Need for approval from others and face concerns as predictors of interpersonal conflict outcome in 29 cultural groups.

The extent to which culture moderates the effects of need for approval from others on a person's handling of interpersonal conflict was investigated. Students from 24 nations rated how they handled a recent interpersonal conflict, using measures derived from face-negotiation theory. Samples varied in the extent to which they were perceived as characterised by the cultural logics of dignity, honour, or face. It was hypothesised that the emphasis on harmony within face cultures would reduce the relevance of need for approval from others to face-negotiation concerns. Respondents rated their need for approval from others and how much they sought to preserve their own face and the face of the other party during the conflict. Need for approval was associated with concerns for both self-face and other-face. However, as predicted, the association between need for approval from others and concern for self-face was weaker where face logic was prevalent. Favourable conflict outcome was positively related to other-face and negatively related to self-face and to need for approval from others, but there were no significant interactions related to prevailing cultural logics. The results illustrate how particular face-threatening factors can moderate the distinctive face-concerns earlier found to characterise individualistic and collectivistic cultural groups.

Validación de la Escala Corta de Empatía (ece) para población mexicana / Validation of the Short Empathy Scale (ses) for the Mexican Population / Validação da Escala Curta de Empatia (ece) para a população mexicana

Díaz-Loving et al. (1986) diseñaron la Escala Multi- dimensional de Empatía (EASE), un instrumento culturalmente válido para población mexicana inspirado en la estructura conceptual del Índice de Reactividad Interpersonal (IRI) (Davis, 1980). En esta investigación presentamos evidencias de validez y confiabilidad de la Escala Corta de Empatía (ECE), una versión breve de la EASE aplicada a 674 participantes (50.8 % mujeres, 49.2 % hombres) mexicanos (M = 22.8 años, de = 9.2), además del IRI, preguntas de conductas prosociales y el Inventario de Personalidad de diez ítems como criterios externos de validez. El análisis factorial exploratorio mostró tres factores ­malestar personal, toma de perspectiva y compasión­ con niveles de confiabilidad adecuados. El análisis factorial confirmatorio verificó la estructura con indicadores de bondad de ajuste aceptables, obteniendo evidencias de equivalencia estructural para mujeres y hombres. Las relaciones de los tres factores de ECE con prosocialidad, personalidad y sexo proporcionan criterios de validez externa del instrumento.

The Multidimensional Empathy Scale (EASE), a culturally valid instrument for the Mexican population inspired by the conceptual structure of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), from 1980, was designed in 1986. The article presents evidence of the validity and reliability of the short empathy scale (ECE), a short version of the EASE, applied to 674 Mexican partici- pants (50.8 % women, 49.2 % men; M = 22.8 years, sd = 9.2). They also answered questions on prosocial behaviors and the 10-item Personality Inventory as an external validity criterion. The exploratory factor analysis showed three factors (personal discomfort, perspective-taking, and compassion) with adequate levels of reliability. The confirmatory factor analysis verified the structure with acceptable goodness-of-fit indicators, obtaining evidence of structural equivalence for women and men. The relationships of the three ECE factors with prosociality, personality, and sex provide evidence of validity.

Diaz Loving et al. (1986) desenharam a Escala de Empatia Multidimensional (EASE), um instrumento cultu- ralmente válido para a população mexicana inspirado na estrutura conceitual do Índice de Reatividade Interpessoal (IRI) (Davis, 1980). Apresentamos evidências de validade e confiabilidade da escala curta de empatia (ECE), uma versão breve do EASE, aplicada a 674 participantes mexicanos (50.8 % mulheres, 49.2 % homens) (M = 22.8 anos, dP = 9.2). Além do IRI, rea- lizamos perguntas sobre comportamento pró-social e aplicamos o Inventário de Personalidade de 10 itens como critérios de validade externa. A análise fatorial exploratória mostrou três fatores (desconforto pessoal, tomada de perspectiva e compaixão) com níveis adequa- dos de confiabilidade. A análise fatorial confirmatória verificou a estrutura com indicadores de qualidade de ajuste aceitáveis, obtendo evidências de equivalência estrutural para mulheres e homens. As relações dos três fatores da ECE com pró-socialidade, personalidade e gênero fornecem critérios de validade externa para o instrumento.

Creación de disonancia cognoscitiva a partir de una premisa histórico sociocultural de la pareja / Creation of cognitive dissonance from a Sociocultural Historical Premise of the couple

Las Premisas Histórico-Socioculturales (PHSC) son normas y creencias que regulan el comportamiento de cada cultura. En México, una premisa de cómo deben conducirse las parejas es "El compromiso da formalidad a la relación de pareja". Sin embargo, los individuos no reciben pasivamente las PHSC, las modifican o las contradicen con sus acciones lo que puede crear disonancia cognoscitiva. Entonces, la disonancia ocurre cuando coexisten dos cogniciones incongruentes en un individuo, lo que puede ocurrir por la llegada de nueva información o por trasgredir una norma cultural. El objetivo del estudio fue comprobar si la opinión contra actitudinal sobre PHSC acerca del compromiso en las relaciones de pareja ocasiona disonancia cognoscitiva en los individuos, medida como ansiedad. Se diseñó un experimento donde se manipuló la PHSC sobre la relación de pareja que los individuos recibían y el estatus de la fuente proveniente: 2 (PHSC: Concordante/ Contra actitudinal) × 2 (Fuente de alto o bajo estatus). Como variable dependiente se midió la ansiedad estado y como covariable el nivel de compromiso en su relación de pareja. Participaron 41 individuos. Los resultados muestran que el grupo de fuente de bajo estatus y PHSC concordante tuvo más preocupación, mientras que los que recibieron una PHSC contra actitudinal estuvieron más tranquilos. En el primer grupo se creó disonancia debido a dos cogniciones incongruentes: nivel educativo y pensar igual que una fuente de bajo estatus, lo que afectó su autoconcepto; mientras que la condición de artículo de alto estatus no generó diferencias

