Cited by 124Cultural Differences and ValuesSocial and Intergroup PsychologySocial Representations and Identity

Self-assertive interdependence in Arab culture

San Martin, Alvaro, Sinaceur, Marwan, Madi, Amer, Tompson, Steve, Maddux, William W., Kitayama, Shinobu·2018·Nature Human Behaviour

Abstract

Arabs represent a major cultural group, yet one that is relatively neglected in cultural psychology. We hypothesized that Arab culture is characterized by a unique form of interdependence that is self-assertive. Arab cultural identity emerged historically in regions with harsh ecological and climatic environments, in which it was necessary to protect the survival of tribal groups. Individuals in Arabian cultures were honour-bound to be respectable and trustworthy group members. Supporting this hypothesis, study 1 found that Arabs were interdependent and holistic (like East Asians), but also self-assertive (like Westerners). This psychological profile was observed equally for both Muslim and Christian Arabs, thus ruling out Islamic religion as an alternative explanation for our findings. Studies 2 and 3 showed that the self-assertive tendency of Arabs is in service of interdependence, whereas that of Westerners is in service of independence. Our work contributes to the current effort by cultural psychologists to go beyond the prevailing East versus West, interdependence versus independence paradigm. It also speaks to the emerging socioecological perspective in cultural research.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41562-018-0435-z

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Authors
San Martin, A., Sinaceur, M., Madi, A., Tompson, S., Maddux, W. W., & Kitayama, S.
Affiliations
  • École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales (FR)
  • INSEAD (FR)
  • DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Venue
Nature Human Behaviour
Published
2018-10-01
Volume
2
Issue
11
Pages
830-837
ISSN
2397-3374 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2890772240
Cited by
124
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
FWCI
16.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Human Behaviour (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Representations and Identity
Keywords
Arab culture, assertiveness, interdependence, independence, cultural identity, honor, tribalism, holistic thinking, East-West comparison, socio-ecological perspective, cross-cultural personality
MeSH terms
Assertiveness, Christianity, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Culture, Environment, Humans, Islam, Arabs, Sociobiology

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