Independent Self-construals Research Articles

Unveiling the Impact of Smokers’ Self-Construals on the Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation Campaigns: A Comparative Analysis of E-Cigarettes and Combustible Cigarettes

ObjectiveThis research conducted two studies in South Korea to explore the relationship between smokers’ self-construals and the types of cigarettes they use, emphasizing their combined effects on cessation campaign effectiveness.MethodsStudy 1 explored how smokers’ self-construals influenced their intentions to quit smoking or vaping, considering their primary cigarette usage. Study 2 further investigated this relationship within cessation campaigns, employing messages framed by both self-construal (independent vs. interdependent) and cigarette type (combustible vs. electronic).ResultsThe results of Study 1 showed that individuals with a strong interdependent self-construal were more likely to express intentions to quit smoking or vaping when using e-cigarettes compared to combustible cigarettes. Similarly, Study 2 demonstrated that cessation messages for e-cigarettes were more effective in eliciting intentions to quit when presented with an interdependent self-construal frame, while messages for combustible cigarettes showed greater effectiveness with an independent self-construal frame.ConclusionCampaigns solely focused on independent self-construals might not effectively persuade e-cigarette users to quit, as they may prioritize communal wellbeing over individual benefits. Adapting anti-e-cigarette campaigns to align with the values of interdependent self-construals could yield better outcomes in promoting cessation among e-cigarette users.

Self-construals and health communications: The persuasive roles of guilt and shame

We investigate the roles of guilt and shame appeals in health communications depending on recipients’ self-construal. Although guilt and shame are negative self-conscious emotions, we hypothesize that guilt appeals are more effective in leveraging compliance among recipients with independent self-construals, whereas shame appeals are more persuasive among recipients with interdependent self-construals. The findings across four experimental studies are consistent with this hypothesis, with guilt (shame) appeals motivating participants with independent (interdependent) self-construals in domains of eating healthy, responsible drinking, quitting smoking, and staying-at-home intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, we provide evidence that challenge (threat) appraisal mediates the effect of guilt (shame) appeals among independents (interdependents). These findings have meaningful implications, more broadly in the use of emotions in health communications, and offer social marketers, government officials, and policymakers a better recognition of how to persuade individuals to improve their own and society’s well-being.

Social robots: Partner or intruder in the home? The roles of self-construal, social support, and relationship intrusion in consumer preference

With AI and social robotics advancements, social robots such as Cozmo will become increasingly prevalent in homes. Previous studies have indicated that the anthropomorphic appearance of robots can elicit both favorable and unfavorable responses from consumers. However, the factors that moderate such responses are not well-understood. Therefore, the present research proposes that self-construal, an untapped topic, is a moderator. Long-term, frequent, and private interactions between consumers and social robots at home may result in consumers developing relationships with robots based on the trade-off between benefits and (psychological) costs. Through examining social support benefits and relational intrusion costs, three experiments and one text analysis demonstrate that independent (interdependent) self-construals prefer humanoid (mechanoid) over mechanoid (humanoid) SHRs due to the anticipation of net interaction benefits. This research contributes to the knowledge of the contradictory findings regarding highly anthropomorphic robots, explicitly enhancing the understanding of human-robot interaction, the “uncanny valley,” robot anthropomorphism, and social robotics. Moreover, this research offers a practical design approach to SHRs from a managerial perspective.

COVID-19 vaccine intentions in Aotearoa New Zealand: Behaviour, risk perceptions, and collective versus individual motivations

The global SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic presents a pressing health challenge for all countries, including Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). As of early 2022, NZ public health measures have reduced impacts of the pandemic, but ongoing efforts to limit illness and fatalities will be significantly aided by widescale uptake of available vaccines including COVID-19 booster doses. Decades of research have established a broad range of demographic, social, cognitive, and behavioural factors which influence peoples’ uptake of vaccinations, including a large amount of research in the last two years focused on COVID-19 vaccination in particular. In this study, we surveyed people in New Zealand (N = 660) in May and June of 2021, at which point the vaccine had been made available to high-risk groups. We explored individual versus collective motivations, finding that people who were hesitant about COVID-19 vaccination scored lower on independent self-construals (how people define themselves) but higher on community identity, weaker but still positive perceived social norms, lower general risk of COVID-19 to New Zealanders and higher vaccine risk for both themselves and others, and lower response-efficacy both for personal and collective benefits. Overall, the findings suggest some benefit of collective over individual appeals, but that generally messaging to encourage vaccination should focus on conveying social norms, risk from COVID-19 broadly, and vaccine safety and efficacy.

