10 minutes with Geert Hofstede on Indulgence versus Restraint 01032015

Summary

Dr. Michael Minkov introduced the 'Indulgence vs. Restraint' dimension to describe societal differences in subjective happiness and life control. This concept, based on data from the World Value Survey (1995-2004), contrasts societies that freely gratify human desires and enjoy life with those that suppress desires through strict social norms. The Indulgence vs. Restraint Index (IVR), ranging from 0 to 100, measures a society's position on this spectrum. Countries like Mexico and Nigeria score high on indulgence, while Egypt and other Islamic nations are highly restrained. The IVR correlates with various societal aspects, including freedom of speech, crime rates, obesity, and attitudes towards foreign media. Over the past 30 years, the world has seen a general increase in indulgence.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The 'Indulgence vs. Restraint' dimension was introduced by Dr. Michael Minkov to describe differences in subjective happiness and life control based on the World Values Survey data from 1995 to 2004.
• 🎉 Indulgent societies allow more freedom in satisfying basic human desires, leading to a greater enjoyment of life and fun, whereas restrained societies suppress these desires with strict social norms.
• 📊 The Indulgence vs. Restraint Index (IVR) measures a society's position on a scale from 0 (restraint) to 100 (indulgence), with no absolute standard but relative comparisons.
• 🌏 Examples of indulgent societies include Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden, and Australia, while restrained societies are represented by France, Japan, Germany, and China.
• 🤔 People in indulgent societies tend to feel more in control of their lives and happier, even if their objective health status is similar to those in restrained societies.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Indulgent societies often have a leisure ethic, more extroverted personalities, and place higher importance on having friends and participating in sports.
• 🚫 Restrained societies typically have stricter moral disciplines and sexual mores, and they prioritize maintaining order over freedom of speech.
• 🌱 The IVR dimension correlates with various societal aspects, such as crime rates, police force sizes, birth rates, obesity levels, and approval of foreign music and films.
• 🌐 When combined with the Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation dimension, it divides the world into four areas: indulgent short-term, restrained short-term, restrained long-term, and indulgent long-term.
• 📈 Over the past 30 years, there has been a global increase in indulgence, with societies becoming less restrained, although the relative positions of countries have remained consistent.
• 🔍 The shift in indulgence levels reflects deeply ingrained values that are passed down through generations and are challenging to change in adulthood.

Q & A

Who coined the terms 'indulgence' and 'restraint' for cultural dimensions?

Dr. Michael Minkov coined the terms 'indulgence' and 'restraint' to describe certain differences he found in the World's Value Survey.

What is the main focus of the indulgence versus restraint dimension?

The indulgence versus restraint dimension is mainly related to feelings of subjective happiness or unhappiness and the control people have over their own lives or the opposite.

What is the source of data for the indulgence versus restraint dimension?

The data for this dimension is based on the World Value Survey collected between 1995 and 2004, covering 93 countries.

How do indulgence societies differ from restraint societies in terms of gratification of human desires?

Indulgence societies allow relatively free gratification of basic and natural human desires, leading to enjoying life and having fun, while restraint societies suppress gratification of needs and regulate them with strict social norms.

What is the perception of personal life control in indulgence versus restraint societies?

In indulgence societies, people have a perception of personal life control and feel in charge of their own lives, whereas in restraint societies, people tend to feel that what happens to them is not their own doing and depends on other factors.

How do the attitudes towards leisure and work differ between indulgence and restraint societies?

Indulgence societies have a leisure ethic, while restraint societies emphasize work.

What is the correlation between indulgence or restraint and the importance of freedom of speech?

In indulgence societies, freedom of speech for all is considered very important, while in restraint societies, maintaining order in the nation is considered more important than freedom of speech.

How does the crime rate and police force size differ between indulgence and restraint societies?

Indulgence societies tend to have higher crime rates but smaller police forces, while restraint societies have lower crime rates and larger police forces.

What is the relationship between indulgence or restraint and birth rates in educated populations?

In educated populations, indulgence societies tend to have higher birth rates, while restraint societies tend to have lower birth rates.

How does the approval of foreign music and films differ between indulgence and restraint societies?

