Cultural variations in motivational responses to felt misunderstanding.
Three studies examined cultural variations in the motivational consequences of being misunderstood by others. Study 1 found that European American students who felt misunderstood by others performed progressively better academically, whereas Asian and Asian American students who felt misunderstood by others performed progressively worse. In Studies 2 and 3, felt misunderstanding was experimentally manipulated, and motivational responses were measured with a handgrip task (Study 2) and prefrontal electroencephalography (EEG) asymmetry (Study 3). Across the two studies, Asians and Asian Americans showed more withdrawal-related responses but European Americans showed either no difference (Study 2) or more motivated responses (Study 3) after being misunderstood versus being understood. Together, these studies demonstrate systematic cultural variations in motivational responses to felt misunderstanding.
Lun
Janetta
J
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA. jlun@psyc.umd.edu
Oishi
Shigehiro
S
Coan
James A
JA
Akimoto
Sharon
S
Miao
Felicity F
FF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D032882:Comprehension; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004522:Educational Status; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult