Peter Baguma

Cross-cultural differences in the evaluation of male and female body shapes

Comparable groups of British and Ugandan students rated 24 drawings of male and female figures on 12 bipolar scales. The drawings represented figures ranging from extremely obese to extremely anorexic. Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that the major cultural differences occurred with the more extreme figures. Ugandans rated the more obese female and the more anorexic male figures as more attractive than the British subjects. There were surprisingly few sex of subject or sex x culture of subject interactions. The results are discussed in terms of the burgeoning literature on cross-cultural differences in the determinants of body image, stereotypic attractiveness, and eating disorders.

A cross-cultural study on the role of weight and waist-to-hip ratio on female attractiveness

Abstract The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally test Singhs (1993) hypothesis of the effect of weight and waist-to-hip ratio on judgements of female attractiveness, using stimulus figures developed by Tassinary and Hansen (1998) . A total of 308 subjects, half male, half female, were recruited from Greece, Uganda and the United Kingdom. Their task was to rate eight line drawings varying in weight (light and heavy) and waist-to-hip ratio WHR (0.5, 0.7 with small waist and hip size, 0.7 with large waist and hip size, and 0.9). The stimulus figures were rated on attractiveness, healthiness, fertility, youthfulness, and willingness to engage in short-term and long-term relationships, on a seven-point Likert scale. The results showed an overall preference for the 0.7 WHR and the light weight category, as predicted. However, cross-cultural differences showed Ugandans had a preference for the 0.5 WHR and the heavy weight category. The prediction that small waist and hip size would be preferred over large waist and hip size was also confirmed. In accordance with predictions, attractiveness was found to be significantly correlated with all the attributes tested.

Beyond the ‘East-West’ Dichotomy: Global Variation in Cultural Models of Selfhood

Markus and Kitayamas (1991) theory of independent and interdependent self-construals had a major influence on social, personality, and developmental psychology by highlighting the role of culture in psychological processes. However, research has relied excessively on contrasts between North American and East Asian samples, and commonly used self-report measures of independence and interdependence frequently fail to show predicted cultural differences. We revisited the conceptualization and measurement of independent and interdependent self-construals in 2 large-scale multinational surveys, using improved methods for cross-cultural research. We developed (Study 1: N = 2924 students in 16 nations) and validated across cultures (Study 2: N = 7279 adults from 55 cultural groups in 33 nations) a new 7-dimensional model of self-reported ways of being independent or interdependent. Patterns of global variation support some of Markus and Kitayamas predictions, but a simple contrast between independence and interdependence does not adequately capture the diverse models of selfhood that prevail in different world regions. Cultural groups emphasize different ways of being both independent and interdependent, depending on individualism-collectivism, national socioeconomic development, and religious heritage. Our 7-dimensional model will allow future researchers to test more accurately the implications of cultural models of selfhood for psychological processes in diverse ecocultural contexts. (PsycINFO Database Record

Contextualism as an Important Facet of Individualism-Collectivism Personhood Beliefs Across 37 National Groups

Beliefs about personhood are understood to be a defining feature of individualism-collectivism (I-C), but they have been insufficiently explored, given the emphasis of research on values and self-construals. We propose the construct of contextualism, referring to beliefs about the importance of context in understanding people, as a facet of cultural collectivism. A brief measure was developed and refined across 19 nations (Study 1: N = 5,241), showing good psychometric properties for cross-cultural use and correlating well at the nation level with other supposed facets and indicators of I-C. In Study 2 (N = 8,652), nation-level contextualism predicted ingroup favoritism, corruption, and differential trust of ingroup and outgroup members, while controlling for other facets of I-C, across 35 nations. We conclude that contextualism is an important part of cultural collectivism. This highlights the importance of beliefs alongside values and self-representations and contributes to a wider understanding of cultural processes.

The Protestant Work Ethic in Great Britain and Uganda

This study examined Protestant work ethic (PWE) beliefs in Great Britain and Uganda. University students completed seven PWE scales that had been used in many countries both from the developing and developed world. A two-way (Sex x Nationality) ANOVA showed many highly significant main effects particularly that for nationality, but few significant interactions. Those who endorsed the PWE were generally females more than males and Ugandans more than Britons. Possible experimental artifacts and moderator variables are considered along with the possibility that genuine cultural differences were found. These results are discussed in terms of the relevant literature on cross-culture studies of the PWE.

