Scale Development of the Dominant US American Culture World View and Acculturation Analysis
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Authors
Newton, Troy A.
Issue Date
2001
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Worldview refers to shared social beliefs involving attitudes, values, and opinions affecting how we make decisions, behave, and define events (Sue & Sue, 1990). Various scales have evaluated patterns of social constructs within the US. Nevertheless, the empirical construction of a comprehensive model representing the dominant US American cultural worldview had not previously been developed. The Americanism Scale ( otherwise Attitude Survey) was developed in order to assess the dominant US American cultural worldview. Three factors emerged from an analysis of the Americanism Scale. They were titled Responsible Self-Sufficiency, Racial Equality, and Gratification of Effort. Each factor was correlated with scales associated with US social constructs as measurements of convergent validity. Responsible Self-Sufficiency was positively related to measurements of ethnic identity, individualism, American ideals, and Asian acculturation. Gratification of Effort was positively correlated to American ideals and aspects of ethnic identity related to Caucasian participants. Racial Equality was negatively correlated with individualism. Responsible Self-sufficiency is highly related to social constructs associated with the US worldview. Gratification of Effort may also be predictive of the US worldview and Caucasian's Ethnic Identity. Racial Equality is evolving as a value associated with the US worldview. Therapist's understanding of Responsible Self-Sufficiency, Gratification of Effort, and Racial Equality could promote culturally sensitive assessment and treatment as well as identify value, role, and identity conflicts.