Dynamics of Korean Society: A Psychological look
By Gyuseog Han ph.D
Chonnam Nat. University, Gwangju, S.Korea
Visiting Professor at USM
Special Lecture, Pusat Pangajian Ilmu Pendidikan, USM, Penang, Malaysia,
17, September, 2013.
Chonnam National University, S.Korea
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• Few Facts about South Korea – 50 million people – 99% literacy (98% highschool grad rate.) – 80% Tertiary education (2004, 20%-1970) – Two presidents with no background – Republic government since 1948.
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GNP $67 (1953)
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$27800 (2006)
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contents • Psychological profiles of Korean people
– Hofstede dimensions – Comparative sense
• Characteristics of Korean society – Homogeneity – Collectivistic
• Understanding Korean psychology – Self – Relationships
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Culture Profiles http://www.geert-
hofstede.com/hofstede_south_korea.shtml
• Geert Hofstede (2005) analyzed 93 countries.
• 4 dimensions – Individualism/collectivism: priority given to ind. or collective – Power distance: hierarchy, inequality of power granted or
equality – Masculine/feminine: masculine value
(competition/achievement) vs. feminine value (caring) – Uncertainty avoidance: certainty is valued and sought (high
rule seeking) vs ambiguity accepted # Long term orientation: time perspective is long/short
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PDI: Kor < Mal IND: similarly Col Mas: similarly femin UAI: Kor > Mal
Characteristics of Korean society • Homogenous:
– 97% Korean ethnics – 284 family names tot: top 20
names 78% pop. – Common language/ one
unique letter system (Hangul) invented 1443 AD
– 5000 years of history – One nation state since 676
AD for 1500 years (36 yrs of Japan colony 1910-45)
– No caste system Chonnam National University,
S.Korea 10
Strong Collective Identity
High comparabili
ty
High conformity
High Competition
• Collectivistic society – Agricultural, Confucianism – Harmony with ingroup
others/ environments
– Fit in vs. Control over
– Cultivating self • View of incremental self vs.
entity self
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We-ness: We > I
Public self > private self
Self-consistency & Culture
• Rate yourself on each of the following items using a scale 1(not at all) ~7(very much). Honest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Friendly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dominant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• Rate urself again now when u are with your friends (professor, parents..) Honest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Friendly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dominant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Self consistency in US & Korea: Suh (2002). US data
Korean data
Why such difference in self consistency?
– Is it OK to be inconsistent in US?
Theory of self-theories by Dweck 02
• Incremental self theory:
• Entity self theory:
What self theory u have influence education! Choice of subject: like or need Attitude toward schooling
East Asians and Westerners (Heine, )
500
600
700
800
Canada Japan
Success
Failure
Korean Woori (We-ness) • Relationships over individualities
– Nothing to hide sharing encouraged – Individuality deemphasized
• cheong (情, intimacy, relational attachment) • Maum based exchange
– Quasi-cheong (유사 정) interactions “Look at me once, please!”
– Cheong-oriented interactions
Chusok hometown visit
I vs. We worldview • ‘My mother’, ‘Our mother’ • ‘my wife’, ‘our wife’
• Incorrect grammartically?
– Whose grammar?
• The practice reflects cultural worldview.
Intrinsic motivation and culture
Ivengar & Leppe(99)r: East Asian children vs. White
Computer game icon chosen by Experimenter, Mother, or Self
Chung(94). Korean Primary Children task reward to Mom, Self, no reward.
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Woori
(we-ness)
Dynamics
Collective
Efficacy Uncertainty
Avoidance
Outcome oriented
self
Homogeneity
Competition
oriented society
self Show-off Face -concern
Public Contextual Incremental
Dynamic Korean Society
• Terima Kasih Banyak Banyak!
• Q & A
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