Graduation Term
2018
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Politics and Government: Political Science
Committee Chair
Carl Palmer
Abstract
A number of past sociopolitical studies have attempted to highlight the ways in which generational identity, which develops when people come of age in different times, affects political attitudes. In this study, I investigate generational influence on the degree to which individuals embrace collectivist values, as considered by examinations of social policy attitudes and trust in government. A measure of attitudes towards social policies arguably represent collectivist values because social policy is designed to prioritize the group over the individual. A subsequent measure of trust in government augments the discussion of collectivist values because the formation of democratic political institutions occurred out of the necessity for widespread collective problem-solving. Regression analyses across the various models indicate that generation has little to no effect on collectivist values. Instead, political ideology, socioeconomic status, and sociodemographic status are more indicative of collectivist values in the United States.
Access Type
Thesis-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Carter, Tyler, "A Generational Study of Collectivism in the United States" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 847.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/847
DOI
http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2018.Carter.T