The Relationship of Filial Piety and Effort Belief in Chinese Societies

• Main Authors: Shih-Yi Chen, 陳世益
• Other Authors: Chih-Fen Wei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/54901108230381530799

碩士 === 中原大學 === 心理學研究所 === 96 === This research was aimed to explore the relationship of filial piety and effort belief in Chinese societies. According to Yang & Li (1971), Yang, Yeh & Huang (1989), filial piety is still the most important value or moral virtue in modern societies. Huang (2007) proposed that vertical goals were highly valued and represented social expectation and role obligation, and personal goals were based on one's own interest. Stevenson (1990) pointed out that, Chinese put more emphasis on effort than Westerners. It’s inferred that effort belief and filial piety are closely related with each other because of the moral value of effort. Therefore, pursuit of vertical goals accordant with role obligation is more desirable. 　　In Study 1, academic achievement was used as vertical goal to explore the relationship between filial piety and effort belief. There were 76 participantss. Questionnaires were used to measure filial piety of reciprocity and conformity, morality and self-cultivation of effort. Partial correlation analysis was carried out. The results showed that filial piety of reciprocity was positively correlated to both morality and self-cultivation of effort. But filial piety of conformity was not related to both kinds of effort belief. It was confirmed that pursuing vertical goals to involve internal motivation and helped to fulfill role obligation. Study 2 explored the relationship of filial piety and effort belief under different types of life goal, and compared the evaluation and emotion ing from pursuing vertical and personal goals. There were 105 participants in study 2. Participants were asked to nominate either vertical or personal goal, then evaluate their effort belief and attitude of filial piety. According to partial-correlation analysis, while pursuing vertical goals, filial piety of reciprocity was positively correlated to morality and self-cultivation of effort, and filial piety of conformity was also positively correlated to morality of effort. There was no significant correlation between filial piety and effort belief when they pursued personal goals. Results of T test showed that pursuing vertical goals were more likely to fulfill one's obligation as children and student, and have positive effect to family. In addition, participants felt guiltier when they gave up vertical goals, but more regret was attributed to giving up personal goals. Filial piety of conformity was positively related to most dependent variables, so was morality of effort. It is accordant with the definition of vertical (Hwang, 2004) and family orientation (Yang, 1993). In summary, both study 1 and study 2 showed that filial piety of reciprocity and self-cultivation of effort were out of personal autonomy, while filial piety of conformity and morality of effort were based on role obligation. In addition, pursuit of vertical goals not only enhances one’s own face, but also the family's face. The generalization of results was limited due to university student samples. Future study could be aimed to clarify the priority of two kinds of filial piety.