Reframing the Cultural Differences between the East and the West

• In Event: Communication and Negotiating a National Identity

Abstract

This study proposes fundamental cultural differences between the East and the West lie in holistic-analytic worldviews. This study developed measurement for holism and cognitive relativity, and examined the degree of holism, cognitive relativity, independent and interdependent self-construal. Results indicated Koreans had a stronger holistic worldview and cognitive relativity than did Americans; Koreans and Americans didn’t differ in either independent or interdependent self-construals; the impact of holism was still strong after controlling for the effects of self-construals.

Authors

• Jihyun Kim, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

• Tae-Seop Lim, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

• Kathryn Dindia, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

• Nancy Burrell, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee