Priming independent and interdependent Self-Construals: Effects on Global Citizenship Identification
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology and Special Education
Date of Award
Fall 2011
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of priming self-construals on identification as a global citizen and related pro-social attitudes. Participants from the United States and China were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, and asked to either write about meaningful personal self-characteristics (independent prime), meaningful personal relationships (interdependent prime), or write nothing (control). Participants then completed a questionnaire regarding global citizenship identification and related pro-social attitudes. As predicted, participants in the interdependent priming condition expressed a greater degree of global citizenship identification than participants in the control condition. Participants in the interdependent priming condition rated their degree of normative environment, social justice, concern for the environment, national equality, intergroup empathy, intergroup helping, responsibility to act, and value of diversity significantly higher than participants in the control condition. Mediation analyses showed that the relationship between the interdependent prime (vs. control) and global citizenship identification was mediated by perception of one's normative environment. Furthermore, global citizenship identification mediated the relationship between priming interdependence (vs. control) and social justice, concern for the environment, national equality, intergroup helping, responsibility to act, and valuing diversity. The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that self-construal plays an important role in predicting thoughts and behaviors, including identification as a global citizen and related pro-social values.
Advisor
Stephen Reysen
Subject Categories
Education | Educational Psychology
Recommended Citation
Gibson, Shonda, "Priming independent and interdependent Self-Construals: Effects on Global Citizenship Identification" (2011). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 54.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/54
