DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION, AND CONCEPTS OF PERSONAL ENTITLEMENTS IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS

In 2 studies, we assessed concepts of personal entitlements in more an d less hierarchically organized cultures. Study 1 assessed the judgmen ts of 88 adolescent and adult males (mean ages 17-6 and 34-7) from Dru ze and Jewish communities in Israel. Subjects were presented with conf lict situations in which a person in a dominant position (husband, fat her) objects to the activities of a family member in a subordinate pos ition (wife, daughter, son), and vice versa. Druze subjects attributed more power than Jewish subjects to husbands and fathers over wives an d daughters, but concepts of personal entitlements were prominent in b oth groups. Study 2 assessed the judgments of Druze females (mean ages 12-10, 17-5, and 38-6). Results show that females accept the legitima cy of males' power and personal autonomy, recognize the consequences f or those in subordinate positions, and regard the existing social arra ngements as unfair. Overall, the findings indicate that social reasoni ng is heterogeneous in different types of cultures.