Question 1

According to the text, which of the following is considered to have an individualist-horizontal society?

Accepted Answer

Norway is considered to have an individualist-horizontal society because it values individual autonomy and equality among its members, which is characteristic of societies that prioritize both individualism and a horizontal (egalitarian) social structure.

Question 2

The United States is a ________ culture.

Accepted Answer

The United States is often characterized as a dignity culture, where individual autonomy and self-worth are highly valued, contrasting with face or honor cultures that emphasize social harmony or reputation.

Question 3

What condition or conditions seem to facilitate the development of honor cultures?

Accepted Answer

Weak central governments and a lack of police often lead to the development of honor cultures, as individuals and groups may feel the need to protect their reputation and deter aggression in the absence of formal legal systems.

Question 4

The individualist versus collectivist distinction is analogous to the distinction between ________ with respect to personal values.

Accepted Answer

The individualist versus collectivist distinction aligns with ideocentrism and allocentrism in terms of personal values. Ideocentrism refers to focusing on individual goals and self-interest (similar to individualism), while allocentrism focuses on group goals and priorities (similar to collectivism).

Question 5

Shannon has lived in Wisconsin her whole life. According to the Rentfrow, Gosling, and Potter (2008) study of geographic variation in personality, which type of person is Shannon likely to be?

Accepted Answer

The Rentfrow, Gosling, and Potter (2008) study found that people from the North Central Great Plains, which includes Wisconsin, tend to score higher on the personality dimensions of friendliness and conventionality.

Question 6

According to a recent survey, which of these countries had the highest levels of self-compassion?

Accepted Answer

Thailand had the highest levels of self-compassion according to the survey, likely due to cultural factors that emphasize mindfulness and compassion.

Question 7

Countries with low average levels of self-esteem also tend to have high rates of

Accepted Answer

Countries with low average levels of self-esteem often have higher rates of suicide, as low self-esteem can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and depression, which are risk factors for suicide.

Question 8

Cultural tightness is analogous to the personality traits of

Accepted Answer

Cultural tightness refers to how strictly social norms are followed and enforced within a society, which aligns with traits like conscientiousness (a tendency to be organized, responsible, and mindful of rules) and intolerance for ambiguity (a preference for clear, unambiguous situations). These traits emphasize a preference for order, structure, and clear guidelines, similar to the concept of cultural tightness.

Question 9

Several studies have examined whether certain Big Five traits apply universally across cultures. As it stands, which trait does NOT appear to be truly universal?

Accepted Answer

Openness to experience, among the Big Five personality traits, has shown the most variability across cultures, suggesting it may not be as universal as the other traits.

Question 10

The level of individualism in a country tends to increase over time as that country

Accepted Answer

Economic development often leads to higher levels of education, income, and urbanization, which can foster individualistic values as people become more self-reliant and less dependent on tight-knit communities.

Question 11

What conclusion emerges from item response theory (IRT) analyses that are used to evaluate the validity of cross-cultural comparisons of common personality measures?

Accepted Answer

Item response theory (IRT) analyses often reveal that item-responding differences across cultures can make mean level comparisons of personality measures across countries difficult. This is because the way individuals from different cultures interpret and respond to survey items can vary, affecting the validity of cross-cultural comparisons.

Question 12

Which of the following is a negative outcome of relying on the individualism/collectivism dichotomy, particularly in regard to Japan and the United States?

Accepted Answer

The individualism/collectivism dichotomy can lead to oversimplification of cultures, potentially fostering stereotypes and dehumanizing those considered as part of an outgroup. This can hinder a deeper understanding of the complexities within each culture.

Question 13

Cultural complexity is much like the individual personality trait of

Accepted Answer

Cultural complexity refers to the variety and intricacy of cultural elements and practices within a society, which can be paralleled to an individual's cognitive complexity. Cognitive complexity in an individual denotes the ability to understand a variety of perspectives and maintain multiple viewpoints, which mirrors how a culturally complex society encompasses diverse beliefs, values, and practices.

Question 14

According to the text, which of the following is considered to have a collectivist-vertical society?

Accepted Answer

China is considered to have a collectivist-vertical society, where individuals are expected to prioritize the needs of the group over their own and respect authority figures.

Question 15

What is the MOST dominant criticism for the collectivistic/individualistic dichotomy in the comparison between Japan and the United States?

Accepted Answer

The most dominant criticism is that the United States and Japan score relatively similarly on individualism measures, challenging the stark contrast often presented between the two countries' cultural orientations.

Question 16

Some cross-cultural researchers compare average levels of traits across cultures. For example, Chueng and Song (1989) found that Chinese participants generally described themselves as higher on ________ when compared to an American sample.

Accepted Answer

Chueng and Song (1989) found that Chinese participants generally described themselves as higher on emotional reserve compared to an American sample, reflecting cultural differences in self-perception and expression.

Question 17

Studies of endogenous personality descriptors in China and Spain seem to suggest that there are ________ factors in each lexicon.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Studies of endogenous personality descriptors in China...

Question 18

According to Triandis, ________ societies assume that all persons are essentially equal.

Accepted Answer

Horizontal societies, as described by Triandis, operate under the assumption that all individuals are essentially equal, emphasizing equality and minimizing hierarchical structures.

Question 19

Studies of cross-cultural gender differences in the Big Five tend to find that

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that gender differences in the Big Five personality traits tend to be more pronounced in more-developed societies, possibly due to greater gender equality allowing for more expression of inherent personality differences.

Question 20

According to the text, cultures of face emerge in societies that

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, cultures of face...

Quiz 13: Cultural Variation in Experience, Behavior, and Personality