Values, interests

and norms as the

spiritual basis of
personality
 Intro
Human behavior is significantly shaped by norms and values.

Values define the things people strive for and attach great meaning and
significance to.

Norms set rules of behavior designed to express a commitment to the

society’s underlying values.

The interaction between norms and values produces modal personality

types in a culture or society with specific drives, motivations, expectations
and propensity towards certain patterns of behavior.
 Personality and traits
Personality - characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings
and actions; result in specific ways of interacting with the
environment.

Traits - psychological entities, can only be inferred from

behavior and experience; the basic components of
personality that foster the characteristics of an individual.
Serve to clarify observed regularities and the consistency
of behavior and differences among people.
People can explain their behavior by referring both to traits and values, but only values contain the
evaluation component. - they serve to evaluate and justify one’s behavior.

Personality traits are inborn constructs. Values are of learned nature.

Individuals behave in an extravert way (personality) since being an extravert is

part of their nature.

An individual behaves in honest way (value) because he or she has learned that
honesty is important.

However, the proportions of what is genetic, cultural, and environmental in both

constructs are not entirely determined. Furthermore, the value system is relatively more
dynamic than personality traits. It can change when an individual adapts to their new
environment.
Broad desirable goals that motivate
people’s actions and serve as guiding
principles in their lives. Person has a
different value set. The same value in
Personal
Values
different people can elicit different
behaviors.

A person can have many values with an individual assigning more importance to some
values over others. The values that are most important to you often guide your decision
making in all aspects of your life such as career, religion, social circles, self-identity etc.
One particular value can be applied to various situations. For example, if an important
value to you is loyalty this could be applied to your family, friends or work
environment.
 Schwartz Theory of Basic
Values
1) Self-direction e.g. freedom, creativity
2) Stimulation e.g. exciting life, daring
3) Hedonism e.g. pleasure, self-indulgent
4) Achievement e.g. ambitious, successful
5) Power e.g. wealth, authority
6) Security e.g. social order, family security, cleanliness
7) Conformity e.g. politeness, self-discipline, respect
8) Tradition e.g. respect for traditions, modest, humble,
devout
9) Benevolence e.g. loyal, responsible, helpful, forgiving
10) Universalism e.g. equality, wisdom, world of peace,
social justice, protecting the environment
 Personal
Core beliefs are defined as fundamental, inflexible,
Beliefs
absolute, and generalized beliefs that people hold about
themselves, others, the world, and/or the future. We use
beliefs to help us understand the world around us. A
person’s beliefs will guide them in their decision
making and response to situations. Beliefs are usually
formed in childhood or any other significant formative
experience.
 Sources of Beliefs
• Evidence - logical and rational formation of belief based on evidence that proves
causation
• Tradition - family and societal traditions
• Authority - normally developed from a parent but could also be a religious leader, teacher
or any other person in authority
• Association - beliefs can be formed through people or groups we associate with
• Revelation - beliefs that are formed through “divine intervention” a hunch, inkling or
sixth sense
 Types of Beliefs
enabling (positive) limiting (negative).
 Types of Beliefs
enabling (positive) limiting (negative).
Enabling (positive)

Optimistic and show good self-efficacy or the belief in

yourself that you can achieve something.

 I am intelligent
 I am worthy
 I always try my best
 I am hardworking
 Limiting (negative)
Limiting and often hold one back in life, seen in absolutes
and are often inaccurate and unhelpful. People with
limiting beliefs can often be judgmental of oneself or of
others.

• I am weak
• I am boring
• I am stupid
• I always fail
• I am worthless
Beliefs, positive or negative, are not always true and this can
lead a person to make poor decisions based on inaccurate
beliefs. Research shows that people with inaccurate negative
beliefs about themselves can present with symptoms of
anxiety and depression.
 Conclusion
Values and norms and the behavioral traits they shape tend to change and evolve over time as society itself
becomes subject to fundamental changes. As a result, the drives, motivations and dominant behavioral traits
tend to change from period to period in responses to changes in norms and values and all of this affects a
person's behavior.
THANK YOU
FOR
ATTENTION!