Psychology: National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures

A. Terracciano; A. M. Abdel-Khalek; N. Ádám; L. Adamovová; C. K. Ahn; H. N. Ahn; B. M. Alansari; L. Alcalay; J. Allik; A. Angleitner; M. D. Avia; L. E. Ayearst; C. Barbaranelli; A. Beer; M. A. Borg-Cunen; D. Bratko; M. Brunner-Sciarra; L. Budzinski; N. Camart; D. Dahourou; F. De Fruyt; M. P. De Lima; G. E.H. Del Pilar; E. Diener; R. Falzon; K. Fernando; E. Ficková; R. Fischer; C. Flores-Mendoza; M. A. Ghayur; S. Gülgöz; B. Hagberg; J. Halberstadt; M. S. Halim; M. Hrebickova; J. Humrichouse; H. H. Jensen; D. D. Jocic; F. H. Jónsson; B. Khoury; W. Klinkosz; G. Knežević; H. A. Lauri; N. Leibovich; T. A. Martin; I. Marušić; K. A. Mastor; D. Matsumoto; M. McRorie; B. Meshcheriakov; E. L. Mortensen; M. Munyae; J. Nagy; K. Nakazato; F. Nansubuga; S. Oishi; A. O. Ojedokun; F. Ostendorf; D. L. Paulhus; S. Pelevin; J. M. Petot; N. Podobnik; J. L. Porrata; V. S. Pramila; C. Prentice; A. Realo; N. Reátegui; J. P. Rolland; J. Rossier; W. Ruch; V. S. Rus; M. L. Sánchez-Bernardos; V. Schmidt; S. Sciculna-Calleja; A. Sekowski; J. Shakespeare-Finch; Y. Shimonaka; F. Simonetti; T. Sineshaw; J. Siuta; P. B. Smith; P. D. Trapnell; K. K. Trobst; L. Wang; M. Yik; A. Zupančič; R. R. McCrae

doi:10.1126/science.1117199

Psychology: National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures

A. Terracciano
, A. M. Abdel-Khalek
, N. Ádám
, L. Adamovová
, C. K. Ahn
, H. N. Ahn
, B. M. Alansari
, L. Alcalay
, J. Allik
, A. Angleitner
, M. D. Avia
, L. E. Ayearst
, C. Barbaranelli
, A. Beer
, M. A. Borg-Cunen
, D. Bratko
, M. Brunner-Sciarra
, L. Budzinski
, N. Camart
, D. Dahourou

F. De Fruyt, M. P. De Lima, G. E.H. Del Pilar, E. Diener, R. Falzon, K. Fernando, E. Ficková, R. Fischer, C. Flores-Mendoza, M. A. Ghayur, S. Gülgöz, B. Hagberg, J. Halberstadt, M. S. Halim, M. Hrebickova, J. Humrichouse, H. H. Jensen, D. D. Jocic, F. H. Jónsson, B. Khoury, W. Klinkosz, G. Knežević, H. A. Lauri, N. Leibovich, T. A. Martin, I. Marušić, K. A. Mastor, D. Matsumoto, M. McRorie, B. Meshcheriakov, E. L. Mortensen, M. Munyae, J. Nagy, K. Nakazato, F. Nansubuga, S. Oishi, A. O. Ojedokun, F. Ostendorf, D. L. Paulhus, S. Pelevin, J. M. Petot, N. Podobnik, J. L. Porrata, V. S. Pramila, C. Prentice, A. Realo, N. Reátegui, J. P. Rolland, J. Rossier, W. Ruch, V. S. Rus, M. L. Sánchez-Bernardos, V. Schmidt, S. Sciculna-Calleja, A. Sekowski, J. Shakespeare-Finch, Y. Shimonaka, F. Simonetti, T. Sineshaw, J. Siuta, P. B. Smith, P. D. Trapnell, K. K. Trobst, L. Wang, M. Yik, A. Zupančič, R. R. McCrae

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

355 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	96-100
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	310
Issue number	5745
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199
State	Published - 7 Oct 2005

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10.1126/science.1117199

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Terracciano, A., Abdel-Khalek, A. M., Ádám, N., Adamovová, L., Ahn, C. K., Ahn, H. N., Alansari, B. M., Alcalay, L., Allik, J., Angleitner, A., Avia, M. D., Ayearst, L. E., Barbaranelli, C., Beer, A., Borg-Cunen, M. A., Bratko, D., Brunner-Sciarra, M., Budzinski, L., Camart, N., ... McCrae, R. R. (2005). Psychology: National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures. Science, 310(5745), 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199

@article{968ab1b4c4b0458bb949039fa649bc7e,

title = "Psychology: National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures",

abstract = "Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a {"}kernel of truth,{"} or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.",

author = "A. Terracciano and Abdel-Khalek, \{A. M.\} and N. {\'A}d{\'a}m and L. Adamovov{\'a} and Ahn, \{C. K.\} and Ahn, \{H. N.\} and Alansari, \{B. M.\} and L. Alcalay and J. Allik and A. Angleitner and Avia, \{M. D.\} and Ayearst, \{L. E.\} and C. Barbaranelli and A. Beer and Borg-Cunen, \{M. A.\} and D. Bratko and M. Brunner-Sciarra and L. Budzinski and N. Camart and D. Dahourou and \{De Fruyt\}, F. and \{De Lima\}, \{M. P.\} and \{Del Pilar\}, \{G. E.H.\} and E. Diener and R. Falzon and K. Fernando and E. Fickov{\'a} and R. Fischer and C. Flores-Mendoza and Ghayur, \{M. A.\} and S. G{\"u}lg{\"o}z and B. Hagberg and J. Halberstadt and Halim, \{M. S.\} and M. Hrebickova and J. Humrichouse and Jensen, \{H. H.\} and Jocic, \{D. D.\} and J{\'o}nsson, \{F. H.\} and B. Khoury and W. Klinkosz and G. Kne{\v z}evi{\'c} and Lauri, \{H. A.\} and N. Leibovich and Martin, \{T. A.\} and I. Maru{\v s}i{\'c} and Mastor, \{K. A.\} and D. Matsumoto and M. McRorie and B. Meshcheriakov and Mortensen, \{E. L.\} and M. Munyae and J. Nagy and K. Nakazato and F. Nansubuga and S. Oishi and Ojedokun, \{A. O.\} and F. Ostendorf and Paulhus, \{D. L.\} and S. Pelevin and Petot, \{J. M.\} and N. Podobnik and Porrata, \{J. L.\} and Pramila, \{V. S.\} and C. Prentice and A. Realo and N. Re{\'a}tegui and Rolland, \{J. P.\} and J. Rossier and W. Ruch and Rus, \{V. S.\} and S{\'a}nchez-Bernardos, \{M. L.\} and V. Schmidt and S. Sciculna-Calleja and A. Sekowski and J. Shakespeare-Finch and Y. Shimonaka and F. Simonetti and T. Sineshaw and J. Siuta and Smith, \{P. B.\} and Trapnell, \{P. D.\} and Trobst, \{K. K.\} and L. Wang and M. Yik and A. Zupan{\v c}i{\v c} and McCrae, \{R. R.\}",