Indulgence societies have higher approval of foreign music and films, while restraint societies have lower approval.

How is the level of indulgence versus restraint measured?

The level of indulgence versus restraint is measured using the Indulgence versus Restraint Index (IVR), which is plotted on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0 representing restraint societies and 100 representing indulgence societies.

What are some examples of countries on the indulgence side of the IVR scale?

Countries on the indulgence side of the IVR scale include Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

What are some examples of countries on the restraint side of the IVR scale?

Countries on the restraint side of the IVR scale include France, Japan, Germany, Italy, India, China, Russia, and Egypt.

How have the levels of indulgence in the world changed over the past 30 years according to the research?

According to the research, over the past 30 years, the level of indulgence in the world has grown, meaning societies have become more indulgence and the number of restraint societies has diminished.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Indulgence vs. Restraint: Cultural Dimensions

The sixth dimension of cultural differences, 'Indulgence versus Restraint,' was identified by Dr. Michael Minkov. It measures the degree to which societies allow the gratification of desires versus the suppression of such urges through strict social norms. This dimension is derived from the World Values Survey data collected between 1995 and 2004, encompassing 93 countries. Indulgent societies, like Mexico and Nigeria, prioritize enjoyment and fun, whereas restrained societies, such as France and Japan, emphasize strict norms and order. People in indulgent societies tend to feel happier and healthier, with a greater sense of control over their lives, compared to those in restrained societies. These societies also exhibit different attitudes towards leisure, optimism, personality traits, and the importance of friendships. The level of indulgence or restraint is measured by the Indulgence versus Restraint Index (IVR), which ranges from 0 (restraint) to 100 (indulgence).

05:04

📊 Correlations of the Indulgence-Restraint Index

The Indulgence-Restraint Index (IVR) correlates with various societal aspects. In indulgent societies, freedom of speech is highly valued, contrasting with restrained societies that prioritize maintaining order. Indulgent societies tend to have higher crime rates but smaller police forces, while the opposite is true for restrained societies. There's a notable difference in birth rates between indulgent and restrained societies, with the former having higher rates, especially among educated populations. Wealthy indulgent societies also have higher obesity rates compared to restrained ones. Cultural approval of foreign music and films is higher in indulgent societies. The combination of the IVR with another dimension, long-term versus short-term orientation, divides the world into distinct cultural areas. Over the past 30 years, there's been a global increase in indulgence, with societies becoming less restrained. However, the relative positions of countries to each other have remained stable, indicating a collective shift towards indulgence.

Keywords

💡Indulgence

Indulgence refers to the allowance of relatively free gratification of basic and natural human desires, leading to a lifestyle that emphasizes enjoyment and fun. In the context of the video, indulgence is a key concept in understanding cultural differences, where indulgence societies are characterized by a more relaxed approach to satisfying human needs and desires. Examples from the script include Mexico and Nigeria being classified as indulgence societies, where people are generally happier and healthier, despite potentially having less strict moral disciplines.

💡Restraint

Restraint is the concept of suppressing the gratification of needs and desires, often regulated by strict social norms. Restraint societies prioritize control and regulation over personal desires, which can lead to a more conservative and disciplined lifestyle. The video script contrasts indulgence societies with restraint societies, such as France and Japan, where people might feel less in control of their lives and exhibit more introverted personalities.

💡Subjective Happiness

Subjective happiness is an individual's personal evaluation of their own well-being and life satisfaction. The video discusses how indulgence societies tend to report higher levels of subjective happiness, suggesting a correlation between the freedom to pursue personal desires and an individual's sense of well-being. This is exemplified by the script's mention of people in indulgence societies feeling healthier and happier.

💡Life Control

Life control pertains to an individual's perception of autonomy and influence over their own life. The video script indicates that in indulgence societies, people have a stronger sense of personal life control, which contrasts with restraint societies where individuals often feel that external factors dictate their life outcomes.

💡World Values Survey

The World Values Survey is a global research project that studies changing values and their impact on social and political life. The video script uses data from this survey, collected between 1995 and 2004, to analyze and compare cultural values across 93 countries, particularly focusing on the indulgence versus restraint dimension.

