CULTURED MINDS
An Investigation of How Culture Affects Decision Making
INDEPENDENT/INTERDEPENDENT
Originally defined in (Markus & Kitayama, 1991), Interdependence is a descriptions of Collectivism and Independence a description of Individualism but on a personal, rather than cultural level. For example the US ambassador to China may have a predominantly independent self-construal although he/she lives in a largely collectivist society. A Collectivist orientation would suggest “my in-group is important” whereas an Interdependent one would imply “my in-group is who I am” (De Mooij & Hofstede, 2002)
Although “traditions, religions, life philosophies [aspects of culture]… foster asymmetric development of the independent or interdependent self“ (Aaker & Schmitt, 2001), people are able to access both independent and interdependent self-construals, depending on the situation.
Self Descriptions
For those with more interdependent self-constuals (e.g Japanese) descriptions of self more often reflected their social identities. These self- descriptions were contextualised and specific rather than abstract and general (Matsumoto, 1999).
Researchers found that participants with a more independent self-construal (e.g Americans) used general abstract personality traits (e.g., “I am curious,” “I am sincere”) three times as often as Japanese participants did. (Cousins, 1989) cited in (Matsumoto, 1999)