Perceptions of Americans and the Iraq invasion : implications for understanding national character stereotypes

Abstract

This study examines perceptions of the “typical American” from 49 cultures around the world. Contrary

to the ethnocentric bias hypothesis, a strong agreement was found between in-group and out-group rat- ings on the American profile (assertive, open-minded, but antagonistic). In fact, Americans had a some- what less desirable view of Americans than did others. Within cultures, in-group ratings were not

systematically more favorable than out-group ratings. The Iraq invasion had a slight negative effect on perceptions of the typical American, but people around the world seem to draw a clear distinction between U.S. foreign policy and the character of the American people. National character stereotypes appear to have a variety of sources and to be perpetuated by both cognitive mechanisms and sociocultural forces.