University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

One World, Just a Dream? Effects of the Beijing Olympic Icon on Perceived Differences between Eastern and Western Culture

Rosner, Jennifer L.

Content Files
Rosner_Jennifer.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14653

Description

Title
One World, Just a Dream? Effects of the Beijing Olympic Icon on Perceived Differences between Eastern and Western Culture
Author(s)
Rosner, Jennifer L.
Issue Date
2010-01-06T16:20:29Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Hong, Ying-Yi
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Hong, Ying-Yi
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.A.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2010-01-06T16:20:29Z
Keyword(s)
  • Beijing Olympic Games
  • intergroup differences
  • Sino-American relations
  • globalization
Abstract
The Beijing Olympic Games, aspiring toward “One World, One Dream,” were intended to elicit feelings of international unity. As such, once reminded of the Beijing Games, people should perceive fewer differences between cultures. Alternatively, given its competitive nature, the Beijing Games may lead people to contrast cultures and see heightened intergroup differences. Findings supported the latter process. After being primed with the Beijing Olympic icon, Chinese and American participants high in nationalism and patriotism perceived greater differences between Chinese and American cultures, compared to those low in nationalism and patriotism. Among Chinese participants who believe society is malleable, exposure to the icon increased perceived cultural differences, compared with those unexposed to the icon. Chinese participants who believe society is fixed saw similarly high levels of differentiation between the cultures, whether or not they were exposed to the icon. Implications for Sino-American relations and globalization are discussed.
Graduation Semester
2009-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14653
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2009 Jennifer L. Rosner

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