Differences Between Tight and Loose Cultures: A 33-Nation Study
Различия между «жёсткими» и «вложенными» (loosely: свободными) культурами: исследование в 33 странах
2011-05-26
SCID: 54.1/mbvhvze9
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33-nation studycultural tightness-loosenessecological and historical threatspsychological affordancessocialization in institutions
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Abstract (AI)
With data from 33 nations, we illustrate the differences between cultures that are tight (have many strong norms and a low tolerance of deviant behavior) versus loose (have weak social norms and a high tolerance of deviant behavior). Tightness-looseness is part of a complex, loosely integrated multilevel system that comprises distal ecological and historical threats (e.g., high population density, resource scarcity, a history of territorial conflict, and disease and environmental threats), broad versus narrow socialization in societal institutions (e.g., autocracy, media regulations), the strength of everyday recurring situations, and micro-level psychological affordances (e.g., prevention self-guides, high regulatory strength, need for structure). This research advances knowledge that can foster cross-cultural understanding in a world of increasing global interdependence and has implications for modeling cultural change.
Key Findings
1
Distal threats associated with tighter cultures include high population density, resource scarcity, historical territorial conflict, and disease/environmental threats.
2
Institutional and societal factors (e.g., autocracy, media regulation) and the strength of everyday situations differ between tight and loose cultures.
3
Micro-level psychological affordances in tight cultures include prevention self-guides, higher regulatory strength, and greater need for structure.
4
Tight cultures have many strong norms and low tolerance for deviant behavior, while loose cultures have weak norms and high tolerance for deviance.
5
Tightness-looseness is embedded in a multilevel system linking distal ecological and historical threats to cultural strength of norms.
Research Object
National cultures across 33 nations characterized by tightness versus looseness
Research Subject
Differences in cultural tightness–looseness and their multilevel correlates including ecological/historical threats, institutional socialization breadth, strength of everyday situations, and micro-level psychological affordances
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2011-05-26
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