Self-Concordance and Subjective Well-Being in Four Cultures
Abstract
Sheldon and colleagues have recently focused research attention on the concept of self-concordance, in which people feel that they pursue their goals because the goals fit with their underlying interests and values rather than because others say they should pursue them. Self-concordant individuals typically evidence higher subjective well-being (SWB). But is this also true in non-Western cultures, which emphasize people’s duty to conform to societal expectations and group-centered norms? To address this question, this study assessed goal self-concordance and SWB in four different cultures. U.S., Chinese, and South Korean samples evidenced equal levels of self-concordance, whereas a Taiwanese sample evidenced somewhat less self-concordance. More importantly, self-concordance predicted SWB within every culture. It appears that “owning one’s actions”—that is, feeling that one’s goals are consistent with the self—may be important for most if not all humans.
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Autonomy, or self-concordance, is a likely universal.
“researchers have recently identified autonomy, or self- concordance, as a likely universal”
From Implications of an Emerging Integration of Universal and Culturally Specific Psychologies (2006) · cites this paper as Sheldon et al., 2004
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“Self-concordance denotes a sense of “owning” one’s personal goals/striving (instead of “having to” or “must” gain something), which has been linked to more adaptive states and subjective well-being.(54) This is noteworthy, since dysfunctional thought processes and emotions can inadvertently be adopted by elite-level a…”
Background
- Authors
- Sheldon, K. M., Elliot, A. J., Ryan, R. M., Chirkov, V., Kim, Y., Wu, C., Demir, M., & Sun, Z.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri (US)
- University of Rochester (US)
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- American Cancer Society (US)
- Baylor University (US)
- Wayne State University
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- Venue
- Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-03
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 209-223
- ISSN
- 0022-0221 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5422
- OpenAlex
- W2158224326
- Cited by
- 366
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 13.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Keywords
- self-concordance, subjective well-being, cross-cultural comparison, goal pursuit, values and interests, group norms, Chinese, South Koreans, Taiwanese
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