Cultural Self-Awareness as Awareness of Culture's Influence on the Self: Implications for Cultural Identification and Well-Being. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Chieh; Wan, Ching
• Is Part Of: Personality & social psychology bulletin. Volume 44:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: 823
• Page End: 837
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: cultural self -- self-awareness -- well-being -- cultural identification; Personality -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302
• DOI: 10.1177/0146167217752117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-1672

Abstract

Cultural self-awareness refers to the awareness of how culture has influenced the self. This research investigated how such awareness might be related to cultural identification and well-being. In Study 1, we developed a scale measure that differentiated individuals' awareness of how culture has influenced them (cultural self-awareness) and how their own personality and personal experiences have influenced them (personal self-awareness). Factor analysis and item analysis showed a two-factor model with acceptable scale reliability. Study 2 showed that cultural self-awareness positively predicted well-being through higher cultural identification, whereas personal self-awareness positively predicted well-being through higher behavioral authenticity. Study 3 manipulated the valence of individuals' cultural experience. The indirect effect of cultural self-awareness on well-being was stronger when cultural experience was positive (vs. negative). Study 4 provided a specific cultural context for the well-being measures and replicated the findings of Studies 2 and 3. Implications on the link between culture and self were discussed.