Wisdom may not be everybody’s cup of tea. According to scientists, wisdom is directly linked to the ability of resolving conflict. Conflicts are usually resolved differently in different cultures. Americans are known to emphasise individuality and solve conflict in a direct manner. Conversely, the Japanese place a greater emphasis on social cohesion, and tend to settle conflict indirectly, relying on mediation through another person. Psychological scientist Igor Grossmann of the University of Waterloo, Canada and his colleagues investigated how the resolution of conflict and, by extension, wisdom, differs between Japanese and American cultures. Japanese and American participants, aged between 25
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