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평균 이상 효과에서 문화차의 발생 조건과 설명 기제

Condition and Mechanism of Cultural Differences in the Better-Than-Average Effect

한국심리학회지: 사회 및 성격 / Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, (P)1229-0653;
2014, v.28 no.3, pp.127-143
https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2014.28.3.008
이종택 (동양미래대학교)
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초록

본 연구는 평균 이상 효과(자신을 평균보다 더 낫다고 간주하는 경향)에서 문화적 차이의 발생 조건을 탐구하고, 그 기제를 확인해 보는 것이 주요 목적이다. 동아시아 문화권을 대표하여 한국인을, 그리고 서양 문화권을 대표하여 한국 거주 서구인을 연구대상으로 삼았다. 연구 1에서 연구자는 평균 이상 효과의 크기에서 한국인과 서구인 사이에 문화적 차이가 발생한다는 사실을 밝혀냈다. 전반적으로 한국인들이 서구인들에 비하여 더 낮은 수준의 평균 이상 효과를 보였으나, 긍정적 특성에서는 한국인들도 서구인들처럼 상당한 크기의 평균 이상 효과를 보였다. 부정적 특성에서는 2010년 자료에서 한국인들이 평균 이상 효과를 보이지 않았던 반면에, 2014년 자료에서 약간의 평균 이상 효과를 보였다. 이것은 4년이 지나면서 한국인들이 더욱 서구화되고 있다는 지표로 해석될 여지가 있다. 부정적 특성에서 한국인들이 평균 이상 효과를 보이지 않거나 적게 보이는 근거의 하나로 겸손 규범을 고려해 보았다. 연구 2에서 직접적으로 겸손 동기를 부각시키면 평균 이상 효과가 낮아지는지를 실험으로 검증하고자 하였다. 연구 결과, 자신보다 상대방을 더 높이는 겸손 동기를 조작하면, 특히 부정적 특성에서 평균 이상 효과가 사라진다는 사실이 확인되었으며, 이것은 서구인들도 마찬가지였다. 이 발견사실은 한국과 같은 동양문화권에서는 자신의 단점을 찾아서 개선함으로써 자신을 향상시키려는 동기가 작용했기 때문일 수 있음을 시사한다. 이 연구 결과의 의의 및 제한점이 논의되었다.

keywords
Better-than-average effect, Cultural differences, Modesty norm, Negative traits, Self-improvement motive, 평균 이상 효과, 문화차, 겸손규범, 부정적 특성, 자기 향상 동기

Abstract

The present study examined when cultural differences in the better-than-average effect (the tendency to view oneself as better than average) would vary with trait desirability and why the differences would occurred. The researcher used Koreans and Westerners in Korea as representatives of East Asian and Western cultures, respectively. In Study 1, the author found that the magnitude of cultural difference in the better-than-average effect varied between Westerners and Koreans. While Korean participants failed to exhibit the better-than- average effect for any negative trait in 2010 year data, they showed the effect for negative traits in 2014 year data. In contrast, Westerners tended to display the better-than-average effect more than Koreans, and cultural difference was greater for negative traits than for positive traits. In Study 2 to pin down the underlying mechanism that gives rise to cultural differences, it was found that the other-enhancing orientation of the modesty norm influenced the cross-cultural difference. Westerners as well as Koreans did not show the better-than-average effect under the enhancement of the modesty norm. The findings indicate that Koreans of East Asian culture motivate to correct their own defects and improve themselves. Implications of the results and suggestions of the future studies were discussed.

keywords
Better-than-average effect, Cultural differences, Modesty norm, Negative traits, Self-improvement motive, 평균 이상 효과, 문화차, 겸손규범, 부정적 특성, 자기 향상 동기

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한국심리학회지: 사회 및 성격