Exploring the recipients' attitudes and behaviors toward gift-giving: a cross-cultural comparison between Thailand and the USA

PurposeThis research examines cultural differences between Thais and Americans in recipients' attitudes and behaviors throughout all three stages of Sherry's (1983) gift-giving model and the moderating effect of relationship closeness on the gift-giving process.Design/methodology/approachThree experiments tested recipients' attitudes and behaviors across cultures in each gift-giving stage. Study 1 explored the gestation stage (gift search and purchase). Study 2 tested recipients in the prestation stage (actual exchange), and Study 3 examined the reformulation stage (gift disposition and realignment of the relationship).FindingsResults show that relationship closeness between the giver and the recipient plays a role among interdependent self-construals. Thais (interdependent self-construals) are more likely to give a hint or make a request for a gift to close friends than distant friends and are also more likely to accept, keep and use gifts from close friends than from distant friends. Moreover, for interdependent self-construals, a gift from a close friend improved the relationship more than a gift from a distant friend. In contrast, Americans (independent self-construals) present no differences between close and distant friends.Originality/valueThis research provides a comprehensive picture of the recipient's perspective in cross-cultural gift-giving and expands the notion of relationship closeness as a moderator.

The relationship between interdependent and independent self-construals and social anxiety symptom severity in a clinical sample of treatment-seeking patients.

Differences in cultural orientations, such as interdependent and independent self-construals, may influence social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptom presentations. However, prior research on the association between interdependent/independent self-construals and SAD was limited to non-clinical samples. Using a treatment-seeking population with clinical levels of anxiety, the current study extends prior research by examining whether the relationship between interdependent/independent self-construals and SAD is specific to SAD or indicative of a broader relationship with anxiety or depression more generally. We also expand upon prior work by examining the effect of self-construals on treatment outcomes and whether self-construals change over time. The results showed that endorsing a less independent self-construal was associated with greater SAD symptoms specifically, and was not associated with other anxiety or depression symptom measures. Additionally, while interdependent and independent self-construals did not moderate SAD treatment outcomes, there was a decrease in interdependent self-construal and increase in independent self-construal over a course of cognitive behavioral therapy. Notably, this change over time was tied to specific items that correlated strongly with SAD symptoms. Together, these results increase our understanding of the relationship between interdependent/independent self-construals and SAD symptoms in treatment-seeking anxiety patients.

Hypocrisy Induction in Advertising

The authors examine hypocrisy induction, a strategy for encouraging ethical behavior by making perpetrators realize that they are violating moral values when they use anonymous online venues to abuse unknown strangers. Two studies show that hypocrisy induction prompts study participants with interdependent self-construals, but not those with independent self-construals, to report favorable responses toward an online campaign for preventing cyberbullying. In addition, feelings of guilt mediate the moderating role of self-construal. Theoretical implications and ideas for future research are discussed.

Waiter, there’s a fly in my coffee!

Waiter, there’s a fly in my coffee!

Together or alone on the prosocial path amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: the partitioning effect in experiential consumption

PurposeDuring these unprecedented times, acts of charity are deemed essential to help individuals in need and support the social safety net. Given the importance of prosocial behavior for survival through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the authors investigate the effects of partitioning experiential consumption and self-construal on consumer responses.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature on partitioning and self-construal, the findings across three experimental studies provide novel insights into the interplay between partitioning and self-construal, and offer psychological processes on prosocial and behavioral intention.FindingsIndividuals with predominantly independent (vs. interdependent) self-construals and those primed with independent (vs. interdependent) self-construals showed higher prosocial intention when the experiential product ad was in an aggregated (vs. partitioned) format. The fit between the type of format and self-construal leads to the high control coping mechanism, and ultimately prosocial intention.Originality/valuePartitioning experiential consumption has not been directly examined using self-construal, providing novel insights into consumer reactions during the pandemic. This paper provides practical implications to practitioners and researchers to better understand and adapt to shifting digital consumption patterns.

