Interdependent Self Research Articles

Plucking Heartstrings: Guqin, Aesthetic Attunement, and TCM Music Therapy

In the Chinese cultural context, music is deeply intertwined with the human heart and plays a central role in both healing and governance. Guqin, an ancient Chinese zither, exemplifies holistic care throughout history, embodying heart-based empathy and resonance. This study draws on insights from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), classic philosophy, literature, and aesthetics to trace a lineage of thinking that continues to inform contemporary music therapy. We examine the Chinese notion of xin/heart and the interdependent self, and how music facilitates individuals’ aesthetic attunement toward the natural and social orders. Our approach transcends limitations of Euro-American psychological paradigms centered on the psyche, by adopting a holistic perspective that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the heart, the body, and the cosmos. We argue for the necessity of moving beyond reductive biomedical treatment models to explore alternative ways of living and alternative care that highlight relational, moral, and aesthetic approaches to well-being.

The Impact of Interdependent Self on Psychological Stress Among Firefighters and Rescue Personnel

The Impact of Interdependent Self on Psychological Stress Among Firefighters and Rescue Personnel

Experiential learning in engineering education: A systematic literature review

AbstractBackgroundThe evolving transformations of our society at large, academic institutions, and engineering discipline in the 21st century have profound implications for the nature of experiential learning being offered in engineering education. However, what is experiential learning in the context of engineering education?PurposeThe introduction and evaluation of experiential learning in undergraduate engineering education between 1995 and 2020, as well as the essential elements for consideration in its future implementation, have been analyzed and synthesized.Design/MethodA population–intervention–comparison–outcome framework and PRISMA flow diagram were used to outline a systematic literature review on how experiential learning was introduced into undergraduate engineering curricula, how it was evaluated, and the essential elements for consideration in its future implementation.FindingsA total of 220 studies were synthesized. These studies offered a new lens of seeing experiential learning, which were interpreted as “paradigm shifts.” More than one‐half of the total studies were conducted between 1995 and 2005. These studies were strongly directed at measuring student performance and occurred in a decade when many North American engineering curricula were being restructured. The review indicated that experiential learning has been successfully carried out via diverse methodologies. However, there is a strong need to enrich it with a theoretical basis.ConclusionsExperiential learning introduced into engineering education appeared to be an interdependent self–school–community entity. In the changing work environment of the 21st century, heightened by the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic, invoking the inseparability of self, school, and community would provide unique perspectives to our evolving understanding of experiential learning and its relevance in engineering discipline.

Cultural Psychology: Beyond East and West.

Research in cultural psychology over the last three decades has revealed the profound influence of culture on cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes shaping individuals into active agents. This article aims to show cultural psychology's promise in three key steps. First, we review four notable cultural dimensions believed to underlie cultural variations: independent versus interdependent self, individualism versus collectivism, tightness versus looseness of social norms, and relational mobility. Second, we examine how ecology and geography shape human activities and give rise to organized systems of cultural practices and meanings, called eco-cultural complexes. In turn, the eco-cultural complex of each zone is instrumental in shaping a wide range of psychological processes, revealing a psychological diversity that extends beyond the scope of the current East-West literature. Finally, we examine some of the non-Western cultural zones present today, including Arab, East Asian, Latin American, and South Asian zones, and discuss how they may have contributed, to varying degrees, to the formation of the contemporary Western cultural zone.

Consumer self-construal modulates the relevance of E-tail socialness

PurposeThe growth in social content such as video facilitates consumer exposure to social information at e-tail settings. Research has recommended enhancing the e-store socialness. Focusing on focal consumer outcomes (flow and purchase intentions), the current research delineates a boundary condition, proposing that e-tail socialness improves outcomes when the consumer interdependent self, rather than the independent self, is activated.Design/methodology/approachThe experimental approach is employed to test the research thesis. Two experiments (N1 = 303 Females 42.4%; N2 = 387 Females 51.4%) that used different manipulation for socialness and sample frames (USA and Canadian) are performed. Analysis of variance was applied.FindingsThe results generally support the research thesis, suggesting that e-tail socialness enhances consumer flow and purchase intentions when the interdependent self is activated. The effect, however, is marginal for segments with high brand preference.Practical implicationsAs more information increase overload and reduce decision quality, e-tail practitioners should focus on providing social information predominately for consumers whose interdependent self is activated. This recommendation is particularly relevant for segments with low brand preference.Originality/valueSo far, studies recommend enhancing the e-store socialness, or increasing the social volume, to achieve better outcomes. Such research stream is giving rise to the “social is better in e-tail” conventional wisdom. The current work contributes by delineating a boundary condition based on consumer self-construal. This work suggests that the use of online socialness is fruitful predominantly for interdependent consumers.

