Session 3 :

Learning Target
By the end of the session, you will be able to say
I can make a list of ways to become
responsible adolescents prepared for adult
life and manage the demands of teen years
Topic: Values and Virtues
Task 1: Identify the basic values and virtues.

At the core of every person lies a system of beliefs that adheres to the highest ideals of human
existence. These ideals create meaning and purpose in a person’s life. These ideals are called
values. We will refer to values in this session as the universal human values that transcend culture
and race. There are different sets of values identified by different people and organizations,
depending on what their order of priorities are, and what they intend to achieve. These are not in
conflict with each other, but rather, a ranking in the order of importance over what set of values
they prioritize.

Shalom H. Schwartz, a psychologist and cross-cultural researcher from the Hebrew

University of Jerusalem, conducted a research which covered many different peoples and
cultures to identify the ten common values people have regardless of their racial and cultural
backgrounds. Schwartz wrote in his report, Basic Human values; Theories, Methods and
Applications, the findings of his research, which identified the ten basic values that can be
characterized by describing their central motivational goals. These ten basic values are:
1. Self-Direction – independent thought and action; choosing, creating, and exploring.
2. Stimulation – excitement, novelty, and challenge in life.
3. Hedonism – pleasure and sensuous gratification for oneself.
4. Achievement – personal success through demonstrating competence according to social standards.
5. Power – social status and prestige, and control or dominance over people and resources.
6. Security – safety, harmony, and stability of society, of relationships, and of self.
7. Conformity – restraint of actions, inclinations, and impulses that are likely to upset or harm others
and violate social expectations or norms.
8. Tradition – respect, commitment, and acceptance of the customs and ideas that traditional culture
or religion provide the self.
9. Benevolence – preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is frequent personal
contact (the ‘in-group).
10. Universalism – understanding, appreciation, tolerance, and protection for the welfare of all people
and of nature.

The motivational goals that characterize the ten values he identified were:
1. Openness to change;
2. Self-transcendence;
3. Self-enhancement;
4. Conversation.
Topic: Personality Traits – Positive and Negative Traits
Task 2: Identifying the type of Orientations

In the diagram, on the left, Schwartz illustrated how

certain values may contradict others when motivations
are considered. Achievement and power (self-
enhancement) lies to contradiction to universalism and
benevolence (self-transcendence), as stimulation and
self-direction (openness to change) is opposite
conformity or tradition and security (conservation).
For example, a person who has identified power as an
important personal value will most likely put social
justice in equal importance. Schwartz explains that the
contradiction may have been the result of the various
circumstances in life of the respondents of the
research study. Schwartz noted that values are
influenced by gender, age, social background, and
educational attainment.
CLOSING PRAYER: In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen
Jesus Divine Master we adore you, we
bless you. As we developed our personality
traits we learn to let go of our negativity and
embrace the positivity that you have showed
us. Enlighten our way and guide us to the path
of developing ourselves through honing out
positive traits that we may positively serve
others as well.
St. Dominic – Pray For us