VALUES

DEVELOPMENT
 The Imprint Period

PERIODS OF
DEVELOPMENT The Modeling Period
Morris Massey

The Socialization Period

 The Imprint Period

• Up to the age of seven, we are like sponges, absorbing

everything around us and accepting much of it as true,
especially when it comes from our PARENTS.
• The confusion and blind belief of this period can also lead
to the early formation of trauma and other deep
problems.
 The Imprint Period

• The critical thing here is to LEARN a sense of right and

wrong, good and bad.
• This is a human construction which we nevertheless
often assume would exist even if we were not here
(which is an indication of how deeply imprinted it has
become).
 The Modeling Period

• Between the ages of eight and thirteen, we copy

people, often our PARENTS, but also OTHERS.
• Rather than blind acceptance of their values, we are
trying them on like a suit of clothes, to see how they feel.
 The Modeling Period

• At this age we may be much impressed with religion or

our teachers.
• You may remember being particularly influenced by
junior school teachers who seemed so knowledgeable--
maybe even more so than your parents.
 The Socialization Period

• Between 13 and 21, we are very largely influenced by

our PEERS.
• As we develop as individuals and look for ways to get
away from the earlier programming, we naturally turn to
people who seem more like us.
 The Socialization Period

• Other influences at these ages include the MEDIA,

especially those parts which seem to resonate with the
values of our peer groups.
 BECOMING
PRINCIPLED
• The IBO defines a principled person as someone who
“…acts with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of
fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the
individual, groups and communities. They take
responsibility for their own actions and the consequences
that accompany them.” (ibo.org, 2009)
 Pre-moral

• In the pre-moral state, we have no real values (we are

thus 'amoral’).
• Young children are pre-moral. So also are psychopaths.
• Our basic nature tells us to be Machiavellian, doing
whatever it takes to achieve our goals, even if it means
hurting other people.
 Conventional

• Most people have conventional values, as learned from

their parents, teachers and peers.
• These basically say, 'here are the rules to live in
reasonable harmony with other people.'
 Conventional

• The bottom line of this state is that we will follow them

just so long as we think we need to.
• We will break our values occasionally, and especially if
our needs are threatened or we are pretty sure we can
get away with breaking values with nobody else knowing
about it.
 Principled

• When we are truly principled, we believe in our values to

the point where they are an integral and subconscious
part of our person.
• Right and wrong are absolute things beyond the person,
for example as defined by a religion.
 Principled

• The test of a principled person is that they will stick to

their values through thick and thin, and even will sacrifice
themselves rather than break their principles.
• Many great leaders were principled (Martin Luther King,
Gandhi, etc.).
'Give me the child and I
will give you the man.'
REFERENCES

• http://changingminds.org/explanations/values/values_development.htm