Interpersonal goals and their relationships to relational interdependent self- construal and communal orientation among volunteer community service students

هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى فحص العلاقة بين الأهداف البينشخصية واستمرارية الذات العلاقاتية والتوجه المجتمعي لدى طلبة خدمة المجتمع المتطوعين في الجامعة الأردنية. تألفت عينة الدراسة من 320 طالبًا من طلبة تخصص خدمة المجتمع المشاركين في أعمال تطوعية، منهم 83.1% إناث و 16.9% ذكور. تراوحت أعمارهم بين (18-24) سنة. استجاب المشاركون على ثلاثة مقاييس بطريقة إلكترونية، وهي مقياس الأهداف البينشخصية المعد من قبل كروكر وكنافيلو، ومقياس استمرارية الذات العلاقاتية المعد من قبل كروس و باكون وموريس، ومقياس التوجه المجتمعي المعد من قبل كلارك ورفاقه، والتي جميعها تم تعديلها على البيئة الأردنية. أشارت نتائج الدراسة إلى عدم وجود فروق ذات دلالة احصائية في استمرارية الذات العلاقاتية تعزى للتفاعل بين أهداف الرحمة والنوع الاجتماعي ونوع الكلية. كما بينت النتائج ارتفاعًا في مستوى الأهداف البينشخصية والتوجه المجتمعي لدى الطلبة، في حين وجد مستوى متوسط من استمرارية الذات العلاقاتية لدى الفئة المستهدفة. الكلمات المفتاحية: الأهداف العلاقاتية، استمرارية الذات العلاقاتية، التوجه المجتمعي، طلبة خدمة المجتمع المتطوعين

Behavioral and electrophysiological analyses of self-referential neural processing in major depressive disorder.

Cognitive theories suggest that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) constantly negatively evaluate their self-referential information. Unlike Westerners with an independent self, self-representation is strongly influenced by cultural differences; the Chinese self may include others (interdependent self). This study uses a self-referential effect task combined with event-related potentials (ERP), and 34 patients with MDD and 54 healthy controls (HC) were asked to judge whether an adjective was suitable for describing the self, mother, or a public person, followed by an unexpected recognition task. They were required to judge whether a word was presented during the encoding phase. The results reveal that during the encoding phase, for both self- and mother-referential adjectives, patients with MDD endorsed fewer positive adjectives and more negative adjectives than the HCs. During the recognition phase, both groups showed a typical task effect (self=mother>other), while patients recognized more self-referential adjectives than the HCs. ERP data reveal that patients with MDD show larger P2 amplitudes during the encoding stage than healthy individuals. During the recognition phase, negative adjectives evoked larger P2 amplitudes in patients than in HCs under the self-referential condition. These findings shed important light on the information processes that may contribute to our understanding of depression and may offer implications for clinical interventions.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Influence of Confucianism and Taoism on self-construal and thinking style: an intervention study

ABSTRACT Using original texts of Confucian and Taoist primary classics as materials, we conducted an eight-week educational intervention experiment combining classroom teaching and post-class reflection as cultural manipulation. Ninety-four sixth-grade students from three parallel mainstream classes were randomly assigned to three intervention groups, comprising two experimental groups (Confucian and Taoist values interventions) and a control group (natural science intervention). The results suggest that the Confucian intervention had a positive effect on interdependent self and holistic thinking, the Taoist intervention had a positive effect on independent self and holistic thinking, and the natural science intervention promoted analytical thinking.

Parental attachment and cyberbullying among college students: the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of interdependent self.

Although considerable research has shown that attachment is a protective factor for cyberbullying, little research has investigated the mechanisms underlying this relationship among college students. This study examined whether loneliness mediates the association between parental attachment and cyberbullying and whether this process is moderated by interdependent self. A sample of 1125 college students (Mage = 19.14, SDage = 1.52years) in China completed a questionnaire measuring parental attachment, cyberbullying, loneliness, and interdependent self. Loneliness partially mediated the relationship between parental attachment and cyberbullying. Moreover, the mediation effect of loneliness was moderated by interdependent self. A moderated mediation analysis further revealed that interdependent-self moderated the predictive effect of loneliness on cyberbullying. Specifically, the predictive effect of loneliness on cyberbullying was only significant among college students with low interdependent self. The study highlights the complex nature of the association between parental attachment and cyberbullying. These findings provide new perspectives for intervention and prevention of cyberbullying among college students.

"Self" and "other": A conceptual bridge linking normal with pathological personality.

