[EXVO-Taiwan] Group structure and strategies when disagreeing
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In previous studies, we found that US American children initially think that people who disagree with their groups should talk to their group members (rather than go along with the decision or leave their groups). This is regardless of whether the group is hierarchical (with a boss) or participatory (with everyone making decisions together). These findings contrasted with those of American adults, who thought that disagreeers were more likely to speak up in participatory groups than in hierarchical ones. The current study is a replication of this research in a different country. Here, we are interested in Taiwanese adults’ and children’s predictions on how they think disagreers will act in group settings. One way Taiwan and America might contrast is that Taiwan is a comparatively “tighter” culture (with stronger social norms, sanctions for deviance, etc), and America is comparatively “looser” (with weaker social norms, sanctions for deviance, etc.). Research suggests that people in tight cultures are less likely to directly challenge social institutions (Gelfand et al, 2011). We ask here whether cultural tightness may also correlate with people expecting others to speak up less often.
Authors: Briscoe, Mack, Thomas, Ashley J., Lee, Peggy
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7140364428