18. Theory of self-construals

Question 1

What does the mediation model attempt to do? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 1

Attempts to ‘unpackage’ the differences between and within cultures

Question 2

What are collectivism and individualism and what does it mean? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 2

• Cultural syndromes
• Reflective of attitudes, beliefs and norms around a central theme that are found among people of a specific characteristic e.g. geographical location or language

Question 3

What is a major issue with the mediation model? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 3

• Clusters of shared attitudes does not explain why these variables covary
• Characteristics may not cluster at an individual level

Question 4

Why did Markus & Kitayama (1991) develop the theory of self-construal? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 4

Attempted to understand the extent to which the self is defined independently of others or interdependently with others

Question 5

What do Eastern and Western cultures differ in? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 5

• Relative prevalence of indolence and interdependence of self-construals
• These can influence and determine the nature of individual experience

Question 6

What characteristics are shown through independent cultures? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 6

• Separate from social context
• Goal directed
• Self evaluation

Question 7

What characteristics are shown through interdependent cultures? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 7

• Connected to social context
• Belonging to a group
• Promoting others goals

Question 8

What are the three characteristics East-Asians (over americans) more likely to elicit? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 8

• Cognition (interpersonal knowledge)
• Emotion (hidden emotions)
• Motivation (self restraint)

Question 9

What are the two ways self-construals can be measured? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 9

• 20 statement test

- Likert scales

Question 10

What is a self-construal? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 10

The extent to which the self is defined as interdependently or independently of others

Question 11

What did Singelis & Sharkey (1995) find in relation to self control and embarrassability scale? (Self-construals Social)

Answer 11

• Asian-Americans more susceptible than Euro-Americans

- Asian-Americans reported less independent and more interdependence than Euro-Americans