The goal of this paper is to try and close the gap between the ways in which pathological and normal personality, including their development, are conceptualized. To this end, attention is drawn to parallels that exist between the ways self-function is conceptualized in contemporary personality psychology and in recent iterations of the major psychiatric nosologies, particularly ICD-11. Conceptualizations in both normal and abnormal personality see a fundamental dichotomy between self as identity and self as socially interdependent (vs autonomous). Evidence is reviewed supporting a basic dichotomy between two categories of personality pathology that can be subsumed under the labels "Acting Out" and "Anxious-Inhibited." It is suggested that fundamental to the personality pathology subsumed under "Acting Out" is a deficient interdependent self, while a defective self-identity is proposed to underlie the personality pathology subsumed under "Anxious-Inhibited."

Unity of heaven and humanity: Mediating role of the relational-interdependent self in the relationship between Confucian values and holistic thinking.

As the primary value system in Chinese culture for almost 2,000 years, Confucianism has profoundly influenced the mindset of Chinese people. Cultural psychology studies have highlighted that individuals with different cultural backgrounds vary in their preferences for certain personality traits, such as self-construal, and their metacognitive characteristics, such as thinking modes. Compared with Western cultures, Chinese culture shows a preference for the interdependent self and holistic thinking. To investigate the relationship between the relational-interdependent self, holistic thinking, and traditional Chinese values (which are represented by Confucian values), we surveyed 327 Chinese adults using the Confucian Traditional Values Survey, Holistic Thinking Scale, and Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal Scale. The results show that Confucian values positively influence both holistic thinking and the relational-interdependent self, the latter of which partially mediates the positive relationship between Confucian values and holistic thinking. This study deepens the understanding of the psychological features of Chinese culture.

Narrative identity among people with disabilities in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic: The interdependent self

This study examines narrative identity among a large, diverse sample of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the United States during the “second wave” of the Covid-19 pandemic (October-December 2020). The study relied on abductive analyses, combining a purely inductive phase of inquiry followed by two rounds of investigation that filtered inductive insights through three theoretical lenses: social-ecological theory, the theory of narrative identity, and perspectives from the interdisciplinary field of disability studies. The central result was the identification of a particular configuration of self, one that was demonstrably interdependent with both immediate interpersonal contexts and with broader cultural contexts. This interdependent self was interpreted in both positive and negative ways by PWDs. These findings invite future inquiry into commonplace conceptualizations of an independent self at the center of personality research and suggest that dominant conceptualizations of “the good life” may overly emphasize independence.

Participating in the sharing economy: The role of individual characteristics

The sharing economy is attracting increasing research attention. However, scholarly knowledge lacks understanding about the individuals who are the key players in this emerging phenomenon. This study uses an explorative approach to investigate the individual‐level characteristics of sharing economy users and providers. We analyze a sample of 1170 respondents and reveal that socio‐demographics (gender, age, and education), personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness), and attitudes (interdependent self, materialism, sharing economy support, and perceived public value contributions) are significantly associated with people's activities in the sharing economy. Our results shed new lights into the academic debate about individual drivers of the sharing economy.

Social stigma of suicide in South Korea: A cultural perspective

This study examined suicide stigma in relation to Korean cultural characteristics, such as Collectivism, Chemyon sensitivity (concern about losing a socially acceptable face), the tendency toward conformity, and the emphasis on the interdependent self. We found that these characteristics were connected to suicide stigma in Korea. Those with high Chemyon sensitivity tended to perceive that suicidal people were incompetent, immoral, selfish, and deviated from society. Conformity tendency was positively associated with five stigma factors: incompetence, glorification, immorality, selfishness, and social exclusion. Those who perceived themselves as interdependent tended to consider suicidal people incompetent, lacking morality, self-centered, and deviant.

Psychometric properties of a Japanese version of the Modest Behavior Scale and its relationship to explicit and implicit self-esteem

AbstractThis investigation aimed to validate a Japanese version of the Modest Behavior Scale (MBS-J) to measure the behavioral aspects of modesty as a self-presentation tactic. Two preliminary surveys and three studies were conducted. Study 1 examined the factorial validity, construct validity, and internal consistency of the MBS, adding emic items generated from the Japanese sample in the preliminary surveys. The results confirmed a three-factor structure of Self-Effacement, Other-Enhancement, and Avoidance of Attention-Seeking, with good internal consistency for each subscale. Studies 1 and 3 also evinced appropriate correlations between the MBS-J subscales and theoretically related constructs, namely, trait modesty, independent and interdependent self-construal, self-efficacy, self-esteem, approval motivation, and dialectical self, suggesting good construct validity. Using a two-wave survey, Study 2 showed good test–retest reliability for the MBS-J. In Study 3, it was hypothesized that those with higher Self-Effacement tend to report lower explicit self-esteem owing to a self-presentation strategy instead of actual lower self-regard. The results showed that Self-Effacement was strongly negatively correlated with explicit self-esteem but not correlated with implicit self-esteem, supporting the hypothesis. These findings confirm the construct validity of this scale for modest behavior performed as self-presentation.

