Profile
International Journal of Psychology & Behavior Analysis Volume 2 (2016), Article ID 2:IJPBA-115, 4 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-3867/2016/115
Research Article
Whoever is Influential is Successful too: How Chinese Undergraduates Choose Admirable People in Chinese Societies

Xiao Dong Yue* and Neelam Arjan Hiranandani

Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, 81 Chee Avenue. Kowloon Tong Hong Kong SAR China
Prof. Xiao Dong Yue, Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, 81 Chee Avenue. Kowloon Tong Hong Kong SAR China; E-mail: ssxdyue@cityu.edu.hk
26 July 2016; 10 October 2016; 12 October 2016
Yue XD, Hiranandani NA (2016) Whoever is Influential is Successful too: How Chinese Undergraduates Choose Admirable People in Chinese Societies. Int J Psychol Behav Anal 2: 115. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15344/2455-3867/2016/115
This research was funded by a grant from the City University of Hong Kong (Grant No. 7004315).

Abstract

This study examined how meritorious evaluation bias (MEB) played a role in determining how Chinese Hong Kong students and Guangzhou nominated the most successful and the most likeable people. Results showed that when choosing the most successful people, students from both cities nominated mostly politicians and scientists; when choosing the most likeable people, students from both cities nominated mostly politicians and pop-movie stars. Rarely did students in either city nominated artists, musicians, and businessmen. These findings validated the meritorious evaluation bias (MEB) discovered by the author about the nomination of admirable people in Chinese society, such as, the more social merits, contribution or influence a person has, the higher, he or she is likely to be accorded with.