Rokeach M 1973 The Nature Of Human Values Pdf Top Jun 2026

In his seminal 1973 work, The Nature of Human Values , social psychologist Milton Rokeach

He decided that humans operate on two distinct levels. He grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and drew two columns.

Have you used the Rokeach Value Survey in your work? Share your experiences in the comments or connect with us for the official discussion guide on value-based decision making.

The antecedents of human values can be traced to culture, society, institutions, and personality. rokeach m 1973 the nature of human values pdf top

Milton Rokeach defined a value as "an enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or end-state of existence."

He established several critical assumptions about the nature of human values:

Furthermore, Rokeach explored the intersection of values and political ideology. He proposed a two-value model of politics based on the importance assigned to "freedom" and "equality." According to this model, different political systems could be categorized by their ranking of these two concepts: for instance, socialism prioritizes both, while fascism devalues both. This framework allowed researchers to quantify the psychological underpinnings of political conflict and social movements, proving that values serve as the fundamental building blocks of worldviews. In his seminal 1973 work, The Nature of

Rokeach argues that values are the core concept across all social sciences—the primary variable in studying personality, culture, and society. Terminal Values (What we strive for)

Desirable goals a person strives for in life. Examples:

By comparing value rankings, researchers can analyze the roots of political, racial, and social conflict. Share your experiences in the comments or connect

This concept—known as —suggests that simply providing people with information about their own value inconsistencies can trigger lasting behavioral change. This insight has had profound implications for therapy, education, and organizational change.

The impact of this 438-page book extends far beyond theoretical psychology.

Terminal values refer to desirable end-states of existence. These are the ultimate lifelong goals that an individual hopes to achieve. (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) A world of beauty (beauty of nature and the arts) Equality (brotherhood, equal opportunity for all) Family security (taking care of loved ones) Freedom (independence, free choice) Happiness (contentedness) Inner harmony (freedom from inner conflict) Mature love (sexual and spiritual intimacy) National security (protection from attack) Pleasure (an enjoyable, leisurely life) Salvation (saved, eternal life) Self-respect (self-esteem) Social recognition (respect, admiration) True friendship (close companionship) Wisdom (a mature understanding of life) 2. Instrumental Values