Cross-Cultural Research

This article investigated the dimensionality, measurement invariance, and cross-cultural variations of social desirability. A total of 3,471 university students from 20 countries completed an adapted version of the Marlowe–Crowne scale. A two-dimensional structure was revealed in the pooled sample, distinguishing enhancement (endorsement of positive self-description) and denial (rejection of negative self-description). The factor structure was supported in most countries; medium-sized item bias was found in two denial items. In a multilevel analysis, we found that (a) there was more cross-cultural variation in denial than enhancement; (b) females tended to score higher on enhancement whereas males tended to score higher on denial; (c) the Human Development Index, an indicator of country socioeconomic development, was the best (negative) predictor of denial; and (d) both enhancement and denial seemed to be associated with country-level values and personality pertinent to “fitting in.” We conclude that social desirability has a positive and a negative impression management dimension that are meaningfully associated with country-level characteristics, and we argue that social desirability is better interpreted as culturally regulated response amplification.

Grid–Group Cultural Theory (CT), developed by Mary Douglas and followers, is a well-known and often-used framework for the analysis of culture in the political–administrative world. Although Douglas herself was rather wary of detailed operationalization of CT, many scholars have tried to measure Grid and Group and tested implications of the theory along these dimensions at different levels of analysis, within or between nations. In this article, we recognize and discuss some grave challenges surrounding the operationalization of Grid and Group, particularly at the cross-national level. Presenting distinct facets of Group and Grid, we debate that in some measurements, divergent and unrelated cultural attributes are used in the operationalization of Grid and Group, making validity and reliability of such operationalization problematic. We also exhibit that Grid and Group cannot cover some cultural variances between or within societies; hence, we introduce and elaborate on a third dimension: “Grade.” We demonstrate that this dimension is missing and much-needed in CT.

This article examines home advantage (HA) in association football (soccer). HA is the tendency for teams to perform better when playing on their home ground than when playing away. National variations in HA are found to be related to national cultural and social characteristics. HA tends to be elevated in countries with high levels of collectivism and in-group favoritism, and in countries where governance is prone to corruption and where the rule of law is not strictly adhered to. These findings are consistent with the concept of HA as a social phenomenon that derives from the influence of spectators on the match officials. HA is also found to be elevated in countries with diverse terrain, but the effects of culture persist even when diversity of terrain is controlled for. On the other hand, the hypothesis that HA is elevated in the presence of large crowds or potentially violent spectators was not supported.

This article presents a cross-cultural analysis that explores the relationship between the importance of gossip and institutionalization. It is reasoned that as institutionalization increases, so does the difficulty of attaining direct information about events and people that would be consequential for any given individual. As a result, gossip should increase with institutionalization, and complexity generally. This general hypothesis is tested against data from a sample of recent and historical societies. The analysis finds support for the hypothesis and also explores the relationship between gossip and gender autonomy. The results are discussed in terms of understanding gossip as a strategy for attaining information when direct information gathering is inhibited by one’s social structural circumstances. The article closes with a discussion of possible implications for contemporary societies.

Cross-national research links decline in religiosity with improved living conditions due to economic development. These associations were examined in data from Gallup polls conducted in 50 U.S. states. Correlational analysis found that state religiosity (or importance attributed to religion) declined with economic development (state Human Development Index [HDI]). Positive correlates of religiosity included state hypertension levels (used as an index of psychological stress), Southern location, and the proportion of the population that was African American. Regression analysis found that the largest predictors of religiosity were HDI and African American population. The greater religiosity of states with more African American population was statistically explained in terms of stress (hypertension) and racism (Southern location). This is the first systematic study of state or ethnic variation in U.S. religiosity. Results provide further support for the existential security hypothesis of religious belief and support adaptive environmental explanations of societal variation in religiosity.