National Character Does Not Reflect Mean Personality Trait Levels in 49 Cultures

Terracciano, Antonio and Abdel-Khalek, A. M. and Adam, N. and Adamovova, L. and Ahn, C. and Ahn, H. and Alansari, B. M. and Alcalay, L. and Allik, J. and Angleitner, A. and Avia, A. and Ayearst, L. E. and Barbaranelli, C. and Beer, A. and Borg-Cunen, M. A. and Bratko, D. and Brunner-Sciarra, M. and Budzinski, L. and Camart, N. and Dahourou, D. and De Fruyt, F. and de Lima, M. P. and del Pilar, G. E. H. and Diener, E. and Falzon, R. and Fernando, K. and Fickova, E. and Fischer, R. and Flores-Mendoza, C. and Ghayur, M. A. and Gulgoz, S. and Hagburg, B. and Halberstadt, J. and Halim, M. S. and Hebikova, M. and Humrichouse, J. and Jensen, H. H. and Jocic, D. D. and Jonsson, F. H. and Khoury, B. and Klinkosz, W. and Kneevi, G. and Lauri, M. A. and Leibovich, N. and Martin, T. A. and Marusic, I. and Mastor, K. A. and Matsumoto, D. and McRorie, M. and Meshcheriakov, B. and Mortensen, E. L. and Munyae, M. and Nagy, J. and Nakazato, K. and Nansubuga, F. and Oishi, S. and Ojedokun, A. O. and Ostendorf, F. and Paulhus, D. L. and Pelevin, S. and Petot, J.M. and Podobnik, N. and Porrata, J. L. and Pramila, V. S. and Prentice, G. and Realo, A. and Reategui, N. and Rolland, J.P. and Rossier, J. and Ruch, W. and Rus, V. S. and Sanchez-Bernardos, M. L. and Schmidt, V. and Sciculna-Calleja, S. and Sekowski, A. and Shakespeare-Finch, Jane E. and Shimonaka, Y. and Simonetti, F. and Sineshaw, T. and Siuta, J. and Smith, P. B. and Trapnell, P. D. and Trobst, K. K. and Wang, L. and Yik, M. and Zupani, A. and McCrae, Robert R. (2005) National Character Does Not Reflect Mean Personality Trait Levels in 49 Cultures . Science Magazine 310(5745):pp. 96-100.

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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Item Type:	Journal Article
RM Number:	2007008248
Status:	Published
Keywords:	Culture; ethnopsychology; national characteristics; personality; personality tests; stereotyping;
Subjects:	380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences > 380100 Psychology > 380105 Social and Community Psychology 380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences > 380100 Psychology > 380104 Personality, Abilities and Assessment
ID Code:	7714
Deposited By:	Matthews-McBride, Judith
Deposited On:	17 May 2007
Alternative Locations:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199
Copyright Owner:	Copyright 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science
Additional Information:	Supporting materials available online at: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5745/96/DC1