On the nature and importance of cultural tightness-looseness.
Cross-cultural research is dominated by the use of values despite their mixed empirical support and their limited theoretical scope. This article expands the dominant paradigm in cross-cultural research by developing a theory of cultural tightness-looseness (the strength of social norms and the degree of sanctioning within societies) and by advancing a multilevel research agenda for future research. Through an exploration of the top-down, bottom-up, and moderating impact that cultural tightness-looseness has on individuals and organizations, as well as on variance at multiple levels of analysis, the theory provides a new and complementary perspective to the values approach.
Gelfand
Michele J
MJ
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. mgelfand@psyc.umd.edu
Nishii
Lisa H
LH
Raver
Jana L
JL
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011582:Psychological Theory