title: The structure of goal contents across 15 cultures.
abstract: The authors investigated the structure of goal contents in a group of 1,854 undergraduates from 15 cultures around the world. Results suggested that the 11 types of goals the authors assessed were consistently organized in a circumplex fashion across the 15 cultures. The circumplex was well described by positioning 2 primary dimensions underlying the goals: intrinsic (e.g., self-acceptance, affiliation) versus extrinsic (e.g., financial success, image) and self-transcendent (e.g., spirituality) versus physical (e.g., hedonism). The circumplex model of goal contents was also quite similar in both wealthier and poorer nations, although there were some slight cross-cultural variations. The relevance of these results for several theories of motivation and personality are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. frederick.grouzet@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Frederick M E
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Grouzet
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasser
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahuvia
authors.forename: José Miguel Fernández
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dols
authors.forename: Youngmee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmuck
authors.forename: Kennon M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sheldon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality