Tara Is Studying Self-Enhancement in South Korea Compared to the United

question 38

Multiple Choice

Tara is studying self-enhancement in South Korea compared to the United States.Her results suggest that Americans describe themselves more positively on a variety of personality dimensions than do South Koreans, but she is worried that this effect isn't real and that what is really happening is that the South Korean participants feel compelled to be modest.Do you think this alternative explanation is credible?

• A) Not really: If Tara's study examines a wide range of personality dimensions, the study is comprehensive enough that the findings are likely an accurate reflection of South Korean's self-enhancement motivations.
• B) Not really: If Tara's study ensures anonymity, and uses indirect measures of self-enhancement, the findings from past research suggest it is unlikely that her participants feel compelled to hide their self-enhancement motivations.
• C) Yes: Research shows that East Asians regularly portray that they are more modest than they really are and that Westerners regularly boast about their positive qualities even when they do not feel very positive about themselves.
• D) Yes: Research shows that cultural norms are more important than internal feelings among East Asians, so it makes sense that Tara's South Korean participants would rather report being modest than report positive feelings about the self.
• E) I don't know: The existing research is mixed and more research needs to be conducted before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

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Definitions:

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior, through which an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.

Correct Response

The accurate or appropriate reply or action in answer to a question, statement, or situation.

Variable Interval

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed, which encourages steady response rates.

Responding

The act of giving a reaction or answer to a stimulus or question.