Directions: for all the following circle either “not important,” “somewhat important,” “important,” or “very important.” After you are finished, go through and look at those values you indicated as being very important; place a star next to those values that you consider to be your absolute highest priority in life (aim for a top 5).
Explanation of the values exploration: Learning our values helps us to determine what is most important to us. This can be of value in learning what sort of people we should seek to associate with, what type of workplace culture will best suit us, what philosophy of life might appeal to us, etc. A values exercise also allows us to highlight and work on internal conflicts (values that are important to us which we are currently not living in agreement with) or external conflicts (values conflicts in our relationships with others).
Artistic expression / creativity.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Belonging — to be a part of a community / family.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Compromise — to be open to give and take in reaching agreement with others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Compassion — to feel and act on concern for others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Courage — to stand up bravely to adversity, threats, and / or troubles.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Curiosity — to seek out, discover, experience, or learn about new things and ideas.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Diligence — to get things done that are expected of me; to be thorough.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Liberty — to be free from unjust restrictions or limitations.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Commitment — to make enduring, meaningful commitments.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Gratitude — to be thankful and appreciative for what one has or has been given.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Imagination — to think of possibilities, to think creatively, or outside the box.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Openness — to be open to new ideas, and experiences.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Comfort — to have a pleasant and comfortable life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Rationality — to value reason, logic, and evidence.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Challenge — to face difficult challenges and master them.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Spirituality — to connect to some deeper truth / reality, or to connect with something greater than oneself.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Religion — to engage with spirituality (see above) in a traditional way, according to certain holy books, rules, or customs.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Beauty — to appreciate and find beauty in the world.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Romantic love — to value or believe in the possibility of a deep connection with another person based on one’s concept of love.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Monogamy — to devote oneself romantically / sexually to only one person.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Loyalty to others — to stand by / protect those you have chosen to be part of your closest circle of family / friends.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Loyalty to abstract entities — to commit oneself to a particular cause, nation, organization, ideology, or movement.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Non-conformity — to think for oneself, even if it means defying cultural norms, family norms, religious customs, etc.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Attractiveness — to be physically attractive.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Traditional Marriage — to form a union with another person according to the customs of one’s culture or religion.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Adventure — to have new and exciting experiences.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Freedom — to be autonomous or self-determined / independent.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Peacefulness / Agreeableness — finding common ground, avoiding of de-escalating conflict, seeking to keep the peace.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Achievement — to have important accomplishments.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Acceptance — to be accepted as I am.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Outspokenness — saying what one thinks is right or true, regardless of whether it may rub others the wrong way.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Tradition — honoring the traditional values or customs of one’s culture / nation, and adhering to founding principles / norms.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Respect for authority — listening to and obeying those in positions of power.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Spontaneity — doing things on a whim, being adventurous, not overly planning things.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Honesty — to always (or almost always) tell the truth.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Care — to help and take care of other humans or animals.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Sexual openness — to be open to new sexual experiences, behaviors or practices.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Acceptance — to see or accept things as they are, rather than how we would like them to be.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Emotional openness — to be in touch with one’s emotions, and to freely express one’s emotions in communication or interactions with others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Emotional regulation — to keep one’s emotions in check through rational thought, to consider reason to be more helpful than emotion, or to consider the appropriateness of emotional expression.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Integrity — to live in a way that is consistent with one’s values.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Musical appreciation — to highly value music through creation of music and / or enjoyment of music.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Novelty — to have variety and change in life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Patriotism — to revere and be loyal to one’s nation.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Practicality — to focus on what is prudent or sensible.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Providing — to provide for loved ones.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Power — to have authority over others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Meaning — to have a meaning or purpose to guide one’s life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Responsibility — to do what is expected of oneself and to be accountable for one’s actions.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Humanitarianism — to help people that are in need.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Virtue — to place a high priority on acting according to one’s moral principles in all situations, and to highly value morality.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Wealth — to have an abundance of money and resources needed for living life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Order / organization — to live an ordered and structured life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Passion — to have deep, enthusiastic feeling about certain values, ideas, concepts, or people.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Pleasure — to feel good or euphoric.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Popularity — to be well-liked by others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Risk-taking — to be intrepid, to take risks and chances.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Safety / security — to live in such a way that maximizes one’s safety and security.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Self-acceptance — to unconditionally accept oneself as you are.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Forgiveness — to be forgiving of others failures or misdeeds.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Self-discipline — to exercise control over one’s own actions and lifestyle.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Discipline of others — valuing a system of consequences for undesirable behavior in others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Self-esteem — to feel good about oneself.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Service — to be of service to others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Sexuality — to have an active and satisfying sex life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Simplicity — to live simply, with few needs.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Solitude — to have time apart from others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Stability — to have a life that is secure and consistent.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Tolerance — to respect and accept those different from oneself.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Non-violence — to strive to not harm others, or to strive to an end to war and violence.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Nurturance — to care for and nurture others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Fairness — to strive for fair relations in the world.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Gentleness — to be gentle, considerate, and kind to other humans and animals.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Moderation — to avoid excess, and avoid harmful consumption of drugs / alcohol.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Purity — to avoid indulgence in pleasurable activities that may carry risk, except in ways that are prescribed by one’s culture or religion; or to avoid activities that are considered to be taboo (e.g., promiscuous sex, recreational drug use, etc.).
