Cognitive responses to favor requests from different social targets in a Confucian society

Abstract

Responses of Taiwanese graduate students to favor requests from different social targets (peer vs. superior) were compared across two scenarios. Factors influencing the decision to accept or reject the request were also explored. When the favor request was consistent with the relational context (academic research), participants were more likely to accept the request from a professor than from a classmate. Those who accepted the professor’s request were more likely to report authority-oriented reasons. When the content of the favor request was inconsistent with the relational context, participants tended to reject the request from both a professor and a classmate. Those who rejected the professor’s request reported more self-assertive reasons for their decision. Although participants rated Rational Reciprocity as the most important factor in making their decision, interpersonal closeness seemed to be a major concern in deciding to do a favor for a peer. Social interactions for acquaintances in a Confucian society are influenced by Confucian ethics advocating the principle of respecting the superior and the principle of favoring the intimate, rather than solely by the principle of social exchange.

Cultural variation in individuals' responses to incivility by perpetrators of different rank: The mediating role of descriptive and injunctive norms

“…By declining a request, we sought to provide a context in which the interaction takes place and a degree of ambiguity. However, it is conceivable that Korean participants responded more strongly to low‐ compared to high‐ranking perpetrators because in high power distance cultural settings there is a strong expectation for low‐ranking requestees to oblige (e.g., Han, Li, & Hwang, ). Similarly, in Study 2 the organizational vignette depicting a high power distance culture set out clear expectations for low‐ranking employees to comply with requests by high‐ranking employees.…”

Does Confucianism Reduce Minority Shareholder Expropriation? Evidence from China

“…First, to my knowledge and literature in hand, this study is the first to focus on the influence of Confucianism on minority shareholder expropriation, a particular corporate (unethical) behavior. A great variety of extant studies address the concerns about the influence of Confucianism on interpersonal relationships, business ethical values, communication patterns, organizational communication, Guanxi, contemporary (good) business ethics, the economy growth, transformational leadership behavior, the operation efficiency, management practices, 1 Eastern and Western thought, cognitive responses, and corporate social responsibility ( Bass and Steidlmeier 1999;Chan 2008; Chen and Chung 1994;Dollinger 1988; Gilgen and Cho 1979;Han et al 2005;Hwang et al 2009;Ip 2009;Lam 2003;Lovett et al 1999;Redfern 2004; Wang and Juslin 2009;Whitcomb et al 1998a, b;Yum 1988), but they provide little evidence on Confucianism's impacts on particular corporate behavior (minority shareholder expropriation in my case). Using the context of China, this study fills this void by documenting systematic evidence on the influence of Confucianism on minority shareholder expropriation.…”

“…Questionnaire method is adopted in the majority of the existing literature (e.g., Gilgen and Cho 1979;Redfern 2004;Han et al 2005;etc.). Although questionnaire method has its advantage, it inevitably undergoes censures of being subjective (Cavana et al 2001).…”

Sociable resources and close relationships: Intimate relatives and friends in Taiwan

“…In Chinese society, a relationship with a friend could be an extension of family members' networks, or alternatively, a consequence of quasi-ascriptive qualities such as sharing the same surnames or being from the same hometown or region. Friendships function to establish an alliance or a patronage network for exchanging favors or protecting the collective interests of group members (Han, Li, & Hwang, 2005;King, 1991). In the context of Chinese familial collectivism, the important role of relatives and friends in individual intimacy should not be neglected.…”