FAMILY ISSUES (1B-4)

Values

Some of the values listed below are closely related and compatible with each
other, while others are contradictory. Not all of these values are given the same
degree of support by all people and groups. Some of the values are proclaimed in
words only, never in practice.

Achievement and success. Some prize getting ahead in the world. Some people
do not like to admit failure.

Activity and work. Some people like to be busy and fill their time with
activities. Sometimes work is seen as having a moral as well as an economic
value.

Democracy. Distribution of power and authority, people's rule and control are
two dominant American values. (Some people carry these political ideals of
democracy into their family and social relations and generally do not approve of
supreme authority by any one person.)

Efficiency and Practicality. Some people prize getting things done, being
useful, and finding the easiest way to accomplish something without waste.

Equalitv and justice. Some people believe in equality of opportunity and the
belief that "I am as good as anyone else".

External conformity. In some societies great emphasis is placed on being
outwardly alike. What is bought and used (houses, cars, and clothing) as well as
in the ways people act and speak and in the opinions they hold.

Freedom. Freedom to make one's own decisions and control one's destiny is a
basic value for some.

Humanitarian ways. Giving aid and comfort to the distressed and to the
underdog are considered a basic value in some societies.

Individual personality. Integrity, independence, and the individual's right to
respect is considered a basic value for some societies.

Material comfort. Some people want good food and clothing, high-quality
housing and equipment, good transportation, and high standards of cleanliness.
Many expect these as a matter of course and almost feel they have a moral claim
to them.

Moral orientation. Some cultures judge things in terms of right and wrong,
good and bad, ethical or unethical.

Nationalism and Patriotism. Many people value devotion to national interests
and they disapprove of actions and values that are considered to be unpatriotic
(sometimes to the degree that they think their way of life is best and should be
extended to all humankind).

Progress. Many societies want to be up-to-date and tend to equate newness with
goodness, and to believe that things will, or at least should, get better.

Science and secular rationality. Some societies value scientific or technical ways
of approaching problems and seeking knowledge through the application of
disciplined reason and observation.

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Some of these values are shared by people of different cultures, while some are
not. Can you add any values considered important to your particular culture
or the culture of someone you know. Here are some examples: Some cultures
greatly value "the land" or "Mother Earth"; some value tradition, truth, family,
mobility, or setting down roots. What functions do you think that these
values serve?