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This paper examines the conceptual differences between an idol and a model among a sample of young people in China. A questionnaire was speci cally designed to measure young people's criteria for idol worship and model learning using three pairs of contrasting constructs: idealism versus realism, romanticism versus rationalism, absolutism versus relativism. The questionnaire also asks each respondent to nominate up to three favourite idols and models in life. A total of 826 high school students and university students in Hong Kong and Nanjing completed the questionnaire. The results provide convergent support for the hypothesised conceptual differences between an idol and a model. Idealism, romanticism, and absolutism were more important in idol selection whereas realism, rationalism, and relativism were more important in model selection. Hong Kong young people selected signi cantly more idealism-romanticism-absolutism oriented celebrities whereas Nanjing young people selected signi cantly more realism-rationalism-relativism oriented celebrities.

This study surveyed 994 undergraduates in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanchang, Nanjing and Xian about their nomination and evaluation of the most creative people in Chinese societies as well as their valuation of collectivistic and individualistic goals of creativity. Politicians and scientists/inventors were mostly nominated and were generally rated higher on social contribution than on creativity. Artists/musicians and writers/poets were rarely nominated and were mostly rated higher on creativity than on social contribution. Collectivistic goals of creativity were significantly more valued than individualistic goals of creativity. There appears to be a social validation of creativity such that meritorious salience of creativity and social influence of the creator were greatly emphasized. Merit-based attribution of creators may have a detrimental effect on perception and promotion of general creativity in Chinese societies.

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