Solutions to Postmaterialist values in Healthcare

     Younger generations are undergoing a deep change in values “shifting from an overwhelming emphasis on material well-being and physical security towards greater emphasis on the quality of life.” Having grown up in relative economic security, they take survival for granted and prioritize “other needs, such as autonomy, self-expression, and quality of life; thus, the rise of post-materialist values.”

     “the shift towards post-materialist values is only one aspect of a broader cultural change. First, the polarisation between traditional values, which emphasize religion, respect of authority or national pride, and secular-rational values, which have the opposite characteristics. Second, the polarisation between survival values, which include, for instance, materialist values, homophobia, sexism or distrusting people, and self-expression values which involve post-materialist values, supporting women and gay rights, or environmentalism.”

     The very definition of “a good life” is shifting.

     The "expression of postmaterialist values cannot be achieved through... issue-orientated organizations; predictably, post-materialism becomes a contributor to extra-institutional activism."
        George Diakoumakos: “Post-materialist values and crisis.
 Explaining the Greek political crisis according to Inglehart's theoretical framework.” Paper presented at the European Sociological Association Social Theory Conference "Crisis and Critique", 6-8 September 2012, Athens.

     This suggests that young people feel disconnected and disengaged from the mission(s) of the organizations in which they work, and in order for them to be authentic, they must engage in activism outside (or against) their organizations.

     BUT there are proven ways to mine the values, interests and talents of individuals as well as members of organizations in order to generate energized harmony instead of conflict. At the one-on-one individual level, Solution-Focused Therapy; and for organizations, Appreciative Inquiry.

        Cockell J, McArthur-Blair J. Appreciative Inquiry in Higher Education: A Transformative Force. Jossey-Bass, 2012.

        Greenberg G et al. Solution-focused therapy. Counseling model for busy family physicians. Can Fam Physician 2001; 47: 2289-95.

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