Cross-cultural Differences In Perception Research Articles

Cross-Cultural Differences in Perception of Facial Trustworthiness Based on Geometric Morphometric Morphs

We report on an experimental study that explores cross-cultural differences in perception of trustworthiness based on facial traits. In the first part of the experiment, individual male and female neutral photographs of Buryats (Mongolian people of Eastern Siberia) were rated on trustworthiness by men and women from the same population. The trustworthy-looking facial traits were investigated by means of geometric morphometrics, and analysis of the facial action units using artificial neural network (FaceReader). Significant associations between facial traits and perceived trustworthiness were revealed only for male photographs rated by men. Facial shape pattern along trustworthy–untrustworthy vector corresponded to the facial femininity-masculinity vector for Buryats, as well as to the positive-negative vector of the emotional connotation of the neutral facial shape. “Untrustworthy” facial shape was characterized by relatively narrower lower jaw, lower set eyebrows, as well as a lower position of the “Brow Lowerer” facial action unit—a frown. In the second part of the experiment, two geometric morphometric morphs, representing “trustworthy” and “untrustworthy” Buryat male facial shapes, were judged on trustworthiness by male representatives of Buryat, Tuvan (Mongolian people of Southern Siberia), Russian, Indian, and East African (Tanzanians) cultures. The results revealed that in all studied samples the “trustworthy” male portrait was rated significantly higher on trustworthiness than “untrustworthy” one. However, perceived trustworthiness, and agreement of portrait judgments with those of Buryats significantly declined with geographic and genetic distance between populations.

Cultural Differences in Fear of Negative Evaluation After Social Norm Transgressions and the Impact on Mental Health.

Social norm transgressions are assumed to be at the root of numerous substantial negative outcomes for transgressors. There is a prevailing notion among lay people and scholars that transgressing social norms can negatively impact one’s mental health. The present research aimed to examine this assumption, focusing on clinically relevant outcomes such as anxiety and depression. The present research further aimed to examine a social cognitive process for these outcomes in the form of fear of negative evaluations as a result of one’s norm transgressing behavior. Specifically, it examined whether it is negative evaluations about ourselves or about those close to us that mediates the effect of social norm transgressions, and whether those may vary as a function of culture. Results of the present research, including a study with a community sample (N = 410), suggest a positive association between social norm transgressions and psychological distress. Results also suggest that increased fear of negative evaluation mediates that association but does so differently for people from more collectivistic cultures and people from less collectivistic cultures. For people from more collectivistic cultures increased fear of negative evaluation of close others may mediate the association between social norm transgressions and psychological distress. However, for people from less collectivistic cultures that association may be mediated by increased fear of negative evaluation of oneself. Implications for research on consequences of social norm transgressions and cross-cultural differences in perceptions of such consequences are discussed as are practical implications for motivating social norm adherence and the maintenance of constructive social norms.

Comparing cross-cultural differences in perception of drinkable yoghurt by Chinese and New Zealand European consumers

Deeper understanding of cultural influences is required to predict consumer preferences and choice of dairy products. Focus groups were performed in Beijing (China) and Palmerston North (New Zealand; NZ) to gain cross-cultural insights into consumer habits, sensory preference and influence of provenance for drinkable yoghurt. Key themes were identified using an interpretive coding approach. Chinese and NZ European consumers preferred sweet yoghurt, but expected intensities differed, particularly when related to sourness. Dairy flavour was an important sensory attribute for Chinese consumers, and expectations concerning strawberry flavour and thickness also differed between groups. Chinese consumers described health-related cultural behaviours regarding time and temperature of consumption. NZ provenance was associated with high-quality products by both cultural groups; however, Chinese consumers were concerned that transportation time to China could affect freshness and safety. This study emphasises the importance of understanding target market habits, sensory preferences and values for product development in culturally different markets.

Relational mobility and cultural differences in analytic and holistic thinking.

