Values

"Values are our ideas about what is desirable" Wilkie

Everyone has their own ideas about values which may have been affected by your up bringing or major life events. Here are Kahle's list of values 1983

1. Self Respect
2. Excitement
3. Being Well Respected
4. Self-fulfilment
5. Sense of Accomplishment
6. Warm Relationships With Others
7. Security
8. Fun and Enjoyment
9. Sense of Belonging

My top three values from this list would be Self Respect, Security and Fun and Enjoyment. I have been brought up to always respect myself and others for who they are and this has carried through with me which is why Self Respect is so important to me. How would you list your values? Which is the most important to you? For a full list of values people hold follow this link http://www.selfcounseling.com/help/personalsuccess/personalvalues.html

People's values can be affected by major events in their lives. These are the key news events I can remember in my life;

Robbie Williams leaving Take That - 1995

Princess Diana's Death - 1997
Twin Towers 9/11 - 2001
Tsunami - 2004
London Underground Bombings - 2005
Barak Obama 1st US President - 2009

The most important social institution is the family and many believe that between birth and 7 years is the period when personality and attitudes are predominately formed. Family values are expressed in many adverts such as Kellogg's, OXO, Persil, Hovis bread and Andrex toilet tissue
The following test is just for fun but is interesting to reflect on when its conducted with a group of people.

Rank the following animals 1, 2, 3, 4 in order of preference:

Key order to Animals

1. How you want others (significant people in your life) to perceive you today


2. How you believe you are actually perceived today by others


3. How you would like to be perceived by other in the future


4. How you actually truly want to be, without influence of what other significant people in your life feel and think about you

Lion - Dominant, fearsome, independent, decisive, proactive, isolated, aloof, leading, critical, objective, detached, focused, fearless

Dog - Friendly, faithful, loyal, supportive, protective, dependable, reliable, trustful, trusting, solid, keen, hard-working, loving

Parrot - Lively, fun, free-spirited, sociable, amenable, popular, attractive, cheerful, passionate, spontaneous

Elephant - Tolerant, passive, co-operative, respected, big, strong, controlled, calm, indomitable, revered

People's values can also vary depending on their generation. In the 1960s, Maslow concluded that there are approximately 50 values that motivate and drive our behavior. Rokeach, working at about the same period, decided there were 36. Nobody had really methodically looked at how many there were. The concept was that half a dozen of these values, as priorities, would explain any human behavior. In 1979, after eight years of research with a group of international associates on values, we concluded that every human being has access to approximately 125 values. We also saw that the 125 values fell out developmentally into four phases, each with its own world-view, as illustrated in the Development Map. Warc 2005.

One way you can test your values is by taking the VALS test at http://www.strategicbusinessinsights.com/vals/surveynew.shtml on taking the test myself I got the following results

Strivers are trendy and fun loving. Because they are motivated by achievement, Strivers are concerned about the opinions and approval of others. Money defines success for Strivers, who don't have enough of it to meet their desires. They favor stylish products that emulate the purchases of people with greater material wealth. Many Strivers see themselves as having a job rather than a career, and a lack of skills and focus often prevents them from moving ahead. Strivers are active consumers because shopping is both a social activity and an opportunity to demonstrate to peers their ability to buy. As consumers, they are as impulsive as their financial circumstance will allow.

Motivated by the desire for achievement, Achievers have goal-oriented lifestyles and a deep commitment to career and family. Their social lives reflect this focus and are structured around family, their place of worship, and work. Achievers live conventional lives, are politically conservative, and respect authority and the status quo. They value consensus, predictability, and stability over risk, intimacy, and self-discovery. With many wants and needs, Achievers are active in the consumer marketplace. Image is important to Achievers; they favor established, prestige products and services that demonstrate success to their peers. Because of their busy lives, they are often interested in a variety of time-saving devices.