Files
Abstract
Giving feedback is a crucial part of communication in many settings. However, it is often hard to give direct and honest feedback to others. Some previous studies have shown that, in the context of the US, people are reluctant to give critical feedback because they perceive it as having negative consequences. However, it is not clear how feedback-giving behaviors and the decision processes behind these behaviors are different across cultures with different social norms and values. While research on communication styles in US and China has suggested that differences might exist between these two countries in feedback-giving, there are conflicting theories about the scene in China. There is also a lack of empirical evidence to support the trends in China. The present study examines behaviors and perceptions of the consequences of giving critical feedback across the US (N = 200) and China (N = 184) through an online Qualtrics survey. The results suggest that Chinese are more willing to give critical feedback, as their emphasis on the value of feedback is greater and they perceive less harm in doing so than Americans. Unlike the traditional understandings of collectivistic Chinese, the levels of perceived relational harm in China were not different from those in the US. Some reasons why these differences exist are explored. Findings from this study provide evidence for the theory of responsibilism in understanding collectivism in China. Future research could further investigate the underlying mechanisms that influenced differences in perceived consequences and willingness to give feedback.