Sistemas de valores e atitudes democráticas de estudantes universitários de João Pessoa

Abstract

This paper presents two empirical studies analysing the relationships between individual's value systems and democratic attitudes. The subjects were university students in João Pessoa (Brazil). In the first study (n=350) we investigated the implicit dimensions present in both content and structure of student's value systems. The data were analysed from the framework of Schwartz´s Theory of Values and Inglehart´s distinction between materialist and post-materialist values. In the second study (n=200) those results were replicated and were also correlated to student's democratic attitudes. The main results were twofold. First, religious values were negatively correlated to democratic attitudes and second the post-materialist values were positively correlated to those attitudes. These findings were discussed pointing out the real meaning of democracy for those subjects.