An attempt was made to ascertain the meaning of work variables
affecting work centrality in Germany, Israel, Japan, and the United
States. Expressive orientation and the societal norms of obligation
were found to affect work centrality consistently. Females in these
countries assigned less importance to work centrality than did
males; educational level also contributed negatively to work central
ity. The remaining variables were less consistent yet strong predic
tors of work centrality. Interpersonal relations had a negative
impact on work centrality in Japan and the United States but were
not significant in Germany and Israel. Instrumental orientation
was a negative predictor in three countries, Germany being the
exception, as was entitlement, with the exception of Israel. Finally,
actual income had a positive influence on work centrality in Japan
and Israel, a negative one in Germany, and none in the United
States. Various cultural dimensions are presented to account for
these findings.
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