I'm a little behind,,,I have to catch up(;o;)
The third chapter focused on a comparison from a perspective of achieving harmony within the social relationship as Asians or preferring individual action as Westerners. This chapter was quite easier to read than the previous two chapters, probably because of the familiar examples.
As I kept on reading, I got the impression that Nisbett started to place weight more on presenting examples of the Asian side, showing his position is the Western side. I couldn't notice Nisbett's biased opinion in the first two chapters, but for now, I think he is seeing things based on a viewpoint of how Asians play his part in achieving collective ends with in the society is a bit odd. I also felt that Nisbett probably estimates that there would be more "Westerners" for the readers of this book. Nisbett does not assert, but I felt his position most clearly for the first time.
His writing, however, becomes more convincing with all those various examples given. I agree to some of the examples such as in-group and out-group relationships, how answers to the question "Tell me about yourself" differ, and how mothers treat their children differently. The most interesting notion to me was where it says "Americans ...tended to describe themselves as 'I am what I am '.....When describing themselves, Asians make reference to social roles.... "(53) I was surprised to see how often I fit the Asian examples and description Nisbett has listed.
Although he notes "None of these generalizations apply to all members of their respective groups, of course."(77) , I feel a little, little hostile when he mentions about Japan as if he knows everything about Japan. Okay, at least, he does numerous researches, so I accept.
Another thing I didn't agree with Nisbett' writing was that according to his "Asian" friend, "you don't thank people for carrying out their obligations in her country. "(49) In a text at an entrance examination of another university I've read, it introduced how in India, you don't thank people if a give-and-take relation was formed. The text continued that there are often Japanese who feel unpleasant when they don't be thanked after giving something to the people in India. Because this text gave me a new point of view that time, I do not agree about this part in Nisbett's writing.
I had more to think about after reading this chapter, but now I have to start reading the fourth chapter.....!
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