Interpreting personality profiles across cultures: Bilingual, acculturation, and peer rating studies of Chinese undergraduates.

TLDR

Prior research using a Chinese translation of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory found substantial differences between Hong Kong and North American undergraduates. Across three studies, bilingual Hong Kong students, Canadian Chinese and European undergraduates, and peer ratings of Chinese students revealed that cultural exposure—not merely translation—drives personality differences, with Canadian culture increasing openness, cheerfulness, and prosociality, while competence and stress vulnerability differences stem from varying cultural standards.

Abstract

Prior research (R.R. McCrae, P.T. Costa, & M.S. Yik, 1996) using a Chinese translation of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory suggested substantial differences between Hong Kong and North American undergraduates. Study 1, with a sample of bilingual Hong Kong students (N = 162), showed that prior findings were not due simply to the translation. Study 2, with undergraduates of European and Chinese ancestry living in Canada (N = 633), suggested that more of the differences were cultural in origin. Study 3, which used peer ratings of Chinese students (N = 99), replicated most Study 2 results, suggesting that exposure to Canadian culture increased openness, cheerfulness, and prosocial behavior and attitudes. Differences in sense of competence and vulnerability to stress appeared to be due to different cultural standards for judging these traits. Together, the 3 studies illustrate an integrated approach to interpreting personality differences across cultures.