Date of Completion

12-3-2024

Degree Type

Honors Thesis

Discipline

Psychology (PSYC)

First Advisor

Dr. Adam Fingerhut

Abstract

Sibling relationships are formative for identity development and well-being. These relationships vary in closeness due to factors such as age, gender, family dynamics, parenting style and cultural context. Existing literature has shown that siblings from interdependent cultures have closer relationships than those from independent cultures. This thesis proposes that sibling relationships can be examined through the lens of the self-expansion model, focusing on the Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS) scale. It hypothesizes that those from interdependent cultures will have more inclusion of other in the self than those from independent cultures. Participants from Japan representing the interdependent culture and from the United States representing the independent culture would complete the IOS scale to assess levels of inclusion of other in the self. By using this scale on siblings from the United States and Japan, we would begin to bridge the gap in the literature around inclusion of the other in the self and sibling relationships.

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