Ethnic Essentialism and Psychological Compatibility
Author Information
Author(s): He Jiani, Zhao Yufang, Zhang Chao, Wang Weichao, Huang Jinhua
Primary Institution: Southwest University
Hypothesis
Does ethnic essentialism negatively impact psychological compatibility among ethnic groups, and how do ethnic identity and self-construal influence this relationship?
Conclusion
Stronger beliefs in ethnic essentialism are associated with lower levels of psychological compatibility, but higher ethnic identity can mitigate this negative effect.
Supporting Evidence
- Ethnic essentialism significantly and negatively predicts psychological compatibility.
- Higher ethnic identity lessens the negative impact of ethnic essentialism on psychological compatibility.
- Independent and interdependent self-construal moderate the relationship between ethnic essentialism and psychological compatibility.
- Ethnic differences were found in the moderated mediation model.
Takeaway
Believing that ethnic groups have fixed traits can make it harder for people to get along, but feeling proud of your own ethnic identity can help people connect better.
Methodology
The study used questionnaires to assess ethnic essentialism, psychological compatibility, ethnic identity, and self-construal among college students.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from self-report measures and the cultural context of the study.
Limitations
The study is correlational and cannot establish causality; it also focuses on specific ethnic groups in China, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
The sample consisted of 433 men and 519 women, aged 18–33 years, with 608 Han Chinese and 344 ethnic minority participants.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
[0.046, 0.100]
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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