💡Indulgence versus Restraint Index (IVR)

The Indulgence versus Restraint Index (IVR) is a measure used to compare the levels of indulgence and restraint in different societies. The video script explains that IVR values are plotted on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0 representing restraint societies and 100 representing indulgence societies. This index is used to categorize and understand the cultural tendencies of countries like Mexico, which scores high on the indulgence side.

💡Leisure Ethic

Leisure ethic refers to the cultural emphasis on relaxation, enjoyment, and non-work activities. The video script associates indulgence societies with a leisure ethic, suggesting that these societies value free time and pleasure more than work-centric societies. This is in contrast to restraint societies, which may prioritize work and productivity over leisure.

💡Optimism vs. Pessimism

Optimism and pessimism are attitudes towards life that reflect a general expectation of positive or negative outcomes, respectively. The video script notes that indulgence societies tend to have a more optimistic and positive attitude, while restraint societies lean towards pessimism and cynicism. This reflects the broader cultural outlook on life and its challenges.

💡Extroversion vs. Introversion

Extroversion and introversion are personality traits that describe how individuals engage with the world around them. Extroverts are outgoing and sociable, while introverts are more reserved and solitary. The video script uses these concepts to describe the differences in social behavior between indulgence and restraint societies, with indulgence societies fostering more extroverted personalities.

💡Moral Discipline

Moral discipline refers to the adherence to societal norms and moral values. The video script contrasts indulgence societies, which may exhibit less moral discipline, with restraint societies, which enforce stricter moral codes. This is evident in the script's discussion of sexual mores being looser in indulgence societies and stricter in restraint societies.

💡Cultural Values

Cultural values are the principles and norms that guide behavior and beliefs within a society. The video script explores how cultural values related to indulgence and restraint influence various aspects of social life, such as attitudes towards freedom of speech, crime rates, and approval of foreign cultural products. These values are seen as stable over time and are passed down through generations.

Highlights

Dimension Indulgence versus Restraint is the sixth dimension identified by Dr. Michael Minkov.

It is related to subjective happiness and personal life control, based on World Value Survey data from 1995 to 2004.

Indulgence societies allow free gratification of human desires, while restraint societies suppress desires with strict social norms.

People in indulgence societies tend to feel healthier and happier compared to those in restraint societies.

In indulgence societies, there is a perception of personal life control, whereas restraint societies feel less control over their lives.

Indulgence societies have a leisure ethic, while restraint societies emphasize work.

Optimism and extroversion are more common in indulgence societies, whereas restraint societies tend to be more pessimistic and introverted.

Having friends is very important in indulgence societies, less so in restraint societies.

Indulgence societies show higher participation in sports, while restraint societies have less active sports participation.

Moral discipline is looser in indulgence societies and stricter in restraint societies.

The Indulgence versus Restraint Index (IVR) measures a society's level on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0 being restraint and 100 indulgence.

Mexico and Nigeria are examples of indulgence societies, while France and Japan are restraint societies.

Indulgence societies place a higher value on freedom of speech compared to restraint societies, which prioritize maintaining order.

Indulgence societies tend to have higher crime rates but smaller police forces, while restraint societies have the opposite.

Educated populations in indulgence societies have higher birth rates, while restraint societies have lower birth rates.

Wealthy indulgence societies have more obesity, while restraint societies have less.

Indulgence societies show higher approval of foreign music and films, while restraint societies are less approving.

The combination of Long-term vs. Short-term orientation and Indulgence vs. Restraint divides the world into distinct cultural areas.

Over 30 years, the world has become more indulgence, with a decrease in restraint societies, but relative positions of countries remain stable.

