Cultural Differences in Situational Threats to Face Needs

• In Event: Strategic Presentation of Face in an Intercultural Space

Abstract

This study investigated cultural differences in situational face threats. With U.S. American and Korean samples, findings showed that 1) Americans considered others’ comments on their appearance as more face-threatening than indication of lacked appreciation; 2) Americans considered comments on appearance as more face-threatening than Koreans did, whereas Koreans considered lacked appreciation as more face-threatening than Americans did. Comments on appearance were considered as more positive face-threatening than negative face-threatening.

Authors

• Wonsun Kim, Michigan State University

• Hee Sun Park, Michigan State University

• Xiaowen Guan, Michigan State University