The Effects of Self-Construal and Religiousness on Argumentativeness: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

Abstract

Christians and Muslims were recruited from France (n = 600), Britain (n = 568), and the United States (n = 1,176) to complete a survey assessing the relationship between argumentativeness and an individuals' self-construal. Correlation analysis revealed the relationships between self-construal, argumentativeness, and religiousness were significantly opposite those predicted. Hierarchical regression modeling results revealed national and religious identification to each have significant effects on the relationship between self-construal and argumentativeness. Religiousness did not have a significant effect on the relationship between argumentativeness and an individual's self-construal. Overall, an individual's culture was shown to significantly influence one's level of argumentativeness.

Keywords:

• Argumentativeness
• Cross-Cultural
• Religiosity/Religiousness
• Self-Construal

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and especially Alfred DeMaris, PhD, at Bowling Green State University for his assistance on this article.

Notes

∗∗p ≤ .01.

∗p ≤ .05. ∗∗p ≤ .01. ∗∗∗p ≤ .001.

∗p ≤ .05. ∗∗∗p ≤ .001.

While both of these correlations are statistically significant, their practical significance is questionable if you consider each correlation explains less than 1% of the shared variance.

As requested by a reviewer, an additional regression analysis was conducted postdata-analysis to explore further potential relationship(s) between self-construals and religiousness. Religiousness served as the criterion variable in this case, and the same predictor variables were entered as with the previous regression models. None of the interactions were significant; thus, self-construals and religiousness did not differ across country and religious identification.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephen M. Croucher

Stephen M. Croucher (PhD, University of Oklahoma, 2006) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.

Deepa Oommen

Deepa Oommen (MA, Morehead State University, 2006) is a doctoral student in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.

Manda V. Hicks

Manda V. Hicks (MA, Boise State University, 2006) is a doctoral student in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.

Kyle J. Holody

Kyle J. Holody (MA, Virginia Tech, 2006) is a doctoral student in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.

Samara Anarbaeva

Samara Anarbaeva (MA, Central Michigan University, 2006) is a doctoral student in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.

Kisung Yoon

Kisung Yoon (MA, Seton Hall, 2007) is a doctoral student in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.

Anthony T. Spencer

Anthony T. Spencer (PhD, University of Oklahoma, 2008) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at West Texas A & M University.

Chrishawn Marsh

Chrishawn Marsh (MA, BGSU, 2008) is a MA student in American Cultural Studies at Bowling Green State University.

Abdulrahman I. Aljahli

Abdulrahman I. Aljahli (MA, Marshall University, 2007) is a doctoral student in the School of Media and Communication at Bowling Green State University.