Minding Your Own Business? Mindfulness Decreases Prosocial Behavior for People With Independent Self-Construals

Mindfulness appears to promote individual well-being, but its interpersonal effects are less clear. Two studies in adult populations tested whether the effects of mindfulness on prosocial behavior differ according to individuals’ self-construals. In Study 1 (N = 366), a brief mindfulness induction, compared with a meditation control condition, led to decreased prosocial behavior among people with relatively independent self-construals but had the opposite effect among those with relatively interdependent self-construals. In Study 2 (N = 325), a mindfulness induction led to decreased prosocial behavior among people primed with independence but had the opposite effect among those primed with interdependence. The effects of mindfulness on prosocial behavior appear to depend on individuals’ broader social goals. This may have implications for the increasing popularity of mindfulness training around the world.

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Tests of Social Cognitive Model of Well-Being in Korean College Students

This study examined the cross-cultural utility of a modified social cognitive model of academic and life satisfaction (Lent & Brown, 2008) by adding independent and interdependent self-construals with Korean college students in a cross-sectional (Study 1) and a longitudinal design (Study 2). In Study 1, 604 participants completed measures of academic self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goal progress, environmental support, positive affect, academic satisfaction, life satisfaction, and self-construals. In Study 2, 171 participants completed the same measures at two time points with a 15-week interval. Results of Study 1 indicated that the modified model provided a good fit to the data and that 21 out of 25 of the hypothesized paths were significant. In Study 2, the bidirectional model, which included three theorized sets of reciprocal relations (i.e., academic satisfaction to life satisfaction, positive affect to both environmental support and self-efficacy, and self-efficacy to both outcome expectations and goal progress) demonstrated an optimal fit to the data. Overall, the findings of the present study provide evidence for the validity of the modified social cognitive well-being model in Korean populations.

Native American subjective happiness, self-construal, and decision-making

Descendants of indigenous people in the United States (Native Americans) are underrepresented in happiness studies. The social-cognitive mechanisms involved in happiness are also poorly understood. Here we test a social-cognitive model for theorizing the happiness of Native Americans. Self-identified Native Americans (120 women, 59 men, aged 18–79 years) in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area answered a survey which measured interdependent and independent self-construals, decision-making style (satisficing and maximizing), and subjective happiness. Relationships among these variables were examined using path analysis. For the participants’ happiness, independent self-construal was relatively less important than interdependent self-construal, as social harmony and interdependence with others tend to be salient traditional Native American cultural values. However, in agreement with previous studies with Euro-American samples, subjective happiness was positively correlated with satisficing, and negatively correlated with maximizing, suggesting societal factors such as the availability of options and choices in the U.S. as possible influences. These findings contribute to the literature by revealing the basis of happiness in social-cognitive processes, and have important implications for understanding the happiness of an under-researched population.

Moving From Me to We: Interpersonal Coordination’s Effects on Self-Construal

Abstract We all move in time together throughout our lives, and doing so has been shown to lead to more pro-social attitudes and behaviors towards co-actors. However, little research has investigated how coordinated movement affects how individuals feel about themselves. This mixed-methods study took self-generated qualitative responses of how participants construed their own identities after either coordinated movement or a carefully matched control task. Responses were analysed qualitatively using thematic analyses, and quantitatively using content analysis. Four themes were identified from thematic analysis, and inferential statistical testing showed significant differences in how participants construed their identities post coordination (cf. control). Participants in the coordinated condition generated a higher proportion of interdependent (social) rather than independent (personal) self-construals, driven by differences in broad social structures/constructs rather than close specific social relations. Furthermore, participants in the coordinated condition reported less mental state items, and more sexual/romantic items. These findings may explain how and why coordinated movement leads to prosociality amongst those who take part, by leading individuals to think of themselves and each other in group terms.

