A Cultural Examination Of Self-Complexity

This article examines self-complexity in cultural samples known to differ in individualism and collectivism. Individualism and collectivism are linked, respectively, to independent and interdependent patterns of self-construal. These patterns of self-construal may promote corresponding cultural differences in self-complexity. However, this possibility is contingent on self-complexity arising from the same interpersonal processes that contribute to self-construal. If, instead, self-complexity arises from intrapersonal processes like cognition and memory, then it is possible self-complexity may not vary across cultures. In Study 1, we compared a sample of Chinese-born students studying in the U.S. to U.S.-born students and found that the Chinese students had lower self-complexity. In Study 2, we compared adult Indian respondents to adult U.S. respondents and found no differences. These results are discussed in relation to cultural theories and intrapersonal, cognitive explanations