National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures

A Terracciano; AM Abdel-Khalek; N Adam; L Adamovova; C Ahn; HN Ahn; BM Alansari; L Alcalay; J Allik; A Angleitner; MD Avia; LE Ayearst; C Barbaranelli; A Beer; MA Borg-Cunen; D Bratko; M Brunner-Sciarra; L Budzinski; N Camart; D Dahourou; F De Fruyt; MP de Lima; GEH del Pilar; E Diener; R Falzon; K Fernando; E Fickova; R Fischer; C Flores-Mendoza; MA Ghayur; S Gulgoz; Bo Hagberg; J Halberstadt; MS Halim; M Hrebickova; J Humrichouse; HH Jensen; DD Jocic; FH Jonsson; B Khoury; W Klinkosz; G Knezevic; MA Lauri; N Leibovich; TA Martin; I Marusic; KA Mastor; D Matsumoto; M McRorie; B Meshcheriakov; EL Mortensen; M Munyae; J Nagy; K Nakazato; F Nansubuga; S Oishi; AO Ojedokun; F Ostendorf; DL Paulhus; S Pelevin; JM Petot; N Podobnik; JL Porrata; VS Pramila; G Prentice; A Realo; N Reategui; JP Rolland; J Rossier; W Ruch; VS Rus; ML Sanchez-Bernardos; V Schmidt; S Sciculna-Calleja; A Sekowski; J Shakespeare-Finch; Y Shimonaka; F Simonetti; T Sineshaw; J Siuta; PB Smith; PD Trapnell; KK Trobst; L Wang; M Yik; A Zupancic; RR McCrae

doi:10.1126/science.1117199

National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures

A Terracciano, AM Abdel-Khalek, N Adam, L Adamovova, C Ahn, HN Ahn, BM Alansari, L Alcalay, J Allik, A Angleitner, MD Avia, LE Ayearst, C Barbaranelli, A Beer, MA Borg-Cunen, D Bratko, M Brunner-Sciarra, L Budzinski, N Camart, D DahourouF De Fruyt, MP de Lima, GEH del Pilar, E Diener, R Falzon, K Fernando, E Fickova, R Fischer, C Flores-Mendoza, MA Ghayur, S Gulgoz, Bo Hagberg, J Halberstadt, MS Halim, M Hrebickova, J Humrichouse, HH Jensen, DD Jocic, FH Jonsson, B Khoury, W Klinkosz, G Knezevic, MA Lauri, N Leibovich, TA Martin, I Marusic, KA Mastor, D Matsumoto, M McRorie, B Meshcheriakov, EL Mortensen, M Munyae, J Nagy, K Nakazato, F Nansubuga, S Oishi, AO Ojedokun, F Ostendorf, DL Paulhus, S Pelevin, JM Petot, N Podobnik, JL Porrata, VS Pramila, G Prentice, A Realo, N Reategui, JP Rolland, J Rossier, W Ruch, VS Rus, ML Sanchez-Bernardos, V Schmidt, S Sciculna-Calleja, A Sekowski, J Shakespeare-Finch, Y Shimonaka, F Simonetti, T Sineshaw, J Siuta, PB Smith, PD Trapnell, KK Trobst, L Wang, M Yik, A Zupancic, RR McCrae

Department of Psychology

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

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
Journal	Science
Volume	310
Issue number	5745
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199
Publication status	Published - 2005

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Occupational Therapy (Closed 2012) (013025000), Department of Psychology (012010000)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Occupational Therapy

Access to Document

10.1126/science.1117199

Cite this

Terracciano, A., Abdel-Khalek, AM., Adam, N., Adamovova, L., Ahn, C., 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., ... McCrae, RR. (2005). National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures. Science, 310(5745), 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199

