Wishing for Change in Japan and Canada

Romin Tafarodi (), Yasunori Nishikawa, Greg Bonn, Hiroaki Morio, Ai Fukuzawa and Joo Lee

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2012, vol. 13, issue 6, 969-983

Abstract: Japanese and Canadian university students were compared on the changes they wanted in their lives. Contrary to their characterization as self-effacingly relational and group-minded, Japanese were no more likely than Canadians to wish for social or collective goods. Rather, Japanese were more likely than Canadians to wish for money or material goods, and less likely than Canadians to wish for better family relations, increased self-understanding, and improved academic performance. Whether these findings reflect dissimilar cultural priorities, unequal opportunities and constraints, or both, is discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Keywords: Desired changes; Wishes; Cultural differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-011-9299-x

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