Cultural Difference and Self-Esteem 1
Running head: CULTURAL DIFFERENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM
Cultural Difference between Japan and Other Countries, Reflected on Self-Esteem
Questionnaires
Miki Noguchi
Applied Reading and Writing
Keiwa College
Cultural Difference and Self-Esteem 2
Abstract
This paper argues that cultural differences are reflected on self-esteem tests. The author
reviews literatures on self-esteem and analyzes why Japanese is thought to have
negative thinking based on the results of the self-esteem tests. By showing how cultural
difference influences self-esteem, the author challenges the validity of common
self-esteem tests and argues that it is rather the cultural uniqueness that are reflected on
the tests, not the fact that Japanese people have low self-esteem.
Cultural Difference and Self-Esteem 3
Cultural Difference between Japan and Other Countries, Reflected on Self-Esteem
questionnaires.
In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of literatures on cultural
difference. It is well known that cultural difference can be seen on food, clothes,
languages, gestures, customs, and so on. Cultural difference can be seen among
invisible things. Self-Esteem is an easy example. Also, Self-Esteem is described as the
value and worth that one gives to oneself. Students worldwide are investigated with
questionnaires to compare such relationships as grades and Self-Esteems, as it is said
that one’s self-esteem is related to her/his grade. Statistics show that Japanese people
have low self-esteem. Therefore, people outside of Japan may think that Japanese have
negative opinion on themselves and have negative thinking. However, that is an
incorrect assumption because Japanese’ low Self-Esteem represents culture which value
modesty, but does not represent Self-Hate. Japanese culture’s uniqueness is reflected in
the result of Self-Esteem questionnaires.
Several studies have revealed which countries have lower self-esteem compared
with other countries. (e.g. Hitti, n.d; Yamaguchi et al. 2004). Hitti (n.d) reviewed the
highest 10 and the lowest 10 countries in terms of Self-Esteem, based on anonymous
surveys given to nearly 17,000 people in 53 nations. This survey asked people to rate
Cultural Difference and Self-Esteem 4
how strongly they agreed or disagreed with statements such as “I am able to do things
as well as most other people,” “I take a positive attitude toward myself,” and “All in all,
I am inclined to feel that I am a failure.” According to this finding, Turkey, U.S, and
Austria are included the top 10 countries. On the other hand, South Korea, Taiwan, and
Hong Kong make up part of the 10 countries. Japan is included in one of the countries
where people have low self-esteem too. Above all, it is said that Japanese’ self-esteem is
the lowest in East-Asia. As a result, viewed from foreigner’s standpoint, Japanese is
thought that they have negative-thinking.
As mentioned above, it is not strange that people think Japanese have negative
thinking based on the result of that statistic. However, recent evidence suggests that
Japanese having lower-self-esteem is a representation of characteristic of Japanese
culture (Yamaguchi et al. 2004). Yamaguchi et al. (2004) found that there is a culture in
Japan that values being modest as a virtue, and it affects statistic as if Japanese don’t
have confidence on themselves.Yamaguchi et al. (2004) investigated on Japanese
culture, and found tendencies that Japanese people explain themselves they are inferior
to other people when they are in profitable situations, while they are not inferior to other
people when they are in unprofitable situations. The effect of this tendency leads
Japanese people to make good impression on others. Japanese people tend to lay special
Cultural Difference and Self-Esteem 5
emphasis on group harmony, and being modest is important. Avoiding insisting
Self-Benefit is common characteristic seen in Japanese society. It can be said that such a
manner exists only in Japan. In other words, seemingly low Self-Esteem is the reflection
of cultural difference in answering question about oneself.
As this results show, Japanese have unique culture that values modesty, which
people all over the world should know. If everyone knows that Japanese unique culture,
Japanese Self-Esteem is regarded as one of the cultures. People tend to think that
Japanese low Self-Esteem means negative thinking and that Self-Esteem lead to
lowering standard in education. However, all those opinion is incorrect. There are
cultural differences that are not only visible but also invisible. People must turn their
attention to the invisible cultural aspect to understand the culture of other countries.
Therefore, Japanese people’s Self-Esteem cannot be measured by questionnaires
because of the cultural uniqueness. It is difficult to judge whether self-esteem is related
to their grades or not in Japanese case. Japanese people do not actually have low
Self-Esteem, rather, Japanese low Self-Esteem only shows their culture. Japanese
should think that survey on Self-Esteem is finding of own culture. At the same time,
people worldwide should think that the stereotypes that Japanese do not have any
confidence are not true.
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Reference
Hitti, M. (n,d.) Who’s No.1 in Self-Esteem? Retrieved from http:// www. webmd.com/
Cultural Difference and Self-Esteem 7
balance/news/20050927/wohs-number-1-self-esteem
Yamaguchi, S. & Tafarodi, R. (2004). Self-esteem and its expression: A cross national
study
in
Japan
and
Canada.
Retrieved
http://www.murata.co.jp/zaidan/annual/pdf/k01/2004/a21206.pdf
from