Transcripts

dimension indulgence versus restraint is

the sixth and most recent imagine the

terms were coined by dr. Michael Minkoff

for covering certain differences he had

found in the world's value survey that

so far had not yet been found in the

other five dimensions and it is mainly

related to feelings of subjective

happiness or unhappiness and the control

of the people's owned life or the

opposite and it is based on data

collected by the world value survey in

the period 1995 till 2004 and we have

again data for 93 countries indulgence

societies allow relatively free

gratification of basic and natural human

desires leading to enjoying life at

having fun restraint societies a

suppressed gratification of needs and

regulated by strict social norms if I

oppose this a number of characteristics

of indulgence societies to restrain

societies taking into account as most

societies are somewhere in between those

extremes and are seated on the

indulgences side people tend to feel

healthier and happier and on the

restraint society feel less happy and

less healthy although objectively they

may be equally healthy in the on Joji

societies people have a perception of

personal life control their muscles

about their own life in the restraint

societies people tend to feel that what

happens to them is not their own doing

it depends on other factors in the other

societies have a leisure ethic you could

say and restraint societies have a work

in the other societies have a more

optimist positive attitude and restraint

society a more pessimist cynical

attitude indulgent societies have more

extroverted personalities and restraint

societies have more introverted

personalities in indulgent societies

having friends is very important a

restraint societies having friends is

less important this is evident in

something like Facebook in the other

societies their people participate

actively in sports in restraint

societies there is a less sports

participation sports are things you

watch you see others do but you don't do

it yourself in doubted societies have

less moral discipline restraint

societies have stricter moral

disciplines and this also applies to

sexual mores which are looser on the

indulgence side and more strict on the

restraint size how do we measure a

society's level of indulgence versus

restraint there is no absolute standard

again so we can only compare one society

to another is the difference between

societies and this difference is

expressed in an index the indulgence

versus restraint index and the

abbreviation she has IVR and again IVR

values have been plotted on a scale from

0 to 100 and 0 cents for restraint

societies and 100 cent for an indulgence

society I have chosen from the 93

countries for which we have data and on

the indulgence side you find Mexico the

very indulgences Nigeria and also some

other African countries we're also

Sweden for example and Australia

in Britain and the Netherlands and the

United States and somewhat lower still

indulge in Brazil and not on the

restraint side we find France and Japan

and Germany and Italy and India and

China and quite restrained Russia and

extremely restrained Egypt and other

Islamic countries now what can we do

with this index what does it correlate

with well first of all there is an very

interesting or position if you ask what

is important to people you find that in

indulgence societies that freedom of

speech for all is very important and

this is not so in the restraint

societies and the opposite of freedom of

speech seems to be maintaining order in

the nation so in the restraint societies

the feeling is that maintaining order in

the nation' is more important than

having freedom of speech in the other

societies tend to have higher crime

rates nevertheless they tend to have

smaller police forces and restraint

societies have lower crime rates and

larger police forces in countries with

educated population the indulgence

societies tend to have higher birth

rates in countries with educated

population restraint societies tend to

have lower birth rates in wealthy

countries indulgence societies tend to

have more obese people more fat people

in restrain societies there is less

obesity as in wealthy countries and

finally in indulgent societies there is

higher approval of foreign music and

films and a restraint societies there's

lower approval of foreigners in music

and in films the combination of the two

dimensions which we derive shown the

world values

of a long versus short term orientation

and indulgence versus restraint leads to

an interesting division of areas in the

world we find that on the indulgences

plus short term side we have some

African countries not all Nigeria and

South Africa are there and all the

countries of South America and of North

America and Australia on the restraint

and short term side we find a few

countries like Poland and Portugal some

African countries like Zimbabwe and

Burkina Faso and finally all Islamic

countries on the restraint and long term

side we find the East Asian countries

Japan India and China we find the

countries of Eastern Europe and also

Italy and Germany and on the indulgences

and long term site we find the other

german-speaking countries Austria and

Switzerland we find the Netherlands and

Belgium that you also find Sweden and

Britain they reflect values clearly that

were transferred from parents to

children values that change difficulty

in later life now there was a research

project where professor Burgos egg from

Groningen who compared answers of two

successive age cohorts early years apart

and in this research there is a clear

effect on indulgence it means that over

the 30 years the level of indulgence in

the world has grown so societies have

become more indulgence and number of

restraint societies has diminished but

the position of countries relative to

each other has remained the same so if

they have shifted their shifted together

and this is what the scores are based on

so the scores again of this dimension

can be assumed to be stable over time

you