Perception of achievement attribution in individual and group contexts: Comparative analysis of Japanese, Korean, and Asian‐American results

Abstract

The present study focuses on the relational dynamics between individual and group attributions and examines cultural variations of people's perceptions of self‐enhancing and group‐enhancing attributions. Middle school students in Japan, Korea and the USA (Hawaii) were asked to read a vignette and to evaluate the stimulus person who makes an internal or external attribution for his personal or team's success. The results revealed that: (i) the self‐effacing attributor was perceived as likable by the participants from all three cultures, but as less self‐confident by Asian‐Americans; and (ii) although Japanese and Koreans share similar cultural backgrounds, they had different preferences for the group‐enhancing or group‐effacing attributions. The different systems of self‐enhancement across cultures are discussed.