National Differences in Micro and Macro Worry : Social, Economic, and Cultural Explanations
Author(s)
Schwartz, Shalom H.; Melech, Gila
Abstract
Schwartz and Melech introduce worry as one aspect of subjective ill-being. They demonstrate that micro-worry–concerning threats to self and close others–and macro worry–concerning threats to society or the world–are distinguished in fourteen nations. They discuss how violations of human rights, income inequality, and inflation lead to high levels of micro worry but have little effect on macro worry. Strikingly, cultural values affect worry levels more powerfully than objective life conditions do. Cultural egalitarianism and harmony lead to low micro worry and high macro worry.
