ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

Acta Psychologica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (7): 994-998.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00994

• Special issue: Exploring cultural and psychological transformations in Chinese society • Previous Articles    

Psychological and behavioral stability in a rapidly changing society: An illustration of the Modesty Effect

FU Genyue1,2,3,4, Kang LEE1,2,3,4()   

  1. 1Department of Psychology, Hangzhou Normal University
    2Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare
    3Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou 311121, China
    2Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Ontario M5R 2X2, Canada
  • Published:2024-07-25 Online:2024-05-21
  • Contact: Kang LEE E-mail:kang.lee@utoronto.ca

Abstract:

Faced with historically unprecedented improvements in the economy and quality of life, how will human psychology and behavior evolve? We hypothesize that although social changes will influence and alter certain aspects of human psychology and behavior, others, deeply rooted in culture, will remain stable and unaffected. Nearly thirty years of cross-cultural research on the Modesty Effect supports this hypothesis. The Modesty Effect refers to the cross-cultural difference between Eastern and Western societies in evaluation and behavior concerning telling the truth about, or lying to conceal, one’s personal achievements or good deeds. After reviewing three decades of research on the Modesty Effect, we find that despite China's dramatic economic and social developments, this cross-cultural effect has remained largely constant, indicating a high level of stability due to its profound cultural foundations.

Key words: modesty, lie, lying, truth-telling, collectivism, individualism, social change, stability