Theory Of Human Values Research Articles

The Joint Effects of Societal Culture and Individual Values of JAPS: Evidence From Eight Nations

Based on the theory of universal human values proposed by Schwartz (1992, 1994), we conducted a cross-national comparison of how values at two levels (cultural values at the societal level and pers...

Individual values, cultural embeddedness, and anti-immigration sentiments: Explaining differences in the effect of values on attitudes toward immigration across Europe

During the last decade, many European countries have faced sizeable immigration inflows accompanied by high prevalence of negative sentiments toward immigrants among majority members of the host societies. We propose that basic human values are one important determinant of such negative attitudes, and we seek to explain variation across countries in the strength of the effects of values. Based on Schwartz’ (1992, 1994) basic human value theory, we hypothesize that universalism values are conducive to positive attitudes toward immigration, while conformity-tradition reinforce anti-immigration sentiments. We furthermore hypothesize that these value effects are moderated by two contextual variables. Both value effects are expected to be weaker in countries with a higher level of cultural embeddedness. Furthermore, negative effects of conformity-tradition values are hypothesized to be cushioned by a lower proportion of immigrants in the country. A multilevel analysis of data from 24 countries from the fourth round of the European Social Survey (2008–2009) supports these hypotheses. Moreover, we demonstrate that the measurement properties of the theoretical constructs exhibit equivalence across countries, thereby justifying statistical comparisons.

Valores, Altruísmo e Comportamentos de Ajuda: Comparando Doadores e Não Doadores de Sangue

Helping behavior and altruism are actions for the wellbeing of others, which vary in degree of delivery and are fundamental to interpersonal relationships. Therefore, knowing what motivates such behaviors might contribute to the understanding of human nature and to develop interventions that promote pro-social behaviors. This study aimed to know to which extent human values correlate with these constructs in groups of donors and non-donors of blood. Participants were 142 people from the general population (age: M=27, SD=19.93; 60.6% female), equally composing both groups (donors and non-donors). Through an ANOVA, the extent to which the scores of these groups differ from each other was evaluated. It was observed that donors are more altruistic and present a greater amount of helping behavior, besides presenting significant correlations to values that characterize a universal orientation. These findings are discussed based on the functional theory of human values.

Srovnatelnost Schwartzovy hodnotové škály v mezinárodních datech

The first part of this article looks at the comparability of the crosscountry PVQ scale tested on the basis of the Sixth Round of the European Social Survey. To test comparability, the classic 21-item tool is used to measure ten different types of value orientation. These value types are based on Schwartz's original basic human values theory. In order to test equivalence, a multiple group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was used. The results of the analyses show that the configural and metric equivalences of all seven value types are valid in only 10 out of 23 countries. However, even in those 10 countries, it is impossible to fully rely on scalar equivalence. For more detail, in many countries it is possible to carry out valid comparisons of relations and value types, as well as of other value attitudes or socio-demographic indicators. However, it is not possible to compare national averages of the seven value types. The article then demonstrates that the seven value types are longitudinally comparable across every round of the ESS in the Czech Republic. The second part of the article points out some of the problems in the Czech Republic with the PVQ comparison between different social groups delineated by gender, age, and education. While the averages of the seven value types can be sometimes compared in all groups (male, female), in some cases it is necessary either to amalgamate the groups or to decrease their quantity (age groups, education levels of groups).

Making sense of stakeholder values emergence

Relatively little is known about how the concept of sensemaking is triggered by knowledge of human values during the multi-stakeholder decision-making process of construction projects. The emergent, complex and dynamic nature of a cultural value and values system is modelled on a longitudinal case study to demonstrate stakeholders' unique perceptions. Empirical data were gathered through action research and the 'value in design' method were used to structure stakeholder dialogues at three interventions in the briefing and design stages of a new primary school project over a two-year period. A universal theory of human values was subsequently used to theoretically triangulate and postulate on the emergence of unique stakeholder values. The findings contribute new insights into the complex and emerging interrelationship between stakeholder value and values systems. It provides a dynamic perspective of a project culture and illustrates the role of universal values in supporting sensemaking.

The functional theory of human values: From intentional overlook to first acknowledgement—A reply to Schwartz (2014)

Schwartz has been aware of the Functional Theory of Values for over a decade. For the first time, Schwartz (2014) acknowledges the Gouveia theory and provides considerations based on the Gouveia, Milfont, and Guerra (2014) study. In this reply we present a historical overview of the development of the theory, noting unwarranted barriers to the publication of our work. We then address his comments, focusing on the theoretical innovations of the theory and remarking that recent refinements of Schwartz’s model were already evident in the Gouveia theory. Hypotheses tested in Gouveia et al. (2014) are also re-tested and supported with European Social Survey data using the Schwartz PVQ-21. We conclude by summarizing current projects that offer further opportunities to continue the theoretical debate.