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Mastery — to excel at certain activities.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Loving — to care for and love others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Leisure — to have plenty of time for doing relaxing or enjoyable activities.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Knowledge / truth — to be committed to discovering knowledge or truths.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Social justice — seeking to create a fair or equitable society.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Intimacy — to share my innermost experiences with others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Inner peace — to be content, not stressed; to have a peaceful mind.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Industriousness — to work hard and to do a good job.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Independence — to be free from dependence on others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Humor — to see the humorous side of myself and the world; to not take things too seriously.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Humility — to be modest and unassuming.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Optimism — to maintain a hopeful or positive outlook.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Helpfulness — to be helpful to others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Health — to exercise, eat well, and live a lifestyle that promotes physical well-being.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Growth — to keep learning and growing, and becoming a better version of oneself.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Genuineness — to act in a way that is true to who I am.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Generosity — to share or give to what I have to others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Fun — to live a fun and enjoyable life.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Friendship — to have close, supportive friends.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Flexibility — to adjust to new circumstances easily.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Family — to be committed to and spend a lot of time with one’s family.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Fame — to be known and recognized by many people; to be popular.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very importantbelo
Nature focus — to live a life that respects or is in accordance with nature.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Ecological concern — concern for nature / the environment.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Dependability — to be reliable and trustworthy.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Innovation — to have new and original ideas.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Kindness — to be kind and considerate to others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Cooperation — to collaborate and work well with others.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Contribution — to make a lasting contribution to the world.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Expression — to express oneself through art or other forms of expression or creativity.
Not important | Somewhat important | Important | Very important
Spectrum Questions
Instructions: Read the definitions of the terms below and mark where you think your values lie on the following spectrum.
Conceptions of Care/Concern Spectrum
Self-interest/tribalism — to place a higher priority on looking after your own needs, and / or those one cares about deeply, than the needs of strangers.
Altruism/universalism — to consider your own needs, and the needs of those you care about deeply, as being no more important than anyone else’s.
Altruism/universalism Self-interest/tribalism
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Individualism vs. Collectivism Spectrum
Individualism — a commitment to freedom of the individual over the interests of the collective.
Collectivism — a commitment to the common good or the interests of greater society, over the interests of the individual.
Individualism Collectivism
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Conceptions of Freedom: Positive vs. Negative Liberty
Negative liberty — the freedom of the individual to do what they want (as long as they are not harming others).
Positive liberty — freedom of opportunity; having one’s basic needs (food, shelter, water, healthcare, protection, etc.) met or guaranteed.
Negative liberty Positive liberty
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Conceptions of Fairness: Equity vs. Merit
Equity — attempting to be equitable in distribution of resources / care of others. Striving for equality (compare with merit focus below).
Merit focus — distributing resources / care based on the quality of one’s actions / how they behave or how productive / useful they are to a community (compare with equity above).
Equity Merit
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Ethical Orientation: Duty-based ethics vs. Consequentialism
Duty — to believe in the concept of duties and to adhere to them, regardless of the consequences (compare with consequence consideration below). Example: It is not permissible to steal, even if you believe you could do some greater good by doing so.
Consequence consideration — to consider consequences of actions over duty or law, and act accordingly (compare with duty above). Example: It is permissible to steal medicine (even though it is illegal) if you believe you could achieve some greater good by doing so.
Duty Consequences
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Respect for Authority vs. Horizontalism
Respect for authority — the view that authority and hierarchy are important or essential components of human social organization.
Horizontalism — the view that human social organization should have as little authority or hierarchy as possible or none at all; the view that all people should have equal power.
Respect for Authority Horizontalism
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Intuition vs. Reasoning about Ethics
Intuition — some individuals tend to go with their “gut” on moral issues. Think of a controversial issue that you are passionate about. Does the fact that it disgusts you, or the fact that it seems “impure” affect how you feel about it (ethically)? If so, you take a more intuitionist approach to ethics, and concepts like purity may be more important to you.
Reasoning — do you tend to ignore your initial feelings about something? Do you prefer to use logic and reason rather than going on your gut or your emotional reactions to an issue? If so, you take a more rational approach to ethics.
Intuition Reasoning
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|
Relativistic Ethics vs. Universal/Absolutist Ethics
Relativism — the view that what is right or wrong depends on various things, such as, what culture one is part of, the exact circumstances of the situation, one’s own beliefs / values, etc.
Absolutism — the view that what is right or wrong stays the same regardless of various circumstances, such as, what culture one is part, the situational details, what the person’s beliefs or values are, etc.
Relativism Absolutism
|———————————|———————————|———————————|———————————-|