Impression Management and Cross-Cultural Adaption

Abstract

The relationship between impression management and cross-cultural adaptation was assessed. A sample of 112 individuals, 35 employees of a U.S.-based corporation and 77 undergraduate students, completed a packet of questionnaires containing M. Snyder's (1974) Self-Monitoring Scale, the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (D. L. Paulhus, 1988), the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (J. Meyers & C. Kelley, 1992), and the Cross-Cultural Interaction Inventory (T M. Yellen & S. J. Mumford, 1975). The individuals' scores on two impression management measures (the Self-Monitoring Scale and the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding) were found to be significantly correlated with responses on two cross-cultural adaptability measures (the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory and the Cross-Cultural Interaction Inventory). The results suggest that impression management tendencies may be related to the ability to adapt cross-culturally.