Sociocultural Change and Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Themselves and Others

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of sociocultural change on variables related to adolescents' self concepts (i.e., perceptions and expected reputations of adolescents and adults; real and ideal self; social maturity). Traditional and transitional adolescents (both sexes, 13-18 years) from two cities in North India (Ns = 632, 625) completed Indian adaptations of Hess and Goldblatts' Rating Scales, Worchel's Self Activity Inventory, the CPI So Scale and a Socioeconomic (SE) Scale. ANOVAs were used to test the effects of culture, sex, age and SE status on attitudes to adolescents and adults, real and ideal selves, and social maturity. Adolescents who viewed adults more favorably (transitionals and females in contrast to traditionals and males respectively) showed more favorable ideal selves and more social maturity. Control for SE level did not attenuate significant culture effects. The results suggest the powerful influence of macrostructural variables (like sociocultural change) on adolescent attitudes towards themselves and others.