Values and occupational choose

Several studies demonstrate that Schwartz’s (2006) theory of human values is valid in cultures previously beyond its range. We measured the 10 value constructs in the theory with the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ), a new and less abstract method. This study explores the influence of values in a professional choose, focusing on the associations between social and professional background. The findings support the construct validity of the test. The results suggest, there is a matching between values and occupational choose, there are evident differences between gender and age. These results confirm the international literature about different gender and value system’s. Its theoretical meaning in the context of Schwartz’s culture-level value theory is discussed.

Values and Value Priorities Underlying Japanese Elementary-School Moral Education: Content Analysis of Japanese Elementary-School Moral Books

Japan has seen controversy over moral education. Generally, Japanese moral education is regarded as a menace to the development of true democracy and multiculturalism. Moral education in the Meiji period and in the years leading to and during the Second World War was blamed for the country’s fanatical militarism and nationalism. Postwar democratic reforms ended moral education; however, traditional moral values continued to guide people’s lives. At that time Japanese moral values were criticized for contributing to the shaping of shared cultural consciousness and common national identity, suggesting Japan’s cultural superiority over other cultures. In 2006, the Fundamental Law of Education of 1947 (FLE), which defined the principles for post-war Japanese education, was revised. It stipulated the importance of teaching Japanese traditions and culture with special emphasis on moral education. The return of moral education has provoked fear and suspicion of a return to past militarism and nationalism. Hitherto, discussions on Japanese moral education have entailed strong political overtones. However, few have actually studied the content of the books used in moral education. The present study examined Japanese elementary-school moral books published in 2008 to identify types of values transmitted therein. Content analysis of the moral books has revealed that the values presented in the moral books are congruent with universal human values recognized across cultures around the world. Confucianism and Buddhism explain values absent from the moral books. The influence of Shinto is also found. The paper discusses the findings in reference to the theory of universal human values and the Japanese cultural heritage. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n4p359

The Mediating Role of Materialism on the Relationship between Values and Consumption

The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between values and consumption, and to adduce the mediating roles of materialism in this association. Values have been investigated through Schwartz's main value dimensions in his Theory of Human Values: Self-Enhancement, Self-Transcendence, Openness to Change and Conservation. Through the scope of Homer and Kahle's Value-Attitude-Behavior model, the multiple relations and nomological network between the variables of individual values, materialism, and shopping were inves- tigated. The study was conducted on 485 participants (314 females, 171 males), whose ages ranged between 18 and 66. The data was gathered through the administration of surveys including a demographic information form, Schwartz's Portrait Values Questionnaire, the Materialism Scale and the Consumption Habits Survey. In order to test the hypotheses, partial correlation analyses and hierarchical linear mediated regression analyses were used as statistical methods. The results showed that shopping frequency is positively related to Self En- hancement, while its associations with Self-Transcendence and Conservation were negative. In the analyses conducted to reveal the mediating role of materialism between the values of Self-Enhancement, Self-Tran- scendence and Conservation with frequency of shopping, it was found that when materialism was entered into the regression equation, the standardized regression coefficients of the values became insignificant, showing that materialism fully mediated the relationship between values and the frequency of shopping.

Research Productivity and Values

According to the predictions of convergence theory, the implementation of best practices derived from the global context has been found to be associated with increased performance for both individuals and organisations. However, the values systems of individuals and within organisations have been found to constrain the adoption of best practices. This research tested Schwartz’s basic human values theory and the specific influence of basic human values upon individual work performance in the form of research productivity. The self-enhancement dimension of hedonism was found to be negatively associated with Thompson Reuters (Institute for Scientific Information) and ProQuest International Bibliography of the Social Sciences accredited journal article publication; Department of Education accredited journal article publication; conference proceedings publication; conference presentations and book chapter publication. Worryingly, openness to change values were not found to be associated with higher levels of research productivity. These results are taken to support Kuhn’s theory of paradigmatic values constraints to knowledge creation and scepticism as to the extent to which scientific research productivity is indeed inherently objective or innovative in nature. Recommendations for research practitioners and for further research are offered. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n1p453

Functional theory of human values: Testing its content and structure hypotheses

A theoretical analysis of the functions values fulfill is described by focusing on two widely accepted value functions: values guide actions and express needs. The interplay between these two functions yields a three-by-two framework differentiating values according to their pursued goals (personal, central or social goals) or their expressed needs (survival or thriving needs). The three-by-two framework results in six subfunctions or basic values (structure hypothesis) assessed with specific marker values forming the Basic Values Survey (content hypothesis). The present paper tests these theoretical hypotheses in a large national sample of Brazilian physicians (N=13,414). The results support both hypotheses and provide further empirical evidence for the functional theory of values. Discussion centers on the theory as a refinement of existing value models due to its parsimonious and theoretically-driven approach, and its merit as an additional theoretical tool for understanding the structure of the value domain.

