Do compassionate goals predict greater expression of dissent?

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K17254
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Social psychology
• Research Institution: Hosei University
• Principal Investigator: Niiya Yu 法政大学, グローバル教養学部, 教授 (20511281)
• Research Collaborator: Crocker Jennifer ; Jiang Tao ; Yakin Syamil
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 思いやり / 批判 / 異論 / 同調 / 文化 / 日本 / アメリカ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research found that compassionate goals to support others’ well-being predict greater expression of dissent toward an ingroup whereas self-image goals to project a positive image of the self predict a reduced tendency to express dissent among Japanese and Americans. Surveys in Japan and the U.S. found that people who are higher on compassionate goals perceive the dissent to be beneficial to their group, which in turn predicts greater frequency and clarity in dissent expression. In contrast, those higher on likable self-image goals or avoidant self-image goals are less likely to express dissent and are more likely to avoid taking ownership of their opinions. Although compassionate and self-image goals both reflect a prosocial approach to relationships, this research demonstrates that they can each predict different behaviors and that these goals reflect fundamentally distinct motives.

Free Research Field

社会心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自己イメージ目標（他者にいい人だと思われようとすること）と思いやり目標（他者のためになることをしようとすること）には強い正の相関があり，どちらも向社会的行動を予測することが言われてきたが，本研究はこれら対人目標が相反する行動を予測することを明らかにし，異なった動機であることを明示した点が学術的に意義深い。また，自己イメージ目標を抑制し，思いやり目標を助長することで各自が異論を表明しやすくなれば，組織内の不正を阻止する，安全神話が偽りである可能性を指摘する，他者の気づいていない間違いを指摘するなどして，個人および集団のパフォーマンスの向上，および事故や犯罪の防止に役立てられる。