Continuity and Change of Values and Attitudes in Generational Cohorts of the Post-Communist Romania

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to examine patterns in the distribution of values and attitudes for three generational cohorts in contemporary Romania: the 'younger' generation (M = 26 years), almost exclusively socialized during the period after the collapse of communism; the 'middle' generation (M = 41 years), socialized both during and after communism; and the 'older' generation (M = 56 years), exposed to extensive socialization during communism. Based on the differences in the exposure to communist or/and democratic regime and its multifaceted consequences in these three cohorts, two main competing hypotheses were tested: one predicted a change in attitudes and values across time and generations whereas the other hypothesis predicted conservation of attitudes and values. The field survey was carried out in November-December 2009 using regional generational representative samples consisting of 1481 subjects from the West Region of Development, formed by Timis, Caras-Severin, Arad and Hunedoara counties. Results indicated a conservation of attitudes and values, revealing relevant similarities in the axiological and attitudinal profiles among the two peripheral cohorts (the younger and the older generations). KEYWORDS: intergenerational comparison, value orientations, transgenerational patterns, social attitudes The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether a historical great rupture, like the Romanian revolution of 1989, has changed the Romanians' values and attitudes. Two theoretical frameworks are at the basis of this study. The first theory takes on a social psychology perspective and maintains the idea of flexibility concerning the structure of values and attitudes (Aronson, 1988; Loewenstein, 2007; McGuire, 1985; Perloff, 1993). The second theory is rooted in the frame of mentalities and social representations which illustrates the changing character of profound mental structures and values (Braudel, 1996; Moscovici, 1988). Thus, the hypothesis of value and attitudinal change ('changing the world') will confront the hypothesis regarding the persistence of attitudes and values ('la longue duree'). Several measures were used in this paper examining fundamental attitudes: independence/interdependence (IND-INT), self- esteem (SE), locus of control (LC), and self-determination, SD). Along with the attitudinal register, the value orientation register was also explored by using the Schwartz Values Survey (SVS). The starting point of the current paper is based on contradictory results with regard to attitudes as well as similarities in values across three generations that were found in previous exploratory studies conducted with Romanian samples (Gavreliuc, 2011). These samples consisted of non-representative groups teachers and students from the academic area (n = 179) as well as individuals from the private economic environment (n = 181). The current research focuses on three representative generational samples from the same area of Romania, namely the Western region. The same instruments were used as in the previous research. The aim of the present study is to further investigate the extent to which the results from the preliminary studies are confirmed in a wider investigation. Attitudes, Values and Societal Change The assumption that social and political changes have a major impact on basic human values has constituted a controversy in social sciences. On the one hand, there is some (limited) evidence suggesting considerable changes in human values, especially in the post-communist area (Bardi & Schwartz, 1996; Schwartz & Bardi, 1997; Schwartz, Bardi, & Bianchi, 2000). On the other hand, the classical studies of Inkeles and Smith (1974) as well as Ingelhart (1977, 1990) conducted on different post-war generational cohorts have shown major mutations in the configuration of values, qualified as a silent revolution. These second results come mainly from advanced industrial societies. …