Predicting grade point average from the hybrid model of learning in personality: consistent findings from Ugandan and Australian students

Jackson developed a hybrid model of learning in personality, known as the Learning Styles Profiler (LSP), which seeks to explain personality in terms of biological, socio‐cognitive and experiential processes. The hybrid model argues that functional learning outcomes can be understood in terms of how cognitions and experiences re‐express sensation seeking as functional learning. In two studies from Uganda and Australia (n = 136 and n = 290 respectively), grade point average (GPA) of students was successfully predicted from the hybrid model. Results show evidence of three indirect pathways from sensation seeking through cognitions to GPA and provide a new understanding of the way in which personality can predict performance.

Individual and culture-level components of survey response styles: a multi-level analysis using cultural models of selfhood

Variations in acquiescence and extremity pose substantial threats to the validity of cross-cultural research that relies on survey methods. Individual and cultural correlates of response styles when using 2 contrasting types of response mode were investigated, drawing on data from 55 cultural groups across 33 nations. Using 7 dimensions of self-other relatedness that have often been confounded within the broader distinction between independence and interdependence, our analysis yields more specific understandings of both individual- and culture-level variations in response style. When using a Likert-scale response format, acquiescence is strongest among individuals seeing themselves as similar to others, and where cultural models of selfhood favour harmony, similarity with others and receptiveness to influence. However, when using Schwartzs (2007) portrait-comparison response procedure, acquiescence is strongest among individuals seeing themselves as self-reliant but also connected to others, and where cultural models of selfhood favour self-reliance and self-consistency. Extreme responding varies less between the two types of response modes, and is most prevalent among individuals seeing themselves as self-reliant, and in cultures favouring self-reliance. As both types of response mode elicit distinctive styles of response, it remains important to estimate and control for style effects to ensure valid comparisons.

Attributions for and the Perceived Effects of Poverty in East Africa: A Study from Uganda

The study had the following objectives: To elicit poverty causal attributions among Ugandan university students; assess beliefs about the role of organizations in the causation of poverty, the role of organizations in poverty reduction, the effects of poverty, ways of reducing poverty, and assess how organizational psychologists can help to reduce poverty. A convenient sample of 236 Ugandan university students were opportunistically selected, and completed a questionnaire that assessed background characteristics, attributions for poverty, effects for poverty and its reduction, and role of organizations in the causation and reduction of poverty. Data was analysed using percentages. Causes of poverty were categorized as individualistic, fatalistic, structuralist, third world governments, international exploitation and conflict. Poverty was reported to have serious effects on people’s social lives, on the families and on mental health. Ways of reducing poverty by government, development partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and organizational psychologists, and above all ways of dealing with poverty attributions, were reported.

Being oneself through time: Bases of self-continuity across 55 cultures*

Abstract Self-continuity – the sense that one’s past, present, and future are meaningfully connected – is considered a defining feature of personal identity. However, bases of self-continuity may depend on cultural beliefs about personhood. In multilevel analyses of data from 7287 adults from 55 cultural groups in 33 nations, we tested a new tripartite theoretical model of bases of self-continuity. As expected, perceptions of stability, sense of narrative, and associative links to one’s past each contributed to predicting the extent to which people derived a sense of self-continuity from different aspects of their identities. Ways of constructing self-continuity were moderated by cultural and individual differences in mutable (vs. immutable) personhood beliefs – the belief that human attributes are malleable. Individuals with lower mutability beliefs based self-continuity more on stability; members of cultures where mutability beliefs were higher based self-continuity more on narrative. Bases of self-continuity were also moderated by cultural variation in contextualized (vs. decontextualized) personhood beliefs, indicating a link to cultural individualism-collectivism. Our results illustrate the cultural flexibility of the motive for self-continuity.

Alcohol misuse, policy and treatment responses in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Uganda

Abstract Alcohol has become an important feature in the lives of many inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa and is increasingly associated with excessive consumption and negative personal and social consequences. Uganda is one of the Sub-Saharan countries with the highest rate of alcohol-related burden in the world, but supply and demand reduction strategies such as regulatory measures, prevention and treatment programs are hardly available. Consequently, the aim of this article is to critically review the situation in Uganda as part of a regional trend. First, the origins of alcohol misuse and emerging policy initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa are discussed. Then, the consequences of alcohol misuse in Uganda are highlighted, as well as policy and treatment responses. Recommendations are formulated for developing more effective and culturally adapted treatment programs and policies.