Book

Navaho veterans: a study of changing values

The Museum • 41 (1) • Published In 1951 • Pages: xix, 223

By: Vogt, Evon Zartman.

Abstract

This study, which is a dissertation revision, focuses on the problems of value conflict and acculturation as evidenced in the experiences of Navajo World War II veterans from Rimrock, New Mexico. It is the first monograph in the Rimrock Project, Values Series published by the Peabody Museum. The author uses life histories and projective personality tests on fifteen Navajos, twelve of whom are veterans, to explore culture and personality in an acculturative setting. He concludes that acculturation can be divided into 'imitative' and 'internalized' stages and that personal conflict, insecurity, and prior social deviance are positively correlated with value change. Service experience was concluded to be an important influence regardless as to the extent of previous contacts with Euro-Americans. Aside from the life histories and personality data on the veterans, there are substantive sections on inter-cultural relations in the area, determinants of changing values, and change with respect to particular cultural elements (e.g., housing and personal hygiene). Cumulatively, the life histories provide scattered but significant data on Navajo perceptions of education, witchcraft, ghosts, and employment opportunities. Finally, as the first report in the series, the report contains a list of project personnel and publications.

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Richard A. Wagner ; 1985

Field Date

1947-1948

Coverage Date

1870s-1952

Coverage Place

Rimrock area, New Mexico (i.e., Ramah, New Mexico), United States

Notes

Evon Zartman Vogt

Life histories textually referenced by letter code can best be located by consulting OCM category 159.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 221-223)

LCCN

a 52008769

LCSH

Navajo Indians