Examining the association between cultural self-construal and dream structures in the United States and Japan

Abstract

Cultural differences in self-construal, human relationships, and values between Western and East Asian people have been suggested. The aim of this article is to investigate cultural difference in dreamers’ self-construal based on their dreams. We examined the dreams sampled via online questionnaires from 300 non-clinical participants from America and Japan, respectively. The free response for the contents of “impressive dreams in childhood” “recent impressive dreams” was categorized into the five general dream structural patterns. Besides, the participants were asked to answer the scales to investigate participants’ cultural self-construal. The current results revealed the prevalence of the independent view of self in American participants and the interdependent view of self in Japanese participants. In addition, we found significant cultural differences in the dream length and structural patterns. For American dreams, the dream-ego had a clear will and strong mobility, and there were obvious ends of dream events. Conversely, for Japanese dreams, the weak agency and vague conscious of the dream-ego were shown, and others could play a main role in one’s dreams. These results suggested that each characteristic of the American and Japanese samples may be influenced by the differences in self-construal or in the process of self-formation between American and Japanese cultures.

Effect of ambient scent temperature on food choice: perspectives from the construal-level theory and sensory marketing

“…We designed a series of experiments to address the research questions and examine the hypotheses accurately. The present research contains both laboratory (Study 1a, Study 2, and Study 3) and field (Study 1b) experiments to examine whether ambient scent temperature significantly affects participants' food selection in an Asian context, given that previous studies are conducted in Western culture and consumers' self-construal does exist at a certain level of cultural difference (Konakawa et al, 2023). Hence, conducting pertinent research in the Asian context will colour up the spectrum of the effects of ambient scent temperature on consumers' food selection and construal level theory.…”

Green consumption by design: interaction experiences and customization intentions

“…Selfconstrual describes how individuals view the relationship between themselves and society. Specifically, independent self-constructors tend to be self-centered; emphasize individual independence and focus only on their abilities, thoughts and goals (Wong et al, 2022;Konakawa et al, 2023). Conversely, interdependent self-constructors tend to be othercentered, emphasize collective thinking, focus on maintaining community interpersonal relations and strive to adapt to the collective environment.…”

“…Specifically, independent self-constructors tend to be self-centered; emphasize individual independence and focus only on their abilities, thoughts and goals (Wong et al. , 2022; Konakawa et al. , 2023).…”

Generational Differences in the Image of Text-Based Online Counseling: Text Analysis With Deep Learning Technology

“…Social systems differ among different cultures and societies. At a more intangible level, culturally valued selfconstruals and social relationships differ in the context of daily life (Markus & Kitayama, 1991), and are also reflected in clinical psychological contexts (Konakawa, 2020;Roesler et al, 2021; see also Konakawa et al, 2023). Images of text-based online counseling are likely to differ in different cultures because they reflect these general cultural differences.…”