Rokeach M 1973 The Nature Of Human Values Pdf Today
The Nature of Human Values by Milton Rokeach (1973): A Foundational Guide to Understanding What Drives Us
A comfortable life, an exciting life, a sense of accomplishment, equality, inner harmony, happiness, mature love, national security. 2. Instrumental Values (Modes of Conduct)
Understanding Milton Rokeach’s The Nature of Human Values (1973)
One winter, a town council proposed removing the old clock tower to clear space for a mall. The town divided: some wanted progress and jobs; others wanted heritage and community rhythm. Ana organized a meeting where neighbors listed what they valued. The lists revealed the town’s hidden value structure: some prioritized “economic prosperity,” others “community identity,” and many used shared instrumental values—“cooperation” and “respect”—to find compromise. In the end they redesigned the plan to keep the tower and add a small market. People felt heard because their deepest ends and feasible means were acknowledged. rokeach m 1973 the nature of human values pdf
Terminal values represent the ultimate goals that a person wants to achieve during their lifetime. These are the "nouns" of our value system—the destinations we strive for. Examples of the 18 terminal values include: (a prosperous life) An exciting life (a stimulating, active life) A sense of accomplishment (lasting contribution) A world at peace (free of war and conflict) Equality (brotherhood, equal opportunity for all) Freedom (independence, free choice) Happiness (contentedness) Inner harmony (freedom from inner conflict) National security (protection from attack) Self-respect (self-esteem) Social recognition (respect, admiration) True friendship (close companionship) 2. Instrumental Values (Modes of Conduct)
Rokeach used a ranking system because he believed the human value system is inherently hierarchical. We rarely choose between "good" and "bad"; instead, we constantly choose between competing "goods." For example, if a situation forces you to choose between being completely (an instrumental value) and preserving True Friendship (a terminal value), your personal hierarchy dictates your decision. Real-World Applications of Rokeach's Framework
Terminal values refer to desirable end-states of existence. These are the ultimate goals that a person would like to achieve during their lifetime. Examples include: (free of war and conflict) Family security (taking care of loved ones) Freedom (independence and free choice) Happiness (contentedness) Self-respect (self-esteem) Wisdom (a mature understanding of life) 2. Instrumental Values The Nature of Human Values by Milton Rokeach
To quantify his theory, Rokeach developed the Rokeach Value Survey (RVS). The instrument consists of two lists, each containing 18 individual value items.
Milton Rokeach’s seminal 1973 work, , stands as a cornerstone in social psychology, defining how researchers understand, measure, and analyze the deeply held beliefs that drive human behavior. Providing a comprehensive framework, Rokeach argued that values are not merely abstract concepts, but the fundamental cognitive structures guiding attitudes, motivations, and actions.
: These represent desirable end-states of existence—the ultimate goals a person wants to achieve in their lifetime (e.g., world peace, happiness, freedom, wisdom). Instrumental Values (18 items) The town divided: some wanted progress and jobs;
Instrumental values represent the preferred methods or behaviors used to achieve those lifetime goals. These are the "adjectives" or "verbs" of our value system—the paths we take to get to our destination. Examples of the 18 instrumental values include: (hard-working, aspiring) Broad-minded (open-minded) Capable (competent, effective) Cheerful (lighthearted, joyful) Clean (neat, tidy) Courageous (standing up for your beliefs) Forgiving (willing to pardon others) Helpful (working for the welfare of others) Honest (sincere, truthful) Imaginative (daring, creative) Independent (self-reliant, self-sufficient) Intellectual (intelligent, reflective) Logical (rational, objective) Loving (affectionate, tender) Obedient (dutiful, respectful) Polite (courteous, well-mannered) Responsible (dependable, reliable) Self-controlled (restrained, self-disciplined) The Rokeach Value Survey (RVS)
These represent goals a person would like to achieve during their lifetime (e.g., A Comfortable Life, Wisdom, Freedom, Equality, Family Security). There are 18 terminal values. B. Instrumental Values (Modes of Behavior)
These represent preferred methods of behavior, or tools for achieving terminal values (e.g., Honest, Responsible, Ambitious, Loving, Intellectual). There are 18 instrumental values.
Rokeach argued that the total number of values a human holds is surprisingly small (around 18 terminal and 18 instrumental), and that all human conflict—from marital arguments to global wars—can be traced back to disagreements over the hierarchical ranking of these values.