Luxury symbolism, self-congruity, self-affirmation and luxury consumption behavior: a comparison study of China and the US

PurposeDespite the growing research into luxury symbolism and its influence on consumer behavior, few studies have investigated the underlying psychological processes that occur in different cultural contexts. This study investigates the relationships among luxury symbolism, psychological underpinnings of self-congruity, self-affirmation and customer loyalty, especially regarding how these relationships differ between consumers in China and those in the US.Design/methodology/approachSample data were collected through surveys administered to 653 participants (327 in China and 326 in the US). A multi-group structural equation model was adopted to examine the conceptual model and proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe results show that luxury symbolism positively influences self-consistency, social consistency, social approval and self-esteem, and subsequently impacts self-affirmation and customer loyalty. However, for US consumers, self-esteem and social approval have significantly negative impacts on self-affirmation, while for Chinese consumers, social approval has no significant impact on self-affirmation. The authors also find that interdependent self-construal positively moderates the relationship between luxury symbolism, and social approval and social consistency. Independent self-construal positively moderates the relationship between luxury symbolism and self-consistency, and negatively influences the relationship between luxury symbolism and self-esteem.Originality/valueBased on the theory of self-congruity and self-affirmation, this study fills a literature gap by revealing the psychological underpinnings regarding luxury symbolism and customer loyalty. It extends extant studies in luxury consumption by introducing self-construal (independent self vs interdependent self) as an important cultural moderator in luxury symbolism. This paper provides insights for luxury practitioners to create efficient marketing strategies by satisfying consumers' psychological needs in different cultures.

Problematic Smartphone Use and Problematic Social Media Use: The Predictive Role of Self-Construal and the Mediating Effect of Fear Missing Out.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) and problematic social media use (PSMU) are two interrelated constructs which have received significant research attention over the past decade. The present study investigated the relationship between self-construal (distinguished as independent and interdependent), PSU and PSMU with Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) as a mediating variable. The sample comprised 405 Italian students who completed standardized psychometric scales assessing the variables of the study. Bivariate correlations analysis showed that FoMO and independent self-construal was significantly and negatively associated. On the contrary, interdependent self-construal was significantly and positively associated with FoMO, PSU, and PSMU. Mediation analysis showed that FoMO mediated the relationship between self-construal and both PSMU and PSU, but at different levels. The results demonstrated that FoMO full mediated the relationships between interdependent self and PSU, whereas only partial mediation was found between interdependent self and PSMU. Therefore, taking these personality characteristics into account may help reduce dysfunctional behaviour associated with problematic technology use and promote psychological well-being among students. However, it is recommended that further studies replicate the proposed model by including other psychological constructs.

Seeking Harmony Rather Than Efficiency: The Effect of Self‐Construal on Social Compensation1

AbstractMany studies have discussed how motivation in task‐related groups is affected by culture. Despite this, the psychological processes underlying these cultural differences have not yet been fully investigated. This study examined the effects of self‐construal on social compensation, that is, motivation gain caused by the expectation of coworkers' poor performance. Participants were 111 Japanese undergraduate students. They were asked to engage in nine tasks as a team with a coworker whose intelligence was inferior or superior and allocate tasks between themselves and their coworkers. We measured the number of tasks that participants selected as their own work as a dependent measure. The results showed that those with interdependent selves were less likely to engage in social compensation even when their coworkers' capability was low.

Alone in the disaster? The independent nature of behavioural instructions for evacuation.

In disaster evacuation, the most reasonable reaction is seen as to evacuate through independence. On the contrary, people often stay and behave socially interdependent, hence stressing the gap between evacuation instructions and actual people's behaviour. The present research analyses the content of a set of behavioural instructions and provides an overview of common framing of evacuation communication. That is informed by psychological models that explain behaviour based distinguish between the independent self (i.e., everyone for themselves) and interdependent self (i.e., all together). Results of this article highlight that, despite the prevalence of interdependent behaviour, most of the instructions focuses on the independent behaviours rather than on interdependent instructions that do not reflect actual people's behaviour in case of evacuation. The objective of this article is to increase authorities' awareness on the relation between existing instructions (independent) and actual behaviour (interdependent); the final aim is to help authorities to design and create better instructional communication campaign for disaster evacuation.