Compared to loose cultures, tight cultures are characterized by stronger norm adherence and sanctioning of norm deviant behavior. In the current research, we proposed that culture tightness (vs. looseness) triggers a desire for physical formidability (being big and muscular), and interpersonal dominance. Fives studies converged to support our hypotheses. Through the analysis of archival data of over 1.6 million American residents, Study 1 showed that compared to those in loose states, individuals living in tight ones have a bigger body size (higher BMI), a correlate of muscle mass and strength. Studies 2–5 (N = 1626) further demonstrated a causal relationship. As such, placing people in a simulated tight society increased their drive for muscularity of the self (but not for body fat, Studies 2 and 3, nor for others' muscularity, Study 3). This effect was further replicated in the following studies using a different manipulation method for cultural tightness (Studies 4 and 5). In addition, we found that a desire for dominance acted as a mediator in this process (Studies 4 and 5). We also differentiated dominance from a related concept – prestige (Study 5), and discussed contributions of these findings for the understanding of culture tightness-looseness.

与松散文化相比，紧密文化的特点是更强的规范遵守和对规范越轨行为的制裁。在当前的研究中，我们提出文化的紧绷（与松散）引发了对身体强壮（强壮而强壮）和人际优势的渴望。Fives 的研究汇聚在一起以支持我们的假设。通过对超过 160 万美国居民的档案数据的分析，研究 1 表明，与处于宽松状态的人相比，生活在紧身状态的人具有更大的体型（更高的 BMI），这是肌肉质量和力量的相关性。研究 2–5 ( N = 1626）进一步证明了因果关系。因此，将人们置于模拟的严密社会中会增加他们对自身肌肉的驱动力（但不是对身体脂肪，研究 2 和 3，也不是对其他人的肌肉，研究 3）。在以下研究中使用不同的培养紧密度操作方法进一步复制了这种效果（研究 4 和 5）。此外，我们发现对支配地位的渴望在这个过程中起到了中介作用（研究 4 和 5）。我们还将支配地位与相关概念——声望（研究 5）区分开来，并讨论了这些发现对理解文化松紧度的贡献。