Culture and Self

Question 1

What is the Self?

Answer 1

Ideas or images that one has about oneself and how and why one behaves as one does

Question 2

Describe self construal as an automatic process.

Answer 2

• self categorisation theory (Turner, 1999)

- We see ourselves in terms of defining features of cultural groups –> these become internalised

Question 3

Describe self construal as a conscious process.

Answer 3

• Bem’s self perception theory (1967)

- gaining knowledge of ourselves by inferring attitudes from behaviours

Question 4

What is independent vs interdependent self construal theory?

Answer 4

The contents of Self vary between cultures, as it’s based on beliefs about the relationships between themselves and others.
The degree to which people see themselves as being separate from others or connected to them.

Question 5

What are the attributes of independent self construal?

Answer 5

• Individuals focus on personal attributes, which are publicly expressed. Social comparison present.

Question 6

What are the attributes of interdependent self construal?

Answer 6

• recognises the fundamental connection of human beings, the task is to fit in

Question 7

What are the two theories on multiple selves?

Answer 7

• Niedenthal and Beike (1997)
• -> existence of both interconnected and isolated Selves, not mutually exclusive
• Triandis theory of three Selves (1989)
• -> private, public and collective Selves all coexist

Question 8

Who founded independent vs interdependent self construal theory?

Answer 8

Markus and Kitayama, 1991

Question 9

What are the four assumptions Markus and Kitayama make?

Answer 9

• that the countries they tested are associated with the under lying self construal
• that the specified self construal is linked to the cognitive and behavioural consequences the theory states
• that the countries tested are associated with the underlying cultural dimensions necessary for the development of the self-construals
• that the cultures underlying the countries are associated with the specific self-construals.

Question 10

What are the critiques of Kitayama’s self construal theory?

Answer 10

• it was only tested in east Asia and America, yet the theory claims interdependent self construals exist in south America and Africa, where there is no data.
• studies that have tested the notion that Japan is interdependent and America is independent have found no difference between the two countries