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Similarities and differences in implicit personality concepts across ethno-cultural groups in South Africa.

Valchev, V.H., Van de Vijver, F. J. R., Nel, J. A, Rothmann, S., Meiring, D., & De Bruin, G. P.

Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, Vol 44, Issue 3, Pages 365-388

Using a combined emic–etic approach, the present study investigates similarities and differences in the indigenous personality concepts of ethnocultural groups in South Africa. Semistructured interviews asking for self- and other-descriptions were conducted with 1,027 Blacks, 58 Indians, and 105 Whites, speakers of the country’s 11 official languages.A model with 9 broad personal- ity clusters subsuming the Big Five—Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Facilitating, Integrity, Intellect, Openness, Relationship Harmony, and Soft-Heartedness (Nel et al., 2012)—was examined.The 9 clusters were found in all groups, yet the groups differed in their use of the model’s components: Blacks referred more to social-relational descriptions, specific trait manifestations, and social norms, whereas Whites referred more to personal-growth de- scriptions and abstract concepts, and Indians had an intermediate pattern. The results suggest that a broad spectrum of personality concepts should be included in the development of com- mon personality models and measurement tools for diverse cultural groups. Keywords: implicit personality concepts, emic–etic approach, indigenous personality model.

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