We hypothesized that individuals in cultures typified by lower levels of relational mobility would tend to show more attention to the surrounding social and physical context (i.e., holistic vs. analytic thinking) compared with individuals in higher mobility cultural contexts. Six studies provided support for this idea. Studies 1a and 1b showed that differences in relational mobility in cultures as diverse as the U.S., Spain, Israel, Nigeria, and Morocco predicted patterns of dispositional bias as well as holistic (vs. analytic) attention. Study 2 demonstrated that, for Americans and Japanese, relational mobility offered better predictive validity of these cognitive tendencies than related cultural constructs; moreover, Studies 1b and 2 showed that relational mobility mediated cross-cultural differences in perception and attribution. Studies 3a and 3b showed that lower relational mobility induces a weaker sense of internal locus of control and a stronger sense of external locus of control, which led to more holistic (vs. analytic) cognition. Last, Study 4 replicated these results in an experimental setting and demonstrated the causal effect of relational mobility on analytic/holistic cognition. Overall, we suggest that relational mobility may be an important socioecological factor that can help explain robust cognitive differences observed across cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Patterns in the social representation of “hearing loss” across countries: how do demographic factors influence this representation?

This study aims to understand patterns in the social representation of hearing loss reported by adults across different countries and explore the impact of different demographic factors on response patterns. The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using a free association task and analysed using qualitative content analysis, cluster analysis and chi-square analysis. The study sample included 404 adults (18 years and over) in the general population from four countries (India, Iran, Portugal and UK). The cluster analysis included 380 responses out of 404 (94.06%) and resulted in five clusters. The clusters were named: (1) individual aspects; (2) aetiology; (3) the surrounding society; (4) limitations and (5) exposed. Various demographic factors (age, occupation type, education and country) showed an association with different clusters, although country of origin seemed to be associated with most clusters. The study results suggest that how hearing loss is represented in adults in general population varies and is mainly related to country of origin. These findings strengthen the argument about cross-cultural differences in perception of hearing loss, which calls for a need to make necessary accommodations while developing public health strategies about hearing loss.

“Magic and the Mind”: The Impact of Cultural and Linguistic Background on the Perception of Characters in Harry Potter

While there has been a multitude of studies of Harry Potter since its first appearance, including studies analyzing individual characters, social classes in the wizarding world, and a number that examine the “Harry Potter phenomenon” as a whole, there are none that systematically analyze and compare the characters in terms of how they are perceived. This paper examines and compares the perceptions of the personality of seven characters in Harry Potter held by individuals who have read the books or watched the movies of Harry Potter in either English or Chinese language. The study was undertaken through an online survey that used the Ten-Item Personality Inventory as the core instrument. It was found that Chinese respondents were significantly more likely to score the characters higher in Extraversion, Agreeableness and Openness, although other factors, including gender and the respondents’ “exposure” to Harry Potter, also had a significant impact on perceptions. These findings both confirm various other studies that have examined cross-cultural differences in perceptions and extend previous work by applying it to another domain, namely the analysis of fictional characters. The findings carry important implications for, among others, teachers of multicultural student groups and translators of children’s fiction.

Cognitive Differences Accounting for Cross-cultural Variation in Perceptions of Healthy Eating

What counts as healthy eating varies both within and across cultures. While people often focus on specific foods and nutrients, the timing and style of eating (eating context) can also be an important consideration, and one that appears to vary across cultures. One possible explanation for this variation is differences in basic cognition, with holistic thinking in collectivist cultures favouring contextual factors. We assess this hypothesis by examining perceptions between two cultural groups that vary in collectivism. In study 1, we investigate whether residents of Ukraine place more importance on considerations of eating context than residents of the usa. In study 2, we test whether this between-country difference is due to the mediating effect of individual differences in collectivism. Ukrainian participants consistently placed more importance on context (Cohen’s d = 0.71–0.84; p < 0.01) and were more collectivist (Cohen’s d = 0.95, p < 0.001). A mediation analysis shows that collectivism significantly mediates the effect of nationality on context endorsement, and renders the effect of nationality non-significant (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the holistic pattern of attention might extend to the domain of nutrition and may account for some cross-cultural differences in perceptions of healthy eating. We briefly discuss the benefits of perception focused on the context of eating, such as decreased burden of self-regulation in a food-rich environment.

