The good old days and a better tomorrow: Historical representations and future imaginations of China during the 2008 Olympic Games

Shirley Y Y CHENG, Melody Manchi Chao, Jessica Kwong, Siqing Peng, Xia Chen, Yoshihisa Kashima, Chi yue Chiu*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

    18 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Based on the stereotype content model, we examined Mainland and Hong Kong Chinese' historical representations and future imaginations of China during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Among Mainland Chinese, China's unprecedented economic growth and the resulted value competition led to the expectation of a more competent China in the future (vs now; a 'better tomorrow effect') and a perception of a warmer and more moral China in the past (vs now; the 'good old days effect'). As the Olympics proceeded, the perceived compatibility of competence and warmth/morality increased and the good old days effect diminished. Hong Kong Chinese, who also witnessed China's growth but did not directly experience the cultural implications of globalization in Mainland China, displayed the better tomorrow effect only.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)118-127
    Number of pages10
    JournalAsian Journal of Social Psychology
    Volume13
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2010

    Scopus Subject Areas

    • Social Psychology
    • Social Sciences(all)

    User-Defined Keywords

    • Better tomorrow effect
    • Globalization
    • Good old days effect
    • Ingroup perception
    • Olympic Games
    • Social change

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