Between Two Worlds? Value Preferences of Immigrants Compared to Local-Born Populations in the Receiving Country and in the Country of Origin

Abstract

In the present study, we investigate value preferences of immigrants, comparing them with local-born populations in the receiving country and in the immigrants’ country of origin. In addition, we test the effect of time in the receiving country on the value preferences of immigrants. Three groups of respondents took part in the study: Israeli-born Jews (n = 1,082), immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in Israel (n = 237), and Jews living in Russia (n = 935). Differences in value preferences between the groups and their relationship with time in country in the immigrants’ value preferences were hypothesized on the basis of four psychological mechanisms: premigration formation of values and their preservation in the new country, self-selection of immigrants, acculturation (classical and paradoxical), and a reaction to the stress of adjustment in the new country. The results obtained demonstrated that the value system of immigrants in general was different from the value system of the nonimmigrant populations in both the country of origin and in the receiving country. When comparing immigrants and two other populations in each of the 19 basic values separately, it was found that immigrants reported higher levels of power dominance, power resources, and security social values, and lower levels of values of universalism tolerance, universalism concern, benevolence dependability, and self-direction thought than both the other groups. Results mainly corroborated what we have termed a Stress Reaction Value Constellation model. Adjustment difficulties encountered by immigrants in the receiving country and their survival needs may explain the specific pattern of value preferences found among immigrants.