Relating Self-Concept Consistency to Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Eight Cultures

Abstract

Western theories suggest that self-concept consistency is important for well-being, but cultural psychologists have proposed that this relationship may be weaker in collectivistic or dialectical cultures. Hypotheses regarding the ability of self-concept (cross-role) consistency and short-term stability to predict hedonic and eudaimonic well-being across cultures were tested. College students in the United States, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela, Philippines, Malaysia, China, and Japan rated their traits in various roles at test and retest and completed measures of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. In all cultures, cross-role consistency and short-term stability were inversely associated with negative affect, an aspect of hedonic well-being, and positively associated with Big Five Emotional Stability. In contrast, cross-role consistency and short-term stability were related to eudaimonic well-being more reliably in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic cultures, although the results in China only partially conformed to this pattern. We concluded that cross-role variability and short-term instability of self-concepts have a significant temperamental or affective basis and this temperamental basis is a cultural universal. In addition, cultural psychology predictions of a weaker relationship between self-concept consistency and well-being in collectivistic cultures, as compared to individualistic cultures, was largely supported for eudaimonic well-being.Keywords: culture, cross-role consistency, short-term stability, hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing, individualism-collectivism, dialecticism SELF-CONCEPT CONSISTENCY AND WELL-BEING 3 Self-concept consistency has been defined in a variety of ways and different consistency constructs may relate differently to well-being (Campbell, Assanand, & Di Paula, 2003). In the present study, we define self-concept consistency as the consistency of individuals' trait ratings across different roles, and refer to this construct as cross-role consistency (see also Boucher, 2011;Church, Anderson-Harumi et al., 2008) According to theory (e.g., Jahoda, 1958;Jourard, 1965) and empirical findings (Campbell et al., 2003;Church, Anderson-Harumi et al., 2008;Donahue, Robins, Roberts, & John, 1993; Sheldon et al., 1997), a consistent and stable self-concept is important for adjustment or wellbeing, at least in Western or individualistic cultures. However, cultural psychologists have hypothesized that the relationship between consistency and well-being may be weaker or nonexistent in collectivistic cultures, where self-concept flexibility and adaptability to situational contexts are valued (Markus & Kitayama, 1998;Suh, 2002). Indeed, Suh (2002), in a comparison of cross-role consistency in Americans and Koreans, found support for this hypothesis, and attributed the cultural differences to differences in self-construals.Alternatively, English and Chen (2007) and Boucher (2011) attributed the hypothesized weaker relationship between cross-role consistency and well-being in East...

The Associations Between Happiness Motives and Well-Being in China: The Mediating Role of Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration

“…Furthermore, they may also encounter social constraints that hinder them from actualizing their hedonic intentions even if they hold such behavioral intentions. Much work has been done to address the question about what accounts for a happy life across cultures (e.g., Church et al, 2014). Nevertheless, this research further indicates a need to use a cross-cultural perspective to understand how people pursue happiness.…”

Hypocrisy and culture: Failing to practice what you preach receives harsher interpersonal reactions in independent (vs. interdependent) cultures

“…People in Asia are less likely than people in the West to expect themselves and others to act consistently across situations (Choi & Nisbett, 2000;English & Chen, 2007). Among people who hold a more interdependent model of self, cross-situational inconsistency is less predictive of well-being (Church et al, 2014;Cross, Gore, & Morris, 2003;Suh, 2002). In Asian versus Western cultures, making choices that appear inconsistent with personal preferences is more common (Savani, Markus, & Conner, 2008), and does not arouse as much cognitive dissonance (Heine & Lehman, 1997;Hoshino-Browne et al, 2005;Kitayama, et al, 2004).…”

El autoconcepto y el bienestar subjetivo en función del sexo y del nivel educativo en la adolescencia

“…It has been proven A positive relationship of subjective well-being with a person's effective functioning in different domains of life has been shown, a relationship that is influenced by contextual and intrapersonal factors. Additionally, a positive relationship between psychological adjustment and self-concept in adolescence has been demonstrated (Fuentes et al, 2011), with the positive selfperception as an import correlate of happiness (Church et al, 2014;Mruk, 2006).…”

“…En relación al vínculo que mantienen el autoconcepto y el bienestar subjetivo, hay estudios empíricos que refuerzan el planteamiento según el cual el concepto que tienen las personas de sí mismas es un importante correlato de la felicidad (Church et al, 2014;Mruk, 2006). Además, la autopercepción positiva se ha vinculado estrechamente durante el periodo evolutivo de la adolescencia con diversos indicadores de adaptación, apoyando la idea de que el mayor autoconcepto se corresponde con el mejor ajuste psicológico, una buena competencia personal y menos problemas comportamentales (Fuentes et al, 2011).…”