Dynamics of Cultural Change in Spain: Exploring Generational Tendencies

Abstract

The explanation of changing values had focused primarily on the perspective of intergenerational dynamics. While little has been explored the weight of the «intra-generational», if by these we understand the evolution over the life of the values of individuals or groups of similar ages. However since 2007-2008 in the collections of data from the European and Worldwide values surveys, we can begin to explore this perspective of change. With data from the three measurements of these surveys (1981, 1990, 1999-2000, 2007-2008) we can explore the changing patterns of religious belief, political ideology and morals of several generations of Spaniards, as well as we can quantify the extent of these changes «intra-generations» compared into «inter-generations». According to theoretical assumptions intergenerational changes, clearly defined by the influential early socialization processes should be the highest weight, while the «intra» should be considerably lower. The empirical analysis of changes in the mentality of the various age groups, broadly confirms these theoretical assumptions (not without exceptions), although it is noteworthy that the changes «intra» are also large, and they see that Early socialization processes do not overshadow the importance of the changes occurring throughout adulthood. Another interesting finding is the existence of patterns of oscillations of distance and return to traditional patterns along the life cycle of individuals of different generations.