It is a common misconception that people around the world experience life differently and so react to conventional situations in a different manner. But this may not be the case, according to new research by the University of California.
In their new study, appearing in the Journal of Personality, researchers affirm that the global population share more in common than originally theorized. The internationally-based study included data of more than 15,000 people affiliated with university or college communities from 62 countries. More than half of the participants were females and in early-adulthood.
Comparing activities conducted during the same time span in different countries, researchers concluded the following: “The difference among countries is smaller than expected; and the difference within countries is much greater.”
“Even though individuals within the same country have more similar experiences than those in different countries, the differences are barely noticeable,” said Daniel Lee, the study’s lead author. “The world is a much more similar and unified place than we once thought.”
In the findings, associations between aspects of situational experience and nationally-based average value scores, personality, and demographic variables were consistent between both studies, researchers determined.
