Research Student Seminar Series 11

Date: 31 March 2015 (Tuesday) Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Venue: GH128

Speaker: Ms. NG Ka Yan Hilary MPhil Program Department of Applied Social Sciences The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Topic: How do self-construals and cultural intelligence a�ect life satisfaction? A cross-cultural study of Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese, and Americans

Abstract: Apart from the long-standing and continuous research interests in understanding how individual di�erences predict psychological well-being, are there other cultural variables which can in�uence our life satisfaction in today’s globalizing world? To answer this question, the present research aims to examine whether the capability to function e�ectively in culturally diverse settings (cultural intelligence) and cultural self-views (tripartite self-construal) can in�uence one’s satisfaction with life. Due to the di�erences in colonial history and socio-cultural background, relational, collective and individual self-construals are hypothesized to vary in their levels of salience among Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese, and Americans. In order to con�rm the signi�cance and the incremental predictive power of these cultural factors, cultural intelligence and the tripartite self-construals will be tested with some well-established predictors of life satisfaction, including the Big Five model of personality traits and self-esteem. The result of this research will not only contribute to the understanding of how culture a�ects our psychological well-being, but it will also provide practical insights for individuals seeking to uphold their life satisfaction.

Speaker's brief biography:Ng Ka Yan Hilary is currently a full-time MPhil student in the Department of Applied Social Sciences. She developed her interest in social and cultural psychology when working with Dr. Sylvia Chen. Her current research interests include social beliefs, cross-cultural psychology, and subjective well-being.