Culture-Specifics in Iranian Values: A Study in Three Samples of Three Generations

The aim of the study was to identify culture-specifics of Iranian values and to explain the origins of Iranian specific value model in terms of causal impacts of socio-political conditions. In three separate studies, three age groups (15-17, n=1532; 18-28, n=600; 24-62, n=821) were assessed using the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS; Schwartz, 1992) and the 40-item version of the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ-40; Schwartz et al. 2001). Through separate Smallest Space Analyses (SSA) regarding value structure relations for all samples and comparing them with the original model (human basic values; Schwartz, 1992, 1994) cross-cultural differences were recognized. As it was expected there were some deviancies from theoretical model which represent the impact of Islamic-revolutionary ideology within socio-political arena: (1) the dynamics relations of higher order dimensions of self-transcendence and self-enhancement were in conflict with all three samples, (2) similar to Eastern Europe samples, a location of socio-political values were formed in self-transcendence dimension, (3) moderate value was removed from tradition and religion values, and (4) in examining the differential impacts of socio-political atmosphere on younger generations in relation to adults, it was found that adolescents did not come to a coherent and continuous understandings of self-transcendence values in two levels of close relations (benevolence) and extended relations (universalism).