By employing the life course paradigm as an over-arching
conceptual framework that serves as a vehicle for integrating
socialization, psychological and cultural perspectives
(Moschis, 2007), we study the effects of disruptive family experiences
during adolescence on the materialistic values of
285 young Greek adults in a cultural setting (Mediterranean)
different from the North American setting which has been
predominantly examined in the past. We seek to understand
the processes and conditions which have contributed to the
development of these young adults’ materialistic values.