Family Process
Volume 37, Issue 3, 1998, Pages 345-362

Value Patterns and Content among Families of Soviet Immigrants: SYMLOG Analysis (Article)

Slonim-Nevo V.* , Chaitin J. , Sharaga Y. , Abdelgani A.
  • a Spitzer Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel, Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
  • b Behavioral Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel
  • c Beer-Sheva Municipality, Spitzer Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel
  • d Spitzer Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University, Negev, Israel

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand and compare two immigrant families whose children perceived their families to be well-functioning, and two families whose children perceived them to be poor-functioning. The method of analysis used for studying the values of the families is based on SYMLOG. Four families, who immigrated to Israel during the early seventies from the former USSR, and whose adolescents were born in Israel, were interviewed. The results show that in the two "well-functioning" families, there is a high degree of consensus on their values -those that they accept, as well as, those that they reject. The two "poor-functioning" families did not exhibit identical value patterns -neither in the values that they favor, nor in those that they reject. In terms of content, in the well-functioning families, there was a strong expression of two values: friendliness and the desirability of self-sacrifice in order to reach family goals. In contrast, in the poor-functioning families, the value of conservatism was salient. Finally, all four families expressed strong opposition to the values of strong individualism and nonconformity. Suggestions for family intervention are offered.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Russia Social Values educational status social psychology Israel psychological aspect human middle aged comparative study ethnology interview Humans family attitude Adolescent male female Article adult migration Interviews Emigration and Immigration Russian Federation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0032150325&doi=10.1111%2fj.1545-5300.1998.00345.x&partnerID=40&md5=f9ab4c24ec75beec54c444cd600801e3
DOI: 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1998.00345.x
ISSN: 00147370
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English