Moral values across time and culture: A Meta-analysis using the Rokeach Value Survey C.-Melanie Vauclair Ronald Fischer

1. Moral values across time and culture: A Meta-analysis using the Rokeach Value Survey C.-Melanie Vauclair Ronald Fischer New Zealand

2. Cross-cultural comparison of moral values • Values: • Fundamental concept to distinguish between different cultures (Smith & Schwartz, 1997) • Moral values: • Guide our behaviour in such a way that we act in a socially acceptable manner • They are important regulators of our social interactions in everyday life • Globalization: • Globalization, “the process by which the experience of everyday life, [...] ,is becoming standardized around the world, especially since the late 20th century." (The new Encyclopedia Britannica, vol 5, p. 304). -> Loss of cultural uniqueness?

3. Moral values are an ill-defined concept in the literature • Most questionnaires infer moral values indirectly through moral judgments(e.g. Bovasso et al, 1991; Tomeh, 1968; Hogan et al, 1972) or attitudes towards transgression of norms (e.g. Bovasso, Jacobs, Rettig, 1991; Crissman, 1942; Khan & Cross, 1984; Klinger, 1962; Rosenthal, 1955). • Schwartz’ Value Survey (Schwartz, 1992, 1994); most important values across cultures: prosocial values(Schwartz & Bardi, 2001). • Rokeach Value Survey(Rokeach, 1973): contains moral and competence values; widely used survey across different countries and decades Theoretical Background

4. Ambitious Broadminded Capable Cheerful Clean Courageous Forgiving  1 Helpful Honest Imaginative  3 Independent Intellectual Logical Loving Obedient Polite  2 Responsible Self-controlled On this page are 18 values listed in alphabetical order. Your task is to rank order them in order of their importance to YOU, as guiding principles in YOUR life. The Rokeach Value Survey(Rokeach, 1973) Weber, 1990

5. Data analyses Primary analyses Secondary analyses Meta-analyses Aggregation of results Identification of moderator variables Summary of outcomes of many studies on a particular topic Meta-analyses

6. Are there moral values that people commonly consider as important across different cultures? • Are moral values more important than non-moral values? • Are different countries becoming more similar over time regarding their moral values? Research questions

7. Procedure • Search for studies in PsycInfo from 1967 to March 2006 • KW=Rokeach AND KW=Values: 558 hits • Selection criteria: relevant data (i.e. mean, median, rank order), mentally/ physically healthy adults, > 16 years • -> 344 independent samples, 44,047participants from 37 different cultural groups

8. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) of Rokeach values* Intrinsic moral values helpful Moral values honest responsible loving self-controlled cheerful polite forgiving Extrinsic moral values capable independent clean obedient Competence values courageous broadminded imaginative ambitious intellectual logical * Based on 37 Cultural groups

9. Three most important values

10. Comparison of moral and competence values* Intrinsic moral values Moral Values Mean = 9.19 Competence Values Mean = 9.99 Extrinsic moral values * Based on 10 cultural clusters

11. Descriptive statistics* of moral values Intrinsic moral values virtues Extrinsic moral values * Based on 10 cultural clusters

12. Value similarity in the 70‘s and 90‘s Above diagonal: 1991-2002 N = 4437 N = 563 N = 98 N = 10.401 * p < .05, ** p < .01. Below diagonal: 1967-1980

13. Conclusions • Moral values: • Universally most important are rather intrinsic moral values • Least important are rather extrinsic moral values • In between are cultural specific virtues that vary in importance • No difference regarding the overall importance of moral and competence values • -> What is so special about intrinsic moral values? • Honest = sincere, truthful • Responsible = dependable, reliable • -> Schwartz & Bardi (2001): base for cooperative social relations • -> trust as a minimum requirement • Impact of globalization? Maybe greater moral value similarity over time for industrialised countries

14. Perspective • Deeper understanding of the meaning of moral values in different cultures • Understanding of behaviour: Consequences after violation of moral values -> Implication for intercultural encounters

16. MDS of countries (all instrumental values) Egypt Turkey Jordan Middle East Turkey Romania -> 10 country clusters; Comprising 34 cultural groups Eastern Europe Slovakia China East Asia Arabs Malaysia Japan Poland Taiwan NZ Chinese Israel Africans Germany South- & Southeast Asia India Israel USA Hong Kong NZ Vietnam Ukraine Anglosaxon Australia Western Europe Canada South Africa Finland PNG South Africa UK Spain Central- & South- america Bangladesh Mexico Brazil Chile Hispanics

17. Country cluster

18. Ambitious Hardworking, aspiring Broadminded Open-minded Capable Competent, effective Cheerful Lighthearted, joyful Clean Neat, tidy Courageous Standing up for your beliefs Forgiving Willing to pardon others Helpful Working for the welfare of others Honest Sincere, truthful Imaginative Daring, creative Independent Self-reliant, self-sufficient Intellectual Intelligent, reflective Logical Consistent, rational Loving Affectionate, tender Obedient Dutiful, respectful Polite Courteous, well-mannered Responsible Dependable, reliable Self-controlled Restrained, self-disciplined Rokeach’s values and their definition

19. ‘Honest’ as a commonly important value * The lower the rank order, the more important the value.

20. ‘Obedient’ as a commonly unimportant value * The lower the rank order, the more important the value.