A. Inkeles' cross-cultural work is reviewed. Inkeles studied young factory workers in six developing countries (Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Nigeria, and East Pakistan) to determine their "modernity" characteristics versus their "traditional" or rural orientations. The use of the "modern man" thesis in this study, that is, that the factory can be an educational tool for modernization, is criticized because the term is used loosely and factory work is used as a norm. This "norm" imposes class and psychological status on rural migrants. In addition, factories tend to manipulate rather than educate workers, that is, the individual becomes an instrument for production rather than a functioning unit in society as a whole. Inkeles' view that "psychic unity" is developing as a result of urbanization processes is considered highly "middle-class" in its mentality and ambitions. There is no concept of man as "change agent" in the modern syndrome. Some of Inkeles' points about modernization trends and nonformal training and education by factories are significant. However, his thesis is stretched too far in trying to envision these trends as normative, good, and unifying. (A. Inkeles, "Making Man Modern," American Journal of Sociology; v75 n2 p208-225 Sep 1969.) (Author/JS)