Ertinger, M. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2003
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag Jülich
ISBN: 3-89336-336-X

Abstract: Empirical studies show that people have different social value orientations in decision-making situations. Some people wish to maximize their own benefits (individualistic social value orientation), whereas others make sure that the benefits to all those involved are as great as possible (cooperative social value orientation). With a view to the long-standing debate on the consistency and stability of this personality trait the study considers the extent to which social value orientations change if different resources are available in decision situations. The Ring Measure of Social Values (RM) was used as the survey instrument. The commonly applied RM consists of 24 decision tasks in which a choice has to be made between different sums of money. This was used together with three newly designed RM variants in which a decision had to be made between articles of clothing of different price, quality and appearance. The four RM variants were presented to a sample of 123 subjects. It became apparent that most of the test persons reacted to the RM variants in a similar manner. The generalizability of these findings is discussed against the background of the composition of the sample group and the resources used.

1. Personal (P)