[/floatr]Yomiuri: New test shows Japanese don't lack self-esteem
Psychological tests of American, Chinese and Japanese university students have shown for the first time that Japanese have as much self-esteem as students from the other nations, it has been learned. Previous tests have indicated that Japanese have low self-esteem, with many reluctant to communicate their strengths to others as they believe humility is a virtue. Research teams from Tokyo University, Harvard University and East China Normal University conducted the new test on 505 students from the three countries to try to gauge their subconscious view of themselves. Researchers showed the students words with favorable connotations, such as "wonderful," and others with negative associations, such as "dirty." They used students' response time in linking the words to themselves or friends to estimate their level of self-esteem. A test using the old format, where students responded directly to questions, also was carried out. Under the old method, self-esteem was tied to self-assertiveness, and Americans came out with the highest scores, followed by Chinese and Japanese students. However, with the new method there was no difference between students from the three countries. "Westerners didn't take our cultural background into account, and the results showed that many thought of Japanese as having 'low self-esteem' or being 'subservient,'" said Susumu Yamaguchi, Tokyo University team leader and social psychology professor. "These new results could be useful in putting an end to this prejudice."