Historical Sociocultural Premises (PHSCs) are norms and beliefs that regulate the behavior of each culture. A premise for Mexican couples is that "Commitment gives formality to couple relationships". However, individuals do not passively receive PHSCs, they modify or contradict them with their actions, which can lead to cognitive dissonance. So, dissonance occurs when two incongruous cognitions coexist in an individual, caused by either receiving new information or transgressing a cultural norm. The objective of the study is in order to verify if counter attitudinal opinions on PHSCs about commitment in couple relationships cause cognitive dissonance in individuals, measured as anxiety. We designed an experiment where we manipulated the PHSCs about couple relationships that individuals received, and the status of the source they came from: 2 (PHSC: Concordant / Counter attitudinal) × 2 (High and low status sources). We measured state anxiety as a dependent variable and the participants' level of commitment in their couple relationship as a covariate. 41 individuals participated. The results of this research showed that, in the low status source group, participants with a concordant PHSC were more worried, while those who received a counter attitudinal PHSC were calmer. In the first group, there was dissonance due to two incongruous cognitions (educational level and thinking like a low status source), which affected their self concept, while the condition of high status article did not generate any differences

Dimensions of Self-Construal Associated with Self-Esteem and Depression: A Study among Mexican Students / Dimensiones de La Auto-Definición Asociadas a la Autoestima y Depresión: Un Estudio en Estudiantes Mexicanos

Abstract The relationship between dimensions of self-construal and reported mood states is examined among two samples of Mexican students. Scales focused on seven different aspects of self-construal were employed. Respondents favored predominantly individualistic ways of describing themselves, but also scored high on connection to others. These effects were particularly strong among respondents from Tijuana when compared with those from Mexico City. Depressive mood state was predicted by higher self-reported connection with others, commitment to others, receptiveness to influence and behavioral variability. High self-esteem was predicted by higher self-reported consistency, self-orientation, self-direction and expressiveness.

Resumen La relación entre las dimensiones de la autodefinición y los estados de ánimo auto-reportados fueron evaluados en dos muestras de estudiantes mexicanos. Las escalas que se emplearon se enfocaron en siete diferentes aspectos de la auto-definición. Las respuestas de los participantes favorecieron predominantemente maneras individualistas de describirse a sí mismos, aunque también puntuaron alto en mediciones de conexión con los demás. Estos efectos son particularmente fuertes en los participantes de Tijuana cuando se comparan con los de Ciudad de México. Estados de ánimo depresivos fueron predichos por altos niveles auto-reportados de conexión con otros, compromiso con otros, receptividad a la influencia, y variabilidad conductual. Alta autoestima fue predicha por alta consistencia auto-reportada, auto-orientación, auto-dirección y expresividad.

Temor a la evaluación social negativa: validez de constructo y criterio del instrumento de medición / Fear of Negative Social Evaluation: Construct and Criterion Validity of the Measurement Instrument

El Instrumento de Temor a la Evaluación Social Negativa (ITESN) ha mostrado evidencias de validez y confiabilidad al utilizarse en muestras culturalmente distintas y al traducirse a diferentes idiomas (Duke et al., 2006; Gallego, 2010; Gallego et al., 2007; Weeks et al., 2005; Tavoli et al., 2009). Dada la relevancia del estudio de la ansiedad y fobia social, y con la intención de aportar herramientas para estudiar estas variables en muestras mexicanas, este proyecto presenta evidencias de validez y confiabilidad de una traducción al castellano del ITESN (Leary, 1983) en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de Ciudad de México. Se realizaron análisis de discriminación de reactivos, factoriales exploratorios y factoriales confirmatorios mediante modelamiento de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados muestran una estructura unifactorial que agrupa ocho de los doce reactivos del instrumento original, explica el 53.8 % de la varianza total y muestra consistencia interna adecuada (α = 0.88). Se obtienen evidencias de validez de criterio del ITESN, así: a) se asocia positivamente con el Instrumento de Ansiedad Rasgo y b) mediante un procedimiento experimental, se observan asociaciones positivas entre el ITESN y mediciones de ansiedad estado y motivación de autopresentación ante la expectativa de conocer a otra persona. Se discute el funcionamiento de los cuatro reactivos redactados de forma negativa y la interpretación teórica de las relaciones que respaldan la validez de criterio.

The Brief fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) has shown good validity and reliability properties in different cultural samples, as well as when it has been translated to other languages (Duke et al., 2006; Gallego, 2010; Gallego et al., 2007; Weeks et al., 2005; Tavoli et al., 2009). Given the relevance of the study of anxiety and social phobia and the need for research tools for Mexican samples, this study presents validity and reliability evidences for a translation to Spanish language of the BFNE (Leary, 1983) in a sample of undergraduate students from Mexico City. Psychometric tests included discrimination analysis for each item, principal component factorial analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling. Results show a one factor structure with just eight of the 12 original items. It explains 53.8% of total variance and has good reliability ( α = 0.88). In addition, evidence was found concerning criterion validity for the BFNE: a) It correlates positively with a Trait Anxiety Scale; and b) through an experimental procedure, positive correlations for the BFNE with a State Anxiety Scale and a Self-Presentation Motivation Scale when participants had the expectation of being introduced to another person. The discussion verses in relation to the performance of score reversed items and the theoretical meaning of items and to the observed relationships that support the criterion validity of this translation to Spanish language of the BFNE scale.