Cross-cultural differences in self-assessed intelligence: A comparison of british and chinese undergraduates

Abstract

The present study examined self-assessed intelligence (SAI) in Britain and mainland China. In total, 102 British and 111 Chinese undergraduates estimated their overall intelligence as well as 14 other multiple intelligences. Results showed that men had higher SAI on overall, linguistic, mathematical-logical, creative, and nonverbal-logical intelligences. In addition, Britons had higher SAI than Chinese on overall, linguistic, mathematical-logical, and nonverbal-logical intelligences. These results support a male hubris-female humility bias and a cultural modesty effect in self assessments of multiple intelligence.