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Module 1 – UNDERSTANDING VALUES

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Module 1 – UNDERSTANDING VALUES

COURSE TITLE VAL ED 1 – PERSONHOOD DEVELOPMENT

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides the students with a clearer perspective on axiology, the
philosophic study of values, on the definition of the values systems and orientations of the
Filipinos and their implications to the criminal justice systems in the country. It encompasses
the conceptualization of values on the context of criminalistics, forensics, ballistics, law
enforcement, peace and order, and jurisprudence which shall lead to character development
as patriotism, integrity, respect to humanity and authority, excellence, and commitment to civic
responsibility and socio-moral obligations towards building and empowerment of the Filipino
nation.

COURSE OUTCOMES (CMO)

In this course, you should be able to:
Knowledge
• Define values from the perspectives of different philosophers, theologians, and
values educators;
• Identify the different desirable and undesirable values of the Filipinos.
• Explain how Filipino value systems affects the criminal justice systems in the
Philippines;
• Apply clear and logical analytical thinking skills by explaining values on different
context;
• Examine the current justice systems in the country to reflect on the philosophical
foundations that shape the modern society;

Values
• Demonstrate patriotism, integrity, respect to humanity and authority,
excellence, and commitment to civic responsibility and socio-moral
obligations towards building and empowerment of the Filipino nation;
• Reflect on the significance of commitment to social obligation as perpetuators
of peace and order;
• Develop nationalism through exposure to different Filipino values systems
and orientations;
• Manifest integrity and excellence in the practice of one’s own field

Skills
• Perform activities to strengthen one’s commitment to service.
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• Creatively demonstrate one’s patriotism and nationalism through film production,

role plays, and simulations;
• Cultivate integrity and respect through illustrative, reflective, synthesis,
proposals, and seminar activities.
• Characterize competence in the conduct of different activities in one’s field.

MODULE 1- THE ESSENCE AND NATURE OF VALUE

INTRODUCTION

This module will introduce you to the essence and nature of values. It is important that a
working knowledge of values be presented in as much as these are the elements of life
prevailing in any society. It will present the different hierarchy, characteristics, role of values as
well as the sources of values.

LESSON 1
UNDERSTANDING VALUES

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

In this lesson, you should be able to:

1. define values;
2. discover your sources of values;
3. contemplate your personal and social values; and
4. evaluate your values, and how do they contribute to your growth and happiness.

PRE-ASSESSMENT
Instructions: Encircle the letter of the item which fits most the statement.
1. The ___ is seen as the outer ring that evaluates the outer environment.
a. hands
b. intellect
c. heart
d. body
e. person

2. Values mean whatever is actually ____.

a. prized
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b. esteemed
c. desired
d. approved
e. all of these

3. The ___ is the central dynamic force in the human body that expresses itself through the
totality of the personality.
a. self
b. body
c. activity
c. ideas
d. brain

4. The following are regarded as indicators of values:

a. ideas
b. feelings
d. the outer behavior
e. all of them

5. The term value was first used by?

a. sociologist
b. anthropologist
c. linguists
d. economist
e. none of them

6. The following steps belong to the value formation:

a. choosing from alternatives
b. considering the consequences of the alternatives
c. doing something about one’s choice
d. affirming the choice publicly

7. Communicating clearly during meetings is one skill any individual must acquire. This falls
under?
a. instrumental skill
b. interpersonal skill
c. imaginal skill
d. system skill
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e. none of the above

8. There is in every value, something absolute. This characteristic falls under:

a. value is relative
b. value is subjective
c. value is objective
d. value is bipolar
e. value is hierarchal.

9. The highest level of man by which he is able to understand and control nature, guide and
control himself, and communicate with God:
a. sentiency
b. biological life
c. level of reason
d. sociability
e. none of these

10. These values aim for the Absolute:

A, social values
b. economic values
c. religious values
d. cultural values
e. all of the above
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LESSON MAP

Sources of
Values

Meaning,
Hierarchy of
Concepts, and
Values
Definition

Values
Characteristics
Role of Values
of Values

(This lesson map shows the concepts, hierarchy, characteristics, roles and sources of values. In this
way, you can fully understand what values really is).

CONTENT

ENGAGE
My Sources of Values
Instructions: A person's values are the things they believe are most important. They help to
determine life priorities, and they influence decision-making. For example, a person who
values wealth might prioritize their career, while a person who values family might try to spend
more time at home. Values are often passed down by family, and the society you live in. To
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begin exploring your own values, think about the values of the people who surround you.
Answer the following by writing on the box provided below.

EXPLORE
Understanding Values
Values
- Refers to the major priorities that man chooses to act on, and that creativity enhances
his life and the lives of those with whom he associates with.
- Is being itself or the richness of being in as much as it has the power to attract the
cognitive and appetitive potentials of men

Values Necklace
Values can be grouped into:
1. Personal Values
Those which guide a human being for personal growth and survival. They aim at
exalting the human being to a higher plane to strive for honesty, responsibility, humanity
and respect.
2. Social Values
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Those that enable individuals to improve their social relations, enhance the
understanding of the social set up and build on one’s psychosocial competence.

