How do Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns see themselves and each other?

2. How do Swedes, Norwegians, and Finns see themselves and each other?

3. Humans categorize each other to understand each other and do so most closely when the differences are small but important (Bruner 1957; Brewer 1988). • They do this automatically and unconsciously (Bargh 1999; Wegner 1992). • Judgments of other groups are often evaluative (e.g., “lazy,” “modest,” etc.) (Bargh & Chartrand 1999. • Geographical distance and differences in values affect inter-group perception (Barth 1969; LeVine & Campbell 1972). • The greater the differences in values, the more intensive the stereotyping (Volkan 1990).

4. What influences how nations see each other if there isn't much difference between them?

5. Scandinavia

6. Sample Scandinavians: 79 Swedes, 95 Finns, 69 Norwegians Non-Scandinavians: 67 Germans, 43 Poles Data collection • Opportunity sampling in public settings (e.g., restaurants, bars, railway stations) • Questionnaire, 30 nations by 30 attributes (substitution frames) • Frames derived from open-ended self-report • E.g., “__________ are generous.” • Translated into local native language

7. 1. ___ are generous. 2. ___ usually marry other members of their group. 3. ___ distrust other ethnic groups. 4. ___ are thrifty. 5. ___ say what they think. 6. ___ parents are strict and old-fashioned. 7. ___ are modest and self-effacing. 8. ___ easily lose their tempers. 9. ___ know how to have fun. 10. ___ try hard to maintain a good reputation. 11. ___ are sexually active. 12. ___ are aggressive. 13. ___ are very concerned with material possessions. 14. ___ are lazy. 15. ___ are bound by tradition.

8. 16. ___ like to take risks. 17. ___ tend to be loud and annoying in large groups. 18. ___ are hard working. 19. ___ conceal their emotions. 20. ___ think they are superior to other groups. 21. ___ youth are often delinquents. 22. ___ are industrious and career-oriented. 23. ___ have respect for their elders. 24. ___ place family obligations over their own needs. 25. ___ believe that wives should obey husbands. 26. ___ value education. 27. ___ tend to be modest showing their bodies. 28. ___ excel in science. 29. ___ are devoutly religious. 30. ___ are honest.

9. Judgments of self versus others

10. Judgments of self versus others • Self-judgments form a distinct cluster; they are more highly correlated than judgments of others (mean r = .76 vs. .43). • Swedes are judged the closest to the shared self-image, followed by Norwegians. • Finns are judged most divergent.

11. Self judgments • All three nations use themselves as a standard to judge others; they judge they fit more substitution frames than others do. • All three self-images are positive. • All three nations stress the same triad of features (honest, reserved, & educated) in their self-images. • The Finns see themselves the most positively.

12. Europeans agree on national characteristics (mean r .67).

13. Two dimensions: ‘Modernity’ and ‘Social Control’ • Social Control dimension opposes hedonist self-indulgence with self-restricting social obligation. • Modernity dimension opposes science and materialism with traditional religious and family orientation. • Modernity dimension collapses two dimensions discovered in the World Values Survey (WVS) related to the Protestant Ethic.

14. WORLD VALUES SURVEY:The Inglehart Values Map

15. Self-judgments: Swedes

16. Self-judgments: Norwegians

17. Self-judgments: Finns

18. Judgments of others: Swedes • Are viewed most positively. • Seen as modern and educated. • Finns see the Swedes as more arrogant than do the Norwegians.

19. Judgments of others: Norwegians • Viewed almost as positively as the Swedes. • Seen as honest, generous, and fun. • Finns are more critical than the Swedes.

20. Judgments of others: Finns • Viewed most negatively. • Seen as aggressive, annoying, and easily losing their temper. • Swedes are more critical than Norwegians.

21. Judgments by other Europeans • Modesty and the concealment of emotion are exaggerated, as compared to self judgments. • Differentiating traits (the arrogance of the Swedes, the honesty and generosity of the Norwegians, the aggressiveness of the Finns) are muted.

22. Why do Scandinavians agree? • Scandinavians are the most homogenous people in Europe (Scarborough, 2001). • Most are Lutheran and linguistically close (Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, belong to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European) vs. Finns (Finno-Ugric).

23. Where do the differences come from? • Historical relationships between the nations • Tradition of political independence • Economical success in European arena

24. COMMON HISTORY

25. Conclusions • Scandinavians emphasize differences among Scandinavians. • They agree about an ethical ideal. • Scandinavians agree about what each of the others nations is like: • Swedes are arrogant • Norwegians are generous • Finns are aggressiveness • Judgments are reciprocal.

26. Scandinavians differentiate their fellow Scandinavians more precisely and more critically than other Europeans.

28. SCANDINAVIA: PROFILE

29. GERMANS: Honest .27 Sexual .18 Conceal .13 Generous .12 Education .10 vs. Career .01 Aggressive .01 Lazy .01 Temper .01 Materialist .01 POLISH: Conceal .35 Education .28 Thrifty .21 Career .21 Sexual .14 Materialist .14 Reputation .12 vs. Honest .05 Career .00 Lazy .00 STRUCTURE OF JUDGMENTS.SE

30. GERMANS: Honest .22 Education .15 Conceal .13 Modest .12 vs. Materialist .01 Reputation .01 Annoying .00 Delinquents .00 Aggressive .00 POLISH: Conceal .28 Modest .21 Education .19 Thrifty .19 Reputation .14 Materialist .12 vs. Honest .07 Generous .02 Sexual .00 Fun .00 Direct .00 STRUCTURE OF JUDGMENTS.NW

31. GERMANS: Conceal .19 Honest .13 Modest .12 vs. Temper .03 Annoying .01 Delinquents .00 Aggressive .00 POLISH: Conceal .23 Modest .23 Education .14 vs. Aggressive .00 Delinquents .00 Temper .00 Sexual .00 STRUCTURE OF JUDGMENTS.FN