Self-enhancement is not Restricted to Individualistic Cultures — The Evidence from Risk Decision Making

摘要

Whether self-enhancement motive is culturally relative or universal is a hot debated topic. The universalist proposed that the motive is pervasive all cultures, whereas the relativistic perspective posited that the motive is restricted to western cultures but absent in eastern cultures. The purpose of this study is to provide the evidence that self-enhancement is palculture by looking at individual's risk decision-making behaviors. A large number of studies have been documented to show that individuals in Asian culture (e.g., Chinese) are more risky than individuals in Western culture (e.g., American). Two studies were conducted in mainland China to explore the relation of self-enhancement and risk decision-making. Study 1 (N=158) shows that self-enhancement is a significant predictor of risk decision making (adjusted R~2=0.039). Study 2(N=148) replicated the results by another scenario of risk decision-making relating one's self-esteem. These results of self-enhancement positively correlated with risk-taking behavior among Chinese participants provide an indirect evidence for self-enhancement is palcutural, because it is consistent with the universalist perspective.