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A Trans-Generational and Cross Cultural Study Name: Yingjuan Title: A study on psychological characteristics predicting socio-political tendency: a trans-generational and cross cultural study Name: Yingjuan Liu This is a digitised version of a dissertation submitted to the University of Bedfordshire. It is available to view only. This item is subject to copyright. Title A Study on Psychological Characteristics Predicting Socio-political Tendency: A Trans-generational and Cross Cultural Study PhD Student Yingjuan Liu This is a digitised version of a dissertation submitted to the University of Bedfordshire. It is available to view only. This item is subject to copyright. A STUDY ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS PREDICTING SOCIO- POLITICAL TENDENCY: A TRANS-GENERATIONAL AND CROSS CULTURAL STUDY by YINGJUAN LIU A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Psychology University of Bedfordshire Luton campus Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3JU April 2017 Academic Thesis: Declaration of Authorship I, Yingjuan Liu declare that this thesis, and the work presented in it are my own and have been generated by me as the result of my own original research. A Study on Psychological Characteristics Predicting Socio-political Tendency: A Trans-generational and Cross Cultural Study I confirm that: 1. This work was done wholly or mainly while in candidature for a research degree at this University; 2. Where any part of this thesis has previously been submitted for a degree or any other qualification at this University or any other institution, this has been clearly stated; 3. Where I have cited the published work of others, this is always clearly attributed; 4. Where I have quoted from the work of others, the source is always given. With the exception of such quotations, this thesis is entirely my own work; 5. I have acknowledged all main sources of help. Name of candidate: Yingjuan Liu Signature: Date: 12/04/2017 A Study on Psychological Characteristics Predicting Socio-political Tendency: A Trans-generational and Cross-cultural Study Yingjuan Liu ABSTRACT This study examines how ten psychological characteristics (empathy, flexibility, perspective-taking, egalitarian sex role, normative identity style, interpersonal trust, openness, suggestibility, prosocial behaviour, and authoritarianism) predict individuals’ political attitudes in the context of different cultural backgrounds, in different eras in China, and different Chinese family circumstances. Moreover, the study considers whether there is a potential effect of gender on these characteristics and political attitudes. It includes four sub-studies: a pilot study (aimed at testing the reliability and validity of translated Chinese measures); a trans-generational study; a cross-cultural study; and a study comparing Chinese single children and non-single children. The results show that the reliability and validity of translated Chinese measures were sound. Moreover, empathy and authoritarianism were shown to be predictors for democracy in both young Europeans and young local British samples; while an egalitarian sex role was a significant and important predictor for democracy amongst young Chinese, older Chinese, single child and non-single child groups. Furthermore, both European and local British groups showed higher degrees of empathy, perspective-taking, openness, and democracy compared with the young Chinese generation; while, the young Chinese group showed a higher degree of normative identity style, interpersonal trust, suggestibility, and authoritarianism. Compared with the older Chinese generation, the young Chinese young generation scored higher on empathy, egalitarian sex role, openness, and democracy. In addition, female participants consistently scored higher on egalitarian sex role than their male counterparts in any sub-studies. In particular, young Chinese women tended to be loyal supporters of egalitarianism and democracy. The interpretations of results were made within the cultural context and changes in Chinese policy Acknowledgements I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my supervisor, Dr. Hossein Kaviani, who gave me the most supports during my PhD study. He continually gave me encouragement and guidance in the process of this current study; did a lot of effort on reviewing my writing, and gave his precious and helpful comments. With his supports, I systematized my knowledge in the related academic area, which helped me achieve one of the main goals of my study, and made it more meaningful. Without his persistent guidance and help, this dissertation would not have been possible. I would like to thank Mr. Jianquan Li, who helped me in getting the permissions from Chinese universities to approach Chinese participants for the current study. He offered the help of contacting the department heads and professors in Chinese universities; and successfully got the permissions for collecting data in Guizhou University and Guizhou Normal University. He also offered some help for approaching Chinese old participants who was working in Guizhou Provincial General Hospital and China Construction Bank (Guizhou branch). Also, I would like to thank my parents. They gave me a lot of support in various ways, including giving me mental support for increasing my confidence; introducing me to Chinese official translators for ‘translation and back translation’, which was regarded as a vital phase for preparing Chinese version scales; as well as helping me collect the data from older Chinese participants in China. In addition, many thanks to my friends: Kunjie Li and Zilin Liu, who assisted me in distributing the Chinese questionnaires, and collecting them from young Chinese participants in the two Chinese universities mentioned above. Conference Presentations • A transgenerational study: The link between psychological characteristics and political behaviour in China. International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP), Annual Conference, Warsaw, July 2016, Poland • A cross-cultural study: The link between psycho-social characteristics and political behaviour in Chinese and British samples. International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP), Annual Conference, Edinburgh, June 2017, Scotland LIST OF CONTENTS Abstract Acknowledgements Conference Presentations List of contents............................................................................................................I List of Tables...............................................................................................................V List of Figures...........................................................................................................VII Chapter 1 The Development of Democracy and its related Cultural Background....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Political systems ...................................................................................... 1 1.2 Cultural aspects ....................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Personality and Socio-political Behaviour ................................. 10 2.1 Personality ............................................................................................ 10 2.2. Empathy ............................................................................................... 20 2.3 Flexibility ............................................................................................... 28 2.4 Perspective Taking ................................................................................. 32 2.5 Egalitarian Sex Role ............................................................................... 41 2.6 Normative Identity Style ......................................................................... 47 2.7 Interpersonal Trust ................................................................................ 51 2.8 Openness to experience ......................................................................... 58 2.9 Suggestibility ......................................................................................... 64 2.10 Prosocial Behaviour ................................................................................ 67 2.11 Right Wing Authoritarianism ................................................................... 72 Chapter 3 Socio-political Behaviour: Age and gender difference .............. 78 3.1 Gender .................................................................................................. 78 I 3.2 Age ....................................................................................................... 85 Chapter 4 Socio-economic and political changes in contemporary China 89 4.1 Political Forms ....................................................................................... 89 4.2 Chinese Social and Economic Change ...................................................... 91 4.3 Chinese Class Structure .......................................................................... 96 4.4 Chinese Educational System ................................................................... 99 4.5 Chinese Technological Development ....................................................... 103 4.6 The Synthesis: Conclusion ..................................................................... 106 Chapter 5 Method........................................................................................ 113 5.1 Design ...................................................................................................
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