Everything also I want: An exploratory study of Singaporean Kiasuism (fear of losing out)

Abstract

Kiasuism (fear of losing out) is a prominent cultural trait of Singapore that encompasses greed, selfishness, and inconsiderate behavior. It contributes to social problems in education and entrepreneurship. Despite its pervasiveness and negative impact, kiasuism is not well understood. The three studies that have tried to conceptualize it offer conflicting conclusions about its properties. The two existing measures focus exclusively on behavior while neglecting motivation. Inconsistencies in the conceptualization and operationalization of kiasuism warrant a fresh exploration of the construct. Our analysis of qualitative interviews with 36 Singaporean undergraduates provided a clearer understanding of kiasuism by identifying cognitive aspects in addition to behavior. Our results suggest that kiasuism is a single dimension with a range of outcomes, and the motivation for a behavior is the key to determining whether it is kiasu. Our research provides a foundation for a variety of directions for future research, both theoretical and practical.