Does time reduce resistance to out-group critics? An investigation of the persistence of the intergroup sensitivity effect over time

Group-directed criticism typically arouses greater defensiveness when it stems from an out-group member as opposed to an in-group member (the intergroup sensitivity effect). In light of work on the sleeper effect, the current research examines whether this defensiveness persists over time. Students received criticism of their faculty area from either a member of the same faculty area (in-group condition), or a member of a different faculty area (out-group condition), or they received no criticism (control condition). Despite relatively poor recall of the content of the criticism, the intergroup sensitivity effect (ISE) found immediately after presentation of the criticism had not significantly decreased 3–4 weeks later. However, the heightened intergroup bias found immediately after the out-group criticism did dissipate with time. Implications of these results for those who wish to initiate social change as outsiders are discussed. Copyright © 1999–2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Chinese-Western intercultural couple standards scale

We developed the Chinese-Western Intercultural Couple Standards Scale (CWICSS) to assess relationship standards that may differ between Chinese and Western partners and may challenge intercultural couples. The scale assesses 4 Western-derived relationship standards (demonstrations of love, demonstrations of caring, intimacy expression, and intimacy responsiveness) and 4 Chinese-derived relationship standards (relations with the extended family, relational harmony, face, and gender roles). We administered the CWICSS to 983 Chinese and Western participants living in Australia to assess the psychometric properties of the scores as measures of respondents' relationship standards. The CWICSS has a 2-level factor structure with the items reflecting the 8 predicted standards. The 4 Western derived standards loaded onto a higher order factor of couple bond, and the 4 Chinese derived standards loaded onto a higher order factor of family responsibility. The scale scores were structurally equivalent across cultures, genders, and 2 independent samples, and good convergent and discriminant validity was found for the interpretation of scale scores as respondents' endorsement of the predicted standards. Scores on the 8 scales and 2 superordinate scales showed high internal consistency and test-retest coefficients. Chinese endorsed all 4 family responsibility standards more strongly than did Westerners, but Chinese and Western participants were similar in endorsement of couple bond standards. Across both cultures, couple bond standards were endorsed more highly than were family responsibility standards. The CWICSS assesses potential areas of conflict in Chinese-Western relationships

Communication and relationship satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and intercultural Chinese-Western couples

The current study compared Chinese, Western, and intercultural Chinese-Western couples' communication and examined how culture moderates the association of communication with relationship satisfaction. We coded the communication of 33 Western couples, 36 Chinese couples, and 54 intercultural Chinese-Western couples when discussing a relationship problem and when reminiscing about positive relationship events. Couples with Chinese female partners showed fewer positive behaviors and more negative behaviors (as classified in existing Western coding systems) than couples with Western female partners. The male partner's culture had few associations with couples' rates of communication behavior. Relationship satisfaction was associated with low rates of negative behaviors and high rates of most of the positive behaviors across cultural groups, and these associations were more evident in problem discussions than positive reminiscences

Indirect Couple Communication and Relationship Satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and Chinese-Western Intercultural Couples

Relative to Westerners, Chinese are alleged to prefer more indirect, subtle, and implicit communication, referred to as high-context communication. We examined whether the use of indirect communication is more common, and more closely related to relationship satisfaction, in Chinese compared with Western couples. Cultural differences in communication might lead to relationship distress in intercultural couples, so we also studied intercultural couples. We coded the observed marital problem-solving of n = 36 Chinese couples, n = 32 Western couples, and n = 51 intercultural Chinese-Western couples, all of whom were living in Brisbane, Australia. There were low rates of most indirect communication behaviors in all groups of couples, with few cultural differences other than avoidance, which was notably higher in couples in which the woman was Chinese. Only a few associations of relationship satisfaction with aspects of indirect communication were moderated by culture. The common view of Chinese communication (as being indirect and implicit) was not reflected in the couple communication of Chinese couples living in Australia

Ethnic identification and relationship satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and intercultural Chinese-Western couples

Rates of international migration and intercultural marriage are rising. Migrants and intercultural partners may experience challenges in defining their ethnic identity relative to their own heritage culture, their partner's heritage culture, and the majority culture of their country of residence. The current study examined Chinese and Western ethnic identification and relationship satisfaction in four cultural combinations of couples: Western-Western (Western male-Western female), Chinese-Chinese (Chinese male-Chinese female), Western male-Chinese female, and Chinese male-Western female. All couples were residing in Brisbane, Australia, a multicultural city with a majority Western culture. Intracultural couples (Western-Western and Chinese-Chinese) reported the strongest ethnic identification with their heritage culture and weakest ethnic identification with their nonheritage culture, whereas intercultural couples (Western male-Chinese female and Chinese male-Western female) demonstrated intermediate identification. Greater similarity between partners on ethnic identification with the majority Western culture of Australia predicted greater relationship satisfaction, but there was no association of relationship satisfaction with partner similarity on Chinese ethnic identification. We discuss patterns of ethnic identification in terms of acculturation of immigrants, the selection of partners who are similar in ethnic identification, and accommodation of individuals' ethnic identification toward their partner's ethnic identification

Ethnic identification and relationship satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and intercultural Chinese–Western couples

Rates of international migration and intercultural marriage are rising. Migrants and intercultural partners may experience challenges in defining their ethnic identity relative to their own heritage culture, their partner’s heritage culture, and the majority culture of their country of residence. The current study examined Chinese and Western ethnic identification and relationship satisfaction in four cultural combinations of couples: Western–Western (Western male–Western female), Chinese–Chinese (Chinese male–Chinese female), Western male–Chinese female, and Chinese male–Western female. All couples were residing in Brisbane, Australia, a multicultural city with a majority Western culture. Intracultural couples (Western–Western and Chinese–Chinese) reported the strongest ethnic identification with their heritage culture and weakest ethnic identification with their nonheritage culture, whereas intercultural couples (Western male–Chinese female and Chinese male–Western female) demonstrated intermediate identification. Greater similarity between partners on ethnic identification with the majority Western culture of Australia predicted greater relationship satisfaction, but there was no association of relationship satisfaction with partner similarity on Chinese ethnic identification. We discuss patterns of ethnic identification in terms of acculturation of immigrants, the selection of partners who are similar in ethnic identification, and accommodation of individuals’ ethnic identification toward their partner’s ethnic identification. (APA PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved

Relationship standards and relationship satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and intercultural couples living in Australia and Hong Kong, China

Partners in an intercultural couple can be similar because of selection effects (they were attracted to each other because of their similarity), accommodation (relationship length diminishes differences), or acculturation (the migrant partner adjusts to the dominant culture). The current study explored these sources of similarity, as well as the association of relationship standards with relationship satisfaction, by comparing intercultural couples (68 Chinese-Western couples) with two groups of monocultural couples (63 Western couples and 66 Chinese couples) across 2 countries of residence (China and Australia). Regardless of country of residence, Chinese couples rated Family Responsibility standards (e.g., relations with the extended family and maintaining relational harmony) as more important than Western couples. Western couples rated Couple Bond standards (e.g., the demonstration of love and caring) as more important than Chinese. Intercultural couples endorsed standards to an intermediate extent between the Chinese and Western couples. There was considerable similarity of partners' standards within couples in all 3 groups of couples. Endorsement of Couple Bond standards and partner similarity on Family Responsibility standards were associated with relationship satisfaction across all 3 groups and both countries of residence. We conclude that cultural differences in endorsement of relationship standards show little acculturative change, at least in first-generation migrants. The substantial similarity in partners' standards in intercultural couples seems to be due primarily to selection effects. The association of standards with satisfaction is remarkably similar across countries of residence and cultural groups