A study on psychological characteristics predicting socio-political tendency: a trans-generational and cross cultural study

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.