Positive Auto-Stereotyping and Self-Construals as Predictors of National Identification

Identification with one's nationality could arise for a variety clf reasons. Social categorisation theory would lead us to expect an association bctween positivc autostereotyping of one's nationality and idcntification, whereas negative auto-stereotyping should lead to construing oneself in terms of altcrnative identities not linked to nationaliry. Howeveq conceptualisations of self-construal derived from cross-cultural theories suggest that those who construe themselves as interdependent are more likely to identi4/ with groups to which they belong than those who construe themselves as independent. A series of studies is reported focussing upon students from nine European nations. Degree of identification with one's nation is consistently associated with both positive auto-stereotyping and interdependent sell-construal. Thcse effects are additive. Hypotheses are also tested linking self-construal and identrfication wrth one's region or with Europe as a whole.