The importance of the trait concept for personality psychology, and in the prediction of mental health, is well-established in Western psychology, but has been challenged by cultural psychologists and individualism-collectivism theorists. The broad objectives of this research are: (a) to achieve a theoretical and empirical integration of the cultural psychology and trait psychology perspectives; and (b) to demonstrate the relevance of personality traits for self-concept, causal inferences about behavior, and the consistency and prediction of behavior in all cultures. Specific hypotheses will be tested in cross-cultural studies involving an individualistic culture (the U.S.) and a collectivistic culture (the Philippines). First, a new measure that measures the extent to which individuals believe that behavior is determined by personality traits (implicit trait theorists) or situational context (implicit contextual theorists) will be refined and validated across cultures. Then, free-response and objective inventory measures of self-concept will be used to test the hypothesis that individuals in all cultures incorporate personal attributes, including traits, in their self-concepts, but that individuals in collectivistic cultures (and implicit contextual theorists) do so less than individuals in individualistic cultures (and implicit trait theorists). Inferences about behaviors encountered in naturalistic settings will be used to test the hypothesis that individuals in all cultures make trait inferences from behavior, but that individuals in individualistic cultures (and implicit trait theorists) do so more readily, while individuals in collectivistic cultures (and implicit contextual theorists) make situational inferences more readily. Self and mean acquaintance ratings on personality traits will be compared across cultures to test the hypothesis that individuals in individualistic cultures (and implicit trait theorists) exhibit self-enhancement tendencies to a greater extent than do individuals in collectivistic cultures (and implicit contextual theorists). The extent of inter-judge and cross-role agreement in personality ratings will be compared across cultures to test the hypothesis that individuals in individualistic cultures, and those whose behavior is guided more by their traits than by the situational context (i.e., low self-monitors), exhibit greater consistency of trait relevant behavior across situational contexts and across roles than do individuals in collectivistic cultures (and those who are high in self-monitoring). Experience sampling methods will be used to test the hypothesis that cross-situational consistency and personality-prediction of behavior are greater for individuals in individualistic cultures (and low self-monitors) than for individuals in collectivistic cultures (and high self-monitors).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH059941-03
Application #
6639121
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-4 (01))
Program Officer
Oliveri, Mary Ellen
Project Start
2001-05-01
Project End
2006-04-30
Budget Start
2003-05-01
Budget End
2004-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$214,834
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington State University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Education
DUNS #
041485301
City
Pullman
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
99164
Church, A Timothy; Katigbak, Marcia S; Del Prado, Alicia M (2010) Cultural Similarities and Differences in Perceived Affordances of Situations for Big Five Behaviors. J Res Pers 44:78-90
Church, A Timothy; Anderson-Harumi, Cheryl A; del Prado, Alicia M et al. (2008) Culture, cross-role consistency, and adjustment: testing trait and cultural psychology perspectives. J Pers Soc Psychol 95:739-55
Imperio, Shellah Myra; Church, A Timothy; Katigbak, Marcia S et al. (2008) Lexical Studies of Filipino Person Descriptors: Adding Personality-Relevant Social and Physical Attributes. Eur J Pers 22:291-321
Church, A Timothy; Katigbak, Marcia S; Miramontes, Lilia G et al. (2007) Culture and the Behavioral Manifestations of Traits: An Application of the Act Frequency Approach. Eur J Pers 21:389-417
Del Prado, Alicia M; Church, A Timothy; Katigbak, Marcia S et al. (2007) Culture, Method, and the Content of Self-Concepts: Testing Trait, Individual-Self-Primacy, and Cultural Psychology Perspectives. J Res Pers 41:1119-1160