Abstract
Japanese and Canadian university students were compared on the changes they wanted in their lives. Contrary to their characterization
as self-effacingly relational and group-minded, Japanese were no more likely than Canadians to wish for social or collective
goods. Rather, Japanese were more likely than Canadians to wish for money or material goods, and less likely than Canadians
to wish for better family relations, increased self-understanding, and improved academic performance. Whether these findings
reflect dissimilar cultural priorities, unequal opportunities and constraints, or both, is discussed.
as self-effacingly relational and group-minded, Japanese were no more likely than Canadians to wish for social or collective
goods. Rather, Japanese were more likely than Canadians to wish for money or material goods, and less likely than Canadians
to wish for better family relations, increased self-understanding, and improved academic performance. Whether these findings
reflect dissimilar cultural priorities, unequal opportunities and constraints, or both, is discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-011-9299-x
- Authors
- Romin W. Tafarodi, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Yasunori Nishikawa, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Greg Bonn, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Hiroaki Morio, Sapporo University, Sapporo, Japan
- Ai Fukuzawa, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Joo Lee, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978