Life Values - Slide Show - Overview of the SVI principles.
- 1. The SVI Life Values* *i.e., common values that act as 'guiding principles
- 2. ConservationConservation Self-Self- enhancementenhancement Security,Security, Tradition,Tradition, Conformity Conformity Self-Self- transcendencetranscendence Achievement,Achievement, Power, Power, Hedonism Hedonism Universalism, benevolence Stimulation, Self-direction, Hedonism Openness to changeOpenness to change Life Values
- 3. SVI • Shalom Schwartz (1992, 1994) used his ‘SVI’ (Schwartz Value Inventory) with a wide survey of over 60,000 people to identify common values that acted as 'guiding principles for one's life'. • He identified ten 'value types' that gather multiple values into a single category. • They are identified with short explanations here:
- 4. Power • This takes value from social status and prestige. • The ability to control others is important and power will be actively sought through dominance of others and control over resources. • An example, is a dictator seeks to control all of the world’s governments.
- 5. Achievement • Value here comes from setting goals and then achieving them. • The more challenge, the greater the sense of achievement. • When others have achieved the same thing, status is reduced and greater goals are sought. • An example, is all people’s in all cultures striving for world unity and peace.
- 6. Hedonism • Hedonists simply enjoy themselves. • They seek pleasure above all things and may, according to the view of others, sink into debauchery. • An example of this, the movement, people of perverts who seek to have sexual relations with anyone and everyone, utilizing jokes, tricks, pranks and perversity.
- 7. Stimulation • The need for stimulation is close to hedonism, though the goal is slightly different. • Pleasure here comes more specifically from excitement and thrills and a person with this driver is more likely to be found doing extreme sports than propping up a bar. • For example, bungee jumpers, sky diver, and extreme down hill skiing.
- 8. Self-direction • Those who seek self-direction enjoy being independent and outside the control of others. • They prefer freedom and may have a particular creative or artistic bent, which they seek to indulge whenever possible. • For example, sidewalk artists, street fair artists, and clowns for hire.
- 9. Universalism • The universalist seeks social justice and tolerance for all. • They promote peace and equality and find war anathema except perhaps in pursuit of lasting peace. • An example, is the movie stars who work to bring about food to the homeless, those in poverty, and the disenfranchised.
- 10. Benevolence • Those who tend towards benevolence are very giving, seeking to help others and provide general welfare. • They are the 'earth mothers' who nurture all. • An example, are the land owners who provide work farms, communes, and other self-supporting organizations in rural areas.
- 11. Tradition • The traditionalist respects that which has gone before, doing things simply because they are customary. • They are conservatives in the original sense, seeking to preserve the world order as is. • Any change makes them uncomfortable. • For example, people who re-establish old cities which boomed in more prosperous years.
- 12. Conformity • The person who values conformity seeks obedience to clear rules and structures. • They gain a sense of control through doing what they are told and conforming to agreed laws and statutes. • An example, is the parolee who is working in a new community different from which he came from.
- 13. Security • Those who seek security seek health and safety to a greater degree than other people (perhaps because of childhood woes). • Though they may worry about the potential of military force, they welcome the comfort that their existence brings. • An example, are security guards who work in industry and commercial businesses.
- 14. Super-grouping • Note how these values form something of a spectrum, with successive values often having a close relationship. This is perhaps unsurprising as they are groupings of a larger number of values. They can also be collated into larger super-groups: • Openness to change: Stimulation, self-direction and some hedonism. • Self-enhancement: Achievement, power and some hedonism. • Conservation: Security, tradition and conformity. • Self-transcendence: Universalism and benevolence.
- 16. Reading List: • Schwartz, S.H. (1992). Universals in the content and structure of values: Theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, M. Zanna, San Diego: Academic Press • Schwartz, S.H. (1994). Beyond individualism/collectivism: New dimensions of values. Individualism and Collectivism: Theory Application and Methods. U. Kim, H.C. Triandis, C. Kagitcibasi, S.C. Choi and G. Yoon, Newbury Park, CA: Sage
Editor's Notes
- #2: These can be arranged in a circle or square, with these four variables forming two dimensions of focus on the self or not, and seeking stability or change.
- #3: These can be arranged in a circle or square, with these four variables forming two dimensions of focus on the self or not, and seeking stability or change.
- #16: These can be arranged in a circle or square, with these four variables forming two dimensions of focus on the self or not, and seeking stability or change.