1. Carter V. Good
Values are any characteristics deemed important because of psychological, social,
moral or aesthetic considerations, commonly used in the plural, as in counseling, to refer to
built-in inner systems of beliefs from which one can gain security or support.

2. Jung and Piaget

According to them, value refers to the stance that the self takes to the total environment
as expressed through behaviors, ideas, body and feelings and imagination. In this concept, the
SELF is taken as the central dynamic force in the human being that expresses itself through
the totality of the personality. It relates to the valuing process where the perception of the self
of the outside world changes as the person grows. It indicates that self continually develops so
that values can never be static but are being re-chosen as the self-evaluate the world. Hence,
the intellect is seen as the outer ring and as one of the rational forces in man that evaluate the
outer environment. Thus, it modifies the self’s view of the world as it evaluates and makes
value choices.

The Process of Valuing

It could be termed as “Values Clarification." Values Clarification theory is an
educational philosophy based on the concept of humanity that says human beings hold the
possibility of bring thoughtful and wise that the most appropriate value will come when persons
used their relationship with each other and with an ever changing world (Rath, et al., 1969:39).
Values Clarification is a way of becoming human. It is not concerned with the content of
people’s values, but the process of valuing. Values clarification is a way of examining our lives
and trying to find out more clearly what we want and what we do not want, based on the
assumption that the development of values is a personal and a life-long process.
Values possess criteria which can be divided into three categories: CHOOSING, PRIZING
AND ACTING. Hence:

C - Choosing
1. to choose freely
2. to choose from alternative
3. to choose from alternatives after considering the consequences of such alternatives
P - Prizing
4. to cherish and be happy with the choice
5. to be willing to affirm the choice publicly
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A - Acting
6. to actually do something about the choice
7. to act repeatedly to affirm the choice publicly
Values are those inner standards from which you receive the motivation to act as you
do and by which you judge behavior (both yours and others). Values signify what is important
and worthwhile. They serve as the basis for moral codes and ethical reflection. Individuals
have their own values based on many aspects including family, religion, peers, culture, race,
social background, gender, etc. Values guide individuals, professions, communities, and
institutions.
To begin with, please write down your values in these 4 areas of life. Not everyone has
the same values, and this is not a test to see whether you have the "correct" ones. Think in
terms of general life directions, rather than in terms of specific goals. There may be values that
overlap e.g. if you value studying psychology, that may come under both Education and
Personal Growth. Write down what you would value if there were nothing in your way, nothing
stopping you. What’s important? What do you care about? And what you would like to work
towards? Your value should not be a specific goal but instead reflect a way you would like to
live your life over time. For example, to accompany your son to a football game might be a
goal; to be an involved and interested parent might be the underlying value. Note! Make sure
they are your values, not anyone else’s. It is your personal values that are important!

Instructions: Read the content and answer the following questions given below.
1. Relationships: refers to intimacy, closeness, friendship and bonding in your life: it includes
relationships with your partner, children, parents, relatives, friends, co-workers, and other
social contacts. What sort of relationships do you want to build? How do you want to be in
these relationships? What personal qualities do you want to develop?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Personal Growth/Health: refers to your ongoing development as a human being. This may
include organized religion, personal expressions of spirituality, creativity, developing life skills,
meditation, yoga, getting out into nature; exercise, nutrition, and addressing health risk factors
like smoking.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. Leisure: refers to how you play, relax, stimulate, or enjoy yourself; your hobbies or other
activities for rest, recreation, fun and creativity.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Hierarchy of Values

1. Sensory Values
These are values which would satisfy the individual’s material/sensory desires such as
food, clothing and vice. Human nature always prefers pleasant things, although the way on
how to acquire these things vary. For instance, value for duty, affection, financial etc.

2. Vital Values
These are values which are important to the acts of human civilization such as social
relations and involvement. In short, these values are connected with the general well-being
of an individual. For example, value of camaraderie, belongingness, closeness,
commitment, cooperation, etc.

3. Spiritual Values
These are values of truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence. Spiritual values
are ways on how you express your faith in God. For instance, faith in God is shown by
following His words, doing good deeds according to the scriptures, praying and going to
masses.

4. Holy Values
These values appear as the highest value among the four. Holy values are composed of
sacred values and holiness. It can be said that being holy is the peak (end goal) of human
existence. For example, value of faith, fidelity, contentment, etc.

CHARACTERIST
Any conception of the nature of human values should be intuitively appealing and capable
of operational definition. It should certainly distinguish the value criterion with other
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concepts. In formulating a conception of values Rokeach (1973) makes five assumptions

about the nature of human values:

• 9 Values are organized into value systems;

• The total number of values that a person possesses are relatively small;
• All men everywhere possess the same values in different digress;
• The antecedents of human values can be traced to human culture, society and its
institutions and personality;
• The consequences of human values will be manifested in virtually all phenomena that
social scientists may consider worth investigating.
• A value is relatively enduring. If values were completely stable, individual and social
change would be impossible. If values were completely unstable, continuity of human
personality and society would be impossible. Any conception of human values must be
able to account for the enduring character of values as well as their changing character.

