Chapter 5: "The Bad Seed" or "The Other Boys Made Me Do It?"

NOOOOOOOOOO
I JUST POSTED MY JOURNAL... AND THEN AN ERROR OCCURRED :'''''''''''''''''(
AND NOW IT'S GONE........... :''''''''''''''''''''(
GRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to remember........

I thought this chapter was really interesting and easier to follow than other chapters. I could see Nisbett's point about the attributional differences between Easterners and Westerners stated clearly and coherently throughout the chapter, with interesting evidences to back up his ideas such as the murder cases and the hypothetical questions asked towards the Korean and American students. Reading how Asians tend to view the contents of the world in complex relations with each other, I was reminded of Nisbett's comment on the way Asian mothers nurture the children. He mentioned how mothers personify objects, for example, saying, "The table says 'ow!'" if a child hits the table. Focusing on surrounding objects from a young age may encourage this way of thinking.

I was surprised in a good way when Nisbett mentioned his study on the Hong Kong citizens. It did not surprise me that they were likely to think in either Western or Eastern cultural ways when encouraged, but including Hong Kong reassured me that Nisbett has these exceptional cultures in mind as well.

I personally think that I view matters mainly based on their context rather than the personality of the subject. But when I'm analyzing myself, I almost always do the opposite: I blame my personality first, and then take into other possible external factors into consideration. Is it possible that I judge myself in a Western manner and others in an Eastern manner? Or when it comes to oneself, is it a whole different matter, possible involving gender differences too?