Future Time Perspectives of Americans and Subcultures in India

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Abstract
Earlier studies using projective tests showed that Americans wrote significantly more stories with future themes than did a comparable Indian sample. The present study tested samples from 7 Indian subcultures which have different family traditions. Ss were presented with 4 present tense sentences with 4 themes (economic, educational, occupational, and political, respectively) and asked to develop a story following from them. Kshatriyas, Sikhs and Parsees as well as Americans tended to write stories with future themes, while Brahmins, Vasiyas, Sudras and Muslims wrote stories with past themes. Also, the former groups had a higher need for achievement than the latter groups. It is suggested that measures of time perspective can profitably be used for assessing strength of motivation.

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