Inter-ethnic group competition and levels of aspiration.

The present study examines cultural variations of aspirations in a competitive situation, uaing 9-ll-year-old French Canadian (PC) snd English Canadian (BC) boys fram similar social c1ass backsrounds who were assigned to team8 for a table hockey tournament.Teams were camposed .solely of either FCa or BCs.Ba ch team played two other teams, one comprising members of the same culture (SC) and another of players from the different culture (DC).It was found that (a) FC ls have generally higher aspirations i.e., they expect to score more points, than BC ls when competing against bath DC and SC tesms; and (b) FC ls have highest aspirations specifically when competing against DC li.e., BC) teams.These aspira-,tions not only appeared to be unrealistlc but proved to be so in light of actual performance in competition.One explanation relates social evaluation theory, as developed by Pettigrew, to level of aspiration studies_ lt is argued that FCs in contrast to BCa feel "relatively deprived," inducins them to over emphasize affective ra ther than cognitive factors When settins aspirations.The generally hisher aspirations of Fes were discus8~d in terme of childrearing vaiuesand practices (e.s-, the greater father dominance of FC families) and Bocttal influences which discourase the development of need achievement.