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A reexamination of the concept of amae: Amae as a self-critical view of dependence among the Japanese.

Research Project

Project/Area Number 25590161
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Research Field Social psychology
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo (2016)
Tokyo Woman's Christian University (2013-2015)

Principal Investigator

HARIHARA Motoko  東京大学, 大学院人文社会系研究科(文学部), 助教 (80615667)

Research Collaborator SENZAKI Sawa  University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Department of Human Development and Psychology, Assistant Professor
Project Period (FY) 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000)
Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Keywords甘え / 援助要請 / ソーシャルサポート / 文化比較 / 日本人 / アメリカ人 / 迷惑 / 規範 / ソーシャル・サポート
Outline of Final Research Achievements

Amae (defined as the presumed acceptance of one’s inappropriate behavior or request) is an important concept in Japanese society. However, previous studies have shown that Asians are more reluctant than European Americans to ask for support from others.
This study hypothesized that the Japanese label their help-seeking behaviors as amae when they regard their behaviors as inappropriate based on the social norm that they should not bother others.
The results showed that 1) the Japanese evaluated help-seekers who had bothered their friends more negatively than the Americans, 2) the Japanese overestimated the burden and underestimated the pleasure the partner felt in offering help to them, 3) the more the Japanese regarded their own help-seeking behaviors as inappropriate, the more they labeled their behaviors as amae. These results suggest that the Japanese label their dependence on others self-critically as amae.

Report

(5 results)
  • 2016 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2015 Research-status Report
  • 2014 Research-status Report
  • 2013 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All 2016 2015 2014 Other

All Presentation (6 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results)

  • [Presentation] 他者依存の自己批判的ラベルとしての「甘え」:ダイアドデータを用いての検討2016

    • Author(s)
      針原素子
    • Organizer
      東京大学社会心理学コロキウム
    • Place of Presentation
      東京大学(東京都文京区)
    • Year and Date
      2016-11-25
    • Related Report
      2016 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Amae as a self-critical view of dependence among the Japanese2016

    • Author(s)
      Harihara Motoko
    • Organizer
      The 23rd Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology
    • Place of Presentation
      WINC Aichi Conference Center (愛知県名古屋市)
    • Year and Date
      2016-07-30
    • Related Report
      2015 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Who is to be blamed, the inconsiderate help seeker, or the too considerate help giver? Comparison between the U.S. and Japan.2015

    • Author(s)
      Harihara Motoko
    • Organizer
      16th annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology
    • Place of Presentation
      Long Beach, California, USA
    • Year and Date
      2015-02-27
    • Related Report
      2014 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 友人間の援助要請行動に及ぼす文化的自己観の効果:対人依存欲求と「迷惑をかけてはいけない」規範に注目して2014

    • Author(s)
      針原素子
    • Organizer
      日本心理学会第78回大会
    • Place of Presentation
      同志社大学(京都市)
    • Related Report
      2013 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Examination of cultural norms for help-seeking and help-offering behavior among Japanese.

    • Author(s)
      Harihara Motoko
    • Organizer
      the 10th Biennial Conference of Asian Association of Social Psychology
    • Place of Presentation
      Yogyakarta, Indonesia
    • Related Report
      2013 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Examination of negative attitude toward help-seeking behavior among Japanese.

    • Author(s)
      Harihara Motoko
    • Organizer
      the 10th SPSP(Society for Personality and Social Psychology) Cultural Psychology Preconference
    • Place of Presentation
      Austin, Texas, USA
    • Related Report
      2013 Research-status Report

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Published: 2014-07-25   Modified: 2019-07-29  

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