Abstract

It is argued that the western culture places emphases on internal characteristics of individuals in relation to behavioral consistency, whereas the eastern culture deems social factors as determinants of behavioral consistency. To examine this argument, two cultures (Korean and American) in behavioral consistency on personality trait dimensions were compared in Study 1 and 2. In Study 1, Korean and American undergraduates rated hypothetical targets for behavioral consistency and social desirability. For the American data set, behavioral consistency for personality traits varied mainly as a function of extremity on those trait dimensions. For the Korean data set, however, it was strongly and positively correlated with social desirability, but not with extremity. Using both hypothetical and real targets, Study 2 replicated the Study 1 findings from the Korean sample. That is, behavioral consistency had a strong association with social desirability, a clear-cut confirmation of Study 1. These findings were discussed with an emphasis on consideration of characteristics indigenous to the Korean culture in studying Korean people.