The structure of goal contents across 15 cultures.
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.
Grouzet
Frederick M E
FM
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. frederick.grouzet@mcgill.ca
Kasser
Tim
T
Ahuvia
Aaron
A
Dols
José Miguel Fernández
JM
Kim
Youngmee
Y
Lau
Sing
S
Ryan
Richard M
RM
Saunders
Shaun
S
Schmuck
Peter
P
Sheldon
Kennon M
KM
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