GOALS AND STYLES OF ACHIEVEMENT IN SINGAPORE : MATERIALISM AND RELATIONSHIP HARMONY

Abstract

Social-oriented achievement motivation (SOAM), a form of achievement motivation proposed by Yang & Yu (1988), is postulated to underlie the widespread materialism among Singaporeans. A secondary objective of the study is to examine the possible factors relating to the self-esteem of the typical Singaporean. Following traditional literature in Psychology, achievement motivation (i.e. need for achievement, individual-oriented achievement motivation and SOAM), materialism and relationship harmony are hypothesised to be related to self-esteem. Two hundred undergraduates from the National University of Singapore took part in the study. Results suggested that SOAM indeed play an important role in the widespread materialism among Singaporeans. Conversely, the hypothesis that materialism is related to self-esteem is not supported. In addition, SOAM is found to moderate the positive effects of both need for achievement (nAch) and individual­ oriented achievement motivation (IOAM) on self-esteem. Finally, relationship harmony and self-esteem are found to be independent and unrelated constructs, a replication of Kwan & Bond (1996)'s finding. Discussion focused on the implications of the findings for the wider context and for future research.