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

A Terracciano; A M Abdel-Khalek; N Adám; 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 Hrebícková; J Humrichouse; Hans Henrik Jensen; D D Jocic; F H Jónsson; B Khoury; W Klinkosz; G Knezevic; M A Lauri; N Leibovich; T A Martin; I Marusic; K A Mastor; D Matsumoto; M McRorie; B Meshcheriakov; Erik Lykke 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; G 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 Zupancic; R R McCrae

doi:10.1126/science.1117199

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

A Terracciano, A M Abdel-Khalek, N Adám, 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 DahourouF 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 Hrebícková, J Humrichouse, Hans Henrik Jensen, D D Jocic, F H Jónsson, B Khoury, W Klinkosz, G Knezevic, M A Lauri, N Leibovich, T A Martin, I Marusic, K A Mastor, D Matsumoto, M McRorie, B Meshcheriakov, Erik Lykke 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, G 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 Zupancic, R R McCrae

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

342 Citations (Scopus)

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
Journal	Science
Volume	310
Issue number	5745
Pages (from-to)	96-100
Number of pages	4
ISSN	0036-8075
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199
Publication status	Published - 2005

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Character; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Culture; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Male; Personality; Personality Assessment; Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Social Perception; Stereotyping

Access to Document

10.1126/science.1117199

Cite this

Terracciano, A., Abdel-Khalek, A. M., Adám, N., Adamovová, L., Ahn, C., Ahn, H., 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). National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures. Science, 310(5745), 96-100. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1117199

National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures. / Terracciano, A; Abdel-Khalek, A M; Adám, 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; Dahourou, D; De Fruyt, F; de Lima, M P; del Pilar, G E H; Diener, E; Falzon, R; Fernando, K; Ficková, E; Fischer, R; Flores-Mendoza, C; Ghayur, M A; Gülgöz, S; Hagberg, B; Halberstadt, J; Halim, M S; Hrebícková, M; Humrichouse, J; Jensen, Hans Henrik; Jocic, D D; Jónsson, F H; Khoury, B; Klinkosz, W; Knezevic, G; Lauri, M A; Leibovich, N; Martin, T A; Marusic, I; Mastor, K A; Matsumoto, D; McRorie, M; Meshcheriakov, B; Mortensen, Erik Lykke; Munyae, M; Nagy, J; Nakazato, K; Nansubuga, F; Oishi, S; Ojedokun, A O; Ostendorf, F; Paulhus, D L; Pelevin, S; Petot, J-M; Podobnik, N; Porrata, J L; Pramila, V S; Prentice, G; Realo, A; Reátegui, N; Rolland, J-P; Rossier, J; Ruch, W; Rus, V S; Sánchez-Bernardos, M L; Schmidt, V; Sciculna-Calleja, S; Sekowski, A; Shakespeare-Finch, J; Shimonaka, Y; Simonetti, F; Sineshaw, T; Siuta, J; Smith, P B; Trapnell, P D; Trobst, K K; Wang, L; Yik, M; Zupancic, A; McCrae, R R.

In: Science, Vol. 310, No. 5745, 2005, p. 96-100.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Terracciano, A, Abdel-Khalek, AM, Adám, N, Adamovová, L, Ahn, C, Ahn, H, 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, Hrebícková, M, Humrichouse, J, Jensen, HH, Jocic, DD, Jónsson, 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, J-M, Podobnik, N, Porrata, JL, Pramila, VS, Prentice, G, Realo, A, Reátegui, N, Rolland, J-P, 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, 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

Terracciano, A ; Abdel-Khalek, A M ; Adám, 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 ; Dahourou, D ; De Fruyt, F ; de Lima, M P ; del Pilar, G E H ; Diener, E ; Falzon, R ; Fernando, K ; Ficková, E ; Fischer, R ; Flores-Mendoza, C ; Ghayur, M A ; Gülgöz, S ; Hagberg, B ; Halberstadt, J ; Halim, M S ; Hrebícková, M ; Humrichouse, J ; Jensen, Hans Henrik ; Jocic, D D ; Jónsson, F H ; Khoury, B ; Klinkosz, W ; Knezevic, G ; Lauri, M A ; Leibovich, N ; Martin, T A ; Marusic, I ; Mastor, K A ; Matsumoto, D ; McRorie, M ; Meshcheriakov, B ; Mortensen, Erik Lykke ; Munyae, M ; Nagy, J ; Nakazato, K ; Nansubuga, F ; Oishi, S ; Ojedokun, A O ; Ostendorf, F ; Paulhus, D L ; Pelevin, S ; Petot, J-M ; Podobnik, N ; Porrata, J L ; Pramila, V S ; Prentice, G ; Realo, A ; Reátegui, N ; Rolland, J-P ; Rossier, J ; Ruch, W ; Rus, V S ; Sánchez-Bernardos, M L ; Schmidt, V ; Sciculna-Calleja, S ; Sekowski, A ; Shakespeare-Finch, J ; Shimonaka, Y ; Simonetti, F ; Sineshaw, T ; Siuta, J ; Smith, P B ; Trapnell, P D ; Trobst, K K ; Wang, L ; Yik, M ; Zupancic, A ; McCrae, R R. / National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures. In: Science. 2005 ; Vol. 310, No. 5745. pp. 96-100.

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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.",

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

AU - Terracciano, A

AU - Abdel-Khalek, A M

AU - Adám, 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 - Hrebícková, M

AU - Humrichouse, J

AU - Jensen, Hans Henrik

AU - Jocic, D D

AU - Jónsson, F H

AU - Khoury, B

AU - Klinkosz, W

AU - Knezevic, G

AU - Lauri, M A

AU - Leibovich, N

AU - Martin, T A

AU - Marusic, I

AU - Mastor, K A

AU - Matsumoto, D

AU - McRorie, M

AU - Meshcheriakov, B

AU - Mortensen, Erik Lykke

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, G

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 - Zupancic, A

AU - McCrae, R R

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Character; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Culture; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Male; Personality; Personality Assessment; Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Social Perception; Stereotyping

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.

U2 - 10.1126/science.1117199

DO - 10.1126/science.1117199

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16210536

VL - 310

SP - 96

EP - 100

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 5745

ER -