Beliefs, Attitudes, Behavior

By: Marylou Torrez

Special Subset of Beliefs is known as VALUES

Two basic types of values

Terminal Values Instrumental values

TERMINAL VALUESThe major goals in one’s life

INSTRUMENTAL VALUES

Short term ways of living our day-to-day life.

The “goods and bads” we follow each day.

Values Differ from general Beliefs

Values are enduring They stand the test of time Learned very early in life Enduring because there are no

acceptable alternatives There are no acceptable alternatives

to freedom, equality, and honesty.

Values Differ from general Beliefs

Values lack fl exibility

Regarded as Absolutes

Diffi cult to change Values

Value Systems

Puritan Value System Idea that individuals have an obligation

to themselves and those around them. Sometimes to their God, and to work

hard at whatever they do. Satisfaction reached from process of

striving for one’s goals

Enlightenment Value System

The belief in an existence in an ordered world

All activity governed by laws The foundation of the American

Nation.

Transcendental Value System

Substitute intuition for reasoning

This way of knowing transcends reason

Most common among younger people

Personal Success Value SystemTHE LEAST SOCIAL EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTCONCERN FOR THE MATERIAL HAPPINESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

Collectivist Value System

I t ’s phi losophy: “The needs of the many exceed the needs of the one.”

How are values learned?

Moralizing Modeling Experimenting Clarification

Attitudes Attitudes are our likes and

dislikes Attitudes guide our behavior Attitudes have a measurable

direction Attitudes have importance or

salience