The investigation of predictive factors for self-effacement: Self-esteem, assumed-competence, and cultural-self construal DIA 23

The purpose of this research is to examine the causal predictive factors for an expression of self-effacement of Japanese. In the hypothesis model, the predictive variables are self-competence concepts (those are self-esteem and assumed-competence), and cultural-self construal (independent self and interdependent self). An assumed-competence is caused by undervaluing others regardless of his/her own real capability (Hayamizu et al., 2004). The criterion variable was a self-effacement toward close people. The participants were 156 Japanese female university students. The data were submitted to the path analysis (using Amos). The distinguishing findings are as follows; Self-esteem and assumed-competence differently predicted self-effacement, both mediated by cultural-self construal and directly to self-effacement. Specifically, high self-esteem predicted high independent-self and low interdependent self, and did not directly predict self-effacement. Contrary, high assumed-competence predicted high independent self and directly predicted high self-effacement. The importance for cultural perspective of these findings was discussed.