@article{dc873357c35f45498a9d69b6997f6141,

title = "National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels 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 AM Abdel-Khalek and N Adam and L Adamovova and C Ahn and HN Ahn and BM Alansari and L Alcalay and J Allik and A Angleitner and MD Avia and LE Ayearst and C Barbaranelli and A Beer and MA Borg-Cunen and D Bratko and M Brunner-Sciarra and L Budzinski and N Camart and D Dahourou and \{De Fruyt\}, F and \{de Lima\}, MP and \{del Pilar\}, GEH and E Diener and R Falzon and K Fernando and E Fickova and R Fischer and C Flores-Mendoza and MA Ghayur and S Gulgoz and Bo Hagberg and J Halberstadt and MS Halim and M Hrebickova and J Humrichouse and HH Jensen and DD Jocic and FH Jonsson and B Khoury and W Klinkosz and G Knezevic and MA Lauri and N Leibovich and TA Martin and I Marusic and KA Mastor and D Matsumoto and M McRorie and B Meshcheriakov and EL Mortensen and M Munyae and J Nagy and K Nakazato and F Nansubuga and S Oishi and AO Ojedokun and F Ostendorf and DL Paulhus and S Pelevin and JM Petot and N Podobnik and JL Porrata and VS Pramila and G Prentice and A Realo and N Reategui and JP Rolland and J Rossier and W Ruch and VS Rus and ML Sanchez-Bernardos 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 PB Smith and PD Trapnell and KK Trobst and L Wang and M Yik and A Zupancic and RR McCrae",

note = "The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Occupational Therapy (Closed 2012) (013025000), Department of Psychology (012010000)",

year = "2005",

doi = "10.1126/science.1117199",

language = "English",

volume = "310",

pages = "96--100",

journal = "Science",

issn = "1095-9203",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)",

number = "5745",

}

Terracciano, A, Abdel-Khalek, AM, Adam, N, Adamovova, L, Ahn, C, 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, Fickova, E, Fischer, R, Flores-Mendoza, C, Ghayur, MA, Gulgoz, S, Hagberg, B, Halberstadt, J, Halim, MS, Hrebickova, M, Humrichouse, J, Jensen, HH, Jocic, DD, Jonsson, FH, Khoury, B, Klinkosz, W, Knezevic, G, Lauri, MA, Leibovich, N, Martin, TA, Marusic, 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, G, Realo, A, Reategui, N, Rolland, JP, Rossier, J, Ruch, W, Rus, VS, Sanchez-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, Zupancic, A & McCrae, RR 2005, 'National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures', Science, vol. 310, no. 5745, pp. 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199

TY - JOUR

T1 - National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures

AU - Terracciano, A

AU - Abdel-Khalek, AM

AU - Adam, N

AU - Adamovova, L

AU - Ahn, C

AU - Ahn, HN

AU - Alansari, BM

AU - Alcalay, L

AU - Allik, J

AU - Angleitner, A

AU - Avia, MD

AU - Ayearst, LE

AU - Barbaranelli, C

AU - Beer, A

AU - Borg-Cunen, MA

AU - Bratko, D

AU - Brunner-Sciarra, M

AU - Budzinski, L

AU - Camart, N

AU - Dahourou, D

AU - De Fruyt, F

AU - de Lima, MP

AU - del Pilar, GEH

AU - Diener, E

AU - Falzon, R

AU - Fernando, K

AU - Fickova, E

AU - Fischer, R

AU - Flores-Mendoza, C

AU - Ghayur, MA

AU - Gulgoz, S

AU - Hagberg, Bo

AU - Halberstadt, J

AU - Halim, MS

AU - Hrebickova, M

AU - Humrichouse, J

AU - Jensen, HH

AU - Jocic, DD

AU - Jonsson, FH

AU - Khoury, B

AU - Klinkosz, W

AU - Knezevic, G

AU - Lauri, MA

AU - Leibovich, N

AU - Martin, TA

AU - Marusic, I

AU - Mastor, KA

AU - Matsumoto, D

AU - McRorie, M

AU - Meshcheriakov, B

AU - Mortensen, EL

AU - Munyae, M

AU - Nagy, J

AU - Nakazato, K

AU - Nansubuga, F

AU - Oishi, S

AU - Ojedokun, AO

AU - Ostendorf, F

AU - Paulhus, DL

AU - Pelevin, S

AU - Petot, JM

AU - Podobnik, N

AU - Porrata, JL

AU - Pramila, VS

AU - Prentice, G

AU - Realo, A

AU - Reategui, N

AU - Rolland, JP

AU - Rossier, J

AU - Ruch, W

AU - Rus, VS

AU - Sanchez-Bernardos, ML

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, PB

AU - Trapnell, PD

AU - Trobst, KK

AU - Wang, L

AU - Yik, M

AU - Zupancic, A

AU - McCrae, RR

N1 - The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Occupational Therapy (Closed 2012) (013025000), Department of Psychology (012010000)

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

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

SN - 1095-9203

VL - 310

SP - 96

EP - 100

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5745

ER -

National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this