Cross-cultural discrepancies in self-appraisals

Two studies examined self-appraisals in Japanese and Canadian samples. Study 1 included open-ended self-descriptions; Study 2 incorporated indirect measures of self-enhancing tendencies. In Study 1, the content analysis assessed spontaneous evaluations of self and others, private and relational self-statements, reflected appraisals, temporal and social comparisons, and evaluations of objects and events. Canadian participants typically provided self-enhancing, self-desriptions. Japanese participants were generally evenhanded rather than self-critical or self-enhancing although they were favourable about relational than private aspects of self. in Study 2, Canadian participants reported that proud events fell closer in time and were easier to recall than similarly distant embarrassing events. Japanese participants reported that embarrassing and proud events felt equally far and away more memorable. The two studies provide evidence that Canadians possess stronger self-enhancing motivations than Japanese and enable a cross-cultural analysis of several social psychological theories of self-appraisal.