Abstract

This study was conducted to explore implicit representations of 'individual' and 'relation' in Korean college students. The study was based on measuring 130 students by Rise (Relational Interdependent Self-Construal) and 4 sorts of IATs(Implicit Association Test). The results were summed up as follows: 'relation' was related to either 'active' or/and 'masculine' traits; Men with high RISC score rapidly associated 'relation' with 'positive' traits whereas women with high RISC score difficultly associated them; Men with low Rise score connected 'individual' with 'strong' and other groups connected 'relation' with 'strong'; All groups associated 'relation' with 'active' and women with low RISC most rapidly associated these; Men with high RISC connected 'relation' with 'feminine' but other groups connected it with 'masculine'. These results point toward a conclusion that Korean societies expect some forms of human relationship but differently from men and women.