University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
PSY 105 | General Psychology
Academic year:

2022
Views:

488

Pages:

2
Author:

Jithin J. I.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN SELF-ENHANCEMENT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS Introduction  Cultural differences in self-enhancement tendencies, especially in attributional self-enhancement, have been observed in various contexts, including sports. Newspaper Reports and Attributional Biases  Lee et al. (1996) analyzed newspaper reports about soccer matches from the US and Hong Kong, finding differences in attributions for team success. US reports focused more on dispositional attributions, while Hong Kong reports emphasized situational factors.  Aldridge and Islam (2012) found self-serving biases in Olympic athletes' attributions for success and failure in both Japanese and Australian newspapers, but there's inconsistency in these findings.  Heine and Hamamurra (2007) conducted a meta-analysis showing that Westerners tend to have stronger self-enhancement tendencies compared to East Asians. Culture and Self-Enhancement  Individuals with an independent self-construal are more likely to self-enhance and seek positive self-esteem, while those with an interdependent self-construal may prioritize maintaining "face" and social harmony.  "Face" refers to the social value granted by others when conforming to social standards, which is highly important in East Asian cultures. Feedback and Motivation  Feedback on performance can differently motivate individuals with independent and interdependent self-construals.  For independent individuals, positive feedback (success) may be more motivating as it increases self-esteem, while for interdependent individuals, negative feedback (potential disapproval by others) may be more motivating.  Self-enhancement motivation may be stronger in independent cultures, while selfimprovement motivation may be more motivating in East Asian contexts. Intrinsic Motivation and Freedom of Choice  Intrinsic motivation is influenced by freedom of choice. People are more motivated when they freely choose tasks.  Independent self-construal emphasizes agency and self-chosen actions, while interdependent self-construal emphasizes actions responsive to social expectations.  Studies show that freedom of choice enhances intrinsic motivation, but cultural differences may exist in how choice influences motivation. Cultural Differences in Self-Conscious Emotions  Kitayama et al. (2006) found differences in the frequency and intensity of selfconscious emotions between European Americans and Japanese participants.  Socially disengaging emotions (e.g., pride, anger) were more frequent and intense in European Americans, aligning with their emphasis on autonomy.  Socially engaging emotions (e.g., close feelings of pride) were more common in Japanese participants, reflecting their focus on relatedness and interdependence. Implications for Sports and Exercise  Cultural differences in self-enhancement and motivation may also apply to bodyrelated emotions (e.g., shame, pride, guilt) in sports and exercise contexts, but further research is needed to explore these connections.  Understanding how cultural variations in self-construal influence selfenhancement and motivation is crucial for working with athletes and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds in sports and exercise settings.