【China Sciences】 New Understanding on the East-West Difference in Cognition

Source: China Sciences 27/03/2012 A4 edition

Author: Li Jiewei

It is learnt from Sun Yat-sen University that, Zhou Xinyue, from Department of Psychology, and her team have made great progress on researches concerning culture and cognition. The relevant results were published in the international journal Jouranl of Personality and Socail Psychology.

According to previous researches, there are differences between oriental and western cognitive processing. Orientals (mainly East Asians) tend to adopt holistic thinking, which emphasizes the connection between things and the importance of context. Westerners tend to adopt analytical thinking, which emphasizes the importance of logic and the object itself.

Through 12 experiments, Zhou Xinyue systematically proved the cognitive difference was not absolutely stable. It was affected by threat (loss of control). Specifically, both Orientals and Westerners will adopt analytical thinking when they are deprived of the sense of control in a short term. Both Orientals and Westerners will adopt holistic thinking when they are deprived of the sense of control in a long term. That is to say, the loss of sense of control can lead to the disappearance of the east-west differences. Moreover, the sense of control will increase when one is led to analytical thinking.

The findings suggest not only that the loss of sense of control can lead to the change of cognitive mode, but also that though under threats, cultural differences will not impede dialogue and exchange of both sides. The study extended and supplemented the theory proposed by Richard Nisbett, Academician of United States National Academy of Science that oriental and western’s different ways of processing cognition,. To some extent, the study provided an interpretation on the east-west difference.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology is monthly published by the American Psychological Association. It is one of the most influential journals in psychology. This is also the first time a mainland scholar published paper in it as the first corresponding author.