Mapping the human psyche across 120 countries since 1981
In short: How do we measure the invisible architecture of human belief? The World Values Survey tracks the shifting tides of social, religious, and political values globally. By capturing the perspectives of nearly 90 percent of the world's population, it reveals how internal convictions shape external realities like democracy and gender equality.
The World Values Survey (WVS) began in 1981, representing the most expansive non-profit longitudinal study of human convictions ever conducted. It operates on a massive scale, having surveyed over 400,000 respondents across more than 120 countries. This longitudinal approach allows researchers to monitor how values evolve over decades rather than providing a mere snapshot of current opinion.
The survey identifies two primary dimensions of cross-cultural variation: traditional versus secular-rational values, and survival versus self-expression values. Traditional societies prioritize religion, authority, and family ties, often rejecting modern social liberties. In contrast, secular-rational societies place less emphasis on religious authority. Meanwhile, the shift from survival to self-expression marks a transition from prioritizing physical security and ethnocentrism toward environmental protection, gender equality, and tolerance of diversity.
The implications of this data are profound. With over 4,000 publications resulting from its findings, the WVS demonstrates that ordinary people's values directly impact human fertility rates, the flourishing of democratic institutions, and economic development. By providing a free, authoritative database for the public and academics alike, it serves as a critical tool for understanding how diverse worldviews can coexist in an increasingly globalized world. The initial data collection for this project occurred between 1981 and 1984. It currently serves as the largest non-commercial empirical time-series investigation of human beliefs ever executed. This massive scope allows for a comprehensive analysis of how individual convictions drive broader social change.
theme: The most recent iteration, known as WVS-8, began in early 2024 and is scheduled to continue through 2026. Specific research teams are currently leading the United States portion of this latest wave. These experts focus on diverse areas including artificial intelligence, science policy, and international political economy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: World Values Survey (WVS)
- Also: World Values Survey
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