| This research examines the effects of culture on several psychological phenomena, both from the perspective of the social target (e.g., coping with social stigma), and the perspective of the social perceiver (e.g., stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination). Cultural variables and, more specifically, naive dialecticism (Peng & Nisbett, 1999) strongly influence the nature and structure of people's beliefs about themselves and others. In Part I, the psychological benefits and costs of viewing oneself as a member of a devalued and disadvantaged group were examined in a sample of Latino (mostly Mexican-American) college students, using structural equation modeling and hierarchical cluster analysis. Individuals who strongly perceived that Latinos are discriminated against in society, and who were strongly identified and favorably oriented toward their group (49%), possessed relatively high self-esteem, as did individuals who perceived little prejudice directed toward Latinos (21%). An "at risk" cluster consisted of individuals who were disidentified and who devalued their group (30%). Perceptions of group discrimination appear to be self-protective for one group of individuals, harmful for another, and inconsequential for yet a third. In Part II, the theory of naive dialecticism (Peng & Nisbett, 1999) was examined in the context in which people in different cultures perceive social groups, including impression formation and stereotyping, perceptions of group entitativity, and intergroup attitudes. This research suggests that cultural differences in group perception can be understood in light of the greater prevalence of naive dialecticism in East Asian cultures, in which the world is seen as contradictory, fundamentally interconnected, and in constant flux. In Part III, in a series of studies, Mainland Chinese exhibited greater contradiction and change in the content, valence, and structure of their self-beliefs than did Americans. Naive dialecticism, assessed as an individual difference variable, mediated the observed cultural differences in self-esteem and psychological well-being. Naive dialecticism provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding many of the East-West differences in perceptions of the self and others. |
