title: Culture and the distinctiveness motive: constructing identity in individualistic and collectivistic contexts.
abstract: The motive to attain a distinctive identity is sometimes thought to be stronger in, or even specific to, those socialized into individualistic cultures. Using data from 4,751 participants in 21 cultural groups (18 nations and 3 regions), we tested this prediction against our alternative view that culture would moderate the ways in which people achieve feelings of distinctiveness, rather than influence the strength of their motivation to do so. We measured the distinctiveness motive using an indirect technique to avoid cultural response biases. Analyses showed that the distinctiveness motive was not weaker-and, if anything, was stronger-in more collectivistic nations. However, individualism-collectivism was found to moderate the ways in which feelings of distinctiveness were constructed: Distinctiveness was associated more closely with difference and separateness in more individualistic cultures and was associated more closely with social position in more collectivistic cultures. Multilevel analysis confirmed that it is the prevailing beliefs and values in an individual's context, rather than the individual's own beliefs and values, that account for these differences.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex. mbecker@univtlse2.fr
authors.forename: Maja
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authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Vivian L
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authors.forename: Flávia Cristina Silveira
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authors.forename: Siugmin
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authors.forename: Qian
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authors.forename: Michael Harris
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authors.lastname: Trujillo
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authors.lastname: Balanta
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authors.forename: Kassahun Habtamu
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authors.lastname: Mekonnen
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authors.lastname: Nizharadze
authors.forename: Marta
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authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ma Elizabeth J
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authors.lastname: Macapagal
authors.forename: Aneta
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authors.lastname: Chybicka
authors.forename: Alin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gavreliuc
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buitendach
authors.forename: Inge Schweiger
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Emre
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authors.lastname: Ozgen
authors.forename: Ulkü E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Güner
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authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamakoğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D009042:Motivation; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012945:Social Values; D013020:South America / Q000208:ethnology