Measuring Schwartz's values in childhood: Multidimensional scaling across instruments and cultures

The Picture-Based Value Survey for Children (PBVS-C; Döring et al., 2010) assesses children's values through self-report and thereby depicts Schwartz's theory of universal human values at an early age. Despite evidence on the PBVS-C's structural validity, there remains an open question: Does the PBVS-C measure the same values as does Schwartz's Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ; Schwartz et al., 2001), an established assessment instrument for adult and adolescent respondents? To answer this question about the PBVS-C's validity, Polish (N = 167) and German (N = 119) children's values were measured with both instruments. The multitrait–multimethod correlation matrix (Campbell & Fiske, 1959) of value items from both instruments was analysed with multidimensional scaling (MDS), as proposed by Borg and Groenen (1997). Our structural expectations for the MDS output about the distinctiveness (1) of Schwartz's higher order value types (i.e., traits) and (2) of the two assessment methods (PBVS-C and PVQ) were confirmed in both samples.

Operationalizing the Theory of Human Values: Balancing Homogeneity of Reflective Items and Theoretical Coverage

Schwartz's theory of human values, as operationalized using different instruments such as the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ), was confirmed by multiple studies using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). Because of its success, a short version of the PVQ was introduced in the European Social Survey (ESS). However, initial tests using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) pointed to low discriminant validity of the 10 basic values: The correlations between values next to each other in the two-dimensional space described by SSA were close to or greater than 1. In response, one research stream suggested combining the factors with low discriminant validity. Another stream suggested that the problem was not low discriminant validity but rather misspecifications in the model. Analyses of the short Portrait Values Questionnaire of the ESS confirmed the latter view. This paper demonstrates that the problems of the short version of the PVQ exist in the full 40-item PVQ as well. Based on SEM analyses of the items of the full PVQ, we propose that it can provide measures of 15 more narrowly defined values with good discriminant validity. Our proposal respects the conceptual complexity of the values theory while avoiding contamination of composite scores. It can be expected that the improved measurement of 15 values will increase their predictive power. The presence of some single items suggests the extension of the value theory and scales to encompass more than 15 values. Implications for further development of the scale are drawn.

Escolha do (a) parceiro (a) ideal por heterossexuais: são seus valores e traços de personalidade uma explicação?

O presente estudo objetivou conhecer em que medida os valores humanos e os traços de personalidade se correlacionam com atributos desejáveis do (a) parceiro (a) ideal entre heterossexuais. Participaram 205 pessoas (100 mulheres e 105 homens) da população geral de João Pessoa (PB). Estes responderam aos seguintes instrumentos: Questionário dos Valores Básicos, Inventário dos Cinco Grandes Fatores e Escala de Atributos do Parceiro Ideal, além de perguntas sociodemográficas. Os valores se correlacionaram de forma teoricamente esperada com os atributos, sendo mais preponderantes do que os traços de personalidade. Quando comparados, homens e mulheres diferiram na importância dada a tais atributos. Finalmente, mostrou-se adequado o modelo hierárquico traços de personalidade → valores → atributos. Estes resultados foram discutidos tomando como referência a perspectiva evolucionista da escolha de parceiro e a teoria funcionalista dos valores humanos.

How and when do personal values guide our attitudes and sociality? Explaining cross-cultural variability in attitude–value linkages.

This article examines how and when personal values relate to social attitudes. Considering values as motivational orientations, we propose an attitude-value taxonomy based on Moral Foundation Theory (Haidt & Joseph, 2007) and Schwartz's (1992) basic human values theory allowing predictions of (a) how social attitudes are related to personal values, and (b) when macro-contextual factors have an impact on attitude-value links. In a meta-analysis based on the Schwartz Value Survey (Schwartz, 1992) and the Portrait Value Questionnaire (Schwartz et al., 2001; k = 91, N = 30,357 from 31 countries), we found that self-transcendence (vs. self-enhancement) values relate positively to fairness/proenvironmental and care/prosocial attitudes, and conservation (vs. openness-to-change) values relate to purity/religious and authority/political attitudes, whereas ingroup/identity attitudes are not consistently associated with value dimensions. Additionally, we hypothesize that the ecological, economic, and cultural context moderates the extent to which values guide social attitudes. Results of the multi-level meta-analysis show that ecological and cultural factors inhibit or foster attitude-value associations: Disease stress is associated with lower attitude-value associations for conservation (vs. openness-to-change) values; collectivism is associated with stronger attitude-value links for conservation values; individualism is associated with stronger attitude-value links for self-transcendence (vs. self-enhancement) values; and uncertainty avoidance is associated with stronger attitude-values links, particularly for conservation values. These findings challenge universalistic claims about context-independent attitude-value relations and contribute to refined future value and social attitude theories.

