Mapping culture and rationality across four countries: Expanding the conceptual horizons of strong-ties and weak-ties rationality.

Ting, Rachel Sing-Kiat; Hta, May Kyi Zay; Yeh, Kuang-Hui; Ng, Vanessa Huey-Chi; Liu, Charles; Xie, Zhong-Yao; Chen, Yi-Fan; Sundararajan, Louise

doi:10.1037/hum0000339

The Humanistic Psychologist

2024

DOI: 10.1037/hum0000339

|View full text |Cite

Mapping culture and rationality across four countries: Expanding the conceptual horizons of strong-ties and weak-ties rationality.

Rachel Sing-Kiat Ting,

May Kyi Zay Hta,

Kuang-Hui Yeh

et al.

Abstract: The Strong-Ties and Weak-Ties Rationality Scale (STWTRS) is a theory-driven measure of the culture-insiders' reasoning about the world. In this study, we further explored the latent structure of STWTRS in a cross-indigenous study (n = 2,173) conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in two Asian countries (China and Malaysia) and two Western countries (Australia and the United States). We hypothesized that strong ties (ST) versus weak ties (WT) rationality can predict different downstream perceptions such as pref… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...

Citation Types

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Year Published

2024

Publication Types

Select...

Article3

Relationship

Self Cite0

Independent3

Authors

Journals

Cited by 3 publications

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

The relationship between strong‐ties weak‐ties rationality and COVID‐19 public stigma: A cross‐cultural study of Malaysia and Australia

Zay Hta,

Ting,

Jones

2024

Int J Psychol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We investigated the relationship between strong‐ties versus weak‐ties rationality and public stigma (PS) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We also explored the cultural group differences (Malaysians vs. Australians) in this relationship. An online survey was conducted in 2021 with a final sample of 830 eligible Malaysians and 394 eligible Australians. Participants completed the multidimensional strong‐ties weak‐ties rationality Scale (STWTRS) and an adapted public stigma (PS) scale towards COVID‐19 patients. Through multiple regression analysis, we found that the strong‐ties rationality, ST‐Authoritarian rationality, was positively associated with PS‐Blame in both countries. However, the variable Country moderated the relationship between ST‐Communal and PS‐Rejection, with a negative association found in Malaysia and a positive association in Australia. The findings confirmed the strong‐ties weak‐ties rationality framework, where ST rationality, especially ST‐Authoritarian, could explain the cognitive mechanism behind negative attitudes towards those who pose threat towards the in‐group survival. However, ST‐Communal could buffer the rejection towards the COVID‐19 patients in Malaysia due to its emphasis on social harmony. This study can inform future interventions aimed at mitigating stigma and promoting a more inclusive and supportive society in times of crisis.

show abstract

The relationship between strong‐ties weak‐ties rationality and COVID‐19 public stigma: A cross‐cultural study of Malaysia and Australia

Zay Hta,

Ting,

Jones

2024

Int J Psychol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

An ecological model of experienced stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Malaysia

Zay Hta,

Ting,

Ong

et al. 2024

Culture & Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper, we adopted an ecological model and relational cognition framework to decolonize pandemic stigma in a non-WEIRD society. We reconstructed the concept of pandemic stigma in an ex-colonized and multicultural society of Southeast Asia region, by conducting a qualitative study in Malaysia to explore their lived experiences of differential treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic from 2020 to 2022. We interviewed 30 Malaysians aged 18–64 of diverse ethnicities (Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other minorities) through online semi-structured sessions and coded the transcripts through consensus thematic analysis. Results showed that the interviewees’ lived experiences of stigma could be conceptualized as negative interactions with multiple systems: (1) Kinship, (2) Companionship, (3) Organizations, (4) Societal (5) Political, as well as (6) Internal systems. We found that interviewees attributed their experiences of stigma to (1) Individual (self) reasons, (2) Impact of close relationships, (3) Impact of casual social interactions, and (4) Impact of cultural-political context. Our findings could be translated into culturally responsive and context-specific interventions, which addressed systemic injustice that exacerbated the global polarization during the pandemic.

show abstract

Strong-ties and weak-ties rationalities: toward a mental model of the consequences of kinship intensity

Yeh,

Terpstra Tong,

Ting

et al. 2024

Front. Psychol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is growing evidence of the connection between variations in kinship intensity and cross-cultural differences in psychological traits. Contributing to this literature on kinship intensity, we put forward a mental model to explain the enduring connection between ancestral niche and psychological traits. Our model posits that two primary orientations or dispositions—strong-ties and weak-ties rationalities—have co-evolved with our ancestral niches to perpetuate—by internalizing and reproducing—the social structure (such as preferences for certain attitudes, values, and beliefs) of the ancestral niche. The findings from 1,291 participants across four societies—China, India, Taiwan, and the United States—support our hypothesis that strong-ties (weak-ties) rationalities, when activated, will endorse strong-tie (weak-ties) values and beliefs. This proposed model contributes to the toolbox of cultural and cross-cultural psychology in a twofold sense: First, in addition to the index of kinship intensity, it offers a measure of kin-based rationality as another predictor of psychological traits; second, it renders intelligible the niche and rationality disconnect prevalent in the globalizing era.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Mapping culture and rationality across four countries: Expanding the conceptual horizons of strong-ties and weak-ties rationality.

Cited by 3 publications

References 32 publications

The relationship between strong‐ties weak‐ties rationality and COVID‐19 public stigma: A cross‐cultural study of Malaysia and Australia

The relationship between strong‐ties weak‐ties rationality and COVID‐19 public stigma: A cross‐cultural study of Malaysia and Australia

An ecological model of experienced stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Malaysia

Strong-ties and weak-ties rationalities: toward a mental model of the consequences of kinship intensity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About