Uyghur-Chinese and Han-Chinese differences on social orientation

Abstract

In two studies, the authors predicted and found that Uyghur-Chinese are more independent and interdependent than Han-Chinese in explicit and implicit measurements: (a) Uyghur-Chinese are more independent in explicit beliefs and show strong dispositional bias and express more socially disengaging emotion and more relational mobility. Their independence could partially mediate the relationship between culture and dispositional bias and socially disengaging emotion and relational mobility. (b) At the same time, Uyghur-Chinese are more interdependent in explicit beliefs and show strong situational bias and express more socially engaging emotion and more holistic thinking style. Their interdependence could partially mediate the relationship between culture and situational bias and socially engaging emotion and holism. The results suggest that Uyghur-Chinese may have a unique self-construal pattern different from the eastern-western paradigm.