Culture, Self-Construal, and Embarrassability

Abstract

This study investigates individual and cultural differences in embarrassability (i.e., susceptibility to embarrassment). Three hypotheses are formulated. First, the strength of the independent self-construal (the image of self as separate from others) is negatively correlated with embarrassability. Second, the strength of the interdependent self-construal (the image of self as connected with others) is positively associated with embarrassability. Third, Asian Americans are more susceptible to embarrassment than are Euro-Americans. A total of 503 Euro-American and Asian American -university students completed the Self-Construal Scale and the Embarrassability Scale. Results strongly supported all hypotheses. Further, individual differences in self-construal accounted for cultural differences in embarrassability. Many prior studies have associated embarrassability with social deficiencies; the authors propose that embarrassability be viewed in abroader cultural context that considers its functions as an adaptive mechanism.

Goal orientation, evaluative fear, and perceived coach behavior among competitive youth swimmers in Germany and Japan

“…Also mentioned is the well-known story of the Japanese marathoner who later committed suicide after earning only bronze at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and letting his country down (Pempel, 1998). With this historical perspective as a backdrop, there is reason to believe that the tendency toward higher ego orientation among the current study's Japanese swimmers was fostered by the aforesaid feelings of obligation (Nagaki, 1998) and desire to prevent lossrelated shame (Hayashi & Weiss, 1994) and embarrassment (Singelis & Sharkey, 1995). It is equally likely that this tendency is a product of a culturally-specific athlete-coach relationship whereby socialization into sport includes the traditional cycle of coaches instilling ego-or Running head: YOUTH SWIMMERS IN GERMANY AND JAPAN 18 win-oriented thinking in their athletes-just as their own coaches did with them (see Kozuma, 2009).…”

“…Obligation is seen as a traditional value in Japanese sport (Nagaki, 1998), and the consequences of failure are likely to include unfavorable evaluations from members of the athlete's socially important "miuchi" (or in-group). In other words, losing may have stronger social ramifications than in the West, and the resulting self-presentational concerns should be heightened by a Japanese predisposition toward negative self-evaluation and acknowledgment of personal weaknesses (Kashiwagi, 1986;Kitayama, 2002) as well as a cultural susceptibility to embarrassment (Singelis & Sharkey, 1995)-phenomena which are also evident in Japanese sport (Kozuma, 2009), and which may subsequently affect athletes' perceptions, cognitions, and behavior.…”

Toward a Cultural Advancement of Tinto's Theory

“…While research supports the tendency for Minority Americans to espouse collectivist values (Asante, 1994;Gaines, 1994;O'brien & Fugita, 1991;Oyserman, Gant, & Ayer, 1995;Cultural Advancement 9 Sung, 1985;White & Parham, 1990;Valenzuela & Dornbush, 1984;Xi, 1994), other studies have been less conclusive in ascribing correlations among ethnicity and collectivism/individualism (e.g., Cross, 1995;Freeberg & Stein, 1996;Gaines, et al 1997;Gudykunst et al, 1996;Oyserman, Coon & Kemmelmeier, 2002;Singelis & Sharkey, 1995).…”

Emerging Economies: Muddling Through to Development

“…One such interesting categorization identifies "horizontal" and vertical subdimensions to individualism and collectivism (Singelis and Sharkey 1995). According to them:…”