East-West Differences In Feedback Intuitions

Authors:

Abstract: Prior work generally suggests people fear giving critical feedback. However, we explored whether communicators from East Asian and Western cultures think differently about feedback. On the one hand, communicators from East Asia may be more sensitive to the potential costs of giving and receiving feedback (Harmony-Maintenance Hypothesis). Alternatively, communicators may see themselves as being responsible for correcting norm-diverging behavior and be more attuned to the potential benefits of feedback (Responsibilism Hypothesis). Three pre-registered studies using recall and vignette experiments (N = 1,674) supported the second hypothesis. Compared to communicators from the U.S., communicators from Mainland China expected feedback to produce less harm and more instrumental value (Studies 1–3). However, communicators overestimated recipients’ expected discomfort in both countries (Study 2). Our results persisted across hierarchical divides (lateral vs. upward) and contexts (professional vs. personal; Study 3). We highlight the neglected role of culture in understanding beliefs about critical feedback.

Track: CULTGEN

Keywords: culture; feedback; honesty