How can you recognise your own values?
How do you decide when to make a stand, or what is important to you?
People develop values as they grow up and mature. They are influenced by their circumstances and by the people around them. As a result values can be very personal and unique to each individual. The most significant influences in developing values are:
your family
your education
your religious (or not) upbringing
your friends and peer group, and
the media.
Because your values are so personal and part of your make up, you may not always recognise them. One way of identifying them is when you are faced with difficult choices. In order to make decisions you are likely to refer back to your values in order to discover what is important to you. For example, if you had a special family outing planned and your boss asked you to work on a rush order at the last minute, you may have to decide if you value your family time more or less than pleasing your boss. Obviously the circumstances around such events play an important part in the decision making, but alongside your own values.
Activity
Look at the different sets of circumstances in the examples below. In each case a decision has to be made which challenges the values of the individuals involved. If you are working in a group, discuss the different values involved and how they may affect the possible outcomes.
1. Sarah’s daughter is pregnant and wants to have an abortion. She feels that she is too young to have a baby and there are lots of things she wants to do before having a family. Sarah has always been strongly opposed to abortion and values human life. She loves her daughter and has always tried to support her.
2. John’s employers want to make some changes at work in an attempt to improve company productivity and profits. These changes will reduce John’s overtime payments and meal breaks. John feels that this time his employers have gone too far and he would like to challenge their proposals, even if it means strike action. However, not all of his colleagues agree and feel that it is best not to rock the boat because at least they still have jobs and these measures might save the company.
3. It’s a General Election year and the candidates are canvassing for your vote. How do you decide who to vote for? Which candidates share your values and offer policies that you agree with?
4. Paul’s sister has announced that she is going to marry someone from a different nationality/ religion. How might this affect Paul’s values and how might they differ from those of his sister?
5. A supermarket chain wants to build a new store in a public park in the centre of town. It has offered the local authority a good price for the land. Andy feels that the park is an important public facility and well used by many people, but some of his neighbours like the idea of having a big new supermarket in the town. What does Andy value about the town? What do his neighbours value?
How did you react to these situations?
Did everyone in your group agree? If not, why not?
What do your responses say about you?
Who do you know who shares your values?
How do you decide when to make a stand, or what is important to you?
People develop values as they grow up and mature. They are influenced by their circumstances and by the people around them. As a result values can be very personal and unique to each individual. The most significant influences in developing values are:
your family
your education
your religious (or not) upbringing
your friends and peer group, and
the media.
Because your values are so personal and part of your make up, you may not always recognise them. One way of identifying them is when you are faced with difficult choices. In order to make decisions you are likely to refer back to your values in order to discover what is important to you. For example, if you had a special family outing planned and your boss asked you to work on a rush order at the last minute, you may have to decide if you value your family time more or less than pleasing your boss. Obviously the circumstances around such events play an important part in the decision making, but alongside your own values.
Activity
Look at the different sets of circumstances in the examples below. In each case a decision has to be made which challenges the values of the individuals involved. If you are working in a group, discuss the different values involved and how they may affect the possible outcomes.
1. Sarah’s daughter is pregnant and wants to have an abortion. She feels that she is too young to have a baby and there are lots of things she wants to do before having a family. Sarah has always been strongly opposed to abortion and values human life. She loves her daughter and has always tried to support her.
2. John’s employers want to make some changes at work in an attempt to improve company productivity and profits. These changes will reduce John’s overtime payments and meal breaks. John feels that this time his employers have gone too far and he would like to challenge their proposals, even if it means strike action. However, not all of his colleagues agree and feel that it is best not to rock the boat because at least they still have jobs and these measures might save the company.
3. It’s a General Election year and the candidates are canvassing for your vote. How do you decide who to vote for? Which candidates share your values and offer policies that you agree with?
4. Paul’s sister has announced that she is going to marry someone from a different nationality/ religion. How might this affect Paul’s values and how might they differ from those of his sister?
5. A supermarket chain wants to build a new store in a public park in the centre of town. It has offered the local authority a good price for the land. Andy feels that the park is an important public facility and well used by many people, but some of his neighbours like the idea of having a big new supermarket in the town. What does Andy value about the town? What do his neighbours value?
How did you react to these situations?
Did everyone in your group agree? If not, why not?
What do your responses say about you?
Who do you know who shares your values?
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