Beware of friends: The cultural psychology of relational mobility and cautious intimacy

Abstract

Previous research has contrasted patterns of cautious or prevention-oriented relationality in various West African settings with patterns of growth or promotion-oriented relationality in many North American settings. The present research draws upon the concept of relational mobility to test the hypothesis that different patterns of relationality have their source in respective affordances for embedded interdependence or abstracted independence. Study 1 investigated the relationship between cautious intimacy and perception of relational mobility among a sample of Hong Kong students. Study 2 compared students in Hong Kong and North American settings to test whether differences in perception of relational mobility mediated the hypothesized differences in caution about friends. Study 3 used an experimental manipulation among a sample of Hong Kong students to test the hypothesis that increased perception of relational mobility reduces caution about friends. Results reveal broad support for the hypotheses. Whether as a measured variable or as an experimental treatment, the perception of relational mobility was negatively related to caution about friends. Moreover, this relationship mediated hypothesized cross-national differences in caution about friendship.Adiscussion of the results considers intersections of cultural and ecological approaches to psychology and implications for theoretical conceptions of interdependence.

Low relational mobility leads to greater motivation to understand enemies but not friends and acquaintances

“…The current research brings some implications in relational mobility. Evidence supporting the significant influence of relational mobility on interpersonal relationships has been accumulating (Li et al, 2015Lou & Li, 2017;Sato et al, 2014;Schug et al, 2009Schug et al, , 2010Yamada et al, 2015). However, enemyship has not been extensively examined from the perspective of relational mobility.…”

“…Prior research has consistently shown that the degree of (relational) mobility affects people's relationship construction as well as the form of their social networks (see Oishi, 2010; for a review). For instance, high mobility (vs. low mobility) would promote larger friendship networks (Lun, Roth, Oishi, & Kesebir, 2012), fewer cautions about friendship and less concern about existences of enemies (Li, Adams, Kurtis, & Hamamura, 2015). Mobility also extensively shapes people's strategies used in different types of social relationships (e.g., Li, Hamamura, & Adams, 2016;Lou & Li, 2017;Sato, Yuki, & Norasakkunkit, 2014).…”

“…However, the question of how relational mobility would affect people's enemyship experience has not been directly tested until recently. Although enemyship was not the focus, a study of Li et al (2015) found that people were more likely to perceive that they have enemies in the lower relational mobility societies. Except this piece of evidence, no further empirical tests have been conducted to closely examine the influence of relational mobility on enemyship.…”

Cultural difference in maladaptive functions of perfectionistic self‐presentation

“…Thus, the expression of personal self is encouraged in these societies (Yamagishi, Hashimoto, & Schug, ). This, in turn, encourages the use of promotion‐oriented interpersonal strategies to maximize the chance for personal growth and positive interpersonal outcomes (Li, Adams, Kurtiş, & Hamamura, ). For instance, people in Western societies have a stronger tendency to expand their social network (Oishi et al., ) and use self‐disclosure as a tool for enhancing relationship intimacy (Schug, Yuki, & Maddux, ).…”

“…In contrast, people in Asian societies (e.g., China, Japan, and Korea) experience a form of embedded interdependence (Adams, ). Interpersonal connection is in the form of dense overlapping networks rooted in a given social context, which in turn encourage the use of defensive (or prevention‐oriented) interpersonal strategies to maintain stable existing social relationships (Li et al., ). For instance, Asians are more likely to be motivated to understand their enemies (Li, Masuda, & Lee, ), save face (M. Chen, ; Wierzbicka, ), and suppress their negative emotions to preserve relationships (Matsumoto, ; Soto, Perez, Kim, Lee, & Minnick, ).…”