An experiment addressed some limitations and implications of previous findings obtained by Trafimow, Triandis, and Goto suggesting that private and collective self-cognitions are stored in different cognitive locations. Consistent with expectations, priming the private self increased the retrieval of private self-cognitions, but priming the collective self increased the retrieval of collective self-cognitions. Further, retrieval of private and collective self-cognitions was clustered by type. The fact that such clustering was obtained with collectivist subjects in their native country, and even using their native language, supports the generality of the Trafimow et al. theory to both individualistic and collectivist cultures. In addition, however, the data indicate that using a collectivist language can increase the cognitive accessibility of the collective self relative to when an individualistic language is used. Finally, we present some speculations about possible implications of this accessibility effect.

ABSTRACT:In a series of studies with college and high school students (Total N = 808) consistent and strong relationships were found between suicidal

To level the playing field when comparing men's and women's friends in number and closeness, a sample of men and women with approximately equal amounts of responsibility in the public sphere and equal amounts of private commitment in terms of dependent children was obtained. Survey responses from 59 men and 61 women as voluntary participants from similar occupational settings were grouped according to the presence or absence of dependent children. There were no significant differences between those with dependent, older, or no children when it came to numbers of friends, closeness to family, numbers of people who could be asked for help, or statements of concern involving achievement or relationships. Those with no dependent children did report spending significantly less time with their family and being significantly closer to their friends than those with dependent children. This latter observation parallels the one sex difference observed, that of women reporting their friends as closer.

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