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

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.00994

Abstract

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

FU Genyue, Kang LEE. (2024). Psychological and behavioral stability in a rapidly changing society: An illustration of the Modesty Effect. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 56(7), 994-998.

Figures/Tables 1

References 23

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