2016Source Title
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
Print ISSN
0096-3445
Publisher
American Psychological Association Inc.
Volume
145
Issue
8
Pages
966 - 1000
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
528
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2,501
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Abstract
Markus and Kitayama's (1991) theory of independent and interdependent self-construals had a major influence on social, personality, and developmental psychology by highlighting the role of culture in psychological processes. However, research has relied excessively on contrasts between North American and East Asian samples, and commonly used self-report measures of independence and interdependence frequently fail to show predicted cultural differences. We revisited the conceptualization and measurement of independent and interdependent self-construals in 2 large-scale multinational surveys, using improved methods for cross-cultural research. We developed (Study 1: N = 2924 students in 16 nations) and validated across cultures (Study 2: N = 7279 adults from 55 cultural groups in 33 nations) a new 7-dimensional model of self-reported ways of being independent or interdependent. Patterns of global variation support some of Markus and Kitayama's predictions, but a simple contrast between independence and interdependence does not adequately capture the diverse models of selfhood that prevail in different world regions. Cultural groups emphasize different ways of being both independent and interdependent, depending on individualism-collectivism, national socioeconomic development, and religious heritage. Our 7-dimensional model will allow future researchers to test more accurately the implications of cultural models of selfhood for psychological processes in diverse ecocultural contexts. © 2016 American Psychological Association.
Keywords
CultureIndependence-interdependence
Self-construals
adolescent
cultural anthropology
cultural factor
female
human
individuality
male
personality
psychology
self concept
student
young adult
Adolescent
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Culture
Female
Humans
Individuality
Male
Personality
Self Concept
Students
Young Adult
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/11693/36711Published Version (Please cite this version)
https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000175Collections
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