Human values and social identities among samples of white and black South Africans

We examined the value correlates of different social identities among two g roups of South Africans, those identifying themselves as while Afrikaners o r as black South Africans. Respondents indicated the importance of their me mbership of different groups and also completed indices of National strengt h and order, and International harmony and equality. Multiple regression an alyses showed that the social identities associated with both values for se lf-identified Afrikaners were mainly linked with ethnic language (Afrikaans ) and religion. Among self-identified black South Africans, however, the so cial identities were more encompassing, including the notion of global citi zen and South African. The findings are discussed in the light of ongoing p olitical and social change in South Africa and the nature of changing ident ities, as well as the role of cultural symbols in facilitating in-group ide ntification among white Afrikaners.