The Self-Construal Scale: A Potential Tool for Predicting Subjective Well-Being of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Despite accumulating evidence that culture shapes the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), no studies have yet applied the Self-Construal Scale to individuals with ASD. We compared the self-construals (measured using the Self-Construal Scale) of 31 high-functioning Japanese individuals with ASD with those of 60 typically developing (TD) individuals. We also examined how the self-construals of individuals with ASD related to their intelligence quotient, adverse childhood experiences, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ASD symptoms during adulthood and preschool years, and subjective well-being. Individuals with ASD were more likely to display independent self-construals than were TD individuals; unexpectedly, however, a substantial proportion of individuals with ASD (43.8%) displayed relatively interdependent self-construals. Among individuals with ASD, self-construals were significantly associated with ASD symptoms during preschool years, and with satisfaction of the need for autonomy and frustration of the need for relatedness. Evaluating self-construals can help predict the subjective well-being of high-functioning individuals with ASD. Moreover, the Self-Construal Scale may be useful for understanding the heterogeneous phenotypes of ASD, based on its association with autistic symptoms during preschool years, suggesting that the scale is a potential tool to develop efficient interventions for high-functioning individuals with ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 947-958. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders presenting a variety of symptoms and biological origins that can complicate choosing an intervention best suited for improving well-being. Results indicate that a self-construal scale could help understand individuals with high-functioning ASD by independent and interdependent self-construals that are associated with ASD symptoms during preschool years and adult subjective well-being. Our findings suggest that this scale can help understand ASD and select appropriate interventions.

Good for self or good for others? The well-being benefits of kindness in two cultures depend on how the kindness is framed

ABSTRACT In light of cultural differences in conceptions of happiness, we investigated whether members of independent (vs. interdependent) cultures would benefit from prosocial behavior when self-focus is highlighted (vs. when other-focus is highlighted). In a 1-week randomized controlled intervention, U.S. (N = 280) and South Korean (N = 261) participants were randomly assigned to read a news article that described kind acts as good for oneself or good for others, or to read a control article. All participants then performed kind acts throughout the week, and completed pre- and post- measures of subjective well-being, connectedness, competence, and autonomy. Consistent with independent self-construals, U.S. participants who read that kindness was good for themselves showed greater increases in positive affect, satisfaction with life, and feelings of connectedness – and greater decreases in negative affect – than those who read the control article. Future research is needed to continue developing culturally-sensitive designs of positive activities.

Cross-Cultural Affective Neuroscience.

Panksepp, the father of Affective Neuroscience, dedicated his life to demonstrate that foundations of mental life and consciousness lay in the archaic layers of the brain. He had an evolutionary perspective emphasizing that the subcortical affective systems come prior to cortical cognitive systems. Based on his life-long work, the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) was constructed, and a new neurodevelopmental approach to personality was started. The new approach suggested that personality was formed based on the strengths and/or weaknesses found in the subcortical basic affective systems, which are initially regulated by the mother-infant attachment styles and later by early life experiences. ANPS measured six basic affects: CARE, PLAY, SEEK, SADNESS, FEAR, and ANGER; along with a Spirituality subscale. Up to date, it has been translated to several languages, and these studies confirmed that ANPS is a reliable and valid tool. Based on the observation that these ANPS studies have both universal and culturally specific findings, cross-cultural affective neuroscience (CAN) was initiated in 2012, with the approval of Panksepp. As a new research field, CAN aims to investigate the influence of culture on the regulation of basic affective systems. CAN claims that this influence can be studied by observing the cultural variations in (1) the level of emotional interdependency, (2) the types of reinforced or suppressed affects, and (3) the types of affects that accompany interdependent or independent self-construals. Cross-cultural comparisons of Turkish and American ANPS findings and the results of our first Euro-Asian CAN project among Japan, Turkey, and Germany support these claims. These cultures regulate the basic affective systems in unique ways, while maintaining certain similarities with each other. In a way, each culture has a unique affective personality profile and a specific function in the global affective network. The conclusion of this review shares guidelines, suggestions and ethical codes for future CAN researches.