Role of Values

1. Motivation
The longer range functions are to give expression to basic human needs. Values
are in the service of what Mc Dougall(1960) has called “the master sentiment the
sentiment of self-regard.”

2. Adjustive Function
McLaughlin (1963) has suggested that adjustment oriented values are really
Pseudo-values because they are espoused by an individual as a way of adapting to
group pressure, but the desirability of compliance to group pressures may be a
genuine value in its own right, no less internalized than other values.

3. Knowledge Function
Katz (1970) defines the knowledge function as involving. ‘The search for
meaning,’ the need to understand, the trend toward better organization of
perception and belief to provide clarity and consistency. Thus people value such
end-states as wisdom and a sense of accomplishment and such modes of behavior
as behaving independently, consistently and competently. It leads people to take a
particular position on social issues. It enables men to favor a particular political or
religious ideology over another. A man having better knowledge can by his value
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stance adopt them as standards to help him to project an image of himself to

others. He is able to evaluate and judge, praise and fix blame on persons.

4. The Ego-Defensive Function

Psycho-Analytic theory suggests that values no less than attitudes may serve as
ego-defensive needs. All instrumental and terminal values may be employed to
serve ego-defensive functions. Over emphasis on such modes of behavior as
cleanliness and politeness and on such end-states as family and national security
may be especially helpful to ego-defense.

5. Self-Actualization Function

Rogers Carl (1969) says “For the creative individual what is important is whether
he is living in a way which is deeply satisfying to himself.” This is further stressed by
Maslow’s concept of self-actualized persons “who are rules by their own characters
more than by the rules of the society”

People get involved in practicing values, in a cause outside of themselves, and

devote their lives for the search of these intrinsic values. For a person to achieve
self-actualization, it is necessary that he must experiences life fully, vividly, selflessly
with full absorption. It implies listening to one’s own inner voice, rather than that of
others. It requires one to be honest to him, and the ability to take responsibility for
one’s actions. One must begin to realize his own potentialities and exploit it to the
maximum. There is a total identification of the person with the job that he is doing,
involving a sense of devotion to work. This process thus leads man to enjoy peak
experiences, which are the best moments of a human being. The person who is self-
actualized has a very good perception of reality and truth. They are not censed and
make ethical decisions more quickly and surely than average people. Thus, values
have a strong motivational component as well as cognitive, affective and behavioral
components.

Sources of Values

The system of values can be treated from the following sources of understanding:
1. Life Experience:
Many values originate out of the experiences of the individual and those of his fellow men.
Men constantly keep on determining what values they must follow to find happiness and
fulfill their destiny as human beings. These source orientations are conformed by
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Radhakrishnan (1950) who observed, “Values in education although they find their source
in philosophy, have a second source in society, the people, their culture and their ideals”.

2. Cultural background:
Our values are usually grounded in the core values of our culture, which reflect culture’s
orientation to five basic problems viz.,
1. Beliefs of child rearing and social control
2. The attitude to take nature as fatalistic or seeing it as a challenge to be conquered in
the interest of man’s comfort.
3. The question whether man should live for the present or the future.
4. The kind of activity most valued; and the kind of inter-personal relationship whether it
is competitive or cooperative.

3. Religious background:
In its pursuit of truth religion is also concerned with values. Many basic values are common
to all religions.

4. Scientific background:
It helps us to make value judgments only to the extent that we relate it to value
assumptions. New information on the scientific front need not pose a threat even if it
requires a change in the present frame of reference.

EXPLAIN
Defining Values
Instructions: Answer the following questions that follow.

1. Among the definitions given, which is more closely related to your idea/perception of
values?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. What does it mean if you value something or someone?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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TOPIC SUMMARY
In this lesson, you have learned that…
✓ Values refer to the major priorities that man chooses to act on, and that creativity enhances
his life and the lives of those with whom he associates with. Values could be termed as
“Values Clarification". Values clarification is a way of examining our lives and trying to find
out more clearly what we want and what we do not want, based on the assumption that the
development of values is a personal and a life-long process. Values possess criteria which
can be divided into three categories: CHOOSING, PRIZING AND ACTING.

✓ Values can be classified into four hierarchies which are sensory, vital, spiritual and holy
values. Holy values appear as the highest value among the four. On the other hand, the
system of values can be treated from the following sources of understanding: life
experiences, cultural background, religious background and scientific background. Overall,
the person who is self-actualized has a very good perception of reality and truth. They are
not censed and make ethical decisions more quickly and surely than average people. Thus,
values have a strong motivational component as well as cognitive, affective and behavioral
components.

REFERENCES

• Bauzon, P. T. (2002). Essentials of values education. 2nd ed. Manddaluyong City:

National Bookstore.
• Palispis, E. S. (1995). Introduction to values education. Philippines: Rex Printing.
• Andres, T. (1980), Understanding Values, Quezon City: New Day Publishers