Cross-cultural comparison of need importance and need satisfaction during adolescence: Turkey and the United States

Hortacsu N.

JOURNAL OF GENETIC PSYCHOLOGY, vol.158, no.3, pp.287-296, 1997 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 158 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 1997
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00221329709596668
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF GENETIC PSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.287-296
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Turkish and U.S. adolescents' views concerning the importance of different needs and instrumentality of relationships with mothers, fathers, siblings, and same-sex friends for need satisfaction were examined and compared. Questionnaires covered needs related to crucial issues of adolescence, namely, relatedness and autonomy/individuation. Participants were 12- to 17-year-old boys and girls from intact families. Cross-cultural differences in ascribed importance of needs related to some aspects of relatedness and autonomy/individuation emerged. Cross-cultural similarities in ascribed importance of needs related to feelings of basic acceptance and need for self-understanding/development also emerged. Turkish adolescents perceived mothers as more instrumental for need satisfaction than did U.S. adolescents. Gender differences in importance ascribed to different needs also emerged. Cross-cultural differences were consistent with differences in predominant values and modal family dynamics of the respective countries.