Milton Rokeach's seminal work, The Nature of Human Values (1973), transformed social psychology by providing a systematic, measurable framework for understanding human belief systems. Moving beyond vague definitions of "attitude," Rokeach proposed that values are the core, enduring standards that guide all human behavior and decision-making. 1. The Core Definition of Values
And that, perhaps, is the highest Terminal value of all.
| Domain | Example Findings | |--------|------------------| | | Older adults rank “salvation” and “family security” higher; youth rank “excitement” and “freedom” higher. | | Socioeconomic status | Higher SES → higher “sense of accomplishment,” lower “salvation.” | | Political ideology | Conservatives → higher “national security,” “obedient,” “clean”; Liberals → higher “equality,” “broadminded,” “imaginative.” | | Religion | Religious individuals → higher “salvation,” “forgiving,” “obedient”; Atheists → higher “logical,” “intellectual.” | | Behavioral correlates | “Honest” value correlates with low cheating; “helpful” with volunteering. | | Cross-cultural | U.S., Australia, Germany, Israel show similar terminal value structures; differences in “equality” and “social recognition.” |
Milton Rokeach's seminal work, The Nature of Human Values (1973), transformed social psychology by providing a systematic, measurable framework for understanding human belief systems. Moving beyond vague definitions of "attitude," Rokeach proposed that values are the core, enduring standards that guide all human behavior and decision-making. 1. The Core Definition of Values
And that, perhaps, is the highest Terminal value of all.
| Domain | Example Findings | |--------|------------------| | | Older adults rank “salvation” and “family security” higher; youth rank “excitement” and “freedom” higher. | | Socioeconomic status | Higher SES → higher “sense of accomplishment,” lower “salvation.” | | Political ideology | Conservatives → higher “national security,” “obedient,” “clean”; Liberals → higher “equality,” “broadminded,” “imaginative.” | | Religion | Religious individuals → higher “salvation,” “forgiving,” “obedient”; Atheists → higher “logical,” “intellectual.” | | Behavioral correlates | “Honest” value correlates with low cheating; “helpful” with volunteering. | | Cross-cultural | U.S., Australia, Germany, Israel show similar terminal value structures; differences in “equality” and “social recognition.” |