Foundations of Chinese Psychology

Abstract

The history of research on achievement motivation conducted by psychologists in Taiwan was reviewed to show the transformation from the implan- tation of Western instruments of measurement at an early stage, the development of indigenous instruments at a later stage, to the bottom-up model building approach advocated by some indigenous psychologists at recent. The weakness of empirical research with naïve positivism was criticized in light of postpositivism; moreover, a theoretical model for studying life goals and achievement motivations in Confucian society was proposed in contrast with the implicit theory of intelligence (Dweck and Leggett, Psychological Review, 95(2), 256–273; 1988). A series of empirical research have been conducted to demonstrate several main propositions derived from the current theoretical model addressing vertical distinctiveness and personal goal; intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation; three types of life goals and their signifi cances in Confucian society; social pressure and personal effort in academic vs. talented performance; and the moral signifi cance of efforts in Chinese society.