English abstract
This qualitative study aims to identify the social values that influence the Omani
personality and their sources, in an attempt to understand how these values have their impact
on the Omani personality. The study employed Karl Mannheim's theory on culture and
personality and a descriptive analytical approach, where 6 focus groups of 36 participants
were utilized for collecting primary data in Muscat Governorate. It also included a reading
of the royal speeches of both the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said and Sultan Haitham bin Tarik,
may Allah protect him, as well as some legal articles, and the Oman Vision 2040 document.
Some significant findings of the study:
▪ Generosity, tolerance, respect, peace, and cooperation are the most important and
influential social values on the Omani personality as perceived by the study
participants.
▪ The influence of the social values on the Omani personality varies based on the type of
environment: Nomadic, urban or rural.
▪ Family and religion are the most important sources of social values influencing the
Omani personality.
▪ The speeches of Sultan Qaboos bin Said highlighted a number of social values
influencing the Omani personality, including tolerance and respect.
▪ According to the participants, the royal speeches have their influence in shaping the
collective awareness of the Omani personality, and in formulating the general policies
of the state institutions.
▪ All participants agree that social values influence all aspects of their daily lives, with
no difference in responses in the variable of gender or place of residence.
▪ The social values have their influence in building and shaping the Omani personality;
they provide it with appropriate knowledge to be able to act in everyday life situations.
▪ The study participants showed that there is a rather relative compatibility between the
Omani personality and the value system of the Omani society.
Some of the Study Recommendations:
▪ Incorporating the social values of the Omani society and the values to be achieved in
Oman Vision 2040; including (responsibility, understanding, coexistence, and peace),
into the curricula of the various educational stages.
▪ Renewing the religious and media discourses that promote social values, with a
language that suits the youth.
▪ Employing the studies on social values in understanding the attitudes of society
members towards various issues, and finding solutions to social problems.
▪ Initiating a periodic national survey project for the social values of the Omani society.
