Influence of cultural norms on social judgments

Author(s): Wolfradt, U., Pitschke, N.

Journal/Book: Z Sozpsychol. 1997; 28: Langgass-Strasse 76, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. Verlag Hans Huber. 161-171.

Abstract: Previous cross-cultural research suggests that individuals with individualist normorietation (Idiocentrics) prefer dispositional information in social judgments whereas individuals with collectivist orientation (Allocentrics) use more frequently contextual information. These differences can be explained with the three-stage model of inference process by Gilbert (1989) which suggests that Idiocentrics and Allocentrics use the stages in different ways. In a laboratory experiment was examined whether Idiocentrics and Allocentrics form different categories in the early stages of information processing or whether they differ in the amount of correcture processes in the third stage or whether both processes are used. Eased on a 2 (cultural nomorientation: Idiocentrics, Allocentrics)x 2 (time pressure on information process: with, whithout) design the subjects were ask to carry out a sorting task. The results showed differences in the early stages: Idiocentrics prefer more dispositional categories than Allocentrics whereas Allocentrics formed more contextual categories than Idiocentrics. The ''fundamental error of attribution'' was confirmed for the Idiocentrics. The findings are discussed with respect to the concepts of selective attention and attribution and category accessibility.

Note: Article VS-Card Edeler B, Univ Jena, Inst Psychol, Steiger 3, Haus 1, D-07743 Jena, GERMANY

Keyword(s): social judgment; cross-cultural comparison; attribution; categorization; SELF; ACCESSIBILITY; PERCEPTION; PERCEIVERS; KNOWLEDGE; INFERENCE; LANGUAGE; BEHAVIOR

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