Open AccessA Latent Class Analysis of Personal Values in Young Adults
Author(s) -
Avanté J. Smack,
Kathrin Herzhoff,
Rui Tang,
Robert Walker,
Jennifer L. Tackett
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
collabra. psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.444
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2474-7394
DOI - 10.1525/collabra.114
Subject(s) - psychology , social psychology , latent class model , personality , big five personality traits , ethnic group , trait , value (mathematics) , human values , developmental psychology , sociology , social science , statistics , mathematics , machine learning , anthropology , computer science , programming language
Human values and motivations are a powerful predictor of behavior, and Schwartz’s taxonomy offers a meaningful organizational system for robust value dimensions (Schwartz, 1992). Although values clearly represent a meaningful and culturally relevant dimension of individual differences, they remain poorly understood particularly in regards to how values co-occur and manifest within individuals. The purpose of the present study was to examine how values co-occur and manifest within individuals. A racially/ethnically diverse sample of 1, 308 undergraduate students (351 males, 'Mage '= 21.70, SD = 5.22) reported on their personal values and personality traits. Latent class analyses revealed support for two value classes: personal-focused (N = 210) and social-focused ('N' = 1098), which map onto hypotheses of value configurations based on Schwartz’s taxonomy (Schwartz, 1992). The value classes also exhibited differences based on racial/ethnic composition, gender composition, and personality trait association, also consistent with previous research. The current study provides evidence for two value types that manifest across two countries in North America