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Abstract: The Social Relations Model was used to compare cross-observer agreement and self-concept consistency in trait judgments in the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, and China. Target participants recruited friends and family members who comprised separate friend and family round-robin groups. Consistent with trait perspectives, in all cultures, (a) consensus and self-other agreement in trait judgments was found for most traits within the friend and family contexts, (b) across-context consensus was observed for at least some traits, and (c) self-concept consistency across contexts was substantial. Consistent with cultural psychology perspectives, consensus was generally greatest in the United States, intermediate in Mexico and Venezuela, and lowest in China. However, measures of dialecticism, self-construals, and cultural tightness failed to account for the cultural differences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The universality versus cultural specificity of Mexican personality dimensions was investigated by examining: (a) the replicability of Mexican personality dimensions assessed by indigenous inventories; and (b) the extent to which Mexican dimensions are encompassed by the Five-Factor Model (FFM), one hypothesized universal model of personality structure. Mexican university students (N =794) completed nine indigenous inventories and the Spanish version of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. The FFM replicated well, although reliability was poor for a few facet scales. Reliability was acceptable for the indigenous Mexican scales. However, for most indigenous instruments, a cross-sample replication criterion suggested alternative structures of fewer, more replicable dimensions. Multiple regression and joint factor analyses revealed that most of the Mexican dimensions were well subsumed by the FFM. Thus, cultural differences did not involve clearly culture-specific dimensions, but more subtle differences in the salience or cultural flavor of particular traits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]