Cultural Scripts in Narratives about Future Life: Comparisons among Japanese, Chinese and American Students

Narratives of effort among Chinese, Hungarian and Chinese immigrant students in Hungary

“…In accordance with previous findings (Mukaida et al, ), the Chinese narratives were highly elaborated and detailed, and the relationship between effort and outcome was clear, hard work was valued and typically associated with success (H1–H2). Furthermore, in line with the Confucian tenets and the examination‐oriented education system (Li, ), effort typically prevailed in the field of education and was achievement‐oriented.…”

“…Narrative approach is a frequently employed technique in cultural psychology (Karasz, ). Narratives convey important cultural messages and cultural scripts and are regarded as important gateway to meaning making thus they are reliable research instruments to investigate conceptualisation (Mukaida et al, ). In the present study, the instruction applied in Mukaida and her colleagues' study (Mukaida et al, ) was adopted to collect narratives on past personal efforts.…”

“…Narratives convey important cultural messages and cultural scripts and are regarded as important gateway to meaning making thus they are reliable research instruments to investigate conceptualisation (Mukaida et al, ). In the present study, the instruction applied in Mukaida and her colleagues' study (Mukaida et al, ) was adopted to collect narratives on past personal efforts. The actual instruction was the following: “Please recall two or three situations in your life in the last 1–2 years when you have strived toward something, put all your energy into it in order to accomplish.” Hungarian and Chinese students provided the narratives in classroom setting, immigrant students were approached individually or in small groups.…”

“…There is an elaborated script in the Chinese mindset related to effort; Mukaida et al (Mukaida, Azuma, Crane, & Crystal, ; Mukaida et al, ) investigated the narratives of Chinese university students on effort and future and revealed a “mountain climbing” script characterised by ambitious, clear goals with concrete strategies to reach them. Beside the deliberate script on hard work, effort attribution is prevalent in the Chinese society in relation to both success and failure (Hau & Salili, ; Hess et al, ).…”

“…Effort is a basic motivational component and internal resource, one of the main attributions for achievement. Despite the universal importance of the concept there are cultural differences in its attributed value and conceptualisation (Li, ; Mukaida, Crystal, & Azuma, ). There is ample research indicating process orientation and the importance of effort in the Chinese culture (Hess, Chang, & McDevitt, ; Li, ).…”