Validation en langue française des échelles de maximation et de regret de Schwartz et collaborateurs

RésuméSchwartz et al. (2002) ont montré que ce n’est pas le choix qui est problématique mais les situations de choix multiples. Ils ont élaboré deux échelles (maximation et regret) permettant de distinguer les individus qui cherchent l’option suffisamment bonne (optimation) de ceux qui cherchent la meilleure (maximation). Ces derniers paradoxalement regrettent davantage leur choix et sont moins satisfaits de leur vie. Face à l’absence d’une telle échelle francophone, notre objectif était de valider cet outil en langue française mais aussi de proposer une version réduite adaptée pour les personnes âgées. Les résultats montrent de bonnes propriétés psychométriques et confirment les liens entre maximation, regret et satisfaction de vie, comme ils alimentent une réflexion au sujet des effets de la culture et de l’âge sur les comportements de maximation ainsi que sur la notion de choix chez les personnes âgées.

Schwartz et al. (2002) showed that the problem is not the choice itself but the situations wherein there are too many choices. In such situations, Schwartz et al. distinguished two behaviors. On the one hand, some people are used to seek the good enough option. Those people are called “maximizers”. On the other hand, some people are more willing to search the best option. They are called “satisficers”. The use of the Maximization and Regret scales (Schwartz et al., 2002) led to point out that maximizers experiment more regret and are less satisfied with their life than satisficers. To our knowledge, there is no French translation of Maximization and Regret scales. The purpose of this study was to validate these tools in French with students in psychology. They completed the Maximization scale, the Regret scale and the Satisfaction with life's scale at the beginning of the semester (n = 470) and at the end of the semester (3 months later) (n = 375). Our results indicated that the French Maximization and Regret scales were reliable and valid. As for Schwartz et al., significant negative correlations between Maximation and Satisfaction with life and significant positive correlation between Maximation and Regret were found. Furthermore, we proposed a reduced maximization scale in order to administer it to a sample of elderly people. This reduced tool presented good reliability and validity too. Not only our results are consistent with those of Schwartz et al. but they also provide new information regarding the effect of culture and age in maximization behavior. More specifically, French students appeared to be less maximizers than American students. The validation of these two scales might be useful for future research to examine process differences between American and French people or between young and older adults.