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THE VALUE OF VALUES

OBJECTIVES

1. Understand the meaning of values and its importance to one’s life.

2. Realize the role of values in relation to one’s choices and decisions.
3. Appreciate how values are developed or formed and its relation to one’s choices and decisions.
4. Understand the meaning and importance of self-awareness to our holistic development
5. Realize their self-worth and dignity as a human person

OUTLINE
1. Value
a. Definition
b. Nature of Values
c. The Core Value of a Human Person
d. Periods of Development of Value according to Morris Massey1
e. Importance of Values

CONTENT
1. Values Formation
a. Definition

- Etymologically, the word “values” comes from the Latin word “valere”, which
means “to measure the worth of something;”
- Values are the elements of life prevailing in any society. They lie at the core of
man’s life. They color his choice. They shape and determine an individual’s or
group’s decision, to like or dislike, favor or disfavor, change or not to change2;
- Value is a principle or quality intrinsically valuable, important or desirable to you;
- Values are personal. Your convictions, beliefs, ethics rolled into one;
- Values are not inherent they are socially developed.
- Values are that which we seek to achieve or maintain according to our life as the
standard of evaluation. Values are the motive power behind purposeful action.
They are the ends to which we act. Without them, life would be impossible. Life
requires self-generated action to sustain itself. Without values, one could not act,
and death would follow.

- Value specifies a relationship between a person and a goal. A value requires a

valuer--a particular person who aims to achieve or maintain something. An object
cannot have value in itself. Value is relational, and so requires a person and a
goal. The goal to which one aims is called the "value", but the relationship is

1
Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/values/values_development.htm, on June 10, 2011
2
Tiempo, Alex (2005). Social Philosophy: Foundation of Filipino Values. Rex Bookstore. Manila p. 1
 always required. This means an object cannot be a value in itself. It only gains the
title of value when a person acts to achieve or maintain it.
b. Nature of Values3
● Values are important in life. Each of us holds numerous values and we level
their importance; it maybe is important to you but less to others; it may be less
to you but others may set it as extremely important.
● Five explicit features of human values4:
1. Values are beliefs linked inextricably to affect the person’s emotion
or might affect other’s feeling - once activated, values are infused
with feelings, for a person who values honesty once accused of
cheating they maybe is displeased, embarrassed, aroused or be
furious5;
2. Values refer to desirable goals that motivate action – our personal
value may force us to improve ourselves and become a better
person. People for whom social order and justice is an important
value may march on the street to protest once they think it is
violated6;
3. Values transcend specific actions and situations - we carry our
values in most if not all our experiences, they are not set aside by
specific situations. Obedience for example is a desirable value that
may be relevant at work or in school, in sports, business, and
politics, with family, and friends. This separate values from norms
and other cultural traits7;
4. Values serve as standards or criteria – our value is our guideline
whether to acknowledge that the act is good or not; it is also guides
our evaluation of actions, policies, people, and events. What is
good or bad, just or unjust, ethical or unethical depends on our
personal values8;
5. Values are ordered by importance relative to one another – we may
set aside one value for another and it depends on its degree of

3
Basic Human Values, Shalom H. Schwartz retrieved from
http://www.eangallaghersite.com/.../Article_Basic_Human_Values.22700057.doc on June 10, 2011
4
Berry, John W. et. al. ed (1997). Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Volume 3: Social Behavior and
Applications. Allyn and Bacon. Massachusetts. p.80
5
Charland, Louis C. & Zachar, Peter Ed. (2008). Facts and Value in Emotion. John Benjamins Publishing
Company. Philadelphia, U.S.A. p. 103
6
Stroshal, Kirk D., Hayes, Steven C. Ed. (2004). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Springer Science
+ Media Business Inc. New York, U.S.A. p. 192
7
Berry, Ibid.
8
Hosford-Dunn, Holly et al. ed. (2000). Audiology Practice Management. Thieme Medical Publishers Inc. p.
42
 importance to us9. Do we attribute more value to our family than
our country? Or do we attribute more value to our friends than our
family? This separates values from our understanding of norms
and attitude;

c. The Core Value of a Human Person10

● The following are the different dimension of a human person and related
values:
1. Being physical (made of matter) - a human person needs to
maintain good and sustainable health and harmony with nature.
2. Being spiritual – an individual is capable of reasoning beyond
material into the level of spiritual concern.
3. Being rational – a human being is gifted with a mind or the faculty
of knowing.
4. Being moral – a person is capable of freely choosing what is right
and what is wrong; good or bad; pleasing or not pleasing; ethical or
unethical.
5. Being social – no human is an island and everybody is nurtured by
a particular community.
6. Being economic – a human being is bounded by his/her concern
over production and consumption of goods and services to satisfy
his/her needs and wants.
7. Being political – as a member of a group and a community a
human person is capable of exercising control and authority; or on
the other be controlled by certain rules and laws within the group
and community.
d. Periods of Development of Value according to Morris Massey11
● Sociologist Morris Massey has described three major periods during which our
personal values are developed.
1. The Imprint Period
a. From the moment we are born up to the age of seven, we are
sponge that absorbs everything around us. We don’t have
critical evaluation of things and accepting much of it as true
especially when it comes from our parents and significant
others. Sometimes this blind belief causes trauma and other
deep problems;

