1. National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures.
- Author
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Terracciano A, Abdel-Khalek AM, Adám N, Adamovová L, Ahn CK, Ahn HN, Alansari BM, Alcalay L, Allik J, Angleitner A, Avia MD, Ayearst LE, Barbaranelli C, Beer A, Borg-Cunen MA, Bratko D, Brunner-Sciarra M, Budzinski L, Camart N, Dahourou D, De Fruyt F, de Lima MP, del Pilar GE, Diener E, Falzon R, Fernando K, Ficková E, Fischer R, Flores-Mendoza C, Ghayur MA, Gülgöz S, Hagberg B, Halberstadt J, Halim MS, Hrebícková M, Humrichouse J, Jensen HH, Jocic DD, Jónsson FH, Khoury B, Klinkosz W, Knezević G, Lauri MA, Leibovich N, Martin TA, Marusić I, Mastor KA, Matsumoto D, McRorie M, Meshcheriakov B, Mortensen EL, Munyae M, Nagy J, Nakazato K, Nansubuga F, Oishi S, Ojedokun AO, Ostendorf F, Paulhus DL, Pelevin S, Petot JM, Podobnik N, Porrata JL, Pramila VS, Prentice G, Realo A, Reátegui N, Rolland JP, Rossier J, Ruch W, Rus VS, Sánchez-Bernardos ML, Schmidt V, Sciculna-Calleja S, Sekowski A, Shakespeare-Finch J, Shimonaka Y, Simonetti F, Sineshaw T, Siuta J, Smith PB, Trapnell PD, Trobst KK, Wang L, Yik M, Zupancic A, and McCrae RR
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Female, Humans, Male, Personality Assessment, Reproducibility of Results, Social Perception, Stereotyping, Surveys and Questionnaires, Character, Culture, Ethnicity, Personality
- Abstract
Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.
- Published
- 2005
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