Proposition 8
The primary bases for job satisfaction for people with an individu-
alism social value, in order of importance, will be (1) the congru-
ence between the values reinforced on the job and individuals’
work values, (2) conflicts that occur between the occupational role
and other life roles, and (3) the approval of the work roles by oth-
ers such as parents, spouses, and friends. Job satisfaction for people
with a collective social value will be, in order of importance, (1) the
extent to which the work role is approved by significant others such
as parents, spouses, and friends, (2) conflicts between the occupa-
tional role and other life roles, and (3) the congruence between the
values reinforced by the job and individuals’ work values.
The support for Proposition 8 is indirect at this time. For exam-
ple, Nevis (1983) found that workers on the Chinese mainland put
group goals ahead of their personal goals, which is consistent with
their collective social value (M. Ho, 1987). Because of the role that
satisfying goals plays in occupational satisfaction (D. Brown, 1996a),
it seems likely that achieving the goals of the primary group will be
a major factor in the occupational satisfaction of individuals with a
social value.
Researchers have not looked at the relationship between indi-
viduals’ cultural values and values held by people in their workplaces
as a factor in occupational outcomes. Posner (1992) and Meglino,
Ravlin, and Adkins (1989) did find that job satisfaction was related
to congruence between individuals’ work values and those held by
people in the workplace. The latter study looked specifically at the
relationship between individuals’ work values, the work values held
by supervisors, and job satisfaction. Their findings support the part
of Proposition 8 that suggests that congruence between workers’ and
supervisors’ values is related to job satisfaction.
486 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT