By investigating the use of first-person pronouns in nine languages using the Google Ngram Database, we examined the degree to which different cultural values skewed toward individualism or collectivism over a span of 59 years. We found that in eight of nine languages (British English being the exception), first-person singular pronouns (vs. first-person plural pronouns) have become increasingly prevalent, which in turn points to a rising sense of individualism. British English showed a U-shaped curve trend in the use of first-person singular pronouns (vs. first-person plural pronouns). Although they initially decreased, British English's first-person singular pronouns (vs. first-person plural pronouns) use was higher than most other languages throughout the whole period. Chinese displayed a fluctuating pattern wherein the use of firstperson singular pronouns (vs. first-person plural pronouns) increased in recent periods. The dynamics of cultural change and culture diversity were discussed.
There are few studies in which the focus is on cognitive determinants of artwork bidding. Using a micro approach, we explored factors that may influence bidders' offering from a psychological perspective. The 157 participants rated 25 paintings on the price they were willing to offer for works by famous Chinese artists executed in the traditional Chinese style and variants of the same works by a modern Chinese artist working in adaptations of the style of famous Western artists. Results showed that for both the Chinese and Western-style paintings in 3 price anchoring and 3 price nonanchoring conditions, 3 factors affected the bidding for the artworks: positive attraction, artistic quality, and cognitive stimulation. Of these factors positive attraction and artistic quality were the primary influences. In each condition, positive attraction was always the positive predictor of the bidders' offering, emphasizing the importance of the artwork's aesthetic value. In contrast, artistic quality deterred participants from bidding. In addition, whether or not there was a reference-point price made a difference in the traditional Chinese group of artworks. Bidders wished to offer a higher price only if the price had been high for the previous example of this artist's work that had sold.
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