Publications [#360009] of Cristina E Salvador

Journal Articles

1. Salvador, CE; Kamikubo, A; Kraus, B; Hsiao, N-C; Hu, J-F; Karasawa, M; Kitayama, S (2022). Self-referential processing accounts for cultural variation in self-enhancement versus criticism: An electrocortical investigation.. Journal of experimental psychology. General, 151(8), 1904-1918. [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/15)

   Abstract:
   European Americans are self-enhancing, whereas East Asians are sometimes self-critical. However, the mechanisms underlying this cultural difference remain unclear. Here, we addressed this gap by testing 32 Taiwanese and 32 American young adults, who indicated whether their self-esteem would change in various episodes involving success or failure. We monitored their electroencephalogram (EEG) and assessed upper-alpha band power in response to the outcome information. An increase in upper-alpha power indicates internally directed attention; therefore, it is an index of self-referential processing when assessed during a judgment about the self. As predicted, Americans judged that their self-esteem (but not another's) would increase more after a success than it would decrease after a failure, thereby showing the previously observed self-enhancing pattern. Taiwanese tended to show the opposite pattern, self-criticism. Notably, Americans, but not Taiwanese, showed an increase in upper-alpha band power in response to the self's successes (vs. failures). This bias in the EEG index of self-referential processing predicted the cultural difference in self-enhancement (vs. criticism). The role of self-referential processing in self-enhancement is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).