Basic Human Values

This article is a presentation of data collected from over 70 countries. Here, two different instruments have been used to substantiate a theory with the purpose of filling in the gap of the application of the primary values in Social Sciences. There is a lack of an agreed-upon formulation of the primary values, of the content and structure of relations among these values and of reliable methods to keep a check on them. The theory stresses upon the fact that the basic moral values that each individual should possess in all cultures are acknowledged. This theory recognizes 10 motivationally well-defined values. It also mentions the advancements of compatibility and disputes among those values.

There are plenty of moral values to inculcate but some of the basic human values are the ones which are at the core of being human. The dynamics of this theory capitulates a structure of relations among values common to diverse groups of different cultures, suggesting a universal organisation of human stimulations. Various sources of individual differences in value priorities, and behavioural and attitudinal consequences which follow from holding those particular value priorities are examined in this article.

Facts about Human Values

On the basis of the consideration of the basic moral values which the humans possess are honesty, love, loyalty, peace and truth. These values reflect the essential goodness of human beings and society at large.

Characteristics

Human Values-

• Imparts understanding of human attitudes, behaviour and motivation. 

• Influences us of how we perceive the world around us.

• Represents the interpretation of the right and the wrong.

• Imparts understanding of humans and organisation.

Five basic human values expected in all mortals-

• Right conduct- It contains values such as-

  • Self-help functions such as modesty, self-reliance, hygiene

  • Social skills like good behaviour, environment awareness, good manners, 

  • Ethical skills like courage, initiative, efficiency, punctuality 

  • Ownership.

• Peace- It contains values such as equality, humility, optimism, focus, patience, self-control, self-esteem., self-confidence. 

• Truth- It contains values such as fairness, honesty, accuracy, justice, determination and thirst for knowledge,

• Peaceful co-existence- It contains-

  • Psychological values such as consideration, morality, benevolence, compassion, forgiveness.

  • Social values like brotherhood, perseverance, equality, respect for others.

• Discipline- It contains values such as direction, order, regulation.

Employability quotient is affected by one’s personality which is an integral part of human values. Most employers are bent on hiring those individuals who have better human values than the rest. The most important trait in being a human is the values which he or she represents. Every human being inculcates the norms and values each and every day. The humans carry their values everywhere they go including to the workplace where they spend the most of their time. Every individual tends to learn from one another. Similarly, at the workplace also people are influenced with each other’s values and attitudes. They learn from each other; they develop from each other. It is found that different groups in a workplace such as occupational and different age groups have different values and different attitudes. So, people take in the positive as well as the negative values from each other depending on the individual whether to take up the positive one or the negative one. 

The situations faced by the individuals at the workplace are quite different and hence, they share their own experience and knowledge in a different way. People face situations which demonstrate that every workplace has a different story; a different kind of atmosphere they work in. It is seen that the co-workers may have attitudes towards the organisational changes which are different from the self.

This article reflects how S.H. Schwartz’s theory of values (1992,1994a) could be used to relate to the target organisation, a Finnish Steel Company. Value is a concept frequently used for both the academics, and the practitioners of work and organisational psychology.  Surprisingly, there has been a little empirical literature on personal values in connection with organisational behaviour. 

Human value is an important building block in the theories of organisational literature. It is also an important part in the literature on cultural sensitivity in management and organisational development in the Global Business Environment. This article shares the building bridges between the value of studies in social psychology and organisational psychology by discovering the importance of personal values in an organisational context in order to promote a better economy.

The theory of Schwartz explains 10 Universal and motivationally different types of human values and an integrated, two-dimensional structure which is an outcome of the various conflicts and congruities among those values. Previously, the value structure supported various samples among the teachers and University students but various other groups from other professions or with a low level of education have rarely been studied. This gap needs to be filled with the present study by employing Schwartz’s theory in a case study conducted in a finished Steel Company where a new 40-item Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ) was tested upon various groups.

Not only was it just a testing procedure on a sample of steel workers but also an exploration of the personal values on their attitudes towards the organisational changes. The organisational changes have always affected employees and their well-being by creating certain disruption and disbelief.

There are some common values which ensure that the members of a society support each other and without a great deal of negotiation perceive similar goals in a harmonious way.

Conclusion

Apart from the cultural changes in response to the changes in the social, economic, political and technological environment, there is also a change in the environment. The cross-cultural psychology is beneficial from the broadly shared framework which conceptualises the values as underlying the functioning of cultural units. The values are used to understand the cultural differences while comparing nations, social groups and regions. Overall, the individualism collectivism dimension has been used to explain the cultural differences. Humans have strategized themselves for adaptation by the representation of their culture.Values guide the fulfilment of the social and biological needs of individuals at the the level of society. Human values are basically some abstract rules of desirable behaviour and aims developed to fit the individuals in a society they dwell.