Trends and Factors Affecting Change in Values - A Comparative Study

Values are one of the most important components of cultural systems, at the macro level, and the personality system, at the micro level, and have many effects on mental and behavioral patterns; they are, therefore, implicated in both personal and social issues. Due to rapid changes in many aspects of human life during recent years, values have seen some changes in different dimensions. This study investigated the literature related to change of values at the micro and macro levels, and the trends and factors affecting the change of values are discussed for 33 countries. Using world values survey data, the change in values was studied in two dimensions, namely: survival vs. self-expression values; and traditional vs. secular-rational values. The results from the countries studied show nine types of change in values - 23 countries have seen changes towards self-expression values while 19 countries have been changing towards secular-rational values. The results show that values in different countries are changing and no universal pattern for the direction and speed of change in values can be identified among all countries. Analysis of the factors affecting change in values using Boolean algebra shows that increased economic development along with inflation reduction change personal values towards self-expression values while the change of traditional vs. secular-rational values did not demonstrate any pattern.