Since industrialization, technological, scientific and cultural changes have been taking place in the Western world at breakneck speed. This development has had a very strong impact on the subjective worldview of the citizens of the Western world. In the 1960s, post-industrial nations experienced a real breakout from traditional values and behavior patterns (e.g., "hippie movement," "68ers," "no-war movement," demonstrations for greater equality...). These changes in the subjective measurement of values have continued, albeit not in such a radical form, and are often referred to as "value change."
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Norms, values, change of values
3. The theory of value change according to Inglehart
4. Materialism vs. Postmaterialism
5. Influence of the change in values on political participation
6. Assessment
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This work aims to explain the transformation of values in Western post-industrial societies using Ronald Inglehart's "theory of value change," specifically examining the shift from materialist to post-materialist attitudes and its impact on political behavior.
- Clarification of fundamental concepts: norms, values, and value change.
- Examination of Inglehart’s core hypotheses: the deficiency and socialization hypotheses.
- Analysis of the shift towards post-materialism and its underlying causes.
- Investigation of the relationship between value change and political participation.
- Critical assessment of the theoretical and empirical validity of Inglehart's model.
Excerpt from the Book
The deficiency hypothesis
The lack hypothesis is based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs (cf. Inglehart 1989, p.174). Abraham Maslow, a representative of humanistic psychology, distinguishes between two different forms of human motivation, namely between "lack motivation" and "growth motivation". The human needs are recorded in a certain order, which are described in the so-called "pyramid of needs".
The foundation of this hierarchy is formed by basic biological needs, e.g. the needs for food, water, oxygen, sexuality... This is followed by the needs for security and attachment as well as self-respect, belonging and love. At a higher level, the so-called growth needs can be found: The pursuit of knowledge (cognitive needs), the pursuit of beauty (aesthetic needs), and the pursuit of self-realization and transcendence.
The satisfaction of needs takes place from "bottom" to "top", i.e. that man must first satisfy the basic physical and psychological needs before he can devote himself to the growth needs. (cf. Zimbardo 1992, p.352) The most important need according to Maslow is self-realization, which is very difficult to describe and grasp because it is a process and not a state. (cf. Lefrancois 2006, p.290)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the context of cultural and value shifts in Western nations and outlines the scope of the work regarding Inglehart's theory.
2. Norms, values, change of values: Defines the core sociological concepts necessary to understand value measurement and transformations.
3. The theory of value change according to Inglehart: Details the deficiency and socialization hypotheses that underpin the transition from materialist to post-materialist priorities.
4. Materialism vs. Postmaterialism: Explains the distinction between these two value types and the role of economic security in shaping them.
5. Influence of the change in values on political participation: Analyzes how post-materialist values affect political activity, protest behavior, and voting patterns.
6. Assessment: Provides a critical evaluation of the theory, focusing on empirical validity and theoretical limitations.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and suggests improvements for future research into value change.
Keywords
Inglehart, value change, materialism, post-materialism, deficiency hypothesis, socialization hypothesis, Maslow, political participation, cultural upheaval, norms, values, self-realization, Western society, silent revolution, empirical research
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines Ronald Inglehart’s theory of value change to understand why and how societal values have shifted from materialist to post-materialist priorities in Western nations.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The work covers sociological definitions of values, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the influence of economic prosperity on value shifts, and the consequences of these shifts for political participation.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to explain the "silent revolution" in values and highlight how these changes influence political activities in modern, post-industrial nations.
Which scientific methods are analyzed?
The paper evaluates Inglehart's use of item catalogs in empirical surveys and compares them with other sociological and psychological approaches to value measurement.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body details the deficiency and socialization hypotheses, contrasts materialist and post-materialist lifestyles, and investigates the success of green parties as a result of changing social values.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Inglehart, value change, materialism, post-materialism, socialization, and political participation.
How does Inglehart's theory explain political activism?
It suggests that post-materialists are more politically active because they have the "psychic energy" to focus on idealistic goals rather than just survival, leading to higher participation in protests and social movements.
What is the main criticism of Inglehart's theory?
The paper critiques the theory for its limited empirical validity, the problematic reduction of Maslow's model, and the difficulty of falsifying the hypotheses in a scientific sense.
Why does the author question the stability of values?
Citing critics like Bahrdt and Jaide, the author argues that values are not fixed in early adulthood but continue to change throughout the life cycle, challenging the "socialization hypothesis."
What does "formative security" mean in this context?
It refers to the experience of economic and physical security during one's formative youth, which Inglehart identifies as a key driver for developing post-materialist value orientations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2010, The theory of value change according to Ronald Inglehart, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1222890
