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Cyprus Ethnic Values and Attitudes
American sociologists Marvin Gerst and James H. Tenzel
studied
both ethnic communities in the early 1970s, after a decade
of the
postindependence struggle. They focused mainly on the
psychological
grounds of ethnic conflict. One survey instrument they
used in
their interviews with several hundred Cypriots measured
perceptions
of one's own and the opposing ethnic group; the results
were then
standardized in reference to a third group, American
males. While
both Cypriot groups varied considerably from the American
statistical norms, the scores were similar for Greek and
Turkish
Cypriots for their own behavior and perceptions of the
other
community as acting according to a shared list of
generally
negative behavior traits.
The Turkish Cypriots scored as patient, obliging,
stability
seeking, thorough, self-effacing, dependent, mannerly,
tactful,
less self-aggrandizing, and more open to reasonable
argument.
Tenzel and Gerst described the Turkish Cypriots as
hierarchical,
patriarchal, and authoritarian--values of a society in
which roles
are clearly defined. Turkish Cypriots regarded public
service as a
more prestigious though ill-paying occupation than a
successful
business career. As Vamik Volkan also argued, these roles
were
instilled in childhood: Turkish Cypriot child care favored
imitative, docile behavior and discouraged activity,
curiosity, and
talkativeness.
The psychological and behavioral differences between
the two
communities were perceived as extremely negative
stereotypes by the
other. Greek Cypriot assertiveness appeared as impolite
aggressiveness to Turkish Cypriots, while the latter's
attention to
manners and procedures could be seen by the former as
dullness and
lack of ambition. In the context of interethnic conflict,
each
group denied the goodness of the other and pointed to
examples
illustrating these differing norms to "prove" the
identical charges
of aggression, brutality, and stubbornness.
Data as of January 1991
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