Examining the association between cultural self-construal and dream structures in China, Japan, and the United States

Cultural differences in human relationships and values between Western and East Asian societies have been investigated, particularly in relation to independent versus interdependent self-construal. Our previous research demonstrated clear distinctions between American and Japanese dream structures: American dreams featured strong dream-ego agency, clear mobility, and definitive endings, whereas Japanese dreams were characterized by weaker agency, vagueness of the dream-ego, and greater presence of others in the dream narrative. While much attention has been given to self-construal differences between Western and East Asian societies, recognizing intra-East Asian heterogeneity is critical, as meaningful variations exist within this region. Building on this perspective, the present study highlights cultural differences within East Asia-particularly in dream structure and self-construal-while situating them in relation to broader East-West comparisons.

This study utilizes previously collected data from Japan and the United States, and adds newly collected data from China to investigate and compare anthropophobia mentality, self-construal, and dream structure. A total of 250 participants were recruited from China via online platforms, and valid responses (n = 173) were statistically compared with archival data from the United States (n = 220) and Japan (n = 257).

Results revealed culturally distinct patterns in the relationships among self-construal and anthropophobia. In the Chinese sample, independent and interdependent self-construals were positively correlated, suggesting that these orientations may coexist rather than oppose each other. In contrast, they were negatively correlated in the Japanese and American samples. Moreover, in Japan and the United States, higher independent self-construal was associated with lower anthropophobia, whereas higher interdependent self-construal was associated with higher anthropophobia. No significant associations were observed in the Chinese sample, indicating that self-construal may not directly predict anthropophobia in this cultural context. Significant differences in dream patterns were also found between Americans and East Asians. Importantly, both similarities and differences between Chinese and Japanese dreams emerged, indicating that even within East Asia, distinct cultural traits related to ego orientation and conceptions of happiness may be reflected in dream themes.

These findings underscore the importance of examining intra-East Asian variation, offering new insights into how self-construal and cultural values shape the structure of dreams.