People Must Be Changed

People, rather than their environment, must be changed if they are to become economic achievers, David McClelland, professor of Psychology, said Tuesday in the second presentation of the Behavioral Science lecture series.

Noting that in the past economic development has been attributed to race superiority, morality, and distribution of natural wealth, McClelland said none of these supposed factors have been supported by scientific tests.

According to McClelland, the economic progress of a country is determined by the motivations of the people who comprise the nation. The attitude of the people toward achievement for its own sake is closely linked to economic development. If a nation is comprised of individuals who are striving for achievement, then the nation will advance economically.