Naïve Psychology of Koreans’ Interpersonal Mind and Behavior in Close Relationships

TLDR: Choi et al. as discussed by the authors classified Korean people into two types of relationships according to the weness category: the former type of relationships, relationships with others within the category of weness, is characterized by the strong sense of our folks, private passion and emotion, interpersonal jung.

Abstract: For Koreans, forming close relationships with each other has special meanings to their interpersonal behavior. For example, quality of relationships between family members, close friends or colleagues is quite different from that of relationships between acquaintances or strangers (Cha, 1994; Choi, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000; Choi & Choi, 1994; Choi & Kim, 1999a, 1999b, 2000; Choi, Kim, & Choi, 1993; Park, 1979; see also Gardner, Gabriel, & Lee, 1999). Categorization of weness (ingroup identity) is a mechanism, which underlies how Koreans interact with others. The former type of relationships, relationships with others within the category of weness, is characterized by the strong sense of our folks, private passion and emotion, interpersonal jung.2 Recently, Korean goverment has changed the English spelling of Korean words. The words jung and shimjung have been previously written as cheong and shimcheong.2 ( , deep affection and attachment) and uiri ( , loyalty) unconditioned friendship, mutual altruism and exclusive favoritism (Choi, 1998; Choi & Kim, 1999a). The latter type of relationships, relationships with others out of the weness category, however, is characterized by reason-based rationality, objective social norms, individual interests, social justice and equity. Like this, Koreans have different types of interactions with others depending on whether they are members of the weness category or not.