Особенности восприятия эмоциональных экспрессий лица представителями азиатских и европейских культурных групп

The article presents the results of a cross-cultural study of the perception of basic emotional expressions by representatives of Asian and European cultural groups and compares them with the results obtained earlier on Russian sample. Emotional expressions from VEPEL database (Kurakova, 2012) were used as stimuli. We revealed invariant perception within a cultural group and cross-cultural differences in perception of the basic emotions of fear, disgust and anger between Asian and Russian cultural groups; in perception of surprise, fear, disgust and anger between European and Russian cultural groups; and in perception of fear, sadness, disgust and anger between European and Asian cultural groups.

Trusting Social Media as a Source of Health Information: Comparison Among U.S., Korea, and Hong Kong

The Internet has increasingly become a popular source of health information by connecting individuals with health content, experts, and support. More and more, individuals turn to social media and Internet sites to share health information and experiences. Although online health information seeking occurs worldwide, limited empirical studies exist examining cross-cultural differences in perceptions about user-generated, experience-based information compared to expertise-based information sources. The aim was to investigate if cultural variations exist in patterns of online health information seeking, specifically in perceptions of online health information sources. It was hypothesized that Koreans and Hongkongers, compared to Americans, would be more likely to trust and use experience-based knowledge shared in social Internet sites such as social media and online support groups. Conversely, Americans, compared to Koreans and Hongkongers, would value expertise-based knowledge prepared and approved by doctors or professional health providers more. A survey questionnaire was developed in English first and then translated into Korean and Chinese. The back translation method ensured the standardization of questions. Surveys were administered using a standardized recruitment strategy and data collection methods. 885 participants living in metropolitan areas from three countries, United States (n = 308), Korea (n = 238), and Hong Kong (n = 339) participated in the study. We found significant cultural differences in information processing preferences for online health information. A planned contrast test revealed that Koreans and Hongkongers showed more trust in experience-based health information sources (blogs, t (451.50) =11.21, P

Differences in the Cooking Quality between Two Adzuki Varieties Harvested in Australia and Stored at Different Temperatures

The differences in the cooking quality of adzuki beans between two varieties 'Erimoshouzu' (leading variety in Japan) and 'Bloodwood' (leading variety in Australia), harvested in Australia and stored for 6 months at 10 ℃ and 30 ℃, were investigated. The L* (lightness) and the b* (yellowness) values of the bean colour of 'Bloodwood' were a little higher than those of 'Erimoshouzu'. The b* values for the non-sugared Ann (bean paste) made from 'Bloodwood' were higher than those for 'Erimoshouzu'. The WIRB (weight increase ratio by boiling) was smaller for 'Bloodwood' than 'Enrimoshouzu'. The mean particle size of Ann made from 'Bloodwood' was larger than that of Ann made from 'Erimoshouzu'. The sensory differences of Tsubu-ann (sugared bean paste containing whole beans)between varieties were significantly distinguished by the Japanese panel but not the Australian panel. Both Japanese and Australian panels detected significant sensory differences in the characteristics of Tsubu-ann made from 'Bloodwood' stored at different temperatures. The perceived colour of Tsubu-ann made from 'Bloodwood' was darker than that from 'Erimoshouzu'. There were few cross-cultural differences in perception of colour, smell, hardness and astringency. However, there were differences between the Japanese and Australians panellists in their preferences for the products. It was found that the bean quality of 'Bloodwood' was similar to that of 'Erimoshouzu'. However the cooking quality between these two varieties was different and that the sensory differences of Tsubu-ann made from 'Bloodwood' beans stored at different temperatures were larger than those from 'Erimoshouzu'.

