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The Inaccuracy of National Character Stereotypes.

Robert R McCrae1, Wayne Chan, Lee Jussim

  • 1Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

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|November 5, 2013
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National character stereotypes show limited accuracy, with consensual stereotypes only weakly related to objective personality assessments across 26 cultures. This study validates methods for evaluating stereotype accuracy.

Keywords:
Five-Factor ModelNational charactercross-culturalpersonality traitsstereotypes

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Cross-Cultural Psychology
  • Personality Science

Background:

  • Previous research on national character stereotypes has faced criticism regarding methodology and validity.
  • The accuracy of consensual stereotypes varies across different groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide arguments for the validity of national mean trait levels as criteria for evaluating stereotype accuracy.
  • To report new data on national character stereotypes in 26 cultures.
  • To assess the relationship between consensual stereotypes and objective personality assessments.

Main Methods:

  • Collected descriptions of typical individuals (adolescent, adult, old) across 26 cultures (N=3,323).
  • Assessed internal consistency and convergence of average ratings with independent stereotypes.
  • Examined the relationship between consensual stereotypes and objective personality assessments.

Main Results:

  • Average stereotype ratings demonstrated internal consistency and converged with independent stereotypes of culture members.
  • Consensual stereotypes were only weakly related to objective assessments of personality.
  • Findings support the broader literature suggesting inaccuracy in national character stereotypes.

Conclusions:

  • National character stereotypes, while internally consistent and convergent, show limited accuracy when compared to objective personality data.
  • The study validates methods for assessing stereotype accuracy using national mean trait levels.
  • The findings contribute to understanding the complex relationship between perceived and actual group characteristics.