Socialization Values in West African,Negro and East Indian Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Abstract

Three groups (51 each) of lower-class maternity cases--West African, Negro, and East Indian--were given an interview schedule about their intentions for behavior toward their children and preferences for behavior by their children. The responses were divided into indexes considered to reflect socialization values in modelling or training children toward Social Breadth, Autonomy and Expressionism. Results showed the three groups to differ significantly from each other on each index with the exception of the West African and Negro samples on Autonomy. Means of cumulative individual scores indicated the Negro mothers to rank highest in Social Breadth, and the West African mothers to rank highest in Autonomy and Expressionism. The East Indian mothers were lowest in support of each index.