Cross-Cultural Differences in the Processing of Non-Verbal Affective Vocalizations by Japanese and Canadian Listeners

The Montreal Affective Voices (MAVs) consist of a database of non-verbal affect bursts portrayed by Canadian actors, and high recognitions accuracies were observed in Canadian listeners. Whether listeners from other cultures would be as accurate is unclear. We tested for cross-cultural differences in perception of the MAVs: Japanese listeners were asked to rate the MAVs on several affective dimensions and ratings were compared to those obtained by Canadian listeners. Significant Group × Emotion interactions were observed for ratings of Intensity, Valence, and Arousal. Whereas Intensity and Valence ratings did not differ across cultural groups for sad and happy vocalizations, they were significantly less intense and less negative in Japanese listeners for angry, disgusted, and fearful vocalizations. Similarly, pleased vocalizations were rated as less intense and less positive by Japanese listeners. These results demonstrate important cross-cultural differences in affective perception not just of non-verbal vocalizations expressing positive affect (Sauter et al., 2010), but also of vocalizations expressing basic negative emotions.

Hypoglycemia perception: Cross-cultural differences in Punjabi and Hindi speaking postmenopausal women

Introduction:The cross cultural differences in perception of menopausal symptoms are well known and these differences in perception of hypoglycemic symptoms in Russian-speaking and Caucasian postmenopausal women have been reported.Aims and objectives:This study assessed cross – linguistic and cross – cultural differences in symptomatology of self reported hypoglycemia, between Punjabi and Hindi speaking diabetic post menopausal women.Material and Methods:Thirty Punjabi speaking and 20 Hindi speaking diabetic postmenopausal women aged over 50 years, were recruited for this study. Each subject was asked, what happens to you when you have low sugar? in the language of her choice, and spontaneous answers were recorded verbatim.Statistical analysis:The data so obtained was analyzed by paper and pen method to obtain an understanding of the frequency of self reporting of various symptoms and then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science ver.19.0.Results:Symptoms of hollowness, cold sweats and headache correlated significantly (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0001 and P = 0.03 respectively). One difference was noted in women from rural vs. urban background: Inability to concentrate was more frequent in urban women (4/23) vs rural women (0/27) (P < 0.0001).Discussion:To our knowledge, this is the first exploratory work highlighting the differences in self reported hypoglycemia symptomatology, based on linguistic background. In India and other countries with multi ethnic, multi linguistic societies, linguistic competence in hypoglycemia history taking is important.Limitations:Incidence of hypoglycemia in the subjects enrolled was not assessed. Many of the subjects in the Punjabi speaking cohort were bilingual. Some symptoms of hypoglycemia may have been missed or over-reported by participants.Conclusion:Diabetes care professionals should be aware that persons with diabetes from varying linguistic backgrounds may report symptoms of hypoglycemia differently.

Cross-cultural differences in perception of time: Implications for multinational teams

Members of multinational teams likely have different perspectives on a variety of factors stemming from their different cultural backgrounds. The use and perception of time is one of the specific cultural values that differ cross-culturally and may have implications for the group dynamics and team effectiveness in multinational teams. Concepts such as time orientation, punctuality and pace of life are influenced by time-related differences among cultures. In the present article, it is argued that temporal diversity in multinational teams may serve as an input within the Input-Mediator-Output-Input model of team effectiveness (Ilgen, Hollenbeck, Johnson, & Jundt, 2005) and influence the team processes and outputs. Implications of cross-cultural differences in perception of time on multinational team functioning are discussed within the framework of the Marks, Mathieu, and Zaccaro (2001) taxonomy of team processes, which consists of 3 higher order team processes (i.e., transition processes, action processes, and interpersonal processes) that encompass 10 distinct, more specific processes. Propositions regarding the impact of temporal diversity on many of the distinct team processes and outcomes are put forward to help provide a temporal lens to future research on multinational teams.

Student and teacher perceptions of motivational strategies in the foreign language classroom

The present paper reports on a study that builds upon Dörnyei and Csizér's and Cheng and Dörnyei's research on the teaching practices foreign language instructors consider most motivational. The study utilized an instrument based on that of Dörnyei and Csizér, but changed the cultural context in which the survey was administered (North America) and added the perspective of foreign language students. The results of the study offer further support to the findings of the earlier studies. Findings also suggest additional cross-cultural differences in perceptions of motivational teaching practices. Furthermore, the present study underscores the importance of including students’ perspectives on classroom practices, as some significant differences were found between teachers’ and students’ responses.

