December 2001 - Nr. 12
More Germans See Family Life as Top Priority
TWIG - Traditional values like hard work and dedication to family are gaining ground in Germany, a recent study shows. According to a report released Tuesday (November 6) by the Freizeit Forschungsinstitut of British American Tobacco (BAT), a Hamburg institute that monitors social trends, 51% of Germans now regard spending time with family as one of their highest priorities, up from 44% just two years ago. The institute says the change of heart is especially noticeable among young people, who ranked such virtues as obedience and good manners considerably higher than in previous years.
"People want to come clean with the world and are looking for inner peace," explains institute director Horst W. Opaschowski. "That can mean retreating to the family, and a new consciousness of the things that last and give life meaning." Survey respondents between the ages of 14 and 29 were more likely to stress the importance of diligence and doing one’s duty than in the past. Goals such as self-fulfillment, sociability, spontaneity and openness have apparently lost some of their appeal.
Opaschowski says young people of today want a balanced, comfortable life. "They place a lot of value on accomplishing something in life and enjoying life," he maintains. A total of 3,000 Germans over the age of 14 took part in the survey, conducted by the institute each year since 1995.