Introduction to the Special Issue on the Theory of Human Values

Research on human values in the social sciences took o f after Schwartz introduced his theory of basic human values in 1992. This special issue includes articles dealing with methods of data analysis applied to measurements of some or all of the values postulated by the theory and of other variables.

Testing the Circular Structure of Human Values: A Meta-Analytical Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Schwartz’ theory of human values has found widespread interest in the social sciences. A central part of the theory is that the 10 proposed basic values (i.e., achievement, power, selfdirection, hedonism, stimulation, benevolence, universalism, conformity, security, and tradition) are arranged in a circular structure. The present study applies a meta-analytical structural equation modelling approach to test the circular structure. The model tested was the quasicircumplex model, which is considered the most appropriate representation of the circular structure. Moreover, the study explores how far the circular structure varies with the used samples and methodological characteristics of the studies. The meta-analysis comprised 318 matrices with the correlations among the 10 values gathered from 88 studies and the European Social Survey (overall n = 251,239). To reduce heterogeneity across the matrices, cluster analysis was used to sort the matrices into eight clusters with a similar correlation profile and tested the circular structure in each cluster. The results showed that three clusters demonstrated a good fit with the data and an adequate match to the theoretically proposed structure. The clusters’ cultural and methodological profiles indicate potential moderators of the circular structure

Parasite stress promotes homicide and child maltreatment

Researchers using the parasite-stress theory of human values have discovered many cross-cultural behavioural patterns that inform a range of scholarly disciplines. Here, we apply the theory to major categories of interpersonal violence, and the empirical findings are supportive. We hypothesize that the collectivism evoked by high parasite stress is a cause of adult-on-adult interpersonal violence. Across the US states, parasite stress and collectivism each positively predicts rates of men's and women's slaying of a romantic partner, as well as the rate of male-honour homicide and of the motivationally similar felony-related homicide. Of these four types of homicide, wealth inequality has an independent effect only on rates of male-honour and felony-related homicide. Parasite stress and collectivism also positively predict cross-national homicide rates. Child maltreatment by caretakers is caused, in part, by divestment in offspring of low phenotypic quality, and high parasite stress produces more such offspring than low parasite stress. Rates of each of two categories of the child maltreatment--lethal and non-lethal--across the US states are predicted positively by parasite stress, with wealth inequality and collectivism having limited effects. Parasite stress may be the strongest predictor of interpersonal violence to date.

Assessing Values at an Early Age: The Picture-Based Value Survey for Children (PBVS–C)

In this article, we introduce the Picture-Based Value Survey for Children (PBVS–C): a new assessment instrument that was developed within the conceptual framework of Schwartz’s (1994) theory of universal human values. In the article, we describe the development of the PBVS–C with a specific focus on children’s cognitive-developmental background (Harter, 1999; La Greca, 1990) and first applications. Multidimensional Scaling analyses in 2 samples of 8- to 12-year-old children (N= 267, N= 421, respectively) revealed highly differentiated structural patterns that closely correspond to Schwartz’s theory. We discuss these findings and the potentials and limitations of the new instrument with respect to future directions of values research.

The relationship between individual values, psychological well‐being, and organizational commitment among Israeli police officers

PurposeThere has been a growing trend recently to examine individual‐level values in order to better understand the attitudes and behaviors of employees in the workplace. This paper aims to continue this trend by examining the relationship between individual values, using Schwartz's basic human values theory, and psychological well‐being (PWB) and affective organizational commitment. It also seeks to examine whether demographic variables control the relationship between individual values and the two dependent variables.Design/methodology/approachThe sample is comprised of 271 police officers enrolled in an undergraduate program in an Israeli university.FindingsAs expected, the regression analysis showed a positive relationship between PWB and the values of benevolence, self‐direction, and achievement, and a negative relationship between PWB and the values of power and tradition. Surprisingly, organizational commitment was negatively related to achievement and positively related to power – the reverse of their relationship with PWB. The results also revealed a negative correlation between PWB and commitment.Originality/valueThe findings encourage future research on the relationship between individual values, PWB, and organizational commitment among police officers.