Core Discussion Networks in Japan and America

Arguments regarding the high prevalence of interpersonal collectivism in Japan typically hinge on the assumption that Japanese communication networks are more enduring, frequently contacted, and dominated by kin and work ties than networks in Western countries. However, this assumption has not been examined using nationally representative data. Our analysis is based on core discussion network data collected from the 2003 Japanese General Social Survey and the 2004 American General Social Survey. Our results do not support this assumption in regards to frequency of contact nor dominance of kin and work ties. Nevertheless, there is some indication of high interpersonal collectivism in Japan insofar as Japanese core networks are somewhat more enduring than American core networks. El Centro de la Discusion de las Redes en Japon and America Resumen Los argumentos acerca de la alta prevalencia del colectivismo interpersonal en el Japon dependen tipicamente de la suposicion que la comunicacion de redes Japonesas es mas duradera, contactada frecuentemente, y dominada por conexiones de familia y trabajo mas que las redes en los paises Occidentales. No obstante, esta suposicion no ha sido examinada usando los datos representativos a nivel nacional. Nuestro analisis esta basado en los datos del centro de la discusion de las redes colectados el 2003 de la Encuesta Japonesa General Social y de la Encuesta Americana General Social del 2004. Nuestros resultados no apoyan esta asuncion con respecto a la frecuencia de contacto ni el dominio de los lazos familiares y laborales. No obstante, hay alguna indicacion de un alto colectivismo interpersonal en Japon en lo que las redes centrales de Japonesas son un tanto mas duraderas que las redes centrales Americanas. Palabras claves: redes, colectivismo, individualismo, Japon. Les reseaux de discussion centraux au Japon et aux Etats-Unis Les discussions portant sur la forte prevalence du collectivisme interpersonnel au Japon s’appuient habituellement sur l’hypothese selon laquelle les reseaux de communication japonais seraient plus stables, plus souvent sollicites et plus fortement domines par les liens familiaux et de travail que ne le sont les reseaux des pays occidentaux. Toutefois, cette hypothese n’a pas ete examinee a l’aide de donnees representatives au plan national. Notre analyse se fonde sur des donnees de reseaux de discussions centraux prises de l’Enquete sociale generale japonaise de 2003 et de l’Enquete sociale generale americaine de 2004. Nos resultats ne confirment pas cette hypothese quant a la frequence des contacts ou a la predominance des liens de famille et de travail. Neanmoins, ils offrent des indices d’un haut degre de collectivisme interpersonnel au Japon, dans la mesure ou les reseaux centraux japonais sont un peu plus stables que les reseaux centraux americains. Mots cles : reseaux, collectivisme, individualisme, Japon

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