Social Axioms of Young and Old People in India: A Survey Study

Ankita Singh Ankita Singh,Shabana Bano Shabana Bano

doi:10.25215/0303.149

Ankita Singh Ankita Singh, Shabana Bano Shabana Bano

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.25215/0303.149

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Abstract

Social axioms play a crucial role in the individual’s belief and value systems. The major functions of axioms are to enhance the survival and functioning of people in their social environment. Leung and Bond (2004) proposed five dimensions of social axioms as social cynicism, social complexity, reward for application, fate control and religiosity. The present study was designed to examine the social axioms of younger and older people. The study was conducted with 86 participants (N=51 young and N=35 old) age ranged 20-30 and 50-60 years. They were sampled from various areas of Varanasi City. The social axioms survey (Leung, Bond, Carrasquel, Munoz, Hernandez, Murikami, Yamagushi, Biebrauer&Singelis, 2002) was administered to examine the participants. Result showed that older participants significantly higher on social cynicism, reward for application and religiosity than younger participants. With respect to social complexity and fate control, no significant difference was found. The findings suggest that social axioms are important to understand an individual’s behaviour in a given society.

Highlights

Social axioms play a crucial role in the individual’s belief and value systems
The present study examines the pattern of social axioms of young and old generation
The findings of present study revealed that old generation endorsed more social cynicism, reward for application, religiosity, social complexity and fate control as compared to young people

Summary

Introduction

Social axioms play a crucial role in the individual’s belief and value systems. The major functions of axioms are to enhance the survival and functioning of people in their social environment. Leung and Bond (2004) proposed five dimensions of social axioms as social cynicism, social complexity, reward for application, fate control and religiosity. Based on multicultural studies in 41 countries, Leung and Bond (2004) have identified fivefactor structure of social axioms at the individual level, namely Social Cynicism, Social Complexity, Reward for Application, Religiosity, and Fate Control. According to Leung et al (2002), social axioms serve at least four functions: (a) valueexpressiveness: presenting one’s values, (b) knowledge: helping people understand the world, (c) instrumentality: facilitating attainment of important goals, and (d) ego-defensiveness: protecting self-worth.

Results

Conclusion