Lecture 17: Choices, Autonomy and Culture

Question 1

Why is there a difference in the way that Americans and East Asians experience choice?

Answer 1

Because America = individualistic culture where people posses a model of themselves as fundamentally independent. Choices reflect uniqueness

East Asia: collectivistic culture, self is interdependent, choices to maintain harmony. Also expressing the self but their self is an interdependent self

Question 2

How did asian american and american kids differ in their performance related to choice?

Answer 2

American: did best when chose for self, did equally badly when chosen for them by either stranger or mother (on both performance and intrinsic motivation)

Asian: did best when chosen by mother, second best when chosen by self, and worst when chosen by stranger (on both performance and intrinsic motivation)

Question 3

What is a possible explanation for why the Asian American students responded well to the ingroup/mom choice condition and also the personal choice condition?

Answer 3

They are bicultural

Question 4

What was found when 5th graders in hong kong were assigned to personal choice or mother choice?

Answer 4

They actually felt more autonomous when their mother chose for them

Question 5

What is Iyengar’s hypothesis about choice?

Answer 5

choice overload hypothesis: Though appealing, having many options can lead to paralysis and lack of motivation

Question 6

What two things affect the impact of choice on motivation?

Answer 6

1. The number of options

2. Cultural background of the individual