Orientation towards work and school: cultural context and intervention strategies

Abstract

Cultural factors influence person's orientation towards work and school. Four categories distinguishing pre-industrial from industrial cultures are: 1. Permanence of roles (affiliation versus inclusion, collaboration versus competition, sureness versus tentativeness, and collectiveness versus individualism), 2. Societal Determinism (locus of control as external versus internal, dependency versus interdependence, and momentariness versus transcendence), 3. Experience and knowledge (egocentrism versus decentrism, and cognitive simplicity versus complexity), 4. Time orientation. For change in orientation to work, the following factors are important: 1. Time differentiation, 2. Role differentiation, 3. Temporary system membership, 4. Boundary differentiation, 5. Role hierarchy, 6. Reward system and 7. Use of tools. The factors influencing orientation to school are: 1. Decontextualization, 2. Development of internal control, 3. Development of abstract knowledge, 4. Systematic development, 5. Personal autonomy and 6. Group as a help. Various intervention strategies are discussed with special reference to orientation to work and school.