Pride, Interest, and Online Willingness to Support Achievements across New Zealand European, Pasifika, and Korean Ethnic Groups

To understand cyberbullying of high achievers, a willingness to support high profile individuals online was examined across cultures using the Tall Poppy scale. Three different cultural groups (226 New Zealand Europeans, 102 Pasifika, and 143 Koreans), answered an online questionnaire addressing: a preference for high achievers to be rewarded or fail; willingness to vote and support others; and offered achievement-related debrief information. Pasifika were more likely to support others online, and this seemed to be due to cultural pride. The Favour Fall scale predicted time spent viewing achievement-related information. The Korean sample did not prefer the reward of high achievers, but spent more time on a debrief page viewing successes, suggesting excessive criticism or a preference for self-enhancing information. Tall Poppy Syndrome, and a reduced pride within an ethnic group, can be associated with reduced online support for others.