Asian Americans

The relevance of specific cultural variables related to deceptive behavior is an area that has received minimal attention in the literature. Most large studies of deception typically have a very limited representation of individuals from distinct cultural backgrounds. Asian Americans are one culturally distinct category that typically only comprises a small percentage of participants within studies that do not specifically target this group. This makes it difficult to draw broad conclusions, but compiling findings from several smaller studies allows for conclusions to be made about Asian Americans and deceptive behavior.

In order to understand the cultural aspects that are associated with deception in the Asian American culture, it is first important to define who Asian Americans are as a cultural group. The 2010 U.S. Census data defines the category of Asian as any person with ancestors from the Far East, southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. These countries include Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Lying and deception are almost universally considered unacceptable behaviors, yet members of most cultural groups consistently lie and engage in deceptive behaviors. The deceptive behaviors displayed by various cultural groups may be similar, but there appear to be some unique differences regarding why members of different cultural groups choose to use deceptive communication styles.

In Asian American communities, the collective cultural values that place group needs before individual needs affect how members of the community use deceptive communication styles, compared with individualistic communities that value individual needs over group needs. Some studies indicate that Asian Americans tend to use deception to maintain harmony in relations when truthful communication may result in strained relationships with others. Conversely, members of individualistic communities appear less likely to use deception to maintain significant social relationships. For example, a member of an Asian American culture may express less-than-truthful opinions with others to maintain positive relationships and ensure acceptance into a group. In the same situation, a member of a European American culture who values individualism may share his or her honest opinion with others without worrying about negative repercussions in order to make themselves stand out in a way that is unique. This type of collectivist or individualistic influence on communication may begin early in life.

[Page 38]Some deceptive behaviors may be modeled early on in life, and become seen as effective methods for achieving certain desired outcomes. In studies of parental lying to children, researchers have examined differences in lying among different ethnic groups. Participants from different ethnic groups were asked to report if their parents had engaged in deceptive or lying behavior similar to that described in a scenario involving lying. Both Asian American participants and European American participants reported that their parents promoted honesty and truth-telling to them, but the Asian American participants indicated that their parents utilized lying more frequently than European American participants. The lying by parents of the Asian American participants was primarily targeted to promote compliant behavior from the children.