Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Relationship Between Self-Enhancement and Attributions

Location

CSU 201

Start Date

25-4-2005 8:30 AM

End Date

25-4-2005 10:00 AM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Vinai Norasakkunkit

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

The tendency to externalize failure and internalize success is the core of attributional bias, otherwise known as the "self-serving bias" (Nisbet and Ross,1980). Evidence suggests that this attributional style is predominant in the West among non-depressed populations. In contrast, Wan and Bond (1982) found that for Chinese subjects in China, the attributional pattern was reversed. Previous evidence also suggests that self-serving biases are congruent with self-enhancing motives in the West (Heine, et al., 1999). Self-enhancement is the "tendency to maintain and enhance the overall evaluation of the self (Kitayama, et al., 1997). While self-enhancing tendencies can be found across various domains in the west, this tendency is conspicuously absent among subjects in East Asian cultures (Heine, et al., 1999). Since self-enhancing motives are strong in the west, this motive should influence attributional style, resulting in a strong positive correlation between selfenhancement and attributional style among American subjects. However, with a lack of evidence for self-enhancing motives in the East, it is reasonable not to expect any strong relationship between self-enhancement and attributional'style among Chinese. This study explored the relationship between attributional style and self-enhancement among Chinese students in China and American students in the United States. It is expected that the relationship between attributional style and selfenhancement will be significantly stronger among American students. Chinese and American participants completed the False Uniqueness Questionnaire (FUQ) and the Attribution Styles Questionnaire (ASQ). Analytical strategy will involve comparing the magnitudes of correlational results between self-enhancement and attributional style scores across cultural groups.

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Apr 25th, 8:30 AM Apr 25th, 10:00 AM

Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Relationship Between Self-Enhancement and Attributions

CSU 201

The tendency to externalize failure and internalize success is the core of attributional bias, otherwise known as the "self-serving bias" (Nisbet and Ross,1980). Evidence suggests that this attributional style is predominant in the West among non-depressed populations. In contrast, Wan and Bond (1982) found that for Chinese subjects in China, the attributional pattern was reversed. Previous evidence also suggests that self-serving biases are congruent with self-enhancing motives in the West (Heine, et al., 1999). Self-enhancement is the "tendency to maintain and enhance the overall evaluation of the self (Kitayama, et al., 1997). While self-enhancing tendencies can be found across various domains in the west, this tendency is conspicuously absent among subjects in East Asian cultures (Heine, et al., 1999). Since self-enhancing motives are strong in the west, this motive should influence attributional style, resulting in a strong positive correlation between selfenhancement and attributional style among American subjects. However, with a lack of evidence for self-enhancing motives in the East, it is reasonable not to expect any strong relationship between self-enhancement and attributional'style among Chinese. This study explored the relationship between attributional style and self-enhancement among Chinese students in China and American students in the United States. It is expected that the relationship between attributional style and selfenhancement will be significantly stronger among American students. Chinese and American participants completed the False Uniqueness Questionnaire (FUQ) and the Attribution Styles Questionnaire (ASQ). Analytical strategy will involve comparing the magnitudes of correlational results between self-enhancement and attributional style scores across cultural groups.

Recommended Citation

Kirkland, Jennifer. "Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Relationship Between Self-Enhancement and Attributions." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 25, 2005.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2005/oral-session-A/4