Mauss’s lectures to psychologists: A case for holistic sociology

In lectures delivered to psychologists in the 1920s and 1930s, Marcel Mauss argued for a rapprochement between sociology and psychology. His goal was not disciplinary unification, but rather a more holistic sociology that recognized the mutual constitution of the body and mind, and the effects of society on the embodied person. Following a review of main points from Mauss’s lectures, I critically review several research programs that are advancing in directions similar to those Mauss advocated: cognitive science research on embodied cognition; psychology studies of cross-cultural differences in perception and emotional expression; and sociological studies of moral cultures. I argue that these research programs provide firm support for positions developed in Mauss’s lectures, and that, therefore, Mauss’s ideas provide a useful template on which future sociological studies of culture, mind, and body can be built.

From the Editors

From the Editors

Cross-Cultural Differences in Perceptions of E-Learning Usability

E-learning is gaining momentum in corporate settings as an alternative and supplementary solution to learning and performance problems. Users of e-learning applications and courses differ across regional, linguistic, and country boundaries and user requirements are strongly influenced by their local cultural perspective. Thus e-learning design needs to be sensitive to cultural parameters. Yet, there are very few empirical studies that investigate e-learning design and usability issues from a cultural perspective. This study: (a) discusses the cultural considerations in human computer interaction and information systems research and the specificities of usability in e-learning context, (b) focuses on the usability evaluation of e-learning courses within an international e-learning pilot initiative. Employees from four user organizations representing four countries in South Eastern Europe participated as users of the e-learning courses and evaluated their usability.

Ethical judgment and whistleblowing intention: Examining the moderating role of locus of control

The growing body of whistleblowing literature includes many studies that have attempted to identify the individual level antecedents of whistleblowing behavior. However, cross-cultural differences in perceptions of the ethicality of whistleblowing affect the judgment of whistleblowing intention. This study ascertains how Chinese managers/professionals decide to blow the whistle in terms of their locus of control and subjective judgment regarding the intention of whistleblowing. Hypotheses that are derived from these speculations are tested with data on Chinese managers and professionals (n = 306). Statistical analysis largely supports the hypotheses, which suggests that an individual's locus of control does moderate the relationship between ethical judgment and whistleblowing.

Cross-Cultural Differences in Perceptions of Distributive Justice

Respondents in Hong Kong and Indonesia rated a hypothetical allocator depicted as distributing resources based on merit or need in either a positive (reward) or negative (cutback) resource context. Hong Kong respondents perceived that the use of merit was fairer and more principled than the use of need, but they also perceived that the allocator who favored merit was less nice, more selfish, and acted less because of concern for others’welfare. Indonesian respondents saw the use of need as being fairer than the use of merit, and they perceived that the allocator who favored the needy was nicer and acted more out of concern for others. Cultural differences in respondents’ perceptions were greater for the use of merit than for the use of need. Respondents from both cultures tended to rate the allocator more positively when resources were being given out than when resources were being taken away.

Reciprocity in Ranked Relationships: Does Social Structure Influence Social Reasoning?

Many economic and evolutionary theories have modeled cooperation as the evolutionary outcome of decisions made by autonomous, self-interested agents operating in a social vacuum. In this paper we consider the implications for cooperative interactions when prior social structures and corresponding social norms exist. In particular we investigate the influence of social rank/status on perceptions of fairness and tolerance of cheating. We review evidence from a series of experiments employing the Wason selection task (a test of conditional reasoning) and the ledger task (a decision making task) suggesting that people cued to adopt a perspective of high social rank are more tolerant of cheating and simultaneously believe that they have been more fairly treated (even when cheated) than people cued to adopt a perspective of low social rank. However, the evidence also suggests interesting cross-cultural differences in perceptions of fairness and tolerance of cheating in ranked relationships.