Universal human motivations found across Poland and Vietnam
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Researchers studied citizens in Poland and Vietnam to determine if certain deep human motivations are consistent across cultures.
A team tested how well a measurement tool, the Numinous Motivation Inventory, worked with 328 Polish people and 307 Vietnamese people. They wanted to know if these motivations, relating to finding meaning, worth, and a sense of lasting existence, exist similarly in both groups.
The study revealed that the structure of these numinous motivations remained consistent between the two cultures, despite differences in cultural backgrounds. These motivations also proved distinct from standard personality traits measured by the Five Factor Model. Beyond basic personality, the researchers found that these numinous motivations helped explain other psychological qualities. Specifically, they predicted tendencies toward spiritual bypass, avoiding difficult emotions through spiritual practices, and psychological dysphoria, a state of unease or dissatisfaction.
They also influenced whether people would seek help for mental health concerns. The findings suggest that the need to find meaning, worth, and a sense of connection to something larger than oneself is a universal aspect of the human experience, independent of culture or personality.
