Individual Differences in Analytic Versus Holistic Thinking

Abstract

The authors constructed the Analysis-Holism Scale (AHS) to measure analytic versus holistic thinking tendency. In Study 1, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, a 24-item scale was developed. In Study 2, convergent and discriminant validities were tested. In Studies 3 and 4, the known-group difference validity was examined by comparing scores on the AHS of Americans and Koreans (Study 3) and of Korean students of Oriental medicine and Korean students of non-Oriental medicine majors (Study 4). Results of Studies 3 and 4 show that Koreans and Korean students of Oriental medicine scored higher on the AHS than did Americans and Korean students of non-Oriental medicine majors, respectively. Studies 5 and 6 tested predictive validity by examining associations of the AHS with performances on two cognitive tasks (categorization and causal reasoning). Data analysis shows that those with high scores on the AHS displayed the holistic pattern of performances on each task more than did those with low scores.

Microfoundations of Organizational Paradox: The Problem Is How We Think about the Problem

“…A summary of our eight-sample study is displayed in Table 1. In order to assess experiencing tensions and paradox mindset, we generated items deductively (Hinkin, 1995) from reviewing paradox theory (Lewis, 2000;Smith & Lewis, 2011;Smith, 2014) as well as related scales (e.g., Choi, Koo, & Choi, 2007;Kruglanski, Webster, & Klem, 1993;Spencer-Rodgers, Srivastava, & Peng, 2001). Table 1 about here ---------------------------------Although existing constructs and scales share similar themes, none of them directly assess the experience of tensions and the propensity for having a paradox mindset.…”

“…However, individuals may cognitively differentiate and integrate different perspectives but feel uncomfortable when the perspectives appear to be contradictory. Finally, research on naïve dialecticism, building on insights from Eastern philosophy, addresses individual attitudes towards contradictions (Choi et al, 2007;Spencer-Rodgers, Williams, & Peng, 2010), but not whether individuals accept and feel comfortable with contradictions. Similarly, the attitude towards contradictions subdimension of holism focuses on tactics for managing tensions, such as compromising and seeking middleground (Choi et al, 2007), rather than confronting and embracing tensions.…”

“…Because of cross-cultural differences in approaches to paradox (Choi et al, 2007;Keller et al, 2016;Spencer-Rodgers et al, 2010), we further developed the scale to ensure generalizability across cultures. We refined our initial scales and confirmed our factor structure with employees in an Israeli manufacturing plant in the high-tech industry (Table 1, Sample 1).…”

“…We considered constructs more frequently associated with Western thinking, including tolerance for ambiguity (Lorsch & Morse, 1974), need for closure (Webster & Kruglanski, 1994), integrative complexity (Tetlock et al, 1993), and preference for consistency (Cialdini et al, 1995). We also considered constructs more often associated with Eastern thinking, including tolerance of contradictions (Spencer-Rodgers et al, 2001), attitude toward contradictions (Choi et al, 2007), and a self-rated version of the paradoxical leadership scale developed among Chinese participants (Zhang et al, 2015). In addition, we examined correlations with openness to experience from the Big 5 (Saucier, 1994).…”

A Holistic View of Happiness: Belief in the Negative Side of Happiness Is More Prevalent in Japan Than in the United States

“…For example, dialecticism, which emphasizes the operation of opposing forces of yin and yang, is very pervasive and strongly upheld in East Asian cultures (Ji et al, 2001;Peng & Nisbett, 1999). More generally, worldviews are more holistic in Asia than in North America (Choi, Koo, & Choi, 2007;Markus & Kitayama, 1991;Nisbett, Peng, Choi, & Norenzayan, 2001). If the holistic view of happiness in Japan, in which people accept both positive and negative features as a part of happiness, is reflective of their holistic worldviews, people with such world views should be more likely to agree that negative features, such as transcendental reappraisal, are part of the meaning of happiness.…”