Cross-cultural affective neuroscience personality comparisons of Japan, Turkey and Germany

Mothering styles and family models of different cultures- that vary in interdependency and independency combinations—can influence the development of basic affects differently. The present study carried out the cross-cultural comparisons of samples from Japan, Turkey and Germany on self-construals, basic affects and Big Five factors. The countries were selected along a Euro-Asian spectrum, from highly collectivistic Japan to least collectivistic Germany, with Turkey as a bridging culture. The sample consisted of undergraduate and graduate students from Kyoto in Japan (n = 353), Istanbul in Turkey (n = 327) and Bonn in Germany (n = 222). The questionnaire included the self-construal scale (SCS), the affective neuroscience personality scales (ANPS) and the big five scale (B5S). SCS scores showed that the level of interdependent self-construals decreased from East to West, but independent self-construals did not gradually increase. Highest independency score was found in Turkey. Theoretically well-known German individualism was not found to be based on higher independency, but on lower interdependency. On ANPS, female groups seemed very similar on positive affects whereas for negative affects they had differences; like Japanese females had higher FEAR, Turkish females had higher ANGER. Similarly, Japanese males had higher FEAR and SADNESS, Turkish males had higher ANGER. On ANPS, Turkish and Japanese males were more similar and distinct from the German males who had lower scores almost on all affects. However on B5S; Turks and Germans were found to be quite similar and distinct from the Japanese. Turkey seemed to maintain more subcortical affective personality similarities with Japan, while attuning more to B5 factors displayed by Germany. Findings are discussed in light of child-rearing styles in each country.

Self-Construals in Situational Context: Disaggregating Behaviours and Intentions Using Sinha et al.’s (2002) Decision-Making Scenarios

The present study examined the influence of independent and interdependent self-construals and social context on decision-making using a set of hypothetical scenarios. Following the methodology of Sinha et al. (J Psychol 37(5):309–319, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207590244000124 ), a sample of Canadian undergraduate students was presented with 16 decision-making scenarios. Scenarios were divided into two clusters depending on interaction target: nine scenarios related to conflict between personal needs versus family and friends, and seven scenarios related to conflict between personal needs versus community or society. Participants were asked to choose one of five responses: collectivist behaviour with collectivist intent, individualist behaviour with individualist intent, collectivist behaviour with individualist intent, individualist behaviour with collectivist intent, or a mix of collectivist and individualist behaviours and intentions. Participant self-construal was measured orthogonally using Singelis’ (Personal Soc Psychol Bull 20(5):580–591, 1994) Self-Construal Scale. The results suggest that a complex mix of self-concept, situation, and interaction target influenced participant behaviours and intentions. Biggest differences were observed between participants who scored high on one construal and low on the other: those who were more independent were more likely to choose individualist behaviours and intentions, and those who were more interdependent tended to choose more collectivist options. Interdependent self-construal was found to curtail individualist intentions, but not behaviour. Both independent and interdependent participants made collectivist choices towards family and friends as opposed to the greater community. The results have implications for studying the influence of self-concept and cultural norms on behaviour.

Taking risks for personal gain: An investigation of self-construal and testosterone responses to competition

ABSTRACTRecent research on testosterone and risk-taking behavior is beginning to focus on the role of context-dependent changes in testosterone. Extending this research, our study investigated the association between testosterone reactivity to competitive outcomes and risk-taking in the context of a video game based competition. The study also examined whether self-construal moderated this relationship. Results indicated that a rise in testosterone during competition did not predict subsequent risk-taking behavior. However, a rise in testosterone during competition predicted subsequent risk-taking behaviors within winners with independent self-construals. Nevertheless, results did not reveal an association between basal testosterone and risk-taking, nor did competitive outcomes modulate a differential testosterone response. Overall, we treat these findings as preliminary, as there were multiple analyses conducted and effect sizes were relatively small. We discuss these results in the context of recent animal findings that testosterone facilitates success at future competitions after winning a competition, as well as recent research suggesting self-construal moderates associations between testosterone and aggression.

When and Why People Engage in Different Forms of Proactive Behavior: Interactive Effects of Self-construals and Work Characteristics

When and why do people engage in different forms of proactive behavior at work? We propose that as a result of a process of trait activation, employees with different types of self-construal engage in distinct forms of proactive behavior if they work in environments consistent with their self-construals. In an experimental Study 1 (n = 61), we examined the effect of self-construals on proactivity and found that people primed with interdependent self-construals engaged in more work unit–oriented proactive behavior when job interdependence was also manipulated. Priming independent self-construals did not enhance career-oriented proactive behavior, even when we manipulated job autonomy. In a field Study 2 (n = 205), we found that employees with interdependent self-construals working in jobs with high interdependence reported higher work unit commitment and higher work unit–oriented proactive behavior compared to employees in low interdependent jobs. Employees with independent self-construals working in jobs ...