Cultures in Water-Scarce Environments Are More Long-Term Oriented

Area of Science:

• Cross-cultural psychology
• Environmental sociology
• Behavioral economics

Background:

• Cultural differences exist in long-term orientation and indulgence.
• Environmental factors may influence these cultural orientations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the theory that long-term water scarcity drives differences in long-term orientation and indulgence.
• To investigate the impact of water scarcity on cultural values.

Main Methods:

• A natural experiment in Iran comparing water-scarce and water-rich provinces.
• Field studies measuring job application preferences.
• Experimental priming of water scarcity.
• Cross-cultural analysis across 82 countries.

Main Results:

• Individuals in water-scarce regions exhibited greater long-term orientation and less indulgence.
• Participants in water-scarce areas preferred long-term job opportunities over short-term ones.
• Experimental priming with water scarcity increased long-term orientation and decreased indulgence.
• Global data confirmed a correlation between long-run water scarcity and long-term orientation.

Conclusions:

• Long-term water scarcity is a significant factor influencing cultural values towards long-term orientation.
• Societies facing water scarcity tend to prioritize future planning over immediate gratification.
• Environmental conditions play a crucial role in shaping cultural psychological traits.