The purpose of this study was to compare how members of the French and American upper-middle class define being a "worthy person," and to explain the important cross-national differences in these definitions by examining broad cultural and structural features of French and American society. Subjects were 160 college educated, white male professionals, managers, and businessmen who lived in and around Indianapolis, New York, Paris, and Clermont-Ferrand. Respondents were randomly chosen from the phone directories of middle- and upper-middle-class suburbs and neighborhood. Brief phone interviews were conducted to determine availability and eligibility. The final participants were matches as closely as possible by level of education and occupation. Data collection centered on 2-hour semi -directed interviews. Variables assessed include labels participants used to describe people whom they placed above and below themselves, description of people with whom participants chose to associate, those they felt superior and inferior to and those who invoked hostility, indifference, and sympathy. Negative and positive traits of coworkers, perceptions of cultural traits most valued in their workplace, and child rearing values were also assessed.
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