year = "2005",

month = oct,

day = "7",

doi = "10.1126/science.1117199",

language = "English",

volume = "310",

pages = "96--100",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "5745",

}

Terracciano, A, Abdel-Khalek, AM, Ádám, N, Adamovová, L, Ahn, CK, Ahn, HN, Alansari, BM, Alcalay, L, Allik, J, Angleitner, A, Avia, MD, Ayearst, LE, Barbaranelli, C, Beer, A, Borg-Cunen, MA, Bratko, D, Brunner-Sciarra, M, Budzinski, L, Camart, N, Dahourou, D, De Fruyt, F, De Lima, MP, Del Pilar, GEH, Diener, E, Falzon, R, Fernando, K, Ficková, E, Fischer, R, Flores-Mendoza, C, Ghayur, MA, Gülgöz, S, Hagberg, B, Halberstadt, J, Halim, MS, Hrebickova, M, Humrichouse, J, Jensen, HH, Jocic, DD, Jónsson, FH, Khoury, B, Klinkosz, W, Knežević, G, Lauri, HA, Leibovich, N, Martin, TA, Marušić, I, Mastor, KA, Matsumoto, D, McRorie, M, Meshcheriakov, B, Mortensen, EL, Munyae, M, Nagy, J, Nakazato, K, Nansubuga, F, Oishi, S, Ojedokun, AO, Ostendorf, F, Paulhus, DL, Pelevin, S, Petot, JM, Podobnik, N, Porrata, JL, Pramila, VS, Prentice, C, Realo, A, Reátegui, N, Rolland, JP, Rossier, J, Ruch, W, Rus, VS, Sánchez-Bernardos, ML, Schmidt, V, Sciculna-Calleja, S, Sekowski, A, Shakespeare-Finch, J, Shimonaka, Y, Simonetti, F, Sineshaw, T, Siuta, J, Smith, PB, Trapnell, PD, Trobst, KK, Wang, L, Yik, M, Zupančič, A & McCrae, RR 2005, 'Psychology: National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures', Science, vol. 310, no. 5745, pp. 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psychology

T2 - National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures

AU - Terracciano, A.

AU - Abdel-Khalek, A. M.

AU - Ádám, N.

AU - Adamovová, L.

AU - Ahn, C. K.

AU - Ahn, H. N.

AU - Alansari, B. M.

AU - Alcalay, L.

AU - Allik, J.

AU - Angleitner, A.

AU - Avia, M. D.

AU - Ayearst, L. E.

AU - Barbaranelli, C.

AU - Beer, A.

AU - Borg-Cunen, M. A.

AU - Bratko, D.

AU - Brunner-Sciarra, M.

AU - Budzinski, L.

AU - Camart, N.

AU - Dahourou, D.

AU - De Fruyt, F.

AU - De Lima, M. P.

AU - Del Pilar, G. E.H.

AU - Diener, E.

AU - Falzon, R.

AU - Fernando, K.

AU - Ficková, E.

AU - Fischer, R.

AU - Flores-Mendoza, C.

AU - Ghayur, M. A.

AU - Gülgöz, S.

AU - Hagberg, B.

AU - Halberstadt, J.

AU - Halim, M. S.

AU - Hrebickova, M.

AU - Humrichouse, J.

AU - Jensen, H. H.

AU - Jocic, D. D.

AU - Jónsson, F. H.

AU - Khoury, B.

AU - Klinkosz, W.

AU - Knežević, G.

AU - Lauri, H. A.

AU - Leibovich, N.

AU - Martin, T. A.

AU - Marušić, I.

AU - Mastor, K. A.

AU - Matsumoto, D.

AU - McRorie, M.

AU - Meshcheriakov, B.

AU - Mortensen, E. L.

AU - Munyae, M.

AU - Nagy, J.

AU - Nakazato, K.

AU - Nansubuga, F.

AU - Oishi, S.

AU - Ojedokun, A. O.

AU - Ostendorf, F.

AU - Paulhus, D. L.

AU - Pelevin, S.

AU - Petot, J. M.

AU - Podobnik, N.

AU - Porrata, J. L.

AU - Pramila, V. S.

AU - Prentice, C.

AU - Realo, A.

AU - Reátegui, N.

AU - Rolland, J. P.

AU - Rossier, J.

AU - Ruch, W.

AU - Rus, V. S.

AU - Sánchez-Bernardos, M. L.

AU - Schmidt, V.

AU - Sciculna-Calleja, S.

AU - Sekowski, A.

AU - Shakespeare-Finch, J.

AU - Shimonaka, Y.

AU - Simonetti, F.

AU - Sineshaw, T.

AU - Siuta, J.

AU - Smith, P. B.

AU - Trapnell, P. D.

AU - Trobst, K. K.

AU - Wang, L.

AU - Yik, M.

AU - Zupančič, A.

AU - McCrae, R. R.

PY - 2005/10/7

Y1 - 2005/10/7

N2 - Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.

AB - Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/26444438139

U2 - 10.1126/science.1117199

DO - 10.1126/science.1117199

M3 - Article

C2 - 16210536

AN - SCOPUS:26444438139

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 310

SP - 96

EP - 100

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5745

ER -

Psychology: National character does not reflect mean personality trait level in 49 cultures

Abstract

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