Domain-Specific Allocentrism-Idiocentrism

Abstract

Concerned with individual differences in allocentrism-idiocentrism with reference to the family, Study 1 describes the assessment of an initial item pool of statements. Selection of good items was based on several criteria met by both an "Eastern" cultural group and a "Western" cultural group, thereby providing cross-cultural comparability at the item selection stage of test development. Scores on the Family Allocentrism Scale were positively related to a measure of norm-oriented identity style in both "Western" and "Eastern" samples (Study 2). With a "Western" sample (Study 3), individuals with higher levels of family allocentrism exhibited a greater sense of relatedness to their ethnic origins. In Study 4, with a group of Vietnamese immigrant university students, family connectedness moderated the relation between daily hassles and depression. In Study 5, with Russian immigrants, the relation between family allocentrism and depression depended on the level of bicultural competence. Future research plans and needs are considered.

Interdependence as a Mediator between Culture and Interpersonal Closeness for Euro-Canadians and Turks

“…Contrary to our expectations, this difference was not moderated by relationship type. Previous studies that have examined self-family connectedness between members of individualistic and collectivistic cultures have found greater closeness with family members for individuals from collectivistic cultures (e.g., Dhawan, Roseman, Naidu, & Rettek, 1995;Lay, Fairlie, Jackson, Ricci, Eisenberg, Sato, Teeaeaer, & Melamud, 1998;Singelis & Sharkley, 1995), but this difference has not been found for other relationships. For example, Li (2002) found no difference between Canadians and Chinese in terms of self-close friend connectedness.…”

Views on interracial dating among Chinese and European Canadians: The roles of culture, gender, and mainstream cultural identity

“…ÒBen should put his parentsÕ wishes before his own when it comes to datingÓ, reversecoded), as well as evaluations of his (her) Family allocentrism. This 21-item measure (Lay et al, 1998) taps into relationships within the social context of family and reflects connectedness specific to family (e.g. ÒIf a family member fails, I feel responsibleÓ).…”

“…Although Lay et al (1998) construed family allocentrism as the expression of collectivism at the family level, it can also be viewed as a form of identification with the family. Viewed this way, it is possible to see why family allocentrism was positively associated in both samples with support of the parents in the conflict scenario and negatively associated with support for the child and personal openness to interracial dating.…”

Familial allocentrism and ethnic identity salience among Asian Indians living in the United States

“…This frame of mind becomes a collective consciousness from which people view the world. The family can be seen as the first group to which an individual belongs and is generally "the most salient ingroup category in the lives of individuals" (Lay et al, 1998). It is this unit that is most likely to first introduce the person to his or her ethnic group, which is most likely to be the primary conveyor of culture.…”

“…More specifically, individualism is largely reflective of Western cultures in which one's unique identity and contributions are emphasized within the group (Triandis, 1995). In contrast, aspects of collectivism are usually found in Eastern cultures where the self is seen as a unit that is interconnected with the group (Lay et at, 1998). The unique aspects of each social orientation connote differences in self-construal, interpersonal relations, and approach-to-workplace situations.…”