Suchergebnisse

The argument that the rise of postmaterialist values is bringing about fundamental changes in Western societies is based on a theory devised by Ronald Inglehart that has not received thorough testing. This article presents a rigorous test of his theory employing data collected from secondary school students in the United States and West Germany. The test consists of two parts: (a) an analysis of the relationship between a measure of Maslow's need hierarchy and values, and (b) an assessment of the relationship between economic conditions, measured at the macro and micro levels, and both the need hierarchy and values. A relatively strong relationship was found between the need hierarchy and values among the German sample, whereas a weak relationship was found among the American sample. The mixed nature of this finding suggests that this theoretical relationship may not exist, or at least not develop during childhood, in all Western nations. More important, the data indicate, in contrast to theoretical expectations, that economic conditions are not strongly related to either psychological needs or to values. Based on this finding, the theoretical explanation for the development of postmaterialist values is drawn into question.