biostudies-literatureWasiel ANorway Grants 2014-2021 operated by the National Science Centre (Poland) (GRIEG)236https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11905613biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)<h4>Background</h4>Societal development has traditionally been characterized as a progression from a steep to a relatively flat social hierarchy. However, this model fails to account for the societal progress observed in Confucian Asia. Over the last dozen years, Confucian Asia has gone through remarkable societal progress while remaining highly hierarchical. In this paper, we aim to address this puzzle from a psychological perspective by examining how individuals' perception of powerholders (as opportunists vs. responsibility holders) in their society is related to their preferences for societal development.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted two correlational studies to investigate this relationship. In Study 1, participants from three cultural regions, namely Hong Kong (n = 87), Poland (n = 10BMC psychologyResponsible powerholders may preserve the status quo? A three cultures study into the relation between powerholder construals and societal development expectations : Powerholders and societal development.PMC119056132019/34/H/ HS6/00597Krys KYeung VWLWasiel AfalseResponsible powerholders may preserve the status quo? A three cultures study into the relation between powerholder construals and societal development expectations : Powerholders and societal development.<h4>Background</h4>Societal development has traditionally been characterized as a progression from a steep to a relatively flat social hierarchy. However, this model fails to account for the societal progress observed in Confucian Asia. Over the last dozen years, Confucian Asia has gone through remarkable societal progress while remaining highly hierarchical. In this paper, we aim to address this puzzle from a psychological perspective by examining how individuals' perception of powerholders (as opportunists vs. responsibility holders) in their society is related to their preferences for societal development.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted two correlational studies to investigate this relationship. In Study 1, participants from three cultural regions, namely Hong Kong (n = 87), Poland (n = 102025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2025-04-04T00:32:11.119Z2025-04-04T00:32:11.119ZS-EPMC119056134007548510.1186/s40359-025-02534-1