Outside Roundness and Inside Squareness: A Framework for Characterizing Authenticity Through the Lens of Confucianism

Abstract

Academic Abstract

Authenticity, a key concept in dominant Western psychological approaches, has been less studied from the Majority World perspectives. In this article, we draw upon the Chinese cultural ideal of Outside Roundness and Inside Squareness to fill this gap. After illuminating the cultural and psychological meanings of this indigenous concept, we propose an integrated framework that characterizes authentic self-functioning along two continuous dimensions: Outside Roundness versus Outside Squareness, reflecting the degree of seeking interpersonal harmony, moderation, and flexibility, and Inside Squareness versus Inside Roundness, indicating the degree of ethical self-consciousness and moral adherence. We illustrate how this framework can characterize different modes of authenticity and examine their variability in the Chinese context, and discuss its implications for Chinese psychology, dominant Western psychological approaches, and global (cross-cultural) psychology in authenticity research.

Public Abstract

Have you ever contemplated how the authentic self manifests within different cultures? In China, a Confucian philosophical concept, known as Outside Roundness and Inside Squareness, merges the perspectives of maintaining moral integrity and interpersonal harmony to articulate the nuances of authentic self-functioning. Imagine an individual who skillfully maneuvers through social situations (Outside Roundness) while steadfastly upholding his/her moral principles (Inside Squareness). This encapsulates the prominent attributes of authenticity as conveyed through the influential Confucian narratives. Our research offers an in-depth cultural and psychological exploration of this concept, and introduces a framework to characterize Chinese authenticity and its diverse expressions. These analyses deepen our appreciation for both the diverse and shared aspects of humanity, thereby contributing to the evolution of a more inclusive global psychology.