9
Berry, Ibid.
10
Values Education for the Filipino, 1997 Revised Version of the DECS Values Education Program
UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, Education Committee Project
11
Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/values/values_development.htm, on June 10, 2011
 2. The Modeling Period
a. Between 7-13 years old we look up to other people specially
our parents as models and we copy their personality. It is not
blind acceptance, we copy them to feel how they feel;
3. The Socialization Period
a. We maybe are very largely influenced by our peers during
13-21 years old. We turn and associate to people who seem
more like us, or we changed our character to fit the values of
our group;
e. Importance of Values
● Living in agreement with one’s values is fulfilling;
● Living in conflict with one’s values is stressful and dissatisfying;
● That’s why it is so important to clearly understand your own personal code of
values: your happiness depends upon not only knowing your values but living in
accordance with them.
f. The Significance of Values
- Our ultimate happiness in this life, says Aristotle, consists in the sum of
earthly goods essential to us. Accordingly, values relate to our ultimate
purpose, to that which would make us completely happy. In this respect, our
actions are significant because they are the means by which we attain
happiness. Good actions are those that bring happiness. Evil actions are
those that bring unhappiness.
- Morally good actions are authentic values, while immoral actions are “apparent
values”, that is, evil disguised as good. While these evil acts often promise
pleasure or profit, they lead to pain and misery. Immoral actions do not fit
human nature and, thus, we say they are contrary to natural law.

g. True, Meaningful and Lasting Values

● Value your self12 – we need to familiarize ourselves with our strengths and
weaknesses. Be a man of value rather than a man of success.
● Value compassion13 – we must always show and extend our concern for others.
● Values passion14 – enthusiasm and passion energize our lives.
● Value knowledge – knowledge is power. Love to value education.
● Value kindness15 – your kindness warms the hearts of others, relieves their
burdens and makes them feel valuable.

12
Reflection presented by Prof. Gabriel M. Delos Santos, during the AdU NSTP Instructors Team Building I
Caliraya, Lumban, Laguna dated June 24-25, 2011
13
Reflection by Prof. delos Santos, Ibid
14
Reflection presented by Prof. Ernesto Opus, during the AdU NSTP Instructors Team Building I Caliraya,
Lumban, Laguna dated June 24-25, 2011
15
Reflection presented by Prof. Eulalia Castillo, during the AdU NSTP Instructors Team Building I Caliraya,
Lumban, Laguna dated June 24-25, 2011
 ● Value time16 - when we value time, we put it to good use. When we waste it, we
trivialize it.
● Value mentoring17 – you are influencing others we become source of
encouragement and inspiration and help to make the world a better place.
● Value your country18 – you must affirm civic pride and responsibility without
marginalizing or discriminating other culture and nationality.
● Value GOD19 – above all things God is our shelter and salvation.

h. Basis of the Continuing Valuing Process and Self-Awareness

● Although we may carry some of our personal values although out our life, but
most people tend to change and affirm new values. The flowing are the
rationale why we change and constantly change our personal values:
1. NEED FOR SELF-ESTEEM – a healthy regard for oneself and one’s
worth
2. NEED FOR SELF-DIRECTION – we seek for accountability and
responsibility for what one makes of one’s life
3. NEED FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT – compels us to get involve, to use
our talent and to take risks
4. NEED FOR OTHERS - reach out for others in friendship and love
5. NEED FOR RECOGNITION – to feel useful and good, created for a
purpose, to contribute for the development of the world
6. NEED FOR SECURITY - to protect oneself against all eventualities of
life
7. NEED FOR MEANING IN LIFE - to discern the purpose and relation of
man’s different activities and the things around him

References:

16
Reflection presented by Prof. Edgardo Aquillon, during the AdU NSTP Instructors Team Building I
Caliraya, Lumban, Laguna dated June 24-25, 2011
17
Reflection presented by Prof. Evelyn Rafael, during the AdU NSTP Instructors Team Building I Caliraya,
Lumban, Laguna dated June 24-25, 2011
18
Reflection presented by Atty. Julius A. Babista, during the AdU NSTP Instructors Team Building I
Caliraya, Lumban, Laguna dated June 24-25, 2011
19
Reflection presented by Prof. Rafael, Ibid