VALUES, PERFORMANCE AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING IN THE SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT - AN ELABORATION OF MULTIPLE DISCREPANCIES THEORY

Building on multiple discrepancies theory (MDT) as developed by Michal os (1985, 1991), the present study seeks to extend the application of MDT by operationalizing multiple discrepancies or ''gaps'' between val ues and performance for a representative group from the sustainability movement (back-to-the-landers), and then comparing the ability of the operationalized discrepancies, in competition with a series of demogr aphic and process variables, to explain variance in a set of subjectiv e well-being (SWB) measures. In the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and z ero-order correlation equations, the value-performance discrepancies d emonstrate consistent statistically significant relationships with the SWB measures. In the multiple regression models, however, the gap var iables are not as prominent as other process variables, although they do add variance to SWB, validating the general utility of MDT. It appe ars, though, that there are other dimensions, many of them specific to the back-to-the-land way of life, that can compensate for the discrep ancies between values and performance.